Nihongo 101

A Guide to Basic Japanese Language Conversation

By
ラグラマ・ ジョイ アン, MaEd Language
Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Linguistics
College of Arts and Letters
Common Phrases used in the
Classroom
Japanese English
Yonde kudasai Please read (it)

Kiite kudasai Please listen

Kotaete kudasai Please answer

Mō ichido onegashimasu Please repeat

Wakarimashita ka. Did you understand?

Hai, wakarimashita. Yes, I understood

Iie, wakarimasen No, I don’t understand

Shizuka ni shite kudasai Please keep quiet

Oboete kudasai Please remember

 MINNASAN
(Everyone)

SENSEI
(Teacher/Ma’am or Sir)

*Kyouji*
 Japanese
Daily Expressions
Ohayou gozaimasu.
おはよう ございます。
Good morning!

Used until about 10 A.M.

 Konnichiwa.
こんにちは。

Hello or Hi

A rather informal meeting used from about 10 A.M. until sundown.

Konbanwa.
こんばんは。

Good evening
 Oyasumi nasai.
おやすみなさい。

Good night.

Said at night before going to bed and when parting at night during late hours
outside the home.
 Sayounara.
さようなら。

Good-bye

On formal occasions one uses shitsurei shimasu (しつれい します )

Dewa mata (formal)
ではまた
Ja mata (informal)
じゃまた
Well then…

Said when parting from friends or relatives.

Osakini shitsurei shimasu.
おさきに しつれいします。

Said when leaving the office or a meeting before other people.

Douzo osakini
どうぞ おさきに。

Please go ahead.
 Itte kimasu.
いってきます。

So long ( I’m going and coming back)

Said by a person as he/she leaves the house.

 Itte rasshai.
いってらっしゃい。

So long (Literally “go and come back”)

Said to members of family when they leave the house.

 Tadaima!
ただいま。

I’m back (Literally “I have returned just now)

Said by a person on returning home.

 Okaeri nasai.
おかえりなさい。

Welcome home

This expression is usually paired with tadaima.

Itadakimasu.
いただきます

Said before eating a meal

Gochisousamadeshita.
ごちそうさまでした。

Said after eating a meal.

Omedetou gozaimasu.
おめでとうございます。

Congratulations.
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu.
どうもありがとうございます。

Thank you very much.

Dou itashimashite.
どういたしまして。

You’re welcome.
Sumimasen.
すみません。
Excuse me or I am sorry

I’m sorry can be Gomen nasai.

Chotto matte kudasai.
ちょっとまってください。

Wait just a moment, please.

Ki o tsukete.
きをつけて。

Take care or be careful

 Odaijini.
おだいじに。

Take care of yourself (or get well soon)

Used toward an ill or injured person

How to introduce yourself in 日本語
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Joy Anne desu.
Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

はじめまして。 わたし は ジョイアンです。

どうぞ よろしく おねがいします。
 References

Association for Japanese Language Teaching. Japanese for Busy People. Tokyo:
Kodansha International, 1997.

Suri Nettowaku. Minna No Nihongo Shokyuu I Honsatsu (Main Textbook). Tokyo: 3A

Corporation, 2001.