KanjiStuff

Japanese practice · English · Romaji · 日本語 · Explanation

Core study — one word at a time

Focus on one card. Use Prev / Next, arrow keys, or swipe. Filter by where you’ll see the word. Default: Everyday (skips general core / particles). Full list: Core words.

Particles

の — of / ’s / connecting nouns

no

の

Example

This is my book.

Kore wa watashi no hon desu.

これ this (topic) は topic marker 私わたし I / me の possessive 本ほん book です。 polite “is”

Tip: Links two nouns. A の B ≈ “A’s B” or “B of A.”
Particles

は — topic marker (“as for…”)

wa

は

Example

I am a student.

Watashi wa gakusei desu.

私わたし I (topic) は topic marker 学生がくせい student です。 polite “is”

Tip: Written は but pronounced wa as a particle. Marks what the sentence is about.
Particles

を — direct object marker

o

を

Example

I eat an apple.

Ringo o tabemasu.

りんご apple (object) を object 食たべます。 eat

Tip: Marks the thing the verb acts on. Pronounced o (not “wo”).
Particles

に — to / at / in / for

ni

に

Example

I go to school.

Gakkō ni ikimasu.

学校がっこう school (destination) に to (destination) 行いきます。 go

Tip: Destination, time point, or indirect object (“to someone”).
Particles

が — subject marker

ga

が

Example

There is a cat.

Neko ga imasu.

猫ねこ cat (subject) が subject marker います。 exist / be

Tip: Often marks the subject, especially with existence verbs and new information.
Particles

と — and / with

to

と

Example

I go with a friend.

Tomodachi to ikimasu.

友達ともだち friend と with 行いきます。 go

Tip: Joins nouns (“A and B”) or means “together with.”
Particles

で — at / by / with (place or means)

de

で

Example

I go by bus.

Basu de ikimasu.

バス bus (means) で by / with 行いきます。 go

Tip: Where an action happens, or the tool/means used.
Particles

て — te-form connector (“and then / -ing”)

te

て

Example

I eat and then sleep.

Tabete, nemasu.

食たべて、 eat (te-form) 寝ねます。 sleep

Tip: Not a standalone word — the て-form links verbs/actions in sequence.
Particles

も — also / too

mo

も

Example

I will go too.

Watashi mo ikimasu.

私わたし I も also / too 行いきます。 go

Tip: Replaces は/が when adding “also.”
Particles

から — from / because

kara

から

Example

I came from home.

Uchi kara kimashita.

家うち home (origin) から from 来きました。 came

Tip: Starting point in space/time, or “because” after a reason.
Particles

か — question marker

ka

か

Example

What is this?

Kore wa nan desu ka?

これ this (topic) は topic marker 何なん what です polite “is” か question ？ ?

Tip: Stick か on the end of a statement to make a yes/no (or open) question. Word order stays the same.
Particles

です — is / am / are (polite)

desu

です

Example

This is a book.

Kore wa hon desu.

これ this (topic) は topic marker 本ほん book です。 polite “is”

Tip: Polite “to be.” Pattern: Noun は Noun/Adjective です.
Particles

だ — is / am / are (casual)

da

だ

Example

This is a book. (casual)

Kore wa hon da.

これ this (topic) は topic marker 本ほん book だ。 casual “is”

Tip: Casual counterpart of です (mainly after nouns / na-adjectives).
Particles

ない — not

nai

ない

Example

I don’t have money.

Okane ga nai.

お金かね money (subject) が subject marker ない。 not / don’t have

Tip: Negative of ある, and the plain negative ending for many verbs/adjectives.
Core verbs

する — to do

suru

する

Example

I study.

Benkyō o shimasu.

勉強べんきょう study (object) を object します。 do

Tip: Turns many nouns into verbs: 勉強する, 電話する, etc. Polite: します.
Core verbs

いる — to exist / be (people, animals)

iru

いる

Example

My friend is here.

Tomodachi ga imasu.

友達ともだち friend (subject) が subject marker います。 exist / be

Tip: Living things. Polite: います. Pair with が.
Core verbs

ある — to exist / have (things)

aru

ある

Example

There is a book.

Hon ga arimasu.

本ほん book (subject) が subject marker あります。 exist / have

Tip: Non-living things / possession. Polite: あります. Negative: ない.
Core verbs

なる — to become

naru

なる

Example

I want to become a doctor.

Isha ni naritai.

医者いしゃ doctor に to (result) なりたい。 want to become

Tip: Often Noun / Adjective になる = become X.
Core verbs

言う — to say

iu

言いう

Example

What do you say?

