Basic Expressions

Ohayo gozaimasu

Good morning

Konnichiwa

Hello/Good afternoon

Konbanwa

Good evening

Oyasumi-nasai

Good night
(nasai - more polite)

Sayonara

Goodbye
(usually to someone you are not going to see for some time)

Ja/Ja ne/
Ja mata

See you later
(mata - again)

Domo arigato

Thank you

Do-itashimashite

You're welcome

Sumimasen

Excuse me

Gomen/Gomen ne

Sorry

Omedeto gozaimasu

Congratulations

Ganbatte

Do your best

Otanjobi omedeto gozaimasu

Happy Birthday

Irrashaimase

Welcome

O-genki desu ka?

How are you?
(genki - fine; healthy)

hai

yes

iie

no

Hajimemashite

How do you do?
(used when being introduced to someone)

Dozo yoroshiku

Glad to meet you.

Watashi/Watashitachi
/Ore/Boku

I/We

Anata/Anatatachi

You/You(plural)

Anata no

Your

Wakarimasu

I understand

Wakarimasen

I don't understand

Matte/Chotto matte

Wait
(chotto - just a moment)

Tadaima

I'm home

Okaeri

Welcome home

Dozo ohairi kudasai

Please come in

Ittekimasu

I'm going
(when leaving the house)

Itterrashai

Safe journey

Sugoi/Sugoine

Wow

Daijobu

Are you alright?

O-genki desu ka?

How are you?

O-namae wa?

What's your name?

Shitte imasu

I know

Shirimasen

I don't know

Do-ishite

Why

Nani

What

Nan da yo?/Nani?

What is it?

Itsu

When

Doko

Where

Dare

Who

Dore

Which

Honto ni?

Really?

Mada desu

Not yet

kore

this

are

that

ikaga

how about

ikutsu

how many

ikura

how much

Aishiteru

I love you

Suki desu

I like you

Kamaimasen

Never mind

Yoshi/Yatta

Yes!
(usually when acomplishing something)

baka

stupid

bakabakashi

ridiculous

Nihon-go

Japanese (language)

Chugoku-go

Chinese (language)

Ei-go

English (language)

Kankoku-go

Korean (language)

Furansu-go

French (language)

Supien-go

Spanish (language)

Itaria-go

Italian (language)