Good morning (casual)
おはよう (ohayō)
Good morning (formal)
おはようございます (ohayō gozaimasu)
Appropriate for:
* Superiors (e.g., boss, teacher).
* Colleagues, classmates, or acquaintances in formal/semi-formal settings.
* Strangers or people you’re not close with.
* Anyone in a professional or respectful context (e.g., at a workplace, store, or school).
Good afternoon (formal)
こんにちは (konnichiwa)
* It’s used as a general greeting during the afternoon and daytime.
* DO NOT use with friends.
* There is no informal way to say this.
Good evening (formal)
こんばんは (konbanwa)
* DO not use with friends
* There is no informal way to say this
“bye.”
feels a bit more final, like you’re closing the interaction
じゃあね (jaa ne) or
じゃあな (jaa na) - masculine
- Means “see you later” or “bye.” The じゃあ (well then) adds a sense of wrapping up the conversation, making it a bit more abrupt or transitional.
- じゃあね feels a bit more final, like you’re closing the interaction (e.g., “Alright, bye!”).
“see you again” or “see you later.”
feels a touch more open-ended, implying “we’ll catch up again soon.”
またね (mata ne) or
またな (mata na) - masculine
- The また (again) emphasizes meeting again in the future, giving it a slightly warmer, more expectant tone.
- またね feels a touch more open-ended, implying “we’ll catch up again soon.”
See you tomorrow
(Bye to your friends casually)
また明日ね (mata ashita ne)
(optional: ‘ne’ or ‘na’ on the end)
Meaning: “See you tomorrow, okay?”
Usage: Casual farewell when parting with someone you expect to see tomorrow.
When: Use at the end of the day (e.g., after school, work, or hanging out) with plans to meet again tomorrow.
Who: Friends, close peers, or classmates of equal/younger age in informal settings.
Not for: Superiors, strangers, or formal settings (use また明日, mata ashita, or じゃあ、また, jaa, mata).
Example: また明日ね！ (mata ashita ne!) → “See you tomorrow!”
See you next week
(Bye to your friends casually)
また来週 (mata raishū)
optional: ‘ne’ or ‘na’ on the end
Well then, see you later.
(Bye to your friends casually)
じゃあ、またね (jaa, mata ne) or,
じゃあ、またな (jaa, mata na)
Good night (casual)
is informal, used among friends, family, or close acquaintances
おやすみ (oyasumi)
Meaning: ‘good night’ but is used to say ‘have a good night’
Usage: Casual farewell when someone is going to bed or parting at night.
Who: Friends, family, or close peers in informal settings (e.g., before bed, texting).
Not for: Formal settings or with superiors/strangers
Good night (polite)
For a more polite tone, such as with someone you’re not very close to or
おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai)
**Usage: **Polite farewell used at night when someone is going to bed or parting for the evening.
Appropriate for:
* Family, roommates, or close acquaintances in a polite setting.
* People you’re not super close with (e.g., colleagues, acquaintances).
* Situations where you want to be courteous (e.g., hosting guests).
Not for: Very casual settings with close friends (use おやすみ, oyasumi, instead) or formal/professional settings where it might feel too personal.
Example: To a guest leaving your home at night: おやすみなさい！ (Oyasuminasai!) → “Good night!”
“I’m off (and will be back)”
Said when leaving home, expecting to return (e.g., for work, school).
いってきます (ittekimasu)
Meaning: “I’m off (and will be back)”
Usage: Said when leaving home, expecting to return (e.g., for work, school).
When: Use in the morning or when departing home for errands, work, or school.
Who: Family, roommates, or people in your household.
Not for: Friends outside home or formal settings
Example: いってきます！ (ittekimasu!) → “I’m off!” (Response: いってらっしゃい, itterasshai, “Take care!”)
‘Take care’ or ‘come back safely’
Said to someone leaving a place they belong expecting they’ll return
いってらっしゃい (itterasshai)
Meaning: “Take care” or “Come back safely”
Usage: Response to いってきます (ittekimasu, “I’m off”), said to someone leaving home with the expectation they’ll return.
When: Use when someone leaves home for work, school, or errands, typically in the morning.
Who: Family, roommates, or people in your household.
Not for: Strangers, friends outside home, or formal settings.
Thank you for having me
leaving someone else’s house
おじゃましました (ojama shimashita)
お (o): A polite prefix, adding respect or warmth to the phrase.
じゃま (jama): Means “disturbance,” “intrusion,” or “bother.”
しました (shimashita): The polite past tense of する (suru, “to do”), indicating the action is completed. (I did)
Meaning: “Thanks for having me” or “Sorry for the intrusion”
Usage: Polite farewell when leaving someone’s home after being a guest.
Who: Friends, acquaintances, or hosts in their home (slightly polite but not overly formal).
Not for: Your own home, public places, or very formal settings.
This is a formal saying and there is no casual way to say this.
‘Have fun’ or ‘enjoy’ (casual)
Casual, used among friends or peers.
たのしんでね (Tanoshinde ne!)
- Meaning: “Have fun, okay?”
- Usage: Casual wish for someone to enjoy an activity (e.g., party, trip).