Nani o iimasu ka?

何なに what (object) を object 言いいます say か question ？ ?

Tip: Polite: 言います. Very common in reported speech too.
Core verbs

思う — to think

omou

思おもう

Example

I think so.

Sō omoimasu.

そう so / that way 思おもいます。 think

Tip: Opinions and feelings. Polite: 思います.
Core verbs

見る — to see / watch

miru

見みる

Example

I watch a movie.

Eiga o mimasu.

映画えいが movie (object) を object 見みます。 watch

Tip: Polite: 見ます. Object usually takes を.
Core verbs

行く — to go

iku

行いく

Example

I’m going now.

Ima ikimasu.

今いま now 行いきます。 go

Tip: Destination often marked with に or へ. Polite: 行きます.
Core verbs

来る — to come

kuru

来くる

Example

I’ll come tomorrow.

Ashita kimasu.

明日あした tomorrow 来きます。 come

Tip: Irregular verb. Dictionary くる → polite きます → past きました.
Core verbs

使う — to use

tsukau

使つかう

Example

I use the phone.

Denwa o tsukaimasu.

電話でんわ phone (object) を object 使つかいます。 use

Tip: Polite: 使います. High-frequency everyday verb.
People & things

私 — I / me

watashi

私わたし

Example

I am Tanaka.

Watashi wa Tanaka desu.

私わたし I (topic) は topic marker 田中 Tanaka です。 polite “is”

Tip: Polite/neutral “I.” Often dropped when clear from context.
People & things

人 — person

hito

人ひと

Example

That person is a teacher.

Ano hito wa sensei desu.

あの人ひと that person (topic) は topic marker 先生せんせい teacher です。 polite “is”

Tip: Also appears in compounds (日本人, 三人) with different readings.
People & things

こと — thing / matter (abstract)

koto

こと

Example

That’s a good thing.

Sore wa ii koto desu.

それ that (topic) は topic marker いい good こと thing / matter です。 polite “is”

Tip: Abstract “thing/matter,” not a physical object. Also nominalizes verbs.
People & things

もの — thing (physical)

mono

もの

Example

What is that thing?

Sono mono wa nan desu ka?

そのもの that thing (topic) は topic marker 何なん what です polite “is” か question ？ ?

Tip: Tangible objects. Contrast with abstract こと.
People & things

これ — this (one)

kore

これ

Example

This is a pen.

Kore wa pen desu.

これ this (topic) は topic marker ペン pen です。 polite “is”

Tip: Stands alone as a pronoun (“this one”). Near the speaker.
People & things

それ — that (one)

sore

それ

Example

That is mine.

Sore wa watashi no desu.

それ that (topic) は topic marker 私わたし I / me の possessive です。 polite “is”

Tip: Near the listener, or something already mentioned.
People & things

この — this (before a noun)

kono

この

Example

This book is interesting.

Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.

この this 本ほん book (topic) は topic marker おもしろい interesting です。 polite “is”

Tip: Must come before a noun: この + Noun. (これ stands alone.)
People & things

その — that (before a noun)

sono

その

Example

Who is that person?

Sono hito wa dare desu ka?

その that 人ひと person (topic) は topic marker だれ who です polite “is” か question ？ ?

Tip: その + Noun. Pair with それ (standalone).
People & things

何 — what

nani / nan

何なに / 何なん

Example

What is this?

Kore wa nan desu ka?

これ this (topic) は topic marker 何なん what です polite “is” か question ？ ?

Tip: なん before です/だ and some counters; なに in many other spots.
Time & description

今 — now

ima

今いま

Example

I’m going now.

Ima ikimasu.

今いま now 行いきます。 go

Tip: Time words often need no particle when they set the timeframe.
Time & description

時 — time / when

toki

時とき

Example

When I was a child…

Kodomo no toki…

子こども child の possessive 時とき… time / when

Tip: Also the kanji in clock times (三時 = さんじ) with reading じ.
Time & description

日 — day / sun

hi

日ひ

Example

It’s a nice day, isn’t it?

Ii hi desu ne.

いい nice / good 日ひ day です polite “is” ね。 isn’t it

Tip: Extremely common kanji; readings change in dates and compounds (日本, 毎日).
Time & description

年 — year

toshi / nen

年とし

Example

This year is 2026.

Kotoshi wa nisen-nijūroku-nen desu.

