Useful phrases and words in Japanese

Here you will find some of the most useful words and phrases in Japanese that will help you getting around.

Empty Japan

Empty Japan

Japan

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*Links below lead to google translate where you can press 🔈 button to listen how these words and phrases are pronounced in Japanese

BASICS:

Excuse me/I'm sorry - Sumimasen

Yes - Hai

No - iie

Please - Onegai shimasu

Hotel - Hoteru

Entrance - iriguchi

Exit - Deguchi

Map - Chizu

Right - Migi

Left - Hidari

MONEY:

ATM - Ē-tī-emu

Cash - Genkin

Credit card - Kurejitto kādo

How much does it cost? - ikura desu ka?

TRANSPORT:

Train Station - Eki

Train - Densha

Bus Stop - Basutei

Bus - Basu

Ticket - Kippu

Taxi - Takushi

Platform (used for train, bus, taxi) - Noriba

Airport - Kūkō

Airplane - Hikōki

Luggage - Nimotsu

Bicycle - Jitensha

Bicycle Rental - Renta saikuru

Car - Kuruma

Car rental - Rentakā

Parking - Pākingu or  Chūshajō

Parking ticket - Chūsha-ken

FOOD:

Restaurant - Resutoran

Menu - Menyū

Do you have an Enligsh menu? - Eigo menyū arimasu ka?

Food - Tabemono

Drinks - Nomimono

Water - Mizu

Reservation - Yoyaku

I have a reservation - Yoyaku ga arimasu

Bill - Okaikei

Breakfast - Chō shoku

Launch - Ranchi

Dinner - Yū-han

Recommendation - Osusume

Is it open? - Aite imasu ka?

Delicious - Oishii

Allergy - Are-ru-gī

Without (something) - (something) Nashi

*you can ask for a certain product not to be put in your dish by saying the above pharase, just add any word before "Nashi", fore example:

Without egg (tamago) - Tamago nashi

Set meal - Setto or Tei-shoku

Single item (instead of a set meal) - Tan-pin

*in a restaurant you may be asked which one you would like, a set meal or just a main course

BEING POLITE 🙇🙇‍♀️

Hello (used during the day) - Kon'nichiwa

Good morning - Ohayō gozai masu

Good evening - Konbanwa

Thank you - Arigatō gozai masu

Please (can be used at the end of any request) - Onegai shimasu

MOST useful pharases:

Where is (X)? - (X) Doko desu ka?

When you are looking for something in particular (restaurant, toilet, ATM, bus stop and so on), just add a word of what you are looking for at the beginning of the phrase above:

Where is the bathroom? - Toire doko desu ka?

Where is the Train Station? - Eki doko desu ka?

Where is the ATM - Ē-tī-emu doko desu ka?

Do you speak English? - Eigo hanasemasu ka?

Is there anyone who can speak English? - Eigo hanaseru hito imasu ka?

I don't understand - Wakarimasen

Please help me - Tetsudatte kudasai

What is this? - Kore nan desu ka

EMERGENCY:

Police - Keisatsu

Hospital - Byō-in

Ambulance - Kyū-kyū-sha

*Disclaimer: I deliberately removed particles from some sentences to make them a bit shorter and easier for those who are faced with the Japanese language for the first time in their life

Looking for things to do?

Go check out my guide for the best free things to do as well as itineraries and travel tips to make your trip unforgettable.

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