Survival Japanese Phrases

Mar 06, 2016

Survival Japanese Phrases

You have come all this way, why not learn the local language?  Here are a few basic phrases to get your started!

The Basics

Good morning – OHAYOU GOZAIMASU – おはようございます
Good afternoon – KONNICHIWA – こんにちは
Good evening – KONNBANWA- こんばんは

More General Phrases

How are you? – O GENKI DESU KA – おげんきですか
I’m doing well, I’m fine – GENKI DESU YO- げんきですよ
See you later! – MATA ATO DE – またあとで
See you tomorrow – MATA ASHITA – またあした
Take care! – ODAIJINI -おだいじに

Thank you – ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU – ありがとうございます
No problem, don’t mention it –DOUITASHIMASHITE -どういたしまして
Excuse me, sorry – SUMIMASEN -すみません
Sorry – GOMEN NASAI -ごめんなさい

It’s nice to meet you – HAJIMEMASHITE -はじめまして
I’m (name) – (name) DESU – (name)です
Please treat me well – YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU -よろしくおねがいします

Where is the train station? – EKI WA DOKO DESU KA -えきはどこですか
How much is this? – KORE WA IKURA DESU KA -これはいくらですか
I want to go to (place) – (place) NI IKITAI DESU – (place) にいきたいです
I would like (to buy) this please. – KORE ONEGAISHIMASU -これおねがいします
Where is the bathroom? – OTEARAI WA DOKO DESU KA -おてあらいはどこですか
May I have (something) – (something) KUDASAI – (something)ください

How much is this? KORE WA IKURA DESU KA
How much is this? IKURA DESU KA
What is that? SORE WA NAN DESUKA

Basic Japanese Foods: Restaurant Vocabulary

GOHAN – Cooked Rice, or general term for meal.
MISO SHIRO – Miso Soup
Oh BENTO – A boxed lunch (packed or purchased!)

(Oh here is an honorific. Literally, this is Honorable Water. Cant explain it. It just is! )

Oh SAKE – General term for an alcoholic beverage
Oh CHA – Japanese Green Tea
Oh MIZU- Water
VTSUKEMONO – General term for Japanese Pickled vegetables

ITADAKIMASU – Polite to say before EATING. <—- Please note! Use this every time. It is nearly required. It is Non-religious in nature.)
GOSHISOSAMA DESHITA – Polite to say after EATING <—- Use this when you want to be polite, but not required.)

Do you have an English menu? – ”EIGO NO MENYUU WA ARIMASUKA
Check, please. – O KANJOYU SHITE KUDASAI
May I have water please? – OMIZU KUDASAI -おみずください

---

Learning Japanese

If you are interested in learning Japanese in a more structured way, why not sign up for some classes?  You could be “pera pera” before you know it!

Learning Japanese in Tokyo

Japanese Language Schools in Nagoya