Planning a move to Japan? Learning some basic Japanese phrases and words can significantly enhance your experience and make the transition smoother. While many Japanese people in urban areas understand and speak some English, making an effort to communicate in Japanese will undoubtedly enrich your interactions and daily life. Here are some essential phrases and words to get you started:
Basic Greetings:
- Hello / Hi: こんにちは (Konnichiwa)
- Good morning: おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)
- Good evening: こんばんは (Konbanwa)
- Goodbye: さようなら (Sayonara)
Politeness and Respect:
- Please: お願いします (Onegaishimasu)
- Thank you: ありがとう (Arigatou) or more polite, ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)
- Excuse me / I’m sorry: すみません (Sumimasen)
- Yes: はい (Hai)
- No: いいえ (Iie)
Basic Conversational Phrases:
- What is your name?: お名前は何ですか？ (Onamae wa nan desu ka?)
- My name is…: 私の名前は…です (Watashi no namae wa… desu)
- How are you?: お元気ですか？ (Ogenki desu ka?)
- I’m fine, thank you: 元気です、ありがとう (Genki desu, arigatou)
- Yes, please: はい、お願いします (Hai, onegaishimasu)
- No, thank you: いいえ、結構です (Iie, kekkou desu)
Asking for Help and Directions:
- Where is…?: …はどこですか？ (…wa doko desu ka?)
- How do I get to…?: …への行き方はどうですか？ (…e no ikikata wa dou desu ka?)
- Help!: 助けて！ (Tasukete!)
- I’m lost: 道に迷いました (Michi ni mayoimashita)
Shopping and Dining:
- How much is this?: これはいくらですか？ (Kore wa ikura desu ka?)
- Can I pay with a card?: カードで払えますか？ (Kaado de haraemasu ka?)
- Where is the restroom?: トイレはどこですか？ (Toire wa doko desu ka?)
- I would like…: …をください (…o kudasai)
Numbers:
- One: 一 (Ichi)
- Two: 二 (Ni)
- Three: 三 (San)
- Ten: 十 (Juu)
- Hundred: 百 (Hyaku)
- Thousand: 千 (Sen)
Time and Dates:
- What time is it?: 今何時ですか？ (Ima nan-ji desu ka?)
- Today: 今日 (Kyou)
- Tomorrow: 明日 (Ashita)
- Yesterday: 昨日 (Kinou)
- Week: 週 (Shuu)
- Month: 月 (Tsuki)
- Year: 年 (Nen)
Learning these basic Japanese phrases and words will not only assist you in day-to-day interactions but will also show locals that you appreciate their language and culture. Don’t be afraid to practice, and enjoy the journey of discovering the beauty of the Japanese language!