Japanese writing on a temple lantern, Asakusa, Tokyo

Japanese (日本語にほんご nihongo) is spoken in Japan, and essentially nowhere else other than areas of Micronesia, Brazil, Peru, the United States and Taiwan where some use it as a second language, with sizeable Japanese-speaking foreign communities in South Korea and China. Japanese may be distantly related to Korean, but is entirely unrelated to Chinese, though it uses a large amount of imported Chinese vocabulary. The written form uses a combination of Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji characters which were all derived from Chinese characters.

Japanese is a language with many distinct dialects, and while standard Japanese (標準ひょうじゅん語ご hyōjungo), which is based on the Tokyo dialect, is universally taught and understood, you may get an interesting reply from some when travelling around the country. The dialect you are most likely to encounter is the Kansai dialect, which is spoken in the region around Osaka and Kyoto (with slight dialectal differences between the two cities), and is often heard in the Japanese mass media. This might make it harder for you to understand them if you have just started learning Japanese, though locals will usually be able to switch to standard Japanese if you ask them politely.

Pronunciation guide

Japanese is not a tonal language like Chinese or Thai, and is comparatively easy to pronounce. The vowels are pronounced virtually identical to the "Italian way" and there are very few consonants that do not exist in English. All syllables are to be pronounced equal in length. Long vowels take the length of two syllables. Combinations like kya are treated like one syllable and are the only occurrence of glides (semivowels), all other syllables are to be pronounced rather separately.

Also avoid placing too much emphasis on particular words or syllables. Although Japanese does have a form of stress and intonation, it is significantly flatter than English. Word stress is much more subtle and neglecting it at this point should not interfere with meaning. Trying to keep your intonation flat will make your attempts to speak Japanese more comprehensible to local listeners. When asking questions, you can raise the tone at the end, as in English.

Vowels

Japanese has only five basic vowels, but the distinction between short and long vowels is important. For example, 少女しょうじょ (shōjo, with a long first vowel) means "teenage girl", while 処女しょじょ (shojo, with a short first vowel) means "virgin woman". The sounds below are first given in romanized Japanese, then hiragana and finally katakana.

The short vowels are:

a, あ, ア

like 'a' in "palm"

i, い, イ

like 'i' in "marine"

u, う, ウ

like 'oo' in "hoop", but short (said without rounded lips)

e, え, エ

like 'e' in "set"

o, お, オ

like 'o' in "rope", but less round

Note that "u" is often weak at the end of syllables. In particular, the common endings desu and masu are usually pronounced as des and mas respectively. Also, the kana "do" and "to" are sometimes pronounced with a weak "o".

The long vowels are generally the same sound as the short vowels, only held approximately 60% longer. The long vowels, marked with a macron (¯) or by two adjacent vowels, are:

ā, ああ, アー

like 'a' in "father"

ii or ī, いい, イー

like 'ee' in "cheese"

ū, うう, ウー

like 'oo' in "hoop"

ei or ē, えい, エー

like the 'ay' in "pay"

ō, おお, おう, オー

stretch out the 'o' in "soap"

All descriptions above are approximations, it's best to practice with a native speaker.

Consonants

Note on vocalization Japanese words starting with h/k/s/t are often vocalized on later positions in compounds. Place name examples: Hashi (橋はし,brigde) > -bashi Kawa (川かわ,river) > -gawa Saka (坂さか,slope) > -zaka Tōri (通とおり,street) > -dōri

With the solitary exception of "n" (ん・ン), consonants in Japanese are always followed by a vowel to form a syllable. Consonants and vowels are not freely combinable as in English, see table on the right for all possible syllables and note irregularities like し shi or ふ fu. Certain syllables can be marked with diacritics, which alters the pronunciation of the consonant part. The list below first gives the consonant part of the syllable in romanized Japanese, then the Japanese syllables that the sound occurs in first in Hiragana, then Katakana.

k in かきくけこ・カキクケコ (ka ki ku ke ko)

like 'k' in "king"

g in がぎぐげご・ガギグゲゴ (ga gi gu ge go)

like 'g' in "go"

s in さすせそ・サスセソ (sa su se so)

like 's' in "sit"

z in ざずぜぞ・ザズゼゾ・づ・ヅ (za zu ze zo) (dzu) (zu)

like 'z' in "haze"

t in たてと・タテト (ta te to)

like 't' in "top"

d in だでど・ダデド (da de do)

like 'd' in "dog"

n in なにぬねの・ナニヌネノ (na ni nu ne no)

like 'n' in "nice"

ng

like 'ng' in "ching"

h in はひへほ・ハヒヘホ (ha/wa hi fu/hu he/e ho)

like 'h' in "help"

p in ぱぴぷぺぽ・パピプペポ (pa pi pu pe po)

like 'p' in "pig"

b in ばびぶべぼ・バビブベボ (ba bi bu be bo)

like 'b' in "bed"

m in まみむめも・マミムメモ (ma mi mu me mo)

like 'm' in "mother"

y in やゆよ・ヤユヨ (ya yu yo)

like 'y' in "yard"

r in らりるれろ・ラリルレロ (ra ri ru re ro)

no equivalent in English, a sound between 'l', 'r' and 'd', but close to a very soft 'r'

w in わを・ワヲ (wa wo/o)

like 'w' in "wall"

sh in し・シ (shi)

like 'sh' in "sheep"

j in じ・ジ・ぢ・ヂ (ji)

like 'j' in "jar"

ch in ち・チ (chi)

like 'ch' in "touch"

ts in つ・ツ (tsu)

like 'ts' in "hot soup"

f in ふ・フ (fu/hu)

no equivalent in English, somewhere between 'h' and 'f', but you will be understood if you pronounce it either way

n, ん, ン (-n)

short 'n', slides towards 'm' in some cases

Small symbols

The symbols つ・ツ and やゆよ・ヤユヨ, as well as あいうえお・アイウエオ can be written in a smaller size. In the latter group, this is almost always seen only in katakana, as it is only used for loan words. The small つ・ツ indicates a glottal stop, as listed below, while for the rest of the symbols, indicates that they are to be pronounced as part of the same syllable of the preceding symbol. For instance, in the loan word フォーク (fōku), from English "fork", note the smaller size of the オ, which is why it is not pronounced fuōku. To highlight the importance of this distinction, びょういん (byōin, with the small よ) means hospital, and びよういん (biyōin, with the big よ pronounced as a separate syllable from the び) means beauty salon.

っ・ッ (small tsu)

glottal stop; the following consonant is prepared, held and stopped for the duration of one syllable. For example, にっぽん nippon is pronounced "nip-(pause)-pon". (Note that the double consonants nn, mm, which are not written with っ, do not have this pause.)

Examples

• kon'nichiwa → kon-nee-chee-wa (not kounneeCHEEua)
• sumimasen → soo-mee-mah-sen (not sue my maysen)
• onegai shimasu → oh-neh-gigh shee-mahss (not ouneeGAY SHYmessu)

Katakana

Kana chart

Katakana are used to write foreign and loanwords (except for those from Chinese, which are written in kanji) and are hence a good choice for travellers to learn. The katakana set of characters encompasses exactly the same sounds as hiragana; they only look different. The table on the left only reproduces the basic character set and diacritics (カ → ガ). Combinations (キャ) apply just as for hiragana. One additional sound though is ヴ vu and combinations like ヴェ ve based on it, accommodating additional foreign sounds. Every once in a while you may spot additional ingenious combinations or use of diacritics.

Since Japanese doesn't very well accommodate rapid successions of consonants, the katakana transcription can often only approximate the actual pronunciation of a foreign word. While some words like café (カフェ kafe) can be represented quite gracefully, other words like beer (ビール bīru) or rent-a-car (レンタカー rentakā) seem slightly strange to the native English speaker. Nonetheless, many English expressions and concepts are used in everyday life, as are a number of German, French, Dutch and Portuguese loanwords. In many cases, the original words are often abbreviated when used in Japanese, such as supermarket (スーパー sūpā), department store (デパート depāto), remote control (リモコン rimokon) or television (テレビ terebi). Oftentimes the exact meaning of a word has changed in Japanese (German: Arbeit → アルバイト arubaito is used only for part-time work, and Russian: икра ikra → イクラ ikura is used only for salmon roe) or a completely new meaning was invented (ワンマンカー wanmankā → "one-man car", trains and buses without an inspector, only one driver), but you can usually at least guess at the meaning. Due to post World War II American influences, by far the largest number of non-Chinese loan words in the Japanese language come from American English.

To identify a katakana word, it's usually helpful to repeat it out loud a few times and to leave out superfluous vowels, especially the 'u' in ス su and 'o' in ト to. That way ライス raisu quickly becomes "rice" and チケット chiketto becomes "ticket". Don't try too hard though, as sometimes original Japanese words are written in katakana as well, similar to the use of uppercase or italic letters in English. In addition, some words were not derived from English but from other languages such as German, French or Dutch.

Grammar

Japanese sentence structure is very similar to that of Korean, so speakers of Korean will find many aspects of Japanese grammar familiar, and vice versa.

Unlike English, which uses the subject-verb-object syntax, Japanese syntax is subject-object-verb. Japanese uses postpositions instead of prepositions (Japan in and not in Japan). However, unlike many European languages, it has no gender, declensions or plurals. Nouns never decline while adjectives follow a generally standard conjugation pattern. However, verbs have extensive conjugation patterns and many Japanese lessons for foreign language learners are about getting these conjugations right. Verbs and adjectives also conjugate by politeness level, though, and in a rather peculiar way.

Japanese is an agglutinative language, meaning several morphemes which have purely grammatical functions are glued to the end of a word stem to express the grammatical function. The more the intended meaning differs from the basic form of the word, the more morphemes are glued together.

Japanese verb and adjective conjugation
stem 見み mi	basic form 見みる miru, "to see"	polite basic form 見みます mimasu, "to see" (pol.)	negative form 見みない minai, "to not see"	pol. neg. form 見みません mimasen, "to not see" (pol.)
	past tense 見みた mita, "seen"	pol. past tense 見みました mimashita, "seen" (pol.)	neg. past tense 見みなかった minakatta, "not seen"	pol. neg. past tense 見みませんでした mimasendeshita, "not seen" (pol.)
	possibility 見みえる mieru, "can see"	pol. possibility 見みえます miemasu, "can see" (pol.)	neg. possibility 見みえない mienai, "can not see"	pol. negative form 見みえません miemasen, "can not see" (pol.)
stem 赤あか aka	adjective 赤あかい akai, "red"	negative form 赤あかくない akakunai, "not red"	neg. past tense 赤あかくなかった akakunakatta, "was not red"

Forming sentences

Particle pronunciation The hiragana syllables は ha, へ he and を wo are pronounced as wa, e and o respectively when used as a particle.

