Travel Japanese That Actually Works: Phrases, Culture, and Survival Communication

New course

11 pages

All courses > Languages > Japanese ::

Travel Japanese That Actually Works: Sounding Natural and Staying Polite

Capítulo 1

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

+ Exercise

This course is built for one goal: help you communicate in Japan in a way that works in real situations—ordering, asking, confirming, apologizing, and getting help—without needing perfect grammar. The fastest path is not “more vocabulary,” but using a small set of polite, reusable building blocks that Japanese speakers expect in everyday public interactions.

How politeness works in practice (and why it matters)

In travel settings, you can think of Japanese politeness as a safety setting. Using polite forms signals respect, reduces friction, and makes your request feel lighter. You do not need formal honorific speech; you mainly need simple polite style plus a few set phrases.

The practical rule

Use polite language by default with strangers: staff, drivers, hotel workers, shop clerks, people you stop on the street.
Plain/casual speech is for close relationships. Using it with strangers can sound abrupt even if your intention is friendly.
Politeness is often shown by “softening”: adding a small apology, a request marker, or a hedge so you don’t sound like you’re issuing commands.

What “polite” looks like in travel Japanese

You’ll hear and use these patterns constantly:

Request framing: 〜お願いします (please / I’d like…)
Polite thanks: ありがとうございます
Polite attention/apology: すみません
Polite “is/are” and “do” endings: です / ます (you don’t need to master them today; just recognize they signal politeness)

Core building blocks that repeat everywhere

Below are the phrases you can reuse across almost every scenario. For each one, use the same mini-structure: meaning → when to use → common reply you’ll hear → pronunciation note.

1) すみません (sumimasen)

Meaning	Excuse me / Sorry / (often) “Thanks for the trouble”
When to use	To get someone’s attention politely (staff, station attendant, passerby). Before asking a question: “Excuse me, where is…?” When you bump someone or inconvenience them. As a light “thank you” when someone helps you (common in Japan).
Common reply you might hear	`はい` (hai) = “Yes?” / “How can I help?” `どうしましたか` (dō shimashita ka) = “What’s wrong?” / “What happened?” `大丈夫です` (daijōbu desu) = “It’s okay.”
Pronunciation note	Rhythm: `su-mi-ma-sen` (4 beats). Keep it light and quick; don’t over-stress any syllable.

Step-by-step use:

Continue in our app.

You can listen to the audiobook with the screen off, receive a free certificate for this course, and also have access to 5,000 other free online courses.

Or continue reading below...

Download the app

Step 1: Make eye contact (or face the person).
Step 2: Say すみません once, calmly.
Step 3: Pause. Let them respond (はい).
Step 4: Ask your question or make your request.

2) お願いします (onegaishimasu)

Meaning	Please / I’d like that / (polite request marker)
When to use	After naming what you want: `これ、お願いします` (This, please.) When asking someone to do something: `もう一度お願いします` (One more time, please.) When handing over something (ticket, card) to be processed: it signals “please take care of this.”
Common reply you might hear	`かしこまりました` (kashikomarimashita) = “Certainly.” (very polite staff response) `はい、わかりました` (hai, wakarimashita) = “Okay, understood.” `少々お待ちください` (shōshō omachi kudasai) = “Please wait a moment.”
Pronunciation note	Rhythm: `o-ne-gai-shi-ma-su` (6 beats). Keep `gai` as one smooth unit. Don’t drop the final `su` completely; a soft, short `su` is natural.

Step-by-step use:

Step 1: Point or name the item/service.
Step 2: Add お願いします.
Step 3: Slight nod (optional, but natural).

Ready-made patterns:

これ、お願いします = This, please.
それ、お願いします = That, please.
もう一回お願いします = One more time, please.

3) ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu)

Meaning	Thank you (polite; safe default)
When to use	Any time someone helps you, answers a question, or provides service. When receiving something (ticket, change, bag, directions). When someone waits for you or makes space.
Common reply you might hear	`どういたしまして` (dō itashimashite) = “You’re welcome.” (less common in service settings) `ありがとうございます` (arigatō gozaimasu) = They may thank you back. `またどうぞ` (mata dōzo) = “Please come again / Here you go.”
Pronunciation note	Watch the long vowel: `arigatō` has a long `ō`. Hold it slightly: `a-ri-ga-tō`. Then `go-za-i-ma-su` in steady beats.

