How many Japanese verbs do you know? When you know the 100 most common Japanese verbs and understand basic Japanese verb conjugation, you can express and understand Japanese much better!

Verbs are one of the most important parts of speech, and it’s said that verbs are the second most frequently used words (26%, next to nouns at 42%) among all other categories of words in daily Japanese conversations. 

It’s always a bit tiring to learn grammatical rules, such as the conjugation patterns of verbs. However, it’s easier than you think! Once you have the rules down and become used to using them, all you have to do is apply those rules to new Japanese verbs you learn.

Japanese verb conjugation has unique rules from those in English. But don’t worry! Some features are simpler—there’s no verb conjugation based on the speaker, such as singular vs. plural, gender, or the category of that person grammatically, called 人称 (ninshō). This means that in English, verbs change based on who’s speaking:

• I am
• She is
• You are

• I go
• He goes

However, Japanese verbs remain the same regardless of who the speaker is.
In this article, we’ll introduce the top 100 Japanese verbs for beginners, which are most frequently used. We’ll also give you some tips about Japanese verb conjugation, though we’ll have a more in-depth article on this topic later on. Let’s master Japanese verbs here at JapanesePod101!

Table of Contents

1. Verb Groups: Different Types of Japanese Verbs
2. Action Verbs: Physical
3. Action Verbs: Mental
4. Other Verbs
5. Japanese Auxiliary Verbs: 助動詞 (Jodōshi)
6. Verb Usage: How Japanese Verbs Work
7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Verb Groups: Different Types of Japanese Verbs

Japanese verbs always end with u or ru, and verbs are categorized into three groups: 

• Class 1: U-verb
• Class 2: Ru-verb
• Class 3: Irregular verb

As the conjugation system itself is very simple, memorizing the patterns and rules will help you learn how to use Japanese verbs properly.

Japanese verbs consist of two parts: a verb base (“stem”) and a suffix. A stem doesn’t change, and a suffix conjugates according to the forms. These forms include casual vs. polite and plain vs. negative.

Class 1: U-Verbs

書く (kaku)：write	Casual	Polite
Stem	kak
Basic Form	書-く kak-u	書-きます kak-imasu
Negative Form	書-かない kak-anai	書-きません kak-imasen

The verb 書く (kaku), meaning “write,” has the stem kak and the suffix u. As you can see from the Japanese verbs chart above, the suffix conjugates and changes according to the forms. 

However, you have to keep in mind that if a verb ends with u, it means that the last vowel is u. Therefore,  u-verbs can end with Hiragana:

• う(u)
• く (ku)
• す(su)
• つ (tsu)
• ぬ (nu)
• む (mu)
• る (ru) 

U-verb Examples

English	Reading	Kanji	Hiragana
meet	au	会う	あう
learn	manabu	学ぶ	まなぶ
push	osu	押す	おす
pull	hiku	引く	ひく

Class 2: Ru-Verbs

出る (deru) ：come out	Casual	Polite
Stem	de
Basic Form	出-る de-ru	出-ます de-masu
Negative Form	出-ない de-nai	出-ません de-masen

The verb 出る (deru), meaning “come out,” has the stem de and the suffix ru. The suffix conjugates and changes as it did above. It’s similar to u-verbs, but slightly different.

Ru-verb Examples

English	Reading	Kanji	Hiragana
teach	oshieru	教える	おしえる
exist (living things)	iru	いる	いる
sleep	neru	寝る	ねる
answer	kotaeru	答える	こたえる

Class 3: Irregular Verbs

Don’t worry too much! There are only two Japanese irregular verbs.

The stems of the verbs change according to the conjugating forms. There are only two verbs, so let’s memorize them!

• 来る (kuru)：come

来る (kuru) ：come	Casual	Polite
Stem	ku / ko / ki
Basic Form	来-る く-る ku-ru	来-ます き-ます ki-masu
Negative Form	来-ない こ-ない ko-nai	来-ません き-ません ki-masen

• する (suru)：do

する (suru) ：do	Casual	Polite
Stem	su / shi
Basic Form	す-る su-ru	し-ます shi-masu
Negative Form	し-ない shi-nai	し-ません shi-masen

The Japanese verb する (suru), meaning “do,” is a very handy word which can often turn a noun into a verb when it’s added next to the noun. 

For example:

• 勉強 (benkyō)   ＋　する (suru) 　= to study

studying                (do)  

• 参加 (sanka) 　＋　する (suru) 　= to participate

participation           (do)  

• 感謝 (kansha)   ＋　する (suru) 　= to thank/appreciate

  appreciation/gratitude      (do)  

Now that you have a better idea of how to conjugate different types of verbs, let’s move on to our Japanese verbs list! 

2. Action Verbs: Physical 

To start, here are the most common Japanese verbs of motion.

English	Japanese Reading	Kanji	Hiragana
see / look / watch	miru	見る	みる
hear / listen	kiku	聞く	きく
say	iu	言う	いう
walk	aruku	歩く	あるく
run	hashiru	走る	はしる
eat	taberu	食べる	たべる
drink	nomu	飲む	のむ
take	toru	取る	とる
use	tsukau	使う	つかう
move	ugoku	動く	うごく
hold / grab	tsukamu	掴む	つかむ
stand	suwaru	座る	すわる
stand	tatsu	立つ	たつ
wear	kiru	着る	きる
take off (clothes/shoes)	nugu	脱ぐ	ぬぐ
work	hataraku	働く	はたらく
wake up	okiru	起きる	おきる
go	iku	行く	いく
come	kuru	来る	くる
bend	mageru	曲げる	まげる
search	sagasu	探す	さがす
read	yomu	読む	よむ
play	asobu	遊ぶ	あそぶ
get on (vehicle)	noru	乗る	のる
get off (vehicle)	oriru	降りる	おりる
start	hajimeru	始める	はじめる
finish	oeru	終える	おえる
open	akeru	開ける	あける
close	shimeru	閉める	しめる
stop	tomeru	止める	とめる
put	oku	置く	おく
wait	matsu	待つ	まつ
rest	yasumu	休む	やすむ
learn	manabu	学ぶ	まなぶ
give	ataeru	与える	あたえる
visit	otozureru	訪れる	おとずれる
leave	saru	去る	さる
depart	shuppatsu suru	出発する	しゅっぱつする
arrive	tōchaku suru	到着する	とうちゃくする
sell	uru	売る	うる
buy	kau	買う	かう
live	ikiru	生きる	いきる
die	shinu	死ぬ	しぬ

3. Action Verbs: Mental 

These everyday Japanese verbs are essential for expressing actions that aren’t physical or immediately tangible. Take a look!

know	Japanese Reading	Kanji	Hiragana
know	shiru	知る	しる
think	kangaeru	考える	かんがえる
imagine	sōzō suru	想像する	そうぞうする
feel	kanjiru	感じる	かんじる
like	konomu	好む	このむ
dislike	kirau	嫌う	きらう
love	aisuru	愛する	あいする
hate	nikumu	憎む	にくむ
believe	shinjiru	信じる	しんじる
expect	kitai suru	期待する	きたいする
understand	rikai suru	理解する	りかいする
remember	omoidasu	思い出す	おもいだす
agree	dōi suru	同意する	どういする
laugh	warau	笑う	わらう
cry	naku	泣く	なく
get angry	okoru	怒る	おこる
feel sad	kanashimu	悲しむ	かなしむ
wish / hope	negau	願う	ねがう
get surprised	odoroku	驚く	おどろく
forget	wasureru	忘れる	わすれる
satisfy	manzoku suru	満足する	まんぞくする
doubt	utagau	疑う	うたがう
decide	kimeru	決める	きめる
notice	kizuku	気づく	きづく

To check your pronunciation of Japanese verbs with audio, see our page about the 25 Most Commonly Used Verbs.

4. Other Verbs 

You’re almost done! There are just a few more Japanese language verbs you should know.

English	Japanese Reading	Kanji	Hiragana
appear	arawareru	現れる	あらわれる
remain	kieru	消える	きえる
remain	nokoru	残る	のこる
return	kaeru	帰る	かえる
check	kakunin suru	確認する	かくにんする
increase	fueru	増える	ふえる
decrease	heru	減る	へる
carry	hakobu	運ぶ	はこぶ
get dry	kawaku	乾く	かわく
get wet	nureru	濡れる	ぬれる
wash	arau	洗う	あらう
get dirty	yogoreru	汚れる	よごれる
indicate	shimesu	示す	しめす
enjoy	tanoshimu	楽しむ	たのしむ
fall	ochiru	落ちる	おちる
win	katsu	勝つ	かつ
lose	makeru	負ける	まける
break	kowasu	壊す	こわす
fix	naosu	直す	なおす
cross	wataru	渡る	わたる
change	kawaru	変わる	かわる
send	okuru	送る	おくる
receive	uketoru	受け取る	うけとる

5. Japanese Auxiliary Verbs: 助動詞 (Jodōshi)

The Japanese 助動詞 (Jodōshi), which translates as “auxiliary verb,” is a functional type of word with some variations. By adding an auxiliary verb, the meaning of the preceding word will be modified. 

For example:

• 感じる (kanjiru) : “feel”   +   させる (saseru) [causative verb]

           = 感じさせる (kanjisaseru) : “make (you) feel”

• 食べる (taberu) : “eat”   +   られる (rareru) [ability]

           = 食べられる (taberareru) : edible

Here are some of the Japanese auxiliary verbs:

Japanese Reading	Hiragana	Usage / Meaning / Example
(sa)seru	(ら)れる	Causation 食べさせる  tabesaseru to make (one) eat
(ra) reru	(ら)れる	Passive / Ability, etc. 食べられる taberareru   edible / being eaten
nai / nu / n	(よ)う	Negation 食べない tabenai 　 (I do) not eat
yō	(よ)う	Volition 食べよう tabeyō 　 I will eat / Let’s eat
tai / tagaru	たい / たがる	Desire 食べたい tabetai  I want to eat
yō da	ようだ	Similarity 食べるようだ taberu yō da 　 it looks like (she/he) eats
sō da	そうだ	Hearsay 食べるそうだ taberu sō da  they say that (she/he) eats
rashii	らしい	Hearsay / Behavior 食べるらしい taberu rashii they say that (she/he) may eat
da / desu・masu	だ / です・ます	Predication / Politeness (copula) 食べます tabemasu　 (I) eat

6. Verb Usage: How Japanese Verbs Work

Japanese language verb conjugation patterns differ for u-verbs, ru-verbs, and irregular verbs. 

Because many frequently used Japanese words are in this category, let’s take a look at an example for u-verbs.

The conjugation pattern for the verb 書く (kaku), meaning “write,” is as follows:

Conjugation	Kanji	Usage / Meaning
kakAnai	書かない	Negative Form
kakImasu	書きます	Polite Form
kaIta	書いた	Ta- Form
kakU	書く	Dictionary Form
kakU toki	書くとき	Attributive Form
kakEba	書けば	Conditional Form
kakE	書け	Imperative Form
kakO	書こう	Suggestion Form (“Let’s-“)

For more detail on the grammar of Japanese verbs and other conjugation patterns, please visit Verb Conjugation.

We also have other articles you may like to check out: Top 100 Japanese Adjectives, Top 100 Japanese Nouns, and Japanese Pronouns.

