Japanese Phrases English Phrases Japanese Phrases

English Greetings Hi! Good morning! Good evening! Welcome! (to greet someone) How are you? I'm fine, thanks! And you? Good/ So-So. Thank you (very much)! You're welcome! (for "thank you") I missed you so much! What's new? Nothing much Good night! See you later! Good bye! Asking for Help and Directions I'm lost Can I help you? Can you help me? Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)? Go straight! then turn left/ right! I'm looking for john.

Japanese Greetings: Yaa. *1

*1 This may be a kind of literary/writing expression and its seldom used in conversation. But never is unnatural.

Ohayou gozaimasu. Konbanw Youkoso irasshai mashita. Ogenki desuka? Watashi wa genki desu. Arigato! Anatawa? Genki desu. / maa-maa desu. / Arigatou! *2
*2 Arigato and Arigato gozaimasu. Theres no big difference between them, Arigato gozaimasu is more polite.

Dou itashi mashite. Samishi katta desu. *3

*3 (Anata ga inakute) Samishi katta desu : Abbreviated Anata ga inakute.

Saikin dou desuka? Kawari nai desu. Oyasumi nasai. Mata atode aimashou! Sayonara!

Mayotte shimai mashita. Otetsudai shimashouka? Tetsudatte kuremasuka? *4

*4 Usually we just say Excuse me/ Sumimasen, and Can you help me is included in this Sumimasen.

(Toire/yakkyoku) wa doko desuka? (/) Massugu itte kudasai. Soshite, hidari / migi ni magatte kudasai John wo sagashite imasu. John

One moment please!

Chotto matte kudasai.

Hold on please! (phone) How much is this? Excuse me ...! (to ask for something)

Chotto matte kudasai. Kore wa ikura desuka? Sumimasen!

English Phrases Excuse me! ( to pass by) Come with me! How to Introduce Yourself

Japanese Phrases Sumimasen! Watashi to issho ni kite kudasai.

Do you speak (English/ Japanese)? Just a little. What's your name? My name is ... Mr.../ Mrs./ Miss Nice to meet you! You're very kind! Where are you from? I'm from (the U.S/ Japan) I'm (American) Where do you live? I live in (the U.S/ Japan) Did you like it here? Japan is a wonderful country What do you do for a living? I work as a (translator/ businessman) I like Japanese I've been learning Japanese for 1 month Oh! That's good! How old are you? I'm (twenty, thirty...) years old. I have to go I will be right back! Wish Someone Something Good luck! Happy birthday!

Anata wa eigo/nihongo wo hanashimasu ka? Sukoshi dake. Namae wa nandesu ka? Watashi no namae wa .. *5 san is adequate for all. *5 ...san is a very normal way. Add after both first and family name like Koizumi san or Jyunichiro san. Hajimemashite! or Oai dekite ureshii desu. *6*6 This sentence can directly be Oai dekite ureshii desu. If
you meet person for the first time, you can say Hajimemashite.

Anata wa totemo shinsetsu desu. Doko no shusshin desu ka? Amerika/Nihon kara desu. Watashi wa Amerika jin desu. Doko ni sun de imasu ka? Watashi wa amerika / nihon ni sundeimasu. Kokowa suki ni narimashita ka? Nihon ha subarashii kuni desu. Osigoto wa nandesu ka? Osigoto wa nandesu ka? Watashi wa nihongo ga suki desu. Watashi wa nihongo wo ichikagetu narrate imasu. Sorewa iidesu ne. Toshi wa ikutsu desu ka? Watshi wa (20, 30) sai desu. Ikanakutewa narimasen. Sugu modori masu.

Ganbatte ne! *7

*7 Direct translation is Kouun wo inorimasu.

Tanjyoubi omedetou gozaimasu!

How to Introduce Yourself Happy new year! Merry Christmas! Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu. Merii Kurisumasu! *8 *8 Christmas is not really celebrated by the Japanese and therefore Merry Christmas is
not a common greeting you would hear.

Congratulations! Enjoy! (for meals...) I'd like to visit Japan one day Say hi to John for me Bless you (when sneezing) Good night and sweet dreams! Solving a Misunderstanding I'm Sorry! (if you don't hear something) Sorry (for a mistake) No Problem! Can You Say It Again? Can You Speak Slowly? Write It Down Please! I Don't Understand! I Don't Know! I Have No Idea. What's That Called In Japanese? What Does "gato" Mean In English? How Do You Say "Please" In Japanese? What Is This? My Japanese is bad. I need to practice my Japanese Don't worry! Japanese Expressions and Words Good/ Bad/ So-So. Big/ Small Today/ Now

Omedetou! (noun, etc) wo tanoshinde kudasai. ( ) Ituka nihon wo otozure tai. John ni yoroshiku to tsutaete kudasai. Odaiji ni. Oyasumi nasai.

Sumimasen. Gomenasai. Daijyoubu desu. Mouichido itte kuremasuka? Yukkuri shabette kuremasuka? Kaite kudasai. Wakarimasen. Shirimasen. Wakarimasen. Arewa nihongo de nanto iimasu ka? Omedeto wa eigo de douiu imi desu ka? Omedeto Please wa nihongo de nanto iimasu ka? Korewa nandesu ka? Watashi no nihongo wa heta desu. Nihonn go wo renshu suru hitsuyou ga arimasu. Goshinpai naku.

Yoi / Warui / maa-maa Ookii/Chiisai Kyou / Ima

How to Introduce Yourself Tomorrow/ Yesterday Yes/ No Here you go! (when giving something) Do you like it? I really like it! I'm hungry/ thirsty. In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night. This/ That. Here/There Me/ You. Him/ Her. Really! Look! Hurry up! What? Where? What time is it? It's 10 o'clock. 07:30pm. Give me this! I love you! I feel sick. I need a doctor One, Two, Three Four, Five, Six Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten Ashita / Kinou Hai / iie Hai, douzo! Suki desu ka? Honto ni suki desu. Onaka ga suki masita. / Nodo ga kawaki mashita. Asa ni, yuugata ni, yoru ni Kore / Are Koko / Asoko Watashi / anata Kare / Kanojyo Honto! Mite Isoide! Nani? Doko? Nanji desu ka? Jyuji desu. Gogo hichi ji sanjyu pun desu. Kore wo kudasai! Daisuki desu./ Anata wo aishite imasu. *9 *9 This is one of the Japanese language mysteries, I love you
is expressed in progressive aspect like I am loving you. But basically its seldom used. Instead, Daisuki desu is used casually.

Choshi ga warui desu. Byouin ni ikitai. Ichi, ni, san Yon, go, roku Nana (shichi) hachi, kyuu, jyuu

I hope the content of this page was useful to you, and that you learned some Japanese phrases, expressions and words. Make sure to memorize them to be able to use them in your daily conversation. If you want to practice what you have learnt here, go to Language Test.