This random Japanese word generator deals everyday nouns, verbs, adjectives, greetings and time words. Each card shows the word as it is written, then its reading in kana and in Latin letters; the meaning waits under a cover.
Read the full guide
Read it, say it, then tap
Press Pick 5 new Japanese words. Read each word aloud from the kana or the romaji, say the meaning, then tap Show meaning for the English meaning and the part of speech. The Word type list under the button narrows the draw to one group.
Three scripts, one list
More filters, the last entry of the Word type list, opens the Written in row. Kanji holds words such as 猫 (ねこ, neko), whose reading has to be learned. Hiragana only holds greetings such as ありがとう. Katakana is the script for borrowed words: コーヒー came from Dutch koffie and パン from Portuguese pão.
Tips
A line over a vowel in the romaji marks a long vowel: 学校 is gakkō.
Random Japanese words in one script make a reading drill: choose Katakana, then read each card aloud.
Questions and answers
What do godan and ichidan mean on a verb card?
They are the two main classes of Japanese verbs, and the class sets the pattern a verb follows as it changes form. 行く (iku) is godan and 食べる (taberu) is ichidan; する and 来る are marked irregular.
Why do some cards show only romaji in the brackets?
A word written in hiragana or katakana is already its own reading, so its card adds only the romaji. A word with kanji shows its kana reading first, then the romaji.
Where do the readings and meanings come from?
From each word's Japanese entry on English Wiktionary: the kana, the romaji printed on its headword line, the part of speech and the meaning. Every reading was checked a second time against the JMdict dictionary file. The choice of words is ours.
始める (はじめる, hajimeru)To begin, to start. Verb, ichidan.
話す (はなす, hanasu)To speak, to talk. Verb, godan.
走る (はしる, hashiru)To run. Verb, godan.
働く (はたらく, hataraku)To work. Verb, godan.
行く (いく, iku)To go. Verb, godan.
いる (iru)To be, to exist (people and animals). Verb, ichidan.
言う (いう, iu)To say. Verb, godan.
帰る (かえる, kaeru)To return, to go home. Verb, godan.
描く (かく, kaku)To draw. Verb, godan.
書く (かく, kaku)To write. Verb, godan.
考える (かんがえる, kangaeru)To think about, to consider. Verb, ichidan.
買う (かう, kau)To buy. Verb, godan.
聞く (きく, kiku)To hear, to listen; to ask. Verb, godan.
着る (きる, kiru)To wear, to put on. Verb, ichidan.
答える (こたえる, kotaeru)To answer. Verb, ichidan.
来る (くる, kuru)To come. Verb, irregular.
待つ (まつ, matsu)To wait. Verb, godan.
見る (みる, miru)To see, to look. Verb, ichidan.
持つ (もつ, motsu)To hold, to have. Verb, godan.
泣く (なく, naku)To cry. Verb, godan.
習う (ならう, narau)To learn. Verb, godan.
寝る (ねる, neru)To sleep, to go to bed. Verb, ichidan.
飲む (のむ, nomu)To drink. Verb, godan.
乗る (のる, noru)To ride, to get on. Verb, godan.
覚える (おぼえる, oboeru)To remember, to memorize. Verb, ichidan.
踊る (おどる, odoru)To dance. Verb, godan.
起きる (おきる, okiru)To get up, to wake up. Verb, ichidan.
送る (おくる, okuru)To send. Verb, godan.
思う (おもう, omou)To think. Verb, godan.
降りる (おりる, oriru)To get off, to come down. Verb, ichidan.
教える (おしえる, oshieru)To teach, to tell. Verb, ichidan.
終わる (おわる, owaru)To end, to finish. Verb, godan.
泳ぐ (およぐ, oyogu)To swim. Verb, godan.
探す (さがす, sagasu)To look for, to search. Verb, godan.
閉める (しめる, shimeru)To close. Verb, ichidan.
知る (しる, shiru)To know. Verb, godan.
住む (すむ, sumu)To live (somewhere). Verb, godan.
する (suru)To do. Verb, irregular.
座る (すわる, suwaru)To sit. Verb, godan.
食べる (たべる, taberu)To eat. Verb, ichidan.
立つ (たつ, tatsu)To stand. Verb, godan.
手伝う (てつだう, tetsudau)To help. Verb, godan.
飛ぶ (とぶ, tobu)To fly, to jump. Verb, godan.
使う (つかう, tsukau)To use. Verb, godan.
作る (つくる, tsukuru)To make. Verb, godan.
売る (うる, uru)To sell. Verb, godan.