7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

In this article, we introduced the most common Japanese verbs and explained the basics of Japanese verb conjugation. Once you know the conjugation patterns, you’ll be able to more quickly expand your Japanese verbs vocabulary and take better command of the language.

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language and other useful Japanese phrases for a variety of situations, you’ll find a lot of helpful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide an array of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills. To get you started, here’s some more information on Japanese basics with audio: 

• 50 Most Common Nouns
• 50 Most Common Verbs
• 50 Most Common Adjectives

To learn how to converse with others in Japanese, check out Top 15 Questions You Should Know for Conversations and Top 10 Conversational Phrases. If you want to learn Japanese kanji, you’ll also enjoy Basic Kanji for Verbs and Basic Kanji for Adjectives.

And there’s so much more! Learn faster and enjoy studying Japanese at JapanesePod101.com!

Before you go, let us know in the comments if there are any Japanese verbs you still want to know! We’d be glad to help, and look forward to hearing from you!

Pronouns are used to substitute nouns, such as people or things, in a sentence. Using pronouns allows you to avoid repetitive usage of a particular word in a sentence, which would sound awkward. Japanese pronouns are very different from those in English because Japanese pronouns can be omitted from a sentence when they’re implied through the context.

Unlike in English, there are many different variations of Japanese personal pronouns that translate as “I/me” and “you,” although only a few are commonly used. This expression of Japanese pronouns comes from Japanese culture, which puts importance on respect, seniority, and social order. 

Each Japanese pronoun variation denotes the different characteristics of the speaker. These include gender, age, social status, level of respect, and their relationship with the person they’re speaking to.
Ready to learn Japanese pronouns? In this Japanese pronoun guide, we introduce Japanese pronouns that will boost your language skills, and teach you how to use them. JapanesePod101 makes it simple and easy to understand!

Table of Contents

1. Japanese Personal Pronouns
2. Japanese Demonstrative Pronouns
3. Japanese Interrogative Pronouns
4. Japanese Indefinite Pronouns
5. Examples
6. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Japanese Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns in Japanese are rich in expression, and there are dozens of first- and second-person pronouns. However, most of them aren’t commonly used so we’ll introduce frequently used Japanese personal pronouns here.

1. 1st, 2nd, 3rd Person Singular

1. How to Say “I”

Reading	Kanji	Hiragana	Level of Formality	Gender	Characteristics
watakushi	私	わたくし	very formal	both	Very formal and polite personal pronoun often used in very official occasions.
watashi	私	わたし	formal / informal	both	Used by both genders in formal occasions, such as at the workplace. This is the most commonly used word for “I,” but it’s often omitted in a sentence. In informal situations, this is typically used by women.
atashi	ー	あたし	informal	female	This is the casual version of watashi and it’s used by younger females in conversations. However, it can sound a bit childish and unsophisticated.
boku	僕	ぼく	informal	male	Used by males of all ages, but very often by kids and younger men. It gives an impression of  humbleness. This can also be used as a second-person pronoun toward little boys (English equivalent: “kid”).
ore	俺	おれ	very informal	male	Frequently used by men in informal settings, such as among family and friends. It sounds very masculine. This can be very rude when it’s used in formal occasions or in front of respectable/senior people.

2. How to Say “You”

Reading	Kanji	Hiragana	Level of Formality	Gender	Characteristics
anata	貴方	あなた	formal / informal	both	This is almost equivalent to the English word “you.” However, it’s not often used as the subject in a sentence, and it’s often omitted. It’s more common to use a person’s name with a Japanese honorific, such as 様 (sama) or さん (san), to express “you” in formal contexts. In addition, wives often call their husbands by this Japanese pronoun. When used this way, it’s comparable to the English words “dear” or “darling.” Kanji is rarely used.
kimi	君	きみ	informal	both	Often used to call subordinates and peers in informal settings. It can also be affectionate and polite when used by a boyfriend/husband to call his girlfriend/wife. It’s impolite and inappropriate when used with respectable/senior people or strangers. The Kanji 君 can also be read as kun when it’s added next to a male’s name as a casual and affectionate honorific word.
omae	お前	おまえ	very informal	both / male	Often used by men. It expresses that the speaker has a superior status or age, and it’s very rude to use this toward senior people and in formal settings. It’s also used among close friends to call peers. In addition, husbands frequently call their wives by this pronoun, which is comparable to the female use of anata.
anta	ー	あんた	very informal	both	It’s a short version of anata, but it sounds very impolite and implies a sense of contempt. It can also be used between people in a very close relationship. It’s very rude and inappropriate to use toward  senior people and in formal settings.
kisama	貴様	きさま	very rude and hostile	both	The historical origin of this word was very formal, but it’s used today as a very rude way to call another person. It has a sense of extreme hostility from the speaker. You’ll often hear this in  時代劇 (jidaigeki) (samurai warrior) drama shows.

3. How to Say “He” and “She”

Does Japanese have gendered pronouns? Sort of. Here’s what we mean:

Reading	Kanji	Hiragana	Level of Formality
kare	彼	かれ	formal / informal
kanojo	彼女	かのじょ	formal / informal

The Japanese pronouns for the third person are above. However, they’re not used like they are in English.

Native Japanese people prefer to use the person’s name, or to describe them as あの人 (ano hito), meaning “that person,” which makes it unnecessary to indicate gender.

In informal settings, 彼 (kare) means “boyfriend” and 彼女 (kanojo) means “girlfriend.”

2. 1st, 2nd, 3rd Person Plural

In order to make Japanese personal pronouns plural, a suffix is added to them.
The suffix can be ～達 (-tachi ), ～方 (-gata), or ～ら (-ra), depending on which word comes in front.

Meaning	Suffix	Reading	Level of Formality
We	-tachi	watashi-tachi	neutral / formal
You [plural]	-tachi	anata-tachi	neutral / formal
You [plural]	-gata	anata-gata	formal
They [he, plural]	-ra	kare-ra	neutral / formal
They [she, plural]	-ra	kanojo-ra	neutral / formal

The suffix 達 (-tachi) can be added to most of the nouns that refer to people and animals. For example, 動物達(dōbutsu-tachi) means “animals.”

3. Possessive Forms

To make Japanese possessive pronouns, add the suffix の (〜no) to the pronouns.

Meaning	Reading
mine	watashi no
yours	anata no
his	kare no
hers	kanojo no
ours	watashi-tachi no
theirs	kare-ra no

4. Reflective or Intensive Forms

To make Japanese reflexive pronouns or intensive forms, add the suffix 自身 (〜jishin) to the pronouns.

Meaning	Reading
myself	watashi jishin
yourself	anata jishin
himself	kare jishin
herself	kanojo jishin
ourselves	watashi-tachi jishin
themselves	kare-ra jishin

To hear how to pronounce Japanese pronouns, visit Most Useful Pronouns.

2. Japanese Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns in Japanese are typically written in Hiragana. Further, Japanese demonstrative pronouns are easy to remember as they’re categorized in groups depending on their degree of distance from the speaker or listener.

Words that:

• begin with こ (ko-) indicate something close to the speaker. 
• begin with そ (so-) indicate some distance from the speaker or something close to the listener.
• begin with あ (a-) indicate far distance.

Meaning	Reading	Hiragana	Notes
this	kore	これ	near speaker
it	sore	それ	near listener
that	are	あれ	distant from both speaker and listener
these	kore-ra	これら	near speaker
those	sore-ra / are-ra	それら/ あれら	near listener / distant from both speaker and listener
here	koko	ここ	near speaker
there	soko	そこ	near listener
over there	asoko	あそこ	distant from both speaker and listener

3. Japanese Interrogative Pronouns

Similar to demonstrative pronouns, most of the Japanese interrogative pronouns begin with ど (do-) or だ (da-).

Meaning	Reading	Kanji	Hiragana
what	nani	何	なに
which	dono / dore	ー	どの/どれ
who	dare	誰	だれ
whom	dare ni	誰に	誰に
whose	dare no	誰の	だれの
when	itsu	ー	いつ
why	naze	ー	なぜ

Keep in mind that “whose” is a possessive form of “who,” and the rules of the Japanese possessive forms also apply:

誰 (dare) meaning “who” + の (〜no) = 誰の (dare no) meaning “whose.”

4. Japanese Indefinite Pronouns

In the Japanese language, “everyone/everybody” and “anyone/anybody” are both translated as 誰でも (dare demo) in some contexts.

In a negative sentence using indefinite pronouns such as “no one/nobody,” “nowhere,” and “nothing,” a negative form is typically: も…ない (...mo…nai …).

Meaning	Reading	Kanji	Hiragana
everyone / everybody	minna / dare demo	皆/誰でも	みんな/だれでも
everywhere	doko demo / doko ni mo	ー	どこでも/どこにも
everything	subete / zenbu	全て/全部	すべて/ぜんぶ
someone / somebody	dare ka	誰か	だれか
somewhere	doko ka	ー	どこか
something	nani ka	何か	なにか
no one / nobody	dare mo…nai	誰も…ない	だれも…ない
nowhere	doko ni mo…nai	ー	どこにも…ない
nothing	nani mo…nai	何も…ない	なにも…ない
anyone / anybody	dare demo	誰でも	だれでも
anywhere	doko demo / doko ni mo	ー	どこでも/どこにも
anything	nan demo	何でも	なんでも

5. Examples

Now that we’ve come to the end of this Japanese pronouns list, here are some example sentences using Japanese pronouns.

1. Personal Pronouns

• あなたと私は東京出身で、彼と彼女は大阪出身です。

Anata to watashi wa Tōkyō shusshin de, kare to kanojo wa Ōsaka shusshin desu. 

You and I are from Tokyo, and he and she are from Osaka.

• 年上の人に向かって「お前」や「貴様」と呼ぶことはとても失礼です。

Toshiue no hito ni mukatte “omae” ya “kisama” to yobu koto wa totemo shitsurei desu.

It is very rude to call an elder person omae and kisama.

• 私達は明日、君の誕生日会へ行きます。

Watashi-tachi wa ashita, kimi no tanjōbi kai e ikimasu.

We will go to your birthday party tomorrow.

2. Demonstrative Pronouns

• それをここに持ってきてください。

Sore o koko ni motte kite kudasai. 

Please bring it here.

• これらの本はあそこの棚へ戻してください。

Kore-ra no hon wa asoko no tana e modoshite kudasai. 

Please put these books back on the shelf over there.

• 彼らはここからあなたの家へ出発しました。

Kare-ra wa koko kara anata no ie e shuppatsu shimashita.

They departed to your home from here.

3. Interrogative Pronouns

• 私はなぜあそこに行かなければならないか分かりません。

Watashi wa naze aoko ni ikanakereba naranai ka wakarimasen. 

I don’t understand why I have to go there.

• 誰に向かって話しているのですか。

Dare ni mukatte hanashite iru no desu ka.

To whom are you talking?

• あそこのあの靴は誰のですか。

Asoko no ano kutsu wa dare no desu ka.

Whose shoes are those there?

4. Indefinite Pronouns

• 彼女はどこかに全てを置いてきました。

Kanojo wa doko ka ni subete o oite kimashita. 

She left everything somewhere.

• 誰もあのような変な服を持っていないでしょう。

Dare mo ano yō na hen na fuku o motte inai deshō.

No one would have strange clothes like that.

