The most common Japanese words, in frequency order

This is a frequency-based Japanese word list: words ranked by how often they actually occur in everyday text, with translations and pronunciation. Frequency-based learning means studying words in this order, so every hour goes to the words you will meet most. Learn the first 500 and you will recognise about 64% of the words in everyday Japanese. That is Zipf's law, and it is why this list is in this order. The first 250 are below; Zipf teaches all 5,000.

64%of everyday Japanese text is the first 500 words

Learn them in order with Zipf → Free for 7 days, then $4 / €4 a month.

The 250 most common Japanese words

#	Word	IPA	Part of speech	Meaning
1	の	[no̞]	particle	of, 's
2	に	[ɲ̟i]	particle	to, at, in
3	は	[ha̠]	particle	topic marker
4	が	[ɡa̠]	particle	subject marker
5	を	[o̞]	particle	object marker
6	で	[de̞]	particle	at, in, by, with
7	と	[to̞]	particle	with, and
8	ない	[na̠i]	adjective	not, nonexistent
9	も	[mo̞]	particle	also, too
10	か	[ka̠]	particle	question marker
11	です	[de̞sɨ̥]	other	to be, is
12	ます	[ma̠sɨ̥]	other	polite verb ending
13	する	[sɨɾɯ̟]	verb	to do
14	から	[ka̠ɾa̠]	particle	from, because
15	よ	[jo̞]	particle	emphasis marker
16	こと	[ko̞to̞]	noun	thing, matter, fact
17	いる	[iɾɯ̟]	verb	to exist, to be, to have
18	ね	[ne̞]	particle	right?, isn't it?
19	てる		other	contraction of ている
20	ある	[a̠ɾɯ̟]	verb	to exist, to be, to have
21	人	[çi̥to̞]	noun	person
22	や	[ja̠]	particle	and, or
23	そう	[so̞ː]	adverb	seem, look like
24	って	[t̚te̞]	particle	quotative particle
25	日	[ɲ̟it͡ɕi]	noun	day, sun
26	いい	[iː]	adjective	good, fine
27	まし		pronoun	polite past stem
28	これ	[ko̞ɾe̞]	pronoun	this, this one
29	この	[ko̞no̞]	article	this
30	たい	[ta̠i]	other	want to
31	言う	[jɯ̟ː]	verb	to say, to tell
32	思う	[o̞mo̞ɯ̟]	verb	to think
33	たら	[ta̠ɾa̠]	particle	if, when
34	見る	[mʲiɾɯ̟]	verb	to see, to watch
35	けど	[ke̞do̞]	conjunction	but, though
36	その	[so̞no̞]	article	that
37	よう	[jo̞ː]	other	let's, shall
38	じゃ	[d͡ʑa̠]	noun	well then
39	できる	[de̞kʲiɾɯ̟]	verb	to be able to, can
40	年	[nẽ̞ɴ]	noun	year
41	やる	[ja̠ɾɯ̟]	verb	to do
42	それ	[so̞ɾe̞]	pronoun	that
43	だけ	[da̠ke̞]	particle	only, just
44	的	[te̞kʲi]	other	-like, -ic
45	なる	[na̠ɾɯ̟]	verb	to become
46	何	[na̠ɲ̟i]	pronoun	what
47	者	[mo̞no̞]	noun	person
48	月	[t͡sɨ̥kʲi]	noun	moon
49	一	[it͡ɕi]	numeral	one
50	中	[t͡ɕɨː]	noun	middle, inside
51	られる	[ɾa̠ɾe̞ɾɯ̟]	other	passive/potential marker
52	れる	[ɾe̞ɾɯ̟]	other	passive marker
53	行く	[ikɯ̟]	verb	to go
54	私	[β̞a̠ta̠ɕi]	noun	I, me
55	もの	[mo̞no̞]	particle	because (explanatory)
56	ため	[ta̠me̞]	noun	sake, benefit
57	時	[to̞kʲi]	noun	time, moment
58	くれる	[kɯ̟ɾe̞ɾɯ̟]	verb	to give me
59	あり		noun	existence
60	へ	[he̞]	noun	to (direction)
61	今	[ima̠]	adverb	now
62	あっ	[a̠ʔ]	interjection	ah!
