Basic Japanese Words with Meaning for Indian Students

If you want to study in Japan, learning the Japanese language is extremely important as it helps you communicate and understand the community better. Japan, as a country, prioritises its own language over any other and uses it in almost every setting, making it extremely essential to learn Japanese for everyone staying in the country. Here are some of the benefits of learning Japanese as an international student in Japan: 

Academic Benefits 

Enrolling in top Japanese universities like the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, even for English-taught programs, means you will have to encounter courses and academic discussions in the local language. Learning Japanese would help you access such discussions with ease, making your academic life more comfortable.

Personal Connection

As an international student, learning Japanese would help you socialise and form better connections with locals and help you form better and valuable networks within the community, which will be very difficult without any understanding of the language.

Travel and Daily Life in Japan

Knowing basic Japanese makes navigating your life in Japan much easier. From shopping and dining out to asking for directions or medical assistance, everything would be much easier as most people in Japan are used to communicating in Japanese and not English. 

Higher Earning Potential

Whether you want to pursue a STEM-related program or an MBA in Japan, Japanese-English bilingual professionals are in high demand and can command higher salaries due to their specialized skill sets. Knowing both languages allows you an upper hand in communication and translation-based job roles.

Career Options

As an international student, proficiency in Japanese can help you access various job roles in fields such as technology, finance, tourism, and trade. Knowing Japanese could help you secure jobs both domestically and internationally in translation roles.

Before you begin learning the language and applying to the best universities in Japan, knowing some of the basic words and terms of daily and common use will help you get into learning the language easily. Knowing the regular vocabulary will help you to ease your way into Japanese. Here are a few basic terms, phrases, and words to know as a beginner. 

Japanese People and Pronouns

Talking about yourself and others is key when making friends or introducing yourself in Japan. Pronouns like “I,” “you,” or “friend” are among the most common words you’ll use.

Let’s check out some Japanese pronouns below:

Japanese Academic Words 

Since most Indian students go to Japan for higher education, knowing academic terms can be very helpful. From classrooms and teachers to exams and homework, these words are a must-know for study life. Let’s check out some Japanese academic words below:

Japanese Words for Food and Drink 

Food is at the heart of Japanese culture, and you’ll often need to order meals or talk about food with friends. Learning these words makes dining out or grocery shopping much easier. Let’s check out some Japanese food and drink words below:

Japanese Words for Time 

Time-related words are important for keeping up with classes, public transport, or meeting friends. With these terms, you can ask about schedules or understand when events are happening. Let’s check out some Japanese time words below:

Japanese Words for Colors 

Colors often come up in daily conversations, whether you’re describing things, shopping for clothes, or just talking casually. Learning basic color names helps improve vocabulary quickly. Let’s check out some Japanese color words below:

Japanese Essential Verbs 

Verbs form the backbone of communication in any language. In Japanese, learning simple verbs like “to eat,” “to go,” or “to study” will allow you to form complete sentences and express yourself clearly. Let’s check out some Japanese essential verbs below:

Apart from these words, which are of primary importance for a student living in Japan, one of the most important things to learn in any language is the numbers. Numbers are a part of daily use in any type of interaction, from the grocery shops to the classrooms. 

Here’s a list of numbers and what they are called in Japanese: 

Introducing yourself in a new language can be a fascinating thing to learn. It is also one of the most important steps of learning a language, instrumental in helping you make new connections and navigate simple social interactions. 

Here are a few words to introduce yourself in Japanese: 

Starting to learn a completely new language can be overwhelming as an international student in Japan. It is therefore important that you sort out and stick to a few resources for your learning process as a beginner. 

