Japanese

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 17: Congratulations in Japanese 1. Congratulations! : おめでとうございます! Omedetoo gozaimasu! (Formal) 2. Congratulations! : おめでとう! Omedetoo! (Informal) 3. Happy birthday! : (お) たんじょうび、おめでとうございます! (O) tanjoobi omedetoo gozaimasu! (Formal) 4. Happy birthday! : (お) たんじょうび、おめでとう! (O) tanjoobi omedetoo! (Informal) 5. Congratulations on your engagement!: (ご) …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 16: Ways to Disagree in Japanese 1. That’s a little… : それはちょっと･･･。Sore wa chotto… (Formal and Informal) #1 is an incomplete sentence. Japanese people often choose not to complete sentences when they need to voice something negative. 2. I’m sorry but (it’s) a little… …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 15: Ways to Agree in Japanese 1. That’s right / It is so : そうですね。Soo desu ne. (Formal) 2. That’s right / It is so : そうだね。 Soo da ne. (Informal) 3. Sounds good : いいですね。li desu ne. (Formal) 4. Sounds good : いいね。 …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 14: Giving Compliments in Japanese 1. (Looks) nice: いいですね。li desu ne. (Formal) 2. (Looks) nice: いいね。 li ne. (Informal) 3. (Looks) really nice: すごくいいですね。Sugoku ii desu ne. (Formal) 4. (Looks) really nice: すごくいいね。Sugoku ii ne. (Informal) 5. (Looks) lovely: すてきですね。Suteki desu ne. (Formal) 6. …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 13: Ways to Say “I don’t know” in Japanese 1. I don’t know/I don’t understand (or comprehend): わかりません。Wakarimasen. (Formal) 2. I don’t know/ I don’t have the information (or knowledge) : しりません。Shirimasen. (Formal) … Depending on the situation, this can make you sound cold …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 12: Catching Someone’s Attention in Japanese 1. Excuse me : すみません。Sumimasen. (Formal) … Often pronounced すいません Suimasen. 2. Excuse me for a moment : ちょっとすみません。Chotto sumimasen. (Formal) 3. Um…/Say, …/ Excuse me… : あのう or あの Anoo or Ano (Formal and Informal) 4. Sorry …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 11: Ways to Show Interest in Japanese 1. I see. (Is that so) : そうですか。Soo desu ka. (Formal) 2. Oh, I see : ああ、そうですか。Ah, soo desu ka. (Formal) 3. I see : そう。Soo. (Informal) 4. I see : そうなんだ。Soo nan da. (Informal)… This one …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 10: Phrases for Self-Introduction in Japanese 1. Hello : はじめまして Hajimemashite (Formal & Informal) You can use #1 only when you meet, speak, or write to someone for the very first time. 2. I am [name]: [name] ともうします [name] to mooshimasu (Formal) 3. I …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 9: Responding to an Apology in Japanese 1. No (don’t mention it) : いいえ lie (Formal) 2. No (don’t mention it) : いえいえ le ie (Formal) 3. No (don’t mention it) : ううん Uun (Informal) 4. OK : オッケー Okkee (Informal) 5. That’s alright …

Essential Japanese Phrases for Beginners Part 8: Apologies in Japanese 1. I’m terribly sorry: まことにもうしわけございません Makotoni mooshiwake gozaimasen (Very Formal) 2. I’m truly sorry: ほんとうにもうしわけありません Hontooni mooshiwake arimasen (Very Formal) 3. I’m truly sorry: ほんとうにすいません Hontooni suimasen (Formal) 4. I’m truly sorry (for what I have done) : ほんとうにすいませんでした Hontooni …