Essential Japanese Phrases
These are the Japanese phrases travelers actually use — grouped by situation, with a romaji pronunciation guide and English meaning. This is a free preview; get the full set with native-speaker audio to hear every phrase correctly.
Essential Japanese Travel Phrases
The Japanese phrases travelers use most — greetings, getting around, ordering food, shopping, numbers, and emergencies — each with natural Japanese, romaji pronunciation, a usage example, and native-speaker audio.
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Greetings
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| おはようございます | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning (polite) |
+ 6 more in the full deck
Basic Phrases
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| はい | hai | Yes |
| いいえ | iie | No |
+ 10 more in the full deck
Directions
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| トイレはどこですか | toire wa doko desu ka | Where is the toilet? |
| 駅はどこですか | eki wa doko desu ka | Where is the station? |
+ 4 more in the full deck
Transportation
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 電車 | densha | Train |
| バス | basu | Bus |
+ 3 more in the full deck
Food & Drink
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 水 | mizu | Water |
| お茶 | o-cha | Tea |
+ 7 more in the full deck
Shopping
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いくらですか | ikura desu ka | How much is it? |
| これをください | kore o kudasai | I'll take this one, please |
+ 2 more in the full deck
Numbers
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 一 | ichi | One (1) |
| 二 | ni | Two (2) |
+ 8 more in the full deck
Emergency
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 助けて | tasukete | Help! |
| 病院 | byōin | Hospital |
+ 3 more in the full deck
Hear every phrase with native audio
This is a free preview. Get the full deck to play all 59 phrases with native-speaker audio and track your progress.
Frequently asked questions
How many Japanese phrases do I need as a traveler?
A core of about 30 to 50 phrases — greetings, thank you and excuse me, directions, ordering food, and numbers — covers most everyday situations in Japan.
Is Japanese pronunciation hard for English speakers?
Japanese pronunciation is fairly consistent — each syllable is short and evenly stressed. The romaji here gets you close; native audio is the fastest way to sound natural.
Do people in Japan speak English?
In major cities and tourist areas you will find some English signage and staff, but a handful of Japanese phrases makes trains, restaurants, and shops far smoother and is always appreciated.
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