List: Core Japanese words
This is arguably the list of the most important words that any beginner student should begin learning. This list is inspired from the content in https://www.fluentin3months.com/core-japanese-words/
List: Core Japanese words
- Description
- This is arguably the list of the most important words that any beginner student should begin learning. This list is inspired from the content in https://www.fluentin3months.com/core-japanese-words/
- Visibility
- Public
- Owner
fr3nd- Number of entries
- 117
- Contains
- Words
- Creation date
- 7 Jun 2022, 7:34 p.m.
- Last updated
- 9 Dec 2025, 1:20 p.m.
Wordpopular search-only kana form rarely used kanji form JLPT N5 usually written using kana alone conjunction
- however, but
Wordpopular rarely used kanji form JLPT N5 usually written using kana alone adverb
- very, awfully, exceedingly
- (not) at all, by no means, simply (cannot)
Wordpopular rarely used kanji form search-only kanji form JLPT N5 ใ adjective adjective (generic)
- enjoyable, fun, pleasant, happy, delightful
Wordpopular JLPT N4 usually written using kana alone ใ adjective adjective (generic) colloquial adverb
- terrible, dreadful
- amazing (e.g. of strength), great (e.g. of skills), wonderful, terrific
- to a great extent, vast (in numbers)
- awfully, very, immensely
Wordpopular JLPT N5 ใช adjective adjective (generic) adverb colloquial interjection archaic noun noun (generic)
- safe, secure, sound, problem-free, without fear, all right, alright, OK, okay
- certainly, surely, undoubtedly
- no thanks, I'm good, that's alright
- great man, fine figure of a man
Wordpopular gikun or jukujikun search-only kana form JLPT N5 usually written using kana alone ใ adjective adjective (generic)
- bad(-tasting), unpalatable, unsavoury, unsavory, awful, terrible, unpleasant
- poor, unskillful, unskilful, bungling, clumsy
- ugly, unattractive, homely, plain
- awkward, problematic, troublesome, unfavorable, unfavourable, unwise
Wordpopular gikun or jukujikun search-only kana form search-only kanji form JLPT N5 usually written using kana alone ใ adjective adjective (generic)
- good(-tasting), nice, delicious, tasty
- attractive (offer, opportunity, etc.), appealing, convenient, favorable, desirable, profitable
Wordpopular rarely used kanji form JLPT N3 usually written using kana alone ใ adjective adjective (generic)
- skillful, skilful, skilled, good, expert, clever (expression, trick, etc.), apt, appropriate
- delicious, tasty, good, nice
- good (deal, idea, etc.), profitable, promising, lucky, fortunate, successful, satisfactory, splendid
Wordpopular obsolete kanji JLPT N4 ใช adjective adjective (generic) noun noun (generic)
- simple, easy, uncomplicated
- brief, quick, light
Wordpopular search-only kana form search-only kanji form JLPT N5 ใ adjective adjective (generic) euphemistic archaic
- difficult, hard, troublesome, complicated, serious (disease, problem, etc.)
- impossible, unfeasible
- fussy, particular, fastidious, hard to please, displeased
- gloomy, glum, sullen, serious (look)
- dirty, unclean, filthy, detestable
- unpleasant, uncomfortable, creepy, spooky