Common Japanese Words 151-200 for Beginners
A mobile-friendly reader for the full markdown study file, with Example 1 visible on each card and Example 2 tucked into expandable details.
This list continues the first 150 words with more practical vocabulary for family, daily routines, transportation, shopping, plans, and simple conversation in Japan. Each word includes Japanese, reading, meaning, and example sentences with both English and Chinese translations:
- Japanese
- Reading (with Romaji)
- Meaning
- Example sentence with reading (with Romaji), English translation, and Chinese translation
Note: Frequency depends on the corpus, so this is a practical beginner-useful list rather than a perfect scientific ranking.
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 住む (すむ / sumu)
- Polite ます-form: 住みます (すみます / sumimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses 住みたいです (the ーたい "want to" form, built from the ます-stem).
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 働く (はたらく / hataraku)
- Polite ます-form: 働きます (はたらきます / hatarakimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses 働いています (the te-form + います continuous "am working").
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 起きる (おきる / okiru)
- Polite ます-form: 起きます (おきます / okimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 寝る (ねる / neru)
- Polite ます-form: 寝ます (ねます / nemasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 遊ぶ (あそぶ / asobu)
- Polite ます-form: 遊びます (あそびます / asobimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 歩く (あるく / aruku)
- Polite ます-form: 歩きます (あるきます / arukimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 乗る (のる / noru)
- Polite ます-form: 乗ります (のります / norimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 降りる (おりる / oriru)
- Polite ます-form: 降ります (おります / orimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 入る (はいる / hairu)
- Polite ます-form: 入ります (はいります / hairimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 出る (でる / deru)
- Polite ます-form: 出ます (でます / demasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 始める (はじめる / hajimeru)
- Polite ます-form: 始めます (はじめます / hajimemasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 終わる (おわる / owaru)
- Polite ます-form: 終わります (おわります / owarimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 忘れる (わすれる / wasureru)
- Polite ます-form: 忘れます (わすれます / wasuremasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses 忘れました (the polite past form).
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 教える (おしえる / oshieru)
- Polite ます-form: 教えます (おしえます / oshiemasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses 教えてください (the te-form + ください "please tell/teach me").
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 借りる (かりる / kariru)
- Polite ます-form: 借ります (かります / karimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses 借りても (the te-form + も in the "may I…?" pattern).
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 貸す (かす / kasu)
- Polite ます-form: 貸します (かします / kashimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses 貸してください (the te-form + ください "please lend me").
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 送る (おくる / okuru)
- Polite ます-form: 送ります (おくります / okurimasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses the polite ます-form.
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
- Dictionary form: 疲れる (つかれる / tsukareru)
- Polite ます-form: 疲れます (つかれます / tsukaremasu)
Dictionary form is the lookup form. Polite ます-form is what you'll hear in conversation. Example 1 uses 疲れました (the polite past form).
Open Example 2 and notes
Open Example 2 and notes
- 早い (はやい / hayai) — "early" in time (e.g., 朝が 早い "the morning is early")
- 速い (はやい / hayai) — "fast" in speed (e.g., 電車が 速い "the train is fast")
Same reading はやい, but two different kanji with different meanings. Example 1 in the table uses 速い ("this train is fast"); Example 2 below uses 早い ("an early riser"). When in doubt, ask: am I describing time (use 早い) or speed (use 速い)?
Open Example 2 and notes
These words help you talk about your family, daily schedule, transportation, small problems, and basic needs while living in Japan.
Examples:
For conversation, practice these useful verb pairs together:
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A に 住んでいます。
I live in A.
A まで 歩きます。
I walk to A.
A を 忘れました。
I forgot A.
A で 払えますか。
Can I pay with A?
Vても いいですか。
May I V?| Dictionary Form | Polite Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 乗る / 降りる | のる / おりる (noru / oriru) | get on / get off |
| 入る / 出る | はいる / でる (hairu / deru) | enter / leave |
| 起きる / 寝る | おきる / ねる (okiru / neru) | wake up / sleep |
| 借りる / 貸す | かりる / かす (kariru / kasu) | borrow / lend |
| 始める / 終わる | はじめる / おわる (hajimeru / owaru) | start / finish |