When you meet or leave someone

Hello.

Konnichiwa.

Pronounce "n" and "ni" separately. It's like "kon-nichiwa".

Good morning.

Ohay gozaimasu.

The last vowel "u" is not clearly pronounced. It's like "gozaimas".
Informal Style: Ohay.

Good evening.

Konbanwa.

Used at the beginning of the conversation, not at the end.

Good night.

Oyasuminasai.

Informal Style: Oyasumi.

Goodbye.

Saynara.

In general, used when people will not see each other for some time.
Informal Style: Sayonara. (short "o" after y).

See you.

Dewa mata.

See you tomorrow.

Dewa mata ashita.

See you next week.

Dewa mata raish.

dewa: well, now or so

mata: again
When you thank or apologize to someone
Thank you.

Arigat gozaimasu.

Thank you very much.

Dmo arigat gozaimasu.

Thank you. (past)

Arigat gozaimashita.

Thanks.

Dmo.

The last vowel "u" is not pronounced ly. gozaimas(u).

Dmo arigat gozaimasu.: To emphasize.
Arigat gozaimashita.: To thank for something in the past.

Dmo.: To thank for a small favor.

Informal Style: Arigat.

You're welcome.

Ditashimashite.

Don't mention it.

Iie.

Iie. (literally means "No.") also can be used with the rising accent if it's not a big deal.

Excuse me.

Sumimasen.

Yes.

Hai.

Used when you talk to someone, and to apologize for small faults (Sorry.).
Hai. (Yes.) can be used to answer someone's call.

I'm sorry.

Gomennasai.

I'm sorry.

Dmo sumimasen.

Don't be sorry.

Iie.

Dmo sumimasen. is also used. It sounds more polite.

As a response, Iie. can be used if it's not a big deal.
When you start or finish eating
(before eating)

Itadakimasu.

Literally means "I accept (the food)". Used when you start eating as a signal "Let's start".
You can say this to the person who is treating you the meal.

(after eating)

Gochissamadeshita.

Literally means "It was a wonderful feast". Used when you finished eating.
You can say this to thank the person who treated you the meal.
Basic Ruless s a p e r s o n
In general, add "san" after one's family name."san" is like Mr., Mrs., or Miss..
For example, Mr. Tanaka is Tanaka-san. But for foreigners (westerners), people add san after the first names such
as Paul-san or Kate-san.
Except for the close relationships, people address almost anybody with san.
Hello, Mr. Tanaka.

Tanaka-san, konnichiwa.
Yes is "hai". No is "iie".

As shown on the Expressions page, Hai. and Iie. can be used in different contexts.

How are you?

Are you well?

Ogenki desuka?

Yes, I'm well.

Hai, genki desu.

No, I'm not well.

Iie, genki dewa (ja) arimasen..

Yes, I'm very well.

Hai, totemo genki desu.

So so.

Mm desu.

genki: well
"o" in front of genki is a prefix which makes the word more polite.
Genki desu.: I'm well.
Genki dewa (ja) arimasen.: I'm not well.
"ja arimasen" sounds more casual, and is used more in daily conversation.
Informal: Genki?
Understand?
Do you understand?

Wakari masuka?

Yes, I understand.

Hai, wakari masu.

No, I don't understand.

Iie, wakari masen.

I understand a little.

Sukoshi wakari masu.

Do you understand
Japanese?

Nihongo ga wakari masuka?

Do you understand English?

Eigo ga wakari masuka?

wakaru: to understand, to know

Wakari masu.: I understand.
Wakari masen.: I don't understand.
Wakari mashita.: I understood. (I got it. All right.)
[Nihongo] ga wakari masu.: I understand [Japanese].
ga: Particle which comes after the object. Used with the verb "wakaru".
Please. (to request)
Please.

Onegaishimasu.

One more time, please.

Michido onegaishimasu.

Slowly please.

Yukkuri onegaishimasu.

Menu please.

Meny o onegaishimasu.

Used to ask some favor.

[Meny] o onegaishimasu.: [Menu] please.
o: Particle which comes after the object.
Please. (to offer)
Dzo.

