Basic Japanese Phrases
These are complete sentences in the polite form, usable exactly as they are. Ordering in Japanese needs only one pattern, and it is the fourth block down.
Introducing yourself
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私は…です watashi wa … desu
wah-TAH-shee wah … dess
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I am …
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お名前は？ onamae wa?
oh-NAH-mah-eh wah
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What is your name?
Trailing off is polite here, not rude
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…から来ました … kara kimashita
KAH-rah kee-MASH-tah
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I am from …
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日本語を勉強しています nihongo o benkyō shiteimasu
nee-HON-goh oh ben-KYOH shteh-mahs
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I am studying Japanese
When you are stuck
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分かりません wakarimasen
wah-kah-ree-mah-SEN
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I don't understand
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英語を話せますか eigo o hanasemasu ka
AY-goh oh hah-nah-seh-mahs kah
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Do you speak English?
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もう一度お願いします mō ichido onegaishimasu
moh EE-chee-doh oh-neh-guy-shee-mahs
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Once more, please
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ゆっくりお願いします yukkuri onegaishimasu
YOOK-koo-ree oh-neh-guy-shee-mahs
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Slowly, please
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知りません shirimasen
shee-ree-mah-SEN
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I don't know
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日本語で何と言いますか nihongo de nan to iimasu ka
nee-HON-goh deh nahn toh ee-mahs kah
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How do you say it in Japanese?
Out and about
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…はどこですか … wa doko desu ka
wah DOH-koh dess kah
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Where is …?
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トイレはどこですか toire wa doko desu ka
TOY-reh wah DOH-koh dess kah
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Where is the toilet?
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いくらですか ikura desu ka
ee-KOO-rah dess kah
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How much is it?
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お会計お願いします okaikei onegaishimasu
oh-kye-kay oh-neh-guy-shee-mahs
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The bill, please
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助けてください tasukete kudasai
tah-SOO-keh-teh koo-dah-sigh
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Please help me
One pattern orders anything
…をください, o kudasai, means please give me. Put anything in front of it and you have ordered: 水をください, water please. コーヒーを二つください, two coffees please.
That single pattern covers restaurants, shops, ticket machines and market stalls. It is the highest-value sentence shape a beginner can learn.
For something slightly softer, …をお願いします does the same job and sounds a touch more polite.
は, wa, marks the topic of the sentence and is written with the character for ha. …はどこですか is literally as for X, where is it.
- 水をください。Water, please.
- これをお願いします。This one, please, while pointing.
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