Learning Japanese: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Japanese course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Japanese is like
Japanese has just five pure vowels (あ a, い i, う u, え e, お o) plus consonant + vowel syllables, and each syllable takes the same length — there is no stress, so pitch carries meaning. Grammar comes from small particles like は (wa) and を (o) rather than from word order, and the verb goes at the end. The polite endings です (desu) and 〜ます (masu) make any sentence kind and correct.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Japanese has very few sounds and every syllable is said the same length. Get these right and the whole language becomes pronounceable.
- あ・い・う・え・お — five pure vowels, all the same length: a=ah, i=ee, u=oo (unrounded lips), e=eh, o=oh. No English glide., as in さけ = sake · かめ = kame (turtle).
- ら・り・る・れ・ろ (r) — a light tap, not a rolled English r — flick the tip of your tongue off the ridge behind your teeth, halfway between "r" and "l"., as in さくら = sakura (cherry blossom) · ありがとう = arigatou.
- ふ (fu) — blow the air out with your lips relaxed, not rounded — closer to "hu" than the English f., as in ふじ = Fuji · ふゆ = fuyu (winter).
- ん (n) — a hummed nasal sound at the end of a syllable, soft and barely closed, like the "n" in "sing"., as in こんにちは = konnichiwa · ほん = hon (book).
- long vowels — hold the vowel about twice as long — length can change the meaning, so stretch it., as in おはよう = ohayou · おばあさん = obaasan (grandmother).
- っ (small tsu) — a silent pause that doubles the next consonant: say it, stop, then release with a small pop., as in がっこう = gakkou (school) · きって = kitte (stamp).
- つ・す (ts / s) — つ is a crisp "tsu" (like in tsunami); す is a softer "su"., as in つくえ = tsukue (desk) · すし = sushi.
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | konnichiwa | Hello / good afternoon |
| こんばんは | konbanwa | Good evening |
| おはようございます | ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning |
| さようなら | sayounara | Goodbye |
| ありがとうございます | arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me / sorry |
| おねがいします | onegaishimasu | Please |
| はい | hai | Yes |
| いいえ | iie | No |
| いち | ichi | 1 |
| に | ni | 2 |
| さん | san | 3 |
| し | shi | 4 |
| ご | go | 5 |
| じゅう | juu | 10 |
| ごはん | gohan | rice / meal |
| みず | mizu | water |
| おちゃ | ocha | green tea |
| コーヒー | koohii | coffee |
| おいしい | oishii | delicious |
| 〜はどこですか？ | doko desu ka? | Where is ...? |
| みぎ | migi | right |
| ひだり | hidari | left |
| まっすぐ | massugu | straight ahead |
| えき | eki | station |
| いくらですか？ | ikura desu ka? | how much is it? |
| これをください | kore o kudasai | this, please |
| 高い | takai | expensive |
| 安い | yasui | cheap |
| たすけて！ | tasukete! | Help! |
How the Japanese course is structured
The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings & being polite — こんにちは · おはよう · ありがとう
- Polite phrases: thanks & sorry — ありがとう · すみません · おねがいします
- Numbers 1–10 — いち · に · さん · じゅう
- I want" — ください & ほしい — 〜をください · 〜がほしいです
- Food & drink — ごはん · みず · おいしい
- Getting around — どこですか · みぎ · ひだり
- Questions & "do you have…?" — 〜はありますか · います
- Family & people — かぞく · ちち · はは
- Time, days & weather — きょう · あした · てんき
- Small talk & your name — わたしは___です · おなまえは
- Health & emergency — たすけて · わかりません · びょういん
- Tying it together — ください · どこですか · ありがとう
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings & being polite
Key pieces: こんにちは · おはよう · ありがとう
Let's start with the greeting you'll use most: こんにちは — hello / good afternoon. Say it out loud.
- こんにちは (konnichiwa) — hello / good afternoon
- おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu) — good morning (polite)
- こんばんは (konbanwa) — good evening
- さようなら (sayounara) — goodbye
- はい (hai) — yes
To say “Hello, good afternoon” in Japanese: こんにちは (konnichiwa). Built from こんにちは = hello (afternoon).
