The 1000 most useful Japanese words

Must be followed by a noun: この本(ほん), but これ on its own.

Irregular. It also turns many nouns into verbs: 勉強(べんきょう)する, to study.

After a noun to ask for it; after a te-form to ask somebody to do something.

For people and animals — anything that moves of its own accord.

One and two people are irregular: 一人(ひとり), 二人(ふたり); four is 四人(よにん).

For nationality; counting people uses 人(にん).

Its te-form is irregular: 行(い)って.

Nouns and na-adjectives take に, i-adjectives change to 〜く: 寒(さむ)くなる.

Its other forms are built on よい: よくない, よかった.

Also a verb: 指定(してい)する. Compare 指定席(していせき), a reserved seat.

Also "before" in time: 三年(さんねん)前(まえ), three years ago.

Often left out when it is clear who is speaking.

Also read うち, which leans towards "home" and "my family".

For shirts, jumpers, coats and dresses — anything on the upper body or the whole body.

Irregular: 来(き)ます, 来(こ)ない, 来(き)て.

Any business with a counter: a shop, a café or a restaurant.

With を for the place you leave.

What is said is marked with と.

Read なん before です, before counters and usually before a t-, d- or n-sound: 何(なん)ですか, 何時(なんじ).

The 1st to 10th, the 14th, 20th and 24th have native readings: 二日(ふつか), 二十日(はつか).

With お when you ask about somebody else's work.

What you can do takes が. Also "to be finished" or "to be built": 駅(えき)の前(まえ)に店(みせ)ができました.

One friend or several; たち is part of the word here.

In formal speech あす.

Also counts times: 一度(いちど), once.

Four, seven and nine o'clock are 四時(よじ), 七時(しちじ) and 九時(くじ).

Pens, bottles, trees, umbrellas; after some numbers ぼん or ぽん: 一本(いっぽん), 三本(さんぼん).

Also "I'm listening" or "here" when a name is called.

What is understood takes が: 日本語(にほんご)が分(わ)かります. Also often written in kana.

The person takes に (or と), not を.

After a number it counts hours: 二時間(にじかん), two hours.

Also the town centre, where the shops are.

With に for the place you enter.

Both often and well: よく分(わ)かりました, I understood it well.

Also to post: 手紙(てがみ)を出(だ)す.

Before some counters it becomes じゅっ: 十分(じゅっぷん).

Also written 子(こ)ども.

Also a title after a name, for teachers, doctors and lawyers — not used of yourself.

For things and plants. The plain negative is simply ない.

Not used straight before a noun: "many people" is 多(おお)くの人(ひと) or たくさんの人(ひと).

Also a verb: 旅行(りょこう)する.

The receiver is always the speaker or someone on the speaker's side.

Both to listen and to ask: 先生(せんせい)に聞(き)く, to ask the teacher.

Read かた, the same kanji is a polite word for "person".

The opposite of high is 低(ひく)い; of expensive, 安(やす)い.

The giver takes に or から.

Also for medicine and soup.

Something closes by itself; you close it with 閉(し)める.

Someone else's father: お父(とう)さん.

What is liked takes が, not を.

A noun: 駅(えき)の近(ちか)く, "near the station". The adjective is 近(ちか)い.

With a negative it means "no longer": もうありません, there is none left.

持(も)っています is the usual way to say you own something or have it on you.

Asked whether you have done something, まだです means "not yet".

Early in time; fast in speed is written 速(はや)い.

Someone else's mother: お母(かあ)さん.

Also a verb: 料理(りょうり)する.

Japanese has no verb "to rain": 雨(あめ)が降(ふ)る, rain falls.

To make a call is 電話(でんわ)をかける; to answer one, 電話(でんわ)に出(で)る.

Going back to where you belong — home, or your own country.

For people, and sometimes animals; not for things.

Not for a person's age: an older person is 年(とし)を取(と)った人(ひと). 古(ふる)い友達(ともだち) is a friend of long standing.

With a length of time: 三日後(みっかご), three days later.

