Ultimate Guide to Finding the Right Expression in Japanese
By Lauren Woody & Hei Kin Wong | December 27th, 2021
Living in Japan is exciting, but remembering Japanese expressions is one of the hardest parts of life in Japan. There’s always a time and place for saying different phrases and expressions, but it can be difficult to know when and how to say things. This guide will help you have meaningful conversations, give you essential survival phrases you need to know, and assist you in finding the right Japanese expression so that you don’t always have to respond with, sou desu ne (I agree), when in a Japanese conversation.
This article is a subsection of our extensive series on learning Japanese through Online Lessons at Japan Switch.
Expressions in Japanese You Will Use Every Day
Let's skip past all the major boring textbook stuff and dive right in! Here are five Japanese expressions that are not hello or goodbye that you will definitely use in your daily life in Japan.
まじで / maji de
Depending on your tone, maji de can be used in any situation.
| まじで | maji de | Seriously / I’m being serious |
As a statement, maji de, can be used to emphasize how serious you are about a situation:
| まじで、やめて | maji de, yamete | Seriously, stop. |
And also to emphasize an adjective:
| この部屋はまじで汚いね | Kono-heya-wa-maji de-kitanai ne | This room is seriously(very) dirty. |
And also as a question!
|
まじで？ |
Majide? |
Seriously? / Are you serious? |
そう / sou
|
そうなの？ |
Sou na no? |
Oh really? |
|
そうですか？ |
Sou desu ka? |
Is that so? |
|
そうですね |
Sou desu ne |
That is true / I agree |
|
そうだよね |
Sou da yo ne |
I thought so too. |
|
そう、そう |
Sou, sou |
Yes, yes / ya, ya |
|
～そう |
~sou |
Seems like (~action) will happen. |
|
そうらしい |
Sou rashii |
It seems like it |
本当に / hontou ni
You'll often hear this in anime to mean 'truly' or 'honestly' and hontou ni gets a lot (and I mean a lot) of use in daily life to expression seriousness or sincerity.
|
本当に |
Hontou ni |
Really / Very |
You’ll hear this commonly in question form:
|
本当に？ |
Hontou ni? |
Really? |
But also to emphasize an adjective:
|
本当に感謝しています |
Hontou ni kansha shiteimasu |
I am very(really) appreciative. |
And to express that you are telling the truth:
|
本当に起きたことです |
Hontou ni okita koto desu |
This really happened |
大丈夫 / daijyoubu
Daijyoubu is one of the words you are going to get ~very~ familiar with! It basically translates to 'okay' or 'alright' and is often used as a coverall expression in much the same way as 'okay' is in English.
|
大丈夫 / だいじょうぶ |
Daijyoubu |
Okay |
|
大丈夫？/ だいじょうぶ？ 大丈夫ですか？/ だいじょうぶですか？ |
Daijyoubu? Daijyoubu-desuka? |
Are you okay? |
If someone asks you if you are okay, then you would reply with
|
大丈夫だよ / だいじょうぶだよ |
daijyoubu-dayo |
I am okay / Don’t worry about it |
But as you can see, daijyoubu-dayo can also be used to say, “Don’t worry about it”, for instance, when a friend tells you they will be 5 minutes late.
|
大丈夫です / だいじょうぶです |
Daijyoubu-desu |
I am okay |
While daijyoubu-desu means “I am okay”, this Japanese expression can be used to say that you are doing fine, but also to say that you don’t need something. For example, when a store worker asks if you need a plastic bag, you can say daijyoubu-desu to express that you are okay without one.
お願いします / Onegaishimasu
Whether you’re asking a colleague for help, or ordering at McDonalds, this is a phrase you cannot live without.
|
お願いします / おねがいします |
Onegai shimasu |
Please |
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Differentiating between Casual and Formal Japanese Expressions
Before we dive deeper into more expressions in Japanese, it is important to understand how to use these expressions, and how to know whether one is casual or formal.
