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Common Japanese Words & Phrases

873 everyday words with readings, romaji, and native audio

AudioJapaneseRomajiMeaning
お風呂に入るおふろにはいる Ofuronihairu to take a bath
掃除するそうじする Souji suru to clean (something)
洗うあらう Arau to wash (no direct object)
洗濯するせんたくする Sentakusuru to do laundry
1. 切る 2. 着る1.きる2.きる Kiru 1. to cut 2. to put on clothes (above the waist)
履くはく Haku to put on clothes (below the waist)
眼鏡をかけるめがねをかける Megane wo Kakeru to put on glasses
消すけす Kesu to turn off, switch off, erase
教えるおしえる Oshieru to teach, tell
習うならう Narau to learn
思うおもう Omou to think, believe — believe in the sense of personal opinion rather than a strong belief
始めるはじめる Hajimeru to begin (direct object)
終るおわる Owaru to end
早くなるはやくなる Hayakunaru to be early, to arrive early, to come early
遅くなるおそくなる Osokunaru to be late/ to arrive late/ to come late
読むよむ Yomu to read
書くかく Kaku to write
知るしる Shiru to know, to get to know someone
忘れるわすれる Wasureru to forget, leave behind
数えるかぞえる Kazoeru to count (numbers, things, etc)
勉強するべんきょうする Benkyou suru to study
休むやすむ Yasumu to rest, take a day off
さぼる Saboru to skip (school / work)
あげる Ageru to give, offer (from speaker to someone else)
貰うもらう Morau to receive, get (direct object to speaker)
持って行くもっていく Motteiku to take (an inanimate object away from speaker’s location)
連れてくるつれてくる Tsuretekuru to bring (a person or being)
買うかう Kau to buy
売るうる Uru to sell
働くはたらく Hataraku to work
勤めるつとめる Tsutomeru to work (for someone or something)
借りるかりる Kariru to borrow, rent
貸すかす Kasu to lend, loan
返すかえす Kaesu to return (an item) , repay
住むすむ Sumu to live, to reside, to inhabit
開けるあける Akeru to open (direct object を) Ex. Mouths, eyes, doors, etc
閉めるしめる Shimeru to shut, close (requires a direct object ex. doors, windows, etc.)
タバコを吸うタバコをすう Tabako wo suu to smoke a cigarette
酔うよう You to be drunk, get drunk, feel dizzy
運転するうんてんする Untensuru to drive
かかる Kakaru to take (amount of time/ money) eg. It takes me 2 hours OR It took 4000 yen
紹介するしょうかいする Shoukaisuru to introduce, present
待つまつ Matsu to wait
急ぐいそぐ Isogu to hurry
会うあう Au to meet
払うはらう Harau to pay
座るすわる Suwaru to sit
立つたつ Tatsu to stand, rise
喧嘩するけんかする Kenkasuru to fight (physical) , to argue/quarrel (verbal)
手伝うてつだう Tetsudau to help (eg. lending a hand. Tasukeru is helping when someone is in crisis/danger)
決めるきめる Kimeru to decide
間違うまちがう Machigau to be mistaken, be wrong (no direct object)
電話をかけるでんわをかける Denwa wo kakeru to make a phone call
作るつくる Tsukuru to make, create
使うつかう Tsukau to use
笑うわらう Warau to laugh, smile
泣くなく Naku to cry
落とすおとす Otosu to drop
じろじろ見るじろじろみる Jirojiromiru to stare
踊るおどる Odoru to dance