Japanese Vocabulary list: Trains (電車) and related terms

• 電車 (densha): Train   [this word is written with the Kanji for “electricity” and “car”, and thus is generally used to refer to electronic trains]
• 〜本 (~hon): Counter for trains [一本、二本、三本, etc….] (ippon, nihon, sanbon, etc)
• 列車 (ressha): Train [more general meaning than 電車 and can extend to non-electronic trains, though arguably sounds more formal than 電車]
• 乗る (noru): To ride  [use に particle after the train, if specified]
• 降りる (oriru): To get off [typically use を, though から is also possible]
• 乗り換える (norikaeru): To change trains
• 乗り遅れる (noriokureru): To miss a train
• 乗り過ごす (norisugosu): To miss a train
• 鉄道 (tetsudou): Railroad
• 鉄道会社 (tetsudou gaisha): Railroad company
• 銀河鉄道の夜 (ginga testudo no yoru): Great famous novel by Kenji Miyazawa (“Night on the Galactic Railroad”)
• 地下鉄 (chikatetsu): Subway
• 駅 (eki): Train station
• 駅員 (eki): Station attendant
• ターミナル駅 (taaminaru eki): Terminal station  (where tracks end)
• 改札口 (kaisatsuguchi): Ticket gate
• 切符 (kippu): Ticket [sometimes written in Hiragana as きっぷ]
• 乗車券 (joushaken): Train ticket
• 通る (tooru): To go through something [use を with what is being passed through. Ex: a person through a gate, a train through a tunnel]
• 通過する (tsuuka suru): To pass through
• 通過駅 (tsuukaeki): A station that is passed through without stopping at
• 時間表 (jikanhyou): Time table (can be for train times at the station or something else)
• 掲示板 (keijiban): Bulletin board (can refer to informational, digital boards in stations, but also can refer to internet forums)
• 行き先 (ikisaki): Destination (of a train, etc.)
• 目的地 (mokutekichi): Destination (literally “target location”)
• 出発 (shuppatsu): Depart [can be a noun as is, or as averb with する]
• 出発進行 (shuppatsu shinkou): Equivalent of “all aboard!” when a train is starting to move
• 到着 (touchaku): Arrive  [can be a noun as is, or as averb with する]
• ホーム (hoomu): Platform which you walk on before getting on or off a train
• 汽車 (kisha): Steam train
• 機関車 (kikansha): Engine / locomotive
• 路面電車 (romen densha): Streetcar [runs on a track]
• シュッシュポッポ (shusshu poppo): One way to describe the sound of a steam train moving
• ガタンゴトン (gatan goton): One way to describe a modern (electric) train moving
• 車両 (sharyou): [train] car
• 架線 (kasen): Overhead electrical wire
• 線路 (senro): Train track
• 踏切 (fumikiri): Train crossing
• 遅延 (chien): Delay (like when a train is late)
• 停車 (teisha): a (train) stop
• 普通列車 (futsuu ressha): A normal train that stops at each station
• 特急列車 (tokkyuu ressha): High speed train that skips stops to get somewhere faster
• 夜行列車 (yakou ressha): Night train
• 女性専用車両 (josei sen’you sharyou): Train car which only women can ride (can be just 女性専用車)
• 運転席 (untenseki): Place where the person driving the train sits
• 運転士 (untenshi): Person who drives the train
• 休止 (kyuushi): Halting/suspension of operation for something, for example running of a train
• 電車オタク (densha otaku): “train nerd” or someone who is really crazy about collecting, playing with, and/or studying about trains
• 新幹線 (shinkansan): Bullet train, speed train
• 連結 (renketsu): Linking or coupling of trains
• 脱線 (dassen): Derailment [sometimes used for trains, but also used metaphorically to refer to a conversation, etc.]

Learn Kanji Easy

Learn Kanji Easily

100 Most Important Japanese Words

Emergency

If you’re traveling to Japan, you’re going to want to know words that have to do with “emergency” situations. You don’t want to be caught off guard in a foreign country. If you’re in trouble, you need to be able to ask for some help, whether that help is finding a bathroom or getting someone who speaks English.

トイレ (toire) = Toilet. Everyone has to use the toilet at some point, so if you need help finding it, this is the word for you.

手洗い (tearai) = Bathroom. Just like toilet, but a little more all-inclusive. You can feel free to use either of these in a pinch, though.

助けて (tasukete) = HELP. Just yell this out and (maybe) someone will come to your aid… if you’re lucky.

わかりません (wakarimasen) = I don’t understand. If someone is speaking to you in Japanese and you don’t understand them (if you’re using this list, then maybe you don’t) then you can just tell them you don’t understand what they’re saying. Follow that up with “eigo, eigo” (which you’ll learn in a minute) and you’ll be golden.

