Reference · 語彙

Vocab

460 words across Lessons 1–8

Introductions

Lesson 1 →

Core 36

"I, me" · pronoun
L01
"you" · used sparingly — usually omitted
L01
"that person" · neutral
L01
"that person" · polite form of あの ひと
L01
"Mr./Ms." · default polite suffix · NEVER on yourself
L01
diminutive · for children, close friends
L01
younger male, classmates
L01
"-person (nationality)" · suffix
L01
"teacher" · honorific · also for doctors, mentors
L01
"teacher" · occupation-neutral
L01
"student"
L01
"company employee"
L01
"employee, staff"
L01
"bank employee"
L01
"doctor"
L01
"researcher"
L01
"engineer" · loanword (katakana)
L01
"university"
L01
"hospital"
L01
"electricity, light"
L01
"how old" · neutral
L01
"how old" · polite
L01
"~ years old" · counter suffix
L01
"yes"
L01
"no"
L01
"who" · polite
L01
"who" · neutral
L01
"from" · particle
L01
"came" · past tense of きます
L01
"this person / this way" · polite
L01
"nice to meet you" · first-meeting greeting
L01
"pleased to meet you"
L01
"please" · formal extension of よろしく
L01
"good morning" · formal
L01
"excuse me, but…"
L01
"what is your name?"
L01

Topic — Adult track 16

"USA" · loanword
L01
"UK"
L01
"India"
L01
"Indonesia"
L01
"South Korea"
L01
"Thailand"
L01
"China"
L01
"Germany"
L01
"Japan"
L01
"Brazil"
L01
"American (person)"
L01
"Japanese (person)"
L01
"Brazilian (person)"
L01
fictional company in the Minna textbook
L01
"Sakura University" · fictional
L01
"Fuji University" · fictional
L01

Things in the Room

Lesson 2 →

Core — Kosoado + question words 19

"this" (thing near me) · stands alone
L02
"that" (thing near you) · stands alone
L02
"that over there" (far from both) · stands alone
L02
"which one" · from a set
L02
"this ~" · always attached to a noun
L02
"that ~" (near listener) · attached to noun
L02
"that ~" (over there) · attached to noun
L02
"which ~" · attached to noun
L02
"what" · なん before です/の; なに otherwise
L02
"who" · neutral
L02
"who" · polite (= だれ but formal)
L02
possessive / connecting particle · "~’s" or "~ of"
L02
"that’s not right / it’s different" · polite refusal
L02
"that’s right / yes that’s so"
L02
"yes, that’s so" · full affirmative
L02
"no, that’s wrong" · full denial
L02
"souvenir" · the gift you bring when visiting
L02
"here you go / please" · when offering something
L02
"thanks / really" · informal thanks
L02

Topic — Print and paper items 8

"book"
L02
"dictionary"
L02
"magazine"
L02
"newspaper"
L02
"notebook" · loanword
L02
"personal organizer / planner"
L02
"business card"
L02
"(credit) card" · loanword
L02

Topic — Writing tools 3

"pencil"
L02
"ballpoint pen" · loanword
L02
"mechanical pencil" · loanword
L02

Topic — Personal items 4

"key"
L02
"watch / clock"
L02
"umbrella"
L02
"bag / briefcase"
L02

Topic — Electronics 5

"CD"
L02
"television" · loanword
L02
"radio" · loanword
L02
"camera" · loanword
L02
"computer" · loanword
L02

Topic — Big things, furniture, food 5

"car"
L02
"desk"
L02
"chair"
L02
"chocolate" · loanword
L02
"coffee" · loanword
L02

Topic — Languages 3

"Japanese (language)"
L02
"English (language)"
L02
"Korean (language)"
L02

Directions

Lesson 3 →

Core — Place kosoado + question words 11

"here" (near me) · place pronoun · stands alone
L03
"there" (near you)
L03
"over there" (far from both)
L03
"where" · question form
L03
polite form of ここ · "this way / here"
L03
polite form of そこ · "that way / there"
L03
polite form of あそこ · "that way over there"
L03
polite form of どこ · also "which country?"
L03
"how much" · price-asking word
L03
yen · currency counter, attaches to number
L03
floor counter · 1=いっかい, 3=さんがい, 6=ろっかい
L03

Topic — Building / office spaces 12

"classroom"
L03
"dining hall / cafeteria"
L03
"office"
L03
"conference room"
L03
"reception desk"
L03
"lobby" · loanword
L03
"room"
L03
"toilet / restroom" · also おてあらい (polite)
L03
"stairs"
L03
"elevator" · loanword
L03
"escalator" · loanword
L03
"vending machine"
L03

