Top 80 Common Japanese Nouns You Need To Learn Today

Japanese nouns-ling-app-hiragana-1

Unsurprisingly, if you simply use a noun in Japanese, people can get what you mean. So, learning Japanese nouns is a great way to expand your Japanese vocabulary and will facilitate easy communication with locals.

It’s typical practice for anyone beginning to study a foreign language to start with understanding basic greetings and everyday phrases. So, learning Japanese greetings and common expressions in preparation for a trip to Japan is an excellent first step for anyone interested in studying the Japanese language.

But if you don’t want to study vocabulary you might never use, keep reading this post because we’ll introduce you to the most frequent Japanese nouns you need daily!

 

Basic Japanese Nouns At A Glance

In contrast to the English language, nouns in Japanese do not require articles like “a” and “the.” Also, unlike in English, where the addition of “s” or “es” denotes the singular and plural form, there are no rules for determining whether a single or plural noun is in Japanese.

Hence, Japanese learners can feel free to use proper nouns without fearing making mistakes here.

Japanese nouns-man walking under tori

 

Common Nouns In Japanese You Need In Everyday Life

Now we begin! Here are some of the most common nouns in Japanese that you will definitely hear native speakers use daily.

If you want to learn Japanese for everyday usages, like asking for the restroom or placing an order at a restaurant, but you don’t have time to learn how to construct a complete sentence since you need common Japanese words to use right now, then bookmark this article and start practicing today.

So, chill out and remember these common Japanese nouns list now!

Japanese Nouns For Date And Time

This is a list of the Japanese words for date and time that you’ll need to use daily.

English NounsJapanese NounsRomanjiSound
WeekShuu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]週[/Speechword]
YearToshi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]年[/Speechword]
SecondByou[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]秒[/Speechword]
Hour時間Jikan[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]時間[/Speechword]
MinuteFun[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]分[/Speechword]
Today今日Kyou[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]今日[/Speechword]
Tomorrow明日Ashita[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]明日[/Speechword]
Yesterday昨日Kinou[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]昨日[/Speechword]

Japanese Nouns For Food And Drink

Do you love Japanese food? Then surely you will love to spend some time at Japanese restaurants!

Here are the most common Japanese words for food that will come in handy if you visit Japan.

English NounsJapanese NounsRomanjiSound
Food料理Ryouri[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]料理[/Speechword]
TeaCha[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]茶[/Speechword]
WaterMizu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]水[/Speechword]
CoffeeコーヒーKōhī[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]コーヒー[/Speechword]
BeerビールBīru[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]ビール[/Speechword]
IceKouri[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]氷[/Speechword]
Beef牛肉Gyuu niku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]牛肉[/Speechword]
FishSakana[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]魚[/Speechword]
Pork豚肉Buta niku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]豚肉[/Speechword]
Chicken鶏肉Tori niku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]鶏肉[/Speechword]
Japanese nouns-people in kimono

Japanese Nouns For People

Here are essential words about people to start practicing.

English NounsJapanese NounsRomanjiSound
Japanese people日本人Nihon jin[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]日本人[/Speechword]
Family家族Kazoku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]家族[/Speechword]
Motherお母さんOkaasan[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]お母さん[/Speechword]
Fatherお父さんOtousan[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]お父さん[/Speechword]
HusbandOtto[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]夫[/Speechword]
WifeTsuma[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]妻[/Speechword]
Son息子Musuko[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]息子[/Speechword]
DaughterMutsume[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]娘[/Speechword]
Woman女の人Onna no hito[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]女の人[/Speechword]
Man男の人Otoko no hito[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]人[/Speechword]
Boy男の子Otoko no ko[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]男の子[/Speechword]
Girl女の子Onna no ko[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]女の子[/Speechword]
Child子供Kodomo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]子供[/Speechword]
Adult大人Otona[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]大人[/Speechword]
Girlfriend彼女Kanojo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]彼女[/Speechword]
Boyfriend彼氏Kareshi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]彼氏[/Speechword]
Friend友達Tomodachi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]友達[/Speechword]
Nurse看護師Kangoshi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]看護師[/Speechword]
Police officer警官Keikan[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]警官[/Speechword]
Teacher先生Sensei[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]先生[/Speechword]
Japanese nouns-tokyo tower

Japanese Nouns For Places

Knowing some Japanese nouns for places is a great way to enhance your experience and communication skills in Japan. Whether you want to find the best hotel, a supermarket to buy groceries, or a park where you can chat with the locals, first, you need to learn these nouns. They will come in handy in case you need to ask for directions!

