Basic

Japanese

Words & Phrases

 

(Short trip in Japan)

 

By Yoko Kano

University of North Carolina, Wilmington

Copyright©2011

 

 

Click for video to practice.  Click here to download Word file of the text.

 

  1. Pronunciation of five Japanese vowels in Romaji, Hello, and Goodbye 

  1. Gratitude, Apology, and Other Useful Expressions 

  1. Writing System  

  1. Dining Situation (Allergy Warning, Preferences)

  1. Ordering at a restaurants

  1. Shopping

  1. Numbers and Numerals

 
  1. Buying a train ticket & Getting on the train

 
  1. Getting off the train

 
  1. Introducing Yourself

 

 

 

1. Pronunciation of five Japanese vowels in Romaji 

 

A = as in father

 

I = as in eat

 

U = as in food

 

E = as in egg

 

O = as in comb

 

 

Hello

 

Ohayoo.                                  Good morning. (informal/direct style)

Ohayoo gozaimasu.                 Good morning. (formal/distal style)

Konnichi wa.                           Good afternoon.

Konban wa.                             Good evening.

 

Note: “How are you doing?”  is commonly used as a form of greeting in the U.S. but only young (about teenage) Japanese use the equivalent word “Genki? How are you?” among friends. The rest of Japanese just use the above “Hello” phrases as a daily greeting.  If someone returns from a long absence, “Ogenki desu ka” (How have you been?) is commonly used among adults.   

 

Note: The above phase means “Hello” and we do not commonly say  “Have a good day/night.”  When you are departing, just say the Good bye phrases below.  “Ogenki de (Take care of yourself)” is commonly used to people whom you will not see anymore or expect long absence.

 

Good bye

 

Sayo(o)nara.                            Final goodbye.

Ja (or Dewa), mata.                 See you later. (Literally it means “again.”)

Ja (or Dewa).                           See you. (Very informal)

Oyasuminasai.                         Have a good dream/Good night.

 

Other Greetings

 

Irasshaimase                            Welcome/May I help you (used by a store clerk)?

Moshi moshi                            Hello (Use it only on the phone).

 

 

2. Expressions of Gratitude

 

Doomo.                                               Thanks. (Very informal)

Arigatoo.                                             Thank you.

Doomo arigatoo.                                 Thank you very much.

Arigatoo gozaimasu.                           Thank you. (Formal)

Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu.               Thank you very much. (Most formal)

 

(Doomo) sumimasen.                          Sorry for your trouble (Thank you.)

 

Doo itashimashite                               You are welcome. This phrase is NOT commonly used.  Japanese usually smile back, bow, or say “iie” for acknowledgement.

 

Expressions of Apology

 

Gomen (nasai)                         Sorry

Sumimasen                              I am sorry. Excuse me. Thank you.

Literally Sumimasen means, “My indebtedness to you will never end.”

It can also be used to get the attention of a waiter in a restaurant.

Doomo sumimasen                  I am so sorry (more polite).  Thank you.

 

 

Other Useful Expressions

 

Nihongo wa wakarimasen.      I don’t understand Japanese.

 

Ii desu ka?                               Is it OK? (Asking permissions)

 

Doozo.                                                Go ahead. / Here you are (handing out something).

 

Onegai shimasu                       A Phase of request.  In essence, “I make this request,” “I am asking you this favor,” or “Please.”

 

Toire wa doko desu ka?          Where is the bathroom?

 

Daijoobu desu ka.                   Are you O.K., fine, well (physically and/or mentally)? 

Hai, Daijoobu desu.                Yes, I am fine.           

 

            Other usages:

Q: Sashimi wa daijoobu desu ka?                   Can you eat raw fish?

                        A1: Ee, daijoobu desu.                                   Yes. (I am fine.)

                        A2: Sashimi wa (chotto) nigate desu.             (Polite way of saying) No.

 

3. Writing System

 

Kanji (Han Chinese characters)

Katakana (46 phonetic letters for Loan words)  E.g.　タクシー、デザート

Hiragana (46phonetic letters for grammar and small children)

Romaji (For Westerners)

 

For example:  I ate ice cream yesterday.　　昨日、アイスクリームを食べました。

 

  

 

        

 

 

Survival Kanji

 

Kanji

Roman letters

English meaning

女

Onna

Female

男

Otoko

Male

入口

Iriguchi

Entrance

出口

Deguchi

Exit

 

 

4. Dining situations

 

Kanpai                                     Cheers!

 

Itadakimasu                            It is said to the host/hostess before starting a meal. Literally means, “I humbly receive/accept.”

 

Kiree (desu ne.)                       (It is) pretty.

 

Oishii (desu).                           (This/it is) Delicious.                          

 

Chotto nigate desu.                 I do not like (it) much (polite refusal).

                                                

Gochisoo sama (deshita)         It was a feast/treat. Thank you for the meal/the cook.

 

 

You cannot eat (or allergic to) something.

