With Japan finally re-open for tourism. now is the perfect time to start learning Japanese and getting those all important travel phrases under your belt. Survival language can really make a difference when you’re abroad and lead to a smoother, more fun experience. Here are a few basic phrases and pieces of vocabulary that we know will come in really handy when you visit Japan.

 

 

Konnichiwa | こんにちは | Hello

Arigatou gozaimasu | ありがとうございます | Thank you

Sumimasen | すみません | Excuse me

__ o kudasai | __をください | I would like __, please.

Kore wa ikura desu ka? | これはいくらですか | How much does this cost?

 

 

Kippu | 切符 (きっぷ) | Ticket

Hitori / futari / sannin / yonin desu | ひとり / ふたり / さんにん / よにんです | I’m solo / We’re two / three / four people.

Shinkansen | 新幹線 (しんかんせん) | Bullet train

(Koko) ni ikitai desu | (ここ)にいきたいです | I want to go… (here)

Kono basu wa … ni ikimasu ka | このバスは …に いきますか | Does this bus go to…?

Chikatetsu | 地下鉄 (ちかてつ) | The tube/metro

Denshya no eki | 電車の駅 (でんしゃの えき) | The train station

Basutei | バス停 (バスてい) | Bus stop

Deguchi | 出口 (でぐち) | The exit

Iriguchi | 入口 (いりぐち) | The entrance

 

 

Hitori / futari / sannin / yonin you no teeburu o onegai shimasu | ひとり / ふたり / さんにん / よにん ようの てーぶるを おねがします | A table for (one, two, three, four people), please.

Menyuu o onegai shimasu | メニューをおねがいします | Could I have a menu please?

Kore o (hitotsu, futatsu) onegai shimasu |これを ひとつ / ふたつ おねがいします | Can I please have one / two of this?

Coohii | コーヒー| Coffee

Mizu | 水 (みず) | Water

Wain | ワイン | Wine

Beeru | ビール | Beer

Itadakimasu | いただきます | An expression of gratitude for the meal you’re about to eat, a bit like ‘thank you for this delicious looking meal & bon appetit’.

Toire wa doko desu ka? | トイレはどこですか | Where is the toilet?

Okanjyou o onegai shimasu | おかんじょうを おねがいします | Could I have the bill please?

 

 

Learn more Japanese with our online and face-to-face language courses and get even more prepared for your future trip to Japan. Find out more here.