How do you say "Hello" in Japanese?

Hello = こんにちは — pronounced "kohn-nee-chee-WAH" (Indian-English phonetics). Use until evening; switch to 'konbanwa' after sunset

How do you say "Thank you" in Japanese?

Thank you = ありがとうございます — pronounced "ah-ree-gah-TOH go-ZY-mas" (Indian-English phonetics). Most formal; use in service contexts

How do you say "Excuse me / Sorry" in Japanese?

Excuse me / Sorry = すみません — pronounced "soo-mee-MAH-sen" (Indian-English phonetics). Works for apologies and getting attention

How do you say "I need a doctor" in Japanese?

I need a doctor = 医者が必要です — pronounced "ee-shah gah hee-tsoo-YOH des" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Where is the police station?" in Japanese?

Where is the police station? = 警察署はどこですか — pronounced "kay-sah-tsoo-SHOH wah doh-KOH des kah" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "I'm lost" in Japanese?

I'm lost = 迷ってしまいました — pronounced "mah-yot-tay shoo-my-MAH-shee-tah" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Can I have the menu?" in Japanese?

Can I have the menu? = メニューをください — pronounced "meh-noo-YOO oh koo-dah-SAH-ee" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "I'm vegetarian" in Japanese?

I'm vegetarian = ベジタリアンです — pronounced "beh-jee-tah-ree-AHN des" (Indian-English phonetics). Not widely understood; better to say 'meat nashi' (no meat)

How do you say "Water, please" in Japanese?

Water, please = 水をください — pronounced "mee-zoo oh koo-dah-SAH-ee" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Take me to the station" in Japanese?

Take me to the station = 駅まで行ってください — pronounced "ay-kee mah-day ee-t-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "How much is the fare?" in Japanese?

How much is the fare? = 運賃はいくらですか — pronounced "oon-chin wah ee-koo-RAH des kah" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Stop here, please" in Japanese?

Stop here, please = ここで止めてください — pronounced "koh-KOH day toh-may-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "I have a reservation" in Japanese?

I have a reservation = 予約があります — pronounced "yoh-yah-koo gah ah-ree-mahs" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Can I get a room for two nights?" in Japanese?

Can I get a room for two nights? = 2泊のお部屋をください — pronounced "nee-hah-koo noh oh-hay-yah oh koo-dah-SAH-ee" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Where is the bathroom?" in Japanese?

Where is the bathroom? = トイレはどこですか — pronounced "toy-RAY wah doh-KOH des kah" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "How much does this cost?" in Japanese?

How much does this cost? = これはいくらですか — pronounced "koh-RAY wah ee-koo-RAH des kah" (Indian-English phonetics). Bargaining not expected in shops; use in markets only

How do you say "That's too expensive" in Japanese?

That's too expensive = 高すぎます — pronounced "tah-kah soo-ghee-mahs" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Do you have a smaller size?" in Japanese?

Do you have a smaller size? = 小さいサイズはありますか — pronounced "chee-sah-ee sah-ee-ZOO wah ah-ree-mahs kah" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "One" in Japanese?

One = 一 — pronounced "ee-chee" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Ten" in Japanese?

Ten = 十 — pronounced "joo" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "One thousand" in Japanese?

One thousand = 千 — pronounced "sen" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Go straight" in Japanese?

Go straight = まっすぐ行ってください — pronounced "mahs-soo-GOO ee-t-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Turn left" in Japanese?

Turn left = 左に曲がってください — pronounced "hee-dah-ree nee mah-gah-t-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Near the train station" in Japanese?

Near the train station = 駅の近くです — pronounced "ay-kee noh chee-kah-KOO des" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "That's beautiful" in Japanese?

That's beautiful = それは美しいです — pronounced "soh-RAY wah oo-too-shee-EE des" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Japan is wonderful" in Japanese?

Japan is wonderful = 日本は素晴らしいです — pronounced "nee-hohn wah soo-bah-rah-shee-EE des" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "What is your name?" in Japanese?

What is your name? = お名前は何ですか — pronounced "oh-nah-mah-ay wah nah-nee des kah" (Indian-English phonetics). Formal; use 'namae' in casual settings

How do you say "No, thank you" in Japanese?

