Japanese - Everyday Social Phrases

Lesson 140 of 168

Two people bowing slightly while saying polite Japanese introduction phrases like はじめまして and よろしくお願いします, in a soft office-lighting scene.

Goal: Polite phrases for meeting, leaving, and small moments

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready for friendly Japanese you can use right away? This lesson focuses on common social phrases you’ll hear in Japan — short, polite, and very useful. Have fun practicing aloud!

Level A1: In this short lesson you’ll learn and practice ten Japan-specific social phrases for introductions, workplace greetings, polite declines, congratulations, and offers. You’ll hear the phrases, see them in a mini-conversation, and then practice with quick quizzes and speaking prompts — CEFR-aligned and made for beginners.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn 10 polite social phrases used in everyday Japanese (A1 level).
  • Recognize when to use each phrase and practice saying them aloud (Hajimemashite, Yoroshiku onegai shimasu, Otsukare-sama desu, etc.).
  • Use short polite replies and soft declines in simple social situations.
A friendly meeting at a park near a shrine: people introduce themselves and offer to take pictures using phrases such as はじめまして and 写真を撮りましょうか.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

はじめまして

Hajimemashite.

Nice to meet you.

Meaning: Nice to meet you.

When to use: Use this the first time you meet someone, before saying your name or よろしくお願いします.

Tip: Don't use はじめまして after you've already met someone; it's for first meetings only.

はじめまして。私はアンナです。

Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Anna desu.

Nice to meet you. I’m Anna.
はじめまして。日本に来て嬉しいです。

Hajimemashite. Nihon ni kite ureshii desu.

Nice to meet you. I’m happy to be in Japan.

よろしくお願いします。

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Nice to meet you / Please treat me well / Thanks in advance.

Meaning: Nice to meet you / Please treat me well / Thanks in advance.

When to use: Say this after introductions, when starting work together, or when asking for someone's help.

田中さん、よろしくお願いします。

Tanaka-san, yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Mr. Tanaka, nice to meet you / please take care of me.
今日から一緒に働きます。よろしくお願いします。

Kyō kara issho ni hatarakimasu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

I’ll be working with you from today. Nice to meet you.

こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。

Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Likewise, nice to meet you.

Meaning: Likewise, nice to meet you.

When to use: Use this polite reply after someone says よろしくお願いします to you.

A: よろしくお願いします。 B: こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。

A: Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. B: Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

A: Nice to meet you. B: Likewise, nice to meet you.
紹介していただきありがとうございます。こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。

Shōkai shite itadaki arigatō gozaimasu. Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Thank you for the introduction. Likewise, please treat me well.

お先に失礼します。

Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.

Excuse me for leaving before you.

Meaning: Excuse me for leaving before you.

When to use: Say this when you leave work, class, or a group before others remain.

先に帰ります。お先に失礼します。

Saki ni kaerimasu. Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.

I’m leaving early. Excuse me for leaving before you.
会議が終わったら、部屋を出て『お先に失礼します』と言います。

Kaigi ga owattara, heya o dete 'Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu' to iimasu.

After the meeting I leave the room and say 'Excuse me for leaving first.'

お疲れさまです。

Otsukare-sama desu.

Good work / Hello at work.

Meaning: Good work / Hello at work.

When to use: A common greeting or acknowledgment at work; say it when you arrive, see coworkers, or notice effort.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use お疲れさまです only at the end; it’s also used as a general workplace greeting anytime.

お疲れさまです。今日もよろしくお願いします。

Otsukare-sama desu. Kyō mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Good work. Let’s work well today too.
会議が終わったら、みんなに『お疲れさまです』と言います。

Kaigi ga owattara, minna ni 'Otsukare-sama desu' to iimasu.

After the meeting, I say 'Good work' to everyone.

お疲れさまでした。

Otsukare-sama deshita.

Good work today.

Meaning: Good work today.

When to use: Often said after work, class, practice, or an event ends to acknowledge the effort.

今日の練習お疲れさまでした。

Kyō no renshū otsukare-sama deshita.

Good work today on practice.
もう帰ります。お疲れさまでした。

Mō kaerimasu. Otsukare-sama deshita.

I’m heading home. Good work today.

おめでとうございます。

Omedetō gozaimasu.

Congratulations.

Meaning: Congratulations.

When to use: A polite phrase for birthdays, weddings, promotions, exam passes, and other good news.

合格おめでとうございます！

Gōkaku omedetō gozaimasu!

