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Video Guide
What Does 保証はいかがですか Mean After You Pay in a Japanese Shop?
What does 保証はいかがですか mean after you pay in a Japanese electronics shop?
Video Guide
What Does さんまの塩焼きをお願いします Mean at a Japanese Restaurant?
What does さんまの塩焼きをお願いします mean at a Japanese restaurant?
Video Guide
What Does 並でお願いします Mean at a Japanese Ramen Counter?
What does 並でお願いします mean at a Japanese ramen counter?
Video Guide
What Does これで乗れますか Mean at a Japanese Train Gate?
What does これで乗れますか mean at a Japanese train gate?
Video Guide
What Does 半自動 Mean on a Japanese Train Door?
What does 半自動 mean on a Japanese train door?
Video Guide
What Does 和式しかありません Mean in a Japanese Restroom?
What does 和式しかありません mean in a Japanese restroom?
Video Guide
What Does カードを差し込んでください Mean in a Japanese Hotel Room?
What does カードを差し込んでください mean in a Japanese hotel room?
Video Guide
What Does 方面 Mean on a Japanese Train Platform?
What does 方面 mean on a Japanese train platform?
Video Guide
What Does 持ち込み禁止 Mean? No Outside Food at the Gate
What does 持ち込み禁止 mean on a Japanese sign?
Video Guide
What Does 黄色い線までお下がりください Mean at a Japanese Station?
What does 黄色い線までお下がりください mean at a Japanese station?
Video Guide
What Does 訳あり Mean on Japanese Food?
What does 訳あり mean on Japanese food?
Video Guide
What Does 計量はどこですか Mean at a Japanese Supermarket?
What does 計量はどこですか mean at a Japanese supermarket?
Video Guide
Can You Eat Tax-Free Snacks Before Leaving Japan?
Can you eat tax-free snacks before leaving Japan?
Video Guide
What Does ニンニクなしで Mean at a Japanese Ramen Counter?
What does ニンニクなしで mean at a Japanese ramen counter?
Video Guide
What Does 満杯 Mean on a Japanese Coin Locker?
What does 満杯 mean on a Japanese coin locker?
Video Guide
What Does タッチしてください Mean at a Japanese Register?
What does タッチしてください mean at a Japanese register?
Video Guide
What Does こちらへどうぞ Mean at a Japanese Restaurant?
What does こちらへどうぞ mean at a Japanese restaurant?
Video Guide
What Does 紅葉前線 Mean? Japan's Autumn Leaves Move South
What does 紅葉前線 mean, and which way do Japan's autumn leaves move?
Video Guide
What Does 月見 Mean on Japanese Food in September?
What does 月見 mean on Japanese food in September?
Video Guide
What Does 生卵 Mean on a Japanese Beef Bowl?
What does 生卵 mean on a Japanese beef bowl?
Video Guide
What Does 貴重品ロッカー Mean at a Japanese Onsen?
What does 貴重品ロッカー mean at a Japanese onsen?
Video Guide
What Does 下駄箱 Mean at a Japanese Restaurant?
What does 下駄箱 mean at a Japanese restaurant?
Video Guide
What Does 連休 Mean on a Japanese Travel Poster?
What does 連休 mean on a Japanese travel poster?
Video Guide
What Does 運転見合わせ Mean on a Japanese Train?
What does 運転見合わせ mean on a Japanese train?
Video Guide
What Does いいです Mean at a Japanese Cashier?
What does いいです mean at a Japanese cashier?
Video Guide
What Does 欠航になりました Mean at a Japanese Airport?
What does 欠航になりました mean at a Japanese airport?
Video Guide
What Does 貸傘 Mean at a Japanese Hotel?
What does 貸傘 mean at a Japanese hotel?
Video Guide
How to Ask a Japanese Restaurant If You Can Come Now
How do you ask a Japanese restaurant or shop if you can come right now?
Video Guide
What Is a 処方箋? How to Fill a Japanese Prescription
How do you get medicine after a Japanese clinic hands you a 処方箋 instead of pills?
