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Japanese practice · English · Romaji · 日本語 · Explanation

High-frequency core words — the small set that does most of the work

Frequency lists are one of the fastest ways to start Japanese. The top 100 words cover about half of spoken Japanese. The top 1,000 cover roughly 80–85%.

A catch: the very highest-frequency “words” are mostly particles and grammar glue, not nouns like “apple.” Learn those first — you will see の, は, を, が, に in almost every sentence.

For active study, skip §1 (particles) — you already meet them in the apple sentences. Prefer Core study with the default Everyday filter (§5–8: labels, store, recipes).

  1. Learn hiragana first (a few days). You cannot usefully study these words in romaji forever.
  2. Particles before nouns — but if you already drill apple cards, treat §1 as a reference list, not new homework.
  3. Study in chunks: existence verbs → する + common verbs → demonstratives → time words → then everyday reading (§5–9).
  4. Pair each word with one short sentence — the examples below are built for that.
  5. After the general core, lean on Everyday words you’ll see on packs and recipes. Then a full JLPT N5 list if you want breadth.

Prefer one card at a time? Try Core study (defaults to Everyday reading).

1. Particles and sentence glue

Almost all JLPT N5. These show up in nearly every sentence — already practiced on the apple cards.

  1. Particles
    の — of / ’s / connecting nouns
    no
    の
    Example
    This is my book.
    Kore wa watashi no hon desu.
    Tip: Links two nouns. A の B ≈ “A’s B” or “B of A.”
  2. Particles
    は — topic marker (“as for…”)
    wa
    は
    Example
    I am a student.
    Watashi wa gakusei desu.
    Tip: Written は but pronounced wa as a particle. Marks what the sentence is about.
  3. Particles
    を — direct object marker
    o
    を
    Example
    I eat an apple.
    Ringo o tabemasu.
    Tip: Marks the thing the verb acts on. Pronounced o (not “wo”).
  4. Particles
    に — to / at / in / for
    ni
    に
    Example
    I go to school.
    Gakkō ni ikimasu.
    Tip: Destination, time point, or indirect object (“to someone”).
  5. Particles
    が — subject marker
    ga
    が
    Example
    There is a cat.
    Neko ga imasu.
    Tip: Often marks the subject, especially with existence verbs and new information.
  6. Particles
    と — and / with
    to
    と
    Example
    I go with a friend.
    Tomodachi to ikimasu.
    Tip: Joins nouns (“A and B”) or means “together with.”
  7. Particles
    で — at / by / with (place or means)
    de
    で
    Example
    I go by bus.
    Basu de ikimasu.
    Tip: Where an action happens, or the tool/means used.
  8. Particles
    て — te-form connector (“and then / -ing”)
    te
    て
    Example
    I eat and then sleep.
    Tabete, nemasu.
    Tip: Not a standalone word — the て-form links verbs/actions in sequence.
  9. Particles
    も — also / too
    mo
    も
    Example
    I will go too.
    Watashi mo ikimasu.
    Tip: Replaces は/が when adding “also.”
  10. Particles
    から — from / because
    kara
    から
    Example
    I came from home.
    Uchi kara kimashita.
    Tip: Starting point in space/time, or “because” after a reason.
  11. Particles
    か — question marker
    ka
    か
    Example
    What is this?
    Kore wa nan desu ka?
    Tip: Stick か on the end of a statement to make a yes/no (or open) question. Word order stays the same.
  12. Particles
    です — is / am / are (polite)
    desu
    です
    Example
    This is a book.
    Kore wa hon desu.
    Tip: Polite “to be.” Pattern: Noun は Noun/Adjective です.
  13. Particles
    だ — is / am / are (casual)
    da
    だ
    Example
    This is a book. (casual)
    Kore wa hon da.
    Tip: Casual counterpart of です (mainly after nouns / na-adjectives).
  14. Particles
    ない — not
    nai
    ない
    Example
    I don’t have money.
    Okane ga nai.
    Tip: Negative of ある, and the plain negative ending for many verbs/adjectives.

2. Core verbs and existence

Learn いる / ある early — “there is / have” shows up constantly.

