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🇯🇵Essential Japanese phrases for beginners

If you're starting Japanese from zero, these are the phrases to learn first. They cover the moments you'll hit on day one — saying hello, being polite, asking for help, ordering food and finding your way. Each one is native-checked, with romanization to help you say it, and a tap through to usage and related phrases.

How to use this list: don't try to memorize all of them at once. Learn the greetings and the courtesy phrases first — they're the ones you'll use every single day — then add a few situational ones (directions, food, emergencies) before a trip. Say each out loud; reading silently won't build the muscle. When you're ready, practice them with a real Japanese speaker.
  1. 1
    社長はどこですか。

    Where's the president?
  2. 2
    お腹が空いています。

    I'm hungry.
  3. 3
    今夜はどこで食事をしようか。

    Where shall we eat tonight?
  4. 4
    警察はどこですか。

    Where is the police station?
  5. 5
    今夜は何を食べようか。

    What shall we eat tonight?
  6. 6
    今日はお腹が空いていますね。 Kinou wa otabi ga ukete imasu ne.

    I'm hungry today.
  7. 7
    昼食はどこで食べるんですか。

    Where are you going to eat lunch?
  8. 8
    彼の車は大変カッコイイ。

    His car is really cool.
  9. 9
    私は明日カナダに出発します。

    I'm leaving for Canada tomorrow.
  10. 10
    食事はまだですか？

    Have you eaten yet?
  11. 11
    昼食を食べよう。

    Let's have lunch.
  12. 12
    眠れません。

    I can't sleep.
  13. 13
    お酒を飲まないでください。

    Don't drink alcohol.
  14. 14
    頭が痛いです。

    My head hurts.
  15. 15
    体調が悪いです。 Taijiutachi darai desu.

    I feel unwell.
  16. 16
    歯が痛い。

    I've got a toothache.
  17. 17
    貴方は、医者です。

    You are a doctor.
  18. 18
    左へ曲がりなさい。

    Turn to the left.
  19. 19
    私はミルクを飲んでいた。

    I was drinking milk.
  20. 20
    車が壊れていた。

    The car broke down.
  21. 21
    喉が渇いています。

    My throat is dry.
  22. 22
    体が重いです。

    My body feels heavy.
  23. 23
    今日は運動不足ですね。 Kinou wa kōmon nashi desu ne.

    You've been inactive today.
  24. 24
    今日は寝たきりです。

    Today, I am bedridden.

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