2025.08.30 2025.08.31

The First 10 Japanese Nouns You Should Learn

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Introduction: Let’s Learn Your First Japanese Words!

Welcome! You’ve learned what Hiragana is, and now it’s time for the fun part: learning actual Japanese words!

Words are the building blocks of any language. By learning just a few essential nouns, you can start to understand and describe the world around you in Japanese.

In this lesson, we’ve carefully selected 10 simple but very important nouns that you’ll hear and use all the time. For each word, we’ll give you the meaning, an example sentence, and a fun little tip to help you remember it.

Let’s begin your vocabulary adventure!

How to Read This Guide

Kanji (Hiragana): The word in its common written form.
Romaji: How to pronounce it using the English alphabet.
Meaning: The English translation.
Example: A simple sentence to see the word in action.
✨ Kira Kira Point: A fun fact or memory tip!

1. 猫 (ねこ)

Romaji: neko
Meaning: Cat
Example: これはねこです。(Kore wa neko desu.) – This is a cat.
✨ Kira Kira Point: Japan has a special connection with cats! You might see “Maneki-neko” (beckoning cat) statues in shops, which are believed to bring good luck.

2. 犬 (いぬ)

Romaji: inu
Meaning: Dog
Example: あそこにいぬがいます。(Asoko ni inu ga imasu.) – There is a dog over there.
✨ Kira Kira Point: The famous loyal dog, Hachiko, has a statue outside Shibuya Station in Tokyo. He’s a symbol of loyalty in Japan!

3. 家 (いえ)

Romaji: ie
Meaning: House / Home
Example: わたしのいえはここです。(Watashi no ie wa koko desu.) – My house is here.
✨ Kira Kira Point: While “ie” means the physical building, “uchi” (うち) is often used to mean “my home” or “my family’s place,” which has a warmer, more personal feeling.

4. 学校 (がっこう)

Romaji: gakkou
Meaning: School
Example: がっこうへいきます。(Gakkou e ikimasu.) – I am going to school.
✨ Kira Kira Point: In many Japanese anime and dramas, you’ll see students wearing cool uniforms (“seifuku,” せいふく) and participating in after-school club activities (“bukatsu,” ぶかつ).

5. 電車 (でんしゃ)

Romaji: densha
Meaning: Train
Example: でんしゃにのります。(Densha ni norimasu.) – I will ride the train.
✨ Kira Kira Point: Japan’s train system, especially the Shinkansen (bullet train), is famous for being incredibly punctual and fast! It’s a key part of daily life.

6. 水 (みず)

Romaji: mizu
Meaning: Water
Example: みずをのみます。(Mizu o nomimasu.) – I drink water.
✨ Kira Kira Point: In restaurants in Japan, you’ll almost always be given a free glass of water or tea as soon as you sit down. It’s part of the “omotenashi” (hospitality) culture.

7. 本 (ほん)

Romaji: hon
Meaning: Book
Example: ほんをよみます。(Hon o yomimasu.) – I read a book.
✨ Kira Kira Point: “Hon” is also a counter for long, cylindrical objects! So you might say “ippon” (一本) for one pencil or one bottle. Japanese counters are a fun challenge!

8. 友達 (ともだち)

Romaji: tomodachi
Meaning: Friend
Example: わたしにはともだちがいます。(Watashi ni wa tomodachi ga imasu.) – I have friends.
✨ Kira Kira Point: “Tomodachi” is a beautiful word that can be used for friends of any gender. It’s a key word for making connections in Japan!

9. 桜 (さくら)

Romaji: sakura
Meaning: Cherry Blossom
Example: さくらはきれいです。(Sakura wa kirei desu.) – Cherry blossoms are beautiful.
✨ Kira Kira Point: “Hanami” (花見), the tradition of viewing cherry blossoms, is a huge event every spring in Japan. Friends and family gather under the sakura trees for picnics.

10. 寿司 (すし)

Romaji: sushi
Meaning: Sushi
Example: すしをたべます。(Sushi o tabemasu.) – I eat sushi.
✨ Kira Kira Point: While many people think of raw fish, the word “sushi” actually refers to the vinegared rice! There are many types of sushi without raw fish, like “tamago” (egg) sushi.

Conclusion: You’ve Learned 10 New Words!

Congratulations! You’ve just taken a huge step by learning your first 10 Japanese nouns.

Try to spot these words when you’re watching anime or listening to Japanese music. You’ll be surprised at how often they appear!

Keep up the great work, and get ready to learn even more!

#beginner #nouns #vocabulary

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