For the morning: おはようございます = good morning (polite).
To say “Good morning” in Japanese: おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu). Built from おはよう = morning; ございます = polite ending.
To say “Good evening” in Japanese: こんばんは (konbanwa). Built from こんばんは = good evening.
Polite phrases: thanks & sorry
Key pieces: ありがとう · すみません · おねがいします
The word you'll say constantly: ありがとう — thank you.
- ありがとう (arigatou) — thank you
- ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) — thank you (formal)
- すみません (sumimasen) — excuse me / sorry
- おねがいします (onegaishimasu) — please
- いいえ (iie) — no
To say “Thank you (formal)” in Japanese: ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu). Built from ありがとう = thanks; ございます = polite ending.
すみません does double duty — 'excuse me' and 'sorry'.
To say “Excuse me / sorry” in Japanese: すみません (sumimasen). Built from すみません = excuse me / sorry.
When you ask for something (a favour): おねがいします .
To say “Please (making a request)” in Japanese: おねがいします (onegaishimasu). Built from おねがい = a request; します = to do (polite).
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: いち · に · さん · じゅう
Numbers are a fast win. Listen and repeat: いち、に、さん .
- いち (ichi) — 1
- に (ni) — 2
- さん (san) — 3
- し (or よん) (shi / yon) — 4
- ご (go) — 5
- じゅう (juu) — 10
To say “One, two, three” in Japanese: いち、に、さん (ichi, ni, san). Built from いち = one; に = two; さん = three.
じゅう = ten. Put a number before it to build the teens: にじゅう = twenty.
To say “Ten” in Japanese: じゅう (juu). Built from じゅう = ten.
The key shopping phrase: いくらですか？ — how much is it?
To say “How much is it?” in Japanese: いくらですか？ (ikura desu ka?). Built from いくら = how much; です = is; か = question marker.
I want" — ください & ほしい
Key pieces: 〜をください · 〜がほしいです
The magic phrase to order anything: 〜をください — please give me ….
The little word を (o) marks the object — it points at the thing being ordered.
To say “Water, please” in Japanese: みずをください (mizu o kudasai). Built from みず = water; を = object marker; ください = please give me.
To say “Coffee, please” in Japanese: コーヒーをください (koohii o kudasai). Built from コーヒー = coffee; を = object marker; ください = please give me. ≈ English coffee.
To say you want something: 〜がほしいです .
To say “I want water” in Japanese: みずがほしいです (mizu ga hoshii desu). Built from みず = water; が = subject marker; ほしい = want; です = polite ending.
Food & drink
Key pieces: ごはん · みず · おいしい
At a restaurant. Key words: ごはん (rice / meal), みず (water), おちゃ (green tea).
- ごはん (gohan) — rice / meal
- みず (mizu) — water
- おちゃ (ocha) — green tea
- おいしい (oishii) — delicious
- メニュー (menyuu) — the menu Memory hook: ≈ English menu.
To say “Rice, please” in Japanese: ごはんをください (gohan o kudasai). Built from ごはん = rice / meal; をください = please give me.
Before you eat, say いただきます — 'I humbly receive'.
To say “This is delicious!” in Japanese: おいしいです！ (oishii desu!). Built from おいしい = delicious; です = polite ending.
To get the menu: メニューをください .
To say “The menu, please” in Japanese: メニューをください (menyuu o kudasai). Built from メニュー = menu; をください = please give me. ≈ English menu.
Getting around
Key pieces: どこですか · みぎ · ひだり
The most useful question in any city: 〜はどこですか？ — where is … ?
- 〜はどこですか？ (doko desu ka?) — where is ...?
- みぎ (migi) — right
- ひだり (hidari) — left
- まっすぐ (massugu) — straight ahead
- えき (eki) — station
- トイレ (toire) — toilet Memory hook: ≈ English toilet.
