When you meet or leave someone As a response, Iie. can be used if it's not a big deal.

Hello. Konnichiwa. When you start or finish eating

Pronounce "n" and "ni" separately. It's like "kon-nichiwa". (before eating) Itadakimasu.
Good morning. Ohayō gozaimasu. Literally means "I accept (the food)". Used when you start eating as a signal "Let's start".
The last vowel "u" is not pronounced ly. It's like "gozaimas". You can say this to the person who is treating you the meal.
Informal: Ohayō. (after eating) Gochisōsamadeshita.
Good evening. Konbanwa. Literally means "It was a wonderful feast". Used when you finished eating.
Used at the beginning of the conversation, not at the end. You can say this to thank the person who treated you the meal.
Good night. Oyasuminasai. .
Informal: Oyasumi. Basic Rules
How to address a person
Goodbye. Sayōnara.
In general, add "san" after one's family name.
In general, used when people will not see each other for some time.
"san" is like Mr., Mrs., or Miss..
Informal: Sayonara. (short "o" after y).
For example, Mr. Tanaka is Tanaka-san. But for foreigners (westerners), people add san after the
See you. Dewa mata. first names such as Paul-san or Kate-san.
See you tomorrow. Dewa mata ashita. Except for the close relationships, people address almost anybody with san.
See you next week. Dewa mata raishū. Hello, Mr. Tanaka. Tanaka-san, konnichiwa.
dewa: well, now or so Yes and No
mata: again Yes is "hai". No is "iie".
When you thank or apologize to someone As shown above, Hai. and Iie. can be used in the different contexts.
Thank you. Arigatō gozaimasu. How are you?
Thank you very much. Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu. Are you well? Ogenki desuka?
Thank you. (past) Arigatō gozaimashita. Yes, I'm well. Hai, genki desu.
Thanks. Dōmo. No, I'm not well. Iie, genki dewa (ja) arimasen..
The last vowel "u" is not pronounced ly. gozaimas(u). Yes, I'm very well. Hai, totemo genki desu.
Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu.: To emphasize. So so. Māmā desu.
Arigatō gozaimashita.: To thank for something in the past. genki: well
Dōmo.: To thank for a small favor. "o" in front of genki is a prefix which makes the word more polite.
Informal: Arigatō. Genki desu.: I'm well.
You're welcome. Dōitashimashite. Genki dewa (ja) arimasen.: I'm not well.
Don't mention it. Iie. "ja arimasen" sounds more casual, and is used more in daily conversation.
Iie. (literally means "No.") also can be used with the rising accent if it's not a big deal. Informal: Genki?
Excuse me. Sumimasen. Understand?
Yes. Hai. Do you understand? Wakari masuka?
Used when you talk to someone, and to apologize for small faults (Sorry.). Yes, I understand. Hai, wakari masu.
Hai. (Yes.) can be used to answer someone's call. No, I don't understand. Iie, wakari masen.
I'm sorry. Gomennasai. I understand a little. Sukoshi wakari masu.
I'm sorry. Dōmo sumimasen. Do you understand Japanese? Nihongo ga wakari masuka?
Don't be sorry. Iie. Do you understand English? Eigo ga wakari masuka?
Dōmo sumimasen. is also used. It sounds more polite. wakaru: to understand, to know
Wakari masu.: I understand. Where is it? Doko desuka?
Wakari masen.: I don't understand. Where is the toilet? Toire wa doko desuka?
Wakari mashita.: I understood. (I got it. All right.) [Toire] wa doko desuka?: Where is [the toilet]?
[Nihongo] ga wakari masu.: I understand [Japanese]. You will learn more in the lesson 5.
ga: Particle which comes after the object. Used with the verb "wakaru". Is there...?
Please. (to request) Do you have? Is there? Ari masuka?
Please. Onegaishimasu. Do you have vegetarian dishes? Bejitarian ryōri wa ari masuka?
