🇯🇵 Stuff Every Traveler Should Say in Japanese: Training Guide

Greetings by time of day

Ohayoo gozaimasu is the polite way to say good morning. Use it with hotel staff and people you do not know.

Later in the day, use konnichiwa. In the evening, use konbanwa. Friends can drop gozaimasu, but visitors should keep it.

To ask how someone is, say Ogenki desu ka. It is the polite way to ask if someone is well.

Where are you from

The polite question Dochira kara desu ka means 'Where are you from?' It is more polite than using doko.

Answer with the name of your country plus kara kimashita. For example, Betonamu kara kimashita means 'I came from Vietnam.'

Kara marks the starting point and kimashita means came. Replace Betonamu with your own country, like Amerika.

First meetings and introductions

When you meet someone for the first time, say Hajimemashite. Then say Yoroshiku onegai-shimasu, which asks for a good relationship going forward.

To introduce a friend, say Tomodachi no [name]-san desu. The word no connects the relationship to the name.

When someone says Tadaima, which means 'I am home,' you answer Okaerinasai. That means welcome home.

Polite attention and thanks

Sumimasen is the all-purpose polite word for getting attention. It can mean 'Excuse me' and it can also mean 'I am sorry.'

Arigatoo gozaimasu means 'Thank you very much.' Use it with shop staff, hotel staff, and strangers.

Use sumimasen before a question to get someone's attention politely.

When you do not understand

To ask someone to speak slowly, say Yukkuri hanashite kudasai. Yukkuri means slowly and kudasai makes it a polite request.

To ask someone to say something again, say Sumimasen. Moo ichi-do itte kudasai. Moo ichi-do means one more time.

To say you do not understand, say Sumimasen. Yoku wakarimasen. Yoku makes the phrase sound softer and more polite.

Asking about things

When you point at something and want to know what it is, ask Kore wa nan desu ka. Nan means what.

Use sore for something near the listener and are for something far away. Kore is for something close to you.

Do not confuse nan with doko or ikura. Nan asks what, doko asks where, and ikura asks how much.

Asking permission

To ask permission to take photos, say Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka. The te-form plus mo ii desu ka asks for permission.

Always ask before photographing people, shrines, or museum displays.

If you are not sure, use this question before taking a photo.

Asking where places are

To ask where a place is, start with Sumimasen then say [place] wa doko desu ka. For example, Toire wa doko desu ka means 'Where is the toilet?'

Doko means where. Start with sumimasen to get someone's attention politely.

Use the same pattern for any place. Say the place name, then wa doko desu ka.

Trains and platforms

To ask if a train goes somewhere, say Kono densha wa [place] ni ikimasu ka. Ni marks the destination.

A station worker may answer San-ban-sen desu. Ban means number and sen means line or track, so this means platform number three.

You can use a prepaid IC card to touch in and out at ticket gates. The fare is deducted automatically.

Buses, taxis, and directions

To ask how to get to a place, say [place] made, doo ittara ii desu ka. Made means up to and doo means how.

Direction words are hidari for left, migi for right, and massugu for straight. Magaru means turn.

In a taxi, say your destination followed by made onegai-shimasu. For example, Saru no onsen made onegai-shimasu means 'To the monkey hot spring, please.'

Do not pull the taxi rear door yourself. The driver opens and closes it by remote control.

To say where you are, use [landmark] no mae ni imasu. Kaisatsu no mae ni imasu means 'I am in front of the ticket gate.'

Reading public signs

A sign reading 出口 (deguchi) means exit. The characters mean go out and opening.

The opposite sign is 入口 (iriguchi), which means entrance.

A sign reading お手洗い (otearai) points to the restroom. Toire is another word for restroom.

Asking prices

To ask the price of something, point and say Kono [item] wa ikura desu ka. Ikura means how much.

Point at the item when you ask. Kono means this and shows you mean the thing close to you.

If the price is too high, say Takasugimasu. Takai means expensive and sugimasu adds the meaning of too much.

Counting yen

Some hundreds have sound changes. 300 is sanbyaku, 600 is roppyaku, and 800 is happyaku.

For thousands, sen is 1,000. 3,000 is sanzen, 6,000 is rokusen, and 8,000 is hassen.

Japan has four kinds of paper money: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen notes.

Finding and wanting items

To ask if a shop has something, say [item] wa arimasu ka. Arimasu ka means 'is there' or 'do you have.'

Use this pattern for any item. For example, Chizu wa arimasu ka means 'Do you have a map?'

To say you want a souvenir, use [thing] ga hoshiin desu ga. Hoshiin means want and n desu ga makes the request gentle.

Trying on and asking for a discount

To ask to try on clothes, say Kono fuku, shichaku-shite mo ii desu ka. The te-form plus mo ii desu ka asks permission.

To ask for a small discount, say Moo sukoshi yasuku shite moraemasen ka. Yasuku shite means make cheaper and moraemasen ka is very polite.

Not every shop discounts, so ask kindly and accept the answer.

At the table

Before a meal, say Itadakimasu. It thanks everyone who helped prepare the food.

After a meal, say Gochisoosama deshita to thank the cook and host.

To say the food is delicious, say Oishii desu.

Choosing and ordering food

To ask what the chef recommends, say Osusume wa nan desu ka. Nan means what.

To ask which item is the most popular, say Dore ga ichiban ninki ga arimasu ka. Dore means which one and ichiban means the most.

To ask how to eat something, say Sumimasen. Kore, doo yatte taberun desu ka.

To leave something out, use [food] wa irenaide kudasai. For example, Wasabi wa irenaide kudasai means 'Please don't put wasabi in.' For a drink with no ice, use the same pattern with Koori wa irenaide kudasai, and add hitotsu for one.

To say you cannot eat something, use [food] wa taberaremasen. Nama-tamago wa taberaremasen means 'I cannot eat raw eggs.'

To ask for the check at a restaurant, say Okaikee, onegai-shimasu.

At the hotel

To ask about bath hours, say Ofuro wa nan-ji kara nan-ji made desu ka. Nan-ji means what time, kara means from, and made means until.

To report a problem like a TV not turning on, say Terebi ga tsukanain desu ga. The ending n desu ga explains a problem politely.

To say you do not know the Wi-Fi password, say Waifai no pasuwaado ga wakaranain desu ga.

A washitsu is a Japanese-style room, and a yooshitsu is a Western-style room. Hotel staff may ask which you prefer.

Health and help

To shout for help in an emergency, say Tasukete.

To say your throat hurts, say Nodo ga itain desu.

To say your head hurts and you have a fever, say Atama ga itain desu. Netsu ga arun desu.

If you lose your wallet, say Saifu o otoshite shimaimashita. Otosu means to drop or lose and shimaimashita shows regret.

Go to a kooban, a neighborhood police box, to report a lost item or ask for directions.