70 Basic Japanese phrases for beginners (with pronunciation)

2025/09/23

Learning Japanese phrases for beginners doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You don’t need to memorize hundreds of words before your first conversation! 

These everyday Japanese phrases cover the situations you’ll actually encounter, whether you’re planning a trip to Japan, starting to study the language, or just curious about basic Japanese conversation and communication. In this article, discover your starter pack for real conversations.

Everyday Japanese phrases for daily conversations

These everyday Japanese phrases for beginners form the core of Japanese daily communication. Every conversation relies on these basic building blocks, from confirming or denying something to expressing understanding and making simple requests. These expressions are used constantly throughout the day by native speakers in all types of situations.

Japanese	English	Romaji	Example	Translation
はい	Yes	Hai	はい、そうです。	Yes, that’s right.
いいえ	No	Iie	いいえ、しりません。	No, I don’t know.
です	I am/It is	Desu	学生です。	I am a student.
わかりません	I don’t understand	Wakarimasen	すみません、わかりません。	Sorry, I don’t understand.
わかりました	I understand	Wakarimashita	はい、わかりました。	Yes, I understand.
おねがいします	Please	Onegaishimasu	みずをおねがいします。	Water, please.
だいじょうぶです	It’s okay/I’m fine	Daijoubu desu	だいじょうぶです、しんぱいないです。	It’s okay, don’t worry.
いいです	It’s good	Ii desu	いいです、すきです。	It’s good, I like it.
たくさん	A lot	Takusan	しゅくだいがたくさんあります。	There’s a lot of homework.
すこし	A little	Sukoshi	すこしつかれました。	I’m a little tired.

The word “desu” is fundamental to Japanese but natives barely pronounce the final “su” : it sounds more like “dess” than “de-soo.” Unlike English “to be,” desu never changes form regardless of the subject, making it simpler once you get used to it.

“Daijoubu desu” and “ii desu” aren’t interchangeable. Use “daijoubu” when something is acceptable but not your first choice, and “ii desu” when you genuinely approve or like something. In casual conversation, you can drop “desu” entirely, but keep it for polite situations.

Basic Japanese greetings and common phrases

Basic Japanese greetings operate on a precise timing system that most foreigners get wrong. Each phrase has its specific time slot : 

• “ohayou gozaimasu” works before 11am
• “konnichiwa” from 11am to 5pm
• “konbanwa” after 6pm

But here’s the twist: in Japanese workplaces, people say “ohayou gozaimasu” whenever they first see a colleague that day, even at 7pm. This breaks the normal time rules because it’s about first contact, not clock time.

Japanese	English	Romaji	Example	Translation
おはようございます	Good morning	Ohayou gozaimasu	おはようございます、きょうもよろしく。	Good morning, please take care of me today too.
こんにちは	Hello	Konnichiwa	こんにちは、いいてんきですね。	Hello, nice weather isn’t it?
こんばんは	Good evening	Konbanwa	こんばんは、おつかれさまでした。	Good evening, thank you for your hard work.
はじめまして	Nice to meet you	Hajimemashite	はじめまして、すずきともうします。	Nice to meet you, my name is Suzuki.
よろしくおねがいします	Nice to meet you / Please treat me well	Yoroshiku onegaishimasu	よろしくおねがいします、がんばります。	Please treat me well, I’ll do my best.
おげんきですか？	How are you?	Ogenki desu ka?	おげんきですか？ひさしぶりですね。	How are you? It’s been a while.
げんきです	I’m fine	Genki desu	げんきです、ありがとうございます。	I’m fine, thank you.
さようなら	Goodbye	Sayounara	さようなら、またらいねんおあいしましょう。	Goodbye, let’s meet again next year.
またね	See you later	Mata ne	またね、こんどえいがをみよう。	See you later, let’s watch a movie next time.
もしもし	Hello (phone)	Moshi moshi	もしもし、たなかですが。	Hello, this is Tanaka speaking.

