What Japanese words should I learn first?

Learning a new language is an exciting journey!

But where do you begin?

In this article, we’ll explore some of the essential words you’ll likely use as a beginner in Japanese. Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan, watching anime without subtitles, or simply expanding your language skills, starting with the right vocabulary can make all the difference. Here’s a guide to the first Japanese words you should learn to build a strong foundation.

One of the first things to learn in any language is how to greet people. Here are some fundamental greetings in Japanese:

Japanese Word	Romaji	English Meaning	Why Learn
こんにちは	Konnichiwa	Hello	A must-know greeting that is used during the daytime.
さようなら	Sayōnara	Goodbye	This is often used when parting ways for a longer time.
ありがとう	Arigatou	Thank you	Expressing gratitude is vital in any culture.
すみません	Sumimasen	Excuse me / Sorry	This versatile phrase can be used to get someone’s attention or to apologize.
おはようございます	Ohayou gozaimasu	Good morning	Another common greeting used in the early hours.
こんばんは	Konbanwa	Good evening	Used to greet others during the evening.

By familiarizing yourself with these greetings, you can establish basic communication and make a positive impression on those you meet.

Now that you know how to greet, let’s move on to introducing yourself in Japanese. Whether you’re meeting someone new or hoping to make a Japanese friend, learning how to introduce yourself is just as important as greeting.

Here’s how you can do it:

わたしは [Your Name] です

(Watashi wa [Your Name] desu)

This means ‘I am [Your Name].’ Use this phrase to introduce yourself. For example: わたしはノブです (Watashi wa Nobu desu).

よろしくおねがいします

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu

This means ‘Nice to meet you.’ It’s a polite way to express that you look forward to having a good relationship with the person.

Being able to count in Japanese is very useful for beginners. For example, you may need numbers when ordering ‘3 Fami-Chiki’ at FamilyMart, or in other everyday conversations. Let’s dive in:

Japanese Word	Romaji	English Meaning
いち	Ichi	One
に	Ni	Two
さん	San	Three
し/よん	Shi/Yon	Four
ご	Go	Five
ろく	Roku	Six
しち/なな	Shichi/Nana	Seven
はち	Hachi	Eight
きゅう/く	Kyuu/Ku	Nine
じゅう	Juu	Ten

Example 1: “Can I please get 3 Fami-Chiki?”

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Example 2: “It’s 3 o’clock.”

Being able to count will help you in various situations, from making purchases to telling time.

Let’s get familiar with 5 common nouns you’ll often encounter in Japanese:

Japanese Word	Romaji	English Meaning	Why Learn
かばん	Kaban	Bag	Your bag stays with you wherever you go! If you ever lose it, knowing this word can help others assist you in finding your bag.
いぬ	Inu	Dog	Dogs are a common pet in Japan, and you’ll often hear this word in daily conversations or see it in books for beginners
ねこ	Neko	Cat	Cats are another beloved pet, especially in Japan. Knowing this word will make conversations easier to follow.
たべもの	Tabemono	Food	Everyone loves food, and Japan is well known for its variety of delicious dishes. Learning this word is definitely a good idea!
みず	Mizu	Water	Everyone needs mizu to survive, and in Japan you’ll probably end up asking for it at restaurants. All the more reason to learn this word early on!

Bag Example

Japanese: 東京駅でかばんをなくしました。探すのを手伝ってくれますか。

Romaji:

Tōkyō-eki de kaban o nakushimashita. Sagasu no o tetsudatte kuremasu ka.

English:

I lost my bag at Tokyo Station. Can you help me check for it?

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Dog & Cat Example

Japanese: かわいい犬と猫ですね。名前は何ですか。

Romaji:

Kawaii inu to neko desu ne. Namae wa nan desu ka.

English:

That’s a very cute dog and cat you have there. What are their names?

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Food Example

Japanese: 食べものが欲しいですか。

Romaji:

Tabemono ga hoshii desu ka.

English:

Do you want some food?

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Water Example

Japanese: 水をください。

Romaji:

Mizu o kudasai.

English:

Can I have some water?

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These words can help you navigate everyday situations in Japanese-speaking environments. If you want to expand further, check out this list of 100 common nouns.

Learning some key verbs will help you communicate what you want to say. Let’s look at some common verbs you can start using today:

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning	Why Learn
たべる	Taberu	To eat	Eating is an essential daily activity! You’ll use this verb constantly.
のむ	Nomu	To drink	A lot of people enjoy drinking, so this verb will definitely come in handy.
みる	Miru	To see / watch	Common in conversations about TV, anime, or sightseeing.
いく	Iku	To go	Essential for talking about travel, school, or going anywhere.
くる	Kuru	To come	Useful for inviting others.

Taberu Example

Japanese: 何か食べたいですか。

Romaji:

Nanika tabetai desu ka.

English:

Do you want something to eat?

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Nomu Example

Japanese: 何を飲みたいですか。

Romaji:

Nani o nomitai desu ka.

English:

What would you like to drink?

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Miru Example

Japanese: 一緒に野球を見ましょう！

Romaji:

Issho ni yakyū o mimashō!

English:

Let’s watch baseball together!

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Iku Example

Japanese: 明日コンビニに行く？

Romaji:

Ashita konbini ni iku?

English:

Are you going to the convenience store tomorrow?

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Kuru Example

Japanese: 仕事の後、家にくる？

Romaji:

Shigoto no ato, ie ni kuru?

English:

Do you want to come over after work?

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Starting your Japanese language journey with essential words and phrases can make learning both enjoyable and effective. By focusing on greetings, introductions, numbers, common nouns, and basic verbs, you build a solid foundation for further progress. As you advance, your vocabulary will naturally expand! So keep practicing by using these words in real-life conversations. The key to learning any language is consistency and practice, so don’t hesitate to immerse yourself as much as possible. It’s not as scary as it seems, and your future self will be proud of you.