The 100 Most Important Japanese Words You

Should Know
October 1, 2010 by Koichi
Say you booked a last minute trip to Japan. Then, soon after that, you quickly realize that you dont speak a
word of Japanese (let alone a hundred words). For all of you people out there (or, for all of you beginners of
Japanese out there), this list is for you. These 100 words will get you through an untold number of situations,
problems, and feelings, just by knowing these all-important words. Im not saying that there arent any other
important words out there (and I hope you add to the list by commenting below), but I do think this list of
100 words will get you really, really far if you are, for some reason, only limited to learning 100 words.
Enjoy!
Having trouble pronouncing these crazy Japanese words? Try out some of the free lessons on TextFugu to
become a Japanese pronunciation master.
Emergency
If youre traveling to Japan, youre going to want to know words that have to do with emergency
situations. You dont want to be caught off guard in a foreign country. If youre in trouble, you need to be
able to ask for some help, whether that help is finding a bathroom or getting someone who speaks English.
(toire) = Toilet. Everyone has to use the toilet at some point, so if you need help finding it, this is
the word for you.
(tearai) = Bathroom. Just like toilet, but a little more all-inclusive. You can feel free to use either
of these in a pinch, though.
(tasukete) = HELP. Just yell this out and (maybe) someone will come to your aid if youre
lucky.
(wakarimasen) = I dont understand. If someone is speaking to you in Japanese and you
dont understand them (if youre using this list, then maybe you dont) then you can just tell them you dont
understand what theyre saying. Follow that up with eigo, eigo (which youll learn in a minute) and youll
be golden.
(yamete!) = Stop it! Maybe somebody is messing with you and you want them to stop (yakuza?
probably not). This is what youd want to say.
(eigo) = English. Sometimes you just need someone who speaks some English. Everyone in Japan is
supposed to be able to speak English, though you might have trouble finding the right person depending on
where you are.
(fuku) = Clothes. Dont ask I just thought it would be terrible to lose your clothes, and with all the hot
springs and perverts, you never know.
(shini sou) = Seems Like Im Going To Die. When things get really serious, you may need to
pull out all the stops.
(keisatsu) = Police. If something really bad happens, these are the guys youre going to want to ask
for.
(abunai) = Dangerous. Youll see this on signs and stuff too. If someone says abunai to you, you
should probably watch your step.
(kiken) = Peril, Hazard. Basically, this is a fancier abunai. Youll see this on signs as well.
Asking
Asking broad general questions, then using body language to tell people the rest is a really fun way to get by
in a country where you dont speak the language!
(doushita?) = What Happened? Then again, you probably wont understand what the person
responds with, but its always nice to ask.
(doushite?) = Why? You never know
(nani) = What? Unbelievable!
(jikan) = Time. Just ask this with an quizzical tone and people will get the drift.
(shitsumon) = Question. Have a question? Let someone know. Couple this with eigo! eigo! and
maybe someone who can speak some English will come to answer your shitsumon.
(dare) = Who. Great in case you need to find someone.
(itsu) = When. Pretty important if youre trying to time something.
People
Sometimes you need something that has to do with a someone. You can get by without too much here.
(sensei) = Teacher. If youre a student in Japan, this one comes in handy.
(kaishain) = Employee. Good if youre looking for an organizations employee to ask a question,
perhaps.
(hito) = Person. For when you need to point out a person in general.

