The Around the World phrasebook
Let's learn traveller's Japanese
Not the school kind — the airport, taxi and dinner-table kind. Every phrase with a say-it-out-loud pronunciation.
Nobody expects you to speak fluent Japanese. But ten words in the right places — and the market seller smiles, the driver drops the price, the waiter brings the good stuff. We've gathered 65 phrases that actually work, sorted by the moment you'll need them: the landing, the taxi, check-in, the table. Each with a pronunciation you can read aloud without cringing.
Phrasebook · 1/8
First words
| What you want to say | Japanese | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (formal) | こんにちは | ko-ni-CHI-wa |
| Hello (informal) | やあ | YA |
| Goodbye | さようなら | sa-yo-NA-ra |
| Thank you | ありがとう | a-ri-GA-to |
| Please | お願いします | o-ne-GAI shi-MA-su |
| Yes | はい | HAI |
| No | いいえ | I-e |
| Excuse me | すみません | su-mi-MA-sen |
| I don't understand | わかりません | wa-ka-ri-MA-sen |
| Do you speak English? | 英語を話せますか？ | E-go o ha-na-se-MA-su ka? |
Phrasebook · 2/8
Courtesy & introductions
| What you want to say | Japanese | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | おはようございます | o-ha-YO go-ZAI-ma-su |
| Good evening | こんばんは | kon-BAN-wa |
| How are you? | お元気ですか？ | o-GEN-ki de-su ka |
| My name is… | 私の名前は…です | wa-TA-shi no na-MA-e wa ... des |
| Nice to meet you | はじめまして | ha-JI-me-ma-SHE |
| I am from Israel | 私はイスラエルから来ました | wa-TA-shi wa i-su-RA-e-ru ka-ra ki-MA-shi-ta |
| See you | じゃあね | JA-ne |
Phrasebook · 3/8
At the airport & on the flight
| What you want to say | Japanese | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the gate? | ゲートはどこですか？ | GE-toh WA DO-ko DE-su-ka? |
| Is the flight delayed? | フライトは遅れていますか？ | FU-rai-toh WA O-ku-re-te-I-ma-su-ka? |
| Boarding pass | 搭乗券 | TO-jo-ken |
| My suitcase did not arrive | 私のスーツケースが届いていません | WA-ta-shi NO SU-tsu-ke-su GA TO-do-I-te-I-ma-sen |
| I have a connecting flight | 乗り継ぎ便があります | NO-ri-tsu-gi-BIN GA A-ri-ma-su |
| Window/aisle seat | 窓側/通路側の席 | MA-do-GA-wa/TSU-ro-GA-wa NO SE-ki |
| Where is passport control? | パスポートコントロールはどこですか？ | PA-su-PO-toh-KON-toh-RO-ru WA DO-ko DE-su-ka? |
Phrasebook · 4/8
Transport & directions
| What you want to say | Japanese | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| To this address, please. | この住所までお願いします。 | KO-no JU-sho ma-de o-ne-GAI shi-ma-SU. |
| How much to the center? | 中心までいくらですか？ | CHU-shin ma-de i-KU-ra de-SU ka? |
| One ticket to… | …までの切符を一枚ください。 | …ma-de no KIP-pu o i-CHI-mai ku-da-SAI. |
| Which platform? | どのホームですか？ | DO-no HO-mu de-SU ka? |
| Where is the bus stop? | バス停はどこですか？ | BA-su-tei wa DO-ko de-SU ka? |
| Stop here, please. | ここで止めてください。 | KO-ko de to-ME-te ku-da-SAI. |
| Is it far? | 遠いですか？ | TO-i de-SU ka? |
| Turn left/right. | 左/右に曲がってください。 | hi-DA-ri/mi-GI ni ma-GA-te ku-da-SAI. |
| Straight ahead. | まっすぐです。 | MAS-su-gu de-SU. |
Phrasebook · 5/8
Hotel & stay
| What you want to say | Japanese | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| I have a reservation | 予約があります | yo-YA-ku ga a-ri-MA-su |
| Check-in | チェックイン | CHEK-u-in |
| Check-out | チェックアウト | CHEK-u-AU-to |
| Is breakfast included? | 朝食は含まれていますか？ | CHO-sho-ku wa fu-ku-ma-re-te-I-ma-su ka? |
| Room key | 部屋の鍵 | he-YA no ka-GI |
| Wi-Fi password | Wi-Fiのパスワード | wai-FAI no pa-su-WA-do |
| Can I leave my luggage? | 荷物を預けられますか？ | NI-mo-tsu o a-zu-ke-ra-re-MA-su ka? |
