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 Taxi Hasn't Moved.
hatsunori · the taxi's starting fare
Survival
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Those Two Kanji Were the Fee.
haikanryō · the fee to view a temple or garden
Survival
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Your Robe Is on the Funeral Side.
migi-mae · the living wrap, left panel on top
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Did You Catch That? The Door Is Four Cars From the Front. You Counted From the Back.
mae kara nan-ryōme desu ka? · Which car from the front?
Survival
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Did You Catch That? Nodding in Akihabara Just Sold You a Warranty.
hoshō wa ikaga desu ka? · Would you like the warranty?
Survival
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Google Walked You Into a Loading Dock. That Sign Is Not a Suggestion.
kankeisha igai tachiiri kinshi · staff only, no entry
Beginner
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Did You Catch That? You Nodded. That Was Not Large.
Nami de onegai shimasu · Regular size, please.
Survival
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Stop Pushing. That Train Door Is Waiting on You.
hanjidō · semi-automatic (you open this door)
Survival
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The Sticky Heat Pack Doesn't Go on Your Skin.
haru kairo o kudasai · a stick-on heat pack, please
Survival
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That Sentence Means There Is No Seat.
washiki shika arimasen · there's only a squat toilet
Survival
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The Hotel Room Is Black. The Switch Is the Slot.
kādo o sashikonde kudasai · please insert the card
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POV: You Paid for a Ryokan. The Floor Is Empty. They Did Not Forget the Bed.
Futon o shiite kudasai · Please lay out the futon.
Survival
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The Platform Does Not Say Your Stop. It Says a City Past It. That Is Your Train.
hōmen · in the direction of
Survival
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Her Long Goodbye Was Not a Question
mata okoshi kudasaimase · please come again (staff to you)
Survival
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That Station Voice Is Not Being Polite. The Train Is Closer Than You Think.
Kiiroi sen made osagari kudasai · Please step back to the yellow line.
Survival
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You Pulled Up to the Exit. The Bar Did Not Move. Twenty Cars Are Now Waiting.
Shutsujō-mae seisan · Pay before you exit.
Survival
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POV: The Ramen Guy Is Holding a Ladle of Garlic. He Is Waiting.
ninniku nashi de · without garlic
Survival
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Everyone Is Staring Because You Sat Down in the Bath. The Bucket Came First.
kakeyu o shite kudasai · Please rinse off before you get in.
Survival
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You Jammed the Chip In. She Wanted a Tap.
tatchi shite kudasai · Please tap (your card).
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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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)
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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The Best Lunch in the Japanese Countryside Is a Parking Lot With a Government Sign.
michi no eki · roadside station
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 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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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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Your Pocket Wi-Fi Just Died and Your Hotel Code Was Inside It
kowaremashita · it broke / it's not working
Survival
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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.
Survival
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You Get Through to 119 in Japan. The First Thing They Ask Isn't What Happened.
kyūkyū desu · Ambulance, a medical emergency
Survival
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Japan's Stop Sign Is a Red Triangle, and Missing It Is the Country's Number One Ticket
tomare · STOP (sign wording)
Survival
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The Storm Heading for Your Trip Has a Name. Nobody in Japan Will Use It.
taifū jūni-gō · Typhoon No. 12
Survival
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The Only Empty Seats on a Packed Tokyo Train Are Upstairs. Sitting In One Costs Extra.
guriin-sha · the paid upgrade car, a separate ticket
Survival
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That Deer Just Headbutted You. You Held the Crackers Like a Snack.
shika senbei, hito-fukuro kudasai · One pack of deer crackers, please
Survival
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Two Kyoto Buses at the Same Stop Have the Same Number. One of Them Is Going the Long Way Round.
kono basu wa Kinkaku-ji ni ikimasu ka? · Does this bus go to Kinkaku-ji?
Survival
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The Whole Platform Stepped Back at the Same Second. Nobody Looked Up.
osagari kudasai · please step back
Survival
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Everyone in the Carriage Turned at Once. The Announcement Had Just Told Them Which Door Opens.
o-deguchi wa migigawa desu · The doors will open on the right.
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