The Calendar

today
kyou
yesterday
kinou
tomorrow
ashita
asu
the day after tomorrow
asatte
every day
mai nichi
this week
kon shuu
last week
sen shuu
next week
rai shuu
every week
mai shuu
this month
kon getsu
last month
sen getsu
next month
rai getsu
every month
mai tsuki

Months
January
ichi gatsu
ichi: 1
February
ni gatsu
ni: 2
March
san gatsu
san: 3
April
shi gatsu
shi: 4
May
go gatsu
go: 5
June
roku gatsu
roku: 6
July
shichi gatsu
shichi: 7
August
hachi gatsu
hachi: 8
September
ku gatsu
ku: 9
October
juu gatsu
juu: 10
November
juu ichi gatsu
juu: 10
ichi: 1

December
juu ni gatsu
juu: 10
ni: 2
March 16
san gatsu juu roku nichi
san: 3
juu: 10
roku: 6
September 27
ku gatsu ni juu nana nichi
ku: 9
ni: 2
juu: 10
nana: 7
April 11
shi gatsu juu ichi nichi
shi: 4
juu: 10
ichi: 1
Today is April 11.
Kyou wa shi gatsu juu ichi nichi desu.
kyou: today
shi: 4
juu: 10
ichi: 1

Thursday
moku-youbi
Friday
kin-youbi
Saturday
do-youbi

Seasons
Spring
haru
Rainy Season (The rainy season usually
lasts from June to July in Japan.)
tsuyu
Summer
natsu
Fall; Autumn
aki
Winter
fuyu

Weekdays
Sunday
nichi-youbi
Monday
getsu-youbi
Tuesday
ka-youbi
Wednesday
sui-youbi

Holidays

New Year's Day (January 1)

ganjitsu
New Year (from January 1 to 3)
o-shougatsu
Coming-of-Age Day
seijin no hi
seijin: adu
National Foundation Day (February 11)
kenkoku kinen no hi
hi: day
kenkoku: founding of nation
kinen: commemoration
Vernal Equinox Day
shunbun no hi
shunbun: vernal equino
Golden Week (from April 29 to May 5)
gouruden wiiku
Showa Day (April 29)
shouwa no hi
hi: day
shouwa: Showa (a period of Japanese
history that coincides exactly with the reign
of Emperor Hirohito, from December 25,
1926 to January 7, 1989)
Constitution Memorial Day (May 3)
kenpou kinen bi
bi: day
kinen: memorial
kenpou: constitution (the system of basic
laws and principles
that a democratic country is governed by)

kodomo: children, kids

Marine Day
umi no hi
umi: the sea
summer vacation (American English)
summer holidays (British English)
natsu yasumi
natsu: summer
yasumi: vacation
Bon Festival (not legal holidays)
o-bon
Respect-for-the Aged Day
keirou no hi
keirou: respect for the age
Autumnal Equinox Day
shuubun no hi
shuubun: autumnal equinox
Health and Sports Day
taiiku no hi
taiiku: physical education
Culture Day (November 3)
bunka no hi
bunka: culture
Labour Thanksgiving Day (November 23)
kinrou kansha no hi
kinrou: labour
kansha: thanksgivin
The Emperor's Birthday (December 23)
ten-nou tanjoubi
ten-nou: Emperor of Japan

Greenery Day (May 4)

midori no hi
midori: green

Asking the Time

Children's Day (May 5)

kodomo no hi

What time is it now?

Ima nan-ji desu ka?

ima: now

aku: open

Until what time?

Nan-ji made desu ka?
nan-ji: what time
made: until

What time do you leave work on Monday?

Getsu-youbi wa nan-ji ni shigoto ga owari
masu ka?
getsu-youbi: Monday
shigoto: work

What time does it start?

Nan-ji ni hajimari masu ka?

Telling the Time

hajimari: start
morning
asa

What time is departure?

Shuppatsu wa nan-ji desu ka?
shuppatsu: departure

noon
shougo

Departure is 8:00.
Shuppatsu wa hachi-ji desu.
shuppatsu: departure
hachi-ji: 8 o'clock

afternoon
gogo
night
yoru

What time is breakfast?