Topic — Country, home, telephone 5

"telephone"
L03
"country" · お国 when polite
L03
"company"
L03
"university"
L03
"home / one’s place"
L03

Topic — Shopping items 4

"shoes"
L03
"necktie" · loanword
L03
"wine" · loanword
L03
"~ sales counter" · かばんうりば = bag counter
L03

Topic — Shop set phrases 6

"shop clerk"
L03
welcome (shop staff greeting)
L03
"please show me" · te-form preview (L13)
L03
"please give me ~" · を full grammar L06
L03
"well then" · softer transition word
L03
"excuse me / sorry" · opens shop interactions
L03

Time and Schedules

Lesson 4 →

Core — Verbs (the first six) 6

"get up / wake up" · stem: おき
L04
"sleep / go to bed" · stem: ね
L04
"work" · stem: はたらき
L04
"rest / take a day off / be absent" · stem: やすみ
L04
"study" · する verb (irregular) · stem: べんきょうし
L04
"finish / end" · stem: おわり
L04

Core — Time words 12

"now"
L04
"o’clock" · counter for hours · 4=よじ / 7=しちじ / 9=くじ
L04
"minutes" · two readings depending on number
L04
"half-past" · 9じはん = 9:30
L04
"what time"
L04
"what minute"
L04
"a.m. / morning" · goes BEFORE the hour
L04
"p.m. / afternoon" · goes BEFORE the hour
L04
"from" · range start (particle)
L04
"until / to" · range end (particle)
L04
"at" (time point) · clock/day only — NOT relative time words
L04
"and" (between two nouns) · exhaustive listing
L04

Core — Days of the week 8

"Sunday" · 日 sun
L04
"Monday" · 月 moon
L04
"Tuesday" · 火 fire / Mars
L04
"Wednesday" · 水 water / Mercury
L04
"Thursday" · 木 wood / Jupiter
L04
"Friday" · 金 gold / Venus
L04
"Saturday" · 土 earth / Saturn
L04
"what day of the week"
L04

Core — Day reference (relative time) 15

"day before yesterday"
L04
"yesterday"
L04
"today"
L04
"tomorrow"
L04
"day after tomorrow"
L04
"this morning"
L04
"this evening / tonight"
L04
"morning"
L04
"noon / daytime"
L04
"evening / night"
L04
"every morning"
L04
"every evening"
L04
"every day"
L04
"rest / day off / holiday"
L04
"lunch break"
L04

Topic — Places of work and study 7

"bank"
L04
"post office"
L04
"library"
L04
"department store" · loanword
L04
"art museum"
L04
"hospital"
L04
"shop"
L04

Topic — Events and phone 6

"exam"
L04
"meeting"
L04
"movie"
L04
"phone number"
L04
"what number"
L04
"that’s rough, isn’t it" · sympathy phrase
L04

Movement

Lesson 5 →

Core — Movement verbs 3

"go" (away from speaker) · stem: いき
L05
"come" (toward speaker) · stem: き · irregular reading
L05
"return / go home" · stem: かえり
L05

Core — Particles (new + extended) 5

"to" (direction) · written he, pronounced "e"
L05
"by" (means/transport) · also "with tool" (L07)
L05
"with" (companion) · extends L04 listing と
L05
"on" (specific date) · L04 time に extended
L05
"up to / as far as" · destination boundary
L05

Core — Months 1-12 13

January
L05
February
L05
March
L05
April · **し, not よん** (trap)
L05
May
L05
June
L05
July · **しち, not なな** (trap)
L05
August
L05
September · **く, not きゅう** (trap)
L05
October
L05
November
L05
December
L05
"what month"
L05

Core — Days of the month (irregulars) 14

"the 1st" · irregular
L05
"the 2nd" · irregular
L05
"the 3rd" · irregular
L05
"the 4th" · irregular
L05
"the 5th" · irregular
L05
"the 6th" · irregular
L05
"the 7th" · irregular
L05
"the 8th" · irregular
L05
"the 9th" · irregular
L05
"the 10th" · irregular
L05
"the 14th" · keeps よっか (trap)
L05
"the 20th" · irregular
L05
"the 24th" · keeps よっか (trap)
L05
"what day of the month"
L05

Core — Time periods (week / month / year) 11

"last week"
L05
"this week"
L05
"next week"
L05
"last month" · 月 reads げつ here
L05
"this month"
L05
"next month"
L05
"last year" · IRREGULAR (not せん~)
L05
"this year" · IRREGULAR (not こん~)
L05
"next year"
L05
"~ year" · counter
L05
"what year"
L05

