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
Beginner
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She Had to Walk Around for Your Chicken.
jibun de o-tori kudasai · Please take it yourself
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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Your Train Is a Bus at the Curb.
basu daikō ga dete imasu · A replacement bus is running.
Survival
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She Said Take Your Time. You Stood Up.
go-yukkuri · Please take your time.
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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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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Both Trains Say Yamanote. One of Them Is the Long Way Around.
uchimawari · inner loop
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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You Missed the Driver by Four Minutes. The Pink Slip Is the Whole Game.
saihaitatsu o onegai shimasu · please redeliver it
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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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)
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 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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You Introduced Yourself in Japanese and Accidentally Called Yourself Sir.
Jon desu · I am John (never Jon-san)
Beginner
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You Stepped Out for Ice in a Yukata. The Door Clicked Behind You.
heya ni kagi o wasuremashita · I left my key in the room.
Beginner
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You Asked Them to Say It Again. They Said the Same Word Again, Just Slower.
dō iu imi desu ka? · What does that mean?
Beginner
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Japan Went Cashless. This Cafe Still Will Not Take Your Card for a Four Hundred Yen Coffee.
kādo wa ikura kara tsukaemasu ka? · From how much can I use a card?
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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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
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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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You Walked Thirty Minutes to That Restaurant in Japan. It Needed a Booking.
yoyaku wa hitsuyō desu ka · Do I need a reservation?
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?
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?
Beginner
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Twenty Five Thousand Steps a Day. The Massage Shop Asks You One Question and You Need One Answer.
mō sukoshi tsuyoku onegai shimasu · A little stronger, please.
Beginner
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Two Seats on the Same Shinkansen Cost the Same. Only One of Them Sees Mount Fuji.
madogawa de onegai shimasu · A window seat, please.
Beginner
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You Booked Two Shinkansen Tickets. Japan Gave You Two Seats in Different Rows.
sumimasen, seki, kawatte moraemasen ka? · Excuse me, could we swap seats?
Beginner
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You Land at Nine. Check In Is at Three. Here Is the Sentence, and the Answer You Will Actually Get.
hayame ni chekku-in dekimasu ka · Can I check in early?
Beginner
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The Karaoke Desk Asks One Thing Before They Hand You a Room.
nijikan de onegai shimasu · Two hours, please.
Beginner
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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?
Beginner
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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?
Beginner
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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?
Beginner
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In Japan the Ramen Shop Is Not Down the Street. It Is on the Seventh Floor.
nangai desu ka · What floor is it on?
Beginner
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The Noodles Are Sliding Down a Bamboo Pipe. Nobody Told You the Rules.
kore, dō yatte tabemasu ka · How do I eat this?
Beginner
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Booked a Ryokan? Breakfast Is Half the Reason You Came. Ask What Time It Starts.
asagohan wa nanji desu ka · What time is breakfast?
Beginner
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All Japanese Menu? This Phrase Picks Your Meal for You
osusume wa arimasu ka · Do you have any recommendations?
Beginner
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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
Beginner
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Caught in Tokyo Rain? Borrow This Phrase and a Raincoat
kasatte kudasai · Please lend it to me
Beginner
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How to Ask 'How Much Is It?' at Any Shop in Japan
ikura desu ka? · how much is it?
Beginner
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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?
Beginner
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How to Say 'That's All' at a Japanese Restaurant
i-jō desu · that's all
Beginner
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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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