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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Beginner
▶
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.
Survival
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You Sat Down at the Ramen Counter and Nobody Is Taking Your Order. You Missed the Machine by the Door.
shokken wa saki desu ka? · Do I buy the ticket first?
Beginner
▶
Eleven Minutes in a Tokyo Izakaya and Nobody Has Taken Your Order. It Was Never Going to Happen at the Table.
chūmon wa dō sureba ii desu ka? · How do I order?
Beginner
▶
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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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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It Is Thirty Five Degrees and Your Nose Will Not Stop Running. You Did Not Catch a Cold in Japan.
kafunshou desu. · I have hay fever.
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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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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The Beef Jerky in Your Bag Is a Criminal Offence at Japanese Arrivals
iie, motte imasen · No, I don't have any
Beginner
▶
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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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?
Survival
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People Here Hold a Cafe Table With Just a Phone. So Why Does the Station Warn You About This?
okibiki · theft of a bag you set down
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
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?
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.
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.
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.
Beginner
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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
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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.
Survival
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The Yellow Bumpy Strip in Every Japanese Station Is Not Decoration.
tenji burokku · tactile paving
Survival
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You Are Bowing Way Too Much in Japan. This Is the One People Actually Use.
eshaku · a small nod bow
Survival
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On November 1st, Japan's Tax Free Discount Stops Happening at the Till.
menzei no tetsuzuki wa doko desu ka? · Where do I do the tax free procedure?
Beginner
▶
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.
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
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You Bought the Wrong Size in Tokyo. Japan Mostly Won't Refund You. Ask for This Instead.
koukan dekimasu ka? · Can I exchange this?
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?
Survival
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Your Tokyo Train Was Five Minutes Late. The Station Hands You a Note Proving It.
chien shoumeisho o onegai shimasu · A delay certificate, please.
Survival
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Kyoto Now Taxes You Per Night, Per Person. At the Top End That's Ten Thousand Yen Each.
shukuhakuzei · lodging tax
Beginner
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One Japanese Sentence Gets You Anything a Shop Might Have
~ wa arimasu ka? · Do you have ~?
Beginner
▶
At a Japanese Festival Stall, Pointing Isn't Enough. They Need How Many.
hitotsu kudasai / futatsu kudasai · One, please / Two, please
Survival
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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
Beginner
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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?
Survival
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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
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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.
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?
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
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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)
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.
Survival
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There's a Free Hot Spring Outside That Station and Everyone Walks Straight Past It.
ashiyu · foot bath, a public hot-spring bath for your feet with your clothes on
Survival
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The Ramen Guy Looks Up and Shouts a Question at You. You Have About Two Seconds.
sono mama de · Just as it comes, thanks.
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?
Survival
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You Grabbed the Melon Pan With Your Hand. Everyone Saw. Nobody's Going to Say a Word.
tongu o otsukai kudasai · Please use the tongs.
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?
Survival
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You're Eight Minutes Late. In Japan That Is Not a Little Late.
okurete sumimasen · Sorry I'm late.
Survival
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The Cashier Scanned Everything, Then Pointed Behind You and Walked Off. You Haven't Paid Yet.
achira de onegai shimasu · Please pay over there.
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