| The air conditioner doesn't work | エアコンが動きません | e-A-kon ga u-go-ki-MA-sen |
Phrasebook · 6/8
Restaurant & food
| What you want to say | Japanese | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Table for two | 二人用のテーブルをお願いします | fu-ta-RI yo no TE-bu-ro o o-ne-GAI shi-mas |
| The menu, please | メニューをお願いします | ME-nyu o o-ne-GAI shi-mas |
| What do you recommend? | おすすめは何ですか | o-su-su-ME wa NAN-de-su ka |
| The bill, please | お会計をお願いします | o-KAI-kei o o-ne-GAI shi-mas |
| Tap water | 水道水をください | SUI-do-sui o ku-da-SAI |
| I have a nut allergy | ナッツアレルギーがあります | NAT-tsu a-re-RU-gi ga a-ri-MAS |
| No meat | 肉なしでお願いします | NI-ku na-shi de o-ne-GAI shi-mas |
| It was excellent | 素晴らしかったです | su-ba-ra-SHI-ka-ta des |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか | KA-do de ha-ra-e-MAS ka |
Phrasebook · 7/8
Shopping & money
| What you want to say | Japanese | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| How much does it cost? | いくらですか？ | i-KU-ra DE-su-ka? |
| It's too expensive. | 高すぎます。 | TA-ka su-GI-ma-su. |
| Do you accept credit cards? | クレジットカードは使えますか？ | ku-re-JI-to KA-a-do wa tsu-ka-E-ma-su-ka? |
| I'm just looking. | 見ているだけです。 | mi-te-I-ru DA-ke DE-su. |
| Can I have a receipt? | レシートをください。 | re-SHI-to o ku-da-SAI. |
| Where is an ATM? | ATMはどこですか？ | E-I TI EM wa DO-ko DE-su-ka? |
| A smaller size, please. | もっと小さいサイズをください。 | MO-to CHI-sai SAI-zu o ku-da-SAI. |
Phrasebook · 8/8
Emergencies & health
| What you want to say | Japanese | How to say it |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | 助けて! | ta-SU-ke-te |
| Call a doctor | 医者を呼んで | i-SHA o YON-de |
| Call the police | 警察を呼んで | KEI-sa-tsu o YON-de |
| Where is a pharmacy? | 薬局はどこですか? | yak-KYO-ku wa DO-ko de-SU ka |
| I don't feel well | 具合が悪いです | gu-AI ga wa-RUI de-SU |
| I'm lost | 道に迷いました | mi-CHI ni ma-YOI-ma-shi-ta |
| I need a hospital | 病院が必要です | byo-IN ga hi-TSU-yo de-SU |
| It hurts here | ここが痛いです | ko-KO ga i-TAI de-SU |
Q&A
Answers to your questions
How do you say "thank you" in Japanese?
"ありがとう" (a-ri-GA-to). It's one of the five words worth knowing by heart before you land.
How much Japanese do I need for a trip?
Not much. Five or six courtesy words (hello, thank you, please, sorry, yes/no) open doors, and another ten to fifteen phrases for fixed situations — a taxi, check-in, the restaurant bill — cover almost any trip. The rest: a camera-translation app.
Can you get by in English where Japanese is spoken?
In city centres, hotels and tourist sites — usually yes, especially with younger people. Outside them — markets, transport, small towns — a few words of the local language make a real difference and are warmly received.
Which countries have Japanese as an official language?
Japanese is a main language in 1 countries: Japan.
What's the difference between the formal and casual greeting?
Most languages have a formal "hello" for strangers, service staff and elders, and an everyday version for friends and peers. As a traveller it's always safer to open with the formal one — nobody is offended by too much politeness.
How do you politely ask someone to speak English?
"英語を話せますか？" (E-go o ha-na-se-MA-su ka?) — "do you speak English?". Lead with "excuse me" in the local language and it comes across as respectful.
About this page
Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.
Sources: Phrasebook: the Around the World team · Language-to-country: Around the World data