Japanese Alphabet

This page contains a table including the following: Japanese alphabet, including Kana, Hiragana, and Katakana, letters which help
you pronounce the words in a given language, you will also learn about the different consonants and vowels. Make sure to check
our Learn Japanese page, which contains several lessons that might help you in your learning process.
Japanese Alphabet

The Japanese alphabet is usually referred to as kana, specifically hiragana and katakana. While the Hiragana consists of 48 syllables,
it is a phonetic alphabet where each alphabetic combination represents just a single sound. Thus any Japanese word can be written in a
way that can be read without having to remember how the word is pronounced. So the Japanese kana are much simpler, the way
something is written is the way it sounds. There is also Kanji, a Japanese system of writing based on borrowed or slightly modified
Chinese characters.

Hiragana Syllables (Alphabet)

The table below shows the 48 Hiragana syllables:

EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

a あ ka か sa さ ta た na な

i い ki き shi し chi ち ni に

u う ku く su す tsu つ nu ぬ

e え ke け se せ te て ne ね

o お ko こ so そ to と no の

ha は ma ま ya や ra ら wa わ
 EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

hi ひ mi み ri り wi ゐ

fu ふ mu む yu ゆ ru る n ん

he へ me め re れ we ゑ

ho ほ mo も yo よ ro ろ wo を

Maybe you have noticed that many sounds are missing, that’s why Japanese added some additional sounds using diacritics or
combinations of syllables, the table below shows the additional sounds in Hiragana:

EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

ga が za ざ da だ ba ば pa ぱ

gi ぎ ji じ ji ぢ bi び pi ぴ

gu ぐ zu ず zu づ bu ぶ pu ぷ

ge げ ze ぜ de で be べ pe ぺ

go ご zo ぞ do ど bo ぼ po ぽ

 
 EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

kya きゃ sha しゃ cha ちゃ hya ひゃ pya ぴゃ

kyu きゅ shu しゅ chu ちゅ hyu ひゅ pyu ぴゅ

kyo きょ sho しょ cho ちょ hyo ひょ pyo ぴょ

gya ぎゃ ja じゃ nya にゃ bya びゃ mya みゃ

gya ぎゅ ju じゅ nyu にゅ byu びゅ my みゅ

gyo ぎょ jo じょ nyo にょ byo びょ myo みょ

rya りゃ ryu りゅ ryu りょ (ja) ぢゃ (ju) ぢゅ

Katakana Syllables (Alphabet)

Katakana are most often used for transcription of words in foreign languages. used to represent sounds, technical and scientific terms.
Katakana's main feature is short straight strokes and angular corners, that’s why Katakana is considered the simplest of the Japanese
scripts.

EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

a ア ka カ sa サ ta タ na ナ
 EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

i イ ki キ shi シ chi チ ni ニ

u ウ ku ク su ス tsu ツ nu ヌ

e エ ke ケ se セ te テ ne ネ

o オ ko コ so ソ to ト no ノ

ha ハ ma マ ya ヤ ra ラ wa ワ

hi ヒ mi ミ ri リ (wi) ヰ

fu フ mu ム yu ユ ru ル n ン

he ヘ me メ re レ (we) ヱ

ho ホ mo モ yo ヨ ro ロ (w)o ヲ

For a modern Katakana there was a necessity to add some sounds, below is a list of additions to the katakana, used mainly to represent
sounds from other languages:

EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

ga ガ za ザ da ダ ba バ pa パ
 EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

gi ギ ji ジ ji ヂ bi ビ pi ピ

gu グ zu ズ zu ヅ bu ブ pu プ

ge ゲ ze ゼ de デ be ベ pe ペ

go ゴ zo ゾ do ド bo ボ po ポ

kya キャ sha シャ cha チャ hya ヒャ pya ピャ

kyu キュ shu シュ chu チュ hyu ヒュ pyu ピュ

kyo キョ sho ショ cho チョ hyo ヒョ pyo ピョ

gya ギャ ja ジャ nya ニャ bya ビャ mya ミャ

gya ギュ ju ジュ nyu ニュ byu ビュ my ミュ

gyo ギョ jo ジョ nyo ニョ byo ビョ myo ミョ

rya リャ ryu リュ ryu リョ (ja) ヂャ (ju) ヂュ

Kanji Characters (Alphabet)

