Basic Japanese Words for Indian Students
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Basic Japanese Words for Indian Students

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Raj
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Updated on Sep 10, 2025 16:03 IST

Learn Basic Japanese words with meanings for day to day use to communicate with locals while working or studying in Japan. This beginner friendly guide will help you to use popular words in the Japanese language to remove the language barrier.

Basic Japanese words with meaning

So you want to learn Japanese words to achieve career objectives. Whether you are planning to study in Japan or work with Japanese people, learning some basic Japanese words can be a real game-changer decision for you. It will not only help you to communicate but also it will add value to your profile that you speak a global language other than English.

Japanese is the national language of Japan which is one of the widely spoken languages worldwide. More than 128 million people around the globe use Japanese as their native language. This blog will help you to learn basic Japanese words and their meaning. These popular and basic Japanese words will be helpful for Indian students in day-to-day life.

Table of content
  • Basic Japanese Words to Learn for International Students
  • Benefits of Learning Basic Japanese Words
  • 10 Beautiful Japanese Words with Meaning
  • Popular Japanese Words for Getting Around in Japan
  • Japanese Words to Introduce Yourself as a Student.
  • FAQs Related to Japanese Words

Basic Japanese Words to Learn for International Students

Here, to help Indian students, we have mentioned beginner-level Japanese words with meaning in the English language.

Basic Japanese Words Pronunciation

English Meaning

Kon-ni-chi-wa

Hello (Good afternoon)

O-ha-you go-zai-ma-su

Good morning

Kon-ban-wa

Good evening

Sa-yo-na-ra

Goodbye (formal)

A-ri-ga-tou go-zai-ma-su

Thank you (formal)

Dō-zo

Please (offering something)

Sumi-ma-sen

Excuse me (apology)

Hi

Yes

I-i-e

No

One-gai-shi-ma-su

Please (request)

Doko desu ka?

Where is it?

Ikura desu ka?

How much is it?

Gaisha desu ka?

Are you a student? (Change to "gakusei desu ka?" for student)

Toire wa doko desu ka?

Where is the restroom?

Watashi no namae wa [Your name] desu

My name is [Your name].

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu

Please take care of me.

Hajimemashite

Nice to meet you (first meeting)

A-ri-ga-tou

Thank you (informal)

Sumi-ma-sen

Excuse me (informal)

Kawaii

Cute

Oishii

Delicious

Kirei

Beautiful

Onegai

Please (informal)

Hi

Yes (informal)

I-i-e

No (informal)

Ai-shi-te-ru

I Love You

10 Japanese Words to Learn For University Students

Here are some important words that every international student should know, if they want to study in Japan:

Japanese Words for Students English Meaning
Hon Book
Daigaku University
Gakusei Student
Sensei Teacher
Kyampasu Campus
Kyoushitsu Classroom
Shokudo Cafeteria
Gakusei ryō Dormitory
Shiken Exam
Chikoku shimashita I'm late

How Do You Write Numbers in Japanese (1 to 10)?

In English, it is easy to count numbers. Learn let's learn to count numbers in Japanese? Learning this is important for communication. No matter whether you are in Japan as a student, worker, or tourist. No matter your purpose, mastering Japanese numbers will surely help you. 

Number Romaji (Pronunciation)
1 Ichi
2 Ni
3 San
4 Shi / Yon
5 Go
6 Roku
7 Shichi / Nana
8 Hachi
9 Ku / Kyuu
10 Juu

Benefits of Learning Basic Japanese Words

Japan is renowned not only for its top-ranked Japanese universities and the quality education they offer but also for its attractive career opportunities. The Japanese government actively working to attract international students to study and work in Japan to contribute to the nation's workforce. Learning beautiful Japanese words will be helpful for Indian students who are planning to study in Japan or settle in a Japanese city.

