Japanese vocabulary in the Routledge 5000 frequency list

Routlege 5000 Vocab 1-100

This collection contains 101 words.
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particle
1. indicates possessive  (see also: ; occasionally ん, orig. written 乃 or 之)
2. nominalizes verbs and adjectives
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
particle
1. at (place, time); in; on; during
2. to (direction, state); toward; into
(click the word to view an additional 7 meanings, examples and links)
particle
1. topic marker particle  (pronounced わ in modern Japanese)
2. indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
auxiliary verb
1. indicate past completed or action  (see also: ; だ after certain verb forms)
2. indicates light imperative  (see also: )
(click the word for examples and links)
0
particle
1. indicates direct object of action
2. indicates subject of causative expression
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings, examples and links)
0
copula
1. be; is  (see also: である, です; plain copula)
auxiliary verb
2. indicates past or completed action  (see also: ; た after certain verb forms)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
particle
1. indicates sentence subject (occasionally object)
2. indicates possessive (esp. in literary expressions)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
Most common form: って
particle
1. casual quoting particle  (see also: ; abbr. for と, というのは and other similar combinations)
2. indicates supposition; if ... then
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
particle, conjunction
1. if; when
2. and
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings, examples and links)
auxiliary verb
1. used to indicate respect for the listener (or reader)  (see also: ませ; polite (teineigo) language)
2. used to indicate respect for those affected by the action  (archaic; humble)
(click the word for examples and links)
particle
1. too; also; in addition; as well; (not) either (in a negative sentence)
2. both A and B; A as well as B; neither A nor B (in a negative sentence)  (as AもBも)
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings, examples and links)
particle
1. indicates location of action; at; in  (にて is the formal literary form)
2. indicates time of action
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Most common form: ている
ichidan verb, auxiliary verb
indicates continuing action or state (e.g. to be ..ing, to have been ..ing)  (from ..て or で plus いる; colloquialism)
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
(same as above)
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
1
expression
be; is  (see also: , であります; polite copula; polite (teineigo) language)
(click the word for examples and links)
Most common form: られる
auxiliary verb, ichidan verb
1. indicates passive voice (incl. the "suffering passive")  (see also: 未然形, 迷惑の受身; れる for 五段 verbs, られる for 一段. Follows the imperfective form of (v5) and (vs) verbs)
2. indicates the potential form  (see also: ら抜き言葉; no imperative form. Infrequently used in modern Japanese, e.g. 歩ける is favoured over 歩かれる)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings, examples and links)
expression
1. called; named  (often written with kana only)
2. as many as; as much as  (after a quantity; often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 1 form, examples and links)
0
Most common form:
'na' adjective, noun (suffix)
1. connoisseur; authority
counter
2. counter for letters, notes, documents, etc.
(click the word to view an additional 1 form, examples and links)
2
Most common form: こと
noun
1. thing; matter  (often written with kana only)
2. incident; occurrence; event; something serious; trouble; crisis  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, 6 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
1
interjection (kandoushi)
1. yes; that is correct; right
2. um; errr
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 1 form, examples and links)
1
Most common form: ええ
(same as above)
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings, examples and links)
0
1. to say; to utter; to declare
2. to name; to call
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, 1 meaning and 4 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
0
interjection (kandoushi)
say; well; errr ...
