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 Only Drank Tea. They Still Split It by Headcount.
Warikan ni shiyō · Let's split it evenly.
Survival
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Your Ringtone Answered the Announcement
manā mōdo · silent mode
Survival
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She Never Said No
muzukashii desu ne · that's difficult (a soft no)
Beginner
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You Smiled. The Cookie Was Gone.
tabechatta · I ended up eating it
Survival
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The Middle Box Is Not the Mild One
chūkara · medium-hot (not mild)
Survival
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You Meant Thanks and Bought the Table
Gochisō shimasu · it's my treat, I'm paying
Survival
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That Checkbox Bills the Other Person
Motobarai de onegai shimasu · I'll pay the shipping now.
Survival
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That Email Was Not a Room
kari yoyaku desu · it's only a provisional hold
Survival
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You Thanked the Clerk Like You Were Their Boss
Gokurōsama desu · thanks for the hard work, said by a superior
Survival
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You Let the Extra Train Leave.
rinji ressha · an extra train added to the schedule
Survival
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The Sticky Heat Pack Doesn't Go on Your Skin.
haru kairo o kudasai · a stick-on heat pack, please
Beginner
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She Took Your Cookies Behind a Curtain. You Are Eating Them on the Train.
kan'i hōsō de onegai shimasu · simple wrapping, please
Beginner
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Your App Taught You a Whole Sentence to Take a Seat. Locals Ask Three Syllables.
aitemasu ka? · is this seat free?
Survival
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Open That KitKat in Japan and the 10 Percent Is Not Coming Back.
mada akemasen. · I'm not opening it yet.
Survival
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Two Lines. You Joined the One That Never Sits Down
tennai desu · dine-in / eating here
Survival
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The Autumn Leaves Ignore Your Cherry-Blossom Maps. They Fall the Other Way.
kōyō zensen · the autumn-leaves front (the wave of foliage moving south)
Survival
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Your App Taught You Kekkou. At the Airport That Sound Means Your Plane Is Dead.
kekkō ni narimashita · The flight has been cancelled.
Beginner
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Your Textbook Said Never Ask for a Box. Ask Anyway.
pakku ni dekimasu ka? · Can you box this up?
Survival
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Stand Left in Tokyo, Right in Osaka. Two Places Made a Rule Saying It Doesn't Matter.
tachidomatte go-riyō kudasai. · Please stand still while riding.
Survival
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You Ordered Iced Tea. They Charged You for a Lipton.
mugicha · barley tea
Survival
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Everyone Says Buy a Suica the Second You Land. Since March, 729 Stations Just Take the Card in Your Pocket.
tatchi kessai · tap to pay (contactless)
Survival
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Your Power Bank Isn't Allowed in the Overhead Bin on a Japanese Flight. It Has to Stay Where You Can Reach It.
mobairu batterī wa otemoto ni oite kudasai · Please keep your power bank within reach.
Beginner
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Your App Says It Means "Nice to Meet You." People Say It to Their Dentist.
yoroshiku onegai shimasu · I'm in your hands, please treat me well
Beginner
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You Came for Conveyor Belt Sushi. Most Chains Stopped Rotating It.
chūmon wa tatchi paneru desu ka? · Do I order on the touch panel?
Beginner
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Your Etiquette Guide Said Always Use Chopsticks. Nigiri Was Built to Be Eaten With Your Fingers.
te de tabete mo ii desu ka? · Is it okay to eat this with my hands?
Survival
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Tell a Japanese Friend Good News and She'll Yell 'Liar' Right at You
hontō desu ka? · Really?! / For real?
Beginner
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You Rented a Car in Japan and Drove Into the Purple Lane. The Barrier Isn't Going Up.
ītīshī kādo wa kariraremasu ka? · Can I rent an ETC card?
Survival
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Everyone Here Cycles Under an Umbrella. Since April, That's a Ticket.
kasasashi unten · riding a bike while holding an umbrella
Survival
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A Siren Goes Off Over the Whole Neighbourhood in Japan. One Word in the Announcement Tells You Not to Run.
kore wa kunren desu · This is a drill.
Survival
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You Had a Bath at a Japanese Home and Pulled the Plug. Three People Were Still Waiting for That Water.
oyu wa nukanaide kudasai · Please don't drain the tub.
Survival
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You Locked Your Passport in the Hotel Safe Like Everyone Said. In Japan That's the Wrong Move.
pasupōto o misete kudasai · Please show me your passport.
Beginner
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You Asked for the English Menu in Japan. You Just Got the Short Version.
nihongo no menyuu mo onegai shimasu · The Japanese menu too, please.
Survival
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You Said No Meat, No Fish. They Said No Problem. Your Miso Soup Still Has Fish In It.
dashi ni sakana wa haitte imasu ka? · Is there fish in the broth?
Survival
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You Ordered One Coffee in an Old Japanese Cafe and Breakfast Turned Up. Nobody Charged You For It.
mōningu, yattemasu ka? · Are you doing the morning set?
Survival
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Your Anime Taught You to Call People chan. On a Stranger It Lands Like Calling Your Waiter Sweetie.
-san · the default polite name-ending for any adult
Beginner
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Your Textbook Taught You the Days of the Week Wrong. Well, Too Long.
kin'you · Friday (casual, dropping the last part of the full word)
Survival
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Everyone Says You Must Ask Before Reclining on the Shinkansen. The Railway Says There Is No Such Rule.
seki, taoshite mo ii desu ka? · Can I recline my seat?
Beginner
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Your Sushi Video Taught You an Insider Word for Tea. It Belongs to the Guy Behind the Counter.
ocha kudasai · Tea, please.
Beginner
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Haggling in Japan Does Not Work. There Are About Four Places Where It Quietly Does.
mō sukoshi yasuku narimasen ka? · Could it be a little cheaper?
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