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For beginner language learners, it helps to start with the practical basics. For example, if you’d like to tour Japan, it’s a good idea to first get comfortable with Japanese words for travel.
Once you’re confident using Japanese to engage in everyday skills like navigating, going out to eat, and shopping, a great next step is having simple conversations with Japanese people. These 100+ Japanese phrases can help you take that next step!
Japanese phrases for getting to know people
When you meet a group of people for the first time, you often go around and say your self-introductions. In Japanese, a self-introduction is called a jikoshōkai (自己紹介), and you can regularly use several basic Japanese phrases for your jikoshōkai.
If you’re still getting to know someone, it’s best to use polite Japanese. You’ll know you’ve become friends when the other person switches to casual Japanese and starts using Japanese slang! And if you want to share your hobbies in a self-introduction, many sports and other types of recreation are Japanese loanwords.
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| 自己紹介しましょう。 | Jiko shōkai shimashō. | Let’s do self-introductions. |
| 初めまして。 | Hajime mashite. | Nice to meet you. |
| 名前は___です。 | Namae wa ___ desu. | My name is ___. |
| お名前は？ | O-namae wa? | What is your name? |
| 出身は[country]の[state / city]です。 | Shusshin wa [country] no [state/city] desu. | I’m from [state/city] in [country]. |
| 出身はどこですか？ | Shusshin wa doko desu ka? | Where are you from? |
| ___のどこから来ましたか？ | ___ no doko kara kimashita ka? | Where in [country] are you from? |
| 仕事は___です。 | Shigoto wa ___ desu. | I work as a ___. |
| お仕事は？ | O-shigoto wa? | What is your job? |
| 趣味は___とか___です。 | Shumi wa ___ toka ___ desu. | My hobbies are things such as ___ and ___. |
| 趣味は？ | Shumi wa? | What are your hobbies? |
| 兄弟がいますか？ | Kyōdai ga imasu ka? | Do you have any siblings? |
| 何かペットを飼っていますか？ | Nani ka petto o katte imasu ka? | Do you have any pets? |
| よろしくお願いします。 | Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. | I look forward to getting to know you. (important phrase for the end of a first meeting) |
Phrases in Japanese for common questions
Questions are among the most important Japanese phrases, because the ability to ask questions is a vital skill for learning how to speak Japanese! By asking questions, you can direct the conversation to a more comfortable language level and vocabulary you’re familiar with, which will help your overall comprehension. You’ll also come off friendlier, as asking questions shows interest in the other person.
For most questions, you can change the casual version into the polite version by adding desu ka (ですか) to the end. Intonation is important when asking questions in Japanese, especially in casual Japanese—it can be all that differentiates a question from a statement.
You can have a full conversation just by using the chart’s first two questions, and there are endless categories you can start talking about, such as animals (dōbutsu; 動物), locations (basho; 場所), and cuisines (ryōri; 料理). Knowing Japanese nouns can help you discover even more conversation topics!
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| どんな___が好き？ / どんな___が好きですか？ | Donna ___ ga suki? / Donna ___ ga suki desu ka? | What kind of [category noun] do you like? |
| ___が好き？ / ___が好きですか？ | ___ ga suki? / ___ ga suki desu ka? | Do you like [noun]? |
| おすすめは？ | Osusume wa? | What do you recommend? |
| 他は？ | Hoka wa? | Anything else? |
| 誰？ / 誰ですか？ | Dare? / Dare desu ka? | Who? |
| 何？ / 何ですか？ | Nani? / Nan desu ka? | What? |
| ___はどこ？ / ___はどこですか？ | ____ wa doko? / ____ wa doko desu ka? | Where is ___? |
| いつ？ / いつですか？ | Itsu? / Itsu desu ka? | When? |
| 今何時？ / 今何時ですか？ | Ima nanji? / Ima nanji desu ka? | What time is it now? |
| *どれくらい？ / どれくらいですか？ | Dore kurai? / Dore kurai desu ka? | About how much time? or About how far? |
| どうして？ / どうしてですか？ | Dōshite? / Dōshite desu ka? | Why? |
| どう？ / どうですか？ | Dō? / Dō desu ka? | How is it? or How about it? (should answer with opinion) |
| どれ？ / どれですか？ | Dore? / Dore desu ka? | Which one? |
| ___が知っている？ / ___が知っていますか？ | ___ ga shitte iru? / ___ ga shitte imasu ka? | Do you know ___? |
| **元気？ / 元気ですか？ | Genki? / Genki desu ka? | How are you? (greeting) |
| 最近はどう？ / 最近はどうですか？ | Saikin wa dō? / Saikin wa dō desu ka? | How have things been recently? |
*You can respond to the question “about how much time” if you know how to tell time in Japanese.
