Basic Everyday Phrases

Posted 17 Mar 2009 - 19:36 by Mark Gardner

The table below contains some basic phrases that are useful to know, and that you are likely to hear on a regular basis.

Romanized form	Hiragana	English meaning
Ohayō gozaimasu	おはようございます	Good morning (although often used when meeting someone for the first time that day
Konnichiwa	こんにちは	Hello (used mid morning until sun down)
Kombanwa	こんばんは	Good evening (used after dark)
Oyasuminasai	おやすみなさい	Goodnight
Sayōnara	さようなら	Goodbye
Itadakimasu	いただきます	Standard phrase said before eating a meal, no English equivalent
Gochisōsamadeshita	ごちそうさまでした	Said after eating a meal
Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu	どうもありがとうございます	Thank you very much. You will also hear, dōmo, dōmo aritatō, arigatō and arigatō gozaimasu. Each have varying degrees of formality.
Dō itashimashite	どういたしまして	You're welcome/it was nothing/don't mention it
Sumimasen	すみません	Excuse me/I'm sorry. A very common phrase in Japan, you will hear it in all manner of situations. It is a standard way of calling a waiter/waitress in a restaurant.
Chotto matte kudasai	ちょっとまってください	Please wait a moment
Dōzo	どうぞ	Please. Used when offering something, perhaps a gift, or inviting someone to go ahead of you at a doorway.
Irasshaimase	いらっしゃいませ	You will hear this when entering shops, bars, restaurants and many other places of business. It means 'welcome'. There is no reply needed.
Wakaranai	わからない	I don't understand
Daijoubu	だいじょうぶ	No problem/it's OK/are you OK?/is it OK?