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Basic Japanese phrases work best when you learn them by situation, not as one long script. Start with greetings and polite basics, then add requests, directions, food, shopping, and problem-solving phrases. The 60 expressions below are designed for recognition and safe beginner use. Keep the Japanese text visible, use romaji only as support, and pay attention to polite endings such as です and ます.
| Situation | Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greetings | おはようございます | ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning |
| Greetings | こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello / good afternoon |
| Greetings | こんばんは | konbanwa | Good evening |
| Greetings | はじめまして | hajimemashite | Nice to meet you |
| Greetings | よろしくお願いします | yoroshiku onegaishimasu | Please treat me kindly |
| Greetings | お元気ですか | ogenki desu ka | How are you? |
| Polite basics | ありがとうございます | arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you |
| Polite basics | すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me / sorry |
| Polite basics | お願いします | onegaishimasu | Please |
| Polite basics | 大丈夫です | daijoubu desu | I am okay / no thank you |
| Polite basics | 分かりました | wakarimashita | I understand |
| Polite basics | 分かりません | wakarimasen | I do not understand |
| Conversation | 日本語を勉強しています | nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu | I am studying Japanese |
| Conversation | もう一度お願いします | mou ichido onegaishimasu | One more time, please |
| Conversation | ゆっくり話してください | yukkuri hanashite kudasai | Please speak slowly |
| Conversation | これは何ですか | kore wa nan desu ka | What is this? |
| Conversation | どういう意味ですか | dou iu imi desu ka | What does it mean? |
| Conversation | 日本語で何と言いますか | nihongo de nan to iimasu ka | How do you say it in Japanese? |
| Directions | 駅はどこですか | eki wa doko desu ka | Where is the station? |
| Directions | ここから遠いですか | koko kara tooi desu ka | Is it far from here? |
| Directions | 右に曲がってください | migi ni magatte kudasai | Please turn right |
| Directions | 左に曲がってください | hidari ni magatte kudasai | Please turn left |
| Directions | まっすぐ行ってください | massugu itte kudasai | Please go straight |
| Directions | 道に迷いました | michi ni mayoimashita | I am lost |
| Food | これをください | kore o kudasai | This one, please |
| Food | おすすめは何ですか | osusume wa nan desu ka | What do you recommend? |
| Food | 水をお願いします | mizu o onegaishimasu | Water, please |
| Food | いただきます | itadakimasu | Said before eating |
| Food | ごちそうさまでした | gochisousama deshita | Thank you for the meal |
| Food | お会計をお願いします | okaikei o onegaishimasu | The bill, please |
| Shopping | いくらですか | ikura desu ka | How much is it? |
| Shopping | カードは使えますか | kaado wa tsukaemasu ka | Can I use a card? |
| Shopping | 見てもいいですか | mite mo ii desu ka | May I look at it? |
| Shopping | 試着してもいいですか | shichaku shite mo ii desu ka | May I try it on? |
| Travel | 予約があります | yoyaku ga arimasu | I have a reservation |
| Travel | チェックインをお願いします | chekkuin o onegaishimasu | I would like to check in |
| Travel | 何時に出ますか | nanji ni demasu ka | What time does it leave? |
| Travel | この電車は東京に行きますか | kono densha wa toukyou ni ikimasu ka | Does this train go to Tokyo? |
| Problems | 助けてください | tasukete kudasai | Please help me |
| Problems | 気分が悪いです | kibun ga warui desu | I feel sick |
| Problems | 財布をなくしました | saifu o nakushimashita | I lost my wallet |
| Problems | 警察を呼んでください | keisatsu o yonde kudasai | Please call the police |
| Goodbyes | さようなら | sayounara | Goodbye |
| Goodbyes | またね | mata ne | See you |
| Goodbyes | また明日 | mata ashita | See you tomorrow |
| Goodbyes | おやすみなさい | oyasuminasai | Good night |
| Social | おめでとうございます | omedetou gozaimasu | Congratulations |
| Social | 頑張ってください | ganbatte kudasai | Good luck / do your best |
| Social | 楽しんでください | tanoshinde kudasai | Please enjoy |
| Social | 本当ですか | hontou desu ka | Really? |
| Responses | そうです | sou desu | That is right |
| Responses | そうですね | sou desu ne | That is true / let me see |
| Responses | たぶん | tabun | Probably |
| Responses | もちろん | mochiron | Of course |
| Requests | ちょっと待ってください | chotto matte kudasai | Please wait a moment |
| Requests | 写真を撮ってもいいですか | shashin o totte mo ii desu ka | May I take a photo? |
| Requests | 書いてください | kaite kudasai | Please write it |
| Requests | 教えてください | oshiete kudasai | Please tell me |
| Introductions | 私の名前は…です | watashi no namae wa ... desu | My name is ... |
| Introductions | カナダから来ました | kanada kara kimashita | I came from Canada |
| Pattern | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ___ をお願いします | Polite request | 水をお願いします。 |
| ___ はどこですか | Ask where something is | 駅はどこですか。 |
| ___ てもいいですか | Ask permission | 写真を撮ってもいいですか。 |
These frames are more reusable than memorizing dozens of disconnected tourist lines. Change one noun or verb and you can create a new sentence while keeping the politeness stable.
For a beginner, neutral polite Japanese is the safest default. Use です / ます endings, soften requests with お願いします, and avoid copying rough anime pronouns or commands. Japanese often omits “you” when context is clear, so repeating あなた in every sentence can sound unnatural.
Pair this page with the formal greetings guide and Japanese honorifics when you need workplace or first-meeting language.
Choose a phrase for the situation first. This makes the list into a set of actions you can reuse rather than a group of translations.
水をお願いします. It means “Water, please.” Replace 水 with another item to make the same request pattern useful in many places.
ありがとうございます. This is a dependable “thank you very much” for everyday service situations. It is more appropriate than very casual expressions with a person you do not know.
もう一度お願いします. It means “One more time, please.” For a slower pace, say もう少しゆっくりお願いします (“A little more slowly, please”).
Learn hello, thank you, excuse me, please, I understand, I do not understand, where is it, how much is it, and please help me.
Konnichiwa is mainly a daytime greeting. Use ohayou gozaimasu in the morning and konbanwa in the evening.
These phrases cover many common situations, but reading place names, numbers, dates, and transport information also helps.
Neutral polite Japanese is the safest starting point because it works with strangers, staff, and new acquaintances.
Romaji can support pronunciation, but kana improves recognition and prevents misleading English-style spelling habits.
Group phrases by situation, practise one reusable pattern, and replace a noun or verb to create several new examples.
YoruLearn reinforces practical Japanese with spaced repetition, sentence drills, and reading practice instead of passive phrasebook review.