FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMMON EXPRESSIONS JAPANESE ENGLISH TRANSLATION O-genki desu ka Arigato gozaimasu genki desu Ohayo gozaimasu How are you? I’m fine, thank you. Good morning. - Konnichi wa Konban wa Sayonara Oyasuminasai This means that you have to get up early or you are an early riser. - It can be used from early in the morning until 10 o’clock in the morning only. Good day. Good afternoon. Hello. - It can be used from 10AM until sundown. Good evening. Good bye. Good night. - Hajimimashite This is an appropriate expression to use when saying good bye late at night, either in person or on the telephone. How do you do? - Itte rasshai This expression literally means “for the first time” (to meet you). Good bye. - Itte kimasu This is used to say good bye to someone who is going away and coming back to the same place. Good bye. - Gambatte kudasai This is what the person going out says to whoever is staying at home. It can also be used when leaving your plac of work for a short business trip. Good luck. - Shitsurei-shimasu This expression is used by older people to encourage their junior colleagues in their efforts. Excuse me. - This is an extremely useful expression that can be used in a wide variety of situations; when entering a room, when leaving, or when asking someone to move aside. O-sakini shitsurei-shimasu May I come? I must be going. May I go? - Daijobu desu It is used when leaving a group of people before everybody else. This is also an expression used to replace a variety of phrases, such as “May I come?”, “I must be going”, and “May I go?”. In the past tense, “Shitsurei-shimashita” is a straightforward apology. No problem. Okay. Alright. - Osewa ni narimashita It can be used to mention the condition of one’s work, health, etc. Thank you for your kindness. - This is an expression used when a great favor has been granted to you. Gomen nasai / sumemasen deshita I’m sorry. - Ojama itashimasu This is used to express an apology when you ask for someone’s pardon or for stepping on someone’s foot. Sorry to disturb you. - Tadaima Okaerinasai This expression is used when one is about to disturb somebody upon entering his house or room. Before leaving someone’s place, one says “Ojama itashimashita” meaning, “I’m sorry to have disturbed you”. I’m back. Welcome home. Domo aigato gozaimasu - This is the standard way of replying to “Tadaima”. Thank you very much. - Onegai-shimasu This is a polite way of replying to someone who has either thanked you or apologized for something. Please? Could you do me a favor? - (O) ki o tsukete This expression is used when you ask for something served or done you. Take care. - This is a friendly way of telling someone to take care. Itadakimasu Gochisosama deshita Ogenki desu Omedeto Gozaimasu Chotto matte kudasai Mo ichido oegaishimasu Dame desu Kekko des Hajimemasho Owarimasho Yasumemasho Wakarimasu ka Hai, wakarimasu Iie, wakaremasen Naruhudo Totte okinasai Okikinasai Moo arimasen Sude ni Itsumo Ikanimo Zenzen Tabun Sakini Yoroshi Achi – cochi Mai – shu Mai – nen Tamani Sorekara Shiba-shiba Mada ikanaide kudasai Koraremasu ka Nanimo naranai Shikata ganai Todomaremasen Shitte imasu ka Mo jikan ga nai Thank you. - It is used whenever you are about to start a meal. Thank you, it was delicious. Look after yourself. Congratulations. Please wait a moment. Once more please. No good. Not good. Good. Let us begin. Let us finish. LetDo us take rest. Do you understand? Yes, I understand. No, I don’t understand. I see. Keep it. Listen to me. No more. Already Always Certainly Absolutely Likely Go ahead. Alright Here and there Weekly Yearly Seldom Then Frequently Please, don’t go yet. Can you come? Good for nothing. I can’t help it. I can’t stay. Do you know it? No more time.
