何をしますか? (Nani o shimasu ka?), which means “What will you do?” or “What are you doing?”
“今でしょ!” (Ima desho!), which means “Now, right?!”
“daisuki” (大好き), which means “I love (it/you)” or “I really like (it/you)”
“今ひま” (Ima hima), which means “I’m free right now” or “I have free time now”
“困って” (komatte), which comes from “困る” (komaru), meaning “to be troubled” or “to have a problem.”
“またあとで” (Mata atode), which means “See you later”
“ちょっと” (Chotto) means “a little” or “wait a moment”
ちょっと待って!(Chotto matte!) → “Wait a moment!”
ちょっと暑いね。(Chotto atsui ne.) → “It’s a little hot, huh?”
“それから” (Sore kara) means “And then” or “After that”
“駅で” (Eki de), which means “at the station”
“もっと頑張って” (Motto ganbatte), which means “Do your best!” or “Keep going!”
“日和” (hiyori), which can mean “weather” or “a good day”
“小さいですね” (Chiisai desu ne) means “It’s small, isn’t it?” or “It’s tiny, right?”
“ビンゴ” (Bingo) as in the game
“密” (mitsu), meaning “close” or “dense”
“気ままに” (kimama ni), which means “freely” or “carefreely.”
“何を使いますか?” (Nani o tsukaimasu ka?), which means “What will you use?” or “What are you going to use?”
“高くない” (takakunai) means “not expensive” or “not high”
“行っていますか?” (Itte imasu ka?), which means “Are you going?” or “Are you on your way?”
どこに” (Doko ni) means “Where to?”
石から” (Ishi kara), it could mean “from the stone,”
“六番” (rokuban) means “number six”
“五十円” (gojuuen), which means “50 yen.”
“どこから” (Doko kara) means “From where?”
“入れますか?” (Iremasu ka?), which means “Can I put it in?” or “Can I insert it?
なんと言いますか?” (Nanto iimasu ka?), which means “What do you say?” or “What should I say?”
“あさ” (asa), which means “morning”
“なんと” (Nanto) is a Japanese expression used to mean “What!” or “How!”
“もらえますか?” (Moraemasu ka?), which means “Can I receive it?” or “Can you give it to me?”
“一貫” (issaten), which can mean “a single unit”
“行きます” (ikimasu), which means “I will go” or “I am going”
“南” (Minami) means “south”
“お帰りなさい” (Okaerinasai), which is a polite way to say “Welcome home!”
“右” (migi), which means “right”, and “南” (minami), which means “south”
“すみません” (Sumimasen) “Excuse me”
“女の人は” (Onna no hito wa), which means “The woman” or “The woman (as a topic)”
“会社で” (Kaisha de), which means “at the company” or “at work”
“レジをかける” (Reji o kakeru), that could mean “to ring up (at the cash register)” or “to use the cash register”
Basic Greetings & Responses
こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
おはようございます | Ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning |
こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening |
ありがとう(ございます) | Arigatou (gozaimasu) | Thank you (very much) |
すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / I’m sorry |
はい | Hai | Yes |
いいえ | Iie | No |
Common Questions
これはなんですか? | Kore wa nan desu ka? | What is this? |
どこですか? | Doko desu ka? | Where is it? |
なんじですか? | Nanji desu ka? | What time is it? |
いくらですか? | Ikura desu ka? | How much is it? |
だれですか? | Dare desu ka? | Who is it? |
どうしてですか? | Doushite desu ka? | Why? |
Useful Daily Phrases
わかりました。 | Wakarimashita | I understand / Got it |
もういちどいってください。 | Mou ichido itte kudasai | Please say it again |
ゆっくりおねがいします。 | Yukkuri onegaishimasu | Please speak slowly |
ちょっとまってください。 | Chotto matte kudasai | Please wait a moment |
いってきます。 | Ittekimasu | I’m leaving now |
いってらっしゃい。 | Itterasshai | Take care (reply) |
ただいま。 | Tadaima | I’m home |
おかえりなさい。 | Okaerinasai | Welcome back |
At Shops or Restaurants
これをください。 | Kore o kudasai | I’ll take this, please |
