Mel’s phonetic list of simple Japanese phrases

I am a phonics person, I need the sounding out patterns written to help prompt me and not just a basic English translation. So here’s some phonetically helpful tourist phrases!

Greetings & Politeness

• Ohayou gozaimasu /oh-ha-yoh goh-zai-mass/ – Good morning
• Konbanwa /kon-bahn-wah/ – Good evening
• Gomen nasai  /goh-mehn nah-sai/ – Sorry (casual)

Useful words for basic Travel & Directions

• Eki wa doko desu ka?  /eh-kee wah doh-koh dess kah?/ – Where is the station?
• Toire wa doko desu ka? /toy-reh wah doh-koh dess kah?/ – Where is the toilet?
• 〜ni ikitai desu /nee ee-kee-tai dess/ – I want to go to ~
• Migi  /mee-gee/ – Right
• Hidari /hee-dah-ree/ – Left  
• Massugu /mass-soo-goo/ – Straight
• Ikura desu ka? /ee-koo-rah dess kah?/ – How much is it?
• Kore wa nan desu ka? /koh-reh wah nahn dess kah?/ – What is this?

Eating Out & Ordering Food

• Menyuu o kudasai /meh-nyoo oh koo-dah-sai/ – Can I have the menu, please?
• Osusume wa nan desu ka? /oh-soo-soo-meh wah nahn dess kah?/ – What do you recommend?
• 〜o onegai shimasu /oh neh-gai shee-mass/ – I’d like to order ~
• Bejitarian desu /beh-jee-tah-ree-ahn dess/ – I’m vegetarian
• Okaikei o onegai shimasu /oh-kai-kei oh oh-neh-gai shee-mass/ – The bill, please

Shopping & Money

• Kore o kudasai /koh-reh oh koo-dah-sai/ – I’ll take this
• Kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? /koo-reh-jit-toh kah-doh wah tsoo-kah-eh-mass kah?/ – Can I use a credit card?
• Mou sukoshi yasuku narimasu ka? /moh-oh soo-koh-shee yah-soo-koo nah-ree-mass kah?/ – Can you lower the price a little?
• Reshiito o kudasai /reh-shee-toh oh koo-dah-sai/ – Can I have a receipt?

Emergency & Health

• Tasukete! /tah-soo-keh-teh/ – Help!
• Byouin wa doko desu ka? /byo-in wah doh-koh dess kah?/ – Where is the hospital?
• Kibun ga warui desu /kee-boon gah wah-roo-ee dess/ – I feel sick
• Keisatsu o yonde kudasai /kei-saht-soo oh yohn-deh koo-dah-sai/ – – Call the police, please
• Kore wa nan no arerugii ga arimasu ka? /koh-reh wah nahn noh ah-reh-roo-gee gah ah-ree-mass kah?/ – What allergens are in this?

Casual Conversation & Slang

• Sugoi!  /soo-goy/ – Amazing!
• Kawaii! /kah-wah-ee-ee/ – Cute!
• Kakkoii! /kahk-koh-ee-ee/ – Cool!
• Hontou ni? /hohn-toh-nee/ – Really?
• Naruhodo /nah-roo-hoh-doh/ – I see / I understand
• Wakarimashita /wah-kah-ree-mah-shee-tah/ – Got it
• Daijoubu desu  /dai-joh-boo dess/ – I’m fine / No problem

And finally for anyone with tattoos who wants to use an onsen or sento:

Are tattoos okay? 

tato~ü wa daijöbu desu ka .

Tattoo wa dai jo boo des ka?