Choushoku wa nan-ji desu ka?
choushoku: breakfast

2:45
ni-ji yon juu go fun
ni: 2
yon: 4
juu: 10
go: 5

What time are you coming back?

Nan-ji ni modotte ki masu ka?
modotte: back
What time does it close?
Nan-ji ni shimari masu ka?
Kanji translation:
shimaru: close

Kanji translation:
ji: o'clock
fun, (pun): minute

What time will it close today?

Kyou wa nan-ji ni shimari masu ka?
kyou: today

3:30
san-ji san juppun

What time does the bar close?

Baa wa nan-ji ni shimari masu ka?
baa: bar

san: 3
ji: o'clock
ju: 10
pun: minute

What time does it open and close?

Nan-ji ni aite nan-ji ni shimari masu ka?

san-ji han
san: 3
ji: o'clock

han: half
4:50
yo-ji go juppun
yo: 4
ji: o'clock
go: 5
ju: 10
pun: minute
5:15
go-ji juu go fun
go: 5
ji: o'clock
juu: 10
go: 5
fun: minute
6:05
roku-ji go fun
roku: 6
ji: o'clock
go: 5
fun: minute
7:20
shichi-ji ni juppun
shichi: 7
ji: o'clock
ni: 2
ju: 10
pun: minute
I get up at seven in the morning.
Watashi wa asa shichi-ji ni oki masu.
watashi: I
shichi: 7
ji: o'clock
ni: at
asa: in the morning
okiru: get up
an hour (duration)
ichi-jikan
ichi: 1

jikan: hou

Schedule
What's the schedule for today?
Kyou no yotei wa nan desu ka?
kyou: today
yotei: schedule
I'm going shopping tomorrow.
Ashita kaimono ni iku yotei desu.
ashita: tomorrow
yotei: schedule, plan
kaimono: shopping
iku: go
I'm going to Kyoto tomorrow.
Ashita kyouto ni iku yotei desu.
ashita: tomorrow
iku: go
yotei: schedule, plan
kyouto: Kyoto (a city in the central part of
Japan)
I'm going to be all tied up tomorrow.
I'm busy tomorrow.
Ashita wa youji ga ari masu.
ashita: tomorrow
youji: work that must be done in a particular
job or period of time
I'm returning home the day after tomorrow.
Asatte ie ni kaeri masu.
asatte: the day after tomorrow
ie: home

Hobbies &
Interests
hobby

shumi

masu.
kyoumi: interest

What is your hobby?

Anata no shumi wa nan desu ka?
shumi: hobby
Who is your favorite author?
Suki na sakka wa dare desu ka?
suki: favorite
sakka: author
I like dogs
Watasi wa inu ga suki desu.
suki: like
I like to watch movies.
Watashi wa eiga wo miru noga suki desu.
miru: watch
suki: like
eiga: movie

I am interested in Japanese history.

Watasi wa nihon no rekishi ni kyoumi ga ari
masu.
kyoumi: interest
nihon: Japan
rekishi: history
I am very interested in environmental
issues.
Watasi wa kankyou mondai ni totemo
kanshin ga ari masu.
watashi: I
totemo: very
kankyou mondai: environmental issues
kanshin: interest

I like to listen to music.

Watashi wa ongaku wo kiku noga suki
desu.
kiku: listen
suki: like
ongaku: music
I like to play tennis.
Watashi wa tenisu wo suru noga suki
desu.
tenisu: tennis
suru: play
I am a soccer enthusiast.
Watashi wa nekkyou-teki na sakkaa fan
desu.
sakkaa: soccer
fan: fan (someone who likes a particular
sport or performing art very much)
nekkyou-teki: enthusiastic
I am interested in
Watasi wa