Most people think “sayounara” means casual goodbye, but Japanese speakers rarely use it. It literally means “if it is so” and sounds final, like you won’t see the person for months. Friends prefer “mata ne” or “ja mata.” During the Edo period, men said “sayounara” while women responded with “gokigenyō” (farewell), but this gender split disappeared around the Showa period.

Moshi moshi” comes from the polite verb “mōsu” (to say), repeated twice for telephone clarity. However, business calls require “hai” followed by your name instead of the casual “moshi moshi”, using it in professional settings sounds childish.

Easy Japanese phrases for beginners to introduce yourself

Japanese self-introductions rely on three essential japanese phrases for beginners that work together: 

• “Hajimemashite” (nice to meet you) acknowledges this is a first meeting, 
• “[Name] desu” states your identity
• “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu” requests future goodwill. 

These phrases create a complete introduction when used as a set. Beyond these basic japanese phrases for beginner, you can add personal details like your origin, job, age, or hobbies to expand the conversation naturally.

Japanese	English	Romaji	Example	Translation
はじめまして	Nice to meet you	Hajimemashite	はじめまして、こんにちは。	Nice to meet you, hello.
[なまえ]です	I am [name]	[Namae] desu	たなかです。	I am Tanaka.
[くに]からきました	I’m from [country]	[Kuni] kara kimashita	アメリカからきました。	I’m from America.
[しゅみ]をしています	I work as [job]	[Shokugyou] wo shiteimasu	きょうしをしています。	I work as a teacher.
[ねんれい]さいです	I’m [age] years old	[Nenrei] sai desu	27さいです。	I’m 27 years old.
しゅみは[しゅみ]です	My hobby is [hobby]	Shumi wa [hobby] desu	しゅみはどくしょです。	My hobby is reading.
こちらこそ	Likewise/Same here	Kochirakoso	こちらこそよろしく。	Likewise, nice to meet you.
[なまえ]ともうします	I’m called [name] (humble)	[Namae] to moushimasu	すずきともうします。	I’m called Suzuki.
[なまえ]とよんでください	Please call me [name]	[Namae] to yonde kudasai	みきとよんでください。	Please call me Miki.

Skip “watashi wa” for natural speech. Japanese people rarely use personal pronouns during introductions because context makes it clear who’s speaking. Including “watashi wa” is grammatically correct but often omitted in natural conversation for brevity.

When someone says “yoroshiku onegaishimasu,” respond with “kochirakoso”. It means “likewise” and shows you understand Japanese conversation patterns. This single word impresses natives more than memorizing long introductions.

Simple ways to say sorry in Japanese

Japanese apologies reflect deep cultural values around maintaining social harmony and showing consideration for others. The language provides multiple formality levels to match different relationships and situations. Knowing how to say sorry in Japanese in several ways demonstrates your understanding of appropriate behavior in various contexts.

Japanese	English	Romaji	Example	Translation
すみません	Sorry/Excuse me	Sumimasen	すみません、きづかなかったです！	Sorry, I didn’t notice you!
ごめんなさい	I’m sorry	Gomen nasai	ごめんなさい、よていがかわってしまいました。	Sorry, my plans have changed.
ごめん	Sorry (casual)	Gomen	ごめん、わすれた！	Sorry, I forgot!
もうしわけありません	I deeply apologize	Moushiwake arimasen	もうしわけありません、おくれてしまいました。	I deeply apologize for being late.
しつれいします	Excuse me (leaving)	Shitsurei shimasu	おさきにしつれいします。	Excuse me for leaving first.
わりぃ	My bad (slang)	Warii	わりぃ、だいじょうぶ？	My bad, are you okay?
ほんとうにごめん	I’m really sorry	Hontou ni gomen	ほんとうにごめん、わるかった。	I’m really sorry, it’s my fault.
ゆるしてください	Please forgive me	Yurushite kudasai	ゆるしてください、にどとしません。	Please forgive me, I won’t do it again.
たいへんもうしわけございません	I’m terribly sorry (very formal)	Taihen moushiwake gozaimasen	たいへんもうしわけございません、おまたせしました。	I’m terribly sorry for keeping you waiting.
すまない	Sorry (masculine casual)	Sumanai	すまない、てつだってくれ。	Sorry, help me out.