やめて！ (yamete!) = Stop it! Maybe somebody is messing with you and you want them to stop (yakuza? probably not). This is what you’d want to say.

英語 (eigo) = English. Sometimes you just need someone who speaks some English. Everyone in Japan is supposed to be able to speak English, though you might have trouble finding the right person depending on where you are.

服 (fuku) = Clothes. Don’t ask… I just thought it would be terrible to lose your clothes, and with all the hot springs and perverts, you never know.

死にそう (shini sou) = Seems Like I’m Going To Die. When things get really serious, you may need to pull out all the stops.

警察 (keisatsu) = Police. If something really bad happens, these are the guys you’re going to want to ask for.

危ない (abunai) = Dangerous. You’ll see this on signs and stuff too. If someone says “abunai” to you, you should probably watch your step.

危険 (kiken) = Peril, Hazard. Basically, this is a fancier abunai. You’ll see this on signs as well.

Asking

Asking broad general questions, then using body language to tell people the rest is a really fun way to get by in a country where you don’t speak the language!

どうした？ (doushita?) = What Happened? Then again, you probably won’t understand what the person responds with, but it’s always nice to ask.

どうして？ (doushite?) = Why? You never know…

なに？ (nani) = What? Unbelievable!

時間 (jikan) = Time. Just ask this with an quizzical tone and people will get the drift.

質問 (shitsumon) = Question. Have a question? Let someone know. Couple this with “eigo! eigo!” and maybe someone who can speak some English will come to answer your shitsumon.

だれ (dare) = Who. Great in case you need to find someone.

いつ (itsu) = When. Pretty important if you’re trying to time something.

People

Sometimes you need something that has to do with a someone. You can get by without too much here.

先生 (sensei) = Teacher. If you’re a student in Japan, this one comes in handy.

会社員 (kaishain) = Employee. Good if you’re looking for an organization’s employee to ask a question, perhaps.

人 (hito) = Person. For when you need to point out a person in general.

Locations

Finding your way around can be pretty important. Here are some Japanese words that will help you do that and keep you from getting lost.

ホテル (hoteru) = Hotel. You’ll need to be able to find this if you’re traveling in Japan.

どこ (doko) = Where. Don’t know where something is? Ask where it is with this word.

空港 (kuukou) = Airport. Don’t miss your flight!

駅 (eki) = Station. Gotta catch that train!

日本 (nihon) = Japan. Good to know where you are.

大学 (daigaku) = College. Great for college students studying in Japan, or people who like colleges in general.

本屋 (honya) = Bookstore. Some bookstores are pretty sketchy, be careful!

タクシー (takushi) = Taxi. Expensive, but you can find them everywhere.

家 (uchi/ie) = Home. There’s no place like it.

Food

Oh food, how I love thee. Can’t live without it, either.

おなかすいた (onaka suita) / はらへった (hara hetta) = Hungry. Two ways to say this one. First one is more neutral, second is more casual.

食べます (tabemasu) = To Eat. Do you eat this? Yes I eat this.

食べません (tabemasen) = To Not Eat. Do you eat this? No I don’t.

飲みます (nomimasu) = To Drink. Glug Glug.

飲みません (nomimasen) = To Not Drink. I don’t drink beer, sorry.

水 (mizu) = Water. I drink water, instead, because that’s how I roll.

飲み物 (nomimono) = Drink. Not the verb, but the noun. Please get me a drink.

食べ物 (tabemono) = Food. Need food? Any food?

美味しい (oishii) = Good Tasting. If something tastes nice (or if you want to be nice), you’d say this.

不味い (mazui) = Bad Tasting. I probably wouldn’t ever say this, but just in case you need to let someone know…

レストラン (resutoran) = Restaurant. Now you need to figure out which one.

コンビニ (konbini) = Convenience Store. Great place to buy small things and food. Convenience Store food in Japan is pretty awesome.

スーパー (suupaa) = Super Market. If you need something a convenience store can’t give you.

Being Polite

You don’t want to piss people off when you’re in their country. Bad things happen if you do…

ありがとうございます (arigatougozaimasu) = Thank You. Do I even need to tell you why you should learn this? I hope not.

すみません (sumimasen) = Excuse Me. The streets can be busy, it’s nice to say excuse me when you walk through people.

ごめんなさい (gomennasai) = Sorry. If you bump into a Yakuza gang member, you might want to whip this one out.

Greetings

Hopefully you meet some nice people in your travels. Say hello (and then goodbye!) to them.

おはようございます (ohayougozaimasu) = Good Morning. A greeting for morning.

こんにちは (konnichiwa) = Good Afternoon. You can use this around noonish on to the evening.

こんばんは (konbanwa) = Good Evening. Like the other ones, but for evenings.

ではまた (dewamata) = See You Later.

また明日 (mata ashita) = See You Tomorrow.

