Perhaps the biggest worry tourists face when travelling to Japan is the language – how are you expected to get by in a country with three different alphabets, two of which have 50 characters and the other over 3,000!
Overview
While many Japanese people know rudimentary English and the standard of English in Japan has been rising in recent years, there is always the fear of a misunderstanding in communication throwing your plans off kilter. But fear not – just keep this guide of survival phrases handy and you should have no problem!
Top 10 Japanese Phrases
| Phrase | Japanese | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | こんにちは | Konnichiwa |
| Excuse me | すみません | Sumimasen |
| Where is _______? | ＿＿＿はどこですか。 | ____ wa doko desu ka. |
| How much is this? | これはいくらですか？ | Kore wa ikura desu ka? |
| Can you speak English? | 英語を話せますか？ | Eigo wo hanase masu ka? |
| Please take me to _____. | ＿＿＿に連れて行ってください。 | _____ ni tsurete itte kudasai |
| May I have a map? | 地図をください。 | Chizu wo kudasai. |
| What do you recommend? | おすすめは？ | Osusume wa? |
| Does this train/bus go to _____? | この電車／バスは＿＿＿に行きますか？ | Kono densha/bus wa ____ ni ikimasu ka? |
| Thank you. | ありがとうございます。 | Arigatou gozaimasu. |
Greetings
Let’s start with the basics - get off on the right foot and leave a good impression by mastering hello, please, and thank you! And don’t panic if they talk to you in Japanese – use some of the phrases below and you’ll be fine!
| Phrase | Japanese | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | こんにちは | Konnichiwa |
| Good bye | さようなら | Sayounara |
| Good morning | おはようございます | Ohayou gozaimasu |
| Good evening | こんばんは | Konbanwa |
| Good night | おやすみ | Oyasumi |
| Yes | はい | Hai |
| No | いいえ | Iie |
| Excuse me | すみません | Sumimasen |
| Please | お願いします | Onegai shimasu |
| Thank you | ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu |
| Thank you in advance | よろしくお願いします | Yoroshiku onegai shimasu |
| You're welcome | どういたしまして | Dou itashi mashite |
| Sorry | ごめんなさい | Gomennasai |
| Sorry (more formally) | 申し訳ありません | Moushi wake arimasen |
| I understand | わかります | Wakari mashita |
| I don't understand | わかりません | Wakari masen |
| That's okay/I'm okay | 大丈夫です | Daijoubu desu. |
| My name is _______. | 私の名前は＿＿＿です | Watashi no namae wa _____ desu. |
| What is your name? | あなたのお名前は何ですか | Anata no onamae wa nandesuka. |
| Mr./Mrs./Ms. ________ | ＿＿＿＿さん | ______ san |
| How are you? | お元気ですか？ | Ogenki desuka? |
| I’m fine. | 元気です | Genki desu |
| Nice to meet you. | 初めまして | Hajime mashite. |
| Zero, one, two, three, four | ゼロ、一、二、三、四 | Zero, ichi, ni, san, yon |
| Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten | 五、六、七、八、九、十 | Go, roku, nana, hachi, kyuu, jyuu |
| Do you speak English? | 英語を話せますか？ | Eigo wo hanase masuka? |
| I don’t understand Japanese. | 日本語がわかりません。 | Nihongo ga wakari masen. |
| Could you repeat that please? | もう一度お願いします。 | Mou ichido onegai shimasu. |
| Could you speak slower please? | もう少しゆっくりお願いします。 | Mou sukoshi yukkuri onegaishimasu. |
Getting around
It goes without saying that Japan is full of wonderful tourist sites, from temples and shrines to modern skyscrapers. But at the same time, Japan’s expansive public transportation system, while definitely impressive, can be completely confusing for first time tourists, even with the English signs and announcements. While many taxi and bus drivers and station staff know basic English, get to your desired location by learning these phrases!
