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There may be times you’ll attend a Japanese funeral or hear about someone’s loss, so how would you respectfully express condolences in Japanese? Japanese funerals are solemn, respectful occasions to pay homage to the deceased and their loved ones. So, it is important to learn the customs, traditions, and etiquette so you can know how to attend funerals or properly express your grief while keeping Japanese sentiments in mind. 

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Japan’s funeral customs and traditions, the process of funeral service in Japan, and how to express condolences in Japanese.

The Funeral Process in Japan

Funerals in Japan consist of a wake, the funeral service, and the cremation or burial after the funeral service. Let us look at each in further detail below. 

1. The Wake Before the Funeral 

Funerals in Japan typically begin with the wake, which is a time for friends and family to pay their respects to the deceased and offer condolences to the bereaved. The wake is usually held at the deceased’s family home or a funeral parlor on the night before the funeral. A wake is called お通夜 (otsuya) in Japanese, which can also translate to “overnight”. Originally, the wake is held overnight as mourners accompany the deceased for one final night together, but nowadays it only lasts a few hours. 

During the wake, mourners offer incense, or 線香 (senkou), and flowers, and have a final meal of food and alcohol with the deceased, usually vegetarian food as per Buddhist customs. Sometimes, there will be a sutra chanting called 読経 (dokkyou) performed by the monk. Burning the incense is called 焼香 (shoukou).

2. The Funeral Service

The day after the wake is when the funeral service is held. Funerals are called お葬式 (osoushiki) or お葬儀 (osougi). Both words actually have slightly different meanings but are often used interchangeably, especially in modern times. Religion is strongly reflected in funeral ceremonies. Buddhist funerals are the most common in Japan since they are closely tied to Shinto traditions. In Buddhist funerals, monks recite sutras and incense is burned. You can also find Christian funerals in Japan, depending on the deceased’s faith.

3. Sending the Deceased Off

After the funeral service, it is customary to say goodbye to the deceased through a traditional farewell ceremony. Note that attendance is usually limited to the deceased’s family unless special permission is given to other guests. It is a very private and personal affair for the bereaved family. Cremation, called 火葬 (kasou) in Japanese, is becoming more and more common, often preferred over burial. 

After the cremation is completed, a ceremony is held to collect the remaining bones. A special pair of long chopsticks is used, and the lifting of bones is usually done by 2 people together. The bone lifting needs to be done in the correct order: starting with the teeth, then the bones from the feet up to the head, and finished with the larynx (throat bone). The bones are placed into an urn. 

Saying “I’m Sorry for Your Loss”: How to Give Condolences in Japanese?

How to Give Condolences in Japan: Guide to Japanese Funeral
Photo by Max Michatz on Unsplash

So, what do you say to the bereaved family when being informed of someone’s death, or when attending a wake or funeral service? Here are a few Japanese phrases to respectfully give condolences while keeping in mind proper Japanese manners. 

1. Okuyami moushiagemasu (お悔やみ申し上げます): My sincerest condolences. 

This is the most basic way to express condolences in Japanese, similar to saying “I am sorry for your loss” in English. If you want to add a deeper layer of sincerity, you can say the following.

Example:

心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。
Kokoro yori okuyami moushiagemasu.
My sincerest condolences from the bottom of my heart.

Another common expression for expressing deep condolences.

Example:

ご逝去の報に接し、謹んでお悔やみ申し上げます
Go seikyo no hou ni sesshi, tsutsushinde okuyamimōshiagemasu
I would like to express my deepest condolences upon hearing the news of their passing

2. Goshuushou sama desu (ご愁傷さまです): I am sorry for your loss

“Go shuushou sama desu” is a general expression used to express sympathy or condolences; it has the same meaning as the above “お悔やみ申し上げます”. You can also combine them into:

この度はご愁傷さまでございます。心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。
Kono tabi wa goshuushou sama de gozaimasu. Kokoro yori okuyami moushiagemasu.
I am very sorry for your loss. I would like to express my deepest condolences.

3. Gomeifuku o oinori moushiagemasu (ご冥福をお祈り申し上げます): May they rest in peace (in the afterlife)

“Gomeifuku wo oinori mou shiagemasu” is a prayer for the deceased’s soul, meaning “May his/her soul rest in peace” or “I pray for his/her happiness in the afterlife”. The kanji 冥 means “dark” and is used in 冥土 (meido, the underworld), while 福 (fuku) means good fortune. Together, 冥福 (meifuku) means happiness in the afterlife.

It is normally used in condolence messages in the Buddhist religion, so you need to be careful when using this phrase. It may be offensive if the deceased or bereaved family does not believe in the afterlife. It is best to avoid saying this if you are not sure of their religion.

4. Aitou no i o arawashimasu (哀悼の意を表します): Please accept my condolences

Although it expresses the same thing, this funeral phrase is less colloquial. 哀悼の意を表します implies, “I am sad and heartbroken when I think of the deceased”. While it is often used in messages, people avoid saying this verbally. It is usually reserved for expressing condolences in formal speeches — such as when Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expresses his devastation after Shinzo Abe’s passing — and in telegrams. 

5. Yasurakana nemuri ni tsukaremasu you oinori moushiagemasu (安らかな眠りにつかれますようお祈り申し上げます): I wish you a peaceful sleep

While Christianity is not a major religion in Japan, if you ever attend a Christian funeral or want to, you can say 安らかなお眠りをお祈り申し上げます. It translates something close to “I hope they rest in peace.” This expression might be more appropriate in Christianity, since they believe that you will go to heaven to be with God once you have died, rather than be reincarnated. Saying the third phrase above may not be appropriate to Japanese Christians.

What Not to Say During a Japanese Funeral 

There are a lot of taboos in Japanese culture, and the same can be said in greetings and condolences at funerals. So, let’s find out what you need to keep in mind when attending a Japanese funeral to avoid insulting anybody or coming across as disrespectful.

1. Refrain from using the word “death” (死)

Avoid being straightforward when mentioning anything regarding death directly, as it’s still a heavy subject. A way to cushion saying “death” is by using seikyi (逝去) or eimin (永眠), which means eternal sleep.

If the person passed suddenly, don’t use the term kyuushi (急死), which literally translates to “sudden death”. Instead, opt for kyuusei (急逝) or totsuzen no koto (突然のこと), which means “sudden event).

2. Avoid sensitive topics

Avoid discussing or asking about the details of the deceased’s death, cause of death, and days leading up to the death, which may be too painful for the family. Also, avoid asking about any inheritance or financial matters related to the deceased.

Funerals are not the time to make friends or expand your social circle, so avoid doing so. It is a solemn occasion for mourning the deceased. Also, it is best to avoid discussing controversial topics such as politics or religion. 

3. Don’t use repeated phrases

Japanese adverbs such as masu masu (ますます), tabi tabi (たびたび), kurekure (くれぐれも), or any phrase that utilizes repeated sounds evoke the idea of repeated unhappiness. Similarly, don’t use phrases that mean “again”, such as tabi (再び) and otte (追って). There is a deep-rooted taboo that unhappiness or misfortune will keep happening if you say these phrases during a funeral.

Here are some more words you should avoid using during Japanese funerals.

JapaneseHiraganaEnglish
重ね重ねKasanegasaneOverlapping
たびたびTabitabioften
またまた
MatamataOnce again
重々JuujuuHeavily
いよいよIyoiyoFinally
ますますMasumasuMore and more
次々TsugitsugiOne by one
再三SaisanRepeatedly

4. Words such as “Do your best” and “Cheer up”

​​Words such as “Do your best” (ganbatte kudasai; 頑張ってください) and “Cheer up” (genki o dashite kudasai; 元気を出してください) are intended to be encouraging, but they can come across as insensitive. This is because you’re adding an extra burden to the bereaved family, and it may not communicate your understanding of how difficult their loss must be. So it’s best to empathize and grieve with them. 

Japanese Vocabulary Related to Funeral Culture in Japan

Here are some key terms to remember that you likely hear or run into when attending a Japanese funeral.

JapaneseHiraganaEnglish
お通夜OtsuyaWake
線香SenkouIncense
読経DokkyouSutra chanting
焼香ShoukouBurning incense
お葬式OsoushikiFuneral
お葬儀OsougiFuneral service
火葬KasouCremation
冥福MeifukuAfterlife
逝去SeikyiDeath
永眠EiminEternal sleep
急逝KyuuseiSudden death
香典KodenCondolence money
香典袋KodenbukuroCondolence money envelope
成仏JoubutsuEnlightenment or Nirvana (Buddhist term)
往生OujouDeath (Buddhist term)
帰天KitenReturn to Heaven (Christinaity)
召天ShoutenSummon

Preparing to Attend a Japanese Funeral

How to Give Condolences in Japan: Guide to Japanese Funeral

Now let’s go through some common funeral customs, etiquette and traditions in Japan. The most important things to know are what to wear, preparation and giving of condolence money “koden”, and how to burn incense during the funeral service. 

What to Wear

When attending a Japanese funeral, it is important to dress in formal and respectful attire. Black clothing is best. In Japan, funeral attire for men is a black suit and tie over a white shirt, and black dress shoes. Women should wear a simple black dress or a black blouse with a black skirt, black stockings, and black dress shoes.

Revealing, flashy clothes and bright colors are inappropriate for the solemn occasion. In the case of accessories, generally, no accessories are best, but exceptions are made for wedding rings. Simple pearl earrings and necklaces or black onyx ones are also accepted. For students still in school, the formal attire for funerals is their school uniform. 

Preparing Condolence Money

Condolence money is called koden (香典). Originally, incense sticks and powdered incense were offered as koden, but nowadays cash money is given, which covers the cost of incense burnt for the deceased, the funeral service, and other related costs. The bereaved family may even donate the condolence money to charities or religious institutions in memory of the deceased.

The appropriate amount of condolence money to give depends entirely on the relationship with the deceased; the closer the relationship, the higher the amount. Koden usually ranges from 3,000 yen to 30,000 yen, with factors like financial status taken into consideration. In any case, koden is an expression of sympathy and support to the bereaved family, so you do not need to force yourself to give a lot if it is above your means; a heartfelt condolence message is also greatly appreciated. 

The condolence money is normally placed in a white envelope called a kodenbukuro (香典袋), which is wrapped in a small silk cloth. Never use new bills as condolence money. If you only have new bills, then fold them vertically first. The right time to hand over koden is at the funeral reception. Start by offering your condolences, then pass over the kodenbukuro after unwrapping it from the silk cloth. 

Burning Incense

Burning incense is the most important part of a Japanese funeral service. It is an important ritual for offering prayers to the deceased and for mourners to gain closure. The process for burning incense is slightly different depending on whether powdered incense or incense sticks are used. 

For both incense types, start with a deep bow to the bereaved family. Then, hang the prayer beads over your left hand. For powdered incense, lift some incense using your right hand’s thumb, index, and middle finger and touch the incense to your forehead before lowering and dropping the incense into the burner. This is usually done 1~3 times depending on the religious sect. For incense sticks, light incense sticks with a candle and use your hand to extinguish the flames by fanning; never blow on the incense sticks. The number of incense sticks to burn (1~3) also depends on the religious sect. After that, bring your hands together in prayer, facing the deceased’s portrait whilst offering a silent prayer, then bow to the portrait. Bow once more to the bereaved family. 

Aside from burning incense, offerings like flowers and fruits are also common at Japanese funerals. These are usually placed on the altar. If you bring flower offerings, make sure to get the right funeral flowers. If in doubt, just inform the florist of the purpose of these flowers, and they will help pick and arrange them accordingly.   

Memorial Service and Death Anniversary

In Japan, a memorial service is usually held on the 7th or 49th day after the funeral. There is a possibility that you will be invited to attend. The customs and traditions are the same as for the funeral service, so you should have no problems attending. Your dressing and how to prepare condolence money are the same; the average amount is 5,000 yen to 100,000 yen depending on the relationship with the deceased.

In Japan, the first and second death anniversaries can be quite big and important events. The dressing is different; casual clothing in dark colors like black, navy, and grey is expected. Furthermore, the funeral envelope used is different from those used at the funeral service and the memorial service(s), so be careful when preparing. The range of condolence money is between 3,000 yen and 100,000 yen depending on the relationship with the deceased. 