歌う (うたう, utau)To sing. Verb, godan.
分かる (わかる, wakaru)To understand. Verb, godan.
笑う (わらう, warau)To laugh, to smile. Verb, godan.
忘れる (わすれる, wasureru)To forget. Verb, ichidan.
休む (やすむ, yasumu)To rest. Verb, godan.
呼ぶ (よぶ, yobu)To call. Verb, godan.
読む (よむ, yomu)To read. Verb, godan.
Adjectives 56
赤い (あかい, akai)Red. Adjective, i type.
明るい (あかるい, akarui)Bright. Adjective, i type.
甘い (あまい, amai)Sweet. Adjective, i type.
青い (あおい, aoi)Blue. Adjective, i type.
新しい (あたらしい, atarashii)New. Adjective, i type.
暖かい (あたたかい, atatakai)Warm. Adjective, i type.
暑い (あつい, atsui)Hot (weather). Adjective, i type.
熱い (あつい, atsui)Hot (to the touch). Adjective, i type.
便利 (べんり, benri)Convenient. Adjective, na type.
近い (ちかい, chikai)Near, close. Adjective, i type.
小さい (ちいさい, chīsai)Small. Adjective, i type.
古い (ふるい, furui)Old. Adjective, i type.
元気 (げんき, genki)Healthy, lively. Adjective, na type.
速い (はやい, hayai)Fast. Adjective, i type.
低い (ひくい, hikui)Low. Adjective, i type.
忙しい (いそがしい, isogashii)Busy. Adjective, i type.
痛い (いたい, itai)Painful. Adjective, i type.
上手 (じょうず, jōzu)Skillful, good at. Adjective, na type.
悲しい (かなしい, kanashii)Sad. Adjective, i type.
簡単 (かんたん, kantan)Simple, easy. Adjective, na type.
軽い (かるい, karui)Light. Adjective, i type.
可愛い (かわいい, kawaii)Cute. Adjective, i type.
綺麗 (きれい, kirei)Pretty; clean. Adjective, na type.
暗い (くらい, kurai)Dark. Adjective, i type.
黒い (くろい, kuroi)Black. Adjective, i type.
短い (みじかい, mijikai)Short. Adjective, i type.
難しい (むずかしい, muzukashii)Difficult. Adjective, i type.
長い (ながい, nagai)Long. Adjective, i type.
多い (おおい, ōi)Many, much. Adjective, i type.
美味しい (おいしい, oishii)Delicious. Adjective, i type.
大きい (おおきい, ōkii)Big. Adjective, i type.
重い (おもい, omoi)Heavy. Adjective, i type.
面白い (おもしろい, omoshiroi)Interesting, funny. Adjective, i type.
遅い (おそい, osoi)Slow, late. Adjective, i type.
寒い (さむい, samui)Cold (weather). Adjective, i type.
親切 (しんせつ, shinsetsu)Kind. Adjective, na type.
白い (しろい, shiroi)White. Adjective, i type.
静か (しずか, shizuka)Quiet. Adjective, na type.
好き (すき, suki)Liked, favorite. Adjective, na type.
少ない (すくない, sukunai)Few, little. Adjective, i type.
涼しい (すずしい, suzushii)Cool. Adjective, i type.
大切 (たいせつ, taisetsu)Important, precious. Adjective, na type.
高い (たかい, takai)High, tall; expensive. Adjective, i type.
楽しい (たのしい, tanoshii)Fun, enjoyable. Adjective, i type.
遠い (とおい, tōi)Far. Adjective, i type.
冷たい (つめたい, tsumetai)Cold (to the touch). Adjective, i type.
強い (つよい, tsuyoi)Strong. Adjective, i type.
嬉しい (うれしい, ureshii)Happy, glad. Adjective, i type.
美しい (うつくしい, utsukushii)Beautiful. Adjective, i type.
若い (わかい, wakai)Young. Adjective, i type.
悪い (わるい, warui)Bad. Adjective, i type.
易しい (やさしい, yasashii)Easy. Adjective, i type.
安い (やすい, yasui)Cheap. Adjective, i type.
良い (よい, yoi)Good. Adjective, i type.
弱い (よわい, yowai)Weak. Adjective, i type.
有名 (ゆうめい, yūmei)Famous. Adjective, na type.
Greetings and set phrases 15
ありがとう (arigatō)Thank you. Interjection.
どうぞ (dōzo)Please, go ahead. Adverb.
ごめんなさい (gomennasai)I'm sorry. Interjection.
