Japanese Language Study - Vocabulary

Japanese vocabulary flashcards for language learning.

どんどん dondon

rapidly/ steadily/ fast. Ex: My Japanese is getting better and better quickly.

だんだん dan dan

gradually, moving slowly. Ex: It’s gradually getting colder.

思い omoi

thinking as in terms of to think/to feel. (Used for opinions, feelings, beliefs, or spontaneous thoughts.) Ex: I think that’s good. (my opinion)

膨らみ fukurami

expansion/ to swell/ to expand. Ex: The balloon is swelling fast. My hopes for my dream began to grow.

きづけ Kizuke

to notice/ to realize. Ex: You should’ve noticed sooner!

絶対 Zettai

absolutely, definitely, without fail. Ex: I will definitely go!

細かく Komakaku

in a detailed way/ minutely/ finely /carefully. Ex: Please explain in detail. Chop finely.

どんなに donna ni

no matter how much. Ex: No matter how difficult it is, I won’t give up. I didn’t realize how kind he was.

隠し Kakushi

to hide. Ex: I was hiding a secret from him. He couldn’t completely hide his anger.

存在 sonzai

existence/ presence/ being(state of existence). Ex: His presence is significant. A language that doesn’t exist. You’re an important person to me.

忘れ wasure

forgetfulness. Ex: Be careful not to forget anything. I want to forget him.

いつか itsuka

One day/ someday. Ex: I want to go to Japan someday.

なくなる nakunaru

to be gone/ to disappear. Ex: The water ran out. I’m starting to lose motivation.

おごれ ogore

Imperative command lto say Treat me!, Pay for me!, Buy (me something). Ex: At least treat me today!

はんぶん hanbun

half. Ex: Let’s split the cake in half. I ate half.

今度 kondo

this time/ next time/ soon. Ex: Let’s hang out next time. Let’s talk next time we meet. This exam was difficult.

続く tsuzuku

to continue. Ex: I’m curious about the continuation of the story.

負ける makeru

to lose(a game/compeition/argum/etc), to be defeated. Ex: I lost the match. Don’t lose, do your best!

どうせ dōse

anyway/ in any case/ at any rate. Ex: It’s impossible anyway. No one will come anyway. Even though we’re going to lose anyway, let’s do our best.

しよっかな shiyokkana

casual: “Maybe I’ll do it” / “Should I do it?”. Ex: Maybe I’ll study. What should I do tonight?

今夜 konya

tonight. Ex: What should I do tonight?

悩んでいます nayande imasu

troubled/ worried/ struggling. Ex: I am worried about my future. I am struggling with which job to choose.

決める kimeru

to decide. Ex: I’m have decided on this one

来ました kimashita

came. Ex: Next, I came to Ross

商品 shouhin

items/ products/ goods. Ex: New products have arrived. I'll put the items in the basket

新商品 shin shouhin

new products. Ex: There are many new products.

毎回 maikai

every time / each time. Ex: I watch a movie every time. I look forward to coming every time

洗います araimasu

to wash. Ex: I wash my hands. I wash my face every morning. I am washing my dog.

脱ぐ nugu

to take off clothes/shoes. Ex: I take off my shoes. I take off my jacket

片付け katazuke

cleaning up / putting things in order. Ex: I will clean up the room.

捨てる suteru

to throw away / to discard. Ex: I throw away the trash. I throw away old clothes.

夕方 yuugata

evening / late afternoon. Ex: I take a walk in the evening. Work finishes in the evening.

仕事終わり shigoto owari

after work. Ex: I go for a drink after work. I’m tired after work.

景色 keshgee

scenery / view. Ex: I enjoy the view of the sea.

こと koto

thing- the abstract general concept . Ex: Studying Japanese is fun. Exercising is good for your health. I like traveling.

持っていきます motte ikimasu

will bring. Ex: I will bring this soup to her today. I will bring a bento.

こっている kotte iru

stiff- for body only. Ex: My shoulder is stiff.

迷わず mayowazu

without hesitation/ without doubt. Ex: I decided without hesitation.

だらけ darake

full of / covered with / riddled with — usually negative things. Ex: covered in sweat full of wounds. The room is covered in dust.

こぼれる koboreru

to spill/ to fall out. Ex: The water in the cup spilled.

傷つける kizutsukeru

to hurt/injure (someone or something else). Ex: hurt my friend’s feelings.

けがをするkega o suru

to get injured (usually by accident, yourself). Ex: I injured my leg.

そっと sotto

gently / quietly / softly. Ex: I gently closed the door.

外 (soto)

means outside or outdoors. Ex: I’m outside

動かす ugokasu

to move [something]. Ex: I gently moved the vase. Please move the chair.

つもり tsumori

intention/plan. Ex: I intend to go to Japan. I plan to study.

やすむ yasumu

to rest, to take a break. Ex: Let’s rest for a bit. I took a break from work.

