400 Japanese words of level B1
Below is a complete, categorized list of Japanese vocabulary at the B1 level. Learn common verbs, nouns, and adjectives with transcription, articles, and English translations.
What is B1? Intermediate
B1 is the independent-user threshold. You handle most situations while travelling, describe experiences, and give short reasons and explanations.
What you can do at B1
- ✓Deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling
- ✓Describe experiences, events, dreams and ambitions
- ✓Give brief reasons and explanations for opinions and plans
- ✓Understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered
- ✓Produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest
Adjectives
/ɯɾeɕiɪ/
happy / glad
/kanɕiɪ/
sad
/taɲoɕiɪ/
fun / enjoyable
/koɯai/
scary / frightening
/hazukashii/
embarrassing / shy
/sabishii/
lonely
/nemui/
sleepy
/itai/
painful / ouch
/amai/
sweet
/karai/
spicy / hot
/kui/
bitter
/sappai/
sour
/nei/
hot (to the touch)
/samai/
cold (to the touch)
/atsui/
hot (weather)
/samui/
cold (weather)
/ata takai/
warm
/suzushi i/
cool / refreshing
/o moi/
heavy
/ka rui/
light (weight)
/ka tai/
hard / firm
/ya wa rakai/
soft
/haɲai/
fast / quick
/oɕi/
slow / late
/nagai/
long
/mijikai/
short (length)
/hiroi/
wide / spacious
/semai/
narrow / cramped
/fukai/
deep
/asai/
shallow
/chikai/
close / near
/tooi/
far
/tsuyoi/
strong
/yowai/
weak
/akarui/
bright / cheerful
/kurai/
dark / gloomy
/shizuka/
quiet / calm
/nigiyaka/
lively / bustling
/teinei/
polite / careful
/shinsetsu/
kind
/jaɕaɕi/
gentle / kind
/kibisiɪ/
strict / harsh
/tadɕiɪ/
correct / right
/okɕiɪ/
strange / funny
/hen/
strange / weird
/taiseɕu/
important / precious
/ben'ri/
convenient
/fu'ben/
inconvenient
/a'bu'nai/
dangerous
/yuu'mei/
famous
/nin'ki/
popular
/me'zurashi/
rare / unusual
/futsuu/
ordinary / normal
/tokubetsu/
special
/chigau/
different / wrong
/fukuzatsu/
complex / complicated
/akiraka/
clear / obvious
/aimai/
vague / ambiguous
/sekkyokuteki/
proactive / positive
/genjitsuteki/
realistic
/risouteki/
ideal
/koukateki/
effective
/kourisuteki/
efficient
/juunan/
flexible
/ɕin̪kẽɴ/
serious / earnest
/sunɔʲt͡ɕi/
honest / obedient
/ɡaŋkod͡ʑi/
stubborn
/kaɕi̥koi̥/
wise / clever
/d͡ʑoːdzɯ/
skilled / good at
/heɾa/
unskilled / poor at
/kanpeki/
perfect
/kinben/
diligent / hardworking
/seikaku/
accurate / exact
/tekisetsu/
appropriate / suitable
/gutaiteki/
concrete / specific
/chuushouteki/
abstract
/shizen/
natural
/jinkou/
artificial / man-made
/kotenteki/
classic / classical
/gendaiteki/
modern / contemporary
/koʥinteki/
personal / individual
/ɕaɸaiteki/
social
/keizaiteki/
economic / economical
Nouns
/e/
painting / picture
/kaɡami/
mirror
/sofa/
sofa
/kaːten/
curtain
/dʑiɕo/
dictionary
/dʑaɕɕi/
magazine
/ɕimbɯɴ/
newspaper
/karendā/
calendar
/nōto/
notebook
/ɾanpu/
lamp
/ɡomi baɡo/
trash can
/hasami/
scissors
/teːpu/
tape
/supuːn/
spoon
/foːku/
fork
/naifu/
knife
/furaipan/
frying pan
/manaita/
cutting board
/suicchi/
switch
/namari/
lead (metal)
/hɑŋkɑtɕi/
handkerchief
/tɑɔɾɯ/
towel
/sekkɛɴ/
soap
/hɑbɯɾɑɕi/
toothbrush
/ɕɑmpɯː/
shampoo
/kippɯ/
ticket
/ɾjoːɕuːɕo/
receipt
/ɕakaɪ/
society
/bɯŋka/
culture
/ɾe̞kiɕi/
history
/dʑi̥jɯː/
freedom / liberty
/he̞iwa/
peace
/sensō/
war
/yume/
dream
/mokuhyō/
goal / objective
/kibō/
hope
/doryoku/
effort
/seikō/
success
/ɕippai/
failure
/keɡenkoɴ/
