Common Japanese Conversation Phrases and How to Use Them

Common Japanese conversation phrases and how to use them
In this post we look at the commonest conversational phrases in Japanese and how they are used.

Lesson 1: Konnichiwa – Konbanwa
こんにちは – konnichiwa : Hello, or good afternoon
こんばんは – konbanwa : Good evening

How to use them:
– When you meet a stranger.
– To greet someone you barely know.
– When you telephone in the evening.
– As a greeting when you go into a shop or into someone's house and see no one there
– As a greeting to an audience at a meeting.

Avoid using them in these cases:
– With family and older relatives.
– With people you see every day, such as friends and colleagues ….
– Note: – Greet each person only once a day.

Example: A and B do not know each other well.
A: こんにちは (Hello)
B: こんにちは (Hello)
A: こんばんは ( Good evening)
B: こんばんは ( Good evening)

– In a shop:
A: こんにちは (Hello)
Shop assistant: はーい (Hai – Yes)
B:こんばんは ( Good evening)
Shop assistant: いらっしゃいませ (irasshai mase)
Welcome

A look at Japanese communication culture
When Japanese people meet, they usually bow or nod rather than shake hands. How deeply they bow or nod depends on the age and standing of the person in front of them.
In conversation Japanese people nod often to show they are listening closely. Nodding here does not mean they agree, so it is best to check rather than risk a misunderstanding.
With people you must show respect to, you cannot use ” こんにちは – konnichiwa ” or “こんばんは – konbanwa”. If you cannot find a suitable greeting, nod or bow, or use some other polite phrase.

Lesson 2 : Ohayoo Gozai masu.( おはよう ございます )
おはよう – Ohayoo (good morning) used between people on close terms.
おっす – Ossu (good morning) used between people on very close terms; used by boys.

Use it when:
– Meeting for the first time that day, within the family or with someone you see regularly.
– With anyone you must show respect to, or with older people, you must use the full phrase “Ohayoo Gozai masu. おはよう ございます ”
– With someone younger, of the same standing, or lower in rank, you can use the short form ”
おはよう – Ohayoo ”

Note:
– Do not use it with people you do not know well.
– Greet each person only once a day.

Example: A and B are friends of the same age.
A: おはよう ございます. (good morning)
B おはよう. (good morning)

Lesson 3: Sayoonara
1. さようなら。Sayoonara (goodbye)
2. では、 また。 Dewa mata (see you again)
3. 失礼します (しつれいします) Shitsurei shimasu (I'll be going now)
4. お休みなさい (おやすみなさい）Oyasumi nasai (Good night)

Used when:
– When you part and will not see each other for some time, use “さようなら。Sayoonara”, or the shorter “さよなら。Sayonara”
– When you are about to part and may meet again, use “では、 また。 Dewa mata ” or the shorter “じゃ、 また。 ya (zya or jya), mata” ; “じゃね yane”
– When you stand up to take leave of your host, use ” 失礼します (しつれいします) Shitsurei shimasu ”
– When you hang up the telephone, “失礼します (しつれいします) Shitsurei shimasu”
– When parting from someone you know in the evening, use ” お休みなさい (おやすみなさい）Oyasumi nasai ” or the shorter “おやすみ oyasumi”, good night

Note:
Apart from “失礼します (しつれいします) Shitsurei shimasu”, most farewells are answered by repeating what the other person said, though you must watch how formal you are

Example:
1. A and B are the same age. A is going home and takes leave of B
A : さようなら。Sayoonara (goodbye)
B: さよなら。Sayonara (goodbye)

2. A and B go out together and part on the way
A: では、 また。 Dewa mata (Right, see you later)
B: じゃ、 また。 ya, mata (See you later)

3. At B's house, A stands up to take leave and go home
A: では (dewa), 失礼します (しつれいします) Shitsurei shimasu
I'll be off now
B: また、来てください( また、きてください ) mata, kitekudasai
Do come again

4. Ending a phone call.
A: では (dewa), 失礼します (しつれいします) Shitsurei shimasu
Right, I'll let you go
B: ごめんんください。 gomen kudasai . Bye

5. Parting in the evening
A: お休みなさい (おやすみなさい）Oyasumi nasai (Good night)
B: おやすみ. oyasumi good night

6. At B's front door, A says goodbye to B
A: じゃ、 おじゃま しました。Ja, ojama shimashita.
Sorry to have troubled you.

Lesson 4: Sumimasen.
すみません。Sumimasen : sorry, excuse me, thank you

Use it when:
– When you want someone's help, such as asking the way, buying something ….
– When someone helps you, such as picking something up for you, showing you the way, giving up a seat …..

