Basic Japanese Language Vocabulary with Audio Files

When you are learning Japanese, it is essential to hear the words spoken. These audio words and phrases are grouped by topic and you can use them to learn to speak Japanese.

Hiragana Pronunciation with Audio Files

The following tables contains the 46 basic sounds found in Japanese. Click the link to listen the pronunciation of each hiragana character.

Katakana Pronunciation with Audio Files

 Here are the 46 basic Japanese sounds. Click the link to listen the pronunciation.

Verbs

Learning verbs when learning a new language is obviously very important. In the table below I have created a list of some of the most important verbs that someone new to Japanese should know.  If you are not familiar with Japanese verbs at all, follow this link to learn about verb groups and conjugations. If you would like to hear the pronunciation of each verb, click the link and small audio file will play for you.

Group 1 Verbs

Group 2 Verbs

Group 3 Verbs

At the Restaurant

Click the link to hear the pronunciation.

Rooms and Furnishings

Click the link to hear the pronunciation. 

Furniture

Appliances

More Audio Phrases and Words by Topic

Animals: From bird to zebra, here's the menagerie.

Body: These words are especially useful if you need medical help.

Calendar: Months, days of the week, and seasons.

Colors: All colors are treated as nouns. Listen to the rainbow.

Dates: These follow a basic rule of the number plus nichi.

Family: Learn how to talk about your family and somebody else's family.

Foods: Basics for food, meals, and phrases related to eating.

Greetings: The basic phrases you will need.

Introducing People: Learn how to introduce people and hear the vocabulary and expressions.

Location: Don't wander about lost.

You need these phrases to get directions.

Numbers: How to count in Japanese.

On the Phone: How to speak a phone number, plus phrases you will need for a phone call in Japanese.

Tea: How to order tea and how to pronounce different types of tea.

Time: How to express the time of day and ask and answer questions about time.

Travel: Words and expressions you'll need when you're on the move.

Useful Expressions: Simple yes, no, thanks, and other basics.

Weather: How to talk about what it's doing outside.

Adjectives: from near to far, clean to dirty, you'll want to know these modifiers.

Adverbs: From always to never, together to separately.