{"id":27089,"date":"2021-04-07T15:00:30","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T15:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=27089"},"modified":"2024-01-29T05:59:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T05:59:50","slug":"essential-japanese-phrases-for-daily-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/essential-japanese-phrases-for-daily-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Top essential Japanese phrases for daily life"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you go about your life in Japan, you\u2019ll notice that there are certain words and phrases that you will hear people use <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> the time. Of course, knowing the language will add so much more depth to your life in Japan. But if you\u2019re new to the language, you\u2019ll want to know some essential Japanese phrases for daily life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are our top 5 essential beginner words and phrases<\/strong> to get you through your daily life in Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sumimasen <\/b>\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This word will probably become one of your most frequently-used Japanese words because it can be used in a few different contexts. It means \u201csorry\u201d but can actually also mean \u201cexcuse me\u201d, \u201cthank you\u201d and it can be used to get someone\u2019s attention (for example, at a restaurant when you need to call the waiter).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are so many situations where you can say it: when getting off a crowded train, when you ask someone for directions, when you accidentally bump into someone at the supermarket, when asking someone for a favour, when apologising to someone.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001\u30c8\u30a4\u30ec\u306f\u3069\u3053\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f
\n<\/b>Sumimasen, toire wa doko desuka?
\n<\/i><\/b>Excuse me, where is the toilet?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001\u964d\u308a\u307e\u3059\uff01
\n<\/b>Sumimasen, orimasu!
\n<\/i><\/b>Excuse me, I\u2019m getting off (the train)!<\/span><\/p>\n

Note that \u201csumimasen\u201d is considered a soft apology, so it\u2019s not used to apologise for more serious offenses. For example, you wouldn\u2019t use it at work to say sorry for missing an important deadline.<\/span><\/p>\n

Daijoubu desu \u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3067\u3059<\/b><\/h2>\n

Daijoubu desu<\/span><\/i> is one of the most versatile and essential Japanese phrases for daily life. Daijoubu means \u201calright\u201d or \u201cokay\u201d, but in the right context it can also be used to mean \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A common scenario where you might use this phrase is when you\u2019re at the supermarket and the clerk asks you something. For example, whether you brought a point card. If you don\u2019t have one, you can just say, \u201cdaijoubu desu\u201d and the clerk will be able to deduce from the context that you mean \u201cno\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another common situation you would say this is when confirming a reservation or appointment, for example with a restaurant or doctor. Often they might ask you if a particular time suits, to which you would respond, \u201cDaijoubu desu\u201d if the time works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can ask, \u201cDaijoubu desuka?\u201d as a question to someone to ask if they\u2019re okay with something. For example, if you\u2019re meeting someone but you\u2019re running a little late, you can call or message them to say:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3059\u307f\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3001<\/b>10\u5206\u9045\u308c\u307e\u3059<\/b>\u3002\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f
\n<\/b>Sumimasen, juppun okuremasu. Daijoubu desuka?
\n<\/i><\/b>Sorry, I\u2019m going to be 10 minutes late. Is that okay?<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also ask, \u201cDaijoubu desuka?\u201d to someone to check if they\u2019re okay, or if they are feeling alright. For example, if you see someone fall over, you can ask them, \u201cDaijoubu desuka?\u201d Conversely, if you\u2019re the one who\u2019s fallen over and someone asks you if you\u2019re okay, then you can say, \u201cDaijoubu desu!\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are so many ways this phrase can be used and there\u2019s no doubt you will very quickly start using it in your daily life in Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Basic<\/p>\n

Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu \u3088\u308d\u3057\u304f\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059<\/b><\/h2>\n

Another versatile phrase that is often used in Japan, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Yoroshiku onegaishimasu<\/span><\/i>\u201d doesn\u2019t have a direct translation. Instead, the meaning can change depending on the situation, but in general it refers to your gratitude for an action that will take place in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

You say it when you meet someone for the first time, when you want to show gratitude to someone, when you ask someone to do something for you, when you order at a restaurant or cafe, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example when you meet someone:
\n<\/span>\u306f\u3058\u3081\u307e\u3057\u3066, \u30a2\u30f3\u30ca \u3067\u3059\u3002\u3088\u308d\u3057\u304f \u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
\n<\/b>Hajimemashite, Anna desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
\n<\/i><\/b>Nice to meet you, I\u2019m Anna.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a work situation, you might need to ask someone to do something for you. In that case, you would use this phrase to express your gratitude:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u7530\u4e2d\u3055\u3093\u3001\u3053\u306e\u8cc7\u6599\u660e\u65e5\u307e\u3067\u306b\u30b3\u30d4\u30fc\u3092\u3057\u3066\u304f\u308c\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f\u3088\u308d\u3057\u304f\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
\n<\/b>Tanaka-san, kono shiryou ko-pi o shite kuremasuka? Yoroshiku onegashimasu.
\n<\/i><\/b>Tanaka-san, could you make a copy of this document for me? Thank you very much in advance.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also shorten it in more casual situations, such as with friends. For example, if you ask your classmate if you can borrow their Japanese notebook:<\/span><\/p>\n