After a te-form it means something else: 忘(わす)れてしまう, "to end up forgetting".

The workplace takes で.

Before a noun, say 多(おお)くの人(ひと), not 多(おお)い人(ひと).

Someone else's: 弟(おとうと)さん.

Also often written in kana: だれ.

Often すぐに.

Takes が; its partner is 割(わ)る.

Tall is 背(せ)が高(たか)い, short 背(せ)が低(ひく)い.

Cold or room-temperature water; hot water is お湯(ゆ).

Someone else's: お兄(にい)さん.

自分(じぶん)で is "by yourself, without help".

Also of time: 十二時(じゅうにじ)を過(す)ぎた, it is past twelve.

Also "to see someone home": 駅(えき)まで送(おく)ります.

A hesitation before speaking; as "that ... over there" see the list on this and that.

Also refers to something both speakers know about.

Usually in kana in this sense.

Smaller quizzes in class are often called テスト.

Used in the ている form for where you live: 住(す)んでいます.

What you stay away from takes を: 会社(かいしゃ)を休(やす)む.

Asking for someone else's name, say お名前(なまえ).

Months are numbered: 一月(いちがつ) is January. Note 四月(しがつ), 七月(しちがつ), 九月(くがつ).

Big stations name their exits by direction.

Medicine is drunk, even as tablets: 薬(くすり)を飲(の)む.

Also a verb: 説明(せつめい)する.

Also a thank-you when someone has gone to trouble for you.

Something comes into view by itself, so it takes が.

Goes straight before a noun, without な: 同(おな)じ色(いろ).

Before an adjective it makes the superlative.

Everyday form; 皆(みな)さん is what you say to a group you are addressing.

The native numbers count things with no counter of their own, up to ten.

Also to tell or show: 道(みち)を教(おし)えてください, please tell me the way.

Humble する; usually written in kana.

Usually written in kana; the opposite is まずい.

With を, the vehicle you leave.

Humble form of もらう; usually written in kana.

Also a verb: 連絡(れんらく)する; the person contacted takes に.

With に for what you are late for: 約束(やくそく)に遅(おく)れる.

With に: バスに乗(の)る.

Someone else's: お姉(ねえ)さん.

Mainly university students; school pupils are 生徒(せいと).

An adjective in Japanese, so what is wanted takes が.

Something continues by itself with 続(つづ)く.

Sounds like 花(はな), flower.

The same verb hangs a coat on a hook and makes a phone call: 電話(でんわ)をかける.

The person you do it with takes と: 友達(ともだち)と一緒(いっしょ)に.

After some numbers ぷん: 一分(いっぷん), 三分(さんぷん), 十分(じゅっぷん).

A little more formal than 一回(いっかい).

Often a noun: 急(いそ)ぐ必要(ひつよう)はない, "there is no need to hurry".

Tells what happened next, often something unexpected; not for your own plans.

Used of other people; saying it of yourself sounds boastful.

Changing something yourself is 変(か)える.

Needs a negative verb or adjective after it.

The place where something is left behind takes に.

Something gets decided by itself with 決(き)まる.

Also a small clinic, not only a large hospital.

Something opens by itself; you open it with 開(あ)ける.

Often written in kana.

Also a verb: 勉強(べんきょう)する.

The part that hurts takes が.

The borrower takes に: 友達(ともだち)に貸(か)す.

Also used on its own as a form of address, in place of the name.

The people next door are 隣(となり)の人(ひと).

Warmer than 家(いえ), which is more the building; also "our family": うちの犬(いぬ).

The polite way to say 死(し)ぬ; losing a thing is なくなる in kana.

The lender takes に or から: 友達(ともだち)に借(か)りる.

Body hair and fur; the hair on your head is 髪(かみ).

Material to read or refer to; 書類(しょるい) are forms and official papers.

You open something; when it opens by itself it is 開(あ)く.

Pairs are counted with 〜足(そく): 一足(いっそく), one pair.

Written 差(さ)す in kanji, but kana is usual for umbrellas.