Learn basic Japanese phrases just in 5 minutes.

To learn and get used to Japanese as quickly as possible, it had better if you should become familiar with the basic Japanese phrase which are often encountered in life. Memorizing the fixed communication, you have 20% more confident to communicate with the Japanese then. Now, let’s begin with us !

Read more: How to say i love you in Japanese                                                                                        How to say good morning in Japanese                                                                                     Japanese Kanji

Basic Japanese phrase in daily life

1. 

   Basic japanese phrases are very useful in daily life.

Hiragana	Transcription	Translation
どう した？	Dou shita?	What is going on ?
げんき だた？/どう げんき？	Genki data?/ Dou genki?
なに やってた の？	Nani yatteta no?	How are you doing ?
ひさしぶり ね。 ひさしぶり だね。	Hisashiburi ne. (Woman) Hisashiburi dane. (Man)	Long time to see.
げんき？	genki	How are you ?
げんき。 げんき よ。 げんき だよ。 まあね。	Genki Genki yo (woman) Genki dayo (man) Maane. (+)	I’m fine.
どか した の？ ど した の？ なんか あった の？ ど したん だよ？	Doka shita no? (Woman)(n–> p) Do shita no? (Woman)(n–> p) Nanka atta no? (**) Do shitan dayo? (Man)	What’s up ?
なに かんがえてん？	Nani kangaeten?	What are you thinking about ?
べつ に。	Betsu ni.	Not thing
ひとり に して！() ほっといて！	Hitori ni shite! Hottoite!	Leave me alone !
ほん と？() ほんと に？( まじ で？ まじ？ うそ？ うそ だ？	Hon to? Honto ni? Maji de? Maji? Uso? Uso da?	Right ? / Really ?
そう なの？ そう？	Sou nano? Sou?	Really ?
どう して？ どう して だよ？ なんで？	Dou shite? Dō shite dayo? Nande?	Why ?
どう いう いみ？	Douimi?	What do you mean ?

Basic Japanese phrase in restaurant

2. 

   Communication with customer in restaurant is very important

If you intend to work part-time at Japanese restaurant , or you're working in a Japanese restaurant , you can’t ignore this basic Japanese phrase to greeting customers as follows :

Hiragana		Transcription	Translation
いらっしゃい ませ	Irashai mashe		Welcome to our restaurant ( when customers enter the restaurant)
何名 さま で いらっしゃいますか	Nanmei samade irashai masuka		How many people do you have ?
こちらへどうぞ。	Kochira e douzo		Please go follow this direction.
きょう は こんで います ので、 ご あいせき で よろしい でしょうか?	kyoo wa konde imasu node, go aiseki de yoroshii deshoo ka		Because of this crowded. Would you mind to sit with others?
何 に なさい ます か	Nani nasai masuka		What do you order ?
おまたせ しました。	Omatase shimashita		Sorry for let you waiting so long.
どうぞ おめしあがり ください。	Douzo omeshiagari kudasai		Enjoy your meal !
おたべものは いかがですか。	Otabemono wa ikaga desu ka		Would you like to anything else ?

Basic Japanese phrase in class

Hiragana	Transcription	Translation
はじめましょう	hajimemashou	Let’s start
おわりましょう	owarimashou	Let’s finish.
やすみましょう	yasumimashou	Let’s to have break.
おねがいします	onegaishimasu	Plesase
きりつ	kiritsu!	Nghiêm !
どうぞすわってください	douzo suwattekudasai	Sit down, please
わかりますか	wakarimasuka	Do you understand ?
はい、わかります	hai,wakarimasu	I got it.
いいえ、わかりません	iie, wakarimasen	No, I don’t understand
もういちど	mou ichido	One again.
じょうずですね	jouzudesune	Great/ good !
いいですね	iidesune	Good
しけん/しゅくだい	Shiken/shukudai	Test/ home work.
しつもん/こたえ/れい	Shitsumon/kotae/rei	Question/answer/example

Actually, when you learn a foreign language, especially learn Japanese. This is a long process requires interactions and continuously exposed to the language, especially to talk with native speakers. So learn the basic communication phrase will initially be very useful for communicating in the future. To help you learn effective japanese dialogue, we will continue to improve further to bring the most useful lessons for you.

