Are you planning to visit or move to Japan? Or do you just have an interest in the country and culture and would like to learn Japanese? Start picking up the basics of the language with our guide to the most important words and phrases for beginners.
We focus on the best phrases people travelling to Japan can learn and we only include the most commonly used phrases you are likely to need when you start speaking the language and interacting with people. We have also included some top tips for progressing your learning as it can be quite daunting when first deciding to study Japanese.
How Hard is it to Learn Japanese?
The Japanese language is one of the most difficult to learn especially for native English speakers. Compared to European languages like Spanish, French and German, Japanese requires more effort and patience to grasp.
In Japanese there are three separate writing systems, an opposite sentence structure to English, and a complicated grammar system. But, don’t let this put you off, although reading and writing fluently in Japanese can be a challenge, speaking the language can be fairly easy to pick up with some practise.
Useful Basic Japanese Phrases For Tourists
Japan is an incredible country to visit with ancient tourist attractions, super modern cities, friendly people and really tasty food.
If you are going to be visiting Japan for the first time, we highly recommend trying to learn some of the most important basic phrases, not only will local people be amazed and appreciate you trying to converse in their language, it will also make your experience in Japan easier and more enjoyable. Especially as not many people in Japan speak English and other languages.
Check out our list of the best Japanese words and phrases to learn for beginners below.
Greetings
These are some basic greetings tourists should know in Japan.
Hello – Konnichiwa (こんにちは)
Good morning – Ohayō gozaimasu (おはようございます。)
Good evening – Konbanwa (こんばんは。)
Good night – O-yasumi nasai (おやすみなさい。)
Conversational
Japanese people are very friendly and if you start a conversation they will likely be very happy to see you trying to speak their language. Take your time and if you don’t understand their replies, just say.
How are you? – Ogenki desu ka? (お元気ですか)
I’m good/well, thanks – Genki desu (元気です)
And you? – san mo? (さんも？)
I’m very glad to meet you – Oaidekite ureshī desu (おあいできて うれしいです。)
It’s been a long time since we have seen each other – Ohisashiburi desu ne (お久しぶりですね)
Do you speak English? – Eigo o hanasemasu ka (えいごをはなせますか。)
Does anyone here speak English? – Koko ni eigo o hanaseru hito wa imasu ka (ここに えいごおはなせるひとはいますか。)
I only speak a little Japanese – Watashi wa nihongo ga sukoshi shika hanasemasen (わたしは にほんごがすこししか はなせません。)
What is your name? – O-namae wa nan desu ka (おなまえはなんですか。)
My name is Gabriela – Watashi no namae wa Gabriela desu (私の名前はガブリエラです)
I don’t understand – Wakarimasen (わかりません。)
What did you say? – Nante iimashita ka (なんていいましたか。)
Can you speak more slowly? – Motto yukkuri hanashite kudasai (もっと ゆっくりはなしてください。)
I understand you – Yoku wakarimasu (よくわかります。)
Commonly Used Basic Japanese Phrases
These are some of the words and phrases you really need to memorise as you will use them a lot:
Yes – Hai (はい。)
No – Iie (いいえ。)
Please – O-negai shimasu (おねがいします。)
Thank you – Arigatō (ありがとう。)
You’re welcome – Dōitashimashite (どういたしまして。)
Excuse me – Sumimasen (すみません。)
I’m sorry – Gomennasai (ごめんなさい。)
Hotels
I’d like to check in – Chekku in o onegai shimasu (チェックインをお願いします。)
Do you have wifi? – WI-FI ga arimasu ka (Wi-Fiがありますか。)
What time is check-out? – Chekku outo wa nanji desu ka (チェックアウトは何時ですか。)
What time is (breakfast / dinner)? – Asagohan / bangohan wa nanji desu ka (朝御飯／晩御飯は何時ですか。)
Do you have laundry service? – Randori sabisu wa arimasu ka (ランドリーサービスはありますか。/ )
Can you translate this to English, please? – Kore o eigo ni yakushite kudasai (これを英語に訳してください)
Food & Drink
Water – Omizu (おみず – お水)
Cola – Kôra (コーラ)
Coffee – Kôhî (コーヒー)
Tea – Ocha (おちゃ – お茶)
Alcohol – O-sake (お酒)
Sake – Nihonshu (日本酒)
Pint – Painto (パイント)
Another pint – Hoka no painto (ほかのパイント)
Red wine – Aka Wain (あかワイン – 赤ワイン)
White wine – Shiro Wain (しろワイン – 白ワイン)
1 glass – Ippai (いっぱい)
2 glasses – Nihai (にはい)
Restaurants & Eating Out
Non-smoking seat – Kinen Seki (禁煙席)
The menu, please – menyuu, kudasai (メニューください)
How much does this cost? – Kore wa ikura desu ka? (これはいくらですか?)
What is this? – Kore wa nan desu ka? (これは何ですか?)
I would like… – … o onegaishimasu (… お願いします)
Chef’s recommendation – Omakase de (お任せで)
An expression of gratitude for the meal you’re about to eat – Itadakimasu (いただきます)
Cheers! – Kanpai (かんぱい)
Can I have the bill, please? – Okanjou wo onegai shimasu (お勘定をお願いします)
I’d like to pay the bill (by cash / card) – Genkin / kado de shiharai o shitai desu (現金／カードで支払いをしたいです。)
Days of the Week
Sunday – Nichiyôbi (にちようび – 日曜日)
Monday – Getsuyôbi (げつようび – 月曜日)
Tuesday – Kayôbi (かようび – 火曜日)
Wednesday – Suiyôbi (すいようび – 水曜日)
Thursday – Mokuyôbi (もくようび – 木曜日)
Friday – Kinyôbi (きんようび – 金曜日)
Saturday – Doyôbi (どようび – 土曜日)
Time
What time is it now? – Ima Nanji Desu ka? (今何時ですか)
At what time? – Nanji ni? (何時に？)
Morning – Asa (朝)
Today – Kyou (今日)
Tomorrow – Ashita (明日)
I want to go to… – … ni Ikitai (__に行きたい)
Transport & Directions
Ticket – Kippu (切符)
Bullet train – Shinkansen (新幹線)
Which train? – Dono Densha? (どの電車？)
Taxi, please – Takushi o yonde kudasai (・タクシーを呼んでください。)
Is there an ATM? – ATM wa arimasu ka (ATMはありますか。)
Do you have a map? – Chizu wa arimasu ka (地図はありますか。)
Where is the nearest station? – Eki wa doko desu ka (駅はどこですか。)
Hopefully our featured phrases has been helpful and provided a good base for studying more of the language. There are lots of language apps and classes available to book in Japan and around the world to really progress the pace of your knowledge. Japan really is a special country to experience with some of the friendliest people in the world, everyone should try to visit at least once.