Conclusion

Image by HeungSoon from Pixabay 

Funerals are solemn and formal occasions in Japan. It is very important to know the proper funeral customs and etiquette that are practiced in Japan before attending the funeral of someone you know. Not only does it show respect to the deceased, but it also helps to not further upset the grieving family. Most importantly, it allows you to properly mourn and grieve the loss of a friend or acquaintance, or to offer comfort to other mourners, while maintaining local Japanese sentiments. 

When you are unsure of the grieving family members’ beliefs or religious denominations, you can just stick to the standard expression: okuyami moushiagemasu, meaning “I’m sorry for your loss”.

FAQ

What does Okuyami moushiagemasu mean?

Okuyami moushiagemasu” means “my sincerest condolences,” and is a very safe go-to expression whenever you want to express grief for someone’s loss. 

What does Go shuushou sama desu mean?

“Go shuushou sama desu” is a general expression used to express sympathy or condolences.

What does condolence money called in Japanese and how to prepare it?

Condolence money is called “koden (香典)” in Japanese. The amount to give depends on the relationship with the deceased. Koden usually ranges from 3,000 yen to 30,000 yen. The recommended amount for friends and acquaintances is a minimum of 5,000 yen, and for relatives a minimum of 10,000 yen.

What's the difference between powdered incense and incese sticks and how to you use them?

For powdered incense: 

  1. Bow once to the bereaved family.
  2. On your left hand, hang the prayer beads. 
  3. Using the thumb, index, and middle finger of your free right hand, pinch some powdered incense.
  4. Touch the incense to your forehead before lowering your hand to drop it into the incense burner. Repeat 1 to 3 times depending on the religious sect. 
  5. When done, put your hands together in prayer and bow once to the deceased’s portrait.
  6. Bow again to the bereaved family

For incense sticks:
Generally the same procedure as above.

  1. Bow once to the bereaved family.
  2. Light an incense stick, usually only one but sometimes 2 or 3, with a candle.
  3. Fan with your hand to extinguish the flame; do not blow on the incense stick. 
  4. Stick the incense sticks into the burner. 
  5. Put your hands together in prayer and bow once to the deceased’s portrait.
  6. Bow again to the bereaved family

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Did you know that watashi, boku, and ore aren’t the only ways to refer to yourself in Japanese? There’s only “me”, “myself”, and “I” in English, but when it comes to Japanese first-person pronouns, the options are seemingly endless.

So how do you know you’re using the right “I” in Japanese? If you watch enough anime, films, or even the news, you’ll notice a pattern: watashi (わたし) stands as the most basic form of the first-person pronoun. Boku (僕) and ore (俺) are next, respectively. Then again, there are layers of subtext, social factors, and psychological distance to consider. Japanese culture is complex, and this extends to the language, too.

Ultimately, we want you to avoid feeling overloaded. It’s just “I”, after all — why make things complicated? Thankfully, a lot of Japanese speakers don’t even stick to one pronoun. You’ll learn how to differentiate between each “I” and find out which one is best to use for your specific context or just who you are. Let’s check out some of the ways to refer to yourself in Japanese!

About Watashi, Boku, Ore and A Million Other Japanese First-Person Pronouns

If English is your native language, this might be your first time hearing that many languages have multiple first-person pronouns, like Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Korean. Between all of these, Japan has the most.

How and when you refer to yourself depends on the person you’re talking to, the situation, and context. In other words, it depends on how you want to present yourself.

For example, if you use watashi (わたし), it’s considered formal and polite. On the other hand, try using ore (俺) in front of your boss, and you might risk losing your job in Japan (or, better yet, being told to voluntarily quit from the company).

How First-Person Pronouns are Used in Japanese

This is why you’ll notice most Japanese people bouncing from one pronoun to another when they’re with their close friends, family, or colleagues. You’ll notice a lot of them have their go-to pronouns, too. When it comes to gender differences in spoken Japanese, men and women tend to favor different pronouns. Social standing also affects how people refer to themselves, as well as how they refer to other people.

For example, 72% of Japanese men will use “ore” (俺) with their friends. When they’re talking to a stranger, more than 60% of them will use “boku” (僕). On the other hand, to an unknown visitor, 75% of Japanese women will use “watashi”.

Of course, watashi, boku, and ore aren’t the only first-person pronouns in Japanese, because they don’t include all the phonetic strains and regional differences. Ever heard of “ora” (おら)? It’s an informal Japanese personal pronoun from the Kanto dialect, similar to “oira” (おいら). The impression you’ll get when you use this is that of a “country bumpkin” — someone from a very rural area. We’ll go over other ways to say “I” in Japanese as we dive deeper into the article.

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You Don’t Need to Use First-Person Pronouns in Japanese

Unlike most languages, Japanese grammar doesn’t require you to use first-person pronouns; as a matter of fact, the Japanese language often omits words due to its structure. So, you don’t even need a subject in a sentence, to begin with. Let’s take a look at an English and Japanese example.

Example:

銀行へ行ってきます。
Ginkou e ittekimasu.
I’m going to the bank (and returning again).

You’ll notice that, in the Japanese example, the typical watashi (わたし) is omitted. The textbook example would be, “わたしは銀行へ行ってきます” (watashi wa ginkou e itte kimasu), which makes more sense when translated into English. Here, the literal translation is “Going to the bank.” In this context, we know the speaker is referring to themself, so you don’t need to add an extra “I” for clarity.

A great rule of thumb is this: When the meaning is still clear, you can remove pronouns that mean “I” or “you” in Japanese. As a comparison, let’s use the same example sentence from above and tweak the context a little bit.

Example:

A: 誰が銀行にいますか？
A: Dare ga ginkou ni imasuka?
A: Who is in(at) the bank?

B:銀行へ行っていますが、家にいます。
B: Ginkou e itteimasuga, ie ni imasu.
B: Going to the bank, in the house.

In the dialogue above, it’s not clear who is going to the bank and who is in the house. In this case, you’ll need to include the pronouns. A better answer should be like the one below:

Example:

B: 私銀行へ行っていますが、お兄さんは家にいます。
B: Watashi wa ginkou e itteimasuga, onii-san wa ie ni imasu.
B: I’m going to the bank, but (my) brother is in the house.

On the other hand, there are verbs that imply the subject and object of the sentence. In English, we use “to give” and “to receive” regardless of who is giving and who is receiving. In Japanese, there are two verbs for expressing ‘to give’: あげる (Ageru), くれる (Kureru); while ‘to receive’ is indicated by もらう. Kureru (くれる) means to “give something from someone to me” (in other words, “receive”), while ageru (あげる) means “me giving something to someone else”.

This rule makes pronouns unnecessary because the subject (giver) and receiver are already implied.

For now, let’s have a look at the different characteristics of watashi, bok,u, and ore. Once your level in Japanese has improved, it may be a good idea to try and change the first-person pronoun you are using. This can change depending on your character, the setting, or even your conversation partner.

Japanese First-person Pronouns Are Implicitly Gendered

Many first-person pronouns are gendered in Japanese; 俺 (ore), 僕 (boku), and 私 (watashi) have developed gendered associations over time, though there are no formal rules restricting their use. Historically, men’s pronouns such as 俺 and 僕 reflected social roles and expectations: 俺 originated in the speech of samurai and conveyed assertiveness and confidence, while 僕 was a modest, polite term used by young men or servants.

In contrast, women historically used 私 (watashi) in formal contexts to convey politeness and restraint, while informal あたし emerged in casual speech to express friendliness or softness. These patterns persist because pronouns function as social signals, communicating not only one’s gender but also formality, personality, and social position.

For example, a woman using 僕 may be perceived as tomboyish or nonconforming, while a man using 私 in professional settings signals politeness and humility. In modern Japanese, these gendered associations are gradually becoming more flexible, with younger speakers and media representations challenging traditional norms, though pronoun choice still carries subtle social and cultural cues.

Ways to Call Yourself in Japanese

Without further ado, let’s explore the most common ways to say “I” or “me” in Japanese. Keep in mind that this is an exhaustive list, but some of these pronouns are rarely used in everyday conversation—or may sound outdated or overly formal. We’ve included them for completeness and context.

1. Watashi: 私 (わたし)

It’s the safest choice when you’re a beginner. In formal situations, it’s the safest choice and doesn’t carry any gender nuances. In casual speech, however, わたし can give off a “feminine” feel, so it’s typically used by women. When men use it in a casual context, such as when talking with a friend or family, it’ll sound stiff.

A polite way to refer to yourself, 私 (わたし) is the most general expression that is used by both women and men everywhere from formal occasions to business and public situations. If you are not really close to the person you are talking to, this word would be your best bet to avoid any offense.

But as most Japanese typically avoid referring to themselves, they’d usually just drop the “watashi” or any first-person pronoun completely. Take a look at the example below.

私は和菓子が好き → 和菓子が好き。
Watashi wa wagashi ga suki → Wagashi ga suki.
I like Japanese traditional sweets.

As explained before, as long as it’s clear the sentence refers to yourself, you don’t need to state that “you” like sweets. Based on context, the listener knows you’re talking about yourself.

2. Watakushi: わたくし

You’ll hear this word straight out of historical anime, used by noblemen and women.  わたくし, or watakushi, is the more polite version of わたし; it might even be the most formal Japanese first-person pronoun. In fact, it’s so outdated that it’s not a part of modern textbooks.

Unless you’re working in a very uptight (or conservative) working environment in Japan, we don’t recommend using わたくし. It may be the most “civilized” choice — it sounds sophisticated — but if you use it in semi-formal situations, you’ll ironically sound stiff and out of place.

Example:

ですが、わたくしたちの思いは貴族には考えなのかもしれません。
Desu ga, watakushi tachi no omoi wa kizoku ni wa kangaena no kamo shiremasen.
However, our thoughts may be those of an aristocrat.

One of the only times we hear someone use わたくし is in official announcements, like when politicians hit the street for their campaigns or when a big public figure apologizes due to a scandal. In other words, if you’re not saying sorry or dwelling in super-serious businesses, you can forget about わたくし entirely.

3. Atashi: あたし

あたし is not really a new type of pronoun. It’s a shortened, more feminine pronoun that stems from わたし, so it’s not used in written language. Instead, you’ll only hear it in conversations, among younger women and children, who generally have trouble pronouncing “w” from わたし. Because of this, あたし sounds cute and endearing.

Like わたし, there’s a feminine pronoun that stems from わたくし too: あたくし.

4. Boku: ぼく (僕)

Boku is an expression used mostly by men. Originating from words like geboku (manservant) and kouboku (public servant), this word’s popularity began to spread among the younger generation as they used it to refer to themselves in a humble manner.

Although technically ぼく is used to address someone equal to or lower than you, you can think of boku as a gentler, semi-formal pronoun alternative. This is why it’s one of the first-person pronouns Japanese boys learn and commonly use.

Example:

僕もわかんない。
Boku mo wakannai.
I don’t know either.

Boku is perceived as humble, but can also carry an undertone of “feeling young” when used by older men. You’ll hear this used by men, usually among their coworkers, senpai, and even bosses. In formal situations, most men use either 私 or 僕. Even though it’s a common choice for adult men, you may come off as sounding childish and immature — a “mama’s boy”, even. Most young boys use boku in classrooms, but later on, as they get older and more comfortable, they’ll use おれ.

Today, it is more commonly used in close relationships or as a softer alternative to the word “ore” (see below; it sounds more modest, reserved, and polite. Because of this, you’ll notice more younger girls use boku (ぼく) too.

Boku as a Second-Person Pronoun for Young Boys

However, boku can also be used as a second-person pronoun for young boys. It’s a way to refer to a boy you don’t know. You’re basically referring to him from his perspective, so the term can come across as endearing and affectionate.

Example:

僕は何歳ですか?
Boku wa nansai desu ka?
Boku (small boy), how old are you?

You’ll notice parents calling their young son by this pronoun, too, adding the suffix ‘chan’ after ‘boku’ (boku-chan). One of our host families once said that they do this to avoid their children using their first names when they want to say “I” — something that a lot of children do. To this, they train their kid to associate themself with “boku” (instead of their real name).