To say “Where is the station?” in Japanese: えきはどこですか？ (eki wa doko desu ka?). Built from えき = station; は = topic marker; どこですか = where is it?.
To say “Where is the toilet?” in Japanese: トイレはどこですか？ (toire wa doko desu ka?). Built from トイレ = toilet; は = topic marker; どこですか = where is it?. ≈ English toilet.
みぎ = right, ひだり = left, まっすぐ = straight ahead.
To say “It's to the right” in Japanese: みぎです (migi desu). Built from みぎ = right; です = is.
Questions & "do you have…?"
Key pieces: 〜はありますか · います
To ask if something is available: 〜はありますか？ — is there … ? / do you have … ?
To say “Is there a table?” in Japanese: テーブルはありますか？ (teeburu wa arimasu ka?). Built from テーブル = table; は = topic marker; あります = there is (things); か = question marker. ≈ English table.
For services you can't see, like wifi: ワイファイはありますか？ .
To say “Is there wifi?” in Japanese: ワイファイはありますか？ (waifai wa arimasu ka?). Built from ワイファイ = wifi; は = topic marker; ありますか = is there?. ≈ English wifi.
For people and animals you use います instead of あります .
To say “Do you have a menu?” in Japanese: メニューはありますか？ (menyuu wa arimasu ka?). Built from メニュー = menu; は = topic marker; ありますか = do you have?.
Family & people
Key pieces: かぞく · ちち · はは
Family words: かぞく (family), ちち (my father), はは (my mother).
- かぞく (kazoku) — family
- ちち (chichi) — (my) father
- はは (haha) — (my) mother
- おかあさん (okaasan) — mother (someone else's)
- ともだち (tomodachi) — friend
To say “I have a family” in Japanese: かぞくがいます (kazoku ga imasu). Built from かぞく = family; が = subject marker; います = there is (people).
ちち and はは are used for your own family; to speak about someone else's father you say おとうさん .
To say “My father and my mother” in Japanese: ちちとはは (chichi to haha). Built from ちち = my father; と = and; はは = my mother.
Friend is ともだち .
To say “I have a friend” in Japanese: ともだちがいます (tomodachi ga imasu). Built from ともだち = friend; がいます = there is (people).
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: きょう · あした · てんき
Today is きょう , tomorrow is あした , yesterday is きのう .
- きょう (kyou) — today
- あした (ashita) — tomorrow
- きのう (kinou) — yesterday
- てんき (tenki) — weather
- あめ (ame) — rain
To say “See you tomorrow” in Japanese: またあした (mata ashita). Built from また = again; あした = tomorrow.
Ask about the weather: てんきはどうですか？ — how's the weather?
To say “It's raining” in Japanese: あめがふっています (ame ga futte imasu). Built from あめ = rain; が = subject marker; ふっています = is falling.
Days of the week end in ようび : げつようび (Monday) … にちようび (Sunday).
Small talk & your name
Key pieces: わたしは___です · おなまえは
Introduce yourself: わたしは___です — I am … . わたし = I, です = am.
To say “My name is Alex” in Japanese: わたしはAlexです (watashi wa Alex desu). Built from わたし = I; は = topic marker; です = am / is.
Ask their name: おなまえは？ — what's your name?
To say “What's your name?” in Japanese: おなまえは？ (o-namae wa?). Built from おなまえ = name (polite); は = topic marker.
はじめまして = nice to meet you. Pair it with your name and a small bow.
To say “Nice to meet you. I'm Anna.” in Japanese: はじめまして。わたしはアンナです。 (hajimemashite. watashi wa Anna desu.). Built from はじめまして = nice to meet you; わたしは…です = I am ….
Health & emergency
Key pieces: たすけて · わかりません · びょういん
The most important words if you need help: たすけて (help!), びょういん (hospital), くすり (medicine).
- たすけて (tasukete) — help!
- びょういん (byouin) — hospital
- くすり (kusuri) — medicine / drugstore
- わかりません (wakarimasen) — I don't understand
- いしゃ (isha) — doctor
To say “Help!” in Japanese: たすけて！ (tasukete!). Built from たすけて = help!.
