Learning Japanese can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially when it comes to familiarizing yourself with common phrases. Whether you're visiting Japan or simply interested in the language, knowing a few key expressions can make a huge difference in your interactions. In this article, we’ll introduce some everyday phrases in Japanese, including greetings and common expressions used in daily life. To help with pronunciation, we’ve included the romaji, or Romanized versions of these phrases, alongside the original Japanese script.

Greeting Phrases

Greetings are an essential part of Japanese culture, reflecting respect and social etiquette. Here are some common Japanese greetings that you'll likely encounter in various situations:

Good Morning - おはよう (Ohayou)

In Japanese, "Good morning" is expressed as "おはよう" (ohayou). This phrase is informal and used with people you are familiar with. If you want to make it more polite, especially when speaking to a superior or someone older, you can say "おはようございます" (ohayou gozaimasu).

Hello - こんにちは (Konnichiwa)

"こんにちは" (konnichiwa) is a versatile greeting that can be used throughout the day to say "Hello." It is slightly formal but can be used in casual settings as well. You will often hear it in the afternoon or when entering shops and restaurants.

Good Evening - こんばんは (Konbanwa)

When the sun starts to set, you can switch to "こんばんは" (konbanwa), which means "Good evening." This is a polite and common way to greet someone in the evening.

Good Night - おやすみ (Oyasumi)

As the day ends, "おやすみ" (oyasumi) is used to say "Good night." With friends and family, this casual form is fine, but adding "なさい" (nasai) to make "おやすみなさい" (oyasumi nasai) is more polite, especially when speaking to someone older or of higher status.

Daily Life Phrases

Aside from greetings, there are many useful phrases you'll encounter in everyday Japanese conversations. These phrases are key to polite communication and understanding cultural norms.

Nice to meet you - はじめまして・よろしくお願いします (Hajimemashite / Yoroshiku onegaishimasu)

When meeting someone for the first time, you say "はじめまして" (hajimemashite), which means "Nice to meet you." This is followed by "よろしくお願いします" (yoroshiku onegaishimasu), a phrase that doesn’t have a direct English equivalent but conveys a request for goodwill and cooperation moving forward. It’s like saying, "Please take care of me" or "I look forward to working with you."

Congratulations / Thank you - おめでとう・ありがとう (Omedetou / Arigatou)

"おめでとう" (omedetou) means "Congratulations" and is used to celebrate someone’s achievements or special occasions like birthdays or weddings. To express gratitude, you say "ありがとう" (arigatou), which means "Thank you." Just like "Good morning," this phrase can be made more formal by saying "ありがとうございます" (arigatou gozaimasu), which is a more polite version suitable for formal situations.

Excuse me - すみません (Sumimasen)

"すみません" (sumimasen) has multiple uses in Japanese. It can mean "Excuse me," for example, when you're trying to get someone's attention or asking for directions. It is also used as a way to apologize lightly, similar to saying "I'm sorry" in a minor situation. If you bump into someone or need to ask for help, this phrase will come in handy.

I'm sorry - ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai)

For more serious apologies, "ごめんなさい" (gomen nasai) is the go-to phrase for saying "I’m sorry." While "すみません" (sumimasen) is suitable for minor inconveniences, "ごめんなさい" conveys a stronger sense of regret and is used when you truly feel sorry for something you’ve done.

Conclusion

Mastering basic Japanese phrases can open doors to richer experiences when visiting Japan or interacting with Japanese speakers. Whether it's greeting someone with a friendly "こんにちは" (konnichiwa) or apologizing with a sincere "ごめんなさい" (gomen nasai), understanding these essential phrases will allow you to communicate more effectively and show respect for Japanese culture. We hope this guide provides a helpful starting point in your Japanese language journey!