Kanji are used together with three other systems to write modern Japanese, Kanji which is a Japanese system of writing based on
borrowed or slightly modified Chinese characters is used to write parts of the language such as nouns, adjective stems and verb stems.
For Kanji characters refers to the Chinese characters.
EN JP EN JP EN JP EN JP

ye イェ va (ヷ) va ヴァ she シェ

wi ウィ vi (ヸ) vi ヴィ je ジェ

we ウェ vu ヴ ve ヴェ che チェ

wo ウォ ve (ヹ) vo ヴォ

vo (ヺ) vya ヴャ

ti ティ tsa ツァ fa ファ

tu トゥ tsi ツィ fi フィ

tyu テュ tse ツェ fe フェ

di ディ tso ツォ fo フォ

du ドゥ fyu フュ

dyu デュ
Japanese Phrases

This page contains a table including the following: Japanese phrases, expressions and words in Japanese, conversation and idioms,
Japanese greetings and survival phrases or simply if you want to know  what to say when chatting. Most of the sentences below are
used for the everyday life conversations, so they might come handy if you memorize them. Make sure to check our  Learn
Japanese page, which contains several lessons that might help you in your learning process.
Japanese Phrases

English Phrases Japanese Phrases

English Greetings Japanese Greetings:

Hi! Yaa. *1   やあ。

Good morning! Ohayou gozaimasu.   おはようございます。

Good evening! Konbanw   こんばんは。

Welcome! (to greet someone) Youkoso irasshai mashita.   ようこそいらっしゃいました。

How are you? Ogenki desuka?   お元気ですか？

I'm fine, thanks! Watashi wa genki desu. Arigato!   わたしは元気です。ありがとう。

And you? Anatawa?   あなたは？

Good/ So-So. Genki desu. / maa-maa desu.   元気です。/ まあまあです。

English Phrases Japanese Phrases

Thank you (very much)! Arigatou! *2   ありがとう！

You're welcome! (for "thank you") Dou itashi mashite.   どういたしまして。

I missed you so much! Samishi katta desu. *3   さみしかったです。

What's new? Saikin dou desuka?   最近どうですか？

Nothing much Kawari nai desu.   変わりないです。

Good night! Oyasumi nasai.   おやすみなさい。

See you later! Mata atode aimashou!   またあとで会いましょう！

Good bye! Sayonara!   さようなら！

Asking for Help and Directions

I'm lost Mayotte shimai mashita.   迷ってしまいました。

Can I help you? Otetsudai shimashouka?   お手伝いしましょうか？

Can you help me? Tetsudatte kuremasuka? *4   手伝ってくれますか？

Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)? (Toire/yakkyoku) wa doko desuka?   (トイレ/薬局) はどこですか？

Go straight! then turn left/ right! Massugu itte kudasai. Soshite, hidari / migi ni magatte kudasai
English Phrases Japanese Phrases

まっすぐ行ってください。そして、 左／右にまがってください。

I'm looking for john. John wo sagashite imasu.   John を探しています。

One moment please! Chotto matte kudasai.   ちょっと待ってください。

Hold on please! (phone) Chotto matte kudasai.   ちょっと待ってください。

How much is this? Kore wa ikura desuka?   これはいくらですか？

Excuse me ...! (to ask for something) Sumimasen!   すみません！

Excuse me! ( to pass by) Sumimasen!   すみません！

Come with me! Watashi to issho ni kite kudasai.   私といっしょに来てください。

How to Introduce Yourself

Anata wa eigo/nihongo wo hanashimasu ka?

Do you speak (English/ Japanese)?
あなたは（英語／日本語）を話しますか？

Just a little. Sukoshi dake.   少しだけ。

What's your name? Namae wa nandesu ka?   名前は何ですか？

English Phrases Japanese Phrases

My name is ... Watashi no namae wa …..   私の名前は・・・

Mr.../ Mrs.…/ Miss… *5 “san” is adequate for all.   ・・・さん

Hajimemashite! or Oai dekite ureshii desu. *6

Nice to meet you!
はじめまして！／お会いできてうれしいです！

You're very kind! Anata wa totemo shinsetsu desu.   あなたはとてもしんせつです。

Where are you from? Doko no shusshin desu ka?   どこの出身ですか？

I'm from (the U.S/ Japan) Amerika/Nihon kara desu.   アメリカ／日本からです。

I'm (American) Watashi wa Amerika jin desu.   私はアメリカ人です。

Where do you live? Doko ni sun de imasu ka?   どこに住んでいますか？

I live in (the U.S/ Japan) Watashi wa amerika / nihon ni sundeimasu.

