Moving to a new country can be a daunting experience, especially if you don’t speak the local language. Learning some basic Japanese phrases can go a long way in making your stay in Japan a lot more comfortable. This will not only help you get around and make friends more easily, but also show that you respect the local culture. 

In this article, we’ll cover the basic Japanese phrases you need to know to survive in Japan. Greetings, ordering food, making reservations, and more– read on to learn the most essential phrases and responses for newcomers to Japan.

Greetings are an essential part of Japanese culture, and knowing how to say hello will help you make a good first impression. The most common way to say hello is “こんにちは” (konnichiwa). You can also say “おはようございます” (ohayou gozaimasu) to say good morning or “こんばんは” (konbanwa) for good evening. To ask someone “How are you?” you can say, “元気ですか” (genki desu ka) or more simply, “元気？” (genki?)

When meeting someone for the first time, it’s also common to introduce yourself by saying, “はじめまして” (hajimemashite), which means “Nice to meet you.” You can follow that up with your name, for example, “私の名前は____です” (watashi no namae wa ____ desu), which means “My name is ____.” It’s also a good idea to add よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu), which is a common way to let new acquaintances know that you look forward to getting to know them. 

When parting ways, you can say じゃあね (jaane) in informal situations, such as with family or friends. A more formal way to say bye is さようなら (sayounara) or ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu), which means thank you, or 失礼いたします (shitsurei itashimasu), which means please excluse me. 

For more in-depth information on useful greetings and goodbyes for both formal and informal situations, please read our article on the topic. 

Key vocabulary to memorize: 

• こんにちは (konnichiwa): Hello
• おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu): Good morning
• はじめまして (hajime mashite): Nice to meet you 
• ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu): Thank you
• 失礼いたします (shitsurei itashimasu): Please excuse me

Japan has an excellent public transportation system, but it’s helpful to know some fundamental phrases in case you get lost. If you need to find a train station, you can ask “駅はどこですか” (eki wa doko desu ka?) which means “Where is the train station?” 

If you’re trying to get to a specific place, you can say “____への行き方教えていただけますか？” (____e no ikikata oshiete itadakemasuka), which means “Can you please tell me how to get to ____?” For example, if you want to know how to get to Asakusa, you could ask “浅草への行き方教えていただけますか” (Asakusa e no ikikata oshieteitadakemasuka).

It’s also useful to know the words for “left” (hidari), “right” (migi), “straight” (massugu) “in front of” (temae) when asking for or listening to directions.

Key vocabulary to memorize: 

• どこ (doko):  where
• 左 (hidari): left
• 右 (migi): right
• 真っ直ぐ (massugu): straight
• 手前 (temae): in front of/near

Having basic vocabulary skills will likely come in handy at restaurants as some do not have English-speaking staff, especially in more rural areas of Japan. 

You can ask “メニューください” (menyuu kudasai), which means “Can you please give me the menu?” If you want to know if they have an English menu, ask “英語メニューはありますか” (eigo menyuu wa arimasuka). 

If you don’t know what to order, you can ask “おすすめは何ですか” (osusume wa nan desu ka?), which means “What do you recommend?” And if you’re thirsty, you can ask for water by saying “お冷やください” (ohiya kudasai), or “お水ください” (omizu kudasai), which both mean “Can I get some water?” The difference is that the former is slightly more formal and commonly used in a restaurant setting, while the latter is more casual. 

When you’re finished with your meal, you can ask for the bill by saying “お会計お願いします” (okaikei onegaishimasu). An even simpler, nonverbal way to ask for the check is to make an ‘X’ with your fingers to signal to the waiter that you are ready for the bill. 

Be sure to say “ご馳走様でした！” (gochisousama deshita) after a good meal to thank the staff – it literally translates to “That was a feast!” and is often said at the end of the meal to show gratitude. 

Key vocabulary to memorize: 

• おすすめ (osusume): recommendation
• お冷や (ohiya): cold water 
• お水 (omizu): water
• お会計 / お勘定 (okaikei/okanjou): bill

Japan has some great shopping, but it can be difficult to communicate with store staff if you don’t speak some Japanese. 

