- Note that the correct spelling of the word is provided in the native writing system (see Index of Writing Systems). Romanization is only an approximation
Native Words and Phrases
Sayings
| Word | Romanization | Meaning | Additional Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| すみません。 | Sumimasen. | Excuse me (as in to get someone’s attention). I’m sorry (to trouble you). Thank you (for your time). | |
| さようなら。 | Sayounara | Farewell | Traditionally used when you do not expect to see someone for a long time. However, may also be used casually (i.e., school children taking leave from class) |
| しつれいします。 | Shitsureishimasu | Good bye (formally) | |
| こんにちは。 | Konnichiwa. | Good day / Good afternoon. | こんにち (Today) +は (Topic particle) |
| こんばんは。 | Konbanwa. | Good evening | こんばん (Tonight) +は (Topic particle) |
| おはよう。 | Ohayou. | Good morning | Can also be used as a greeting when seeing someone for the first time in the day |
| おはよう ございます。 | Ohayou gozaimasu. | Good morning. (polite) | |
| おやすみ（なさい）。 | Oyasumi(nasai). | Good night | |
| はじめまして。 | Hajimemashite. | How do you do? | |
| いってきます。 | Ittekimasu. | I’ll go and come back | |
| ただいま。 | Tadaima. | I’m home | |
| よろしく おねがいします。 | Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. | Nice to meet you. | |
| いいえ。 | Iie. | No. Not at all. | |
| いってらっしやい。 | Itterasshai. | Please go and come back. | |
| じやあ、また。 | Jaa, mata. | See you later (between friends you expect to see again) | |
| ありがたおう。 | Arigatou. | Thank you | |
| ありがとう ございます。 | Arigatou gozaimasu. | Thank you (polite) | |
| ごちそうさま（でした）。 | Gochisousama(deshita). | Thank you for the meal (after eating) | |
| いただきます。 | Itadakimasu. | Thank you for the meal (before eating) | |
| おかえり（なさい）。 | Okaeri(nasai). | Welcome home. | |
| ええ。 | Ee | Yep (Yes). Informal | |
| はお | Hai | Yes (neutral / Polite). May also mean “Here” (as in I am present) | |
| うん | Un | Yes (Very formal) | |
| あの | Ano | Um… | Filler word, but is used as a “pacer” in the sense it signals hesitation to the other person. |
| そうです | Sou desu | That’s right | |
| そうですか | Sou desu ka | I see; Is that so? |
Nouns
| Word | Romanization | Meaning | Additional Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| いま | Ima | Now (the present moment) | |
| えいご | Eigo | English (language) | |
| がくせい | Gakusei | Student | |
| あいさつ | Aisatsu | Greeting | |
| と おじぎ | Ojigi | Bowing (in the respectful sense) | |
| めいし | Meishi | Business card | |
| ごご | Gogo | Afternoon (P.M.) | |
| ごぜん | Gozen | Morning (A.M.) | |
| こうこう | Koukou | Highschool | |
| せんこう | Senkou | Major (as in a subject in school) | |
| せんせい | Sensei | Teacher or Professor. Honorable Master | Sensei is typically reserved to describe another person as it is more aptly translated as “Honorable Master”. Saying わたし は せんせい (I am Sensei) can be seen as arrogant. |
| きょうし | Kyoushi | Teacher or Professor | Compared to せんせい (Sensei) it is more modest. |
| だいがく | Daigaku | College / University | |
| でんわ | Denwa | Telephone | |
| ともだち | Tomodachi | Friend | |
| なまえ | Namae | Name | |
| にほん | Nihon | Japan | |
| ばんごお | Bangoo | Number | |
| りゅうがくせい | Ryugakusei | International student | Note the subword “がくせい” (student) |
Numbers
Pronouns
| Word | Romanization | Meaning | Additional Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| なん/なに | Nan / Nani | What | |
| わたし | Watashi | I | |
| あなた | Anata | You | Rarely used in casual speech as it has a condescending undertone. Typically used when there is no information about the addressed person. Used by women to mean “Dear” (i.e., referring to a spouse) |
- Japanese typically does not use pronouns. For example.
- Instead of あなた (you), we use the name and title to refer to the second person.
Affixes
| Word | Romanization | Meaning | Additional Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 〜ご | … go | … language (i.e. language of something) | |
| 〜じ | … ji | … ‘o clock | |
| 〜さい | … sai | … years old | |
| 〜さん | … san | Mr / Ms … Used as a default / respectful honorific | Used as honorific |
| 〜じん | … jin | … people (i.e., the people of a nation) | |
| 〜ねんせい | … nensei | … year student | |
| 〜ちゃん | … chan | Little … Frequently for girls and small children, close friends or lovers. Expresses one finds the person endearing Can also be used towards cute things. Can also be used to describe oneself (in a childlike manner.) | Used as honorific |
| 〜くん | … kun | Semi-formal title for a male junior or a young man. Can also be used for males in general. While typically used for men, it can also be used for women (in which case it is more respectful than 〜ちゃん (chan) while still implying endearment). | |
Particles and Miscellaneous
| Word | Romanization | Meaning | Additional Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| は | wa | Topic | It is pronounced “wa” instead of the usual “ha” in Hiragana. |
| と | to | And (with a specific list in mind) | |
| です | desu | “Is / To be” | Technically speaking, です carries no inherent meaning. It functions as a Copula |
| か | ka | Question particle | |
| の | no | Possessiveness; In general acts as a Noun modifier |