Example:

僕ちゃん、何を食べる？
Boku-chan, nani o taberu?
Boku-chan, what do you want to eat?

5. Ore: おれ (俺)

As a first-person pronoun with an extremely rough image, 俺 (ore) is only used in a casual setting between people who are very close. It is often written with hiragana or katakana, but you may often find it stylized in katakana, オレ, in manga panels and written Japanese as an emphasis.

Usually, boys transition from using “boku” to “ore” as they grow up, but it’s only used in very informal settings. So, you might be tempted to start using おれ as soon as you can speak Japanese. However, unless you’re wholeheartedly confident that your Japanese is very, very natural, it might be better to avoid it. Even in close relationships, ore and boku create different images.

おれ can sound cocky, used to indicate aggressiveness and masculinity, so if you mix-and-match おれ with formal sentences (i.e. you’re not ready to speak Japanese effortlessly), you’ll risk sounding awkward. Take a look at two examples below for comparison.

Example:

俺は知らねえな。
Ore wa shiraneena.
How the heck would I know?

俺は知りませんでした。
Ore wa shirimasen deshita.
I do not know.

Both mean “I don’t know”, but think of 俺は知らねえな as the equivalent of “How the heck am I supposed to know?” If you mix 俺 with something formal like 知りませんでした, it won’t sound natural, like putting slang in a formal speech.

As a heads-up for Japanese learners, using 俺 could make you sound inadvertently cocky. 俺 can also be tricky to master for second-language learners because it doesn’t sound natural unless you speak Japanese really fluidly and effortlessly. 俺 can sound awkward when other elements in a sentence don’t match the aggressiveness and masculinity of 俺.

You’ll need to “match” the rough vibe of おれ, so if your personality and fluency aren’t there yet, opt to use ぼく instead.

6. Uchi: うち

Another way to say “I” in Japanese is うち, a sister term to おれ. In Tokyo, it’s used by young girls, while in Kansai, うち is used by both younger and older women. Note that in written form, it’s always in hiragana.

You can think of うち as the female version of 俺; it sounds more relaxed than the stiff わたし, so more young girls and women from elementary to college students begin to make this their default go-to pronoun. In fact, うち is the most used first-person pronoun by female elementary school pupils. But be careful too. Like 俺, using うち can be inappropriate, as it sounds slangy and strange outside the right context, social group, and dialect.

Example:

うちのせいだ。
Uchi no sei da.
It’s my fault.

More importantly, because うち means “one’s own” or “house”, using it creates a sense of unity or in-group, so you can use it to include your family, company, or team.

Example:

うちの娘が迷惑をかけてすみません。
Uchi no musume ga meiwaku o kakete sumimasen.
I’m sorry that my daughter caused trouble.

うち is also used in a less formal business setting as a way to say “our company”.

7. Jibun: じぶん (自分)

Technically, 自分 (じぶん) means “myself”, and it could be made into a Japanese adverb like this:

自分でケーキを作りました。
Jibun de keeki o tsukurimashita.
I made that cake by myself.

自分 can be used as a first-person pronoun too, but it does make you sound a bit masculine, modest, and distanced. It’s only used in an informal setting, but note it does communicate a sense of humility and respect to the listener. Because of this, you’ll hear 自分 used in a lot of sports and military groups.

Example:

自分は、嘘をついていませんよ。
Jibun wa, uso o tsuiteimasen yo.
I’m not lying.

In the Kansai dialect, 自分 can also be used as a second-person pronoun, but you may come off as sounding too friendly and coarse. Think of it like saying “You, yourself,” which can carry an accusing nuance if not used correctly.

Example:

自分、どこの国なん？
Jibun, doko no kuni nan?
You, where are you from?

8. Ware (われ)

Ware (われ / 我) is a very formal and somewhat old-fashioned way to say “I” in Japanese. It’s mostly used in official speeches, formal writing, or philosophical and literary contexts, rather than in everyday conversation. Using “ware” in casual situations can sound stiff or pretentious.

The plural form wareware (我々) means “we” or “us” and is commonly used in meetings, speeches, or documents to refer to a group formally.

9. Washi (わし/儂)

Washi (わし) is a Japanese pronoun that carries a masculine and often elderly nuance, so it is most commonly spoken by older men, especially in rural areas or traditional settings.

In practical use, it’s used in the Kansai area for older men, or applied for old-man characters in games or animation.

10. Using Your Name As a Japanese First-person Pronoun

If you grow up speaking English, it might sound weird to hear that a lot of children from Asian households use their own names to address themselves — including us.

Usually, in Japanese, children tend to use their own name or nickname because that’s what their parents call them. It’s the first identity they associate themselves with, but as they grow up, they’ll transition to their preferred Japanese first-person pronouns: boku, ore, watashi (atashi), or uchi. Still, a lot of us switch to using our names as first-person pronouns when we’re around our family.

Using your own name as an adult is generally associated with kawaii culture, but generally people don’t refer to themselves this way outside of family or close friend interactions because people see it as childish or even embarrassing — like you’re trying too hard to be cute. For example, here’s how not to use your own name:

モエもほしい！
Moe mo hoshii!
Moe (I) want it too!

Adults — mostly women — who use their own name for themselves are considered burikko (ぶりっ子), a Japanese slang term for girls who pretend to be cute in front of guys to get their attention.

11. Using Family Role As a Japanese First-person Pronoun

This applies when you’re speaking to someone younger, generally. For example, if you’re a mom or a dad, you can call yourself okaa-san (お母さん) or otou-san (お父さん) to address yourself in front of your children.

Example:

お母さんは駐車してくるから、ちょっと待ってね。
Okaa-san wa chuusha shitekuru kara, chotto matte ne.
Mom (I) is going to park my car, so wait a moment, okay.

Nowadays, you’ll also find parents using the more universal mama (written as ママ) and papa (パパ). Of course, family-role first-person pronouns aren’t just limited to moms and dads. As long as that family title can end with a ~さん or ~ちゃん, you can use them (check our article on main Japanese family terms).

It’s also not uncommon to use family terms for someone who’s not your family, but keep in mind that this is only when you’re talking to a child. For example, when you see a small boy seemingly lost in the park, you can call yourself a “Big Sister” (お姉さん・おねえさん).

Example:

ママはどこか？お姉さんが手伝ってあげようか？
Mama wa doko ka? Onee-san ga, tetsudatte ageyouka?
Where’s your mom? Big Sister (I) will help you.

12. Social Titles As Japanese First-person Pronoun

If you’re a professional — like a teacher, doctor, author, or even a manager — you can use that title as your go-to pronoun during work. Again, this really depends on the subcontext.

For example, imagine you are a teacher, and a student comes to you asking for help. In Japanese, you could refer to yourself as 先生 (sensei) instead of using a first-person pronoun.

Commonly, teachers will use 先生 when they’re in the classroom instead of watashi (わたし), boku (ぼく) or ore (おれ).

Example:

誰が先生を助けてくれる？
Dare ga sensei o tasukete kureru?
Who wants to help Sensei (me)?

Keep in mind two things. First, if you call yourself “Sensei” (先生) in front of other teachers, you’ll sound childish.

Second: in the Japanese language,  先生 is used beyond the primary definition of “teacher”. Doctors, authors, or judo masters — basically anyone with a specific skill, practical art, or technique — use 先生.

Other than that, we’ve also heard store managers using their title tenchou (店長) to address themselves, especially when they’re talking to young staff.

Example:

店長が明日休みだから、お店を頼むよ。
Tenchou ga ashita yasumi da kara, omise o tanomu yo.
Tenchou (I) will take a break tomorrow, so I’ll leave the store to you.

Conclusion: Using I or Me Correctly in Japanese Depends on Context

There are many ways to say “I” or “me” in Japanese beyond watashi, boku, or ore, but when in doubt you can just default to boku or watashi. However, for the most part, you can just drop the first-person pronoun in conversation since people can understand you’re talking about yourself based on context! Only in instances where it might not be so clear do you actually need to worry about saying “I” or “me” in Japanese.

Want to learn more Japanese like watashi? Take our free Japanese language assessment test

Wondering how to actually use first-person pronouns naturally in Japanese? Join our conversation-focused, practical lessons at Coto Academy, Tokyo and Yokohama’s top-rated Japanese language school. With campuses in Shibuya, Yokohama, Iidabashi, and Minato, as well as online classes, our courses focus on real, practical Japanese that you can use in daily life. Why join Coto Academy?

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FAQ

What’s the difference between "watashi," "boku," and "ore"?

  • Watashi (私): Polite and gender-neutral.
  • Boku (僕): Polite, casual, and commonly used by males.
  • Ore (俺): Very casual and masculine; used among close friends.

Which one should I use as a beginner?

Stick with watashi—it’s the safest and most appropriate in most settings, especially formal or public ones.

Can women use "boku" or "ore"?

Generally, no. Watashi is standard for women. Atashi is a casual feminine variation, but not typically used in formal situations.

Is it rude to use "ore"?

It depends on context. Among friends, it’s fine. But in formal settings or with strangers, it can sound arrogant or too casual.

What’s the most formal way to say "I"?

Watakushi (私) is probably the most respectful and formal version of “watashi,” often used in very formal business or ceremonial settings, but rarely in conversation.

Can I switch between them?

Yes, many native speakers switch based on the setting. But consistency is key for learners—stick to one until you’re comfortable.

Do Japanese people always use pronouns?

Not always. The Japanese often drop pronouns entirely when the subject is understood from context.

What’s next after learning watashi, boku, ore, and these Japanese first-person pronouns? Read more about:

Using Anki decks is one of the most effective, and certainly most convenient, ways to learn Japanese. Anki is a free, open-source flashcard program (available on any smartphone, tablet, and PC) that uses a spaced repetition system (SRS), allowing you to strategically space out repetition of cards to ingrain new words into your long-term memory. Through this, you can spend more time on words you have a harder time remembering and less on easier ones.

We strongly recommend Anki to learn new Japanese words and build vocabulary over time due to the versatility and accessibility of so many different decks. So, when you are just starting out, try using one of the pre-made Anki decks. Once you know your learning preference, you can then customize it. You can easily download thousands of Anki decks from the Anki website.

Now you are probably wondering what the best options are. So, we will share what our team of native Japanese teachers believe are the top 15 best Japanese Anki decks for learning Japanese, even from scratch!

What is Anki?

Anki is a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition, a learning technique that shows you cards at increasing intervals based on how well you remember them. It’s used by a wide range of people, from med students to language learners. Basically, it is used by anyone who needs to memorize a large amount of information over time.

An Anki deck is essentially a set of flashcards grouped together. You can have multiple decks for different topics (e.g., “JLPT N5 Vocabulary”, “Medical Terminology”, “GRE Prep”). Each card typically has a front (question, prompt) and a back (answer). You can also include audio, images, and formatting.

How the Anki Platform Works and How to Find Shared Decks?

When learning Japanese with Anki, the front of the card is often the Japanese word, and the back shows the English meaning. As you become more familiar with Anki, you can start customizing your cards to suit your learning style. You can even add audio, pictures, tags, custom fields, or other types of media to make your flashcards more engaging and effective!

The Anki platform is pretty easy to navigate on your phone, tablet, or computer. You can simply use the search bar to find certain shared decks you desire, which, in this case, is Japanese. You can find even decks specific to an area you want to study, such as JLPT or Business Japanese.

The Anki website also allows you to access shared decks for languages directly, under which you can just click the “Japanese” link, and it will bring you to a page full of different Japanese Anki decks. There is also a search bar that you can use to find a specific topic.

You click on each Anki deck, look at the reviews, and see the contents. A rating column also shows how different users rate the deck. If you found an Anki Deck you want to use, simply click the “download” button to open Anki on your device. However, with there being hundreds of Japanese Anki decks for learning, choosing the right one can be difficult and confusing. This is especially true for first-time Anki users who have no idea where to start. So, let’s start getting into our top recommendations!

You can also head to our Japanese learner’s guide to Anki flashcards for complete beginners, if you need decks for beginners specifically.

Best Japanese Anki Decks

Now, let’s go through our top shared Anki Deck recommendations for learning Japanese! Many of these decks are beginner-friendly, but there are many that contain material for more advanced learners as well.

