Core words: Stage 2

331 words that come up in most chats; half of them rank in the top 1,812 of spoken Japanese.

331 words in 80 chunks, learned alongside Stage 2 of the main list. Start with Walking and running and use Next at the bottom of each page.

1. 1Walking and runningVerbs: movingaruku walkisogu hurryhashiru runtobu fly; jump
2. 2Taking people alongVerbs: movingtsureru have someone with you; take or bring someone alongmukae ni kuru come to pick (someone) uptsurete kuru bring (a person or pet)tsurete iku take (a person or pet) somewhere
3. 3Laugh, sing, dance, kissVerbs: the bodywarau laugh; smileutau singodoru dancekisu suru kissnameru lick; look down on, underestimate
4. 4Sick daysVerbs: the bodyyasumu rest, take a break; take time off (school, work)naoru get better, healkaze hiku catch a coldnaosu cure; get over (an illness)
5. 5Falls and bumpsVerbs: the bodynureru get wettaoreru collapse; fall over, topplekorobu trip, fall overbutsukeru bump, bang (something) into; hit
6. 6Sleep habitsVerbs: home and routinenebou suru oversleephirune suru take a naphayaoki suru get up earlyyofukashi suru stay up late
7. 7Owning upVerbs: talkingayamaru apologisemitomeru admit; accept; approvehakkiri iu say it straight; be frank
8. 8Read, write, explainVerbs: talkingkaku writeyomu readsetsumei suru explainosowaru be taught; learn (from someone)
9. 9Chatting and going quietVerbs: talkingshaberu talk, chat; speak (a language)damaru go quiet; shut up; keep (something) quietaisatsu suru greet; say hello; give a short speechhanashikakeru talk to; start a conversation with
10. 10Praise and telling offVerbs: talkinghomeru praise; complimentchuui suru warn; tell off; watch outsekkyou suru lecture; tell off at lengthjiman suru boast, show off; be proud of
11. 11Believe, feel, imagineVerbs: thinking and feelingshinjiru believe; trustkanjiru feel; sensesouzou suru imagine
12. 12Glad, surprised, calmVerbs: thinking and feelingochitsuku calm down; settle down; feel at homeyorokobu be glad, be delightedodoroku be surprised; be shockedtanoshimu enjoy; have fun
13. 13Sticking with thingsVerbs: thinking and feelingtsuzukeru keep doing, continueakiru get tired of, get bored ofkodawaru be particular about, insist onhansei suru reflect on one's mistakes, be sorry
14. 14Helping outVerbs: dealing with peopletasukeru help; save, rescuetasukaru be a big help; be savedouen suru support; cheer onkyouryoku suru cooperate, work together; help outsapooto suru support, back up
15. 15Keeping people close or awayVerbs: dealing with peoplekakawaru get involved with; have to do withkirau dislike, hatesakeru avoid; dodgekamau pay attention to, fuss over; mindhoutte oku leave alone, let be
16. 16Leaving it to someoneVerbs: dealing with peoplemakaseru leave (something) to someone; entrustomakase leaving it to someone; chef's choicetayoru rely on, depend on, count onsuki ni suru do as you like
17. 17Trust and respectVerbs: dealing with peopleshin'you suru trust, believe; creditshinrai suru trust, rely onsonkei suru respect, look up toakogareru look up to, admire; long for
18. 18Parties and groupsVerbs: dealing with peoplesanka suru take part, joinsawagu make noise; make a fussmedatsu stand out, be noticeablekaisan suru break up (a group); call it a day
19. 19Choose and decideVerbs: change, start and enderabu choose; pickkimaru be decided; be setkettei decision; settled, finalhenkou suru change (plans, bookings, settings)
20. 20Grow, change, go backVerbs: change, start and endmoto ni modoru go back to normal; go back to how it wasnobiru grow (hair, nails); stretch; improve; go soggy (noodles)nobasu grow (hair); stretch; extend; put offhenka change; variation
21. 21How it turned outVerbs: effort and resultsumaku iku go well; work outshippai suru fail; mess upseikou suru succeed; workkansei suru be finished; be completedgoukaku suru pass (an exam or test)
22. 22Trying and aiming highVerbs: effort and resultsmezasu aim for; head forshoubu match; contest; showdowndoryoku suru make an effort; work hardtamesu try out; testchousen suru take on (a challenge); have a go at
23. 23Luck and doing wellVerbs: effort and resultsikeru be doable; be pretty goodtsuiteru be luckyureru sell (well); be popularateru guess right; hitkatsuyaku suru do well; play an active part
24. 24Work and school habitsVerbs: effort and resultschikoku suru be late (for school, work, a meeting)saboru skip (class, work); slack offtsutomeru work for (a company)
25. 25Danger and escapeVerbs: trouble and conflictnigeru run away; escapekorosu killmakikomu drag into; get someone involvedme ni au go through (something bad); have a bad time
26. 26Fights and frictionVerbs: trouble and conflictkenka suru fight; arguemomeru argue; have a row; be in disputeijimeru bully; pick onteikou reluctance; resistance
