50 Essential Words You Need to Know for Japanese at the B1 Level

Students' productive language study session in the library.

Learning Japanese can be a challenging but rewarding experience. As you reach the B1 level, your vocabulary and comprehension skills need to be significantly expanded to handle more complex conversations and texts. To help you on this journey, we have compiled a list of 50 essential words that you need to know at the B1 level in Japanese. These words are crucial for everyday communication and will help you better understand the language and culture.

Everyday Life

1. **ๅฎถ (ใ„ใˆ – ie)** – House
– Example: ็งใฎๅฎถใฏๅคงใใ„ใงใ™ (ใ‚ใŸใ—ใฎใ„ใˆใฏใŠใŠใใ„ใงใ™ – My house is big).

2. **ไป•ไบ‹ (ใ—ใ”ใจ – shigoto)** – Work, Job
– Example: ๅฝผใฏๆ–ฐใ—ใ„ไป•ไบ‹ใ‚’ๅง‹ใ‚ใพใ—ใŸ (ใ‹ใ‚Œใฏใ‚ใŸใ‚‰ใ—ใ„ใ—ใ”ใจใ‚’ใฏใ˜ใ‚ใพใ—ใŸ – He started a new job).

3. **ๅญฆๆ ก (ใŒใฃใ“ใ† – gakkou)** – School
– Example: ๅญไพ›ใŸใกใฏๅญฆๆ กใซ่กŒใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ (ใ“ใฉใ‚‚ใŸใกใฏใŒใฃใ“ใ†ใซใ„ใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ – The children are going to school).

4. **ๅบ— (ใฟใ› – mise)** – Shop, Store
– Example: ใ“ใฎๅบ—ใฏไฝ•ๆ™‚ใซ้–‹ใใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ (ใ“ใฎใฟใ›ใฏใชใ‚“ใ˜ใซใฒใ‚‰ใใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ – What time does this shop open?).

5. **้ง… (ใˆใ – eki)** – Station
– Example: ้ง…ใพใงใฎ้“ใ‚’ๆ•™ใˆใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ (ใˆใใพใงใฎใฟใกใ‚’ใŠใ—ใˆใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ – Please tell me the way to the station).

Time and Dates

6. **ไปŠ (ใ„ใพ – ima)** – Now
– Example: ไปŠไฝ•ๆ™‚ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ (ใ„ใพใชใ‚“ใ˜ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ – What time is it now?).

7. **ไปŠๆ—ฅ (ใใ‚‡ใ† – kyou)** – Today
– Example: ไปŠๆ—ฅใฎๅคฉๆฐ—ใฏใฉใ†ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ (ใใ‚‡ใ†ใฎใฆใ‚“ใใฏใฉใ†ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ – How is the weather today?).

8. **ๆ˜จๆ—ฅ (ใใฎใ† – kinou)** – Yesterday
– Example: ๆ˜จๆ—ฅใฎใƒ‘ใƒผใƒ†ใ‚ฃใƒผใฏๆฅฝใ—ใ‹ใฃใŸใงใ™ (ใใฎใ†ใฎใƒ‘ใƒผใƒ†ใ‚ฃใƒผใฏใŸใฎใ—ใ‹ใฃใŸใงใ™ – Yesterdayโ€™s party was fun).

9. **ๆ˜Žๆ—ฅ (ใ‚ใ—ใŸ – ashita)** – Tomorrow
– Example: ๆ˜Žๆ—ฅใฏไป•ไบ‹ใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ (ใ‚ใ—ใŸใฏใ—ใ”ใจใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ – I have work tomorrow).

10. **้€ฑๆœซ (ใ—ใ‚…ใ†ใพใค – shuumatsu)** – Weekend
– Example: ้€ฑๆœซใซๆ˜ ็”ปใ‚’่ฆ‹ใซ่กŒใใพใ—ใ‚‡ใ† (ใ—ใ‚…ใ†ใพใคใซใˆใ„ใŒใ‚’ใฟใซใ„ใใพใ—ใ‚‡ใ† – Let’s go watch a movie on the weekend).

People

11. **ๅ‹้” (ใจใ‚‚ใ ใก – tomodachi)** – Friend
– Example: ๅฝผใฏ็งใฎๅ‹้”ใงใ™ (ใ‹ใ‚Œใฏใ‚ใŸใ—ใฎใจใ‚‚ใ ใกใงใ™ – He is my friend).

