CHAPTER 1
Basic Expressions
You’ll use these basic expressions again and again during your stay in Japan. If you can, practice them aloud. It’ll take you only a few moments to learn them, and when you do, you’ll have taken the first and most important step to speaking Japanese.
WORDS & EXPRESSIONS
Good morning.
Ohayō gozaimahss.
おはようございます｡
Hello./Good afternoon.
Konnichiwa.
こんにちは｡
Good evening.
Konbanwa.
こんばんは｡
Good night.
Oyasumi-nasai.
おやすみなさい｡
Goodbye.
Sayōnara.
さようなら｡
See you later.
Dewa mata.
では、また｡
Congratulations.
Omedetō gozaimahss.
おめでとうございます｡
Thank you.
Dōmo arigatō./Arigatō.
どうもありがとう｡／ ありがとう｡
You’re welcome.
Dō-itashimashite.
どういたしまして｡
[honorific prefix]
o-
お
healthy; fine
genki
元気（げんき）
yes
hai
はい
no
iie
いいえ
Japanese (language)
Nihon-go
日本語（にほんご）
Excuse me.
Sumimasen.
すみません｡
(honorific added to another person’s name; not used with your own name)
-san
さん
English
ei-go
英語（えいご）
EXAMPLES
How are you?
O-genki dess ka?
お元気（げんき）ですか？
(I’m) fine.
Hai, genki dess.
はい、元気（げんき）です｡
How do you do?
Hajimemashite.
はじめまして｡
(used only when you are introduced to someone)
Glad to meet you.
Dōzo yoroshiku.
どうぞ、よろしく｡
(You can use this in reply as well, or see the next phrase for another version).
Glad to meet you, too.
Kochira koso (yoroshiku).
こちらこそ（よろしく）｡
What’s your name?
O-namae wa?
お名前（なまえ）は？
What’s your occupation?
O-shigoto wa?
お仕事（しごと）は？
Do you understand English?
Ei-go ga wakarimahss ka?
英語（えいご）がわかりますか?
I understand.
Wakarimahss.
わかります｡
I don’t understand.
Wakarimasen.
わかりません｡
I don’t understand Japanese.
Nihon-go wa wakarimasen.
日本語（にほんご）はわかりません｡
I’m poor at...
heta dess
へたです
I’m poor at Japanese./My Japanese is poor.
Nihon-go ga heta dess.
日本語（にほんご）がへたです｡
Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss Honda
Honda-san
本田（ほんだ）さん
