Ten Useful Phrases

This one comes courtesy of the Matador Network’s own Tim Patterson, who wrote a great roundup of ten Japanese phrases for travelers:

1. Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu

"Please favor me." Used in greetings and when exchanging business cards.

2. Yosh. Ganbarimas.

"OK, I’ll do my best." Yosh is also a common word to exhale during particularly strenuous activity, like lifting heavy objects or standing up after hours of sitting (in a Japanese office, for example).

3. Ara! Onara suru tsumori datta kedo, unchi ga dechatta.

“Oops! I meant to fart but poop came out." Yeah… funny enough.

4. Mo dame. Yopparachatta. Gomen.

"No more. I’m already drunk. Sorry."

5. Koko wa doko? Watashi wa dare? Nani mo wakannai.

"Where is this place? Who am I? I don’t understand anything." Your foreigner catch phrase.

6. Issho ni karaoke ni ikko ka?

"Shall we go to karaoke together?"

7. Honto ni oishi des yo!

"Really, it’s delicious!"

8. Anata wa haru no ichiban no sakura yori utsukushii.

"You’re more beautiful than the first cherry blossom of spring." I’ll have to remember this one at parties.

9. Nihon daisuki!

"I love Japan!"

10. Kona ni kirena tokoro wa hajimete mita.

"I’ve never seen a place so beautiful before."