Japanese phrases by situation

すみません

Sumimasen

Excuse me / sorry / thank you

The single most useful word in Japanese — it gets attention, apologises, and thanks, all at once.

ありがとうございます

Arigatou gozaimasu

Thank you

日本語がわかりません

Nihongo ga wakarimasen

I do not understand Japanese

英語を話せますか？

Eigo o hanasemasu ka?

Do you speak English?

お願いします

Onegaishimasu

Please (when asking for something)

Point at what you want and say "kore, onegaishimasu" — that completes most orders.

大丈夫です

Daijoubu desu

It is fine / no thank you

The gentle way to decline a bag or a receipt.

2人です

Futari desu

Two people (at the entrance)

One = hitori, two = futari, three = san-nin, four = yo-nin. Holding up fingers works just as well.

おすすめは何ですか？

Osusume wa nan desu ka?

What do you recommend?

The answer comes back in Japanese — ask with the menu open so they can point.

〜抜きでお願いします

~ nuki de onegaishimasu

Without ~, please

For an allergy, say "~ arerugii desu" instead — it is taken more seriously. Vegetarians should note that fish stock is in almost everything.

お会計お願いします

Okaikei onegaishimasu

The bill, please

これください

Kore kudasai

This one, please

ごちそうさまでした

Gochisousama deshita

Thank you for the meal (said on leaving)

〜まで行きたいです

~ made ikitai desu

I want to go to ~

Showing the destination written in Japanese is the surest method — a map app on screen works too.

何番線ですか？

Nanbansen desu ka?

Which platform?

この電車は〜に停まりますか？

Kono densha wa ~ ni tomarimasu ka?

Does this train stop at ~?

Rapid and limited express services skip most stations, and different service types leave from the same platform — worth checking before you board.

いくらですか？

Ikura desu ka?

How much is it?

免税できますか？

Menzei dekimasu ka?

Can I buy this tax-free?

Ask before you pay — it cannot be applied after the transaction.

カード使えますか？

Kaado tsukaemasu ka?

Do you take cards?

試着できますか？

Shichaku dekimasu ka?

May I try this on?

袋は大丈夫です

Fukuro wa daijoubu desu

I do not need a bag

Bags are charged for, usually ¥3–5.

チェックインお願いします

Chekku-in onegaishimasu

I would like to check in

荷物を預かってもらえますか？

Nimotsu o azukatte moraemasu ka?

Could you hold my luggage?

Nearly every hotel will do this free, both before check-in and after check-out.

Wi-Fiのパスワードを教えてください

Wi-Fi no pasuwaado o oshiete kudasai

Could you tell me the Wi-Fi password?

助けてください

Tasukete kudasai

Please help me

救急車を呼んでください

Kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai

Please call an ambulance

If you are calling yourself, the number is 119.

〜をなくしました

~ o nakushimashita

I have lost my ~

Wallet = saifu, passport = pasupooto, bag = kaban, phone = sumaho.

病院はどこですか？

Byouin wa doko desu ka?

Where is the hospital?

警察を呼んでください

Keisatsu o yonde kudasai

Please call the police

If you are calling yourself, the number is 110.