English NounsJapanese NounsRomanjiSound
Kitchen台所Daidokoro[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]台所[/Speechword]
Bathroom浴室Yokushitsu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]浴室[/Speechword]
Toiletお手洗いOtearai[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]お手洗い[/Speechword]
HotelホテルHoteru[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]ホテル[/Speechword]
Park公園Kouen[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]公園[/Speechword]
School学校Gakkou[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]学校[/Speechword]
University大学Daigaku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]大学[/Speechword]
HouseIe[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]家[/Speechword]
Bus stopバス停Basu tei[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]バス停[/Speechword]
Train stationEki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]駅[/Speechword]
Convenient StoreコンビニKonbini[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]コンビニ[/Speechword]
SupermarketスーパーSuupaa[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]スーパー[/Speechword]
Department storeデパートDepaato[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]デパート[/Speechword]
Drugstore薬局Yakkyoku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]薬局[/Speechword]
RestaurantレストランResutoran[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]レストラン[/Speechword]

Japanese Nouns For Home Appliances

Have you ever wondered how to say television in Japanese? Let’s learn the most basic words in Japanese about home appliances you’ll often use.

English NounsJapanese NounsRomanjiSound
ComputerコンピューターKonpyuutaa[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]コンピューター[/Speechword]
BedベッドBeddo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]ベッド[/Speechword]
SofaソファーSofaa[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]ソファー[/Speechword]
TelevisionテレビTerebi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]テレビ[/Speechword]
Cellphone携帯電話Keitai denwa[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]携帯電話[/Speechword]
TableテーブルTeeburu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]テーブル[/Speechword]
Chair椅子Isu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]椅子[/Speechword]

Japanese Nouns For Clothing

These Japanese words for clothing will help you whenever you need to buy items or ask for fashion advice from the locals.

English NounsJapanese NounsRomanjiSound
ShoeKutsu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]靴[/Speechword]
ShirtシャツShatsu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]シャツ[/Speechword]
Sock靴下Kutsushita[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]靴下[/Speechword]
PantsズボンZubon[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]ズボン[/Speechword]
SkirtスカートSukaato[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]スカート[/Speechword]
Japanese nouns-Shirakawa-go

Japanese Nouns For Weather

Here are 3 basic Japanese words about the weather.

Japanese Nouns For Body Parts

Here are helpful Japanese words about body parts.

English NounsJapanese NounsRomanjiSound
HeadAtama[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]頭[/Speechword]
Stomachお腹Onaka[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]お腹[/Speechword]
Hand/armTe[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]手[/Speechword]
Leg/footAshi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]足[/Speechword]
FaceKao[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]顔[/Speechword]

 

Common Japanese Abstract Nouns

You can also find several examples of abstract nouns in Japanese when watching J-dramas. They use these words for the titles, for example.

English NounsJapanese NounsRomanjiSound
BeautyBi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]美[/Speechword]
DeathShi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]死[/Speechword]
GoodnessZen[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]善[/Speechword]
HappinessKou[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]幸[/Speechword]
LoveAi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]愛[/Speechword]
HeartKokoro[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]心[/Speechword]
LifeMei[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]命[/Speechword]
Wisdom智慧Chie[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]智慧[/Speechword]
WishGan[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]顔[/Speechword]

 

In Summary

You’ll be able to get around easily and have an enriching experience in Japan if you learn these essential words for nouns in Japanese. Slowly you will notice a significant improvement in your sentence-building abilities! 

If you’re worried about building complex Japanese sentences and speaking, remember that communicating with Japanese nouns is a great place to start. 

Do you wish you had a more extensive vocabulary in Japanese? Then, we’ve got the top app in the store for you!

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Learn Japanese With The Ling App

Let’s use the Ling app to increase our Japanese vocabulary so we can feel comfortable constructing sentences from scratch in Japanese. We give you access to native Japanese pronunciation so you can hear how they pronounce various phrases and sentences and get familiar with it!

Most Japanese learners chose the Ling app to help them succeed, so why not join them? Download the Ling App from Google Play Store and Apple App Store now, and prepare to be fluent in Japanese soon!

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