Learning a new language can be challenging, but grouping related words together makes it much easier. This guide is based on vocabulary from “Lesson 6” of the popular Minna no Nihongo series, designed to help you remember key verbs, nouns, and phrases.
1. Daily Action Verbs
These verbs describe common activities you do every day.
- たべます (tabemasu): to eat
Example:- あさごはんをたべます。 (Asagohan o tabemasu.) — I eat breakfast.
- ばんごはんにさかなをたべます。 (Bangohan ni sakana o tabemasu.) — I eat fish for dinner.
- のみます (nomimasu): to drink
Example:- みずをのみます。 (Mizu o nomimasu.) — I drink water.
- おちゃをのみますか？ (Ocha o nomimasu ka?) — Do you drink tea?
- みます (mimasu): to see, to watch
Example:- テレビをみます。 (Terebi o mimasu.) — I watch TV.
- ビデオをみました。 (Bideo o mimashita.) — I watched a video.
- ききます (kikimasu): to listen, to hear
Example:- おんがくをききます。 (Ongaku o kikimasu.) — I listen to music.
- せんせいのはなしをききます。 (Sensei no hanashi o kikimasu.) — I listen to the teacher’s talk.
- かきます (kakimasu): to write
Example:- てがみをかきます。 (Tegami o kakimasu.) — I write a letter.
- レポートをかいています。 (Repōto o kaiteimasu.) — I am writing a report.
- よみます (yomimasu): to read
Example:- しんぶんをよみます。 (Shinbun o yomimasu.) — I read the newspaper.
- 本をよみましたか？ (Hon o yomimashita ka?) — Did you read the book?
- かいます (kaimasu): to buy
Example:- スーパーでくだものをかいます。 (Sūpā de kudamono o kaimasu.) — I buy fruit at the supermarket.
- とります (torimasu): to take (something), to take (a photo)
Example:- しゃしんをとります。 (Shashin o torimasu.) — I take a photo.
- ペンをとってください。 (Pen o totte kudasai.) — Please take the pen.
2. Food and Drink Vocabulary
Grouping nouns by category makes them easier to remember.
- Meals:
- ごはん (gohan): meal, rice
- あさごはん (asagohan): breakfast
- ひるごはん (hirugohan): lunch
- ばんごはん (bangohan): dinner
- Proteins:
- さかな (sakana): fish
- にく (niku): meat
- たまご (tamago): egg
- Vegetables and Fruits:
- やさい (yasai): vegetables
- くだもの (kudamono): fruit
- Drinks:
- みず (mizu): water
- おちゃ (ocha): green tea
- こうちゃ (koucha): black tea
- ぎゅうにゅう (gyuunyuu): milk
- ジュース (juusu): juice
- ビール (biiru): beer
- おさけ (osake): alcohol, sake
3. Adverbs and Common Phrases for Conversation
Use these words to add detail and connect your ideas.
- Frequency:
- いつも (itsumo): always
- ときどき (tokidoki): sometimes
- Question and Response Phrases:
- なに (nani): what
- なんですか (nan desu ka): What is it?/Yes?
- ええ (ee): yes
- いいですね (ii desu ne): That’s good!
- わかりました (wakarimashita): I understand
- Connecting Words and Particles:
- いっしょに (isshoni): together
- ちょっと (chotto): a little, a bit
- それから (sorekara): after that, and then
- Common Greetings:
- じゃ、また[あした] (ja, mata [ashita]): Well then, see you [tomorrow]
4. Example Dialogue Practice
A: あさごはんに なにを たべますか？
(Asagohan ni nani o tabemasu ka?)
What do you eat for breakfast?
B: たまごと パンを たべます。あなたは？
(Tamago to pan o tabemasu. Anata wa?)
I eat eggs and bread. How about you?
A: ぼくは ごはんと さかなを たべます。あとで テレビを みます。
(Boku wa gohan to sakana o tabemasu. Atode terebi o mimasu.)
I eat rice and fish. Later, I watch TV.
B: いいですね。いっしょに ビデオを みませんか？
(Ii desu ne. Issho ni bideo o mimasen ka?)
Sounds good! Shall we watch a video together?
A: ええ、いいですよ。
(Ee, ii desu yo.)
Yes, that’s fine.
By learning vocabulary grouped by topic and practicing dialogues like this, you will remember words more easily and feel more confident in real conversations.
