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.
The Karaoke Desk Asks One Thing Before They Hand You a Room.
nijikan de onegai shimasu · Two hours, please.
Mid August You Walk to That Ramen Shop and It Is Dark. The Whole Street Took the Same Week Off.
obon wa oyasumi desu ka? · Are you closed for Obon?
You Just Bought 3,000 Yen of Kyoto Sweets. It Is 36 Degrees. Ask for This at the Register.
horeizai o irete moraemasu ka? · Could you put in an ice pack?
Two ATMs on the Same Street in Japan. Only One Takes Your Foreign Card.
kaigai no kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? · Can I use a foreign card?
In Japan the Ramen Shop Is Not Down the Street. It Is on the Seventh Floor.
nangai desu ka · What floor is it on?
The Noodles Are Sliding Down a Bamboo Pipe. Nobody Told You the Rules.
kore, dō yatte tabemasu ka · How do I eat this?
Booked a Ryokan? Breakfast Is Half the Reason You Came. Ask What Time It Starts.
asagohan wa nanji desu ka · What time is breakfast?
Lost the Moment They Started Talking Fast? Ask for This.
yukkuri onegai shimasu · Slowly, please
38C in Japan and Now Your Forehead's on Fire. Say This at the Drugstore.
netsu ga arimasu · I have a fever
One Tiny Towel for a Whole Onsen Bath? Here's How to Ask for Another.
taoru o mou ichi-mai kudasai · One more towel, please
You Nailed Check-In. Get Check-Out Time Wrong and You Pay for Another Night.
chekku-auto wa nanji desu ka? · What time is check-out?
Do You Need a Train, or Can You Just Walk? Ask This in Japan.
aruite ikemasu ka? · Can I walk there?
That Free Sample Tray in a Japanese Food Hall? Ask Before You Reach.
shishoku dekimasu ka? · Can I try a sample?
The Konbini Cashier Asks You One Word. Freeze No More.
atatamemasu ka? · Shall I heat it up?
A Typhoon's Coming and Your Train Might Stop. Ask the Station This.
densha, ugoitemasu ka? · Are the trains running?
Handed Natto in Japan? 'I Don't Like It' Is the Wrong Answer.
chotto nigate desu · It's not really my thing
There's a Drum Tower and a Circle of Dancers. You're Allowed to Join.
issho ni odotte mo ii desu ka? · Can I dance with you?
Couldn't Finish Your Ramen in Japan? Ask This Before You Box It Up.
mochikaeri dekimasu ka? · Can I take this to go?
Two Snacks, One Cashier, No Clue. Ask Which One Everyone Buys.
docchi ga ninki desu ka? · Which one is more popular?
First 10 Seconds at a Japanese Hotel Desk? Say This.
chekku-in onegai shimasu · Check-in, please
Last Train's Gone in Tokyo? Ask the Front Desk This.
takushii o yonde kudasai · Please call a taxi
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35C at a Japanese Beer Garden? This Is the Only Phrase You Need.
nama biiru kudasai · A draft beer, please
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Sharing a Konbini Meal in Japan? Don't Forget This One Request.
o-hashi o ni-zen kudasai · Two pairs of chopsticks, please
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Made a Friend in Japan? This Is How You Swap Contacts (Not Instagram)
LINE kōkan shimasen ka? · Want to swap LINE?
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Say This Before a Japanese Friend's Big Day (It's Not Good Luck)
ganbatte · you've got this / do your best
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You Learned 1 to 10. Now Hear the Real Price
hyaku, sen, man · hundred, thousand, ten-thousand
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Meeting a Japanese Person? Skip Konnichiwa. Say This.
Hajimemashite. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. · Nice to meet you, I look forward to getting to know you.
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Summer Killed Your Appetite but Not the Rice Bowl. One Word Fixes It.
gohan sukuname de onegai shimasu · smaller rice portion, please
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The Ramen Line Wraps the Block. Ten Minutes or an Hour? Ask This.
dono kurai machimasu ka? · how long is the wait?
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Two Food Stalls, One Crowd, No Line in Sight. Ask This.
doko ni narabimasu ka? · where do I line up?
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Japanese Flew By Too Fast? Ask Them to Write It Down.
kaite moraemasu ka? · Could you write it down?
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That Green Paste on Your Sushi Is No Joke. Order It Off Like This.
wasabi nuki de onegai shimasu · Without wasabi, please.
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Japan's Summer Mosquitoes Are Ruthless. Learn This Drugstore Phrase.
mushiyoke wa arimasu ka? · Do you have bug spray?
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Vegetarian in Japan? The Phrase That Keeps Meat Off Your Plate
niku wa taberaremasen · I can't eat meat.