27. 27Born and growing upVerbs: life and livingumu give birth (to); have (a baby)sodatsu grow up; be raisedseichou suru grow; mature
28. 28Who someone is to youPeoplesensei teacher; doctorsenpai senior (at school or work)shiriai acquaintance; someone you knownakama friends; teammates; companionszen'in everyone; all members
29. 29Friends and rivalsPeoplemikata ally; someone on your sideyuujin friendshin'yuu best friend; close friendraibaru rival
30. 30Partners and cheatingPeoplekareshi boyfriendkoibito boyfriend or girlfriend; partneruwaki cheating (on a partner)furin affair (involving a married person)dokushin single; unmarried
31. 31Types of peoplePeoplebijin beautiful womanikemen good-looking guy; handsometensai geniusshirouto amateur; non-expertokanemochi rich person; rich
32. 32School stagesPeopleshougakusei elementary school kidchuugakusei junior high school studentkoukousei high school studentdaigakusei university student; college student
33. 33Life and livingLife and timejinsei life (your whole life)seikatsu daily life; livingchansu chance; opportunitykurou hardship; trouble; effortomoide memory (of an experience)
34. 34Moments and nowadaysLife and timeisshun a moment; an instant; for a secondimagoro about now; by now; this latesakihodo a little while ago; earlierimadoki nowadays; these days
35. 35Dreams and realityLife and timegenjitsu reality; real lifekamisama God; a godrisou ideal; the perfect (version)kiseki miracle
36. 36Before, during, last timeLife and timetochuu on the way; in the middle (of)zenkai last time; the previous onechokuzen just before; right beforetoujitsu on the day; the day itself
37. 37Special occasionsLife and timehatsu first (ever)shiki ceremony; weddingkinen commemoration; keepsake; to mark the occasion
38. 38Effort and attitudeMind and feelingshonki serious; for real; seriouslytaido attitude; manner; behavioryuuki courage; nervezenryoku all-out effort; everything you've gotpuraido pride; self-respect
39. 39Relationships and boundariesReasons and situationskankei relationship; connectionkankei nai has nothing to do with; doesn't matterjiyuu free; freedompuraibeeto private life; personal time; private
40. 40Right, wrong, oppositeReasons and situationsmachigai mistake, errorgyaku the opposite; the other way round, reversehantai against, opposition; oppositeseikai right answer; right choice
41. 41Cause and effectReasons and situationsgen'in causekikkake what got it started; trigger; chanceeikyou influence, effectkouka effect; result (of a remedy or effort)
42. 42Impressions and behaviourReasons and situationsimeeji impression; picture in your mindkoudou action; behaviouratsukai treatment (of a person); handlingnazo mystery; puzzleshigeki stimulus; inspiration, a push; irritation
43. 43How things unfoldReasons and situationsnagare how things went; flow; the course of eventstenkai turn of events; how a story developsketsuron conclusion; the bottom linedankai stage; step; phase
44. 44Worth and purposeReasons and situationsimi ga nai pointless; no use; makes no senseimi ga aru there's a point; worth it, meaningfulyou ga aru have something to do; want someone for somethingkachi value; worth
45. 45Replies and reactionsTalk and informationhenji reply, answerhenshin reply (to a text or email)hannou reaction, response
46. 46Chatting and topicsTalk and informationoshaberi chatting, chit-chat; chatterboxkaiwa conversationneta something to talk about; material, a jokewadai topic (of conversation)
47. 47Meals and foodFood and drinkgohan meal; cooked riceshokuji meal; eatingmeshi meal; foodtabemono foodnomimono drink; something to drink
48. 48Meat, fish and vegetablesFood and drinkniku meatsakana fishyasai vegetableskudamono fruit
49. 49Work hours and time offWork and schoolkyuukei a break; restzangyou overtime (work)tsuukin commuting to work; the commuteyuukyuu paid leave; paid time offrenkyuu days off in a row; long weekend
50. 50Feeling unwellHealthchoushi condition; how things are goingnetsu fever, temperature; heatkaze a coldguai how you feel (health); condition; how something worksnebusoku lack of sleep; not getting enough sleep
51. 51Staying healthyHealthkenkou healthundou exercise; physical activitydaietto diet (to lose weight)taijuu body weightkenkou shindan health check-up; medical check-up
52. 52Dates and nights outGetting arounddeeto date (romantic)nomikai drinking party; night out drinkingpaatii partybaa bar
53. 53Celebrations and eventsGetting aroundoiwai celebration; congratulatory giftkekkonshiki weddingibento event
54. 54Walks and holidaysFree time and techsanpo walk; strollnatsuyasumi summer holidays; summer breakhanami cherry-blossom viewing (party)
55. 55Phone and messagesFree time and techsumaho smartphone; phonerain LINE (messaging app); a LINE message; lineapuri appkidoku read (message receipt); 'seen'sukusho screenshot
