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80 Easy Japanese Words and Phrases to Rock Any Situation

Hey you!

Yeah, you.

Do you want to start speaking Japanese right this second?

Are you heading to Japan soon, desperately searching out useful phrases that you can use ASAP ?

Maybe youre on a quest to learn the secret expression that allows you to share all your thoughts and feelings without
having to study grammar for hours.

If youre nodding to yourself while reading this and thinking, Yes. I am one of those people who needs some actual
useful material under my belt, then welcome to your solution! Let me introduce you to these incredibly
common Japanese phrases, which youll be hearing and using on a constant basis, whether youre chatting with your
tutor, exploring new literature, or planning a trip to Kyoto.

Basic Japanese Phrases

These are the phrases youll want to memorize when youre on the plane or waiting for your luggage at Narita Airport.
Theyll help you greet your friends in Japanese, express how much you like listening to J-pop and can also act as an
icebreaker of sorts!

ohayou gozaimasu - Good morning!

konnichiwa - Hello!
hisashiburi - Its been a while.
jaa mata - See you!
o genki de - Take care.
o namae wa nan desu ka - Whats your name?
desu - Im
suki desu - I like it.
ii desu yo - Its good.
dame desu - Its no good.
nihongo de hanashimashou - Lets talk in Japanese.
mou ichidou itte kudasai - Please say it again.

Good Morning
If youd like to be more casual, you can just say
[ohayou]In work places, its pretty common to hear or
when someone is greeting a colleague for
the first time that day even if the clock reads 7:00 p.m.

See You

If youre not going to be waving your handkerchief in a heartfelt

goodbye (where [sayounara] or farewell would be
more appropriate), then is a great way to say see
you! You can also use [dewa mata] which is slightly
more polite. (see ya) and (jaa mata
ashita ne see you tomorrow) are also quick and friendly phrases
for parting. If youre in Osaka, then be sure to try some
(oosaka ben - Osaka dialect) and say, [hona ne]!

() Take Care

If see you is a little too casual for you, then you can say
instead. This literally means be healthy and can be used to
say, Good luck!

( )
Whats Your Name?

This is a polite way to ask someone for their name. If

is a little too lengthy for you, then you can also use
[o namae wa] Sounding a bit vague can sound more
polite. Take for example: Who are you? vs. Your name? Or,
Where are you from? vs. Whereabouts are you from?

Im

Get ready! Im about to introduce the holy grail of Japanese words

and phrases: . Heck, youre probably already using it. By
using , you can express some of your thoughts and dreams
without having to study grammar for hours. is the verb to
be. It stays the same no matter the subject (think: it is, they are, I
am). To say, I am Tom simply state your name and finish with
to get, (tomu desu Im Tom).

Wanna take it to the next level? Follow an adjective with to

express how youre feeling: , (atsui desu Its hot/Im hot). You can omit the subject if it can be implied by
the context. So if your friend is late, say (osoi desu Youre late)! If something (or someone) catches your
eye, use (kirei desu Its pretty).

Just to recap, if someone asks you your name, you can answer with [insert your name] + . Voila! Why cant
everything be that easy?

() I Like It
Why not tell your host family how much youre enjoying the
traditional Japanese breakfast, or that youre really into
performance art like kabuki? To do this, you can use the phrase
which means I like it. To be more specific, you can say
whatever it is you like and add [ga suki desu]. I have a
huge sweet tooth, so Id say (okashi ga suki
desu - I like sweets).

Maybe youre trying nattou or another exotic dish. Hopefully youll

discover your new favorite snack, but just in caseyou can say,
[suki dewa arimasen] to express, I dont like
it. Maybe just not in front of the person who cooked it for you

Its Good

can be used in a ton of different situations. Think of it as a gentle way to say, Its all good. Youll often
hear [ii yo] (especially from females). You can treat it as saying Its fine, Go right ahead, Dont worry about
it and no problem.

() Its No Good

If youre being somewhat polite and want to say Its not good,
you need to say [yoku arimasen] which is Its not
good, in normal-polite form, or , as in, Its not good in
casual form.

To say something is no good, you can use (). Although

you can add to this word, to say Its no good, its more
common to add (the casual form of ) instead. So
[dame da] can be translated as, Its no good, Its useless or Its
pointless.