Every Japanese Travel Phrase on Video: The Complete Catalog Guide
Where can I watch every Japanese travel phrase video in one place?
Video Guide
What Does 深夜料金 Mean on a Japanese Taxi?
What does 深夜料金 mean on a Japanese taxi?
Video Guide
How to Ask If a Japanese Bus Goes to Your Stop
How do you ask if this Japanese bus is going to your destination?
Video Guide
What Does つり銭切れ Mean on a Japanese Vending Machine?
What does つり銭切れ mean on a Japanese vending machine?
Video Guide
What Does 宿泊 vs 休憩 Mean on a Japanese Hotel Board?
What is the difference between 宿泊 and 休憩 on a Japanese hotel price board?
Video Guide
What Does 切り離し Mean on a Japanese Train?
What does 切り離し mean on a Japanese train?
Video Guide
From How Much Can You Use a Card in Japan?
From how much can you use a card in Japan?
Video Guide
How to Order at a Japanese Izakaya When Nobody Comes to the Table
How do you order at a Japanese izakaya when nobody comes to your table?
Video Guide
Can You Eat Nigiri With Your Fingers in Japan?
Can you eat nigiri sushi with your fingers in Japan?
Video Guide
Can You Bring Meat or Beef Jerky Into Japan?
Can you bring meat or beef jerky into Japan?
Video Guide
How to Tell a Japanese Disaster Drill from a Real Emergency
How do you tell a Japanese neighbourhood siren is a drill and not a real emergency?
Video Guide
Where Do You Complete Japan's Tax-Free Procedure After November 1?
Where do you complete Japan's tax-free procedure after November 1, 2026?
Video Guide
How to Get a Train Delay Certificate in Japan
How do you ask a Japanese station for a delay certificate after your train is late?
Video Guide
What Does Sudomari Mean on a Japanese Ryokan Booking?
What does 素泊まり (sudomari) mean on a Japanese ryokan booking, and do you still get meals?
Video Guide
How to Use a Japanese Hotel Laundry Machine When Every Button Is Kanji
How do you use a Japanese hotel laundry machine when every button is only in kanji?
Video Guide
What Is an Omamori? How to Ask What a Japanese Shrine Charm Is For
How do you ask what a Japanese omamori charm is for so you do not buy the wrong one?
Video Guide
How to Read Expiration Dates on Japanese Food (Best Before vs Use By)
How do you tell whether Japanese food is still safe to eat by reading its date stamp?
Video Guide
How to Ask for Gas at a Full Service Japanese Gas Station
What do you say at a full-service Japanese gas station to get a full tank of regular fuel?
Video Guide
Should You Let Your Japanese Taxi Take the Expressway? What the Driver Is Asking
When a Japanese taxi driver asks 高速、使いますか, should you say yes?
Video Guide
Typhoon Cancelled Your Flight? How to Ask to Stay One More Night in Japanese
What do you say to a Japanese hotel front desk to stay one more night when a typhoon cancels your flight?
Video Guide
Can You Haggle in Japan? The Four Places Where It Quietly Works
Can you bargain the price in Japan, and in which four situations does haggling actually work?
Video Guide
Where to Get a SIM Card in Japan and What to Say
Where do you get a SIM card in Japan, and what do you say to buy one?
Video Guide
How to Say No Meat in Japanese (and No Pork)
How do you order a vegetarian meal in Japan when you do not speak Japanese?
Video Guide
Which Side of the Shinkansen Do You Sit On for Mount Fuji?
Which side of the Shinkansen should you sit on to see Mount Fuji, and how do you ask for that seat in Japanese?
Video Guide
What Is a Goshuin? Japan's Hand-Painted Shrine Stamp, Explained
What is a goshuin and how do you get one at a Japanese shrine?
Video Guide
Lost Your Wallet in Japan? How to Report It and Get It Back
What do you do if you lose your wallet or phone in Japan, and how do you report it in Japanese?
Video Guide
Where Do You Throw Away Trash in Japan?
Where can a tourist actually throw away trash in Japan, and how do you sort it correctly?
