Japanese/Vocabulary/Everyday Phrases

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[edit] Everyday Phrases

There are several phrases that may be useful to learn if you are going to visit Japan, even if you don't plan on learning the language. All phrases have the Kana spelling next to them and are in Hepburn Romanization so Western students can more easily read them. (Note, though, that the は ha syllable is pronounced wa when used as a particle.)

[edit] Greetings

  • 今晩は　(こんばんは - konban'wa) - Good evening (generally used after 6pm).
  • 今日は　(こんにちは - konnichi'wa) - Hello; good day; good afternoon.
  • おはよう - ohayō - Casual "Good morning" (generally used until 10am).
    • おはようございます - ohayō gozaimasu - Formal "Good morning."
  • お休み　(おやすみ - oyasumi) - Casual "Good night."
    • おやすみなさい - oyasumi nasai - Formal "Good night."
  • やあ　(yā) - Hi!

[edit] Yes and No

  • はい - Hai - yes (formal)
  • ええ - Ee - yes (slightly less formal)
  • いいえ - Iie - no (said like "ee-eh")
  • いや - Iya - no (can also indicate hatred)
  • うん - Un - yeah/uh-huh (casual)
  • ううん - Uun - no/huh-uh (casual)

[edit] Eating

  • いただきます - Itadakimasu - Polite phrase to say before eating.
  • ごちそうさまでした - Gochisōsama deshita - Polite phrase to say after eating.

[edit] Praise

  • おめでとう - Omedetō - Congratulations
    • おめでとうございます - Omedetō gozaimasu - Stronger congratulations.
  • よく出来ました。- Yoku dekimashita. - Good job. (You did well.)

[edit] Please and Thank You

  • ___ ください - ___ kudasai - ___ please. (Usually used with the -te form of the verb)
  • おねがいします - Onegai shimasu - please (Slightly more polite)
  • どうぞ-dōzo- please (Casual)
  • どうも - Dōmo - Thanks.
  • ありがとう - Arigatō - Thank you. (Casual)
    • どうもありがとう - Dōmo arigatō - Thank you very much. (Casual)
    • ありがとうございます - Arigatō gozaimasu - Thank you. (Polite)
    • どうもありがとうございます - Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu - Thank you very much. (Polite)
  • すみません - Sumimasen - excuse me.
    • どうもすみません - Dōmo Sumimasen - Thanks a lot. (Usually when someone goes out of their way to help)
  • どういたしまして - Dō itashimashite - You are welcome.
  • いいえ - iie - Not at all/No problem.

[edit] Getting Attention

  • すみません - Sumimasen - Excuse me.
    • あのうすみません - Anō sumimasen - Ah, excuse me ...
    • すみませんが - Sumimasen ga - Excuse me, but ...
  • おい - Oi - Hey (Somewhat rude)

[edit] Apology

  • ごめん - Gomen - Sorry.
    • ごめんなさい - Gomen nasai - I am really sorry. (more formal)
    • ごめんね - Gomen ne - Sorry (soft/fem.).
    • ごめんな - Gomen na - Sorry (masc.).
    • ごめんよ - Gomen yo - Sorry (masc. or Kansai dialect).
  • すみません - Sumimasen - I'm sorry.

[edit] Farewells

  • しつれいします。- Shitsurei shimasu goodbye for use with social superiors
  • さようなら - Sayōnara - Goodbye. (Primarily before a long absence.)
  • じゃまた　- Ja mata - See you later.
  • じゃ - Ja - Bye! See you soon. (Mostly used by men )
  • じゃね- Ja ne- Bye ! See you soon.(Mostly used by women)
  • また明日　(またあした)-Mata Ashita- See you tomorrow.
  • またね　- Mata ne - Later.
  • また会いましょう　(またあいましょう - Mata aimashō - See you again.
  • またどうぞ　- Mata dōzo - Please come again.
  • バイバイ - Bai bai - Borrowed from English, Bye Bye.
    • note that words of foreign origins are in many cases written in Katakana.
  • いってきます　- Ittekimasu - I'm leaving (said when leaving the house)
  • いってらっしゃい　- Itterasshai - Have a safe trip (response to いってきます)
  • ただいま - Tadaima - I'm home (said when returning home)
  • おかえりなさい - Okaeri nasai - Welcome back
    • おかえり - Okaeri - Less formal than the above

[edit] Finding the Bathroom

  • トイレ - といれ - Toire (from the English "toilet")
  • お手洗い - おてあらい - Otearai (variants are 御手洗い and 手洗い)
  • 便所 - べんじょ - Benjo
  • 化粧室 - けしょうしつ - Keshōshitsu


  • すみません。トイレはどこですか。 - Sumimasen. Toire wa, doko desu ka? - Excuse me. Where is the bathroom?
  • すみません。手洗いはどちらですか。 - (すみません. てあらいはどちらですか - Sumimasen. Tearai wa, dochira desu ka?) - Excuse me. Which way is the restroom (lit. hand-washing place)?

[edit] Hesitation Noises

Hesitation noises, or vocal pauses, are the "uh" and "um" of a language, filler sounds we produce when we pause to think while speaking. Using the correct hesitation noises can make the difference between natural sounding Japanese, and awkward foreign sounding speech.

They are:

  • あのう - "anoo" (Usually when you are about to say something)
  • ええと - "eeto" (When you are just thinking)
  • まぁ　 - "maa" ("Well..." used for considering, reconsidering, etc...)
  • さぁ　 - "saa" (Another thinking sound) Used for when you're not sure of the information
  • 何だっけ - なんだっけ - "nan da kke" ("What's it called..." used when trying to remember something specific)
  • そうですね - "soudesune" (Acknowledges what was previously said. More of a staller than a hesitation noise. Somewhat more formal. Also used to show you care what the speaker is saying.)
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