Lesson 3

Essential, Basic Japanese Vocabulary And Phrases

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Japanese vocabulary - ๅ˜่ชž

Now that you've at least started learning the Japanese alphabet and Katakana, let's learn some basic vocabulary words and simple Japanese phrases.

I will list the Kanji, Hiragana, Romaji (the word sounded out using English letters), and the English meaning for each Japanese word or phrase. Most Japanese words have Kanji for them but I will only include the Kanji if that word is typically written that way.

Keep in mind that the Japanese language has different levels of politeness that change based on who you are talking to. I will refer to these as "ultra-formal", "formal" (or "polite form"), "normal" (or "plain form"), "informal", and "rude" (we won't be covering too much of the rude form, however).

ๆผขๅญ— - Kanjiใฒใ‚‰ใŒใช - HiraganaRomaji(English Letters)English Meaning
็งใ‚ใŸใ—watashiI(formal for males, normal for females)
ๅƒ•ใผใbokuI(normal for males)
ๅฝผใ‹ใ‚Œkarehe
ๅฝผๅฅณใ‹ใฎใ˜ใ‚‡kanojoshe
ใ‚ใชใŸใ‚ใชใŸanatayou(singular/normal)
ใ“ใ‚Œใ“ใ‚Œkorethis (noun)
ใ“ใ“ใ“ใ“kokohere
ใ“ใฎใ“ใฎkonothis(descriptive - ex. this pen)
ใใ‚Œใใ‚Œsorethat (noun)
ใใ“ใใ“sokothere
ใใฎใใฎsonothat(descriptive - ex. that pen)
ไบบใฒใจhitoperson
็Šฌใ„ใฌinudog
็Œซใญใ“nekocat
ๅฎถใ„ใˆiehouse

Essential Japanese phrases

ๆผขๅญ— - Kanjiใฒใ‚‰ใŒใช - HiraganaRomaji(English Letters)English Meaning
ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†arigatouThank you. (normal)
ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™arigatou gozaimasuThank you. (formal)
ใฉใ†ใ„ใŸใ—ใพใ—ใฆใฉใ†ใ„ใŸใ—ใพใ—ใฆdouitashimashiteYou're welcome. (normal)
ใŠใฏใ‚ˆใ†ใŠใฏใ‚ˆใ†ohayou(sounds like "Ohio")Good morning. (informal)
ใŠใฏใ‚ˆใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™ใŠใฏใ‚ˆใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™ohayou gozaimasuGood morning.(normal and formal)
ใ“ใ‚“ใซใกใฏใ“ใ‚“ใซใกใฏkonnichiwaHello. (normal)
ใ“ใ‚“ใฐใ‚“ใฏใ“ใ‚“ใฐใ‚“ใฏkonbanwaGood evening. (normal)
ใ•ใ‚ˆใชใ‚‰ใ•ใ‚ˆใชใ‚‰sayonaraGoodbye. (normal)
้ ‘ๅผตใฃใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ใŒใ‚“ใฐใฃใฆใใ ใ•ใ„gambatte kudasai(can also be written "ganbatte kudasai")Hang in there
ๆฐ—ใ‚’ใคใ‘ใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ใใ‚’ใคใ‘ใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ki o tsukete kudasai(can also be written "ki wo tsukete kudasai")Be careful, Take care