Kanji for prices and eating out in Japan
For adult beginners planning a trip to Japan.
You do not need hundreds of kanji to get around. A small handful shows up on most price tags, menus and shop signs. Here they are, each with a few real words, the kana reading, romaji and the meaning.
Prices and money
Price tags, menus and ticket machines all use these.
円 · yen; circle
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 円 | えん | en | yen |
| 百円 | ひゃくえん | hyakuen | 100 yen |
| 円い | まるい | marui | round |
You will see 円 on every price tag.
百 · hundred
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 百 | ひゃく | hyaku | one hundred |
| 三百 | さんびゃく | sanbyaku | three hundred |
| 百円 | ひゃくえん | hyakuen | 100 yen |
Hundred-yen shops sell almost everything for 100 yen plus tax.
千 · thousand
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 千 | せん | sen | one thousand |
| 三千 | さんぜん | sanzen | three thousand |
| 千円 | せんえん | sen'en | 1,000 yen |
The 1,000-yen bill is the one you will use most.
万 · ten thousand
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一万 | いちまん | ichiman | ten thousand |
| 一万円 | いちまんえん | ichiman'en | 10,000 yen |
Japanese counts large numbers in groups of four zeros: 10,000 is one man.
安 · cheap; safe
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 安い | やすい | yasui | cheap |
安い means cheap - handy when you compare prices.
高 · tall; expensive
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 高い | たかい | takai | tall; expensive |
高い means both tall and expensive.
金 · gold; money
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| お金 | おかね | okane | money |
Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji is the Golden Pavilion.
Eating and drinking
Look for these on restaurant signs and menus.
食 · eat; food
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 食べる | たべる | taberu | to eat |
| 食堂 | しょくどう | shokudō | cafeteria; diner |
| 和食 | わしょく | washoku | Japanese food |
Look for 食堂 signs for simple, inexpensive meals.
飲 · drink
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 飲む | のむ | nomu | to drink |
| 飲み物 | のみもの | nomimono | drinks |
| 飲食 | いんしょく | inshoku | eating and drinking |
Menus list drinks under 飲み物. Some trains ask you not to eat or drink (飲食).
水 · water
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 水 | みず | mizu | water |
| お水 | おみず | omizu | water (polite) |
Restaurants usually bring free water or tea to your table.
魚 · fish
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 魚 | さかな | sakana | fish |
| 魚屋 | さかなや | sakanaya | fish shop |
Fish markets such as Tokyo's Toyosu are famous for fresh sushi.
店 · shop
| Word | Kana | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 店 | みせ | mise | shop |
| 店員 | てんいん | ten'in | shop staff |
| 書店 | しょてん | shoten | bookstore |
Many shop names end in 店 - and 本店 means the main store.
Practice tip
Cover the meaning column, read each word aloud, then check yourself. Next time you see a photo of a Japanese price tag or menu, try reading prices such as 百円 and 千円 before you look at the meaning.