Japanese · Japan
Japanese travel phrases
These Japanese travel phrases use the polite desu and masu forms, which are right for shops, stations, hotels and anyone you don't know. Japanese mixes three scripts: kanji, hiragana, and katakana for foreign words such as hoteru, “hotel”. Each phrase has Hepburn romanization, where a line over a vowel means you hold it a little longer, and a pronunciation guide for English speakers. Learn sumimasen first: it gets attention, says sorry and even says thanks. Shops greet you with irasshaimase, and bargaining is unusual outside markets.
Each phrase shows the English, the Japanese, a romanization and, in bold, a pronunciation guide written for English speakers.
Essentials
-
Yes
はい
Hai
HIGH
-
No
いいえ
Iie
EE-eh
Often softened in practice — "chotto…" implies no.
-
Please
お願いします
Onegai shimasu
oh-neh-GUY shee-mahss
-
Thank you
ありがとうございます
Arigatō gozaimasu
ah-ree-GAH-toh goh-zah-ee-mahss
-
Do you speak English?
英語を話せますか
Eigo o hanasemasu ka
AY-goh oh hah-nah-seh-mahss kah
-
I don't understand
わかりません
Wakarimasen
wah-kah-ree-mah-SEN
-
Please speak slowly
ゆっくり話してください
Yukkuri hanashite kudasai
yook-KOO-ree hah-NAHSH-teh koo-dah-sigh
-
How much does it cost?
いくらですか
Ikura desu ka
EE-koo-rah dess kah
-
Where is the bathroom?
トイレはどこですか
Toire wa doko desu ka
TOY-reh wah DOH-koh dess kah
Greetings
-
Hello
こんにちは
Konnichiwa
kohn-NEE-chee-wah
-
Good morning
おはようございます
Ohayō gozaimasu
oh-hah-YOH goh-zah-ee-mahss
With friends, just "ohayō".
-
Goodbye
さようなら
Sayōnara
sah-YOH-nah-rah
Somewhat final; friends usually say "jā ne".
-
How are you?
お元気ですか
O-genki desu ka
oh-GEN-kee dess kah
Used after time apart, not as a daily hello.
-
Nice to meet you
はじめまして
Hajimemashite
hah-jee-meh-MAHSH-teh
Courtesy
-
Excuse me
すみません
Sumimasen
soo-mee-mah-SEN
Also works as a light apology or thanks.
-
I'm sorry
ごめんなさい
Gomen nasai
goh-men nah-SIGH
-
You're welcome.
どういたしまして。
Dō itashimashite.
DOH ee-tah-shee-mahsh-TEH
-
Cheers!
乾杯！
Kanpai!
kahm-PIE
Restaurants
-
A table for two, please.
二人ですが、席はありますか。
Futari desu ga, seki wa arimasu ka.
foo-TAH-ree dess gah, SEH-kee wah ah-ree-MAHSS kah
-
Do you have a menu in English?
英語のメニューはありますか。
Eigo no menyū wa arimasu ka.
AY-goh noh MEN-yoo wah ah-ree-MAHSS kah
-
I'll have this, please.
これをください。
Kore o kudasai.
KOH-reh oh koo-dah-sigh
-
Water, please
お水をください
O-mizu o kudasai
oh-MEE-zoo oh koo-dah-sigh
-
The check, please
お会計お願いします
O-kaikei onegai shimasu
oh-KIGH-kay oh-neh-GUY shee-mahss
-
Can I pay by card?
カードは使えますか。
Kādo wa tsukaemasu ka.
KAH-doh wah tsoo-kah-eh-MAHSS kah
Directions
-
How do I get to the station?
駅へはどう行きますか。
Eki e wa dō ikimasu ka.
EH-kee eh wah doh ee-kee-MAHSS kah
-
Is it far from here?
ここから遠いですか。
Koko kara tōi desu ka.
KOH-koh KAH-rah TOH-ee dess kah
-
Can I walk there?
歩いて行けますか。
Aruite ikemasu ka.
ah-ROO-ee-teh ee-keh-MAHSS kah
Getting Understood
-
I only speak a little.
少しだけ話せます。
Sukoshi dake hanasemasu.
soo-KOH-shee DAH-keh hah-nah-seh-MAHSS
-
Could you say that again, please?
もう一度お願いします。
Mō ichido onegai shimasu.
moh EE-chee-doh oh-neh-guy shee-MAHSS
-
Could you write it down, please?
書いていただけますか。
Kaite itadakemasu ka.
KY-teh ee-tah-dah-keh-MAHSS kah
Time & Opening Hours
-
What time do you open?
