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.

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 Nouns | Japanese Nouns | Romanji | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
Week | 週 | Shuu | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]週[/Speechword] |
Year | 年 | Toshi | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]年[/Speechword] |
Second | 秒 | Byou | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]秒[/Speechword] |
Hour | 時間 | Jikan | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]時間[/Speechword] |
Minute | 分 | Fun | [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 Nouns | Japanese Nouns | Romanji | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
Food | 料理 | Ryouri | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]料理[/Speechword] |
Tea | 茶 | Cha | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]茶[/Speechword] |
Water | 水 | Mizu | [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] |
Ice | 氷 | Kouri | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]氷[/Speechword] |
Beef | 牛肉 | Gyuu niku | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]牛肉[/Speechword] |
Fish | 魚 | Sakana | [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 For People
Here are essential words about people to start practicing.
English Nouns | Japanese Nouns | Romanji | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
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] |
Husband | 夫 | Otto | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]夫[/Speechword] |
Wife | 妻 | Tsuma | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]妻[/Speechword] |
Son | 息子 | Musuko | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]息子[/Speechword] |
Daughter | 娘 | Mutsume | [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 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 Nouns | Japanese Nouns | Romanji | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
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] |
House | 家 | Ie | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]家[/Speechword] |
Bus stop | バス停 | Basu tei | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]バス停[/Speechword] |
Train station | 駅 | Eki | [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 Nouns | Japanese Nouns | Romanji | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
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 Nouns | Japanese Nouns | Romanji | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
Shoe | 靴 | Kutsu | [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 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 Nouns | Japanese Nouns | Romanji | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
Head | 頭 | Atama | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]頭[/Speechword] |
Stomach | お腹 | Onaka | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]お腹[/Speechword] |
Hand/arm | 手 | Te | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]手[/Speechword] |
Leg/foot | 足 | Ashi | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]足[/Speechword] |
Face | 顔 | Kao | [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 Nouns | Japanese Nouns | Romanji | Sound |
---|---|---|---|
Beauty | 美 | Bi | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]美[/Speechword] |
Death | 死 | Shi | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]死[/Speechword] |
Goodness | 善 | Zen | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]善[/Speechword] |
Happiness | 幸 | Kou | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]幸[/Speechword] |
Love | 愛 | Ai | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]愛[/Speechword] |
Heart | 心 | Kokoro | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]心[/Speechword] |
Life | 命 | Mei | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]命[/Speechword] |
Wisdom | 智慧 | Chie | [Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]智慧[/Speechword] |
Wish | 顔 | Gan | [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.
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