12. **ๅฎถๆ— (ใ‹ใžใ – kazoku)** – Family
– Example: ๅฎถๆ—ใจไธ€็ท’ใซๆ—…่กŒใ—ใพใ™ (ใ‹ใžใใจใ„ใฃใ—ใ‚‡ใซใ‚Šใ‚‡ใ“ใ†ใ—ใพใ™ – I am traveling with my family).

13. **ๅ…ˆ็”Ÿ (ใ›ใ‚“ใ›ใ„ – sensei)** – Teacher
– Example: ๅฝผๅฅณใฏๆ—ฅๆœฌ่ชžใฎๅ…ˆ็”Ÿใงใ™ (ใ‹ใฎใ˜ใ‚‡ใฏใซใปใ‚“ใ”ใฎใ›ใ‚“ใ›ใ„ใงใ™ – She is a Japanese teacher).

14. **ๅญฆ็”Ÿ (ใŒใใ›ใ„ – gakusei)** – Student
– Example: ็งใฏๅคงๅญฆใฎๅญฆ็”Ÿใงใ™ (ใ‚ใŸใ—ใฏใ ใ„ใŒใใฎใŒใใ›ใ„ใงใ™ – I am a university student).

15. **ไธŠๅธ (ใ˜ใ‚‡ใ†ใ— – joushi)** – Boss
– Example: ไธŠๅธใซๅ ฑๅ‘Šใ—ใพใ™ (ใ˜ใ‚‡ใ†ใ—ใซใปใ†ใ“ใใ—ใพใ™ – I will report to my boss).

Activities

16. **้ฃŸในใ‚‹ (ใŸในใ‚‹ – taberu)** – To eat
– Example: ๆ˜ผใ”ใฏใ‚“ใ‚’้ฃŸในใพใ—ใŸใ‹๏ผŸ (ใฒใ‚‹ใ”ใฏใ‚“ใ‚’ใŸในใพใ—ใŸใ‹๏ผŸ – Did you eat lunch?).

17. **้ฃฒใ‚€ (ใฎใ‚€ – nomu)** – To drink
– Example: ใ‚ณใƒผใƒ’ใƒผใ‚’้ฃฒใฟใพใ™ (ใ‚ณใƒผใƒ’ใƒผใ‚’ใฎใฟใพใ™ – I drink coffee).

18. **่ชญใ‚€ (ใ‚ˆใ‚€ – yomu)** – To read
– Example: ๆœฌใ‚’่ชญใฟใพใ™ (ใปใ‚“ใ‚’ใ‚ˆใฟใพใ™ – I read books).

19. **ๆ›ธใ (ใ‹ใ – kaku)** – To write
– Example: ๆ‰‹็ด™ใ‚’ๆ›ธใใพใ™ (ใฆใŒใฟใ‚’ใ‹ใใพใ™ – I write letters).

20. **้Šใถ (ใ‚ใใถ – asobu)** – To play
– Example: ๅ…ฌๅœ’ใง้Šใณใพใ™ (ใ“ใ†ใˆใ‚“ใงใ‚ใใณใพใ™ – I play at the park).

Feelings and Emotions

21. **ๅฌ‰ใ—ใ„ (ใ†ใ‚Œใ—ใ„ – ureshii)** – Happy
– Example: ๅฌ‰ใ—ใ„ๆฐ—ๆŒใกใงใ™ (ใ†ใ‚Œใ—ใ„ใใ‚‚ใกใงใ™ – I feel happy).

22. **ๆ‚ฒใ—ใ„ (ใ‹ใชใ—ใ„ – kanashii)** – Sad
– Example: ๆ‚ฒใ—ใ„ใƒ‹ใƒฅใƒผใ‚นใงใ™ (ใ‹ใชใ—ใ„ใƒ‹ใƒฅใƒผใ‚นใงใ™ – Itโ€™s sad news).

23. **ๆ€–ใ„ (ใ“ใ‚ใ„ – kowai)** – Scary
– Example: ๆ€–ใ„ๆ˜ ็”ปใ‚’่ฆ‹ใพใ—ใŸ (ใ“ใ‚ใ„ใˆใ„ใŒใ‚’ใฟใพใ—ใŸ – I watched a scary movie).