Formal Japanese expressions usually end in です / desu, or ます / masu, while casual expressions in Japanese can end in any way. Keep this in mind as you learn more Japanese expressions in this article.
If you need to be very formal, your Japanese expressions will need to be in Keigo form. Here are some phrases in Keigo that you should know.
|
いらっしゃいます |
irasshai-masu |
Will come (for others) |
|
参ります / まいります |
mairi-masu |
Will come (for yourself) |
|
ご覧になる / ごらんになる |
gorann-ni-naru |
Will watch (for others) |
|
拝見する / はいけんする |
haiken-suru |
Will watch (for yourself) |
|
お預かり / おあずかり |
oazukari |
I’ll take care of [item] / I’ll keep [item] for you |
Finding the Right Expression in Japanese When Greeting Someone
Greetings are essential, and the most basic expression for saying hello is konnichiwa.
|
こんにちは |
konnichiwa |
Hello |
If you want to use more causal expressions to greet someone, like a close friend, try these:
|
おっす |
O-ssu |
Hey / What’s Up |
|
よー |
yo— |
Yo! / Hey! |
But what do you say next?
Time to make some small talk! Have these questions and answers ready to go.
|
調子はどう？ / ちょうしはどう？ |
Choushi wa dou? |
How are you doing? |
|
元気にしてますか？/ げんきにしてますか？ |
Genki ni shitemasuka? |
Have you been doing well? |
|
元気ですか？/ げんきですか？ |
Genki desu ka? |
Are you well? |
|
元気？ |
Genki? |
Doing good? |
|
この頃、何をしてますか？ / このごろ、なにをしてますか？ |
Kono goro nani wo shitemasuka? |
What have you been up to recently? |
Now, if someone asks how you’ve been, you might want to try using some of these next Japanese expressions.
|
調子はいいです！ / ちょうしはいいです |
Choushi wa ii desu |
I’ve been doing well! |
|
元気にしてます / げんきにしてます |
Genki ni shitemasu |
I’ve been doing well! |
|
元気だよ！ / げんきだよ |
Genki dayo |
I’m great! |
|
元気！/ げんき |
Genki |
Great! |
|
めっちゃ元気！/ めっちゃげんき |
Meccha genki |
Super great! |
元気 / genki, implies health, energy, and wellbeing, and is probably a word you hear often, but it’s essential that you
Of course, Japan, like in most other countries, has it customary to say you are okay and “doing great” in response to the “How are you?” question, if you’re talking to a Japanese friend, you might opt for a more honest answer.
|
調子は結構悪いです / ちょうしはけっこうわるいです |
Choushi wa kekkou warui desu |
I’ve been doing pretty bad. |
|
元気じゃないです / げんきじゃないです |
Genki jyanai desu |
I’m not doing great. |
|
一様、元気かな？ / いちよう、げんきかな？ |
Ichiyou, genki kana |
I guess I’m going okay? |
With all the different expressions that the Japanese language has, it can be difficult for foreigners to navigate in their conversation with Japanese. To get some tips on improving your Japanese conversation skills, visit our article on the Top 15 Japanese Conversation Tips!
What Expression in Japanese should I use when…
… I meet someone for the first time
You’ve been introduced to someone new! What should you say?
|
初めまして / はじめまして |
hajimemashite |
Nice to meet you |
|
私の名前は__です / わたしのなまえは__です |
Watashi no namae wa ____ desu |
My name is __. |
|
よろしくお願いします / よろしくおねがいします |
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu |
It’s nice meeting you (I look forward to it) |
If you’re meeting your partner's parents, a boss, coworkers, or someone who has helped you, make sure to slip in this very important line when introducing yourself.
