Japanese language - conversation guide

Small guide for conversation in Japanese language

Here you can find pronunciations for Japanese words and phrases: numbers, colors, pronouns, size, time, calendar, salutation, useful expressions, travel, at the hotel, in town, at the restaurant, at shopping.

Exemples for pronunciations:
ah - sounds as in hah
ai - sounds as in aikido
ee - sounds as in sleep
eh - sounds as in heh
ei - sounds as in say
i - sounds as in living
mi - sounds as in demigod
ni - sounds as in enigma
oh - sounds as in oh
oi - sounds as in toy
oo - sounds as in good
shi - sounds as in ship
u - sounds as in cushion



Numbers

one = ee-chi
two = nee
three = sahn
four = shee
five = goh
six = roh-ku
seven = shi-chi
eight = hah-chi
nine = koo
ten = joo
eleven = joo-ee-chi
twelve = joo-nee
thirteen = joo-sahn
fourteen = joo-shee
fifteen = joo-goh
twenty = ni-joo
thirty = sahn-joo
forty = yohn-joo
fifty = goh-joo
sixty = roh-ku-joo
seventy = nah-nah-joo
eighty = hah-chi-joo
ninety = kyoo-joo
100 = hyah-ku
200 = ni-hyah-ku
1000 = sen
10000 = ee-chi-mahn



Colors

white = shi-roh
black = ku-roh
red = ah-kah
blue = ah-oh
green = mi-doh-ri
yellow = ki-ee-roh
pink = pin-ku
purple = mu-rah-sah-ki
gray = gu-rei
brown = chah-ee-roh



Pronouns

I = wah-tah-ku-shi
you = ah-nah-tah
he = kah-reh
she = kah-noh-joh
they = kah-reh-rah
we = wah-tah-ku-shi-tah-chi
my, mine = wah-tah-ku-shi-noh
your = ak-nah-tah-noh
his = kah-reh-noh
this = koh-reh
that = ah-reh
that person = ah-noh-hi-toh



Size

big = oh-kee
small = chee-sai
half = hahn-boon
plenty = tah-ku-sanh
a little = su-koh-shi
a little small = su-koh-shi chee-sai
a little large = su-koh-shi oh-kee



Time

hour = kahn
watch = toh-kei
What time is it? = nahn-ji des-kah?
one o’clock = ee-chi-ji
half past one = ee-chi-ji-hahn
3:15 = sahn-ji joo-goh-foon
one hour = ee-chi-ji-kahn
five minutes = goh-foon
ten minutes = jip-poon
fifteen minutes = joo-goh-foon
twenty minutes = ni-jip-poon
thirty minutes = sahn-jip-poon
forty minutes = yohn-jip-poon
fifty minutes = goh-jip-poon



Calendar

last week = sen-shoo
next week = rai-shoo
last month = sen-geh-tsu
next month = rai-geh-tsu
this year = koh-toh-shi
last year = kyoh-nen
next year = rai-nen
today = kyoh
this morning = keh-sah
now = ee-mah
not now = ee-mah deh-nai
this afternoon = kyoh-noh-goh-goh
tonight = kohn-bahn (or: kohn-yah)
tomorrow = ah-su (or: ah-shi-tah)
until tomorrow = ah-su-mah-den
daytime = hiru-mah
nighttime = yoh-ru
yesterday = ki-noh (or: sah-ku-ji-tsu)
last night = sah-ku-yah (or: ki-noh-noh-yoh-ru)
day before yesterday = oh-toh-toi



Week's days

Sunday = ni-chi-yoh
Monday = geh-tsu-yoh
Tuesday = kah-yoh
Wednesday = sui-yoh
Thursday = moku-yoh
Friday = kin-yoh
Saturday = doh-yoh



Year's months

January = ee-chi-gah-tsu
February = ni-gah-tsu
March = sahn-gah-tsu
April = shee-gah-tsu
May = goh-gah-tsu
June = roh-ku-gah-tsu
July = shi-chi-gah-tsu
August = hah-chi-gah-tsu
September = koo-gah-tsu
October = joo-gah-tsu
November = joo-ee-chi-gah-tsu
December = joo-ni-gah-tsu