To say “I don't understand” in Japanese: わかりません (wakarimasen). Built from わかり = understand; ません = not (polite).
To ask for help: たすけてください . First, where is the hospital? びょういんはどこですか？
To say “Where is the hospital?” in Japanese: びょういんはどこですか？ (byouin wa doko desu ka?). Built from びょういん = hospital; は = topic marker; どこですか = where is it?.
Tying it together
Key pieces: ください · どこですか · ありがとう
You've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met — build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello! Good morning.” in Japanese: こんにちは！おはようございます。 (konnichiwa! ohayou gozaimasu.). Built from こんにちは = hello; おはようございます = good morning.
To say “Coffee, please” in Japanese: コーヒーをください (koohii o kudasai). Built from コーヒー = coffee; をください = please give me. ≈ English coffee.
To say “Where is the station?” in Japanese: えきはどこですか？ (eki wa doko desu ka?). Built from えき = station; どこですか = where is it?.
To say “How much is it?” in Japanese: いくらですか？ (ikura desu ka?). Built from いくら = how much; ですか = is it?.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu): polite.
- ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu): formal.
- おかあさん (okaasan): someone else's.
Culture and etiquette
Bowing is the greeting
A small nod or bow is the everyday hello. The deeper the bow, the more respect — for friends a quick dip is enough. Pair it with こんにちは and you'll fit right in.
Slurping is a compliment
It's normal — and kind — to slurp ramen and soba noodles. It shows you're enjoying the meal. Just don't leave your chopsticks standing upright in the rice: that's a funeral ritual.
Punctuality is everything
Trains and buses often run to the second. If you say you'll meet at three, be there at three. Being late, even a little, is a real inconvenience to others.
Cash & IC cards
Small shops, shrines and local cafés often prefer cash. Pick up an IC card (Suica or Pasmo) at the station to tap through trains and convenience stores.
Itadakimasu
Say いただきます before a meal — 'I humbly receive' — and ごちそうさまでした after. It's how people thank the food and the cook every single day.
Quiet in public
Trains and buses are usually quiet. People chat softly and keep phones on silent — so save the loud call for the platform, not the carriage.
Example dialogues
At a café
You: すみません、コーヒーをください。 (sumimasen, koohii o kudasai.) — Excuse me, a coffee, please.
Staff: はい、かしこまりました。 (hai, kashikomarimashita.) — Yes, certainly.
You: ありがとうございます。いくらですか？ (arigatou gozaimasu. ikura desu ka?) — Thank you. How much is it?
Staff: 450円です。 (yonhyaku gojuu en desu.) — That's 450 yen.
You: はい、どうぞ。 (hai, douzo.) — Here you are (paying).
At the station
You: すみません、えきはどこですか？ (sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka?) — Excuse me, where is the station?
Local: あそこです。みぎです。 (asoko desu. migi desu.) — It's over there, on the right.
You: ありがとうございます。東京まで切符をください。 (arigatou gozaimasu. toukyou made kippu o kudasai.) — Thank you. A ticket to Tokyo, please.
Agent: 500円です。電車は9時です。 (gohyaku en desu. densha wa ku-ji desu.) — That's 500 yen. The train is at nine.
You: わかりました。ありがとうございます。 (wakarimashita. arigatou gozaimasu.) — I see. Thank you.
At a restaurant
Waiter: いらっしゃいませ。何名様ですか？ (irasshaimase. nanmei-sama desu ka?) — Welcome. How many people?
You: 二人です。メニューをください。 (futari desu. menyuu o kudasai.) — Two people. The menu, please.
You: ラーメンとお茶をください。 (raamen to ocha o kudasai.) — Ramen and tea, please.
Waiter: かしこまりました。少々お待ちください。 (kashikomarimashita. shoushou omachi kudasai.) — Certainly. Just a moment, please.
You: おいしいです！ (oishii desu!) — It's delicious!
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.