Japanese Prases

EXCUSE ME

SUMIMASEN • すみません

soo•me•mah•sen

To be used when calling out to someone, bumping into someone accidentally, apologising etc

THANK YOU

ARIGATO GOZAIMASU • ありがとうございます

ah•ree•gah•toe•goh•zai•mas

Drop the formal "gozaimas" if you're talking to a friend or child.

IT'S OKAY

DAIJOUBU DES • ⼤丈夫です

die•joe•boo•des

Can be used to politely decline something or simply to say "it's okay" if someone apologises to you. Drop the "des" to sound more casual.

PLEASE

ONEGAISHIMAS • お願いします

on•eh•guy•she•mas

A catch all term that means "please" "do your best" "let's work well together" and sending respect all at once. When someone agrees to do something for you, say this to show respect. You can also point to something in the menu and say "onegaishimas" and they will understand.

DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?

EIGO O HANASEMASUKA? • 英語を話せますか？

eh•ee•goh•oh•hana•say•mas•ka

They will either reply with "hai" (yes) or "hanasemasen" (I don't speak it).

WHERE IS THE TOILET?

TOIRE WA DOKO DESKA? • トイレはどこですか？

toy•reh•wa•doh•koh•des•kah

"Toilet" is the same word in English as in Japanese but with elongated syllables. Feel free to replace the word "toilet" with any other place/thing.

HOWLONG WILL IT TAKE?

DONO KURAI KAKARIMASKA? • どのくらいかかりますか？ doh•no•koo•rai•kah•kah•ree•mas•kah

To be used in a taxi, restaurant, shop etc. Drop the "kakarimaska" if it's too long to remember and people will still understand.

DO YOU HAVE [ITEM]?

[ITEM NAME] O ARIMASKA? • をありますか？

oh•ah•ree•mas•kah

For example: you're searching for tissues in a store "Tissue o arimaska?" They will either reply with "hai" or "gommenasai arimasen" (sorry we don't have it).

WHICH PLATFORM TO [PLACE]?

[PLACE] MAHDE NANBAN NORIBA? • まで何番乗り場？

mah•deh•nan•bun•noh•ree•bah

Ask this to any staff at the train station for help getting to the correct platform. For example "Kyoto mahde, nanban noriba?"

IS CREDIT CARD OKAY?

CREDIT CARD DAIJOUBU? • クレジットカード⼤丈夫ですか？

koo•re•ji•toh car•doh die•joe•boo

Paying by credit isn't very common in the countryside so asking would be polite. The English word "credit card" is the same in Japanese but with elongated syllables.

NO BAG PLEASE

FUKURO IRANAI • 袋いらない

foo•koo•roh ee•rah•nai

To be used if someone offers you a bag when buying something. Convenience stores now make you pay 2-3 yen for a bag so they will always ask you. Say this phrase or decline by saying "daijoubu". "Iranai" means "I don't need" so feel free to use it on its own.

WHAT IS THIS?

KORE WA NAN DESKA? • これは何ですか？

koh•reh•wa•nan•des•kah

A useful phrase to learn but they will probably reply in Japanese! Any word ending in "deska" or "ka" means that it's a question.