Ohaiyo gozaimas // Good morning

I rarely used this phrase but that’s because I never really spoke with anyone until lunch time LOL.

Konnichiwa // Good day

This is probably the phrase you’ll be using the second most, after “sumimasen” (“excuse me”)

Konbanwa // Good evening

Side note: Konbanwa is “good evening”, not “good night”. That would be “oya sumi nasai”.

Arigato gozaimas // Thank you

Someone might tell you that you can just say “domo”. DON’T. Culturally, just saying “domo” is a thank you that you give to a subservient.

Sumimasen // Excuse me

And if you want to get into tones, saying “sumimasen” in a sing-songy way (like “my bad” or “oopsie”) is like “coming through” or “let me pass”. And if you say it in a matter-of-fact way, it comes across like “excuse me I have a question”.

Gomennasai // So sorry

I’ve only said this once and that’s because I toppled a doll display at a shop.

Hai // Yes

The other, slangy way is to just say “mm”. Like “um”, but only the ‘m’ and you don’t draw it out for too long.

Iie // No

This used to throw me off because it sounds like “ye”, which made me think of “yes”.

Onegaishimas // Please

You could also say “kudasai” instead of “onegaishimas”, and it’s more common BUT it has all these rules around which words can be used with “kudasai” so just say “onegaishimas”.

The bow