Blue Jellyfish Press. Learn Japanese. Nihongo. Nippon. Nihon. Nippongo. Free learning page. The bare necessities, essential phrases, minimum. Beginners. For travellers. For tourists.

Essential Japanese Phrases
Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Japanese words and phrases you need
to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...
The Top 10 ...

Konnichi wa.
Hello.
Sayōnara.
Goodbye.
Eigo ga dekimasu ka?
Do you speak English?
Wakarimasen.
I don't understand.
Sukoshi.
A little.
Hai. Iie.
Yes. No.
Ikura desu ka?
How much is ...?
Takasugimasu. Daijōbu desu.
Too expensive. OK.
... kudasai.
... o o-negai shimasu.
Please.
(Dōmo) arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you
make new friends and ask for directions.
The Top 20 ...

O-namae wa nan desu ka?
What is your name?
Watashi wa namae wa ... desu.
My name is ...
O-genki desu ka?
How are you?
Hai, genki desu. Anata wa?
Fine. And you?
... wa doko desu?
Where is ...?
Toire wa doko desu ka? Otoko/Onna
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Sumimasen. Shitsurei desu ga.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Mondai nai.
No problem.
... ga hoshii desu.
I want ...
... ga hoshii ja arimasen.
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a
little more conversation and to get around.
The Top 30 ...

Dochira kara kimashita ka?
Where are you from?
Ōsutoraria kara kimashita.*
I am from Australia.
O-kanjō o o-negai shimasu.
The bill, please.
Michi ni mayoimashita.
I'm lost.
Tomatte kudasai! Matte kudasai!
Stop! Wait!
Koko, soko, asoko.
Here, there, over there.
Takushii. Hoteru. Kūkō. Eki.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
... ga suki desu
I like ...
... ga suki ja arimasen.
I don't like ...
ichi, ni, san, yon/shi, go.
one, two , three, four, five.
roku, nana/shichi, hachi, kjū/ku, jū.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
*Or choose your country:
Amerika - America
Kanada - Canada
Igirisu - England
Airurando - Ireland
Nyū Jiirando - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful,
especially if you have dietary needs or allergies.
Useful extras ...

Kampai!
Cheers!
ii, yoi / warui
good / bad
ōkii / chiisai
big / small
chikai / tōi
near / far
sukunai / motto
less / more
mō hitotsu / jūbun
another one / enough
Watashi wa bejitarian desu.
I am vegetarian.
Niku wa tabemasen.
I don't eat meat.
Niwatori ...
... chicken ...
Sakana ...
... fish.
Watashi wa nattsu arerugii desu.
I am allergic to to nuts.
... piinattsu ...
... peanuts.
... sakana ...
... fish.
... kaisambutsu ...
... seafood.
... tamago ...
... eggs.
The Japanese numbers for items:
hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, yottsu, itsutsu.
one, two , three, four, five.
muttsu, nanatsu, yattsu, kokonotsu, tō.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.