さようなら (sayounara) = Good bye. Probably won’t see them for a while :(

おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai) = Good Night. Time for sleepy time.

Basic Verbs

Verbs will get you a long ways. You don’t have to know much else as long as you know verbs, because verbs help you to get things done.

行きます (ikimasu) = To Go.

帰ります (kaerimasu) = To Return (home).

食べます (tabemasu) = To Eat. Nom nom nom.

します (shimasu) = To Do. This is the best verb ever.

見ます (mimasu) = To See. What is it you want to see?

買います (kaimasu) = To Buy. For all of you who like shopping.

待ちます (machimasu) = To Wait.

書きます (kakimasu) = To Write. Have people write the directions down!

止まります (tomarimasu) = To Stop.

教えます (oshiemasu) = To Teach. If you’re a teacher in Japan.

話します (hanashimasu) To Speak.

Basic Adjectives

Adjectives, while not as awesome as verbs, are also very useful. They help you describe things.

新しい (atarashii) = New.

嬉しい (ureshii) = Happy.

大丈夫 (daijoubu) = Okay. As in “I’m okay!”

すごい (sugoi) = Amazing. For the sight seeing.

高い (takai) = Expensive / Tall. Just depends on the context.

大きい (ookii) = Big, Large.

小さい (chiisai) = Small.

近い (chikai) = Near. How close is it?

遠い (tooi) = Far. How far is it?

悪い (warui) = Bad.

いい (ii) = Good.

面白い (Omoshiroi) = Interesting.

楽しい (tanoshii) = Fun.

熱い (atsui) = Hot.

寒い (samui) = Cold.

上手 (jouzu) = Good At.

下手 (heta) = Bad At.

赤 (aka) = Red.

青 (ao) = Blue.

黒 (kuro) = Black.

緑 (midori) = Green.

黄色 (kiiro) = Yellow.

白 (shiro) = White.

馬鹿 (baka) = Stupid! I bet you knew this one already.

Numbers

一 (ichi) = One.

二 (ni) = Two.

三 (san) = Three.

四 (shi/yon) = Four. Such an unlucky number!

五 (go) = Five. Good way to remember the first five numbers: “Itchy knee! Son, She go!” Imagine that playing out…

六 (roku) = Six.

七 (shichi) = Seven. Also kinda unlucky.

八 (hachi) = Eight.

九 (ku) = Nine.

十 (juu) = Ten.

百 (hyaku) = 100.

千 (sen) = 1,000.

万 (man) = 10,000.

円 (en) = Yen. Not really a number, but goes nicely with the numbers, I think.

Online 日本語で買い物 (Shopping in Japanese)

Japanese Vocabulary List: Shopping / Kaimono
Japanese	Romaji	English
買い物	kaimono	Shopping
買う	kau	to buy
売る	uru	to sell
売買	baibai	trade
スーパー	suupaa	supermarket
コンビに	konbini	convenience store
高い	takai	expensive
安い	yasui	cheap
大きい	ookii	big
小さい	chiisai	small
製品	seihin	product
果物	kudamono	fruit
野菜	yasai	vegetable
いくら	ikura	how much (the price)
パン	pan	bread
肉	niku	meat
卵	tamago	egg
魚	sakana	fish
お米	okome	rice
ワイン	wain	wine
牛乳	gyuunyuu	milk
コーヒー	koohii	coffee
お茶	ocha	tea
ビール	biiru	bir
本屋	honya	book store
骨董品屋	kettouhinya	antique store
市場	ichiba	market
値段	nedan	price
デビットカード	debitto kaado	debit card
袋	fukuro	plastic bag
払う	harau	to pay
スカーフ	sukaafu	scaft
ジャケット	jaketto	jaket
セーター	seetaa	sweater
コート	kooto	coat
水着	mizugi	swimming suit
タオル	taoru	towel
財布	saifu	wallet
眼鏡	megane	glasses
指輪	yubiwa	ring
腕輪	udewa	bracelet
カメラ	kamera	camera
パソコン	pasokon	personal computer
中古品点	chuukohinten	thrift store
交換	koukan	exchange
お土産	omiyage	souvenirs
化粧品	keshouhin	cosmetics
香水	kousui	perfume
お金	okane	money
現金	genkin	cash
クレジットカード	kurejitto kaado	credit card
円	en	yen
店/商店	mise/shouten	store / shop
靴	kutsu	shoes
売り場	uriba	department
八百屋	yaoya	greengrocer
肉屋	nikuya	butcher
魚屋	sakanaya	fishmonger
洋服屋	youfukuya	clothes shop
問屋	tonya	wholesaler
セル	seru	sale
玩具屋	omochaya	toy shop
家具屋	kaguya	furniture shop
錠前屋	joumaeya	locksmith
レストラン	restoran	restoran