Useful Japanese Phrases for Traveling

It is good to know some Japanese phrases if you are visiting Japan.  I summarized Japanese phrases which can be used at different occasions in Japan. Japanese people usually do no[/amember_protect][amember_protect levels=’10_day_membership’ user_action=’error’ user_error=’amember_error_default_user’ visitor_action=’error’ visitor_error=’amember_error_default_user’]t speak fluent English, so learning words and expressions can help you get by in Japan. These practical phrasescan be used for many different situations.

Japanese words and Phrases for Traveling

At the restaurant

食事（しょく　じ):Meal
Shokuji

しょくじ　しましょう：Let’s have a meal!
Shokuji Shimashou?

しょくじ　しませんか？: Would you like to have a meal?
Shokuji Shimasenka?

コーヒー　のみませんか？: Would you like to have coffee (with me)?
Kohi Nomimasenka?

いただきます: Thank you for the meal (before eating)
Itadakimasu.

ごちそうさまでした: Thank you for the meal (after eating)
Gochisousama deshita.

おのみもの：drink (very polite way to say drinks and usually servers use this word)
Onomimono.

お水を　ください：おみずを　ください：Please give me water
Omizu (wo) kudasai.

コーヒーを　ひとつと　ケーキを　ふたつ　ください：one (cup of coffee) and two cakes, please.
Kohi wo hitotsu to Keeki o futatsu kudasai.

ゆうしょくは、もう　たべましたか？: Have you already eaten dinner?
YUushoku wa mou tabemashitaka?

なんめいさま　ですか？: How many people?
Nanmeisama desuka?

(this is also a very formal word used by servers)

二人です：ふたり　です：futari is a counter for people meaning “two people”

まちじかん（waiting time)は、どれくらい　ですか？How long is the wait?
Machijikan wa dore kurai desuka?

まどぎわの　テーブルを　おねがいします：Can I sit by the window? (literally it means, “table by the window, please”)
Madogiwa no teeburu wo onegaishimasu.

メニュー　ありますか？: Do you have the menu?
Menu (ga) arimasuka?

いらっしゃいませ：Welcome (you hear this all the time)
Irasshaimase.

けっこう　です：No thank you
Kekkou desu.

いくらですか？How much?
Ikura desuka?

これは、なんですか？What is this?
Kore wa nan desuka?

もう　いちど　いってください：Please say one more time.
Mou ichido itte kudasai.

にほんごが　わかりません：I don’t understand Japanese (I don’t think you need to use this though) 😉
Nihongo ga wakarimasen.

えいごを　はなしますか？: Do you speak English?
Eigo (wo) hanashimasuka?

 

Asking direction etc:

えきは、どこですか？where is station?
Eki wa doko desuka?

ゆうびんきょくは、あそこです：Post office is there.
Yuubinkyoku wa asoko desu.

としょかんは、どこ？:Where is the library? (informal)
Toshokan wa doko?

こうしゅうでんわ　は、どこですか？Where is the public phone?
Koushuu denwa wa doko desuka?

おてあらいは、どちらですか？Where is the restroom? (dochira is a polite word for doko)
Otearai wa dochira desuka?

この　でんしゃは、しんじゅくに　とまりますか？ono densha wa shinjyuku ni tomarimasuka?
Kono densha wa shinjyuku ni tomarimasuka?

Does this train stop at Shinjyuku station?

つぎは、なにえき　ですか？what is the next station?
Tsugi wa nani eki desuka?

この　でんしゃ、なんじに　でますか？What time does this train leave?
Kono densha nan ji ni demasuka?

なんじに　つきますか？What time does it arrive?
Nan ji ni tsukimasuka?

どのくらい　かかりますか？how long does it ttake?
Dono kurai kakarimasuka?

Dono kurai: how long

Kakarimasu/kakaru: to take

 

Taxi:

とうきょうタワーまで　おねがいします：Please (take me to ) Tokyo tower
Tokyo tower made onegaishimasu.

made: means “to, until, till”

まっすぐ　いって　ください：Please go straight
Massugu itte kudasai.

te form of verb + kudasai-please do something..

we will go over this more..

みぎに　まがって　ください：Please turn right
Migi ni magatte kudasai.

migi: right

magaru-to turn

magatte: te form of magaru

そこを　ひだりに　まがって　ください：Please turn left there
Soko wo hidari ni magatte kudasai.

とうきょうえき　まで　いくらですか？: How much does it cost to go to Tokyo station?
Tokyo eki made ikura desuka?

そこで　いいです：literally this mean, “it is good over there” so this is a commonly used expression meaning “please stop there”
Soko de ii desu.

if you want to say more explicitly”

そこで　おろして　ください：Please let me get off there.
Soko de oroshite kudasai.

Orosu-to let something/someone get off, drop someone or something off

 When you meet new people:

めいし　ありますか？: Do you have a business card?
Meishi arimasuka?

メールアドレス　きいても　いいですか？Is it ok that I ask your email address? (this is pretty polite)
Meeru adoresu kiite mo ii desuka?

メールアドレス　おしえて　ください：Please tell me your email address.
Meeru adoresu oshiete kudasai.

でんわ　ばんごうは、なんですか？: what is your phone number?

Denwa bangou wa nan desuka?

どこから　きましたか？Where did you come from?

Doko kara kimashitaka?

イタリアのローマから　きました：I am from Rome, Italy.
Itaria no roma kara kimashita.

しごとで　にほんに　きました：I came to Japan for work.
Shigoto de nihon ni kimashita.

*de particle shows purpose as well.

タクシーで　おおさかえきに　きました：I came to Osaka station by taxi
Taxi de oosaka eki ni kimashita.

De particle also shows the means of tranportation

かんこうりょこう：sightseeing tour

だんたい　りょこう：group tour

ガイドさん：tour guide

つうやくさんは、いますか？Is there a translator?

どこに　すんでいますか？: where do you live?

Sumu/sumimasu-to live

Sunde is a te form of sumu (to live)

Te form+ imasu=~ing

Tabete imasu=eating

Mite imasu-watching, seeing

 At the airport

パスポート　ありますか？Do you have (your) passport?

いま　くうこうです：literally this means “now, the airport”

=I am at the airport now.

てにもつ：baggage

チェックイン：check-in

チェックイン　する：to check-in

クレジットカード　つかえますか？: Can I use (my) credit card?

 More useful phrases:

おせわに　なりました：thank you for all your help, favor, hospitality etc. this is a nice thing to say to your friend if she/he show you around.

Osewa-favor, taking care of

Narimashita-became

*so this literally means I became your “care”

また　にほんに　きます：I will come to Japan again.

おみやげです：this is a souvenir (for you).