Please, Thank You and Apologies in Japanese

Being polite and humble is so, so important when youre learning another language. The following phrases and
expressions will help you ease into conversation with anyone and everyone you interact with, or alleviate any tension
at school or in the office.

arigatou gozaimasu - Thank you.

douitashimashite - Youre welcome.
mondai nai yo - No problem.
kudasai - Please (requesting)
douzo - Please (offering)
otsukaresama desu - Thank you for your efforts.
shitsurei shimasu - Excuse me (for my rudeness).
sumimasen - Excuse me.
gomen nasai - Im sorry.

Thank You
We all know the phrase , yet its always a bit nerve-
wracking to use it for the first time. When being polite its best to
use as a general way to express your
gratitude, while is a quick and friendly way to say
thanks! A friend might just thank you with (doumo
thanks), and youll see [ari], the abbreviated form of
, often enough on Japanese message boards.

Please (Requesting)

There are a few different ways to say please in Japanese. The word is used when making requests as
in, please hurry ( isoide kudasai) or can I please have a coffee? ( koohii o
kudasai).

Please (Offering)

A common way to offer something is by using the word ( douzo please). This is like saying, Please go
ahead. Whether youre ushering someone through the door before you, or offering a coworker some delicious
snacks, will definitely come in handy.

() Thank You for Your Efforts

If you havent heard your coworkers use this a thousand times already then you must not be in Japan yet! The
expression is often said when you, or someone else, finishes their work as a parting sentiment.
Although its translated as thanks for all your hard work today or thank you for your efforts, you can think of it as
saying, Thats a wrap for the day.

() Excuse Me for My Rudeness

Another office-related expression, , is used when youre leaving a room. Its similar to saying Sorry to
have bothered you or Sorry that I interrupted. Really, its just a polite way to excuse yourself from a room. You can
also end a formal or polite phone call with .

Excuse Me, Im Sorry, Thank you

This is your three-in-one go-to expression! Learn this, memorize it, treat it like its your baby. The word is
often used to say Excuse me (if you need help getting directions or need to squeeze by someone) and Sorry (when
you accidentally nudge someone on the subway).

It can also be said as a thank you when youve troubled someone (Think: Thanks for letting me put you out). This is
used a lot when climbing into a cab: (sumimasen. narita
kuukou made onegaishimasu Thanks (for stopping). To Narita Airport, please.)

Sorry

Among family members, friends and in casual situations, replaces when saying sorry. You
can use the less formal [gomen] and [gomen ne] among those who are close to you.

Japanese Phrases for Grabbing a Bite

All right, so now youve said your Its been a while and Thank you when your host family picked you up at the
airport. That means its time to talk about whats really important: food!

onaka ga suite imasu - Im hungry.

mada tabete imasen - I havent eaten yet.
menyuu, onegaishimasu - Please bring me a menu.
menyuu, onegai dekimasu ka - May I have the menu?
sore wa nan desu ka - Whats that?
kore o tabete mitai desu - Id like to try this.
o kudasai - Id like
ga arimasu ka - Do you have?
tsuki desu ka - Does it come with?
ga taberaremasen - I cant eat
arerugii ga arimasu - Im allergic to
oishii desu - Its delicious!
mazui desu - Its terrible.
onaka ga ippai desu - Im full.
/ okanjou/okaikei, onegaishimasu - Check, please.
itadakimasu - Lets dig in!
gochisousama deshita - Thanks for the meal.

( ) Im Hungry

This literally means your stomach has become empty. If youre with your friends, you can say [ onaka ga
suita] which is slightly less formal. Youll also hear [onaka hetta] and the masculine [hara hetta]
among peers. Lastly, if youd like to say something short and cute you should try, [onaka
ga pekopeko] which is an onomatopoeia that means your stomach is growling.

Id Like

Do you remember how to say please when making a request? State whatever youd like to order, and follow it with
. For example, (koohii o kudasai Id like a coffee, please) is my morning catchphrase!

() I Cant Eat
All you vegetarians and vegans out there! Learn this phrase. Love this phrase. You can add any word at the beginning
of the phrase. [niku] is meat so if youre on a strict veg diet, be sure to say, ( niku to
sakana ga taberaremasen - I cant eat meat and fish.)

