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Japanese Phrase Helper

日本語フレーズ集

🗣️ 50+ essential phrases for daily life in Japan!

Copy and show to staff when you need help

I have a fever

熱があります

Netsu ga arimasu

I have a fever

My stomach hurts

お腹が痛いです

Onaka ga itai desu

My stomach hurts

I have a headache

頭が痛いです

Atama ga itai desu

I have a headache

I need medicine

薬をください

Kusuri wo kudasai

Please give me medicine

Do you have English?

英語は話せますか?

Eigo wa hanasemasu ka?

Can you speak English?

I have allergy

アレルギーがあります

Arerugii ga arimasu

I have an allergy

Insurance card

保険証を持っています

Hokenshou wo motte imasu

I have my insurance card

Open account

口座を開設したいです

Kouza wo kaisetsu shitai desu

I want to open an account

Send money overseas

海外送金をしたいです

Kaigai soukin wo shitai desu

I want to send money overseas

Change address

住所変更をしたいです

Juusho henkou wo shitai desu

I want to change my address

Lost card

カードをなくしました

Kaado wo nakushimashita

I lost my card

Check balance

残高を確認したいです

Zandaka wo kakunin shitai desu

I want to check my balance

Register address

住民登録をしたいです

Juumin touroku wo shitai desu

I want to register my address

Moving out notice

転出届を出したいです

Tenshutsu todoke wo dashitai desu

I want to file moving out notice

Get residence certificate

住民票をください

Juuminhyou wo kudasai

I need a residence certificate

My Number card

マイナンバーカードを申請したいです

Mainanbaa kaado wo shinsei shitai desu

I want to apply for My Number card

Tax certificate

課税証明書をください

Kazei shoumeisho wo kudasai

I need a tax certificate

Take day off

休みをいただきたいです

Yasumi wo itadakitai desu

I would like to take a day off

I'm sick today

今日は体調が悪いです

Kyou wa taichou ga warui desu

I'm not feeling well today

Overtime pay

残業代について聞きたいです

Zangyoudai ni tsuite kikitai desu

I want to ask about overtime pay

I understand

分かりました

Wakarimashita

I understand

Please wait

少々お待ちください

Shoushou omachi kudasai

Please wait a moment

Sorry for trouble

お手数をおかけします

Otesuu wo okake shimasu

Sorry for the trouble

How much?

いくらですか?

Ikura desu ka?

How much is it?

Can I try?

試着してもいいですか?

Shichaku shitemo ii desu ka?

Can I try it on?

Discount please

少し安くできますか?

Sukoshi yasuku dekimasu ka?

Can you make it cheaper?

Cash or card

現金でお願いします

Genkin de onegai shimasu

Cash please

No bag needed

袋はいりません

Fukuro wa irimasen

I don't need a bag

Lower rent please

家賃を下げていただけますか?

Yachin wo sagete itadakemasu ka?

Could you lower the rent?

Something broken

○○が壊れています

○○ ga kowarete imasu

○○ is broken

AC not working

エアコンが動きません

Eakon ga ugokimasen

The AC isn't working

Extend contract

契約を更新したいです

Keiyaku wo koushin shitai desu

I want to renew my contract

Move out notice

退去届を出します

Taikyo todoke wo dashimasu

I'm giving move-out notice

Help!

助けてください!

Tasukete kudasai!

Help me please!

Call ambulance

救急車を呼んでください

Kyuukyuusha wo yonde kudasai

Please call an ambulance

Call police

警察を呼んでください

Keisatsu wo yonde kudasai

Please call the police

Fire!

火事です!

Kaji desu!

Fire!

I lost my wallet

財布をなくしました

Saifu wo nakushimashita

I lost my wallet

Table for 2

2人です

Futari desu

Two people

Menu please

メニューをください

Menyuu wo kudasai

Menu please

This one please

これをお願いします

Kore wo onegai shimasu

This one please

No meat

肉は食べられません

Niku wa taberaremasen

I can't eat meat

Bill please

お会計お願いします

Okaikei onegai shimasu

Check please

Is this halal?

これはハラールですか?

Kore wa haraaru desu ka?

Is this halal?

Where is station?

駅はどこですか?

Eki wa doko desu ka?

Where is the station?

One ticket please

切符を1枚ください

Kippu wo ichimai kudasai

One ticket please

Which platform?

何番線ですか?

Nanban-sen desu ka?

Which platform?

Last train when?

終電は何時ですか?

Shuuden wa nanji desu ka?

When is the last train?

💡 Yamada Hack: Communication Tips

  • Show your phone - Japanese people will read the text
  • Speak slowly - they may understand simple English
  • Use Google Translate - camera mode for signs
  • Learn numbers - essential for prices and times
  • Bow slightly - shows respect and helps communication

Frequently Asked Questions

At city hall you will frequently need phrases for address registration: 'Jyuuminhyou wo kudasai' (please give me a residence certificate), 'Tenkyo no tetsuzuki wo shitai' (I want to process my change of address), and 'Nihongo ga wakarimasen, eigo wa hanasemasu ka' (I don't understand Japanese, can you speak English?). Learning these daily life Japanese phrases before your visit will dramatically reduce confusion at administrative counters.
Key Japanese phrases for describing symptoms at a hospital include: 'Koko ga itai desu' (this area hurts), 'Netsu ga arimasu' (I have a fever), 'Hakike ga shimasu' (I feel nauseous), and 'Atama ga itai desu' (I have a headache). This Japanese phrases tool includes a point-and-speak symptom chart you can show the doctor directly without needing to speak, which is especially useful during emergencies.
When calling 119 for an ambulance in Japan, immediately say 'Kyukyusha wo onegaishimasu' (please send an ambulance) or 'Kaji desu' for a fire. Then give your exact address, describe what happened in simple terms, state the number of people involved, and stay on the line. The operator may speak limited English, so knowing these emergency Japanese phrases can save critical minutes.
Polite Japanese uses desu and masu verb endings, which are appropriate for strangers, shop staff, government offices, and most daily life situations for foreigners. Casual Japanese drops these endings and is only appropriate with close friends or younger people who invite informality. As a foreigner in Japan, defaulting to polite form (teineigo) in all daily life interactions is the safest approach and is always appreciated.
For personal calls, answer with 'Moshi moshi' which is the standard Japanese phone greeting. For business or semi-formal calls, say 'Hai, [your name] desu' to identify yourself. Other essential phone Japanese phrases include 'Mou ichido itte kudasai' (please say that again), 'Yukkuri hanashite kudasai' (please speak slowly), and 'Nihongo ga amari wakaranai no desu ga' (I don't understand Japanese very well).