説明 setsumei

explanation/description. Ex: Your explanation is good. The teacher’s explanation is good. She explained how the job works

来月 raigetsu

next month. Ex: I will go to Japan next month.

自分 jibun

oneself/myself. Ex: I will do it myself. I like my own room.

建物 tatemono

building. Ex: That building is big.

注目して chūmoku shite

pay attention / focus. Ex: Please pay attention to the story. Focus on the teacher’s talk. Please pay attention to me.

みよう miyou

let’s try to see / let’s watch. Ex: Let’s watch a movie. Let’s look at this picture.

入る hairu

to enter / to go in. Ex: I enter the room. Please enter the shop.

最後 saigo

last / final. Ex: I read the last page. Do your best until the end!

強い tsuyoi

strong. Ex: He is very strong. This wind is strong.

声 koe

voice. Ex: Your voice is beautiful.

にくい nikui

hard to do. Ex: This kanji is hard to write. This music is hard to hear. Riding a bicycle is hard.

かも kamo

might / maybe. Ex: I might go. It might rain.

残る nokoru

to remain / to be left. Ex: There is rice left. Old buildings still remain.

風 kaze

wind. Ex: The wind feels nice.

風邪 kaze

cold / illness. Ex: I caught a cold.

こういう kou iu

this kind of / such. Ex: I like this kind of book. Do you like movies like this?

スポーツ supōtsu

sports. Ex: I play sports every day.

町 / 街 machi

town / city / neighborhood. Ex: I live in a small town.

時計 tokei

clock / watch. Ex: There is a clock on the wall. I bought a new watch.

撮影 satsuei

photography / filming / shooting. Ex: The filming of the movie has started. I am doing photography / filming.

けっこう kekkou

quite / fairly . Ex: This cake is quite delicious. I did fairly well in studying. There are quite a few clocks in Japanese parks.

国 kuni

country / nation. Ex: Japan is a beautiful country.

コメント komento

comment. Ex: I commented on his post.

こっち kocchi | こちら kochira

this way / here / this side. Ex: Please come this way. This is my friend.

歩き回っ arukimawatte

to walk around / wander. Ex: I walked around the town. He is walking around inside the store.

実は jitsu wa

actually / to tell the truth. Ex: Actually, I met (them) yesterday. To be honest, I like sweets.

理由 riyuu

reason. Ex: Please tell me the reason you were late I came to Japan for a reason.

約束 yakusoku

promise / appointment. Ex: I have plans (a promise) with a friend tomorrow.

守ります mamorimasu

to protect / to keep. Ex: I will keep my promise. We have an appointment I will protect the children. I will follow the rules. I will be on time. I protect my family’s safety.

場所 basho

place / location. Ex: This is a good place.

ところ tokoro

place / spot / point / situation. Ex: I need a place to rest.

考え kangae

thought / idea / way of thinking. Ex: I have a new idea. His way of thinking is interesting. I’m thinking about (considering) the problem.

とりあえず toriaezu

for now / first of all / anyway / at least. Ex: Please sit down for now. Let’s drink beer first. Anyways, let’s continue the conversation.

カフェ kafe

café / coffee shop. Ex: I went to a new café.

店 mise

shop / store / restaurant. Ex: A new store opened.

駅前 ekimae

in front of the station / station square. Ex: There is a new café in front of the station.

飲み物 nomimono

drink / beverage. Ex: I like cold drinks.

もう少し mō sukoshi

a little more / a bit more / almost. Ex: May I have a little more of your time?

動画 dōga

video. Ex: I made a new video.

方面 hōmen

direction / area / region. Ex: Let’s go in that direction. I am going toward the Tokyo area.

チャンネル channeru

channel - TV or YouTube channel. Ex: I found a new channel.

今年 kotoshi

this year. Ex: I will go to Japan this year.

自動販売機 jidōhanbaiki

vending machine. Ex: There is a vending machine near the station.

値段 nedan

price / cost. Ex: The price is high, but the quality is good.

について ni tsuite

about. Ex: I am studying about Japanese culture. The book is written about dogs.

モチベーション mochibayshon

motivation. Ex: My motivation for work is high.

維持 iji

maintenance / preservation / keeping. Ex: Maintaining health is important. How can I/you keep (maintain) my/your motivation?

学期 gakki

school term / semester. Ex: I will study a lot this semester. The new semester has started.

そういった sou itta

such / like that / those kinds of. Ex: Such problems can be easily solved.

に関して ni kanshite

about / regarding. Ex: I talk about the school. I want to know about the weather.

増える fueru

to increase / to grow in number. Ex: The population is increasing. The work increased.

ずっと zutto

continuously / all along / for a long time. Ex: I have been studying continuously. Please go straight along this road.

道 michi

road / street / path. Ex: Please go straight on this road. The road is very wide.