You:
\n<\/b>\u30a2\u30f3\u30ca\u3061\u3083\u3093\u3001\u65e5\u672c\u8a9e\u306e\u30ce\u30fc\u30c8\u8cb8\u3057\u3066\u304f\u308c\u308b\uff1f
\n<\/b>Anna-chan, nihongo no nooto kashite kureru?
\n<\/i><\/b>Can I borrow your Japanese notebook Anna?<\/span><\/p>\n

Anna:
\n<\/b>\u3044\u3044\u3088\uff01
\n<\/b>iiyo!
\n<\/i><\/b>Sure!<\/span><\/p>\n

You:
\n<\/b>\u3088\u308d\u3057\u304f!
\n<\/b>Yoroshiku!
\n<\/i><\/b>Thanks!<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: read up about Japanese honorifics, such as -chan, in our article <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn all about how to use this phrase, read our article on when and how to use <\/span>\u201cyoroshiku onegaishimasu\u201d<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Onegaishimasu & Kudasai \u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059 & \u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044<\/b><\/h2>\n

Both these words are important to know as part of your essential Japanese phrases for daily life because they both mean \u201cplease. For example, when you order at a restaurant or ask someone to do something for you, you say \u201c<\/span>kudasai<\/span><\/i>\u201d or \u201c<\/span>onegaishimasu<\/span><\/i>\u201d at the end.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOnegaishimasu\u201d is more polite<\/strong> than \u201ckudasai\u201d and sometimes they are interchangeable, but there are also certain situations where you would only use either one or the other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, in work situations, it\u2019s better to use more polite language. So \u201conegaishimasu\u201d would be more suitable when asking someone to give you something or do something for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, you would generally use \u201ckudasai\u201d after an action, for example:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3061\u3087\u3063\u3068\u5f85\u3063\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002
\n<\/b>Chotto matte kudasai<\/i><\/b>.
\n<\/b>Please wait a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u65e9\u304f\u3057\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002
\n<\/b>Hayaku shite kudasai.
\n<\/i><\/b>Please hurry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Arigatou gozaimasu \u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/b><\/h2>\n

You can\u2019t have \u201cplease\u201d without \u201cthank you\u201d, so of course <\/span>arigatou gozaimasu<\/span><\/i> is included on this list of essential Japanese phrases for daily life. Using this phrase is pretty straightforward and even if you know very little Japanese, you can at the very least communicate your gratitude effectively with \u201carigatou gozaimasu\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, when you\u2019re at the supermarket and the clerk gives you your change, you would thank them by saying, \u201cArigatou gozaimasu\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At school, you might ask your teacher a question, after which you would thank them for their help with, \u201cArigatou gozaimasu\u201d. You\u2019ll probably also thank them after each class with, \u201carigatou gozaimashita\u201d, which is the past tense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With people you\u2019re more familiar with, you can drop the \u201cgozaimasu\u201d and just say \u201carigatou\u201d. Or you can say \u201c<\/span>doumo arigatou gozaimasu <\/i><\/b>\u3069\u3046\u3082\u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059<\/b>\u201d to convey that you are extremely thankful for something. For example, if someone did something that was inconvenient for them, but very helpful for you, you might want to show how grateful you are by telling them, \u201cdoumo arigatou gozaimasu\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly with arigatou, you can also just say \u201cdoumo\u201d in casual situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking it beyond just the basics<\/b><\/h2>\n

While these simple words and phrases are practical and helpful, we highly recommend you to learn the language properly<\/strong> if you want to live and work in Japan. The best way to do this is to study in Japan while being fully immersed in Japanese society. You can read more about the benefits of studying Japanese immersively in our article <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Or, if you\u2019re not able to make it to Japan just yet, you can also study the language online with Akamonkai, which is Tokyo\u2019s largest Japanese language school. You can learn more about the course – and our other online courses – <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As you go about your life in Japan, you\u2019ll notice that there are certain words and phrases that you will hear people use all the time. Of course, knowing the language will add so much more depth to your life in Japan. But if you\u2019re new to the language, you\u2019ll want to know some essential […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":27101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[404],"tags":[698,666],"class_list":["post-27089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-japanese","tag-japanese-lessons","tag-language"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}