|
お世話になっています、＿＿と申します / おせわになっています、＿＿ともうします |
Osewa ni natte imasu, (full name) to moushimasu |
Thank you for helping me(/I am in your debt), my name is __. |
… I visit someone’s house
When entering the house, say:
|
お邪魔します / おじゃまします |
Ojyama shimasu |
Literal translation: I will bother you Means: excuse me for visiting |
And when leaving:
|
お邪魔しました / おじゃましました |
Ojyama shimashita |
Thank you for having me |
… Someone visits my house
When someone says, お邪魔します(ojyama-shimasu), you should respond with:
|
どうぞ |
Dou-zo |
Come in! |
And of course, offer them a drink or something to eat.
|
何かを飲みますか？ / なにかをのみますか？ |
Nanika wo nomimasuka? |
Would you like something to drink? |
|
お茶でも飲みませんか？ / おちゃでものみませんか？ |
Ocha demo nomimasen ka? |
Would you like some tea or something? |
All of these expressions we've mentioned thus far can be used in various contexts. However, communication is far more than just words and phrases. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Japanese Conversation to learn how to communicate like a Japanese!
Expressions in Japanese to Convey Emotions
It can be difficult to express how you are feeling into words. Here are some common Japanese expressions for various emotions.
When You’re Happy / Excited
|
とても嬉しいです / とてもうれしいです |
Totemo ureshii desu |
I’m extremely happy |
|
嬉しくてたまらない / 嬉しくてたまらない |
Ureshikute tamaranai |
I can’t contain my happiness |
|
ワクワクする / わくわくする |
Waku waku suru |
I’m so excited |
|
すごいですね |
Sugoi desune |
That’s amazing |
|
やったー！ |
Yatta-! |
Woo! Incredible! |
|
テンション上がるね！ / てんしょんあがるね！ |
Tennshonn agaru ne |
I’m getting so excited! |
|
盛り上がるね！ / もりあがるね |
Mori agaru ne |
This is so exciting! |
When You’re Laughing
|
腹から笑った / はらからわらった |
Hara kara waratta |
I laughed from my stomach. |
|
面白いですね / おもしろいですね |
Omoshiroi desu ne |
That is very funny. |
|
おもろ |
Omoro |
That’s funny. |
|
笑っちゃう / わらっちゃう |
Waracchau |
I can’t help but laugh. |
You’ve probably seen these characters online, but some Japanese people will even say this in real life -- similar to how you would use LOL.
|
笑 / わら |
Wara |
LOL |
|
Ww |
Wara wara |
LOL (shortened way to write the above kanji/笑) |
|
草 / くさ |
Kusa |
LOL (where Japanese people found, ww, resembles grass) |
When You’re Confused
|
わかりません / わかんない |
Wakarimasen / wakannai |
I do not know / I don’t know |
|
なんで？ |
Nande |
Why? |
|
何？ / なに？ |
nani |
What? |
|
手伝ってください |
Tetsudatte kudasai |
Please help me |
|
どういうことですか？ |
Douiukoto desu ka |
What does that mean? |
|
えっと。。。 |
etto… |
umm… |
When You’re Angry / Annoyed
|
まじで?! |
Maji de?! |
Are you serious?! |
|
まじで言ってんの? / まじでゆってんの? |
Maji de yutten no? |
Did you seriously just say that? |
|
腹が立つ / はらがたつ |
Hara ga tatsu |
I’m pissed off |
|
頭に来るわ / あたまにくるわ |
Atama ni kuru wa |
That’s getting to my head. |
|
いい加減にしろ / いいかげんにしろ |
Ii kagen ni shiro |
You need to stop that |
|
まじでめんどくさい / めんどくさ |
Maji de mendokusai / mendokusa |
That's so annoying/frustrating |
|
イライラする / いらいらする |
Iraira suru |
I’m so annoyed |
|
馬鹿じゃないの / ばかじゃないの |
Bakajyanaino |
Are you stupid? |
|
ちくしょう （ちきしょう） |
Chikushou (chikishou) |
Damn it! |
When You’re not Feeling Your Best
It can be hard to express that you’re feeling down, or sick. But here are some common and easy ways to tell anyone that you’re not feeling well.