56. 56That thing, copying, impulseThings, kinds and amountsrei no that (you know the one); the usualmane suru copy; imitate; do an impression ofikioi momentum; force; energyoni ogre; demon; a harsh, relentless person; 'it' in tag
57. 57Odd, open, quietAdjectives: peoplekawatteru odd; unusual; quirkysunao open; honest; obedient; straightforwardotonashii quiet; well-behaved; gentle
58. 58Pushy and cockyAdjectives: peopleshitsukoi annoyingly persistent; won't let it go; (food) too richerasou bossy; full of yourself; acting superioroogesa exaggerated; over the top; overreactingnamaiki cheeky; cocky; mouthygouin pushy; forceful; high-handed
59. 59Heavy, light, old, coldAdjectives: things and situationsomoi heavy; serious, gravekarui light (weight); light, minorfurui old (things); out of datetsumetai cold (to touch); cold, unfriendly
60. 60Distance and spaceAdjectives: things and situationschikai near, closetooi far, distanthiroi spacious, roomy; widesemai small, cramped; narrowdekai huge, big
61. 61Easy, handy, in the wayAdjectives: things and situationsjama in the way; a nuisanceraku easy, no effort; comfortablechoudo ii just right; good timingbenri convenient, handy
62. 62Describing a roomAdjectives: things and situationsurusai noisy, loud; annoying; fussyshizuka quiet, calmakarui bright, well-lit; cheerfulkitanai dirty, messy; dirty, unfairkusai smelly, stinky; fishy, suspicious
63. 63Right and obviousAdjectives: things and situationsatarimae obvious, natural; of coursetadashii correct, rightkakujitsu certain, sure; reliablematomo decent, proper; sane, sensibleakiraka obvious, clear
64. 64Flashy or plainAdjectives: things and situationshade flashy, loud, showyjimi plain, low-key; dullfukuzatsu complicated, complextanjun simple; simple-mindedshinpuru simple, clean (in a good way)
65. 65Quick gut reactionsAdjectives: things and situationskimoi gross; creepyumai tasty; good at, skilfulnurui lukewarm; tepid
66. 66Definitely, no matter whatAdverbs: manner and certaintykanarazu without fail; always; for suredoushitemo no matter what; really; just can'tmachigai nai no doubt about it; definitely; a sure betzehi by all means; definitely; I'd love to
67. 67As expected or notAdverbs: manner and certaintymarude just like; as if; (not) at allsasuga ni understandably; even so; as you'd expectmasa ni exactly; precisely; trulyangai surprisingly; more than expected
68. 68Of course, actually, apparentlyAdverbs: manner and certaintytouzen natural; only to be expected; of coursejissai actually; in reality; in practicedouyara apparently; it seemszannen nagara unfortunately; regrettably
69. 69Sooner or laterAdverbs: manner and certaintysono uchi one of these days; sooner or later; soonitsu made mo forever; for as long as; endlesslyizure sooner or later; someday; eventuallyima no uchi while you can; now, before it's too late
70. 70On purpose or forcedAdverbs: manner and certaintywazawaza going out of your way; all the way; speciallywazato on purpose; deliberatelymuriyari by force; against someone's willaete deliberately; dare to; choose to
71. 71By chanceAdverbs: manner and certaintyguuzen by chance; coincidencetamatama by chance; happened tomangaichi if by some chance; in the unlikely eventhyotto shite by any chance; maybe
72. 72Grumbles and hasslesAdverbs: manner and certaintyichiichi every single time; one by oneimasara now (when it's too late); after all this timeyayakoshii complicated; confusingfuben inconvenient
73. 73Giving it everythingAdverbs: manner and certaintyseiippai as hard as you can; your very bestomoikkiri with all your might; to your heart's contentotagai each other; both of usdou ni ka somehow; one way or anothertekkiri I was sure (but wrong); I just assumed
74. 74Quite a lotDegree wordsdaibu a lot; much; considerablysukkari completely; totallysoutou considerably; seriously; worth (after an amount)yoppodo (must be) really; much more
75. 75Enough and completeDegree wordsjuubun enough; plenty; fullyhobo almost; nearly; pretty muchkanzen complete; perfect; (kanzen ni) completelytappuri plenty; lots; generously
76. 76Asking how muchDegree wordsdore gurai how much; how long; how manydore dake how much; how fardonna ni no matter how; how (very) much
77. 77Just rightSound and feeling wordspittari exactly; a perfect fit; just rightbatchiri perfect; all set; nailed itsukkiri suru feel refreshed; feel better; look neat
78. 78Lazing and wanderingSound and feeling wordsgorogoro lazing around; rumblingdaradara lazily; dragging onurouro hanging around; wandering aimlesslyburabura strolling around; idling
79. 79Reasons and conclusionsConnectorssomosomo in the first place; to begin withtte koto wa so that meansdakara koso that's exactly whysore koso that's exactly it; literally, practically
80. 80Adding and choosingConnectorsshikamo and what's more; on top of thatsore to mo or (else)sore ni besides; on top of thatsore to and also; oh, and