9 Japanese Words You Need to Know Before Traveling to Japan

9 Japanese Words You Need to Know Before Traveling to Japan

Japanpedia - Here are 9 words and phrases that will help you a great deal in Japan.

1. sumimasen

If there's one multipurpose Japanese word that gets you a lot of mileage it's Sumimasen. It can be used to:

say excuse me

call the staff in a restaurant or shop

an intro to ask someone a question ("pardon me")

say thank you

2. ii

ii means good. It's often used to ask/indicate whether something is okay.

ii desu ka (is it ok?)

ii desu (it is ok)

3. hai

Hai is best translated "I'm satisfied". It doesn't necessarily mean yes. For example, if you ask someone if they want more beer and they say "I'm satisfied" — they're saying no.

It's used a great deal in Japanese. It sounds polite.

4. wakarimasen

It's important to be able to indicate you don't understand.

wakarimasen (I don't understand)

nihongo wa wakarimasen (I don't understand Japanese)

5. Gomennasai

I'm sorry. If you're worried you have offended someone this is the best word to use.

6. doko

Doko means where. When you' re traveling you'll end up using this word a great deal. A few examples:

doko (where?)

~ wa doko desu ka (where is ~?)

eki wa doko desu ka (where is the station?)

toire wa doko desu ka (where is the toilet?)

7. nani

Nani means what.

nani (what?)

nan ji desu ka (what time?)

8. Itsu

Interogative words are important when traveling. Itsu means when.

itsu (when?)

basu ga itsu desu ka (when is the bus?)

densha ga itsu desu ka (when is the train?)

9. Eigo

Eigo is the Japanese word for English. It is pronounced like the American breakfast treat Eggo.

eigo ii desu ka (is English okay?)

eigo ga hanasemasu ka? (can you speak English?)


Japanpedia Team,

Credit by japan-talk