|
悲しいです / かなしいです |
Kanashii desu |
I am sad |
|
寂しいです |
Samishii desu |
I am sad |
|
具合が悪い / ぐあいがわるい |
Guai ga warui |
I’m not feeling well / I’m feeling sick |
|
気分が悪い / きぶんがわるい |
Kibun ga warui |
I am not feeling well |
When You’re Apologetic
You will hear Japanese people saying sorry all the time. However, gomen, is not the only way to express sorrow!
|
本当に申し訳ございません / ほんとうにもうしわけございません |
Hontou ni moushiwake gozaimasen |
I am sincerely sorry. |
|
間違えました |
Machigaemashita |
I made a mistake |
|
ごめんなさい |
Gomennasai |
Sorry |
|
すみません |
Sumimasen |
I am sorry (more polite than gomen) |
|
失礼しました |
Shitsurei shimashita |
I am sorry for the inconvenience |
When You’re in Love
You meet a Japanese person you think is amazing, and you want to ask them out on a date!
|
今度、お茶でも行かない？/ こんど、おちゃでもいかない？ お茶しない？ / おちゃしない？ |
Kondo, ocha demo ikanai? / Ocha shinai? |
Would you like to go to have some tea sometime? (“Tea” refers to a casual hangout, maybe a cafe or lunch) |
|
デートに行きませんか？ / でーとにいきませんか？ |
De-to ni ikimasenn ka? |
Would you like to go on a date with me? |
If you’ve been asked on a date, here is what you should respond with.
|
はい。行きましょう！/ はい。いきましょう！ |
Hai. Ikimashou! |
Yes. Let’s go! |
|
ごめんなさい、行けないです。/ ごめんなさい、いけないです。 |
Gomennasai, ikenai desu. |
Sorry, I can’t go. (This is very straightforward, and might take the person by surprise.) |
|
用事があって。。。/ ようじがあって。。。 |
Youji ga atte... |
I have something that day… (This would imply that you are not interested.) |
Now that you’ve been on a few dates, you might want to ask this person to be your partner!
|
__ のことが好きです/ __のことがすきです |
(Their name) no koto ga suki desu |
I like you. |
|
付き合ってください / つきあってください |
Tsukiatte kudasai |
Please date me (Will you date me?) |
|
彼女·彼氏になってください / かのじょ·かれしになってください |
Kanojyo / kareshi ni natte kudasai |
Please be my girlfriend/boyfriend (Will you be my girlfriend/boyfriend) |
What should you respond to being asked out! Here are some common expressions in Japanese.
|
はい。よろしくおねがいします。 |
Hai yoroshiku onegaishimasu |
Yes. I look forward to it. |
|
恋人にはなれないけど、友達でいたい |
Koibito niwa narenai kedo, tomodachi de itai |
I can’t be your partner, but I would like to stay friends |
|
今は付き合えないかも |
Ima wa tsukiaenai kamo |
I don’t think I can date you right now |
But, how do you flirt in Japanese?
|
会いたいよ / あいたいよ |
Aitai yo |
I miss you / I want to see you |
|
好きだよ / すきだよ |
Suki da yo |
I like you |
|
大好きだよ / だいすきだよ |
Dai suki da yo |
I really like you / I love you (Literally translates to: “big” like) |
|
大大大好きだよ / だいだいだいすきだよ |
Dai dai dai suki da yo |
I really, really, really, like/love you (You can add as many 大(dai)’s as you like! Common in texts) |
|
愛してる |
Aishiteru |
I love you |
It’s very uncommon to say 愛してる (aishiteru), and couples will often opt for 大好き (daisuki) to express their love for their partner (or family).
So far we've learned quite a few phrases to express our feelings in Japanese. However, there will be times where just using these phrases might not be enough. We recommend you to check out our guide to the Top 1000 Japanese Words You Need to Know to find the right words to go with your expression in Japanese!