  1. Core verbs
    する — to do
    suru
    する
    Example
    I study.
    Benkyō o shimasu.
    Tip: Turns many nouns into verbs: 勉強する, 電話する, etc. Polite: します.
  2. Core verbs
    いる — to exist / be (people, animals)
    iru
    いる
    Example
    My friend is here.
    Tomodachi ga imasu.
    Tip: Living things. Polite: います. Pair with が.
  3. Core verbs
    ある — to exist / have (things)
    aru
    ある
    Example
    There is a book.
    Hon ga arimasu.
    Tip: Non-living things / possession. Polite: あります. Negative: ない.
  4. Core verbs
    なる — to become
    naru
    なる
    Example
    I want to become a doctor.
    Isha ni naritai.
    Tip: Often Noun / Adjective に なる = become X.
  5. Core verbs
    言う — to say
    iu
    言いう
    Example
    What do you say?
    Nani o iimasu ka?
    Tip: Polite: 言います. Very common in reported speech too.
  6. Core verbs
    思う — to think
    omou
    思おもう
    Example
    I think so.
    Sō omoimasu.
    Tip: Opinions and feelings. Polite: 思います.
  7. Core verbs
    見る — to see / watch
    miru
    見みる
    Example
    I watch a movie.
    Eiga o mimasu.
    Tip: Polite: 見ます. Object usually takes を.
  8. Core verbs
    行く — to go
    iku
    行いく
    Example
    I’m going now.
    Ima ikimasu.
    Tip: Destination often marked with に or へ. Polite: 行きます.
  9. Core verbs
    来る — to come
    kuru
    来くる
    Example
    I’ll come tomorrow.
    Ashita kimasu.
    Tip: Irregular verb. Dictionary くる → polite きます → past きました.
  10. Core verbs
    使う — to use
    tsukau
    使つかう
    Example
    I use the phone.
    Denwa o tsukaimasu.
    Tip: Polite: 使います. High-frequency everyday verb.

3. People, things, pointing words

Demonstratives (これ/それ/この/その) unlock a huge amount of simple speech.

  1. People & things
    私 — I / me
    watashi
    私わたし
    Example
    I am Tanaka.
    Watashi wa Tanaka desu.
    Tip: Polite/neutral “I.” Often dropped when clear from context.
  2. People & things
    人 — person
    hito
    人ひと
    Example
    That person is a teacher.
    Ano hito wa sensei desu.
    Tip: Also appears in compounds (日本人, 三人) with different readings.
  3. People & things
    こと — thing / matter (abstract)
    koto
    こと
    Example
    That’s a good thing.
    Sore wa ii koto desu.
    Tip: Abstract “thing/matter,” not a physical object. Also nominalizes verbs.
  4. People & things
    もの — thing (physical)
    mono
    もの
    Example
    What is that thing?
    Sono mono wa nan desu ka?
    Tip: Tangible objects. Contrast with abstract こと.
  5. People & things
    これ — this (one)
    kore
    これ
    Example
    This is a pen.
    Kore wa pen desu.
    Tip: Stands alone as a pronoun (“this one”). Near the speaker.
  6. People & things
    それ — that (one)
    sore
    それ
    Example
    That is mine.
    Sore wa watashi no desu.
    Tip: Near the listener, or something already mentioned.
  7. People & things
    この — this (before a noun)
    kono
    この
    Example
    This book is interesting.
    Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.
    Tip: Must come before a noun: この + Noun. (これ stands alone.)
  8. People & things
    その — that (before a noun)
    sono
    その
    Example
    Who is that person?
    Sono hito wa dare desu ka?
    Tip: その + Noun. Pair with それ (standalone).
  9. People & things
    何 — what
    nani / nan
    何なに / 何なん
    Example
    What is this?
    Kore wa nan desu ka?
    Tip: なん before です/だ and some counters; なに in many other spots.

4. Time and simple description

Enough to talk about when, size, home, and place.

  1. Time & description
    今 — now
    ima
    今いま
    Example
    I’m going now.
    Ima ikimasu.
    Tip: Time words often need no particle when they set the timeframe.
  2. Time & description
    時 — time / when
    toki
    時とき
    Example
    When I was a child…
    Kodomo no toki…
    Tip: Also the kanji in clock times (三時 = さんじ) with reading じ.
  3. Time & description
    日 — day / sun
    hi
    日ひ
    Example
    It’s a nice day, isn’t it?
    Ii hi desu ne.
    Tip: Extremely common kanji; readings change in dates and compounds (日本, 毎日).
  4. Time & description
    年 — year
    toshi / nen
    年とし
    Example
    This year is 2026.
    Kotoshi wa nisen-nijūroku-nen desu.
    Tip: とし for “year/age” sense; ねん after numbers (2026年).
  5. Time & description
    大きい — big
    ōkii
    大おおきい
    Example
    It’s a big house.
    Ōkii ie desu.
    Tip: i-adjective. Comes before a noun or ends with です.
  6. Time & description
    小さい — small
    chiisai
    小ちいさい
    Example
    It’s a small dog.
    Chiisai inu desu.
    Tip: Pair opposite of 大きい. Same i-adjective pattern.
  7. Time & description
    家 — house / home
    ie / uchi
    家いえ
    Example
    I’m going home.
    Uchi ni kaerimasu.
    Tip: いえ = house/building; うち often = one’s home / household.
  8. Time & description
    所 — place
    tokoro
    所ところ
    Example
    It’s a nice place.
    Ii tokoro desu.
    Tip: Generic “place.” Also appears in set phrases (ところだ, etc.).

