Why These Phrases Are Important
Although more and more Japanese people can speak English, Japanese language ability remains very important for daily life. By mastering these 100 phrases, you can survive in almost all common situations in Japan. These phrases are compiled based on their frequency of use and importance for Indonesian citizens (WNI).
Basic Greetings
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | おはようございます | Ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning (formal) |
| 2 | こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello / Good afternoon |
| 3 | こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening (greeting) |
| 4 | おやすみなさい | Oyasuminasai | Good night |
| 5 | さようなら | Sayounara | Goodbye |
| 6 | またね | Mata ne | See you later (casual) |
| 7 | お元気ですか | Ogenki desu ka | How are you? |
| 8 | 元気です | Genki desu | I'm fine |
| 9 | はじめまして | Hajimemashite | Nice to meet you |
| 10 | よろしくお願いします | Yoroshiku onegaishimasu | Pleased to meet you / I look forward to working with you |
Thanks & Apologies
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you (formal) |
| 12 | ありがとう | Arigatou | Thanks (casual) |
| 13 | すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry / A light 'thank you' |
| 14 | ごめんなさい | Gomennasai | I'm sorry (personal) |
| 15 | 大丈夫です | Daijoubu desu | It's okay / I'm fine |
| 16 | いいえ | Iie | No / You're welcome |
In Shops & Restaurants
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | いくらですか | Ikura desu ka | How much is it? |
| 18 | これをください | Kore o kudasai | This one, please |
| 19 | お会計お願いします | Okaikei onegaishimasu | The bill, please / I'd like to pay |
| 20 | いただきます | Itadakimasu | Let's eat (before a meal) |
| 21 | ごちそうさまでした | Gochisousama deshita | Thank you for the meal (after a meal) |
| 22 | メニューを見せてください | Menyuu o misete kudasai | Please show me the menu |
| 23 | おすすめは何ですか | Osusume wa nan desu ka | What do you recommend? |
| 24 | 持ち帰りで | Mochikaeri de | For takeout / To go |
| 25 | ここで食べます | Koko de tabemasu | To eat here |
| 26 | 辛くしないでください | Karaku shinaide kudasai | Please don't make it spicy |
| 27 | 豚肉は入っていますか | Butaniku wa haitte imasu ka | Does this contain pork? (important for Muslims) |
| 28 | アレルギーがあります | Arerugii ga arimasu | I have allergies |
Transportation
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 〇〇駅はどこですか | [nama] eki wa doko desu ka | Where is [name] station? |
| 30 | 〇〇まで行きたいです | [nama] made ikitai desu | I want to go to [name] |
| 31 | この電車は〇〇に止まりますか | Kono densha wa [nama] ni tomarimasu ka | Does this train stop at [name]? |
| 32 | 乗り換えはどこですか | Norikae wa doko desu ka | Where do I transfer? |
| 33 | 片道/往復 | Katamichi / Oufuku | One-way / Round-trip |
| 34 | 終電は何時ですか | Shūden wa nanji desu ka | What time is the last train? |
At the Office & Work
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | お疲れ様です | Otsukaresama desu | Thank you for your hard work (work greeting) |
| 36 | お先に失礼します | Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu | Excuse me for leaving first |
| 37 | かしこまりました | Kashikomarimashita | Certainly / I understand (formal) |
| 38 | 少々お待ちください | Shoushou omachi kudasai | Please wait a moment |
| 39 | 確認します | Kakunin shimasu | I will check/confirm |
| 40 | 相談させてください | Soudan sasete kudasai | Please allow me to consult |
Emergency & Medical
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 助けて！ | Tasukete! | Help! |
| 42 | 警察を呼んでください | Keisatsu o yonde kudasai | Please call the police |
| 43 | 救急車を呼んでください | Kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai | Please call an ambulance |
| 44 | 病院はどこですか | Byouin wa doko desu ka | Where is the hospital? |
| 45 | 具合が悪いです | Guai ga warui desu | I don't feel well |
| 46 | 頭が痛いです | Atama ga itai desu | I have a headache |
| 47 | お腹が痛いです | Onaka ga itai desu | I have a stomachache |
| 48 | 熱があります | Netsu ga arimasu | I have a fever |
| 49 | 薬をください | Kusuri o kudasai | Please give me medicine |
| 50 | アレルギーがあります | Arerugii ga arimasu | I have allergies |
Daily Life
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | わかりました | Wakarimashita | I understand |