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Finding the Right Expression in Japanese to Talk About Food
Choosing the right expression in Japanese expressions can vary depending on who you're with but here are a few key ones to get you started:
|
頂きます / いただきます |
Itadakimasu |
Bon appétit |
|
召し上げれ / めしあがれ |
Meshi agare |
Please dig in! |
|
ごちそうさまでした |
Gochisou sama deshita |
Thank you for the food. |
And here are a few expressions in Japanese for when you're going out to eat:
|
食べに行こう / たべにいこう |
Tabe ni ikou |
Let’s go eat |
|
飲みに行かない？ / のみにいかない？ |
Nomi ni ikanai? |
Do you want to go out for drinks? |
|
おすすめはなんですか？ |
Osusume wa nan desu ka? |
What do you recommend? |
|
＿＿にはなにが入ってますか？ / ＿＿にはなにがはいってますか？ |
____ ni wa nani ga haittemasu ka? |
What’s in __? |
|
大きさはどのぐらいですか？ / おおきさはどのぐらいですか？ |
Ookisa wa dono gurai desu ka? |
How big is the dish? |
|
辛いですか? / からいですか？ |
Karai desu ka? |
Is it spicy? |
|
お腹いっぱいです / おなかいっぱいです |
Onaka ippai desu |
My stomach is full |
|
もう一杯！ / もういっぱい |
Mou ippai |
Another please! (For drinks) |
|
おかわりお願いします / おかわりおねがいします |
Okawari onegaishimasu |
Another please! (Drinks or food) |
And if you need a handy expression in Japanese to describe the quality of the food:
|
美味しかったです / おいしかったです |
Oishikatta desu |
It was delicious |
|
口に合わなかった / くちにあわなかった |
Kuchi ni awanakatta |
It wasn’t for me (I didn’t like how it tasted) |
|
まずかった |
Mazukatta |
It was not good. |
But you might need an expression in Japanese for when the food isn’t what you asked for...
|
これは頼んでないんですけど。。。 / これはたのんでないんですけど。。。 |
Kore wa tanondenain desu kedo… |
I didn’t order this… |
Expression in Japanese For Gift Giving
It’s very important to be humble when gift-giving so the right expression in Japanese is extra important at times like this. Even if your gift is something you know is amazing, make sure to use one of these humble expressions in Japanese.
Start with:
|
小さな物ですが。。。 / ちいさなものですが。。。 |
Chiisana mono desu ga… |
It’s nothing fancy, but… |
|
つまらないもので。。。 |
Tsumaranai mono desu ga… |
It’s nothing special, but… |
|
心ばかりの品ですが。。。/ こころばかりのひんですが。。。 |
Kokoro bakari no hin desu ga… |
This is just a small token of my appreciation, but… |
And end with:
|
どうぞお受け取りください / どうぞおうけとりください |
Douzo ouketori kudasai |
Please take this gift. (For items) |
|
どうぞお召し上がりください / どうぞおめしあがりください |
Douzo omeshi agari kudasai |
Please eat this gift. (For food) |
Expression in Japanese When at a Store
When you’re at a store looking for something, the worst feeling is not being able to find what you want, and not knowing how to ask for help. These expressions will help make your shopping experience more efficient and easy!