何時に開きますか。
Nanji ni akimasu ka.
NAHN-jee nee ah-kee-MAHSS kah
-
What time do you close?
何時に閉まりますか。
Nanji ni shimarimasu ka.
NAHN-jee nee shee-mah-ree-MAHSS kah
Transport & Tickets
-
One ticket, please.
切符を一枚ください。
Kippu o ichimai kudasai.
KEEP-poo oh EE-chee-my koo-dah-sigh
-
Which platform?
何番ホームですか。
Nanban hōmu desu ka.
NAHN-bahn HOH-moo dess kah
-
Does this go to the airport?
これは空港へ行きますか。
Kore wa kūkō e ikimasu ka.
KOH-reh wah KOO-koh eh ee-kee-MAHSS kah
-
Stop here, please.
ここで止めてください。
Koko de tomete kudasai.
KOH-koh deh toh-MEH-teh koo-dah-sigh
Hotels & Lodging
-
I have a reservation.
予約しています。
Yoyaku shite imasu.
yoh-YAH-koo shee-teh ee-MAHSS
-
What time is check-out?
チェックアウトは何時ですか。
Chekkuauto wa nanji desu ka.
chek-koo-OW-toh wah NAHN-jee dess kah
-
Could I leave my bags here?
荷物を預かっていただけますか。
Nimotsu o azukatte itadakemasu ka.
nee-MOH-tsoo oh ah-zoo-KAHT-teh ee-tah-dah-keh-MAHSS kah
Airport & Border
-
I'm here on holiday.
観光で来ました。
Kankō de kimashita.
KAHN-koh deh kee-MAHSH-tah
-
Where is baggage claim?
手荷物受取所はどこですか。
Tenimotsu uketorijo wa doko desu ka.
teh-NEE-moh-tsoo oo-keh-toh-REE-joh wah DOH-koh dess kah
Shopping & Money
-
I'm just looking, thank you.
見ているだけです。
Mite iru dake desu.
MEE-teh ee-roo DAH-keh dess
-
That's too expensive.
高すぎます。
Takasugimasu.
tah-kah-soo-ghee-MAHSS
-
Could I have a receipt, please?
レシートをください。
Reshīto o kudasai.
reh-SHEE-toh oh koo-dah-sigh
Wi-Fi & Phone
-
Is there Wi-Fi here?
ここにWi-Fiはありますか。
Koko ni Wi-Fi wa arimasu ka.
KOH-koh nee WY-fy wah ah-ree-MAHSS kah
-
I'd like a SIM card with data.
データ付きのSIMカードをください。
Dēta tsuki no SIM kādo o kudasai.
DAY-tah TSOO-kee noh SEEM KAH-doh oh koo-dah-sigh
What you'll hear
Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.
-
Passport, please.
パスポートをお願いします。
Pasupōto o onegai shimasu.
pahs-POH-toh oh oh-neh-guy shee-MAHSS
-
How long will you be staying?
滞在期間はどのくらいですか。
Taizai kikan wa dono kurai desu ka.
tye-ZYE kee-KAHN wah DOH-noh koo-rye dess kah
-
For how many people?
何名様ですか。
Nanmeisama desu ka.
NAHN-may-sah-mah dess kah
-
Are you ready to order?
ご注文はお決まりですか。
Gochūmon wa okimari desu ka.
goh-CHOO-mon wah oh-kee-MAH-ree dess kah
-
Cash or card?
現金ですか、カードですか。
Genkin desu ka, kādo desu ka.
GEN-kin dess kah, KAH-doh dess kah
-
Go straight ahead.
まっすぐ行ってください。
Massugu itte kudasai.
MAHS-soo-goo IT-teh koo-dah-sigh
-
Turn left.
左に曲がってください。
Hidari ni magatte kudasai.
hee-DAH-ree nee mah-GAHT-teh koo-dah-sigh
-
Turn right.
右に曲がってください。
Migi ni magatte kudasai.
MEE-ghee nee mah-GAHT-teh koo-dah-sigh
Hear every phrase in the app.
Crossing has these phrases and hundreds more in 16 languages, side by side, with audio and the replies you're likely to hear back. Compare two languages free, or up to five with Premium.
Free to download, with an optional Premium subscription. Email us and we'll write once, when it's out.
Meeting People
My name is…
私は…です
Watashi wa … desu
wah-TAH-shee wah … dess
Formal
Your name goes in the middle: Watashi wa Ana desu.
Where are you from?
どちらからですか。
Dochira kara desu ka.
DOH-chee-rah KAH-rah dess kah
Formal