Every word comes with furigana, romaji, and an original example sentence from real life in Japan.
22000 words
nouryoku
ability
彼は問題を解決する能力が高いです。
かれ は もんだい を かいけつ する のうりょく が たかい です。
kare wa mondai o kaiketsu suru nouryoku ga takai desu.
He has a strong ability to solve problems.
Memory tip能力 = ability
Say 能力 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “ability” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →jitsuryoku
real ability
試験で実力を出せませんでした。
しけん で じつりょく を だせません でした。
shiken de jitsuryoku o dasemasen deshita.
I could not show my real ability in the exam.
Memory tip実力 = real ability
Make 実力 yours: write one short sentence about “real ability” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →chishiki
knowledge
プログラミングの知識を増やしたいです。
ぷろぐらみんぐ の ちしき を ふやしたい です。
puroguramingu no chishiki o fuyashitai desu.
I want to increase my programming knowledge.
Memory tip知識 = knowledge
When you meet 知識 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “knowledge” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →shikaku
qualification
ITの資格を取るために勉強しています。
IT の しかく を とる ため に べんきょう しています。
IT no shikaku o toru tame ni benkyou shiteimasu.
I am studying to get an IT qualification.
Memory tip資格 = qualification
Make 資格 yours: write one short sentence about “qualification” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →menkyo
license
日本で運転免許を取りました。
にほん で うんてん めんきょ を とりました。
nihon de unten menkyo o torimashita.
I got a driver's license in Japan.
Memory tip免許 = license
Say 免許 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “license” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →shokuba
workplace
職場の雰囲気はとても良いです。
しょくば の ふんいき は とても よい です。
shokuba no fun'iki wa totemo yoi desu.
The atmosphere at my workplace is very good.
Memory tip職場 = workplace
Say 職場 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “workplace” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →shokugyou
occupation
書類に職業を書く欄があります。
しょるい に しょくぎょう を かく らん が あります。
shorui ni shokugyou o kaku ran ga arimasu.
There is a space on the form to write your occupation.
Memory tip職業 = occupation
When you meet 職業 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “occupation” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →kigyou
company / enterprise
大きい企業より小さい会社で働きたいです。
おおきい きぎょう より ちいさい かいしゃ で はたらきたい です。
ookii kigyou yori chiisai kaisha de hatarakitai desu.
I would rather work at a small company than a large corporation.
Memory tip企業 = company
Make 企業 yours: write one short sentence about “company” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →sangyou
industry
この町は観光産業が盛んです。
この まち は かんこう さんぎょう が さかん です。
kono machi wa kankou sangyou ga sakan desu.
The tourism industry is thriving in this town.
Memory tip産業 = industry
Make 産業 yours: write one short sentence about “industry” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →shouhin
product / goods
新しい商品が棚に並んでいます。
あたらしい しょうひん が たな に ならんでいます。
atarashii shouhin ga tana ni narandeimasu.
New products are lined up on the shelves.
Memory tip商品 = product
Say 商品 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “product” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →shoubai
business / trade
祖父は長年、商売をしています。
そふ は ながねん、しょうばい を しています。
sofu wa naganen, shoubai o shiteimasu.
My grandfather has been in business for many years.
Memory tip商売 = business
Tie 商売 to one concrete moment from your own week in Japan where “business” came up — a word anchored to a real scene sticks far better than a definition.
Read the full tip →uriage
sales (amount)
今月の売り上げは先月より伸びました。
こんげつ の うりあげ は せんげつ より のびました。
kongetsu no uriage wa sengetsu yori nobimashita.
This month's sales grew compared to last month.
Memory tip売り上げ = sales (amount)
Make 売り上げ yours: write one short sentence about “sales (amount)” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →rieki
profit
会社の利益が増えました。
かいしゃ の りえき が ふえました。
kaisha no rieki ga fuemashita.
The company's profits increased.
Memory tip利益 = profit
Make 利益 yours: write one short sentence about “profit” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →hiyou
expense
引っ越しの費用を計算しました。
ひっこし の ひよう を けいさん しました。
hikkoshi no hiyou o keisan shimashita.
I calculated the cost of moving.
Memory tip費用 = expense
Say 費用 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “expense” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →yosan
budget
プロジェクトの予算が決まりました。
ぷろじぇくと の よさん が きまりました。
purojekuto no yosan ga kimarimashita.
The project budget has been decided.
Memory tip予算 = budget
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “budget” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 予算 to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →zeikin
tax
給料から税金が引かれます。
きゅうりょう から ぜいきん が ひかれます。
kyuuryou kara zeikin ga hikaremasu.
Taxes are deducted from your salary.
Memory tip税金 = tax
Make 税金 yours: write one short sentence about “tax” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →hoken
insurance
日本では健康保険に入る必要があります。
にほん で は けんこう ほけん に はいる ひつよう が あります。
nihon de wa kenkou hoken ni hairu hitsuyou ga arimasu.
In Japan, you need to join health insurance.
