Japan Vibe
Greetings & basics

  • Hello (during the day)

    こんにちは

    konnichiwa

  • Good morning

    おはようございます

    ohayou gozaimasu

  • Good evening

    こんばんは

    konbanwa

  • Thank you very much

    ありがとうございます

    arigatou gozaimasu

  • Excuse me / sorry (to get attention)

    すみません

    sumimasen

  • I am sorry

    ごめんなさい

    gomen nasai

  • Please (go ahead, here you go)

    どうぞ

    douzo

  • Yes

    はい

    hai

  • No

    いいえ

    iie

  • Nice to meet you

    はじめまして

    hajimemashite

  • Goodbye

    さようなら

    sayounara

  • It is fine / all good

    大丈夫です

    daijoubu desu

  • I do not understand

    わかりません

    wakarimasen

  • Do you speak English?

    英語を話せますか

    eigo o hanasemasu ka

Food & restaurants

  • The menu, please

    メニューをください

    menyuu o kudasai

  • The bill, please

    お会計をお願いします

    okaikei o onegai shimasu

  • Before eating (bon appetit)

    いただきます

    itadakimasu

  • Thank you for the meal

    ごちそうさまでした

    gochisousama deshita

  • Water, please

    お水をください

    omizu o kudasai

  • I am vegetarian

    ベジタリアンです

    bejitarian desu

  • Without meat, please

    肉なしでお願いします

    niku nashi de onegai shimasu

  • Is it spicy?

    辛いですか

    karai desu ka

  • Very delicious

    とても美味しいです

    totemo oishii desu

  • What do you recommend?

    おすすめは何ですか

    osusume wa nan desu ka

Transport & getting around

  • 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 ticket, please

    切符を一枚ください

    kippu o ichimai kudasai

  • Where does this train go?

    この電車はどこ行きですか

    kono densha wa doko yuki desu ka

  • I want to go to...

    …に行きたいです

    ...ni ikitai desu

  • Right

    右

    migi

  • Left

    左

    hidari

  • Straight ahead

    まっすぐ

    massugu

  • I am lost

    道に迷いました

    michi ni mayoimashita

Shopping

  • How much is this?

    これはいくらですか

    kore wa ikura desu ka

  • Too expensive

    高すぎます

    takasugimasu

  • I am just looking

    見ているだけです

    mite iru dake desu

  • Can I pay by card?

    カードで払えますか

    kaado de haraemasu ka

  • Is there a discount?

    割引はありますか

    waribiki wa arimasu ka

  • I will take this

    これをください

    kore o kudasai

Emergencies & health

  • Help!

    助けて

    tasukete

  • Please call a doctor

    医者を呼んでください

    isha o yonde kudasai

  • I do not feel well

    具合が悪いです

    guai ga warui desu

  • Where is the hospital?

    病院はどこですか

    byouin wa doko desu ka

  • Where is the toilet?

    トイレはどこですか

    toire wa doko desu ka

  • Police

    警察

    keisatsu

  • I am allergic to...

    …アレルギーがあります

    ...arerugii ga arimasu

Common questions

Common questions

How do you say thank you in Japanese?

Thank you very much in Japanese is "ありがとうございます" (arigatou gozaimasu). For a shorter, everyday version you can say "ありがとう" (arigatou).

How do you say hello in Japanese?

Hello during the day is "こんにちは" (konnichiwa). In the morning you say "おはようございます" (ohayou gozaimasu), and in the evening "こんばんは" (konbanwa).

Do you need to speak Japanese to travel in Japan?

Not at all. In the big cities and tourist sites there is English signage and plenty of people happy to help. But a few Japanese words, especially "thank you", "excuse me" and "please", open doors and are warmly received. This phrasebook gives you the basics, with simple romaji for pronunciation.