Congratulations on passing!
ご結婚おめでとうございます。とても嬉しいです。

Gokekkon omedetō gozaimasu. Totemo ureshii desu.

Congratulations on your marriage. I’m very happy.

また今度お願いします。

Mata kondo onegai shimasu.

Maybe another time, please.

Meaning: Maybe another time, please.

When to use: A polite, gentle way to decline an invitation or postpone plans.

ご飯はまた今度お願いします。今日は忙しいです。

Gohan wa mata kondo onegai shimasu. Kyō wa isogashii desu.

Maybe another time for a meal please. I’m busy today.
映画の誘いに『また今度お願いします』と答えました。

Eiga no sasoi ni 'Mata kondo onegai shimasu' to kotaemashita.

I replied 'Maybe another time' to the movie invitation.

今日はちょっと難しいです。

Kyō wa chotto muzukashii desu.

Today is a bit difficult.

Meaning: Today is a bit difficult.

When to use: A polite and indirect way to say you cannot do something today.

すみません、今日はちょっと難しいです。また連絡します。

Sumimasen, kyō wa chotto muzukashii desu. Mata renraku shimasu.

Sorry, today is a bit difficult. I’ll contact you again.
先生に『今日はちょっと難しいです』と説明しました。

Sensei ni 'Kyō wa chotto muzukashii desu' to setsumei shimashita.

I told the teacher 'Today is a bit difficult.'

写真を撮りましょうか。

Shashin o torimashō ka.

Shall I take a photo for you?

Meaning: Shall I take a photo for you?

When to use: Offer this when someone wants a picture taken, especially at tourist spots.

写真を撮りましょうか。みんな一緒に写りますか？

Shashin o torimashō ka. Minna issho ni utsurimasu ka?

Shall I take a photo? Will everyone be in it?
写真を撮りましょうか、と親切に声をかけました。

Shashin o torimashō ka, to shinsetsu ni koe o kakemashita.

I kindly offered, 'Shall I take a photo?'

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David meet at a shrine and later leave the office.

Anna and David politely introducing themselves, thanking coworkers, and saying お先に失礼します as someone leaves an office meeting.

Are Anna and David meeting for the first time?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

はじめまして。アンナです。よろしくお願いします。

Hajimemashite. Anna desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Nice to meet you. I’m Anna. Please treat me well.

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。写真を撮りましょうか？

Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu. Shashin o torimashō ka?

Likewise, nice to meet you. Shall I take a photo?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

お願いします。ありがとうございます。

Onegai shimasu. Arigatō gozaimasu.

Please (do). Thank you.

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

どういたしまして。いい写真ですね。

Dō itashimashite. Ii shashin desu ne.

You’re welcome. Nice photo, isn’t it?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

もう帰ります。お先に失礼します。

Mō kaerimasu. Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.

I’ll go home now. Excuse me for leaving before you.

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

お疲れさまでした。気をつけてください。

Otsukare-sama deshita. Ki o tsukete kudasai.

Good work today. Take care.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase do you say when meeting someone for the first time?

Which phrase is a polite way to say 'Maybe another time'?

Which phrase would you say to someone leaving after a long day of practice?

Which phrase offers help by asking to take a photo?

Maybe another time, please.

友だちに誘われたけれど今日は都合が悪いと答える：『___』

Excuse me for leaving before you.

会議の途中で先に帰るときに同僚に言う：『___』

Congratulations.

友だちが昇進したと聞いてあなたが言う：『___』

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

はじめまして

Hajimemashite.

Nice to meet you.

Say this phrase out loud:

よろしくお願いします。

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Nice to meet you / Please treat me well.

Say this phrase out loud:

こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。

Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Likewise, nice to meet you.

Say this phrase out loud:

お先に失礼します。

Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.

Excuse me for leaving before you.

Say this phrase out loud:

お疲れさまです。

Otsukare-sama desu.

Good work / Hello at work.

Say this phrase out loud:

お疲れさまでした。

Otsukare-sama deshita.

Good work today.

Say this phrase out loud:

おめでとうございます。

Omedetō gozaimasu.

Congratulations.

Say this phrase out loud:

また今度お願いします。

Mata kondo onegai shimasu.

Maybe another time, please.

Say this phrase out loud:

今日はちょっと難しいです。

Kyō wa chotto muzukashii desu.

Today is a bit difficult.

Say this phrase out loud:

写真を撮りましょうか。

Shashin o torimashō ka.

Shall I take a photo for you?