Japanese for Fun. Taeko Kamiya
hai
はい
no
iie
いいえ
Japanese (language)
Nihon-go
日本語（にほんご）
Excuse me.
Sumimasen.
すみません｡
(honorific added to another person’s name; not used with your own name)
-san
さん
English
ei-go
英語（えいご）
EXAMPLES
How are you?
O-genki dess ka?
お元気（げんき）ですか？
(I’m) fine.
Hai, genki dess.
はい、元気（げんき）です｡
How do you do?
Hajimemashite.
はじめまして｡
(used only when you are introduced to someone)
Glad to meet you.
Dōzo yoroshiku.
どうぞ、よろしく｡
(You can use this in reply as well, or see the next phrase for another version).
Glad to meet you, too.
Kochira koso (yoroshiku).
こちらこそ（よろしく）｡
What’s your name?
O-namae wa?
お名前（なまえ）は？
What’s your occupation?
O-shigoto wa?
お仕事（しごと）は？
Do you understand English?
Ei-go ga wakarimahss ka?
英語（えいご）がわかりますか?
I understand.
Wakarimahss.
わかります｡
I don’t understand.
Wakarimasen.
わかりません｡
I don’t understand Japanese.
Nihon-go wa wakarimasen.
日本語（にほんご）はわかりません｡
I’m poor at...
heta dess
へたです
I’m poor at Japanese./My Japanese is poor.
Nihon-go ga heta dess.
日本語（にほんご）がへたです｡
Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss Honda
Honda-san
本田（ほんだ）さん
HOW TO BOW
Bowing properly takes practice, and many companies, especially hotels and department stores, spend considerable time training new employees to do it correctly. The secret to good bowing? Keep your back straight and bend from the hip. Your feet should be placed together and your hands at your sides or clasped in front. Bow deliberately, without rushing. If you don’t know what to say as you bow, say Dōmo, a phrase that’s appropriate for most occasions. One exception is when you’re paying respects to the deceased, where you should just keep silent.
EXPRESSIONS IN CONTEXT
A: Good afternoon, Mr. Honda.
Honda-san, konnichiwa.
本田（ほんだ）さん、こんにちは｡
B: Good afternoon, Mrs. Smith.
Sumisu-san, konnichiwa.
スミスさん、こんにちは｡
A: How do you do? I’m Smith. I’m glad to meet you.
Hajimemashite. Sumisu dess. Dōzo yoroshiku.
はじめまして｡ スミスです｡ どうぞよろしく｡
B: How do you do? I’m Honda. I’m pleased to meet you.
Hajimemashite. Honda dess. Dōzo yoroshiku.
はじめまして｡ 本田（ほんだ）です｡ どうぞよろしく｡
A: How are you?
O-genki dess ka?
お元気（げんき）ですか？
B: Yes, (I’m) fine.
Hai, genki dess.
はい、元気（げんき）です｡
A: Thank you.
Dōmo arigatō.
どうもありがとう｡
B: You’re welcome.
Dō-itashimashite.
どういたしまして｡
A: Do you understand?
Wakarimahss ka?
わかりますか？
B: Yes, I understand.
Hai, wakarimahss.
はい、わかります｡
OTHER EXPRESSIONS
No, I don’t understand.
Iie, wakarimasen.
いいえ、わかりません｡
Please say it once more.
Mō ichido itte kudasai.
もう一度（いちど）、言（い）ってください｡
Please speak in English.
Ei-go de hanashite kudasai.
英語（えいご）で話（は な）してください｡
Please speak slowly.
Yukkuri hanashite kudasai.
ゆっくり話（は な）してください｡