私はアメリカ／日本に住んでいます。

Did you like it here? Kokowa suki ni narimashita ka?   ここは好きになりましたか？

Japan is a wonderful country Nihon ha subarashii kuni desu.   日本は素晴らしい国です。

What do you do for a living? Osigoto wa nandesu ka?   お仕事は何ですか？

I work as a (translator/ businessman) Osigoto wa nandesu ka?   ほんやく／会社員として働いています。

English Phrases Japanese Phrases

I like Japanese Watashi wa nihongo ga suki desu.   私は日本語が好きです。

Watashi wa nihongo wo ichikagetu narrate imasu.

I've been learning Japanese for 1 month
私は日本語を一ヶ月習っています。

Oh! That's good! Sorewa iidesu ne.   それはいいですね。

How old are you? Toshi wa ikutsu desu ka?   年はいくつですか？

I'm (twenty, thirty...) years old. Watshi wa (20, 30) sai desu.   私は（２０，３０）才です。

I have to go Ikanakutewa narimasen.   行かなくてはなりません。

I will be right back! Sugu modori masu.   すぐ戻ります。

Wish Someone Something

Good luck! Ganbatte ne! *7   がんばってね！

Happy birthday! Tanjyoubi omedetou gozaimasu!   誕生日おめでとうございます！

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.

Happy new year!
あけましておめでとうございます。

Merry Christmas! Merii Kurisumasu! *8   メリークリスマス！

Congratulations! Omedetou!   おめでとう！
English Phrases Japanese Phrases

Enjoy! (for meals...) (noun, etc) wo tanoshinde kudasai.   ( ) を楽しんでください。

I'd like to visit Japan one day Ituka nihon wo otozure tai.   いつか日本を訪れたい。

John ni yoroshiku to tsutaete kudasai.

Say hi to John for me
John によろしくと伝えてください。

Bless you (when sneezing) Odaiji ni.   お大事に。

Good night and sweet dreams! Oyasumi nasai.   おやすみなさい。

Solving a Misunderstanding

I'm Sorry! (if you don't hear something) Sumimasen.   すみません。

Sorry (for a mistake) Gomenasai.   ごめんなさい。

No Problem! Daijyoubu desu.   大丈夫です。

Can You Say It Again? Mouichido itte kuremasuka?   もういちど言ってくれますか？

Can You Speak Slowly? Yukkuri shabette kuremasuka?   ゆっくりしゃべってくれますか？

Write It Down Please! Kaite kudasai.   書いてください。

I Don't Understand! Wakarimasen.   わかりません。

English Phrases Japanese Phrases

I Don't Know! Shirimasen.   知りません。

I Have No Idea. Wakarimasen.   わかりません。

Arewa nihongo de nanto iimasu ka?

What's That Called In Japanese?
あれは日本語で何といいますか？

“Omedeto” wa eigo de douiu imi desu ka?

What Does "gato" Mean In English?
Omedeto は英語でどういう意味ですか？

“Please” wa nihongo de nanto iimasu ka?

How Do You Say "Please" In Japanese?
“Please” は日本語で何と言いますか？

What Is This? Korewa nandesu ka?   これは何ですか？

My Japanese is bad. Watashi no nihongo wa heta desu.   私の日本語はへたです。

Nihonn go wo renshu suru hitsuyou ga arimasu.

I need to practice my Japanese
日本語を練習する必要があります。

Don't worry! Goshinpai naku.   ご心配なく。

Japanese Expressions and Words

Good/ Bad/ So-So. Yoi / Warui / maa-maa   よい／悪い／まあまあ

Big/ Small Ookii/Chiisai   大きい／小さい

English Phrases Japanese Phrases

Today/ Now Kyou / Ima   今日／今

Tomorrow/ Yesterday Ashita / Kinou   明日／昨日

Yes/ No Hai / iie   はい／いいえ

Here you go! (when giving something) Hai, douzo!   はい、どうぞ。

Do you like it? Suki desu ka?   好きですか？

I really like it! Honto ni suki desu.   ほんとに好きです。

Onaka ga suki masita. / Nodo ga kawaki mashita.

I'm hungry/ thirsty.
おなかが空きました。／のどがかわきました。

In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night. Asa ni, yuugata ni, yoru ni   朝に／夕方に／夜に

This/ That. Here/There Kore / Are Koko / Asoko   これ／あれ　　ここ／あそこ

Me/ You. Him/ Her. Watashi / anata Kare / Kanojyo   私／あなた　彼／彼女

Really! Honto!   ほんと！

Look! Mite！   見て！

Hurry up! Isoide!   急いで！

 English Phrases Japanese Phrases

What? Where? Nani? Doko?   何？　　どこ？

What time is it? Nanji desu ka?   何時ですか？

Jyuji desu. Gogo hichi ji sanjyu pun desu.

