こんにちは！ (Konnichiwa!)
I’m Garrett, the founder of Strømmen Inc., and I recently started taking Japanese lessons with one of our amazing tutors, Aiko, to prepare for a family trip to Japan. I already speak Italian and Spanish, and since Japanese is so different I found it useful to look at literal tramslations (for Example: Literal breakdown: o (honorific) + hayou (early) + gozaimasu (to be, polite) → “It is early (polite)” → “Good morning.”)
This post is a recap of what I learned in my first lesson — essential greetings, polite expressions, and useful grammar patterns that every traveler to Japan should know.
At Strømmen, we believe that understanding the meaning behind the words makes language learning not only easier, but more fun. That’s why I’ve included literal translations for each phrase — so you can see exactly how Japanese builds meaning and why the language feels so polite and thoughtful.
🗣️ Greetings and Basic Expressions with Literal Translation
1. Hello — こんにちは (konnichiwa)
Japanese: こんにちは
Literal breakdown: kon (this) + nichi (day) + wa (as for) → “As for this day” → “Hello.”
Used from late morning until sunset.
2. Good morning — おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu)
Literal breakdown: o (honorific) + hayou (early) + gozaimasu (to be, polite) → “It is early (polite)” → “Good morning.”
Use simply おはよう (ohayou) with friends.
3. Nice to meet you — はじめまして (hajimemashite)
Literal breakdown: hajime (beginning) + mashite (in this situation) → “It’s the first time (meeting)” → “Nice to meet you.”
Often followed by: よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) — “Please take care of me” / “Let’s get along.”
4. Goodbye — さようなら (sayounara)
Literal breakdown: sayou (that way) + nara (if it be so) → “If that’s how it is” → “Goodbye.”
Used for longer separations.
Casual goodbyes:
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じゃあね (jaa ne) — “See ya.”
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じゃあまた (jaa mata) — “See you later.”
5. Please — お願いします (onegaishimasu)
Literal breakdown: o (honorific) + negai (request/wish) + shimasu (to do) → “I humbly make a request.”
Used when politely asking for something or a favor.
Example:
コーヒーをお願いします (koohii o onegaishimasu) — “Coffee, please.”
6. Thank you — ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu)
Literal breakdown: arigatou (thankful / rare) + gozaimasu (to exist, polite) → “It’s rare (to have) — thank you.”
Use ありがとう casually with friends.
7. You’re welcome — どういたしまして (dou itashimashite)
Literal breakdown: dou (how) + itasu (to do, humble) + mashite (in that way) → “It’s nothing / don’t mention it.”
8. Excuse me / Sorry — すみません (sumimasen)
Literal breakdown: sumi (to finish) + masen (not) → “It’s not finished (I can’t let it go)” → “Excuse me / Sorry.”
Used for apologies, to get attention, or to say thank you politely.
Example:
すみません、お水ください (sumimasen, omizu kudasai) — “Excuse me, please bring water.”
9. Yes — はい (hai)
Literal breakdown: affirmation interjection → “Yes / That’s right.”
Used to acknowledge or agree politely.
10. No — いいえ (iie)
Literal breakdown: older form meaning “not good,” now used as “no.”
Soft and polite in tone.
11. Let’s eat / Bon appétit — いただきます (itadakimasu)
Literal breakdown: itadaku (to humbly receive) + masu (polite ending) → “I humbly receive.”
Said before eating.
After eating:
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ごちそうさま (gochisousama) — “That was a feast.”
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ごちそうさまでした (gochisousama deshita) — “Thank you for the meal” (polite).
12. I don’t understand — 分かりません (wakarimasen)
Literal breakdown: wakaru (to understand) + masen (not) → “I don’t understand.”
13. I don’t speak Japanese — 日本語を話しません (nihongo o hanashimasen)
Literal breakdown: nihon (Japan) + go (language) + o (object marker) + hanasu (to speak) + masen (not) → “I don’t speak Japanese.”
14. Do you speak English? — 英語を話しますか？ (eigo o hanashimasu ka?)
Literal breakdown: eigo (English) + o (object marker) + hanasu (to speak) + masu (polite) + ka (question) → “Do you speak English?”
15. Can you repeat that, please? — もう一度言ってください (mou ichido itte kudasai)
Literal breakdown: mou (again) + ichido (one time) + itte (say, te-form) + kudasai (please) → “Please say it once more.”
16. Please speak slowly — ゆっくり話してください (yukkuri hanashite kudasai)
Literal breakdown: yukkuri (slowly) + hanashite (speak, te-form) + kudasai (please) → “Please speak slowly.”
17. What is your name? — お名前は何ですか？ (onamae wa nan desu ka?)
Literal breakdown: o (honorific) + namae (name) + wa (as for) + nan (what) + desu ka (is it?) → “As for your name, what is it?”
18. My name is… — 私の名前は… (watashi no namae wa…)
Literal breakdown: watashi (I) + no (of) + namae (name) + wa (as for) → “As for my name, (it is) …”
19. What is this? — これは何ですか？ (kore wa nan desu ka?)
Literal breakdown: kore (this) + wa (as for) + nan (what) + desu ka (is it?) → “As for this, what is it?”
Use それ (sore) for “that” and あれ (are) for “that over there.”
20. How much does this cost? — これはいくらですか？ (kore wa ikura desu ka?)
Literal breakdown: kore (this) + wa (as for) + ikura (how much) + desu ka (is it?) → “How much is this?”
21. Can you help me? — 助けてもらえますか？ (tasukete moraemasu ka?)
Literal breakdown: tasukeru (help) + te (connective) + moraemasu (can receive) + ka (question) → “Can I receive your help?” → “Can you help me?”
📘 Grammar & Usage Notes from My First Lesson with Aiko
These were some of the key patterns Aiko taught me that helped everything click:
How to Ask “How do you say ___ in Japanese?”
Japanese: 日本語で ___ は何て言いますか？ (Nihongo de ___ wa nante iimasu ka?)
Literal breakdown:
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Nihon = Japan
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go = language
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de = by means of / in
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___ = the thing you’re asking about
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wa = as for
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nante = how / what
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iimasu = to say
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ka = question marker
➡️ “In Japanese, ___ is said how?” → “How do you say ___ in Japanese?”
Example:
日本語で“computer”は何て言いますか？
(Nihongo de konpyuutaa wa nante iimasu ka?)
→ “How do you say ‘computer’ in Japanese?”
Question Patterns: 〜ますか and 〜ですか
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〜ますか (masu ka) → use with verbs.
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話しますか (hanashimasu ka?) → “Do you speak?”
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〜ですか (desu ka) → use with nouns or adjectives.
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元気ですか (genki desu ka?) → “Are you well?”
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Two Ways to Say “Please”
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ください (kudasai) → “please give/do” (direct request).
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お水ください (omizu kudasai) → “Water, please.”
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お願いします (onegaishimasu) → polite “please” for favors or services.
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メニューお願いします (menyuu onegaishimasu) → “Menu, please.”
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Honorific “O–” Prefix
The “お (o–)” prefix adds politeness and respect.
You’ll hear it all the time in Japan.
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お金 (okane) — money
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お母さん (okaasan) — mother
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お水 (omizu) — water
Cultural Note: 7-Eleven in Japan
Aiko mentioned that convenience stores like 7-Eleven are lifesavers for travelers — open 24/7, with ATMs, great food, and polite staff.
If you forget a phrase or get stuck, just smile and say:
すみません (sumimasen) — “Excuse me,”
and point to what you need.
It works every time.