“Sumimasen”works as both apology and gratitude, stemming from Japanese cultural emphasis on humility and not wanting to impose on others. When someone helps you, “sumimasen” combines “sorry for troubling you” with “thank you for helping”, acknowledging both gratitude and slight embarrassment for causing inconvenience.

Different Japanese regions have unique apology expressions like “kannin” in Osaka or “meyagu” in Aomori, demonstrating how deeply embedded these social tools are across Japanese culture. However, standard forms work everywhere and are safer for learners.

Essential Japanese phrases at restaurants

Japanese meals begin and end with specific gratitude expressions that acknowledge the effort behind your food. Common Japanese phrases at restaurants follow polite patterns that are easy to remember. Remember that pointing at menu items while asking questions is perfectly acceptable, even encouraged when language barriers exist. 

Japanese	English	Romaji	Example	Translation
いただきます	Let’s eat/I humbly receive	Itadakimasu	いただきます、美味しそうです。	Let’s eat, it looks delicious.
ごちそうさまでした	Thank you for the meal	Gochisousama deshita	ごちそうさまでした、美味しかった。	Thank you for the meal, it was delicious.
めにゅうをおねがいします	Please bring me the menu	Menyuu o onegaishimasu	めにゅうをおねがいします、みたいです。	Please bring me the menu, I’d like to see it.
おすすめはなんですか？	What do you recommend?	Osusume wa nan desu ka?	おすすめはなんですか？にんきのめにゅうは？	What do you recommend? What are the popular dishes?
これをください	I’d like this	Kore o kudasai	これをください、おねがいします。	I’d like this, please.
おみずをください	Water, please	Omizu o kudasai	おみずをください、のどがかわきました。	Water please, I’m thirsty.
おかいけいおねがいします	Check, please	Okaikei onegaishimasu	おかいけいおねがいします、ありがとうございます。	Check please, thank you.
これはなんですか？	What’s this?	Kore wa nan desu ka?	これはなんですか？おいしいですか？	What’s this? Is it delicious?
[たべもの]がたべられません	I can’t eat [food]	[Tabemono] ga taberaremasen	にくがたべられません、べじたりあんです。	I can’t eat meat, I’m vegetarian.
おいしいです	It’s delicious	Oishii desu	とてもおいしいです、ありがとうございます。	It’s very delicious, thank you.

“Itadakimasu” is more than “let’s eat” – it literally means “I humbly receive” and expresses gratitude for the life that became your food. “Gochisousama deshita” thanks everyone involved in bringing the meal to your table, from farmers to chefs. These phrases are cultural fixtures at every Japanese meal.

Use the pattern “[food] ga taberaremasen” for foods you can’t eat. Common examples include “niku to sakana ga taberaremasen” (I can’t eat meat and fish) for vegetarians. For allergies, add “[allergen] arerugii ga arimasu” (I’m allergic to [allergen]) to be extra clear about restrictions.

Must-know Japanese phrases for travel and tourism

Traveling in Japan becomes significantly easier once you master basic japanese phrases for travel, location-based questions and transportation phrases. These simple Japanese phrases for beginners help you move confidently through unfamiliar areas and get assistance when needed.

