You don’t need to speak Japanese well to enjoy a trip to Japan. About a hundred words will get you through most of it: buying a train ticket, ordering lunch, finding a toilet, or asking for help when something goes wrong.
Every phrase below has romaji next to the Japanese, so you can say it out loud even if you can’t read the script yet. They are all in the polite form, which is safe to use with anyone you meet as a visitor. If you are a complete beginner and not travelling anywhere yet, this is still a good first list to learn from, because these are the words you will hear most often.
Tap the next to any phrase to hear how it sounds.
Greetings & Basics (1–10)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 1 |
こんにちは |
Konnichiwa |
Hello / Good afternoon |
| 2 |
おはようございます |
Ohayou gozaimasu |
Good morning |
| 3 |
こんばんは |
Konbanwa |
Good evening |
| 4 |
さようなら |
Sayounara |
Goodbye |
| 5 |
お元気ですか？ |
Ogenki desu ka? |
How are you? |
| 6 |
はい / いいえ |
Hai / Iie |
Yes / No |
| 7 |
ありがとうございます |
Arigatou gozaimasu |
Thank you |
| 8 |
すみません |
Sumimasen |
Excuse me / Sorry |
| 9 |
どういたしまして |
Dou itashimashite |
You’re welcome |
| 10 |
お願いします |
Onegaishimasu |
Please |
Polite Requests & Questions (11–20)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 11 |
わかりません |
Wakarimasen |
I don’t understand |
| 12 |
わかりました |
Wakarimashita |
I understand / Got it |
| 13 |
英語を話せますか？ |
Eigo o hanasemasu ka? |
Can you speak English? |
| 14 |
もう一度お願いします |
Mou ichido onegaishimasu |
One more time, please |
| 15 |
ゆっくり話してください |
Yukkuri hanashite kudasai |
Please speak slowly |
| 16 |
これは何ですか？ |
Kore wa nan desu ka? |
What is this? |
| 17 |
いくらですか？ |
Ikura desu ka? |
How much is it? |
| 18 |
トイレはどこですか？ |
Toire wa doko desu ka? |
Where is the toilet? |
| 19 |
手伝ってください |
Tetsudatte kudasai |
Please help me |
| 20 |
大丈夫です |
Daijoubu desu |
I’m fine / It’s okay |
Introducing Yourself (21–25)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 21 |
私の名前は〜です |
Watashi no namae wa ~ desu |
My name is ~ |
| 22 |
はじめまして |
Hajimemashite |
Nice to meet you |
| 23 |
アメリカ人です |
Amerika-jin desu |
I’m American (swap in your own country) |
| 24 |
観光で来ました |
Kankou de kimashita |
I’m here for sightseeing |
| 25 |
よろしくお願いします |
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu |
Nice to meet you (said after you introduce yourself) |
Transportation (26–40)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 26 |
駅はどこですか？ |
Eki wa doko desu ka? |
Where is the station? |
| 27 |
切符 |
Kippu |
Ticket |
| 28 |
片道 |
Katamichi |
One-way |
| 29 |
往復 |
Oufuku |
Round-trip |
| 30 |
次の電車は何時ですか？ |
Tsugi no densha wa nanji desu ka? |
What time is the next train? |
| 31 |
この電車は〜に行きますか？ |
Kono densha wa ~ ni ikimasu ka? |
Does this train go to ~? |
| 32 |
乗り換え |
Norikae |
Changing trains |
| 33 |
各駅停車 |
Kakueki teisha |
Local train |
| 34 |
急行 / 特急 |
Kyuukou / Tokkyuu |
Express / Limited express |
| 35 |
タクシー乗り場 |
Takushii noriba |
Taxi stand |
| 36 |
ここまでお願いします |
Koko made onegaishimasu |
Please take me here (point at a map or address) |
| 37 |
空港 |
Kuukou |
Airport |
| 38 |
出口 / 入口 |
Deguchi / Iriguchi |
Exit / Entrance |
| 39 |
止まってください |
Tomatte kudasai |
Please stop (taxi/bus) |
| 40 |
忘れ物 |
Wasuremono |
Something you left behind |
Restaurants & Food (41–58)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 41 |
メニューをください |
Menyuu o kudasai |
Menu, please |
| 42 |
おすすめは何ですか？ |
Osusume wa nan desu ka? |
What do you recommend? |
| 43 |
注文お願いします |
Chuumon onegaishimasu |
I’d like to order |
| 44 |
お会計お願いします |
Okaikei onegaishimasu |
I’d like to pay, please. |
| 45 |
美味しいです |
Oishii desu |
It’s delicious |
| 46 |
いただきます |
Itadakimasu |
Said before you start eating |
| 47 |
ごちそうさまでした |
Gochisousama deshita |
Said after eating, to say thanks |
| 48 |
水をください |
Mizu o kudasai |
Water, please |
| 49 |
辛くないですか？ |
Karakunai desu ka? |
It’s not spicy, is it? |
| 50 |
アレルギーがあります |
Arerugii ga arimasu |
I have an allergy |
| 51 |
ベジタリアンです |
Bejitarian desu |
I’m vegetarian |
| 52 |
禁煙席 / 喫煙席 |
Kin’en-seki / Kitsuen-seki |
Non-smoking seat / Smoking seat |
| 53 |
何名様ですか？ |
Nanmei-sama desu ka? |
How many people? (staff will ask this) |
| 54 |
二人です |
Futari desu |
Two people |
| 55 |
予約しています |
Yoyaku shite imasu |
I have a reservation |
| 56 |
お箸 |