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
1
1. just (e.g. "just wait here"); come now; now, now  (when urging or consoling)
2. tolerably; passably; moderately; reasonably; fairly; rather; somewhat
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 4 forms, examples and links)
1
Most common form: まあ
(same as above)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 4 forms, examples and links)
1
irregular 'ru' godan verb, intransitive verb
1. to be (usu. of inanimate objects); to exist; to live  (see also: 居る; often written with kana only)
2. to have  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
1
particle
1. indicates emphasis, agreement, request for confirmation, etc.; is it so  (at sentence end)
interjection (kandoushi)
2. hey; come on; listen
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 4 forms, examples and links)
auxiliary adjective
1. not  (verb-negating suffix, may indicate question or invitation with rising intonation)
2. emphatic suffix  (see also: 忙しない; after the root of an adjective)
(click the word for useful expressions, examples and links)
1
'ru' godan verb, intransitive verb
1. to become; to get; to grow; to be; to reach; to attain  (often written with kana only)
2. to result in; to prove to be
(click the word to view an additional 6 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
particle
1. indicates a question (sometimes rhetorical)  (was written as 歟, used at sentence-end)
2. or; whether or not  (after each alternative)
(click the word to view an additional 5 meanings, examples and links)
1. that (something or someone distant from the speaker, close to the listener; actions of the listener, or ideas expressed or understood by the listener); the  (see also: 何の, 此の, 其れ, 彼の; often written with kana only)
interjection (kandoushi)
2. um...; er...; uh...
(click the word to view an additional 1 form, examples and links)
1
Most common form: けど
conjunction, particle
but; however; although
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particle
1. from (e.g. time, place, numerical quantity); since
2. from (originator); by
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings, examples and links)
auxiliary verb
1. (I) will; (I) shall  (on non-五段 stem, e.g. 食べる→食べよう, indicates intention)
auxiliary verb
2. let's  (on non-五段 stem, indicates suggestion or invitation)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
2
'u' godan verb, transitive verb
1. to think; to consider; to believe  (想う has connotations of heart-felt)
2. to think (of doing); to plan (to do)
(click the word to view an additional 5 meanings and 6 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
3 2 0
Most common form: もの
noun
1. thing; object; article; stuff; substance
2. one's things; possessions; property; belongings  (as 〜のもの, 〜のもん)
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, 8 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
1. in that way (concerning the actions of the listener or concerning the ideas expressed or understood by the listener; with a neg. sentence, implies that something isn't as much as one might think); thus; such  (see also: 斯う, ああ, 如何; often written with kana only)
interjection (kandoushi)
2. so (used to express agreement with something said)  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 1 form, examples and links)
1
1. what
prefix
2. how many  (see also: 何か月; followed by a counter; this meaning is restricted to reading なん)
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, 4 meanings and 3 forms, examples and links)
0
1. I; me
2. private affairs; personal matter; secrecy  (this meaning is restricted to reading わたくし)
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, 1 meaning and 2 forms, examples and links)
0
'u' godan verb, transitive verb
1. to finish; to stop; to end; to put an end to; to bring to a close  (often written with kana only)
2. to close (a business, etc.); to close down; to shut down; to shut up  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 4 forms, examples and links)
1. that (indicating an item or person near the listener, the action of the listener, or something on their mind); it  (see also: 何れ, 此れ, 彼・あれ; often written with kana only)
2. that time; then
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0
particle, conjunction
among other things; such things as; or something like that
(click the word for examples and links)
0
this (something or someone close to the speaker (including the speaker), or ideas expressed by the speaker)  (see also: 何の, 此れ, 其の, 彼の; often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
1
Most common form: ない
1. nonexistent; not being (there)  (see also: 亡い; often written with kana only)
2. unpossessed; unowned; not had
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings, examples and links)
0
irregular godan verb 'iku/yuku', intransitive verb
1. to go; to move (in a direction or towards a specific location); to head (towards); to be transported (towards); to reach  (see also: 来る)
2. to proceed; to take place  (see also: 旨く行く; い sometimes omitted in auxiliary use)
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, 8 meanings and 4 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
Most common form: のです
expression
the expectation is that ...; the reason is that ...; the fact is that ...; it is that ...