experience
/ɕitɕiɕi/
knowledge
/noʊɾʲoɴ/
ability / capability
/sainoʊ/
talent
/neikoɡa/
personality / character
/shūkan/
habit / custom
/dentō/
tradition
/shūkyō/
religion
/seiji/
politics
/keizai/
economy
/kagaku/
science
/gijutsu/
technology / skill
/kyouiku/
education
/kankyou/
environment
/kenkou/
health
/shiawase/
happiness
/ai/
love
/yūjō/
friendship
/shinrai/
trust
/sekinin/
responsibility
/kenri/
right (legal)
/gimu/
duty / obligation
/hōritsu/
law
/kisoku/
rule / regulation
/hōhō/
method / way
/mokuteki/
purpose / objective
/kekka/
result / outcome
/gen'in/
cause / reason
/ei̯ki̥o̞/
influence / effect
/he̞ŋka̠/
change
/hat͡t͡ɛ̥ɴ/
development
/ɕiɴpo̞/
progress
/d͡ʑo̞ːhɔ̞/
information
/ka̠ɲke̞ɪ̥/
relationship
/dʑoːkʲoː/
situation / circumstances
/dʑoːkʲen/
condition / requirement
/hit͡suyoː/
necessity / need
/d͡ʑuːjoː/
importance
/saiɕoː/
first / beginning
/saigo/
last / end
/tɕɯːɕiɴ/
center / core
/teidoɾo/
degree / extent
/baɕo/
place / location
/hɔːkoː/
direction
/tatiɓa/
standpoint / position
/jaɡɯɴaɾi/
role
/kachi/
value / worth
/kikai/
opportunity
/kiken/
danger
/anzen/
safety
/shitsumon/
question
/kotae/
answer
/keikaku/
plan
/renraku/
contact / communication
/iken/
opinion
/inshou/
impression
/hana/
nose
/ha/
tooth / teeth
/ɕata/
tongue
/kubi/
neck
/kata/
shoulder
/mune/
chest / breast
/oŋaka/
stomach / belly
/koɕi/
waist / lower back
/ude/
arm
/yubi/
finger / toe
/tsume/
nail (finger/toe)
/hifu/
skin
/hone/
bone
/chi/
blood
/kinniku/
muscle
/nō/
brain
/byōki/
illness / sickness
/kega/
injury / wound
/itami/
pain
/netsu/
fever / heat
/kaze/
cold (illness)
/arerugii/
allergy
/shujutsu/
surgery / operation
/chiryou/
treatment / therapy
/shoujou/
symptom
/taion/
body temperature
/ketsuatsu/
blood pressure
/taijuu/
body weight
/chuusha/
injection
/raamen/
ramen
/sushi/
sushi
/saʃiɱi/
sashimi
/tenpura/
tempura
/oɲiɡiɾi/
rice ball
/ben.toɕi/
lunchbox / bento
/mi.soɕiɾɯ/
miso soup
/toʊfu/
tofu
/ɕoːjʊ/
soy sauce
/ɕio/
salt
/satou/
sugar
/abura/
oil
/gyuunyuu/
milk
/koohii/
coffee
/juusu/
juice
/biiru/
beer
/waɪn/
wine
/gyuːniku/
beef
/butanikʊ/
pork
/toriniku/
chicken (meat)
/sarada/
salad
/suːpu/
soup
/karee/
curry
/keeki/
cake
/aisukuriimu/
ice cream
/chokoreeto/
chocolate
/gyouza/
gyoza / dumplings
/nattou/
natto (fermented beans)
/t͡ɕiːzu/
cheese
/bataː/
butter
/ɺĩŋɡo/
apple
/mikɑɴ/
mandarin orange
/banaɴa/
banana
/it͡ɕigo/
strawberry
/to.mato/
tomato
/niɲdʑiɴ/
carrot
/tama.neɡi/
onion
/dʑaɡai.mo/
potato
/kjuːɾi/
cucumber
/piza/
pizza
/hanbāgā/
hamburger
/pasuta/
pasta
/kukkī/
cookie
/koshō/
pepper (spice)
/su/
vinegar
/okawari/
second helping / refill
/mori/
forest / woods
/sabaku/
desert
/shima/
island
/iwa/
rock / boulder
/suna/
sand
/tsuchi/
soil / earth
/juki/
snow
/kiri/
fog / mist
/kami.na.ri/
thunder / lightning
/tai.fuu/
typhoon
/ji.shin/
earthquake
/tsu.na.mi/
tsunami
/kazan/
volcano
/kikō/
climate
/tenki/
weather
/hoshi/
star
/wakusei/
planet
/uːt͡ɕiɯ̟ᵝ/ /ɯt͡ɕiɯ̟ᵝ/
universe / space
/ɕo̞kɯ̟ᵝbɯ̟ᵝt͡su̟ᵝ/ /ɕo̞kɯ̟ᵝbɯ̟ᵝt͡su̟ᵝ/
plant
/dɔ̞ɯ̟ᵝɓɯ̟ᵝt͡su̟ᵝ/ /dɔ̞ɯ̟ᵝɓɯ̟ᵝt͡su̟ᵝ/
animal
/tɔ̞ɯ̟ᵝ/ /tɔ̞ɯ̟ᵝ/
bird
/iɴɯ̟ᵝ/ /iɴɯ̟ᵝ/
dog
/ne̞ko̞/ /ne̞ko̞/
cat
/uma/
horse
/ushi/
cow
/buta/
pig
/kuma/
bear
/saru/
monkey
/konchuu/
insect
/kusa/
grass
/ha/
leaf
/ike/
pond
/mizuumi/
lake
/nohara/
field / meadow
/tairiku/
continent
/niʑi/
rainbow
/kumo/
cloud
/ɕio/
tide
/t͡ɕie̞pʲiɾiɴ/
horizon
