Japanese - Basic Expressions

After learning kana you should learn some basic phrases! These are all the most essential phrases/greetings. There is not really any grammar in this entry. Basic grammar has its own entry, so check that after this.

Hello (normal/polite) = こんにちは (NOTE that the は in this word is read as wa, not ha)

Hello/Hey (casual) = やほー or おす

Goodbye (normal/polite) = ではまた (NOTE again は in this word is read as wa, not ha)

Goodbye (casual) = じゃまた or じゃね

Thank you = ありがとうございます

Thanks (casual) = ありがとう

Pleased to meet you = はじめまして (always said right when you meet someone)

It was nice meeting you = よろしくおねがいします (also used in other situations)

Please = おねがいします or ください (in really casual situations, the します from おねがいします is dropped) 

You're welcome (formal) = どういたしまして

You're welcome (casual) = いいよ (literally "it's good!")

Yes = はい

Yeah (casual yes) = うん

No = いいえ

Nah (casual no) = ううん

※A couple notes on "yes" and "no" in Japanese.

In Japanese "yes" is used more like "that's correct" and "no" is used more like "that's incorrect." Usually they're used just like "yes" and "no" in English, but there can also be situations where their usages switch.

For example:

If someone asks us (in English) "Oh! Don't you like sake?" then

"yes" would mean that you indeed like sake and

"no" would mean that no you do not like sake.

In Japanese it isn't that way.

If someone asks you (in Japanese) "Oh! Don't you like sake?" (あれ！酒が好きじゃないんですか) then

"yes" would mean "that's correct" (as in, yeah you're right, I don't like it) and

"no" would mean "that's incorrect" (as in, no you're wrong, I do like it)

Usually in Japanese the "yes" or "no" is followed by a full sentence (like "Yes, I don't like it." or "No, I like it.") but in casual situations this isn't the case and it can sometimes cause confusion.