Topic — Transport 10

"train"
L05
"bullet train"
L05
"subway"
L05
"bus" · loanword
L05
"taxi" · loanword
L05
"bicycle"
L05
"airplane"
L05
"ship / boat"
L05
"on foot" · no で · fixed te-form (L13)
L05
"local train" (ordinary, not express)
L05

Topic — Places 11

"station"
L05
"school"
L05
"supermarket" · loanword
L05
Nara · city
L05
Tokyo
L05
Kyoto
L05
Osaka
L05
Kobe
L05
Hiroshima
L05
Hokkaido
L05
Kyushu
L05

Topic — People + misc 12

"person"
L05
"friend"
L05
"he / boyfriend"
L05
"she / girlfriend"
L05
"family"
L05
"alone / by oneself" · uses で not と
L05
"birthday"
L05
"nowhere" · always paired with negative verb
L05
"what platform number"
L05
"day off / holiday" · kanji introduced here
L05
"national holiday"
L05
"you’re welcome" · reply to ありがとう
L05

Daily Activities

Lesson 6 →

Core — Verbs (the eleven) 11

"eat" · stem たべ · G2
L06
"drink" · stem のみ · G1
L06
"smoke / inhale" · with たばこ · stem すい · G1
L06
"watch / see / look at" · stem み · G2
L06
"listen / hear / ask" · stem きき · G1
L06
"read" · stem よみ · G1
L06
"write / draw" · stem かき · G1
L06
"buy" · stem かい · G1
L06
"do" · する verb · G3 (irregular) · stem し
L06
"take a photo" · fixed phrase · とり stem · G1
L06
"meet" · takes に not を · stem あい · G1
L06

Core — New particles + connectors 5

object marker · pronounced "o" not "wo"
L06
"at / in" (LOCATION of action) · NEW use, vs L05 transport で
L06
"together" · + verb in ませんか / ましょう
L06
"and then / after that" · sequences actions, starts the next sentence
L06
"nothing" · + negative verb (を often dropped)
L06

Core — Set phrases 4

"yes, sounds good" · acceptance of invitation
L06
"understood / got it" · acknowledgment
L06
"see you tomorrow then" · parting
L06
"a little / a bit" · softens the next word
L06

Topic — Meals and food 10

"rice / meal"
L06
"breakfast"
L06
"lunch"
L06
"dinner"
L06
"bread" · loanword
L06
"egg"
L06
"meat"
L06
"vegetables"
L06
"fish"
L06
"fruit"
L06

Topic — Drinks 7

"water"
L06
"green tea" · お is honorific prefix
L06
"black tea"
L06
"juice" · loanword
L06
"milk"
L06
"alcohol / sake"
L06
"cigarette" · used with すいます
L06

Topic — Activities and items 9

"letter"
L06
"photo / photograph"
L06
"video" · loanword
L06
"soccer" · loanword
L06
"tennis" · loanword
L06
"movie"
L06
"flower viewing" · cherry-blossom tradition
L06
"homework"
L06
"report" · loanword
L06

Topic — Places and frequency 5

"home"
L06
"garden"
L06
"lobby" · reused from L03
L06
"always"
L06
"sometimes"
L06

Giving and Receiving

Lesson 7 →

Core — Verbs (give/receive/lend/borrow/teach/learn + tools) 10

"give" (to someone else) · stem あげ · G2
L07
"receive" (from someone) · stem もらい · G1
L07
"lend" · stem かし · G1
L07
"borrow" · stem かり · G2
L07
"teach / tell" · stem おしえ · G2
L07
"learn" · stem ならい · G1
L07
"make a phone call" with でんわ を かけます · stem かけ · G2
L07
"cut" · stem きり · G1
L07
"make / produce" · stem つくり · G1
L07
"send" · stem おくり · G1
L07

Core — New particle uses + adverbs 7

"with / using" (means/tool) · THIRD use of で
L07
"in [language]" · special L07 use of で
L07
recipient (give) / source (receive) · L07 extension
L07
"from" (giver source) · alternate for もらいます
L07
"already" · + past-affirmative verb
L07
"not yet" · + present-negative or まだ です
L07
"from now on / about to" · imminent action
L07

Core — Family (humble · about MY family) 15

"(my) father"
L07
"(my) mother"
L07
"(my) grandfather"
L07
"(my) grandmother"
L07
"(my) elder brother"
L07
"(my) elder sister"
L07
"(my) younger brother"
L07
"(my) younger sister"
L07
"(my) parents"
L07
"(my) siblings"
L07
"(my) wife"
L07
"(my) husband"
L07
"(my) child / children"
L07
"(my) son"
L07
"(my) daughter"
L07