One more time, please. Mōichido onegaishimasu. Is there an internet cafe? Intānetto kafe wa ari masuka?
Slowly please. Yukkuri onegaishimasu. [Bejitarian ryōri] wa ari masuka?: Do you have [vegetarian dishes]?
Menu please. Menyū o onegaishimasu. [Intānetto kafe] wa ari masuka?: Is there [an internet cafe]?
Used to ask some favor. You will learn more in the lesson 6.
[Menyū] o onegaishimasu.: [Menu] please. How much?
o: Particle which comes after the object. How much is it? Ikura desuka?
Please. (to offer) How much is a double room? Daburu rūmu wa ikura desuka?
Please. Dōzo. [Kore] wa ikura desuka?: How much is [this]?
Used to offer something. (Here you are. After you. etc.) You will learn more in the lesson 7.
Wait! Why?
One moment, please. Chotto matte kudasai. Why is it? Naze desuka?
chotto: a little Informal: Naze? Dōshite? Nande?
matte kudasai: Please wait. You will learn more in the lesson 9.
Informal: Chotto matte. OK?
What? Are you all right? Daijōbu desuka?
What is it? Nan desuka? Yes, I'm all right. Hai, daijōbu desu.
What's this? (in speaker's hand) Kore wa nan desuka? Informal: Daijōbu?
What is it? (in the listener's hand) Sore wa nan desuka? You will learn more in the lesson 10.
What's that? (in the sky) Are wa nan desuka? Basic Rules
[Kore] wa nan desuka?: What is [this]? The following rules are very simplified. Please note that there are some exceptions.
wa: Particle which comes after the subject. Word Order
kore: this (something close to you - the speaker) Usually, the subject is placed at the beginning, and the verb at the end of the sentence.
sore: it (close to the person you are talking to - the listener) Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu. I / Japanese / understand
are: that (some distance away from the both)
The subject (sometimes the object too) of the sentence is usually omitted when it can be clearly
nan (nani): what
known from the context.
You will learn more in the lesson 3.
(Anata wa) eigo ga wakari masuka? Do (you) understand English?
What time?
Particles (joshi)
What time is it? Nanji desuka? Particles (joshi in Japanese) are usually attached after a word to indicate the function of that word.
What time is the departure? Shuppatsu wa nanji desuka? For example, "wa" in the following sentence indicates that "watashi (I)" is a subject, and "ga"
What time is the arrival? Tōchaku wa nanji desuka? indicates that "Nihongo (Japanese)" is an object of the verb "wakarimasu (understand)".
[Shuppatsu] wa nanji desuka?: What time is [the departure]? Particles
You will learn more in the lesson 4. Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu. I understand Japanese.
Where? Each particle has different functions and meanings. And some are used with the particular verbs.
When you are not sure which particle should be used, you can try to say without it like "Watashi, What nationality is she? Kanojo wa Nani-jin desuka?
Nihongo, Wakarimasu.". In most cases, people will understand if the word order is correct. watashi: I / anata: you / kare: he / kanojo: she
Sentence Forms Country name + jin = nationality
You can easily make different forms by changing the end of the sentence. Word order stays the Nihon-jin: Japanese
same. Nani-jin desuka?: What nationality?
Affirmative Profession
Affirmative sentences normally end with "desu" or "masu".
We are also students. Watashi tachi mo gakusei desu.
You can assume that the sentences with the verb "be" (am, is, are...) end with "desu". And the
Are they also engineers? Kare ra mo enjinia desuka?
sentences with other verbs end with "masu".
Are you (all) also officeworkers? Anata tachi mo kaishain desuka?
Genki desu. I am well.
watashi tachi: we / anata tachi: you (all) / kare ra: they (men) / kanojo tachi: they (women)
Wakari masu. I understand.
mo: also (comes after the subject instead of "wa")
Negative
gakusei: student
Change "desu" into "dewa arimasen" or "ja arimasen". "ja" sounds more casual, and is used more
kaishain: office worker
often in daily conversation.
enjinia: engineer
Change "masu" into "masen".
