Formal Japanese lessons are great — no argument there. But let’s be real: if you’re planning a short visit Japan and don’t have time to master the language, you’re probably just looking for the bare essentials. You know, the stuff that will get you fed, help you shop, and keep you from getting lost. This is your minimal “need to know” guide to Japanese — a crash course in survival phrases that’ll have you navigating your Japan trip, minus the stress. Even if you have been studying Japanese, this can act as a cheat sheet (bookmark this page, yeah?).
This guide isn’t about using perfect Japanese or understanding every word used in a sentence. Instead, it aims to memorize the essentials and use words that are simple but totally understandable in Japan. This is pretty much all the Japanese you’d need to use when interacting with employees (let’s be real, it might be the only time you need to speak/understand some Japanese).
No frills, and actually useful.
Why Bother Learning Japanese?
In big cities and tourist spots, you’ll find plenty of English-speaking staff. But the moment you step off the beaten path — into cozy little ramen shops, family-owned stores, or anywhere outside the city — knowing a bit of Japanese is like having a passcode. Plus, the locals will appreciate your effort, even if you’re just throwing around a few words.
Words with a * are what you’ll commonly hear from staff. This way you do not have to memorize whole sentences. Just listen for this word.
Once seated, you might hear the wait staff say “chuumon.” That means “order” and is your cue to tell them what you want. Or you can call a server and let them know you are ready to order, by saying “sumimasen, chuumon onegaishimasu.” Feeling adventurous? Ask, “Osusume?” for a recommendation.
To order something, you could just point and say “hitotsu onegaishimasu” for one of something.
For reading, I suggest using an app like DeepL that lets you snap pics of Japanese text for instant translation. Super easy. Keep the DeepL app ready in case you run into some complicated Japanese. It is the most accurate translator I’ve found. If you want to dabble in reading, contrary to popular belief, I believe you should learn Katakana first—it’s mostly used for loanwords, often from English, making it easier to guess the meaning. Hiragana requires more knowledge of the Japanese language (I found many Japanese learners can read Hiragana well, but have no idea what they read haha). Both are good to know, but I think it is more useful to know Katakana if your Japanese is lacking. As for Kanji, knowing some key signs (like signs, exits, and “men” or “women” for onsen and restrooms) can be incredibly useful.
This guide isn’t about perfecting your Japanese—it’s about surviving (and maybe even thriving) during your trip. Whether you’re asking for directions, paying for food, or just trying to compliment someone’s adorable dog, these phrases should help you navigate Japan with ease and confidence.
The Essentials: Words You’ll Use All the Time
- Sumimasen (すみません) - “Excuse me.” Use this to get someone’s attention, apologize, or when you’re squeezing through a crowd.
- Arigatougozaimasu (ありがとうございます) - “Thank you (very much).” This will be your most-used phrase, I promise.
- Onegaishimasu (お願いします) - “Please”. Whether you're ordering food or asking for help, this is your go-to. Pretty much, if you are requesting something, use ___ onegaishimasu. Or point to the item and say onegaishimasu to let a shop or restaurant staff know you want it.
- Daijoubu (大丈夫) - “It's okay.” This is your all-purpose word for saying “No thanks,” “I’m fine,” or “No worries.” You can use it for declining a bag at the store or reassuring someone that you’re fine.
- Ii desu ka? (いいですか) - Is it okay? Use this to check if something is allowed or appropriate. For example, “kaado, ii desu ka?” to ask if it is okay to use card or “suwatte, ii desu ka?” to ask if it is okay to sit.
Handy Phrases for Everyday Situations
- Wakarimasen - I don’t understand. Perfect for when things get a bit too complicated.
- Eigo o Hanashimasu ka? - Do you speak English? Super helpful when you need to switch languages.
- Kantan Nihongo - Simple Japanese. To signal you know just enough Japanese to get by. Or add “onegaiashimasu” at the end as a polite way of asking someone to speak slower or use simpler words.
- Mo Ichido Itte Kudasai - Please say that again. For when you need a repeat.
Eating Out: Restaurant Lingo
- *Okyakusama - Customer. That's you!
- *Tennai de/Koko de - For here.