63	さん		other	Mr., Ms.
64	方	[ho̞ː]	noun	direction, person
65	いく		verb	to go
66	など	[na̠do̞]	adverb	et cetera
67	どう	[do̞ː]	interjection	how
68	なん		pronoun	what
69	自分	[d͡ʑibɯ̟̃ɴ]	pronoun	oneself, myself
70	気	[kʲi]	noun	feeling, spirit
71	より	[jo̞ɾʲi]	particle	than
72	もう	[mo̞ː]	adverb	already
73	前	[ma̠e̞]	noun	front, before
74	俺	[o̞ɾe̞]	pronoun	I, me
75	良い	[jo̞i]	adjective	good
76	また	[ma̠ta̠]	adverb	again
77	時間	[d͡ʑikã̠ɴ]	noun	time, hour
78	分	[ɸɯ̟̃ɴ]	noun	minute
79	目	[me̞]	noun	eye
80	知る	[ɕiɾɯ̟]	verb	to know
81	なり	[na̠ɾʲi]	particle	or, and
82	話	[ha̠na̠ɕi]	noun	story, talk
83	出	[ɕɨt͡sɨ]	verb	to come out, exit
84	事	[d͡ʑi]	noun	thing, matter
85	わかる	[β̞a̠ka̠ɾɯ̟]	verb	to understand
86	多い	[o̞ːi]	adjective	many, numerous
87	来る	[kɯ̟ɾɯ̟]	verb	to come
88	たり	[ta̠ɾʲi]	particle	and so on, and the like
89	持つ	[mo̞t͡sɨ]	verb	to hold, to have
90	家	[ie̞]	noun	house, home
91	二	[ɲ̟i]	numeral	two
92	使う	[t͡sɨ̥ka̠ɯ̟]	verb	to use
93	後	[a̠to̞]	noun	behind, after
94	大	[da̠i]	noun	big, large
95	円	[ẽ̞ɴ]	noun	circle, yen
96	しまう	[ɕima̠ɯ̟]	verb	to finish, to put away
97	そんな	[sõ̞nːa̠]	adjective	that kind of
98	くださる		verb	to give (polite)
99	みたい	[mʲita̠i]	adjective	like, similar to
100	たち	[ta̠t͡ɕi]	noun	plural suffix
101	好き	[sɨ̥kʲi]	adjective	liked, favorite
102	ここ	[ko̞ko̞]	pronoun	here
103	性	[ɕo̞ː]	noun	nature, characteristic
104	上	[ɯ̟e̞]	noun	top, above
105	回	[ma̠β̞a̠ɾʲi]	noun	times, count
106	考え	[kã̠ŋɡa̠e̞]	noun	thought, idea
107	世界	[se̞ka̠i]	noun	world
108	数	[ka̠zɨ]	noun	number, count
109	感じ	[kã̠ɲ̟d͡ʑi]	noun	feeling, impression
110	必要	[çit͡sɨjo̞ː]	adjective	necessary
111	すぎる		other	too much, excessive
112	なんて	[nã̠nte̞]	particle	such a thing as
113	万	[mã̠ɴ]	numeral	ten thousand
114	市	[it͡ɕi]	noun	city, market
115	こんな	[kõ̞nːa̠]	adjective	this kind of
116	本当	[hõ̞nto̞ː]	adjective	true, real
117	ところ		noun	place
118	聞く	[kʲi̥kɯ̟]	verb	to hear, to listen
119	誰	[da̠ɾe̞]	pronoun	who
120	ちょっと	[t͡ɕo̞t̚to̞]	adverb	a little, a bit
121	他	[ho̞ka̠]	noun	other, another
122	本	[mo̞to̞]	other	counter for long objects
123	第	[da̠i]	other	ordinal prefix (-th)
124	県		noun	prefecture
125	ありがとう	[a̠ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ː]	interjection	thank you
