Japan
Before You Go
When You Are There
Language
Offices to Serve You Abroad
On the whole few Japanese people speak much English, although those that do are often willing to try it out on you. Knowledge of a few words and phrases is therefore likely to be useful. Pronunciation is straight forward, similar to Spanish or Italian. Pronounce each word exactly as it is written and you should be understood. There is no tone system as in Chinese; give each syllable equal stress. When addressing people, always use the surname, not first name, plus the suffix -san (for Mr, Mrs or Ms), but never add -san to your own name.
| hotel | hoteru | |
| room | rumu | |
| single/double/ twin (room) | shinguru/daburu/tsuin (rumu) | |
| Japanese-style room | washitsu | |
| Western-style room | yoshitsu | |
| for bed and breakfast | choshokutsuki | |
| toilet | o-tearai | |
| Japanese-style bath | o-furo | |
| (Western) bed | beddo | |
| does that include…? | wa tsuite imasu-ka? | |
| bank | ginko | |
| post office | yubin-kyoku | |
| postage stamp | kitte | |
| seal or stamp | hanko | |
| how much is this? | kore wa ikura desuka? | |
| credit card | krejitto-kahdo | |
| one | ichi | |
| two | ni | |
| three | san | |
| four | yon/shi | |
| five | go | |
| ten | ju | |
| twenty | niju | |
| hundred | hyaku | |
| thousand | sen | |
| restaurant | resutoran | |
| pub/bar | izakaya | |
| cafe | kissaten | |
| set menu | teishoku | |
| lunch | tanchi/hiru gohan | |
| dinner | yushoku/ban gohan | |
| boxed lunch | bento | |
| the bill | kanjo | |
| water | mizu | |
| beer | biru | |
| just a little, please | sukoshi | |
| this is good | oishi desu | |
| knife and fork | naifu to hawk | |
| aeroplane | hikoki | |
| airport | kuko | |
| bus | basu | |
| bus stop | basu tei | |
| railway | stationeki | |
| one day open ticket | furii-kippu | |
| single/return | katamichi/ofuku | |
| station | eki | |
| platform | homu | |
| does this train/bus go to…? | kono kisha/basu wa … e ikimasu-ka? | |
| straight ahead | masugu | |
| right | migi | |
| left | hidari | |
| yes | hai | |
| no (rarely used) | iie | |
| please | o-negai shimasu | |
| thank you | domo arigato | |
| no, thank you | ii-desu | |
| good morning | ohayo gozaimasu | |
| good afternoon | konnichi-wa | |
| goodbye | sayonara | |
| sorry | gomen nasai | |
| how much? | ikuru? | |
| I don't speak Japanese | nihongo wa dekimasen | |
| my name is… | watashi wa…desu | |
| what is this called? | kore wa nanto iimasuka | |
| help me! | tasukete! | |
| what time? | nanji? | |
| excuse me! | sumimasen! |
| COUNTRY |
| Japan
|
| Viewing |
| Top Ten |
| What To See |
| Where To ... |
| Practical Matters |
| REGION |
| CITIES |
| MAPS |
| World |
| Europe |
| TRAVEL BOOK |
| Book Info |
| Order Online |
 |