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Common Japanese words and phrases

The most useful Japanese words for beginners are greetings like こんにちは (konnichiwa, hello), polite basics like ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu, thank you) and すみません (sumimasen, excuse me), and questions like いくらですか (ikura desu ka, how much is it?).

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Your turn: try sayingおはようございますohayō gozaimasu

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Greetings

Greetings and goodbyes

おはようございますohayō gozaimasuGood morning
polite

With friends, just おはよう (ohayō).

こんにちはkonnichiwaHello / good afternoon
polite

The standard daytime greeting.

こんばんはkonbanwaGood evening
polite
はじめましてhajimemashiteNice to meet you
polite

Only for a first meeting.

よろしくお願いしますyoroshiku onegai shimasuNice to meet you / I look forward to working with you
polite

Said after introducing yourself. Has no exact English match.

じゃあねjā neSee you / bye
casual

Friends and family. またね (mata ne) is similar.

さようならsayōnaraGoodbye
polite

Can sound final. Common at the end of a school day or when you won't meet for a while.

おやすみなさいoyasuminasaiGood night
polite

Said before bed or late at night. Casual: おやすみ (oyasumi).

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Polite basics

Polite basics

  • ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasuThank you
    polite

    Casual: ありがとう (arigatō).

  • すみませんsumimasenExcuse me / I'm sorry
    polite

    Also used to call staff in a restaurant.

  • ごめんなさいgomen nasaiI'm sorry
    polite

    A personal apology to people you know. Friends say ごめん (gomen). To a boss or a customer, say すみません or 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen).

  • お願いしますonegai shimasuPlease
    polite

    Used when asking for something.

  • はいhaiYes
    polite

    Also means I'm listening or got it.

  • いいえiieNo
    polite

    Can sound blunt. People often soften a no instead.

  • 大丈夫ですdaijōbu desuIt's okay / I'm fine / no thanks
    polite

    Reading: だいじょうぶです. A polite way to decline an offer.

  • いただきますitadakimasuSaid before eating

    Thanks for the food. Most people say it at every meal, even at home.

  • ごちそうさまでしたgochisōsama deshitaSaid after eating

    Thanks for the meal. Say it to your host or the restaurant staff as you leave.

Questions

Questions you will use every day

  • これは何ですかkore wa nan desu kaWhat is this?

    Reading: これはなんですか.

  • いくらですかikura desu kaHow much is it?
  • トイレはどこですかtoire wa doko desu kaWhere is the restroom?
  • 英語を話せますかeigo o hanasemasu kaCan you speak English?

    Reading: えいごをはなせますか.

  • もう一度お願いしますmō ichido onegai shimasuOne more time, please

    Reading: もういちどおねがいします.

  • どういう意味ですかdō iu imi desu kaWhat does it mean?
  • 日本語で何と言いますかnihongo de nan to iimasu kaHow do you say it in Japanese?

    Reading: にほんごでなんといいますか.

Food

Food and ordering

  • メニューをくださいmenyū o kudasaiThe menu, please
  • これをくださいkore o kudasaiThis one, please

    Point at the menu. Works in shops too.

  • おすすめは何ですかosusume wa nan desu kaWhat do you recommend?
  • お水をくださいomizu o kudasaiWater, please

    Water is usually free at restaurants in Japan.

  • おいしいoishiiDelicious

    Polite: おいしいです (oishii desu).

  • 乾杯kanpaiCheers

    Reading: かんぱい.

  • お会計をお願いしますokaikei o onegai shimasuThe check, please

    Reading: おかいけい. Many places have you pay at the register.

Getting around

Getting around

  • 駅はどこですかeki wa doko desu kaWhere is the station?

    Reading: えき.

  • 東京駅まで行きたいですtōkyō eki made ikitai desuI want to go to Tokyo Station

    Swap in any place name before まで (made).

  • 近いですかchikai desu kaIs it close?
  • 右migiRight

    Reading: みぎ.

  • 左hidariLeft

    Reading: ひだり.

  • まっすぐmassuguStraight ahead
  • 道に迷いましたmichi ni mayoimashitaI'm lost

    Reading: みちにまよいました.

Feelings

Feelings and everyday words

  • 好きですsuki desuI like it / I like you

    Reading: すきです. Said to a person, it is a confession of feelings.

  • かわいいkawaiiCute

    For people, animals, clothes, food, almost anything.

  • かっこいいkakkoiiCool / good-looking
  • すごいsugoiAmazing / wow
  • 楽しいtanoshiiFun

    Reading: たのしい.

  • 嬉しいureshiiHappy / glad

    Often written うれしい.

  • 疲れたtsukaretaI'm tired
    casual

    Polite: 疲れました (tsukaremashita).

  • わかりましたwakarimashitaI understand / got it
    polite
  • わかりませんwakarimasenI don't understand
    polite
How to learn them

How to make these words stick

Learn phrases as chunks

Memorize お水をください as one unit, not three words. Then swap the first word: コーヒーをください (kōhī o kudasai), coffee, please.

Say them out loud

Read each row aloud three times, then cover the Japanese and say it from the English. Speaking is what moves a phrase from recognition to recall.

Use a real situation

Practice the food phrases as if you were ordering, and the directions as if you were lost. Tooter's AI tutors can play the waiter or the stranger on the street so you rehearse the whole exchange.

Read them in kana

Romaji is a crutch. Try reading the hiragana in each row, which also fixes long vowels like the ō in arigatō.

Your tutors

Say it out loud with a Japanese tutor

Lifelike AI tutors play the other person and correct you as you speak. Pick one to start.

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FAQ

Questions learners ask

What are the most common Japanese words?

Everyday essentials include はい (hai, yes), いいえ (iie, no), すみません (sumimasen, excuse me), ありがとう (arigatō, thank you), お願いします (onegai shimasu, please) and わかりません (wakarimasen, I don't understand).

Does suki mean love in Japanese?

好き (suki) means like, but said to a person it usually means romantic interest. 大好き (daisuki) is a stronger like or love. 愛してる (aishiteru) is a deep, serious I love you that many people rarely say out loud.

What are cute things to say in Japanese?

Try かわいい (kawaii, cute), 大好き (daisuki, I really like you or it), ありがとう (arigatō, thanks) and がんばって (ganbatte, good luck, you can do it). They are warm, simple and used every day.

What is cool in Japanese slang?

かっこいい (kakkoii) means cool or good-looking and is safe anywhere. やばい (yabai) is slang that can mean amazing or terrible depending on tone, so save it for friends.

What is the most useful Japanese word?

すみません (sumimasen) may be the most useful. It means excuse me, sorry and even thank you for the trouble, and you can use it to call a waiter or get past someone on a train.

How do you say yes and no in Japanese?

Yes is はい (hai) and no is いいえ (iie). Japanese speakers often soften a no, for example with いいえ、大丈夫です (iie, daijōbu desu), no, I'm fine.

What does sumimasen mean?

すみません (sumimasen) means excuse me. It also works as a small sorry, or as thanks when someone goes out of their way for you. Use it to call a server or get past someone.

How do you say I don't understand in Japanese?

Say わかりません (wakarimasen). Add もう一度お願いします (mō ichido onegai shimasu), once more, please, to ask someone to repeat.

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Updated October 23, 2026. Tooter tutors are AI characters, not human teachers. Romanization follows Hepburn romanization.