Most Useful Japanese Phrases

Are you heading off on a plane to visit gorgeous Japan? Want to have all the basic phrases practiced before you land? Maybe you just want to brush up on your essential Japanese. Whatever your reason for learning Japanese, you’ll make your life easier and make natives happy when you whip out these most useful Japanese phrases.

In all honesty, you don’t need to be a master of the Japanese language to be able to communicate with local. But it will most definitely improve your experience overall. 

Imagine the last time you spoke to someone who wasn’t fluent in your native language. You appreciated that they were learning and trying didn’t you? It’s the same when you visit Japan and try out these phrases in everyday situations yourself.

Let’s get started with these phrases and where you’re most likely to need them…

Being Polite & Greeting People

Hello - Konnichiwa こんにちは

Thank you - Arigatou Gozaimasu ありがとうございます

Excuse me - Sumimasen すみません

I would like … please - __ o Kudasai __をください

Thank you for the meal - Itadakimasu いただきます

Stop please - Tomete Kudasai 止めてください

I want to go to… - __ ni Ikitai __に行きたい

Essential Questions

Where is…? - __ wa Doko Desu ka? __はどこですか

Which train? - Dono Densha? どの電車？

Where is the bathroom? - O-tearai wa doko desu ka? お手洗いはどこですか？

Where is the pharmacy?-  Yakkyoku wa doko desu ka? 薬局はどこですか。

やっきょくはどこですか。

How much is it? -  Ikuradesuka? いくらですか

Do you have wifi? - WiFi arimasuka? WiFiありますか

Are you ok? - Genkidesuka? / Genkidesu げんきですか？

When? - Itsudesuka? いつですか

Why? - Doushite? どうして

All About Time

What time is it? - Ima Nanji Desu ka? 今何時ですか

At what time? - Nanji ni? 何時に？

Good morning  - Ohayo  おはよう

Today  - Kyou 今日

Tomorrow - Ashita 明日

Once again - Mouyikkai もういっかい

Goodnight - Oyasumi おやすみ

Ready For Japan?

With all of those polite greetings, essential questions and time-related phrases, you should be feeling ready to take on Japan!

If you’re still not feeling confident in your Japanese, or you just want to feel a little more fluent before your big trip, try connecting with a native speaker. With Idyoma you can get matched with a native Japanese speaker who also wants to learn English! Speak casually together through the app and learn by example. Download the Idyoma app here.