.
ni kyoumi ga ari

Sports

football (soccer)
sakkaa

baseball
yakyuu
tennis
tenisu

yakyuu: baseball

volleyball
bareebouru

I am a soccer enthusiast.
Watashi wa nekkyou-teki na sakkaa fan
desu.
sakkaa: soccer
fan: fan (someone who likes a particular
sport or performing art very much)

golf
gorufu

Kanji translation:
nekkyou-teki: enthusiastic

basketball
basukettobouru

skiing
sukii
jogging
jogingu
cycling
saikuringu
ekiden; marathon relay
ekiden
sumo
sumou
judo
juudou
I like to play tennis.
Watashi wa tenisu wo suru noga suki
desu.
tenisu: tennis
suru: play
Kanji translation:
suki: like
I like baseball more than soccer.
Watashi wa sakkaa yori yakyuu ga suki
desu.
sakka: soccer
yori: than

Comings and Goings

I will meet you there.
Anata ni ai ni iki masu.
anata: you
au: meet
I can't come tomorrow.
Asita wa ike masen.

ashita: tomorrow
Kanji translation:
iku: come, (go
I'm coming.
Ima iki masu.
ima: now
Please come with me.
Issho ni kite kudasai.
issho ni: with
Kanji translation:
kuru: come
Would you come with me?
Anata mo issho ni iki masen ka?
issho ni: with
Where do you want to go?
Anata wa doko ni iki tai desu ka?
doko: where
iki tai: want to go
Why didn't you come yesterday?
Dou shite kinou kona katta no desu ka?
dou shite: why
kinou: yesterday
I want to come again.
Mata ki tai desu.
mata: again
ki tai: want to come
What time are you coming back?
Nan-ji ni modotte ki masu ka?
modotte: back
Kanji translation:
nan-ji: what time
I'm coming back at around ten o'clock.
Juu-ji goro modori masu.
goro: arou
juu-ji: ten o'clock

Comings and Goings

2
I have been to Tokyo.
Watashi wa toukyou ni itta koto ga aru.
toukyou: Tokyo
iku: go

I have been to Kyoto, but I have never been

to Nara.
Kyouto niwa itta koto ga aru ga nara niwa
itta koto ga nai.
kyouto: Kyoto (a city in the central part of
Japan)
nara: Nara (a city in the central part of
Japan)
Have you ever been to France?
Furansu ni itta koto ga ari masu ka?
furansu: France
ni: to
I have not been yet.
Mada itta koto ga ari masen.
mada: yet
I went to Hong Kong last year.
Watashi wa kyonen honkon e iki mashita.
watashi: I
e: to
kyonen: last year
honkon: Hong Kong
Is there any place you want to go?
Doko ka iki tai tokoro wa ari masu ka?
iki tai: want to go
tokoro: place
When are you coming back?
Itsu modotte ki masu ka?
itsu: when
modotte: back
I have come twice.

Ni-kai ki mashita.
Kanji translation:
ni-kai: twice
kuru: come
Where should we go first?
Saisho ni doko e iku beki desu ka?
iku: go
beki: should
saisho: first

Taking a Rest

I'm exhausted.
Tsukareta.
tsukareru: exhausted
My legs feel heavy.
Ashi ga darui.
ashi: leg
I'm sleepy.
Nemui.
Let's rest for a while.
Sukoshi yasumi mashou.
sukoshi: for a while
mashou: Let's
yasumu: rest

I want to rest for a while.

Sukoshi yasumi tai desu.
sukoshi: for a while
yasumi tai: want to rest

Asking Personal
Questions
How old are you?
Anata wa nan-sai desu ka?
anata: you
Kanji translation:
nan-sai: how old

I am 26 years old.
Watashi wa ni-juu-roku sai desu.
watashi: I
ni-juu-roku: 26
sai: years old
Where do you live?
Anata wa doko ni sunde imasu ka?
anata: you
doko: where
sumu: live
Are you married?
Anata wa kekkon shite imasu ka?
kekkon: marriage
I'm not married yet.
Watashi wa mada kekkon shite imasen.
mada: yet
kekkon: marriage

shigoto: work, job, occupation, business

Could you tell me your address?
Anata no juusho wo oshiete morae masu
ka?
juusho: address (the number of the building
and the name
of the street and town etc where someone
lives or works)
Do you speak English?
Anata wa eigo ga hanase masu ka?
hanasu: speak
I speak a little.
Sukoshi hanase masu.
sukoshi: a little

I'm single.
Watashi wa dokushin desu.
watashi: I
Kanji translation:
dokushin: single (not married)
How many people are in your family?
Anata no kazoku wa nan-nin desu ka?
anata no: your
kazoku: family
nan-nin: how many people
There are three people in my family.
Watashi no kazoku wa san-nin desu.
watashi no: my
kazoku: family
san: three
nin: people
What's your job?
What's your occupation?
What kind of business are you engaged in?
Anata wa nan no shigoto wo shite imasu
ka?

