Japanese for Gringos
A daily Japanese course for English speakers headed to Japan — travel phrases, pronunciation, and cultural notes, one lesson at a time.
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Japanese For Gringos Lesson 3 Numbers 120 2026 10 04
Lesson 3: Numbers 1–20 ichi, ni, san, yon, go (1-5): ee-chee, nee, sahn, yohn, goh; four is YON not shi (shi means death) roku, nana, hachi, kyuu, juu (6-10): roh koo; nana like the start of banana; hachi = hah like laughter, then chee; kyuu/juu = hold the oo (kyoo, joo); seven is NANA not shichi; double-o long vowels held twice as long juu-ichi through juu-kyuu (11-19): taught via phonetics — joo ee chee, joo nee, joo sahn, joo yohn, joo goh, joo roh koo, joo nah nah, joo hah chee, joo kyoo; pattern = juu + number ni-juu (20): nee-joo; its own word, breaks the pattern (always hyphenated in sc
Japanese For Gringos Lesson 2 Courtesy Essentials 2026 10 04
Lesson 2: Courtesy essentials arigatou gozaimasu (thank you very much): ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahss; long TOH; always use full form as traveler dou itashimashite (you're welcome): doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh; rarely needed, a nod works sumimasen (excuse me/sorry/thank you): soo-mee-mah-sehn; sehn rhymes with ten; the Swiss army knife onegaishimasu (please, for requests): oh-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahss; attach to requests, e.g. kore onegaishimasu daijoubu (it's fine / I'm okay): dah-ee-joh-boo; joh rhymes with go; flat and even Demo dialogue: ramen shop in Tokyo — sumimasen to get attention, orderi
Japanese For Gringos Lesson 1 Greetings Introductions 2026 10 04
Lesson 1: Greetings & Introductions ohayou gozaimasu (good morning): oh-HAH-yoh goh-zah-ee-mahss; long vowel, hold the HAH konnichiwa (good afternoon/hello): kohn-nee-chee-wah; flat even syllables, drumbeat rule konbanwa (good evening): kohn-bahn-wah; swap middle syllable from konnichiwa hajimemashite (nice to meet you, first time): hah-jee-meh-mahsh-teh; fast, flat, one breath watashi wa ___ desu (my name is ___): wah-TAH-shee wah ___ dehss; name goes in the middle yoroshiku onegaishimasu (please be kind to me): yoh-roh-shkoo oh-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahss; quick swallowed shkoo sayonara (goodbye f