• 誰かが彼にここで何でも食べていいと伝えました。

Dare ka ga kare ni koko de nan demo tabete ii to tsutaemashita.

Somebody told him that he could eat anything here.

 To learn more useful Japanese vocabulary, check out our 100 Adjectives and 100 Nouns articles.

6. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

In this article, we introduced you to a variety of common pronouns in Japanese. By now, you should have an enhanced vocabulary and have a better idea of how to use Japanese pronouns. This is something that will definitely improve your overall Japanese language skills! 

Did you learn something new from this article? Do you want to know more about Japanese grammar? Let us know in the comments section below!

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language and other useful Japanese phrases for any situation, you’ll find more helpful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons to help you improve your Japanese language skills. 

To get you started, here’s some more information about the basics of Japanese, with audio:

• 50 Most Common Nouns,
• 50 Most Common Verbs
• 50 Most Common Adjectives

To learn how to converse in Japanese, check out Top 15 Questions You Should Know for Conversations and Top 10 Conversational Phrases. Basic Kanji for Verbs and Basic Kanji for Adjectives are also useful if you want to learn Japanese kanji.

And there’s so much more! Learn faster and enjoy studying Japanese at JapanesePod101.com!

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• Access to thousands of lessons
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• Spaced-repetition system (SRS) flashcards
• Weekly homework assignments
• A personal language instructor

As someone who decided to make Japanese her second language one year ago, I am extremely grateful for Premium PLUS.

Allow me to emphasize on how these Premium PLUS features strengthen my language studies.

Gain Unlimited Access to Audio and Video Lessons!

As a Premium PLUS member, I have full access to the lesson library and other Premium features. Best of all, I’m not limited to one level; I can learn to my heart’s content with upper-level courses.

There are lessons on various topics that tackle crucial language-learning elements, such as:

• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking
• Conversation

Specifically, there are pathways. Pathways are collections of lessons that center on a specific topic. Some Innovative Language sites, like JapanesePod101.com, even have pathways geared toward proficiency tests. For example, the JLPT N3 Master Course pathway.

Because of the abundance of lessons, I’ve found pathways in the lesson library to help me prepare for certain events. Thanks to the “Speaking Perfect Japanese at a Restaurant” pathway, I spoke fully in Japanese while dining in Japan. Additionally, I participated in conversations at language exchange meetups in South Korea after completing the “Top 25 Korean Questions You Need to Know” pathway.

Each lesson has lesson notes, which I read while simultaneously listening to the audio lesson. This strategy enables me to follow along on key points. Lesson notes generally contain the following:

• Dialogue
• Vocabulary
• Grammar points
• Cultural insights

As someone who’s constantly on-the-go, I heavily benefit from mobile access to lessons. Podcasts and lesson notes are available on the Innovative Language app and/or Podcasts app for iOS.

All lessons and their contents are downloadable. Prior to my flights to Japan and South Korea, I downloaded lessons on my iPhone. The apps make learning more convenient for me during my commutes.

Practice Speaking with the Voice Recording Tool!

Pronunciation is an essential ingredient in language-learning. Proper pronunciation prompts clear understanding during conversations with native speakers.

Prior to learning full Korean sentences, my online Korean language tutor assigned the “Hana Hana Hangul” pathway to me. It demonstrated the writing and pronunciation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Throughout this pathway, I submitted recordings of my Hangul character pronunciations to my language teacher for review.

I was given a similar task on JapanesePod101.com with the “Ultimate Japanese Pronunciation Guide” pathway. My Japanese language teacher tested my pronunciation of the Japanese characters kana. My completion of the two pathways boosted my confidence in speaking.

Speaking is one of the more challenging components of learning a language. The voice recording tool in particular was a great way for me to improve my speaking skills. Further, because the lesson dialogues are spoken by native speakers, I’m able to practice speaking naturally.

This feature is also available for vocabulary words and sample sentences. Being able to hear these recordings improves my pronunciation skills for languages like Japanese, where intonation can change the meaning of a word entirely. The voice recorder examines my speed and tone. I also follow up by sending a recording to my online language tutor for feedback.

A great way to boost one’s speaking confidence is to shadow native speakers. During the vocabulary reviews, it’s helpful for me to hear the breakdown of each word; doing so makes a word that was originally difficult to even read a breeze to say!

Some lessons create opportunities to speak your own sentences. For example, the “Top 25 Korean Questions You Need to Know” pathway presents opportunities to answer questions personally. This helps you gain the ability to give answers as the unique individual you are.

Example Scenario:

The host asks the following question:

어디에 살고 있습니까?

eodieseo salgo isseumnikka

“Where do you live?”

If you live in Tokyo, you would readily say the following:

도쿄에 살고 있습니다.

Tokyo-e salgo isseumnida.

“I live in Tokyo.”

Increase Your Vocab with Spaced-Repetition Flashcards and More!

Imagine having a conversation with a native speaker and hesitating because you lack a solid vocabulary base.

Premium PLUS offers various features to expand learners’ vocabulary, including Free Gifts of the Month. JapanesePod101’s free gifts for April 2020 included an e-book with “400 Everyday Phrases for Beginners,” and the content is updated every month. When I download free resources like this, I find opportunities to use them with co-teachers, friends, or my language tutors.

An effective way to learn vocabulary is with SRS flashcards. SRS is a system designed for learning a new word and reviewing it in varying time intervals.

You can create and study flashcard decks, whether it’s your Word Bank or a certain vocabulary list. For example, if you need to visit a post office, the “Post Office” vocabulary list for your target language would be beneficial to study prior to your visit.

In addition to the SRS flashcards, each lesson has a vocabulary slideshow and quiz to review the lesson’s vocabulary.

There’s also the 2000 Core Word List, which includes the most commonly used words in your target language. Starting from the 100 Core Word List, you’ll gradually build up your knowledge of useful vocabulary. These lists can be studied with SRS flashcards, too.

With the SRS flashcards, you can change the settings to your liking. The settings range from different card types to number of new cards per deck. Personally, I give myself vocabulary tests by changing the settings.

After studying a number of flashcards, I change the card types to listening comprehension and/or production. Then I test myself by writing the translation of the word or the spoken word or phrase.

The change in settings allow me to remember vocabulary and learn how to identify the words. This is especially helpful with Japanese kanji!

Complete Homework Assignments!

Homework assignments are advantageous to my language studies. There are homework assignments auto-generated weekly. They range from multiple-choice quizzes to writing assignments.

Language tutors are readily available for homework help. Some writing assignments, for instance, require use of unfamiliar vocabulary. In such cases, my language teachers assist me by forwarding related lessons or vocabulary lists.

In addition to these auto-generated homework tasks, language tutors customize daily assignments. My daily homework assignments include submitting three written sentences that apply the target grammar point of that lesson, and then blindly audio-recording those sentences. My personal language tutor follows up with feedback and corrections, if needed.

Your language tutors also provide assignments upon requests. When I wanted to review grammar, my Korean teacher sent related quizzes and assignments. Thus, you are not only limited to the auto-generated assignments.

Every weekend, I review by re-reading those written sentences. It helps me remember sentence structures, grammar points, and vocabulary to apply in real-world contexts.

Furthermore, I can track my progress with language portfolios every trimester. It’s like a midterm exam that tests my listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Get Your Own Personal Language Teacher!

My language teachers cater to my goals with personalized and achievable learning programs. The tangible support of my online language teachers makes it evident that we share common goals.

Once I share a short-term or long-term goal with my teacher, we establish a plan or pathway that will ultimately result in success. I coordinate with my teachers regularly to ensure the personalized learning programs are prosperous. For example, during my JLPT studies, my Japanese language tutor assigned me practice tests.

Your language tutor is available for outside help as well. When I bought drama CDs in Japan, I had difficulty transliterating the dialogue. My Japanese teacher forwarded me the script to read along as I listened.

Additionally, I often practice Korean and Japanese with music. I memorize one line of the lyrics daily. Every time, I learn a new grammar point and new vocabulary. I add the vocabulary to my SRS flashcards, locate the grammar in the Grammar Bank, and study the associated lessons online.

I send my teachers the name of the songs, making them aware of my new goal. One time, my song for Korean was “If You Do” by GOT7. My Korean teacher revealed that she was a huge fan of GOT7 like me! For Japanese, it was “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA,” also known as the Dragonball Z theme song. My Japanese teacher excitedly told me that she sang the song a lot as a kid!

A remarkable thing happened to me in South Korea. I was stressed about opening a bank account with limited Korean. I sought help from my Korean teacher. She forwarded me a script of a bank conversation.

After two days, I visited the local bank. It all started with my opening sentence:

은행 계좌를 만들고 싶어요

eunhaeng gyejwaleul mandeulgo sip-eoyo.

I want to open a bank account.

Everything went smoothly, and I exited the bank with a new account!

The MyTeacher Messenger allows me to share visuals with my teachers for regular interaction, including videos to critique my pronunciation mechanisms. I improve my listening and speaking skills by exchanging audio with my teachers. In addition to my written homework assignments, I exchange messages with my language teachers in my target language. This connection with my teachers enables me to experience the culture as well as the language.

Why You Should Subscribe to Premium PLUS

It’s impossible for me to imagine my continuous progress with Japanese and Korean without Premium PLUS. Everything—from the SRS flashcards to my language teachers—makes learning languages enjoyable and clear-cut.

You’re assured to undergo the same experience with Premium PLUS. You’ll gain access to the aforementioned features as well as all of the Premium features.

Complete lessons and assignments to advance in your target language. Increase your vocabulary with the “2000 Core Word List” for that language and SRS flashcards. Learn on-the-go with the Innovative Language app and/or Podcasts app for iOS users.

Learning a new language takes dedication and commitment. The Premium PLUS features make learning irresistibly exciting. You’ll look forward to learning daily with your language tutor.

As of right now, your challenge is to subscribe to Premium PLUS! Complete your assessment, and meet your new Japanese teacher.

Have fun learning your target language in the fastest and easiest way!

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Knowing how to ask for directions in Japanese is very helpful when it comes to getting around in Japan. In particular, finding the right address can be a bit confusing, because smaller streets in Japan aren’t named and addresses are expressed with the name of a small area and numbers.

Along with knowing how to ask directions in Japanese, understanding the directions you were told is even more important. This ensures that you can reach the destination with the information given. (You don’t want to mistake “right” in Japanese for left!)

But don’t worry! Japanese people are kind in general, and they’ll stop to listen and help you when you ask them for directions in Japanese.

Here’s some useful vocabulary and phrases for giving and asking for directions in Japanese. Master directions in Japanese at JapanesePod101.com and find your way to exciting destinations!


Table of Contents

1. On the Map: Cardinal Directions in Japanese
2. On the Road
3. Giving Directions in Japanese Using Landmarks
4. Must-Know Phrases for Asking for Directions in Japanese
5. Must-Know Phrases for Giving Directions in Japanese
6. Other Useful Phrases for Asking Directions with Map/Phone
7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. On the Map: Cardinal Directions in Japanese

Let’s master the basic compass directions in Japanese for reading the map.