Japanese grammar generally employs a subject-object-verb order, but is very modular and flexible since the grammatical meaning of a word is expressed by the morphemes glued to its end and special marker particles. The two most important particles are the topic marker は wa and the object marker を o.

I saw the movie.

私わたしは映画えいがを見みました。

Watashi-wa eiga-o mimashita.

I-[topic] movie-[object] seen.

It becomes a little more complicated if both objects and subjects are mixed within a sentence and the subject marker が ga is thrown in.

I discovered that she likes tea.

私わたしは彼女かのじょがお茶ちゃを好すきな事ことが分わかった。
Watashi-wa kanojo-ga ocha-o sukinakoto-ga wakatta.

I-[topic] she-[subj.] tea-[obj.] like-[subj.] understood.

Students of the language can spend years wrapping their heads around the difference between the topic of a sentence (marked by は wa) and the subject of a sentence (marked by が ga). However, as a beginner, you can fairly safely always use は wa to mark the person doing the action and get your message across.

Some other useful particles are:

の no

possessive marker

The mother's child

母ははの子こ

haha no ko

で de, に ni

indicating places and times

in Tokyo

東京とうきょうで

Tōkyō-de

at 2 o'clock

２時じに

niji-ni

から kara, へ e, まで made

from, towards, to

From here...

ここから...

koko kara...

towards Osaka

大阪おおさかへ

Ōsaka-e

to Nara.

奈良ならまで

Nara-made.

と to, か ka

and, or

This and that.

これとそれ

kore to sore

This or that.

これかそれ

kore ka sore

か？ ka?

question forming particle

Are you going to Tokyo?

東京とうきょうに行いきますか？

Tōkyō ni ikimasu ka?

The verb "to be"

Japanese does not have an exact equivalent to the English verb "to be". Instead, the easiest way to form "A equals B" type expressions like "I am ..." or "This is ..." is the pattern A wa, B desu.

私わたしは、山田やまだです。 Watashi wa, Yamada desu ("I [am] Yamada.")

これは、りんごです。 Kore wa, ringo desu ("This [is] apple.")

それは、赤あかいです。 Sore wa, akai desu ("That [is] red.").

The word です　desu here is not a verb, it's a polite copula (linking word), which can be omitted in colloquial speech or replaced with other copulas including でした deshita (polite past), でしょう deshō (polite suggestion) or だ da (plain). The topic indicated by は wa is also optional and is often implied by context:

あなたはだれですか？ Anata wa dare desu ka? ("Who [are] you?")

山田やまだです。 Yamada desu. ("[I am] Yamada.")

これは何なにですか？ Kore wa nan desu ka? ("What [is] this?")

りんごです。 Ringo desu. ("[This is] an apple.")

それは何なん色しょくですか？ Sore wa nani-iro desu ka? ("What color [is] that?")

赤あかいです。 Akai desu. ("[That is] red.")

The two verbs いる iru > imasu and ある aru > arimasu express the physical presence of a person or animal in the former case, or an object in the latter case. To say "A is located in B", use the pattern A ga B ni imasu/arimasu :

山田やまださんがここにいます。 Yamada-san ga koko ni imasu. ("Mr. Yamada is [physically located] here.")

本ほんが棚たなにありますか？　Hon ga tana ni arimasu ka? ("Is there a book on the shelf?")

はい、あります。 Hai, arimasu. ("Yes, [the book] is [on the shelf].")

Addressing others

Me, myself and I As long as you're not 100% sure what you're doing you should always refer to yourself as 私わたし watashi and address others by their last name + さん san. If you feel adventurous, here are a number of ways to address people. I 私わたし watashi, watakushi the most common polite form for "I", lit. "private" あたし atashi informal feminine version of watashi うち uchi Western dialect form of watashi, lit "(my) house", usually used to refer to one's family or home 僕ぼく boku boyish and more informal, used only by males 俺おれ ore male speak (rude) you あなた anata most common form for "you", not too direct あんた anta more direct, tends to be insulting 君きみ kimi more direct, mostly by the older person or from a man to a woman お前まえ omae very direct and informal, used only by males てめえ temē very rude, used only by males

More a cultural than a grammatical problem is the problem of addressing somebody. Even though there exist a multitude of words with the meaning "you", it is generally avoided to address somebody directly. The closest equivalent to "you" is あなた anata, but it's only used among close friends, or people of lower status than you. It is usually preferred to address somebody by family name, title or status, applying appropriate honorifics.

Note that in Japan, it is generally rude to address people by first name, and last names are almost always used instead. The exception to this rule are children of elementary school age or younger, and friends you are very close to. When names are written in Japanese, they always follow the Eastern name order (like Chinese and Korean names), with the last name always written before the first name, which is contrary to common practice in English-speaking countries. This means that someone known as Taro Yamada in English will have his name written as 山田やまだ太郎たろう (yamada tarō) in Japanese.

さん -san

The most basic honorific, about equivalent to Mr. or Ms. (no distinction between the two in Japanese). 山田やまださん Yamada-san: Mister Yamada

様よう -sama

Politer than -san, used to address people ranking higher on the social ladder, such as your supervisor or boss, or even deities. It is also used by shop assistants to address customers.

ちゃん -chan

Usually used to address young children. Also used to address (usually female) close friends.

君きみ -kun

Used to address young boys and male close friends.

お客様きゃくさま okyaku-sama

"Honored Mr/Ms customer", used by hotel or shop employees to address you.

店長てんちょうさん tenchō-san

The way to address the manager of a shop, though not the other employees.

お兄にいさん onīsan, お姉ねえさん onēsan

Literally "big brother" and "big sister" respectively, is used to address young people who you're having a hard time finding a better honorific for.

お爺じいさん ojīsan, お婆ばあさん obāsan

"Grandpa" and "grandma", very popular to address old people. Cuter when used with -chan.

そちら sochira

Means something like "on your side" and is used when absolutely no better honorific can be found.

There are also several different words for "I", with 私わたし watashi being the most commonly used. Grammatically it's often unnecessary to use the words "you" or "I" as the intended meaning is obvious from context, so they should generally be avoided. Sometimes people will also call themselves by their own name. When doing so they must not add any additional honorifics though; one only does this when addressing others.

There's no specific form for "we" or the plural "you". To address groups of people you add the plural particle たち -tachi to somebody within the group or the group designator.

私わたしたち watashi-tachi

lit. "the group around myself", meaning "we"

我々われわれ ware-ware

a less formal way of saying "we"

あなたたち anata-tachi

"the group around you", plural "you"

子供こどもたち kodomo-tachi

"a group of children", meaning "the children"

山田やまださんたち Yamada-san-tachi

"the group around Yamada-san", everybody you'd associate with Mr. Yamada, based on context

Reading and writing

Reading and writing Japanese are advanced skills which take years of work to gain much real proficiency. Japanese people use three different writing systems of various complexity, two of which (hiragana and katakana) are syllabic and relatively easy to learn with 50 characters each.

The clincher is the set of Chinese characters known as kanji, roughly 2,000 of which are in daily use while many more exist. The components of kanji originated as pictures representing concepts, and even though kanji have since evolved dramatically and many have long since jettisoned any connection to the original concept, the meaning of a few simple kanji can still be guessed at (see below).

Kanji abbreviations Kanji abbreviations can be tricky because readings different from their component words are liberally used. For example, railway line names may take a kanji from each city on their ends and apply different readings - you can understand them only after looking at kanjis used. Examples: Keisei (京成けいせい) Line: Tokyo (東ひがし京きょう) and Narita (成なり田た) Keihan (京阪けいはん) Line: Kyoto (京きょう都と) and Osaka (大だい阪ばん) Suigun (水みず郡ぐん) Line: Mito (水みず戸と) and Koriyama (郡ぐん山やま) This convention may extend to other kanji-culture countries. Kanpu (関せき釜がま) Ferry connects Shimonoseki (下した関せき) and Busan (釜がま山やま), South Korea.

One difficulty in reading Japanese lies often in the fact that a kanji can have several different pronunciations. The kanji 人じん for example has the meaning of "person", and by itself it may be pronounced hito. The kanji 大だい means "big" (imagine a person with outstretched arms) and can be pronounced as dai or ō. Together they form the word 大人おとな "adult" (lit. big person), which is pronounced otona — a pronunciation that has no relation to dai, ō, or hito. In the word 外国がいこく人じん gaikokujin ("foreigner", lit. outside country person) the same kanji 人じん is pronounced jin. These pronunciations exist because a single kanji may be used to write one or more different words, or parts of words. These "readings" are normally categorized as either Sino-Japanese (音読おんよみ on'yomi, a Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation of the character at the time it was introduced to Japanese) or native Japanese (訓読くんよみ kun'yomi, based on the pronunciation of a native Japanese word). Generally, kanji are read with their native Japanese reading when on their own (eg. 話はなし, hanashi) and with Sino-Japanese readings when part of compound words (eg. 電話でんわ, denwa), though there are many exceptions.

While knowing Chinese will give one a huge advantage in tackling kanji, and someone who knows Chinese would generally be able to guess the meanings of new kanji with about 70% accuracy, one should still be careful. While most characters have similar meanings in both Japanese and Chinese, there are a few which have drastically different meanings. For example, the word 手紙てがみ, literally "hand paper", means "toilet paper" (shǒuzhǐ) in China, but "letter" (tegami) in Japan. A list of these terms with different meanings can be referred in this Wiktionary page.

In addition, many kanji used in Japanese have since become less used in Chinese (e.g. 犬いぬ inu, meaning "dog"), meaning that while a native speaker of Chinese would likely recognize them, foreign language learners of Chinese may not be familiar with these characters as they are rarely used outside of idioms, proverbs and compound words. Moreover, the difference between Chinese and Japanese syntax means that different combinations of kanji can also result in drastically different meanings with amusing results. For instance, the kanji for the Japanese surname Inukai (犬飼いぬかい), which means "someone who raises dogs" in Japanese, will be interpreted as "to be raised by a dog" by a Chinese speaker.