No, thank you = いいえ、結構です — pronounced "ee-ee-ay, KEN-koh des" (Indian-English phonetics). 'Kekko desu' = polite but firm refusal

How do you say "I don't want it" in Japanese?

I don't want it = 欲しくないです — pronounced "hoh-shee-koo-nah-ee des" (Indian-English phonetics).

How do you say "Please leave me alone" in Japanese?

Please leave me alone = そっとしておいてください — pronounced "sot-toh shee-tay oh-ee-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee" (Indian-English phonetics). Polite but assertive; works with persistent vendors

— Travel phrasebook · Indian-friendly

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30 must-know phrases per country, with phonetic spelling tuned for Indian English speakers (we write sah-wah-DEE krahp, not sawatdee krap). Tap any phrase to hear it.

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Showing 30 Japanese phrases for Japan

Greetings & Politeness

3 phrases

Hello
こんにちは
kohn-nee-chee-WAH
💡 Use until evening; switch to 'konbanwa' after sunset
Thank you
ありがとうございます
ah-ree-gah-TOH go-ZY-mas
💡 Most formal; use in service contexts
Excuse me / Sorry
すみません
soo-mee-MAH-sen
💡 Works for apologies and getting attention

Help & Emergencies

3 phrases

I need a doctor
医者が必要です
ee-shah gah hee-tsoo-YOH des
Where is the police station?
警察署はどこですか
kay-sah-tsoo-SHOH wah doh-KOH des kah
I'm lost
迷ってしまいました
mah-yot-tay shoo-my-MAH-shee-tah

Food & Ordering

3 phrases

Can I have the menu?
メニューをください
meh-noo-YOO oh koo-dah-SAH-ee
I'm vegetarian
ベジタリアンです
beh-jee-tah-ree-AHN des
💡 Not widely understood; better to say 'meat nashi' (no meat)
Water, please
水をください
mee-zoo oh koo-dah-SAH-ee

Taxi & Transport

3 phrases

Take me to the station
駅まで行ってください
ay-kee mah-day ee-t-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee
How much is the fare?
運賃はいくらですか
oon-chin wah ee-koo-RAH des kah
Stop here, please
ここで止めてください
koh-KOH day toh-may-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee

Hotel & Stay

3 phrases

I have a reservation
予約があります
yoh-yah-koo gah ah-ree-mahs
Can I get a room for two nights?
2泊のお部屋をください
nee-hah-koo noh oh-hay-yah oh koo-dah-SAH-ee
Where is the bathroom?
トイレはどこですか
toy-RAY wah doh-KOH des kah

Shopping & Bargaining

3 phrases

How much does this cost?
これはいくらですか
koh-RAY wah ee-koo-RAH des kah
💡 Bargaining not expected in shops; use in markets only
That's too expensive
高すぎます
tah-kah soo-ghee-mahs
Do you have a smaller size?
小さいサイズはありますか
chee-sah-ee sah-ee-ZOO wah ah-ree-mahs kah

Numbers & Money

3 phrases

One
一
ee-chee
Ten
十
joo
One thousand
千
sen

Directions

3 phrases

Go straight
まっすぐ行ってください
mahs-soo-GOO ee-t-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee
Turn left
左に曲がってください
hee-dah-ree nee mah-gah-t-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee
Near the train station
駅の近くです
ay-kee noh chee-kah-KOO des

Compliments & Small Talk

3 phrases

That's beautiful
それは美しいです
soh-RAY wah oo-too-shee-EE des
Japan is wonderful
日本は素晴らしいです
nee-hohn wah soo-bah-rah-shee-EE des
What is your name?
お名前は何ですか
oh-nah-mah-ay wah nah-nee des kah
💡 Formal; use 'namae' in casual settings

Polite Refusals

3 phrases

No, thank you
いいえ、結構です
ee-ee-ay, KEN-koh des
💡 'Kekko desu' = polite but firm refusal
I don't want it
欲しくないです
hoh-shee-koo-nah-ee des
Please leave me alone
そっとしておいてください
sot-toh shee-tay oh-ee-tay koo-dah-SAH-ee
💡 Polite but assertive; works with persistent vendors

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