Locations
Finding your way around can be pretty important. Here are some words that will help you do that and keep
you from getting lost.
(hoteru) = Hotel. Youll need to be able to find this if youre traveling in Japan.
(doko) = Where. Dont know where something is? Ask where it is with this word.
(kuukou) = Airport. Dont miss your flight!
(eki) = Station. Gotta catch that train!
(nihon) = Japan. Good to know where you are.
(daigaku) = College. Great for college students studying in Japan, or people who like colleges in
general.
(honya) = Bookstore. Some bookstores are pretty sketchy, be careful!
(takushi) = Taxi. Expensive, but you can find them everywhere.
(uchi/ie) = Home. Theres no place like it.
Food
Oh food, how I love thee. Cant live without it, either.
(onaka suita) / (hara hetta) = Hungry. Two ways to say this one. First one is
more neutral, second is more casual.
(tabemasu) = To Eat. Do you eat this? Yes I eat this.
(tabemasen) = To Not Eat. Do you eat this? No I dont.
(nomimasu) = To Drink. Glug Glug.
(nomimasen) = To Not Drink. I dont drink beer, sorry.
(mizu) = Water. I drink water, instead, because thats how I roll.
(nomimono) = Drink. Not the verb, but the noun. Please get me a drink.
(tabemono) = Food. Need food? Any food?
(oishii) = Good Tasting. If something tastes nice (or if you want to be nice), youd say this.
(mazui) = Bad Tasting. I probably wouldnt ever say this, but just in case you need to let someone
know
(resutoran) = Restaurant. Now you need to figure out which one.
(konbini) = Convenience Store. Great place to buy small things and food. Convenience Store
food in Japan is pretty awesome.
(suupaa) = Super Market. If you need something a convenience store cant give you.
Being Polite
You dont want to piss people off when youre in their country. Bad things happen if you do
(arigatougozaimasu) = Thank You. Do I even need to tell you why you should
learn this? I hope not.
(sumimasen) = Excuse Me. The streets can be busy, its nice to say excuse me when you walk
through people.
(gomennasai) = Sorry. If you bump into a Yakuza gang member, you might want to whip
this one out.
Greetings
Hopefully you meet some nice people in your travels. Say hello (and then goodbye!) to them.
(ohayougozaimasu) = Good Morning. A greeting for morning.
(konnichiwa) = Good Afternoon. You can use this around noonish on to the evening.
(konbanwa) = Good Evening. Like the other ones, but for evenings.
(dewamata) = See You Later.
(mata ashita) = See You Tomorrow.
(sayounara) = Good bye. Probably wont see them for a while :(
(oyasuminasai) = Good Night. Time for sleepy time.

Basic Verbs
Verbs will get you a long ways. You dont have to know much else as long as you know verbs, because
verbs help you to get things done.
(ikimasu) = To Go.
(kaerimasu) = To Return (home).
(tabemasu) = To Eat. Nom nom nom.
(shimasu) = To Do. This is the best verb ever.
(mimasu) = To See. What is it you want to see?
(kaimasu) = To Buy. For all of you who like shopping.
(machimasu) = To Wait.
(kakimasu) = To Write. Have people write the directions down!
(tomarimasu) = To Stop.
(oshiemasu) = To Teach. If youre a teacher in Japan.
(hanashimasu) To Speak.
Basic Adjectives
Adjectives, while not as awesome as verbs, are also very useful. They help you describe things.
(atarashii) = New.
(ureshii) = Happy.
(daijoubu) = Okay. As in Im okay!
(sugoi) = Amazing. For the sight seeing.
(takai) = Expensive / Tall. Just depends on the context.
(ookii) = Big, Large.
(chiisai) = Small.
(chikai) = Near. How close is it?
(tooi) = Far. How far is it?
(warui) = Bad.
(ii) = Good.
(Omoshiroi) = Interesting.
(tanoshii) = Fun.
(atsui) = Hot.
(samui) = Cold.
(jouzu) = Good At.
(heta) = Bad At.
(aka) = Red.
(ao) = Blue.
(kuro) = Black.
(midori) = Green.
(kiiro) = Yellow.
(shiro) = White.
(baka) = Stupid! I bet you knew this one already.
Numbers
(ichi) = One.
(ni) = Two.
(san) = Three.
(shi/yon) = Four. Such an unlucky number!
(go) = Five. Good way to remember the first five numbers: Itchy knee! Son, She go! Imagine that
playing out
(roku) = Six.
(shichi) = Seven. Also kinda unlucky.
(hachi) = Eight.
(ku) = Nine.
(juu) = Ten.
(hyaku) = 100.
(sen) = 1,000.
(man) = 10,000.
(en) = Yen. Not really a number, but goes nicely with the numbers, I think.
Whats Missing?
Okay, okay. Hold your space horse space cowboy. I know that this list isnt every important word. That
would be impossible, and really depend on the person. But, nows your chance to let me know what you
would have added to this list as a most important word. List the word and the meaning down in the
comments to help other people out too! That way your comment does some good, not evil.