1. Japanese Core 2000 Step 01 Listening Sentence Vocab + Images

japanese anki decks

Japanese Core 2000 Step 01 is one of the most popular Anki decks for memorizing core Japanese vocabulary. Specifically customized for beginners in Japanese, this Anki Deck has over 2,000 Japanese words that are meant to be practical for you to start building real-world Japanese language you can start using soon.

The contents in this Anki deck are well-structured, with images provided for easier memorization. The deck is great for starting to practice your listening skills with 405 audio files. There are also 235 images and example sentences for the Kanji, which will help you associate new words with concrete pictures to help lock them into memory.

It would probably take 2-3 months to complete this Anki deck if you practice consistently. As we know, consistency is the number one thing for improvement.

Visit the Anki website to download the Anki Deck onto your computer. The flashcards will appear on your screen once the deck is imported to your device. You can edit the cards by clicking on the “edit” button.

Download Anki deck here.

2. Japanese Core 2000 Step 02 Listening Sentence Vocab + Images

2. Japanese Core 2000 Step 02 Listening Sentence Vocab + Images

Japanese Core 2000 Step 02 is the second part of the Japanese Core 2000 Anki series. If you’re starting from scratch, it might be better to start with Step 01 before jumping into Step 02. This Anki Deck is still great for beginners and is a great step up from the previous deck, offering audio files, English translations, and images in the flashcards.

The deck consists of Japanese Kanji, verbs, and practical expressions used in daily life. This Anki Deck has over 404 Audio files and 236 Images. So, it’s great for listening practice as well as reading.

Similar to Step 01, it would probably take you 2-3 months to complete this Anki Deck if you practice consistently.

Visit the Anki website to download the Anki deck. The flashcards will appear on your screen once the deck is imported to your device. You can edit the cards by clicking on the “edit” button.

Get Anki decks here.

3. Japanese Basic Hiragana

If you are starting completely from scratch and need to learn the basic Japanese writing systems, we highly recommend this deck. Unlike the Japanese Core Series Anki Deck, this Anki deck does not have any pictures, but it is particularly helpful if you want to remember hiragana characters.

The deck was modified from the TextFugu Hiragana deck and includes the 46 basic audio hiragana character files.

The best part about this deck is that you can type the romaji under each hiragana character before flipping the card to see if you got the answer right. This deck is perfect for beginners and is great for learning the basic 46 hiragana characters, which make up the majority of the writing system you will need to remember. The deck just doesn’t include the modified sound characters such as が (ga), ば (ba), ぱ (pa), ざ (za), and だ (da), which just add tenten to some of the basic characters to alter their sound.

So, we highly recommend using this deck to memorize the basic hiragana characters before you move on to some more advanced material!

Download Anki deck here

4. JLPT Grammar from Jtest4you

This is the all-in-one Anki deck if you want to focus on grammar. The Jtest4you Anki Deck is focused on JLPT grammar from N5 to N1. It includes example sentences, romaji, and translations that can be added to the front and back of the flashcards.

The vocabulary is divided into different JLPT levels, allowing you to study the specific level you need. The flashcards have you study each vocabulary term in different example sentences, allowing you to practice questions that are similar to the ones on the JLPT.

The front of each flashcard consists of kanji and the example sentences in Japanese, while the back of the flashcard shows the furigana, romaji, and English translation.

Download Anki deck.

5. Japanese Visual Novel, Anime, Manga, LN Vocab – V2K 

We all love Japanese anime and manga, but did you know you can learn Japanese from popular anime, visual novels, and manga as well?

This Anki deck consists of 2,000 Japanese vocabulary words based on the most commonly used phrases from Japanese novels, anime, and manga. The creator analyzed text from popular Japanese media to create a deck that actually reflects common words you would run into in real-life conversation.

The deck uses familiar English metaphors to help you understand how Japanese words and kanji are actually meant in the proper context rather than using direct translations that often lead to more confusion.

It’s very beginner-focused, where you can effectively learn kanji and furigana, along with pre-recorded audio so you can learn how to properly pronounce each word as well.

You will be able to pick up heaps of useful words, such as 全然駄目だ、結構, that are frequently mentioned in anime and manga. It will also significantly improve your reading and listening comprehension.

Download Anki deck here.

6. Katakana Reading Practice

Katakana Reading Practice is an Anki deck that acts as a guide for beginners in learning katakana. With over 1,000 words and phrases in Katakana, the flashcards focus heavily on foreign loanwords, proper names, onomatopoeia, animal names, and brand names.

Many users of this Anki deck have found it very helpful in improving their speed and confidence in speaking and writing katakana.

English speakers might think it’s unnecessary to learn katakana since many of them are loan words from English — but you’d be surprised that some Japanese katakana words don’t sound similar to the original English words, and the fact that there are many katakana words not from English. So, it’s worth spending some time learning different katakana vocabulary and practicing how to read and recognize each character efficiently.

Download Anki deck here.

7. Official KanjiDamage deck

KanjiDamage is the official kanji deck from the KanjiDamage kanji program, which helps you learn and effectively remember Kanji using mnemonics and a healthy dose of humor. There are over 1,700 Kanji to learn from in this Anki Deck.

You will learn a mix of commonly used Kanji as well as uncommonly used Kanji that have been put in random order. The stroke order for writing the Kanji is also included.

If you want to learn kanji frequency instead, check out another Anki Deck made by the same user, which is a reordered version of this Anki deck. It has been reordered based on the frequency of each Kanji character so that you can more common characters first, followed by the uncommon ones.

Visit the Anki website to download the Anki Deck onto your computer. Once the deck is imported to your device, the flashcards will appear on your screen. You can edit the cards by clicking on the “edit” button.

Download Anki deck here.

8. All-in-One Kanji Deck

Looking to learn pretty much everything there is to learn about Kanji? All in One Kanji deck is one of the most comprehensive and informative collections out there. It is perfect for those looking to practice writing the Kanji and gaining more knowledge on kanji meaning and readings.

The Anki deck is nicely formatted. With over 10,000 flashcards, you will learn how to read each kanji in onyomi, kunyomi, and nanori as well as learn the number of strokes and stroke orders.

It also teaches you how each Kanji has been changed from its original Chinese elements to become a Japanese character.

Download Anki deck here.

9. Tofugu: Learn Hiragana Deck

This Anki deck, created by Tofugu, a Japanese learning platform, helps you learn Hiragana through mnemonics, images, or shortcuts to help you remember and recall new material. With this deck, you will be able to learn the basics of Japanese pronunciation and hiragana through fun illustrations that will help you remember each character more easily.

Download Anki deck here.

10. Tofugu: Learn Katakana Deck

Similar to Tofugu’s Learn Hiragana Deck, this deck helps you learn Katakana through mnemonics.

Through descriptive and animative mnemonics, learning is more fun and interactive, and above all very effective for memorization!

Download Anki deck here.

11. Japanese Course Based on Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide & Anime

This is a self-contained Japanese course for beginners, built around Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide, a popular free resource known for its clear explanations of essential grammar points. The creators also developed a companion Anki deck, making it easy to study and review.

The course places a strong focus on listening comprehension, using real anime scenes to reinforce learning. Each flashcard shows a Japanese phrase on the front, along with a video clip of the sentence used in an anime. The back of the card includes the English translation and a detailed grammar breakdown, helping learners understand both meaning and structure.

Download Anki deck here.

12. Genki 1 & 2 Kanji

If you’ve taken a Japanese class, chances are you’ve used the well-known Genki textbook series. This Anki deck is a simple but effective tool that was created to help students learn how to write the kanji introduced in Genki I and Genki II.

The deck covers individual kanji characters from Lesson 3 to Lesson 23, following the exact order presented in the textbooks. Each flashcard shows the English meaning, along with the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings on the front, and the kanji character on the back.

It’s perfect for reinforcing writing practice and memorizing readings in context with the Genki curriculum.

Download Anki deck here.

13. Katakana Reading Practice

Reading katakana can be surprisingly challenging, even if you’ve already memorized the characters. Unlike hiragana, katakana is often used for foreign loanwords and names, which don’t always follow typical Japanese word structure. 

This Anki deck features 1,000 cards designed to help you read katakana with speed and confidence. It focuses on loanwords from English, German, French, Portuguese, Chinese, and more, along with wasei-eigo (English-inspired words created in Japan, such as salaryman). You’ll also find cards with onomatopoeia, company names, animal names, and other real-world katakana usage to give you the exposure you need.

Download Anki deck here.

14. Remembering the Kanji 1, 6th Edition (2200 Kanji)

This Anki deck includes all 2,200 kanji from the 6th edition of Remembering the Kanji 1 by James W. Heisig. It was created to offer a complete and accurate companion to the book, as many existing shared decks were either incomplete, based on older editions, or lacked consistency in format and content.

The deck focuses solely on kanji characters, excluding primitive elements that are not kanji themselves. Each card includes a link to an external website for stroke order diagrams, allowing for easy reference and writing practice. It’s an ideal tool for learners following the Heisig method who want a streamlined, comprehensive study aid.

Download Anki deck here.

15. All in One Kanji Deck

This comprehensive Anki deck includes the full set of 2,136 Jouyou Kanji — the official list of kanji designated by the Japanese Ministry of Education for daily use. These are the characters taught in Japanese schools and used in newspapers, books, and official documents. In addition to the Jouyou Kanji, the deck covers JLPT N5 to N1 kanji, 861 Jinmeiyou Kanji (used primarily in names), the 2,500 most frequent kanji, 3,007 kanji from Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji, and more.

Download Anki deck here. 

16. Full Japanese Study Deck

The Full Japanese Study Deck consists of everything a Japanese learner would want, from JLPT-categorized vocabulary and kanji to additional words. The cards are designed simply. You can go through the subdeck, which contains the vocabulary and kanji, one by one.
It can be considered a “core deck” as well, as it contains common/essential words and kanji used in everyday Japanese (both in real life and in anime/manga). You can also find other subdecks, like the “ready-made mining material” subdecks, where all cards are suspended by default, and “reference material” subdecks for a quick search when you need to look up radicals, kana, and kanji.

Each card contains rich, detailed information: the English meaning, readings (onyomi, kunyomi, and nanori), stroke count, stroke order, and an example compound word. It also includes kanji classification levels such as JLPT level, Jouyou grade, and usage frequency.

Download the Anki deck here.

Conclusion: Should You Learn Japanese with Anki?

Anki is an amazing tool for memorizing new Japanese vocabulary, phrases, and kanji, due to its spaced repetition system that helps you focus on your weakest areas while words you know better will show up later to ensure you don’t forget them. However, it should not be your only resource for learning Japanese. Don’t get us wrong, it’s a great tool with tons of incredible functions, including the ability to embed audio recordings and reading passages to help with listening and reading. But you still need to actually take what you learn and test it in real conversation. In other words, to actually practice speaking, preferably with a partner.

If you are self-studying Japanese, Anki is definitely one of the best ways to build vocabulary over time, but don’t forget to mix it with other resources too!

Take Your Anki Learning to The Next Level!

Anki is incredibly powerful for building vocabulary and strengthening your memory. But just like any learning process, the best way to truly learn Japanese is through immersion. That means speaking with native speakers, practicing conversations out loud, writing actively in Japanese, and so much more.

These are experiences you simply can’t get from Anki alone. That’s where Coto Academy comes in.

Since 2000, Coto Academy has been helping students learn natural, real-life Japanese through conversation-focused lessons. With campuses in Tokyo and Yokohama, plus a thriving online school, Coto offers an immersive learning environment wherever you are. You won’t just learn kanji, grammar, and vocabulary. You’ll learn how to use them in real situations, right away.

Why join Coto Academy?

  • School locations in Shibuya, Minato, Iidabashi, and Yokohama, plus a fully online Japanese language school, so that you can learn anywhere, anytime!
  • Small classrooms with only up to 8 students for personalized support
  • Professional native Japanese teachers, all trained to help you succeed
  • Over 60 different Japanese classes across 18 levels, tailored to your needs

You can explore our courses and talk with our staff. No string attached. We just want to help you learn Japanese,

FAQ

What is Anki?

