Top 10 Japanese Phrases Every Beginner Should Know
Japanese has a reputation for being difficult — three writing systems, complex honorifics, and a grammar structure that feels backwards to English speakers. And that reputation is partly deserved. But here's what it doesn't tell you: everyday conversational Japanese is remarkably approachable.
The politeness system that intimidates beginners is actually your ally. A handful of set phrases, used consistently and respectfully, will earn you genuine warmth from Japanese speakers — who deeply appreciate the effort of learning their language.
Here are ten phrases that will get you through 80% of everyday situations in Japan.
1. こんにちは (Konnichiwa) — Hello / Good Afternoon
The universal Japanese greeting, used from late morning through evening. Pronounce it "kohn-nee-chee-wah" — four syllables, each equally stressed.
Time-specific greetings:
- おはようございます (Ohayō gozaimasu) — Good morning (before ~10am)
- こんばんは (Konbanwa) — Good evening (after ~6pm)
Unlike English, these aren't interchangeable. Using konnichiwa at 8am sounds odd, like saying "good afternoon" at breakfast.
2. ありがとうございます (Arigatō gozaimasu) — Thank you (polite)
The phrase you'll use most. Arigatō gozaimasu is the polite form appropriate for any situation — shops, restaurants, asking for help, receiving a gift.
Among friends, you can shorten to arigatō. But when in doubt, use the full form — over-politeness is always safer than under-politeness in Japanese.
Pronunciation: "ah-ree-gah-TOH goh-zah-ee-mahss" — the final "u" in gozaimasu is nearly silent, as is common in Japanese.
3. すみません (Sumimasen) — Excuse me / I'm sorry
The Swiss Army knife of Japanese politeness. Sumimasen covers:
- Getting attention: Calling a waiter, asking a stranger for directions
- Apologising: Bumping into someone, minor social infractions
- Expressing gratitude: Paradoxically, sumimasen is often used instead of arigatō when someone has gone out of their way for you — it acknowledges the trouble they've taken
This cultural nuance — thanking by apologising — is distinctly Japanese. When someone holds a door for you, sumimasen (sorry for inconveniencing you) is often more natural than arigatō (thank you).
4. ～をください (... o kudasai) — Please give me ...
The essential ordering phrase. Place the item name before o kudasai:
- Kōhī o kudasai — Coffee, please
- Mizu o kudasai — Water, please
- Kore o kudasai — This one, please (pointing at something)
- Menyu o kudasai — Menu, please
Kore o kudasai (this one, please) is especially powerful — combined with pointing, it lets you order anything in any restaurant without knowing the item's name.
5. いくらですか (Ikura desu ka?) — How much is this?
Essential for shopping, markets, and any situation where prices aren't displayed. Japanese shops and restaurants almost always display prices clearly, but markets, street food vendors, and antique shops might not.
Useful follow-ups:
- Takai desu ne — It's expensive, isn't it (gentle hint for a discount at markets)
- Kādo de ii desu ka? — Is card okay?
- Genkin dake desu ka? — Cash only?
6. わかりません (Wakarimasen) — I don't understand
Your safety net. When a conversation moves beyond your ability, saying wakarimasen clearly and politely signals that you need help without creating awkwardness.
Power combo (your conversation rescue kit):
- Wakarimasen — I don't understand
- Mō ichido onegaishimasu — One more time, please
- Yukkuri onegaishimasu — Slowly, please
Japanese people often speed up when nervous about speaking to a foreigner. Yukkuri onegaishimasu (slowly, please) gently asks them to pace themselves.
Audio-First Learning
Japanese pronunciation is straightforward once you hear it. Every LumenLingo flashcard includes native-speaker audio — listen, repeat, listen again. Your ear will tune to Japanese rhythm and pitch accent faster than any textbook can teach.
7. トイレはどこですか (Toire wa doko desu ka?) — Where is the toilet?
Practical necessity. Japanese uses toire (from English "toilet") rather than euphemisms. The pattern X wa doko desu ka (Where is X?) works for anything:
- Eki wa doko desu ka? — Where is the station?
- Konbini wa doko desu ka? — Where is the convenience store?
- Hoteru wa doko desu ka? — Where is the hotel?
Listening for the answer:
- Migi — Right
- Hidari — Left
- Massugu — Straight ahead
- Sugu soko — Right there / Very close
- Chikai — Nearby
8. おいしい！ (Oishii!) — Delicious!
Japan's food culture is world-renowned, and expressing genuine appreciation for food is a powerful social connector. Saying oishii! after your first bite — especially with visible enthusiasm — will light up any chef's or host's face.
The full dining script:
- Before eating: Itadakimasu! — "I humbly receive" (always say this before meals)
- During: Oishii! — Delicious!
- After eating: Gochisōsama deshita! — "What a feast that was" (expressed gratitude)
These three phrases form a dining ritual that Japanese speakers use at every meal. Using them correctly shows cultural awareness that transcends language level.
9. 日本語を勉強しています (Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu) — I'm studying Japanese
Like its Spanish equivalent (estoy aprendiendo español), this phrase is social magic in Japan. Japanese speakers are often genuinely moved when foreigners make the effort to learn their language — it's perceived as a deep sign of cultural respect.
Useful variations:
- Nihongo ga sukoshi dekimasu — I can speak a little Japanese
- Nihongo wa muzukashii desu ne — Japanese is difficult, isn't it (shared commiseration that Japanese people love)
- Mada mada desu — I still have a long way to go (humble understatement that resonates culturally)
10. よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu) — Please take care of me / Nice to meet you
The most Japanese phrase on this list — and the hardest to translate. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu literally means "please treat me favourably" and is used in an astonishing range of situations:
- Meeting someone new: Essentially "nice to meet you"
- Starting a project or task together: "Let's work well together"
- Asking for a favour: "I'm counting on you"
- Ending an email to a colleague: General goodwill closing
- Checking into a hotel: "Please take care of me during my stay"
The versatility of this phrase reflects the Japanese emphasis on mutual obligation and social harmony. By saying it, you're acknowledging a relationship and expressing willingness to participate in it respectfully.
Beyond Phrases: Understanding the Culture
These ten phrases will get you through daily situations, but the real magic happens when you understand the cultural values behind them:
- Politeness levels aren't formality for formality's sake — they express awareness of social relationships
- Indirect communication isn't vagueness — it's respect for the listener's autonomy to interpret
- Ritual phrases (itadakimasu, gochisōsama, yoroshiku) aren't empty formulas — they maintain social bonds
Learning Japanese isn't just adding new words to your mental dictionary. It's developing an entirely new framework for thinking about politeness, hierarchy, and human connection.
Your Japanese Journey Starts Here
Japanese is a marathon, not a sprint. The FSI estimates 2,200 class hours for professional working proficiency — roughly three to four times longer than Spanish. But the first ten phrases above can be learned in a week, and they'll serve you in every conversation for the rest of your life.
Start here. Master these ten. Then let spaced repetition carry you forward, one card at a time.
Begin your Japanese journey today. Download LumenLingo and learn Japanese with beautiful ambient soundscapes, native-speaker audio, and flashcards designed to make every minute of practice count.