How Much Japanese Should You Know Before Traveling
If you're visiting Japan and a little worried virtually the language bulwark (or you just dear languages), we've got you covered with these essential Japanese phrases for travelers.
In our guide to what nosotros believe are the most important Japanese phrases for travel, we'll introduce you lot to a option of central words and phrases — and explain why the Japanese language barrier is not as worrisome as yous might think.
The truth is, you do not need to speak any Japanese to have a successful, wonderful trip to Japan (and if you're looking for travel inspiration, check out our favorite destinations in Nihon). However, learning a few fundamental Japanese phrases tin can make your trip merely that much better. So allow's get into it!
Download our Free Japanese Phrasebook:
Originally written in 2014, this postal service was updated and republished on November i, 2019.
The Most Essential Japanese Words & Phrases for Your Trip to Japan
Learning Japanese tin can seem daunting, just don't worry. You lot don't need to larn whatever of these words or phrases to have a groovy time (see why we love Japan).
Notwithstanding, as any seasoned traveler knows, making a fiddling linguistic effort can go a long way, and it tin be helpful to acquire even a little of the local language for your travels. Nosotros've narrowed information technology down to a small choice of key words and phrases, divided by category:
- The Basics: Primal Japanese Words and Phrases
- Nutrient and Drink: Eating Your Way Around Nihon
- Now or Later on: Time-Related Phrases in Japanese
- Getting Around Nihon: Transportation-Related Phrases
Hither is a quick await at the words and phrase you'll find beneath:
Top twenty Essential Japanese Travel Phrases:
- Konnichiwa (こんにちは) – Hello
- Arigatou Gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) – Thank you
- Sumimasen (すみません) – Excuse me
- __ o Kudasai (__をください) – I would similar __, please
- __ wa Doko Desu ka? (__はどこですか) – Where is __?
- Itadakimasu (いただきます) – An expression of gratitude for the meal y'all're about to consume
- Omakase de (お任せで) – Used to society chef's recommendation (often for sushi)
- O-sake (お酒) – Full general term for alcohol
- Nihonshu (日本酒) – Japanese sake
- Kinen Seki (禁煙席) – Non-smoking seat
- Ima Nanji Desu ka? (今何時ですか) – What fourth dimension is it now?
- Nanji ni? (何時に？) – At what time?
- Asa (朝) – Forenoon
- Kyou (今日) – Today
- Ashita (明日) – Tomorrow
- __ ni Ikitai (__に行きたい) – I want to go to __
- Tomete Kudasai (止めてください) – End, please
- Kippu (切符) – Ticket
- Shinkansen (新幹線) – Bullet train
- Dono Densha? (どの電車？) – Which railroad train?
If yous're concerned nearly memorizing all this Japanese, or want to learn even more words and phrases, download Bazaar Nippon'due south Tiny Phrasebook for free.
And for an introduction to how to say these words and phrases, come across our bonus video to help y'all practice your Japanese pronunciation.
Basic Japanese Words and Phrases
Allow'due south first with a few of the most basic-even so-essential Japanese words and phrases. Even if you lot only remember how to say hello or thank you lot, you'll find that Japanese people will be appreciative of your efforts!
ane. Konnichiwa (こんにちは) – Hello
Allow's starting time with i you've probably heard before: the word for how-do-you-do is konnichiwa.
Konnichiwa is typically used during the day, and there are other phrases for expert morning and good evening (ohayou gozaimasu, and konbanwa, respectively). Only when you're starting out it's best to keep things simple, and if you just learn konnichiwa y'all can use it throughout the day to say hello!
ii. Arigatou Gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) – Give thanks y'all
In Nippon, etiquette is no joke, and chances are you'll be saying thanks a lot (acquire more than in our guide to Japanese etiquette).
The word for thanks in Japanese is arigatou gozaimasu (in Japanese, the u at the end of some words is barely pronounced to the point of existence almost silent). You can normally simply say arigatou, which is a little more casual only commonly perfectly fine. In Japan, where politeness is such a key function of the culture, yous'll exist saying arigatou gozaimasu a lot!
three. Sumimasen (すみません) – Alibi me
Excuse me is an important expression in whatever language, and Japanese is no exception.