Kanji are mixed with hiragana and katakana in everyday writing for historical reasons. Japan adapted the Chinese hanzi system into man'yōgana, which is using the characters for their sounds rather than their meaning. Cursive form of man'yōgana was later on simplified into hiragana by women and its printed form into katakana by Buddhist monks. Until 1900 there were several hiragana characters to write each syllable. There are also several competing systems for rendering Japanese in the Latin alphabet, although the Hepburn romanization system is the most common and is used on Wikivoyage as well. Do not be surprised if you see these words romanized differently elsewhere.

Also note that there are many homophones in Japanese, i.e. words with different meanings that have the same pronunciation (like "there", "they're" and "their"). This can be confusing even to native speakers, to the extent that words have to be explained with an alternative reading or need to be drawn. These words may also employ a pitch-accent system to distinguish them, which speakers of non-tonal languages may have difficulty learning to understand.

hashi	橋はし "bridge"	端はし "edge"	箸はし "chopsticks"
noboru	登のぼる "to climb"	昇のぼる "to ascend"	上のぼる "to go up"

Phrase list

Common signs 営業えいぎょう中ちゅう (eigyōchū) Open 準備じゅんび中ちゅう (junbichū) Closed 入口いりくち (iriguchi) Entrance 出口いでぐち (deguchi) Exit 大だい・中ちゅう・小しょう (dai / chū / shō) Large / Medium / Small 押 (osu) Push 引 (hiku) Pull お手洗てあらい (o-tearai), トイレ (toire), 化粧けしょう室しつ (keshō-shitsu) Toilet 男おとこ (otoko) Men 女おんな (onna) Women 禁止きんし (kinshi) Forbidden 円えん (en) Yen

Basics

Good afternoon.

こんにちは。 Konnichiwa. (kon-nee-chee-wah)

How are you?

お元気げんきですか？ O-genki desu ka? (Oh-GEN-kee dess-ka?)

Fine, thank you.

はい、元気げんきです。 Hai, genki desu. (Ha-ee, gen-kee dess)

How about you?

~さんは？ -san wa? (-san wa) (insert the person's last name before "san")

What's your name? (lit. "Your name is...")

お名前なまえは？ O-namae wa? (Oh-nah-mah-eh wah?)

My name is ... .

... です。 ... desu. (... dess.)

Nice to meet you. (formal)

始はじめまして。どうぞ宜よろしくお願ねがいします。 Hajimemashite. Dōzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. (Hah-jee-meh-mash-teh dohh-zoh yoh-roh-sh-ku oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mah-ss)

Please. (request)

お願ねがいします。 Onegai shimasu. (oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mahs)

Please. (offer)

どうぞ。 Dōzo. (Dohh-zoh)

This person is ... . (when introducing somebody)

こちらは ... Kochira wa ... (ko-chi-rah wah...)

Thank you very much. (formal)

どうもありがとうございました。 Dōmo arigatō gozaimashita. (doh-moh ah-ree-GAH-toh go-ZAh-ee-mah-shi-tah)

Thank you. (less formal)

ありがとうございます。 Arigatō gozaimasu. (ah-ree-GAH-toh go-ZAh-ee-mahs)

Thank you. (normal)

ありがとう。 Arigatō. (ah-ree-GAH-toh)

Thanks. (informal)

どうも。 Dōmo. (doh-moh)

Thanks. (informal, Kansai)

おおきに。 Ōkini (ohh-KEE-nee)

You're welcome.

どういたしまして。 Dō itashimashite. (doh EE-tah-shee mah-shteh)

yes

はい。 hai (High)

no

いいえ。 iie (EE-eh)

Excuse me.

すみません。 Sumimasen. (soo-mee-mah-sen)

I'm sorry.

ごめんなさい。 Gomen nasai. (goh-men-nah-sah-ee)

I'm sorry. (informal)

ごめん Gomen. (goh-men)

Goodbye. (long-term)

さようなら。 Sayōnara. (sa-YOHH-nah-rah)

Goodbye. (informal)

じゃね。 Ja ne. (Jah-neh)

I can't speak Japanese (very well).

日本語にほんごが（よく）話はなせません。 Nihongo ga (yoku) hanasemasen. (nee-hohn-goh gah (yo-koo) hah-nah-seh-mah-sen)

Do you speak Japanese?

日本語にほんごが話はなせますか？ Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka? (ni-HON-go gah hah-nah-se-mahs-KAH?)

Yes, a little.

はい、少すこし。 Hai, sukoshi. (HIGH sko-shee)

Do you speak English?

英語えいごが話はなせますか？ Eigo ga hanasemasu ka? (EHH-goh gah hah-nah-seh-mahs-KAH?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

誰だれか英語えいごが話はなせますか？ Dareka eigo ga hanasemasu ka? (dah-reh-kah EHH-goh gah hah-nah-seh-moss-KAH?)

Please speak slowly.

ゆっくり話はなしてください。 Yukkuri hanashite kudasai. (YOO-kuree hanash-teh koo-dah-sah-ee)

Please say it again.

もう一度いちど言いってください。 Mō ichido itte kudasai. (mo EE-chee-doh ee-te koo-dah-sah-ee)

Please help!

助たすけて！ Tasukete! (tahs-keh-teh!)

Look out!

危あぶない！ Abunai! (ah-boo-NIGH!)

Good morning.

お早はようございます。 Ohayō gozaimasu. (oh-hah-YOH go-zah-ee-mahs)

Good morning. (informal)

おはよう。 Ohayō.

Good evening.

こんばんは。 Kombanwa. (kohn-bahn-wah)

Good night (to sleep)

お休やすみなさい。 Oyasuminasai. (oh-yah-soo-mee-nah-sigh)

Good night (to sleep) (informal)

お休やすみ。 Oyasumi.

I don't understand.

分わかりません。 Wakarimasen. (wah-kah-ree-mah-sen)

I am not Japanese.

日本人にっぽんじんではありません。 Nihonjin dewa arimasen. (nee-hon-jin deh-wah a-ree-ma-sehn)

Where is the toilet?

お手洗てあらい・トイレはどこですか？ Otearai/toire wa doko desu ka? (Oh-teh-ah-rah-ee/toh-ee-reh wah DOH-koh dess kah?)

What?

何なに？Nani? (nah-nee)

Where?

どこ？ Doko? (doh-koh)

Who?

誰だれ？ Dare? (dah-reh)

When?

いつ？ Itsu? (it-soo)

Which?

どれ？ Dore? (doh-reh)

Why?

どうして Dōshite (doh-sh'teh)

How?

どうやって？ Dōyatte (dohh-yah-teh)

How much?

いくら？ Ikura? (ee-koo-rah)

What type of?

どんな？ Donna? (dohn-nah)

Problems

What part of "no" don't you understand? The Japanese are famously reluctant to say the word "no", and in fact the language's closest equivalent, いいえ iie, is largely limited to denying compliments you have received. ("Your Japanese is excellent! "Iie, it is very bad!"). But there are numerous other ways of expressing "no", so here are a few to watch out for. いいです。 Ii desu. 結構けっこうです。 Kekkō desu. "It's good," or "It's excellent." Used when you don't want more beer, don't want your bentō lunch microwaved, and are generally happy to keep things as they are. Accompany with teeth-sucking and handwaving to be sure to get your point across - both of these expressions may be interpreted as positive responses if you don't include enough nonverbal indications to the contrary. ちょっと難むずかしいです･･･ Chotto muzukashii desu... Literally "it's a little difficult", but in practice "it's completely impossible." Often just abbreviated to sucking in air through teeth, saying "chotto" and looking pained. Take the hint. 申もうし訳わけないですが･･･ Mōshiwakenai desu ga... "This is inexcusable but..." But no. Used by sales clerks and such to tell you that you cannot do or have something. ダメです。 Dame desu. "It's no good." Used by equals and superiors to tell you that you cannot do or have something. The Kansai equivalent is akan. 違ちがいます。 Chigaimasu. "It is different." What they really mean is "you're wrong". The casual form chigau and the Kansai contraction chau are also much used.

Leave me alone.

ほっといてくれ。 Hottoitekure.

Don't touch me!

さわらないで！ Sawaranaide!

I'll call the police.

警察けいさつをよぶよ！ Keisatsu o yobu yo!

Police!

警察けいさつ！ Keisatsu!

Stop! Thief!

動うごくな！泥棒どろぼう！ Ugokuna! Dorobō!

I need your help.

手伝てつだってください。 Tetsudatte kudasai.

It's an emergency.

緊急きんきゅうです。 Kinkyū desu.

I'm lost.

道みちに迷まよっています。 Michi ni mayotte imasu.

I lost my bag.

鞄かばんをなくしました。 Kaban o nakushimashita.

I dropped my wallet.

財布さいふをおとしました。 Saifu o otoshimashita.

I'm sick.

病気びょうきです。 Byōki desu.

I don't feel well.

具合ぐあいがわるいです。 Guai ga warui desu.

I've been injured.

怪我けがをしました。 Kega o shimashita.

Please call a doctor.

医者いしゃを呼よんでください。 Isha o yonde kudasai.

Can I use your phone?

電話でんわを使つかわせていただけますか？ Denwa o tsukawasete itadakemasu ka?

Medical emergencies

I need a doctor.

医者いしゃに見みてもらいたいです。 Isha ni mite moraitai desu.

Is there a doctor who can speak English?

英語えいごの出来できる医者いしゃはいますか？ Eigo no dekiru isha wa imasu ka?

Please take me to a doctor.

医者いしゃに連つれていって下ください。 Isha ni tsurete itte kudasai.

My wife/husband/child is sick.

妻つま・旦那だんな・子供こどもが病気びょうきです。 Tsuma/danna/kodomo ga byōki desu.

Please call an ambulance.

救急きゅうきゅう車しゃを呼よんで下ください。 Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai.

I need first aid.

応急おうきゅう手当てあてをして下ください。 Ōkyū teate o shite kudasai.

I need to go to the emergency room.

救急きゅうきゅう室しつに行いかなければなりません。 Kyūkyūshitsu ni ikanakereba narimasen.
shorter: 救急きゅうきゅう室しつに行いかないと。 Kyūkyūshitsu ni ikanai to.