24. **ๆ€’ใ‚‹ (ใŠใ“ใ‚‹ – okoru)** – To get angry
– Example: ๅฝผใฏๆ€’ใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ (ใ‹ใ‚ŒใฏใŠใ“ใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ – He is angry).

25. **้ฉšใ (ใŠใฉใ‚ใ – odoroku)** – To be surprised
– Example: ๅฝผๅฅณใฎ่ฉฑใซ้ฉšใใพใ—ใŸ (ใ‹ใฎใ˜ใ‚‡ใฎใฏใชใ—ใซใŠใฉใ‚ใใพใ—ใŸ – I was surprised by her story).

Health and Body

26. **ไฝ“ (ใ‹ใ‚‰ใ  – karada)** – Body
– Example: ไฝ“ใฎ่ชฟๅญใŒใ„ใ„ใงใ™ (ใ‹ใ‚‰ใ ใฎใกใ‚‡ใ†ใ—ใŒใ„ใ„ใงใ™ – My body feels good).

27. **้ ญ (ใ‚ใŸใพ – atama)** – Head
– Example: ้ ญใŒ็—›ใ„ใงใ™ (ใ‚ใŸใพใŒใ„ใŸใ„ใงใ™ – I have a headache).

28. **็›ฎ (ใ‚ – me)** – Eye
– Example: ็›ฎใŒใ‹ใ‚†ใ„ใงใ™ (ใ‚ใŒใ‹ใ‚†ใ„ใงใ™ – My eyes are itchy).

29. **่€ณ (ใฟใฟ – mimi)** – Ear
– Example: ่€ณใŒ่žใ“ใˆใพใ›ใ‚“ (ใฟใฟใŒใใ“ใˆใพใ›ใ‚“ – I canโ€™t hear with my ears).

30. **ๅฃ (ใใก – kuchi)** – Mouth
– Example: ๅฃใ‚’้–‰ใ˜ใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ (ใใกใ‚’ใจใ˜ใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ – Please close your mouth).

Travel and Directions

31. **ๅœฐๅ›ณ (ใกใš – chizu)** – Map
– Example: ๅœฐๅ›ณใ‚’่ฆ‹ใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ (ใกใšใ‚’ใฟใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ – Please look at the map).

32. **้“ (ใฟใก – michi)** – Road, Path
– Example: ใ“ใฎ้“ใ‚’ใพใฃใ™ใ่กŒใฃใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ (ใ“ใฎใฟใกใ‚’ใพใฃใ™ใใ„ใฃใฆใใ ใ•ใ„ – Please go straight on this road).

33. **็ฉบๆธฏ (ใใ†ใ“ใ† – kuukou)** – Airport
– Example: ็ฉบๆธฏใซ่กŒใใŸใ„ใงใ™ (ใใ†ใ“ใ†ใซใ„ใใŸใ„ใงใ™ – I want to go to the airport).

34. **ใƒ›ใƒ†ใƒซ (ใƒ›ใƒ†ใƒซ – hoteru)** – Hotel
– Example: ไบˆ็ด„ใ—ใŸใƒ›ใƒ†ใƒซ (ใ‚ˆใ‚„ใใ—ใŸใƒ›ใƒ†ใƒซ – The hotel I reserved).

35. **ๅœฐไธ‹้‰„ (ใกใ‹ใฆใค – chikatetsu)** – Subway
– Example: ๅœฐไธ‹้‰„ใ‚’ๅˆฉ็”จใ—ใพใ™ (ใกใ‹ใฆใคใ‚’ใ‚Šใ‚ˆใ†ใ—ใพใ™ – I use the subway).

Shopping and Money

36. **ใŠ้‡‘ (ใŠใ‹ใญ – okane)** – Money
– Example: ใŠ้‡‘ใ‚’ๆŒใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ (ใŠใ‹ใญใ‚’ใ‚‚ใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ – Do you have money?).

37. **่ฒทใ† (ใ‹ใ† – kau)** – To buy
– Example: ไฝ•ใ‚’่ฒทใ„ใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ (ใชใซใ‚’ใ‹ใ„ใพใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ – What will you buy?).