Talking about
Yourself
Click on the speaker icons to listen to the
pronunciation.

I am 26 years old.
Watashi wa ni-juu-roku sai desu.
ni-juu-roku: 26

Kanji translation:
sai: years old
I'm not married yet.
Watashi wa mada kekkon shite imasen.
mada: yet
kekkon: marriage
I'm single.
Watashi wa dokushin desu.
dokushin: single (not married
I am busy now.
Watashi wa ima isogashii desu.
isogashii: busy

masu.

Learning
Japanese
Japanese language
nihon-go
How do you pronounce it?
Dou hatsuon shi masu ka?
dou: how
What is this called?
Kore wo nan to yobi masu ka?

I don't smoke.
Watashi wa tabako wo sui masen.
tabako: cigarette

How do you say it/that in Japanese?

Nihon-go de nan to ii masu ka?
nihon-go: Japanese language

I can't drink much.

Watashi wa amari nome masen.
amari: much
nomu: drink

How do you pronounce this character?

Kono ji wa dou hatsuon shi masu ka?
ji: character (a letter, mark, or sign used in
writing, printing, or computing)

I can't have a drink.

Watashi wa o-sake ga nome masen.
o-sake: alcohol, liquor
My birthday is December 25.
Watashi no tanjoubi wa juu ni gatsu ni juu
go nichi desu.
tanjoubi: birthday
juu ni gatsu: December
ni juu go nichi: 25
I understand Japanese a little.
Watashi wa nihon-go ga sukoshi wakari
masu.
sukoshi: a little
nihon-go: Japanese language
I can speak a little Japanese.
Watashi wa nihon-go wo sukoshi hanase

Making an Appointment
Can I see you tomorrow?
Asita ae masu ka?
au: meet
I'm going to be all tied up tomorrow.
I'm busy tomorrow.
Ashita wa youji ga ari masu.
youji: work that must be done in a particular
job or period of time
How about Tuesday?
Kayoubi wa dou desu ka?
kayoubi: Tuesday
I won't be free that day.
Sono hi wa youji ga ari masu.

youji: work that must be done in a particular

job or period of time
Are you free tomorrow?
Asita wa aite imasu ka?
How about tomorrow?
Asita wa dou desu ka?
dou: how
What time shall we meet?
What time do you have in mind?
What time shall we make it?
Nan-ji ni ai mashou ka?
How about at around 3:00?
San-ji goro dou desu ka?
goro: around
Where shall we meet?
Where do you want to meet?
Where would you like to meet?
Where were you thinking of meeting?
Doko de ai masu ka?

What time are you available?