126	あれ	[a̠ɾe̞]	pronoun	that (over there)
127	作る	[t͡sɨ̥kɯ̟ɾɯ̟]	verb	to make
128	おる	[o̞ɾɯ̟]	verb	to be, to exist
129	よく	[jo̞kɯ̟]	adverb	well
130	くる		verb	to come
131	でし		other	was (polite copula)
132	ああ	[a̠ː]	interjection	ah, oh
133	しか	[ɕi̥ka̠]	particle	only, nothing but
134	仕事	[ɕiɡo̞to̞]	noun	job, work
135	入る	[ha̠iɾɯ̟]	verb	to enter
136	問題	[mõ̞nda̠i]	noun	problem, question
137	悪い	[β̞a̠ɾɯ̟i]	adjective	bad
138	あなた	[a̠na̠ta̠]	pronoun	you
139	同じ	[o̞na̠ʑi]	adjective	same
140	度	[ta̠bʲi]	noun	degree
141	ちゃう		verb	to be different, not be
142	まだ		adverb	still, yet
143	とき	[to̞kʲi]	noun	time, occasion
144	系	[ke̞ː]	noun	type, system
145	手	[te̞]	noun	hand
146	無い		adjective	nonexistent, not have
147	三	[sã̠ɴ]	numeral	three
148	ゲーム	[ɡe̞ːmɯ̟]	noun	game
149	楽しい	[ta̠no̞ɕiː]	adjective	fun, enjoyable
150	みんな	[mʲĩnːa̠]	noun	everyone
151	入れる	[iɾe̞ɾɯ̟]	verb	to put in, to insert
152	思い	[o̞mo̞i]	noun	thought, feeling
153	情報	[d͡ʑo̞ːho̞ː]	noun	information
154	僕	[bo̞kɯ̟]	pronoun	I (male speech)
155	取る		verb	to take
156	そして	[so̞ɕi̥te̞]	conjunction	and, and then
157	くらい	[kɯ̟ɾa̠i]	noun	about, approximately
158	関係	[kã̠ŋke̞ː]	noun	relationship, connection
159	力	[t͡ɕi̥ka̠ɾa̠]	noun	strength, power
160	受ける	[ɯ̟ke̞ɾɯ̟]	verb	to receive, to undergo
161	ながら	[na̠ɡa̠ɾa̠]	particle	while
162	会	[ka̠i]	noun	meeting, gathering
163	欲しい		adjective	to want
164	しかし	[ɕi̥ka̠ɕi]	conjunction	but, however
165	いう		verb	to say
166	食べる	[ta̠be̞ɾɯ̟]	verb	to eat
167	国	[kɯ̟ɲ̟i]	noun	country
168	買う	[ka̠ɯ̟]	verb	to buy
169	そこ	[so̞ko̞]	pronoun	there
170	金	[kʲĩɴ]	noun	money
171	彼	[ka̠]	pronoun	he, him
172	今日	[kõ̞ɲ̟ːit͡ɕi]	noun	today
173	車	[ɕa̠]	noun	car
174	次	[ɕi]	noun	next
175	見える	[mʲie̞ɾɯ̟]	verb	to be visible, to be seen
176	せる	[se̞ɾɯ̟]	other	causative auxiliary: to make/let do
177	間	[kã̠ɴ]	noun	interval, space, between
178	ちゃん	[t͡ɕã̠ɴ]	other	suffix: -chan (affectionate)
179	以上	[iʑo̞ː]	noun	the above, more than
180	可能	[ka̠no̞ː]	adjective	possible
181	場合	[ba̠a̠i]	noun	case, situation
182	男	[o̞to̞ko̞]	noun	man
183	どこ	[do̞ko̞]	pronoun	where
184	高い	[ta̠ka̠i]	adjective	high, tall, expensive
185	あの	[a̠no̞]	article	that (over there)
186	書く	[ka̠kɯ̟]	verb	to write
187	出来	[ɕɨt̚ta̠i]	noun	completion, finish
188	所	[ɕo̞]	noun	place
