I understand.
Wakarimashita. (Wah-kah-ree-mah-sshtah)
わかりました。
Note the change in the tense.
► Do you understand?
Wakarimashita-ka. わかりましたか。
(Wah-kah-ree-mah-sshtah kah)
► I want to study Japanese.
Nihongo-o benkyō-shitai-desu.
(Nee-hoan-go oh bane-k’yoe she-tie dess)
にほんごを べんきょう したいです。
► Please speak in Japanese.
Nihongo-de hanashite kudasai.
(Nee-hoan-go day hah-nah-sshtay kuu-dah-sie)
にほんごで はなして ください。
► Is it all right?
Ii-desu-ka. (ee-dess-kah) いいですか。
► It’s OK.
Daijōbu-desu. (Die-joe-buu dess) だいじょうぶです。
► Please.
Onegai-shimasu. おねがいします。
(Oh-nay-guy-she-mahss)
► It doesn’t matter. / I don’t mind.
Kamaimasen. (Kah-my-mah-sen) かまいません。
► I see. / Is that so?
Sō-desu-ka. (Soh dess kah) そうですか。
► I don’t want/need it.
Irimasen. (Ee-ree-mah-sen) いりません。/
Kekkō-desu. (more polite) けっこうです。 (Keck-koe dess)
► I think so.
Sō omoimasu. そう おもいます。
(Soh oh-moy-ee-mahss)
► I don’t think so.
Sō-wa omoimasen. そうは おもいません。
(Soh wah oh-moy-mah-sen)
Chigau-to omoimasu. ちがうと おもいます。
(Chee-gah-uu toe oh-moy-ee-mahss)
► Not yet. (Used as a sentence.)
Mada-desu. (Mah-dah dess) まだです。
► Just a moment, please.
Chotto matte kudasai. ちょっと まって ください。
(Choat-toe mot-tay kuu-dah-sie)
Chotto (choat-toe) ちょっと is also used by itself when you want to get someone’s attention and/or call the person to you—Chotto! (choat-toe) ちょっと . This is very familiar, however, and is primarily used among families and when addressing serving people in an informal setting, such as a restaurant. When said in a reluctant, cautious tone of voice, chotto means you don’t want to positively respond to a question or comment, and are leaving it to the listener to interpret your meaning. If someone says chotto muzukashii-desu-ne (choat-toe muu-zuu-kah-she dess nay) ちょっと むずかし いですね。“it’s a little difficult,” they really mean it can’t be done or they can’t do it.
► I’ve had enough / No more, thank you.
Mō kekkō-desu. もうけっこうです。
(Moe keck-koe dess)
► Well, I must be going.
Jā soro-soro shitsurei-shimasu.
(Jah so-roe so-roe she-t’sue-ray she-mahss)
じゃあ そろそろ しつれいします。
► Where did you study English?
Doko-de Eigo-o benkyō-shimashita-ka.
(Doe-koe day aa-go oh bane-k’yoe she-mah-sshta kah)
どこで えいごを べんきょう しましたか。
► Have you been to the United States?
Amerika-ni itta koto-ga arimasu-ka.
(Ah-may-ree-kah nee eet-tah koe-toe gah ah-ree-mahss kah) アメリカに いったことが ありますか。
GREETING PEOPLE
Good morning. (Said until about 11:00 a.m.)
Ohayō gozaimasu. おはよう ございます。
(Oh-hah-yoe go-zie-mahss)
Good afternoon.
(Said from around 11:00 a.m. until dusk.)
Konnichiwa. (Kone-nee-chee wah) こんにちは。
Note that konnichiwa is not used among family members or close friends, or between colleagues in their workplace.
Good evening. (Said from dusk.)
Konbanwa. (Kome-bahn wah) こんばんは。
Note that konbanwa is not used among family members or close friends, or between colleagues in their workplace.
Good night.
Oyasumi-nasai. おやすみなさい。
(Oh-yah-sue-me nah-sie)
► See you again tomorrow.
Mata ashita. (Mah-tah ah-ssh-tah) また あした。
► How are you?
O-genki-desu-ka. おげんきですか。
(Oh-gain-kee dess kah)
Note that Japanese do not say this to people they meet regularly or to strangers.
► I’m fine.
Genki-desu.