**Similar to English, “how are you” is used more as a greeting than an earnest question. You can casually respond with genki or politely respond with genki desu. If you’d like a more thorough answer to your question, you can use the Japanese phrase, saikin wa dou (desu ka)?
Phrases for responses with interjections
Active listening is important in any language for good communication. In Japanese, you demonstrate active listening by regularly responding with short interjections.
These interjections are one of the important Japanese parts of speech. They are formally called kandōshi (感動詞) or colloquially referred to as aizuchi (相槌). If you listen to a typical Japanese conversation, you’ll find that aizuchi are some of the most popular Japanese phrases.
Many aizuchi are Japanese words that have a deep meaning. For example, shōganai reflects a Japanese mindset of not dwelling on things you can’t control.
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| はい。 | Hai. | Yes. or Understood. |
| そうね！/ そうですね！ | Sō ne! / Sō desu ne! | You’re right! |
| そう？/ そうですか？ | Sō? / Sō desu ka? | Is that so? |
| 確かに。 | Tashika ni. | Oh yeah, that’s true. |
| なるほど。 | Naruhodo. | I see. |
| いいね。/ いいですね。 | Ii ne. / Ii desu ne. | That’s good. |
| 面白い！/ 面白いです！ | Omoshiroi! / Omoshiroi desu! | That’s funny! or That’s interesting! |
| 大変ね。/ 大変ですね。 | Taihen desu ne. / Taihen ne. | That’s tough. |
| 残念 / 残念ですね。 | Zannen. / Zannen desu ne. | That’s too bad. |
| しょうがない。/ しょうがないですね。 | Shōganai ne. / Shōganai desu ne. | It can’t be helped. or It is what it is. |
| 本当に？/ 本当ですか？ | Hontō ni? / Hontō desu ka? | Really? |
| どういうこと？/ どういうことですか？ | Dō iu koto? / Dō iu koto desu ka? | What do you mean? |
Japanese phrases to know for plans with friends
There are so many unique things to do in Japan, whether that’s viewing cherry blossoms, going out for traditional Japanese food, or attending Japanese festivals. If you go with friends, your outings will be that much more fun! These phrases will help you make plans, meet up, and say goodbye.
You can arrange to meet on one of the days of the week in Japanese, a specific date, or simply say ashita (tomorrow; 明日).
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| ___は暇？ | ___ wa hima? | Are you free ___? |
| 休みに予定がある？ | Yasumi ni yotei ga aru? | Do you have vacation plans? |
| 今何してる？ | Ima nani shiteru? | What are you doing now? |
| 一緒に何かしたい？ | Issho ni nani ka shitai? | Do you want to do something together? |
| 何が食べたい？ | Nani ga tabetai? | What do you want to eat? |
| *[Plain past tense verb]+ことがある？ | [Plain past tense verb] koto ga aru? | Have you ever [past tense verb] before? |
| 楽しそう！ | Tanoshi sō! | That seems fun! |
| 美味しそう！ | Oishi sō! | That seems tasty! |
| 楽しみ。 | Tanoshimi. | I’m looking forward to it. |
| 待ち合わせ場所は？ | Machiawase basho wa? | Where should we meet? |
| 今向かってる。 | Ima mukatteru. | I’m on my way now. |
| 着いた。 | Tsuita. | I’ve arrived. |
| そろそろ帰る時間ね。 | Sorosoro kaeru jikan ne. | I guess it’s about time to go home. |
| 帰り道、気を付けて。 | Kaeri michi, ki o tsukete. | Be careful on the way home. |
*If you’d like to ask “have you ever ___ before,” you’ll have to use the plain past tense Japanese verb conjugation.