Anki is a powerful flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to help you memorize information more efficiently. For Japanese learners, it’s especially useful for retaining kanji, vocabulary, grammar points, and listening comprehension.

Can I customize the Japanese Anki deck?

Yes! Anki is very flexible—you can edit cards, add audio, images, mnemonics, or even create your own card types to match your study style.

What’s included in this Japanese Anki deck?

That depends on the deck, but typically you’ll find:

  • Listening and reading practice (optional with media decks)
    Some decks are based on popular resources like Genki, Tae Kim, or Heisig, and include JLPT-level tagging (N5 to N1).
  • Kanji cards (with meanings, readings, stroke order, and examples)
  • Vocabulary cards (with context sentences and audio)
  • Grammar explanations

You May Be Interested In:

Japanese adjectives fall into two grammatical categories: i-adjectives (い形容詞), which end in い and conjugate on their own, and na-adjectives (な形容詞), which need な to connect to a noun and conjugate more like nouns do.

Once you get the hang of basic Japanese grammar structure, you will want to form more complex sentences. What happens if you want to say that the dog is cute? Or short? Or friendly? This is where Japanese adjectives come in: to make you express more, rather than just stating the obvious.

This guide breaks down how to identify Japanese adjectives, conjugate, and use both types correctly.

Before we go further into the article, note that this article will mostly use hiragana, so prior knowledge of them is a must. If you’re still learning them, don’t worry — take a look at our hiragana chart to review them.

Also check out our video explaining い-adjectives and な-adjectives!

What are Adjectives in Japanese?

Adjectives in Japanese, or 形容詞 (keiyoushi), are descriptive words that add details to nouns by describing details about the noun. Adjectives in Japanese operate similarly to those in English, being used to describe the noun in the sentence, but they aren’t just used to describe physical appearance or behavior. They’re used as quantifiers — to express emotions and detail dimensions. They’re used to modify a noun. While they function similarly to English, the grammar rules of Japanese adjectives are a little bit complex, too. Adjectives come in many forms, including:

1. Descriptive adjectives 

Describe physical characteristics such as color (blue or red), size (large or small), the materials of something (wooden or metal), and age (old or young). Here are some common descriptive adjectives in Japanese

JapaneseFuriganaRomajiEnglish
赤いあかいakaired
青いあおいaoiblue (or green)
黄色きいろkiroyellow
大きいおおきいookiilarge
ちさいちさいchisailittle
若いわかいwakaiyoung
古いふるいfuruiold
綺麗きれいkireipretty/clean
美しいうつくしいutsukushiibeautiful
硬いかたいkataihard 
柔らかいやわらかいyawarakaisoft

2. Quantitative Adjectives

Adjectives also describe the quantity of something, such as how many, how few, or a specific number of something. However, in Japanese, using numbers as an adjective would require using counters, which change based on what thing you are counting. For general objects, it’s common to use the 和語 (wago) or native Japanese counting system (e.g., hitotsu, futatsu, mitsu). 

RomajiEnglish
JapaneseFuriganaRomajiEnglish
多いおおいooia lot
たくさんたくさんtakusana lot
少ないすくないsukunaia little
結構けっこうkekkousome
一つひとつhitotsu1 (object)
二つふたつfutatsu2 (objects)
三つみっつmittsu3 (objects)

To learn more about how counting and numbers work in Japanese, read our blog: How to Count & Read Numbers in Japanese.

3. Proper Adjectives

Similar to nouns, adjectives can also be proper, which can be the names of people, places, and things like products. In English, proper nouns are often conjugated into adjectives, but they will differ depending on the type of noun. In Japanese, it works similarly, but let’s explore how they differ:

Persons:

John → John’s

ジョン → ジョンの

Places: 

Japan → Japanese

日本 (nihon) → 日本の (nihonno)

Things:

Nike → Nike’s (often the ‘s is omitted, e.g., Nike shoes)

ナイキ → ナイキの

In Japanese, you attach the particle の to nouns, whether they are proper or not, to transform it into an adjective. 

4. Adjectives for Abstract Characteristics

Adjectives are also used to describe abstract characteristics such as the function, value, and quality of something or the behavior of someone. For example, a machine can be described as expensive or cheap, and a person can be described as smart or kind.

JapaneseFuriganaRomajiEnglish
うるさいうるさいakaired
静かしずかshizukaquiet
頭がいいあたまがいいatama ga iismart
難しいむずかしいmuzukashiidifficult
優しいやさしいyasashiieasy/kind
意地悪いじわるijiwarumean
厳しいきびしいkibishiistrict
すごいすごいsugoiamazing
美味しいおいしいoishiidelicious
高いたかいtakaiexpensive
安いやすいyasuicheap
危ないあぶないabunaidangerous
安全あんぜんanzensafe
早いはやいhayaifast
遅いおそいosoislow

Just like in English, adjectives in Japanese are descriptors that modify nouns; however, there are 2 different types of grammatical Japanese adjectives to be aware of.

Types of Japanese Adjectives (And How to Use Them)

Japanese adjectives are categorized into two types: な-adjectives and い-adjectives. Their main function is to describe nouns, but these adjectives can also be transformed into nouns themselves.

The easiest way to separate な-adjectives and い-adjectives is by checking the adjective’s ending. More precisely, it is whether the word ends with い or not. For example, 大きい (ookii) is an i-adjective, but 静か is a na-adjective.

Of course, this is a rule of thumb, but there are exceptions you need to note as well. What you need to know are the grammar particles and the way they conjugate.

To know all the basic Japanese adjectives, check out the 100 most common adjectives we’ve collected.

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japanese i adjective

い-adjectives in Japanese

I-adjectives are easy to identify: they end in い. Some i-adjectives have a double い (いい), but the stem stays the same regardless of what form the adjective takes. For example, おいしい (delicious) has the stem おいし, and that stem never changes no matter how you conjugate it.

The reason i-adjectives are considered “easy” is that they conjugate entirely on their own, without needing any helper word. You simply change the ending, unlike na-adjectives, which need な or a form of the verb だ to do the same job.

Below is how you will conjugate an い-adjective into different tenses and forms.

FormKanjiHiraganaMeaning
Positive (Present)高いたかいHigh
Negative (Present)高くないたかくないNot high
Positive (Past)高かったたかかったWas high
Negative (Present)高くなかったたかくなかったWas not high

Present Tense for I-adjectives

To express an い-adjective in the present tense, simply let it take its original stem form and add an 〜い (already joined).

Keep in mind that Japanese does not clearly distinguish between the present and the future tense. A sentence in the present tense can also refer to the future, depending on the context. In other words, Japanese treats them as the same tense.

今日の天気はいいです。
Kyou no tenki wa ii desu.
The weather is nice today.

明日の天気はいいです。
Ashita on tenki wa ii desu.
The weather will be nice tomorrow.

Negative (Present) Tense for I-adjectives

To make a present-tense い-adjective negative, replace the 〜い with 〜くない.

Base AdjectiveRuleNegative FormMeaning
〜い adjective〜い → 〜くない〜くないnot ~

今日は寒くないです。
Kyou wa samukunai desu.
It is not cold today.

Past Tense for I-adjectives

To express an い-adjective in the present tense, you must omit the 〜い from the word’s stem form and join it with a 〜かった.

Base AdjectiveRuleNegative (Past)Meaning
〜い adjective〜い → 〜くなかった〜くなかったwas not ~

あの車が高かったです。
Ano kuruma ga takakatta desu.
That car was expensive.

Negative (Past) Tense for I-adjectives

For this, similar to negative and past adjectives, you can change the 〜い with a new conjugation, which is a combination of くない and かった: 〜くなかった.

Base AdjectiveRuleNegative (Past)Meaning
〜い adjective〜い → 〜くなかった〜くなかったwas not ~

Casual Form for I-adjectives

For the polite form of い-adjective, you will need to add the auxiliary verb of です. For negative and past adjective forms, follow the same conjugational transformation as well.

FormCasual FormPolite formMeaning
Positive (Present)よいよい；いいですGood; well
Negative (Present)よくないよくないですNot good
Positive (Past)よかったよかったですWas good
Negative (Present)よくなかったよくなかったですWas not good

Making it a casual form is easier; simply remove the です and leave it as it is. However, note that this only applies when the adjective is put at the end of the sentence.

A lot of Japanese people will even shorten the adjective and omit the い. For example, when talking with friends in a good mood, people will say すげー instead of すごい to express something amazing, or うまー instead of うまい to compliment a very delicious meal.

japanese na adjective

な-adjectives in Japanese

A な-adjective, or na keiyoushi (な形容詞), is a type of Japanese adjective that acts like a noun and needs な when directly describing a noun. Unlike い-adjectives, you can’t modify conjugations in な-adjectives directly to express tense or form. Instead, think of them as nouns (although they’re not, so be careful).

This is because the way you modify their value is the same as how you would with nouns. What you want to do instead is to change the auxiliary verb of the whole sentence or phrase: です、ではありません、 でした or ではありませんでした.

The way you can identify a な-adjective is by looking at the particle attached to it: な. For example, 元気な人 (genki na hito), which means a healthy (or happy, depending on the context) person. A lot of people find な-adjectives to be easier to learn because of their simple (and easy modification) rule.

Like い-adjectives, you can put a な-adjective before a noun. When you do so, the adjective-noun combination becomes the subject.

You can also put a な-adjective at the end of a sentence. When that happens, the form is like this:

FormStructureMeaning
Present AffirmativeAdjective + な + Noun + ですis ~
Present NegativeAdjective + な + Noun + ではありませんis not ~
Past AffirmativeAdjective + な + Noun + でしたwas ~
Past NegativeAdjective + な + Noun + ではありませんでしたwas not ~

In this case, we’ll be using the example 元気, which means happy or healthy. Briefly, this is how you will transform a な-adjective into different tenses and forms.

Present Tense for Na-adjectives

The most basic form of な-adjectives — meaning, positive value in the present tense — is followed by the auxiliary verb of です (polite) or だ (casual). Keep in mind that, similar to い-adjectives, the present and future tense use the same form. To describe a noun, you need to put the particle な in the middle of the adjective and the noun (hence, it’s called na-adjective). Take a look at the example below.

FormKanjiHiraganaMeaning
Positive (Present)元気だげんきだHealthy; lively
Negative (Present)元気じゃないげんきじゃないNot healthy; lively
Positive (Past)元気だったげんきだったWas healthy; lively
Negative (Present)元気じゃなかったげんきじゃなかったWas not healthy; lively

好きな人は田中さんだ。
Suki na hito wa Tanaka-san da.
The person I like is Tanaka-san.

As we mentioned before, the conjugation rules for な-adjectives are the same as nouns, so even when the adjective is put at the end of the sentence, you will still use だ.

田中さんが好きだ。
Tanaka-san ga suki da.
I like Tanaka-san.

Negative (Present) Tense for Na-adjectives

Similarly, to conjugate the auxiliary verb to get to the negative form for な-adjective, add 〜じゃありません. You can also use 〜ではありません, which has the same meaning (negative value), but sounds more polite and is usually used in written Japanese.

To make it casual, you can shorten it into 〜じゃない or 〜ではない.

あのウェイターはお客さんに親切ではない。
Ano weitaa wa okyakusama ni shinsetsu dehanai.
That waiter is not kind to guests.

あまり歌っていなくて、カラオケが上手じゃない。
Amari utte inakute, karaoke ga jouzu janai.
Because I don’t sing so much, I’m not good at karaoke.

You can also put a negative な-adjective before a noun.

Negative (Past) Tense for Na-adjectives

To indicate that something was true before (and is not now), you will need to add だった (casual) or でした (polite) at the end of the sentence or phrase with a な-adjective.

As with previous Japanese adjective modification, to make a na-adjective negative and in the past tense, simple add じゃありませんでした or ではありませんでした。

You can make it more casual by just transforming the auxiliary verb.

StyleFormStructureExample (きれい)
PoliteStandardAdjective + ではありませんでしたきれいではありませんでした
PoliteCasual alt.Adjective + じゃありませんでしたきれいじゃありませんでした
CasualPlainAdjective + ではなかったきれいではなかった
CasualCommonAdjective + じゃなかったきれいじゃなかった

この街は静かじゃなかった。
Kono machi wa shizuka janakatta.
This town wasn’t peaceful (before).

