whatevs

Original comic by litmusfox

Dear you by Rika-tyan

Learning to speak Japanese fluently before heading to Japan is almost impossible for a casual learner, but it’s still a good idea to have some useful phrases to get around. Even better, have a language guide book on hand so you can point to the phrase you’re trying to speak! Here are some of the phrases I found most useful on my trips:

こんにちは - Konnichiwa - Hello

ありがとう - Arigatou - Thank You)

すみません - Sumimasen - Excuse Me/I’m Sorry

お願いします - Onegaishimasu - Please

ください - Kudasai - Please (informal)

はい - Hai - Yes

いいえ - Iie - 
 No (rarely used)

ごめんなさい - Gomennasai - I am sorry

英語はわかりますか - Eigo wa wakarimasu ka? - Do you understand English?

わかりません - Wakarimasen - I do not understand

もうちょっとゆっくり行ってください - Mou chotto yukkuri itte kudasai - Please speak more slowly

これ - Kore
 - This (you can point at something and say “kore” to ask for it)

これをください - Kore o kudasai - This, please

いくらですか - Ikura desu ka? - How much is it?

お名前は何ですか - Onamae wa nan desu ka? - What is your name?

私の名前は_です Watashi no namae wa __ desu - My name is __

どうぞよろしく - Dozo yoroshiku - Pleased to meet you

お元気ですか - Ogenki desu ka? - How are you?

元気です - Genki desu - I’m fine

おはようございます - Ohayou gozaimasu - Good morning

こんばんは - Konbanwa - Good Evening

お休みなさい - Oyasumi nasai - Good Night

何 - Nani? - What?

いつ - Itsu? - When?

誰 - Dare? - Who?

どこ - Doko? - Where?

トイレはどこですか - Toire wa doko desu ka? - Where is the toilet?

駅はどこですか - Eki wa doko desu ka? - Where is the train station?

Hopefully you won’t need the following phrases, but it’s good to know them as well:

医者が必要です - Isha ga hitsuyo desu - I need a doctor

ここが痛いです - Koko ga itai desu - It hurts here

助けて - Tasukete! - Help!

警察を呼んでください - Keisatsu o yonde kudasai! - Call the police!

Just about the coolest shit out there