Basic Japanese Terms?

Question

Hi everyone! I will be going to Japan next week for an intended 4 day stoppover.. and was wondering if you could feed my naive mind some basic Japanese. The only and most important one I know is ''arigato'' I will be on my own, and will have to interact with others. Any basic terms and tips or links you could shoot my way would be great!

eg. How are you? , Your country is beautiful, I am from Canada, et cetera..

Answer 1

I find that the word I use most is "sumimasen" - it means excuse me or a sort of "thank you, I am sorry to put you out" - I say it when I enter taxis, when I start to ask a question in a shop or ask for directions.

How are you is "o genki desu ka?" - and the answer is "hai, genki desu" - yes, I am well or just "genki desu"

To say you are Canadian would be "Watashi wa Canada-gin desu"

BTW - I am not a Japan native and my Japanese isn't great, but I get by. Even in situations where my limited language lessons don't work, a nice smile and a "sumimasen, wakarimasen" - which means "Excuse me, I don't understand" works fine and we use sign language for the rest.

You will be amazed (especially in cities) how much English everyone knows.

I live in Tokyo and would offer my email address on yahoo answers to help you next week if you need it, but would probably invite spam...any ideas there?

Hope you find something useful in my answer - and for all of you who know Japanese much better than I do - please go easy on me! ;-)

Answer 2

Every Japanese can understand "Thank you" "Hello" "Good morning", so "arigato" etc are compliment. Most practical basic Japanese is counting as the above answerer mentioned. You need it whenever you go restaurant or shopping, stay ryokan, buy tickets, etc. Here is more:
20 ni-ju
21 ni-ju-ichi
30 san-ju
40 yon-ju
50 go-ju
60 roku-ju
70 nana-ju
80 hachi-ju
90 kyuu-ju
100 hyaku
101 hyaku-ichi
200 ni-hyaku
1000 sen
2000 ni-sen
10000 ichi-man
100000 ju-man
1000000 hyaku-man
10000000 issen-man
20000000 ni-sen-man
100000000 ichi-oku

Enjoy your stay!

Answer 3

Toile wa doco desuka - where is the toilet?

Genki desuka - how are you?

Nihon wa kirei desu - Japan is beautiful

Watashi wa Canada kara desu - I am from Canada

Watashi wa nihon ni yoka imasu - I am in Japan for 4 days

Watashi wa nihongo wakari masen - I do not understand Japanese

Watashi wa hitori de nihon ni kimashita - I came to Japan alone

Kore wa Ikura desuka - How much is this?

Karate Kid mita koto arimasuka? - Have you seen Karate Kid?

Enjoy your trip in Japan, I envy you!

Answer 4

Most of the older japanese know very little english so it may be difficult to converse in English with them. The younger generation is a little more proficient though
Try this website for phrases. http://linguanaut.com/english_japanese

Answer 5

I just spent 6 months in Japan, the first couple of weeks were rough, but there was always one phrase that helped me out the most. its... Onegai Shimas. on-na-guy shi-moss

Onegai shimas means "please, thank you, sorry," all in one phrase.

just point to something in a store and say "onegai shimas". and people will know what that you want whatever it is you are pointing at. and instead of saying "arigato" say "Ariogoss" it means thank you very much , but short.

Answer 6

hello-konnichiwa
1-itchi
2-ni
3-san
4-shi
5-go
6-roku
7-sishi
8-hachi
9-ku
10-ju

I know this because i am also going 2 Japan 2 and i am studing Japanese if u need anymore advice e mail me!! I hope u have a great time!

Answer 7

OH PLEASE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! everyone learns english in japan!!!!!! we're NOT STUPID!!!!!!!! people will understand u if u speak in english, even though their english might b quite accented, u will STILL be able to understand

Answer 8

Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto.

Answer 9

There are tons of sites that have all these phrases, but here are a few of them.

One phrase that is not there are two of the ones you asked for:
Your country is beautiful (Anata no kuni wa, tottemo kireidesu.) You can replace "Anata no kuni" (your country) with "Nihon" (Japan)

I am from Canada. (Watashi wa, Canada kare kimashita.)
I am Canadian. (Watashi wa, Canada jin desu.)

