Words Written in Kana 218

Common words that have a kanji spelling nobody uses: のど is written 喉 in the dictionary and かな everywhere else, and the same goes for ある, ぶどう and ひげ. Knowing which words to leave in kana is what makes writing look natural. Each card shows the kanji that exists, so you can recognise it without being tempted to write it.

あさって
明後日N5
day after tomorrow
あなた
貴方N5
you
あびる
浴びるN5
to bathe, to shower
あまり
余りN5
not very
ある
有るN5
to be, to have (inanimate)
あれ
荒れN5
that; that thing; that person
いかが
如何N5
how
いくつ
幾つN5
how many, how old
いくら
幾らN5
how much
いす
椅子N5
chair
いちばん
一番N5
best, first
いつも
何時もN5
always, usually, every time, never (with neg. verb)
いろいろ
色々N5
various
おいしい
美味しいN5
delicious
おじいさん
お祖父さんN5
grandfather, male senior-citizen
おなか
お腹N5
stomach
おばあさん
お祖母さんN5
grandmother, female senior-citizen
おまわりさん
お巡りさんN5
friendly term for policeman
おもしろい
面白いN5
interesting
かかる
掛かるN5
to take time or money
かぎ
鍵N5
key
かける
掛けるN5
to call by phone
かばん
鞄N5
bag, basket
かわいい
可愛いN5
cute
きれい
綺麗N5
pretty, clean
ください
下さいN5
please
ここ
個々N5
here; this place; this point
しょうゆ
醤油N5
soy sauce
すぐに
直ぐにN5
instantly
する
刷るN5
to do; to carry out; to perform
せっけん
石鹸N5
soap
そこ
底N5
there (place relatively near listener); there (place just mentioned); that place
その
園N5
that; the; part (as in "part two")
そば
蕎麦N5
near, beside
たいへん
大変N5
very, difficult situation
たくさん
沢山N5
many
たて
縦N5
length, height
たぶん
多分N5
probably
だんだん
段々N5
gradually
ちゃわん
茶碗N5
rice bowl
ちょうど
丁度N5
exactly
つける
漬けるN5
to turn on
つまらない
詰らないN5
boring
できる
出来るN5
to be able to
どう
動N5
how; in what way; how about
どこ
何処N5
where
どなた
何方N5
who
どの
殿N5
which; what (way)
なぜ
何故N5
why
など
等N5
et cetera
なる
成るN5
to become
はい
灰N5
yes; that is correct; understood
はく
掃くN5
to wear, to put on trousers
はし
橋N5
chopsticks
ふろ
風呂N5
bath
ほか
他N5
other, the rest
ほんとう
本島N5
truth
まずい
不味いN5
unpleasant
また
股N5
again; once more; once again
まだ
未だN5
yet, still
まっすぐ
真っ直ぐN5
straight ahead, direct
よく
欲N5
often, well
りっぱ
立派N5
splendid
あいさつ
挨拶N4
to greet
あかちゃん
赤ちゃんN4
infant
あげる
上げるN4
to give
いじめる
苛めるN4
to tease
いただく
頂くN4
(humble) to receive
いっぱい
一敗N4
full
うかがう
伺うN4
to visit
うそ
嘘N4
a lie
うち
家N4
within
うまい
上手いN4
delicious
うれしい
嬉しいN4
glad
うん
運N4
yes; yeah; uh huh
おっしゃる
仰るN4
(respectful) to say
おつり
お釣りN4
change from purchase, balance
おもちゃ
玩具N4
toy
かっこう
滑降N4
appearance
かまう
構うN4
to mind
くださる
下さるN4
(respectful) to give
くれる
暮れるN4
to give; to let (one) have; to give
けが
怪我N4
to injure
けんか
喧嘩N4
to quarrel
こう
侯N4
in this way; like this; so
ごちそう
ご馳走N4
a feast
こと
琴N4
thing, matter
このあいだ
この間N4
the other day, recently
このごろ
この頃N4
these days, nowadays
ごらんになる
ご覧になるN4
(respectful) to see
さっき
殺気N4
a short while ago; a moment ago; just now
しかる
叱るN4
to scold
しばらく
暫くN4
little while
じゃま
邪魔N4
hindrance, intrusion
ずいぶん
随分N4
extremely
すく
空くN4
to become empty
すばらしい
素晴らしいN4
wonderful
ぜひ
是非N4
without fail
ぜんぜん
全然N4
not at all (used with a negative)
そう
沿うN4
in that way; thus; such
それほど
それ程N4
to that extent
たいてい
大抵N4
usually
だめ
駄目N4
no good
つき
月N4
moon
できるだけ
出来るだけN4
as much as possible
とうとう
等々N4
finally; at last; in the end
とこや
床屋N4
barber
なるべく
成るべくN4
as much as possible
におい
匂いN4
a smell
ぬれる
濡れるN4
to get wet
ねだん
値段N4
price
ねっしん
熱心N4
enthusiasm
のど
喉N4
throat
はず
筈N4
it should be so
ひげ
髭N4
beard
ひどい
酷いN4
awful
ぶどう
武道N4
grapes
ほど
程N4
extent
ほとんど
殆どN4
mostly
ほめる
褒めるN4
to praise
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Practice modes

  • Flashcards — flip through the set's words and recall their meanings and readings — a quick way to learn and review.
  • Quiz — pick the right answer from choices against the clock — a check of how confidently you recognise each word.
  • Test — a written quiz with a score at the end — to consolidate what you've learned and spot weak points.
  • Letris — word tiles drop into a grid, Tetris-style: match each word with its meaning before the grid fills up.

See also