1- Basic Vocabulary

Reading	Kanji	Hiragana	English
kita	北	きた	north
minami	南	みなみ	south
nishi	西	にし	west
higashi	東	ひがし	east
hokusei	北西	ほくせい	northwest
hokutō	北東	ほくとう	northwest
nantō	南東	なんとう	southeast
nansei	南西	なんせい	southwest
chizu	地図	ちず	map
genzaichi	現在地	げんざいち	current location

2- Examples

• 皇居は現在地から北東へ５kmの場所にあります。
  Kōkyo wa genzaichi kara hokutō e go-kiromētoru no basho ni arimasu.
  The Imperial Palace is located 5km northeast from the current location.


• 日本の地理は、北の北海道、東の関東、西の関西、南の九州が特徴です。
  Nihon no chiri wa, kita no Hokkaidō, higashi no Kantō, nishi no Kansai, minami no Kyūshū ga tokuchō desu.
  The geography of Japan is characterized by Hokkaidō of the North, Kantō of the East, Kansai of the West, and Kyūshū of the south.


• 横浜は、東京の南に位置しています。
  Yokohama wa Tōkyō no minami ni ichi shite imasu.　
  Yokohama is located in the south of Tokyo.

The Japanese map shows the major roads with names, but small streets don’t have names. It’s useful to know the word kita, meaning “north” in Japanese, for reading the map.

2. On the Road

Knowing how to say directions in Japanese for the road, such as right and left in Japanese, is very useful. The vocabulary below is essential for giving and receiving driving directions in Japanese!

1- Basic Vocabulary

Reading	Kanji	Hiragana	English
mae	前	まえ	front
ushiro	後ろ	うしろ	back
hidari	左	ひだり	left
migi	右	みぎ	right
tōi	遠い	とおい	far
chikai	近い	ちかい	close
koko	ー	ここ	here
asoko	ー	あそこ	there
massugu	ー	まっすぐ	straight
tonari	隣	となり	next
watatta	渡った	わたった	across
kōsaten	交差点	こうさてん	intersection
kado o magaru	角を曲がる	かどをまがる	turn the corner

2- Examples

• 東京タワーは東京プリンスホテルの隣にあります。次の角を右に曲がって、まっすぐ進んでください。
  Tōkyō Tawā wa Tōkyō Prince Hotel no tonari ni arimasu. Tsugi no kado o migi ni magatte, massugu susunde kudasai.
  Tokyo Tower is located next to Tokyo Prince Hotel. Please turn right at the next corner and go straight.


• 明治神宮は原宿駅から200mくらいの場所で、近いです。
  Meiji Jingū wa Harajuku Eki kara ni-hyaku-mētoru kurai no basho de, chikai desu.
  Meiji Jingū is located around 200m away from Harajuku Station and it is close.


• 都庁のビルは、新宿中央公園から交差点を渡った場所にあります。
  Tochō no biru wa, Shinjuku Chūō Kōen kara kōsaten o watatta basho ni arimasu.　
  The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is located across the intersection from Shinjuku Central Park.


• あそこの交差点を左に曲がって道をまっすぐ行くと、前に駅が見えます。
  Asoko no kōsaten o hidari ni magatte michi o massugu iku to, mae ni eki ga miemasu.　
  When you turn left at the intersection there, go straight on the street; you will see the station in front.

When you’re at an intersection or on a road, migi, meaning “right” in Japanese, and hidari, meaning “left” in Japanese, are essential words to use for giving/asking directions.

3. Giving Directions in Japanese Using Landmarks

A landmark is an object or feature of a landscape or city that’s easily seen and recognized from a distance. Know the basic vocabulary for landmarks will help you understand when you’re getting directions in Japanese.

1- In the City: Basic Vocabulary

Reading	Kanji	Hiragana / Katakana	English
kūkō	空港	くうこう	airport
chikatetsu no ek	地下鉄の駅	ちかてつのえき	subway station
machi no chūshinchi	街の中心地	まちのちゅうしんち	center of the city
kōen	公園	こうえん	park
hoteru	ー	ホテル	hotel
byōin	病院	びょういん	hospital
ginkō	銀行	ぎんこう	bank

Examples

• 地下鉄の駅は、この道をまっすぐ進むと、銀行の隣にあります。
  Chikatetsu no eki wa, kono michi o massugu susumu to, ginkō no tonari ni arimasu.
  The subway station is located next to the bank when you go straight on this road.


• この街の中心地は駅の近くで、あそこの病院を右に曲がって500mくらいの場所にあります。
  Kono machi no chūshinchi wa eki no chikaku de, asoko no byōin o migi ni magatte go-hyaku-mētoru kurai no basho ni arimasu.
  The center of this city is located near the station, and it’s 500m away after you turn right at the hospital there.


• この交差点を左に曲がると、地下鉄の駅があります。
  Kono kōsaten o hidari ni magaru to, chikatetsu no eki ga arimasu.　
  When you turn left at this intersection, the subway station is there.

2- On the Road: Basic Vocabulary

Reading	Kanji	Hiragana / Katakana	English
shingō	信号	しんごう	traffic light
ōdanhodō	横断歩道	おうだんほどう	crosswalk
kado	角	かど	corner
tatemono / biru	建物 / ビル	たてもの / ビル	building
kōban / keisatsusho	交番 / 警察署	こうばん / けいさつしょ	police station
eki	駅	えき	train station
basutei	バス停	バスてい	bus stop
hashi	橋	はし	bridge

A 交番 こうばん (kōban) is a small police station in a community, and is the smallest unit of the police structure in Japan. On the other hand, a 警察署 けいさつしょ (keisatsusho) is a large police station which is usually the headquarters of the police station in a city or area.

Examples

• 駅は、あの横断歩道を渡って右にある高い建物の後ろにあります。
  Eki wa, ano ōdanhodō o watatte migi ni aru takai tatemono no ushiro ni arimasu.
  The train station is located at the back of the tall building on the right after crossing that crosswalk.


• この道をまっすぐ進むと、左に交番が見えます。交番の角を右に曲がるとバス停があります。
  Kono michi o massugu susumu to, hidari ni kōban ga miemasu. Kōban no kado o migi ni magaru to basutei ga arimasu.
  When you go straight on this street, you will see the police station on your left. There is the bus stop after you turn right at the corner of the police station.


• あの橋を渡って見える大きい建物は横浜ホテルです。
  Ano hashi o watatte mieru ōkii tatemono wa Yokohama Hotel desu.
  The big building you see across that bridge is Yokohama Hotel.

Tokyo Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in Tokyo.

3- In a Structure/Building: Basic Vocabulary

Reading	Kanji	Hiragana / Katakana	English
iriguchi	入口	いりぐち	entrance
deguchi	出口	でぐち	exit
keshōshitsu / toire	化粧室 / トイレ	けしょうしつ / トイレ	restroom
kaidan	階段	階段	stairs
erebētā	ー	エレベーター	elevator
mon	門	もん	gate
chūshajō	駐車場	ちゅうしゃじょう	parking lot

Examples

• 地下鉄の駅の入口は、この階段を降りた右側にあります。
  Chikatetsu no eki no iriguchi wa, kono kaidan o orita migigawa ni arimasu.
  The entrance of the subway station is located at the right side after going down the stairs.


• トイレはこのビルの3階にあります。あのエレベーターで3階に行けます。
  Toire wa kono biru no san-kai ni arimasu. Ano erebētā de san-kai ni ikemasu.
  There is a toilet on the third floor in this building. You can go to the third floor with that elevator.


• あの駐車場の門の隣に出口があります。
  Anochūshajō no mon no tonari ni deguchi ga arimasu.
  There is an exit next to that gate in the parking lot.

There are many exit gates in the large stations in Japan’s larger cities.

4. Must-Know Phrases for Asking for Directions in Japanese

Here’s a list of useful phrases and examples for how to ask for directions in Japanese.

1- Polite Phrases to Begin Your Question

すみません (sumimasen) — Excuse me

すみません、この駅の入口はどこですか。
Sumimasen, kono eki no iriguchi wa doko desu ka. 　
Excuse me, where is the entrance to this station?

ちょっといいですか。(Chotto ii desu ka.) — Can I talk to you? / May I ask a bit?

ちょっといいですか。渋谷駅はどこですか。
Chotto ii desu ka. Shibuya Eki wa doko desu ka.
Can I talk to you a bit? Where is Shibuya station?

助けてもらえますか。(Tasukete moraemasu ka.) — Will you help me?

助けてもらえますか。空港までの行き方を教えてくれませんか。
Tasukete moraemasu ka. Kūkō made no ikikata o oshiete kuremasen ka.
Will you help me? Can you show me the way to go to the airport?

2- Example Phrases Using “Where is…?”

…はどこですか。(… wa doko desu ka.) — Where is …?

• すみません、トイレはどこですか。
  Sumimasen, toire wa doko desu ka.
  Excuse me, where is the toilet?


• ちょっといいですか。代々木公園はどこですか。
  Chotto ii desu ka. Yoyogi Kōen wa doko desu ka.
  Can I talk to you? Where is Yoyogi Park?


• すみません、お台場はどこですか。
  Sumimasen, Odaiba wa doko desu ka.
  Excuse me, where is Odaiba?

3- Example Phrases Using “How do I get to…?”

…にはどうやって行けばいいですか。 (… ni wa dō yatte ikeba ii desu ka.) — How do I get to…? 　

• 浅草にはどうやって行けばいいですか。
  Asakusa ni wa dō yatte ikeba ii desu ka.
  How do I get to Asakusa?


• 皇居方面の出口にはどうやって行けばいいですか。
  Kōkyo hōmen no deguchi ni wa dō yatte ikeba ii desu ka.
  How do I get to the exit toward the Imperial Palace?

4- Example Phrases Using “How far is …?” / “Is … far from here?”

…はどの位遠いですか。 (…wa dono kurai tōi desu ka.) — How far is …?

…はここから遠いですか。(…wa koko kara tōi desu ka.) — Is … far from here?

• 東京タワーはどの位遠いですか。
  Tōkyō Tawā wa dono kurai tōi desu ka.
  How far is Tokyo Tower?


• 駅はここから遠いですか。
  Eki wa koko kara tōi desu ka.
  Is the train station far from here?

5- Example Courtesy Phrases to Thank People

ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu) — Thank you.

• ありがとうございます、とても助かりました。
  Arigatō gozaimasu, totemo tasukarimashita.
  Thank you, it helped me a lot.

分かりました、ありがとうございます。(wakarimashita, arigatō gozaimasu.) — I see, thank you.　

• 駅への行き方分かりました、ありがとうございます。
  Eki e no ikikata wakarimashita, arigatō gozaimasu.
  I see how to get to the station, thank you.

親切にありがとうございました (shinsetsu ni arigatō gozaimashita.) — Thank you for your kindness.

• 建物の入り口まで連れて来てくれて、親切にありがとうございました。
  Tatemono no iriguchi made tsurete kite kurete, shinsetsu ni arigatō gozaimashita.
  Thank you for your kindness by taking me to the entrance of the building.

For more about saying thank you in Japanese, check out Common Ways to Say Thank You.

To learn greetings in Japanese, visit Japanese Greetings.

Japanese people are very kind in general to show you the way to your destination.

5. Must-Know Phrases for Giving Directions in Japanese

Here’s a list of useful phrases and examples for giving directions in Japanese. You’ll also find taxi directions in Japanese that you can use as needed.

1- go straight

Japanese: まっすぐ進みます
Reading: massugu susumi masu

• 地下鉄の駅へはこの道をまっすぐ進みます。
  Chikatetsu no eki e wa kono michi o massugu susumimasu.
  Go straight on this road to the subway station.

