101 Core Japanese Phrases — The Most Generally Used Phrases in Japanese

In the event you’d prefer to be taught extra cool Japanese phrase, try our article about must-know Japanese slang!

Additionally, I don’t have time to cowl it right here, however query nouns like “what” and “the place” are additionally tremendous essential in Japanese! I’ve bought you coated in one other article all about Japanese query phrases.

The 23 Core Japanese Verbs

You may get by saying rather a lot in Japanese with a couple of verbs, particularly the primary one on this checklist: する (suru). This verb means “to do” by itself. However, it additionally combines with nouns to imply “to do ____”.

For instance, you’ll be able to mix する with nouns like 勉強 (benkyou, “research”) to create 勉強する (benkyou suru, “to check”). It’s an excellent useful and versatile verb, even when it’s one of many two irregular verbs for conjugation.

However isn’t that good? Japanese solely has 2 irregular verbs – する and 来る (kuru, “to return”).

• する (Suru) – “To do”
• です (Desu) – “To be” or “it’s”
• なる (Naru) – “To change into”
• ある (Aru) – “There may be” for inanimate objects and vegetation.
• いる (Iru) – “There may be” for residing issues, like people and animals.
• 言う (Iu) – “To say”
• 行く (Iku) – “To go”
• 出来る (Dekiru) – “To have the ability to do” or “can do”
• 見る (Miru) – “To see”
• 送る (Okuru) – “To ship”
• 持つ (Motsu) – “To have” or “to carry”
• 待つ (Matsu) – “To attend”
• 会う (Au) – “To fulfill”
• 呼ぶ (Yobu) – “To name” (as in name out or name over to somebody–calling somebody on the telephone is 電話する denwa suru)
• 置く (Oku) – “To place”
• 受ける (Ukeru) – “To obtain”
• 作る (Tsukuru) – “To make”
• 着く (Tsuku) – “To reach”
• 使う (Tsukau) – “To make use of”
• 学ぶ (Manabu) – “To be taught”
• 食べる (Taberu) – “To eat”
• 飲む (Nomu) – “To drink”
• 帰る (Kaeru) – “To return house”

By the best way, in case you’d prefer to be taught extra about tips on how to use these cool Japanese verbs, try our article all about Japanese verb conjugation!

The 20 Core Japanese Adjectives and Adverbs

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Add extra phrases in Japanese to assist with descriptions! Listed below are the commonest Japanese adjectives and adverbs.

Be aware of すごい (sugoi) – “superb.” It’s so generally used, it means many issues. “Cool,” “wow,” “that’s loopy,” and many others. It’s a catch-all exclamation and is usually utilized in reply to tales or when proven one thing (like yummy meals, lovely surroundings, or a cool image).

• 多い (Ooi) – “Many”
• たくさん (Takusan) – “Plenty of”
• 少ない (Sukunai) – “Few”
• 遠い (Tooi) – “Far”
• 近い (Chikai) – “Close to”
• 小さい (Chiisai) – “Small”
• 大きい (Ookii) – “Huge”
• 良い (Yoi) – “Good”
• 悪い (Warui) – “Dangerous”
• きれいな (Kirei na) – “Clear” and “Fairly”
• 醜い (Minikui) – “Ugly”
• 難しい (Muzukashii) – “Troublesome”
• 簡単な (Kantan na) – “Straightforward”
• うまい (Umai) – “Expert”
• 美味しい (Oishii) – “Scrumptious”
• まずい (Mazui) – “Disgusting”
• 大丈夫な (Daijoubu na) – “All proper”
• すごい (Sugoi) – “Wonderful”
• 楽しい (Tanoshii) – “Fulfilling” or “Nice”
• とても (Totemo) – “Very”

Talking of adverbs, in Japanese, there are such a lot of onomatopoeia which operate as adverbs (and typically adjectives or verbs)! You may add extra colour to your speech by studying about Japanese onomatopoeia.

It’ll additionally assist in case you be taught your Japanese numbers

It’s simpler to be taught to make use of these once you get uncovered to Japanese. You may pay attention about how I used Netflix to choose up most of my colloquial vocabulary on this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast:

The 8 Core Japanese Conjunctions and Connectors

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It’s all the time useful to know tips on how to join your Japanese sentences with conjunctions.

As in English, there are tons of conjunctions and connectors to start out a sentence, however these are most typical.

Right here’s one to notice: その時 (Sono toki). It means “at the moment” in Japanese, however doesn’t actually translate correctly into English. It’s nearer to saying “when that occurred,” “whereas that was happening,” “after which,” or “in the meantime” in English whereas explaining what occurs subsequent in a narrative.

• でも (Demo) – “However”
• また (Mata) – “Additionally”
• その後 (Sono ato) – “After that”
• その時 (Sono toki) – “At the moment”
• 場合は (Baai wa) – “In the event you” or “If this occurs” (normally prefaced by その sono or この kono, talked about above)
• 例えば (Tatoeba) – “For instance”
• それから (Sorekara) – “Then”
• だから (Dakara) – “So”

Strengthen Your Japanese Core with the Most Frequent Japanese Phrases

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Now that the 111 core Japanese phrases that can assist you get began, put them to make use of and grasp them!

You can begin making use of them with Japanese language change companions.

Or, you could possibly attempt taking the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp to degree up your Japanese in 90 days.

Different incredible choices to maintain leveling up your Japanese embrace the JapanesePod101.com sequence and StoryLearning Japanese!

The instructions you’ll be able to take for studying Japanese are infinite. However now that you just’ve bought your core phrases, you’ll be able to determine what’s greatest for you and begin making use of it.

Another tip: In the event you haven’t but, discover ways to learn and perceive Hiragana and Katakana. It should aid you discover ways to pronounce Japanese phrases correctly and can make studying simpler.

From right here, begin studying phrases which are most related to your personal private day by day speech. In the event you’re on the lookout for different assets to take a look at, head over to our Japanese assets web page, or give the articles down under a learn.

Unique article by Catlin Sacasas, up to date by the Fluent in 3 Months crew.

Caitlin Sacasas

Content material Author, Fluent in 3 Months

Caitlin is a copywriter, content material strategist, and language learner. Moreover languages, her passions are health, books, and Star Wars. Join along with her: Twitter | LinkedIn

Speaks: English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish

View all posts by Caitlin Sacasas