Travelling exposes you in a vast new world, including learning about a country’s rich history, culture, and tradition. However, there can be problems when communicating. Let us be honest, not all countries speak in English and this could become a barrier. In a country like Japan, knowing Japanese allow your holiday to be so much better.
If you are really considering learning Japanese before your much-anticipated dream to the Land of the Rising Sun, enrolling yourself in some the basic japanese classes in singapore may be a good idea.
On the other hand, if you opt not to go for a good japanese language school in singapore, here are some few phrases that you can learn and use during your upcoming trip!
Thank You
It is best to learn this phrase as you will find yourself saying it often. To say thank you in Japanese, the phrase will be arigatou gozaimasu. When pronouncing it, the letter ‘u’ at the end of the word ‘gozaimasu’ should be barely pronounced.
For a more casual tone, you can just say arigatou alone. It is being used widely especially for usual and friendly conversations. But, keep in mind to be polite whenever you are in Japan since politeness is a crucial part of their culture!
Sumimasen
Another word that is widely used in Japan is ’sumimasen’, which means ‘excuse me’ or can be used to apologise towards someone. The word is commonly used when calling the attention of someone. Just like the phrase ‘arigatou gozaimasu’, saying this word is extremely often in Japan.
Hello
Even without enrolling in a Singapore Japanese class, you have probably heard the term ‘konnichiwa’ which is the word for ‘hello’ in Japan. It is a widely used greeting by most locals to acknowledge the presence of someone or to greet a friend.
Before trying out other greeting phrases, you might want to start with the basic first, and saying ‘konnichiwa’ is a great place to start your Japanese vocabulary at!
Where is the __?
Learning about how to ask a particular place in Japanese is quite useful.
‘___ wa doko desu ka?’ is the phrase if you want to ask a particular location or direction for a specific place. When using this phrase, insert your destination first, before following it with ‘wa doko desu ka?’
If you are asking for the location of a subway station, insert the suffix ‘eki’, which means station.
I’m Sorry
The word for I’m sorry in Japanese is different from ‘sumimasen’. Saying you are sorry in Japanese is to say ‘gomen nasai’ while bowing. It is a more formal way of apologising especially if you have done something out of context.
Save these phrases in your phone or try memorising them. They are quite easy to recall and will definitely help you out in most situations for your next trip to Japan!
Planning to shop during your trip? Read our Japanese shopping phrases guide for questions about receipts, tax-free procedures and refunds, with a practice conversation.