Nan-ji ga aite imasu ka?
I will be free from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
should , iku: go
Gogo no ichi-ji kara yo-ji made aitebeki:
imasu.
kara: from
I had a great time today.
made: to
Kyou wa tanoshi katta
desu.
So, I'll see you at 1:00 pm!
kyou: today
Soredewa
gogo
ichi-ji
ni
ai
mashou!
I can't believe it!
soredewa:
so
Shinji
rarenai!
The problem is not so
ni:
at
shinjiru: believe
easy.
au: meet
Mondai wa sorehodo
That's likely.
kantan
dewa nai.
Pleasewawait
at
, I'll meet you
there.
Sore
arieru.
sorehodo:
so e iki masu.
de matte ite kudasai. Watashi
ga soko
arieru: likely
mondai: problem
de: at
soko: there
That's
right.matsu: wait , iku: go
Please don't misunderstand
Sono toori desu.
what I'm saying.
4 pm is
too early.
sono:
that
Watashi no kotoba wo
Gogo yo-ji wa haya sugi masu.
gokai shi naide kudasai.
sugi: too
That's
not right.
kotoba: what I'm saying
hayai:
early
Sore wa
chigai masu.
gokai: misunderstanding
Wouldvery
you like
to join me for dinner?
That's
regrettable.
Yuushoku
wo
go-issho
Totemo zan-nen desu. ni dou desu ka?
She is beautiful.
yuushoku:regrettable
dinner
zan-nen:
Kanojo wa utsukushii.
utsukushii: beautiful
Are not
youinterested.
free this Saturday?
I'm
Konshuu
noari
doyoubi
ka? she
Kyoumi ga
masen.wa aite imasukanojo:
konshuu:interest
this week, ,doyoubi: Saturday
kyoumi:
He is cool.
Kare wa kakko-ii.
I'm
sorry,
but
I'm
afraid
I
have
an
appointment
that day.
Luck is coming my way.
kakko-ii:
cool
Sumimasen,
Un
ga muite sono
kita. hi wa yakusoku ga ari masu. (very
attractive, fashionable,
yakusoku:
un: luck appointment
relaxed etc, in a way that
poeple
admire)
When
arrive
at to be
, please
call me.
You areyou
a lot
of fun
ni tsuitara watashi ni denwa shite kudasai.
with.
Very good!
watashitoni:
metotemo
Anata
iruto
Totemo ii!
tsuku:
arrive
tanoshii.
ii: good
totemo: a lot of
tanoshii: fun
These clothes are cute.
Kono fuku wa kawaii.
We should go tomorrow.
kawaii: cute
Asita iku beki desu.
fuku: clothes
ashita: tomorrow

Making Small
Talk

I like this.
Watashi wa kore ga suki
desu.
How about this?
Kore wa dou desu ka?
What do you think?
Anata wa dou omoi masu
ka?
I don't like it very much.
Watashi wa sore ga amari
suki dewa ari masen.
This is good.
Kore wa ii.
ii: good

Exactly!
Sono toori!
Maybe so.
Tabun sou desu.
tabun: maybe
Of course.
Mochiron.
That's great!
Subarashii!
This is incorrect.
Kore wa machigai da.
machigai: incorrect
I don't like this color.
Watashi wa kono iro ga suki dewa nai.
She is very attractive.
Kanojo wa totemo miryoku-teki desu.
miryoku-teki: attractive
What do you think about it?
Sore ni tsuite dou omoi masu ka?
tsuite: about

Agree & Disagree

I agree with your view.
Watashi wa anata no mikata ni sansei
desu.
mikata: view
sansei: agree
Of course, I agree.
Of course, I support that.
Mochiron sansei desu.
mochiron: of course
sansei: agree
That makes sense.
That's reasonable.

Sore wa ri ni kanatte iru.

ri: sense, reasonable (to have a clear
meaning that is easy to understand)
That's a good idea!
Sore wa ii kangae desu
kangae: idea
I think so, too.
That's my idea, too.
I feel the same way.
Watashi mo sou omoi masu.
mo: too
I suppose you're right.
What you say is right.
Watashi wa anata ga tadashii to omi
masu.

tadashii: right, correct

I disagree with your opinion.
I can't give support to your idea.
Watashi wa anata no iken ni hantai desu.
iken: opinion
hantai: disagree, oppose
This view is not correct.
It's the wrong idea.
Kono mikata wa tadashiku nai.
mikata: view
I can't agree!
Watashi wa sansei deki masen!
sansei: agree
deki masen: can't
I disagree!
I object!
Watashi wa hantai desu!
watashi: I
hantai: disagree
I don't think so.
Watashi wa sou wa omoi masen.
My view is different.
I have a different opinion.
Watashi no mikata wa sukoshi chigai
masu.
mikata: view
sukoshi: a little
chigai: different

