The Japanese language can be a very difficult language to master for westerners. With this level of difficulty in consideration, your Japanese host will not expect you to be a fluent speaker of the Japanese langauge. However, there are some basic Japanese vocabulary essentials that you should know. Below are just a few of them. It also makes sense to pick up a simple book or electronic translator to help you learn a bit more. The more you know, the better off you are.
Hello: “Konínichiwa”.
Good bye: “Sayonara”.
Thank You: “Arigato”.
Bathroom: “Basurumu”.
Restaurant: “Resutoran”.
Business card: “Meishi”.
The word for making a toast during dinner is “Kampai”.
The way to explain that you are happy with dinner is “Gochisou-sama-deshita”.
Excuse me: “sumimasen”.
Turn down a drink politely: “Kekko desu”.
Foreigner: “Gaijen”.
Good Morning: “Ohayo”.
Good evening: “Kon ban wa”.
Good night: “Oyasumi-nasi”.
Welcome: “Yo-koso”.
Breakfast: “Cho-shoku”.
Lunch: “Chu-shoku”.
Dinner: “Yu-shoku”.
Food: “Tabe-mono”.
Drink: “Nomi-mono”.
Dessert: “Dezaato”.
Water: “Mizu”.
Check: “Chekku”.
Hot: “Atsui”.
Cold Weather: “Sumui”.
Cold Temperature: “Tsumentai”.
Translation: “Hon-yaku”.
Japanese People: “Hihon-jin”.
Do you understand?: “Wakarimasu-ka?”
Do you not understand?: “Wakarimasen”.
Train: “Densha”.
Toilet: “Toy-re”.