() Im Allergic to

Allergies can be a bit tricky to talk about. State whatever youre allergic to and add . You can
also use the phrase above this one to give examples of what you cant eat. Lastly, just to be safe rather than sorry, you
can ask [ga haite imasu ka?] which means, Are/Is there any in it?

For example: (tamago ga haitte imasu ka? Are there any eggs in it?)

Its Delicious

If youre out with the guys, youll probably hear the word [umai] being sung as you feast. A casual and manly
way to say something is delicious is . For everyone else, is a wonderful way to say something tastes
great. If youre just eyeballing a slice of cake, then [oishisou], meaning It looks delicious, could be useful
too!

Lets Dig In

This is used before digging into your meal. Although is often translated as Lets dig in or Bon
appetite, the meaning is much deeper than that. To thank everything and everyone thats contributed to the dish in
front of you, you thank them with at the beginning of every meal.

Thanks for the Meal

After youve finished that scrumptious bowl of squid-ink noodles, you can end your meal with .
Like , is a fixture at every meal.

Shopping in Japanese
With the streets brimming with food stalls and vendors, the high-end boutiques lining Ginza, and the ultra-cool and
unique souvenir shops, there is no way to avoid shopping while traveling through Japan.

irasshaimase - Welcome.
kore wa nan desu ka - What is this?
kore wa nan to iu mono desu ka - Whats this called?
kore wa ikura desu ka - How much is this?
ga arimasu ka - Do you have?
() chotto (takai) desu - Its a bit (expensive).
hoka no iro ga arimasu ka - Do you have another color?
sore o itadakimasu - Ill take it.
kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka - Can I use my credit card?
tsutsunde itadakemasu ka - Can I have it gift wrapped?

Welcome

You will hear a chorus of when you enter a convenience store, or really, any shop. After a day or
two in Japan, youre guaranteed to be hearing it in your sleep too.

() Its a Bit Expensive

If you havent started your adventure towards learning Japanese adjectives, then some essential shopping
vocabulary is:
 yasui cheap, easy

takai expensive, high

takakunai inexpensive

( ) Can I Use My Credit

Card?

If youd like to use a travelers check, then replace with [toraberaazu

chekku]. Your Suica ( suika) card and Pasmo ( pasumo) card, which are rechargeable cards you can
use on Japanese trains, can also be used to pay for taxis or your groceries at select stores. You can ask
(suika wa tsukaemasu ka Can I use my Suica?)

Japanese Goodbyes: Farewell, Friend. Lets Keep in Touch.

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially if youre saying it to a loved one or new friend with whom youve shared
your travel experiences. Let them know how much you care with one of the following farewells:

tegami kaku yo - Ill write you letters.

/ tsuitara denwa shimasu/meeru shimasu - Ill call/email you when I arrive.
meado o oshiete moraemasu ka - Could I have your e-mail address*?
mata sugu ni kimasu yo - Ill be back soon.
kite kudasai ne - Come visit me.

() Could I Have Your E-mail

Address?

If thats a little too long to memorize, you can ask [meruado o oshiete] which is like saying, Can I
get your e-mail address?

*When someone asks for your [keitai no meado] or [keitai no meruado], theyre asking
for your cell phone e-mail address. In Japan, rather than sending an SMS (text message) to someones phone, you
send messages using your mobile e-mail address.

So say your phone carrier is SoftBank. Then youll have a mobile e-mail address, like xxxxx@softbank.ne.jp. This is
used to communicate and send messages, rather than your phone number.

() Come Visit Me
If you sincerely want someone to visit you, you can add (watashi no ie
dewa, itsumo anata o kangei shimasu yo - Youre always welcome in my home). If youre writing a letter, you can try
for a longer phrase like [/]
([koko/watashi no ie dewa] anata wa itsudemo daikangei sareru koto o wasurenaide kudasai Please dont forget
that youre always welcome [here/in my home]).

And there you have it! With these phrases youll be able to make small talk with new friends, or show others that
youre sincerely interested in learning Japanese. Just by incorporating a few of these phrases into daily life or
conversation, youll be sure to hear (nihongo ga jouzu desu ne Youre good at speaking
Japanese)!

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