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Useful Japanese phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Japanese. Click on the English phrases to see them in many
other languages.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, f = said by women, >f = said to women
English
Welcome

Constructed scripts

(konnichiwa)
(ossu) - used between close male friends
(moshi moshi) - on phone

How are you?

(o genki desu ka)

I'm fine, thanks. And you?

(hai, genki desu. anata wa?)

(o kagesama de genki desu)

Long time no see

(hisashiburi)
(o hisashiburi desu ne)

What's your name?

? (o-namae wa nan desu ka)

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Pleased to meet you

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(Have a good journey)

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(ykoso)

Hello

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(Japanese)

Response
Where's the toilet?
This gentleman/lady will pay for
everything
Would you like to dance with
me?

... (... da) (inf)

... (... desu) (frm)
(Shusshin wa doko desu ka?)
(Dochira kara desu ka?) - frm
((watashi wa) ... shusshin desu)
(hajimemashite)

(hajimemashite. dzo yoroshiku) reply

(oaidekite ureshii desu)
/ (ohay gozaimasu)
/ (ohay)
/ (konnichiwa)
/ (konbanwa)
(oyasumi nasai)
(oyasumi)
(saynara)
(ittekimasu)
- 'I'll be back' - you are leaving
(itterasshai)
- 'come back soon' - you are staying
(j mata ne) - see you later
! (gokon o inorimasu) - frm
(gambatte ne) - inf
(Yoi ichinichi o)
(yoi ryok o)
(gokigen y - Goodbye / Good luck)
(itte irasshai - Go and come back)
(ichiroheian o inoru)
- I wish you a smooth road (old fashioned)
! (sumimasen)
(ikura desu ka?)
! (gomen nasai)
(dmo)
(arigat)
(arigat gozaimasu)
(dmo arigat)
(dmo arigat gozaimasu)
/ (d itashimashite)
(benjo wa doko desu ka?)
(toire wa doko desu ka?)
(tearai wa doko desu ka?)

(konohito ga zembu haraimasu)

(isshoni odorimasenka?)

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I love you

(suki desu)
(suki da)
(suki dayo)
(suki yo) f
(daisuki desu)
(aishiteru yo)
(aishiteru wa) >f

Get well soon

(odaiji ni)

Language difficulties
Do you understand?

(wakarimasu ka?) - frm

I understand

(wakarimasu)
(wakaru) inf

I don't understand

(wakarimasen) - frm
(wakaranai) - inf

I understood

(wakarimashta) - frm

Please speak more slowly

(yukkuri hanashite kudasai)

(yukkuri itte kudasai)

Please write it down

(kaite kudasai)
(kaite itadakemasu ka)

Please say that again

(m ichido, itte kudasai)

Do you speak Japanese?

(Nihongo o hanashimasu ka?)

(Nihongo wa hanasemasu ka?)
(Nihongo wa dekimasu ka?)

Yes, a little

(Hai, hanashimasu)
(Hai, hanasemasu)
(Hai, dekimasu)

How do you say ...

in Japanese?
I don't speak Japanese
Do you speak English?
Does anyone
speak English?

...
(... wa nihongo de nanto masu ka?)
(Nihongo o hanasemasen)
(Eigo wa dekimasu ka?)
(Eigo no hanaseru hito wa imasen
ka)

(dare ka, eigo ga hanasemasu ka?)

Sorry, I didn't
understand that
What did you say?
Can you translate
it for me?
What does this mean?
How do you pronounce that?

(sumimasen. wakarimasen deshita)

(nan te iimashita ka?)

(yakushite kudasai)

(kore wa diu imi desu ka)

(kore wa donna f ni hatsuon shimasu ka)

In the hotel
There's a problem
in the room
There's no hot water
The tap/faucet is leaking
The drain is blocked
The air conditioner
is too noisy
Can I have another room?
When should I
vacate the room?
I'd like to check out
I'd check out on
this date
Could you call
a taxi please?

(sono heya no naka ni mondai ga arimasu)

(oyu ga arimasen)

(jaguchi ga moreteimasu)

(haisuik ga tsumatteimasu)

(eakon ga urusasugimasu)

(hoka no heya e utsuremasu ka?)

(itsu, heya o denakute wa narimasen ka?)

(chekkuauto shitai no desu ga)

(kono hi ni chekkuauto shitai no desu ga)

(takus o yonde kudasi?)

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May I see the bill please?

How much is the
total bill?
Can I have an itemised bill?
I think there's a
mistake on this bill

(seikysho o misete itadakemasu ka?)

(seikysho no gkei wa ikura desu ka?)

(meisaisho o misete itadakemasu ka?)

(kono seikysho ni machigai ga aruy ni om no desu ka?)

Eating out
Is there a restaurant
near here?
I'd like to reserve a table
We have a reservation
Do you have
an English menu?
Can I see the wine list?
I am a vegetarian

Bon appetit
(Have a good meal)

Cheers/Good health!

(chikaku ni resutoran wa arimasu ka?)

(tburu no yoyaku o toritai no desu ga)

(sudeni yoyaku o totte imasu)

(eigo no menyu wa arimasu ka?)

(wain no risuto o misete itadakemasen ka?)

(watashi wa saishokushugisha desu)

(douzo meshiagare)
= 'enjoy your meal' - said by the cook/chef
(itadakimasu)
- said before a meal by those eating it
(gochissama deshita)
- said after a meal by those who have eaten it
(kanpai) lit. "dry glass"

Emergencies
Leave me alone!
Help!
Fire!
Call the police!

! (hottoite!)
! (tasukete!)
! (kaji da!)
!

(keisatsu o yonde kudasai!)

Special occasions
Merry Christmas

(mer kurisumasu)

New Year greeting - 'Western' style

(shinnen omedet gozaimasu)
New Year greetings (used before New Year)
(yoi otoshi o) - inf
(yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai) - frm
Happy New Year

New Year greetings (used at New Year, not before)

(akemashite omedet gozaimasu)

(kynenj taihen osewa ni narimashita)

Happy Easter
Happy Birthday

(kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu)

(fukkatsu-sai omedet gozaimasu)
(sut omedet gozaimasu)

(otanjbi omedet gozaimasu)

Other phrases

One language is never enough

(gengo o hitotsu wa kesshite tarinai)

(gengo hitotsu dake de wa tarinai)

My hovercraft is full of eels
Why this phrase?

(Watashi no hobkurafuto wa unagi de ippai desu.)

Download all the audio files (Zip format, 417K)

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide
recordings, please contact me.

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Japanese language | Written Japanese | Hiragana | Katakana | Kanji | Rmaji | Phrases |

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Learn Japanese with Glossika Mass Sentences

Links

Japanese Translation

Other collections of Japanese phrases (some with audio)

http://japanese-phrases.sakura.ne.jp/
http://linguanaut.com/english_japanese
http://www.cnfj.navy.mil/phrases.html
http://japanese.about.com/library/blsoundfile.htm
http://genkienglish.net/genkijapan/menu.htm
http://www.jref.com/language/japanese_common_phrases.shtml

of names and phrases

Phrases in Japanonic languages

Japanese, Okinawan
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