Basic Japanese Phrases for Travel (40 Essentials)
🇯🇵 Japanese · 40 cards · A1 · by Haruka Sato
These are the forty phrases travellers in Japan actually use: at the konbini, at the ticket machine, in a small restaurant where nobody speaks English. Every card gives you kanji, kana and romaji, so you can read the sign, say the words, and check yourself afterwards. Two things trip people up. First, すみません does three jobs — excuse me, sorry, and thanks for the trouble — and your tone decides which one people hear. Second, 〜ください and 〜お願いします are fixed blocks: learn them whole, put a noun in front, and you can ask for almost anything. Do cards 1–13 first, use them on day one, then add the rest situation by situation.
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How to use this deck
Flip through the cards, then switch to Quiz. Tap the play button on any row to hear it. The full table below is there to read, print or copy into your own flashcard app.
The Reji iPhone app is being rebuilt and returns to the App Store soon.
All 40 cards
| # | Japanese | Pronunciation | English | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | こんにちは Kana: こんにちは. Daytime only, roughly late morning to early evening. The final は is pronounced 'wa'. | konnichiwa | Hello, good afternoon | こんにちは、今日はいい天気ですね。 Hello, nice weather today, isn't it? | |
| 2 | おはようございます Kana: おはようございます. Used until about 10–11 a.m. The short おはよう is casual: friends and family only. | ohayō gozaimasu | Good morning | おはようございます、朝ごはんは何時からですか？ Good morning — what time does breakfast start? | |
| 3 | こんばんは Kana: こんばんは. From dusk onwards; again the は is read 'wa'. | konbanwa | Good evening | こんばんは、まだ開いていますか？ Good evening, are you still open? | |
| 4 | さようなら Kana: さようなら. Sounds final and a little formal. Leaving a shop or hotel, ありがとうございました is more natural. | sayōnara | Goodbye | さようなら、また日本に来ます。 Goodbye, I'll come to Japan again. | |
| 5 | ありがとうございます Kana: ありがとうございます. For something already finished, switch to ありがとうございました (arigatō gozaimashita). | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you | 道を教えてくれてありがとうございます。 Thank you for showing me the way. | |
| 6 | すみません Kana: すみません. The most useful word in Japan — call staff with it, apologise with it, or thank someone for trouble taken. | sumimasen | Excuse me, sorry, thanks | すみません、お水をもらえますか？ Excuse me, could I have some water? | |
| 7 | お願いします Kana: おねがいします. Literally 'I make a request'. Put any noun in front to order or ask for it. | onegai shimasu | Please (I'd like this) | 領収書をお願いします。 A receipt, please. | |
| 8 | 大丈夫です Kana: だいじょうぶです. Also a soft refusal when staff offer a bag, a spoon or help. | daijōbu desu | I'm fine, it's OK, no thanks | 大丈夫です、自分で持てます。 I'm fine, I can carry it myself. | |
| 9 | わかりました Kana: わかりました. Past in form, but it means 'I understand' right now. | wakarimashita | I understand, got it | わかりました、ここで待っています。 Got it, I'll wait here. | |
| 10 | 日本語がわかりません Kana: にほんごがわかりません. Say it early and staff will switch to gestures, pictures or English. | nihongo ga wakarimasen | I don't understand Japanese | すみません、日本語がわかりません。 Sorry, I don't understand Japanese. | |
| 11 | 英語が話せますか？ Kana: えいごがはなせますか. Starting with すみません makes it much softer. | eigo ga hanasemasu ka? | Can you speak English? | すみません、誰か英語が話せますか？ Excuse me, can anyone here speak English? | |
| 12 | もう一度お願いします Kana: もういちどおねがいします. The polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves. | mō ichido onegai shimasu | Once more, please | 聞こえませんでした。もう一度お願いします。 I didn't catch that. Once more, please. | |
| 13 | ゆっくり話してください Kana: ゆっくりはなしてください. Add もう少し (mō sukoshi) for 'a little more slowly'. | yukkuri hanashite kudasai | Please speak slowly | もう少しゆっくり話してください。 Please speak a little more slowly. | |
