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 konnichiwa |
| Good morning | おはようございます ohayou gozaimasu |
| Good evening | こんばんは konbanwa |
| Good night | おやすみなさい oyasumi nasai |
| Goodbye | さようなら sayounara |
| See you later | またね mata ne |
| Please | おねがいします onegai shimasu |
| Thank you | ありがとう arigatou |
| You're welcome | どういたしまして dou itashimashite |
| Yes | はい hai |
| No | いいえ iie |
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみません sumimasen |
| I don't understand | わかりません wakarimasen |
| Do you speak English? | 英語を話せますか eigo o hanasemasu ka |
| My name is... | 私の名前は...です watashi no namae wa ... desu |
| What is your name? | お名前は？ onamae wa? |
| Nice to meet you | はじめまして hajimemashite |
| Where are you from? | どこから来ましたか doko kara kimashita ka |
| How are you? | お元気ですか ogenki desu ka |
| I'm fine, thank you | 元気です、ありがとう genki desu, arigatou |
| How much does this cost? | いくらですか ikura desu ka |
| Where is the bathroom? | トイレはどこですか toire wa doko desu ka |
| Where is the train station? | 駅はどこですか eki wa doko desu ka |
| I need help | 助けが必要です tasuke ga hitsuyou desu |
| Can you help me? | 助けていただけますか tasukete itadakemasu ka |
| I love you | 愛しています aishite imasu |
| Cheers! (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 konnichiwa |
| Good morning | おはようございます ohayou gozaimasu |
| Good evening | こんばんは konbanwa |
| Goodbye | さようなら sayounara |
| Please | おねがいします onegai shimasu |
| Thank you | ありがとう arigatou |
| Yes | はい hai |
| No | いいえ iie |
| Excuse me | すみません sumimasen |
| Welcome | ようこそ youkoso |
Food
| Bread | パン pan |
| Water | 水 mizu |
| Coffee | コーヒー koohii |
| Tea | お茶 ocha |
| Cheese | チーズ chiizu |
| Fruit | 果物 kudamono |
| Vegetables | 野菜 yasai |
| Meat | 肉 niku |
| Fish | 魚 sakana |
| Restaurant | レストラン resutoran |
Travel
| Train | 電車 densha |
| Bus | バス basu |
| Car | 車 kuruma |
| Airplane | 飛行機 hikouki |
| Ticket | 切符 kippu |
| Hotel | ホテル hoteru |
| Passport | パスポート pasupooto |
| Map | 地図 chizu |
| Street | 通り toori |
| Bathroom | トイレ toire |
Numbers
| One | 一 ichi |
| Two | 二 ni |
| Three | 三 san |
| Four | 四 shi |
| Five | 五 go |
| Six | 六 roku |
| Seven | 七 shichi |
| Eight | 八 hachi |
| Nine | 九 kyuu |
| Ten | 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.