Japanese Language Basics

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and phrases from the lecture notes on basic Japanese language terms and phrases for everyday conversation.

Yes

Hai

(Hi)

No

Iie

(EE-eh)

I / Me

Watashi

(Wah-tah-shee)

Water

Mizu

(MEE-zoo)

Recommendation

Osusume

(Oh-soo-soo-may)

Excuse me / I'm sorry

Sumimasen

(SOO-me-mah-sen)

Please (General/Action)

Onegaishimasu

(Oh-neh-guy-she-mass)

Please (Requesting items)

Kudasai

(Koo-dah-sigh)

English

Eigo

(AY-go)

Credit Card

Kurejittokaado

(Koo-reh-jeet-toh-kah-doh)

Cash

Genkin

(Ghen-keen)

Thank you (Polite)

Arigatou gozaimasu

(Ah-ree-gah-toh go-zye-mass)

You are welcome

Douitashimashite

(Doh-ee-tah-she-mah-she-teh)

Thanks (Casual)

Domo

(DOH-moh)

This

Kore

(KOH-reh)

Where

Doko

(DOH-koh)

Is / Am / Are

Desu

(Deh-su)

A little

Sukoshi

(Sko-she)

Plastic Bag

Fukuro

(Foo-koo-roh)

1

Ichi

(EE-chee)

2

Ni

(Knee)

3

San

(Sahn)

4

Yon

(Yohn)

5

Go

(Goh)

6

Roku

(Roh-koo)

7

Nana

(Nah-nah)

8

Hachi

(Hah-chee)

9

Kyuu

(Kyoo)

10

Juu

(Joo)

1 person

Hitori

(HEE-toh-ree)

2 people

Futari

(FOO-tah-ree)

3 people

San’nin

(Sahn-neen)

4 people

Yonin

(Yo-neen)

5 people

Gonin

(Go-neen)

How many people?

Nanmeisama desu ka?

(Nan-may-sah-mah dess kah)

(We’re) two people

Futari desu

(Foo-tah-ree dess)

We are 3 people

San'nin desu

(Sahn-neen dess)

Welcome in!

Irasshaimase!

(Ee-rah-shy-mah-say)

Got it. Follow me

Kashikomarimashita. Goan’nai itashimasu

(Kah-she-ko-mah-ree-mah-she-tah. Go-ahn-nye ee-tah-she-mass.)

Would you like water?

Omizu ikaga desu ka?

(Oh-me-zoo ee-kah-gah dess kah)

Yes, please

Hai, onegaishimasu

(Hi, oh-neh-guy-she-mass)

No, thank you / I’m good

Iie, daijoubu desu

(EE-eh, die-joe-boo dess)

Eat in

Tennai de

(Ten-nye deh)

No smoking

Kin’en

(Keen-enn)

Bill please

Okaikei onegaishimasu

(Oh-kye-kay oh-neh-guy-she-mass)

One more please

Mou hitotsu onegaishimasu

(Mou hitotsu oh-neh-guy-she-mass)

Please give me…

… (o) kudasai

(… oh koo-dah-sigh)

This one please

Kore o kudasai

(Koh-reh oh koo-dah-sigh)

Please give me Family Chicken

Fami-chiki (o) kudasai

(Fah-me-chee-kee oh koo-dah-sigh)

Please give me sushi

Sushi (o) kudasai

(Soo-shee oh koo-dah-sigh)

Please give me curry

Karee (o) kudasai

(Kah-ray oh koo-dah-sigh)

Do you have a recommendation?

Osusume wa arimasu ka?

(Oh-soo-soo-may wah ah-ree-mass kah)

Do you have an English Menu?

Eigo no menyu wa arimasu ka?

(Ay-goh noh meh-nyoo wah ah-ree-mah-soo kah?)

Can I use a credit card?

Kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka?

(Koo-reh-jit-toh kah-doh wah tsoo-kah-eh-mas kah?)

I’ll pay with credit card

Kurejittokaado de onegai shimasu

(Koo-reh-jeet-toh-kah-doh, ts-kye-mah-su kah?)

I’ll pay with cash

Genkin de onegai shimasu

(Ghen-keen deh oh-neh-guy-she-mass)

Thank you for the meal

Gochisousama deshita

(Go-chee-so-sah-mah desh-ta)

Do you understand English?

Eigo ga wakarimasu ka?

(Ay-go gah wah-kah-ree-mass kah)

I understand

Wakarimasu

(Wah-kah-ree-mass)

I don’t understand

Wakarimasen

(Wah-kah-ree-mah-senn)

Please wait a little

Chotto matte kudasai

(Cho-toh maht-teh koo-dah-sigh)

Is it OK?

Daijoubu desu ka?

(Die-joe-boo dess kah)

Where is…?

… wa doko desu ka?

(… wah doh-koh dess-kah)

Where is the toilet?

Toire wa doko desu ka?

(Toy-reh wah doh-koh dess-kah)

Do you have…?

… wa arimasu ka?

(… wah ah-ree-mass kah?)

Do you have an English Guide?

Eigo no gaido wa arimasu ka?

(Ay-go no guy-doh wah ah-ree-mass kah?)

Could you take a picture?

Shashin (o) totte morattemo iidesu ka?

(Shah-sheen oh toht-teh moh-raht-teh-moe ee-dess kah?)

Picture, is it OK?

Shashin, iidesu ka?

(Shah-sheen, ee-dess kah)

Say "Cheese"

Hai, chiizu!

(Hi, chee-zoo!)

Do you need a plastic bag?

Rejibukuro irimasu ka?

(Reh-jee-boo-koo-roh ee-ree-mass kah)

1 plastic bag please

Rejibukuro ichima onegaishimasu

(Reh-jee-boo-koo-roh ee-chee-mye oh-neh-guy-she-mass.)

How much is this?

Kore wa ikura desu ka?

(Koh-reh wah ee-koo-rah dess-kah)

How much is that (near you)?

Sore wa ikura desu ka?

(Soh-reh wah ee-koo-rah dess-kah)

Heat up the bento?

Atatamemasu ka?

(Ah-tah-tah-meh-mass kah?)

Train Station

Eki

(Eh-kee)

Train Line

Sen

(Senn)

Where is the Train station?

Eki wa doko desu ka?

(Eh-kee wah doh-koh dess-kah)

Where is the [Name] Train line?

[Name] sen wa doko desu ka?

([Name] sen wah doh-koh dess kah)

Wi-Fi

Waifai

(Wye-fye)

To [place], please

[Place] made onegaishimasu

[Place] mah-deh oh-neh-guy-she-mass

I want to go to [place]

[Place] ni ikitai desu

([Place] nee ee-kee-tie dess)

Does this bus go to [Place]?

Kono basu wa [Place] ni ikimasu ka?

(Koh-no bah-su wah [Place] nee ee-kee-mah-ss kah?)