リノベーションの前に、ホテルはきれいではありませんでした。
Rinobeeshon no mae ni, hoteru wa kirei dewa arimasen deshita.
Before the renovation, the hotel wasn’t pretty.

Casual Form for Na-adjectives

We’ve touched up how to change polite forms to casual forms for な-adjective, but we’ve made a table to sum it all up.

FormCasual FormPolite Form
Positive (Present)元気だ元気です
Negative (Present)元気じゃない元気じゃありません
Positive (Past)元気だった元気でした
Negative (Present)元気じゃなかった元気じゃありませんでした

What You Need to Know for Na-adjectives

You can immediately modify な-adjectives into a negative value, past tense, or both, and join it with a noun. However, keep in mind that this is only applicable if you use casual auxiliary verbs.

Here are a few examples:

元気じゃない人
Genki ja nai hito. (Correct)

元気じゃありません人
Genki ja arimasen hito. (Wrong)

元気だった人
Genki datta hito. (Correct)

元気でした人
Genki deshita hito. (Wrong)

Another thing to keep in mind is an exception: the Japanese adjective 同じ (onaji), which means “the same”. Even though it is technically a な-adjective, you will have to remove the な when you combine it with a noun.

君は僕と同じな背の高さです。(Wrong)
Kimi wa boku to onaji na se no takasa desu.
You are as tall as I am.

君は僕と同じ背の高さです。(Correct)
Kimi wa boku to onaji na se no takasa desu.

Learning to use and modify Japanese adjectives can be tricky, especially with the exceptions and grammar rules to remember. However, mastering the distinction between い-adjectives and な-adjectives will help you add more color and detail to your sentences.

Once you’ve learned some Japanese adjectives, we recommend practicing them with immersive Japanese listening conversations. Our Japanese podcasts are a great way to do this. Additionally, the NHK World Japan Audio Shows offer excellent listening practice for learners at any level.

Exception for Adjective

Both na and i adjective types have a handful of irregularities that don’t follow the standard conjugation rules above. These exceptions are common enough in everyday Japanese that it’s worth learning them early, rather than being caught off guard the first time you encounter one. Below are the key exceptions for each adjective type.

1. 良い (Yoi): Good, well, great

良い is a special case among i-adjectives. In modern spoken Japanese, it’s almost always read and written as いい rather than 良い, and いい is the form most learners encounter first. But いい doesn’t conjugate directly. For every form other than the plain present affirmative, it reverts back to its older reading, よい, before the standard i-adjective endings are attached.

In the present positive tense, both いい and よい can be used, with よい sounding more formal. However, when changing the adjective into negative or past forms, the stem changes to よ, not い.

This is why the correct forms are よくない (not good), よかった (was good), and よくなかった (was not good).

FormKanjiHiraganaMeaning
Positive (Present)良いよい；いいGood; well
Negative (Present)良くないよくないNot good
Positive (Past)良かったよかったWas good
Negative (Present)良くなかったよくなかったWas not good

2. かっこい (Kakkoi): Cool

The same thing can be said with かっこいい (cool). When it becomes a negative form or past tense, the stem changes to よ. Instead of かっこいくない, change it to かっこよくない.

3. きれい (Kirei) and きらい (Kirai)

One last thing: also, it seems like it, きれい (pretty or clean) and きらい (hate or dislike) are actually na-adjectives even though the word ends with い, so be careful!

野菜がきらくない。
Yasai ga kirakunai.
I don’t hate vegetables. (Wrong)

野菜がきらいじゃない。
Yasai ga kirai ja nai.
I don’t hate vegetables. (Correct)

子供の頃、お風呂が嫌いだった。
Kodomo no koro, ofuro ga kirai datta.
When I was a kid, I hated taking a bath.

Turning Adjectives into Adverbs in Japanese

In Japanese, adjectives can turn into adverbs and are actually commonly used as adjectives. Conjugating adjectives into adverbs differs depending on whether it is an い-adjective or な-adjective. Let’s take a look at some examples to dive into how it works.

1. Using い-adjectives as Adverbs

To use い-adjectives as adverbs, you must conjugate い into く. For example, to use the adjective 早い (hayai), or quick, as an adverb, you conjugate it into 早く (hayaku) and place it before a verb. Here’s how it works:

早い (hayai) → 早く(hayaku)

Example:

もうすぐ会議があるので、早く食べないといけないです。

Sugu kaigi ga arunode, haraku tabenai to ikenai desu.

Because I have a meeting soon, I have to eat quickly.

2. Using な-adjectives as Adverbs

To use な-adjectives as adverbs, you don’t have to conjugate the word at all, and in many cases, you can just add the word right before the verb. For example, you can say たくさんを食べた (takusan tabeta) to say “I ate a lot.” 

But in many other cases, you would need to attach the particle に to the adjective. For example, if you want to say “please go home safely,” you would say 安全にかえってください (anzen ni kaete kudasai), meaning please go home safely. 

Using Adjectives as Nouns in Japanese

You can also use adjectives as nouns in Japanese, and it’s quite common; we do it quite often in English, like when we say “many will be there” or “few have visited.” In Japanese, using adjectives in this way might be even more flexible. So, let’s see how it works between い and な adjectives.

1. Using い-adjectives as a Noun

To use an い-adjective as a noun, you just need to conjugate the い into く, just like you would for adverbs. Then, the word can operate just like a noun and can be used as the subject or object of the sentence. 

Example 1:

近い (chikai) → 近く(chikaku)

近くが見える

Chikaku ga mieru

I can see the close one.

Example 2

遅い (osoi) → 遅く(osoku)

いつも遅くのはジョンです。

Itsumo osokuno wa jon desu.

The one who is always late is John.

2. Using な-adjectives as a Noun

Using a な-adjective as a noun is quite simple and doesn’t need any conjugation. You would just simply need to attach the correct particle to have the adjective operate like a noun. 

Example:

たくさんがパーティーに来ました。

Takusan ga paatii ni kimashita.

Many came to the party. 

Conclusion: Adjectives are the Building Blocks of Japanese

Adjectives are what allow us to describe different things when we make sentences in Japanese. Whether you need to specify that something is blue, green, quiet, or loud, or if a person is sweet, strict, nice, or friendly, you need to use adjectives. In Japanese, they can be used very flexibly, even as adverbs or adjectives. 

So, try to remember as many adjectives as you can to add to your Japanese arsenal to describe the world around you or give details when explaining an experience!

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FAQ

What’s the difference between い-adjectives and な-adjectives?

い-adjectives directly modify nouns and change form based on tense, while な-adjectives require the particle な before a noun and use auxiliary verbs to change tense.

Can I use い-adjectives and な-adjectives interchangeably?

No, they follow different grammatical rules. Make sure to use them appropriately based on the sentence structure.

What are the exceptions to na-adjectives?

While most な-adjectives follow a consistent rule, there are a few notable exceptions to keep in mind:

  • きれい (kirei) – Meaning “pretty” or “clean,” this adjective ends with い but is still considered a な-adjective. It requires the particle な when used before a noun (e.g., きれいな花 – a pretty flower.
  • きらい(kirai) – Meaning “hate” or “dislike,” this adjective also ends in い but functions as a な-adjective. It uses the な particle when modifying a noun (e.g., きらいな食べ物 – a disliked foods.
  • おなじ (onaji) – Meaning “same,” this adjective is usually a な-adjective, but when modifying a noun, the な particle is often omitted (e.g., 君は僕とおなじ背の高さです – You are the same height as me.
  • だめ (dame) – Meaning “no good” or “unacceptable,” this adjective doesn’t require な when used before a noun in many cases (e.g., だめなこと – “a bad thing”).

New to learning Japanese? Check out:

Basic Japanese Adverbs to Know

100 Basic Japanese Words to Know

How to Conjugate Past Tense in Japanese

Gratitude and appreciation for the little things are deeply rooted in Japanese culture, but did you know that saying “thank you” in Japanese isn’t as simple as it seems?

Depending on who you’re speaking to, the phrase you use can change significantly. And we’re not just talking about the difference between “arigatou” and “arigatou gozaimasu.” For example, the way you thank a friend differs from how you thank a client. The social proximity and status between the speaker and the degree of politeness determine the best manners and phrases to use. From the formal kansha shimasu to the English loanword that’s popular among young men, sankyuu, every situation calls for a different “thank you”. 

But don’t worry! Here’s a practical guide to different ways to say “thank you” in Japanese. We’ll break down when to use each phrase (and when not to), explain the nuances behind them, and give you example situations to help you express gratitude naturally in Japan.

What is Thank You in Japanese?

The most basic and commonly used way to say “thank you” in Japanese is 「ありがとうございます」(arigatou gozaimasu). However, Japanese is a language rich in nuance and politeness, so there are several variations of the phrase depending on the level of formality, the situation, and who you are speaking with.

Kanji for Arigatou（ありがとう）

The kanji for arigatou is 有り難い. The word was originally used in Buddhism, where 有る (aru) means “existing; being”.  If you’ve learned a few kanji, you will probably be familiar with the second character, 難, which is also used for the Japanese adjective muzukashii (難しい), which means “difficult”. 

Here,  難い comes from gatou (難う), which carries the same meaning (muzukashii) and is derived from the Japanese adjective “difficult.”

Together, they both can be translated  to “something that rarely exists,” “difficult to have,” or “something rare and precious.“

Think of the phrase arigatou as a Japanese proverb: Having someone do something for you is a rare and precious thing.

Now, the word arigatou is often written in hiragana. ありがとう or, if you’re familiar with the more formal and long way to say thank you, ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu).

History of Arigatou（ありがとう）

It’s interesting to look at the kanji characters that trace their historical roots back to the 8th Century.

According to the kokugo dictionary (national dictionary), arigatashi originally meant “difficult to exist”, which later had its meaning changed to “something rare”. It wasn’t until the 15th century that it eventually came to mean welcome or thankful. 

Culture of Saying Thank You in Japan

Japanese culture and way of living are reflected in its language. Different pronouns, honorific titles, and verb forms are used depending on the relationship between speaker and listener, ranging from downright rude to the utmost respect.

Similar to saying sorry, expressing the basic arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) is tightly related to the Japanese culture of groupthink, humility and compassion. In Japan, people try to put the priority of their in-group (uchi) ahead of their own personal desires.

Ironically, one “ありがとうございます” in a Japanese work setting can come off as curt and insincere. Instead, saying thanks a second time is necessary to show one’s sincere feelings of appreciation for receiving a kind gesture.

For example, instead of saying “Thank you for waiting,” Japanese people might opt to say “Sorry for keeping you so long.” They might not necessarily seek forgiveness, but this apology is a token of politeness and humility. 

This is because “thank you” and “sorry” fit nicely with one another — or, at least, in Japan’s structured society. Sometimes, it seems like a few minutes of Japanese thank-yous amongst a group of recipients will last an eternity.

Keep in mind that in formal writing and business situations, the word can be written as either 有り難う or 有難う followed by ございます.

It’s perfectly acceptable and quite common in business situations to say thank you in its hiragana form as ありがとうございます. And if you feel really appreciative of what you have received, you can add どうも or おおきに to the beginning of the previous word.

Casual and Everyday Ways to Say Thank You in Japanese

thank you in japanese

1. Sankyuu (サンキュー)

Meaning: Thank you (Casual)

Meaning: Thank you (Very casual)

Sounds familiar? The word sankyuu is a loanword taken too literally from the English phrase “thank you”. The Japanese alphabet doesn’t recognize the consonant “th, so the “s” is used (full table on converting English to Japanese consonants here).

And because it’s a loanword, it means it’s written in katakana, too. There are typically two written versions: サンキュー (with a long “u” vowel sound at the end) and サンキュ (with a short “u” vowel). 

It goes without saying, but never use サンキュー to someone socially higher or older than you. Only use this on your friends whom you are close to, as even saying it to a same-aged classmate or colleague can give the wrong impression of being “too friendly”. 

Most of the time, this casual way of saying thank you in Japanese is used by young Japanese people.  

