Basic 10 Japanese phrases for beginners

• こんにちは (Konnichiwa) – Hello / Good afternoon
  Standard greeting for midday

• おはようございます (Ohayō gozaimasu) – Good morning
  Used before about 11 AM

• こんばんは (Konbanwa) – Good evening
  Used from late afternoon onward

• ありがとうございます (Arigatō gozaimasu) – Thank you (polite)
  A respectful way to express gratitude

• すみません (Sumimasen) – Excuse me / I’m sorry
  Useful for getting someone’s attention, apologizing, or saying thanks

• はい (Hai) – Yes / I understand
  Common affirmative or acknowledgment response

• いいえ (Iie) – No
  Standard negative response

• わかりません (Wakarimasen) – I don’t understand
  Essential phrase for when something isn’t clear

• ～をください (… o kudasai) – “___, please.”
  Handy when ordering or requesting something (e.g., kōhī o kudasai – Coffee, please)

• ～はどこですか？ (… wa doko desu ka?) – “Where is ___?”
  Great for asking directions (e.g., toire wa doko desu ka? – Where is the restroom?)

★Tips

🗣️ 1. Master the basics—start with kana

Learn hiragana and katakana first. These form the foundation of pronunciation and reading. Once you can read all kana accurately, you'll better understand how words sound and improve your accent

🎧 2. Drill pronunciation early

Practice speaking aloud right away. Go through pronunciation guides, focusing on sounds not present in English. Early effort here builds a more native-like accent

💬 3. Talk to yourself—and sing!

Don’t wait for a conversation partner—talk out loud, describe your day, or sing karaoke in Japanese. These self-practice methods boost fluency and confidence

📺 4. Use media actively

Watch Japanese shows, anime, or YouTube with subtitles. Tools like Migaku let you turn lines into flashcards and see vocab instantly—great for contextual learning