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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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You Said Two and They Lit a Second Stove Survival ▶

You Said Two and They Lit a Second Stove

nininmae de onegai shimasu · two servings, please

Common Mistake #japanesefood

You Ordered Kaki and They Brought the Oyster Survival ▶

You Ordered Kaki and They Brought the Oyster

kudamono no kaki o kudasai · the fruit persimmon, please

role-play #japanesefood

She Had to Walk Around for Your Chicken. Beginner ▶

She Had to Walk Around for Your Chicken.

jibun de o-tori kudasai · Please take it yourself

Listening Recognition #japanesefood

They Served You a Fish That Still Has a Face. Beginner ▶

They Served You a Fish That Still Has a Face.

sanma no shioyaki o onegai shimasu · salt-grilled saury, please

role-play #japanesefood

Half Price Strawberries. Two Kanji. Something Is Wrong With Them On Purpose. Survival ▶

Half Price Strawberries. Two Kanji. Something Is Wrong With Them On Purpose.

wake ari · imperfect (there's a reason this is cheap)

cultural-explainer #japanesefood

The Izakaya Is Empty. They Still Said No. You Were One Person. Beginner ▶

The Izakaya Is Empty. They Still Said No. You Were One Person.

kauntaa de onegai shimasu · the counter, please

role-play #japanesefood

You Dipped the Skewer Twice. The Whole Counter Went Quiet. Survival ▶

You Dipped the Skewer Twice. The Whole Counter Went Quiet.

nidozuke kinshi · no double-dipping

sign-decode #japanesefood

She Took Your Cookies Behind a Curtain. You Are Eating Them on the Train. Beginner ▶

She Took Your Cookies Behind a Curtain. You Are Eating Them on the Train.

kan'i hōsō de onegai shimasu · simple wrapping, please

myth-bust #japanesefood

There Is a Raw Egg on Your Beef Bowl. That Is Not a Garnish. Crack It. Survival ▶

There Is a Raw Egg on Your Beef Bowl. That Is Not a Garnish. Crack It.

namatamago desu · It's a raw egg.

cultural-explainer #japanesefood

All You Can Drink in Japan Starts a Clock You Cannot See. Survival ▶

All You Can Drink in Japan Starts a Clock You Cannot See.

nomihōdai de onegai shimasu · All-you-can-drink, please.

cultural-explainer #japanesefood

You Waited Twenty Minutes. The Waiter Was a Sticker on the Table. Survival ▶

You Waited Twenty Minutes. The Waiter Was a Sticker on the Table.

yomitotte kudasai · Please scan it

situation-rescue #japanesefood

Stop Waiting for the Check. It's Already on Your Table. Beginner ▶

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.

Common Mistake #japanesefood

Every September Japan Puts an Egg on a Burger. The Reason Is About a Thousand Years Old. Survival ▶

Every September Japan Puts an Egg on a Burger. The Reason Is About a Thousand Years Old.

tsukimi · moon viewing. The egg is the moon.

sign-decode #japanesefood

You Ordered Iced Tea. They Charged You for a Lipton. Survival ▶

You Ordered Iced Tea. They Charged You for a Lipton.

mugicha · barley tea

myth-bust #japanesefood

Your Yakiniku Grill Went Black in Ten Minutes. You Are Not Supposed to Keep Cooking on That. Survival ▶

Your Yakiniku Grill Went Black in Ten Minutes. You Are Not Supposed to Keep Cooking on That.

ami, otorikae shimashou ka? · Shall I change the grill for you?

role-play #japanesefood

That Deer Just Headbutted You. You Held the Crackers Like a Snack. Survival ▶

That Deer Just Headbutted You. You Held the Crackers Like a Snack.

shika senbei, hito-fukuro kudasai · One pack of deer crackers, please

situation-rescue #japanesefood

Your Etiquette Guide Said Always Use Chopsticks. Nigiri Was Built to Be Eaten With Your Fingers. Beginner ▶

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?

myth-bust #japanesefood

Some Ramen Shops Upsize Your Noodles for Free. They'll Never Offer It in English. Survival ▶

Some Ramen Shops Upsize Your Noodles for Free. They'll Never Offer It in English.

