If you are someone who is thinking about visiting Japan for your studies, vacation, work or any other reason, knowing some of the common Japanese phrases can be very helpful to make your time there more fun and travel easier. In this post, I will share with you some of the most common words to add into your vocabulary so that you can navigate your stay in Japan smoothly. So, let’s get started!
1. Konnichiwa (こんにちは) – Hello
The number one phrase that you must remember when visiting Japan is to say Hello in Japanese. When you meet someone or introduce yourself, starting your sentence with Konnichiwa can be a very good start to make new connections.
2. Arigatou gozaimas (ありがとうございます) – Thank you
Another very important phrase that you must have in your vocabulary while visiting Japan or interacting with Japanese people is Arigatou gozaimas, which is used to show gratitude or say thankyou to someone. Used very frequently, you will hear this phrase a lot. So make sure you say thankyou in Japanese to the people who are making your stay in Japan fun and worthwhile.
3. Sumimasen (すみません) – Excuse me/I’m sorry
Now if you want to say excuse me or I’m sorry in Japanese, you can say Sumimasen. This word is very helpful for casually apologizing or saying excuse me.
4. Wakarimasen (わかりません) – I don’t understand
When you don’t understand a country’s language well, you can often get confused and misunderstood. So, it’s always better to communicate directly when you do not understand something. Thus, to express that you don’t completely understand something you can say Wakarimasen and let the other person make things easier for you to understand.
5. Eigo ga hanasemasu ka? (英語が話せますか?) – Do you speak English?
When travelling to a country where people speak a foreign language, it’s always a blessing to find someone who can communicate with you in a language that you both understand. So, English being a language that is kind of universal it’s always better to ask someone Eigo ga hanasemasu ka?, to know whether they understand English and help you build a deeper connection.
6. Kore wa nan des ka? (これは何ですか?) – What is this?
To ask about something, like a dish, a clothing item, or anything you are curious to know about, you can use the phrase “Kore wa nan des ka?” which means “what is this?” This phrase is used very often in conversations and knowing its meaning you can start your conversation with Japanese people easily.
7. Toire wa doko des ka? (トイレはどこですか?) – Where is the bathroom?
“Toire wa doko des ka”, is a phrase that every traveller must know. This phrase means where is the bathroom and is an essential sentence to know.
8. Oishii des! (おいしいです!) – It’s delicious!
To show your enthusiasm while having a delicious meal and show your gratitude and appreciation, it’s always better to say Oishii des! Saying this helps you express your gratitude and also lets the other person understand that you are enjoying their food and culture. So, never shy away from complimenting whenever you can.
9. Ikura desu ka? (いくらですか?) – How much is it?
While travelling and exploring Japan, it’s natural for you to get something to eat or buy something as a souvenir. So, to ask for the price of something you can say “Ikura des ka?”, which means “how much is it?” and will help you navigate your shopping experience in markets of Japan.
10. Sayounara (さようなら) – Goodbye
Another word that you should know is the word for goodbye, which is “sayounara”. It is mostly used to say goodbye when parting ways for a longer duration. To say a casual bye you can just say “ja mata”, which means “see you later”.
A list of Vocabulary for quick reading:
- Ohayou gozaimasu (おはようございます) – Good morning
- Konbanwa (こんばんは) – Good evening
- Onegaishimasu (お願いします) – Please
- Hai (はい) – Yes
- Iie (いいえ) – No
- Eki wa doko desu ka? (駅はどこですか?) – Where is the station?
- Mizu kudasai (水ください) – Water please
- Bejitarian desu (ベジタリアンです) – I am vegetarian
- Kanpai (かんぱい) – Cheers!
- Kore wo kudasai (これをください) – This please
- Takai desu (高いです) – That’s expensive
- Yasui desu (安いです) – That’s cheap
- Itadakimasu (いただきます) – Said before eating
- Otsukaresama desu (お疲れ様です) – Good work/Thank you for your effort
- Daijoubu desu (大丈夫です) – It’s okay/I’m fine Wakarimashita (分かりました) – I understand Subarashii (素晴らしい) – Wonderful Gomennasai (ごめんなさい) – I’m sorry (casual) Mata ne (またね) – See you later (casual)
So, these were some of the basic words and phrases for you to get started with the Japanese language before you visit japan. We hope you found this blog post valuable. But we highly recommend you to learn basic level Japanese to make your trip to Japan even more memorable and wonderful. You can read more such blog posts here on our website or understand more about Japan and its culture on our YouTube channel Nihongomax.
