KaiwaGoEveryday Conversation in Japanese
45 Japanese phrases for everyday conversation, for example 見て (Look).
Everyday conversation covers the small sentences of daily life: talking about the weather, asking where something is, how someone is, inviting a friend or saying what you are doing. These are the phrases you will hear most often around you in Japan.
Hands-free listening
Play every phrase in order with its English meaning between the repeats. Keep the page open and listen while you do something else.
| Japanese | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| どうしましたか？ doushimashitaka? | What's wrong? | |
| どう致しまして | You're welcome (reply to thanks) | |
| どうぞ douzo | Please, go ahead | |
| そうしましょう soushimashou | Let's do that | |
| いくらですか ikuradesuka | How much is it? | |
| どのくらいかかりますか donokuraikakarimasuka | How long does it take? | |
| いくつありますか ikutsuarimasuka | How many are there? | |
| 道に迷ってしまった | I've gotten lost | |
| どなたに聞けばいいでしょうか | Who should I ask? | |
| お先にどうぞ | After you, please | |
| どなたですか donatadesuka | Who is it? | |
| なぜですか nazedesuka | Why? | |
| 何ですか | What is it? | |
| 何時ですか | What time is it? | |
| 待って | Wait a moment | |
| 見て | Look! | |
| 助けて | Help me! | |
| お疲れ様です | Thank you for your hard work | |
| お先に失礼します | Excuse me for leaving before you | |
| お大事に | Get well soon | |
| 正しいです | That's right! | |
| 違います | That's wrong! | |
| 私は、そう思いません | I don't think so | |
| しかたがない shikataganai | There's no other way | |
| 信じられない | Unbelievable! | |
| 大丈夫です | I'm fine | |
| 落ち着けよ | Calm down! | |
| びっくりした bikkurishita | What a surprise! | |
| 残念です | What a pity! | |
| 冗談でしょう | You must be joking! | |
| 行ってきます | I'm off now | |
| いっていらっしゃい itteirasshai | Have a good day (see you later) | |
| ただいま tadaima | I'm home | |
| お帰りなさい | Welcome home | |
| すみません、もういちどおねがいします sumimasen,mouichidoonegaishimasu | Excuse me, could you say that again? | |
| いいてんきですね iitenkidesune | Nice weather, isn't it? | |
| ごめんください gomenkudasai | Is anyone home? | |
| どうぞおあがりください douzooagarikudasai | Please come in! | |
| いらっしゃい irasshai | Welcome, I'm so glad you came! | |
| おじゃまします ojamashimasu | Excuse me (for intruding) | |
| きれいですね kireidesune | How beautiful! | |
| 近くにバス停がありますか | Is there a bus station nearby? | |
| どうすればいいですか dousurebaiidesuka | What should I do? | |
| いただきます itadakimasu | Let's eat (said before a meal) | |
| ごちそうさまでした gochisousamadeshita | Thank you for the meal (said after eating) |
Usage notes
- Japanese often drops “I” and “you” when it is clear from context.
- Ending a sentence with ね invites agreement: いい天気ですね (nice weather, isn’t it?).
- Use です/ます forms with people you do not know well.
FAQ
How do you say “how are you” in Japanese?
お元気ですか (o-genki desu ka) is used when you have not seen someone for a while; the usual answer is 元気です (I’m fine). Japanese people do not ask it every day like English speakers do.
What should I learn first for daily conversation?
Greetings, thanks and apologies first, then short questions such as どこですか (where is it?), いくらですか (how much?) and 何ですか (what is it?).