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Japanese Versatility List

Stage 1

Greet, thank and apologise, ask what, who and where, and say what you do, have and where you're going today or did yesterday, linked with but and because.

115 items in 26 chunks. Each chunk is a short page: start with the first, Yes and no, and use Next at the bottom of each page.

  1. 1Yes and noResponses, reactions, fillers & social phrasesun, uun, iya
  2. 2Thanks, sorry, pleaseResponses, reactions, fillers & social phrasesarigatou, gomen, sumimasen, onegai, douzo, kochira koso
  3. 3this/that: thingsPointing, question & people wordskore, sore, are, dore
  4. 4Basic endersSentence endings & intentda, ka, ne, yo, yo ne
  5. 5Good or no goodVersatile adjectivesii, daijoubu, dame, warui
  6. 6Question wordsPointing, question & people wordsnani, dare, itsu, nande, ikura
  7. 7Hello and goodbyeResponses, reactions, fillers & social phrasesohayou, konnichiwa, jaa ne, hajimemashite, yoroshiku, moshimoshi
  8. 8Phrases for occasionsResponses, reactions, fillers & social phrasesitadakimasu, gochisousama, oyasumi, otsukare, hisashiburi, ki o tsukete
  9. 9Now and nearby daysTime & sequenceima, kyou, ashita, kinou
  10. 10this/that: placesPointing, question & people wordskoko, doko, soko, asoko
  11. 11ButConnectors & conditionalsdemo, -kedo, -noni
  12. 12Because / soConnectors & conditionals-kara, -node, dakara, datte, -shi
  13. 13And thenConnectors & conditionals-te, de, jaa, ato
  14. 14Past, negative, linkingGrammar patterns as vocabulary-ta, -nai, -katta / -datta, -kunai / -ja nai, -kute / -de
  15. 15Doing and doneGrammar patterns as vocabulary-teru, -te miru, -chau, -toku
  16. 16Be, have, liveGeneral verbsaru, iru, motsu, sumu
  17. 17Do, can, become, changeGeneral verbssuru, yaru, dekiru, naru, kawaru
  18. 18Coming and goingGeneral verbsiku, kuru, kaeru, modoru, deru, hairu
  19. 19this/that + nounPointing, question & people wordskono, sono, ano, dono
  20. 20PeoplePointing, question & people wordswatashi, -san, minna, jibun
  21. 21Me, us, homePointing, question & people wordsboku, -tachi, uchi
  22. 22A bit / moreDegree, amount & limitschotto, sukoshi, motto, mou chotto
  23. 23Already, still, finallyTime & sequencemou, mada, zutto, yatto
  24. 24Really / veryDegree, amount & limitssugoku, honto ni, kekkou, kanari, metcha
  25. 25Explaining: n daSentence endings & intentn da, no?, n da kedo, wake da
  26. 26Thinking aloudSentence endings & intentnaa, kana, kke, tte kanji

Collocations

Noun and verb sets to learn alongside this stage: 101 sets in 22 chunks.