Everyday reading (§5–9) — supermarket labels, checkout, recipe steps, and Japanese ingredients. This is the track for active study after the general core. Chunked Japanese matches the apple layout so particles stay easy to spot.

5. Package & label

Dates, ingredients, storage — the short lines on food packs.

  1. Package & label
    賞味期限 — best-before date
    shōmi kigen
    賞味期限しょうみきげん
    Example
    Check the best-before date.
    Shōmi kigen o kakunin shite kudasai.
    Tip: Quality date — usually fine a little past if stored well. Different from 消費期限.
  2. Package & label
    消費期限 — use-by date
    shōhi kigen
    消費期限しょうひきげん
    Example
    The use-by date is tomorrow.
    Shōhi kigen wa ashita desu.
    Tip: Safety date — common on fresh food. Don’t stretch this one.
  3. Package & label
    原材料 — ingredients
    genzairyō
    原材料げんざいりょう
    Example
    Look at the ingredients list.
    Genzairyō o mite kudasai.
    Tip: On packs as 原材料名. Often a long comma-separated list.
  4. Package & label
    内容量 — net contents / amount
    naiyōryō
    内容量ないようりょう
    Example
    The net contents are 500 ml.
    Naiyōryō wa gohyaku miri desu.
    Tip: How much is in the pack (g / ml / 個). Near the barcode area on many foods.
  5. Package & label
    保存方法 — storage method
    hozō hōhō
    保存方法ほぞんほうほう
    Example
    Store in the refrigerator.
    Reizōko de hozon shite kudasai.
    Tip: Label heading. Often 直射日光を避け… or 冷蔵 / 冷凍.
  6. Package & label
    冷凍 — freezing / frozen
    reitō
    冷凍れいとう
    Example
    Please freeze it.
    Reitō shite kudasai.
    Tip: On packs and freezer aisle signs. Pair with 解凍 (thaw).
  7. Package & label
    解凍 — thawing / defrost
    kaitō
    解凍かいとう
    Example
    Thaw it in the refrigerator.
    Reizōko de kaitō shite kudasai.
    Tip: Common on frozen food directions. Microwave: レンジで解凍.

6. Store & checkout

Sale signs, tax tags, bags, and origin labels.

  1. Store & checkout
    特売 — special sale
    tokubai
    特売とくばい
    Example
    Eggs are on special.
    Tamago ga tokubai desu.
    Tip: Big in-store sign word. Often with a red price ticket.
  2. Store & checkout
    割引 — discount
    waribiki
    割引わりびき
    Example
    It’s 20% off.
    Ni-wari biki desu.
    Tip: 割 = 10% unit (一割 = 10%). Stickers near evening markdowns.
  3. Store & checkout
    税込 — tax included
    zeikomi
    税込ぜいこみ
    Example
    The price includes tax.
    Kakaku wa zeikomi desu.
    Tip: Opposite vibe: 税抜 (before tax). Shelf tags often show both.
  4. Store & checkout
    レジ袋 — shopping bag (at checkout)
    rejibukuro
    レジ袋ぶくろ
    Example
    Do you need a bag?
    Rejibukuro wa irimasu ka?
    Tip: Checkout question. Bags usually cost a little; いりません = no thanks.
  5. Store & checkout
    産地 — place of origin
    sanchi
    産地さんち
    Example
    Where is this from?
    Sanchi wa doko desu ka?
    Tip: On produce and meat. Often a prefecture name.

7. Recipe steps

Common cooking verbs you’ll see in short recipe lines.

  1. Recipe steps
    混ぜる — to mix / stir
    mazeru
    混まぜる
    Example
    Mix well.
    Yoku mazete kudasai.
    Tip: Very common recipe verb. Polite: 混ぜます / 混ぜて.
  2. Recipe steps
    茹でる — to boil (in water)
    yuderu
    茹ゆでる
    Example
    Boil for three minutes.
    San-pun yudete kudasai.
    Tip: Food in hot water. 沸かす is more “bring liquid to a boil.”
  3. Recipe steps
    焼く — to grill / bake / fry
    yaku
    焼やく
    Example
    Bake for ten minutes.
    Jup-pun yaite kudasai.
    Tip: Broad heat-cook verb (grill, bake, pan-fry). Context decides.
  4. Recipe steps
    炒める — to stir-fry / sauté
    itameru
    炒いためる
    Example
    Stir-fry the vegetables.
    Yasai o itamemasu.
    Tip: Pan + a little oil. Different from 焼く (grill/bake/fry more broadly).
  5. Recipe steps
    沸かす — to bring to a boil (liquid)
    wakasu
    沸わかす
    Example
    Boil the water.
    Oyu o wakashite kudasai.
    Tip: For liquid (water, milk). 茹でる = cook food in that boiling water.
  6. Recipe steps
    冷ます — to let cool
    samasu
    冷さます
    Example
    Let it cool a little.
    Sukoshi samashite kudasai.
    Tip: Active “cool it down.” Related: 冷める (cool by itself).

