Morning Update
Japanese for Gringos — Japanese For Gringos Lesson 2 Courtesy Essentials 2026 10 04
Sun, 04 Oct 2026 17:10:24 GMT · 3:43
https://morningupdate.org/japanese-for-gringos/episodes/japanese-for-gringos-lesson-2-courtesy-essentials-2026-10-04/

Maya: Konnichiwa, and welcome back to Japanese for Gringos! I'm Maya.
Devon: And I'm Devon. Lesson two today, and it's the most powerful lesson of the whole trip: courtesy essentials. Five phrases that open every door in Japan.
Maya: These are the phrases you'll use fifty times a day, Devon. Ready?
Devon: Ready. Phrase one. Thank you very much. Arigatou gozaimasu. Say ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahss.
Maya: The short casual version is just arigatou, but as a traveler, always use the full one. Ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahss. Tip: that toh is long. Ah-ree-gah-TOH. Stretch it, and you're suddenly polite instead of casual.
Devon: Phrase two, and Maya, this one scares people. You're welcome. Dou itashimashite. Say doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh.
Maya: You will almost never need to say this, because Japanese people rarely say you're welcome. They just smile and bow. Tip: if you must say it, keep it soft and fast. Doh ee-tah-shee-mahsh-teh, one gentle breath. Bonus tip: a deep nod works just as well.
Devon: Phrase three. The Swiss army knife of Japanese. Sumimasen. Say soo-mee-mah-sehn.
Maya: Sumimasen means excuse me, sorry, and thank you all at once. Bump into someone: sumimasen. Get a waiter's attention: sumimasen. Someone lets you pass: sumimasen. Tip: the sehn rhymes with ten, not seen. Soo-mee-mah-sehn.
Devon: Phrase four. Please, when you're asking for something. Onegaishimasu. Say oh-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahss.
Maya: You attach it to requests. Kore, onegaishimasu, means this one, please. Tip: it's the second half of yoroshiku onegaishimasu from lesson one, so you already half know it. Oh-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahss.
Devon: Phrase five. It's fine, or I'm okay. Daijoubu. Say dah-ee-joh-boo.
Maya: Someone asks if you need help and you're fine: daijoubu. Also great for reassuring a worried shopkeeper. Tip: the joh rhymes with go, and the boo is short. Dah-ee-joh-boo, flat and even, remember our drumbeat rule.
Devon: Demo time. We're at a little ramen shop in Tokyo. Maya, you're the customer, I'm the server.
Maya: Sumimasen. Kore, onegaishimasu.
Devon: Hai, douzo. Here you go. Omatase shimashita.
Maya: Arigatou gozaimasu.
Devon: And she used three of today's phrases in one perfect exchange. Sumimasen to get my attention, onegaishimasu to order politely, and arigatou gozaimasu to thank me.
Maya: Cultural note. In Japan, politeness is not optional decoration. It's the whole game. Saying thank you to the cashier, the taxi driver, the train attendant, everyone. It costs you nothing and it genuinely changes how people treat you. Devon, what about tipping?
Devon: Big one. You do not tip in Japan. Not at restaurants, not in taxis. In fact, tipping can confuse people or even cause a chase-down-the-street moment where they run after you to return your forgotten money. Just say arigatou gozaimasu with feeling.
Maya: Before we close, the three phrase recap drill. Devon, your turn.
Devon: Hit me.
Maya: How do you say thank you very much?
Devon: Arigatou gozaimasu. Ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zah-ee-mahss.
Maya: How do you say excuse me or sorry?
Devon: Sumimasen. Soo-mee-mah-sehn.
Maya: And how do you say please when making a request?
Devon: Onegaishimasu. Oh-neh-gah-ee-shee-mahss.
Maya: Beautiful. You now hold the five keys to politeness in Japan. Next lesson, numbers one through twenty, and watch out, four is trouble. Sah-yoh-nah-rah, friends.
Devon: Sah-yoh-nah-rah. Sumimasen, arigatou gozaimasu, practice them all day.