Conversation & Expression 会話と表現
The hardest-to-fake part of the JFT-Basic: saying the right thing in a real situation. These are the phrases for the everyday and work situations the test draws on. Read them, then drill.
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Meeting people 自己紹介
Introducing yourself and basic greetings at work or in your neighbourhood.
It's your first day at work. You introduce yourself to the team.
はじめまして、リンと申します。よろしくお願いします。
Hajimemashite, Rin to moushimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Nice to meet you, my name is Lin. I look forward to working with you.
申します is the humble form of 言う, used when introducing yourself politely.
A coworker asks where you're from. You answer.
ベトナムから来ました。
Betonamu kara kimashita.
I'm from Vietnam.
You want to ask a senior coworker to teach you the work kindly.
いろいろ教えていただけると助かります。
Iroiro oshiete itadakeru to tasukarimasu.
It would help me a lot if you could teach me various things.
You pass a neighbour in the morning.
おはようございます。
Ohayou gozaimasu.
Good morning.
You didn't catch someone's name and want them to repeat it.
すみません、もう一度お名前を教えていただけますか。
Sumimasen, mou ichido onamae o oshiete itadakemasu ka.
Sorry, could you tell me your name once more?
After a first meeting with a client, you say goodbye politely.
今日はありがとうございました。失礼します。
Kyou wa arigatou gozaimashita. Shitsurei shimasu.
Thank you for today. Goodbye (excuse me).
Shopping & the konbini 買い物
Paying, asking for things, and handling the register at shops and convenience stores.
At the konbini register, the clerk asks if you need a bag. You don't.
袋は大丈夫です。
Fukuro wa daijoubu desu.
I'm fine without a bag.
〜は大丈夫です is a soft, common way to decline.
You can't find the drinks in a supermarket and ask a clerk.
すみません、飲み物はどこですか。
Sumimasen, nomimono wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me, where are the drinks?
You want to pay by card. You tell the clerk.
カードでお願いします。
Kaado de onegaishimasu.
By card, please.
You point at an item in a display case and want that one.
これをください。
Kore o kudasai.
I'll take this one, please.
At an electronics shop, you ask whether the price can come down a little.
もう少し安くなりませんか。
Mou sukoshi yasuku narimasen ka.
Could it be a little cheaper?
You'd like a receipt for your purchase.
レシートをお願いします。
Reshiito o onegaishimasu.
A receipt, please.
Eating out 外食
Ordering, asking about the menu, and paying at restaurants and cafes.
You're ready to order at a restaurant and call the staff.
すみません、注文をお願いします。
Sumimasen, chuumon o onegaishimasu.
Excuse me, I'd like to order.
You can't decide and ask the staff what they recommend.
おすすめは何ですか。
Osusume wa nan desu ka.
What do you recommend?
You can't eat eggs and want to tell the staff.
卵が食べられないんですが、大丈夫ですか。
Tamago ga taberarenai n desu ga, daijoubu desu ka.
I can't eat eggs, is that okay?
You'd like some water.
お水をいただけますか。
Omizu o itadakemasu ka.
Could I have some water?
You've finished and want to pay.
お会計をお願いします。
Okaikei o onegaishimasu.
The bill, please.
You want the rest of your food to take home.
持ち帰りはできますか。
Mochikaeri wa dekimasu ka.
Can I take this to go?
Asking directions 道案内
Finding your way and asking where things are.
You're lost and ask a passer-by where the station is.
すみません、駅はどこですか。
Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me, where is the station?
You ask how long it takes to walk there.
歩いてどのくらいかかりますか。
Aruite dono kurai kakarimasu ka.
How long does it take on foot?
You need to find a restroom in a building.
すみません、トイレはどこですか。
Sumimasen, toire wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
Someone gives you directions and you want to confirm 'this way?'.
こっちでいいですか。
Kocchi de ii desu ka.
Is it this way?
After someone helps you find the way, you thank them.
ありがとうございます。助かりました。
Arigatou gozaimasu. Tasukarimashita.
Thank you. That really helped.
Trains & transport 交通
Buying tickets, checking platforms, and asking about trains and buses.
At the station you want to buy a ticket to Osaka.
大阪まで一枚ください。
Oosaka made ichimai kudasai.
One ticket to Osaka, please.
You ask which platform the Tokyo train leaves from.
東京行きは何番線ですか。
Toukyou-yuki wa nanbansen desu ka.
Which platform is the Tokyo train?
You check whether this bus goes to the airport.
このバスは空港に行きますか。
Kono basu wa kuukou ni ikimasu ka.