The discussion for excuse me in Japanese is sumimasen. Chances are y'all'll also exist using this i quite a scrap, so if you can endeavour and memorize information technology! It'south a doubly useful give-and-take, as information technology can exist used both to get a person's attending, and also to apologize.
For instance, use sumimasen at an izakaya (a Japanese-style gastropub) to get a waiter'due south attending. At izakaya, it'southward oft called out as sumimaseeeeee~n! On the other hand, if you lot accidentally walk onto a tatami floor with your shoes on (something you lot're probable to do at some point) you can use sumimasen to say I'm sorry.
iv. __ o Kudasai (をください) – I would like , please
Now that we've covered three basic essentials, we can move onto ii cardinal sentences that will hopefully assist you lot a lot.
Start is I would like __, please. This is useful in a diverseness of situations: at restaurants, in stores, and on many other occasions yous'll see while traveling. In Japanese, it's __ o kudasai (simply fill in the __ [bare] with the detail of your choice).
To get the most out of this phrase, you may want to learn a few vocabulary words, such as water (mizu), beer (biiru), sake, and others you think yous may need.
5. __ wa Doko Desu ka? (はどこですか) – Where is __?
Terminal but not to the lowest degree, we think it'due south quite useful to exist able to ask Where is the __? This is useful even if you can't understand the answer, because once you ask, people will be able to point y'all in the right direction, or fifty-fifty assistance y'all get to where y'all're going!
In Japanese, it's __ wa doko desu ka? (only fill in the __ [blank] with the identify y'all're trying to reach, such as the Ghibli Museum). Ane key vocabulary discussion that frequently goes along with this phrase for travelers is eki, which means station (for instance, Shinjuku eki is Shinjuku station).
Eating Your Mode Effectually Japan: Food and Drink Phrases
For many travelers, Japanese food is a top priority! From classic Tokyo sushi restaurants to the legendary food culture of Okinawa, at that place'south a lot to have in. For alcohol afficionados, Japan also offers sake, Japanese whisky, shochu, and other traditional beverages.
While yous don't need to speak any Japanese to enjoy eating and drinking in Japan, these primal words and phrases will help you make the nigh of your culinary experiences.
6. Itadakimasu (いただきます) – An expression of gratitude for the repast you're nearly to eat
Certainly not required, but if you say itadakimasu before you lot begin eating, whether in a eating house or at a person'south habitation, they will surely exist impressed with your manners.
Substantially, this phrase expresses humility and cheers for the meal you are about to enjoy. The website Tofugu does a very nice task of explaining the significant of itadakimasu.
7. Omakase de (お任せで) – Used to order chef's recommendation (often for sushi)
If you lot're a passionate sushi enthusiast, you probably already know the meaning of omakase.
When you tell a chef omakase de, you lot're letting them know that you're placing the meal in their hands. Especially for travelers with audacious palates, this is the all-time way to experience a meal at a Tokyo sushi shop, for instance.
Yet, the phrase is non just used at sushi restaurants, and tin can ofttimes be used at other types of establishments as well.
8. O-sake (お酒) – Full general term for alcohol
Technically osake, this word has tripped many a non-Japanese speaker up! While in English the word sake means, well, sake, in Japanese the word sake — more politely, osake — refers to alcoholic beverages in general.
(Sake and osake are near interchangeable; the "o" is what is known as an honorific prefix, but unless you're studying Japanese in more depth, yous really don't need to worry about this!)
So if you're looking for sake (which in Japanese is called nihonshu), it's best to ask for nihonshu (see below). If you lot're only looking for an adult beverage (such every bit nihonshu, shochu, or Japanese whisky), the catchall term sake will practise the trick.
ix. Nihonshu (日本酒) – Japanese sake
Encounter above for the stardom between sake and nihonshu!
10. Kinen Seki (禁煙席) – Not-smoking seat
Encountering cigarette fume is somewhat of an unavoidable aspect of traveling effectually Japan. This being said, most of our travelers are quite averse to smoke, and fortunately it's possible to travel effectually Nihon without fume becoming besides much of a nuisance.
In some places, such as restaurants, you lot may accept a choice between the smoking and not-smoking sections. Kinen means non-smoking, and seki means seat: put them together and you've merely conveyed that you'd like to be seated in the non-smoking expanse!