How long will it take to get better?

治なおるのにどの位くらいかかりますか？ Naoru no ni dono kurai kakarimasu ka?

Where is a pharmacy?

薬局やっきょくはどこですか？ Yakkyoku wa doko desu ka?

Allergies

I'm allergic to ... .

私わたしは ... アレルギーです。 Watashi wa ... arerugii desu.

antibiotics

抗生こうせい物質ぶっしつ kōsei busshitsu

aspirin

アスピリン asupirin

codeine

コデイン kodein

dairy products

乳製品にゅうせいひん nyūseihin

food coloring

人工じんこう着色ちゃくしょく料りょう jinkō chakushokuryō

fungus

菌類きんるい kinrui

MSG

味あじの素もと ajinomoto

mushrooms

キノコ kinoko

peanuts

ピーナッツ pīnattsu

penicillin

ペニシリン penishirin

pollen

花粉かふん kafun

seafood

魚介ぎょかい類るい gyokairui

sesame

ゴマ goma

shellfish

貝類かいるい kairui

tree nuts, fruits or berries

木この実み kinomi

wheat

小麦こむぎ komugi

Explaining symptoms

Body parts head 頭あたま atama face 顔かお kao eyes 目め me ears 耳みみ mimi nose 鼻はな hana throat 喉のど nodo chin 顎あご ago neck 首くび kubi shoulders 肩かた kata chest 胸むね mune waist 腰こし koshi arms 腕うで ude wrists 手首てくび tekubi fingers 指ゆび yubi hands 手て te elbow 肘ひじ hiji buttocks (お)尻しり (o)shiri thigh 腿もも momo knee 膝ひざ hiza legs, foot 足あし ashi

... hurts.

... が痛いたい。... ga itai.

Feeling unwell.

気分きぶんが悪わるい。 Kibun ga warui.

Having a fever.

熱ねつがあります。Netsu ga arimasu.

Coughing a lot.

咳せきがでます。Seki ga demasu.

Feeling listless.

体からだがだるい。Karada ga darui.

Feeling nauseated.

吐はき気けがします。Hakike ga shimasu.

Feeling dizzy.

めまいがします。 Memai ga shimasu.

Having the chills.

寒気さむけがします。Samuke ga shimasu.

Swallowed something.

何なにかを呑のんでしまいました。 Nanika o nonde shimaimashita.

Bleeding.

出血しゅっけつです。 Shukketsu desu.

Broken bone.

骨折こっせつです。Kossetsu desu.

He/she is unconscious.

意識いしき不明ふめいです。Ishiki fumei desu.

Burned.

火傷かしょうです。 Yakedo desu.

Trouble breathing.

呼吸こきゅう困難こんなんです。Kokyū konnan desu.

Heart attack.

心臓しんぞう発作ほっさです。Shinzō hossa desu.

Vision worsened.

視力しりょくが落おちました。Shiryoku ga ochimashita.

Cannot hear well.

耳みみがよく聞きこえません。Mimi ga yoku kikoemasen.

Nose bleeds a lot.

鼻血はなぢがよくでます。Hanaji ga yoku demasu.

Extreme weather

Japan has more than its fair share of natural disasters.

Blizzard

吹雪ふぶき (fubuki)

Earthquake

地震じしん (jishin)

Flood

洪水こうずい (kōzui)

Landslide

地滑じすべり (jisuberi)

Tsunami

津波つなみ (tsunami)

Typhoon

台風たいふう (taifū)

Volcano eruption

噴火ふんか (funka)

Numbers

While Arabic (Western) numerals are employed for most uses in Japan, you will occasionally still spot Japanese numerals at eg. markets and the menus of fancy restaurants. The characters used are nearly identical to Chinese numerals, and like Chinese, Japanese uses groups of 4 digits, not 3. "One million" is thus 百ひゃく万まん (hyaku-man), literally "hundred ten-thousands".

There are both native Japanese and Sino-Japanese readings for most numbers, but presented below are the more commonly used Sino-Japanese readings. Note that, due to superstition (shi also means "death"), the native Japanese readings yon and nana or 4 and 7 are used instead in most situations, though the Sino-Japanese readings shi and shichi respectively are more commonly used when counting.

Down for the count When counting objects, Japanese uses special counter words. For example, "two bottles of beer" is ビール２本ほん biiru nihon, where ni is "two" and -hon means "bottles". Unlike in English, where counter words are often optional or non-existent, in Japanese they're mandatory whenever you count something (e.g. 車くるま２台だい kuruma ni-dai, two cars; 台だい dai counts machines). Alas, the list of possible counters is vast, but some useful ones include: small roundish objects (apples, sweets) 個こ -ko people 人ひと -nin , 名な -mei (polite), 名な様さま -meisama (humble polite; use for others, but not yourself) animals 匹ひき -hiki, -biki, -piki flat objects (papers, tickets) 枚まい -mai long objects (bottles, pens) 本ほん -hon, -bon, -pon cups, glasses 杯はい -hai, -bai, -pai nights of a stay 泊とまり -haku, -paku years (age) 歳とし -sai Note how many counters change form depending on the previous number: one, two, three glasses are ippai, nihai, sanbai respectively. There are also a few exceptions: one person and two people are hitori and futari. 20 years old is usually pronounced hatachi. You'll still be understood if you get these wrong though. For numbers from one to nine, an old counting system is often used which applies to virtually any object you may want to count, without the need to attach a specific counter: 1 一ひとつ hitotsu 2 二ふたつ futatsu 3 三みっつ mittsu 4 四よっつ yottsu 5 五いつつ itsutsu 6 六むっつ muttsu 7 七ななつ nanatsu 8 八やっつ yattsu 9 九ここのつ kokonotsu 10 十じゅう tou It is always a good idea to use a specific counter whenever possible, but using the generic numbers above is often equally acceptable. This system is rarely used anymore for numbers greater than nine.

Where they exist, the character(s) after the slash are used in financial contexts, such as when writing cheques and printing banknotes.

0

ゼロ (zero) or 〇 (maru) / 零れい (rei) in finance

1

一いち / 壱いち (ichi)

2

二に / 弐に (ni)

3

三さん / 参さん (san)

4

四よん (yon or shi)

5

五ご (go)

6

六ろく (roku)

7

七なな (nana or shichi)

8

八はち (hachi)

9

九きゅう (kyū)

10

十じゅう / 拾ひろえ (jū)

11

十じゅう一いち / 拾じつ壱いち (jū-ichi)

12

十じゅう二に / 拾ひろえ弐に (jū-ni)

13

十じゅう三さん / 拾じつ参さん (jū-san)

14

十じゅう四よん / 拾ひろえ四よん (jū-yon)

15

十じゅう五ご / 拾ひろえ五ご (jū-go)

16

十じゅう六ろく / 拾六じゅうろく (jū-roku)

17

十じゅう七なな / 拾ひろえ七なな ( jū-nana)

18

十じゅう八はち / 拾ひろえ八はち (jū-hachi)

19

十じゅう九きゅう / 拾ひろえ九きゅう (jū-kyū/jū-ku)

20

二に十じゅう / 弐に拾ひろえ (ni-jū)

21

二に十じゅう一いち / 弐に拾ひろえ壱いち (ni-jū-ichi)

22

二に十じゅう二に / 弐に拾ひろえ弐に (ni-jū-ni)

23

二に十じゅう三さん / 弐に拾ひろえ参さん (ni-jū-san)

30

三さん十じゅう / 参まいり拾ひろえ (san-jū)

40

四よん十じゅう / 四よん拾ひろえ (yon-jū)

50

五ご十じゅう / 五拾ごじっ (go-jū)

60

六ろく十じゅう / 六ろく拾ひろえ (roku-jū)

70

七なな十じゅう / 七なな拾ひろえ (nana-jū)

80

八十やそ / 八はち拾ひろえ (hachi-jū)

90

九きゅう十じゅう / 九きゅう拾ひろえ (kyū-jū)

100

百ひゃく (hyaku)

200

二に百ひゃく / 弐に百ひゃく (nihyaku)

300

三百みつお / 参まいり百ひゃく (sambyaku)

600

六ろく百ひゃく (roppyaku)

800

八はち百ひゃく (happyaku)

1000

千せん (sen)

2000

二に千せん / 弐に千せん (ni-sen)

3000

三さん千せん / 参まいり千せん (san-zen)

10,000

一いち万まん / 壱いち万まん (ichi-man)

1,000,000

百ひゃく万まん (hyaku-man)

100,000,000

一いち億おく / 壱いち億おく (ichi-oku)

1,000,000,000

十じゅう億おく / 拾ひろえ億おく (jū-oku)

1,000,000,000,000

一いち兆ちょう / 壱いち兆ちょう (itchō)

0.5

〇・五ご (rei ten go)

0.56

〇・五ご六ろく (rei ten go-roku)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

_____番ばん (____ ban)

half

半分はんぶん (hambun)

less (few)

少すくない (sukunai)

more (many)

多おおい (ōi)

Time

now

今いま (ima)

later

後あとで (atode)

before

前まえに (mae ni)

before ___

___ の前まえに ( ___ no mae ni)

morning

朝あさ (asa) (colloquial) / 午前ごぜん (gozen) (formal)

noon

昼ひる (hiru or o-hiru) / 正午しょうご (shōgo)

afternoon

昼ひる (hiru or hiruma) (colloquial) / 午後ごご (gogo) (formal)

evening before sunset

夕方ゆうがた (yūgata)

night or after sunset

夜よる (yoru)

midnight or past 12AM

真夜中まよなか (mayonaka)

Clock time

Clock times are formed as Chinese numeral plus 時じ ji, for example, goji 5時じ/五ご時じ for five o'clock. The exception is four o'clock which is pronounced yoji (四よん時じ) instead of shiji. You will be understood if you simply substitute gozen 午前ごぜん for "AM" and gogo 午後ごご for PM, although other time qualifiers like 朝あさ asa for morning, 昼ひる hiru for afternoon and 夜よる yoru for night sound more natural. The 24-hour clock is also commonly used in official contexts such as train schedules. TV schedules occasionally use a modified 24-hour clock, with late night showtimes counted from the previous day, e.g. Monday at 26:00 indicates Tuesday at 2:00 AM.

six o'clock in the morning

朝あさ6時じ (asa rokuji)

nine o'clock AM

午前ごぜん9時じ (gozen kuji)

noon

正午しょうご (shōgo)

one o'clock PM

午後ごご1時じ (gogo ichiji.)

two o'clock PM

午後ごご2時じ (gogo niji)

midnight

夜よる12時じ (yoru jūniji), 零れい時じ / 0時じ (rēji), 24時じ(nijū yo ji)

Duration

Confusingly, the Japanese words for "N days" (long) and "Nth day" are the same, so eg. 二日ふつか futsuka means both "two days" and "the second day of the month". (See #Days of the month for the full list.) You can tag on -間あいだ kan at the end, eg. futsukakan 二に日間にちかん, to clarify that you mean "two days long". The exception is 一いち日にち, which is read ichinichi to mean "one day/all day", but tsuitachi to mean "first day". Also note that 一いち日間にちかん ichinichikan is not used, and the term for a duration of one day is simply 一いち日にち ichinichi.

