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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The Doors Are Open. The Voice Just Said This Car Is Full.
man'in desu · It's full
Survival
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Silver Week Starts Saturday. Those Empty Shinkansen Seats Will Still Leave Without You.
zensha shitei-seki · all cars reserved seating
Survival
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That Camera With a Slash Is Not a Suggestion. One Click and Staff Appear.
satsuei kinshi · No photography
Beginner
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She Said Three Words and Walked Off. That Was Your Table Leaving.
kochira e dōzo · This way, please
Survival
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The Beer Is 10%. The Onigiri Next to It Is 8%. Same Shelf.
keigen zeiritsu · reduced tax rate
Survival
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Immigration Wants a Square on Your Phone. The Paper Form Does Nothing.
nijigen kōdo · QR code (2D code)
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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Google Said Go Straight. Two Red Kanji Disagreed.
tsūkō-dome · road closed, no through traffic
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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They Sat You Down at Seven. The Table Is Not Yours Past Eight Thirty.
irekae-sei · time-limit seating, turnover system
Survival
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You Dipped the Skewer Twice. The Whole Counter Went Quiet.
nidozuke kinshi · no double-dipping
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
Survival
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The Best Lunch in the Japanese Countryside Is a Parking Lot With a Government Sign.
michi no eki · roadside station
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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The Vending Machine Just Rejected Your Only Bill. The Shop Next Door Can Fix It.
kuzushite itadakemasu ka? · Could you break this into smaller bills?
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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The Tax-Free Counter Is Not at the Shop. It Is Before Bag Drop.
kakunin onegai shimasu. · Confirmation, please.
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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The Gate Spat You Back. Your Card Is Not Broken. It Is Empty.
chāji o onegai shimasu · I'd like to add money, please.
Survival
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There Is a Raw Egg on Your Beef Bowl. That Is Not a Garnish. Crack It.
namatamago desu · It's a raw egg.
Survival
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In Japan, Your WhatsApp Number Is Useless. Everyone Asks for LINE.
LINE de ii desu ka? · Is LINE okay?
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 Rubber Key. Walk Out Without It and Your Shoes Stay in Japan.
getabako · shoe box (the numbered cabinet)
Survival
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You Stripped for the Onsen. Your Wallet Is Sitting in an Open Basket.
kichōhin rokkā · valuables locker
Survival
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You Sat Down to Rest. They Will Not Leave Until You Order a Drink.
wan dorinku sei desu · there is a one-drink minimum
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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She Kept Your Bread and Handed You a Paddle With 17 on It
bangō-fuda · number tag
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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You Booked the Quiet Week in September. Japan Invented a Five-Day Weekend
renkyū · consecutive holidays / a long weekend
Survival
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Three Lines Get You Through Any Restaurant in Japan
Sumimasen, futari desu. Ohiya o onegaishimasu. Okaikei o onegaishimasu. · Excuse me, table for two. Water, please. The check, please.
Survival
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All You Can Drink in Japan Starts a Clock You Cannot See.
nomihōdai de onegai shimasu · All-you-can-drink, please.
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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You Waited Twenty Minutes. The Waiter Was a Sticker on the Table.
yomitotte kudasai · Please scan it
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?
Survival
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Your App Taught You This Means Yes. The Cashier Just Heard No.
ii desu · I'm good / no thanks
Survival
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Your Pocket Wi-Fi Just Died and Your Hotel Code Was Inside It
kowaremashita · it broke / it's not working
Beginner
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In Autumn Japan Goes Hunting for Grapes. You Can Come, and It's All-You-Can-Eat.
budō-gari · grape picking (the orchard all-you-can-eat visit)
Beginner
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The Glass at Immigration Wants One Finger
hitosashiyubi o oite kudasai · Please place your index finger.
Beginner
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Stop Waiting for the Check. It's Already on Your Table.
denpyō o motte reji e okoshi kudasai · Please take your slip to the register.
Beginner
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You Felt Dizzy in the Heat. She Skipped the Fridge and Handed You a Box.
keikō hosuieki o kudasai · Oral rehydration drink, please.
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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Your App Taught You Kekkou. At the Airport That Sound Means Your Plane Is Dead.
kekkō ni narimashita · The flight has been cancelled.
Survival
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Your Suitcase Just Jammed in a Tokyo Ticket Gate. There Was One Gate You Should Have Used.
koko, tōremasu ka? · Can I get through here?
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?
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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At a Japanese Table Your Glass Is Never Empty. That Isn't Generosity. It's a Loop.
mada daijōbu desu · I'm still good, thanks.
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.
Page 2 of 12 · 542 videos
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