メニューをください。 | Menyuu o kudasai | Please give me a menu |
ちゅうもんおねがいします。 | Chuumon onegaishimasu | I’d like to order, please |
おいしいですね。 | Oishii desu ne | It’s delicious, isn’t it? |
Classroom & Learning
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
しつもんがあります。 | Shitsumon ga arimasu. | I have a question. |
わかりません。 | Wakarimasen. | I don’t understand. |
えいごでなんですか? | Eigo de nan desu ka? | What is it in English? |
にほんごでなんですか? | Nihongo de nan desu ka? | What is it in Japanese? |
はじめましょう。 | Hajimemashou. | Let’s begin. |
おわりましょう。 | Owarimashou. | Let’s finish. |
🔹 Directions & Locations
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
まっすぐいってください。 | Massugu itte kudasai. | Please go straight. |
ひだりにまがってください。 | Hidari ni magatte kudasai. | Please turn left. |
みぎにまがってください。 | Migi ni magatte kudasai. | Please turn right. |
このちかくですか? | Kono chikaku desu ka? | Is it near here? |
トイレはどこですか? | Toire wa doko desu ka? | Where is the restroom? |
🔹 Weather & Time
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
いいてんきですね。 | Ii tenki desu ne. | Nice weather, isn’t it? |
あついですね。 | Atsui desu ne. | It’s hot, isn’t it? |
さむいですね。 | Samui desu ne. | It’s cold, isn’t it? |
なんようびですか? | Nan youbi desu ka? | What day of the week is it? |
いまなんじですか? | Ima nanji desu ka? | What time is it now? |
Family & People
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
おとうさんはどこですか? | Otousan wa doko desu ka? | Where is your father? |
おかあさんもいますか? | Okaasan mo imasu ka? | Is your mother also here? |
いもうとがふたりいます。 | Imouto ga futari imasu. | I have two younger sisters. |
ともだちといきます。 | Tomodachi to ikimasu. | I’m going with a friend. |
このひとはだれですか? | Kono hito wa dare desu ka? | Who is this person? |
🔹 Numbers & Counting
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
ひとつください。 | Hitotsu kudasai. | One, please. |
ふたつあります。 | Futatsu arimasu. | There are two. |
なんにんですか? | Nan-nin desu ka? | How many people? |
さんまいあります。 | San-mai arimasu. | There are three flat things. |
よっつかいました。 | Yottsu kaimashita. | I bought four (items). |
🔹 Daily Routine
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
まいあさ6じにおきます。 | Maiasa rokuji ni okimasu. | I wake up at 6 every morning. |
7じにあさごはんをたべます。 | Shichiji ni asagohan o tabemasu. | I eat breakfast at 7. |
がっこうへいきます。 | Gakkou e ikimasu. | I go to school. |
べんきょうしています。 | Benkyou shiteimasu. | I’m studying. |
よる11じにねます。 | Yoru juuichiji ni nemasu. | I sleep at 11 p.m. |
Transportation & Travel
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
えきはどこですか? | Eki wa doko desu ka? | Where is the station? |
でんしゃにのります。 | Densha ni norimasu. | I ride the train. |
バスをまっています。 | Basu o matteimasu. | I’m waiting for the bus. |
タクシーをよんでください。 | Takushii o yonde kudasai. | Please call a taxi. |
じてんしゃでいきます。 | Jitensha de ikimasu. | I go by bicycle. |
🔹 Shopping Phrases
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
これ、なんえんですか? | Kore, nan en desu ka? | How much is this? |
もっとやすいのはありますか? | Motto yasui no wa arimasu ka? | Do you have a cheaper one? |
これにします。 | Kore ni shimasu. | I’ll take this one. |
カードはつかえますか? | Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? | Can I use a card? |
みせてください。 | Misete kudasai. | Please show me. |
🔹 Health & Feelings
Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
あたまがいたいです。 | Atama ga itai desu. | I have a headache. |
おなかがすきました。 | Onaka ga sukimashita. | I’m hungry. |
つかれました。 | Tsukaremashita. | I’m tired. |
だいじょうぶですか? | Daijoubu desu ka? | Are you okay? |
ねつがあります。 | Netsu ga arimasu. | I have a fever. |