1000 Most Common Japanese Words List – Part 1

1000 Most Common Japanese Words List – Part 1

1. 凄い (sugoi) : great, incredible

2. 親切 (shinsetsu) : kind, kindhearted

3. 絶対 (zettai) : absolutely, never

4. 先月 (sengetsu) : last month

5. 一昨年 (ototoshi) : the year before last (colloquial)

6. 冬休み (fuyuyasumi) : winter vacation

7. 夏休み (natsuyasumi) : summer vacation

8. 休日 (kyuujitsu) : day off, holiday

9. 正月 (shougatsu) : New Year, January

10. 思い出 (omoide) : memory

11. たまに (tamani) : occasionally, by chance

12. おかしい (okashii) : strange, peculiar

13. 浅い (asai) : shallow, superficial

14. 君 (kimi) : you (referring to fellows or subordinates)

15. 奥さん (okusan) : (somone else’s) wife, married woman

16. 赤ちゃん (akachan) : baby (colloquial)

17. 小学生 (shougakusei) : elementary school student

18. 貸す (kasu) : lend, lease

19. 数える (kazoeru) : count

20. 生む (umu) : give birth, produce

21. 育つ (sodatsu) : be brought up, grow

22. 是非 (zehi) : by all means, please

23. 黒 (kuro) : black

24. おもちゃ (omocha) : toy, plaything

25. 靴 (kutsu) : shoes

26. 連絡 (renraku) : contact, communication

27. 伝言 (dengon) : message

28. 預ける (azukeru) : deposit, leave (something) with (someone)

29. 下がる (sagaru) : go down, drop

30. 泳ぐ (oyogu) : swim

31. アルバイト (arubaito) : part-time job

32. コート (ko-to) : coat, jacket (loan word)

33. 趣味 (shumi) : hobby, interest

34. 散歩 (sanpo) : walk, stroll

35. 幸せ (shiawase) : happiness, satisfied (colloquial)

36. 安心 (anshin) : peace of mind, relief

37. 大勢 (oozei) : large numbers, a lot of (people)

38. 医者 (isha) : doctor (colloquial, plain)

39. 運転手 (untenshu) : driver

40. 新幹線 (shinkansen) : bullet train

41. 往復 (oufuku) : round trip

42. コピー (kopi-) : copy, photocopy

43. 奥 (　oku) : inner part, the back

44. 重さ (omosa) : weight

45. 親しい (shitashii) : intimate, familiar

46. 修理 (shuuri) : repair, mending

47. カード (ka-do) : card

48. 挨拶 (aisatsu) : greet, greeting

49. 階段 (kaidan) : steps, flight of stairs

50. 配る (kubaru) : hand out, distribute

51. 断る (kotowaru) : refuse, turn down

52. グラム (guramu) : gram

53. 濃い (koi) : strong, concentrated

54. 壊す (kowasu) : break (something), destroy

55. 桜 (sakura) : cherry tree, cherry blossom

56. 仕方 (shikata) : way, method

57. 絵 (e) : picture, painting

58. 気温 (kion) : air temperature

59. 品物 (shinamono) : article, goods

60. 吸う (suu) : inhale, suck

61. 案内 (annai) : guide, guidance

62. スキー (suki-) : ski, skiing

63. 金持ち (kanemochi) : wealthy person

64. 尋ねる (tazuneru) : inquire, ask

65. 叩く (tataku) : tap, hit

66. 帰り (kaeri) : return, going home

67. 卵 (tamago) : egg

68. 氷 (koori) : ice

69. 留学生 (ryuugakusei) : student studying abroad

70. ソフト (sofuto) : software, program

71. 歯医者 (haisha) : dentist

72. 蹴る (keru) : kick

73. 敷く (shiku) : lay, spread

74. ひととき (hitotoki) : some moments, a while

75. 交通事故 (koutsuujiko) : traffic accident

76. 遭う (au) : meet, encounter, get caught in

77. 招待 (shoutai) : invitation

78. 咲く (saku) : bloom, blossom

79. 二十歳 (hatachi) : 20 years old

80. 銀 (gin) : silver

81. 内側 (uchigawa) : inside, interior

82. 池 (ike) : pond

83. 石 (ishi) : stone, small rock

84. 愛 (ai) : love

85. 課 (ka) : section, division

86. 大学院 (daigakuin) : graduate school

87. 台所 (daidokoro) : kitchen

88. カラー (kara-) : color (loan word)

89. すり (suri) : pickpocket

90. キャンプ (kyanpu) : camping, camp

91. オートバイ (o-tobai) : motorbike, motorcycle

92. 建つ (tatsu) : be built, be erected

93. 刺す (sasu) : sting, stab

94. 言い方 (iikata) : way of speaking, expression

95. 沈む (shizumu) : sink

96. 組み立てる (kumitateru) : set up, put together

97. 恐ろしい (osoroshii) : terrible, awful

98. 外人 (gaijin) : foreigner, alien

99. 牛 (ushi) : cattle, cow

100. 食堂 (shokudou) : cafeteria, restaurant