(click the word to view an additional 4 forms, examples and links)
Most common form: のです
(same as above)
(click the word to view an additional 4 forms, examples and links)
Most common form: させる
auxiliary verb, ichidan verb
1. auxiliary verb indicating the causative  (せる is for 五段 verbs, させる for 一段, follows the imperfective form of (v5) and (vs) verbs, senses 1-3 of せる are sometimes abbreviated as 〜す)
2. auxiliary verb indicating that one has been granted the permission to do something  (usu. as 〜(さ)せてもらう, 〜(さ)せていただく, etc.; humble)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
0
pronoun
1. this (indicating an item near the speaker, the action of the speaker, or the current topic)  (see also: 何れ, 其れ, 彼:あれ; often written with kana only)
2. this person (usu. indicating someone in one's in-group)  (humble)
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings and 7 forms, examples and links)
1 0
1. now; soon; shortly; before long; presently
2. already; yet; by now; (not) anymore  (see also: すでに)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings, examples and links)
3
be; is  (see also: , であります; formal or literary copula)
(click the word for examples and links)
2
Most common form: とき
noun
1. time; hour; moment  (刻 signifies a time of day, 秋 signifies an important time)
2. occasion; case  (this meaning is restricted to form 時)
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 3 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
particle
1. (sentence end, mainly masc.) indicates emotion or emphasis
2. (used with masu stem verb) command  (from なさい; abbreviation)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 3 forms, examples and links)
auxiliary verb, suffix
not doing  (see also: ; after the -nai stem of a verb)
(click the word for examples and links)
0
particle
that being the case; because of ...; the reason is ....; given that...
(click the word for examples and links)
0
Most common form: ので
(same as above)
(click the word for examples and links)
0
noun
1. man; person
2. human being; mankind; people
(click the word to view an additional 5 meanings and 2 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
1
particle
1. indicates certainty, emphasis, contempt, request, etc.  (at sentence-end)
2. used when calling out to someone  (after a noun)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings, examples and links)
1. in this way (used for something or someone close to the speaker, including the speaker himself, or for the opinions of the speaker); thus; such  (see also: 然う, ああ, 如何; often written with kana only)
interjection (kandoushi)
2. uh... (interjection used as a verbal pause)  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 form, examples and links)
particle
1. if ... then; when
2. and  (often ...も...ば...も...)
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings, examples and links)
particle
1. such things as (non-exhaustive list related to a specific time and place); and ... and
2. the minute (that) ...; no sooner than ...; as soon as  (see also: や否や; after the dictionary form of a verb)
(click the word to view an additional 6 meanings, examples and links)
1
Most common form: くる
irregular verb くる, intransitive verb
1. to come (spatially or temporally); to approach; to arrive
irregular verb くる, intransitive verb, auxiliary verb
2. to come back; to do ... and come back  (see also: 行って来る)
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
0
Most common form: まで
particle
1. until (a time); till; to; up to  (often written with kana only)
2. to (a place); as far as  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings, examples and links)
1
ichidan verb, transitive verb
1. to see; to look; to watch; to view; to observe
2. to look over; to look on; to assess; to examine; to judge  (see also: 診る)
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings and 3 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
particle
1. -ing and -ing (e.g. "coming and going")  (as …たり…たり, after the ren'youkei forms of multiple verbs)
2. (used adverbially) doing such things as...
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings, examples and links)
1
adverbial noun (fukushitekimeishi), noun
now; the present time; just now; soon; immediately; (one) more
(click the word for examples and links)
1
1. good; excellent; fine; nice; pleasant; agreeable  (also いい (all senses); often written with kana only)
2. sufficient (can be used to turn down an offer); ready; prepared
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 6 forms, examples and links)
1
1. good; excellent; fine; nice; pleasant; agreeable  (see also: 良い)
2. sufficient (can be used to turn down an offer); ready; prepared  (see also: 良い)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 1 form, examples and links)
3 0
noun, suffix
1. place; spot; scene; site  (also pronounced どころ when a suffix)
2. address  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, 9 meanings and 4 forms, examples and links)
0
1. myself; yourself; oneself; himself; herself
2. I; me
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
Most common form: んと
interjection (kandoushi)
1. yes; yeah; uh huh  (see also: うん)
2. huh?; what?
