Learn Japan in 30-second reels
Real phrases for the konbini, the restaurant, the train — each with romaji and English, ready to use the second you land.
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Survival
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Did You Catch That? That Wasn't Water.
Mizuwari · alcohol cut with water, usually whisky
Survival
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Did You Catch That? The Trains Are Fine
Heijō unten ni modotte orimasu · Service is back to normal.
Survival
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Did You Catch That? They Meant Your Feet.
Ashimoto ni go-chūi kudasai · Please watch your step.
Survival
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You Drilled the Long One. They Said the Short One.
wakannai · I don't get it
Beginner
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She Had to Walk Around for Your Chicken.
jibun de o-tori kudasai · Please take it yourself
Survival
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Your Train Is a Bus at the Curb.
basu daikō ga dete imasu · A replacement bus is running.
Survival
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She Said Take Your Time. You Stood Up.
go-yukkuri · Please take your time.
Survival
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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?
Survival
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Did You Catch That? Nodding in Akihabara Just Sold You a Warranty.
hoshō wa ikaga desu ka? · Would you like the warranty?
Beginner
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Did You Catch That? You Nodded. That Was Not Large.
Nami de onegai shimasu · Regular size, please.
Survival
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That Sentence Means There Is No Seat.
washiki shika arimasen · there's only a squat toilet
Survival
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Her Long Goodbye Was Not a Question
mata okoshi kudasaimase · please come again (staff to you)
Survival
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Did You Catch That? That Train Will Skip Your Hotel.
kaisoku · rapid (skips stations)
Survival
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That Station Voice Is Not Being Polite. The Train Is Closer Than You Think.
Kiiroi sen made osagari kudasai · Please step back to the yellow line.
Beginner
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Both Trains Say Yamanote. One of Them Is the Long Way Around.
uchimawari · inner loop
Survival
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She Looked at Both of You and Said Three Syllables. She Is Not Asking If You Are Dating.
go-issho desu ka? · Will that be on one bill?
Survival
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The Doors Are Open. The Voice Just Said This Car Is Full.
man'in desu · It's full
Survival
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The Cart Lady Said One Sentence. You Have Eight Seconds.
shanai hanbai desu · onboard sales, the snack cart is here
Survival
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The Lights Just Dimmed and She Said One English Word. The Kitchen Is About to Close on You.
rasuto ōdā desu · it's last order
Survival
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Your Suitcase Is in the Aisle. Six People Just Stepped Over It. That Shelf Is Empty on Purpose.
amidana ni agete kudasai · Please put it on the overhead rack.
Survival
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They Handed You a Coaster. Two Minutes Later It Screamed
nattara o-hairi kudasai · when it rings, please come in
Survival
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You Joined the Fast Lane in a Japanese Supermarket. It Does Not Have a Cashier.
serufu reji de onegai shimasu · Please use the self-checkout.
Survival
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The Steaming Tub Is Back Beside the Konbini Register. Then Comes the Question.
karashi wa o-tsuke shimasu ka? · Would you like mustard with that?
Survival
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The Board Still Shows Your Train. The Voice Just Said It Is Not Moving.
unten o miawasete orimasu · We have temporarily suspended operations.
Survival
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That Train Announcement Is Not Asking You to Be Polite. It Is Telling You to Hang Up.
tsūwa wa go-enryo kudasai · please refrain from talking on the phone
Survival
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You Get Through to 119 in Japan. The First Thing They Ask Isn't What Happened.
kyūkyū desu · Ambulance, a medical emergency
Survival
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If You Hear This, Do Not Run. The Door Will Win.
kakekomi jōsha wa oyame kudasai · Please do not rush onto the train
Survival
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The Whole Platform Stepped Back at the Same Second. Nobody Looked Up.
osagari kudasai · please step back
Survival
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Everyone in the Carriage Turned at Once. The Announcement Had Just Told Them Which Door Opens.
o-deguchi wa migigawa desu · The doors will open on the right.
Survival
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When a Japanese Shop Starts Playing This Song, You Are Being Asked to Leave.
heiten · closing for the day
Survival
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You're on the Right Train. You're in the Wrong Half of It.
kirihanashi · uncoupling: this train splits here
Survival
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You Won the Plastic Bag Argument. Now the Cashier Is Holding a Strip of Tape and Waiting.
tēpu de yoroshii desu ka? · Is tape okay? (instead of a bag)
Survival
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Even Japanese People Cannot Make Out What That Sushi Chain Announcement Says. Two Words in It Mean the Next Plate Is Yours.
mamonaku go-chūmon no shina ga tōchaku itashimasu · Your order will be arriving shortly.
Survival
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The Waiter Came Back, Said One Short Phrase, and Is Now Just Standing There.
mada desu · not yet (I need another minute)
Survival
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Money's In, You Can't Read a Single Button. This One Gets It Back.
torikeshi · cancel
Survival
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Fourteen Exits, One Giant Map, and You Can't Find Yourself On It.
genzaichi · you are here (current location)
Survival
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Your Train Is On the Board and It Is Not Going to Stop. Two Kanji Warned You.
tsūka · passes through, does not stop here
Survival
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The Shaking Stops. The Word Every Announcement Says Next Isn't 地震.
yoshin · aftershock
Survival
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You Say Thank You at an Osaka Shop Counter. What Comes Back Is Not the Word You Learned.
ōkini · thank you (Kansai)
Survival
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You Order in Japan and the Staff Fire Back an Eight Syllable Word. Do Not Answer It.
kashikomarimashita · Certainly. I've got it.
Survival
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You Are Half Asleep on a Japanese Train. One Word Means Everybody Gets Off.
shuuten · the final stop, the end of the line
Survival
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The Staff Says One Sentence, Then Walks Away. You Are Not Being Ignored.
shoushou omachi kudasai · One moment, please
Survival
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The Cashier Sentence in Japan That Japanese People Themselves Say Is Wrong
sen'en kara oazukari shimasu · I'll take the one thousand yen
Survival
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The Ramen Cook Just Added an Egg You Did Not Order. One Word Tells You If It Is Free.
kore, saabisu desu · This one is on the house.
Survival
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The Fireworks Ended. Now Staff Are Blocking the Station Entrance on Purpose.
nyuujou kisei · entry restriction: the station is letting people in in waves
Survival
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Your Food Lands on the Counter and the Staff Apologizes to You. Nobody Did Anything Wrong.
omatase shimashita · Sorry to keep you waiting.
Survival
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Every Shop in Japan Shouts This at You. You Are Not Supposed to Answer.
irasshaimase · welcome in (said by shop staff)
Survival
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Your Phone Screams in Japanese and You Didn't Set an Alarm. Here's Why.
jishin desu · It's an earthquake.
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