Useful Japanese Words and Phrases

Pronunciation of vowels in Japanese is similar to Italian or Spanish. All vowels and consonants are pronounced. Vowel sounds are as follows:

• a = short “o” as in pop, copy, stop, top
• e = short “e” as in step, bed, tread, wed
• i = long “ee” as in keep, meet, fleet
• o = long “o” as in store, more, core
• u = “oo” as in blue, true, sue, glue

*”No” is considered a very harsh response to the Japanese; avoid it whenever you can. To get around s

English		Japanese
Yes		Hai
No*		Ie
Good Morning		Ohayo gozaimasu
Good Afternoon		Konnichi wa
Good Evening		Konban wa
Goodbye		Sayonara
Thank you		Arigato gozaimasu
Please		Onegai shimasu
Where is the bus station?		Basu no eki wa doko desu ka?
Where is the train station?		Densha no eki wa doko desu ka?
Where is the bathroom (toilet)?		Toire wa doko desu ka?
Nice to meet you.		Hajimemashite
I don’t understand.		Wakarimasen
I don’t speak Japanese.		Watashi wa nihongo o hanashimasen
My name is ______.		Watashi no namae wa _____ desu.

aying “no,” Japanese use negative forms of verbs or say “chigaimasu,” which literally translates as “different.” When in doubt, just shake your head as you would in North America to indicate “no.”

Counting in Japanese

English Japanese English Japanese one ichi six roku two ni seven nana (shichi) three san eight hachi four shi nine ku five go ten ju