The audio and video for Basic Japanese Phrases for Holiday Travelers to Japan are provided at the end of this post.

  • Hello, Konnichi ha (pronounced as Konnichiwa)
  • How are you? Genki desu ka?
  • I’m fine: Genki desu.
  • Thank you, Arigato
  • Excuse me: Sumimasen
  • Goodbye: Sayonara
  • Please: Onegai
  • Delicious: Oishii
  • How much is this? Ikura desu ka?
  • Where is the restroom? Toire doko desu ka?
  • There: Achira desu, here: koko desu
  • I’m sorry: Gomen nasai
  • I don’t understand : Wakaranai
  • Do you speak English? Eigo wakarimasu ka
  • Yes: Hai, No: Ie (In Japanese, “no” is rarely used), OK: Okkei, A little: Chotto
  • Please wait: Chotto matte kudaisai
  • Where does this go? Doko ni ikimasu ka?
  • I want to go to the station: Eki ni ikitai
  • I want to buy tickets: Chiketto kaitai
  • Where am I now? Koko ha doko desu ka?
  • Credit card OK? Kaado okkei?
  • Is it OK to try this on ? Shichaku shite mo okkei?
  • I don’t have a reservation: Yoyaku ga nai desu. I have a reservation: Yoyaku ga arimasu.
  • How many people in your party? Nanmei sama desu ka? (Answer by showing your fingers)
  • Kitsuen seki ka, kinnen seki ka? Smoking section or nonsmoking section? (Answer in English)
  • This way: Kochira desu
  • Menu please: Menuu onegai shimasu
  • Chicken: Chikin , Beef:niku , Fish: Sakana , Pork: Butaniku , Wheat: komugi, Egg: Tamago, Milk: miruku
  • I want this: Kore hosii, I want chicken: Chikin hosii, I want beef: Niku hosii
  • I don’t want pork: Butaniku dame desu
  • I don’t want raw fish: Sushi dame desu
  • What would you recommend? Ossume ari masu ka?
  • Check please: Okaikei onegai shimasu
  • Stop: Stoppu
  • See you later: Mata ne
  • Kansai Dialect (Many Japanese will be surprised to hear these local phrases from you. Please watch the video below)
  • Ookini: Thank you
  • Akan: Impossible (Osaka)
  • Nanbou: How much (Osaka)
  • Nande yanen: Why??? (Osaka)
  • Okibariyasu: Don’t give up (Kyoto)
  • Kannin: I’m sorry (Kyoto)
  • Sainara: Good bye (Kyoto)

 

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