Encouraging Japanese phrases
Scholars classify the Japanese language as a language isolate, meaning it truly is a distinct language. No matter your language background, you’ll need to learn completely different vocabulary and grammar to master Japanese.
Because of this, people are often concerned about how hard it is to learn Japanese. However, as you start talking with Japanese people, you’ll find that most are extremely patient and encouraging!
The main reason Japanese people are especially kind is they empathize with the difficulty of learning a language. Japanese students are mandated to learn English. However, many struggle when they try to apply their skills. So when they see you trying your best with Japanese, they recognize and appreciate the effort! The Japanese values of hospitality and collectivism also foster this encouraging mindset.
From a Western perspective, this culture of affirmation often comes off as cute Japanese words.
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| 大丈夫。/ 大丈夫です。 | Daijōbu. / Daijōbu desu. | It’s ok. |
| 是非！ | Zehi! | By all means, please do! (encouraging you to try something) |
| できる！/ できます！ | Dekiru! / Dekimasu! | You can do it! |
| 頑張って！/ 頑張ってください！ | Ganbatte! / Ganbatte kudasai! | Do your best! |
| 上手！/上手ですね！ | Jōzu! / Jōzu desu ne! | You’re good at that! |
| 真面目。/ 真面目ですね。 | Majime. / Majime desu ne. | You’re hard-working. |
| 凄い！/ 凄いですね！ | Sugoi! / Sugoi desu ne! | Amazing! |
| 可愛い！/ 可愛いですね！ | Kawaii! / Kawaii desu ne! | Cute! |
| 綺麗。/ 綺麗ですね。 | Kirei. / Kirei desu ne. | Pretty. |
| かっこいい。/ かっこいいですね。 | Kakkoii. / Kakkoii desu ne. | Cool. |
| やった！/ やりましたね！ | Yatta! / Yarimashita ne! | You did it! |
| さすが。 | Sasuga. | Just as I’d expect from you. |
| 美味しかった。/ 美味しかったです。 | Oishikatta. / Oishikatta desu. | It was delicious. |
| 楽しかった。/ 楽しかったです。 | Tanoshikatta. / Tanoshikatta desu. | It was fun. |
Polite Japanese phrases
When people visit Japan, they’re often impressed by the polite demeanor of Japanese people. Respect is emphasized in Japanese culture, and as a language learner, it’s essential to learn how to show respect in kind. In addition to Japanese greetings, there are many phrases important for following Japanese social conventions.
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| お願いします。 | Onegai shimasu. | Please. |
| どうも。 | Dōmo. | Thank you. |
| ありがとうございます。 | Arigatō gozaimasu. | Thank you very much. |
| お世話になりました。 | O-sewa ni narimashita. | Thank you for all you’ve done. (used in long-time relationships) |
| すみません。 | Sumimasen. | Excuse me. (general) |
| 失礼します。 | Shitsurei shimasu. | Excuse me. (primarily for entering a room) |
| 失礼しました。 | Shitsurei shimashita. | Excuse me. (primarily for exiting a room) |
| お邪魔します。 | O jama shimasu. | Excuse me, I’m coming in. (when entering someone’s house) |
| どうぞ。 | Dōzo. | Here you are / Go ahead. |
| いただきます。 | Itadakimasu. | Thank you for this food. (said before you start eating) |
| ごちそうさまでした。 | Gochisōsama deshita. | That was delicious. (said after you finish eating) |
| おめでとうございます！ | Omedetō gozaimasu! | Congratulations! |
Phrases used in customer service
You probably won’t say these phrases unless you work in Japan, but they’re common Japanese phrases for service workers. So if you recognize these phrases, you can more smoothly interact!
