{"id":26910,"date":"2025-11-23T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/?p=26910"},"modified":"2025-11-18T17:27:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T08:27:25","slug":"beginner-friendly-japanese-vocabulary-to-survive-your-first-year-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/beginner-friendly-japanese-vocabulary-to-survive-your-first-year-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Beginner-Friendly Japanese Vocabulary to Survive Your First Year in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Moving to Japan is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming\u2014especially when it comes to language. Even if you\u2019ve studied Japanese before arriving, you may struggle in everyday situations like commuting, shopping, dining, and interacting with colleagues. Learning essential words and phrases can help you navigate daily life confidently. Here\u2019s an extensive list to get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Transportation &amp; Commuting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u96fb\u8eca (\u3067\u3093\u3057\u3083, densha) \u2013 train<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30d0\u30b9 (basu) \u2013 bus<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u5730\u4e0b\u9244 (\u3061\u304b\u3066\u3064, chikatetsu) \u2013 subway<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6539\u672d\u53e3 (\u304b\u3044\u3055\u3064\u3050\u3061, kaisatsuguchi) \u2013 ticket gate<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u5207\u7b26 (\u304d\u3063\u3077, kippu) \u2013 ticket<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u5b9a\u671f\u5238 (\u3066\u3044\u304d\u3051\u3093, teikiken) \u2013 commuter pass<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6642\u523b\u8868 (\u3058\u3053\u304f\u3072\u3087\u3046, jikokuhy\u014d) \u2013 timetable<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u9053\u8def (\u3069\u3046\u308d, d\u014dro) \u2013 road<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4fe1\u53f7 (\u3057\u3093\u3054\u3046, shing\u014d) \u2013 traffic light<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u99d0\u8eca\u5834 (\u3061\u3085\u3046\u3057\u3083\u3058\u3087\u3046, ch\u016bshaj\u014d) \u2013 parking lot<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Shopping &amp; Daily Essentials<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u5e97 (\u307f\u305b, mise) \u2013 shop\/store<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30b9\u30fc\u30d1\u30fc (s\u016bp\u0101) \u2013 supermarket<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30ec\u30b8 (reji) \u2013 register\/cashier<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4f1a\u8a08 (\u304b\u3044\u3051\u3044, kaikei) \u2013 bill\/check<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30ec\u30b7\u30fc\u30c8 (resh\u012bto) \u2013 receipt<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u5024\u6bb5 (\u306d\u3060\u3093, nedan) \u2013 price<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u5272\u5f15 (\u308f\u308a\u3073\u304d, waribiki) \u2013 discount<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u5546\u54c1 (\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3072\u3093, sh\u014dhin) \u2013 product\/item<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30b5\u30a4\u30ba (saizu) \u2013 size<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u8a66\u7740\u5ba4 (\u3057\u3061\u3083\u304f\u3057\u3064, shichakushitsu) \u2013 fitting room<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Dining &amp; Food<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u98df\u3079\u7269 (\u305f\u3079\u3082\u306e, tabemono) \u2013 food<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u98f2\u307f\u7269 (\u306e\u307f\u3082\u306e, nomimono) \u2013 drink<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u7f8e\u5473\u3057\u3044 (\u304a\u3044\u3057\u3044, oishii) \u2013 delicious<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u8f9b\u3044 (\u304b\u3089\u3044, karai) \u2013 spicy<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u7518\u3044 (\u3042\u307e\u3044, amai) \u2013 sweet<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u82e6\u3044 (\u306b\u304c\u3044, nigai) \u2013 bitter<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u5869 (\u3057\u304a, shio) \u2013 salt<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u91a4\u6cb9 (\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3086, sh\u014dyu) \u2013 soy sauce<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6c34 (\u307f\u305a, mizu) \u2013 water<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6ce8\u6587\u3059\u308b (\u3061\u3085\u3046\u3082\u3093\u3059\u308b, ch\u016bmon suru) \u2013 to order<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u304a\u4f1a\u8a08\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059 (\u304a\u304b\u3044\u3051\u3044\u304a\u306d\u304c\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059, okaikei onegaishimasu) \u2013 \u201cCan I get the bill, please?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Housing &amp; Daily Life<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u5bb6 (\u3044\u3048, ie) \u2013 house<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30a2\u30d1\u30fc\u30c8 (ap\u0101to) \u2013 apartment<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u90e8\u5c4b (\u3078\u3084, heya) \u2013 room<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u7384\u95a2 (\u3052\u3093\u304b\u3093, genkan) \u2013 entrance<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u53f0\u6240 (\u3060\u3044\u3069\u3053\u308d, daidokoro) \u2013 kitchen<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u304a\u98a8\u5442 (\u304a\u3075\u308d, ofuro) \u2013 bath<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6d17\u6fef\u6a5f (\u305b\u3093\u305f\u304f\u304d, sentakuki) \u2013 washing machine<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30b4\u30df (gomi) \u2013 trash<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30b4\u30df\u306e\u65e5 (\u3054\u307f\u306e\u3072, gomi no hi) \u2013 trash collection day<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6383\u9664 (\u305d\u3046\u3058, s\u014dji) \u2013 cleaning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Work &amp; Office<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u4f1a\u793e (\u304b\u3044\u3057\u3083, kaisha) \u2013 company<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4e0a\u53f8 (\u3058\u3087\u3046\u3057, j\u014dshi) \u2013 boss<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u540c\u50da (\u3069\u3046\u308a\u3087\u3046, d\u014dry\u014d) \u2013 colleague<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4f1a\u8b70 (\u304b\u3044\u304e, kaigi) \u2013 meeting<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u8cc7\u6599 (\u3057\u308a\u3087\u3046, shiry\u014d) \u2013 documents\/materials<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30e1\u30fc\u30eb (m\u0113ru) \u2013 email<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u8fd4\u4fe1 (\u3078\u3093\u3057\u3093, henshin) \u2013 reply<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u7de0\u3081\u5207\u308a (\u3057\u3081\u304d\u308a, shimekiri) \u2013 deadline<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u30d7\u30ec\u30bc\u30f3\u30c6\u30fc\u30b7\u30e7\u30f3 (purezent\u0113shon) \u2013 presentation<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4f01\u753b (\u304d\u304b\u304f, kikaku) \u2013 project plan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Social &amp; Daily Interactions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u3053\u3093\u306b\u3061\u306f (konnichiwa) \u2013 hello<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046 (arigat\u014d) \u2013 thank you<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093 (sumimasen) \u2013 excuse me \/ sorry \/ thank you<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u306f\u3044 (hai) \u2013 yes<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u3044\u3044\u3048 (iie) \u2013 no<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059 (onegaishimasu) \u2013 please<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u304a\u5143\u6c17\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f (\u304a\u3052\u3093\u304d\u3067\u3059\u304b, ogenki desu ka?) \u2013 How are you?<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u521d\u3081\u307e\u3057\u3066 (\u306f\u3058\u3081\u307e\u3057\u3066, hajimemashite) \u2013 Nice to meet you<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u3088\u308d\u3057\u304f\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059 (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) \u2013 Please treat me well \/ thank you in advance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Numbers, Time, &amp; Dates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u4e00 (\u3044\u3061, ichi) \u2013 1<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4e8c (\u306b, ni) \u2013 2<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4e09 (\u3055\u3093, san) \u2013 3<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u56db (\u3057\/\u3088\u3093, shi\/yon) \u2013 4<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4e94 (\u3054, go) \u2013 5<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u516d (\u308d\u304f, roku) \u2013 6<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4e03 (\u3057\u3061\/\u306a\u306a, shichi\/nana) \u2013 7<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u516b (\u306f\u3061, hachi) \u2013 8<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4e5d (\u304d\u3085\u3046, ky\u016b) \u2013 9<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u5341 (\u3058\u3085\u3046, j\u016b) \u2013 10<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u4eca\u65e5 (\u304d\u3087\u3046, ky\u014d) \u2013 today<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u660e\u65e5 (\u3042\u3057\u305f, ashita) \u2013 tomorrow<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6628\u65e5 (\u304d\u306e\u3046, kin\u014d) \u2013 yesterday<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6642\u9593 (\u3058\u304b\u3093, jikan) \u2013 time\/hour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. Emergency &amp; Safety<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u52a9\u3051\u3066 (\u305f\u3059\u3051\u3066, tasukete) \u2013 Help!<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u8b66\u5bdf (\u3051\u3044\u3055\u3064, keisatsu) \u2013 police<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u706b\u4e8b (\u304b\u3058, kaji) \u2013 fire<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u75c5\u9662 (\u3073\u3087\u3046\u3044\u3093, by\u014din) \u2013 hospital<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u6551\u6025\u8eca (\u304d\u3085\u3046\u304d\u3085\u3046\u3057\u3083, ky\u016bky\u016bsha) \u2013 ambulance<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u7dca\u6025 (\u304d\u3093\u304d\u3085\u3046, kinky\u016b) \u2013 emergency<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u9053\u306b\u8ff7\u3063\u305f (\u307f\u3061\u306b\u307e\u3088\u3063\u305f, michi ni mayotta) \u2013 I\u2019m lost<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Mastering these essential words will help you navigate your first year in Japan with confidence, independence, and cultural understanding. To learn more and get personalized support, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/booking.toranomon-ls.com\/book-online?category=ff0cd35e-ac4f-4f26-9b1d-4d87acd8cc03\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/booking.toranomon-ls.com\/book-online?category=ff0cd35e-ac4f-4f26-9b1d-4d87acd8cc03\">book a free consultation<\/a><\/strong> with Toranomon Language School and start your journey toward fluency today.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moving to Japan is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming\u2014especially when it comes to language. Even if you\u2019ve studied Japanese before arriving, you may struggle in everyday situations like commuting, shopping, dining, and interacting with colleagues. Learning essential words and phrases can help you navigate daily life confidently. Here\u2019s an extensive list to get you started. 1. Transportation &amp; Commuting 2. Shopping &amp; Daily Essentials 3. Dining &amp; Food 4. Housing &amp; Daily Life 5. Work &amp; Office 6. Social &amp; Daily Interactions 7. Numbers, Time, &amp; Dates 8. Emergency &amp; Safety Mastering these essential words will help you navigate your first year in Japan with confidence, independence, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2272,"featured_media":26911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[428,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-japanese-basics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2272"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26910"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26913,"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26910\/revisions\/26913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/toranomon-ls.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}