_____ minute(s)

_____ 分ぶん (fun or pun)

_____ hour(s)

_____ 時間じかん (jikan)

_____ day(s)

_____ 日にち間あいだ (nichikan or (k)kakan, see note above, except for 一いち日にち (one day))

_____ week(s)

_____ 週間しゅうかん (shūkan)

_____ month(s)

_____ ヶ月かげつ (kagetsu)

_____ year(s)

_____ 年間ねんかん (nenkan)

Days

today

今日きょう (kyō)

yesterday

昨日きのう (kinō)

the day before yesterday

おととい (ototoi)

tomorrow

明日あした (ashita) (colloquial) / 明日あした (asu) (formal)

the day after tomorrow

あさって (asatte)

_____ days after tomorrow

_____ 日にち後ご (nichigo or (k)kago, see note above)

this week

今週こんしゅう (konshū)

last week

先週せんしゅう (senshū)

next week

来週らいしゅう (raishū)

Days of the week

The days of the week are named after the sun, the moon and the five elements of Chinese philosophy.

Sunday

日曜日にちようび (nichiyōbi), abbreviated 日び (nichi)

Monday

月曜日げつようび (getsuyōbi), abbreviated 月がつ (getsu)

Tuesday

火曜日かようび (kayōbi), abbreviated 火ひ (ka)

Wednesday

水曜日すいようび (suiyōbi), abbreviated 水すい (sui)

Thursday

木曜日もくようび (mokuyōbi), abbreviated 木き (moku)

Friday

金曜日きんようび (kin'yōbi), abbreviated 金きん (kin)

Saturday

土曜日どようび (doyōbi), abbreviated 土ど (do)

Days of the month

The 1st through the 10th of the month have special names:

First day of the month

1日にち (tsu'itachi)

Second day of the month

2日にち (futsuka)

Third day of the month

3日にち (mikka)

Fourth day of the month

4日にち (yokka)

Fifth day of the month

5日にち (itsuka)

Sixth day of the month

6日にち (mu'ika)

Seventh day of the month

7日にち (nanoka)

Eighth day of the month

8日にち (yōka)

Ninth day of the month

9日にち (kokonoka)

Tenth day of the month

10日とおか (tōka)

The other days of the month are more orderly, just add the suffix -nichi to the ordinal number. Note that 14, 20, and 24 deviate from this pattern.

Eleventh day of the month

11日にち (jū'ichinichi)

Fourteenth day of the month

14日にち (jū'yokka)

Twentieth day of the month

20日はつか (hatsuka)

Twenty-fourth day of the month

24日にち (nijū'yokka)

Months

Months are very orderly in Japanese, just add the suffix -gatsu to the Sino-Japanese ordinal number.

January

1月 (ichigatsu)

February

2月 (nigatsu)

March

3月 (sangatsu)

April

4月 (shigatsu)

May

5月 (gogatsu)

June

6月 (rokugatsu)

July

7月がつ (shichigatsu)

August

8月 (hachigatsu)

September

9月 (kugatsu)

October

10月 (jūgatsu)

November

11月 (jūichigatsu)

December

12月 (jūnigatsu)

Seasons

Spring

春はる (haru)

Summer

夏なつ (natsu)

Rainy season

梅雨つゆ (tsuyu, bai'u)

Autumn

秋あき (aki)

Winter

冬ふゆ (fuyu)

Writing time and date

Dates are written in year/month/day (day of week) format, with markers:

2007年ねん3月がつ21日にち(火)か

In Japanese, the year is read as an ordinary number with exception of "9 as the last digit". 1999 was "one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine", sen kyū-hyaku kyū-jū ku nen). It can sometimes be abbreviated to the last two digits (i.e. "ninety-nine", kyū-jū ku nen), while pronouncing it kyū-jū kyū nen refers to "for the duration of 99 years", rather the year.)

Note that Imperial era years, based on the name and duration of the current Emperor's reign, are also frequently used. 2020 in the Gregorian calendar corresponds to Reiwa 2 令れい和わ2年ねん, which may be abbreviated as "R2" or 令れい2. Dates like "02/03/24" (Reiwa 2, March 24) are also occasionally seen. Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa, and Heisei are used by elderly people or popular on signboards at historical sights. To convert the year into Gregorian calendar:

Reiwa 令れい和わ (1 May 2019 –)

add 2018 to the year in Reiwa, i.e. Reiwa 3 nen 令れい和わ3年ねん is 2021 in the Gregorian calendar.

Heisei 平成へいせい (8 January 1989 – 30 April 2019)

minus 12 from the year in Heisei and add 2000, i.e. Heisei 12 nen 平成へいせい12年ねん is 2000 in Gregorian calendar.

Shōwa 昭和しょうわ (25 December 1926 – 7 January 1989)

plus 1925 to the year in Shōwa, i.e. Shōwa 45 nen 昭和しょうわ45年ねん is 1970 in Gregorian calendar.

Taishō 大正たいしょう (30 July 1912 – 25 December 1926)

plus 1911 to the year in Taishō, i.e. Taishō 9 nen 大正たいしょう9年ねん is 1920 in Gregorian calendar.

Meiji 明治めいじ (28 October 1868 – 30 July 1912)

minus 33 from the year in Meiji and add 1900, i.e. Meiji 33 nen 明治めいじ33年ねん is 1900 in Gregorian calendar.

Colors

Many of the English words for colors are widely used and understood by almost all Japanese. These are indicated after the slash.

Note that some Japanese colors are normally suffixed with -iro (色いろ) to distinguish between the color and the object. For example, 茶ちゃ cha means "tea", but 茶色ちゃいろ chairo means "tea-color" → "brown".

black

黒くろ / ブラック (kuro / burakku)

white

白しろ / ホワイト (shiro / howaito)

gray

灰はい(色いろ) / グレー (hai(iro) / gurē)

red

赤あか / レッド (aka / reddo)

blue

青あお / ブルー (ao / burū)

yellow

黄き(色いろ) / イエロー (ki(iro) / ierō)

green

緑みどり / グリーン (midori / guriin)

orange

橙だいだい / オレンジ (daidai / orenji)

purple

紫むらさき / パープル (murasaki / pāpuru)

pink

桃もも(色いろ) / ピンク (momo(iro) / pinku)

brown

茶ちゃ(色いろ) / ブラウン (cha(iro) / buraun)

silver

銀ぎん(色いろ) / シルバー (gin(iro) / sirubā)

gold

金きむ(色いろ) / ゴールド (kin(iro) / gōrudo)

Transportation

Bus and train

bus

バス (basu)

train

電車でんしゃ (densha)

metro / subway

地下鉄ちかてつ (chikatetsu)

tram / streetcar

路面ろめん電車でんしゃ (romendensha)

light rail

ライトレール (raito rēru)

bullet train

新幹線しんかんせん (shinkansen)

How much is a ticket to _____?

_____ までいくらですか? (_____ made ikura desu ka?)

One ticket to _____, please.

_____ まで一いち枚まいお願ねがいします。(_____ made ichimai onegaishimasu.)

Where does this train/bus go?

この電車でんしゃ・バスはどこ行いきですか? (Kono densha/basu wa doko yuki desu ka?)

Where is the train/bus to _____?

_____ 行いきの電車でんしゃ・バスはどこですか? (_____ yuki no densha/basu wa doko desu ka?)

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

この電車でんしゃ・バスは _____ に止とまりますか? (Kono densha/basu wa _____ ni tomarimasu ka?)

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

_____ 行いきの電車でんしゃ・バスは何なん時じに出発しゅっぱつしますか? (_____ yuki no densha/basu wa nanji ni shuppatsu shimasu ka?)

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

この電車でんしゃ・バスは何なん時じに _____ に着つきますか? (Kono densha/basu wa nanji ni _____ ni tsukimasu ka?)

Directions

How do I get to _____?

_____ はどちらですか? (_____ wa dochira desu ka?)

...the train station?

駅えき...? (eki...)

...the bus station?

バス停ばすてい...? (basu tei...)

...the airport?

空港くうこう...? (kūkō...)

...downtown?

街まちの中心ちゅうしん...? (machi no chūshin...)

...the youth hostel?

ユースホステル...? (yūsu hosuteru...)

...the _____ hotel?

_____ ホテル...? (hoteru...)

...the _____ embassy/consulate?

_____大使館たいしかん/領事館りょうじかん...? (_____ taishikan/ryōjikan...)

Where are there a lot of _____

_____が多おおい所ところはどこですか? (_____ga ooi tokoro wa doko desu ka?)

...lodgings?

宿やど...? (yado...)

...restaurants?

レストラン...? (resutoran...)

...bars?

バー...? (baa...)

...sites to see?

見物けんぶつ...? (mimono...)

Where is _____?

_____はどこですか? (_____ wa doko desu ka?)

Is it far from here?

ここから遠とおいですか? (Koko kara tooi desu ka?)

Please show me on the map.

地図ちずで指さして下ください。 (Chizu de sashite kudasai.)

street

道みち (michi)

Turn left.

左ひだりへ曲まがってください。 (Hidari e magatte kudasai.)

Turn right.

右みぎへ曲まがってください。(Migi e magatte kudasai.)

left

左ひだり (hidari)

right

右みぎ (migi)

in front of the _____

_____の前まえ (_____ no mae)

behind the _____

_____の後うしろ (_____ no ushiro)

straight ahead

まっすぐ (massugu)

towards the _____

_____ へ向むかって (e mukatte)

past the _____

_____ の先さき (no saki)

before the _____

_____ の前まえ (no mae)

Watch for the _____.