|
＿＿はどこにありますか？ |
____ wa dokoni arimasuka? |
Where can I find ____ |
|
＿＿には何がおすすめですか？ / ＿＿にはなにがおすすめですか？ |
____ ni wa nani ga osusume desu ka? |
What would you recommend for __? |
|
＿＿の在庫はありますか。/＿＿＿のざいこはありますか |
____ no zaiko wa arimasu ka? |
Do you have ____ in stock? |
Expression in Japanese to Use at the Workplace
Workplace etiquette is extremely important, and these expressions in Japanese will help you
|
おはようございます |
Ohayo gozazimasu |
Good morning — when you start your shift, no matter the time |
|
お疲れ様です / おつかれさまです |
Otsukare sama desu |
Thank you for your hard work / Good work |
|
お先に失礼します / お先に失礼します |
Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu |
Excuse me for leaving first. |
|
ご苦労様です / ごくろうさまです |
Gokurou sama desu |
Thank you for your hard work through hardship |
|
少しお時間を頂いてもよろしいですか？ / すこしおじかんをいただいてもよろしいですか？ |
Sukoshi ojikan wo itadaitemo yoroshii desu ka? |
Can I have some of your time? (When asking for help or advice) |
|
__日は休みをとってもよろしいですか？ |
____ nichi wa yasumi wo tottemo yoroshii desu ka? |
Is it okay if I take __(day) off? |
|
なるほどですね |
Naruhodo desu ne |
I understand your point. |
|
賛成です / さんせいです |
Sansei desu |
I am in agreement |
|
もう一度、説明してください / もういちど、説明してください |
Mou ichido, setsumei shite kudasai |
Can you please explain that one more time. |
Expression in Japanese for Special Occasions
Some occasions call for a very specific expression in Japanese (or several) that you don’t hear often and so are easy to forget! Here are some of the most important:
For Marriage
|
ご婚約おめでとうございます / ごかんやくおめでとうございます |
Gokonyaku omedetou gozaimasu |
Congratulations on your engagement |
|
ご結婚おめでとうございます/ ご結婚おめでとうございます |
Gokekkon omedetou gozaimasu |
Congratulations on your marriage |
For Funerals
|
ご愁傷様です / ごしゅうしょうさまです |
Goshuushou sama desu |
I am sorry for your loss. |
|
お悔やみ申し上げます / おくやみもうしあげます |
Okuyami moushi agemasu |
I offer my deepest condolences. |
|
__が亡くなって残念ですね / ＿＿がなくなって残念ですね |
____ ga nakunatte zannen desu ne |
I am sorry __ passed away. |
For Pregnancy
|
妊娠おめでとうございます / にんしんおめでとうございます |
Ninshin omedetou gozaimasu |
Congratulations on your pregnancy |
|
ご懐妊おめでとうございます / ごかいにんおめでとうございます |
Gokainin omedetou gozaimasu |
Congratulations on your pregnancy |
|
お体を大事にしてください |
Okaradawo daijini shite kudasai |
Please take care of your body |
|
ご出産おめでとうございます / ごしゅっさんおめでとうございます |
Goshusan omedetou gozaimasu |
Congratulations on giving birth (to the mother) |
|
＿＿のお誕生おめでとうございます / ＿＿のおたんじょうおめでとうございます |
____ no otanjyou omedetou gozaimasu |
Congratulations on __ being born |
Japanese Slang and Idioms
Japanese slang and idioms are great Japanese expressions to learn as well, because they can help you communicate your feelings or explain situations to a wider audience using more specific or relatable language.
Japanese slang is something you can use with close friends! While you will probably pick up on slang your Japanese friends use, two common phrases are:
|
やばい / やっば |
Yabai / yabba |
No way! |
|
微妙 /びみょう |
bimyou |
So-so / not great |
For a more in-depth read about slang, you can learn more in our Ultimate Guide to Japanese Slang.
Japanese idioms can be used with anyone! A common one that you might hear often is:
|
相変わらず / あいかわらず |
aikawarazu |
The same as ever |
If you’re interested in learning more Japanese idioms, check out our Ultimate Guide to Japanese Idioms.
Conclusion
Finding the right expression in Japanese can be extremely difficult, but learning key phrases can really improve conversations and help you in navigating your day-to-day life in Japan. Make sure to slowly build your Japanese expression repertoire as you build stronger relationships and steady life in Japan.
If you wish to know more about practical Japanese phrases you can use in real-life, then visit our Ultimate Guide to Useful Japanese Phrases to learn more!
