Japanese VocabularyOrganized by Part Of Speech

word

Meaning

Habit

Reading

Kanji

習Learn 慣Accustomed

Explanation

The Japanese noun '習慣 (しゅうかん)' means 'habit'. It refers to a regular practice or routine that a person or group follows, often unconsciously. This word can be used to describe personal habits, cultural practices, or societal norms. For example: It's important to have good habits「良い習慣を持つことが大切です」(よいしゅうかんをもつことがたいせつです). His habit of waking up early is impressive「彼の早起きの習慣は素晴らしい」(かれのはやおきのしゅうかんはすばらしい). The word can also refer to customs or traditions, as in 'cultural habits'「文化の習慣」(ぶんかのしゅうかん).

Part Of Speech

none

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

909

Composition

kanji

Handwriting

word

Meaning

Enter, Rise

Reading

Kanji

上Up

Explanation

The Japanese verb '上がる (あがる)' has two primary meanings. The first is 'to rise' or 'to go up,' which can refer to physical movement, such as climbing stairs, or abstract concepts, like prices increasing. For example: the sun rises「太陽が上がる」(たいようがあがる). The second meaning is 'to enter,' often used when entering a house or building, particularly in the context of removing shoes before stepping up into a home. For example: please come in「どうぞ上がってください」(どうぞあがってください). The verb is versatile and context-dependent, so understanding the situation is key to interpreting its meaning correctly.

Part Of Speech

none

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

2340

Composition

kanji-hiragana

Handwriting

word

Meaning

Actually

Reading

Kanji

実Fruit, Truth

Explanation

The Japanese word '実は (じつは)' is an adverb that means 'actually' or 'in fact'. It is often used to introduce a statement that may be surprising or contrary to what the listener might expect. This word is commonly used in both casual and formal conversations to reveal something that was previously unknown or to correct a misunderstanding. For example: Actually, I don't like sushi「実は、寿司が好きじゃない」(じつは、すしがすきじゃない). In fact, I already knew about it「実は、もう知っていました」(じつは、もうしっていました). The word '実は' can also be used to soften the delivery of bad news or to prepare the listener for an unexpected revelation.

Part Of Speech

none

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

3117

Composition

kanji-hiragana

Handwriting