Useful Daily Expressions (Hiragana)

 おはようございます。= Good morning.

(おはよう is from はやい early. おはようございます is like "You are early.")
 こんにちは。= Good afternoon./Hello. (Used in a daytime)
(こんにち = today, は is topic marker. こんにちは is a short of something like
"How are you TODAY?")

 こんばんは。 = Good evening.

(こんばん = this evening/tonight, こんばんは is like "How are you TONIGHT?")

 では、また。= See you again. (では = well then, また = again)

じゃ、また。= See you again. (じゃ = casual of では)
じゃあ(ね)。= See you. (more casual)

 Q: (お)げんきですか。(お = polite) = How are you?

A: ありがとうございます。げんきです。= Thank you. I'm fine.
("(お)げんきですか" is not used often, because "こんにちは" and "こんばんは"
include "How are you?")

 どうぞ。= Please. (Used when you offer something. ex. Here you are. Go
ahead.)

 すみません。= I'm sorry. Excuse me. Pardon?

 ちょっとまってください。= Just a moment, please.

(ちょっと = a little, まってください = please wait)

 Q: だいじょうぶですか。= OK?
A: だいじょうぶです。= OK

 はい。= Yes.

 いいえ。 = No.

Useful Daily Expressions (Roma-ji)

 Ohayou gozaimas.= Good morning.
("ohayou" is from "hayai" early. "Ohayou gozaimasu" is like "You are early.")
 Konnichiwa.= Good afternoon./Hello. (Used in a daytime)
(Konnichi = today, "wa" is topic marker. "Konnichiwa" is a short of something
like "How are you TODAY?")

 Kombanwa.= Good evening. ("n" becomes "m" before P, B, M)

(komban = this evening/tonight, "Kombanwa" is like "How are you
TONIGHT?")

 Dewa, mata.= See you again. (dewa = well then, mata = again)
Ja, mata.= See you again. (ja = casual of "dewa")
Jaa(ne).= See you. (more casual)

 Q: (O)genki desu ka.(o = polite) = How are you?

A: Arigatou gozaimasu. Genki desu.= Thank you. I'm fine.
("(O)genki desu ka" is not used often, because "Konnichi wa" and
"Kombanwa" include "How are you?")

 Douzo.= Please. (Used when you offer something. ex. Here you are. Go
ahead.)

 Sumimasen.= I'm sorry. Excuse me. Pardon?

 Chotto matte kudasai.= Just a moment, please.

(chotto = a little, mattekudasai = please wait)

 Q: Daijoubu desu ka.= OK?

A: Daijoubu desu.= OK

 Hai.= Yes.

 Iie.= No.