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.
It Is Thirty Six Degrees and the Locals Are Walking Straight Past the Coolest Car on the Train.
jakureibōsha · the mildly air-conditioned car
Japan Cancelled Tomorrow's Trains. It Is Sunny Outside and the Notice Is Already Up.
keikaku unkyū · planned suspension of service
You Walked Twenty Five Minutes in the Heat. The Card on That Door Says Closed Every Tuesday.
teikyūbi · regular weekly closing day
The Izakaya Is Full, the Lights Are On, and They Just Turned You Away at the Door.
kashikiri · privately booked, reserved for one group
One Short Line Makes Japanese Staff Slow Down and Walk You Through It. Say It Before You Panic.
koko, hajimete nan desu · It's my first time here.
It Was Cloudless an Hour Ago. Japan Has a Word for the Wall of Water Now Coming Down.
gerira gouu · sudden localized downpour
Your Train Just Died. Everyone Around You Is Walking to a Rival Railway.
furikae yusou, tsukaemasu ka? · Can I use the substitute transport?
The Big Number on a Japanese Price Tag Is Not the One You Pay.
zeikomi · tax included
Someone Thanks You in Japan. The Word You Memorized Is Not the One They Use.
ieie · not at all
Twenty Five Thousand Steps a Day in Thirty Six Degrees. Your Feet Give Out Before Your Japanese Does.
bansoukou · adhesive bandage / plaster
You Found Platform 14. You Found Seat 12A. You Are Still About to Miss the Shinkansen.
gōsha · car number
It Is Not Raining in Tokyo. So Why Is Everyone Walking Under an Umbrella?
higasa · sun parasol
Survival
▶
Lights On, Staff Inside, Door Unlocked. This Little Sign Still Means Go Away.
junbi-chū · preparing, not open yet
One Word in the Train Announcement Means Stand Up Now. Everything Else Is Noise.
mamonaku, shibuya desu · We will be arriving at Shibuya shortly.
Don't Knock. The Little Window Already Answered You.
shiyouchuu · in use / occupied
This Sign Means All You Can Eat. The Number Next to It Is a Countdown.
tabehoudai · all you can eat
You Dropped Your Phone in Tokyo. This Tiny Building Gets It Back.
kouban · neighbourhood police box
Every Shop in Japan Shouts This at You. You Are Not Supposed to Answer.
irasshaimase · welcome in (said by shop staff)
A Stranger Just Sat Down at Your Table in Tokyo. The Staff Put Them There.
aiseki · sharing a table with a stranger
A Stranger in Japan Will Chase You Down the Street to Return a Coin. Here's How to Be That Stranger.
otoshimashita yo · You dropped this.
In Japan, Dinner Gets 50% Cheaper Right Before Closing. You Just Have to Read Two Kanji.
hangaku · half price
The Konbini Screen Just Lit Up With Four Kanji. It's Asking How Old You Are.
nenrei kakunin · age check
Everything at a Japanese Izakaya Lands on One Giant Plate. Nobody Tells You to Ask for This.
torizara o kudasai · A small plate, please.
Japan Runs on Machines That Won't Explain Themselves. This Sentence Makes a Human Appear.
tsukaikata o oshiete kudasai · Please show me how to use this.
In Japan the Cashier Might Not Hand You the Receipt. Here's How to Ask.
reshīto kudasai · A receipt, please
At a Japanese Konbini, the Clerk Asks About a Bag. Saying No Saves You Money.
fukuro wa irimasen · I don't need a bag
Japanese People Say This 10 Times a Day. English Has No Word for It.
otsukaresama desu · Thanks for your effort, good work
Two Kanji in Japan Mean Absolutely Not. Learn to Spot Them.
kinshi · Prohibited, forbidden
The Two Kanji That Mean You're Not Getting In
manseki · Full, no seats
You Know 'Wakarimasen'. Here's the One Word That Means the Opposite.
wakarimashita · Got it / understood
Last Train's Gone in Tokyo? Ask the Front Desk This.
takushii o yonde kudasai · Please call a taxi
Survival
▶
Winding Mountain Roads in Japan? Ask for This Before You Board.
yoidome wa arimasu ka? · Do you have motion-sickness pills?
Survival
▶
38C and Suddenly Dizzy in Japan? Say This Before It Gets Worse.
netchūshō kamo shiremasen · I might have heatstroke
Survival
▶
Hurt Yourself in Japan? The One Word the Doctor Needs to Hear
itai · it hurts / ouch
Survival
▶
Which Onsen Door Is Mine? Read These Two Kanji
otoko-yu / onna-yu · men's bath / women's bath
Survival
▶
How to Tell a Japanese Taxi 'Stop Here'
koko de tomete kudasai · please stop here
Survival
▶
Train Leaves in 4 Minutes. This Station Has 17 Platforms.
nanbansen desu ka? · which platform is it?
Survival
▶
Got Directions in Japan but No Idea How Far? Ask This.
tōi desu ka? · Is it far?
Survival
▶
Phone Dead in Shibuya? The Two Words That Get You the Time
ima, nanji desu ka? · What time is it now?
Survival
▶
Want to Make a Japanese Chef's Whole Day? Say This Mid-Bite
oishii desu · It's delicious.
Survival
▶
Everyone Ordered but You Can't Read the Menu? Just Say 'Same for Me'
onaji de onegai shimasu · The same, please.