| 52 | わかりません | Wakarimasen | I don't understand |
| 53 | 日本語が少し話せます | Nihongo ga sukoshi hanasemasu | I can speak a little Japanese |
| 54 | 英語を話せますか | Eigo o hanasemasu ka | Can you speak English? |
| 55 | もう一度言ってください | Mou ichido itte kudasai | Please say it again |
| 56 | ゆっくり話してください | Yukkuri hanashite kudasai | Please speak slowly |
| 57 | 書いてください | Kaite kudasai | Please write it down |
| 58 | トイレはどこですか | Toire wa doko desu ka | Where is the toilet? |
| 59 | 何時ですか | Nanji desu ka | What time is it? |
| 60 | 今日は何曜日ですか | Kyou wa nan youbi desu ka | What day is it today? |
Social Conversation
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | インドネシアから来ました | Indonesia kara kimashita | I'm from Indonesia |
| 62 | 日本に〇年住んでいます | Nihon ni [angka] nen sunde imasu | I have lived in Japan for [number] years |
| 63 | 趣味は〇〇です | Shumi wa [hobi] desu | My hobby is [hobby] |
| 64 | お名前は？ | Onamae wa? | What is your name? |
| 65 | どこに住んでいますか | Doko ni sunde imasu ka | Where do you live? |
| 66 | お仕事は何ですか | Oshigoto wa nan desu ka | What is your job? |
| 67 | いい天気ですね | Ii tenki desu ne | The weather is nice, isn't it? |
| 68 | 美味しいですね | Oishii desu ne | It's delicious, isn't it? |
| 69 | 楽しかったです | Tanoshikatta desu | That was fun |
| 70 | また会いましょう | Mata aimashou | Let's meet again |
At the City Hall & Government Offices
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 転入届を出したいです | Tennyuu todoke o dashitai desu | I want to register a move-in notification |
| 72 | 住民票をください | Juuminhyou o kudasai | I'd like a certificate of residence |
| 73 | 国民健康保険に入りたいです | Kokumin kenkou hoken ni hairitai desu | I want to enroll in the National Health Insurance |
| 74 | 印鑑証明書をください | Inkan shoumeisho o kudasai | I'd like a seal registration certificate |
| 75 | 通訳はいますか | Tsuuyaku wa imasu ka | Is there an interpreter? |
Shopping & Money
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | カードで払えますか | Kaado de haraemasu ka | Can I pay by card? |
| 77 | 現金だけですか | Genkin dake desu ka | Is it cash only? |
| 78 | レシートをください | Reshiito o kudasai | Can I have the receipt, please? |
| 79 | 袋は要りません | Fukuro wa irimasen | I don't need a bag |
| 80 | ポイントカードはありますか | Pointo kaado wa arimasu ka | Do you have a point card? |
Housing
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 家賃はいくらですか | Yachin wa ikura desu ka | How much is the rent? |
| 82 | ペットを飼えますか | Petto o kaemasu ka | Are pets allowed? |
| 83 | インターネットはありますか | Intaanetto wa arimasu ka | Is there internet? |
| 84 | ゴミの日はいつですか | Gomi no hi wa itsu desu ka | When is the garbage day? |
| 85 | 隣の人がうるさいです | Tonari no hito ga urusai desu | The next-door neighbor is noisy |
Weather & Seasons
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | 今日は暑いですね | Kyou wa atsui desu ne | It's hot today, isn't it? |
| 87 | 寒いですね | Samui desu ne | It's cold, isn't it? |
| 88 | 雨が降りそうです | Ame ga furisou desu | It looks like it's going to rain |
| 89 | 台風が来ます | Taifuu ga kimasu | A typhoon is coming |
| 90 | 地震だ！ | Jishin da! | Earthquake! |
Other Useful Phrases
| No | Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | ちょっと待ってください | Chotto matte kudasai | Please wait a moment |
| 92 | いいですよ | Ii desu yo | It's okay / It's good |
| 93 | 無理です | Muri desu | It's impossible / I can't do it |
| 94 | 頑張ります | Ganbarimasu | I will do my best |
| 95 | お疲れ様 | Otsukaresama | You must be tired / Good work |
| 96 | 久しぶりですね | Hisashiburi desu ne | It's been a while |
| 97 | 気をつけてください | Ki o tsukete kudasai | Please be careful / Take care |
| 98 | 写真を撮ってもいいですか | Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka | May I take a picture? |
| 99 | WiFiはありますか | Waifai wa arimasu ka | Is there WiFi? |
| 100 | 日本が大好きです | Nihon ga daisuki desu | I love Japan |
Tips for Memorizing
- Use them every day - Practice at least 5 new phrases per day in real situations.
- Flashcards - Create flashcards on Anki or Quizlet with audio.
- Listen to the pronunciation - Use Google Translate to hear the correct pronunciation.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes - Japanese people greatly appreciate your effort to speak their language.