Essential Japanese Phrases for Travelers

Japanese writing uses three types of characters: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. These can be challenging to read. However, learning simple greetings and useful phrases can enhance your trip. By connecting with locals, you'll enrich your cultural experience. You will notice many English signs and writing, which is very helpful. English is definitely available for any transportation signs.

You won’t need to know any Japanese writing, but it is useful to understand what they are for. Hiragana has 46 symbols and is useful for children and used in sentence structures. For example, こんにちは (konnichiwa) means "hello." Most Hiragana characters have a 2-letter sound, like くま (kuma), which means "bear."

Katakana is similar to Hiragana but is used for foreign words that do not have a Japanese sound. It also has 46 symbols. For instance, トイレ (Toire) means "toilet." Many Japanese foreign words are shortened and used in the same manner as English.

The last type is Kanji. These are Chinese characters used for nouns (things, places). For example, 病院 (Byouin) means "hospital," and 名前 (namae) means "name." This writing system is very complex and takes many years to learn.

In this blog, I'll explore key phrases that make navigating Japan easier, whether you're dining out or sightseeing.

Common Greetings in Japanese

Basic Greetings

• こんにちは (konnichiwa) - Hello & Good afternoon. This is used mainly during the daytime and afternoon.

• おはようございます (ohayo gozaimasu) - Good morning.

• こんばんは (konbanwa) - Good evening. This is used in the evening.

  
  

In Japan, people hardly ask “how are you?” unless they know the person very well. It is better to use the above general greetings like おはようございます, こんにちは, and こんばんは. People usually reciprocate and say it back.

Farewells and Responses

• さようなら (sayounara) - Goodbye.

• はい (hai) - Yes.

• いいえ (iie) - No (pronounced e-eh).

• ありがとうございます (arigato gozaimasu) - Thank you. Just saying "Arigato" is fine, but it is very casual.

• すみません (sumimasen) - Excuse me. This also means "sorry." This word is very useful. You can use it when you want to call a waitress or get someone’s attention. For example, if you want to ask for directions, you would look at someone and say "Sumimasen." They will know you would like some assistance, and Japanese people typically stop to help. If you bump into someone or get in their way, it’s a quick way to say sorry. You may also hear Japanese people say "Gomennasai," which has the same meaning as sorry.

• おねがいします (onegaishimasu) - Please.

  
  

Asking for Directions

Basic Questions

• XXはどこですか？ (XX wa dokodesuka) - Where is XX?

• Example: Where is the bathroom? - トイレはどこですか？ (Toire wa dokodesuka?) Or where is the bus? - バスはどこですか？ (Bus wa doko desuka?) The か at the end acts like a question mark, indicating that you are asking a question.

  
  

• XXに行きますか？ (XX ni ikimasuka) - Does this go to XX?

• Example: When you are asking if the train or the bus goes to Asakusa: アサクサに行きますか？ (Asakusa ni ikimasuka?) You can add "このバスはアサクサに行きますか？" (Kono bus wa Asakusa ni ikimasuka?) meaning "Does this bus go to Asakusa?"

  
  

At a Store or Restaurant

Common Phrases

• これは、いくらですか？ (kore wa ikura desuka) - How much is this?

• これは何ですか？ (kore wa nan desuka) - What is this? "何" (nani) or "なん" (nan) in a sentence means "what."

• XXはありますか？ (XX wa arimasuka?) - Do you have XX?

• Example: Do you have orange juice? - オレンジジュースはありますか？ (Orenji ju-su wa arimasuka?)

• XXください (XX kudasai) - I would like to get XX.

• Example: コーヒーください (Kohi kudasai) means "Coffee, please."

  
  

Conclusion

Learning these essential phrases can significantly enhance your experience in Japan. Whether you are greeting someone, asking for directions, or ordering food, these phrases will help you navigate the culture with ease. Remember, the effort to communicate in Japanese is often appreciated by locals, making your interactions more enjoyable.

By using these phrases, you can immerse yourself in the rich culture of Japan. Enjoy your travels and the connections you make along the way!

For more tips on navigating Japan, check out this resource.