2- go back

Japanese: 戻ります
Reading: modorimasu

• 新宿駅へはこの道を、あの信号まで戻ります。
  Shinjuku Eki e wa kono michi o, ano shingō made modorimasu.
  Go back on this road until that traffic light to Shinjuku Station.

3- turn left/right

Japanese: 左 / 右へ曲がります
Reading: hidari / migi e magarimasu

• あの信号を左へ曲がります。
  Ano shingō o hidari e magarimasu.
  Turn left at that traffic light.

4- turn left / right at corner / intersection

Japanese: 角 / 交差点を左 / 右へ曲がります
Reading: kado / kōsaten o hidari / migi e magarimasu

• あの高いビルがある交差点を右へ曲がります。
  Ano takai biru ga aru kōsaten o migi e magarimasu.
  Turn right at the intersection where that tall building is.

5- on … floor

Japanese: …階
Reading: …kai

• トイレは５階にあります。
  Toire wa go-kai ni arimasu.
  The toilet is on the fifth floor.

6- go upstairs / downstairs

Japanese: 階段を上がります / 下がります
Reading: kaidan o agarimasu / sagarimasu

• トイレへはこの階段を上がります。
  Toire e wa kono kaidan o agarimasu.
  Go upstairs to the toilet.

7- (to a driver) keep going

Japanese: このまま行ってください
Reading: kono mama itte kudasai

• この道をこのまま行ってください。
  Kono michi o kono mama itte kudasai.
  Keep going on this road.

8- (to a driver) stop here

Japanese: ここで止まってください
Reading: koko de tomatte kudasai

• ホテルはここです。ここで止まってください。
  Hoteru wa koko desu. Koko de tomatte kudasai.
  The hotel is here. Please stop here.

9- (to a driver) hurry up

Japanese: 急いでください
Reading: isoide kudasai

• 時間があまりないので急いでください。
  Jikan ga amari nai node isoide kudasai.
  Please hurry up because there’s not much time.

10- (to a driver) slow down

Japanese: 速度を落としてください
Reading: sokudo o otoshite kudasai

• 急いでないので速度を落としてください。
  Isoide nai node sokudo o otoshite kudasai.
  Please slow down because I’m not in a hurry.

11- (to a driver) short-cut

Japanese: 近道
Reading: chikamichi

• 駅への近道を知っていますか。
  Eki e no chikamichi o shitte imasu ka.
  Do you know the short-cut to the station?

12- You won’t miss it (you will see it immediately)

Japanese: すぐに分かります
Reading: sugu ni wakarimasu

• 駅はあの銀行の裏です。すぐに分かりますよ。
  Eki wa ano ginkō no ura desu. Sugu ni wakarimasu yo.
  The station is behind that bank. You won’t miss it.

13- You will see xxx on the right / left side

Japanese: XXXは右 / 左に見えます
Reading: XXX wa migi / hidari ni miemasu　

• この道をまっすぐ行くと、駅が左に見えます。
  Kono michi o massugu iku to, eki ga hidari ni miemasu.
  When you go straight on this road, you will see the station on the left side.

The door of a Japanese taxi opens automatically for you.

6. Other Useful Phrases for Asking Directions with Map/Phone

Even if you’re using your phone to search for directions, it’s often confusing and difficult to figure it out in a foreign country. Here’s a list of useful phrases for asking directions in Japanese using a map or phone.

1- Can you indicate … on this map?

Japanese: …をこの地図で示してください。
Reading: …o kono chizu de shimeshite kudasai

• 西新宿２丁目の２をこの地図で示してください。
  Nishi-Shinjuku ni-chō-me no ni o kono chizu de shimeshite kudasai.
  Can you indicate 2-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, please?

2- Please type the name of XXX on my phone / Google Maps

Japanese: 私の電話 / グーグルマップにXXXの名前を打ってください。
Reading: watashi no denwa / Gūguru Mappu ni XXX no namae o utte kudasai.

• グーグルマップに両国国技館の名前を打ってください。
  Gūguru Mappu ni Ryōgoku Kokugikan (Kokugikan 国技館) no namae o utte kudasai.
  Please type the name of the Ryōgoku Sumo Hall on Google Maps.

3- Can you find XXX on Google Maps, please?

Japanese: XXXをグーグルマップで探してくれませんか。
Reading: XXX o Gūguru Mappu de sagashite kuremasen ka.

• この住所をグーグルマップで探してくれませんか。
  Kono jūsho o Gūguru Mappu de sagashite kuremasen ka.
  Can you find this address on Google Maps, please?

It’s useful to use a smartphone to search for locations, but it’s sometimes difficult to search for things in foreign languages.

7. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

In this article, we introduced the vocabulary and phrases for giving and asking directions in Japanese, including the basic cardinal directions for reading the map. When you ask Chikatetsu no eki wa doko desu ka. (“Where is the subway station?”), you should now be able to understand someone’s reply while giving directions in Japanese: Chikatetsu no eki e wa kono michi o massugu susumimasu. (“Go straight on this road to the subway station”).

I hope you enjoy getting around in Japan smoothly after learning directions in Japanese here!

Are there any phrases or direction vocabulary in Japanese you still want to know? Leave your comments and let us know; we look forward to hearing from you!

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language and other useful Japanese phrases for various situations, you’ll find a lot more helpful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills. For example, here’s some more information about directions in Japanese with audio: Direction Words, Kanji for Direction and Position, and Position / Direction.

To learn how to make conversations in Japanese, check out Top 15 Questions You Should Know for Conversations and Top 10 Conversational Phrases. Survival Words & Phrases for Your Next Trip to Japan, Traveling, and Top 30 Travel Phrases You Should Know are also useful if plan on traveling to Japan.

There’s still so much more! Learn faster and enjoy studying Japanese at JapanesePod101.com!

Expanding one’s vocabulary is one of the most essential elements in improving one’s language skills. Learning Japanese nouns will help you boost your knowledge of the Japanese language because nouns occupy the majority of the language’s words. Knowing the top 100 Japanese nouns is the first step to enhance your Japanese vocabulary.

Japanese nouns are used to name a person, place, thing, or idea. Contrary to English, Japanese nouns don’t accompany any articles, such as “a” and “the.” In addition, there are no certain rules for indicating, in a precise sense, whether a noun is singular or plural. For example, there’s the word 達(たち) [tachi], which indicates a plural form of people or creatures when it’s put next to a noun (e.g. 動物 + 達 = 動物達：animals).

In most cases, however, Japanese nouns don’t have anything added to indicate the difference between singular and plural. In order to show that a certain noun in Japanese is plural, add another word such as たくさんの (takusan no), or “many,” and 二つの (futatsu no), or “two” in the sentence.

In this article, we introduce the 100 most common Japanese nouns. Let’s master the basic Japanese nouns in everyday life here at JapanesePod101! Here are the top Japanese nouns by category.



Table of Contents

1. Japanese Nouns: Appliances
2. Japanese Nouns: Technology
3. Japanese Nouns: Transportation
4. Japanese Nouns: Food & Restaurants
5. Japanese Nouns: School Essentials
6. Japanese Nouns: Occupations
7. Japanese Nouns: Family Members
8. Japanese Nouns: Body Parts
9. Japanese Nouns: Time
10. 10. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Japanese Nouns: Appliances

Before studying this basic Japanese nouns list, keep in mind that some of the imported words from other languages become Japanese words, or 和製英語 (wasei eigo), with a similar sound written in Katakana. For example, “television” is テレビ (terebi) in Japanese.

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
1	refrigerator	冷蔵庫	れいぞうこ	reizōko
2	freezer	冷凍庫	れいとうこ	reitōko
3	microwave	電子レンジ	でんしれんじ	denshi renji
4	air conditioner	冷房機/クーラー	れいぼうき/クーラー	reibōki / kūrā
5	heater	暖房機	だんぼうき	danbōki
6	laundry machine	洗濯機	せんたくき	sentakuki
7	hair dryer	ー	ドライヤー	doraiyā
8	TV	ー	テレビ	terebi

Examples

冷凍庫から氷と、冷蔵庫から飲み物を出してください。
Reitōko kara kōri to, reizōko kara nomimono o dashite kudasai.
Please take out ice from the freezer and drinks from the refrigerator.

お風呂の後はドライヤーで髪を乾かします。
O-furo no ato wa doraiyā de kami o kawakashimasu.
After taking a bath, I dry my hair with a hair dryer.

私はテレビを見ることが好きです。
Watashi wa terebi o miru koto ga suki desu.
I like watching TV.

電子レンジと洗濯機が壊れたので困っています。
Denshi renji to sentakuki ga kowareta node komatte imasu.
I’m upset because the microwave and laundry machine broke.

You can also check our more useful Japanese nouns for home appliances with Japanese pronunciations at our Home Appliances vocabulary list!

Air conditioner in Japanese is also called クーラー (kūrā), which comes from the word “cooler.”

2. Japanese Nouns: Technology

Most important Japanese nouns regarding technology originated from other countries and were imported to Japan. Expressed in Katakana, these imported words have Japanese pronunciation that resembles the original English words.

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
9	computer	ー	コンピューター	conpyūtā
10	laptop	ー	ノートパソコン	nōto pasokon
11	tablet	ー	タブレット	taburetto
12	cellphone	携帯電話	けいたいでんわ	keitai denwa
13	headphone	ー	ヘッドホン	heddohon
14	charger	充電器	じゅうでんき	jyūdenki
15	wifi	ー	ワイファイ	waifai
16	app	ー	アプリ	apuri
17	website	ー	ウェブサイト	webusaito
18	file	ー	ファイル	fairu
19	account	ー	アカウント	akaunto
20	password	ー	パスワード	pasuwādo

Examples

私はタブレットよりもノートパソコンの方が好きです。
Watshi wa taburetto yori mo nōto pasokon no hō ga suki desu.
I like laptops more than tablets.

ワイファイのパスワードは何ですか。
Waifai no pasuwādo wa nan desu ka.
What is the wifi password?

あなたの携帯電話の充電器を使ってもいいですか。
Anata no keitai denwa jyūdenki o tsukatte mo ii desu ka.
Can I use your mobile phone charger?

Our vocabulary list about the Top 20 Words You’ll Need for the Internet is also useful to learn Japanese nouns related to technology.

3. Japanese Nouns: Transportation

Transportation is an essential part of daily life. Some of the most useful Japanese nouns are vocabulary words related to transportation. This is especially true for those who travel in Japan, who may need to ask how to get around.

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
21	airplane	飛行機	ひこうき	hikōki
22	train	電車	でんしゃ	densha
23	subway	地下鉄	ちかてつ	chikatetsu
24	bus	–	バス	basu
25	taxi	–	タクシー	takushī
26	bicycle	自転車	じてんしゃ	jitensha
27	station	駅	えき	eki
28	bus stop	バス停	ばすてい	basutei
29	airport	空港	くうこう	kūkō
30	traffic light	信号	しんごう	shingō
31	intersection	交差点	こうさてん	kōsaten
32	road	道/道路	みち/どうろ	michi/dōro

Example

一番近いバス停はどこですか。
Ichi-ban chikai basutei wa doko desu ka.
Where is the nearest bus stop?

私の町には地下鉄はありません。
Watashi no machi ni wa chikatetsu wa arimasen.
There is no subway in my town.

