Why Learning Basic Japanese Matters
English is taught in Japanese schools, but conversational fluency remains relatively uncommon outside of major tourist hubs and international hotels. More importantly, making the effort to speak even a few words of Japanese is genuinely appreciated by locals. It signals respect for their culture — and often results in warmer, more helpful interactions.
Pronunciation Basics
Japanese pronunciation is relatively consistent once you grasp the basics:
- Vowels are always pronounced the same: a as in "car", i as in "feet", u as in "zoo", e as in "bed", o as in "more".
- There are no silent letters.
- Stress is generally even across syllables — don't over-emphasise any one part of a word.
Greetings & Politeness
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| おはようございます | Ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning (formal) |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you (formal) |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry |
| はい / いいえ | Hai / Iie | Yes / No |
Phrases for Getting Around
- 〜はどこですか？ (〜wa doko desu ka?) — Where is 〜?
- 駅はどこですか？ (Eki wa doko desu ka?) — Where is the station?
- 〜までいくらですか？ (〜made ikura desu ka?) — How much to 〜?
- 〜に行きたいです。 (〜ni ikitai desu.) — I want to go to 〜.
- 地図を見せてもらえますか？ (Chizu o misete moraemasu ka?) — Can you show me on a map?
Phrases for Restaurants
- これをください。 (Kore o kudasai.) — I'll have this, please. (Point at the menu.)
- おすすめは何ですか？ (Osusume wa nan desu ka?) — What do you recommend?
- お会計をお願いします。 (Okaikei o onegai shimasu.) — The bill, please.
- おいしい！ (Oishii!) — Delicious!
- ベジタリアンです。 (Bejitarian desu.) — I am vegetarian.
Phrases for Shopping
- いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?) — How much is this?
- これをください。 (Kore o kudasai.) — I'll take this.
- 袋は要りません。 (Fukuro wa irimasen.) — I don't need a bag.
- カードで払えますか？ (Kādo de haraemasu ka?) — Can I pay by card?
Emergency Phrases
- 助けてください！ (Tasukete kudasai!) — Help me, please!
- 病院はどこですか？ (Byōin wa doko desu ka?) — Where is the hospital?
- 英語を話せる人はいますか？ (Eigo o hanaseru hito wa imasu ka?) — Is there anyone who speaks English?
A Quick Tip on Politeness
Adding 「〜をお願いします」(〜o onegai shimasu) — meaning "please" — to almost any request will immediately make you sound more polite. Japanese people are generally very patient with tourists who are clearly trying. Even a simple smile and sumimasen will go a long way.