Hai, so desu.: Yes, it is so.
Genki dewa (ja) arimasen. I am not well.
Iie, chigai masu.: No, it isn't so.
Wakari masen. I don't understand.
Name
Question (Interrogative)
His name is Paul. kare no namae wa Pōru desu.
To make a question sentence, add "ka" at the end of the sentence.
This "ka" is pronounced with a rising intonation. What is (your) name? Onamae wa nan desuka?
(O) Genki desuka? Are you well? What is her name? Kanojo no namae wa nan desuka?
Genki dewa (ja) arimasenka? Aren't you well? What is (your) job? Oshigoto wa nan desuka?
Wakari masuka? Do you understand? What is Ms.Wang's job? Wan-san no shigoto wa nan desuka?
Wakari masenka? Don't you understand? noun + no = possessive
watashi no: my / anata no: your / kare no: his / kanojo no: her
I'm from ... namae: name
shigoto: job
I'm from Brazil. Burajiru kara kimashita. onamae wa nandesuka?: What is (your) name?
oshigoto wa nandesuka?: What is (your) job?
South Korea Kankoku kara kimashita. "o" (prefix to make the word polite) is usually attached when you ask name or job directly to the
person.
China Chūgoku kara kimashita.
Who?
Australia Ōsutoraria kara kimashita. Who is that person? Ano hito wa dare desuka?
Who are those people? Ano hito tachi wa dare desuka?
U. S. A. Amerika kara kimashita. Who is her boyfriend? Kanojo no boifurendo wa dare desuka?
hito: person / hito tachi: people
kara: from
kono (hito): this (person) / sono (hito): that (person) / ano (hito): that (person)
kimashita: came
dare: who
Nationality tomodachi: friend
I am Japanese. Watashi wa Nihon-jin desu. kazoku: family
Is Ms. Wang Australian? Wan-san wa Ōsutoraria-jin desuka? bōifurendo: boyfriend / gārufurendo: girlfriend
He is not American Kare wa Amerika-jin dewa arimasen.
Whose? ima: now
Whose pen is this? Kore wa dare no pen desuka? nan-ji: what time?
Whose friend is he? Kare wa dare no tomodachi desuka? gozen: a.m. / gogo: p.m.
It's not his family's book. Sore wa kare no kazoku no hon dewa arimasen. asagohan: breakfast
han: half past
pen: pen
kara: from / made: to (till)
hon: book
shōgo: noon
dare no: whose
Basic Rules now, what time? Ima, nan-ji desuka?
Articles and Nouns 3:15pm. Gogo, san-ji jūgo-fun desu.
Japanese language does not have articles (a, an, the). breakfast what time? Asagohan wa nan-ji desuka?
You can assume that nouns don't change the form. Basically, there is no plural form, and no gender from 7:30 to 9:00. Shichi-ji han kara ku-ji made desu.
(feminine, masculine, neuter etc.). check-out what time? Chekkuauto wa nan-ji desuka?
In English, "apple" can be "an apple", "apples" or "the apple". In Japanese, it is just "apple". To noon. Shōgo desu.
mention how many, you say "one apple", "two apple" or "many apple"... Date
Verbs Basically, you use "gatsu" for months and "nichi" for days.
Verbs don't change the form depending on the person or the number of the subject. For example, January 25th is ichi-gatsu ni-jū go-nichi.
In English, "I am", "he or she is" and "we, you or they are", and also "I speak" and "he or she But there are irregular pronunciations...
speaks". There is no such changes in Japanese. For months, some numbers are pronounced differently.
