Japanese Words You Should Know Before Your Trip

It’s completely normal if you don’t speak a word of Japanese before your trip to Japan. Okay, maybe you know two words: konnichiwa and arigato, but that’s about it. Now, you don’t need to be fluent to travel comfortably in Japan — but there are a few words and phrases that can be very helpful. Plus, Japanese people really appreciate it when you make the effort to speak their language.

Greetings and Polite Phrases

• Konnichiwa - hello

• Konbanwa - good evening

• Sayonara - goodbye

• Arigatou gozaimasu - thank you

• Sumimasen - excuse me/sorry

• Kudasai - please as in: A coke, please.

• onegaishimasu - please

  a more polite form than kudasai

• Hai - yes

• iie - no

• Itadakimasu - said before eating, to express thanks for the meal

• Gochisoosama deshita - said after eating, to thank the chef/restaurant

• Okaikee onegai shimasu - the bill, please (used in restaurants)

Food

• Mizu - water

• Gohan - rice

• Kohi - coffee

• Ocha - tea

• Tamago - egg

• Nattsu - nuts

• Butaniku - pork

• O-sake - alcohol

• ... wa taberaremasen - I can't eat ...

  e.g., “Butaniku wa taberaremasen” – I can’t eat pork

• Teishoku - a meal set

  usually a main dish with several small side dishes like miso soup

• Oishii - delicious

Shopping

• Fukuro - shopping bag

• Kado - card

  for example, when you want to pay by credit card

• Kore wa ikura desu ka? - How much is this?

• Toire wa doko desu ka? - Where is the toilet?

Traveling

• Eki - train station

• Densha - train

• Kippu - ticket