| Phrase | Japanese | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| I want to go here. | ここに行きたいです | Koko ni ikitai desu |
| Where do you recommend? | おすすめはどこですか | Osusume wa doko desuka |
| Please take me to _____. | ＿＿＿に連れて行ってください | ____ ni tsurete itte kudasai |
| How do I go to ____? | ＿＿＿にはどうやって行けますか | ____ ni wa dou yatte ikemasuka |
| Turn left/right | 左／右に曲がる | Hidari/migi ni magaru |
| Straight | まっすぐ | Massugu |
| Where is _______? | ＿＿＿はどこですか | ____ wa doko desuka |
| Bathroom | トイレ | Toire |
| Convenience store | コンビニ | Konbini |
| Train station | 駅 | Eki |
| Bus stop | バス停 | Basu tei |
| Airport | 空港 | Kuukou |
| Hospital | 病院 | Byouin |
| Embassy | 大使館 | Taishikan |
| Police box | 交番 | Kouban |
| Bank | 銀行 | Ginkou |
| How long does it take to get there? / How much will it cost to get there? | どれぐらいかかりますか | Dore gurai kakari masuka |
| Is it within walking distance? | 歩いて行けますか | Aruite ikemasuka |
| Is it near from here? | ここから近いですか | Koko kara chikai desuka |
| Does this train/bus go to ____? | この電車／バスは＿＿＿に行きますか | Kono densha/bus wa _____ ni ikimasuka? |
| May I have a map please? | 地図をください | Chizu wo kudasai |
| Reservation | 予約 | Yoyaku |
| Can you take a picture for me please? | 写真をとってもらえますか | Shashin wo totte morae masuka |
Shopping
Traditional intricate ornaments, quirky electronic gadgets, authentic powdered tea leaves, rare limited edition Kit-Kats, Uniqlo – the list of potential souvenirs for yourself and for others are endless when you’re in Japan. Master these useful phrases for shopping in Japan and go on a shopping spree!
| Phrase | Japanese | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Store | 店 | Mise |
| Money | お金 | Okane |
| I want this. | これが欲しいです | Kore ga hoshii desu |
| I want _____. | ＿＿が欲しいです | ____ ga hoshii desu |
| Do you have ____? | ＿＿はありますか | ____ wa ari masuka |
| How much is this? | これはいくらですか | Kore wa ikura desuka |
| Cheap | 安い | Yasui |
| Expensive | 高い | Takai |
| Free | 無料 | Muryou |
| Can I pay with credit card? | カードで払えますか。 | Kaado de harae masuka |
| Clothes | 洋服 | Youfuku |
| Shoes | 靴 | Kutsu |
| Electronics | 電子機器 | Denshi kiki |
| Souvenirs | お土産 | Omiyage |
| Duty-free goods | 免税品 | Menzei hin |
| What products do you recommend? | おすすめの商品は何ですか | Osusume no shouhin wa nandesuka |
| What time are you open until? | いつまで営業してますか | Itsu made eigyou shite masuka |
| May I have a receipt please. | 領収書をください | Ryoushuu sho wo kudasai |
| Where can I exchange money? | 両替はどこでできますか | Ryougae wa doko de dekimasuka |
Dining
Don’t limit yourself to fast food restaurants or convenience stores because you don’t know the language - you’re missing out on way too much! Look at the list of dining phrases below and you’ll find out that ordering food in Japan is much easier than you think!
| Phrase | Japanese | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant | レストラン | Resutoran |
| Where is a good to eat? | おすすめのレストランは？ | Osusume no resutoran wa? |
| What do you recommend? (Menu) | おすすめは？ | Osusume wa? |
| Food | 食べ物 | Tabemono |
| Drink | 飲み物 | Nomimono |
| Meat | 肉 | Niku |
| Rice | ご飯 | Gohan |
| Noodles | 麺 | Men |
| Vegetables | 野菜 | Yasai |
| Water | （お）水 | (O) mizu |
| Chopsticks | (お）箸 | (O) hashi |
| May I have this? | これをください | Kore wo kudasai |
| (before eating) | いただきます | Itadakimasu |
| (after eating) | ごちそうさまでした | Gochisousamadeshita |
| This tastes good! | おいしいです! | Oishii desu! |
| Do you have a vegetarian menu? | ベジタリアン用のメニューはありますか | Bejitarian you no menyuu wa arimasu ka |
| May I pay? | お会計をお願いします | Okaikei wo onegai shimasu |