It's 10 o'clock. 07:30pm.
十時です。午後７時３０分です。

Give me this! Kore wo kudasai!   これをください。

Daisuki desu./ Anata wo aishite imasu. *9

I love you!
大好きです。/あなたを愛しています。

I feel sick. Choshi ga warui desu.   調子が悪いです。

I need a doctor Byouin ni ikitai.   病院に行きたい。

One, Two, Three Ichi, ni, san   いち、に、さん

Four, Five, Six Yon, go, roku   よん、ご、ろく

Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten Nana (shichi) hachi, kyuu, jyuu   なな（ひち）、はち、きゅう、じゅう

*1 This may be a kind of literary/writing expression… and it’s seldom used in conversation. But never is unnatural.
*2 Arigato and Arigato gozaimasu. There’s no big difference between them, “Arigato gozaimasu” is more polite.
*3 (Anata ga inakute) Samishi katta desu : Abbreviated Anata ga inakute.
*4 Usually we just say “Excuse me/ Sumimasen”, and “Can you help me” is included in this “Sumimasen”.
*5 ...san is a very normal way. Add after both first and family name like Koizumi san or Jyunichiro san.
*6 This sentence can directly be Oai dekite ureshii desu. If you meet person for the first time, you can say Hajimemashite.
*7 Direct translation is Kouun wo inorimasu.
*8 Christmas is not really celebrated by the Japanese and therefore Merry Christmas is not a common greeting you would hear.
*9 This is one of the Japanese language mysteries, I love you is expressed in progressive aspect like “I am loving you”. But basically it’s
seldom used. Instead, Daisuki desu is used casually.

Japanese Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

This page contains a table including the following: a list of Japanese Number both cardinal and ordinal, and how to use them. The
numbers below are written in English, Japanese pronunciation and Kanji. Make sure to check our Learn Japanese page, which contains
several lessons that might help you in your learning process.
Japanese Cardinal Numbers

Numbers in Japanese can either be written in the usual "Arabic numbers" fashion (0...9), or using kanji. 0...9 is more often used when
writing horizontally, kanji when writing vertically, although there are plenty of exceptions to both.
When using kanji to write numbers, a positional system is employed. 25 is "two ten five", 3479 is "three thousand four hundred seven
ten nine", etc. Note that there is a character and word for 10,000 (man), but not for a million. To say a million, you have to say "one
hundred ten-thousand".
Cardinal numbers are digits like 1, 2, 3, 4 … There are two ways of writing the numbers in Japanese, in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) or in
Chinese numerals ( 一 , 二 , 三 ). The Arabic numerals are more often used in horizontal writing, and the Chinese numerals are mor e
common in vertical writing.

English Japanese Cardinal Numbers in Romaji Kanji

0 rei [rei] 零

1 Iti [ichi] 一

2 ni 二
 English Japanese Cardinal Numbers in Romaji Kanji

3 san 三

4 Shi 四

5 go 五

6 roku 六

7 nana 七

8 hati [hachi] 八

9 kyu 九

10 jyu 十

11 jyu ichi 十一

20 ni jyu 二十

100 hyaku 百

Here are some examples of some other numbers which will give you an idea on how the structure of several numbers is made:
 English Japanese Cardinal Numbers in Romaji Kanji

17 jyu nana, jyu shichi 十七

151 hyaku go-jyu ichi 百五十一

302 san-byaku ni 三百二

469 yon-hyaku roku-jyu kyu 四百六十九

2025 ni-sen ni-jyu go 二千二十五

Japanese Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are used to determine a position or a rank, for example: first, second, third ... please look at the table below:
Katakana's main feature is short straight strokes and angular corners, that’s why Katakana is considered the simplest of the Japanese
scripts.

English Japanese Cardinal Numbers in Romaji Kanji

first tuitati 1日

second hutuka 2日

third mikka 3日
English Japanese Cardinal Numbers in Romaji Kanji

fourth yokka 4日

fifth ituka 5日

sixth muika 6日

seventh nanoka 7日

eight youka 8日

ninth kokonoka 9日

tenth touka 10 日

eleventh zyuuitiniti 11 日

twentieth hatuka 20 日

hundredth hyakka 100 日