Posted by I am also trying to learn Japanese so I can communicate with the locals when I travel to Japan. I did a survey with my friends and most of them agree that Japan is the top list for tourists. How nice would it be if you can communicate in Japanese. I started below cheat sheet with at least 205 Japanese words.
| English | japanese |
| Bank employee | ginkoo-in |
| nutritionist | eiyooshi |
| company employee | kaisha-in |
| company president | shachoo |
| diplomat | gaikookan |
| doctor | isha |
| dentist | ha-isha |
| nurse | kangofu |
| embassy employee | taishikan-in |
| engineer | gishi |
| journalist | jaanarisuto |
| driver | utenshu |
| housewife | shufu |
| lawyer | bengoshi |
| musician | ongakuka |
| office worker | jimu-in |
| operator | kookanshu |
| painter | gaka |
| policeman | keikan |
| public servant | koomu-in |
| businessman | bijinesuman |
| scholar | gakusha |
| student | gakusei |
| teacher | sensei |
| writer | sakka |
| secretary | hisho |
| tour guide | kankoo gaido |
| security guard | gaadoman |
| receptionist | uketsukegakari |
| sales-clerk | ten-in |
| book | hon |
| desk | tsukue |
| pencil | enpitsu |
| watch, clock | tokei |
| window | mado |
| dictionary | jibiki |
| wallet | saifu |
| wall | kabe |
| curtain | kaaten |
| door | doa |
| paper | kami |
| chair | isu |
| air conditioner | kuuraa |
| bag | kaban |
| handkerchief | hankachi |
| hotel | hoteru |
| car | kuruma |
| soap | sekken |
| house | uchi, ie |
| hospital | byooin |
| accountant | kaikei-gakari |
| movie | eiga |
| hobby | shumi |
| shoes | kutsu |
| magazine | zasshi |
| newspaper | shimbum |
| friend | tomodachi |
| company, office | kaisha |
| school | gakkoo |
| young | wakai |
| delicious | oishii |
| interesting | omoshiroi |
| easy, kind | yasashii |
| difficult | muzukashii |
| big | ookii |
| small | chiisai |
| new | atarashii |
| hot, thick | atsui |
| cold (weather) | samui |
| cold (object) | tsumetai |
| good | yoi |
| bad | warui |
| unsavory, unskillful | mazui |
| tall, expensive | takai |
| tall (for person) | sei ga takai |
| short | mijikai |
| short (for person) | sei ga hikui |
| low | hikui |
| cheap | yasui |
| long | nagai |
| heavy | omoi |
| light | karui |
| wide | hiroi |
| narrow | semai |
| red | akai |
| white | shiroi |
| yellow | kiiroi |
| early, fast | hayai |
| late, slow | osoi |
| deep | fukai |
| shallow | asai |
| strong | tsuyoi |
| weak | yowai |
| thin | usui |
| hard | katai |
| soft | yawarakai |
| ashamed | hazukashii |
| pleasant | tanoshii |
| lonely | sabishii |
| wonderful | subarashii |
| busy | isogashii |
| many | ooi |
| few | sukunai |
| bitter | nigai |
| sweet | amai |
| sour | suppai |
| cool | suzushii |
| warm | atatakai |
| near | chikai |
| far | tooi |
| black | kuroj |
| dark | kurai |
| bright | akarui |
| blue | aoi |
| cute | kawaii |
| church | kyookai |
| television | terebi |
| program | bangumi |
| river | kawa |
| examination | shiken |
| a while ago | sakki |
| not anywhere | doko emo |
| nowhere | doko nimo |
| post office | yuubinkyoku |
| department store | depaato |
| dog | inu |
| cat | neko |
| gymnasium | taiikukan |
| dining room | shokudoo |
| coffee shop | kissaten |
| movie theater | eigakan |
| here (this place) | koko |
| there (that place) | soko |
| over there | asoko |
| restaurant | resutoran |
| comfort room | toire |
| telephone | denwa |
| residential area | juutakuchi |
| radio | rajio |
| library | toshokan |
| embassy | taishikan |
| museum | hakubutsukan |
| city hall | shiyakusho |
| station | eki |
| bus stop | teiryuujoo |
| shopping district | shootengai |
| supermarket | suupaamaaketto |
| Bank | ginkoo |
| market | ichiba |
| corner | kado |
| drugstore | kusuriya |
| store | mise |
| ticket | kippu |
| sunglasses | sangurasu |
| now | ima |
| exactly, just | choodo |
| before | mae |
| past | sugi |
| half past | han |
| morning | asa |
| night, evening | yoru |
| from | kara |
| until, up to | made |
| advanced, be too fast | susunde imasu |
| late, be too slow | okurete-imasu |
| afternoon | hiru |
| noon | shoogo |
| right, keep good time | atteimasu |
| drink | nomu |
| read | yomu |
| buy | kau |
| learn | narau |
| write | kaku |
| speak | hanasu |
| go | iku |
| swim | oyogu |
| die | shinu |
| wait | matsu |
| be, exist | aru |
| play | asobu |
| eat | taberu |
| see, watch | miru |
| get up, wake up | okiru |
| sleep (go to sleep) | neru |
| teach | oshieru |
| come | kuru |
| do | suru |
| spring | haru |
| summer | natsu |
| autumn | aki |
| winter | fuyu |
| next | tsugi |
| orange | mikan |
| money | okane |
| how much | ikura |
| price | nedan |
| apple | ringo |
| post card | hagaki |
| board | ita |
| trousers | zubon |
| umbrella | kasa |
| fountain pen | mannenhitsu |
| sugar | satoo |
| cloth | kire |
| salt | shio |
I agree that learning something of the host country’s language is always useful (I would say essential) and my way is to learn at least 5 – 10 new words each day. Faced with too many it becomes an impossible task, but 5 words a day is easy, then add another 5 the next day (repeating the first ones etc). I prefer to go for verbs because if you can grasp the verbs and how to use them you can communicate – looking up nouns is easy – so if you do say 2-3 verbs a day (parsed) and 2-3 nouns you will be well ahead. I find your list a bit daunting.
Keep it up!!! I am using Duolingo to learn Japanese!
Nice! Me too! What is your username? Let me follow you in Duolingo 😇😇😇
It’s Mashibaby
Done following you 🙏🙏 Don Manuel is the user
Thank you sooooooooooo much for this! I’ve always wanted to learn Japanese even though I know about 20-50 words here already, it’s really helpful 😍😍
Glad to hear Tz 😇🙏
wow, I’ve never considered learning Japanese but it sounds nice .. thanks for letting me catch a glimpse into this language!
you are welcome, Althea!