Video Guide
How to Read Japanese Medicine Dosage Instructions
How do you know how much Japanese over-the-counter medicine to take, and how often?
Video Guide
What to Do in an Earthquake in Japan (and What the Announcement Means)
What should you do if there is an earthquake while you are in Japan, and what are the announcements telling you?
Video Guide
Can You Use a Japanese Onsen Without Staying Overnight?
Can you use a ryokan or hotel hot spring in Japan without booking a room?
Video Guide
How to Read a Japanese Train and Bus Timetable
How do you read a Japanese train or bus timetable, and which column applies to today?
Video Guide
One Day Subway Pass in Japan: Should You Buy One or Just Tap Your IC Card?
Should I buy a one day subway pass in Japan or just pay per ride with my IC card?
Video Guide
Do Japanese Hotels Need Your Passport at Check-In?
Do Japanese hotels need to see and copy your passport when you check in?
Video Guide
Why the Shinkansen Gate Wants Two Tickets (Fare Ticket and Tokkyuken)
Why do you need two tickets to ride the Shinkansen, and how do you put them through the gate?
Video Guide
What Is Otoshi? The Izakaya Charge Nobody Warns Tourists About
Why does a Japanese izakaya charge you for a small dish you never ordered?
Video Guide
What To Do If Your Suica Does Not Have Enough Balance at a Japanese Ticket Gate
What do you do if your IC card does not have enough balance when you exit a Japanese station?
Video Guide
Sold Out Online? How Same-Day Tickets (当日券) Work in Japan
If a Japanese attraction is sold out online, can I still buy a ticket at the door?
Video Guide
Is It Rude to Eat While Walking in Japan? The Rule and Where It's Banned
Is it rude to eat while walking in Japan?
Video Guide
How to Call a Waiter in Japan: The Button, the Word, and the Rules
How do I get a waiter's attention in a Japanese restaurant?
Video Guide
Train Suspended in Japan? How Furikae Yusou Gets You Moving Again
If my train line is suspended in Japan, can I ride another company's train on the ticket I already have?
Video Guide
Is Tax Included in Price in Japan? Read the Tag
Is the price on a Japanese price tag the amount I actually pay at the register?
Video Guide
Japan Emergency Number: 119 Ambulance, 110 Police
What number do you call in an emergency in Japan, and what do you say when someone picks up?
Video Guide
How to Go to a Japanese Fireworks Festival (Hanabi Taikai)
How do you go to a Japanese fireworks festival as a tourist?
Video Guide
Local, Rapid, or Express: Which Japanese Train Should You Take?
What is the difference between local, rapid and express trains in Japan, and which one should you board?
Video Guide
What Time Is the Last Train in Japan? Times, Cities and What to Do If You Miss It
What time is the last train in Japan, and what do you do if you miss it?
Video Guide
Which ATMs in Japan Accept Foreign Cards? Where to Withdraw Yen
Which ATMs in Japan accept foreign cards, and where can you withdraw yen?
Video Guide
Do Japanese Trains Stop During a Typhoon? How to Check and What to Ask
Do Japanese trains stop during a typhoon, and how do you check whether yours is running?
Video Guide
Traveling in Japan During Obon: What to Expect in Mid-August
Should you travel in Japan during Obon in mid-August?
Video Guide
How to Send Your Luggage in Japan with Takkyubin
How do you send your luggage ahead in Japan instead of dragging it on the train?
Video Guide
How to Pay on a Bus in Japan (Front or Back Door, IC Card, and the Ticket)
How do you pay when you ride a local bus in Japan?
Video Guide
Which Side Do You Stand On? Japan's Escalator Rule (Tokyo vs Osaka)
Which side do you stand on an escalator in Japan?
Video Guide
How Does Conveyor Belt Sushi Work in Japan?
How does conveyor-belt sushi work in Japan?
How To
How to Use a Ramen Ticket Machine in Japan (Step by Step)
How do you order using a ramen ticket vending machine in Japan?
Video Guide
Do You Take Your Shoes Off in Japan? When, Where, and How to Do It Right
When and where do you take your shoes off in Japan?
