Japanese Phrasebook β
You don't need to be fluent to get by, but knowing these basics will make your life so much easier. Even a small effort goes a long way in Japan, and people genuinely appreciate it when you try.
Numbers β
| Number | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | δΈ | ichi |
| 2 | δΊ | ni |
| 3 | δΈ | san |
| 4 | ε | yon / shi |
| 5 | δΊ | go |
| 6 | ε | roku |
| 7 | δΈ | nana / shichi |
| 8 | ε « | hachi |
| 9 | δΉ | kyuu / ku |
| 10 | ε | juu |
| 100 | ηΎ | hyaku |
| 1,000 | ε | sen |
| 10,000 | δΈ | man |
| 100,000 | εδΈ | juu man |
| 1,000,000 | ηΎδΈ | hyaku man |
Days of the Week β
| Day | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | ζζζ₯ | Getsuyoubi |
| Tuesday | η«ζζ₯ | Kayoubi |
| Wednesday | ζ°΄ζζ₯ | Suiyoubi |
| Thursday | ζ¨ζζ₯ | Mokuyoubi |
| Friday | ιζζ₯ | Kinyoubi |
| Saturday | εζζ₯ | Doyoubi |
| Sunday | ζ₯ζζ₯ | Nichiyoubi |
Useful Phrases β
| English | Japanese (Romaji) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Konnichiwa |
| Good morning | Ohayou gozaimasu |
| Good evening | Konbanwa |
| Thank you | Arigatou gozaimasu |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sumimasen |
| Yes | Hai |
| No | Iie |
| Please | Onegaishimasu |
| I don't understand | Wakarimasen |
| Do you speak English? | Eigo wo hanasemasu ka? |
| Where is...? | ...wa doko desu ka? |
| How much is this? | Kore wa ikura desu ka? |
| Help! | Tasukete! |
| I need a doctor | Isha ga hitsuyou desu |
| Where is the station? | Eki wa doko desu ka? |
At a Restaurant β
| English | Japanese (Romaji) |
|---|---|
| Water please | Omizu kudasai |
| Check please | Okaikei onegaishimasu |
| Delicious | Oishii |
| Thank you for the meal (before eating) | Itadakimasu |
| Thank you for the meal (after eating) | Gochisousama deshita |
TIP
"Sumimasen" is your Swiss army knife word. Use it to get someone's attention, apologize, say thank you casually, or flag down a waiter. You'll hear it constantly.
At the Hospital β
Visiting a hospital can be stressful enough without a language barrier. For a detailed list of medical phrases and vocabulary, check out the Healthcare page which includes useful Japanese expressions for hospital visits.