Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners

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Six little words that turn you from a spectator into a participant. Drop one into almost any sentence and Japanese people will meet you halfway.

1. 1 なに nani — What
2. 2 どこ doko — Where
3. 3 いつ itsu — When
4. 4 だれ dare — Who
5. 5 なぜ naze — Why
6. 6 どうやって douyatte — How (by what method)

Point and choose

With これ, それ and a friendly ください, you can shop, order and survive whole days in Japan without conjugating a single verb.

1. 7 これ kore — This (near me)
2. 8 それ sore — That (near you)
3. 9 どれ dore — Which one
4. 10 ください kudasai — Please give me

   Attach to any noun with を: みずをください — water, please.

5. 11 はい hai — Yes
6. 12 いいえ iie — No
7. 13 いくら ikura — How much

Everyday verbs

The six verbs you will reach for daily. Learn the polite -ます forms first — they are welcome absolutely everywhere.

1. 14 いく iku — To go
2. 15 くる kuru — To come
3. 16 たべる taberu — To eat
4. 17 のむ nomu — To drink
5. 18 できる dekiru — Can, to be able to
6. 19 ほしい hoshii — To want (a thing)

Time and place

Anchor yourself in the here and now. These pairs cover most directions a stranger will ever give you.

1. 20 いま ima — Now
2. 21 あとで ato de — Later
3. 22 ここ koko — Here
4. 23 そこ soko — There
5. 24 ひだり hidari — Left
6. 25 みぎ migi — Right

How you feel

States and sensations, ready to use as complete sentences — no grammar assembly required.

1. 26 おなかがすいた onaka ga suita — I'm hungry
2. 27 のどがかわいた nodo ga kawaita — I'm thirsty
3. 28 つかれた tsukareta — I'm tired
4. 29 あつい atsui — Hot
5. 30 さむい samui — Cold

In real life: asking about something in a shop