- Who: Friends, close peers in informal settings (e.g., texting before an event).
- Not for: Superiors, strangers, or formal settings (use 楽しんでください).
- Example: デートたのしんでね！ (Deeto tanoshinde ne!) → “Have fun on your date!”
‘Have fun please’ or ‘enjoy please’ (formal)
Polite, used with strangers, superiors, or in professional contexts
楽しんでください (tanoshinde kudasai)
Meaning: “Please enjoy” or “Have fun”
Usage: Polite wish for someone to enjoy an activity or event (e.g., a party, meal, or trip).
When: Use in polite or formal situations, such as:
* Addressing guests at an event.
* Speaking to someone before they start an enjoyable activity.
* Professional or courteous contexts.
Appropriate for:
* Strangers, acquaintances, or people you’re not close with.
* Superiors (e.g., boss, teacher) or colleagues in formal settings.
* Customers or guests (e.g., at a restaurant, event).
Not for: Close friends in casual settings (use たのしんでね, tanoshinde ne, instead).
**Example: **Hosting an event: パーティーを楽しんでください！ (Pātī o tanoshinde kudasai!) → “Please enjoy the party!”
‘Good luck’ or ‘Do your best’
This is used for close friends
がんばってね (ganbatte ne)
Meaning: “Good luck!” or “Do your best, okay?”
Usage: Casual encouragement for someone facing a challenge (e.g., test, job, sports).
When: Use before an effort-based activity, like exams, interviews, or competitions.
Who: Appropriate for:
* Friends, classmates, or peers in informal settings.
* People of equal or younger age.
Not for: Superiors, strangers, or formal settings (use 頑張ってください instead).
Example: Before a friend’s exam: テストがんばってね！ (Tesuto ganbatte ne!) → “Good luck on your test!”
“Good luck, please.” or “Please do your best”
This is used for colleagues or someone you’re not close to
頑張ってください (ganbatte kudasai)
Meaning: “Please do your best” or “Good luck”
Usage: Polite encouragement for someone facing a challenge or task.
When: Use in polite or formal situations, like before a work task, presentation, or event.
Who: Appropriate for:
* Strangers, acquaintances, or people you’re not close with.
* Superiors (e.g., boss, teacher) or colleagues in formal settings.
“Take care, okay?” or “Be careful!” (casual)
This is used for friends
気をつけてね (kiwotsukete ne)
“Take care, okay?” or “Be careful!” (polite casual)
This is used for acquatinence
お気をつけてね (okiotsukete ne)
“please be careful!” (formal)
This is used for strangers and colleagues
気をつけてください (kiwotsukete kudasai)
“Get well soon” or “Take care of yourself.”
Said to wish someone a speedy recovery
お大事に (odaiji ni)
Meaning: “Get well soon” or “Take care of yourself”
Usage: Said to wish someone a speedy recovery when they’re sick, injured, or feeling unwell.
When: Use when someone mentions they’re ill, coughing, sneezing, or recovering from an injury.
Who: Appropriate for:
* Friends, family, peers, or acquaintances in casual or semi-polite settings.
* Can be used with strangers (e.g., a colleague or customer who seems unwell).
Not for: Formal settings with superiors (though it’s polite enough for most contexts).
Example: To a friend with a cold: お大事に！ (Odaiji ni!) → “Get well soon!”
“I humbly receive” or “Let’s eat”
Said before starting a meal to express gratitude for the food
いただきます (itadakimasu)
Meaning: “I humbly receive” or “Let’s eat”
Usage: Said before starting a meal to express gratitude for the food, acknowledging those who prepared it or the resources involved.
When: Use just before eating, whether at home, a restaurant, or someone’s house.
Who: Appropriate for:
* Family, friends, hosts, or restaurant staff in polite or casual settings.
* Polite enough for most situations, including with acquaintances or strangers.
“Thank you for the meal” or “It was a feast”
Said after finishing a meal to express gratitude for the food
ごちそうさまでした (gochisōsama deshita)
Meaning: “Thank you for the meal” or “It was a feast”
Usage: Said after finishing a meal to express gratitude for the food, whether homemade, at a restaurant, or someone’s treat.
When: Use at the end of a meal, when leaving a dining area, or after being treated to food.
**Who: **Appropriate for:
* Hosts, cooks, or anyone who provided the meal (e.g., family, friends, or restaurant staff).
* Polite enough for most settings, including with acquaintances or strangers.
Not for: Very formal settings with superiors (though it’s generally polite); casual friends might use ごちそうさま (gochisōsama) instead.
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General Rules2
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Greetings45
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Common Phrases14
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Adjectives70
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Numbers50
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Pronouns24
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Question words21
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Verbs11
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Miscellaneous2
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Mining9
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Nouns: Relationships41
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Nouns: Food and Drink49
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Nouns: Locations0
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Nouns: Pronouns0
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Nouns: Animals0
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Nouns: Occupations49
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Nouns: Things0
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Nouns: Time0
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Nouns: Weather0
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Colours & Shapes13
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Basic Grammar Patterns14
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Nouns: Nature1
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Slang8
