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.
All videos
Survival
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You Nodded and Bought the Ride Back
katamichi de onegai shimasu · one way, please
Survival
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That Sign Is Not a Cafe
Īto-in · eat-in
Survival
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Your Ryokan Dinner Is Upstairs. The Hall Is Empty.
yūshoku wa o-heya desu ka · is dinner in the room?
Survival
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You Wanted Pork. The Bun Is Sweet Beans.
Nikuman de onegai shimasu · I'll take the pork bun.
Survival
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You Ordered Kaki and They Brought the Oyster
kudamono no kaki o kudasai · the fruit persimmon, please
Survival
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Your Robe Is on the Funeral Side.
migi-mae · the living wrap, left panel on top
Survival
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The Cheap Room Smelled Like Smoke.
heya o kaete moraemasu ka · Could you change my room?
Beginner
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POV: The Guard Pointed at Your Backpack. Then at a Tiny Window.
kurōku wa arimasu ka? · Is there a cloakroom?
Beginner
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POV: You Walked Out of the Museum for a Bathroom. The Gate Thinks You Left.
sai-nyūjō dekimasu ka? · Can I re-enter?
Beginner
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They Served You a Fish That Still Has a Face.
sanma no shioyaki o onegai shimasu · salt-grilled saury, please
Beginner
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You're Both at Tokyo Station. You Will Not Find Each Other.
kaisatsu no soto de matte imasu · I'm waiting outside the ticket gates.
Beginner
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The Izakaya Is Empty. They Still Said No. You Were One Person.
kauntaa de onegai shimasu · the counter, please
Beginner
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The Onsen Said No Tattoos. Then They Pointed at a Door You Can Rent by the Hour.
Kazoku-buro wa arimasu ka · Do you have a family bath?
Beginner
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POV: The Ginger Jar at Conveyor-Belt Sushi Is Gone. It Is Not a Shortage.
gari kudasai · pickled ginger, please
Beginner
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She Said Three Words and Walked Off. That Was Your Table Leaving.
kochira e dōzo · This way, please
Beginner
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They Did Not Ask If You Booked. They Asked Whose Name It Is Under.
go-yoyaku no o-namae wa? · What name is the reservation under?
Beginner
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You Missed the Driver by Four Minutes. The Pink Slip Is the Whole Game.
saihaitatsu o onegai shimasu · please redeliver it
Survival
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The Tax-Free Counter Is Not at the Shop. It Is Before Bag Drop.
kakunin onegai shimasu. · Confirmation, please.
Beginner
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The Ryokan Bath Closes at 11. You Found That Out With a Towel In Your Hand.
ofuro wa nan-ji made desu ka? · What time does the bath close?
Beginner
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The Best Shop Has No Website. One Phone Sentence Is the Trick.
ima kara itte mo daijōbu desu ka? · Is it okay if we come now?
Survival
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Your Yakiniku Grill Went Black in Ten Minutes. You Are Not Supposed to Keep Cooking on That.
ami, otorikae shimashou ka? · Shall I change the grill for you?
Survival
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Two Kyoto Buses at the Same Stop Have the Same Number. One of Them Is Going the Long Way Round.
kono basu wa Kinkaku-ji ni ikimasu ka? · Does this bus go to Kinkaku-ji?
Beginner
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Wallet Gone, No Way Home. The Japanese Police Box Has a Form for This.
kaeri no denshachin o kashite itadakemasen ka. · Could you lend me the fare to get home?
Beginner
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You Nodded at One Polite Question. That Is Why Your Food Is Arriving One Plate Every Eight Minutes.
o-ryōri wa issho ni onegai shimasu · The food all together, please.
Beginner
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You Buy a Cake in Tokyo in August and the Shop Asks How Long You Will Be Carrying It. They Are Counting Ice Packs.
sanjuppun kurai desu. · About thirty minutes.
Beginner
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One Question at a Japanese Register Decides Whether Your Food Comes in a Bag or on a Tray
ie, mochikaeri desu. · No, it's takeout.
Beginner
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Your Glasses Went Crooked in Kyoto. The Right Glasses Chain Straightens Them at the Counter, Usually Free.
megane no chousei, onegai dekimasu ka? · Could you adjust my glasses?
Beginner
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Everyone at the Table Ordered Beer. You Don't Drink. One Sentence Ends It on the First Ask.
osake, nomenai n desu · I can't drink alcohol
Survival
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Some Ramen Shops Upsize Your Noodles for Free. They'll Never Offer It in English.
ōmori de onegaishimasu · Large portion, please
Survival
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The Beef Jerky in Your Bag Is a Criminal Offence at Japanese Arrivals
iie, motte imasen · No, I don't have any
Survival
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Your Lunch Set Comes With Coffee. In Japan It Turns Up Next to the Soup.
shokugo ni onegai shimasu. · After the meal, please.
Survival
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You Bought Trousers in Tokyo and They're Ten Centimetres Too Long. The Shop Fixes That Before You Leave.
susoage dekimasu ka? · Can you hem these?
Beginner
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Every Japanese Department Store Has a Free Room With a Sofa and Hot Water. It's Not on the English Floor Map.
omutsu-gae no basho wa arimasu ka? · Is there somewhere to change a nappy?
Beginner
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You Ask a Japanese Drugstore for Sunburn Cream and Get Sent Back to the Sunscreen. One Word Fixes It.
hiyake de hirihiri suru n desu · I'm sunburnt and it stings.
Beginner
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The Bill Is Paid and Nobody Is Standing Up. Japan Has a Word for What Happens Next.
mou ikken ikimasen ka? · Want to go to one more place?
Beginner
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You Pull Into a Japanese Gas Station and Three People in Uniform Run at Your Car.
regyuraa mantan de onegai shimasu · Regular, fill it up, please.
Beginner
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Two Minutes Into Your Taxi Ride the Driver Asks a Question. Nodding Costs You Money.
kōsoku, tsukaimasu ka? · Shall I take the expressway?
Beginner
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Every Cafe in Japan Asks You This in August. The Answer Is One Word.
aisu de onegai shimasu · iced, please
Beginner
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The Ramen Shop Has No Line. There's a Clipboard by the Door and Your Name Isn't on It.
koko ni namae o kakeba ii desu ka? · Should I write my name here?
Beginner
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First 10 Seconds at a Japanese Hotel Desk? Say This.
chekku-in onegai shimasu · Check-in, please
Beginner
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Last Train's Gone in Tokyo? Ask the Front Desk This.
takushii o yonde kudasai · Please call a taxi
Beginner
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35C at a Japanese Beer Garden? This Is the Only Phrase You Need.
nama biiru kudasai · A draft beer, please
Survival
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How to Tell a Japanese Taxi 'Stop Here'
koko de tomete kudasai · please stop here
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