ōmori de onegaishimasu · Large portion, please

role-play #japanesefood

Your Lunch Set Comes With Coffee. In Japan It Turns Up Next to the Soup. Survival ▶

Your Lunch Set Comes With Coffee. In Japan It Turns Up Next to the Soup.

shokugo ni onegai shimasu. · After the meal, please.

role-play #japanesefood

You Asked for the English Menu in Japan. You Just Got the Short Version. 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.

myth-bust #japanesefood

You Said No Meat, No Fish. They Said No Problem. Your Miso Soup Still Has Fish In It. Survival ▶

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?

myth-bust #japanesefood

At a Japanese Festival Stall, Pointing Isn't Enough. They Need How Many. Beginner ▶

At a Japanese Festival Stall, Pointing Isn't Enough. They Need How Many.

hitotsu kudasai / futatsu kudasai · One, please / Two, please

festival #japanesefood

Japanese Has a Word for People Who Can't Drink Hot Tea. It Translates to Cat Tongue. Survival ▶

Japanese Has a Word for People Who Can't Drink Hot Tea. It Translates to Cat Tongue.

nekojita nan desu · I can't handle hot food or drinks

word-origin #japanesefood

You Ordered One Coffee in an Old Japanese Cafe and Breakfast Turned Up. Nobody Charged You For It. Survival ▶

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?

myth-bust #japanesefood

You Grabbed the Melon Pan With Your Hand. Everyone Saw. Nobody's Going to Say a Word. Survival ▶

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.

sign-decode #japanesefood

Your Sushi Video Taught You an Insider Word for Tea. It Belongs to the Guy Behind the Counter. Beginner ▶

Your Sushi Video Taught You an Insider Word for Tea. It Belongs to the Guy Behind the Counter.

ocha kudasai · Tea, please.

myth-bust #japanesefood

The Shop Looks Closed. That Curtain In The Doorway Is Telling You It's Open. Survival ▶

The Shop Looks Closed. That Curtain In The Doorway Is Telling You It's Open.

eigyouchuu · Open for business

sign-decode #japanesefood

You Finished the Cold Soba. That Pot of Cloudy Grey Water Is Not for Your Hands. Survival ▶

You Finished the Cold Soba. That Pot of Cloudy Grey Water Is Not for Your Hands.

soba-yu · the water the soba was boiled in

etiquette-trap #japanesefood

Every Line on This Japanese Menu Has a Price. One Line Has Two Kanji Instead. Survival ▶

Every Line on This Japanese Menu Has a Price. One Line Has Two Kanji Instead.

jika · market price, whatever it costs today

sign-decode #japanesefood

You Stood Your Chopsticks Up in the Rice. In Japan You Just Set the Table for a Funeral. Survival ▶

You Stood Your Chopsticks Up in the Rice. In Japan You Just Set the Table for a Funeral.

hashioki, arimasu ka? · Do you have a chopstick rest?

Common Mistake #japanesefood

That Chicken Is Pink in the Middle. In Japan That Might Be the Whole Point. Beginner ▶

That Chicken Is Pink in the Middle. In Japan That Might Be the Whole Point.

kore, nama desu ka? · Is this raw?

food + phrase #japanesefood

You Order in Japan and the Staff Fire Back an Eight Syllable Word. Do Not Answer It. Survival ▶

You Order in Japan and the Staff Fire Back an Eight Syllable Word. Do Not Answer It.

kashikomarimashita · Certainly. I've got it.

Listening Recognition #japanesefood

The Counter Asks You One Word Before Your Food Is Rung Up. Say This or the Sides Never Come. Survival ▶

The Counter Asks You One Word Before Your Food Is Rung Up. Say This or the Sides Never Come.

setto de · The set, please.

