Essential Japanese Phrases is built for learners who want useful Japanese vocabulary in a clean reference format instead of a long, fluffy article.
Ready to sound a little more natural in Japanese? Take a breath, smile, and scroll to the bottom of the article for the free printable japanese vocabulary list list PDF and the free downloadable printable japanese list flashcards—they’re waiting for you like a friendly study buddy.
Use this list as a starting point, then keep going in the Yak Yacker Japanese section for more words, phrases, and study-friendly reference pages.
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| Phrase | Reading | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| そうしましょう | そうしましょう | Let's do that | そうしましょう | Let's do that |
| そうです | そうです | That's right | そうです | That's right |
| そうですか | そうですか | Is that so? | そうですか | Is that so? |
| そうですね | そうですね | I see; that's right | そうですね | I see; that's right |
| たしかに | たしかに | Indeed | たしかに | Indeed |
| ただいま | ただいま | I'm home | ただいま | I'm home |
| ただし | ただし | however; provided that | ただし | however; provided that |
| ちょっと待ってください | chotto matte kudasai | Please wait a moment. | ちょっと待ってください | Please wait a moment. |
| では、また | では、また | See you later | では、また | See you later |
| トイレはどこですか | といれはどこですか | where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか | where is the toilet? |
| どういう意味ですか | どういういみですか | What does it mean? | どういう意味ですか | What does it mean? |
| どういたしまして | dō itashimashite | you're welcome | どういたしまして | you're welcome |
| どうぞ | どうぞ | please; here you go; go ahead | どうぞ | please; here you go; go ahead |
| どうもありがとうございます | dōmo arigatō gozaimasu | thank you very much | どうもありがとうございます | thank you very much |
| どう思いますか | どうおもいますか | What do you think? | どう思いますか | What do you think? |
| どこから来ましたか | どこからきましたか | Where are you from? | どこから来ましたか | Where are you from? |
| どこですか | どこですか | Where is it? | どこですか | Where is it? |
| ないでしょう | ないでしょう | probably not; won't be | ないでしょう | probably not; won't be |
| なぜですか | なぜですか | Why is that? | なぜですか | Why is that? |
| なるほど | なるほど | I see | なるほど | I see |
| はい | はい | Yes | はい | Yes |
| はい、そうです | はい、そうです | Yes, that's right | はい、そうです | Yes, that's right |
| はじめまして | hajimemashite | nice to meet you | はじめまして | nice to meet you |
| またね | mata ne | see you later | またね | see you later |
| また会いましょう | mata aimashō | let's meet again | また会いましょう | let's meet again |
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