But they do change the form for other purposes such as tense (past, present, present progressive, Jan., Feb., Mar., ichi-gatsu, ni-gatsu, san-gatsu,
etc.). Apr., May, Jun., shi-gatsu, go-gatsu, roku-gatsu,
Numbers Jul., Aug., Sep., shichi-gatsu, hachi-gatsu, ku-gatsu,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ichi, ni, san, yon, go, roku, nana, hachi, kyū, jū Oct., Nov., Dec. jū-gatsu, jū ichi-gatsu, jū ni-gatsu
11-19: jū ichi (10+1), jū ni (10+2), jū san (10+3)... For days, 1st to 10th and 20th are quite different from the usual way. Other days are more straight
20-99: ni-jū (2x10), ni-jū ichi (2x10+1), ni-jū ni (2x10+2)... forward.
zero: 0 / hyaku: 100 / sen: 1,000 / man: 10,000 tsuitachi, futsuka, mikka, yokka,
456,789 yon-jū go-man roku-sen nana-hyaku hachi-jū kyū 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (day) itsuka, muika, nanoka, yōka,
Basically, you can read any numbers in this way. But there are some irregular pronunciations. For kokonoka, tōka
example, 300 is san-byaku (not san-hyaku), 600 is rop-pyaku (not roku-hyaku). tanjōbi: birthday
nan-nen: what year? / nan-gatsu: what month? / nan-nichi: what day?
Time kekkonshiki: wedding
Basically, you use "ji" for hours and "fun" for minutes. tsugi no: next
For example, 1:25 is ichi-ji ni-jū go-fun. orinpikku: olympics
But there are irregular pronunciations. birthday when? Tanjobi wa itsu desuka?
For hours, some numbers are pronounced differently. May 23rd. Go-gatsu ni-jū san-nichi desu.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 ichi-ji, ni-ji, san-ji, yo-ji, go-ji, roku-ji, shichi-ji, hachi-ji, ku-ji, jū-ji, jū departure which day? Shuppatsu wa nan-nichi desuka?
(o'clock) ichi-ji, jū ni-ji 11th. ju-ichi-nichi desu.
For minutes, some numbers are pronounced differently and "fun" becomes "pun" in many cases. wedding which month? Kekkonshiki wa nan-gatsu desuka?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ip-pun, ni-fun, san-pun, yon-pun, go-fun, rop-pun, nana-fun, hap- June. Roku-gatsu desu.
(minutes past) pun, kyu-fun, jup-pun. next olympics what year? Tsugi no orinpikku wa nan-nen desuka?
11-19, jū ip-pun, jū ni-fun, jū san-pun, jū yon-pun... 2012. Ni-sen jū ni-nen desu.
20-59, ni-jup-pun, ni-jū ip-pun, ni-jū ni-fun... san-jup-pun... Days of the week
Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri., Sat., getsu-yōbi, ka-yōbi, sui-yōbi, moku-yōbi, kin-yōbi, do-yōbi, yomi masu (yomu): to read
Sun. nichi-yōbi mi masu (miru): to watc, to see
yesterday, today, tomorrow kinō, kyō, ashita oki masu (okiru): to wake up, to get up
last week, this week, next week senshū, konshū, raishū ne masu (neru): to sleep, to go to bed
yōbi: day of the week o: comes after the object of the verbs (read, watch, etc.)
nan-yōbi: which day of the week? ni: at
no: of every Friday watch movies Mai-shū kin-yōbi ni eiga o mi masu.
yasumi: day-off every morning, at 7 get up Mai-asa shichi-ji ni oki masu.
to: and every night, at what time go to bed? Mai-ban, nan-ji ni ne masuka?
today which day? Kyō wa nan-yōbi desuka? I went to Kyoto. Kyōto e iki mashita.
