Helpful Japanese Phrases

These phrases are helpful for getting around before you start language school. Memorizing these could help you lessen stress in the first few months.

Don’t know how to pronounce Japanese sounds? Start here → https://youtu.be/4Irzvrcpf4Q

Common Words/Phrases:

• Yes = hai

• No = iie

• Sorry, I don’t understand = sumimasen, wakarimasen

• Thank you = arigatou

Questions:

• Excuse me, where is “_____?” = sumimasen, “_____” wa doko desu ka?

  • Use Google Translate or a dictionary app to figure out the Japanese word for the item/place/food you are looking for and plug it into the sentence above.

• How do I say “____” in Japanese? = “____” nihongo de nan desu ka?

Phrases Used at Restaurants:

• When you walk into a restaurant, they will ask you how many people are in your party, saying something like: nan mei sama desu ka? You can indicate on your fingers or say…

  • 1 person = hitori, 2 = futari, 3 = san nin, 4 = yo nin, 5 = go nin

• They might ask if you want to dine-in or take-out. At a fast-food restaurant this is common. Just reply with one of the options below.

  • For Take-Out = mochi kaeri

  • For Eating in = ten nai

• When you want to order, it is culturally normal and thus not impolite, to yell quite loud “sumimasen!” in order to get the attention of the staff to order food or ask for water.

• To indicate what you are ordering, it’s easiest to point on the menu and say:

  • I’ll have this please = kore onegaishimasu

• When ordering multiple items for yourself or a family, you indicate you’re done saying:

  • That is all = ijou desu

Questions During Ordering:

• Do you have “____?” = “_____” ga arimasu ka?

• What is your recommendation? = osusume wa nan desu ka?

• There are a lot of food sets in restaurants that are displayed on menus. If you want something not as a set you can say one of the below after indicating your order.

• Not a set/a la carte = setto janai, or tanpin

• Can I have the check please? = kaikei onegaishimasu

Phrases used at Cash Register:

A lot of places have point cards so you will get asked often if you have one. They will ask something like, “pointo kaado o omochi desu ka?” When you hear “pointo kaado” and you don’t have one, you can respond saying:

• I don’t have one = arimasen

You will often be asked if you need a bag, which will cost a few cents. It will sound something like this, “fukuro wa irimasu ka?” or “reji bukuro wa hitsuyo desu ka?” You can reply:

• Yes, I need (number needed) = hai, (number needed)-mai

  • 1 bag = ichi mai, 2 bags = ni mai, 3 bags = san mai

• I don’t need one = irimasen

When paying with card, some places will ask you if you want to pay once or in smaller installments over time. They will ask you a question while raising one finger indicating “would you like to pay one time?” You will hear “ikkai” or “ikkatsu.” Just say:

• Yes = hai

• Yes, once = hai, ikkai

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