During The Olympic Games we don’t want you confusing your ‘hellos’ with your ‘goodbyes’ or for you to get puzzled by Japan’s beautiful language – we want you to be as prepared as possible when out and about exploring Tokyo.
Not only will the Japanese people appreciate it, but you will have more confidence to order an iced tea instead of a taxi! So, to help, we have put together these useful phrases for you to get your tongue around.
Greeting phrases in Japanese
Hello
こんにちわ Kon-nichiwa
Good morning
お早うございます Ohayo Gozai-masu
Goodbye
さようなら Sayo-nara
Goodnight
おやすみなさい Oyasumi-nasai
Please
どうぞ Dozo
Sorry
ごめんなさい Gomen-nasai
Good
いい yoi
Thank you very much
ありがとうございます Ariga-toh gozai-masu
Thanks/Thank you
ありがとう Ariga-toh
No thank you (I’m fine)
結構です Kekkoh-desu
Excuse me
すみません Sumima-sen
Yes
はい Hai
No
いいえ ih-yeh
My name is…
私の名前は… Watashi-no namae wa--
Nice to meet you
はじめまして Hajime-mashiteh
What is your name?
あなたの名前は Anata-no-namae wa
Sorry, I don’t understand
ごめんなさい、わかりません Gomen-nasai. Wakari-masen
I understand
わかります Wakari-masu
Please speak slowly
ゆっくりはなして下さい Yukkuri-hanashite-kudasaih
Do you speak English?
英語話せますか Eigo Hanase-masuka
Direction phrases in Japanese
I/We want to go to… - Ni Ikitai-desu
Bar - Bar
Restaurant - Restaurant
Pharmacy - Kusuri-ya
Hospital - Byoh-in
Bank - Ginkoh
Convenience store - Kon-bini
Post Office - Yuh-bin-kyoku
Restroom/toilet - Toilet
Supermarket - Suh-pah
Airport - Kuh-Koh
Train station – Eki
Emergency phrases in Japanese
Help - Tasukete
I am lost - Mayotte-masu
Fire - Kaji
Call an ambulance - Kyu-kyu sha wo yonde-kudasai
Call the police - Keisatsu wo yonde-kudasai
Doctor - Isha
Hospital - Byohin
Pharmacy - Kusuri-ya
Embassy - Taishi-kan
Drinking phrases in Japanese
Cheers - Kan-pai
Bon appetit - Itadaki-masu
Water - Mizu
Coffee - Coffee
English tea - Kohcha
Green tea - Ryokucha
Hot tea - Atata-kai ocha
Iced tea - Tsume-tai ocha
Draft beer - Nama bih-ru
Bottled beer - Bin bih-ru
Please can I have a beer? - Beer Kudasaie
Sake - Sake
Red wine - Aka Wine
White wine - Shiro Wine
Cocktail – Cocktail
Transport phrases in Japanese
Train - Ressha
Subway - Chika-tetsu
Bus - Bus
Bullet train - Shinkansen
Flight - Flight
Ticket - Ticket
Transfer - Transfer
Reserved seat - Shitei seki
Last train - Saishu ressha
Local train - Kaku eki ressha
Express train - Kyukoh
Taxi - Taxi
Please can you call me a taxi? - Taxi wo Yonde Kudasai
One way - Kata-michi
Round-trip - Oh-fuku
Standard class - Futsuu-sha
Green car (first class) - Green-sha
Which train? - Dono ressha