はい (hai)Yes. Interjection.
いいえ (īe)No. Interjection.
いただきます (itadakimasu)Said before eating: I will eat. Phrase.
こんばんは (konbanwa)Good evening. Interjection.
こんにちは (konnichiwa)Hello, good afternoon. Interjection.
もしもし (moshi moshi)Hello (on the phone). Interjection.
おはよう (ohayō)Good morning. Interjection.
おめでとう (omedetō)Congratulations. Interjection.
おやすみなさい (oyasumi nasai)Good night. Interjection.
さようなら (sayōnara)Goodbye. Interjection.
すみません (sumimasen)Excuse me; sorry. Interjection.
ただいま (tadaima)I'm home. Interjection.
Time and counting words 39
明日 (あした, ashita)Tomorrow. Noun.
土曜日 (どようび, doyōbi)Saturday. Noun.
二つ (ふたつ, futatsu)Two (things). Noun.
月曜日 (げつようび, getsuyōbi)Monday. Noun.
五 (ご, go)Five. Noun.
午後 (ごご, gogo)Afternoon, p.m.. Noun.
午前 (ごぜん, gozen)Morning, a.m.. Noun.
八 (はち, hachi)Eight. Numeral.
一つ (ひとつ, hitotsu)One (thing). Noun.
百 (ひゃく, hyaku)Hundred. Noun.
一 (いち, ichi)One. Numeral.
今 (いま, ima)Now. Noun.
時間 (じかん, jikan)Time; hour. Noun.
十 (じゅう, jū)Ten. Numeral.
火曜日 (かようび, kayōbi)Tuesday. Noun.
金曜日 (きんようび, kin'yōbi)Friday. Noun.
昨日 (きのう, kinō)Yesterday. Noun.
今週 (こんしゅう, konshū)This week. Noun.
今年 (ことし, kotoshi)This year. Noun.
今日 (きょう, kyō)Today. Noun.
去年 (きょねん, kyonen)Last year. Noun.
九 (きゅう, kyū)Nine. Numeral.
毎日 (まいにち, mainichi)Every day. Noun.
万 (まん, man)Ten thousand. Noun.
三つ (みっつ, mittsu)Three (things). Noun.
木曜日 (もくようび, mokuyōbi)Thursday. Noun.
七 (なな, nana)Seven. Numeral.
二 (に, ni)Two. Noun.
日曜日 (にちようび, nichiyōbi)Sunday. Noun.
来年 (らいねん, rainen)Next year. Noun.
来週 (らいしゅう, raishū)Next week. Noun.
六 (ろく, roku)Six. Noun.
三 (さん, san)Three. Numeral.
千 (せん, sen)Thousand. Numeral.
先週 (せんしゅう, senshū)Last week. Noun.
週 (しゅう, shū)Week. Noun.
水曜日 (すいようび, suiyōbi)Wednesday. Noun.
年 (とし, toshi)Year. Noun.
四 (よん, yon)Four. Numeral.
How this list was compiled: Everyday Japanese words. Each word's reading, part of speech and meaning come from its own entry on English Wiktionary (wikitext read through https://en.wiktionary.org/w/api.php on 2026-09-30, 40 titles to a request, text under CC BY-SA 4.0; the entry's address is in x.src), Japanese section; where the page for a spelling only points to the entry under its usual spelling, the check followed the pointer and x.src names the page read. The reading in kana is the one in the entry's headword template, and every reading was checked a second time against JMdict (the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group's dictionary file, https://www.edrdg.org/jmdict/j_jmdict.html, CC BY-SA 4.0, downloaded 2026-09-30), used as a check and not as the source: all readings matched. The reading in Latin letters is the Hepburn romanization printed on the entry's headword line, read by expanding the entry's own headword template through the same API and never worked out by our script (a line over a vowel marks a long vowel; where the line gives two readings, as for 行く, the first is used, the one that matches the kana on the card). Verb classes (godan, ichidan; する and 来る, which the line files in classes of their own, are marked irregular) and adjective types (i, na) are read from the same headword line; where it names none the card gives none. Written in (x.script) is computed from the characters of the word: any kanji, hiragana only, or katakana only. The list is our own choice of everyday vocabulary and is copied from no exam body's or course's list. The English meanings are our own short wording; a script then checked that a word of each meaning stands in a definition line under the same part-of-speech heading of the entry, and words that failed were left out. Every English meaning was read for a school audience: no slang, insult, swear word, alcohol or adult term. After the file was written a script read it back and checked every row against the saved entry text again. Licence: own work