Time-related phrases can be extremely helpful in sure travel situations, and below you'll discover a few of the most applied Japanese words and phrases on this topic.
11. Ima Nanji Desu ka? (今何時ですか) – What time is information technology now?
Chances are you'll have a spotter or cell phone on you lot, only in one case in a while you may need to inquire a stranger for the time.
The basic phrase is but nanji desu ka? which ways, What time is it? People also commonly say ima nanji desu ka? which just means, What fourth dimension is information technology now? (Ima means now.)
12. Nanji ni? (何時に？) – At what time?
This is a particularly useful phrase while traveling. It tin can be helpful when purchasing rail tickets (encounter more than on getting around Japan below), making meal reservations, or arranging tickets to events.
Sure, you could merely inquire nanji? (what time?) and hope your point gets beyond, merely past adding the preposition ni you can be assured of much more clarity!
13. Asa (朝) – Morning time
This 1 is fairly cocky-explanatory: asa means forenoon. While it's no surprise that a nutrient-loving civilisation like Japan has multiple words for breakfast, one of the nearly mutual is asagohan (gohan literally means rice, only is more generally used to hateful food).
fourteen. Kyou (今日) – Today
Words like today and tomorrow can exist particularly useful when ownership train tickets, for example. For more on transport, run across the ship-related phrases beneath.
fifteen. Ashita (明日) – Tomorrow
When pronouncing the word for tomorrow, ashita, the i is most silent, and then information technology ends up sounding more like ashta. If you need to limited the mean solar day after tomorrow, the word is asatte.
Getting Around Nippon: Transportation-Related Phrases for Travelers to Nihon
For some travelers, i of the biggest concerns about not speaking the language is the prospect of getting around the country, navigating the trains, and trying to avoid getting lost.
Fortunately, Nippon has an incredibly efficient and easy-to-apply track network, and you can read all about it in our guide to train travel and getting around Nihon. And here are some key Japanese words and phrases to aid you on your style.
16. __ ni Ikitai (に行きたい) – I want to get to __
On its ain, ikitai means, I want to go.
To express that you'd like to go somewhere, employ the phrase __ ni ikitai (merely fill in the __ [bare] with the place you lot're trying to accomplish). For example, Kyoto ni ikitai means, I desire to go to Kyoto.
17. Tomete Kudasai (止めてください) – Cease, please
Tomete means stop, and is particularly useful in taxis. The kudasai here means delight, and makes the phrase much more polite (tomete on its own would come off as quite short).
18. Kippu (切符) – Ticket
Kippu ways ticket (as in train tickets). Every bit you tin can easily imagine, when purchasing rail tickets it tin can be very useful to be able to tell the ticket agent that yous'd similar a ticket to a certain place!
Made ways until or to (in this example, to your destination). For example, Osaka made means to Osaka. Thus, Osaka made no kippu means ticket to Osaka. Put information technology all together with kudasai (for politeness) and you have Osaka made no kippu o kudasai.
19. Shinkansen (新幹線) – Bullet train
Ah, the shinkansen. Ane of the utter joys of traveling effectually Japan is the earth-famous shinkansen (bullet train).
Whether you have the well-known Japan Rail Pass or not, if y'all're doing any domestic travel within Japan, chances are you'll end upwardly on the incredible (and incredibly pleasant) shinkansen for at least ane if non more of your journeys. Enjoy, and catch a bento and some nihonshu (see in a higher place) for the ride!
20. Dono Densha? (どの電車？) – Which train?
Wondering which train you need? Imagine you're in Kyoto Station, headed for Tokyo. You lot're on your shinkansen'due south departure platform, just you see 2 trains.
Y'all show your ticket to a friendly Japanese person, and inquire, dono densha? They accept a wait at your ticket and the two trains, and point y'all to the right one. And you lot're on your mode – happy travels!
Download our Gratuitous Japanese Phrasebook PDF
For those of you who desire to larn even more Japanese for travel, nosotros've created the Boutique Japan Tiny Phrasebook.
Our Tiny Phrasebook features advisedly selected Japanese words and phrases designed to help you get the nigh out of your trip to Japan. You lot'll find all of the words and phrases featured in a higher place, and many more!
The phrasebook is a beautifully designed PDF (it may have a few moments to load depending on your net speed).