信号のある交差点を左に曲がります。
Shingō no aru kōsaten o hidari ni magarimasu.
Turn left at the intersection which has a traffic light.

Public transportation is well-developed in Japan, especially in the large cities. Shinkansen is very famous for its super-fast speed and is popular among foreign tourists.

4. Japanese Nouns: Food & Restaurants

Whenever you go out to eat at restaurants, you look at a menu and order what you want to eat and drink. Knowing Japanese nouns and vocabulary related to restaurants makes your dining-out experience much smoother. Japan has a variety of foods and a wide range of ingredients are used in the Japanese food culture. If can’t eat certain things due to your religion, an allergy, or a discipline such as vegetarianism, you have to ask a staff member if your preferred meal is available. Here’s a common Japanese nouns list to help you do so!

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
33	menu	ー	メニュー	menyū
34	waiter/waitress	店員	てんいん	ten’in
35	bill	会計	かいけい	kaikei
36	fork	ー	フォーク	fōku
37	knife	ー	ナイフ	naifu
38	spoon	ー	スプーン	supūn
39	chopsticks	箸箸	はし	hashi
40	water	水	みず	mizu
41	vegetables	野菜	やさい	yasai
42	beef	牛肉	ぎゅうにく	gyūniku
43	pork	豚肉	ぶたにく	butaniku
44	chicken	鶏肉	とりにく	toriniku

Examples

ベジタリアンのメニューはありますか。
Bejitarian no menyū wa arimasu ka. 　
Do you have a vegetarian menu?

お箸の使い方を教えてください。
O-hashi no tsukaikata o oshiete kudasai.
Please teach me how to use chopsticks.

私は豚肉を食べられません。
Watashi wa butaniku o taberaremasen.
I can’t eat pork.

For more about Japanese nouns related to food and restaurants, see our Food – Utensils & Tableware and Restaurant vocabulary lists.

Japan has great food culture where you can find tasty food from low-end and high-end restaurants.

5. Japanese Nouns: School Essentials

The Japanese school system consists of elementary school, middle school, high school, and higher education such as universities and vocational schools. Compulsory education is six years of elementary school and three years of middle school, and both are free. Here are the most common nouns in Japanese related to school.

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
45	elementary school	小学校	しょうがっこう	shōgakkō
46	middle school	中学校	ちゅうがっこう	shōgakkō
47	high school	高校	こうこう	kōkō
48	college/university	大学	だいがく	daigaku
49	student	生徒/学生	せいと/がくせい	seito/gakusei
50	teacher	先生/教師	せんせい/きょうし	sensei/kyōshi
51	major	専攻	せんこう	senkō
52	degree	学位	がくい	gakui
53	exam	試験	しけん	shiken
54	homework	宿題	しゅくだい	shukudai

Examples

あなたの専攻は何ですか。
Anata no senkō wa nan desu ka.
What is your major?

彼女は小学校の先生です。
Kanojo wa shōgakkō no sensei desu.
She is a teacher at an elementary school.

私は宿題を終えた後に遊びに行きます。
Watashi wa shukudai o oeta ato ni asobi ni ikimasu.
I will go and play after finishing my homework.

6. Japanese Nouns: Occupations

To engage in certain occupations, one must pass the related national examinations. The most difficult occupations to attain in Japan are said to be a doctor, lawyer, and accountant, in terms of how difficult the national examinations are.

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
55	doctor	医師	いし	ishi
56	nurse	看護師	かんごし	kangoshi
57	lawyer	弁護士	べんごし	bengoshi
58	chef	料理人	りょうりにん	ryōrinin
59	businessperson	実業家	じつぎょうか	jitsugyōka
60	police officer	警察官	けいさつかん	keisatsukan
61	firefighter	消防士	しょうぼうし	shōbōshi
62	engineer	技術者	ぎじゅつしゃ	gijutsusha
63	civil servant	公務員	こうむいん	kōmuin
64	accountant	会計士	かいけいし	kaikeishi

Examples

消防士になるのは難しいですか。
Shōbōshi ni naru no wa muzukashii desu ka. 　
Is it difficult to become a firefighter?

私は警察官になりたいです。
Watashi wa keisatsukan ni naritai desu.
I want to become a police officer.

公務員の職業は安定しているので人気です。
Kōmuin no shokugyō wa antei shite iru node ninki desu.
The occupation of civil servant is popular because it is stable.

To hear how to pronounce the words on this Japanese list of nouns, see our Jobs / Work vocabulary list.

Some people take many years to pass the national examination to be a lawyer or accountant in Japan.

7. Japanese Nouns: Family Members

It’s useful to know Japanese nouns and vocabulary related to family members when you introduce yourself and describe your family to someone.

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
65	family	家族	かぞく	kazoku
66	mother	母/お母さん	はは/おかあさん	haha/o-kā-san
67	father	父/お父さん	ちち/おとうさん	chichi/o-tō-san
68	parent	親	おや	oya
69	daughter	娘	むすめ	musume
70	son	息子	むすこ	musuko
71	grandma	祖母	そぼ	sobo
72	grandpa	祖父	そふ	sofu

Examples

私の母は看護師です。
Watashi no haha wa kangoshi desu.
My mother is a nurse.

私の家族は5人家族です。
Watashi no kazoku wa go-nin kazoku desu.
My family has five family members.

彼女の息子は6歳です。
Kanojo no musuko wa roku-sai desu.
Her son is six years old.

Compared to English, Japanese has more words to describe family members according to age and style, and also uses both formal and informal forms. For more details on this, please visit our Japanese Family article and our Must-Know Terms for Family Members vocabulary list.

8. Japanese Nouns: Body Parts

Knowing the Japanese nouns for the parts of the body is very useful, especially when it comes to health (e.g. seeing a doctor at a hospital or working out at the gym).

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
73	body	体	からだ	karada
74	head	頭	あたま	atama
75	shoulder	肩	かた	kata
76	arm	腕	うで	ude
77	leg	足	あし	ashi
78	chest	胸	むね	mune
79	abdomen	腹	はら	hara
80	face	顔	かお	kao
81	eye	目	め	me
82	nose	鼻	はな	hana
83	mouth	口	くち	kuchi
84	ear	耳	みみ	mimi

Examples

風邪を引いたので頭が痛いです。
Kaze o hiita node atama ga itai desu. 　
I have a headache because I caught a cold.

体を動かす運動は健康に良いです。
Karada o ugokasu undō wa kenkō ni ii desu.
Exercise that moves your body is good for health.

彼女は可愛い大きな目を持っています。
Kanojo wa kawaii ōkina me o motte imasu.
She has cute big eyes.

For more Japanese nouns of body parts, and to check their Japanese pronunciation, visit our Body Parts vocabulary list.

Many Japanese people are keen on diet and health.

9. Japanese Nouns: Time

Expressing the time is essential for everyday life. Learning the Japanese nouns for time is always useful for things such as scheduling plans, making an appointment, or just checking the time and date. Here’s our Japanese nouns list for words related to time.

	English	Kanji	Hiragana/Katakana	Reading
85	today	今日	きょう	kyō
86	yesterday	昨日	きのう	kinō
87	tomorrow	明日	あした	kinō
88	Monday	月曜日	げつようび	getsu-yōbi
89	Tuesday	火曜日	かようび	ka-yōbi
90	Wednesday	水曜日	すいようび	sui-yōbi
91	Thursday	木曜日	もくようび	moku-yōbi
92	Friday	金曜日	きんようび	kin-yōbi
93	Saturday	土曜日	どようび	do-yōbi
94	Saturday	日曜日	にちようび	nichi-yōbi
95	day	日	にち/ひ	nichi/hi
96	week	週	しゅう	shū
97	month	月	つき/げつ	tsuki/getsu
98	year (as unit)	年	とし/ねん	toshi/nen
99	hour	時間	じかん	jikan
100	minute	分	ふん	fun

Examples

明日は金曜日です。
Ashita wa kin-yōbi desu.
Tomorrow is Friday.

結果を出すまで2年と5ヶ月かかりました。
Kekka o dasu made ni-nen to go-kagetsu kakarimashita.
It took two years and five months to achieve the result.

私は今日３時間歩きました。
Watashi wa kyō san-jikan arukimashita.
I walked three hours today.

There are various expressions regarding dates in Japanese. Visit our article on Japanese Dates to learn more Japanese nouns of time and date, and how to use that information in real life!

10. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

We’ve now introduced the 100 most useful Japanese nouns. I hope this article helps you improve your Japanese vocabulary and skills!

Did you learn any new words today? Are there any Japanese nouns you still want to know? Let us know in the comments; we look forward to hearing from you!

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language and other Japanese nouns, you’ll find a lot more useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills.

To learn about Japanese nouns and more vocabulary, check out Top 25 Japanese Nouns and Japanese Core 100 Word List. Our vocabulary lists about School, School Subjects, and Body – Describing the Body are also useful; you can learn more about the topics and practice your Japanese pronunciation with audio.

There’s so much more, too! Learn faster and enjoy studying Japanese at JapanesePod101.com!

Giving proper greetings and celebration messages is essential in making relationships better. Whether you have Japanese friends online, live in Japan, or just want to understand Japanese culture, it’s good to know how Japanese people celebrate events and what they say. Once you learn how to say Happy Birthday in Japanese, Happy New Year in Japanese, and Merry Christmas in Japanese, use them practically with your friends!

Japan has various life and annual events to celebrate. Some of them come from the Western culture, such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day. But there are unique Japanese traditions as well, such as the twentieth and sixtieth birthdays, also called 成人 (Seijin) and 還暦 (Kanreki) respectively.

So, how do you wish someone well in Japanese? In this article, we introduce practical life event messages. Let’s master holiday greetings in Japanese, and more, here at JapanesePod101!

Table of Contents

1. Birthday + Turning 20 Years Old
2. Japanese Congratulations: Graduation
3. Japanese Congratulations: New Job / Promotion
4. Retirement + Turning 60 Years Old
5. Japanese Congratulations: Wedding & Marriage
6. Japanese Congratulations: Pregnancy and Birth
7. Bad News
8. Injured/Sick
9. Death/Funerals: Offering Condolences in Japanese Culture
10. Holidays
11. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

1. Birthday + Turning 20 Years Old

As is the case in other cultures, birthdays are a happy celebration in Japan. Japanese people celebrate one’s birthday with a cake with candles, and by singing the Happy Birthday to You song in English (Japanese people also sing this song in English because it’s very easy and simple). In most cases, people have a birthday party, and friends and family give gifts to the birthday person.

A person’s twentieth birthday is very important in Japanese culture, because this is the official age of maturity, called 成人 (Seijin) in Japan, and one is officially recognized as an adult. Apart from individual twentieth birthday celebrations, Japan has the national holiday 成人の日 (Seijin no Hi), or “Coming of Age Day,” on the second Monday of January every year.

Check out our Coming of Age Day page for related Japanese vocabulary.

Here are phrases to say Happy Birthday in Japanese.

1- Happy birthday!

Japanese: (お) 誕生日おめでとう！
Pronunciation: (O)tanjōbi omedetō!

It literally translates to “birthday (tanjōbi) congratulations (omedetō).” It sounds more polite when you put お (O) in front of tanjōbi.

When you want to say it during a formal occasion, or to an older person, add ございます (gozaimasu) to the end, which makes it even more polite.

