Basic Communication & Greetings

hai.

yes.

iie.

no.

arigatō.

thank you.

Iie, kekkō desu.

no, thank you.

dō itashimashite.

you’re welcome.

sumimasen!

excuse me! / i'm sorry!

anō, sumimasen...

excuse me... (trying to get someone’s attention)

gomen nasai!

sorry!

daijōbu desu ka?

are you okay?

daijōbu desu.

i’m okay.

mō ichido, onegai dekimasu ka?

could you repeat that please?

sumimasen, mō ichido...

sorry, one more time please...

honto?

really?

wakarimasen.

i don’t understand.

wakarimashita.

i got it.

kōhī kudasai.

coffee please.

ikimashō.

let’s go.

sugoi ne!

this is fantastic!

chotto matte!

wait a minute!

tasukete!

help!

yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Please treat me favorably / Nice to work with you.

otsukaresama desu.

Thank you for your hard work / Hello (workplace greeting).

osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.

Excuse me for leaving before you.

ohayō gozaimasu.

good morning.

konnichiwa.

good afternoon.

kombanwa.

good evening.

hajimemashite, dōzo yoroshiku.

pleased to meet you.

kochira koso, dōzo yoroshiku.

the pleasure is mine.

chotto, yoroshii desuka?

do you have a minute?

watakushi, kō iu mono desu. yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

here’s my business card.

dōmo, o-hisashiburi desu.

nice to see you again.

chōshi wa dō desu ka?

how are things?

Ii o-tenki desu ne.

wonderful weather, isn’t it?

saikin, dō desu ka?

How have you been lately?

aikawarazu genki ni yatte imasu.

Doing well as usual.

watashi wa, fureddo rafati to mōshimasu.

i’m fred rafferty.

sandiego shusshin desu.

i’m from san diego.

kochira de wa, kompu-yunibāsu ni tsutomete imasu.

i’m here with comp-universe.

meiji daigaku de hōritsu o benkyō shite imasu.

i’m studying law at meiji university.

ai-ti-kankei no shigoto o shite imasu.

i work in it.

asobi ni kita dake desu.

i’m just visiting.

shigoto o sagashi ni kimashita.

i’m looking for work.

otto ni tsuite tōkyō e kimashita.

i came to tokyo with my husband.

eigōsha de eigo o oshiete imasu.

i’m teaching english at eigo co.

kyonen, oai shimashita ne.

we met last year, didn't we?

o-futari ga au no wa, hajimete desu ka?

is this the first time you two have met?

tsuma no sandi desu.

this is my wife, sandy.

ojōsan desu ka?

is this your daughter?

Jōshi no Tanaka kachō desu.

this is mr. tanaka, my section chief.

shōkai shimasu, otto no jimu desu.

let me introduce my husband, jim.

kochira, tomodachi no keito desu.

this is my friend, kate.

haha ga anata ni aitagatte imasu.

my mother wants to meet you.

gomen nasai, o-namae o omoidasenai no desu ga.

i’m sorry, i can't remember your name.

o-meishi o itadakemasu ka?

could i have your business card?

sayōnara.

good-bye.

oyasumi nasai.

good night.

soreja, mata.

see you later.

jā ne!

see ya!

mata ashita.

see you tomorrow.

mō ikanai to...

i’ve got to go.

tomodachi ga matte 'ru n' desu.

my friend is waiting.

shūden ni noritai no de.

i need to catch the last train.

ie ni kaeru tokoro desu.

i’m headed home.

mata chikai uchi ni.

let’s meet again soon.

mata renraku shimasu ne.

I'll be in touch with you again.

ki o tsukete kaette kudasai ne.

Take care on your way home.

o-namae wa?

what’s your name?

ima nanji desu ka?

what time is it?

kore wa nan desu ka?

what is this?

e? nan desu ka?

what did you say?

kore wa dō iu imi desu ka?

what does this mean?

dōshita no?

what happened? / what's wrong?

doko de machiawase suru?

where should we meet?

meguro tte, dono hen desu ka?

whereabouts is meguro?

ichiban chikaku no ginkō wa, doko desu ka?

where’s the nearest bank?

jūsho wa doko desu ka?

what's the address?

o-tearai wa doko desu ka?

where’s the restroom?

koko tte, dono hen ni narimasu ka?

whereabouts is this?

tsugi no densha wa nanji desu ka?

when’s the next train?

kaigi wa nanji kara desu ka?

what time does the meeting start?

nanji ni tsukeba ii desu ka?

what time should i arrive?

shuppatsu wa nanji desu ka?

what time is departure?

o-hanashi ga aru n' desu ga, itsu nara ii desu ka?

i'd like to talk to you, when would be good?

ano hito, dare?

who is that person?

sekininsha wa dare desu ka?

who is the person in charge?

kare, dare to hanashite 'ru no?

who is he talking to?

kono kasa, dare no desu ka?

whose umbrella is this?

dōshite, dame na no?

why not? / why can't i?

dōshite, tomatta n' desu ka?

why did it stop?

dōshite, o-kane o harawanakucha ikenai n' desu ka?

why do i have to pay?

nande? ii jan!

why not? it's totally fine!

dōshite okotte 'ru no?

why are you angry?

kore, ikura desu ka?

how much is this?

sore, dō yaru no?

how do you do that?

jikan wa, dono kurai kakarimasu ka?

how long does it take?

o-genki desu ka?

how are you?

dō yatte iku no?

how do you get there?

dōshite wakaru no?

how do you know that?

dekimasu.

i can do it.

sore wa, dekimasen.

i can’t do that.

kore, karite mo ii desu ka?

can i borrow this?

sore, misete moraemasu ka?

could you show me that?

kore, shūri shite moraemasu ka?

can you repair this for me?

kore wa hitsuyō desu.

this is necessary.

sore wa irimasen.

i don’t need that.

chotto matte kudasai.

please wait a moment.

genkin ga hitsuyō desu ka?

is cash necessary?

mō hitotsu, kudasai.

one more, please.

onaka ga suite imasu.

i’m hungry.

nodo ga kawakimashita.

i’m thirsty.

tsukarete imasu.

i’m tired.

koko de nete mo ii desu ka?

can i sleep here?

eigo, hanasemasu ka?

do you speak english?

toire o kashite itadakemasu ka?

could i use your restroom, please?

denwa o karite mo ii desu ka?

can i borrow your phone?