 

Vocabulary for some food, to which people are allergic.

Niku

Meat     

Goma

Sesami

Kani

Crab

Piinattsu

Peanut

Nama no sakana

Raw fish               

Nattsu rui

Nuts

Kai

Shellfish

Toomorokoshi/ koon

Corn

Ichigo

Strawberry

Satoo

Sugar

Sakuranbo

Cherry

Tomato

Tomato

Karai mono

Spicy stuff (food)

 

 

 

(Replace the underlined blanks with the words above to practice.)

 

Sorry.  I cannot eat            .    Sumimasen.               wa  tabe(ra)re-masen.

 

Does this contain            ?       Kore ni             wa haitte imasu ka. 

 

I am allergic (to it).                 Arerugii na n desu.

I am allergic to dog/ cat.         Inu/ neko ni areerugii na n desu.

 

 

Likes and Dislikes

 

The followings are conversation among A, B, and C, talking about their likes and dislikes.

 

A: Sashimi (ga) suki desu ka.              Do you like raw fish?

 

B: Ee, suki desu. Tabemasu.              Yes, I do.  I eat (it).

 

C: Chotto nigate desu.                        I do not like it much.
(Polite way of showing your preference.)

 

No, thank you.                                                Ie, kekkoo desu.  (Polite decline)

 

Do not forget to SMILE when you mention “negative.” 
 

5. Ordering at a Japanese restaurant (Requesting)

 

Start the conversation with “Sumimasen” to get a server’s attention or simply to start the conversation.

 

Sumimasen.                   wa arimasu ka.           Do you have                  ?                  

            E.g.  Raamen wa arimasu ka.                    Do you have ramen noodle?                      

           onegai shimasu.                  I would like to have/ Would you give me              .       

E.g. I would like to have water.                     Mizu onegai shimasu. 

 

Some menu items at Coffee Shop (Kissaten):

(Hotto) koohii

Coffee

Aisu koohii

Iced coffee

Koocha

Black (English) tea

Remon tii

Tea with lemon

Miruku tii

Tea with milk

Mooningu setto/saabisu 

Breakfast combo (toast, coffee or tea, maybe some salad)

Ranch setto

Lunch special

Sandoitchi

Sandwich

Hamu sando

Ham sandwich

Mikkusu sando

Mixed Sandwich (chef’s special)

Ocha

Green tea

 

 

 

If you do not know how to say it in Japanese, you can look around the restaurant and see what other people eating. Find a food that you want to try and say the following phrases.                              

(Pointing at a food sample or a picture near you.)                   Kore, onegai shimasu.

(Pointing at a food sample or a picture near the listener.)       Sore, onegai shimasu.

(Pointing at a food sample or a picture away from both speaker and listener)  Are, onegai shimasu.

 

“Kudasai” can be also used instead of “onegaishimasu” if you are requesting an tangible object.  If you are asking for service, use “onegai shimasu.  For example, if you are requesting a cab driver to go to Tokyo station, say “Tokyo eki, onegai shimasu.”  If you say “Tokyo eki, kudasai,” you are asking to acquire the station building.

 

6. Shopping

The followings are the list of useful phrases in shopping.

 

At a department store:

 

Clerk: Irasshaimase.

Welcome. (May I help you?)

Customer: Ikura desu ka.  

How much is it?

(Customer: Sumimasen Kaite kudasai.)           

(Please write it.)

Customer: Akai no misete kudasai

Please show me the red one.

Customer: Motto/ moosukoshi  ookii no arimasu ka?

Do you have much/a little bigger one?

Clark: Kore wa ikaga desu ka.

How do you like this? 

Customer:  Chotto chiisai desu ne. Iie, kekkoo desu.  Or Jaa, kore kudasai/onegai shimasu. 

(Hesitating..) (it is) small. No, thank you.  Yes, I will buy/get this.

Customer: Ryooshuusho, kudasai/onegai shimasu.

Receipt, please (give me).

 

 

Colors:

Red one           Akai no                                   White              one      Shiroi no

Yellow one      Kiiroi no                                  Black one        Kuroi no

Blue one          Aoi no                                     Green one        Midori no

 

 

Other useful Adjective words:

Ookii

Big

Yasui

Cheap

Chiisai

Small

Takai

Expensive

           

 

Purchasing Omamori at a shrines and temples

 

 

    

You:    Kono Omamori kudasai.                     I will have this good luck charm.

Tabi no anzen no Omamori kudasai.   Let me have a good luck charm for travel.

Kenkoo no Omamori arimasu ka.       Do you have a good luck charm for health?

Person at the shrine or temple: Gokuroo sama deshita.

Thank you for your work (in this case, coming to pray at the shrine/temple).