Does this bus go to the airport?
The train is delayed and you ask staff what's happening.
電車はどのくらい遅れていますか。
Densha wa dono kurai okurete imasu ka.
How delayed is the train?
You want to top up your IC card.
チャージをお願いします。
Chaaji o onegaishimasu.
I'd like to add money to my card.
At work 仕事の連絡
Calling in late or absent, asking for help, and basic workplace exchanges.
The train is delayed and you'll be about ten minutes late. You phone your workplace.
電車が遅れていて、10分ほど遅れます。すみません。
Densha ga okurete ite, juppun hodo okuremasu. Sumimasen.
The train is delayed, so I'll be about ten minutes late. I'm sorry.
Use 遅れます (be late) for lateness; 休みます (take the day off) is for absence.
You have a fever and need to take the whole day off. You call in.
熱があるので、今日はお休みをいただけますか。
Netsu ga aru node, kyou wa oyasumi o itadakemasu ka.
I have a fever, so could I take today off?
You didn't understand an instruction and politely ask again.
すみません、もう一度お願いできますか。
Sumimasen, mou ichido onegai dekimasu ka.
Sorry, could you say that once more?
You've finished a task and report it to your supervisor.
終わりました。次は何をしましょうか。
Owarimashita. Tsugi wa nani o shimashou ka.
I've finished. What should I do next?
You're leaving the office before your coworkers at the end of the day.
お先に失礼します。
Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu.
Excuse me for leaving before you.
You're not sure how to do something and ask a coworker for help.
ちょっと手伝っていただけますか。
Chotto tetsudatte itadakemasu ka.
Could you help me a little?
Teamwork & reporting 職場
Reporting problems, owning mistakes, confirming tasks, swapping shifts, and safety.
A machine has stopped working. You report it to your supervisor right away.
すみません、機械が止まってしまいました。
Sumimasen, kikai ga tomatte shimaimashita.
Excuse me, the machine has stopped.
〜てしまいました reports an unwanted result you didn't intend.
You made a mistake on an order and own up to it honestly.
申し訳ありません、私が間違えました。
Moushiwake arimasen, watashi ga machigaemashita.
I'm very sorry, I made a mistake.
申し訳ありません is more formal and apologetic than すみません, right for a real mistake at work.
You're not sure you understood the task. You check before starting.
これでよろしいでしょうか。
Kore de yoroshii deshou ka.
Is this alright (the way I'm about to do it)?
You can't work Saturday and ask a coworker to swap shifts.
土曜日のシフトを代わっていただけませんか。
Doyoubi no shifuto o kawatte itadakemasen ka.
Could you swap Saturday's shift with me?
You ask your supervisor if you can take your break now.
今、休憩に入ってもいいですか。
Ima, kyuukei ni haitte mo ii desu ka.
May I take my break now?
You notice the floor is wet and warn a coworker.
床がぬれているので、気をつけてください。
Yuka ga nurete iru node, ki o tsukete kudasai.
The floor is wet, so please be careful.
Hospital & pharmacy 病院・薬局
Describing symptoms and handling a clinic or pharmacy visit.
At the clinic, the receptionist asks how you feel. You have a fever and a cough.
熱と咳があります。
Netsu to seki ga arimasu.
I have a fever and a cough.
The doctor asks since when. It started yesterday.
昨日からです。
Kinou kara desu.
Since yesterday.
Reception asks for your insurance card; you forgot it today.
すみません、保険証を忘れました。
Sumimasen, hokenshou o wasuremashita.
Sorry, I forgot my insurance card.
At the pharmacy you ask when to take the medicine.
この薬はいつ飲みますか。
Kono kusuri wa itsu nomimasu ka.
When do I take this medicine?
Medicine is 飲む (to take), the same verb as 'to drink'.
The doctor asks where it hurts. Your stomach hurts.
おなかが痛い[いたい]です。
Onaka ga itai desu.
My stomach hurts.
City hall & procedures 役所・手続き
Handling forms and procedures at the city office and similar places.
At city hall you're unsure how to fill in a form and ask staff.
この書類の書き方を教えてください。
Kono shorui no kakikata o oshiete kudasai.
Please show me how to fill in this form.
You just moved and need to register your new address.
引っ越しの手続きをしたいんですが。
Hikkoshi no tetsuzuki o shitai n desu ga.
I'd like to do the moving-in procedure.
You ask which counter handles your procedure.
この手続きはどの窓口ですか。
Kono tetsuzuki wa dono madoguchi desu ka.
Which counter is this procedure at?
You ask what you need to bring for the procedure.