今年ことし this year (topic) は topic marker 2026年ねん 2026 です。 polite “is”

Tip: とし for “year/age” sense; ねん after numbers (2026年).
Time & description

大きい — big

ōkii

大おおきい

Example

It’s a big house.

Ōkii ie desu.

大おおきい big 家いえ house です。 polite “is”

Tip: i-adjective. Comes before a noun or ends with です.
Time & description

小さい — small

chiisai

小ちいさい

Example

It’s a small dog.

Chiisai inu desu.

小ちいさい small 犬いぬ dog です。 polite “is”

Tip: Pair opposite of 大きい. Same i-adjective pattern.
Time & description

家 — house / home

ie / uchi

家いえ

Example

I’m going home.

Uchi ni kaerimasu.

家うち home (destination) に to (destination) 帰かえります。 return / go home

Tip: いえ = house/building; うち often = one’s home / household.
Time & description

所 — place

tokoro

所ところ

Example

It’s a nice place.

Ii tokoro desu.

いい nice / good 所ところ place です。 polite “is”

Tip: Generic “place.” Also appears in set phrases (ところだ, etc.).
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.

賞味期限しょうみきげん best-before (object) を object 確認かくにんして check (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Quality date — usually fine a little past if stored well. Different from 消費期限.
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.

消費期限しょうひきげん use-by (topic) は topic marker 明日あした tomorrow です。 polite “is”

Tip: Safety date — common on fresh food. Don’t stretch this one.
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.

原材料げんざいりょう ingredients (object) を object 見みて look (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: On packs as 原材料名. Often a long comma-separated list.
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.

内容量ないようりょう contents (topic) は topic marker 500ml 500 ml です。 polite “is”

Tip: How much is in the pack (g / ml / 個). Near the barcode area on many foods.
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.

冷蔵庫れいぞうこ fridge (place) で place / means 保存ほぞんして store (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Label heading. Often 直射日光を避け… or 冷蔵 / 冷凍.
Package & label

冷凍 — freezing / frozen

reitō

冷凍れいとう

Example

Please freeze it.

Reitō shite kudasai.

冷凍れいとうして freeze (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: On packs and freezer aisle signs. Pair with 解凍 (thaw).
Package & label

解凍 — thawing / defrost

kaitō

解凍かいとう

Example

Thaw it in the refrigerator.

Reizōko de kaitō shite kudasai.

冷蔵庫れいぞうこ fridge (place) で place / means 解凍かいとうして thaw (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Common on frozen food directions. Microwave: レンジで解凍.
Store & checkout

特売 — special sale

tokubai

特売とくばい

Example

Eggs are on special.

Tamago ga tokubai desu.

卵たまご eggs (subject) が subject marker 特売とくばい special sale です。 polite “is”

Tip: Big in-store sign word. Often with a red price ticket.
Store & checkout

割引 — discount

waribiki

割引わりびき

Example

It’s 20% off.

Ni-wari biki desu.

2割わり引びき 20% off です。 polite “is”

Tip: 割 = 10% unit (一割 = 10%). Stickers near evening markdowns.
Store & checkout

税込 — tax included

zeikomi

税込ぜいこみ

Example

The price includes tax.

Kakaku wa zeikomi desu.

価格かかく price (topic) は topic marker 税込ぜいこみ tax included です。 polite “is”

Tip: Opposite vibe: 税抜 (before tax). Shelf tags often show both.
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?

レジ袋ぶくろ bag (topic) は topic marker 要いります need か question ？ ?

Tip: Checkout question. Bags usually cost a little; いりません = no thanks.
Store & checkout

産地 — place of origin

sanchi

産地さんち

Example

Where is this from?

Sanchi wa doko desu ka?

産地さんち origin (topic) は topic marker どこ where です polite “is” か question ？ ?

Tip: On produce and meat. Often a prefecture name.
Recipe steps

混ぜる — to mix / stir

mazeru

混まぜる

Example

Mix well.

Yoku mazete kudasai.

よく well 混まぜて mix (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Very common recipe verb. Polite: 混ぜます / 混ぜて.
Recipe steps

茹でる — to boil (in water)

yuderu

茹ゆでる

Example

Boil for three minutes.

San-pun yudete kudasai.

3分ぷん 3 minutes 茹ゆでて boil (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Food in hot water. 沸かす is more “bring liquid to a boil.”
Recipe steps

焼く — to grill / bake / fry

yaku

焼やく

Example

Bake for ten minutes.

Jup-pun yaite kudasai.

