BASIC INFO - Vocabulary
Hai (はい): Yes Iie(いいえ): No
Namae wa nan desu ka ( 名前はなんですか): What is your name?
Watashi wa ~ desu ( 私は〜です): I am ~
~kara Kimashita ( ~から来ました): I came from~/ I am from~
Kore wa nan desu ka (これは何ですか): What is this?
Ikura desu ka ( いくらですか）How much?
Kore kudasai ( これください): Can I get this one? / I will take this one
Onegaishimas (おねがいします): Please
Chumon onegashimas (注文お願いします): Can I place an order?
Mizu o onegaishimas (水をお願いします): Water please
Okaikee onegaishimas (お会計お願いします): Can I get the check/bill please (in a restaurant)
Koko wa Doko desu ka (ここはどこですか): Where am I?
Toire wa doko desu ka (トイレはどこですか): Where is the bathroom?
Eki wa doko desu ka (駅はどこですか): Where is the train station?
Ima nan ji desu ka (今何時ですか) : What time is it now?
Wakarimasen (わかりません): I don’t understand
Nihongo wo hanasemasen (日本語を話せません): I can’t speak Japanese
Greetings
Japanese people greet each other by bowing, which shows respect, care, and gratitude.
Knowing the basic Japanese words that accompany a bow when you greet someone are also
essential in Japanese culture.
Ohayoo gozaimasu (おはようございます): Good morning
This phrase is only used in Japanese if you wake before 11 am. If you want to say it casually,
you can simply say “Ohayo” and drop the formal expression “gozaimasu.”
Kon’nichiwa (こんにちは) : Good Afternoon
Often mistaken to mean “Hello,” this Japanese phrase only means “Good afternoon”. So, make
sure you only use it in the daytime.
Konbanwa (こんばんは): Good evening -To be used from late afternoon (around 5pm) into the
evening hours.
Arigatoo Gozaimas (ありがとうございます): Thank you
If you want to say thank you more casually, you can simply say “Arigato”. Dropping the formal
expression “gozaimas” is more common.
Sumimasen (すみません): Excuse me/ I am sorry
This is a handy basic Japanese phrase because it works in all situations. You can use it to get a
waiter’s attention at a restaurant, ask for help when you get lost, or say sorry formally.
People occasionally say Sumimasen when someone else did them a favor, replacing Arigato
(Thank you). This is seen as a different way to be respectful and polite to the person who
helped you.
People/ Pronouns
One of the trickiest parts of learning basic Japanese words is understanding the way Japanese
speakers use pronouns. Unlike in most languages, Japanese speakers usually avoid using
pronouns in conversations where it’s obvious who they are referring to. Instead, they use the
person’s name, family role, or social role to refer to them.
In Japanese culture, it’s considered rude to address someone without using their name.
Therefore, it’s common to never use “you,” “he,” or “she” if you already know the person’s
name.
Watashi/ Boku/Ore (私、僕、俺): I
Tomodachi(友達): Friend
Do-ryoo(同僚): Co-worker
Buchoo/Syachoo(部長、社長): Boss / President (of a company)
Kazoku(家族): Family
Otoo-san(お父さん): Father
Okaa-san(お母さん): Mother
Oni-san(お兄さん): Older brother
Onee-san(お姉さん): Older sister
Otooto(弟): Younger brother
Imooto(妹): Younger sister
Otona (大人): Adults
Kodomo (子供): Children
Kareshi (彼氏): Boyfriend
Kanojo(彼女): Girlfriend
Otoko-no-hito(男の人): Man
Onna-no-hito(女の人): Woman
Food and drink
Japan has an incredible food culture and history. The capital, Tokyo, is the most Michelin-starred
city in the world. Japanese people enjoy a rich variety of Washoku ( 和食: Traditional Japanese
food) and Yoshoku (洋食: Japanese food inspired by Western food). Here are some basic words in
Japanese that relate to food and drink:
Asa-gohan (朝ご飯): Breakfast
Hiru-gohan (昼ご飯): Lunch
Yoru-gohan (夜ご飯): Dinner
Gohan ( ご飯): Rice/Meal
Pan (パン): Bread
Niku (肉): Meat
Sakana (魚): Fish
Yasai (野菜): Vegetables
Kudamono (果物): Fruits
Suupu (スープ): Soup
Sarada (サラダ): Salad
Tamago (卵): Egg
Gyuu-Nyuu (牛乳): Milk
Chee-zu (チーズ): Cheese
Dezaato (デザート): Dessert
Mizu (水): Water
Ocha (お茶): Green tea, Tea in general
Koohii (コーヒー): Coffee
Osake (お酒): Sake, Alcohol in general
Wain (ワイン): Wine
Biiru (ビール): Beer
Numbers
Time
Days of the week
Sunday: 日曜日(Nichiyoobi)
Monday: 月曜日 (Getsuyoobi)
Tuesday: 火曜日 (Kayoobi)
Wednesday: 水曜日 (Suiyoobi)
Thursday: 木曜日 (Mokuyoobi)
Friday: 金曜日 (Kinyoobi)
Saturday: 土曜日 (Doyoobi)
Months of the year
January: 一月 (Ichigatsu)
February: 二月 (Nigatsu)
March: 三月 (Sangatsu)
April: 四月 (Shigatsu)
May: 五月 (Gogatsu)
June: 六月 (Rokugatsu)
July: 七月 (Shichigatsu)
August: 八月 (Hachigatsu)
September: 九月 (Kugatsu)
October: 十月 (Juugatsu)
November: 十一月 (Juuichigatsu)
December: 十二月 (Juunigatsu)
Today: 今日(Kyoo)
Yestetday: 昨日(Kinoo)
Tomorrow: 明日(Ashita)
This week: 今週(Konshuu)
Last week: 先週(Senshuu)
Next week: 来週(Raishuu)
This month: 今月(Kongetsu)
Last month: 先月(Sengetsu)
Next month: 来月(Raigetsu)
This year: 今年 (Kotoshi)
Last year: 去年 (Kyonen)
Next year: 来年 (Rainen)
Places
In Japan, you will travel with different types of transportation: train, subway, bus, and
Shinkansen (bullet train). Many stations have multiple lines to connect to other stations, so
understanding basic Japanese phrases around transport and places is vital.
Eki (駅): Station
Byouin (病院): Hospital
Ryougae (両替): Money Exchange
Ginkou (銀行): Bank
Keisatsusho (警察署):Police Station
Yubinkyoku (郵便局): Post office
Konbini (コンビニ): Convenience store
Pan ya (パン屋): Bakery
Mise (店): Store/Shop
Supaa(スーパー): Grocery store
Kuukou (空港): Airport
Bas-tei(バス停): Bus stop
Minato (港): Port
Jinja (神社): Shrine
Otera(お寺): Temple
Machi (町): Town
Hoteru (ホテル): Hotel
Uketsuke (受付): Reception
Essential Verbs
Taberu (食べる): to eat
Iku (行く): to go
Nomu(飲む): to drink
Kiku (聞く): to listen, hear
Yomu (読む): to read
Miru ( 見る): to see, look, and watch
Neru (寝る): to sleep
Okiru (起きる): to wake up
Hanasu (話す): to talk, speak
Kaeru (帰る): to return, go back
Suwaru ( 座る): to sit down
Tatsu (立つ): to stand up
Oyogu (泳ぐ): to swim
Asobu ( 遊ぶ): to play
Noru (乗る): to ride
Kau (買う): to buy
Au(会う): to meet
Kaku(書く): to write
Matsu (待つ): to wait
Toru (撮る): to take a picture
