Travelling to Japan can be a fascinating and enriching experience, and knowing some essential Japanese phrases can greatly enhance your journey. Here are key phrases that will help you navigate various situations, from basic greetings to ordering food and asking for directions as shared by a top Japanese Language learning app developer for iOS and Android Hello-Hello in this blog.

Basic Greetings and Politeness

1. こんにちは (Konnichiwa) – Hello / Good afternoon: A standard greeting used during the day.
2. おはようございます (Ohayō gozaimasu) – Good morning: Used until around 10 AM, with the more casual “おはよう (Ohayō)” for friends.
3. こんばんは (Konbanwa) – Good evening: Used in the evening.
4. おやすみなさい (Oyasuminasai) – Good night: A polite way to say good night.
5. ありがとうございます (Arigatō gozaimasu) – Thank you: A polite expression of gratitude. The casual form is “ありがとう (Arigatō).”
6. すみません (Sumimasen) – Excuse me / I’m sorry: Used for apologizing or getting someone’s attention.
7. はい (Hai) / いいえ (Iie) – Yes / No: Basic affirmative and negative responses.
8. お願いします (Onegaishimasu) – Please: Used when making a request.
9. どういたしまして (Dōitashimashite) – You’re welcome: A response to “thank you.”

Introducing Yourself

1. 私の名前は [Name] です (Watashi no namae wa [Name] desu) – My name is [Name]: Introducing yourself politely.
2. [Country] から来ました ([Country] kara kimashita) – I am from [Country]: Stating your nationality.

Common Phrases in Restaurants and Cafés

1. メニューをください (Menyū o kudasai) – Please give me the menu: Asking for the menu.
2. おすすめは何ですか (Osusume wa nan desu ka)? – What do you recommend?: Asking for recommendations.
3. これは何ですか (Kore wa nan desu ka)? – What is this?: Asking about a particular item.
4. お水をください (Omizu o kudasai) – Please give me water: Requesting water.
5. お会計をお願いします (O-kaikei o onegaishimasu) – The check, please: Asking for the bill.

Getting Around

1. 駅はどこですか (Eki wa doko desu ka)? – Where is the station?: Asking for directions to a train station.
2. [Place] へ行きたいです ([Place] e ikitai desu) – I want to go to [Place]: Stating your destination.
3. 右 (Migi) / 左 (Hidari) – Right / Left: Directions.
4. まっすぐ (Massugu) – Straight: To go straight ahead.
5. この住所を見せてください (Kono jūsho o misete kudasai) – Please show me this address: Useful when asking for directions with an address written down.

In Case of Emergency

1. 助けてください (Tasukete kudasai) – Please help me: Asking for help.
2. 警察 (Keisatsu) – Police: Referring to the police.
3. 病院はどこですか (Byōin wa doko desu ka)? – Where is the hospital?: Asking for the location of a hospital.

Shopping

1. これをください (Kore o kudasai) – Please give me this: When purchasing an item.
2. いくらですか (Ikura desu ka)? – How much is it?: Asking the price.
3. カードで支払えますか (Kādo de shiharaemasu ka)? – Can I pay by card?: Inquiring about payment methods.
4. 割引はありますか (Waribiki wa arimasu ka)? – Is there a discount?: Asking if discounts are available.

Other Useful Phrases

1. トイレはどこですか (Toire wa doko desu ka)? – Where is the bathroom?: Essential for finding restrooms.
2. わかりません (Wakarimasen) – I don’t understand: Indicating you don’t understand something.
3. 英語を話せますか (Eigo o hanasemasu ka)? – Do you speak English?: Asking if someone speaks English.
4. もう一度お願いします (Mō ichido onegaishimasu) – Please say it again: Asking someone to repeat something.

These essential Japanese phrases will help you navigate daily interactions and make your travel experience smoother. Remember, even a small effort to speak the local language can go a long way in creating positive interactions and showing respect for the local culture.

Hello-Hello, which is the leading mobile language learning application developer, offers users a unique opportunity to learn the Japanese language with iOS and Android Apps. Learn Japanese by Hello-Hello iPhone app, which is developed in collaboration with The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), offers 30 conversational lessons based on real-life situations rather than a collection of out-of-context words and phrases. Dialogues are presented and then broken down into sentence by sentence where you can practice pronunciation and writing skills. The key features of Hello-Hello’s Japanese app that make it THE BEST language learning app available on iTunes are –

• Animated videos and comic strips– New games to practice reading and listening skills
• Cleaner and more friendly user interface
• Follow your course progress
• Take notes
• Receive notifications with lesson reminders. The more you practice, the more you learn!
• Receive notifications with new words to build your vocabulary.

Android Play – Learn Japanese Hello-Hello, iTunes Store –
Learn Japanese (Hello-Hello)