2- Belated happy birthday!

　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Japanese: 遅くなったけど、（お）誕生日おめでとう！
Pronunciation: Osoku natta kedo, (o)tanjōbi omedetō!

You can still wish your friends a happy birthday, even if you weren’t able to do so on the actual day!

Osoku natta kedo means “It’s late, but…” To make it more polite and formal, say Osoku narimashita kedo.

3- Wish you enjoy a special day!

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Japanese: 特別な日を楽しんでね！
Pronunciation: Tokubetsu na hi o tanoshinde ne!

A birthday is a special day, and when you want the birthday girl/boy to enjoy it, you can tell her/him this phrase.

To say it politely in a formal way, change ね (ne) to ください (kudasai).

It’s common to sing Happy Birthday to You in Japan.

2. Japanese Congratulations: Graduation

Whether it’s a kindergarten or university, completing school is worth a happy celebration. Japanese schools have both entrance and graduation ceremonies at the schools, which family members also attend.

Graduation from a university is often a big celebration, especially for the graduate’s parents who get to experience the fulfilling feeling of having finished raising their child. Graduates also celebrate with friends for their achievements and the good memories they made together.

Here are phrases for celebrating graduation.

1- Congratulations for your graduation!

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Japanese: 卒業おめでとう！
Pronunciation: Sotsugyō omedetō!

It literally translates to “graduation (sotsugyō) congratulations (omedetō).” For formal occasions, such as when a school principal is addressing students, add ございます (gozaimasu) to the end. This makes it polite and respectful.

2- Well done for striving for four years!

　　　　　　　　　　　　
Japanese: 大変な４年間よく頑張ったね！
Pronunciation: Taihen na yo-nenkan yoku ganbatta ne!

You can say this phrase to family members or friends. When you just want to say “well done,” it’s yoku ganbatta ne.

3- Lead your way step by step to make your dream come true.

　　　　　　

Japanese: 夢に向かって一歩一歩進んでください。
Pronunciation: Yume ni mukatte ippo ippo susunde kudasai.

This phrase is often used by parents or seniors to a new graduate to encourage his/her new path in life.

It literally means “toward a dream (yume ni mukatte),” “step by step (ippo ippo),” and “go forward (susunde kudasai),” in a polite way.

Graduation of Japanese schools is in March.

3. Japanese Congratulations: New Job / Promotion

When a new university graduate gets a new job, family and friends celebrate him/her, usually by going out for a nice dinner. Some parents give a gift that will be useful for their work, such as a watch or a set of suits. In return, the child takes his or her parents out for a nice dinner once he/she gets their first salary.

When someone has a job promotion, family, friends, and sometimes his/her boss and team, celebrate him/her. It doesn’t necessarily involve giving a gift, but people go out for a drink or dinner, in most cases.

Here are phrases to celebrate getting a new job/promotion in Japanese.

1- Congratulations for your new job / promotion!

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Japanese: 就職 / 昇進おめでとう！
Pronunciation: Shūshoku / Shōshin omedetō!

It literally translates to “employment (shūshoku) / promotion (shōshin),” and “congratulations (omedetō).” You can use this phrase to congratulate your friends, family, and younger colleagues.

In Japan, the start of work for newly employed graduates is usually in April.

2- Good luck in your new workplace.

Japanese: 新しい職場で頑張ってね。
Pronunciation: Atarashī shokuba de ganbatte ne.

This is a very useful phrase to use when your friend or family member gets a new job.

It breaks down to “at new workplace (atarashii shokuba de),” and “strive well (ganbatte ne).” If you want to say it more politely for a formal setting, change ね (ne) to ください (kudasai).

3- I’m looking forward to your success.

　 　
Japanese: あなたの活躍を楽しみにしています。
Pronunciation: Anata no katsuyaku o tanoshimi ni shite imasu.

This is a polite phrase that a family member or boss/elder colleague can tell someone who gets a new job or a promotion. It breaks down to “your success (anata no katsuyaku),” and “I’m looking forward to (tanoshimi ni shite imasu).”

4. Retirement + Turning 60 Years Old

Traditionally, the age of retirement in Japan is sixty. In the traditional Japanese employment system, called 終身雇用 (Shūshin koyō), or “life-time employment,” retirement means that someone has finished working by serving a company for some decades. It’s considered honorable and respectable.

Not only family, but also his/her company and colleagues, often have a celebration party with flowers and gifts. Nowadays, due to an increase in the aging population, active and healthy seniors continue to work after they turn sixty years old, sometimes until their sixty-fifth of seventieth birthday.

On the other hand, turning sixty years old is considered good fortune and a cause to celebrate; this celebration is called 還暦 (Kanreki). Following the traditional sixty-year calendar cycle of the lunar calendar, turning sixty means accomplishing its cycle. Thus, it’s the beginning of another cycle in his/her life. The person’s family celebrates him/her by giving gifts in red, which is the color of fortune.

Below are phrases to celebrate retirement/sixtieth birthdays in Japanese.

1- Congratulations for your retirement!

Japanese: 定年退職おめでとう！
Pronunciation: Teinen taishoku omedetō!

This is a very common phrase of congratulations. It literally translates to “retirement age resignation (teinen taishoku) congratulations (omedetō).”

When you want to say it for a formal occasion, add ございます (gozaimasu) to the end; this makes it even more polite.

2- Well done for 30 years of contribution.

Japanese: 30年間の献身お疲れ様でした。
Pronunciation: San-jū-nenkan no kenshin otsukare-sama deshita.

お疲れ様 (Otsukare-sama) is one of the most common Japanese untranslatable words. It has various meanings, depending on the situation. But in this case, it means “Well done.”

3- Please enjoy your new stage of life.

Japanese: 次の新しい人生を楽しんでください。
Pronunciation: Tsugi no atarashii jinsei o tanoshinde kudasai.

Retired people often spend plenty of their new free time for hobbies and enjoyment. This polite phrase is useful when you wish for someone to have a nice life after retirement.

5. Japanese Congratulations: Wedding & Marriage

The average age of a person’s first marriage nowadays is older (around thirty) than it was some decades ago; people’s views on marriage are becoming more diverse and flexible, as well. However, getting married and having a wedding is still a big life event in Japan.

Japanese marriage traditions typically include the following:

• 結納 (yuinō), or “engagement ceremony”
• 入籍 (nyūseki), or “official marriage register”
• 挙式 (kyoshiki), or “wedding ceremony”
• 披露宴 (hirōen), or “wedding party”

The western style of wedding ceremonies is becoming very popular in Japan, although there are some people who prefer the traditional Japanese style with the 着物 (kimono).

So, how do you congratulate a wedding in Japanese? Below are phrases for celebrating marriage in Japanese.

1- Congratulations for your marriage!

Japanese: 結婚おめでとう！
Pronunciation: Kekkon omedetō!

This is a very common phrase for congratulations in Japanese when someone is getting married. It literally translates to “marriage (kekkon) congratulations (omedetō).”

When you want to say it in a formal occasion, add ございます (gozaimasu) to the end; this makes it even more polite.

2- I wish you happiness for many years to come.

　　　
Japanese: 末長くお幸せに。
Pronunciation: Suenagaku o-shiawase ni.

It literally translates to “for a long time (suenagaku), be happy (o-shiawase ni).” This phrase is also commonly used together with Kekkon omedetō.

3- Have a wonderful married life.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　
Japanese: 素敵な結婚生活を送ってね。
Pronunciation: Suteki na kekkon seikatsu o okutte ne.

This is another common message for a newly married couple. When you want to say it in a formal occasion, change ね (ne) to ください (kudasai).

Japanese weddings are conducted in either the western style or the Japanese traditional style.

6. Japanese Congratulations: Pregnancy and Birth

Pregnancy and birth are auspicious events in someone’s life. Traditionally, people give congratulation messages when a pregnant woman announces her pregnancy, and send her gifts after the baby is born. Japanese culture doesn’t have a “baby shower” celebration traditionally; however, the baby shower is becoming popular among young people due to the influence of western culture.

Below are phrases to celebrate pregnancy/birth in Japanese.

1- Congratulations for your pregnancy!

Japanese: 妊娠おめでとう！
Pronunciation: Ninshin omedetō!

For a formal occasion, change 妊娠 (ninshin), meaning “pregnancy,” to ご懐妊 (go-kainin), which is a more respectful form of the word “pregnancy,” and add ございます (gozaimasu) to the end to make it more polite and respectful. However, this form is very formal and not commonly used.

2- I wish a healthy baby will be born.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Japanese: 元気な赤ちゃんが生まれますように。
Pronunciation: Genki na aka-chan ga umaremasu yō ni.

It literally means “lively baby (genki na aka-chan), be born (umaremasu)” + expression of wish (yō ni).
This phrase is also commonly used together with Ninshin omedetō.

3- Congratulations for a baby’s birth!

　　　　　　　　　　　 　
Japanese: 赤ちゃんの誕生おめでとう！
Pronunciation: Aka-chan no tanjō omedetō!

Tell this message when your friend has their baby. For a formal occasion, add ございます (gozaimasu) to the end; this makes it more polite and respectful.

7. Bad News

Life isn’t always full of happy events and celebrations, and sometimes bad things can happen in our lives. In Japanese culture, it’s very important to have empathy and give consideration to other people’s feelings. This is because the culture puts values on 和 (Wa), or harmony in our society.

When someone tells you bad news, it’s good to listen carefully first, show that you understand him/her, and then say something to cheer him/her up.

Here are some Japanese condolences messages that you can say to those who have bad news.

1- I’m sorry to hear that.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　
Japanese: それは残念です。
Pronunciation: Sore wa zannen desu.

It literally translates to “it is regrettable (sore wa zannen)” + polite way to finish a sentence (desu).

Say this to your colleague, for example, if he confides in you that he couldn’t pass a promotion exam, or his pet has passed away.

2- I understand your feelings.

Japanese: あなたのお気持ち分かります。
Pronunciation: Anata no o-kimochi wakarimasu.

It literally translates to “your feeling [polite] (anata no o-kimochi), I understand (wakarimasu).” This is a typical message to show that you understand him/her and that you’re with him/her.

3- Cheer up!

Japanese: 元気出して！
Pronunciation: Genki dashite!

This is a very straightforward phrase to cheer someone up. Say this phrase to your friends or someone who has a close relationship with you.

8. Injured/Sick

An unexpected injury or sickness can happen anytime and to anyone. Whether it happened to your grandparent, friend, or colleague, it’s always nice to offer him or her some warm messages.

Here are some useful phrases you can say to those who get injured/sick.

1- How are you feeling?

　

Japanese: 気分はどうですか。
Pronunciation: Kibun wa dō desu ka.

This is a typical question you can ask when someone falls ill. If it’s a family member or someone very close to you, you can also say kibun wa dō? in a casual manner. Japanese people often make おかゆ (O-kayu), or “rice porridge,” for a sick person as an easy-to-digest and stomach-friendly meal.

2- I hope you get well soon.

Japanese: 早く良くなりますように。
Pronunciation: Hayaku yoku narimasu yō ni.

This is a very common and important phrase that you can tell any injured or sick person.

3- Please take care.

　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　
Japanese: お大事に。
Pronunciation: O-daiji ni.

This is another very important phrase you should tell an injured/sick person. This is usually said at the end of a conversation before you leave.

