Japanese: Simple Sentences and Vocabulary

nani (なに)

what?

hai (はい)

yes

iie (いいえ)

no

-san (-さん)

Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss (placed after a name)

ka (か)

question marker

Wakarimasu ka (わかりますか。)

Do you understand?

Hai, wakarimasu (はい、わかります。)

Yes, I understand.

Iie, wakarimasen (いいえ、わかりません。)

No, I don't understand.

Wakarimasen (わかりません。)

I don't understand. / I don't know.

Mou ichido itte kudasai (もういちどいってください。)

Please say it once again.

Motto yukkuri itte kudasai (もっとゆっくりいってください。)

Please speak more slowly.

Desu (です)

Sentence-ending verb meaning "to be" (am/is/are/it is/this is).

Makura desu (まくらです。)

It's a pillow.

Sekken desu ka (せっけんですか。)

Is it soap?

Difference between Nani (なに) and Nan (なん)

Nani is used alone; Nan is used with other words like desu.

Nan desu ka (なんですか。)

What is it?

Nani iro desu ka (なにいろですか。)

What color is it?

Nani ga suki desu ka (なにがすきですか。)

What do you like?