Study & School

pupil
seito
student
gakusei
teacher
sensei
kyoushi
professor
kyouju
Ph.D.
hakushi
to study abroad
ryuugaku
school
gakkou
university, college
daigaku
Are you a student?
Anata wa gakusei desu ka?
gakusei: student
I have studied Japanese for two years.
Watashi wa nihon-go wo ni-nen kan
benkyou shite imasu.
ni-nen kan: for two years
benkyou: study
What is your major at the

university/college?
Anata no daigaku deno senkou wa nan desu
ka?
daigaku: university, college
senkou: major (the main subject that a
student studies at college or university)
My major is chemistry.
Watashi no senkou wa kagaku desu.
senkou: major (the main subject that a
student studies at college or university)
kagaku: chemistry
I am poor at mathematics.
Watashi wa suugaku ga nigate desu. :
suugaku: mathematics
nigate: poor (not good at doing something)
What university/college did you graduate
from?
Anata wa doko no daigaku wo sotsugyou
shita no desu ka?
doko no: which
daigaku: university, college
sotsugyou: graduate

Making a Compliment
You are beautiful.
Anata wa utsukushii.
utsukushii: beautiful
You are smart.
You are clever.
Anata wa atama ga ii.
atama ga ii: smart, clever
You are a good-natured man.
Anata wa ii hito desu ne.
ii: good
hito: person
You are a good cook!
Anata wa ryouri ga jouzu desu ne.
ryouri: food cooked or prepared in a
particular way as a meal
jouzu: good at doing something
That hairstyle suits you.
Sono kamigata wa anata ni niatte masu
yo.
kamigata: hairstyle
niau: suit
Good job!
Good work!
You did it!
You did a great job!
Anata wa ii shigoto wo shimashita ne!
shigoto: job

Family
Falling in Love

family
kazoku

She is very attractive!

Kanojo wa totemo miryoku-teki desu.
miryoku-teki: attractive

grandfather
sofu
o-jii-san

Do you have a boyfriend?

Anata wa bouifurendo ga imasu ka?
bouifurendo: boyfriend

grandmother
sobo
o-baa-san

Would you go on a date with me?

Watashi to deeto shi masen ka?
deeto: date

father
chichi
o-tou-san

Would you like to join me for dinner

tonight?
How about having dinner with me tonight?
Konban yuushoku wo go-issho ni dou desu
ka?
konban: tonight
yuushoku: dinner

mother
haha
o-kaa-san

I need you.
Anata ga hitsuyou desu.
hitsuyou: need

I miss you.
Anata ga inakute samishii.
anata: you
I love you.
Watashi wa anata ga suki desu.
suki: love
Here is a present for you.
Kore wa anata eno purezento desu.
purezento: present

husband
otto
wife
tsuma

Reading

son
musuko
daughter
musume
older brother
ani
o-nii-san
older sister
ane
o-nee-san
younger brother
otouto
younger sister
imouto

book
hon
bookstore (American English)
bookshop (British English)
hon-ya
shoten
magazine
zasshi
newspaper
shinbun
manga; comics
manga
novel
shousetsu
dictionary
jisho

Colors
color
iro
red
aka
blue
ao
yellow
ki-iro
green
midori

purple
murasaki
brown
cha-iro
gray
hai-iro
black
kuro
white
shiro

ninja
ninja
karate
karate
judo
juudou
kendo
kendou
ekiden; marathon relay
ekiden
sushi
sushi
bonsai
bonsai
onsen; Japanese hot spring
onsen
origami
origami
tea ceremony
sadou
Japanese garden
nihon teien
nihon: Japanese
teien: garden

Other

Culture of Japan

The following is a list of phrases that don't

belong to specific categories.
Click on the speaker icons to listen to the
pronunciation.

This is mine.
Kore wa watashi no desu.
I forgot.
Wasure mashita.
What did he say?
Kare wa nan to itta no desu ka?
nan: what
He is frank.
Kare wa kisaku na hito desu.
kisaku: frank
I can speak a little bit.
Sukoshi hanase masu.
sukoshi: a little bit
Your calculation is wrong.
Anata no keisan wa machigatte imasu.
keisan: calculation
I am enjoying my life in London.
Watashi wa rondon deno seikatsu wo
tanoshinde imasu.
rondon: London
seikatsu: life