_____が目印めじるしです。 (ga mejirushi desu.)

intersection

交差点こうさてん (kōsaten)

traffic light

信号しんごう　(shingou)

inside

中なか (naka)

outside

外そと (soto)

north

北きた (kita)

south

南みなみ (minami)

east

東ひがし (higashi)

west

西にし (nishi)

uphill

上のぼり (nobori), also used for trains heading towards Tokyo

downhill

下くだり (kudari), also used for trains coming from Tokyo

Taxi

Taxi!

タクシー! (takushī!)

Take me to _____, please.

_____までお願ねがいします。 (_____ made onegaishimasu.)

How much does it cost to get to _____?

_____ までいくらですか? (_____ made ikura desu ka)

Take me there, please.

そこまでお願ねがいします。 (soko made onegaishimasu.)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

空あいてる部屋へやありますか? (Aiteru heya arimasu ka?)

How much is a room for one person/two people?

一人ひとり・二人ふたり用ようの部屋へやはいくらですか? (Hitori/futari-yō no heya wa ikura desu ka?)

Is the room Japanese/Western style?

和室わしつ/洋室ようしつですか？ (Washitsu/yōshitsu desu ka?)

Does the room come with...

部屋へやは ... 付つきですか? (Heya wa ___ tsuki desu ka?)

...bedsheets?

シーツ...? (shītsu...)

...a bathroom?

風呂場ふろば...? (furoba...)

...a telephone?

電話でんわ...? (denwa...)

...a TV?

テレビ? (terebi...)

May I see the room first?

部屋へやを見みてもいいですか? (Heya o mite mo ii desu ka?)

Do you have anything quieter?

もっと[静しずかな]部屋へやありますか? (Motto [shizuka na] heya arimasu ka?)

...bigger?

広ひろい...? (hiroi...)

...cleaner?

きれいな...? (kirei na...)

...cheaper?

安やすい...? (yasui...)

OK, I'll take it.

はい、これで良よいです。(Hai, kore de ii desu.)

I will stay for _____ night(s).

_____ 晩ばん泊とまります。(____ ban tomarimasu.)

Do you know another place to stay?

他たの宿やどはご存知ぞんじですか? (Hoka no yado wa gozonji desu ka?)

Do you have [a safe?]

[金庫きんこ]ありますか? ([Kinko] arimasu ka?)

...lockers?

戸棚とだな...? (todana...?)

Is breakfast/supper included?

朝食ちょうしょく・夕食ゆうしょくは付つきますか? (Chōshoku/yūshoku wa tsukimasu ka?)

What time is breakfast/supper?

朝食ちょうしょく・夕食ゆうしょくは何なん時じですか? (Chōshoku/yūshoku wa nanji desu ka?)

Please clean my room.

部屋へやを掃除そうじしてください。 (Heya o sōji shite kudasai.)

Please wake me at _____.

_____ に起おこしてください。 (____ ni okoshite kudasai.)

I want to check out.

チェックアウトです。(Chekku auto (check out) desu.)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

アメリカ/オーストラリア/カナダドルは使つかえますか? (Amerika/ōsutoraria/kanada doru wa tsukaemasu ka?)

Do you accept British pounds?

イギリスポンドは使つかえますか？ (Igirisu pondo wa tsukaemasu ka?)

Do you accept credit cards?

クレジットカードは使つかえますか？ (Kurejitto kaado (credit card) wa tsukaemasu ka?)

Can you change money for me?

お金かね両替りょうがえできますか？ (Okane ryōgae dekimasu ka?)

Where can I get money changed?

お金かねはどこで両替りょうがえできますか？ (Okane wa doko de ryōgae dekimasu ka?)

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

トラベラーズチェックを両替りょうがえできますか？ (Torabarāsu chekku (traveler's check) wo ryōgae dekimasu ka?)

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

トラベラーズチェックはどこで両替りょうがえできますか？ (Torabarāzu chekku (traveler's check) wa doko de ryōgae dekimasu ka?)

What is the exchange rate?

為替かわせレートはいくらですか？(Kawase rēto wa ikura desu ka?)

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

ATM はどこにありますか？ (ATM wa doko ni arimasuka?)

Eating

What are they yelling at me? Most Japanese restaurants show their appreciation for customers by loudly greeting them in unison. Expect to hear the following: Irasshai! or Irasshaimase! "Come on in!", said when a customer walks in. You're not expected to respond in any way, just take a seat. Arigatō gozaimashita! "Thank you very much!", said when a customer leaves. If your meal was good, thank the chef or staff with Gochisōsama deshita when leaving, and you'll get an extra-hearty thank you in return!

I'm hungry.

お腹なかがすきました。 (Onaka ga sukimashita.)

A table for one person/two people, please.

一人ひとり・二に人にんです。 (Hitori/futari desu.)

Please bring a menu.

メニューを下ください。 (Menu wo kudasai.)

Can I look in the kitchen?

調理場ちょうりばを見みてもいいですか？ (Chōriba wo mite mo ii desu ka?)

Is there a house specialty?

お勧すすめはありますか？ (O-susume wa arimasu ka?)

Is there a local specialty?

この辺あたりの名物めいぶつはありますか？ (Kono hen no mēbutsu wa arimasu ka?)

Please choose for me.

お任まかせします。 (O-makase shimasu.)

I'm a vegetarian.

ベジタリアンです。 (Bejitarian desu.)

I don't eat pork.

豚肉ぶたにくはだめです。 (Butaniku wa dame desu.)

I don't eat beef.

牛肉ぎゅうにくはだめです。(Gyūniku wa dame desu.)

I don't eat raw fish.

生なまの魚さかなはだめです。(Nama no sakana wa dame desu.)

Please do not use too much oil.

油あぶらを控ひかえて下ください。(Abura wo hikaete kudasai.)

fixed-price meal

定食ていしょく (teishoku)

à la carte

一品いっぴん料理りょうり (ippinryōri)

breakfast

朝食ちょうしょく (chōshoku) / 朝あさご飯はん (asagohan)

lunch

昼食ちゅうしょく (chūshoku) / 昼ひるご飯はん　(hirugohan)

light meal/snack

軽食けいしょく (keishoku) / おやつ (oyatsu)

supper

夕食ゆうしょく (yūshoku) / 晩ばんご飯はん (bangohan)

Please bring _____.

_____ を下ください。(_____ wo kudasai.)

I want a dish containing _____.

_____が入はいってるものを下ください。 (____ ga haitteru mono wo kudasai.)

chicken

鶏肉とりにく (toriniku) / チキン (chikin)

beef

牛肉ぎゅうにく (gyūniku) / ビーフ (bīfu)

pork

豚肉ぶたにく (butaniku) / ポーク (pōku)

mutton

マトン (maton) / 羊ひつじ (hitsuji)

lamb

ラム(肉にく) (ramu(-niku)) / 子羊こひつじ (kohitsuji)

fish

魚さかな (sakana)

ham

ハム (hamu)

sausage

ソーセージ (sōsēji)

cheese

チーズ (chīzu)

eggs

卵たまご / 玉子たまご (tamago)

salad

サラダ (sarada)

(fresh) vegetables

(新鮮しんせんな)野菜やさい ( (shinsen-na) yasai)

(fresh) fruit

(新鮮しんせんな)果物くだもの ( (shinsen-na) kudamono)

bread

パン (pan)

toast

トースト (tōsuto)

noodles

麺類めんるい (menrui)

pasta

パスタ (pasuta)

cooked rice

ご飯はん (gohan)

raw rice

米べい (kome)

soup

スープ : (sūpu)

beans

豆まめ (mame)

May I have a glass/cup of _____?

_____ を一いち杯はい下ください。 (____ wo ippai kudasai.)

May I have a bottle of _____?

_____ を一本いっぽん下ください。 (_____ wo ippon kudasai.)

coffee

コーヒー (kōhī)

green tea

緑茶りょくちゃ(ryokucha) / お茶ちゃ (ocha)

black tea

紅茶こうちゃ (kōcha)

juice

ジュース(jūsu) / 果汁かじゅう (kajū)

milk

ミルク (miruku) / 牛乳ぎゅうにゅう (gyūnyū) (The latter specifically refers to cow's milk.)

water

水みず (mizu)

beer

ビール (bīru)

red/white wine

赤あか/白しろワイン (aka/shiro wain)

Do you have _____?

_____ はありますか? (_____ wa arimasu ka?)

chopsticks

お箸はし (o-hashi)

fork

フォーク (fōku)

spoon

スプーン (supūn)

sugar

砂糖さとう (satō)

salt

塩しお (shio)

black pepper

胡椒こしょう (koshō)

soy sauce

醤油じょうゆ (shōyu)

ashtray

灰皿はいざら (haizara)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

すみません。 (sumimasen)

(when starting a meal)

いただきます。(itadakimasu)

It was delicious. (when finishing a meal)

ご馳走ちそうさまでした。 (Gochisōsama deshita.)

Please clear the plates.

お皿さらを下さげてください。 (Osara o sagete kudasai.)

The check, please.

お勘定かんじょうお願ねがいします。 (O-kanjo onegaishimasu.) / 会計かいけいお願ねがいします。 (Kaikei onegaishimasu)

On the phone

Telephone

電話でんわ denwa

Mobile phone

携帯けいたい(電話でんわ)　kētai(denwa)

Telephone number

電話でんわ番号ばんごう denwa bangō

Phone book

電話でんわ帳ちょう denwa chō

Answering machine

留守番るすばん電話でんわ rusuban denwa

Hello (only on the phone)

もしもし moshi moshi

May I speak to ... .

... をお願ねがいします。... wo onegaishimasu.

Is ... there?

... はいらっしゃいますか？ ... wa irasshaimasu ka?

Who is calling?

どなたですか？ Donata desu ka?

One moment, please.

ちょっとお待まちください。 Chotto omachi kudasai.

... is not here right now.

... は今いまいません。 ... wa ima imasen.

I will call you again later.

後あとでまた電話でんわします。 Ato de mata denwa shimasu.

I got the wrong number.

間違まちがえました。 Machigaemashita.

The line is busy.

話はなし中ちゅうです。 Hanashichū desu.

