Key Japanese Phrases and Vocabulary

Knowing a few basic Japanese sentences is a must, especially if you stray away
from a main tourist area. Here are some basic Japanese words you could use.

 Hai (はい): Yes

 Iie (いいえ): No

 Namae wa nan desu ka ( 名前はなんですか): What is your name?

 Watashi wa ~ desu ( 私は〜です): I am ~

 Doko kara kimashita ka? : Where did you come from? / Where are you
from?

 ~kara Kimashita ( ~から来ました): I came from~/ I am from~

 Kore wa nan desu ka (これは何ですか): What is this?

 Ikura desu ka ( いくらですか）: How much?

 Kore kudasai ( これください): Can I get this one? / I will take this one

 Onegaishimasu (おねがいします): Please

 Chumon onegashimasu (注文お願いします): Can I place an order?

 Mizu o onegaishimasu (水をお願いします): Water please

 Okaikei onegaishimasu (お会計お願いします): Can I get the check/bill please (in a

restaurant)

 Koko wa doko desu ka (ここはどこですか): Where am I?

 Toire wa doko desu ka (トイレはどこですか): Where is the bathroom?

 Eki (Station) wa doko desu ka (駅はどこですか): Where is the train station?

 Ima(Now) nan ji desu ka (今何時ですか) : What time is it now?

 Wakarimasen (わかりません): I don’t understand

 Wakarimashita : I understand

 Nihongo o hanasemasen (日本語を話せません): I can’t speak Japanese

 Hanashimasen = "do not speak"

Greetings

Japanese people greet each other by bowing, which shows respect, care, and
gratitude. Knowing the basic Japanese words that accompany a bow when you
greet someone are also essential in Japanese culture. For more examples and
cultural tips, explore Japanese greetings and farewells.

Ohayō gozaimasu (おはようございます): Good morning

This phrase is only used in Japanese if you wake before 11 am. If you want to say
it casually, you can simply say “Ohayo” and drop the formal
expression “gozaimasu.”

Kon’nichiwa (こんにちは) : Good Afternoon

Often mistaken to mean “Hello,” this Japanese phrase only means “Good
afternoon”. So, make sure you only use it in the daytime.
 Konbanwa (こんばんは): Good evening

To be used from late afternoon (around 5pm) into the evening hours.

Arigatō Gozaimasu (ありがとうございます): Thank you

If you want to say thank you more casually, you can simply say “Arigato”.
Dropping the formal expression “gozaimasu” is more common.

Sumimasen (すみません): Excuse me/ I am sorry

This is a handy basic Japanese phrase because it works in all situations. You can
use it to get a waiter’s attention at a restaurant, ask for help when you get lost, or
say sorry formally.

People occasionally say Sumimasen (Excuse me/ I am sorry) when someone

else did them a favor, replacing Arigato (Thank you). This is seen as a different
way to be respectful and polite to the person who helped you.

People/ Pronouns

 Watashi/ Boku/Ore (私、僕、俺): I

 Tomodachi (友達): Friend

 Dō-ryō (同僚): Co-worker

 Buchō/Shachō (部長、社長): Boss / President (of a company)

 Kazoku (家族): Family

 Otōsan (お父さん): Father

 Okāsan (お母さん): Mother

 Onīsan (お兄さん): Older brother

 Onēsan (お姉さん): Older sister

 Otōto (弟): Younger brother

 Imōto (妹): Younger sister

 Otona (大人): Adults

 Kodomo (子供): Children

 Kareshi (彼氏): Boyfriend

 Kanojo (彼女): Girlfriend

 Otoko-no-hito (男の人): Man

 Onna-no-hito (女の人): Woman

Father: Chichi (own) vs. Otō-san (others')

Mother: Haha (own) vs. Okā-san (others')

Parents: Ryōshin (own) vs. Go-ryōshin (others')

Siblings: Kyōdai (own) vs. Go-kyōdai (others')

 Grandparents: Sofu/Sobo (own) vs. O-jii-san/O-bā-san (others')