Memory tip保険 = insurance
Say 保険 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “insurance” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →kyuuyo
salary / wages
給与の明細をオンラインで確認できます。
きゅうよ の めいさい を おんらいん で かくにん できます。
kyuuyo no meisai o onrain de kakunin dekimasu.
You can check your salary statement online.
Memory tip給与 = salary
Tie 給与 to one concrete moment from your own week in Japan where “salary” came up — a word anchored to a real scene sticks far better than a definition.
Read the full tip →shoukin
prize money
コンテストで賞金をもらいました。
こんてすと で しょうきん を もらいました。
kontesuto de shoukin o moraimashita.
I received prize money in the contest.
Memory tip賞金 = prize money
Say 賞金 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “prize money” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →shiryou
materials / data
発表の資料を共有してください。
はっぴょう の しりょう を きょうゆう して ください。
happyou no shiryou o kyouyuu shite kudasai.
Please share the presentation materials.
Memory tip資料 = materials
Say 資料 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “materials” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →kiji
article (news)
日本語のニュース記事を毎日読んでいます。
にほんご の にゅーす きじ を まいにち よんでいます。
nihongo no nyuusu kiji o mainichi yondeimasu.
I read Japanese news articles every day.
Memory tip記事 = article (news)
Make 記事 yours: write one short sentence about “article (news)” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →bangumi
TV program
毎週この番組を見ています。
まいしゅう この ばんぐみ を みています。
maishuu kono bangumi o miteimasu.
I watch this program every week.
Memory tip番組 = TV program
Say 番組 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “TV program” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →gamen
screen
画面が急に暗くなりました。
がめん が きゅう に くらく なりました。
gamen ga kyuu ni kuraku narimashita.
The screen suddenly went dark.
Memory tip画面 = screen
When you meet 画面 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “screen” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →kikai
machine
この機械の使い方を教えてください。
この きかい の つかいかた を おしえて ください。
kono kikai no tsukaikata o oshiete kudasai.
Please teach me how to use this machine.
Memory tip機械 = machine
Say 機械 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “machine” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →kinou
function
このアプリには便利な機能が多いです。
この あぷり に は べんりな きのう が おおい です。
kono apuri ni wa benrina kinou ga ooi desu.
This app has many useful functions.
Memory tip機能 = function
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “function” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 機能 to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →souchi
device / equipment
工場に新しい装置を導入しました。
こうじょう に あたらしい そうち を どうにゅう しました。
koujou ni atarashii souchi o dounyuu shimashita.
New equipment was introduced at the factory.
Memory tip装置 = device
When you meet 装置 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “device” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →dougu
tool
料理の道具をそろえました。
りょうり の どうぐ を そろえました。
ryouri no dougu o soroemashita.
I got a set of cooking tools.
Memory tip道具 = tool
Tie 道具 to one concrete moment from your own week in Japan where “tool” came up — a word anchored to a real scene sticks far better than a definition.
Read the full tip →zairyou
ingredients / materials
カレーの材料を買いに行きます。
かれー の ざいりょう を かい に いきます。
karee no zairyou o kai ni ikimasu.
I am going to buy ingredients for curry.
Memory tip材料 = ingredients
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “ingredients” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 材料 to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →buhin
parts / components
車の部品を交換しました。
くるま の ぶひん を こうかん しました。
kuruma no buhin o koukan shimashita.
I replaced a car part.
Memory tip部品 = parts
When you meet 部品 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “parts” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →kikai
opportunity
日本語を話す機会を増やしたいです。
にほんご を はなす きかい を ふやしたい です。
nihongo o hanasu kikai o fuyashitai desu.
I want more opportunities to speak Japanese.
Memory tip機会 = opportunity
Make 機会 yours: write one short sentence about “opportunity” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →bamen
scene / situation
仕事では敬語を使う場面が多いです。
しごと で は けいご を つかう ばめん が おおい です。
shigoto de wa keigo o tsukau bamen ga ooi desu.
At work there are many situations where you use polite language.
Memory tip場面 = scene
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “scene” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 場面 to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →kankei
relationship
同僚と良い関係を作りたいです。
どうりょう と よい かんけい を つくりたい です。
douryou to yoi kankei o tsukuritai desu.
I want to build good relationships with my coworkers.
Memory tip関係 = relationship
Tie 関係 to one concrete moment from your own week in Japan where “relationship” came up — a word anchored to a real scene sticks far better than a definition.
Read the full tip →aite
partner / the other party
相手の話を最後まで聞きましょう。
あいて の はなし を さいご まで ききましょう。
aite no hanashi o saigo made kikimashou.
Let us listen to the other person until the end.
Memory tip相手 = partner
Say 相手 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “partner” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →nakama
companion / colleague
職場に良い仲間がいます。
しょくば に よい なかま が います。
shokuba ni yoi nakama ga imasu.
I have good companions at work.