| 14 | これは何ですか？ Kana: これはなんですか. 何 is read なん before です; point at the item as you ask. | kore wa nan desu ka? | What is this? | これは何ですか？肉が入っていますか？ What is this? Does it have meat in it? | |
| 15 | これをください Kana: これをください. In everyday speech the を is often dropped: これください. | kore o kudasai | I'll take this one, please | じゃあ、これをください。 OK then, I'll take this one. | |
| 16 | いくらですか？ Kana: いくらですか. For one specific item: これはいくらですか (kore wa ikura desu ka). | ikura desu ka? | How much is it? | これは全部でいくらですか？ How much is this altogether? | |
| 17 | カードで払えますか？ Kana: カードではらえますか. カードは使えますか (kādo wa tsukaemasu ka) works too. Many small shops and ramen places are still cash-only. | kādo de haraemasu ka? | Can I pay by card? | 現金がありません。カードで払えますか？ I don't have cash. Can I pay by card? | |
| 18 | 袋はいりません Kana: ふくろはいりません. Bags are charged for, so staff will ask 袋はいりますか (fukuro wa irimasu ka). | fukuro wa irimasen | I don't need a bag | 袋はいりません。そのままで大丈夫です。 I don't need a bag. Just as it is is fine. | |
| 19 | 試着してもいいですか？ Kana: しちゃくしてもいいですか. Take your shoes off before stepping into the fitting room. | shichaku shite mo ii desu ka? | Can I try this on? | このシャツ、試着してもいいですか？ Can I try this shirt on? | |
| 20 | トイレはどこですか？ Kana: トイレはどこですか. お手洗い (otearai) is politer, but トイレ is fine anywhere. | toire wa doko desu ka? | Where is the toilet? | あの、トイレはどこですか？ Um, where is the toilet? | |
| 21 | 近くにコンビニはありますか？ Kana: ちかくにコンビニはありますか. Swap コンビニ for 駅 (eki, station), ATM, 薬局 (yakkyoku, pharmacy). | chikaku ni konbini wa arimasu ka? | Is there a convenience store nearby? | この近くにコンビニはありますか？ Is there a convenience store near here? | |
| 22 | 道に迷いました Kana: みちにまよいました. Works best while showing the map on your phone. | michi ni mayoimashita | I'm lost | 道に迷いました。ここはどこですか？ I'm lost. Where am I? | |
| 23 | 今何時ですか？ Kana: いまなんじですか. 何時 is read なんじ here, not なにじ. | ima nanji desu ka? | What time is it now? | 今何時ですか？バスはもう出ましたか？ What time is it now? Has the bus already left? | |
| 24 | どのくらいかかりますか？ Kana: どのくらいかかりますか. People hear it as time by default; for money ask 料金はいくらですか (ryōkin wa ikura desu ka). | dono kurai kakarimasu ka? | How long does it take? | 駅までどのくらいかかりますか？ How long does it take to the station? | |
| 25 | 〜に行きたいです Kana: 〜にいきたいです. Put a place name in front; taxi drivers understand it perfectly. | ~ ni ikitai desu | I want to go to ~ | 浅草に行きたいです。このバスでいいですか？ I want to go to Asakusa. Is this bus OK? | |
| 26 | この電車は〜に行きますか？ Kana: このでんしゃは〜にいきますか. For a bus, replace この電車 with このバス (kono basu). | kono densha wa ~ ni ikimasu ka? | Does this train go to ~? | この電車は京都に行きますか？ Does this train go to Kyoto? | |
| 27 | 切符はどこで買えますか？ Kana: きっぷはどこでかえますか. 券売機 (kenbaiki) is the ticket machine. | kippu wa doko de kaemasu ka? | Where can I buy a ticket? | 切符はどこで買えますか？券売機ですか？ Where can I buy a ticket? At the machine? | |
| 28 | 空港までお願いします Kana: くうこうまでおねがいします. Standard taxi formula: place + まで + お願いします. | kūkō made onegai shimasu | To the airport, please | 空港までお願いします。急いでいます。 To the airport, please. I'm in a hurry. | |
| 29 | ここで降ります Kana: ここでおります. On a city bus press the stop button first, then say it if needed. | koko de orimasu | I'm getting off here | あ、ここで降ります。ありがとうございました。 Oh, I'm getting off here. Thank you. | |
| 30 | 二人です Kana: ふたりです. The answer to 何名様ですか (nanmei-sama desu ka). One person is 一人です (hitori desu). | futari desu | Two people, two of us | 二人です。カウンターでも大丈夫です。 Two of us. The counter is fine too. | |
| 31 | おすすめは何ですか？ Kana: おすすめはなんですか. Very common, and staff usually enjoy answering it. | osusume wa nan desu ka? | What do you recommend? | このお店のおすすめは何ですか？ What do you recommend at this restaurant? | |