Please.

Used to offer something. (Here you are. After you. etc.)

Wait!
One moment, please.

Chotto matte kudasai.

chotto: a little
matte kudasai: Please wait.
Informal: Chotto matte.
What?
What is it?

Nan desuka?

What's this? (in speaker's

hand)

Kore wa nan desuka?

What is it? (in the listener's

hand)

Sore wa nan desuka?

What's that? (in the sky)

Are wa nan desuka?

[Kore] wa nan desuka?: What is [this]?

wa: Particle which comes after the subject.
kore: this (something close to you - the speaker)
sore: it (close to the person you are talking to - the listener)
are: that (some distance away from the both)
nan (nani): what
You will learn more in the lesson 3.
What time?
What time is it?

Nanji desuka?

What time is the

departure?

Shuppatsu wa nanji desuka?

What time is the

arrival?

Tchaku wa nanji desuka?

[Shuppatsu] wa nanji desuka?: What time is [the departure]?

You will learn more in the lesson 4.

Where?
Where is it?

Doko desuka?

Where is the toilet?

Toire wa doko desuka?

[Toire] wa doko desuka?: Where is [the toilet]?

You will learn more in the lesson 5.
Is there...?
Do you have? Is there?

Ari masuka?

Do you have vegetarian

dishes?

Bejitarian ryri wa ari masuka?

Is there an internet cafe?

Intnetto kafe wa ari masuka?

[Bejitarian ryri] wa ari masuka?: Do you have [vegetarian dishes]?

[Intnetto kafe] wa ari masuka?: Is there [an internet cafe]?
You will learn more in the lesson 6.
How much?
How much is it?

Ikura desuka?

How much is a double

room?

Daburu rmu wa ikura desuka?

[Kore] wa ikura desuka?: How much is [this]?

You will learn more in the lesson 7.
Why?
Why is it?

Naze desuka?

Informal: Naze? Dshite? Nande?

You will learn more in the lesson 9.
OK?
Are you all right?

Daijbu desuka?

Yes, I'm all right.

Hai, daijbu desu.

Informal: Daijbu?
You will learn more in the lesson 10.
Basic Rules

The following rules are very simplified. Please note that there are some exceptions.
Wo rd O rd e r
Usually, the subject is placed at the beginning, and the verb at the end of the sentence.
Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu.

I / Japanese / understand

The subject (sometimes the object too) of the sentence is usually omitted when it can be
clearly known from the context.
(Anata wa) eigo ga wakari masuka?

Do (you) understand English?

Particles (joshi in Japanese) are usually attached after a word to indicate the function of
that word.
For example, "wa" in the following sentence indicates that "watashi (I)" is a subject, and
"ga" indicates that "Nihongo (Japanese)" is an object of the verb "wakarimasu
(understand)".
Particles

Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu.

I understand Japanese.

Each particle has different functions and meanings. And some are used with the particular
verbs.
When you are not sure which particle should be used, you can try to say without it like
"Watashi, Nihongo, Wakarimasu.". In most cases, people will understand if the word order is
correct.
S e n t e n c e Fo rm s
You can easily make different forms by changing the end of the sentence. Word order stays
the same.

Affi rmative
Affirmative sentences normally end with "desu" or "masu".

You can assume that the sentences with the verb "be" (am, is, are...) end with "desu". And
the sentences with other verbs end with "masu".
Genki desu.

I am well.

Wakari masu.

I understand.

Negative
Change "desu" into "dewa arimasen" or "ja arimasen". "ja" sounds more casual, and is
used more often in daily conversation.
Change "masu" into "masen".

Genki dewa (ja) arimasen.

I am not well.

Wakari masen.

I don't understand.

Question (Interrogative)
To make a question sentence, add "ka" at the end of the sentence.
This "ka" is pronounced with a rising intonation.
(O) Genki desuka?

Are you well?

Genki dewa (ja) arimasenka?

Aren't you well?

Wakari masuka?

Do you understand?

Wakari masenka?

Don't you understand?