Video Guide
Japanese Train Etiquette: The Rules Tourists Break Most
What are the etiquette rules on Japanese trains?
Video Guide
Heatstroke in Japan: What to Do and How to Ask for Help
What should you do if you get heatstroke in Japan, and how do you ask for help in Japanese?
Video Guide
Do You Tip in Japan? Why It Can Backfire and What to Say Instead
Do you tip in Japan, and what should you do instead?
Video Guide
Reserved or Unreserved Shinkansen Seat? What to Choose and How to Ask
Do you need a reserved seat on the Shinkansen, or can you use an unreserved car?
Video Guide
Does Japan Take Credit Cards? Where You Still Need Cash
Can you pay by credit card in Japan, or do you still need cash?
Video Guide
Onsen Etiquette in Japan: The Rules Every First-Timer Should Know
What are the etiquette rules for using a Japanese onsen?
Video Guide
How to Pray at a Japanese Shrine (Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow)
How do you pray at a Japanese shrine?
Video Guide
Can You Go to an Onsen With Tattoos? What Travelers Should Know
Can you go to a Japanese onsen or public bath if you have tattoos?
Video Guide
The 3 Japanese Words Every Traveler Should Learn Before Japan
What are the most useful Japanese words for tourists?
Video Guide
What Does "Sumimasen" Mean? The One Word That Does Everything in Japan
What does sumimasen mean and how do you use it in Japan?
Video Guide
How to Ask for Directions in Japanese (The One Phrase That Saves You)
How do you ask where something is in Japanese?
Video Guide
What to Actually Say in a Japanese Convenience Store (Konbini)
What Japanese do you need at a convenience store (konbini)?
Video Guide
How to Say You Have a Food Allergy in Japanese (and Eat Safely)
How do you tell a restaurant about a food allergy in Japanese?
Video Guide
How to Shop Tax-Free in Japan (and Save 10%)
How do you shop tax-free in Japan as a tourist?
Comparison
Kōfuku vs Duolingo for Travel Japanese: Which Is Better Before a Trip?
Is Kōfuku or Duolingo better for learning travel Japanese?
Alternative
Best Alternatives to Rosetta Stone for Tourists Learning Japanese
What are the best alternatives to Rosetta Stone for tourists learning Japanese?
Use Case
Japanese for Foodies Visiting Osaka: The Phrases You'll Actually Use
What Japanese phrases do I need to eat well in Osaka?
Videos by topic 550
All videos →accommodation
See all accommodation →
Common Mistake
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Survival
▶
You Said Two and They Lit a Second Stove
nininmae de onegai shimasu · two servings, please
Survival
▶
You Jammed the Chip In. She Wanted a Tap.
tatchi shite kudasai · Please tap (your card).
Survival
▶
Your App Taught You This Means Yes. The Cashier Just Heard No.
ii desu · I'm good / no thanks
Beginner
▶
Stop Waiting for the Check. It's Already on Your Table.
denpyō o motte reji e okoshi kudasai · Please take your slip to the register.
count-along
See all count-along →
cultural-explainer
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Survival
▶
Half Price Strawberries. Two Kanji. Something Is Wrong With Them On Purpose.
wake ari · imperfect (there's a reason this is cheap)
Survival
▶
You Pulled Up to the Exit. The Bar Did Not Move. Twenty Cars Are Now Waiting.
Shutsujō-mae seisan · Pay before you exit.
Beginner
▶
You Dumped Unlabeled Grapes on the Belt. The Whole Line Just Died.
keiryō wa doko desu ka? · Where do I weigh this?
Survival
▶
The Biggest Stall Is Not Extra Room for Your Suitcase.
tamokuteki toire · accessible toilet
cultural-nuance
See all cultural-nuance →
Cultural Shock
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Survival
▶
It Is 36 Degrees and She Just Threw a Bucket of Water at the Pavement. She Is Not Cleaning.
uchimizu · sprinkling water to cool the street
Beginner
▶
The Konbini Cashier Asks You One Word. Freeze No More.
atatamemasu ka? · Shall I heat it up?