For a more polite form, add なさってください (nasatte kudasai) when speaking to someone elderly or respectable.

Healthcare in Japan provides universal-care based on the national health insurance program.

9. Death/Funerals: Offering Condolences in Japanese Culture

While a newborn life is blessed and celebrated, any life is destined to experience death sooner or later. Death is considered a serious matter, and a funeral is usually held solemnly. Even if it happened to a person who is very close, Japanese people use formal and respectful language for messages to the deceased’s family and relatives.

Below are condolence phrases in Japanese that you can use.

1- Please accept my sincere condolences.

Japanese: お悔やみ申し上げます。
Pronunciation: O-kuyami mōshiagemasu.

This phrase is formal and commonly used to show your condolences, usually at a funeral. It literally translates to “condolence (o-kuyami), [I] say (mōshiagemasu).” Note that the last word here is the most respectful and humble expression for the word “say.”

2- I pray that his/her soul may rest in peace.

　
Japanese: ご冥福をお祈りいたします。
Pronunciation: Go-meifuku o oinori itashimasu.

This phrase is formal and very commonly used. It literally translates to “happiness in the next world (go-meifuku), [I] pray (oinori), do (itashimasu).” Note that the last word here is a humble expression.

3- I’m so sorry, I don’t know what to say.

Japanese: 御愁傷様です。なんと言っていいかわかりません。
Pronunciation: Go-shūshō-sama desu. Nan to itte ii no ka wakarimasen.

You can use this polite phrase when someone tells you that someone you know has passed away. Go-shūshō-sama refers to a thing or status that people lament and grieve.

10. Holidays

Do you know whether Japanese people celebrate Christmas in Japan? Yes, they do! However, most Japanese people don’t have any religious feeling for Christmas celebrations; it’s rather regarded as a special and romantic event for couples, or as a happy event for friends and family to eat cakes and give gifts. Christmas Day isn’t a national holiday in Japan.

On the other hand, お正月 (o-shōgatsu), or New Year’s Day, is a traditional annual festive holiday. It’s one of the most important events of the year, and family and relatives get together and celebrate the coming new year. January 1 is the actual holiday, and many companies are off from the end of the year until the first few days of January.

Here are phrases for holiday greetings in Japanese, including how to say Merry Christmas in Japanese and Japanese New Year congratulations!

1- Merry Christmas!

　
Japanese: メリークリスマス！
Pronunciation: Merī kurisumasu！

How to say Merry Christmas in Japanese is almost the same as in English. It’s directly imported in Japanese, but Japanese people pronounce it in the Japanese way. Also, it’s written merī kurisumasu.

Check out Must-Know Christmas Day Vocabulary for more Christmas-related terms in Japanese.

2- Happy New Year!

Japanese: 明けましておめでとう！
Pronunciation: Akemashite omedetō

“Happy New Year” in Japanese is akemashite omedetō, which literally means “(a new year day has) dawned (明けまして), congratulations (omedetō).” This is the most-used phrase for “happy holidays” in Japanese for the new year.

When you want to say it in a formal occasion or to an older person, add ございます (gozaimasu) to the end; this makes it even more polite.

3- To another good year!

Japanese: 今年もよろしく！
Pronunciation: Kotoshi mo yorosiku!

This phrase is very popular among friends, colleagues, and clients.

Kotoshi mo means “this year, too” and yoroshiku is another one of the most common Japanese untranslatable words. It has various meanings depending on the situation, but in this case, it means “best regards” or “favorably please.”

For more useful holiday greetings in Japanese, check out Holiday Greetings and Wishes for the Holiday Season and Happy New Year! Words & Phrases for the New Year! You’ll learn Japanese winter seasonal greetings and customs.

おせち (osechi) is a special meal for the New Year in Japan, and we eat it with best wishes phrases in Japanese.

11. Conclusion: How JapanesePod101 Can Help You Learn More Japanese

We introduced Japanese life event messages, such as how to say Happy Birthday in Japanese and Merry Christmas in Japanese. I hope this article was useful in improving your Japanese for better communication with your friends!

If you would like to learn more about the Japanese language and holiday greetings in Japanese, you’ll find much more useful content on JapanesePod101.com. We provide a variety of free lessons for you to improve your Japanese language skills.

For more about Japanese holidays and Japanese holiday vocabulary, check out Holidays in Japan. To learn about how to express your feelings, you’ll find Words and Phrases to Help You Describe Your Feelings useful; you can even learn and practice your pronunciation with audio. And for conversation practice, Top 15 Questions You Should Know for Conversations and Top 10 Conversational Phrases are very helpful!

Know that your hard work will pay off; with enough practice, you’ll be speaking like a native in no time with JapanesePod101.com!

Before you go, let us know which of these phrases you’ll be able to use first! Are there any life event messages you still want us to cover? Let us know in the comments!

Can You Really Learn Japanese Alone?

Learning a language on your own or without traditional classroom instruction may seem quite daunting at first. What if you run into questions? How do you stay motivated and on track to achieving goals?

Don’t worry, not only is it possible to learn Japanese or any language without traditional classroom instruction: JapanesePod101 has created the world’s most advanced and extensive online language learning system. Not only is JapanesePod101 specifically designed to help you with learning a language on your own, it’s actually faster, more convenient, and less expensive than traditional classroom options!

Let’s look at some of the benefits of learning Japanese or any language alone.

Also, don’t forget to download your free cheat sheet – How to Improve Your Language Skills too!

3 Reasons to Learn a Language Alone

1. Learn at Your Own Pace and On Your Schedule

In today’s fast-paced world, there just isn’t time for traditional classroom instruction. Between getting to class and studying on some professor or teacher’s schedule, traditional classroom learning is simply impossible to fit in. But when you learn Japanese alone, you can study in bed if you like and whenever suits your schedule best, making it far easier to actually reach your goal of learning and mastering the language.

2. Learning a Language on Your Own Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Speaking in front of a class, pop quizzes, and tests are just a few of the stressors you will encounter when you learn a language in a traditional classroom setting. Specifically, these are external stressors that often derail most people’s dream of learning a new language. But when you learn Japanese alone, there are no external stressors. Without the external stress and anxiety, it becomes much easier and more exciting to study Japanese and reach your very own goals—all on your own!

3. Learning Japanese Alone Helps Improve Cognitive Function and Overall Success

Learning a language on your own is indeed more challenging in some ways than being taught in a traditional classroom setting. In fact, while classroom instruction requires more rote memorization and following instructions, studying a language on your own requires more problem-solving and higher cognitive function to self-teach lessons and hit goals. So while it’s more challenging and requires higher levels of cognition, teaching yourself a language pays dividends throughout life by better preparing you for social/work opportunities that arise.

How to Learn a Language on Your Own with JapanesePod101

1. Access to the World’s Largest Collection of Japanese Audio & Video Lessons

The best way to learn a language on your own is to study from native speaking instructors. Ideally, you want audio and/or video lessons that teach vocabulary, grammar, and provide actual Japanese conversations and dialogue to help you with pronunciation. JapanesePod101 has hundreds of hours of HD audio and video lessons created by real Japanese instructors and every lesson is presented by professional Japanese actors for perfect pronunciation. Plus, all lessons can be accessed 24/7 via any mobile device with Internet access. And, if you download the PDF versions of each lesson, you can even study without Internet access once the lesson is stored on your device!

2. “Learning Paths” with Japanese Courses Based Upon Your Exact Needs & Goals

Although JapanesePod101 has more than thousands of video and audio lessons, you need not review each and every one to learn the language. In fact, JapanesePod101 has developed a feature called “Learning Paths”. You simply tell us your goals and we will identify the best courses and study plan to help you reach them in the shortest time possible. So even though you are technically learning a language on your own, our team is always here to help and make sure you reach your goals FAST!

3. Advanced Learning Tools Reduce Learning Time and Boost Retention

When you have the right tools and Japanese learning resources, it’s actually easy to teach yourself a language! In the past 10+ years, JapanesePod101 has developed, tested, and refined more than 20 advanced learning tools to boost retention and reduce learning time, including:

• Spaced Repetition Flashcards
• Line-by-Line Dialogue Breakdown
• Review Quizzes
• Voice Recording Tools to Help Perfect Pronunciation
• Teacher Feedback and Comments for Each Lesson
• Japanese Dictionary with Pronunciation
• Free PDF Cheat Sheets
• And Much More!

Armed with our growing collection of advanced learning tools, it’s truly a breeze to learn Japanese alone and reach your goals!

Conclusion

Learning a language on your own is not only possible, it’s actually easier and more beneficial for you than traditional classroom instruction. In fact, when you learn Japanese on your own you can study at your own pace, eliminate stress, and actually increase cognitive function.

JapanesePod101 is the world’s most advanced online language learning system and a great resource to help you teach yourself a new language. With the world’s largest collection of HD audio and video lessons, more than 20 advanced learning tools, and customized “Learning Paths”, JapanesePod101 makes learning a new language easier, more convenient, and less expensive than traditional classroom instruction.

And the best part is: With JapanesePod101, you can study in bed, your car, or wherever you have a few spare minutes of time. Create your Free Lifetime Account now and get a FREE ebook to help “kickstart” your dream of learning a language on your own below!

When I decided that I was going to spend the summer before my final year of college abroad in Japan, I knew that I had to prepare for a trip unlike anything else that I had ever experienced in my lifetime. I knew absolutely nothing about the culture or the language and I was going with two of my buddies from school (both of whom spoke Japanese) so I needed to get ahead before we arrived. JapanesePod101 helped me do just that.

JapanesePod101 made it easy to review and learn from experiences that I had on my daily travels. By allowing me to learn from repetition, giving me the choice between verbal, written and visual lessons and giving me situational vocabulary, it definitely made it easier to pick up an unknown language.

However fun it may be to throw yourself into the unknown, it is always nice (and sometimes necessary) to have a little guidance. So here are my tips for optimizing the learning experience on a trip like this:

Go with or meet someone that knows the language

This person will be like your adviser. It is also very helpful to travel around with a person who knows the language because you can ask them questions about words and phrases that you hear during daily life and jot them down to study later. Which brings me to my next tip…

Carry a notepad

This is essential for learning a language because of all the things you will hear from just walking around and talking to people. The notepad will help you by giving you a point of reference to go back to and study, or look up with JapanesePod101, when you learn something new on your daily adventures. Which brings me to my final and most important tip…

Use JapanesePod101!

I am a huge believer in learning from repetition which is why I love JapanesePod101. Whether you sign up for a free lifetime account or upgrade to premium, you have unlimited access to the content that is included in either package. Which means, if you are like me, you can go over it again and again as much as you want until it sticks. Whether you prefer to learn from verbal, written or visual instruction, JapanesePod101 has you covered. I love the videos with Alisha and Risa!

You can also learn about phrases for certain situations and events with the key phrases and vocabulary lists. Both included in the free lifetime account, the key phrases list covers all the basic phrases you will need to know as a beginner and the vocabulary list has all sorts of different phrases grouped together for different events and occasions. Including my favorite:

If you are planning a trip to Japan and need help learning the language, I would 100% recommend that you use JapanesePod101. It has tools for all different levels of learning Japanese, so no matter where you are in the learning process, you can use it to help further your knowledge.

But don’t just take my word for it. Sign up and see what I am talking about, you won’t regret it.

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