 

7. Numbers and Numerals

 

 

English number = Japanese numeral + counter

 

Counter changes according to the shape, size, and nature of the objects. For examples:

In counting a thin flat object One (ticket, sheets of paper, etc. ) = ichi-mai

In counting a machine             One (car, train, sawing machine, etc.) =  ichi-dai

In mentioning time                  One (o’clock) = ichi-ji

In mentioning minutes            One minute = ip-pun, two minutes = ni hun, etc.

 

 

Numerals

 

NATIVE JAPANESE SYSTEM

SINO-JAPANESE SYSTEM

1-10

1-20

10s

100s

1000s

1 Hitotsu

1 Ichi

11 Juu ichi                            

10 Juu

100 Hyaku

1,000 Issen / Sen

2 Futatsu

2 Ni  

12 Juu ni                         

20 Ni juu

200 Ni hyaku 

2,000 Ni sen

3 Mittsu

3 San

13 Juu san 

30 San juu  

300 San byaku

3,000 San zen

4 Yottsu

4 Yon / Shi

14 Juu yon

 / Juu shi

40 Yon juu 

  / Shi juu

400 Yon hyaku

4,000 Yon sen

5 Itsutsu

5 Go 

15 Juu go  

50 Go juu   

500 Go hyaku  

5,000 Go sen

6 Muttsu

6Roku

16Juu roku

60 Roku juu

600 Roppyaku  

6,000 Roku sen

7 Nanatsu

7Shichi

/ Nana

17Juu shichi

  / Juu nana

70 Shichi juu

   / Nana juu

700

Nana hyaku

7,000

Nana sen

8 Yattsu

8 Hachi

18 Juu hachi

80 Hachi juu

800

Happyaku

8,000

Hassen

9 Kokonotsu

9 Ku

 /Kyuu

19Juu ku

   /Juu kyuu

90 Kyuu juu

900

Kyuu hyaku

9,000

Kyuu sen

10 Too

Juu

20 Ni juu

 

 

10,000

 Ichi man

 

E.g.    8635 Hassen roppyaku san juu go.

 

Note: 1.Zero is Ree or Zero.  2.The native Japanese system exists for 1

          through 10 only.  After 11, only the Sino-system can be used.

 

 

8. Around Train Station

 

     

 

 

In traveling a short distance

(At the ticket machine, asking a stranger.)

You: Sumimasen.  Shibuya made ikura desu ka.

 

Excuse me, but…How much is it to Shibuya?

A stranger: Shibuya made desu ka.  Hyaku hachi juu en desu.

To Shibuya? 180 yen.

You: Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu.

Thank you very much.

(In going through the train machine gate, asking the station master in uniform.)

You: Shibuya (iki) wa nan-ban sen desu ka.

 

 

What number is the platform for Shibuya?

Station mater: Juu hachi-ban sen desu.

Number 18

You: Juu hachi-ban sen desu ne. Doomo.

Number 18, right?  Thanks.

 

 

9. Getting On and Off the Train

 

     

 

 

(Asking a stranger at the platform.)

You: Sumimasen. Tsugi no densha wa

Shinjuku ni ikimasu ka.

Excuse me. Does the next train go to Shinjuku?

(A train is arriving) You: Kono densha wa Shinjuku ni ikimasu ka.

Does this train goes to Shinjuku?

(On a train, asking a passenger)
You: Tsugi no eki wa Shinjuku desu ka.

Is the next station Shinjuku?

You: Koko wa Shibuya desu ka.

Is here Shinjuku?

(Going out of the ticket gate.)

You: Tookyoo tochoo wa dochira desu ka.

Which way is Tokyo Municipal Office Building?

 

 

10. Introducing Yourself

 

Mr. Suzuki and Mr. Rogers are introducing each other   

 

Suzuki:   Hajimemashite. Suzuki desu. 

How do you do?  (I am) Suzuki.

 

Rogers:     Hajimemashite. Rojaasu desu.

How do you do? (I am) Rogers

Suzuki:   (Doozo) Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

It’s nice to meet you

Rogers:     (Doozo) Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

It’s nice to meet you

 

Hajimemashite (literally, it’s the first time we meet) and doozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu (lit., please regard me favorably) are set phrase. 

Desu corresponds to the verb to be (am, are, is, etc., depending on context).

 

 

Note: Japanese tend to stand farther apart during a conversation than North Americans do.  Some Japanese also consider it rude to look directly into another person’s eyes, especially if that person has a higher social status.   

Note: Japanese language is called “High context.”  Many hidden words are supposed/expected to be understood from the context (situations where you are in and can see, hear, feel and sometimes taste).  Thus the subject of the sentences such as “I, you, it, this, etc.” are omitted unless it needs to be stated to avoid confusion.

 

Other useful phrases:

Oshigoto wa (nan desu ka)?   (What is) your occupation/job?

Nani-jin desu ka?                    What is your nationality?

Nihon-jin desu.                       I am (or the person is) Japanese.

Amerika-jin desu.                    I am (or the person is) American.

Dochira kara desu ka?             Where/which country (are you) from?

Amerika kara desu.                 I am (or the person is) from America.