Survival
▶
Your Japanese Host Keeps Refilling Your Plate. Say This or It Never Stops.
onaka ippai desu · I'm full, thank you
Beginner
▶
A Typhoon's Coming and Your Train Might Stop. Ask the Station This.
densha, ugoitemasu ka? · Are the trains running?
cultural_wedge
See all cultural_wedge →
Cultural Wedge
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Survival
▶
The Storm Heading for Your Trip Has a Name. Nobody in Japan Will Use It.
taifū jūni-gō · Typhoon No. 12
Survival
▶
The Yukata in Your Ryokan Room. Wrap It the Wrong Way and You Are Dressed Like the Dead.
gyaku desu yo · It's the other way around.
Survival
▶
Everyone at the Shrine Is Tying Little Papers to a Rack. That's Bad Luck Being Left Behind on Purpose.
omikuji · a paper fortune drawn at a shrine
Intermediate
▶
Mid August a Japanese River Fills With Lanterns. Each One Is Somebody Going Home.
tourou nagashi · Floating lantern ceremony
culture-curiosity
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culture-explainer
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culture-key-phrase
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culture + phrase
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Deep Dive
See all Deep Dive →directions
See all directions →
emergency phrase
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Etiquette
See all Etiquette →
Beginner
▶
You Gave Up Your Seat in Japan and Got Turned Down. There's a Tiny Lie That Fixes It.
tsugi de orimasu node, dōzo · I'm getting off at the next stop, so please, go ahead.
Survival
▶
You Are Bowing Way Too Much in Japan. This Is the One People Actually Use.
eshaku · a small nod bow
Survival
▶
You Bought the Festival Food. Now Do Not Take a Single Step.
tabearuki kinshi · no eating while walking
Survival
▶
Don't Wear These Out of the Bathroom in Japan
toire no surippa · the toilet slippers
Etiquette & Culture
See all Etiquette & Culture →
etiquette-phrase
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etiquette-trap
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Etiquette Wedge
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Everyday Connection
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Beginner
▶
Made a Friend in Japan? This Is How You Swap Contacts (Not Instagram)
LINE kōkan shimasen ka? · Want to swap LINE?
Beginner
▶
Say This Before a Japanese Friend's Big Day (It's Not Good Luck)
ganbatte · you've got this / do your best
Intermediate
▶
The Word You Say Leaving a Japanese Restaurant (Not Arigatō)
gochisōsama deshita · thanks for the meal
Beginner
▶
Your Reset Button When Japanese Comes Back Too Fast
yukkuri onegai shimasu · slowly, please
everyday + phrase
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festival
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Food + Language
See all Food + Language →
Beginner
▶
The Noodles Are Sliding Down a Bamboo Pipe. Nobody Told You the Rules.
kore, dō yatte tabemasu ka · How do I eat this?
Beginner
▶
Can You Read This Izakaya Menu?
yakitori · grilled chicken skewers
Intermediate
▶
What to Order at a Japanese Summer Festival
takoyaki kudasai · Takoyaki, please
Intermediate
▶
How to Order Gyōza Like You Belong There
gyōza wo onegaishimasu · Gyōza, please
food + phrase
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greetings
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health
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health + phrase
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hidden-gem
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Immersive
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Survival
▶
The Konbini Screen Just Lit Up With Four Kanji. It's Asking How Old You Are.
nenrei kakunin · age check
Survival
▶
Two Kanji in Japan Mean Absolutely Not. Learn to Spot Them.
kinshi · Prohibited, forbidden
Survival
▶
The Two Kanji That Mean You're Not Getting In
manseki · Full, no seats
Intermediate
▶
Rain Ruining Your Japan Trip? June Is Secretly Its Prettiest Month
ajisai · hydrangea
Interactive
See all Interactive →
listening-drill
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Listening Recognition
See all Listening Recognition →
Beginner
▶
She Had to Walk Around for Your Chicken.
jibun de o-tori kudasai · Please take it yourself
Survival
▶
Your Train Is a Bus at the Curb.
basu daikō ga dete imasu · A replacement bus is running.
