Why Learning a Few Phrases Makes a Real Difference
Japan is a welcoming country for international visitors, but it is not always an easy place to navigate without any Japanese. English signage has improved significantly in major cities, but once you venture beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, you'll encounter menus, station signs, and shopkeepers where a handful of well-deployed Japanese phrases will save the day — and earn you genuine appreciation from locals.
You don't need years of study. Even a basic phonetic understanding of a few dozen phrases will transform your trip.
Pronunciation Basics
Japanese vowels are pronounced consistently and simply:
- A — like "ah" (as in "father")
- I — like "ee" (as in "feet")
- U — like "oo" (shorter, unrounded)
- E — like "eh" (as in "bed")
- O — like "oh" (as in "go")
Every syllable is pronounced — there are no silent letters. Stress is generally even across syllables.
Greetings & Basic Courtesy
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| おはようございます | Ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning (formal) |
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you (formal) |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / I'm sorry |
| はい / いいえ | Hai / Iie | Yes / No |
| わかりません | Wakarimasen | I don't understand |
| 英語を話せますか？ | Eigo wo hanasemasu ka? | Do you speak English? |
Getting Around
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〜はどこですか？ | [Place] wa doko desu ka? | Where is [place]? |
| 〜までいくらですか？ | [Place] made ikura desu ka? | How much to [place]? |
| 〜に行きたいです | [Place] ni ikitai desu | I want to go to [place] |
| 右 / 左 / まっすぐ | Migi / Hidari / Massugu | Right / Left / Straight ahead |
| トイレはどこですか？ | Toire wa doko desu ka? | Where is the toilet? |
| この電車は〜に止まりますか？ | Kono densha wa [place] ni tomarimasu ka? | Does this train stop at [place]? |
Dining & Restaurants
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いただきます | Itadakimasu | Said before eating (bon appétit) |
| ごちそうさまでした | Gochisousama deshita | Said after eating (thank you for the meal) |
| これをください | Kore wo kudasai | I'll have this, please |
| おすすめは何ですか？ | Osusume wa nan desu ka? | What do you recommend? |
| お会計をお願いします | Okaikei wo onegaishimasu | Check, please |
| アレルギーがあります | Arerugii ga arimasu | I have allergies |
| 辛くしないでください | Karakunai de kudasai | Please don't make it spicy |
Shopping
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いくらですか？ | Ikura desu ka? | How much is this? |
| これはありますか？ | Kore wa arimasu ka? | Do you have this? |
| 大きいサイズはありますか？ | Ookii saizu wa arimasu ka? | Do you have a bigger size? |
| 袋は要りません | Fukuro wa irimasen | I don't need a bag |
Emergencies
- 助けてください！ — Tasukete kudasai! — Help me, please!
- 警察を呼んでください — Keisatsu wo yonde kudasai — Please call the police
- 病院はどこですか？ — Byouin wa doko desu ka? — Where is the hospital?
- 気分が悪いです — Kibun ga warui desu — I feel sick
One Last Tip
Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Japanese people genuinely appreciate any effort made to speak their language. Even a mispronounced arigatou gozaimasu will be warmly received. Write down key phrases before your trip, and consider a free app like Google Translate with offline Japanese support — the camera translation feature alone is worth having for menus and signs.