Language · From the archive
Basic Japanese Phrases
Preserved in the archive in 2006. Historical article; travel and business details may have changed.
Basic Japanese Phrases: Here are some Japanese phrases that you could find very helpful on your travels to Japan. These are very easy to learn basic Japanese phrases. Hello. こんにちは。 Konnichiwa. (kon-nee-chee-WAH) How are you? お元気ですか。 O-genki desu ka? (oh-GEN-kee dess-KAH?) Fine, thank you. 元気です。 Genki desu. (GEN-kee dess) What is your name? お名前は何ですか。 O-namae wa nan desu ka? (oh-NAH-mah-eh wah NAHN dess-KAH?) My name is ____ . 私の名前は ____ です。 Watashi no namae wa ____ desu. (wah-TAH-shee no nah-mah-eh wa ____ dess) Nice to meet you. 始めまして。 Hajimemashite. (hah-jee-meh-MOSH-teh) Please. (request) お願いします。 Onegai shimasu. (oh-neh-gigh shee-moss) Please. (offer) どうぞ。 Dōzo. (DOH-zo) Thank you. どうもありがとう。 Dōmo arigatō. (doh-moh ah-ree-GAH-toh) You’re welcome. どういたしまして。 Dō itashi mashite. (doh EE-tah-shee mosh-teh) Yes. はい。 Hai. (HIGH) No. いいえ。 Iie. (EE-eh) Excuse me. すみません。 Sumimasen. (soo-mee-mah-sen) I’m sorry. 御免なさい。 Gomen-nasai. (goh-men-nah-sigh) Goodbye. (long-term) さようなら。 Sayōnara. (sa-YOH-nah-rah) Goodbye. (informal) それでは。 Sore dewa. (SOH-reh deh-wah) I can’t speak Japanese [well]. 日本語「よく」話せません。 Nihongo [yoku] hanasemasen. (nee-hohn-goh [yo-koo] hah-nah-seh-mah-sen) Do you speak English? 英語を話せますか。 Eigo o hanasemasuka? (AY-goh oh hah-nah-seh-moss-KAH?) Is there someone here who speaks English? だれか英語を話せますか。 Dareka eigo o hanasemasuka? (dah-reh-kah AY-goh oh hah-nah-seh-moss-KAH?) Help! たすけて! Tasukete! (tah-soo-keh-teh!) Look out! あぶない! Abunai! (ah-boo-NIGH!) Good morning. おはようございます。 Ohayō gozaimasu. (oh-hah-YOH go-zigh-moss) Good evening. こんばんは。 Konbanwa. (kohm-bahn-wah) Good night (to sleep) おやすみなさい。 Oyasuminasai. (oh-yah-soo-mee-nah-sigh) I don’t understand. わかりません。 Wakarimasen. (wah-kah-ree-mah-sen) Where is the toilet? トイレはどこですか。 Toire wa doko desu ka? (toy-reh wah DOH-koh dess kah?) (Article based on Wikitravel article by Based on work by Paul N. Richter, Keith K. Higa and Ted O’Neill and Wikitravel user(s) Jpatokal, Cjensen, っ, Sekicho, KagakuyaSan, Nickpest, Nzpcmad, Rai koku and PierreAbbat. Article used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0.) | |