Survival
▶
She Said Take Your Time. You Stood Up.
go-yukkuri · Please take your time.
Survival
▶
Did You Catch That? The Door Is Four Cars From the Front. You Counted From the Back.
mae kara nan-ryōme desu ka? · Which car from the front?
listening-rescue
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mini-dialogue
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Beginner
▶
One Japanese Sentence Gets You Anything a Shop Might Have
~ wa arimasu ka? · Do you have ~?
Survival
▶
Four Minutes to the Last Train. Don't Ask Where. Ask This.
mada ma ni aimasu ka? · can I still make it in time?
Survival
▶
If You Hear This Word Behind You, You're Standing In The Wrong Place.
jama · in the way, a nuisance
Beginner
▶
The Konbini Sells Fireworks All August. Where You Can Light Them Is the Catch.
koko de hanabi o shite mo ii desu ka? · Is it okay to do fireworks here?
Mini-Lesson
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Beginner
▶
That Ryokan Costs Forty Thousand Yen a Night. You Can Use Its Hot Spring for About a Thousand.
higaeri nyuuyoku, dekimasu ka? · Can I use the bath just for the day?
Survival
▶
Japan Runs on Machines That Won't Explain Themselves. This Sentence Makes a Human Appear.
tsukaikata o oshiete kudasai · Please show me how to use this.
Beginner
▶
Summer Killed Your Appetite but Not the Rice Bowl. One Word Fixes It.
gohan sukuname de onegai shimasu · smaller rice portion, please
Beginner
▶
Vegetarian in Japan? The Phrase That Keeps Meat Off Your Plate
niku wa taberaremasen · I can't eat meat.
mini-scenario
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Beginner
▶
You Walked Thirty Minutes to That Restaurant in Japan. It Needed a Booking.
yoyaku wa hitsuyō desu ka · Do I need a reservation?
Survival
▶
You're Eight Minutes Late. In Japan That Is Not a Little Late.
okurete sumimasen · Sorry I'm late.
Survival
▶
The Cashier Scanned Everything, Then Pointed Behind You and Walked Off. You Haven't Paid Yet.
achira de onegai shimasu · Please pay over there.
Beginner
▶
The Machine Just Ate Your Five Hundred Yen. Do Not Walk Away From It.
kowarete imasu · It's broken. It isn't working.
Money & Banking
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myth-bust
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Survival
▶
You Let the Extra Train Leave.
rinji ressha · an extra train added to the schedule
Survival
▶
The Sticky Heat Pack Doesn't Go on Your Skin.
haru kairo o kudasai · a stick-on heat pack, please
Beginner
▶
She Took Your Cookies Behind a Curtain. You Are Eating Them on the Train.
kan'i hōsō de onegai shimasu · simple wrapping, please
Beginner
▶
Your App Taught You a Whole Sentence to Take a Seat. Locals Ask Three Syllables.
aitemasu ka? · is this seat free?
news-explainer
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one-phrase-survival
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one-word-hero
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onsen
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order-by-copying
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ordering
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Order Like a Local
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Beginner
▶
The Ramen Shop Asks How You Want Your Noodles. Say Nothing and You Get the Boring Answer.
katame de onegai shimasu · Firm, please
Survival
▶
The Counter Asks You One Word Before Your Food Is Rung Up. Say This or the Sides Never Come.
setto de · The set, please.
Survival
▶
The Cheapest Good Lunch in Japan Is Not on the Menu. It Is on a Board by the Door.
higawari · the daily set: today's changing lunch
Survival
▶
Free Water in Japan Is Served HOT. Here's How to Ask for It.
oyu wo kudasai · hot water, please
overheard-decode
See all overheard-decode →
phrase-drill
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Survival
▶
Three Lines Get You Through Any Restaurant in Japan
Sumimasen, futari desu. Ohiya o onegaishimasu. Okaikei o onegaishimasu. · Excuse me, table for two. Water, please. The check, please.
Survival
▶
Japan Doesn't Hand You a Napkin. One Word Summons It
tishu arimasu ka? · Napkin, do you have one?