What is your phone number?

電話でんわ番号ばんごうは何なん番ばんですか？ Denwa bangō wa nanban desu ka?

Bars

Sake talk Sake, known in Japanese as 日本酒にほんしゅ nihonshu, has a vocabulary all its own. Here is a brief introduction. atsukan 熱燗あつかん Heated sake. Recommended only in winter with cheap sake. nurukan ぬる燗かん Heated sake in luke warm temperature below 40C. Recommended for any season with average sake. hiya 冷ひや Sake at room temperature. Note: ohiya お冷ひやや means cold/iced water. reishu 冷酒ひやざけ Chilled sake. The way to drink better sake. choko ちょこ A tiny gulp-sized ceramic cup for sake. masu 升ます A square wooden box traditionally used to drink chilled sake, also contains one gō. Drink from the corner. Also used as a "spiller" to overflow your glass of hiya as a compliment. You can prevent to spill by sipping with the masu placed on the table. tokkuri 徳利とっくり A small ceramic jug used to pour sake, contains around one or two gō/gōs ichigō 一いち合ごう The standard measure for servings of sake, around 180 milliliters. isshōbin 一升瓶いっしょうびん The standard sake bottle, containing 10 gō, ie. 1.8 liters.

Do you serve alcohol?

お酒さけありますか? (O-sake arimasu ka?)

Is there table service?

テーブルサービスありますか? (Tēburu sābisu arimasu ka?)

A beer/two beers, please.

ビール一いち杯はい・二に杯はい下ください。(Biiru ippai/nihai kudasai.)

A glass of red/white wine, please.

赤あか・白しろワイン一いち杯はい下ください。(Aka/shiro wain ippai kudasai.)

A mug (of beer), please.

(ビールの)ジョッキ下ください。((Bīru no) jokki kudasai.)

A bottle, please.

ビン下ください。 (Bin kudasai.)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

_____ と _____ 下ください。(_____ to _____ kudasai.)

sake

日本酒にほんしゅ (nihonshu)

Japanese liquor

焼酎しょうちゅう (shōchū)

whiskey

ウイスキー (uisukii)

vodka

ウォッカ (wokka)

rum

ラム (ramu)

water

水みず (mizu)

club soda

ソーダ (sōda)

tonic water

トニックウォーター (tonikku wōtā)

orange juice

オレンジジュース (orenji jūsu)

cola (soda)

コーラ (kōra)

with ice

オンザロック (onzarokku (on the rocks))

Do you have any bar snacks?

おつまみありますか? (O-tsumami arimasu ka?)

One more, please.

もう一ひとつください。 (Mō hitotsu kudasai.)

Another round, please.

みんなに同おなじものを一いち杯はいずつください。 (Minna ni onaji mono o ippai zutsu kudasai.)

When is closing time?

閉店へいてんは何なん時じですか? (Heiten wa nanji desuka?)

Shopping

O, honorable prefix! Nearly any Japanese word can be prefixed with the respectful tags o- (お) or go- (ご or 御お), often translated with the unwieldy four-syllable word "honorable". A few you might expect — o-tōsan (お父とうさん) is "honorable father", and a few you might not — o-shiri (お尻しり) is "honorable buttocks". Most of the time, they're used to emphasize that the speaker is referring to the listener, so if someone enquires if after your honorable health (お元気げんき o-genki) it's proper to strip off the honorific and reply that you are merely genki. However, for some words like gohan (ご飯はん) "rice" and ocha (お茶ちゃ) "tea", the prefix is inseparable and should always be used. In this phrasebook, the prefix is separated with a hyphen if it's optional (o-kane), and joined to the word if it's mandatory (oisha).

Do you have this in my size?

私わたしのサイズでありますか？ (Watashi no saizu de arimasu ka?)

How much is this?

いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?)

That's too expensive.

高たか過すぎます。 (Takasugimasu.)

Would you take _____?

_____円えん(で)はどうですか？ (_____ yen (de) wa dō desu ka?)

expensive

高たかい (takai)

cheap

安やすい (yasui)

I can't afford it.

そんなにお金かねがありません。 (Sonna ni okane ga arimasen.)

I don't want it.

要いりません。 (Irimasen.)

You're cheating me, aren't you?

騙だましてるでしょう？ (Damashiteru deshō?) Use with caution!

I'm not interested.

興味きょうみありません。 (Kyōmi arimasen.)

OK, I'll take it.

はい、それにします。 (Hai, sore ni shimasu.)

Can I have a bag?

袋ふくろを貰もらえますか？ (Fukuro o moraemasu ka?) or 袋ぶくろをください (Fukuro o kudasai)

Do you ship (overseas)?

海外かいがいへ発送はっそう出来できますか？ (Kaigai e hassō dekimasu ka?)

I need...

___が欲ほしいです。 (____ ga hoshii desu.)

...spectacles.

眼鏡めがね (megane)

...toothpaste.

歯磨はみがき粉こ (hamigakiko)

...a toothbrush.

歯はブラシ (ha-burashi)

...tampons.

タンポン (tampon)

...soap.

洗剤せんざい(senzai, liquid or powder ), 石鹸せっけん (sekken, bar soap)

...shampoo.

シャンプー (shampū)

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

鎮痛ちんつう剤ざい (chintsūzai)

...cold medicine.

風邪かぜ薬やく (kazegusuri)

...stomach medicine.

胃腸いちょう薬やく (ichōyaku)

...a razor.

剃刀かみそり (kamisori)

...an umbrella.

傘かさ (kasa)

...sunblock lotion.

日焼ひやけ止どめ (hiyakedome)

...a postcard.

葉書はがき (hagaki)

...postage stamps.

切手きって (kitte)

...batteries.

電池でんち (denchi)

...writing paper.

紙かみ (kami)

...a pen.

ペン (pen)

...a pencil.

鉛筆えんぴつ (empitsu)

...English-language books.

英語えいごの本ほん (eigo no hon)

...English-language magazines.

英語えいごの雑誌ざっし (eigo no zasshi)

...an English-language newspaper.

英字えいじ新聞しんぶん (ēji shinbun)

...a Japanese-English dictionary.

和英かずひで辞典じてん (waē jiten)

...an English-Japanese dictionary.

英和えいわ辞典じてん (ēwa jiten)

Family

Are you married?

結婚けっこんしていますか? (Kekkon shiteimasu ka?)

I am married.

結婚けっこんしています。 (Kekkon shiteimasu.)

I am single.

独身どくしんです。 (Dokushin desu)

Do you have brothers and sisters?

兄弟きょうだいはいますか? (Kyōdai wa imasu ka?)

Do you have children?

子供こどもはいますか? (Kodomo wa imasu ka?)

Talking about your own family

Family ties In Japanese, it's always important to use less respectful terms for your own family and more respectful terms for another's family. Note also that the words for older/younger brother/sister are different.

Father

父ちち (chichi)

Mother

母はは (haha)

Older Brother

兄あに (ani)

Older Sister

姉あね (ane)

Younger Brother

弟おとうと (otōto)

Younger Sister

妹いもうと (imōto)

Grandfather

祖父そふ (sofu)

Grandmother

祖母そぼ (sobo)

Uncle

叔父おじ/伯父おじ (oji)

Aunt

叔母おば/伯母おば (oba)

Husband

夫おっと (otto) / 主人しゅじん (shujin)

Wife

妻つま (tsuma) / 家内やない (kanai)

Son

息子むすこ (musuko)

Daughter

娘むすめ (musume)

Grandchild

孫まご　(mago)

Talking about another's family

Father

お父とうさん (otōsan)

Mother

お母かあさん (okāsan)

Older Brother

お兄にいさん (onīsan)

Older Sister

お姉ねえさん (onēsan)

Younger Brother

弟おとうとさん (otōtosan)

Younger Sister

妹いもうとさん (imōtosan)

Grandfather

おじいさん (ojīsan)

Grandmother

おばあさん (obāsan)

Uncle

おじさん (ojisan)

Aunt

おばさん (obasan)

Husband

ご主人しゅじん (goshujin)

Wife

奥おくさん (okusan)

Son

息子むすこさん (musukosan)

Daughter

お嬢じょうさん (ojōsan)

Grandchild

お孫まごさん　(omagosan)

Driving

I want to rent a car.

レンタカーお願ねがいします。 (Rentakā (rent-a-car) onegaishimasu.) 0:01

Can I get insurance?

保険ほけん入いれますか? (Hoken hairemasu ka?) 0:12

Do you have a driver's license?

免許めんきょ証しょうを持もっていますか? (Menkyoshō wo motteimasu ka?) 0:38

stop (on a street sign)

止とまれ／とまれ (tomare) 0:40

one way

一方いっぽう通行つうこう (ippō tsūkō) 0:51

caution

徐行じょこう (jokō) 1:05

road blocked

通行止つうこうどめ (tsūkōdome) 1:16

no parking

駐車ちゅうしゃ禁止きんし (chūsha kinshi) 1:20

speed limit

制限せいげん速度そくど (seigen sokudo) 1:23

gas (petrol) station

ガソリンスタンド (gasorin sutando) 1:40

petrol

ガソリン (gasorin) 52:33

diesel

軽油けいゆ/ディーゼル (keiyu / diizeru) 1:02:31

Authority

In Japan, you can legally be incarcerated for twenty-three (23) days before you are charged, but you do have the right to see a lawyer after the first 48 hours of detention. Note that if you sign a confession, you will be convicted.

I haven't done anything (wrong).

何なにも(悪わるいことを)していません。(Nani mo (warui koto wo) shiteimasen.)

It was a misunderstanding.

誤解ごかいでした。 (Gokai deshita.)

Where are you taking me?

どこへ連つれて行いくのですか？ (Doko e tsurete yukuno desu ka?)

Am I under arrest?

私わたしは逮捕たいほされてるのですか？ (Watashi wa taiho sareteruno desu ka?)

I am a citizen of ____.

____　の国民こくみんです。 (____ no kokumin desu.)

I want to meet with the ____ embassy.

____ 大使館たいしかんと会あわせて下ください。 (____ taishikan to awasete kudasai.)

I want to meet with a lawyer.

弁護士べんごしと会あわせて下ください。(Bengoshi to awasete kudasai.)

Can it be settled with a fine?