Topic — Family (polite · about THEIR family) 11

"(your) father"
L07
"(your) mother"
L07
"(your) elder brother"
L07
"(your) elder sister"
L07
"(your) parents"
L07
"(your) siblings"
L07
"(your) wife"
L07
"(your) husband"
L07
"(your) child"
L07
"(your) son"
L07
"(your) daughter"
L07

Topic — Tools and stationery 12

"chopsticks"
L07
"spoon" · loanword
L07
"knife" · loanword
L07
"fork" · loanword
L07
"scissors"
L07
"stapler" · loanword
L07
"eraser"
L07
"paper"
L07
"scotch tape" · loanword
L07
"personal computer" · loanword
L07
"telephone" · with かけます
L07
"email" · loanword (also でんしメール)
L07

Topic — Gifts, languages, items 12

"New Year’s greeting card"
L07
"Christmas card"
L07
"present" · loanword
L07
"flower"
L07
"shirt" · loanword
L07
"ticket"
L07
"luggage / package"
L07
"English (language)"
L07
"Japanese (language)" · reused L02
L07
"Chinese (language)"
L07
"Spanish (language)"
L07
"Thai (language)"
L07

Topic — Set phrases (home visit script) 7

"welcome" · host greeting (to your home)
L07
"please come in" · inviting guest inside
L07
"excuse me / I’ll intrude" · guest entering
L07
said BEFORE eating/drinking · "I receive"
L07
said AFTER eating · "that was delicious"
L07
"how about ~?" · polite version of どう です か
L07
"(it’s) lovely / wonderful" · na-adj preview (L08)
L07

Adjectives

Lesson 8 →

Core — な-adjectives 10

"beautiful / clean" · feels い but IS na-adj (trap)
L08
"lively / bustling"
L08
"quiet"
L08
"famous" · another い-ending na-adj
L08
"healthy / energetic"
L08
"free / having spare time"
L08
"convenient"
L08
"wonderful / lovely"
L08
"kind"
L08
"handsome" · loanword, treated as na-adj
L08

Core — い-adjectives 17

"tall / expensive"
L08
"cheap"
L08
"big"
L08
"small"
L08
"old" (for things, NOT people)
L08
"new"
L08
"delicious"
L08
"bad-tasting"
L08
"hot" · weather or feeling
L08
"cold" (weather only, not objects)
L08
"cold" (to touch / drink)
L08
"interesting / fun"
L08
"difficult"
L08
"easy / gentle"
L08
"busy"
L08
"enjoyable"
L08
"good" · IRREGULAR — negative is よくない (NOT いくない)
L08

Core — Intensifiers, question words, connectors 6

"very" · ONLY with positive adj
L08
"not very" · MUST pair with negative · polarity-locked
L08
"how is it?" · open impression question
L08
"what kind of ~" · adjective-style question
L08
"but" · connects contrasting clauses (different from が-particle)
L08
"and / and also" · parallel info, new sentence
L08

Topic — Colors (i-adj) 6

"white" · i-adj
L08
"black" · i-adj
L08
"red" · i-adj
L08
"blue / sometimes green" · i-adj
L08
"yellow" · i-adj
L08
"brown" · i-adj
L08

Topic — Colors (noun only — use の to modify) 4

"green" · noun only · use みどり の N
L08
"purple" · noun only
L08
"pink" · loanword noun
L08
"orange" · loanword noun
L08

Topic — Tastes (all i-adj) 7

"sweet"
L08
"spicy"
L08
"bitter"
L08
"salty"
L08
"sour"
L08
"strong" (taste / liquid)
L08
"weak / thin" (taste)
L08

Topic — Seasons 4

"spring" · March-May
L08
"summer" · June-August
L08
"autumn" · September-November
L08
"winter" · December-February
L08

Topic — Places, work, daily life 5

"place"
L08
"dormitory"
L08
"restaurant" · loanword
L08
"daily life"
L08
"work / job" · お is honorific prefix
L08

Topic — Set phrases (home-visit farewell) 6

"how about another cup?" · host re-offering
L08
"I’m fine, thank you" · polite decline (NOT "fine" in English sense)
L08
"I’ll be leaving soon" · guest exit cue
L08
"please come again" · host farewell (one-directional)
L08
"how are you?" · greeting
L08
"well, let me see" · thinking pause
L08