Ask for the price of something by saying “これいくらですか” (kore ikura desu ka?) which means “How much is this?” If you’re looking for something specific, you can ask ” ____はどこですか” ( ____wa doko desuka?), which means “Where is ____?” If you want to ask to try something on, you can say “これ、試着できますか？” which means “Can I please try this on?” 

It’s also helpful to know the common questions asked to customers at stores, such as “お支払いはどうなされますか” (oshiharai wa dou nasaremasuka) which is the honorific way of asking “How would you like to pay?” You can respond by saying “genkin” (cash) or “kaado” (card). 

If paying by card, you may be asked if you want to pay in installemnts: “お支払いは一括でよろしいでしょうか” (Oshiharai wa ikkatsu de yoroshii deshouka) means “Is a one-time payment alright?” To which you can respond with “はい、大丈夫です” which means “Yes, that’s fine.” 

The staff may also ask “袋入りますか” (fukuro irimasu ka?), which means “Do you want a bag?” You can respond by saying “はい” (hai), which is yes, or “いいえ” (iie), which is no. If you want to be a bit more polite, you can also decline by saying “いらないです” (iranai desu) which means “That’s fine” or “That’s not necessary.” 

Key vocabulary to memorize: 

• いくら (ikura): how much
• 試着 (shichaku): to try on clothes
• 現金 (genkin): cash
• カード (kaado): card 
• 一括払い (ikkatsu barai): one-time payment 
• 大丈夫です (daijoubu desu): that’s fine
• 袋 (fukuro): bag 

If you’re planning to eat at a restaurant or stay at a hotel, it’s always a good idea to make reservations in advance. When making a reservation, you can say “予約お願いしたいのですが” (Yoyaku onegai shitai no desu ga), which means “I’d like to make a reservation.” To specify the date, add it in the beginning of the sentence: e.g. “明日の予約をお願いしたいのですが” (ashita no yoyaku wo onegai shitaino desuga” – I’d like to make a reservation for tomorrow, or “25日の予約をお願いしたいのですが (nijuu-go nichi no yoyaku wo onegai shitaino desuga) – I’d like to make a reservation for the 25th. 

The staff will likely ask you “Nanmei desuka,” which means “For how many?” ‘Mei’ is the form used to count people, so just say the number followed by ‘mei.’ E.g. for 2 people, say “ni mei” for three, “san mei” and so on. 

Key vocabulary to memorize: 

• 予約 (yoyaku): reservation
• 何名 (nanmei): how many people 
• 電話番号 (denwa bangou): phone number 
• 確認いたします (kakunin itashimasu): I will check 
• 禁煙 (non-smoking)
• 喫煙 (smoking)

If you’re lost or need help with something, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. You can say “助けてもらえますか？” (tasukete moraemasuka), which means “Can you please help me?” If you’re having difficulty communicating in Japanese, you can ask “英語が話せますか” (Eigo ga hanasemasu ka?), which means “Do you speak English?” 

If you want to ask for the police, you can ask “交番はどこですか” (kouban wa doko desuka), which is “Where is the police station?” And if you need cash, you can ask “ATMはどこですか” (Ei tii emu wa doko desuka) which means “Where is the ATM?” 

Most people in Japan are very polite and helpful, and they’ll be happy to assist you in any way they can. It’s also a good idea to carry a phrasebook or have a translation app on your phone, just in case. 

Key vocabulary to memorize: 

• 助けて (tasukete): Please help me
• 英語 (eigo): English 
• 交番 (kouban): police station

Knowing some basic Japanese phrases can make a huge difference when living in Japan, from ordering food and shopping to getting around and making reservations. It also shows respect for the local culture and can help you integrate into society a lot smoother. While it may seem difficult at first, learning Japanese is a rewarding experience that can greatly enhance your stay in Japan.

If you’re interested in taking your Japanese language skills to the next level, TCJ offers a range of courses for all levels, from beginner to advanced. Courses include foreign resident, intensive, job hunting, JLPT-focused, and more. Our experienced teachers use a communicative approach to help you improve your Japanese language skills in a fun and engaging way. Contact us today to learn more about our courses and start your journey to becoming a fluent Japanese speaker.