# Japanese (日本語)

Updated October 9, 2026
Your free starter guide to Japanese (日本語). About 125 million speakers, almost all in Japan. Master 30 essential phrases, 40 core words, and the sounds that matter most.

Japanese is spoken by about 125 million people, almost all in Japan. Its grammar is very different from English, but pronunciation is simple: five pure vowels and even, steady syllables. Below you will find everyday phrases in Japanese script with romaji (Latin letters) so you can start speaking right away, plus the core vocabulary every visitor needs.

## At a glance

**Speakers:** About 125 million speakers, almost all in Japan
**Where it is spoken:** Japan, with communities in Brazil, the United States, and elsewhere

## 30 essential phrases

  Hello**こんにちは**
konnichiwaGood morning**おはようございます**
ohayou gozaimasuGood evening**こんばんは**
konbanwaGood night**おやすみなさい**
oyasumi nasaiGoodbye**さようなら**
sayounaraSee you later**またね**
mata nePlease**おねがいします**
onegai shimasuThank you**ありがとう**
arigatouYou're welcome**どういたしまして**
dou itashimashiteYes**はい**
haiNo**いいえ**
iieExcuse me / Sorry**すみません**
sumimasenI don't understand**わかりません**
wakarimasenDo you speak English?**英語を話せますか**
eigo o hanasemasu kaMy name is...**私の名前は...です**
watashi no namae wa ... desuWhat is your name?**お名前は？**
onamae wa?Nice to meet you**はじめまして**
hajimemashiteWhere are you from?**どこから来ましたか**
doko kara kimashita kaHow are you?**お元気ですか**
ogenki desu kaI'm fine, thank you**元気です、ありがとう**
genki desu, arigatouHow much does this cost?**いくらですか**
ikura desu kaWhere is the bathroom?**トイレはどこですか**
toire wa doko desu kaWhere is the train station?**駅はどこですか**
eki wa doko desu kaI need help**助けが必要です**
tasuke ga hitsuyou desuCan you help me?**助けていただけますか**
tasukete itadakemasu kaI love you**愛しています**
aishite imasuCheers! (a toast)**乾杯！**
kanpai!Good luck!**がんばって！**
ganbatte!Congratulations!**おめでとう！**
omedetou!Welcome!**ようこそ！**
youkoso!

## Core vocabulary

### Greetings
Hello / Hi**こんにちは**
konnichiwaGood morning**おはようございます**
ohayou gozaimasuGood evening**こんばんは**
konbanwaGoodbye**さようなら**
sayounaraPlease**おねがいします**
onegai shimasuThank you**ありがとう**
arigatouYes**はい**
haiNo**いいえ**
iieExcuse me**すみません**
sumimasenWelcome**ようこそ**
youkoso

### Food
Bread**パン**
panWater**水**
mizuCoffee**コーヒー**
koohiiTea**お茶**
ochaCheese**チーズ**
chiizuFruit**果物**
kudamonoVegetables**野菜**
yasaiMeat**肉**
nikuFish**魚**
sakanaRestaurant**レストラン**
resutoran

### Travel
Train**電車**
denshaBus**バス**
basuCar**車**
kurumaAirplane**飛行機**
hikoukiTicket**切符**
kippuHotel**ホテル**
hoteruPassport**パスポート**
pasupootoMap**地図**
chizuStreet**通り**
tooriBathroom**トイレ**
toire

### Numbers
One**一**
ichiTwo**二**
niThree**三**
sanFour**四**
shiFive**五**
goSix**六**
rokuSeven**七**
shichiEight**八**
hachiNine**九**
kyuuTen**十**
juu

## Pronunciation tips

- Japanese has only five vowel sounds (a, i, u, e, o), always pure. 'Sushi' is soo-shee with short, even syllables.
- Every syllable gets equal time: 'Tokyo' is four beats (to-u-kyo-u), not the English two. Clap the rhythm as you speak.
- The Japanese R is a quick tap between English R, L and D: 'ramen' starts with the tongue tapping behind the teeth.
- Pitch accent matters: 'hashi' can mean bridge, chopsticks, or edge depending on pitch. Listen to native speakers and copy them.
- Long vowels change meaning: 'obasan' (aunt) versus 'obaasan' (grandmother). Hold doubled vowels twice as long.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Japanese hard to learn?

The Foreign Service Institute calls it one of the hardest for English speakers, but that is mostly the writing system. Spoken Japanese is very regular: simple sounds, no tones, and polite phrases that work everywhere. Start speaking first and add reading later.

### Should I learn hiragana, katakana, or kanji first?

Hiragana first: it writes all native words and grammar endings. Then katakana for foreign words. Then kanji gradually, starting with numbers and days of the week. Romaji (Latin letters) is training wheels: drop it as soon as you can.

### What is the difference between 'konnichiwa' and 'konbanwa'?

Time of day: 'ohayou gozaimasu' until about 10am, 'konnichiwa' during the day, 'konbanwa' in the evening. 'Sayounara' sounds final to Japanese ears; friends say 'ja ne' or 'mata ne' instead.

### Do I need to bow?

A small nod with your greeting is plenty for a learner. Bowing depth matches formality, but nobody expects a beginner to get it perfect. The effort is what counts.