The wording used by staff at hotels, restaurants, and stores sounds different from what you’ll hear in friendly Japanese conversations. That’s because they’re expected to use special Japanese formal speech broadly referred to as keigo (敬語). There are set rules for keigo, which are important in Japanese culture.
While unique keigo vocabulary words are often a challenge for language learners to remember, their difficulty, length, and the professional image they impart make them cool Japanese words!
When asked for the number of people in your party, you should respond with the Japanese counter for people.
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| いらっしゃいませ！ | Irasshaimase! | Welcome in! (when a customer enters a restaurant / store) |
| お客様 | o-kyaku-sama | customer |
| 恐れ入ります。 | Osoreirimasu. | Excuse me. |
| 申し訳ございません。 | Mōshi wake gozaimasen. | My deepest apologies. |
| 何名様ですか？ | Nanmei-sama desu ka? | How many people in your party? |
| こちらへどうぞ。 | Kochira e dōzo. | This way please. |
| 案内致します。 | Annai itashimasu. | I will guide you. |
| お決まりですか？ | O-kimari desu ka? | Have you decided? |
| かしこまりました。 | Kashikomari mashita. | Understood. |
| 少々お待ち下さい。 | Shōshō o-machi kudasai. | Please wait a moment. |
| お待たせしました、 | O-matase shimashita. | Sorry for the wait. |
| よろしいですか？ | Yoroshii desu ka? | Is that ok? |
| 温めますか？ | Atatame masu ka? | Shall I warm it up for you? |
| お預かりします。 | O-azukari shimasu. | I’ll take care of it. (for physical items) |
Japanese phrases to help with communication
It’s normal for Japanese speakers of any level—even native speakers—to not catch what someone said and need them to repeat or clarify.
You’ll also find that being upfront about your Japanese level tends to make exchanges go more smoothly, as your conversation partner can better accommodate you.
To be more polite, it’s good to preface these Japanese phrases with sumimasen (excuse me; すみません).
| Japanese | Romanization | English |
| 日本語が上手じゃないです。 | Nihongo ga jōzu janai desu. | I’m not good at Japanese. |
| [Length of time]ぐらい日本語を勉強していました。 | [Length of time] gurai nihongo o benkyō shite imashita. | I’ve been studying Japanese for about [length of time]. |
| 分かりません。 | Wakarimasen. | I don’t understand. (when you’re lost in a conversation) |
| ___が分かりません。 | ___ ga wakarimasen. | I don’t understand ___. |
| ___は何ですか？ | ___ wa nan desu ka? | What is ___? |
| ___はどういう意味ですか？ | ___ wa dō iu imi desu ka? | What does ___ mean? |
| ___は日本語で何と言いますか？ | ___ wa nihongo de nan to īmasu ka? | How do you say ___ in Japanese? |
| もう一度。 | Mō ichido. | One more time. |
| ゆっくり言ってください。 | Yukkuri itte kudasai. | Please say it slowly. |
| 易しい日本語で言ってください。 | Yasashī nihongo de itte kudasai. | Please say it in easy Japanese. |
| 聞き取れなかったです。 | Kiki tore nakatta desu. | I didn’t catch what you said. |
| 声が小さいです。 | Koe ga chīsai desu. | Your voice is a bit quiet. |
| 漢字が読めません。 | Kanji ga yomemasen. | I can’t read kanji. |
| 間違えました。 | Machigae mashita. | I made a mistake |
Start using popular Japanese phrases today
These useful Japanese phrases will enable you to handle a variety of common interactions, such as making small talk, arranging fun plans, and following polite Japanese customs.
Being able to have conversations in another language is a uniquely exciting experience! To gain confidence before you take the plunge, you can utilize Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent speech recognition engine feature, which allows you to practice speaking and get pronunciation feedback in a low-pressure environment.