Seasons

spring = hah-ru
summer = nah-tsu
autumn = ah-ki
winter = fu-yu



Salutation

hello = moh-shi-moh-shi
good morning = oh-hah-yoh go-zai-mah-su
good day, good afternoon = kohn-ni-chi-wah
good evening = kohn-bahn-wah
good night, sleep well = oh-yah-su-mi nah-sai
good bye = sah-yoh nah-rah



Useful expressions

yes = hai
no = ee-yeh
please = doh-zoh
Hurry! = ha-yah-ku! ee-soi-deh!
Please hurry! = ee-soi-deh ku-dah-sai
fine, great = kek-koh deh-su
quickly = hah-yah-ku
right away = ee-mah su-gu
slowly = yook-ku-ri
not yet = mah-dah deh-su
Please wait a while. = shi-bah-rah-ku maht-teh ku-dah-sai.
Do you speak English? = ei-goh woh han-nah-shi mah-su-kah?
Do you understand English? = ei-goh-gah wah-kah-ri mah-su-kah?
I speak Japanese a little. = ni-hohn-goh-woh su-koh-shi han-nah-shi mah-su.
I do not understand it. = wah-kah-ri mah-sen.
I understand it. = wah-kah-ri mah-su.
How are you? = ee-kah-gah des-kah?
I'm fine, thank you. = ah-ri-gah-toh gen-ki-deh-su.
You look well. = gen-ki rah-shee des-neh.
I do not feel well. = ki-boon gah wah-rui deh-su.
I'm glad to meet you. = doh-zoh yoh-roh-shi-ku.
My name is John. = wah-tah-ku-shi-noh nah-mah-eh-wah John deh-su.
Please pardon me. = goh-men ku-dah-sai. (or: shi-tsu-rei shi-mah-shi-tah)
Thank you. = ah-ri-gah-toh goh-zai-mah-su.
You're welcome. = doh-ee-tah-shi mah-shi-teh.
Come again. = mah-tah ee-rahs-shai
What is this? = koh-reh-wah nahn-des-kah?
What is that? = ah-reh-wah nahn-des-kah?
Who is that person? = ah-noh-hi-toh-wah dah-reh des-kah?
Who is there? = doh-nah-ta des-kah?
Is that so? = soh-des-kah?
Yes, it is so. = hai, soh-deh-su.
It is all right. = yoh-ro-shee deh-su.
It is difficult. = mu-zu-kah-shii deh-su.
Do you have a match? = mahc-chi-gah ah-ri-mah-su-kah?
I have none. = ah-ri-mah-sen.
Yes, I have. = hai, ah-ri-mah-su.
Where are you going? = doh-koh-ni yu-ki-mah-su-kah?
Please come here. = koh-chi-rah-ni-ki-teh ku-dah-sai.
This is good. = koh-reh-wah yoi deh-su.
This is very good. = koh-reh-wah toh-teh-moh yoi deh-su.
This is the best. = koh-reh-wah ee-chi-bahn yoi deh-su.
You've been very helpful. = goh-ku-roh sah-mah.
You have been very kind to me. = ee-roh oh-seh-wah-ni nah-ri mah-shi-tah.



Travel

address = joo-shoh
airplane = hi-koh-ki
airport = hi-koh-joh (or: koo-koh)
baggage = ni-moh-tsu
my baggage = wah-tah-ku-shi-noh ni-moh-tsu
bus = bah-su
Call a taxi. = tak-ku-shee-woh yohn-deh ku-dah-sai.
envelope = foo-toh
map = chi-zu
name = nah-mah-eh
passport = ryoh-ken
porter = ah-kah-boh
post-office = yoo-bin-kyoh-ku
ticket = kip-pu
return ticket = oh-fu-ku kip-pu
subway = chi-kah-teh-tsu
train = ki-shah (or: den-shah)
train station = eh-ki



At the hotel

bath = bah-su (or: fu-roh)
comb = ku-shi
hat = boh-shi
western hotel = hoh-teh-ru
Japanese hotel = ryoh-kahn
key = kah-gi
maid = joh-choo-sahn
razor blades = ahn-zen kah-mi-soh-ri-noh hah
reservations = yoh-yah-ku
room = heh-yah
soap = sek-ken
toilet = toi-reh (or: ben-joh)
tooth-brush = hah-bu-rah-shi
tooth-paste = hah-mi-gah-ki
towel = tah-oh-ru



