Simple Japanese Phrases

Simple Japanese Phrases

  Donoyouni?

How?

Nani?

What?

Naze?

Why?

Doko?

Where?

Dare?

Who?

Dore?

Which?

Hontou?

Really?

Daijoubu?

Okay?

Sou deshou?

Right?

Notes

Since the phrase sounds feminine, a male speaker would say, 'Sou darou' instead.

Dakara?

So?

E?

Sorry?

Wakaru deshou?

See?

Notes

Since the phrase sounds feminine, a male speaker would say, 'Wakaru darou' instead.  

Mochiron.

Sure.

Sugoi.

Great!

Sono toori desu.

Exactly!

Zettaini sou desu.

Absolutely!

Ii desu yo.

Good!

Hai.

Yes.

Tabun.

Maybe.

Osoraku.

Probably.

Betsuni.

Nothing.

Gomennasai.

Sorry. 

Ohayou.

Good morning. 

Notes

'Ohayou gozaimasu' can be used in formal situations.

 Konnichiwa.

Good afternoon. 

Notes

There is a rule for writing hiragana 'wa' and 'ha.' When 'wa' is used as a particle, it is written in hiragana as 'ha.' 'Konnichiwa' is now a fixed greeting. However, in the old days it was a part of sentence such as 'Today is ~ (Konnichi wa ~)' and 'wa' functioned as a particle. That's why it is still written in hiragana as 'ha.'

Konbanwa.

Good evening. 

Notes

There is a rule for writing hiragana 'wa' and 'ha.' When 'wa' is used as a particle, it is written in hiragana as 'ha.' 'Konbanwa' is now a fixed greeting. However, in the old days it was a part of sentence such as 'Tonight is ~ (Konban wa ~)' and 'wa' functioned as a particle. That's why it is still written in hiragana as 'ha.'

Nanika atta?

What's up? 

Kawatta koto aru?

What's new? 

Tadaima.

I'm back (home). 

Notes

'Okaerinasai' or 'Okaeri' are responses.

Ittekimasu.

I'm leaving. 

Notes

'Itterasshai' is a response.

Nanji.

What time? 

 Nannichi.

What day? 

Dono hi.

Which date? 

Dono houkou.

Which way? 

Dore.

Which one? 

Doko e.

Where to? 

Notes

When hiragana 'e' is used as a particle, it is written in hiragana as 'he.'

Itsu kara.

From when?

Doko kara.

From where?

Itsu made.

Till when? 

 Kore wa nani.

What's this? 

 Sore wa doko.

Where's that? 

Sou desu.

That's right.

Daijoubu desu yo.

No problem.

 Subarashii desu.

Sounds great.

Doukan desu.

I agree.

 Ii kangae desu ne.

Great idea.

Watashi mo.

Me too.

 Ii desu ne.

Pretty good.

Wakatta.

Got it.

Shiawase da.

I'm happy. 

A female speaker also would say, 'Shiawase da wa' or 'Shiawase yo

Waku waku suru.

I'm excited. 

Doushita no.

What's the matter?

Namae wa nan desu ka.

What's your name?

Nan-nichi desu ka.

What's the date?

Nan-ji desu ka.

What's the time?

Sore wa nan desu ka.

What is it?

Shumi wa nan desu ka.

What's your hobby?

Dare ga itta no.

Who told you?

Donata deu ka.

Who is it?

Sore wa itsu datta no.

When was that?

Dare ga shita no.

Who did it?

Dare ga kuru no desu ka.

Who is coming?

Dou iu koto nano.

What's the cause?

Kokuseki wa doko.

What's your nationality?

Sore wa doko.

Where is it?

  Doko ni iru no.

Where are you?

Donna shigoto o shiteiru no.

What's your job?

Doko no shusshin desu ka.

Where're you from?