2. Azassu (あざっす)

Meaning: Thanks! (Very casual)

Sankyuu is a loan word, but azassu is a popular Japanese slang. The word actually comes from the original ありがとうございます. If you try saying it fast, you’ll notice that you’re going to skip some vowels and consonants. That’s how azassu was born.

This is one of the slang words that are popular among Japanese men. In the same way saying ore sounds more rough and masculine, あざっす has a light and casual tone. It can be written as あざーす、あざーっす or あざす. It depends on the length of the vowel you might want to emphasize.  

3. Azamasu (あざます)

Meaning: Thanks! (Very casual)

Another branch of the same slang word above, あざます is popular among young people in Japan. Other variations include ざす(zasu) and あざお(azao). You’ll notice that men tend to use these slang words more often than women, too.

4. Doumo (どうも)

Meaning: Thanks (casual)

Domo and arigatou tend to have similar formality levels expressed in quite casual situations. Domo is used more often by male speakers and is less often heard among Japanese women. 

It’s a quick, shortened way to say thank you to your friends or family if you don’t want to use slang words. Keep in mind that, rank-wise, doumo is more casual than the shortened arigatou. Because of this, save this for someone who has the same social status, if not lower than you. 

This phrase for saying thank you is extremely casual. It’s an even more casual way to say thank in Japanese than “arigatou”. Because of its extremely light tone, this phrase is often used with people at the same social status level as you or lower, like your friends and younger siblings. It’s also okay to say it to the cashier or restaurant staff.

5. Sumimasen (すみません)

Meaning: Thank you or excuse me

すみません (Sumimasen) literally means “excuse me” or “sorry,” but in Japanese it’s also commonly used to say thank you, especially when someone has gone out of their way to help you or do you a favor. This expression conveys a mix of gratitude and a slight feeling of apology for causing trouble or inconvenience. 

For example, if someone holds the door open for you or helps you carry something heavy, saying sumimasen shows you appreciate their effort while acknowledging you might have caused them a little extra work.

Sometimes, sumimasen is even more natural than just saying “thank you” directly.

6. Sumanai  (すまない)

Meaning: Thanks or “scuse me”

You know how “azasu” is a slangy, shortened version of “arigatou gozaimasu”? Well, “sumanai” works the same way for “sumimasen.” It’s an informal, rougher-sounding way to say sorry or even thank you, depending on the context.

You’ll often hear guys using it more than girls, but it’s not a gendered phrase. It just carries a slightly tougher or blunt tone. Like with most casual Japanese slang, this one’s best reserved for close friends or peers. Definitely don’t use it with your boss or in any formal situation!

7. Arigatou (ありがとう)

Meaning: Thanks

Arigatou is really an archetypical way to express a friendly-casual thank you in Japanese. Arigatou has an identical meaning to the English “thanks”, which means that you probably know that it shouldn’t be used in formal situations.

However, because it’s less casual than doumo, you can still use it with someone older than you, like your senpai, parents or ojiisan. Keep in mind that, while it’s acceptable, the most important thing is the relationship distance you have with them.  

8. Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます)

Meaning: Thank you (polite)

Adding gozaimasu signifies an even more formal situation and the distance between the speakers and is typically used in business encounters. It shows respect and politeness.  You can also use this form for strangers, like a waiter, the konbini clerk or a distant acquaintance. 

Notice sometimes people switch between the present and past tense of arigatou gozaimasu? You say arigatou gozaimashita (ありがとうございました) when someone has already helped or done a favor.  

For example, if someone is offering a hand to carry your luggage, you will use the present tense. 

荷物を持ってくれてありがとうございます。
Nimotsu o motte kurete arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you for carrying my luggage. 

However, if that person has carried the luggage yesterday, you’d opt for arigatou gozaimashita instead. 

昨日, 荷物を持ってくれてありがとうございました。
Kinou, nimotsu o motte kurete arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you for carrying my luggage yesterday. 

9. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu (どうもありがとうございます)

Meaning: Thank you very much (polite)

In this case, adding doumo on the front emphasizes your appreciation further and makes it more polite. Besides that, you can use hontou ni (本当に), which means truly. 

本当にありがとうございます。
I am truly thankful. 

10. Doumo arigatou ( どうも ありがとう)

Meaning: Many thanks

This expression is a small step up from a simple “arigatou,” but it’s a bit more casual and friendly than “arigatou gozaimasu.” It’s best used with friends, family, or younger people to show your gratitude in a warm, informal way. “Doumo” by itself can also be used casually, but we’ll cover that shortly.

11. Kurete arigatou (～くれてありがとう)

Meaning: Thank you for~

～くれてありがとう is used when you want to say “thank you for [doing something]” and attach a verb to show what action you’re thankful for. It’s commonly used in casual situations with friends, family, or people close to you. Use this structure when you’re directly thanking someone for an action they did for you or someone in your inner circle.

To use it, attach it to the て-form of a verb, which acts like a “connector” in Japanese grammar.

手伝ってくれてありがとう
Tetsudatte kurete arigatou
Thanks for helping me.

How to Say Thank You in Business Japanese

saying thank you in japanese business

Now that we’ve gone over some casual and everyday ways to express appreciation in Japanese, let’s shift to how to say thank you in professional or workplace settings. These phrases are typically reserved for office communication and are especially common in business emails. Using them for everyday situations might come across as overly formal or stiff. 

12. Kansha shimasu (感謝します)

This is usually used in business emails, more often written than spoken, as you can come off as stiff or “old-school” if you attempt to say it. The word kansha (感謝) means thanks or gratitude, which is, of course, the same as the other thank-yous above, but it has a more polite tone to it.

In business Japanese emails, you can start off with itsumo sapoto shiteitadaki, kansha shimasu (いつもさーポッとしていただき、感謝します), which means “thank you for your continued support”

You will need to add the verb する after the end. If you want to level up the formality and flex your business Japanese skill, you can use Japanese keigo instead and follow the typical rule of adding a prefix on the noun and changing する to its humble form: いたす.

The highest degree you can get from using 感謝します as an alternative to arigatou gozaimasu is ご感謝いたします (gokansha ita shimasu).

心の底からご感謝いたします。
Kokoro no soko kara gokansha ita shimasu.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

13. Osoreirimasu (恐れ入ります)

Lastly is the most formal phrase 恐れ入ります (おそれいります), used to thank someone for the trouble they went through to help you. The word osore (恐れ) means uneasiness, reverence or concern.

Like sumimasen, 恐れ入ります doesn’t translate immediately as “thank you” in Japanese. Even Japanese people don’t use it often, as it’s only used in super formal situations like in meetings. You can think of this phrase as something like, “Would you be so kind?”

Unlike sumimasen, which can be used as an apology, osoreirimasu is used only to acknowledge the trouble someone has done for you. 

恐れ入りますが、私手紙を出してくれませんか？
Osoreirimasuga, watashi tegami o dashitekuremasenka?
Would you be so kind as to post my letter?

14. Arigataki shiawase (ありがたき幸せ)

We can’t help but sneak this one in. If you’ve never heard of it before, that’s completely understandable. Arigataki shiawase is an old-fashioned way used by Japanese samurai to show gratitude to their lord. If you like to watch Japanese historical drama, you’ve probably come across it a few times.

Now, some people still like to use it in a sarcastic way. It is sometimes used as an old-fashioned expression with humor when you catch a person doing something they don’t usually do. 

まさか、お弁当を作って下さるなんて、誠にありがたき幸せにござります。
Masaka, obentou o tsukutte kudasaru nante, makoto ni arigataki shiwase ni gozarimasu.
No way… I am very grateful and happy that you made me a lunchbox.

15. Haisha moushiwagemasu ( 拝謝申し上げます)

“拝謝申し上げます” is a very polite and formal way to express gratitude. It is often used in business settings or formal written communication to show deep respect and sincere thanks to the other person.

The meaning is similar to saying, “I humbly express my heartfelt thanks” or “I sincerely offer my gratitude.” This Japanese thank you phrase uses keigo, with an implied meaning that you are putting yourself socially below the person you are thanking. 

16. Otsukare sama desu (おつかれさまです)

This isn’t technically an official way to say “thank you” in Japanese, but otsukaresama desu (お疲れ様です) is a versatile phrase widely used in the workplace. It carries several meanings—it can be a greeting, a way to say “good job,” or a polite way to express appreciation for someone’s effort. In many cases, it functions as a congratulatory or thankful phrase.

For example, you might say it after finishing a presentation with a coworker or to thank someone for sending out an important email. It’s a go-to phrase for acknowledging and appreciating someone’s hard work in a professional setting.

17. Itadaite arigatou (~いただいてありがとうございます)

いただいてありがとうございます is a very polite and formal way to say “thank you for giving me [something]” in Japanese. It uses the humble verb いただく, which means “to receive,” typically used when you’re talking about receiving something from someone of higher status or when you want to sound respectful. 

The phrase is formed by taking the て-form of いただく (いただいて) and attaching ありがとうございます, the polite form of “thank you.” This construction is commonly used in business settings, emails, or formal conversations to express gratitude for something you’ve been given, such as a message, a reply, or documents. 

For example, you might say ご連絡をいただいてありがとうございます to mean “Thank you for contacting me.” 

Saying Thank You When Eating in Japan

saying thank you dining etiquette

While you can always say arigatou gozaimasu to thank someone for the food, did you know that Japanese dining etiquette has specific phrases to use depending on whether you are about to start or have just finished your meal?

18. Itadakimasu (頂きます)

Itadakimasu is a polite phrase traditionally said before eating a meal in Japan. While it literally means “I humbly receive,” it carries a much deeper cultural meaning. Saying itadakimasu is a way of expressing gratitude, not just to the person who prepared the food, but also to the farmers, animals, plants, and everyone involved in bringing the meal to the table. 

Though there’s no direct equivalent in English, it’s sometimes compared to saying “Let’s eat” or “Bon appétit.”

19. Gouchisousama deshita (ごちそうさまでした)

Gochisousama deshita (ごちそうさまでした)  is the standard phrase you say after finishing a meal in Japanese to thank the person who prepared, treated, or served the food. Literally, 馳走 once meant “to run about” (as in going to great lengths to prepare a feast), so the phrase conveys appreciation for all the effort behind the meal.

Don’t get mistaken between itadakimasu and gouchisousama deshita! Itadakimasu is said before you eat the food. Gouchisousama deshita is said after you finish eating!

Bonus: Bowing to say Thank You in Japanese

Showing appreciation in Japan isn’t always about words; nonverbal gestures like bowing, or ojigi, play a huge role in expressing gratitude and respect. Bowing is a tradition that dates back over 1,000 years and remains an essential part of Japanese culture today.

Typically, bowing is done from the waist with a straight back. The angle of your bow conveys how humble or respectful you are being: a slight 15-degree bow is casual and common for everyday situations, such as acknowledging a shopkeeper. A deeper 30-degree bow is more formal and often used in professional settings, like greeting clients or coworkers. The deepest bows—around 45 degrees—are reserved for expressing deep gratitude, sincere apologies, or when meeting someone very important.

Of course, if someone just did you a small favor, you don’t need to perform a formal bow. A quick nod or a brief bow can still effectively show your sincerity and thanks.

How to Use Sumimasen and Arigatou in Context

If you live in Japan, you’ll probably realize that sumimasen might as well be Japanese people’s favorite word. That’s because すみません is a versatile word with multiple meanings, ready to be used across different social contexts. It can be said in situations where the English “excuse me” and “sorry” would fit.

遅くてすみませんでした！
Osokute sumimasen deshita!
I’m sorry for being late!

すみません、通ります。
Sumimasen, toorimasu.
Excuse me, I’m going through. 

Besides these two functions, sumimasen can be used to express gratitude for someone who’s gone through all the trouble helping us. Think of the word as “sorry for being a nuisance.” In other words, when you’re thanking someone, you’re also making a fuss or bothering them. You thank them for allowing you to inconvenience them. This is why, oftentimes, “thank you” goes hand in hand with “I’m sorry”. 

Because of this, Japanese people actually use sumimasen a lot more than arigatou. For example, instead of being grateful that someone is holding the elevator for you, you’d say sumimasen. In this case, you’re implying, “Sorry (but thank you) for holding the elevator for me.”