189	すごい	[sɨɡo̞i]	adjective	amazing, terrible
190	違う	[t͡ɕiɡa̠ɯ̟]	verb	to differ, to be wrong
191	人間	[ɲ̟ĩŋɡẽ̞ɴ]	noun	human being, person
192	女	[õ̞nːa̠]	noun	woman
193	名	[na̠]	noun	name
194	べし	[be̞ɕi]	other	should, must
195	飲む		verb	to drink
196	あと		adverb	after, later
197	しれる		verb	to be known, to be understood
198	位	[i]	noun	rank, place
199	様	[jo̞ː]	noun	way, state, manner
200	出る	[de̞ɾɯ̟]	verb	to leave, to go out
201	ほど	[ho̞do̞]	noun	degree, extent, about
202	生	[na̠ma̠]	noun	raw, fresh, live
203	ただ	[ta̠da̠]	adjective	free, ordinary
204	こう	[ko̞ː]	adverb	like this, this way
205	早い	[ha̠ja̠i]	adjective	early, fast
206	すぐ	[sɨɡɯ̟]	adverb	immediately, right away
207	わけ	[β̞a̠ke̞]	noun	reason, meaning
208	女性	[d͡ʑo̞se̞ː]	noun	woman, female
209	歳	[sa̠i]	noun	years old, age
210	意味	[imʲi]	noun	meaning
211	死ぬ	[ɕinɯ̟]	verb	to die
212	つける		verb	to attach, to put on
213	もらう	[mo̞ɾa̠ɯ̟]	verb	to receive
214	別	[be̞t͡sɨ]	noun	different, another
215	一緒	[iɕːo̞]	adjective	together
216	君	[kʲimʲi]	pronoun	you
217	ござる	[ɡo̞za̠ɾɯ̟]	verb	to be, to exist
218	うち		noun	inside, home, among
219	なぁ		particle	emphasis particle
220	長い	[na̠ɡa̠i]	adjective	long
221	新	[ɕĩɴ]	noun	new
222	使用	[ɕijo̞ː]	noun	use, usage
223	呼ぶ	[jo̞bɯ̟]	verb	to call, to invite
224	神	[ka̠mʲi]	noun	god, deity
225	もっと	[mo̞t̚to̞]	adverb	more
226	店	[mʲise̞]	noun	shop, store
227	結果	[ke̞k̚ka̠]	noun	result, outcome
228	物	[mo̞no̞]	noun	thing, object
229	始める	[ha̠ʑime̞ɾɯ̟]	verb	to begin, to start
230	いや	[ija̠]	interjection	no, well
231	顔	[ka̠o̞]	noun	face
232	内	[ɯ̟t͡ɕi]	noun	inside, within
233	感	[kã̠ɴ]	noun	feeling, sense
234	先	[sa̠kʲi]	noun	tip, ahead, previous
235	写真	[ɕa̠ɕĩɴ]	noun	photograph
236	参加	[sã̠ŋka̠]	noun	participation
237	高	[ta̠ka̠]	noun	tall, high
238	奴		noun	guy, thing (derog.)
239	心	[ko̞ko̞ɾo̞]	noun	heart, mind
240	分かる		verb	to understand
241	やつ	[ja̠t͡sɨ]	noun	guy, fellow
242	会社	[ka̠iɕa̠]	noun	company
243	声	[ko̞e̞]	noun	voice
244	最近	[sa̠ikʲĩɴ]	adverb	recently
245	用	[jo̞ː]	noun	business, errand
246	時代	[d͡ʑida̠i]	noun	era, age
247	十	[d͡ʑɨː]	numeral	ten
248	頭	[a̠ta̠ma̠]	noun	head
249	少し	[sɨ̥ko̞ɕi]	adverb	a little
250	下	[ɕi̥ta̠]	noun	below, under

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