Japanese	English	Romaji	Example	Translation
どこですか？	Where is it?	Doko desu ka?	すみません、駅はどこですか？	Excuse me, where is the station?
いくらですか？	How much is this?	Ikura desu ka?	これはいくらですか？	How much is this?
このでんしゃは[えき]にとまりますか？	Does this train stop at [station]?	Kono densha wa [eki] ni tomarimasu ka?	このでんしゃはとうきょうえきにとまりますか？	Does this train stop at Tokyo station?
[ばしょ]までつれてください	Please take me to [place]	[Basho] made tsurete kudasai	ホテルまでつれてください。	Please take me to the hotel.
きっぷうりばばはどこですか？	Where is the ticket counter?	Kippu uriba wa doko desu ka?	きっぷうりばはどこですか？まよいました。	Where is the ticket counter? I’m lost.
タクシーをよんでください	Please call a taxi	Takushii o yonde kudasai	タクシーをよんでください、いそいでいます。	Please call a taxi, I’m in a hurry.
よやくをしたいのですが	I’d like to make a reservation	Yoyaku o shitai no desu ga	よやくをしたいのですが、あいていますか？	I’d like to make a reservation, do you have availability?
よやくしています	I have a reservation	Yoyaku shiteimasu	たなかでよやくしています。	I have a reservation under Tanaka.
ちぇっくあうとはなんじですか？	What time is checkout?	Chekkuauto wa nanji desu ka?	ちぇっくあうとはなんじですか？あしたははやいです。	What time is checkout? I’m leaving early tomorrow.
いつですか？	When is it?	Itsu desu ka?	でんしゃはいつきますか？	When is the train?

Use the pattern “sumimasen, [place] wa doko desu ka?” to find any location. Common destinations include “eki” (station), “chikatetsu” (subway), and “takushii no noriba” (taxi stand). This construction works for any place you need to locate.

“Yoyaku wo shitai no desu ga” handles reservation requests, while “yoyaku shiteimasu” confirms existing bookings. The checkout time question can be adapted by replacing “chekkuauto” with any service you need timing information about.

Japanese survival phrases for emergencies

Emergency situations require clear, direct communication that cuts through language barriers instantly. Japanese survival phrases prioritize brevity and urgency over politeness. These expressions cover everything from getting lost to medical emergencies, giving you the essential vocabulary to seek assistance when situations become serious.

Japanese	English	Romaji	Example	Translation
たすけて！	Help!	Tasukete!	たすけて！あぶないです！	Help! It’s dangerous!
たすけてください	Please help me	Tasukete kudasai	たすけてください、まよいました。	Please help me, I’m lost.
けいさつをよんでください	Please call the police	Keisatsu o yonde kudasai	けいさつをよんでください、ぬすまれました。	Please call the police, I was robbed.
きゅうきゅうしゃをよんでください	Please call an ambulance	Kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai	きゅうきゅうしゃをよんでください、いたいです。	Please call an ambulance, I’m in pain.
びょういんはどこですか？	Where is the hospital?	Byouin wa doko desu ka?	びょういんはどこですか？いそいでいます。	Where is the hospital? I’m in a hurry.
みちにまよいました	I’m lost	Michi ni mayoimashita	みちにまよいました、えきはどこ？	I’m lost, where’s the station?
いたいです	It hurts	Itai desu	とてもいたいです、たすけてください。	It hurts a lot, help me.
わかりません	I don’t understand	Wakarimasen	すみません、わかりません。	Sorry, I don’t understand.
てつだってくれませんか？	Can you help me?	Tetsudatte kuremasen ka?	てつだってくれませんか？こまっています。	Can you help me? I’m in trouble.
もういっかいおねがいします	Please say that again	Mou ikkai onegaishimasu	もういっかいおねがいします、きこえません。	Please say that again, I can’t hear.

Use “tasukete!” for genuine emergencies where you’re in immediate danger, but switch to “tetsudatte kuremasen ka?” for everyday situations like asking directions or needing assistance with something non-urgent. The first sounds an alarm, the second requests polite help.

The pattern “[service] wo yonde kudasai” works for any emergency service. Japanese emergency numbers are 119 for ambulances and 110 for police – different from many other countries’ systems.

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