Beginner
▶
Tokyo Taxi Feels Like a Sauna? The Polite Way to Ask for AC.
eakon o tsukete kudasai · Please turn on the AC.
Survival
▶
Locals Keep Saying This Word to You All July in Japan.
mushiatsui desu ne · It's so humid, isn't it.
Survival
▶
Out Late in Tokyo? Miss This Train and You're Stuck Till Dawn
shūden wa nanji desu ka? · What time is the last train?
Survival
▶
Three Melting Ice Cubes in Your Drink? Ask for More Like This.
kōri o onegai shimasu · Ice, please.
Survival
▶
The Konbini Question That Freezes Every Tourist
iie, kekkō desu · No, I'm fine, thank you
Survival
▶
If a Japanese Staffer Says THIS Word, Freeze
dame desu · No - not allowed.
Survival
▶
The One Word That Makes You Instantly Polite in Japan
dōzo · Here you go. / Go ahead.
Survival
▶
911 Won't Work in Japan - the One Phrase That Will
keisatsu o yonde kudasai · Please call the police.
Survival
▶
Hear THIS Word in Japan? Freeze.
abunai! · watch out! / danger!
Survival
▶
Feeling Sick in the Japan Heat? The One Phrase That Gets You Help Fast
kibun ga warui desu · I feel unwell
Survival
▶
The Firm Way to Ask Someone to Stop in Japan
yamete kudasai · please stop
Survival
▶
Cashier Moving Too Quick? The Polite Way to Say 'Hold On a Second' in Japan
chotto matte kudasai · wait a moment, please
Beginner
▶
The One Emergency Sentence to Know in Japan
kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai · please call an ambulance
Survival
▶
Where to Park Your Car in Japan — The One Phrase for Tourist Drivers
chuushajou wa doko desu ka? · where is the parking lot?
Survival
▶
Where to Get a SIM Card in Japan — The Survival Phrase
shimu kaado wa doko desu ka? · where is the SIM card?
Survival
▶
Where to Exchange Money in Japan — The One Phrase You Need
kaseko wa doko desu ka? · where is the currency exchange?
Survival
▶
Asked for Directions in Japan? Now Actually Understand the Answer
massugu / migi / hidari · straight / right / left
Survival
▶
Feeling Sick in Japan? Know This Phrase Before You Need It
doraggu sutoa wa doko desu ka · Where is the drugstore?
Survival
▶
The Polite Thank You That Closes Every Interaction in Japan
arigatou gozaimasu · thank you very much
Survival
▶
You're Not Ready to Buy. Three Words Get You Out Gracefully.
mata kimasu · i'll come back later
Survival
▶
Free Water in Japan Is Served HOT. Here's How to Ask for It.
oyu wo kudasai · hot water, please
Survival
▶
The Place Is Packed. Ask This Before You Stand in Line.
koko de matte mo ii desu ka? · may i wait here?
Survival
▶
Hotel Check-In Is at 3pm. Your Bags Are Here at 9am. Say This.
nimotsu wo azukatte moraemasu ka? · could you hold my luggage?
Survival
▶
The Magic Word for Fixing Mistakes
gomen nasai · sorry
Survival
▶
Walking Into a Tiny Tokyo Restaurant? Say THIS First
Menyū o kudasai · Menu, please
Survival
▶
Still Carrying Yen-less Cash? One Phrase Finds You an Exchange
ryōgae dekimasu ka? · Can I exchange currency here?
Survival
▶
How to Find the Exit in Japan
deguchi · exit
Survival
▶
Need a Bathroom in Japan? Say THIS — Not 'Toilet Doko'
Toire, o-kari shite mo ii desu ka? · May I use your restroom?
Survival
▶
Phone at 3% in Tokyo? The One Phrase That Saves Your Night
jūden dekimasu ka? · Can I charge here?
Survival
▶
Where is the ticket machine?
kenbaiki wa doko desu ka? · Where is the ticket machine?
Survival
▶
Check, Please
okaikei o onegaishimasu · Check, please
Survival
▶
Is this train going to...?
kono densha wa 〜 ni ikimasu ka? · Is this train going to 〜?
Survival
▶
The Magic Word for Getting Attention
sumimasen · Excuse me
Survival
▶
One Word, Three Meanings: Sumimasen
sumimasen · Excuse me / Sorry / Thank you
Survival
▶
The Polite Way to Ask About English
eigo o hanasemasu ka? · Do you speak English?
Survival
▶
Is This Okay?
kore de ii desu ka? · is this okay?
Survival
▶
The Great Trash Can Hunt
gomi-bako wa doko desu ka? · where is the trash can?
Survival
▶
Asking for Help Politely
sumimasen, tasukete kudasai · Excuse me, please help me
Survival
▶
The Most Useful Phrase in All of Japan
onegai shimasu · please
Survival
▶
I'm Lost
michi ni mayoi mashita · I'm lost
Beginner
▶
Where is the Bathroom? (Beginner Version)
otearai wa doko desu ka? · Where is the bathroom?
Survival
▶
I'm OK → The Most Useful Phrase in Japan
daijōbu desu · I'm okay / no thanks
Survival
▶
The Phrase That Saves You When the Line Forms Behind You
chotto matte kudasai · one moment, please
Get the free phrasebook
15 essential phrases for your trip — romaji included, zero studying.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.