- *Mochikaeri de - To go.
- *-mei (名) - This suffix means “people” and you will hear this word used by employees when asking how many are in your party.
- If you forget, holding up fingers works too!
Once seated, you might hear the wait staff say “chuumon.” That means “order” and is your cue to tell them what you want. Or you can call a server and let them know you are ready to order, by saying “sumimasen, chuumon onegaishimasu.” Feeling adventurous? Ask, “Osusume?” for a recommendation.
To order something, you could just point and say “hitotsu onegaishimasu” for one of something.
If you want to order a larger amount, the general counters are hitotsu (1), futatsu (2), mittsu (3), yottsu (4), itsutsu (5), etc.
Notes: “Kudasai” in this case, is commonly used, but onegaishimasu for simplicity sake is more polite.
You can add “kore” at the start, meaning “this.”
When you’re done ordering, “Ijo de” means “That’s all.”
“Okaikei onegaishimasu” will get you the check (you can say “chekku” if you forget).
Other useful food-related words:
- Itadakimasu - say this before eating!
- Sonomama - as is
- Betsu betsu - Separately, if you’re splitting the bill.
- Issho - together
- Gochisousama deshita - A polite way to say thank you for the meal as you leave.
- Or you can simply smile and do a small bow as you leave the restaurant to show gratitude!
Shopping Tips: Navigating the Checkout
A lot of the words and phrases we previously covered can be applied to shopping scenarios. Some other good to know terms are:
- Ikura (desu ka?): how much?
- *Fukuro - Bag. The cashier will definitely ask if you want one.
- *Atatame masu ka - You will hear this if you bought convenience store goodies. The cashier is asking if you want your food warmed up.
There are many ways to answer yes or no questions, but here are some basic responses:
- Hai onegaishimasu - Yes, please.
- Kekko / Daijoubu desu - I am fine (No, thank you).
When paying:
- ___ de ii desu ka? - Is ___ okay? (e.g., Is card okay?). Sometimes I drop the “de” and it is still understandable.
- *Genkin - Cash.
- *Kaado (カード) - Card.
- Suica/IC kaado (スイカ/ICカード) - Transit cards that work like pre-paid debit cards.
- Touchee (タッチェ) - Tap to pay.
Numbers Cheat Sheet: Because Math is Hard in Any Language
- Ichi (1), Ni (2), San (3), Yon/Shi (4), Go (5), Roku (6), Nana/Shichi (7), Hachi (8), Kyu/Ku (9)
- Ju (10)
- Hyaku (100)
- Sen (1000)
- Ichi man (10,000)
- Ju man (100,000)
Quick Responses & Reactions
- Kawaii - Cute.
- Kirei - Pretty/Beautiful.
- Sugoi - Amazing/Great.
- Yabai - Oh no!/Awesome (depends on context).
- Un - Mmhmm, yup. Can mean yes, no, or just “I’m listening.”
- Ureshii - Happy.
- Honto ni - Really.
- Yasashi - Kind.
- Tanoshikatta - it was fun
- Oishikatta - it was delicious
- Wakarimashita - Understood.
Bonus: Reading Tips for the Overachievers
For reading, I suggest using an app like DeepL that lets you snap pics of Japanese text for instant translation. Super easy. Keep the DeepL app ready in case you run into some complicated Japanese. It is the most accurate translator I’ve found. If you want to dabble in reading, contrary to popular belief, I believe you should learn Katakana first—it’s mostly used for loanwords, often from English, making it easier to guess the meaning. Hiragana requires more knowledge of the Japanese language (I found many Japanese learners can read Hiragana well, but have no idea what they read haha). Both are good to know, but I think it is more useful to know Katakana if your Japanese is lacking. As for Kanji, knowing some key signs (like signs, exits, and “men” or “women” for onsen and restrooms) can be incredibly useful.
This guide isn’t about perfecting your Japanese—it’s about surviving (and maybe even thriving) during your trip. Whether you’re asking for directions, paying for food, or just trying to compliment someone’s adorable dog, these phrases should help you navigate Japan with ease and confidence.
If you want to further engage with locals (which I recommend), I suggest reading this blog post on how to learn “real” Japanese.
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