Monday. Getsu-yōbi desu. Past tense = verb + mashita, mashitaka?, masendeshita
tomorrow which day? Ashita wa nan-yōbi desuka? Future tense = same as the present tense
Tuesday. Ka-yōbi desu. iki masu (iku): to go
next Friday what date? Raishū no kin-yobi wa nan-nichi desuka? ai masu (au): to meet
30th. San-ju-nichi desu. tabe masu (taberu): to eat
day-off which day? Yasumi wa nan-yobi desuka? ki masu (kuru): to come
Saturdays and Sundays. Do-yōbi to nichi-yōbi desu. e: to - comes after the object of the verb go.
Duration to: with - comes after the object of the verb meet.
kesa: this morning / konya: tonight
minutes: "fun(kan)" or "pun(kan)". 5 minutes is go-fun or go-funkan.
hirugohan: lunch
hours: "jikan". 2 hours is ni-jikan.
ga: comes after the subject of the verb come.
days: "ka(kan)" or "nichi(kan)". 3 days is mikka or mikkakan.
weeks: "shūkan". 2 weeks is ni-shukan. this morning met her? Kesa, kanojo to ai mashitaka?
months: "kagetsu(kan)". 4 months is yon-kagetsu or yon-kagetsukan. lunch did not eat Hirugohan o tabe masendeshita.
years: "nen(kan)". 6 years is roku-nen or roku-nenkan. tonight friend will come Konya, tomodachi ga ki masu.
1 min., 2 hrs., 3 days, 4 wks, 5 months, ip-punkan, ni-jikan, mikkakan, yon-shukan, go-kagetsukan, Yesterday was rain. Kinō wa ame deshita.
6 years roku-nen-kan Sentenses with the verb "be".
donokurai: how much (time) Present & Future: desu, desuka?, dewaarimasen
kakarimasu (kakaru): to take Past: deshita, deshitaka?, dewaarimasendeshita
yaku: about / kurai: about -mae: before / -go: after
ni imasu (iru): be at, be in hare: / kumori: cloudy / ame: rain
How long does it take? Donokurai kakarimasuka? han-toshi: half year
About 2 weeks. Yaku ni-shūkan desu. tabun: probably
to Kyoto how many hours? Kyōto made nan-jikan kakari masuka? 2 hrs before was Ni-jikan-mae wa hare deshita.
about 3 hours. San-jikan kurai desu. half year before office worker was not Hantoshi-mae wa kaishain dewaarimasendeshita.
how many days be in Japan? Nan-nichikan Nihon ni imasuka? after 2 days will be probably cloudy Futsuka-go wa tabun kumori desu.
18 days. Jū hachi-nichikan desu. I studied Japanese. Nihongo o benkyō shi mashita.
I read books everyday. Mainichi, hon o yomi masu. shi masu (suru): do
Present tense = verb + masu, masuka?, masen The verb suru is usually used solely. And in this case, the particle "o" comes after the object.
mai: every For example, benkyō o shimasu.: I do study.
mai-nichi: every day / mai-shū: every week But sometimes, a noun together with suru functions as a verb.
mai-asa: every morning / mai-ban: every night For example, benkyō shimasu.: I study.
benkyō (study) suru: to study
ryokō (travel) suru: to travel
sōji (cleaning) suru: to clean
sengetsu: last month / kongetsu: this month / raigetsu: next month
kyonen: last year / kotoshi: this year / rainen: next year
ajia: Asia
heya: room
sakkā: soccor
last year, Asia traveled Kyonen, Ajia o ryokō shi mashita.
last month, didn't clean the room Sengetsu, heya o sōji shi masen deshita.
next month, with friend will play soccor Raigetsu, tomodachi to sakkā o shi masu.

Basic Rules

Counting System
Japanese counting system is complex and has a lot of irregular pronunciations. It can take some
time to master all of them.
But to be practical, you just need to know the following.
Master how to count 1 to 100. (You just need to memorise 1-10.)
Know the basic principles. For example, time is "ji" and "fun", date is "gatsu" and "nichi", etc.
In addition, days of the week and dates (1st to 10th) would be good to know.
People will understand when you say roku-fun (not roppun) or ni-nichi (not futsuka).