The most useful 10,000 words in Japanese
Usefulness Level 1 Vocab 401-502
1. blue; green
2. pale (this meaning is restricted to form 青い, 蒼い)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 3 forms, examples and links)
'u' godan verb, intransitive verb
1. to go to and from (a place); to go back and forth between; to run between (e.g. bus, train, etc.); to ply between2. to go to (school, work, etc.); to attend; to commute; to frequent
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
announcement; publication; presenting; statement; communique; making known; breaking (news story); expressing (one's opinion); releasing; unveiling(click the word for examples and links)
noun
1. human being; person; man; mankind; humankind2. character (of a person)
(click the word for examples and links)
noun
primary school; elementary school; grade school(click the word for examples and links)
adverbial noun (fukushitekimeishi), noun (temporal) (jisoumeishi)
whole; entirety; whatever (is the matter)(click the word for examples and links)
2. strange; odd; funny; peculiar; weird; unusual; eccentric (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb, 'no' adjective
representative; representation; delegation; type; example; model(click the word for examples and links)
2. in short; in brief; to sum up; ultimately; in the end; in the long run; when all is said and done; what it all comes down to; when you get right down to it; basically (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 5 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
1. judgment; judgement; decision; conclusion; adjudication2. divination
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
noun, 'no' adjective
countrywide; nationwide; whole country; national(click the word for examples and links)
noun, 'na' adjective, 'no' adjective
1. emergency2. extraordinary; unusual
(click the word for examples and links)
'na' adjective, noun
1. sure; certain; positive; definite2. reliable; trustworthy; safe; sound; firm; accurate; correct; exact
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 3 forms, examples and links)
noun
1. sky2. heaven (this meaning is restricted to reading てん)
(click the word to view an additional 2 readings and 2 meanings, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
consultation; discussion(click the word for useful expressions, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
suspension; stoppage; discontinuance; interruption(click the word for examples and links)
'na' adjective, adverbial noun (fukushitekimeishi), 'no' adjective
direct; immediate; personal; firsthand (see also: 間接)(click the word for examples and links)
adverbial noun (fukushitekimeishi), noun
fact; truth; reality(click the word for examples and links)
noun
1. duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff)2. liability; onus
(click the word for examples and links)
'su' godan verb, transitive verb
1. to ferry across (e.g. a river); to carry across; to traverse2. to lay across; to build across
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
1. expression; presentation2. representation; notation (mathematics)
(click the word for examples and links)
noun
1. material; substance2. matter (physics terminology)
(click the word for examples and links)
2. absolute; unconditional; unmistakable
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 2 forms, examples and links)
'no' adjective, 'na' adjective, noun
identical; equal to; same (kind); like; similarity(click the word for examples and links)
noun, noun (suffix)
1. playing2. play (margin between on and off, gap before pressing button or lever has an effect) (often written with kana only)
(click the word for examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
traffic; transportation; communication; exchange (of ideas, etc.); intercourse(click the word for examples and links)
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
1. to lie down2. to go to bed; to lie in bed
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
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)
noun, 'no' adjective
state of affairs (around you); situation; circumstances(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
expectation; anticipation; hope(click the word for useful expressions, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
great effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; effort(click the word for examples and links)
adverbial noun (fukushitekimeishi)
with the exception of; excepting(click the word for examples and links)
'na' adjective, noun, 'suru' verb
insufficiency; shortage; deficiency; lack; dearth (opposite: 満足)(click the word to view an additional 1 reading, examples and links)
1. very; greatly
'na' adjective, noun
2. immense; enormous; great(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
2. late (e.g. "late at night")
