Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Japanese words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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Onamae wa nan desu ka? What is your name? Watashi wa namae wa ... desu. My name is ... Ogenki desu ka? How are you? Hai, genki desu. Anata wa? Fine. And you? ... wa doko desu? Where is ...? Otearai wa doko desu ka? Otoko / Onna Toire wa doko desu ka? Otoko / Onna Where is the toilet? Men / Women Sumimasen. Shitsurei desu ga. Sorry. Excuse me. Mondai nai. No problem. ... ga hoshii desu. I want ... ... ga hoshii ja arimasen. I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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Dochira kara kimashita ka? Where are you from? Ōsutoraria kara kimashita.* I am from Australia. Okanjō o onegai shimasu. The bill, please. Michi ni mayoimashita. I'm lost. Tomatte kudasai! Matte kudasai! Stop! Wait! Koko, soko, asoko. Here, there, over there. Takushii. Hoteru. Kūkō. Eki. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. ... ga suki desu. I like ... ... ga suki ja arimasen. I don't like ... ichi**, ni, san, yon/shi, go. one, two, three, four, five. roku, nana / shichi, hachi, kjū / ku, jū. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. **You may also hear the Japanese counter numbers: hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, yottsu, itsutsu, muttsu, nanatsu, yattsu, kokonotsu, tō. *Or choose your country: Amerika - America Kanada - Canada Igirisu - England Airurando - Ireland Nyū Jiirando - New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
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Kampai! Cheers! ii or yoi / warui good / bad ōkii / chiisai big / small chikai / tōi near / far sukunai / motto less / more mō hitotsu / jūbun another / enough Watashi wa bejitarian desu. I am vegetarian. Niku wa tabemasen. I don't eat meat. Toriniku ... Chikin ... ... chicken ... Sakana ... ... fish. Watashi wa nattsu arerugii desu. I am allergic to to nuts. ... piinattsu ... ... peanuts. ... sakana ... ... fish. ... kaisambutsu ... ... seafood. ... tamago ... ... eggs. |
Vowels:
A vowel with a macron indicates a long vowel, ie. ō is a long o
ei indicates a long e (IPA e:)
ii indicates a long i (IPA i:)
u indicates a u sound with the lips unrounded (ɯ)
Consonants:
ch is pronounced as a palatalised ch, ch + y (tɕ)
f is a bilabial fricative, f pronounced with two lips together (ɸ)
g is pronounced ng as in singer when in the middle and at the end of a word (ŋ)
j is pronounced as a palatalised j, j + y (dʑ)
n at the end of a word is a uvular nasal (ɴ)
sh is pronounced as a palatalised sh, sh + y (ɕ)
ssh is a long sh (ɕ:)
tch is a long ch (tɕ:)
w is pronounced with the lips compressed not rounded
A vowel with a macron indicates a long vowel, ie. ō is a long o
ei indicates a long e (IPA e:)
ii indicates a long i (IPA i:)
u indicates a u sound with the lips unrounded (ɯ)
Consonants:
ch is pronounced as a palatalised ch, ch + y (tɕ)
f is a bilabial fricative, f pronounced with two lips together (ɸ)
g is pronounced ng as in singer when in the middle and at the end of a word (ŋ)
j is pronounced as a palatalised j, j + y (dʑ)
n at the end of a word is a uvular nasal (ɴ)
sh is pronounced as a palatalised sh, sh + y (ɕ)
ssh is a long sh (ɕ:)
tch is a long ch (tɕ:)
w is pronounced with the lips compressed not rounded