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50 basic Japanese phrases for beginners

These are the phrases you’ll actually use: in a café in Tokyo, when meeting someone new, or when you’re lost at a train station. Each comes with audio, romaji and a short note on when to use it.

Phrases5 min readUpdated
The short answer
  • Five phrases cover a surprising amount: (hello), (thank you), (excuse me / sorry), (yes) and (please).
  • Japanese has polite and casual forms. As a beginner, stick to polite forms with strangers; they are never wrong.
  • is the most useful word in Japan: it means excuse me, sorry and even thank you.
  • Tap every phrase to hear it, and say it out loud after the audio.

You don’t need to be able to read Japanese to use these phrases, but it helps. Every phrase is written in Japanese first, with romaji underneath. If you want to learn to read them, start with our hiragana chart.

Greetings

Want the full picture, including greetings at home and at work? See our detailed guide to Japanese greetings.

  • こんにちはkonnichiwa
    Hello / Good afternoonThe all-purpose greeting from late morning to evening.
  • おはようございますohayō gozaimasu
    Good morningWith friends, just おはよう (ohayō).
  • こんばんはkonbanwa
    Good evening
  • おやすみなさいoyasumi nasai
    Good nightSaid before going to bed, not as a goodbye in the evening.
  • さようならsayōnara
    GoodbyeSounds quite final. Among friends, people say じゃあね (jā ne) or またね (mata ne).
  • またねmata ne
    See you!Casual, for friends.
  • おげんきですかo-genki desu ka
    How are you?Used after not seeing someone for a while, not as a daily greeting.
  • げんきですgenki desu
    I’m fine / I’m well

Please, thank you and sorry

  • ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu
    Thank you (polite)12 ways to say it: thank you in Japanese.
  • ありがとうarigatō
    Thanks (casual)
  • どういたしましてdō itashimashite
    You’re welcome
  • すみませんsumimasen
    Excuse me / SorryUse it to get attention, apologise lightly or thank someone who went to trouble for you.
  • ごめんなさいgomen nasai
    I’m sorryA more personal apology, mostly with people you know.
  • おねがいしますonegai shimasu
    Please (when requesting)Say it after the thing you want: コーヒー、おねがいします.
  • くださいkudasai
    Please give me…Also follows the item: みず を ください (mizu o kudasai), water please.
  • だいじょうぶですdaijōbu desu
    It’s okay / I’m fine / No thanks

Introducing yourself

A Japanese self-introduction follows a set pattern. Put these together and you have your first complete conversation:

  • はじめましてhajimemashite
    Nice to meet youLiterally: “it’s the first time”.
  • わたしは ___ ですwatashi wa ___ desu
    I am ___ / My name is ___
  • ___ からきました___ kara kimashita
    I’m from ___For example: アメリカからきました (Amerika kara kimashita).
  • よろしくおねがいしますyoroshiku onegai shimasu
    Nice to meet you / I look forward to working with youEnds almost every introduction. No perfect English equivalent.
  • おなまえは？o-namae wa?
    What’s your name?
  • にほんごをべんきょうしていますnihongo o benkyō shite imasu
    I’m studying Japanese

When you don’t understand

  • わかりませんwakarimasen
    I don’t understand
  • わかりましたwakarimashita
    I understand / Got it
  • もういちどおねがいしますmō ichido onegai shimasu
    Once more, please
  • ゆっくりおねがいしますyukkuri onegai shimasu
    Slowly, please
  • えいごをはなせますかeigo o hanasemasu ka
    Can you speak English?
  • にほんごがすこしだけわかりますnihongo ga sukoshi dake wakarimasu
    I understand only a little Japanese

Getting around

  • ___ はどこですか___ wa doko desu ka
    Where is ___?えき (eki) station, トイレ (toire) toilet, ホテル (hoteru) hotel.
  • トイレはどこですかtoire wa doko desu ka
    Where is the toilet?
  • えきはどこですかeki wa doko desu ka
    Where is the station?
  • みぎmigi
    right
  • ひだりhidari
    left
  • まっすぐmassugu
    straight ahead
  • これはどこいきですかkore wa doko iki desu ka
    Where does this (train/bus) go?

At a restaurant or café

  • いらっしゃいませirasshaimase
    Welcome! (what staff say)You don’t need to reply. A nod or smile is perfect.
  • ふたりですfutari desu
    Two people, pleaseひとり (hitori) one, さんにん (sannin) three.
  • これをくださいkore o kudasai
    This one, pleasePoint at the menu. Works everywhere.
  • おすすめはなんですかosusume wa nan desu ka
    What do you recommend?
  • いただきますitadakimasu
    (said before eating)A thank-you for the food. Everyone says it.
  • ごちそうさまでしたgochisōsama deshita
    (said after eating)Thanks for the meal. Also nice to say to staff when leaving.
  • おいしいoishii
    Delicious!
  • おかいけいおねがいしますo-kaikei onegai shimasu
    The bill, please

Shopping

  • いくらですかikura desu ka
    How much is it?
  • これはなんですかkore wa nan desu ka
    What is this?
  • みているだけですmite iru dake desu
    I’m just looking
  • カードはつかえますかkādo wa tsukaemasu ka
    Can I pay by card?
  • ふくろはいりませんfukuro wa irimasen
    I don’t need a bag

Emergencies

  • たすけて！tasukete!
    Help!
  • だいじょうぶですかdaijōbu desu ka
    Are you okay?
  • びょういんはどこですかbyōin wa doko desu ka
    Where is the hospital?
  • きぶんがわるいですkibun ga warui desu
    I feel sick
  • みちにまよいましたmichi ni mayoimashita
    I’m lost

Polite or casual: which should you use?

Japanese changes depending on who you’re talking to. The polite forms ending in and are right for strangers, shop staff, colleagues and anyone older than you. Casual forms are for friends and family.

As a beginner, default to polite. Nobody will be offended if you are too polite, but being too casual with the wrong person can come across as rude. You’ll pick up casual Japanese naturally as you spend time with friends.

How to actually remember these

  1. Learn in situations, not lists. Practise the restaurant phrases together, imagining the scene.
  2. Say them out loud. Five repetitions out loud beat twenty silent readings.
  3. Learn a few per day. Five new phrases daily means you know all of these in less than two weeks.
  4. Read them in kana. Once you know hiragana, switch from romaji to Japanese script.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most important Japanese phrases?

The most useful are こんにちは (hello), ありがとうございます (thank you), すみません (excuse me / sorry), おねがいします (please), はい (yes), いいえ (no) and わかりません (I don't understand).

How do you say thank you in Japanese?

Say ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu) in polite situations, or ありがとう (arigatō) with friends. すみません is also used to thank someone who went to some trouble for you.

Is sayonara used for goodbye?

さようなら exists but sounds quite final, as if you won't see the person for a long time. In daily life, people say じゃあね or またね to friends and しつれいします when leaving an office or formal setting.

Do I need to learn polite Japanese?

Yes. Polite forms with です and ます are appropriate with strangers, staff and colleagues, and they are the safest choice for beginners.

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