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings and 4 forms, examples and links)
'ku' godan verb, transitive verb
1. to write; to compose; to pen2. to draw; to paint (see also: 描く)
(click the word for examples and links)
noun
language (linguistics terminology)(click the word to view an additional 2 readings, examples and links)
noun
1. record; minutes; document2. a record (e.g. in sports); results; score
(click the word to view an additional 2 meanings, examples and links)
noun
article; news story; report; account(click the word for useful expressions, examples and links)
noun, 'no' adjective, 'na' adjective
1. general; universal2. ordinary; average; common (opposite: 特殊)
(click the word for examples and links)
noun
numeral; figure; digit; numeric character (mathematics)(click the word for examples and links)
2. to search (for something lost); to seek (a suspect in a crime) (esp. 捜す)
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
noun, 'no' adjective
National Diet; parliament; congress (abbreviation)(click the word for examples and links)
'no' adjective, adverbial noun (fukushitekimeishi), noun (temporal) (jisoumeishi)
olden days; former(click the word for examples and links)
ichidan verb, intransitive verb
1. to live; to exist2. to make a living; to subsist
(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 2 forms, examples and links)
noun
1. intention; plan (often written with kana only)2. conviction; belief (often written with kana only)
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
'mu' godan verb, transitive verb
1. to drink; to gulp; to swallow; to take (medicine) (呑む is often used metaphorically, 服む is often used for medicine)2. to smoke (tobacco) (see also: 喫む; also written 喫む)
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings and 4 forms, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb
sale; offering for sale; release (for sale); launch (product)(click the word for examples and links)
tender; kind; gentle; graceful; affectionate; amiable
(click the word for examples and links)
'ku' godan verb, transitive verb
1. to hear2. to listen (e.g. to music) (usu. 聴く)
(click the word to view an additional 4 meanings and 3 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
noun, 'suru' verb, 'no' adjective
cooperation; collaboration (see also: ご協力)(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
noun
1. machine; mechanism2. instrument; appliance; apparatus (often 器械)
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
'no' adjective, 'na' adjective, adverb, noun
1. truth; reality; actuality; fact2. proper; right; correct; official
(click the word to view an additional 3 readings, 1 meaning and 5 forms, examples and links)
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)
'ru' godan verb, transitive verb
1. to protect; to guard; to defend2. to keep (i.e. a promise); to abide (by the rules); to observe; to obey; to follow
(click the word to view an additional 3 forms, examples and links)
'ru' godan verb, intransitive verb
to remain; to be left(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
pronoun, 'no' adjective
1. I; menoun, 'no' adjective
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)
'ru' godan verb, intransitive verb, auxiliary verb
to finish; to end; to close (also written 了る, 卒る, etc.)(click the word to view an additional 6 forms, examples and links)
noun
1. foot (esp. 足)2. leg (esp. 脚,肢)
(click the word to view an additional 5 meanings and 3 forms, useful expressions, examples and links)
'u' godan verb, intransitive verb
1. to meet (by chance); to come across; to run across; to encounter; to happen upon (出遭う usu. has a negative connotation)2. to meet (e.g. of rivers, highways, etc.) (esp. 出合う; this meaning is restricted to form 出会う, 出合う)
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 4 forms, examples and links)
noun
1. ship; boat; watercraft; vessel; steamship (舟 is often small and hand-propelled; this meaning is restricted to form 船, 舟, ふね)2. tank; tub; vat; trough
(click the word to view an additional 1 meaning and 3 forms, examples and links)
2. to do up (one's hair) (see also: 髪を上げる)
(click the word to view an additional 24 meanings and 3 forms, examples and links)
Most common form: 合せる
ichidan verb, transitive verb
1. to match (rhythm, speed, etc.)2. to join together; to unite; to combine; to add up
(click the word to view an additional 6 meanings and 3 forms, examples and links)
'ru' godan verb, intransitive verb
1. to rise; to go up; to come up; to ascend; to be raised (opposite: 下がる)2. to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to go in
(click the word to view an additional 24 meanings and 5 forms, examples and links)
'no' adjective, suffix
2. best(click the word to view an additional 3 meanings and 5 forms, examples and links)
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)
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