Travel Tips: Useful Japanese Phrases

otakuabroadblog:

Learning to speak Japanese fluently before heading to Japan is almost impossible for a casual learner, but it’s still a good idea to have some useful phrases to get around. Even better, have a language guide book on hand so you can point to the phrase you’re trying to speak! Here are some of the phrases I found most useful on my trips:

こんにちは – Konnichiwa – Hello

ありがとう
– Arigatou –
Thank You)

すみません
– Sumimasen –
Excuse Me/I’m Sorry

お願いします
– Onegaishimasu –

Please

ください
– Kudasai –
Please
(informal)

はい
– Hai –
Yes

いいえ
– Iie –

 No
(rarely used)

ごめんなさい
– Gomennasai –

I am sorry

英語はわかりますか
– Eigo wa
wakarimasu ka? –
Do you understand English?

わかりません
– Wakarimasen –

I do not understand

もうちょっとゆっくり行ってください – Mou chotto yukkuri itte kudasai –
Please speak more slowly

これ
– Kore
 –
This
(you can point at something and say “kore” to ask for it)

これをください
– Kore o
kudasai –
This, please

いくらですか
– Ikura desu ka? –
How much is it?

お名前は何ですか
– Onamae wa nan desu ka? –
What is your name?

私の名前は_です Watashi no namae wa __ desu –
My name is __

どうぞよろしく
– Dozo yoroshiku –
Pleased to meet you

お元気ですか
– Ogenki desu ka? –
How are you?

元気です
– Genki desu –
I’m fine

おはようございます
– Ohayou gozaimasu –
Good morning

こんばんは
– Konbanwa –
Good Evening

お休みなさい
– Oyasumi nasai –
Good Night

何
– Nani? –
What?

いつ
– Itsu? –
When?

誰
– Dare? –
Who?

どこ
– Doko? –
Where?

トイレはどこですか
– Toire wa doko desu ka? –
Where is the toilet?

駅はどこですか
– Eki wa doko desu ka? –
Where is the train station?

Hopefully you won’t need the following phrases, but it’s good to know them as well:

医者が必要です
– Isha ga hitsuyo desu –
I need a doctor

ここが痛いです
– Koko ga itai desu –
It hurts here

助けて
– Tasukete! –
Help!

警察を呼んでください – Keisatsu o yonde kudasai! –
Call the police!

道に迷いました
– Michi ni mayoi mashita –
I’m lost