Simply save it to your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Nosotros suggest using an app like iBooks (or another PDF reader) then you lot tin can search for words and navigate hands.
Bonus Video: Practice your Japanese Pronunciation
One of the best things near Japanese is that it'due south surprisingly easy to pronounce. Unlike several other languages throughout Asia, Japanese is not a tonal linguistic communication.
In the video below, nosotros go over basic pronunciation for some of the most useful Japanese words and phrases for your trip to Japan.
Practise y'all demand to speak any Japanese to travel effectually Nihon?
Admittedly not. You tin travel to Nippon without learning whatever of these words and take a nifty time.
People ask us about the Japanese language barrier all the time, with common questions such equally, Do Japanese people speak English language? How much (or how piddling)? The linguistic communication barrier is a common myth that shouldn't become in your way. Most of our travelers don't speak a single word of Japanese, withal come up back with testimonials of how much they dear Japan.
The truth is that most Japanese people speak at least a little bit of English. These days, all Japanese students study English for a minimum of six years in secondary school, and many students — as well as adults — as well take English-language classes after schoolhouse or on weekends.
English-language fluency is not widespread, so most people you lot run across probably won't be fluent in English language, but almost everyone you run across volition know at least a few English words – and many will know anywhere from hundreds to thousands.
Sometimes you may detect that the people you lot meet are hesitant to try their English on you, but you'll likely detect that you tin communicate in basic English in a huge diverseness of situations while traveling around Japan.
The Japanese Written Linguistic communication
You may also exist worried about the written linguistic communication. The expert news is that you don't need to exist able to read or write Japanese to enjoy Japan.
Japanese people don't expect you to be able to read the Japanese linguistic communication, and you'll find English-linguistic communication signage throughout the land. This is particularly true in places frequented past travelers, such equally sightseeing spots, shopping areas, train stations, airports, and frequently even on the street.
As for at restaurants, though it'south not always the case, in some cases you will detect English-linguistic communication menus. When English language-language menus are non available, photos are often included to brand pointing and ordering possible.
Despite Japan's travel-friendliness, every visitor to Japan at some betoken finds him or herself in a situation in which linguistic communication is simply not possible, and sign language and gesturing are required.
Getting lost in a strange country where you don't speak the language is a fear of many would-exist travelers, just if you had to choice a country in which to get lost, you couldn't practice much better than Japan! Japan is by far 1 of the safest countries in the globe, with crime rates that are astonishingly low compared to places like the U.s.a. and nearly of Europe. And Japanese people will often become to surprising lengths to help tourists.
Back when I first moved to Nippon I spoke very fiddling Japanese, and on my outset visit to Kyoto I accidentally took the incorrect railroad train and ended up wandering around a neighborhood with no idea how to get where I wanted to get. Luckily, an older admirer with his wife spotted me looking confused and came up to me with perhaps one of the merely English language phrases he knew: "Are you lost?" I said yep and showed him the name of the place I wanted to go.
If he had simply pointed me in the right management it would have been helpful, but instead he started walking me in the right direction. Afterward a few minutes of walking his married woman split off, presumably to go home, and we continued. After 15 minutes of walking he had dropped me off at exactly the spot I needed to exist, and – as is typical in Japanese culture – expected nothing in return. I thanked him profusely and we had a practiced laugh despite our inability to communicate linguistically.
Why Learn Any Japanese if You Won't Need it?
Almost everyone who has visited Japan has a like story of a random human activity of kindness and generosity from a Japanese stranger (or a tale of a camera or passport left on a train beingness miraculously returned). So you can rest assured that even if you forget all of the words and phrases we've shown, you'll be in proficient hands with the wonderful people of Japan.
Just bated from the fact that it's a rich and fascinating language, learning even but 1 or 2 Japanese words or phrases will help endear you to the Japanese people you meet during your trip, and enhance your overall travel experience.
Japanese people tend to exist extremely appreciative of visitors who take the fourth dimension to learn fifty-fifty just a word or phrase or ii, and if you lot endeavour and so chances are you'll be greeted with oohs and aahs of encouragement.
We hope you've plant our guide to Japanese words and phrases for travelers helpful. Arigatou gozaimasu!
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Source: https://boutiquejapan.com/essential-japanese-words-phrases-for-travelers-to-japan/
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