Free Japanese resources
Vocabulary
Learn words through frequency rather than random lists. Download the original KANJI-Link workbook, then use the notes to understand how its different sheets are organized.
01 · Vocabulary list Download the workbook and start practising
This workbook is based on the remarkable frequency research of Matsushita Tatsuhiko, who analysed a very large collection of books and websites to compile data on the words most frequently used in Japanese.
Original KANJI-Link resource
Japanese vocabulary frequency list
The workbook is divided into sheets by word type and ordered by frequency rank.
How to use it
- 1
Download the file. Start with the complete list or choose a sheet that matches what you want to practise.
- 2
Look up each item. Find the translation in a dictionary and write it in the workbook.
- 3
Create a sample sentence. Use each word in context so that you learn more than an isolated translation.
Before you start: open the notes below. They explain a few important details about the workbook and its categories.
02 · Notes about the list What each workbook sheet contains
The complete list
This list, like the other sheets, is sorted by frequency rank.
Verbs
Probably one of the most useful sheets. Unsurprisingly, the most frequently used verb in Japanese is する (suru, “to do”).
Note: The sheet also includes verbs that are often used as grammatical tools. For example, しまう can follow a verb in the TE form to express completion and, depending on context, regret or an unintended result. This helps explain why some verbs rank highly even when they are less common on their own.
Nouns
Another important sheet.
Note: It includes numbers, the names of some historical figures and country names.
Adjectives (-i) & “Adjectival nouns”
Adjectives describe things, people and situations — for example “good”, “tall”, “big” or “bad”. Japanese commonly distinguishes i-adjectives and na-adjectives.
Note: There is no separate “na-adjectives” sheet in this file. They are included under “Adjectival nouns”.
Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs or groups of words — for example “immediately”, “completely”, “quite” or “very”.
Conjunctions
They connect words and sentences — for example “and”, “but” or “or”.
Pronouns
They replace a noun — for example “I”, “you”, “it” or “there”.
Note: This sheet also includes question words such as “what”, “who” and “when”.
Determiners
Determiners are small words placed before a noun to specify it — for example “this kind of…”, “that…” or “which…”.
Note: They are used together with a noun.
Particles
Particles are short words that indicate the function of the preceding element in a sentence: subject, location, time and so on.
Auxiliaries
Most are attached to verbs to express tense, negation, politeness and other grammatical information.
Note: The sheet also contains auxiliaries used mainly in classical Japanese (り、なり、たり、じ、けり、らむ…) and some used in dialects (はる、へん、ねん…).
Prefixes
Elements placed at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning — for example “un-” in “unhappy” or “pre-” in “preview”.
Suffixes
Elements placed at the end of a word to modify its meaning — for example “-al”, “-ize” or “-tion”.
Interjections
They express reactions or emotions — for example “ah”, “oh” or “er”.
Note: This sheet also includes common expressions such as “Hi!” and “Thanks!”.