罰金ばっきんで済すみますか？ (Bakkin de sumimasu ka?)
Note: You can say this to a traffic cop, but bribery is highly unlikely to work in Japan.

Typical Japanese expressions

Four syllable words If words can be shortened, Japanese will inevitably shorten them. Two by two syllables is often the sweet spot, and sometimes it's hard to guess where those came from. コンビニ konbini → コンビニエンスストア konbiniensu sutoa, convenience store. デジカメ deji kame → デジタルカメラ dejitaru kamera, a digital camera. パソコン pasokon → パーソナルコンピューター pāsonaru konpyūtā, a personal computer. ノート nōto stands for notebooks. プリクラ purikura → プリントクラブ purinto kurabu or "print club". A sort of extremely flashy photo booth and a favourite pastime for many. リモコン rimokon → リモートコントロール rimōto kontorōru, remote control ケイワイ kei wai → 空気くうき読よめない kūki yomenai, "can't read the air", meaning an unperceptive person who can't read between the lines/can't keep up with a conversation.

そうですね。 Sō desu ne.

"That's how it is, isn't it?"
General agreement. Especially old people can be heard going sō desu ne back and forth quite a few times.

（大変たいへん）お待またせしました。 (Taihen) omataseshimashita.

"I have made you wait (terribly) long."
Used as an excuse after any amount of downtime, even just seconds. Often also used as a starter to get things going again.

お疲つかれさまでした。 Otsukaresama deshita.

"It's been honorably tiresome."
To colleagues in the sense of "you gave it all, good work", but more generally at the end of almost any activity.

頑張がんばって！ Ganbatte!

"Give it your best!"
Meant to be encouraging and motivating. 頑張がんばれ！ Ganbare! in stronger cheering.

いただきます。 Itadakimasu.

"I will receive."
To yourself before starting to eat or when accepting something offered to you.

失礼しつれいします。 Shitsurei shimasu.

"I will trouble you." or "I will be impolite."
When entering your superiors room or an unfamiliar house, when trying to get someone's attention or generally when interrupting someone.

失礼しつれいしました。 Shitsurei shimashita.

"I have troubled you." or "Excuse my impoliteness."
When leaving your superiors room or an unfamiliar house or generally as "Sorry to have bothered you, carry on."

大丈夫だいじょうぶ。 Daijōbu.

"It is alright."
For general reassurance. Used with desu ka? to inquire if something or somebody is alright.

凄すごい！ Sugoi!

"Great!", "Incredible!"
Very popular amongst girls and greatly overused.

可愛かわいい！ Kawaii!

"How cute!"
See sugoi.

ええぇ〜 Eee~

"Reallyyyyyyy~?"
Almost a standard reaction to any kind of news. Can be lengthened indefinitely and is hence useful to stall for time when thinking about a real answer.

ウソ！ Uso!

"Lie!"
Doesn't necessarily accuse one of lying, usually used in the sense of "Seriously?!"

Honorifics

Japanese makes extensive use of honorific language (敬語けいご keigo) when talking to people of higher status. Keigo is famously difficult to master and even Japanese salespeople often need to take special courses to learn to speak correctly. As a foreigner, you will generally not be expected to use keigo, but it is very commonly used in situations like salespeople talking to customers and public announcements, so having at least passive familiarity with the most common keigo verbs and constructs will come in very useful.

Respectful form

When talking to someone of higher status than yourself, it is important to use a respectful form (尊敬そんけい語ご sonkeigo) when talking about the other person. Generally, this follows the pattern お～になる(o ~ ni naru), where ～ represents the stem of the basic polite form: eg. to read, 読よむ(yomu), basic polite form 読よみます(yomimasu) becomes お読よみになる(o-yomi-ni-naru). The naru at the end follows the normal conjugation patterns for naru, most commonly becoming narimasu (present) or narimashita (past). The main exceptions are listed below:

• To see: 見みる becomes ご覧らんになる (goran-ni-naru).
• To eat/drink: 食たべる/飲のむ becomes 召めし上あがる (meshi-agaru).
• To come/go/be at a place: 来くる/行いく/いる becomes いらっしゃる (irassharu). (basic polite form いらっしゃいます irasshaimasu and not いらっしゃります)
• To know: 知しる becomes ご存知ぞんじだ (gozonji-da).
• To give (to yourself): くれる becomes 下くださる (kudasaru). (basic polite form 下くださいます kudasaimasu and not 下したさります)
• To do: する becomes なさる (nasaru). (basic polite form なさいます nasaimasu and not なさります)
• To say: 言いう becomes おっしゃる (ossharu) (basic polite form おっしゃいます osshaimasu and not おっしゃります)

Humble form

When talking about yourself to someone of higher status than you, it is important to put yourself down by using a humble form (謙遜けんそん語ご kensongo). Generally this follows the pattern お～する (o ~ suru), where ～ reprents the stem of the basic polite form: eg. to borrow, 借かりる(kariru), basic polite form 借かります (karimasu) becomes お借かりする (o-kari-suru). The suru at the end follows the usual conjugation pattern of suru, most commonly becoming shimasu (present) or shimashita (past); for an extra helping of humility, the verb 致いたす itasu > 致いたします itashimasu can be substituted. The main exceptions are listed below:

• To see: 見みる becomes 拝見はいけんする (haiken-suru).
• To come/go: 来くる/行いく becomes 参まいる (mairu).
• To eat/drink/receive: 食たべる/飲のむ/もらう becomes いただく (itadaku)
• To give: あげる becomes さし上あげる (sashi-ageru).
• To do: する becomes 致いたす (itasu)
• To know: 知しる becomes 存ぞんじる (zonjiru)
• To say: 言いう becomes 申もうし上あげる (mōshi-ageru)
• My name is: いう becomes 申もうす (mōsu)

Polite form

The third type of keigo is called simply "polite language", or teineigo (丁寧ていねい語ご). Whereas respectful and humble language refer to the subject (you and I), teineigo is used to simply imply respect to the listener. An example:

りんごをご覧らんになりますか？ Ringo wo goran ni narimasuka?

Can you see the apple? (respectful)

りんごを拝見はいけんします。 Ringo wo haiken shimasu.

I see the apple. (humble)

彼かれもりんごを見みます。 Kare mo ringo wo mimasu.

He also sees the apple. (polite)

In fact, the desu copula and the -masu form taught to beginning students of Japanese are both examples of teineigo. A few verbs and adjectives have special teineigo forms:

to be

aru (ある) → gozaimasu (ございます)

to die

shinu (死しぬ) → nakunaru (亡なくなる)

good

ii/yoi (いい/良よい) → yoroshii (よろしい)

Country and territory names

Country and territory names in Japanese are generally borrowed from their English names and written in katakana. The names of languages are generally formed by adding 語ご (go) to the end of the country name. Only exceptions are mentioned below. Also one-kanji abbreviation for the country name is shown in 「　」:

アジア Ajia

Asia　「亜あ」

日本にっぽん Nihon/Nippon , 日本にっぽん国こく Nihon-koku

Japan　「日ひ」

中国ちゅうごく Chūgoku

China (or, confusingly, Western Honshu)　「中なか」

台湾たいわん Taiwan

Taiwan　「台だい」

香港ほんこん Honkon

Hong Kong　「港みなと」(rare)

韓国かんこく Kankoku

South Korea　「韓かん」

北朝鮮きたちょうせん Kitachōsen

North Korea　「朝あさ」

インド Indo

India (not an abbreviation of Indonesia)　「印しるし」

インドネシア Indonesha

Indonesia

タイ Tai

Thailand　「泰やすし」(rare)

トルコ Toruko

Turkey　「土ど」

アラブ首長しゅちょう国こく連邦れんぽう Arabu-shuchōkoku-rempō

United Arab Emirates

ヨーロッパ Yōroppa

Europe　「欧おう」

ドイツ Doitsu (derived from 'Deutsche')

Germany　「独どく」

イギリス Igirisu (derived from 'English'), 英国えいこく Eikoku (written)

United Kingdom　「英えい」

フランス Furansu

France　「仏ふつ」

イタリア Itaria

Italy　「伊い」

スペイン Supein

Spain　「西にし」

オランダ Oranda (derived from 'Holland')

The Netherlands　「蘭らん」

ベルギー　Berugī

Belgium　「白しろ」(rare)

ハンガリー Hangarī

Hungary　「洪ひろし」(rare)

ロシア Roshia

Russia　「露ろ」

イスラエル Isuraeru

Israel

アメリカ Amerika, 米国べいこく Beikoku (written)

United States of America (not the whole American continent)　「米べい」

アフリカ Afurika

Africa

南みなみアフリカ Minami-afurika

South Africa

エチオピア Echiopia

Ethiopia

オーストラリア Ōsutoraria , 豪州ごうしゅう Gōshū

Australia　「豪ごう」

Learning more

For those who want proof of their proficiency in Japanese, there is the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT, 日本語にほんご能力のうりょく試験しけん), which is endorsed by the Japanese government, and serves as the Japanese-language equivalent of the TOEFL and IELTS. The test is conducted at 5 levels, with level N5 requiring only a basic level of proficiency to pass, and N1 requiring near-native proficiency. Only reading and listening is tested, and there is no oral examination. Many private Japanese-language courses are geared towards preparing students for this exam.

• WWWJDIC — English-Japanese-English dictionary including sentence translation, kanji lookup and place/personal name dictionary
• Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese Grammar — Comprehensive online/printable grammar guide building up from casual Japanese using first principles (as opposed to working sideways from polite phrasebook Japanese)
• Japanese LinguaLift — Learn, review, and practice Japanese in one easy to use package.
• L-Lingo Japanese — A free 40 lesson online learn Japanese application
• Charles Kelly's Online Japanese Language Study Materials — A collection of online study aids and quizzes
• Learn Japanese by listening — Some Japanese lessons in mp3.
• Learn to speak Japanese - One at a Time — Daily Japanese lessons.
• Jisho.org — Another English-Japanese-English dictionary, but, with a deceptively powerful bookmarklet to assist reading kanji on websites.
• Denshi Jisho The best resource for Japanese electronic dictionaries
• 100 top resources to learn Japanese

• Remembering the Kanji 1 by James W. Heisig (1977) — Extremely well-known book detailing just the meanings of most kanji and mnemonics to assist with retaining those meanings. Follow-up texts cover Chinese onyomi readings and all that again for less common naming kanji.