10 Extraordinarily Useful Japanese Phrases For Travelers

05/25/09  Print This Post Print This Post    88 Comments   Popular   Written by Tim Patterson
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Tokyo photo by oimax———-Feature photo by skyseeker

Going to Japan? Here are some Japanese phrases to memorize on the plane.

This post is dedicated to Sarah Menkedick, who is currently learning Japanese in Nagoya, Japan.

Some of these Japanese phrases are practical. Some of them are funny. All 10 will greatly enhance your trip to Japan.

All of the phrases are pretty informal, especially the one about crapping your pants.

Note that I spell the phrases phonetically in the bold text, but spell them with the most common romanization of the Japanese characters when explaining a point.

Confused already? Don’t worry about it.

Keitai girl by scion02

1. “Yo-ro-sh-ku o-neh-gai-shi-mus.”

This phrase is absolute magic. Say “yoroshiku” to any Japanese person in any situation and they will help you with anything and everything you need. It’s impossible to translate literally, but means something to the effect of “please do your best and treat me well”.

If you memorize nothing else before going to Japan, remember “yoroshiku” and you’re totally set. “Onegaishimasu” is a common word that means something similar to “please”.

2. “Yosh. Gahn-bah-di-mus.”

This phrase means something like, “OK, I’m going for it,” or “I’ll do my best”. A Japanese would say “Ganbarimasu” before taking a test, or leaving the house for a job interview.

Japanese people will crack up if you say it before walking outside, eating noodles or using a vending machine. Try saying it before using useful phrase # 8.

3. “Ara! Onara suru tsu-mori datta keh-do, un-chi ga de-chatta.”

The literal translation of this useful phrase is “Oops! I meant to fart but poop came out”.

Saying this useful phrase never gets old, especially in public places, especially on a first date and most especially if it’s clearly one of only 10 Japanese phrases that you’ve memorized.

When in Southeast Asia, I especially enjoy muttering in Japanese about crapping my pants while walking past Japanese tourists. The reactions are priceless.

4. “Mo da-meh. Yoh-para-chatta. Go-men.”

At some point during your stay, Japanese people will probably try to make you drink past your limit. That’s when this phrase comes in handy. It means something like, “No more, I’m already drunk, sorry.”

Photo by Jenny Webber

5. “Ko-ko wa do-ko? Wa-ta-shi wa da-reh?” Na-ni mo wah-kah-nai.”

Where is this? Who am I? I don’t understand anything.

This is what you say after failing to use useful phrase # 4 in time.

6. “Ee-show ni kah-rah-o-keh ni ee-koh ka?”

Shall we go to karaoke together? This is a good line to use if trying to pick someone up from the bar. Think of karaoke as a transition point between the bar and the love hotel.

Note – please don’t pronounce karaoke with lots of EEE sounds. It should sound like “kah-rah-o-keh” not “carry-oh-key”.

7. “Hon-toe ni oh-ee-shee des yo!”

Use this one when eating. It means something like, “For real, it’s delicious!”

Hontou ni means “for real” or “really” or “I’m not kidding.” Japanese people are always telling sweet little white lies, so dropping a “hontou ni” from time to time is very much appreciated.

8. “Ah-nah-tah wa ha-ruh no ee-chee ban no sah-ku-rah yo-ree u-tsu-ku-shee.”

This classic Japanese pick-up line means “You’re more beautiful than the first cherry blossom of spring.”

9. “Ni-hon dai-skee”.

Japan is the best. I love Japan. When in doubt, just smile, nod and repeat.

10. “Koh-nah ni kee-ray na to-ko-ro wa hah-jee-meh-teh mee-tah!”

Japanese people love it when you gush about their country. This phrase means, “I’ve never seen a place so beautiful before”.

Bust it out at famous attractions and you’ll meet with instant approval.

Want To Live In Japan?

Check out: How To Get A Job Teaching In Japan

Do You Speak Any Japanese?

Help us all out by sharing a useful phrase in the comments section below.


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About the Author

Matador ID: rsw

Tim Patterson is a travel instructor for Where There Be Dragons and a contributing editor to the Matador Network.

88 Comments... join the discussion!

  • bpk replied on February 15, 2010

    Here is a good free ebook to learn japanese basics…
    http://fexute.com/speak-japanese-fast.pdf

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  • Israel replied on March 4, 2010

    The guide for pronunciation is awful!!!!
    lots of mistakes. i could notice even i am not a japanese expert.

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  • Sarah replied on April 8, 2010

    I found many of these to be quite funny! Especially #4.
    I’ve been speaking basic-intermediate Japanese for 11 years, and I found the pronunciation breakdown to be terribly hard to read.

    Here are some helpful phrases:

    I’m very sorry, but, I do not speak Japanese. = “Gomenasai, demo, watashi wa nihongo o hanashimasen.”

    Who here can speak English? = “Koko dare wa eigo o hanashimasu ka?”

    Where am I? = “Watashi wa doko desu ka?”

    Is it alright if I go to the washroom? = “Oteari ni itte mo ii desu ka?”
    (not 100% on the ‘oteari’, that phrase became very slurred in class)

    Hope I helped!!

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  • Jazmin M. replied on April 22, 2010

    I know one phrase in japanese and I am terrible at spelling but its..
    Ashita no Roku ji ni monigu koru o onigasi masu
    What it is supposed to be is “Wake me up at 6:00 tomorrow morning please”
    lol not sure though i found it usefull at one point in time.

    6時で私を明日の朝喜ぶ目覚めさせなさい

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  • Manasama replied on May 2, 2010

    I agree with the last comment I read, although these phrases ARE amazingly useful for foreigners in Japan with little language capabilities, the way you’re all explaining pronunciation is very unhelpful. Truthfully, most people would find it much easier if you just wrote the phrases in full romaji. For example

    kurenai buta wa ii eiga desu ne.

    you might want to point out specific points like the common dropping of the u from desu though. and any other dropped letters…

    tsukareta (ts’kareta) – I’m tired
    nemui – I’m sleepy
    tsumaranai – boring
    kore wa tsumaranai – this is boring
    ikimashou (poilter) – let’s go
    ikou (inf) – let’s go
    X wo nomitai desu – I want to drink X
    Y wo tabetai – I want to eat Y (inf)
    X ga suki (s’ki) – I like X
    mita koto ga nai (inf) – I haven’t seen it
    mita koto ga arimasen (polite) – ” ” ” ”
    sumimasen, shitsureishimasu (shitsureishimas’) – Excuse me I’m being rude, about to be rude, may I intrude etc. (polite)
    X ga hoshi desu – I want X (polite)

    ;3 have fun kiddies.

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  • Kirsten replied on May 20, 2010

    Number three almost made me spit out my drink! What a brilliantly fun/horrible idea!

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  • SpunkyGirl replied on July 22, 2010

    Fun! I especially loved number 4. Fabulous.

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  • India travel packages replied on July 23, 2010

    I would have liked to have seen the actual phrases along with the phonetic rendering, but otherwise, these are great ;-) Now to just get back to Japan to use them. Or store them up for my next visit with my Japanese aunt ;-)

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  • Yonatan replied on July 25, 2010

    And for those of you a little farther afield…

    “Yunbe, washa no kei-tora ga tanbo ni ochi-tan ja waa…”
    (“Last night, my light pick-up truck fell into the rice paddy…” as spoken by an old man in the boonies)

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