何が必要ですか。
Nani ga hitsuyou desu ka.
What do I need (to bring)?
Staff hand you a numbered ticket; you confirm you should wait.
ここで待てばいいですか。
Koko de mateba ii desu ka.
Should I wait here?
Bank & post office 銀行・郵便
Opening an account, sending money home, the ATM, and posting a parcel.
At the bank you want to open a new account.
口座を作りたいんですが。
Kouza o tsukuritai n desu ga.
I'd like to open an account.
You want to send money to your family overseas.
海外にお金を送りたいです。
Kaigai ni okane o okuritai desu.
I'd like to send money overseas.
The ATM took your card and won't return it. You tell the staff.
すみません、カードが出てきません。
Sumimasen, kaado ga dete kimasen.
Excuse me, my card won't come out.
At the post office you want to send a parcel to Vietnam.
ベトナムまで荷物を送りたいです。
Betonamu made nimotsu o okuritai desu.
I'd like to send a parcel to Vietnam.
You ask how much the postage will be.
送料はいくらですか。
Souryou wa ikura desu ka.
How much is the postage?
Staff give you a form. You ask where to write your name.
名前はどこに書きますか。
Namae wa doko ni kakimasu ka.
Where do I write my name?
Home & neighbours 住まい・ゴミ
Trash days, apologising for noise, and asking the landlord about repairs.
You're not sure which day burnable trash goes out and ask a neighbour.
燃えるゴミは何曜日ですか。
Moeru gomi wa nan'youbi desu ka.
Which day is burnable trash?
Your TV was too loud last night. You apologise to your neighbour.
昨日はうるさくてすみませんでした。
Kinou wa urusakute sumimasen deshita.
Sorry for being noisy yesterday.
The air conditioner is broken. You call the landlord.
エアコンが壊れてしまったんですが。
Eakon ga kowarete shimatta n desu ga.
The air conditioner has broken.
There's a water leak under the sink. You report it.
水が漏れています。
Mizu ga morete imasu.
Water is leaking.
You locked yourself out. You call the management company.
鍵を中に忘れて、入れません。
Kagi o naka ni wasurete, hairemasen.
I left my key inside and can't get in.
You ask how to sort PET bottles for recycling.
ペットボトルはどうやって分けますか。
Petto botoru wa dou yatte wakemasu ka.
How do I sort PET bottles?
Everyday situations 日常
Apologising, thanking, phone calls, and small talk in daily life.
You arrive late to meet a friend and apologise.
遅れてすみません。
Okurete sumimasen.
Sorry I'm late.
You answer your phone from an unknown number, politely.
もしもし、はい、リンです。
Moshi moshi, hai, Rin desu.
Hello, yes, this is Lin.
You ask a neighbour a small favour.
ちょっとお願いがあるんですが。
Chotto onegai ga aru n desu ga.
I have a small favour to ask.
Someone speaks too fast and you didn't catch it.
すみません、よくわかりませんでした。
Sumimasen, yoku wakarimasen deshita.
Sorry, I didn't quite understand.
You ask someone to speak a little more slowly.
もう少しゆっくりお願いします。
Mou sukoshi yukkuri onegaishimasu.
A little more slowly, please.
A colleague helped you all day; you thank them as you part.
今日はありがとうございました。おつかれさまです。
Kyou wa arigatou gozaimashita. Otsukaresama desu.
Thank you for today. Good work (see you).
Emergencies 緊急
Getting help fast when you feel ill, have an accident, or lose something important.
You suddenly feel very unwell at work and tell someone.
気分が悪いです。少し休んでもいいですか。
Kibun ga warui desu. Sukoshi yasunde mo ii desu ka.
I feel sick. May I rest a little?
Someone has collapsed on the street. You call out for help.
誰か、救急車を呼んでください。
Dareka, kyuukyuusha o yonde kudasai.
Someone, please call an ambulance.
Dial 119 for an ambulance or fire; 110 for the police.
You lost your wallet and report it at the police box (交番).
財布をなくしてしまいました。
Saifu o nakushite shimaimashita.
I've lost my wallet.
You need a hospital now and ask where the nearest one is.
近くの病院はどこですか。
Chikaku no byouin wa doko desu ka.
Where is the nearest hospital?
There's a fire in the building. You warn everyone.
火事です！外に出てください！
Kaji desu! Soto ni dete kudasai!
Fire! Please get outside!
You witness a traffic accident and call the police.
事故です。すぐに来てください。
Jiko desu. Sugu ni kite kudasai.
There's been an accident. Please come quickly.