The good news is that you don’t have to spend months or even weeks learning Japanese – all you need to know is a few common (and very handy) phrases that can be picked up in minutes and mastered in days.
Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be throwing these out like a boss. And your new Japanese friends will be like, whoa.
Note: The polite enders desu and masu are pronounced “des” as in “desk” and “mas” as in “mask.” Well, unless you’re an anime character. The hiragana ha (は) particle is pronounced “wa.”
1. Hello!
Ohayo (morning)
おはようKonnichiwa (afternoon)
こんにちはKonbanwa (evening)
こんばんは
2. That’s fine, or I’m OK
だいじょうぶです。
Daijoubu desu.
- Let someone know you’re ok (’Tis but a flesh wound!)
- Politely decline something (the Japanese equivalent of “Oh I’m fine, thanks.”)
For example, if the lady behind the counter asks if you’d like to have your purchases gift wrapped, you can politely decline by saying daijoubudesu.
3. Thank you
ありがとう ございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.
4. Excuse me, sorry, thanks
すみません。
Sumimasen.
If you only learn one phrase to use in Japan, this should be it. This phrase is magic. You can use it in almost any situation: Accidentally step on someone’s foot? Sumimasen! Trying to get the server’s attention? Sumimasen! Someone holds the lift door for you? Sumimasen! The maid at the cafe serves your drink? Sumimasen! Don’t know what to say? You guessed it – sumimasen.
Sumimasen is essentially acknowledgment that you’re troubling or inconveniencing someone. So the legendary Japanese politeness is somewhat true, even if it’s superficial. You can (and should) say sumimasen before any of the phrases below.
5. Where is (the train station)?
(えき) は どこですか?
(Eki) wa doko desu ka?
6. How much is this?
これ は いくら ですか?
Kore wa ikura desu ka?
7. May I have the bill please?
おかいけい おねがいします。
Okaikei onegai shimasu.
Use this phrase at places like izakayas that ask you to pay at your seat, but if you find a bill on your table, there’s no need to ask. Just take it straight to the cashier.
On a side note, onegai shimasu is another very handy phrase. Think of it as “please.” You can use it whenever you request something, like the bill. Just replace the word okaikei in the example above to whatever you need, like “Sumimasen, omizu onegai shimasu.” (Can I get some water please?)

8. Does this train go to (Shibuya)?
この でんしゃ は (しぶや) いきますか?
Kono densha wa (Shibuya) ikimasuka?
9. Do you have (an English menu)?
(えいご の めにゅう) は ありますか?
(Eigo no menyuu) wa arimasuka?
This phrase is great in restaurants too – if the menu is all in Japanese, don’t do it Bruce Lee style and randomly poke at the menu. Instead, ask them if they have something you’d like to eat, like chicken (tori), fish (sakana) or strawberry ramen (sutoberii ramen). Just replace the words in the brackets with anything you like.
So there you have it, some simple Japanese phrases for your next visit here. This list is by no means definitive, and there’s plenty more that we didn’t cover, so it’s over to you – what other phrases do you think would be useful while you’re in Japan? Share them in the comments! And if there’s anything you’d like to know how to say in Japanese, we’ll do our best to translate.
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