Here's why learning basic Japanese words with meaning is a fantastic idea for Indian students going to Japan:

  • Removing Communication Barrier- Learning Japanese will help you to break the ice with local people around you. You can use words like “お元気ですか” (o genki desu ka) which means How Are You in Japanese.
  • More Job Opportunities- Japanese is one of the toughest languages in the world. By just knowing some Japanese words, you are eligible to approach native Japanese speakers which can help you to get jobs in Japan. People should learn Japanese language to explore the Japanese job market.
  • Making New Japanese Friends- It is always good to have a local friend if you are going to study abroad. They can help you understand the new culture of Japan.
  • Helpful in Study- You are in Japan for your studies. You will face many cases where you need to participate in class discussions or understand the words of professors. Here, learning the meaning of Japanese words in English will be helpful for you.

Importance of Learning Japanese For Indian Students

Learn different Japanese words so that you can communicate easily. Japanese people talk in respectful and polite way to others. So, try not to use Japanese bad words while studying there. Instead of using Japanese bad words, you can use these basic words in the Japanese language to express your feelings.

  • To show disagreement in Japanese, Say "So de wa nai to omoimasu" which means "I don't think so"
  • To tell someone, I am in trouble in Japanese, say "Fuben desu".
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10 Beautiful Japanese Words with Meaning

Here we have mentioned some beautiful Japanese words with English meaning to express different emotions and expressions.

Japanese Word Meaning in English
Akogare The meaning of this Japanese word is inspiration or adoration.
Gussuri The English Meaning of Gussuri is sound sleep or fast sleep.
Hinode The meaning of this Japanese word is Sunrise.
Ikigai The meaning of Ikigai is " A Reason for Being".
Kyōryokuna When you want to say “Powerful in Japanese, say Kyōryokuna.
Kyoudai This Japanese word means Siblings.
Natsukashii The meaning of this Japanese word is Nostalgic.
Otsukare The Japanese meaning of this word is “Good Job”.
Renai Renai is a Japanese word used to describe feelings of romantic love.
Ryoushin A Person's parents are referred to as Ryoushin in Japanese.

Popular Japanese Words for Getting Around in Japan

No matter if you are a tourist or a student in Japan, knowing some basic Japanese words when you are in a public place will be helpful. You can use these words to ask for directions or help.

For Asking General Directions

Japanese Word

English Meaning

Migi

Right

Hidari

Left

Mae

Straight ahead

Ushiro

Back

Transportation

Eki 

Station

Densha

Train

Basu

Bus

Chikatetsu

Subway

Shinkansen

Bullet train (high-speed train)

Noriba

Platform (where you board)

Oriba

Exit (where you disembark)

Kippu

Ticket

Kisha

Train (more general term)

Asking for Help

Sumimasen

Excuse me

Doko desu ka?

Where is it?

Sumimasen, dochira desu ka?

Excuse me, which way is it? (more polite)

Kudasai

Please (when requesting something)







Japanese Words to Introduce Yourself as a Student.

You are an Indian student in Japan. Here are some popular Japanese words to introduce yourself in Japanese.

English Romaji
Hi Konnichiwa
Nice to Meet You Hajimemashite
My Name is Watashi no namae wa [Your Name] desu
What is Your Name? Anata no onamae wa nan desu ka?
I Came from India Indo kara kimashita
I am Indian Indojin desu
I am a Student Here in Japan Nihon de gakusei desu

That’s all about the topic. We hope that you have learnt some beautiful and cute Japanese words with their meaning in the English language. These words will be helpful for you when you are communicating with the Japanese people. 

If you wish to study in Japan and are looking for guidance, then hit the link to get Shiksha Counselling Services for free. Also, you can drop your queries in the comments section below.

FAQs Related to Japanese Words

Q:   How much does University of Tokyo cost for international students?
A:

The Tokyo University cost for Indian students enrolled in higher studies at Uni of Tokyo is: ¥642,960 (INR 3.8 L) per year for undergraduate, ¥520,800-¥535,800 (INR 3.1 L-INR 3.17 L) per year for graduate and ¥804,000 (INR 4.76 L) per year for School of Law students.

Note: These are only tuition costs, and students may also incure some additional costs such as admisisons fees, books and supplies, and some other costs. Refer the University of Tokyo Fees section, for the same. 

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About the Author
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Written by
Raj Vimal
Assistant Manager Editorial
Hi, I am Raj. I help Indian students figure out study abroad without the confusion. For 8+ years, mostly in Ed-Tech, I have written about the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. I cover what peo Read Full Bio
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