Order Like a Local #japanesefood

You Wave. You Cough. Nobody Comes. There Is a Button Right Next to Your Hand. Survival ▶

You Wave. You Cough. Nobody Comes. There Is a Button Right Next to Your Hand.

yobidashi botan · call button

mini-scenario #japanesefood

A Hand Reaches for Your Plate in Japan. You Are Not Finished. Beginner ▶

A Hand Reaches for Your Plate in Japan. You Are Not Finished.

mada tabete imasu · I'm still eating.

mini-scenario #japanesefood

Lights On, Staff Inside, Door Unlocked. This Little Sign Still Means Go Away. Survival ▶

Lights On, Staff Inside, Door Unlocked. This Little Sign Still Means Go Away.

junbi-chū · preparing, not open yet

sign_decode #japanesefood

This Sign Means All You Can Eat. The Number Next to It Is a Countdown. Survival ▶

This Sign Means All You Can Eat. The Number Next to It Is a Countdown.

tabehoudai · all you can eat

sign-decode #japanesefood

The Noodles Are Sliding Down a Bamboo Pipe. Nobody Told You the Rules. Beginner ▶

The Noodles Are Sliding Down a Bamboo Pipe. Nobody Told You the Rules.

kore, dō yatte tabemasu ka · How do I eat this?

Food + Language #japanesefood

In Japan, Dinner Gets 50% Cheaper Right Before Closing. You Just Have to Read Two Kanji. Survival ▶

In Japan, Dinner Gets 50% Cheaper Right Before Closing. You Just Have to Read Two Kanji.

hangaku · half price

sign-decode #japanesefood

Everything at a Japanese Izakaya Lands on One Giant Plate. Nobody Tells You to Ask for This. Survival ▶

Everything at a Japanese Izakaya Lands on One Giant Plate. Nobody Tells You to Ask for This.

torizara o kudasai · A small plate, please.

mini-dialogue #japanesefood

That Free Sample Tray in a Japanese Food Hall? Ask Before You Reach. Beginner ▶

That Free Sample Tray in a Japanese Food Hall? Ask Before You Reach.

shishoku dekimasu ka? · Can I try a sample?

shopping #japanesefood

Your Japanese Host Keeps Refilling Your Plate. Say This or It Never Stops. Survival ▶

Your Japanese Host Keeps Refilling Your Plate. Say This or It Never Stops.

onaka ippai desu · I'm full, thank you

Cultural Shock #japanesefood

Handed Natto in Japan? 'I Don't Like It' Is the Wrong Answer. Beginner ▶

Handed Natto in Japan? 'I Don't Like It' Is the Wrong Answer.

chotto nigate desu · It's not really my thing

politeness-nuance #japanesefood

One Day Every July, All of Japan Eats Eel on Purpose. Here's Why. Intermediate ▶

One Day Every July, All of Japan Eats Eel on Purpose. Here's Why.

doyou no ushi no hi · midsummer 'eel day'

culture-explainer #japanesefood

35C at a Japanese Beer Garden? This Is the Only Phrase You Need. Beginner ▶

35C at a Japanese Beer Garden? This Is the Only Phrase You Need.

nama biiru kudasai · A draft beer, please

role-play #japanesefood

Summer Killed Your Appetite but Not the Rice Bowl. One Word Fixes It. Beginner ▶

Summer Killed Your Appetite but Not the Rice Bowl. One Word Fixes It.

gohan sukuname de onegai shimasu · smaller rice portion, please

Mini-Lesson #japanesefood

The Ramen Line Wraps the Block. Ten Minutes or an Hour? Ask This. Beginner ▶

The Ramen Line Wraps the Block. Ten Minutes or an Hour? Ask This.

dono kurai machimasu ka? · how long is the wait?

phrase-drill #japanesefood

Want to Make a Japanese Chef's Whole Day? Say This Mid-Bite Survival ▶

Want to Make a Japanese Chef's Whole Day? Say This Mid-Bite

oishii desu · It's delicious.

reaction-word #japanesefood

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