Memory tip仲間 = companion
Say 仲間 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “companion” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →senpai
senior (at work/school)
先輩に仕事のやり方を教わりました。
せんぱい に しごと の やりかた を おそわりました。
senpai ni shigoto no yarikata o osowarimashita.
A senior colleague taught me how to do the job.
Memory tip先輩 = senior (at work
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “senior (at work” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 先輩 to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →kouhai
junior (at work/school)
後輩の質問に丁寧に答えました。
こうはい の しつもん に ていねい に こたえました。
kouhai no shitsumon ni teinei ni kotaemashita.
I answered my junior colleague's question politely.
Memory tip後輩 = junior (at work
Say 後輩 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “junior (at work” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →shiriai
acquaintance
イベントで知り合いが増えました。
いべんと で しりあい が ふえました。
ibento de shiriai ga fuemashita.
I made more acquaintances at the event.
Memory tip知り合い = acquaintance
Make 知り合い yours: write one short sentence about “acquaintance” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →tantousha
person in charge
担当者に直接連絡してください。
たんとうしゃ に ちょくせつ れんらく して ください。
tantousha ni chokusetsu renraku shite kudasai.
Please contact the person in charge directly.
Memory tip担当者 = person in charge
Make 担当者 yours: write one short sentence about “person in charge” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →senmonka
expert
専門家の意見を聞きました。
せんもんか の いけん を ききました。
senmonka no iken o kikimashita.
We asked for an expert's opinion.
Memory tip専門家 = expert
When you meet 専門家 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “expert” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →shain
company employee
この会社には外国人の社員が多いです。
この かいしゃ に は がいこくじん の しゃいん が おおい です。
kono kaisha ni wa gaikokujin no shain ga ooi desu.
This company has many foreign employees.
Memory tip社員 = company employee
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “company employee” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 社員 to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →juugyouin
employee / staff
この店の従業員は親切です。
この みせ の じゅうぎょういん は しんせつ です。
kono mise no juugyouin wa shinsetsu desu.
The staff at this store are kind.
Memory tip従業員 = employee
Tie 従業員 to one concrete moment from your own week in Japan where “employee” came up — a word anchored to a real scene sticks far better than a definition.
Read the full tip →jinzai
human resources / talent
IT業界は人材が不足しています。
IT ぎょうかい は じんざい が ふそく しています。
IT gyoukai wa jinzai ga fusoku shiteimasu.
The IT industry is short of talent.
Memory tip人材 = human resources
When you meet 人材 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “human resources” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →seikaku
personality
彼女は明るい性格です。
かのじょ は あかるい せいかく です。
kanojo wa akarui seikaku desu.
She has a cheerful personality.
Memory tip性格 = personality
When you meet 性格 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “personality” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →taido
attitude
面接では態度も見られています。
めんせつ で は たいど も みられています。
mensetsu de wa taido mo mirareteimasu.
In interviews, your attitude is also being watched.
Memory tip態度 = attitude
Picture the last situation where you needed the idea of “attitude” — at work, at the station, online — and attach 態度 to that exact scene.
Read the full tip →koudou
action / behavior
考える前に行動してしまいました。
かんがえる まえ に こうどう して しまいました。
kangaeru mae ni koudou shite shimaimashita.
I acted before thinking.
Memory tip行動 = action
Say 行動 out loud inside a short sentence about your day. Linking it to “action” in your own words builds the memory faster than rereading it.
Read the full tip →shuukan
habit
早寝早起きの習慣をつけたいです。
はやね はやおき の しゅうかん を つけたい です。
hayane hayaoki no shuukan o tsuketai desu.
I want to build a habit of going to bed and getting up early.
Memory tip習慣 = habit
Tie 習慣 to one concrete moment from your own week in Japan where “habit” came up — a word anchored to a real scene sticks far better than a definition.
Read the full tip →joushiki
common sense
国によって常識は違います。
くに に よって じょうしき は ちがいます。
kuni ni yotte joushiki wa chigaimasu.
Common sense differs from country to country.
Memory tip常識 = common sense
Make 常識 yours: write one short sentence about “common sense” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →dentou
tradition
この祭りは長い伝統があります。
この まつり は ながい でんとう が あります。
kono matsuri wa nagai dentou ga arimasu.
This festival has a long tradition.
Memory tip伝統 = tradition
When you meet 伝統 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “tradition” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →shuukyou
religion
世界にはいろいろな宗教があります。
せかい に は いろいろな しゅうきょう が あります。
sekai ni wa iroirona shuukyou ga arimasu.
There are various religions in the world.
Memory tip宗教 = religion
Make 宗教 yours: write one short sentence about “religion” from your own life, and this word will come back when you actually need it.
Read the full tip →chiiki
region / area
この地域は外国人が多く住んでいます。
この ちいき は がいこくじん が おおく すんでいます。
kono chiiki wa gaikokujin ga ooku sundeimasu.
Many foreigners live in this area.
Memory tip地域 = region
When you meet 地域 in real text, pause on it once — meeting “region” in the wild a single time beats ten flashcard passes.
Read the full tip →