Food and drink

 Asa-gohan (朝ご飯): Breakfast

 Hiru-gohan (昼ご飯): Lunch

 Yoru-gohan (夜ご飯): Dinner

 Gohan ( ご飯): Rice/Meal

 Pan (パン): Bread

 Niku (肉): Meat

 Sakana (魚): Fish

 Yasai (野菜): Vegetables

 Kudamono (果物): Fruits

 Sūpu (スープ): Soup

 Sarada (サラダ): Salad

 Tamago (卵): Egg

 Gyūnyū (牛乳): Milk

 Chīzu (チーズ): Cheese

 Dezāto (デザート): Dessert

 Mizu (水): Water

Number
Time
 Days of the week

 Sunday: 日曜日 (Nichiyōbi)

 Monday: 月曜日 (Getsuyōbi)

 Tuesday: 火曜日 (Kayōbi)

 Wednesday: 水曜日 (Suiyōbi)

 Thursday: 木曜日 (Mokuyōbi)

 Friday: 金曜日 (Kinyōbi)

 Saturday: 土曜日 (Doyōbi)

Months of the year

 January: 一月 (Ichigatsu)

 February: 二月 (Nigatsu)

 March: 三月 (Sangatsu)

 April: 四月 (Shigatsu)

 May: 五月 (Gogatsu)

 June: 六月 (Rokugatsu)

 July: 七月 (Shichigatsu)

 August: 八月 (Hachigatsu)

 September: 九月 (Kugatsu)
 October: 十月 (Jūgatsu)

 November: 十一月 (Jūichigatsu)

 December: 十二月 (Jūnigatsu)

 Today: 今日 (Kyō)

 Yestetday: 昨日 (Kinō)

 Tomorrow: 明日 (Ashita)

 This week: 今週 (Konshū)

 Last week: 先週 (Senshū)

 Next week: 来週 (Raishū)

 This month: 今月 (Kongetsu)

 Last month: 先月 (Sengetsu)

 Next month: 来月 (Raigetsu)

 This year: 今年 (Kotoshi)

 Last year: 去年 (Kyonen)

 Next year: 来年 (Rainen)

Time in English Japanese Pronunciation

1 o’clock ichi-ji

2 o’clock ni-ji

3 o’clock san-ji

4 o’clock yo-ji

5 o’clock go-ji

6 o’clock roku-ji

7 o’clock shichi-ji

8 o’clock hachi-ji

9 o’clock ku-ji

10 o’clock jū-ji

11 o’clock jū-ichi-ji
 12 o’clock jū-ni-ji

Places

 Eki (駅): Station

 Byōin (病院): Hospital

 Ryōgae (両替): Money Exchange

 Ginkō (銀行): Bank

 Keisatsusho (警察署):Police Station

 Kōban (交番): Smaller local police station

 Yūbinkyoku (郵便局): Post office

 Konbini (コンビニ): Convenience store

 Pan ya (パン屋): Bakery

 Mise (店): Store/Shop

 Sūpā (スーパー): Grocery store

 Kūkō (空港): Airport

 Basu-tē (バス停): Bus stop

 Minato (港): Port

 Jinja (神社): Shrine

 Otera (お寺): Temple

 Machi (町): Town

 Hoteru (ホテル): Hotel

 Uketsuke (受付): Reception

Colors

Aka 赤 Red
Ao 青 Blue
Kiiro 黄色 Yellow
Midori 緑 Green
Shiro 白 White
Kuro 黒 Black
Murasaki 紫 Purple
Orenji オレンジ Orange
Pinku ピンク Pink
Chairo 茶色 Brown

Essential Verbs

 Taberu (食べる): to eat

 Iku (行く): to go

 Nomu (飲む): to drink

 Kiku (聞く): to listen, hear, to ask

 Yomu (読む): to read

 Miru ( 見る): to see, look, and watch

 Neru (寝る): to sleep

 Okiru (起きる): to wake up

 Hanasu (話す): to talk, speak

 Kaeru (帰る): to return, go back

 Suwaru (座る): to sit down

 Tatsu (立つ): to stand up

 Oyogu (泳ぐ): to swim

 Asobu ( 遊ぶ): to play

 Noru (乗る): to ride

 Kau (買う): to buy

 Au (会う): to meet

 Kaku (書く): to write

 Matsu (待つ): to wait

 Toru (撮る): to take a picture

 Suru (する): to do
 Tsukue : desk
 Tokei : clocks
 Gakkou (学校, gakkou) : school