| 32 | 〜アレルギーがあります Kana: 〜アレルギーがあります. Useful words: 卵 tamago (egg), 小麦 komugi (wheat), 乳製品 nyūseihin (dairy), えび ebi (shrimp). | ~ arerugī ga arimasu | I have a ~ allergy | そばアレルギーがあります。入っていますか？ I have a buckwheat allergy. Is there any in this? | |
| 33 | いただきます Kana: いただきます. Literally 'I humbly receive'. Said just before eating, even when you are alone; putting your hands together is optional. | itadakimasu | Thanks for the food (said before eating) | みんな揃いましたね。では、いただきます。 Everyone's here. Right then — thanks for the food. | |
| 34 | おいしいです Kana: おいしいです. The casual うまい (umai) sounds rough and rather male; おいしい is safe for everyone. | oishii desu | It's delicious | このラーメン、本当においしいです。 This ramen is really delicious. | |
| 35 | ごちそうさまでした Kana: ごちそうさまでした. Said after eating — to the staff as you leave, or to whoever cooked or paid. | gochisōsama deshita | Thank you for the meal | ごちそうさまでした。とてもおいしかったです。 Thank you for the meal. It was really tasty. | |
| 36 | お会計お願いします Kana: おかいけいおねがいします. Many places expect you to pay at the register, not at the table. | okaikei onegai shimasu | The bill, please | お会計お願いします。別々にできますか？ The bill, please. Can we pay separately? | |
| 37 | チェックインお願いします Kana: チェックインおねがいします. Checking out is チェックアウト (chekku-auto). | chekku-in onegai shimasu | I'd like to check in | 予約しています。チェックインお願いします。 I have a reservation. I'd like to check in. | |
| 38 | Wi-Fiはありますか？ Kana: ワイファイはありますか. Pronounced 'waifai', never 'wai-fi'. Follow up with パスワードは？ (pasuwādo wa?). | waifai wa arimasu ka? | Do you have Wi-Fi? | このお店、Wi-Fiはありますか？ Does this place have Wi-Fi? | |
| 39 | 写真を撮ってもらえますか？ Kana: しゃしんをとってもらえますか. Softer than 撮ってください; hold out your phone as you ask. | shashin o totte moraemasu ka? | Could you take a photo for me? | あの、写真を撮ってもらえますか？ Um, could you take a photo for us? | |
| 40 | 助けてください Kana: たすけてください. For real trouble only. Police 110, ambulance and fire 119. | tasukete kudasai | Please help me | 助けてください。財布を盗まれました。 Please help me. My wallet was stolen. |
Haruka Sato
Native Japanese · Speaks English, Korean
Osaka-born, Tokyo-based. I help English speakers get past hiragana into real conversation. Every card has kanji, kana and romaji, because you need all three at the start.
Published
Questions about this deck
- Do I really need Japanese to travel in Japan?
- Major stations, airports and chain restaurants have English signs and menus, but small eateries, buses, taxis and countryside shops often do not. The 40 phrases here cover nearly everything a tourist has to say out loud: ordering, paying, asking where something is, boarding and getting off. Anything left over you can handle by pointing.
- What is the difference between すみません and ごめんなさい?
- すみません (sumimasen) is the all-purpose one: excuse me, sorry to bother you, and thanks for going out of your way. Use it to get a waiter's attention or to squeeze past someone on a train. ごめんなさい (gomen nasai) is a genuine apology for something you did wrong, and as a traveller you will rarely need it.
- Is さようなら actually used to say goodbye?
- Much less than textbooks suggest — it sounds final, closer to 'farewell'. When leaving a shop, café or hotel, people say ありがとうございました (arigatō gozaimashita), and in an office or hotel lobby 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu). Save さようなら for parting from someone you will not see for a long time.
- How do I get through a whole restaurant meal with these phrases?
- At the door say 二人です (futari desu) for the number of people. Then ask おすすめは何ですか, or point and say これをください. Mention any allergy with 〜アレルギーがあります. When you finish, お会計お願いします at the table or register, and ごちそうさまでした on your way out. That is a complete meal handled in Japanese.
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