Basic Japanese Words
In Japanese culture, being polite and respectful is very important. That's why it's helpful to have some basic Japanese vocab handy for your next trip to Japan. Saying "thank you" and "sorry" in the local language can make a huge difference in how you are perceived.
Here are some Japanese words for meeting and greeting people, so that you can be polite in any new situation.
Want to go beyond basic vocabulary and actually learn to speak Japanese? Rocket Japanese is an online Japanese course with Audio lessons, Language & Culture lessons, a pronunciation tool, and writing lessons. You can test it out for free!
Resources for further reading:
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
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はい
Hai
Yes
いいえ
iie
No
おねがい します
Onegai shimasu.
Please.
こんにちわ
Konnichiwa
Hello / Good day
おはよう ございます
Ohayō gozaimasu
Good morning
はじめまして
Hajimemashite
Nice to meet you (for the first time)
もしもし
Moshi moshi
“Hello?” (greeting on the phone)
すみません
Sumimasen
Excuse me (formal)
ありがとう
Arigatō
Thank you
ごめんなさい
Gomennasai
Sorry (polite)
More Japanese words & vocabulary
Here are some great lessons that will help you learn a whole bunch of basic Japanese vocabulary. Even if you can't make a complete sentence in Japanese, these words will help you to get your ideas across.
There's tons of free content including word lists, English translations, step-by-step explanations, and the amazing Rocket Record voice comparison technology to make sure your pronunciation is perfect. All you need to be understood in any Japanese situation.
You'll also get some great tips on how to count, tell the time, and recognize the days of the week in Japanese. With these skills you'll soon be on your way to making appointments, and keeping them. That means you'll be able to look after business, book a table, or get your hair done confident that you'll get there on time.
Learn how to say "thank you" in Japanese, "excuse me", "sorry", and use other polite words and phrases with confidence.
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Learn Japanese online
I hope you're making some good progress with our free Japanese lessons! Need more guidance on how to learn Japanese effectively? This article on learning Japanese online can help you out!
If you don't just want to study vocabulary but strive to actually speak Japanese, check out our online Japanese course - Rocket Japanese. You'll get a step-by-step roadmap to Japanese mastery, plus Audio lessons, Language & Culture lessons, a pronunciation tool, and writing lessons!
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