Common Japanese Words and Phrases
If you are new to learning Japanese or need a quick refresher, this page should help. It's full of many common words and phrases that are often used when speaking Japanese.
Below you will learn how to say basic words like yes, no, I, and my, plus common sentences like how are you, what is your name, and do you speak English? There's also a section on the question words who, what, when, where, and why, plus several other useful sentences you are likely to use on a frequent basis.
To learn all of these common translations and more, simply scroll down the page or use our quick links to direct you to the specific words you are afer.
Basic Words in Japanese:
Words in bold added during the last update. You can also view these common words and phrases from English to Japanese.
Quick links:
Yes and No in Japanese
Saying How are you? in Japanese
Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu
Saying I and My in Japanese
Asking What is your name? in Japanese
Apologizing in Japanese
The Question Words - Who, What, When, Where, Why
How to Thank People in Japanese
Saying Good Luck in Japanese
Asking Do you speak English? in Japanese
Exchanging Phone Numbers in Japanese
Warning of Dangers in Japanese
Asking for Help in Japanese
Asking for a Bathroom in Japanese
Yes and No in Japanese
Hai / はい ➔ Yes
Ee / ええ ➔ Yes (informal)
Sou desu / そうです ➔ That's right
Iie / いいえ ➔ No
Saying How are you? in Japanese
O-genki desu ka? / おげんきですか / お元気ですか ➔ How are you?
Daijoubu desuka? / 大丈夫ですか ➔ Are you okay?
Choushi wa dou? / 調子はどう ➔ How's it going? (informal)
Saikin dou? / 最近どう ➔ How have you been? (informal)
Genki desu / げんきです / 元気です ➔ I'm fine
Daijoubu desu / 大丈夫です ➔ I'm okay.
Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu / よろしくおねがいします / よろしくお願いします ➔ When it is said during a first meeting, it means "Let us have a nice relationship", "Please treat me well". It can also be said when asking for a favor, meaning "Please", "Make it so", "I'm leaving it up to you", "Thank you for your consideration".
For a more detailed explanation including a video, please see our Vocabulary: Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu page.
Saying I and My in Japanese
Watashi / わたし / 私 ➔ I (male or female)
Atashi / あたし ➔ I (female)
Boku / ぼく / 僕 ➔ I (male)
Ore / おれ / 俺 ➔ I (male)
Watashi no (わたしの, 私の) / Atashi no (あたしの) / Boku no (ぼくの, 僕の) / Ore no (おれの, 俺の) ➔ My
Click here for a more detailed explanation of How to Say I and My in Japanese.
Asking What is your name? in Japanese
O-namae wa nan desu ka? / お名前は何ですか ➔ What is your name?
Watashi no namae wa (name) desu. / 私の名前は(name)です ➔ My name is (name).
Watashi wa (name) desu. / 私は(name)です ➔ I am (name).
Apologizing in Japanese
Gomen (nasai)* / ごめんなさい ➔ I'm sorry
Sumimasen / すみません ➔ An all-purpose word for Excuse me / I am sorry / Thank you
The Question Words - Who, What, When, Where, Why
Dare / 誰 ➔ Who
Anata wa dare? / あなたは誰 ➔ Who are you?
Donata desu ka? / どなたですか ➔ Who is it?
Nani / 何 ➔ What
Kore wa, nan desu ka? ➔ What's this?
Kore wa, (Nihongo de) nan to iimasu ka? ➔ What's this called (in Japanese)?
Itsu / いつ ➔ When
Sore wa itsu desu ka? / それはいつですか ➔ When is it?
Doko ➔ Where
Doko ni imasu ka? / どこにいますか ➔ Where are you?
Doushite? / どうして ➔ Why?
Naze / なぜ ➔ Why
How to Thank People in Japanese
Domo / どうも ➔ Thanks
Arigatou (gozaimasu).** / ありがとうございます ➔ Thank you.
Domo arigatou (gozaimasu).** / どうもありがとうございます ➔ Thank you very much
Doitashimashite / どういたしまして / どう致しまして ➔ You're welcome.
Ieie / いえいえ ➔ No, no (Like 'don't mention it')
Saying Good Luck in Japanese
Ganbatte kudasai. ➔ Good luck / Give it your best. (words of encouragement)
Ganbarou / がんばろう ➔ Good luck
Asking Do you speak English? in Japanese
Wakarimasen / わかりません ➔ I don't understand.
Eigo o hanasemasuka? / 英語を話せますか ➔ Do you speak English?
Eigo o rikai shite imasu ka? / 英語を理解していますか ➔ Do you understand English?
Eigo wa wakarimasu ka? / 英語はわかりますか ➔ Do you know English?
Nihongo (yoku) hanasemasen. ➔ I can't speak Japanese (well).
Nihongo wa (amari) hanase masen. ➔ I don't speak (much) Japanese.
Exchanging Phone Numbers in Japanese
Denwa bango wa nan ban desu ka? ➔ What is your phone number?
Keitai denwa bangou wo oshiete moraemasenka? / 携帯電話番号を教えてもらえませんか ➔ What is your cell phone number?
Denwa bango wa (number) desu. ➔ My number is (number).
Warning of Dangers in Japanese
Abunai / あぶない ➔ Look out / Dangerous
Ki o tsukete / きをつけて ➔ Be careful
Asking for Help in Japanese
Tasukete! / 助けて ➔ Help!
Watashi o tasukete! / 私を助けて！ ➔ Help me!
Tasukete kudasai / たすけてください / 助けてください ➔ Please help
Sumimasen ga, tasukete itadakemasen ka? ➔ Excuse me, can you help me please?
Asking for a Bathroom in Japanese
Toire wa doko desu ka? / トイレはどこですか ➔ Where is the bathroom?
* - nasai added for politeness.
** - gozaimasu added for politeness.
*List of common Japanese words and phrases last updated: January 27, 2025.
Next Up
Japanese Numbers: Learn how to say numbers in Japanese.
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