Beginner
▶
Two Snacks, One Cashier, No Clue. Ask Which One Everyone Buys.
docchi ga ninki desu ka? · Which one is more popular?
Survival
▶
You Know 'Wakarimasen'. Here's the One Word That Means the Opposite.
wakarimashita · Got it / understood
phrase_of_the_day
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Phrase of the Day
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politeness-nuance
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Pop Culture
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Pronunciation
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reaction-word
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recognition-drill
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role-play
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Survival
▶
You Ordered Kaki and They Brought the Oyster
kudamono no kaki o kudasai · the fruit persimmon, please
Survival
▶
Your Robe Is on the Funeral Side.
migi-mae · the living wrap, left panel on top
Survival
▶
The Cheap Room Smelled Like Smoke.
heya o kaete moraemasu ka · Could you change my room?
Beginner
▶
POV: The Guard Pointed at Your Backpack. Then at a Tiny Window.
kurōku wa arimasu ka? · Is there a cloakroom?
Safety Phrase
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Scenario
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Beginner
▶
You Can Smell the Festival Food but Can't Find It. Say This.
yatai wa doko desu ka? · Where are the food stalls?
Beginner
▶
Sunburned in Kyoto? The One Phrase That Finds You Sunscreen.
hiyakedome wa arimasu ka? · Do you have sunscreen?
Beginner
▶
Free Refills in Japan? Only If You Know This Word
okawari kudasai · another serving / a refill, please
seasonal-etiquette-trap
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Seasonal Food
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seasonal-planning
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seasonal-ritual
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shopping
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Beginner
▶
That Free Sample Tray in a Japanese Food Hall? Ask Before You Reach.
shishoku dekimasu ka? · Can I try a sample?
Beginner
▶
Japan's Summer Mosquitoes Are Ruthless. Learn This Drugstore Phrase.
mushiyoke wa arimasu ka? · Do you have bug spray?
Survival
▶
Buying Omiyage in Japan? Ask This at the Register.
rappingu dekimasu ka? · Can you gift-wrap it?
sign-decode
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Survival
▶
Those Two Kanji Were the Fee.
haikanryō · the fee to view a temple or garden
Survival
▶
Google Walked You Into a Loading Dock. That Sign Is Not a Suggestion.
kankeisha igai tachiiri kinshi · staff only, no entry
Survival
▶
The Photo Spot Has a 40-Minute Line and One Word on the Sign.
Kōyō ga migoro desu · The autumn leaves are at their peak
Survival
▶
Stop Pushing. That Train Door Is Waiting on You.
hanjidō · semi-automatic (you open this door)
sign_decode
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sign literacy
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signs + phrase
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single-phrase
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single-word-reveal
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situational
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Beginner
▶
You Made It to the Japanese Clinic. Reception Opens by Asking for a Card You Were Never Going to Have.
nihon no hokenshō wa arimasen · I don't have Japanese insurance
Survival
▶
The Crowd Won't Move for You. One Little Word Makes It Split.
sumimasen, chotto tōshite kudasai · excuse me, could I get through?
Survival
▶
Your Train Just Got Cancelled. One Word Gets Your Money Back.
haraimodoshi dekimasu ka? · Can I get a refund?
Survival
▶
Full Bars, Zero Internet. Here's Exactly What to Say.
tsunagarimasen · It's not connecting.
situational-dialogue
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Beginner
▶
The Claw Machine Wedged Your Prize Flat Against the Glass. Staff Will Move It If You Ask.
sumimasen, kore ugokashite moraemasu ka? · Excuse me, could you move this?
Beginner
▶
Twenty Five Thousand Steps a Day. The Massage Shop Asks You One Question and You Need One Answer.
mō sukoshi tsuyoku onegai shimasu · A little stronger, please.
situational-phrase
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situational-roleplay
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Beginner
▶
The Card Reader in Japan Offers to Charge You in Dollars. That's Not a Favour.
nihon'en de onegai shimasu · In yen, please.
Survival
▶
You Bought the Wrong Size in Tokyo. Japan Mostly Won't Refund You. Ask for This Instead.
koukan dekimasu ka? · Can I exchange this?