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Tokyo Taxi Feels Like a Sauna? The Polite Way to Ask for AC.
eakon o tsukete kudasai · Please turn on the AC.
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You Can Smell the Festival Food but Can't Find It. Say This.
yatai wa doko desu ka? · Where are the food stalls?
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Sunburned in Kyoto? The One Phrase That Finds You Sunscreen.
hiyakedome wa arimasu ka? · Do you have sunscreen?
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Got a Tattoo? Ask This Before the Onsen Turns You Away
tatū ga atte mo hairemasu ka? · Can I go in even with a tattoo?
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Your First Phone Call in Japanese
moshi moshi · hello (on the phone)
Everything Tourists Get Wrong About Japanese Politeness
sumimasen · excuse me / sorry / thank you
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Sitting in the Wrong Shinkansen Seat? This One Question Fixes It
jiyūseki desu ka, shiteiseki desu ka? · Is it unreserved or reserved seating?
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Can You Read This Izakaya Menu?
yakitori · grilled chicken skewers
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Japanese You Actually Need at Work
yoroshiku onegai shimasu · thanks in advance
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3 Ways to Say Sorry in Japanese (One Sounds Rude)
moushiwake arimasen · I am truly sorry
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35C at a Japanese Festival? This 3-Word Order Saves You
kakigōri kudasai · Shaved ice, please.
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Wrong Dish at Your Table in Japan? Fix It Without Being Rude
chigaimasu · That's not right.
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Can't Eat Pork in Japan? Memorize This One Sentence
buta-niku wa haitte imasu ka? · Does it contain pork?
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Free Refills in Japan? Only If You Know This Word
okawari kudasai · another serving / a refill, please
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Getting in a Tokyo Taxi? Say Where You're Going in Three Words
~ made onegai shimasu · To ~, please.
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Walking Into a Japanese Restaurant? The First Thing They Ask You
futari desu · Two of us. / Table for two.
The Cutest Japanese Homecoming Phrase (ft. Hana)
tadaima · I am home
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The One Emergency Sentence to Know in Japan
kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai · please call an ambulance
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Japanese Train Etiquette — The One Rule Tourists Always Forget
denwa wa dame desu ka? · are phone calls not allowed?
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All Japanese Menu? This Phrase Picks Your Meal for You
osusume wa arimasu ka · Do you have any recommendations?
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No Reservation in Tokyo? This Phrase Can Still Get You In.
yoyaku shitai ndesu ga · i'd like to make a reservation
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Caught in Tokyo Rain? Borrow This Phrase and a Raincoat
kasatte kudasai · Please lend it to me
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How to Ask 'How Much Is It?' at Any Shop in Japan
ikura desu ka? · how much is it?
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One Fill-in-the-Blank Phrase Gets You Anything in a Japanese Shop
~ wa arimasu ka? · do you have ~?
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Want to Try On That Jacket in Tokyo? Say This Before You Step In
Kore o shichaku shite mo ii desu ka? · May I try this on?
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How to Say 'That's All' at a Japanese Restaurant
i-jō desu · that's all
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Where is the transfer to...?
〜 e no norikae wa doko desu ka? · Where is the transfer to 〜?
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The Polite Way to Order
~ o onegai shimasu · ~, please
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I'm Studying Japanese
nihongo o benkyō shite imasu · i'm studying japanese
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What's This Called?
kore wa nihongo de nan to iimasu ka? · what is this called in japanese?
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Order Anything with One Phrase
kore o hitotsu kudasai · One of this, please
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Locals Eat THIS to Survive Japan's Summer (Not Just Water)
shio-ame · salt candy
![I'm From [Country]](/t/videos/tourist-from-country.jpg)
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I'm From [Country]
amerika kara kimashita · I'm from America
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Where is the Bathroom? (Beginner Version)
otearai wa doko desu ka? · Where is the bathroom?
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Skip the Pricey Fuji Tours — Take This Train
Fuji Kaiyū · the Fuji Excursion (direct limited express to Mt Fuji)
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Ask This Before You Order — Japan Is Still Cash Country
kādo de ii desu ka? · can I pay by card?
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Your Reset Button When Japanese Comes Back Too Fast
yukkuri onegai shimasu · slowly, please
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Lost in Japanese? This Phrase Saves You
nihongo, wakarimasen · I do not understand Japanese
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Mystery Food in Japan? Just Ask What It Is
kore wa nan desu ka? · what is this?
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How to Ask for the Bill in Japan
okaikei, onegai shimasu · check, please
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Japan Hands You a Hot Towel — Don't Use It Wrong
oshibori · wet hand towel
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