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Learn Essential Japanese Vocabulary for Beginners – A1 Level visualisation

Learn Essential Japanese Vocabulary for Beginners – A1 Level

Fundamental Japanese Vocabulary for Beginners (A1 Level).
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When learning Japanese at the A1 level, focusing on essential vocabulary is crucial for building a strong foundation. Below is a categorized list of the most important words and phrases for beginners:

Basic Greetings and Polite Expressions

  • こんにちは (Konnichiwa) – Hello
  • おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) – Good morning
  • こんばんは (Konbanwa) – Good evening
  • さようなら (Sayonara) – Goodbye
  • ありがとう (Arigatou) – Thank you
  • すみません (Sumimasen) – Excuse me / I’m sorry
  • はい (Hai) – Yes
  • いいえ (Iie) – No
  • お願いします (Onegaishimasu) – Please
  • 元気ですか？(Genki desu ka?) – How are you?

Common Nouns

People and Pronouns:

  • 私 (Watashi) – I (neutral/formal)
  • 僕 (Boku) / 俺 (Ore) – I (male, casual)
  • 友達 (Tomodachi) – Friend
  • 家族 (Kazoku) – Family
  • 学生 (Gakusei) – Student
  • 先生 (Sensei) – Teacher

Everyday Items:

  • 本 (Hon) – Book
  • ペン (Pen) – Pen
  • 家 (Ie/Uchi) – House
  • 車 (Kuruma) – Car
  • 学校 (Gakkou) – School

Animals:

  • 猫 (Neko) – Cat
  • 犬 (Inu) – Dog

Essential Verbs

These verbs are frequently used in daily conversations:

  • 行く (Iku) – To go
  • 来る (Kuru) – To come
  • 見る (Miru) – To see/watch
  • 聞く (Kiku) – To listen/hear
  • 食べる (Taberu) – To eat
  • 飲む (Nomu) – To drink
  • 話す (Hanasu) – To speak/talk
  • 書く (Kaku) – To write

Adjectives

Descriptive words help express qualities and characteristics:

  • 大きい (Ookii) – Big
  • 小さい (Chiisai) – Small
  • 新しい (Atarashii) – New
  • 古い (Furui) – Old
  • 良い/いい (Yoi/Ii) – Good
  • 悪い (Warui) – Bad

Numbers

Learning numbers is essential for time, shopping, and more:

  1. 一 (いち) Ichi - One
  2. 二 (に) Ni - Two
  3. 三 (さん) San - Three
  4. 四 (し/よん) Shi/Yon - Four
  5. 五 (ご) Go - Five
  6. 六 (ろく) Roku - Six
  7. 七 (しち/なな) Shichi/Nana - Seven
  8. 八 (はち) Hachi - Eight
  9. 九 (きゅう) Kyuu - Nine
  10. 十 (じゅう) Juu - Ten

Time and Days

Understanding basic time expressions is helpful:

  • 今日 (Kyou) – Today
  • 昨日 (Kinou) – Yesterday
  • 明日 (Ashita) – Tomorrow
  • 今週 (Konshuu) – This week

Basic Questions

These words help form simple questions:

  • 何? (Nani?) – What?
  • 誰? (Dare?) – Who?
  • どこ? (Doko?) – Where?
  • いつ? (Itsu?) – When?

By mastering these words and phrases, learners can navigate basic conversations and build confidence in speaking Japanese at the A1 level 1, 2, 3.

References

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