Yukigo
Basic Japanese phrases
A few well-chosen phrases take you far: the right greeting at the right time, the politeness formulas, and just enough survival Japanese to order, ask and thank.
Here are the essentials, grouped by situation, with reading and romaji. Culture note: many have no literal translation — context and politeness level do the work.
Greetings
Japanese has no universal “hi”: the greeting depends on the time of day and on your relationship with the other person.
| 日本語 | Rōmaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello (daytime) |
| おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning (formal) |
| こんばんは | konbanwa | Good evening |
| おやすみなさい | oyasumi nasai | Good night |
| さようなら | sayōnara | Goodbye (long partings) |
| またね | mata ne | See you (casual) |
Politeness
The formulas you'll hear — and use — constantly: thanking, apologizing, asking.
| 日本語 | Kana | Rōmaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ありがとうございます | — | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you (formal) |
| すみません | — | sumimasen | Excuse me (also to get attention) |
| ごめんなさい | — | gomen nasai | I'm sorry (asking forgiveness) |
| お願いします | おねがいします | onegai shimasu | Please |
| どうぞ | — | dōzo | Here you go / Go ahead |
| 大丈夫です | だいじょうぶです | daijōbu desu | It's fine / No problem |
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 |
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? |
| いただきます | — | itadakimasu | Said before eating |
| ごちそうさまでした | — | gochisōsama deshita | Said after eating (“that was a feast”) |
Learn to actually say them
In Yukigo every word and phrase comes with audio, exercises and spaced repetition — so you remember them when they matter. Free and ad-free.
Coming to the App Store and Google Play.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “hi” in Japanese?
It depends on the time: ohayō gozaimasu in the morning, konnichiwa during the day, konbanwa in the evening. There's no single neutral “hi” like in English.
Do people actually say sayōnara?
Less than you'd think: it sounds final, like a long parting. Friends and colleagues use mata ne, ja ne or, after work, otsukaresama desu.
What does yoroshiku onegai shimasu mean?
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.
Should I learn them in romaji or kana?
Romaji 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.