FAQs
What are the 100 most common Japanese phrases? ›
Some essential basic Japanese words include:
- こんにちは (Konnichiwa) - Hello.
- ありがとう (Arigatou) - Thank you.
- すみません (Sumimasen) - Excuse me / I am sorry.
- はい (Hai) - Yes.
- いいえ (Iie) - No.
- おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) - Good morning.
- こんばんは (Konbanwa) - Good evening.
- さようなら (Sayonara) - Goodbye.
Cool Japanese Slang Words to Know
| Japanese Script | English Pronunciation | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| まじ | maji (mah-jee) | Seriously? |
| なにする | nani suru (nah-nee soo-roo) | What are you gonna do? |
| オッス | ossu (oh-soo) | What's up? |
| リア充 | riajuu (ree-ah-joo) | someone who prefers the real world over being online (a "normal" person, not a nerd) |
Dec 16, 2020
Now here are some useful phrases to know
| Arigatou gozaimasu | "Thank you" |
|---|---|
| Mou ichido onegaishimasu | "Can you repeat once more?" |
| Watashi no namaewa...desu | "My name is..." |
| Tasukete kudasai | "Please help me." |
| ...wo kudasai | "Can I have..."/"Please give me..." Tip: This is useful when out dining somewhere |
#1 Konnichiwa (こんにちは) – Hello. #2 Ohayou gozaimasu (おはようございます) – Good morning. #3 Konbanwa (こんばんは) – Good evening.
Is 3000 words enough for Japanese? ›About 3000-5000 words will give you 'basic fluency'.
What is the Japanese phrase 80% full? ›Hara hachi bun me (腹八分目) (also spelled hara hachi bu, and sometimes misspelled hari hachi bu) is a Confucian teaching that instructs people to eat until they are 80 percent full. The Japanese phrase translates to, "Eat until you are eight parts (out of ten) full", or "belly 80 percent full".
What does koi no yokan mean? ›"Koi no yokan" (恋の予感) is a Japanese term that refers to the feeling of excitement or anticipation that comes with the possibility of falling in love or starting a new romantic relationship. It can be translated as "premonition of love" or "anticipation of love."
Why do Japanese say Hai so much? ›Basically, “Hai” is used to make a decision in response to a question, but many Japanese people naturally use this word in “conversational reply” (2). In such cases, “Hai” does not include the meaning of “YES,” but is more like a simple “I'm listening to what you have to say.
How do you say no in Japanese politely? ›Let's start by looking at the most basic word for “no.” In Japanese, the polite way to say “no” is “いいえ (Iie).” Regardless, いいえ (Iie) is still rarely used as a way to refuse, even in formal situations. It is the most straightforward, blunt way of doing it, while the casual way of saying “no” is いや (iya).
What are 10 Japanese words? ›Learn 10 Japanese words and phrases
- “Konnichi wa” means “hello!”
- “Je ne” means “goodbye.”
- “O-negai shimasu” means “please.”
- “Arigato” means “thank you!”
- “Doitashimash*te” means “you're welcome.”
- “Ohayo gozaimasu” means “good morning.”
- “Konbanwa” means “good evening.”
- “O-yasumi nasai” means “good night.”
How should I greet a Japanese? ›
Konnichiwa is a common greeting for Japanese people. It's a general “hello” and can be used throughout the day – though early in the morning or late at night you'd be wiser to use ohayou and konbanwa. All three of these aisatsu are used every day by Japanese people.
Can I go to Japan without speaking Japanese? ›Of course! There are no laws or regulations that prohibit international tourists from visiting Japan if they don't know Japanese.
What is the most polite Japanese greeting? ›Teineigo - Polite greetings in Japanese
The most common is "こんにちは" (konnichiwa). This greeting can be used in various formal situations including business meetings and other professional environments. "こんにちは" is one of the most common greetings in Japan, and you can use it in both formal and informal settings.
- A common and polite way to greet someone in Japanese is to say "Konnichiwa" (こんにちは) which means "hello" or "good afternoon". ...
- If you are meeting someone for the first time, it is also polite to bow slightly as a sign of respect.
Apr 18, 2023
When it comes to self-introductions, you need to introduce yourself by mentioning your name in your native language. The polite way of saying “my name is” to someone you just met is “Watashi no namae was_____ desu.” or Watashi wa ___ to moushimasu. (My name is ___).
Is 6000 words enough for Japanese? ›Your initial goal should be to learn 6000 words, at which point you can probably understand a good portion of Japanese TV shows, games, or manga.
Is 50 too late to learn Japanese? ›Never Too Old To Learn
We are all lifetime learners until the day we die. In my online courses, I have many students who are in their 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's. The older student I currently have is 85 years old. When we are older, we just need more time to absorb new information.
Basic Phrases
- O-negai shimasu. Please. おねがいします。
- Arigatō. Thank you. ありがとう。
- Dōitashimash*te. You're welcome. どういたしまして。
- Sumimasen. Excuse me. すみません。
- Gomennasai. I am sorry. ごめんなさい。
- Ohayō gozaimasu. Good morning. おはようございます。
- Konbanwa. Good evening. こんばんは。
- O-yasumi nasai. Good night. おやすみなさい。