  1. Rain and snowWeather & natureame ga furu, yuki ga furu, ame ga yamu, kasa o sasu, ame ni furareru
  2. Hungry, full, thirstyBody & healthonaka ga suku, onaka ga ippai, nodo ga kawaku, onaka ga heru
  3. Out and backHome & daily routineuchi ni kaeru, uchi o deru, soto ni deru, kaimono ni iku, kaeri ga osoi
  4. Looks and voiceDescribing peoplese ga takai, se ga hikui, koe ga ookii, kami ga nagai, sutairu ga ii
  5. Getting on and offGetting arounddensha ni noru, basu ni noru, kuruma ni noru, densha o oriru, jitensha ni noru
  6. School and work daysWork & schoolgakkou ni iku, shigoto ni iku, shigoto ga owaru, shigoto ga isogashii
  7. Feels good or badSenses & mindkimochi ga ii, kimochi ga warui, kibun ga ii, kigen ga warui, igokochi ga ii
  8. Read, watch, sing, drawHobbies, sport & gameshon o yomu, eiga o miru, uta o utau, e o kaku
  9. Talking to peoplePeople & talkhanashi o suru, hanashi o kiku, hanashi ga aru, hanashi ga nagai
  10. No time, no moneyTime, money & plansjikan ga nai, hima ga nai, okane ga nai, okane ga tarinai, yoyuu ga nai
  11. Weather and windWeather & naturetenki ga ii, kaze ga tsuyoi, ame ga tsuyoi, kaze ga fuku, kaze ni ataru
  12. Washing and groomingBody & healthte o arau, kao o arau, kami o arau, kami o kiru, tsume o kiru
  13. BathroomHome & daily routinetoire ni iku, shawaa o abiru, ofuro ni hairu, ha o migaku, hige o soru
  14. Smart and skilledDescribing peopleatama ga ii, nihongo ga jouzu, shigoto ga dekiru, sensu ga ii
  15. Going out for funHobbies, sport & gamesasobi ni iku, eiga ni iku, sanpo ni iku, karaoke ni iku
  16. Questions and learningWork & schoolshitsumon ga aru, shitsumon ni kotaeru, eigo o hanasu, benkyou ni naru
  17. Aches and painsBody & healthatama ga itai, onaka ga itai, nodo ga itai, koshi ga itai, kata ga koru
  18. Making friendsPeople & talktomodachi ga dekiru, tomodachi ni naru, namae o oshieru, koe o kakeru, deai ga aru
  19. Play and lessonsHobbies, sport & gamesgeemu o suru, sakkaa o suru, piano o hiku, piano o narau
  20. Feeling unwellBody & healthguai ga warui, taichou ga warui, choushi ga warui, choushi ga ii, kibun ga warui
  21. What's onWork & schooljugyou ga aru, kaigi ga aru, shiken ga aru, shigoto ga hairu, enki ni naru
  22. Luck and helpDescribing peopleun ga ii, un ga warui, yaku ni tatsu, tame ni naru

Idioms

Idioms to learn alongside this stage: 90 idioms in 21 chunks.

  1. Enough alreadyFeelings & temperii kagen ni shite, kanben shite, joudan ja nai, katte ni shite, ni mo hodo ga aru
  2. Lending a handGetting on with peoplete o kasu, chikara ni naru, chikara o kasu, chikara o awaseru
  3. Giving it everythingEffort, ease & difficultyisshou kenmei, nani ga nandemo, kiai o ireru, shinu ki de
  4. Kind or nastyWhat people are likeki ga kiku, hito ga ii, tachi ga warui, hito ga warui
  5. Having an ideaNoticing & the mindkokoroatari ga aru, kentou mo tsukanai, hyaku mo shouchi
  6. Gains and windfallsLuck, trouble & outcomeste ni ireru, te ni hairu, isseki nichou, negatte mo nai, tanabota
  7. Saying itTalking & listeningkuchi ni suru, iu made mo nai, kuchi ni dasu
  8. Getting angryFeelings & temperhara ga tatsu, atama ni kuru, ki ni kuwanai, katto naru, munakuso warui, kachin to kuru
  9. Dealing with peopleGetting on with peopleiu koto o kiku, aite ni suru, kuchi o kiku, ate ni suru
  10. Work and breaksEffort, ease & difficultyyama hodo aru, hitoiki tsuku, kiri ga nai, kiri ga ii
  11. Talk and secretsWhat people are likekuchi dake, kuchi ga katai, kuchi ga warui, kuchi ga karui, kuchi ga umai
  12. Eyes on itNoticing & the mindme o hanasu, me o tsukeru, me ni tsuku, kugizuke ni naru, me o hikaraseru
  13. A rough timeLuck, trouble & outcomeshidoi me ni au, itai me ni au, share ni naranai, ma ga warui, fundari kettari
  14. HearingTalking & listeningmimi ni suru, mimi o kasu, mimi ni hairu, komimi ni hasamu
  15. In the moodFeelings & temperki ga kawaru, ki ga susumanai, ki ga noranai, ki ga muku, ki ga hikeru
  16. Butting inGetting on with peoplete o dasu, kuchi o dasu, yokei na osewa, kubi o tsukkomu
  17. Smart or crazyWhat people are likeatama ga okashii, atama ga kireru, atama no kaiten ga hayai, nomikomi ga hayai
  18. Doesn't add upNoticing & the mindwake ga wakaranai, suji ga tooru, tsujitsuma ga awanai, nani ga nan da ka wakaranai, fu ni ochinai
  19. Out of a jobLuck, trouble & outcomeskubi ni naru, kubi ni suru, ashi o arau
  20. About the talkTalking & listeninghanashi ga chigau, hanashi ni naranai, hanashi wa betsu, hanashi ga hayai
  21. Owing favoursGetting on with peoplekari ga aru, okotoba ni amaete, isshou no onegai, on ni kiru