8. Amounts & glue

Spoon measures, “a little at a time,” preheat, and turn off the heat.

  1. Amounts & glue
    大さじ — tablespoon
    ōsaji
    大おおさじ
    Example
    Two tablespoons of soy sauce.
    Shōyu ōsaji ni-hai.
    Tip: Often written 大さじ2. Pair with 小さじ (teaspoon).
  2. Amounts & glue
    小さじ — teaspoon
    kosaji
    小こさじ
    Example
    One teaspoon of salt.
    Shio kosaji ichi-hai.
    Tip: Smaller spoon measure. Recipes love 大さじ / 小さじ pairs.
  3. Amounts & glue
    ～ずつ — each / … at a time
    …zutsu
    ～ずつ
    Example
    Add a little at a time.
    Sukoshi zutsu irete kudasai.
    Tip: Glue after an amount: 一つずつ, 2分ずつ. “Each / bit by bit.”
  4. Amounts & glue
    予熱 — preheat
    yonetsu
    予熱よねつ
    Example
    Preheat the oven to 180°C.
    Ōbun o hyaku-hachijū-do ni yonetsu shite kudasai.
    Tip: Oven / toaster steps. Often 予熱する as one verb chunk.
  5. Amounts & glue
    火を止める — turn off the heat
    hi o tomeru
    火ひを止とめる
    Example
    Turn off the heat.
    Hi o tomete kudasai.
    Tip: End-of-step phrase. 火 = cooking heat / burner.

9. Ingredients

Kitchen staples you’ll see on packs and in Japanese recipes — not beginner 肉/卵 words.

  1. Ingredients
    醤油 — soy sauce
    shōyu
    醤油しょうゆ
    Example
    Add a little soy sauce.
    Shōyu o sukoshi iremasu.
    Tip: Also written しょうゆ. On almost every savory Japanese label and recipe.
  2. Ingredients
    味噌 — miso
    miso
    味噌みそ
    Example
    I make miso soup.
    Miso-shiru o tsukurimasu.
    Tip: Fermented soybean paste. Fridge aisle + many ready-meal labels.
  3. Ingredients
    みりん — mirin (sweet cooking wine)
    mirin
    みりん
    Example
    Add mirin too.
    Mirin mo iremasu.
    Tip: Sweet rice wine for cooking. Often next to 醤油 / 酒 in recipes (合わせ調味料).
  4. Ingredients
    だし — dashi (soup stock)
    dashi
    だし
    Example
    Make it with dashi.
    Dashi de tsukurimasu.
    Tip: Also 出汁. Packets say だしの素. The “broth” behind a lot of Japanese taste.
  5. Ingredients
    酢 — vinegar
    su
    酢す
    Example
    Mix in the vinegar.
    Su o mazemasu.
    Tip: Rice vinegar is 米酢 (こめず). Shows up in sushi rice and dressings.
  6. Ingredients
    片栗粉 — potato starch / katakuriko
    katakuriko
    片栗粉かたくりこ
    Example
    Thicken with katakuriko.
    Katakuriko de toromi o tsukemasu.
    Tip: Common thickener on Japanese recipes/packs. Mix with water first (水溶き).
  7. Ingredients
    ごま油 — sesame oil
    goma-abura
    ごま油あぶら
    Example
    Finish with sesame oil.
    Goma-abura o tarashimasu.
    Tip: Often ごま油 or 胡麻油 on bottles. A little at the end for aroma.
  8. Ingredients
    小麦粉 — wheat flour
    komugiko
    小麦粉こむぎこ
    Example
    Coat with flour.
    Komugiko o tsukemasu.
    Tip: On packs and frying recipes. Allergy line often lists 小麦.

What this set already unlocks

With the general core you can already parse a lot of simple speech:

Everyday §5–9 unlock pack dates, shelf tags, recipe steps, and staples like 醤油 / 味噌. Drill them in Core study, or keep pattern practice with the apple sentences.