In town

I want to go... = ... ni yu-ki-tai deh-su.
I am going... = ... ni yu-ki mah-su.
Don't you want to go to...? = ... ni yu-ki mah-sen-kah?
I want to see the... = ... woh mi-tai deh-su.
Where? = doh-koh?
Where is the...? = wah doh-koh des-kah?
Please take me to the... = ... ni tsu-reh-teh it-teh ku-dah-sai.
right = mi-gi
left = hi-dah-ri
far = toh-ee
Is it far? = toh-ee des-kah?
It is far. = toh-ee deh-su.
near = chi-kai
Is it near? = chi-kai des-kah?
It is near. = chi-kai deh-su.
church = kyoh-kai
concert = kohn-sah-toh
dancing = dahn-su
drug store = yahk-kyoh-ku
doctor = ee-shah
geisha girl = gei-shah
hospital = byoh-in
sumo = su-moh
movies = ei-gah
museum = hah-ku-bu-tsu-kahn
park = koh-en
police-station = kei-sah-tsu-shoh
river = kah-wah
road = mee-chi
seacoast = kai-gahn
beautiful scenery = ki-rei-nah keh-shi-ki
sightseeing = ken-bu-tsu
temple = oh-teh-rah
theater = geh-ki-joh
town = mah-chi
a night club = nai-toh ku-rah-bu
cabaret = kyah-bah-rei



At the restaurant

breakfast = choh-shoh-ku
dining-room = shoh-ku-doh
food = tah-beh-moh-noh
Japanese food = nip-pohn-ryoh-ri
Western food = sei-yoh-ryoh-ri
menu = meh-nyoo
lunch = choo-shoh-ku
restaurant = resu-toh-rahn
Japanese restaurant = ryoh-ri-yah
supper = yoo-shoh-ku
Please give me water. = mi-zu-woh ku-dah-sai.
I am hungry. = oh-nah-kah-gah sui-teh ee-mah-su.
I am not hungry. = oh-nah-kah-gah sui-teh ee-mah-sen.
Please have some. = doh-zoh.
This is delicious. = koh-reh-wah oi-shee deh-su.
What is this? = koh-reh-wah nahn-des-kah?
I want some more. = moh-su-koh-shi ee-tah-dah-ki mah-su.
I have had enough. = moh tah-ku-sahn deh-su.



At shopping

antiques = koht-toh-hin
brocade = ni-shi-ki oh-ri
bamboo ware = tah-keh zai-ku
camera shop = kah-meh-rah ten
cosmetics = keh-shoh-hin
cigarettes = tah-bah-ko
ceramics = seh-toh moh-noh (or: toh-ki)
dolls = nin-gyoh
embroidery = shi-shoo
folk art = min-gei-hin
footware = hah-ki-moh-noh
fur = ke-gah-wah
handicraft = shu-gei-hin
jewelry = hoh-se-ki
lighter = rai-tah
pearls = shin-ju
plates = sah-rah
shopping = kai-moh-noh
silk clothes = ki-nu oh-ri-moh-noh
scrolls = kah-keh-moh-noh
souvenirs = oh-mi-yah-geh
toys = oh-moh-chah
Please show me some... = ... woh mi-seh-teh ku-dah-sai.
Please give me... = ... woh ku-dah-sai.
I'll take this. = koh-reh-woh ee-tah-dah-ki mah-su.
I'll take it. = ee-tah-dah-ki mah-su.
How much is it? = ee-ku-rah des-kah?
I will come back for it. = toh-ri-ni ki-mah-su.

The myth of Dracula Vampire

Vlad Tepes - Dracula was one of the very good rulers of Valachia between 1456 - 1462 (today Romania from Europe).

He was called Tepes (the puller in spear) because of the cruelty of his punishments for criminals, traitors and enemies. He used to throw the enemies from a high wall over spears thrusted in the ground.

The nickname of Vlad Tepes was Dracula and it comes from his father Vlad Dracul.

The Irish writer Bram Stocker used his name for a vampire character. The action of the novel was in Transylvania (today in Romania) but Vlad Tepes was never there.

Bran Castle from Brasov county, Romania, was considered the castle of Dracula, but it was only a fabulation.