Note:
– When you want someone's help, you call out “すみません。Sumimasen” . If the person is some way off you must say “すみません。Sumimasen” loudly to catch their attention. Said face to face, “すみません。Sumimasen” sounds natural; otherwise use “すみませんが。sumimasen ga” in a gentle tone, which sounds friendly and approachable to the listener.
– If someone calls you with “すみません。Sumimasen” or “すみませんが。sumimasen ga”, the simple answer is はーい (Hai – Yes).

Example:
1. In a shop
A: すみません。Sumimasen : Excuse me
Shop assistant: はーい (Hai) , 何にしましょうか .(nani ni shimashoo ka)
Yes, what can I get you?

2. In a shop
Shop assistant: すみません . これ は お客 (きゃく) さん の もの でしょ うか。
Sumimasen. Kore wa okyaku san no mono deshoo ka?
Excuse me. Did you drop this?
B: ああ。 どうも すみません。
aa. Yes, thank you very much.

A look at communication culture in Japan
– すみません。Sumimasen also means “how embarrassing”, expressing modesty and gratitude. Broadly, if you have put someone out you must use “すみません。Sumimasen”. And it is a phrase Japanese people say all the time. It is a social phrase that makes communication friendly.

Lesson 5: ありがとう ございます。Arigatooo gozaimasu

Use it when:
– When you need help with something and someone helps you, use “ありがとう ございます。Arigatooo gozaimasu”, thank you very much. “すみません。Sumimasen” is used to thank someone for help you did not expect
– When someone offers you something or pays you a compliment.

Example:
1.
A: じゃ、 コーヒーをどうぞ.
Ja, koohii o doozo. Do have some coffee.
B: ありがとう ございます。
Arigatooo gozaimasu – thank you.

2.
A: じゃ、くるま で おくり ましょう。
Ja, kuruma de okuri mashoo. Then let me drive you.
B: ありがとう ございます。
Arigatooo gozaimasu – thank you.

3.
A: B さん, 日(に) 本(ほん) 語(ご)が お 上手(じょうず) ですね。
B san, nihongo ga ojoozu desune – B, your Japanese really is good.
B: ありがとう ございます。
Arigatooo gozaimasu – thank you.

Lesson 6: Arigatoo gozaimashita
ありがとう ございました。 Arigatoo gozaimashita : Thank you

Use it when:
– When someone has spent some time doing something for you, use this phrase to thank them directly – for instance when someone comes to meet you at the airport, or after you have given a speech ..etc… to thank the audience; it is the phrase to use after a speech

Example:
1. At the airport
A: ようこそ いらっしゃい ました。
Yooko iashai mashita. Welcome.
B: ありがとう ございました。
Arigatoo gozaimashita : Thank you.

2. After giving a speech
ご清聴(ごせいちょう), どうも ありがとう ございました。
Goseichoo, doomo arigatoo gozaimashita
Thank you all for listening.

3.
A: 昨日(きのう), どうも ありがとう ございました。
Kinoo, doomo arigatoo gozaimashita
Thank you so much for yesterday.
B: いいえ。iie. Not at all

A look at Japanese communication culture
– Under the influence of Western culture, Japanese people now tend not to brush off a compliment but to accept it with pleasure. Younger people use this phrase a great deal.

Lesson 7: Itadakimasu.
いただきます。Itadakimasu Thank you for the meal

Use it when:
– At the start of a meal.

Example:
1. At a restaurant
A: じゃ, どうぞ。
Ja, doozo. Please, help yourself.
B: はい, いただきます。
Hai, Itadakimasu Thank you, I won't stand on ceremony then.

2. At A's house
A の母: B さん, ごはん です よ。
A's mother: come and eat..
B: はーい、ああ。おいし そう。 いただきます。
Yes, it looks delicious. I'll tuck in then.

A look at Japanese communication culture
– ” いただきます。Itadakimasu ” is usually rendered as “I'm going to eat” or “I won't stand on ceremony”; the original sense of ” いただきます。Itadakimasu ” is “to receive”, so the phrase thanks not only the person who has provided the meal but also expresses gratitude for the food itself.

See also:
Learning 100 Common Japanese Kaiwa Lessons
200 Common Japanese Conversation Phrases