Here are some good phrases from those sites:

First English then Japanese [then Japanese pronunciation]

1. Hello Konnichiwa [kon-nee-che-wa]

2. I am ..... Watashi wa ___desu [wa-tah-chee-wa ___ des]

3. Thank you Arigato [a-ree-ga-toe]

4. Thank you very much Domo Arigato [Doh-mo a-ree-ga-toe]

5. Good Morning Ohaya gozaimasu [o-hi-o go-za-i-mas]

6. Good Afternoon Konnichiwa [kon-nee-chee-wa]

7. Good Evening Konbanwa [kon-ban-wa]

8. Yes Hai [ ha-i]

9. No Iie ee-eh

10. Excuse me Sumimasen [su-mee-ma-sen]

11. Good bye Sayonara [sa-yo-na-ra]

12. Thank you for the food I will eat [what you say before eating] Itadakimase [ee-tah-da-kee-mas]

13. Delicious Oishi [oi-shee]

Greetings
はじめまして Nice to meet you! Hajimemashite!
おはよう Good morning ohayou.
こんにちは Hello konnichiwa.
こんばんは　（今晩は） Good evening konbanwa.
おやすみなさい　(お休みなさい。)
Good night O yasumi nasai.
さようなら Good bye. sayonara.
バイバイ Bye! Baibai
じゃまたね！ See you! Ja mata ne!
また会いましょう！ See you again! Mata aimashou
Politeness/Basics
ごめんなさい I am (really) sorry Gomen nasai
すみません Excuse me/Pardon sumimasen.
おげんきですか　（お元気ですか） How are you ? (polite) O genki desu ka.
おかげさまで Very well, thanks for asking. o kage-sama de
元気です！ I am fine Genki desu
おだいじに　(お大事に) Take care of yourself. o daiji ni.
おひさしぶり　(お久しぶりです。)
It's been a long time o hisashiburi desu.
はい Yes Hai
いいえ No iie
・りがとう Thank you Arigatou
どういたしまして You're welcome/Not at all. Dou itashimashite!
おねがいします　（お願いします） Please Onegai shimasu
けっこうです　（結構です） No thank you! Kekkou desu!
どうぞ Please/Go ahead/After you Dozo
ちょっと待ってください Wait a moment, please Chotto Matte kudasai
おせわになりました　（お世話になりました） Thanks for everything! O sewa ni narimashita
しつれいします　（失礼します） Excuse me please (when disturbing someone) Shitsurei shimasu
おじゃまします　
（お邪魔します） Sorry to bother you (said when entering a house) O jama shimasu
かんぱい！　（乾杯） Cheers! Kanpai!
いただきます Bon apetit! (but said to oneself and not to others) Itadakimasu
ごちそうさまでした Thank you for this delicious meal! Gochiso sama deshita
Special events
おめでとう！ Congratulations! Omedeto !
お誕生日おめでとう
Happy birthday! o tanjoubi omedeto.
明けましておめでとう
Happy New Year! Akemashite omedeto
よいとしを　(良いお年を)
I wish you a Happy New Year yoi o-toshi wo.
よいいちにちを！　（良い一日を！） Have a nice day! Yoi ichinichi wo!
元気でね！ Good luck (for the future)! Genki de ne!
Basic needs
おなかがすいた I am hungry Onaka (ga) suita!
のどがかわいた I am thirsty Nodo (ga) kawaita
つかれた　（疲れた） I am tired/exhausted! Tsukareta
ねむいです　（眠いです） I feel sleepy Nemui desu
お手洗いはどちらですか Where is the lavatory? O tearai wa dochira desu ka?
Communication
いくらですか How much is it? Ikura desu ka?
どちらですか Which way is it ? Dochira desu ka
どちらのご出身ですか Where are you from ? Dochira no go shusshin desu ka?
何時から始まりますか What time does it start? Nanji kara hajimarimasu ka?
。。。を探しています I am looking for ... ... o sagashite imasu
日本語がわかりません I don't understand Japanese Nihongo ga wakarimasen
わかりますか Do you understand? Wakarimasu ka?
すこし （少し） A little (bit) Sukoshi
わかります I understand Wakarimasu
わかりません I don't understand Wakarimasen
しっています （知っています） I know Shitte imasu
しりません （知りません） I don't know Shirimasen
これはなんですか　（これは何ですか） What is it? Kore wa nandesu ka?
どういういみですか　（どういう意味ですか） What does it mean? Do iu imi desu ka?
日本語でなんと言いますか How do we say that in Japanese? Nihongo de nanto iimasu ka?
英語でなんと言いますか How do we say that in English? Eigo de nanto iimasu ka?
もう一度言って下さい Could you say that again please Mo ichido itte kudasai
ゆっくり話して下さい Could you speak more slowly! Yukkuri hanashite kudasai!
愛している I love you Ai shiteru