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Simple Japanese Phrases You Should Know

Planning a trip to Japan this year? Check out some common Japanese phrases for travelers in this Penlighten article. Japanese is a tough language to master, but these phrases and expressions will sure come handy, so browse through.

Home / Uncategorized / Simple Japanese Phrases You Should Know
Simple Japanese Phrases You Should Know

Planning a trip to Japan this year? Check out some common Japanese phrases for travelers in this Penlighten article. Japanese is a tough language to master, but these phrases and expressions will sure come handy, so browse through.

Romanji
Japanese written using Roman characters is called Romanji. It is mostly used by foreigners when studying Japanese.

One of the toughest languages in the world, Japanese is surely a hard nut to crack. It is written using 3 scripts – kanji, hiragana, and katakana, which makes it a little complicated.

Learning to write Japanese is not easy, and requires a lot of time and patience. But you can very well learn to say some commonly used phrases in this language; they’ll be useful for you on your travel to Japan.

This Penlighten article is a compilation of some common Japanese phrases. They include the ones use to introduce yourself, the ones used as greetings, some common questions you may need to ask, and some you might have to use in case of emergencies.

Greetings/Casual phrases

Phrase In Japanese Pronunciation
Hello 今日は Konnichiwa
Hello (on phone) まうしまうし Moshi moshi
Welcome ようこそ Yōkoso
Good morning お早うございます Ohayō gozaimasu
Good afternoon 今日は / こんにちは Konnichiwa
Good evening 今晩は / こんばんは Konbanwa
Good night おやすみなさい Oyasumi nasai
Goodbye さようなら Sayōnara
Good luck 頑張ってください Ganbatte kudasai
Have a nice day 良い一日を Yoi ichinichi o
Excuse me すみません! Sumimasen
Get well soon お大事に Odaiji ni
Thank you どうも Dōmo
Thank you very much どうもありがとうございました Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita
I’m fine, thanks! わたしは元気です。ありがとう。 Watashi wa genki desu. Arigato!
I missed you so much! さみしかったです。 Samishi katta desu.
See you later! またあとで会いましょう! Mata atode aimashou!
My name is… 私の名前は・・・ Watashi no namae wa
Nice to meet you! はじめまして! Hajimemashite!
Don’t worry! ご心配なく。 Goshinpai naku
I love you わたしは、あなたを愛しています Watashi wa, anata o aishiteimasu
Cheers/Good health! 乾杯 Kanpai
Pleased to meet you 初めまして Hajimemashite
Bon voyage 初めまして Yoi ryokō o
I will be right back! すぐ戻ります。 Sugu modori masu.
Congratulations! おめでとうございます! Omedetou gozaimasu!
Happy birthday! おたんじょうびおめでとうございます! Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu
Take Care 気 を つけてください Ki o tsukete kudasai
I am sorry ごめんなさい Gomen’nasai
You are welcome どういたしまして Dōitashimashite
One moment please ちょっと待ってください Chotto matte kudasai

Related to the Language

Phrase In Japanese Pronunciation
Do you speak Japanese? 日本語を話しますか Nihongo o hanashimasu ka?
Do you speak English? 英語はできますか Eigo wa dekimasu ka?
I don’t speak Japanese. 日本語を話せません Nihongo o hanasemasen
What did you say? なんて言いましたか Nan te iimashita ka?
What does this mean? これはどういう意味ですか Kore wa dōiu imi desu ka?
I don’t understand. わかりません Wakarimasen
Please say that again. もう一度、言ってください Mō ichido, itte kudasai
I’d like to visit Japan one day いつか日本を訪れたい Ituka nihon wo otozure tai.
Can You Speak Slowly? ゆっくりしゃべってくれますか? Yukkuri shabette kuremasuka?
Write It Down Please! 書いてください Kaite kudasai.
What’s That Called In Japanese? あれは日本語で何といいますか? Arewa nihongo de nanto iimasu ka?

General Questions

Phrase  In Japanese Pronunciation
How much is this? いくらですか Ikura desu ka?
What’s new? 最近どうですか? Saikin dou desuka?
What time is it? 何時ですか? Nanji desu ka?
What Is This? これは何ですか? Korewa nandesu ka?
Where are you from? 出身はどちらですか? Shusshin wa dochira desu ka?
What’s your name? お名前はなんですか? O-namae wa nan desu ka
Where’s the toilet? 便所はどこですか Benjo wa doko desu ka?
How are you? お元気ですか? Ogenki desuka?
How old are you? あなたは何歳 ですか? Anata wa nan-sai desuka
Where do you live? どこに住んでいますか? Doko ni sun de imasu ka?
Did you like it here? ここは好きになりましたか? Kokowa suki ni narimashita ka? 

Eating Out

Phrase In Japanese Pronunciation
Is there a restaurant near here? 近くにレストランはありますか Chikaku ni resutoran wa arimasu ka?
May I see the bill please? 請求書を見せて頂けますか Seikyūsho o misete itadakemasu ka?
Do you have an English menu? 英語のメ二ューはありますか Eigo no menyu wa arimasu ka?
I am a vegetarian 私は菜食主義者です Watashi wa saishokushugisha desu
Let’s eat いただきます Itadakimasu
That was delicious ごちそうさまでした Gochisosama deshita
Have a good meal どうぞめしあがれ Douzo meshiagare

Emergencies

Phrase In Japanese Pronunciation
Help! 助けて! Tasukete!
I feel sick. 調子が悪いです。 Choshi ga warui desu.
I need a doctor. 病院に行きたい。 Byouin ni ikitai.

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