Top 50 phrases to get by Japan (Advanced): Getting around and shopping

💬 Swap in any place before はどこですか: 駅はどこですか "Where is the station?"

💬 地下鉄 (chikatetsu) is built from 地下 "underground" + 鉄 "iron", as in an iron railway, so it reads literally as "underground railway".

💬 停 (tei) means "stop" and attaches straight onto バス, with no extra word needed to join them.

🇯🇵 Taxi rear doors open and close automatically, controlled by the driver. Don't pull them yourself; just stand back and wait.

💬 切符 is said (kippu), with the small っ sound shown as a held beat before the (p).

🇯🇵 Most people tap an IC card like Suica or PASMO at the gate instead of buying paper tickets. If something goes wrong, the staffed window beside the gates can help.

🇯🇵 Big stations have dozens of numbered or named exits, like 東口 "east exit". Locals give directions by exit name, so it's worth confirming which one you need.

💬 入口 is said (iriguchi), and 出口 is said (deguchi). The 口 "mouth/opening" softens from (kuchi) to (guchi) when it comes after another word.

💬 ホーム (hōmu) is borrowed from English "platform", not "home". It's a shortened form of the word, so don't let its sound mislead you.

💬 The small っ adds a held beat before the s: (massugu).

💬 Add ですか to a describing word to turn it into a polite question. For example, 遠いですか (tōi desu ka) means "Is it far?"

💬 まで (made) comes after the place and means "as far as". Swap in any destination, like 空港まで "to the airport".

🇯🇵 This is the standard way to tell a taxi driver where to go. Show the address on your phone if the place is less well known.

💬 この (kono) always sits directly before a noun. When "this" stands alone, use これ instead.

💬 に marks where you're heading. Swap in other places, like 渋谷に行きますか "Does it go to Shibuya?"

💬 は here is said (wa), not (ha), because it marks what you're asking about.

💬 何番線 (nanbansen) means "what number line". Replace 何 with a number to answer, like 三番線 (sanbansen) "platform 3".

💬 Change the end of an action word to its て form and add ください to make a polite request. For example, 待ってください means "please wait".

💬 Literally, it's "I got lost on the road". The past ending ました is used because the getting lost has already happened, even though you're still lost now.

🇯🇵 Convenience stores are everyday lifelines here. You can use ATMs that take foreign cards, buy hot meals, pay bills, and use clean restrooms.

💬 これ is something near you. Use それ "that (near the listener)" or あれ "that over there" for things farther away.

💬 円 is said (en), not (yen). The "yen" spelling comes from older romanization.

🇯🇵 Cash is still common, especially at small restaurants, shrines, and rural shops. Carry some yen even if you mostly pay by card.

💬 Foreign loanwords are written in katakana and pronounced with extra vowels added: (kurejitto kādo). If you say "credit card" with a Japanese rhythm, you'll be understood.

💬 使えます (tsukaemasu) means "can be used". It's a changed form of 使います "use", where the ending shifts to show possibility.

🇯🇵 Plastic bags at checkout cost a few yen, so cashiers will often ask whether you want one.

💬 いりません (irimasen) means "don't need". It works for anything you want to decline, like レシートはいりません "I don't need a receipt".

🇯🇵 Look for 免税 signs in stores, and bring your passport. Tourists can skip consumption tax on purchases over a set amount.

🇯🇵 Pointing at a menu photo or display item and saying this is a perfectly normal way to order in Japan.

🇯🇵 Pointing at a photo on your phone while saying this is perfectly normal, and staff are used to it.

💬 The てもいいですか pattern asks for permission. For example, 写真を撮ってもいいですか means "May I take a photo?"

🇯🇵 Take your shoes off before stepping into the fitting room. Staff may also hand you a face cover to protect the clothes from makeup.

💬 Describing words like 大きい go directly before the noun. Swap in 小さい (chiisai) for 小さいサイズ "a small size".

💬 を is said (o), and it marks the thing you're asking for. Put any item before it, then add お願いします.

🇯🇵 Shop staff greet you with いらっしゃいませ "welcome" but don't expect a reply. Use this phrase only if someone actually offers help.

💬 Use にします for "I'll go with" when choosing something. For example, コーヒーにします means "I'll have coffee".