Essential Phrases
Purpose
Common Japanese phrases and practical language patterns for travel and everyday situations.
When to Use
Use this page for greetings, polite requests, directions, dining phrases, and simple troubleshooting language.
Phrase Notes
- Thank you: ありがとうございます / arigato gozaimasu. Default polite thanks.
- Excuse me / sorry: すみません / sumimasen. Use to get attention, apologize lightly, or pass through a crowd.
- Please: お願いします / onegai shimasu. Use when asking for a service, ticket, table, or help.
- Yes / no: はい / hai; いいえ / iie. In service contexts, nodding plus a short phrase often matters more than literal translation.
- I do not understand Japanese: 日本語がわかりません / nihongo ga wakarimasen.
- Do you speak English?: 英語を話せますか / eigo o hanasemasu ka.
- Where is the station?: 駅はどこですか / eki wa doko desu ka.
- How much is it?: いくらですか / ikura desu ka.
- One, please: ひとつお願いします / hitotsu onegai shimasu.
- I have a reservation: 予約があります / yoyaku ga arimasu.
- The check, please: お会計お願いします / okaikei onegai shimasu.
- Before eating: いただきます / itadakimasu. Polite meal-opening phrase.
- After eating: ごちそうさまでした / gochisosama deshita. Polite thanks after a meal.
- I cannot eat [item]: [item] は食べられません / [item] wa taberaremasen. Use carefully for dietary limits; allergies need clearer wording.
- I have an allergy: アレルギーがあります / arerugi ga arimasu. Pair with the allergen in Japanese and show written text.
- Is there a toilet?: トイレはありますか / toire wa arimasu ka.
- Please call a taxi: タクシーを呼んでください / takushi o yonde kudasai.
- Help, please: 助けてください / tasukete kudasai. Emergency or serious trouble.
- Keep phrases short, polite, and written down. For allergies, addresses, medications, and emergencies, rely on prepared text rather than improvising.
Gotchas
- Include politeness level and context; literal translations can be misleading.
- Romaji is a pronunciation aid, not a substitute for kana/kanji when showing text to staff.