Basic Nouns & Verbs in Japanese | Essential Vocabulary for Beginners
Nouns and verbs are the foundation of Japanese vocabulary. Nouns help you describe things, people, and places, while verbs allow you to express actions and states.
In this lesson, you will learn the essential nouns and verbs that are commonly used in daily conversations, along with their characteristics, usage, and example sentences.
Key takeaways
Key Points (What You Will Learn on This Page)
In this lesson, you will learn the fundamental differences between nouns and verbs, their basic usage, and how to use them in everyday conversations. By mastering these essential words, you can start forming simple Japanese sentences with confidence.
- The fundamental differences between nouns and verbs
Learn how nouns and verbs function differently in a sentence. - Commonly used basic nouns and verbs
Expand your vocabulary with frequently used Japanese words. - How to use nouns and verbs in sentences
Understand how to combine them with particles to make correct sentences. - Effective learning methods and memory tips
Discover practical strategies to remember new vocabulary efficiently.
What is a Noun?
Characteristics of Nouns
A noun (名詞, meishi) refers to a person, thing, place, or concept. Unlike verbs, nouns do not change their form and are often combined with particles such as 「が」「を」「に」 to form sentences.
- Used as a subject or object in a sentence
- Does not indicate an action or state by itself
- Often combined with verbs or adjectives
Common Basic Nouns
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning | Meaning Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ひと | hito | person | あのひとは先生です。 (That person is a teacher.) |
| くるま | kuruma | car | くるまを買いました。 (I bought a car.) |
| みず | mizu | water | みずを飲みます。 (I drink water.) |
| がっこう | gakkou | school | がっこうに行きます。 (I go to school.) |
| ほん | hon | book | ほんを読みます。 (I read a book.) |
- Key Points:
- Since nouns remain unchanged, focus on learning how to use them with particles!
What is a Verb?
Characteristics of Verbs
A verb (動詞, dōshi) expresses an action or state. Unlike nouns, verbs change their form depending on tense (past/present) and politeness level (dictionary form / ます form).
- Describes an action or state
- Changes form depending on tense and politeness
- Often used with particles like 「を」「に」「が」
Common Basic Verbs
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| たべる | taberu | to eat | ごはんをたべる。 (I eat rice.) |
| のむ | nomu | to drink | みずをのむ。 (I drink water.) |
| いく | iku | to go | がっこうにいく。 (I go to school.) |
| みる | miru | to see / to watch | テレビをみる。 (I watch TV.) |
| する | suru | to do | サッカーをする。 (I play soccer.) |
- Key Points:
- Learning verb conjugations like ます form, dictionary form, and て-form will help you speak more naturally!
How to Use Nouns and Verbs in Sentences
In Japanese, nouns and verbs are used together with particles to form sentences.
| Sentence Structure | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| [Noun] + です。 | これはほんです。 (This is a book.) |
| [Noun] + が + [Verb]. | ねこが ねています。 (The cat is sleeping.) |
| [Noun] + を + [Verb]. | みずをのむ。 (I drink water.) |
| [Noun] + に + [Verb]. | がっこうにいく。 (I go to school.) |
- Key Points:
- Understanding how particles work is the key to forming correct Japanese sentences!
Effective Learning Methods
- ① Use Flashcards
-
- Write Japanese words with their meanings and pronunciations.
- Use pictures to associate words with their meanings.
- ② Practice Making Sentences
-
- Try forming your own sentences using new words.
- Speak them out loud for better retention.
- ③ Find Words in Daily Life
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- Look for Japanese words on product labels, menus, and signs.
- Watch Japanese media and listen for familiar words.
Conclusion
By learning basic nouns and verbs, you can start forming simple Japanese sentences.
- Nouns describe “things, people, and places.”
- NVerbs describe “actions and states.”
- NUsing particles correctly helps create proper sentences.
A good learning strategy is:
- NMemorize 30–50 basic nouns and verbs.
- NPractice sentence-making using simple structures.
- NListen to and read Japanese to reinforce learning.
Keep practicing, and you’ll soon be able to express yourself in Japanese!