Ohashi |
Chopsticks |
| 57 |
持ち帰りできますか？ |
Mochikaeri dekimasu ka? |
Can I get this to go? |
| 58 |
飲み放題 |
Nomihoudai |
All-you-can-drink |
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 59 |
これをください |
Kore o kudasai |
I’ll take this |
| 60 |
試着できますか？ |
Shichaku dekimasu ka? |
Can I try this on? |
| 61 |
他の色はありますか？ |
Hoka no iro wa arimasu ka? |
Do you have other colors? |
| 62 |
サイズは何ですか？ |
Saizu wa nan desu ka? |
What size is it? |
| 63 |
カードは使えますか？ |
Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? |
Can I use a card? |
| 64 |
現金のみ |
Genkin nomi |
Cash only |
| 65 |
免税できますか？ |
Menzei dekimasu ka? |
Can I buy this tax-free? |
| 66 |
袋はいりません |
Fukuro wa irimasen |
I don’t need a bag |
| 67 |
見ているだけです |
Miteiru dake desu |
I’m just looking |
| 68 |
割引はありますか？ |
Waribiki wa arimasu ka? |
Is there a discount? |
At the Hotel (69–76)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 69 |
チェックインお願いします |
Chekku-in onegaishimasu |
Check-in, please |
| 70 |
チェックアウトは何時ですか？ |
Chekku-auto wa nanji desu ka? |
What time is checkout? |
| 71 |
予約番号 |
Yoyaku bangou |
Reservation number |
| 72 |
部屋 |
Heya |
Room |
| 73 |
タオルをもらえますか？ |
Taoru o moraemasu ka? |
Can I get a towel? |
| 74 |
Wi-Fiのパスワードは何ですか？ |
Wi-Fi no pasuwaado wa nan desu ka? |
What’s the Wi-Fi password? |
| 75 |
荷物を預けられますか？ |
Nimotsu o azukeraremasu ka? |
Can I store my luggage? |
| 76 |
部屋を変えてもらえますか？ |
Heya o kaete moraemasu ka? |
Can I change rooms? |
Directions & Getting Around (77–86)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 77 |
まっすぐ |
Massugu |
Straight ahead |
| 78 |
右 / 左 |
Migi / Hidari |
Right / Left |
| 79 |
近い / 遠い |
Chikai / Tooi |
Near / Far |
| 80 |
ここはどこですか？ |
Koko wa doko desu ka? |
Where am I? |
| 81 |
地図を見せてください |
Chizu o misete kudasai |
Please show me on the map |
| 82 |
歩いて行けますか？ |
Aruite ikemasu ka? |
Can I walk there? |
| 83 |
どのくらいかかりますか？ |
Dono kurai kakarimasu ka? |
How long does it take? |
| 84 |
迷いました |
Mayoimashita |
I’m lost |
| 85 |
交番はどこですか？ |
Kouban wa doko desu ka? |
Where’s the police box? (small local station) |
| 86 |
案内所 |
Annaijo |
Information desk |
Emergencies & Health (87–94)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 87 |
助けてください |
Tasukete kudasai |
Help me! (use this in an emergency) |
| 88 |
救急車を呼んでください |
Kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai |
Please call an ambulance |
| 89 |
警察を呼んでください |
Keisatsu o yonde kudasai |
Please call the police |
| 90 |
具合が悪いです |
Guai ga warui desu |
I feel unwell |
| 91 |
病院はどこですか？ |
Byouin wa doko desu ka? |
Where’s the hospital? |
| 92 |
薬局 |
Yakkyoku |
Pharmacy |
| 93 |
パスポートをなくしました |
Pasupooto o nakushimashita |
I lost my passport |
| 94 |
熱があります |
Netsu ga arimasu |
I have a fever |
Numbers & Time (95–100)
| # |
Japanese |
Romaji |
English |
| 95 |
一, 二, 三 |
Ichi, ni, san |
One, two, three |
| 96 |
何時ですか？ |
Nanji desu ka? |
What time is it? |
| 97 |
今日 / 明日 / 昨日 |
Kyou / Ashita / Kinou |
Today / Tomorrow / Yesterday |
| 98 |
円 |
En |
Yen (currency) |
| 99 |
〜時 |
~ji |
~ o’clock (e.g. 三時 = 3 o’clock) |
| 100 |
すみません、写真を撮ってもらえますか？ |
Sumimasen, shashin o totte moraemasu ka? |
Excuse me, could you take a photo for me? |
Tips for use
- If you only learn one word, learn すみません (Sumimasen). It covers “excuse me,” “sorry,” and “hello, could you help me?” all at once.
- Say a noun, then add ください (kudasai) or お願いします (onegaishimasu), and you have a polite request. 水をください is simply “water” plus “please.”
- Staff in tourist areas usually understand slow, simple English. Try a little Japanese first anyway. People notice, and it makes the rest of the conversation easier.
FAQ
Do I need to read hiragana to use these?
No. Every phrase has romaji, so you can say it out loud right away. Learning kana is still worth doing if you want to read menus and station signs on your own.
Is this enough Japanese for a trip?
For a normal trip, yes. These cover trains, food, shopping, hotels and emergencies. You won’t be able to chat, but you can handle the moments that matter.
What JLPT level is this?
Most of these words are N5, the first JLPT level. If you want to go further than survival phrases, N5 vocabulary and grammar is the next step.
Want to learn more than travel phrases? Start with our N5 Vocabulary section or the N5 Grammar guide.