(おはよう is from はやい early. おはようございます is like "You are early.") こんにちは。= Good afternoon./Hello. (Used in a daytime) (こんにち = today, は is topic marker. こんにちは is a short of something like "How are you TODAY?") こんばんは。 = Good evening. (こんばん = this evening/tonight, こんばんは is like "How are you TONIGHT?") では、また。= See you again. (では = well then, また = again) じゃ、また。= See you again. (じゃ = casual of では) じゃあ(ね)。= See you. (more casual) Q: (お)げんきですか。(お = polite) = How are you? A: ありがとうございます。げんきです。= Thank you. I'm fine. ("(お)げんきですか" is not used often, because "こんにちは" and "こんばんは" include "How are you?") どうぞ。= Please. (Used when you offer something. ex. Here you are. Go ahead.) すみません。= I'm sorry. Excuse me. Pardon? ちょっとまってください。= Just a moment, please. (ちょっと = a little, まってください = please wait) Q: だいじょうぶですか。= OK? A: だいじょうぶです。= OK はい。= Yes. いいえ。 = No. Useful Daily Expressions (Roma-ji) Ohayou gozaimas.= Good morning. ("ohayou" is from "hayai" early. "Ohayou gozaimasu" is like "You are early.") Konnichiwa.= Good afternoon./Hello. (Used in a daytime) (Konnichi = today, "wa" is topic marker. "Konnichiwa" is a short of something like "How are you TODAY?") Kombanwa.= Good evening. ("n" becomes "m" before P, B, M) (komban = this evening/tonight, "Kombanwa" is like "How are you TONIGHT?") Dewa, mata.= See you again. (dewa = well then, mata = again) Ja, mata.= See you again. (ja = casual of "dewa") Jaa(ne).= See you. (more casual) Q: (O)genki desu ka.(o = polite) = How are you? A: Arigatou gozaimasu. Genki desu.= Thank you. I'm fine. ("(O)genki desu ka" is not used often, because "Konnichi wa" and "Kombanwa" include "How are you?") Douzo.= Please. (Used when you offer something. ex. Here you are. Go ahead.) Sumimasen.= I'm sorry. Excuse me. Pardon? Chotto matte kudasai.= Just a moment, please. (chotto = a little, mattekudasai = please wait) Q: Daijoubu desu ka.= OK? A: Daijoubu desu.= OK Hai.= Yes. Iie.= No.