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A quick look at Japanese gift giving etiquette

The exchange of gifts is a central part of business etiquette and of Japanese culture in general. Whether it is for your boss, coworkers or friends, there are a few things you should know about Japanese gift giving etiquette. Some of them not only are Japanese etiquettes but also be the rules you should follow.

Read more: How to say i love you in Japanese                                                                                        How to say good morning in Japanese                                                                                     Japanese Kanji

1. What kind of Japanese gift giving are the best?

   

   For women, flowers can be nice.

If you visit a Japanese company, your host family or meet with Japanese business partners, this question always pops up.

Food (especially sweets like cake, cookies etc.) from your region are very welcome. You should not be finical about Japanese gift giving. For women, flowers can be nice, but avoid white flowers, lotus blossoms, lilies and camellias since they are associated with funerals. Also, potted plants are associated with sickness, so better look for something else.

High-quality alcohol or pens, as well as business card holders, are also a nice idea. For business gifts, it can be on the expensive side, but never have your own company’s logo on it!

If you’re visiting your host family, then anything that’s typical for your region / country (especially if it’s edible) is the best choice.

2. Be careful with colors when giving the gift in Japan.

   

   These etiquette tips for Japanese gift giving is very necessary.

Although you may write with black ink in your own country, when signing a gift card in Japan, you may want to change your pen. Colors have a lot of meaning and are something to be cautious of. Same goes for the color of the gift wrapping. Here is a quick guide on what you may or may not use color wise. Remember these etiquette tips for Japanese gift giving :

• Red is used on tombstones. Do not use it for signing cards. Also, don’t send red Christmas cards as funeral notices are red in Japan. Red and white gift wrapping is good for weddings, though.
• Black can mean death or bad luck. Black combined with red expresses sexuality, so try to avoid it.
• Green can mean eternity and good luck. It is perfect for almost any gift card.
• White can mean holiness. If the card is a solid color, white ink can be perfect for a baby shower.
• Purple can mean celebrations and decadence. It is a great color for a festive holiday.

3. Numbers to avoid in Japanese gift giving culture.

   

   You never see the gifts in sets of 4 in Japan.

If you have to send a gift never involve the numbers 4, 9 and 43 (e.g. don’t send four pieces of cake).

• FOUR: 4 (四、し、shi) can sound like the word death (死、し、 shi)
• NINE: 9 (九、く、ku) can sound like suffering (苦、く、ku)
• FOURTYTHREE: if it’s for a baby shower, 43 (四三、しさん、shisan) is similar to stillbirth (死産、しざん, shizan).

To be on the safe side, better avoid anything that has a “4” or “9” in it. ;)

4. Japanese gift giving and receiving etiquette

   

   One of the Japanese gift giving etiquette must remember is handing the gift with both hands.

Carry the gift in a normal shopping bag, so nobody will know immediately that you bring a present.

When handing it over, do it with both hands (also when receiving it). If it is for an individual, you need to do it in private and you want to give it to the person towards the end of your visit, not in the beginning like in the USA.

It’s very common to present a gift with the words “Tsumaranai mono desu ga …” (つまらないものですが・・・, lit.: It’s something boring, but please accept it …). It just shows that the relationship is more important that the present itself.

If you receive a present, don’t open it right away. Do it later when you’re alone, so you don’t have to worry about how to react if you don’t like it.

Also, it’s polite if you reject the present humbly once or twice. But don’t overdo it!

Always wrap a present beautifully. Let the shop do it where you purchased it.

The presentation and meaning of the gift are more important than the gift itself so make sure there is thought behind it.

Most of these rules don’t apply when you give a present to a (close) friend or family member of yours. It’s a much more casual situation after all.