/ɕumaːtofoɴ/
smartphone
/taburetto/
tablet
/noːto pasokon/
laptop
/kiːbōdoː/
keyboard
/mausu/
mouse (computer)
/sukurīn/
screen
/kamera/
camera
/maiku/
microphone
/i.ja.hon/
earphones
/supi.ka/
speaker
/rimo.kon/
remote control
/jjuu.den/
charging / charge
/pasu.waado/
password
/aka.u nto/
account
/mēru/
/esuenusu/
social media / SNS
/webusaito/
website
/daunrōdo/
download
/appurōdo/
upload
/kuraudo/
cloud
/daːta/
data
/soːftoːweːa/
software
/pʲroːɡɾamu/
program
/roːbotto/
robot
/teːnɔ/
telephone
/tɕoːwa/
phone call
/messeːdʑi/
message
/tsuːtʃi/
notification
/settei/
settings / configuration
/kinou/
function / feature
/gamen/
screen / display
/kōshin/
update
/dōga/
video
/haishin/
streaming / delivery
/hōsō/
broadcast
/kōkoku/
advertisement
/kiji/
article (news)
/t͡ɕaɴɴɛɽu/
channel
/d͡ʑimaku/
subtitle
/hot͡ɕaɡɯ/
translation
/waɪfaɪ/
Wi-Fi
/kensaku/
search
/raʑio/
radio
/dʑoːdōka/
automation
/sōsa/
operation / handling
/denshi shoseki/
e-book
/kōdo/
code
/bagu/
bug (software)
/haːdoːweːa/
hardware
/saːvæː/
server
/moɕikaɕite/
perhaps / maybe
/ika/
less than / below
Other Words
/tsukue no ue/
on the desk
/konsento/
electrical outlet
/shinsatsu/
medical examination
/ɯdon/
udon noodles
/soɓa/
soba noodles
/jaɡiɲiku/
grilled meat / BBQ
/mi.so/
miso paste
/kion/
air temperature
/ban'ɡumi/
TV program
/tokui/
good at / specialty
/nigate/
not good at / weak
/hajimete/
for the first time
/hisashi(bu)rini/
after a long time
/ijou/
more than / that's all
/so-re-ho-do/
that much / so much
/ko-nna-ni/
this much / so much
Prepositions
Verbs
/aːaɪ/
AI / artificial intelligence
/kanarazu/
certainly / without fail
/tabun/
probably / perhaps
/kitto/
surely / certainly
/hoɓo/
almost / roughly
/hotondo/
almost / mostly
/naɴaka/
fairly / not easily
/naɾubeɴɯ/
as much as possible
/dejɯɾudake/
as much as possible
/ɕiɡu/
immediately / soon
/ɪɕɕoɴi/
together
/kyɯɴi/
suddenly / quickly
/kanzenɯɴi/
completely / fully
/aikawa(r)a(r)zu(r)a/
as usual / same as ever
/shidai ni/
gradually
/dandan/
gradually / little by little
/totsuzen/
suddenly / unexpectedly
/ietɕiɡani/
unexpectedly
/noɴbiɾi/
leisurely / laid-back
/yɯkɯɾi/
slowly / at leisure
/ɕikkari/
firmly / properly
/hakkiɾi/
clearly / distinctly
/pit̚tari/
exactly / perfectly fitting
/dondoɴ/
rapidly / one after another
/nandomo/
many times
/yaku/
approximately / about
/izen/
before / previously
/i-go/
after / henceforth
/ho-do-ho-do/
moderately / in moderation
/a-ra-ta-me-te/
again / formally
/fu-da-n/
usually / normally
/tamaɴi/
occasionally / once in a while
How to learn B1 vocabulary
- 1.Move from isolated words to collocations and full phrases.
- 2.Read and listen to graded content daily to meet words in context.
- 3.Start thinking in the language for simple everyday topics.
- 4.Keep a simple daily journal in the target language to practice active sentence building.
Frequently asked questions
How many words at B1?+
Roughly 2,000–2,500 active words support independent B1 communication.
Is B1 fluent?+
B1 is 'independent user' — you communicate on familiar topics, but not yet fluently on complex ones.
Is B1 enough for work or study abroad?+
B1 is often the minimum for basic work; many universities require B2 or higher.
How can I transition from B1 to B2?+
Start consuming native materials (news, videos, podcasts) and actively write longer texts while correcting errors.