Essential Japanese for Travel

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By justine@japanskiexperience.com | Wed, 12 May 2021
Categories: Japan
Essential Japanese for Travel
Planning a trip to Japan?  Want to learn how to be able to speak a few words and phrases and impress your travel mates?  While Japan is ever becoming a more English-friendly country (and especially in the large international ski resorts such as Niseko and Hakuba), it is still a great idea to learn some useful Japanese prior to travel. 
Check out our list of essential Japanese words and phrases below.
  1. ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU (Areegaato Gozaimas) - THANK YOU
  2. KUDASAI (Kudasai) - PLEASE
  3. HAI (Hai) - YES
  4. Iie (Ee-ay) - NO
  5. KONICHIWA (Koneecheewa) - HI
  6. KONBANWA (Konbonwa) - GOOD EVENING
  7. OHAYO GOZAIMASU (Ohayo Gozaimas) - GOOD MORNING
  8. SAYONARA (Saiyonara) - GOODBYE
  9. SUMIMASEN (Sumeemasen) - EXCUSE ME
  10. IKURA DESU KA (Ikura Des Ka?) - HOW MUCH IS THIS?
  11. O GENKI DESU KA / GENKI (Oh Genkee Des Ka? / Genkee?) - HOW ARE YOU?
  12. GENKI DESU (Genkee Des) - I AM WELL
  13. ICHI, NI, SAN, SHI, GO, ROKU, NANA, HACHI, KYU, JYU (Eechee, Nee, San, Shee, Go, Roku, Nana, Hachee, Kyu, Ju) - ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN
  14. O-KANJOU WO ONEGAISHIMASU (Oh Konjo oh Onaygaisheemas) - CAN I HAVE THE BILL PLEASE?
  15. WATASHI NO NAMAE WA... (Watashee No Namayay wa...) - MY NAME IS...
  16. TOIRE WA DOKO DESU KA (Toyray wa Dokoo Des Ka?) - WHERE IS THE TOILET?
  17. EIGO WO HANASHIMASU KA (Eggo Oh Hanasheemas Ka?) - DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
  18. WAKARIMASEN (Wakareemasen) - I DON'T UNDERSTAND
  19. GOMENNASAI (Gomenasai) - I'M SORRY
  20. DOITASHIMASHITE (Doytasheemashtay) - YOU'RE WELCOME

Be sure to bookmark this page for easy reference while travelling!

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