Survival
▶
Your Tokyo Train Was Five Minutes Late. The Station Hands You a Note Proving It.
chien shoumeisho o onegai shimasu · A delay certificate, please.
situation-rescue
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Survival
▶
The Taxi Hasn't Moved.
hatsunori · the taxi's starting fare
Survival
▶
You Landed With a Welcome Suica. The Gate Is Not the Place to Find Out.
Kore de noremasu ka? · Can I get on with this?
Survival
▶
The Hotel Room Is Black. The Switch Is the Slot.
kādo o sashikonde kudasai · please insert the card
Survival
▶
POV: You Paid for a Ryokan. The Floor Is Empty. They Did Not Forget the Bed.
Futon o shiite kudasai · Please lay out the futon.
social-greeting
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Survival Phrase
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Survival
▶
Say This One Line First and Watch Every Japanese Person Slow Down for You
nihongo, chotto dake hanasemasu · I can only speak a little Japanese
Survival
▶
Japanese Has a Phrase That Literally Means I Am About to Be Rude. You Say It First, and Then It's the Politest Thing in the Room.
shitsurei shimasu · Excuse me.
Survival
▶
A Twelve Thousand Yen Melon Isn't Food in Japan. It's a Greeting Card, and the Counter Staff Are About to Ask Which One You're Buying.
jibun-yō desu · It's for myself.
Beginner
▶
You Bought the Prettiest Charm on the Shrine Counter for Your Boss. Congratulations on Their Safe Delivery.
kore wa nan no omamori desu ka? · What's this charm for?
Survival Phrases
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Survival
▶
You Will Speak Japanese Before You Leave the Airport. One Word Is Enough.
kankō desu · Sightseeing. (my purpose of visit)
Survival
▶
911 Won't Work in Japan - the One Phrase That Will
keisatsu o yonde kudasai · Please call the police.
Survival
▶
Cashier Moving Too Quick? The Polite Way to Say 'Hold On a Second' in Japan
chotto matte kudasai · wait a moment, please
Survival
▶
The Greeting You'll Say 20 Times a Day in Japan (It Changes by the Hour)
konnichiwa · hello / good day
Technology
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transit rescue
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Transportation
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Travel Basics
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Beginner
▶
The Kyoto Bus Has Not Moved in Ten Minutes. Everyone Overtaking It Is on a Bicycle.
jitensha o karitai desu · I'd like to rent a bicycle.
Beginner
▶
35C at a Japanese Festival? This 3-Word Order Saves You
kakigōri kudasai · Shaved ice, please.
Beginner
▶
Wrong Dish at Your Table in Japan? Fix It Without Being Rude
chigaimasu · That's not right.
Beginner
▶
How to Ask 'How Much Is It?' at Any Shop in Japan
ikura desu ka? · how much is it?
Travel Hack
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Survival
▶
Your Taxi Gets More Expensive at Night. Four Kanji Tell You When.
shin'ya ryōkin · late-night rate
Beginner
▶
Skip the Pricey Fuji Tours — Take This Train
Fuji Kaiyū · the Fuji Excursion (direct limited express to Mt Fuji)
Intermediate
▶
How to Order Hot Snacks at the Konbini Counter
kore, kudasai · this one, please
Intermediate
▶
Japan's Luggage Hack: Travel Hands-Free
nimotsu o okuritai desu · I'd like to send my luggage
travel + phrase
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word-of-the-day
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Phrase posters 152
All posters →
At the Electronics Store in Japanese
Adapters, cameras, and 100 volts 🇯🇵
Motion Sick in Japanese
When the bus, train, or boat starts spinning 🇯🇵
Tax-Free Shopping in Japanese
Ask for tax-free at the register 🇯🇵
At Immigration in Japanese
Get through the desk without guessing 🇯🇵
Rushed and in a Hurry in Japanese
When the clock is not on your side 🇯🇵
Jet-Lagged in Japanese
When your body is still on home time 🇯🇵
The Kōfuku Trip Kit
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