1. Excuse me / Sorry
すみません。
Sumimasen.
Excuse me. / Sorry.
Use this to get attention, begin a question, apologize lightly, or speak politely to a stranger.
Beginner Lesson
First Japanese phrases you can use immediately.
Before grammar gets complicated, learn phrases that help you survive politely: excuse me, thank you, where is it, this please, one more time please, and I do not understand.
Say each phrase out loud. Japanese becomes useful when your mouth can find the phrase under pressure.
Beginner rule: Useful first. Perfect later.
Start here
The first five phrases
These five phrases give beginners a real foothold. They work at stations, cafés, restaurants, shops, hotels, counters, offices, and on the street.
2. Thank you
ありがとうございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you very much.
Use this after help, service, directions, kindness, a purchase, or any polite interaction.
3. Where is it?
どこですか。
Doko desu ka.
Where is it?
Use this with pointing, a map, a ticket, or a place name when you need direction.
4. This, please
これをください。
Kore o kudasai.
This one, please.
Use this while pointing at food, drinks, tickets, products, menu items, or photos.
5. One more time, please
もう一度お願いします。
Mou ichido onegai shimasu.
One more time, please.
Use this when you did not hear or understand. It is polite and extremely useful.
Practice now
Do not only read these once. Turn them into reflexes.
Play Phrase Tiles →How to use them
Combine a phrase with pointing.
Beginners do not need complicated grammar to survive. A polite phrase plus pointing can solve many real situations.
At a station
すみません。駅はどこですか。
Sumimasen. Eki wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me. Where is the station?
Practice train Japanese →At a restaurant
これをください。
Kore o kudasai.
This one, please.
Practice ordering →When confused
もう一度お願いします。
Mou ichido onegai shimasu.
One more time, please.
Practice listening →When helped
ありがとうございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you very much.
Practice polite Japanese →Most useful phrase
すみません is your beginner superpower.
Many learners think “thank you” is the first phrase. It is important, but すみません may be even more useful. It opens the door to a question. It softens your request. It shows respect. It can mean “excuse me,” “sorry,” or “thank you for the trouble,” depending on the situation.
すみません。トイレはどこですか。
Sumimasen. Toire wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me. Where is the restroom?
This one sentence can rescue a traveler, a student, a worker, or a brand-new resident.
Add one word
Turn first phrases into real sentences.
Once you know a phrase pattern, you can swap in useful words.
Where is the station?
駅はどこですか。
Eki wa doko desu ka.
Where is the station?
駅 = えき = eki = station
Where is the restroom?
トイレはどこですか。
Toire wa doko desu ka.
Where is the restroom?
トイレ = toire = restroom / toilet
Water, please
水をください。
Mizu o kudasai.
Water, please.
水 = みず = mizu = water
Ticket, please
切符をください。
Kippu o kudasai.
Ticket, please.
切符 = きっぷ = kippu = ticket
Slowly, please
ゆっくりお願いします。
Yukkuri onegai shimasu.
Slowly, please.
Use this when Japanese is too fast.
I do not understand
分かりません。
Wakarimasen.
I do not understand.
Use this honestly and politely.
Beginner confidence
The first phrases are not small. They are freedom.
A beginner who can say “excuse me,” “where is it,” “this please,” and “one more time please” is no longer silent. The language is still small, but the learner has started to move.
That is why Nihongo.co.jp teaches useful first phrases before overloading the learner with grammar. A first sentence used well is better than ten grammar rules never spoken.
Practice path
What to learn next
Remember this
One useful phrase is a door.
Start with five. Say them out loud. Use them with pointing. Then build one new word at a time.