Here are some of the best resources that you can explore to learn Japanese like a pro:

Renshuu

Renshuu is perfect for both beginners and advanced learners. It helps you practice vocabulary, kanji, and grammar through interactive quizzes and games that replicate real-life situations in Japan.
Benefits: Personalized learning, tracks your progress, and gamified exercises.
Why use it: Makes Japanese practical and memorable by simulating daily conversations and drills.
Key feature: Customizable flashcards and quizzes for vocabulary and kanji practice.
Link: https://www.renshuu.org/

Migii JLPT

Migii JLPT is tailored for students preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). It allows learners to practice all levels of the exam while keeping up with daily exercises.
Benefits: Structured exam preparation, comprehensive coverage of grammar and vocabulary.
Why use it: Ideal for students who want JLPT certification or to track measurable progress.
Key feature: Mock tests and daily exercises aligned with JLPT levels N5 to N1.
Link: https://migii.net/

LuvLingua

LuvLingua offers a fun, game-based learning experience. It focuses on vocabulary and everyday conversational phrases, making it easy for beginners to pick up Japanese naturally.
Benefits: Engaging, beginner-friendly, emphasises retention.
Why use it: Makes learning Japanese interactive and less intimidating.
Key feature: Mini-games for vocabulary practice and pronunciation exercises.
Link: https://www.luvlingua.com/

Duolingo

Duolingo is a globally popular app that makes learning Japanese simple with bite-sized lessons and daily streaks.
Benefits: Easy to use, gamified learning, free basic version.
Why use it: Great for beginners who want to practice daily and build a learning habit.
Key feature: Short, interactive lessons covering vocabulary, grammar, and sentence building.
Link:https://www.duolingo.com/course/ja/en/Learn-Japanese

As a beginner, it is difficult to understand where and how to start learning Japanese. Daily practice with structured materials and consistent methods enhances language acquisition.

Here are a few steps you can follow as a beginner to advance your language proficiency: 

Master Hiragana and Katakana First

Start by learning the two essential Japanese scripts - hiragana and katakana. They are the foundation of Japanese reading and writing, and memorizing them early makes progress much easier. You can proceed with Kanji after you have made considerable progress in these two scripts.

Focus on Basic Words and Phrases

Try to start with basic and useful day-to-day words. Starting with difficult-to-remember words will break your confidence and slow down your progress. 

Practice Daily

Daily practice is the key to mastering any language. Even brief practice can improve your skills steadily and substantially. 

Use Multiple Learning Tools

Use textbooks, flashcards, language apps, and grammar guides. Combining multiple tools will break the monotony of the process and help you remain more engaged. 

Japanese Media

The best way to advance your Japanese understanding is to watch and consume Japanese media. Anime is a great resource for Japanese learning.

Learning Japanese can be an exciting journey; However, there are a few commonly made mistakes that you should avoid to improve and enhance your knowledge quickly. Here are some of the common mistakes that you should avoid as a beginner:

Memorizing Words Without Context

Memorising words without any context makes it easier to forget newly learnt words and makes understanding difficult. You should try and understand the context of the words to create a good foundation.

Over-reliance on Romaji

Sticking to Romaji and neglecting other scripts like Hiragana and Katakana slows down your progress and makes adapting to newer words difficult with later progress. 

Ignoring listening and speaking Practice

This is a very common mistake, as most learners are hesitant to practice Japanese communication and fixate only on reading and writing. This creates a barrier between the theoretical and the practical aspects of the language.

Avoiding Kanji Entirely

While Kanji is less used and more difficult, it forms an important aspect of the language. Completely ignoring Kanji makes learning Japanese more difficult to grasp.

Inconsistency and unrealistic expectations

Being inconsistent with your practice will make it difficult to retain and memorise words. As a beginner, you must also avoid setting unrealistic expectations, which will only demotivate and slow down progress.

Neglecting Cultural Nuances

Japanese, as a language, is very intricate, with many similar words that only mean different on the basis of the tone. Ignoring these nuances often leads to improper meaning construction and interrupts communication. 

Japan is one of the top economies in the world, with numerous job opportunities and various scopes in fields such as art, technology, finance, and computing. India has strong geopolitical and cultural ties with Japan, and benefits from the latter’s economic boom. However, working or studying in Japan demands mastering the language. Once that is done, you’ve won half the race. But what about the other half? 

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