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Essential Japanese phrases
for travellers (printable)
how to say hello in japanese
こんにちは — kon-nee-chee-wah — is how you say hello in Japanese. It works at any hour, anywhere the language is spoken, with anyone. Pair it with ありがとうございます (ah-ree-gah-toh go-zah-ee-mahs) for thank you and you already have the two words you will use most.
Below are 36 phrases worth knowing before you land, grouped by the situation you will need them in. Every one has a plain-English respelling — even stress, so no capitals — because IPA is no use to anyone standing at a pharmacy counter. Japan, and essentially nowhere else — about 125 million speakers, with famously little English signage once you leave the big stations. Which is exactly why the phrases below earn their keep. Also searched as Japan, Nihongo.
take it with you
The whole card, on one page
All 36 phrases on a single sheet — print it, fold it into a passport, or keep it on your phone. Free, no signup, no watermark.
The essentials
The six words that carry most of a trip.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Hello | こんにちはkon-nee-chee-wahDaytime. Mornings are おはようございます (o-hah-yoh go-zah-ee-mahs). |
| Goodbye | さようならsah-yoh-nah-rahQuite final. Leaving a shop, ありがとうございます works better. |
| Please | お願いしますo-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahs |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますah-ree-gah-toh go-zah-ee-mahs |
| Yes / No | はい / いいえhah-ee / ee-eh |
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsoo-mee-mah-senAlso how you get a waiter’s attention. |
Getting by
What to say when the conversation outruns you.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | 英語を話せますかay-goh o hah-nah-seh-mahs-kah |
| I don't understand | わかりませんwah-kah-ree-mah-sen |
| Could you repeat that? | もう一度お願いしますmoh ee-chee-doh o-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahs |
| Please speak slowly | ゆっくり話してくださいyoo-koo-ree hah-nah-shee-teh koo-dah-sah-ee |
| My name is… | 私は…ですwah-tah-shee wah … dehs |
| Nice to meet you | はじめましてhah-jee-meh-mah-shee-teh |
Getting around
Streets, stations and the one question everyone needs.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | …はどこですか… wah doh-koh dehs-kah |
| How do I get to…? | …へはどう行きますか… eh wah doh ee-kee-mahs-kah |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですかtoy-reh wah doh-koh dehs-kah |
| Left / Right | 左 / 右hee-dah-ree / mee-gee |
| Straight ahead | まっすぐmahs-soo-goo |
| Is it far? | 遠いですかtoh-ee dehs-kah |
Food and drink
Ordering, allergies, and asking for the bill.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please | 二人ですfoo-tah-ree dehsLiterally "two people" — what you say at the door. |
| The menu, please | メニューをお願いしますmeh-nyoo o o-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahs |
| I would like… | …をください… o koo-dah-sah-ee |
| Water, please | お水をくださいo-mee-zoo o koo-dah-sah-ee |
| I am allergic to… | …アレルギーです… ah-reh-roo-gee dehs |
| The bill, please | お会計をお願いしますo-kah-ee-kay o o-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahs |
Shopping and money
Prices, cards, and politely not buying anything.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | いくらですかee-koo-rah dehs-kah |
| That's too expensive | 高すぎますtah-kah-soo-gee-mahs |
| Do you take cards? | カードは使えますかkah-doh wah tsoo-kah-eh-mahs-kah |
| I am just looking | 見ているだけですmee-teh ee-roo dah-keh dehs |
| Do you have…? | …はありますか… wah ah-ree-mahs-kah |
| A receipt, please | レシートをくださいreh-shee-toh o koo-dah-sah-ee |
Emergencies
Worth reading once before you need them.
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Help! | 助けてtahs-keh-teh |
| Call the police | 警察を呼んでくださいkay-sahts o yon-deh koo-dah-sah-ee |
| Call an ambulance | 救急車を呼んでくださいkyoo-kyoo-shah o yon-deh koo-dah-sah-ee |
| I need a doctor | 医者が必要ですee-shah gah hee-tsoo-yoh dehs |
| I am lost | 道に迷いましたmee-chee nee mah-yoh-ee-mah-shee-tah |
| Where is the hospital? | 病院はどこですかbyoh-een wah doh-koh dehs-kah |
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Four things that fix
most of the accent
Every syllable gets equal weight
Japanese has no stressed syllable the way English does — it uses pitch instead. Say each beat evenly and you will sound far closer than if you punch one syllable. That is why the respellings below have no capitals.
The final "u" usually disappears
です is "dehs", not "deh-soo". ます is "mahs". Sounding out that last vowel is the single most obvious foreign-accent tell.
R is a tap, somewhere between R, L and D
Flick the tip of your tongue once against the ridge behind your teeth. An English R is understood fine — nobody will be confused.
は is written "ha" but said "wa"
When it marks the topic of a sentence — as in 私は or トイレは — it is pronounced "wa". Everywhere else it is "ha".
Spotted a mistake in the Japanese? Tell us and we will fix it.
You will not remember
all 36
Nobody does. OmniTalk speaks Japanese for you in real time — point the camera at a menu, or put the phone between you and let it translate both sides of the conversation as you talk. It works offline once you download the language, so it keeps going when your roaming does not.