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings, examples and links)
interjection (kandoushi)
1. Ah!; Oh!; Alas!  (also written as 於乎, 於戯, 嗟乎, 嗟夫, 吁, etc.; often written with kana only)
2. Yes; Indeed; That is correct  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 7 forms, examples and links)
2
1. as expected; sure enough; just as one thought  (see also: やっぱり; often written with kana only)
2. after all (is said and done); in the end; as one would expect; in any case  (see also: やっぱり; often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
3
1. too; also; likewise; either  (see also: 矢張り; often written with kana only)
2. still; as before  (see also: 矢張り; often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 1 form, examples and links)
auxiliary adjective
1. want to ... do something; would like to ...  (after the -masu stem of a verb)
particle
2. indicates emphasis  (at sentence-end; regional dialect: Kyuushuu-ben)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
0
'ru' godan verb, transitive verb
1. to do; to undertake; to perform; to play (a game); to study  (see also: 為る; often written with kana only; colloquialism)
2. to send; to dispatch; to despatch  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 14 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
1
noun
1. inside; in
2. among; within
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings, useful expressions, examples and links)
0
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
1. to be (of animate objects); to exist  (see also: 在る; often written with kana only)
2. to stay  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 2 forms, examples and links)
2
Most common form: できる
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
1. to be able (in a position) to do; to be up to the task  (often written with kana only)
2. to be ready; to be completed  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 3 forms, examples and links)
particle
1. et cetera; etc.; and the like; and so forth  (often written with kana only)
2. or something  (after an approximate quote or vague suggestion; often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 2 forms, examples and links)
expression
1. as (i.e. in the role of); for (i.e. from the viewpoint of)
2. apart from... (used to change the topic)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings, examples and links)
1
Most common form: あと
1. behind; rear  (see also: 後ずさり)
2. after; later  (see also: その後)
(click the word to view an additional 6 meanings, examples and links)
0
adverb, conjunction, prefix
again; and; also; still (doing something)  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 3 forms, examples and links)
1 0
1. just a minute; short time; just a little  (often written with kana only)
2. somewhat; easily; readily; rather  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 4 forms, examples and links)
2
go and do
(click the word for examples and links)
particle
1. only; just; merely; simply; no more than; nothing but; alone  (see also: しか; often written with kana only)
2. as (e.g. as soon as, as much as)  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 1 form, examples and links)
0
suffix, particle
1. approximately; about; around; or so  (also written as 位)
2. to (about) the extent that; (almost) enough that; so ... that ...; at least
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
0
Most common form: くらい
(same as above)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
expression, 'i' adjective
is not; am not; are not  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 1 form, examples and links)
0 3
Most common form: ええと
interjection (kandoushi)
let me see; well; errr ...; uhh ...
(click the word to view an additional 5 forms, examples and links)
1
noun
1. direction; way; side; area (in a particular direction)
2. side (of an argument, etc.); one's part
(click the word to view an additional 5 meanings, examples and links)
go on doing, continue
(click the word for examples and links)
0
irregular godan verb 'iku/yuku', auxiliary verb
to continue  (from ..て or で plus 行く; colloquialism)
(click the word for examples and links)
1
Most common form: わけ
noun
conclusion from reasoning, judgement or calculation based on something read or heard; reason; cause; meaning; circumstances; situation  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
1
particle
indicates direction or goal (e.g. "to")  (pronounced え in modern Japanese)
(click the word for examples and links)
2
how; in what way; how about  (see also: 斯う, 然う, ああ; often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 4 forms, examples and links)
particle, conjunction
(at the end of a phrase) notes one (of several) reasons
(click the word for examples and links)
0
1. truth; reality; actuality; fact
2. proper; right; correct; official
(click the word to view an additional 3 readings, 1 meaning and 5 forms, examples and links)
1
1. to hold (in one's hand); to take; to carry
2. to possess; to have; to own
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings, useful expressions, examples and links)
1
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
1. to leave; to exit; to go out; to come out; to get out  (opposite: 入る)
2. to leave (on a journey); to depart; to start out; to set out
(click the word to view an additional 18 meanings, useful expressions, examples and links)
Most common form: ため
noun
1. good; advantage; benefit; welfare  (see also: 為に; often written with kana only)
2. sake; purpose; objective; aim  (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 3 forms, examples and links)
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