๐ฏ๐ต๐
Japanese Day One Phrases
Greet, thank, ask the price, get by. 12+ essential phrases with phonetic pronunciation and 7 full conversation flows for day one situations in Japan.
Start learning freeEssential Day One Phrases in Japanese
Sorted by usefulness. Phonetic pronunciation included.
ใ
kah
? (question particle)
ใงใใ
des-kah
is it?
โฆใซ
...nee
to (destination)
LINE
rain
LINE (messaging app)
ใใใพใใ
ah-ree-mahs-kah
is there?
ใใใพใใ
ah-ree-mahs-gah
I have, but
ใใใ
ee-koo-rah
how much?
ใใพใ
oo-mai
tasty (casual)
ใใ
oon
yeah
ใใพใใ
oh-mah-kah-seh
chef's choice
ใๅ ๆฐ
oh-gen-kee
well / healthy (polite)
ใๅฝ
oh-koo-nee
country (polite)
...and 94 more day one phrases in the app.
Sample: Asking for help finding something
A real day one conversation in Japanese -- both sides of the interaction.
You
ใใฟใพใใ
sue-mee-mah-sen
Excuse me
Them
hai
The person stops
ใฏใ๏ผ
hai
Yes?
You
ใใคใฌใฏใฉใใงใใ
toh-ee-reh wah doh-koh-des-kah des-kah
Where is the restroom?
Them
mahs-sue-goo ee-teh mee-gee des
The person points the way
ใพใฃใใ่กใฃใฆใๅณใงใ
mahs-sue-goo ee-teh mee-gee des
Go straight, then turn right
You
้ ใใงใใ
toh-ee des kah
Is it far?
Them
ee-eh soo-goo soh-koh des goh-foon koo-rai
The person says it's very close
ใใใใใใใใใงใใไบๅใใใ
ee-eh soo-goo des
No, very close. About 5 minutes
7 day one conversations available in the app.
FAQ
What happens when they answer back at the day one in Japan?
That's the hard part -- and exactly what TalkThere prepares you for. Each of the 7 day one conversations shows you the full back-and-forth: what you say, what they'll likely respond, and how to keep going. You won't freeze when they answer in Japanese.
Is this enough to get by at a day one in Japan?
Yes. These are the 12+ phrases that actually come up in real day one interactions -- not textbook phrases. Sorted by how often you'll need them, with pronunciation you can read at a glance.
Do I need to learn Japanese script to use this?
No. Every Japanese phrase has phonetic pronunciation written in plain English. You read it like English and say it out loud. The script is there for reference, but you don't need it.
Ready for Japan?
14 days free. No credit card required.
Start learning Japanese free