

If someone asks you “Ogenki desu ka?” this is the appropriate response. This expression is what Japanese speakers use when they want to ask how they are doing. Also, if you want your apology to be more personal, if you think you have insulted a friend or shown disrespect to a teacher, use this. For example, if you knocked something over in a store and broke it, use “gomen nasai” instead of “sumimasen”. This is how you say “sorry” in Japanese for more grievous offenses. Also, if you want to get the attention of a waiter, say “sumimasen” first and when they turn to you that is when you make your request. So, if you accidentally bump someone on the train, you say “sumimasen”. You use this Japanese expression to apologize for a small slight or if you want to call someone’s attention to you. Use it liberally.Īgain, politeness is important is Japanese society, so it is important to acknowledge someone who said thank you by saying “douitashimashite”. This is the most basic way that Japanese speakers express their thanks. Politeness and respect are important in Japanese society. You can also use “moshi moshi” as a greeting if you are answering a video call, such as on Skype or if you are entering a Zoom meeting. This the greeting that Japanese speakers will use when they are answering a phone call.

Meaning: Hello (if you are answering a phone call) If you are meeting a Japanese speaker during the evenings, after around 6 or sunset, you can either use “Konnichiwa” or this phrase that means “good evening”. You can use this till about noon, after which “konnichiwa” is the better choice. If you are greeting a Japanese speaker in the morning, this is the expression that you should use. It is appropriate to use in the morning till around 6 in the evening. This is the most common Japanese expression that is used by great people. It’s also a good idea to learn some common Japanese expressions that can help you start and sustain basic conversations. The first thing you need to do if you want to learn Japanese is to memorize someĬommon words and phrases. Japanese culture is also rich and fascinating and the best way to learn about it is to study the language. Japan is a known economic power, which means learning to communicate with Japanese speakers is good for your business and your career. It is not as difficult as you might think, however, and it’s definitely a language worth learning.

Some might say that Japanese is a difficult language that takesĪ long time to learn. Dreaming of visiting Japan? Before booking your ticket, you might want to learn a few Japanese expressions first.