10分ぷん 10 minutes 焼やいて bake (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Broad heat-cook verb (grill, bake, pan-fry). Context decides.
Recipe steps

炒める — to stir-fry / sauté

itameru

炒いためる

Example

Stir-fry the vegetables.

Yasai o itamemasu.

野菜やさい vegetables (object) を object 炒いためます。 stir-fry (polite)

Tip: Pan + a little oil. Different from 焼く (grill/bake/fry more broadly).
Recipe steps

沸かす — to bring to a boil (liquid)

wakasu

沸わかす

Example

Boil the water.

Oyu o wakashite kudasai.

お湯ゆ hot water (object) を object 沸わかして boil (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: For liquid (water, milk). 茹でる = cook food in that boiling water.
Recipe steps

冷ます — to let cool

samasu

冷さます

Example

Let it cool a little.

Sukoshi samashite kudasai.

すこし a little 冷さまして cool (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Active “cool it down.” Related: 冷める (cool by itself).
Amounts & glue

大さじ — tablespoon

ōsaji

大おおさじ

Example

Two tablespoons of soy sauce.

Shōyu ōsaji ni-hai.

醤油しょうゆ soy sauce 大おおさじ tablespoon 2杯ばい。 2 scoops

Tip: Often written 大さじ2. Pair with 小さじ (teaspoon).
Amounts & glue

小さじ — teaspoon

kosaji

小こさじ

Example

One teaspoon of salt.

Shio kosaji ichi-hai.

塩しお salt 小こさじ teaspoon 1杯ばい。 1 scoop

Tip: Smaller spoon measure. Recipes love 大さじ / 小さじ pairs.
Amounts & glue

～ずつ — each / … at a time

…zutsu

～ずつ

Example

Add a little at a time.

Sukoshi zutsu irete kudasai.

すこしずつ a little each time 入いれて add (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Glue after an amount: 一つずつ, 2分ずつ. “Each / bit by bit.”
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.

オーブン oven (object) を object 180℃ 180°C に to / target 予熱よねつして preheat (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: Oven / toaster steps. Often 予熱する as one verb chunk.
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.

火ひ heat (object) を object 止とめて stop (te-form) ください。 please

Tip: End-of-step phrase. 火 = cooking heat / burner.
Ingredients

醤油 — soy sauce

shōyu

醤油しょうゆ

Example

Add a little soy sauce.

Shōyu o sukoshi iremasu.

醤油しょうゆ soy sauce (object) を object すこし a little 入いれます。 add (polite)

Tip: Also written しょうゆ. On almost every savory Japanese label and recipe.
Ingredients

味噌 — miso

miso

味噌みそ

Example

I make miso soup.

Miso-shiru o tsukurimasu.

味噌汁みそしる miso soup (object) を object 作つくります。 make (polite)

Tip: Fermented soybean paste. Fridge aisle + many ready-meal labels.
Ingredients

みりん — mirin (sweet cooking wine)

mirin

みりん

Example

Add mirin too.

Mirin mo iremasu.

みりん mirin も also 入いれます。 add (polite)

Tip: Sweet rice wine for cooking. Often next to 醤油 / 酒 in recipes (合わせ調味料).
Ingredients

だし — dashi (soup stock)

dashi

だし

Example

Make it with dashi.

Dashi de tsukurimasu.

だし dashi (means) で by / with 作つくります。 make (polite)

Tip: Also 出汁. Packets say だしの素. The “broth” behind a lot of Japanese taste.
Ingredients

酢 — vinegar

su

酢す

Example

Mix in the vinegar.

Su o mazemasu.

酢す vinegar (object) を object 混まぜます。 mix (polite)

Tip: Rice vinegar is 米酢 (こめず). Shows up in sushi rice and dressings.
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.

片栗粉かたくりこ starch (means) で by / with とろみ thickness (object) を object つけます。 add (polite)

Tip: Common thickener on Japanese recipes/packs. Mix with water first (水溶き).
Ingredients

ごま油 — sesame oil

goma-abura

ごま油あぶら

Example

Finish with sesame oil.

Goma-abura o tarashimasu.

ごま油あぶら sesame oil (object) を object たらします。 drizzle (polite)

Tip: Often ごま油 or 胡麻油 on bottles. A little at the end for aroma.
Ingredients

小麦粉 — wheat flour

komugiko

小麦粉こむぎこ

Example

Coat with flour.

Komugiko o tsukemasu.

小麦粉こむぎこ flour (object) を object つけます。 put on (polite)

Tip: On packs and frying recipes. Allergy line often lists 小麦.