Quick upgrade: If you want to sound extra appreciative, add a softener before it: すみません、ありがとうございます (Sorry/Excuse me, thank you) when someone goes out of their way.

Yes/No responses that keep things smooth

In travel conversations, you often need to confirm, accept, decline, or correct. The key is to keep your tone gentle and add a softener when saying “no.”

はい (hai) / いいえ (iie)

Phrase	Meaning	When to use	Common reply you might hear	Pronunciation note
`はい`	Yes / Okay / I’m listening	To confirm, to show you’re following, or to respond when someone calls you.	`ありがとうございます`, `では…` (dewa… = “well then…”)	Short and clean: `hai` (one beat, not “hi-ee”).
`いいえ`	No	Use carefully; often softened alternatives sound more natural.	`そうですか` (sō desu ka) = “I see.”	3 beats: `i-i-e`. Keep it gentle.

Softer “no” options (more natural in public situations)

Instead of a direct いいえ, these are common:

大丈夫です (daijōbu desu) = “It’s okay / I’m fine / No thanks” (context decides).
- Use when declining a bag, receipt, extra help, refills, etc.
- Pronunciation: long ō in jō—hold it slightly: da-i-jō-bu.
結構です (kekkō desu) = “No thank you / That’s enough” (can sound firm).
- Use when you want to clearly decline.
- Pronunciation: double consonant kk is a small pause: ke( pause )kō with long ō.

Step-by-step for declining politely:

Step 1: Add a small smile/nod.
Step 2: Say 大丈夫です (safer, softer).
Step 3: Optionally add thanks: ありがとうございます.

Softeners: small add-ons that make you sound natural

Softeners reduce pressure and make your Japanese feel considerate even if your sentence is short.

ちょっと… (chotto…)

Meaning	“A little…” (often used to soften a refusal or indicate difficulty)
When to use	When something is difficult or not possible: `ちょっと…` can imply “That might be hard…” When you need a moment: `ちょっと待ってください` (Please wait a moment.)
Common reply you might hear	`そうですか` (sō desu ka) = “I see.” `わかりました` (wakarimashita) = “Understood.”
Pronunciation note	Double consonant: `chot-to` has a tiny pause before `to`. Keep it short and trailing if you’re softening: `ちょっと…`

〜ですか (desu ka) for gentle questions

Meaning	“Is it…?” / polite question marker
When to use	To confirm information: `ここですか` (Is it here?) To check options: `これですか` (Is it this one?)
Common reply you might hear	`はい、そうです` (Yes, that’s right.) `いいえ、ちがいます` (No, that’s different.)
Pronunciation note	Keep `desu ka` light; the question comes from intonation more than volume.

Putting it together: reusable micro-dialogues

Getting attention + asking a simple question

あなた: すみません。これですか。 (Sumimasen. Kore desu ka.)  staff: はい。 (Hai.)

Tip: Two short sentences often sound more natural than one long one.

Requesting something with minimal Japanese

あなた: すみません。これ、お願いします。 (Sumimasen. Kore, onegaishimasu.)  staff: かしこまりました。 (Kashikomarimashita.)

Declining politely

staff: レシートは？ (Reshīto wa?)  あなた: 大丈夫です。ありがとうございます。 (Daijōbu desu. Arigatō gozaimasu.)

Pronunciation note: reshīto has a long ī (hold it slightly).

Quick cultural do/don’t norms (to sound polite without extra words)

Volume
- Do: Speak slightly quieter than you would at home, especially on trains, in shops, and indoors.
- Don’t: Raise your voice to “be clear.” Clarity comes from calm pacing and simple phrases.
Personal space
- Do: Keep a comfortable distance and avoid touching (even friendly taps) with strangers.
- Don’t: Stand too close when asking for help; step back after saying すみません.
Queuing
- Do: Look for lines and follow them; stand behind the last person even if it’s not obvious at first.
- Don’t: Approach the counter from the side; if unsure, ask with すみません and gesture lightly.
Getting attention politely
- Do: Use すみません with a small nod; in restaurants, a calm hand raise is common.
- Don’t: Snap, wave aggressively, or call loudly across the room.

Now answer the exercise about the content:

In a shop or station, which approach best matches the recommended “polite by default” travel Japanese strategy for making a request?

You are right! Congratulations, now go to the next page

You missed! Try again.

In public travel situations, polite language is the safe default. A common pattern is getting attention with すみません, pausing, then framing the request with 〜お願いします to avoid sounding like a command.