Hello.
From late morning until early evening.
Nine situations from a first trip. Each line is something you can say, or something you will hear and should recognise. Tap a word for the dictionary, listen to the line, or open it in the Reading Assistant. A word that belongs to Numbers, Counters, or another list has a link to that collection.
Use these the day you land. Morning, afternoon, and evening each have their own greeting.
From late morning until early evening.
Use it until about mid-morning. After that, こんにちは (kon-ni-chi-wa).
Once it is dark. It is a greeting, not a goodbye.
The polite thank-you. ありがとう (a-ri-ga-to-u) is fine with friends. This is the one for shops and stations.
Both. Use it to catch a waiter's attention, and to apologise for a small thing.
Say it when you hand something over, or when you are pointing at what you want.
Also the sound you make to show you are listening.
The first time you meet someone. Your name, then よろしくお願いします (yo-ro-shi-ku-o-ne-ga-i-shi-ma-su), is the usual follow-up.
After your name, the first time you meet someone. Also used when you ask a favour.
Leaving for the day, or for good. 失礼します (shi-tsu-re-i shi ma-su) is what you say when you leave a shop or an office.
The polite no. A shake of the head is often enough on its own.
Swap the place name for the one you actually need. Point if you are not sure which train.
Put your own station in place of 新宿 (shin-ju-ku).
The answer is a number plus 番線 (ban-sen).
枚 (ma-i) is the counter for flat things, including tickets.
いいですか (i-i de-su ka) here means "is this the one I should take?"
Exits are numbered. 東口 (hi-ga-shi-gu-chi) is the east exit and 西口 (ni-shi-gu-chi) is the west exit.
Follow the signs that say 乗り換え (no-ri-ka-e).
The sentence you say to a taxi driver, with the place you want.
You will hear this more often than you will say it.
Start with すみません (su-mi-ma-sen) to catch someone's eye. You usually pay at the counter, not at the table.
メニュー (me-nyu-u) is the word on most menus, in katakana.
Point at the picture, the plastic sample, or the line on the menu.
Useful when you cannot read the menu yet.
Catch someone's eye and say this. There is often no bill brought to the table.
Tap water is free in many places. Ask if a glass does not appear.
Then name the food: えび (e-bi) for shrimp, 卵 (ta-ma-go) for egg, 小麦 (ko-mu-gi) for wheat.
Staff say this to you. A nod is enough.
大盛り (o-o-mo-ri) is a bigger serving. Some shops charge extra.
The clerk asks most of these. Your half of the conversation is very short.
The clerk asks. いらないです (i-ra na-i de-su) or 大丈夫です (da-i-jo-u-bu de-su) means no.
大丈夫です (da-i-jo-u-bu de-su) declines it. お願いします (o-ne-ga-i shi ma-su) means you do want one.
Asked about buns and packed meals. お願いします (o-ne-ga-i shi ma-su) means yes. 大丈夫です (da-i-jo-u-bu de-su) means no.
The same line works in a restaurant.
The clerk asks. ないです (na-i de-su), or a shake of the head, is the usual answer.
いらないです (i-ra na-i de-su) if you do not.
Some shops have a counter where you can eat what you just bought.
For when you do want one.
Say すみません (su-mi-ma-sen) first, then one of these. Show the place on your phone while you ask.
The most useful line in this list.
People will, if you ask.
Ask this after you have tried, not instead of trying.
Say it plainly. Then ask them to say it again.
Show the map on your phone while you ask.
Enough on its own when you are lost or something has gone wrong.
The polite way to decline. It also means you are all right when someone asks if you are hurt.
Ask before you photograph a person, a counter, or food someone made for you.
The desk will ask for your name and passport. Point at the booking on your phone if you need to.
Say your name after it.
The desk will ask for your name and passport.
Hotels will keep luggage before check-in and after check-out.
The answer is a number plus 階 (ka-i).
泊 (to-ma-ri) is the counter for nights in a hotel.
Often you leave the key at the desk.
The same line works for 歯ブラシ (ha-bu-ra-shi), a toothbrush.
Wi-Fi is written that way on signs. You say ワイファイ (wa-i-fa-i).
円 (en) is yen. Point at the price if you cannot read it. Smaller shops may still be cash only.
Point at the thing. 円 (en) is yen.
Some smaller shops are still cash only.
When they ask how you want to pay.
Look for ATM, 銀行 (gin-ko-u), or コンビニ (kon-bi-ni). Seven Bank machines take foreign cards.
Airports and some banks. The rate is better at a bank.
You can say it, and you can walk away.
A comment, not a request for a discount. Haggling is rare.
When they did not ask, and you need one.
Show the place on your phone while you ask. 右 (mi-gi) is right and 左 (hi-da-ri) is left.
Show the map on your phone while you ask.
You will hear this more than you will say it.
左 (hi-da-ri) is left.
右です (mi-gi de-su) is the right.
遠いですか (to-o-i de-su ka) is "is it far?"
Hold your phone out.
どちら (do-chi-ra) here is which direction.
Then show the place you want.
Look for 薬局 (yak-kyo-ku) or a green cross. Point at where it hurts if you cannot name it.
Look for 薬局 (yak-kyo-ku) or a green cross. 薬 (ku-su-ri) is medicine.
熱があります (ne-tsu ga a-ri ma-su) is a fever. Point at where it hurts.
They may offer to take your temperature.
Same pattern: 喉が痛いです (no-do ga i-ta-i de-su) is a sore throat.
Then name the problem, or point.
The box will also say.
Some shops have a sheet. Many do not.
薬局 (yak-kyo-ku) is the pharmacy. 病院 (byo-u-in) is the hospital.
