Basic Japanese phrases
A few well-chosen phrases take you a long way: introducing yourself, saying you didn't understand, ordering, asking where something is and paying.
Here are the essentials, grouped by situation, with reading and rōmaji. Many have no literal translation: context and level of politeness are what count.
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Greetings and polite phrases — ohayō, arigatō, sumimasen, itadakimasu — have a guide of their own, with when to use each one and its register: Japanese greetings.
Introducing yourself
The minimum for an introduction, and for handling a conversation that moves too fast.
| 日本語 | Kana | Rōmaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| はじめまして | — | hajimemashite | Nice to meet you (opening) |
| 私は…です | わたしは…です | watashi wa … desu | I am … |
| よろしくお願いします | よろしくおねがいします | yoroshiku onegai shimasu | Closes introductions: “I'm counting on you” |
| はい / いいえ | — | hai / iie | Yes / No |
| わかりません | — | wakarimasen | I don't understand |
| 日本語が少し話せます | にほんごがすこしはなせます | nihongo ga sukoshi hanasemasu | I speak a little Japanese |
| 大丈夫です | だいじょうぶです | daijōbu desu | It's fine / No problem |
Traveling and eating out
For shops, restaurants and the street.
| 日本語 | Kana | Rōmaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| これをください | — | kore o kudasai | This one, please |
| いくらですか | — | ikura desu ka | How much is it? |
| トイレはどこですか | — | toire wa doko desu ka | Where is the bathroom? |
| 駅はどこですか | えきはどこですか | eki wa doko desu ka | Where is the station? |
| お会計お願いします | おかいけいおねがいします | okaikei onegai shimasu | The check, please |
| カードは使えますか | カードはつかえますか | kādo wa tsukaemasu ka | Can I pay by card? |
Learn to actually say them
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Frequently asked questions
It's untranslatable literally: it closes introductions and requests — somewhere between “I'm counting on you” and “thanks in advance”. You'll use it constantly.
もう一度お願いします (mō ichido onegai shimasu) to have something repeated, ゆっくりお願いします (yukkuri onegai shimasu) to ask them to slow down. Together with わかりません (wakarimasen, “I don't understand”) they are the three phrases that save a conversation.
Rōmaji is fine for the very first days, but kana take one or two weeks to learn and set you free forever: start with the hiragana chart.