38. **ๅฃฒใ‚‹ (ใ†ใ‚‹ – uru)** – To sell
– Example: ๅฝผใฏ่ปŠใ‚’ๅฃฒใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸ (ใ‹ใ‚Œใฏใใ‚‹ใพใ‚’ใ†ใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸ – He sold his car).

39. **ๅ€คๆฎต (ใญใ ใ‚“ – nedan)** – Price
– Example: ใ“ใฎใ‚ทใƒฃใƒ„ใฎๅ€คๆฎตใฏใ„ใใ‚‰ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ (ใ“ใฎใ‚ทใƒฃใƒ„ใฎใญใ ใ‚“ใฏใ„ใใ‚‰ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ – How much is this shirt?).

40. **ๅบ—ๅ“ก (ใฆใ‚“ใ„ใ‚“ – ten’in)** – Shop assistant
– Example: ๅบ—ๅ“กใซ่žใ„ใฆใฟใพใ—ใ‚‡ใ† (ใฆใ‚“ใ„ใ‚“ใซใใ„ใฆใฟใพใ—ใ‚‡ใ† – Letโ€™s ask the shop assistant).

Nature and Weather

41. **ๅคฉๆฐ— (ใฆใ‚“ใ – tenki)** – Weather
– Example: ไปŠๆ—ฅใฎๅคฉๆฐ—ใฏใฉใ†ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ (ใใ‚‡ใ†ใฎใฆใ‚“ใใฏใฉใ†ใงใ™ใ‹๏ผŸ – How is the weather today?).

42. **้›จ (ใ‚ใ‚ – ame)** – Rain
– Example: ้›จใŒ้™ใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ (ใ‚ใ‚ใŒใตใฃใฆใ„ใพใ™ – It is raining).

43. **ๆ™ดใ‚Œ (ใฏใ‚Œ – hare)** – Sunny
– Example: ๆ˜Žๆ—ฅใฏๆ™ดใ‚Œใงใ™ (ใ‚ใ—ใŸใฏใฏใ‚Œใงใ™ – It will be sunny tomorrow).

44. **้ขจ (ใ‹ใœ – kaze)** – Wind
– Example: ้ขจใŒๅผทใ„ใงใ™ (ใ‹ใœใŒใคใ‚ˆใ„ใงใ™ – The wind is strong).

45. **้›ช (ใ‚†ใ – yuki)** – Snow
– Example: ้›ชใŒ้™ใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸ (ใ‚†ใใŒใตใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸ – It snowed).

Food and Drink

46. **ๆ–™็† (ใ‚Šใ‚‡ใ†ใ‚Š – ryouri)** – Cuisine, Cooking
– Example: ๆ—ฅๆœฌๆ–™็†ใŒๅฅฝใใงใ™ (ใซใปใ‚“ใ‚Šใ‚‡ใ†ใ‚ŠใŒใ™ใใงใ™ – I like Japanese cuisine).

47. **ๆžœ็‰ฉ (ใใ ใ‚‚ใฎ – kudamono)** – Fruit
– Example: ใ“ใฎๆžœ็‰ฉใฏ็”˜ใ„ใงใ™ (ใ“ใฎใใ ใ‚‚ใฎใฏใ‚ใพใ„ใงใ™ – This fruit is sweet).

48. **้‡Ž่œ (ใ‚„ใ•ใ„ – yasai)** – Vegetable
– Example: ้‡Ž่œใ‚’้ฃŸในใ‚‹ใฎใŒๅฅฝใใงใ™ (ใ‚„ใ•ใ„ใ‚’ใŸในใ‚‹ใฎใŒใ™ใใงใ™ – I like eating vegetables).

49. **ๆฐด (ใฟใš – mizu)** – Water
– Example: ๆฐดใ‚’ใใ ใ•ใ„ (ใฟใšใ‚’ใใ ใ•ใ„ – Please give me water).

50. **ใŠ่Œถ (ใŠใกใ‚ƒ – ocha)** – Tea
– Example: ใŠ่Œถใ‚’้ฃฒใฟใพใ™ (ใŠใกใ‚ƒใ‚’ใฎใฟใพใ™ – I drink tea).

These 50 words are integral to mastering Japanese at the B1 level. By incorporating them into your daily practice, you will find it easier to understand conversations, read texts, and communicate effectively. Remember, consistent practice and exposure to the language are key to achieving fluency. Happy learning!

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