Sumimasen and arigatou don’t have to be used separately, though. You can combine domo, sumimasen and arigatou together when speaking Japanese. 

Occasionally, you can attach the word wazawaza (わざわざ ), which means “purposefully”. When you do, it emphasizes your appreciation for bothering someone. 

わざわざ、すみません。ありがとうございます。
Wazawaza, sumimasen. Arigatou gozaimasu.

どうも、すみません、ありがとうございました。
Doumo, sumimasen, arigatou gozaimashita.

Conclusion

And there you have, a quick guide on how the Japanese use all these permutations to specifically show their appreciation and thanks based upon the situation at hand. Pay particular attention to the situation for which you have been thanked, and you will gradually develop a greater sensitivity to how the expression “thank you” is properly used in Japanese. If you want to learn more, why not join Japanese lessons in Tokyo, or practice with an online Japanese tutor with Coto Academy?

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FAQ

What is the most common way to say thank you in Japanese?

The most common way is 「ありがとうございます」(arigatou gozaimasu). It’s polite and appropriate in most situations, especially when speaking to people you don’t know well.

What does ありがとう (arigatou) mean?

「ありがとう」(arigatou) is a casual way to say “thank you” in Japanese. It’s typically used with friends, family, or people of the same age or lower status.

What's the difference between arigatou and arigatou gozaimasu?

Arigatou is casual and best for informal situations, while arigatou gozaimasu is more polite and respectful. Use the polite version when talking to someone older, in a professional setting, or with people you don’t know well.

Is it rude to only say arigatou?

It’s not rude if you’re speaking casually with friends or people you know well. But in formal or unfamiliar settings, it’s better to use arigatou gozaimasu to sound more polite and respectful.

Learning Japanese? You might be interested in:

Numbers in Japanese can be confusing because they use 2 different counting systems, and numbers themselves must be conjugated into one of them. The good news is that counting from 1 to 10 is actually the hardest part since everything after that gets much easier, even when counting up to a million or even a hundred million. However, where things get tricky is when you need to count different types of things, like people or different objects, but once you understand the patterns, it becomes surprisingly intuitive!

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Japanese number system, including both the Sino-Japanese readings (onyomi) and native Japanese readings (kunyomi), and how to count from basic digits all the way to massive numbers like 1,000,000,000.

Want to improve your pronunciation as you learn to count? Check out our guide to Japanese pronunciation. Don’t forget to watch our YouTube video about it, too!

Basics of Japanese Numbers and How They Work

Japanese numbers come in two main readings: native Japanese numbers, called wago, and Chinese-based numbers, called kango. While they use the same kanji characters, their pronunciation and usage change based on what you are counting.

Kango, the system featuring ichi, ni, san, is the mathematical and technical standard used for things like phone numbers, years, and formal measurements. It is almost always paired with a specific “counter” suffix that denotes the object’s category, such as -mai for flat things or -nin for people. This makes the Kango system highly precise but also linguistically complex because you must know the correct counter for every noun you encounter. For example:

  • にん (nin) is used for people
  • まい (mai) is used for flat things like paper
  • ほん (hon) is used for long, thin things like pencils or bottles
  • ふん (hun) is used for counting minutes
  • じ (ji) is used for counting hours
Numbers人 (nin): People枚 (mai): Flat Objects本 (hon): Long, Thin Things分 (hun): Minutes時 (ji): Hours
1 (ichi)1人 (hitori)1枚 (ichimai)1本 (ippon)1分 (ippun)1時 (ichiji)
2 (ni)2人 (futari)2枚 (nimai)2本 (nihon)2分 (nifun)2時 (niji)
3 (san)3人 (sannin)3枚 (sanmai)3本 (sanbon)3分 (sanpun)3時 (sanji)
4 (yon)4人 (yonin)4枚 (yonmai)4本 (yonhon)4分 (yonpun)4時 (yoji)
5 (go)5人 (gonin)5枚 (gomai)5本 (gohon)5分 (gofun)5時 (goji)
6 (roku)6人 (rokunin)6枚 (rokumai)6本 (roppon)6分 (roppun)6時 (rokuji)
7 (nana/shichi)7人 (shichinin)7枚 (nanamai)7本 (nanahon)7分 (nanafun)7時 (shichiji)
8 (hachi)8人 (hachinin)8枚 (hachimai)8本 (happon)8分 (happun)8時 (hachiji)
9 (kyuu/ku)9人 (kyuunin)9枚 (kyuumai)9本 (kyuuhon)9分 (kyuufun)9時 (kuji)
10 (juu)10人 (juunin)10枚 (juumai)10本 (juppon)10分 (juppun)10時 (juuji)

So if you want to say “three people,” you say さんにん (sannin), and for “three pencils,” it’s さんぼん (sanbon). Notice how the pronunciation changes a little to sound smoother, particularly for the numbers 1, 3, 6, and 8 when using the 本 (hon) and 分 (hun) counters. Learning counters is important because you can’t just say numbers alone when counting things in Japanese. But don’t worry. Once you get used to it, it becomes easy! Dive into our complete guide on Japanese counters to learn more about that.

In contrast, Wago acts as a “universal counter” that is incredibly helpful for language learners. The system consists of the familiar hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu sequence, and is generally used only for the numbers one through ten. Because Wago numbers already have a counting suffix built into them (the “tsu” at the end), they can stand alone without a specialized counter word.

infographic on japanese numbers

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Even though Arabic numerals still use commas every three digits when written, the way Japanese people mentally group numbers is by four digits. This difference can be confusing and takes some getting used to for language learners!

Japanese numbers also come with two main reading systems:

Counting 1 – 10 in Japanese

Here’s a table that shows Japanese numbers 1 to 10 in both 和語 (wago) — native Japanese numbers — and 漢語 (kango) — Sino-Japanese (Chinese-derived) numbers:

NumberWago (Native Japanese)Kango (Sino-Japanese)
1ひとつ (hitotsu)いち (ichi)
2ふたつ (futatsu)に (ni)
3みっつ (mittsu)さん (san)
4よっつ (yottsu)し (shi) / よん (yon)
5いつつ (itsutsu)ご (go)
6むっつ (muttsu)ろく (roku)
7ななつ (nanatsu)しち (shichi) / なな (nana)
8やっつ (yattsu)はち (hachi)
9ここのつ (kokonotsu)きゅう (kyuu) / く (ku)
10とお (too)じゅう (juu)

Kunyomi: Native Japanese Numbers (1–10)

Wago numbers are mainly used for counting general items (especially up to 10), the ages of small children, and traditional Japanese contexts. If you are at a restaurant or shop and want to order a specific number of items (especially those that don’t have a distinct counter like “bottles” or “sheets”), you use wago up to 10.

When telling someone’s age, you can use the counter -sai (kango), but it is very common to use wago for young children or in casual conversation.

The final function of wago is its use in the Japanese calendar. The first 10 days of the month (and the 20th) use the native wago pronunciation rather than the kango and nichi pattern. For example, instead of saying ninichi to denote the first day of the month, you pronounce it as futsuka (二日), from the word futatsu.

Example:

お菓子をひとつください。
Okashi o hitotsu kudasai.
Please give me one snack.

Kunyomi numbers are rarely used beyond 10. For everything else, we use the more common Sino-Japanese system.

Onyomi: Sino-Japanese Numbers (1–10)

Kango numbers are used in most modern and formal contexts, like times, phone numbers, prices, and mathematics.

Example:

紙を一枚ください。
Kami o ichimai kudasai.
Please give me one sheet of paper.

Read More: Basic Japanese Words to Know

Irregular Japanese Number Readings

In Japanese, while most numbers follow regular patterns, the numbers 4, 7, and 9 are famous for having multiple readings that change depending on the counter and context. This happens because these numbers have both a native Japanese reading (wago) and a Chinese-derived reading (kango), and sometimes one is avoided due to cultural superstitions.

For example, the number 4 can be read as し (shi) or よん (yon), but よん is preferred because し sounds like the word for death (死), which is considered unlucky. Similarly, 7 is read as しち (shichi) or なな (nana), with なな commonly used in daily speech to avoid confusion with the number 1 (いち).

NumberIrregular / Preferred Reading
4よん (yon)
7なな (nana)
9きゅう (kyuu)
1 & 2 (people)ひとり (hitori), ふたり (futari)

The “correct” reading depends entirely on the following counter. For example, when telling the time in Japanese, 4:00 is always yo-ji (a shortened version of yon), while 7:00 is usually shichi-ji, and 9:00 is ku-ji. Because these rules are so specific, most learners memorize these particular numbers as part of a set with their counters rather than trying to apply a single rule.

There are also pronunciation changes when numbers combine with counters to make speech smoother, like the ones below!

NumberJapanese (Kanji)Reading (Hiragana)Reading (Romaji)
300三百さんびゃくsanbyaku
600六百ろっぴゃくroppyaku
800八百はっぴゃくhappyaku
3000三千さんぜんsanzen
8000八千はっせんhassen

Examples:

  • 12: (じゅうに) juu-ni
  • 157: (ひゃく ごじゅう なな) hyaku go-juu nana
  • 1861: (せん はっぴゃく ろくじゅう いち) sen happyaku roku-juu ichi

Counting Double-Digit Numbers in Japanese: 10 – 100

Counting double-digit numbers in Japanese is simple once you understand the pattern. To form these numbers, you start with the number for the tens place, followed by じゅう (juu), which means “ten.”

For example, 20 is にじゅう (ni-juu), meaning “two tens,” and 30 is さんじゅう (san-juu), meaning “three tens.” If the number has a digit in the ones place, you simply add it after the tens. So, 21 becomes にじゅういち (ni-juu-ichi), and 47 becomes よんじゅうなな (yon-juu-nana). If there’s no number in the ones place — like in 10, 20, or 30 — you just say the tens part: じゅう (juu), にじゅう (ni-juu), さんじゅう (san-juu), and so on. This system continues consistently, making it easy to build up to higher numbers once you know the basic 1–10.

NumberJapanese ReadingBreakdown
11じゅういち (juu ichi)10 + 1
27にじゅうなな (ni juu nana)20 + 7
38さんじゅうはち (san juu hachi)30 + 8
49よんじゅうきゅう (yon juu kyuu)40 + 9
50ごじゅう (go juu)5 × 10

You’ll notice that after the number 10, Japanese typically uses the preferred pronunciations for 4, 7, and 9 — that is, yon, nana, and kyuu — instead of shi, shichi, or ku. This is especially true for double-digit numbers. For example, 40 is read as yon juu, not shi juu, to avoid the negative connotations associated with shi (death) and ku (suffering). Once you have a solid grasp of numbers 1 to 10 and understand which readings are preferred, it becomes much easier to count larger numbers and form double-digit combinations naturally.

Check out the table below for the numbers 10 – 90.

NumberKanjiHiraganaRomaji
10十じゅうjuu
20二十にじゅうnijuu
30三十さんじゅうsanjuu
40四十よんじゅうyonjuu
50五十ごじゅうgojuu
60六十ろくじゅうrokujuu
70七十ななじゅうnanajuu
80八十はちじゅうhachijuu
90九十きゅうじゅうkyuujuu

Counting Numbers in Japanese from 100 to 900

Counting in Japanese from 100 to 900 is straightforward. To count by hundreds, you take the number (1–9) and add ひゃく (hyaku), which means “hundred.”

Note that in Japanese, the numbers 300, 600, and 800 do not follow the regular pattern of simply adding hyaku (ひゃく). Instead, they undergo sound shifts to make pronunciation smoother. For 300, san-hyaku changes to sanbyaku (さんびゃく), where the “h” sound becomes a “b” sound. For 600, roku-hyaku becomes roppyaku (ろっぴゃく), with a doubled consonant sound (small っ) and the “h” shifting to a “p” sound. Similarly, 800 changes from hachi-hyaku to happyaku (はっぴゃく), also using a doubled consonant and a “p” sound.

NumberJapanese ReadingNotes
100ひゃく (hyaku)Base form
200にひゃく (ni-hyaku)Regular pronunciation
300さんびゃく (san-byaku)Sound change for easier pronunciation
400よんひゃく (yon-hyaku)Uses “yon” instead of “shi”
500ごひゃく (go-hyaku)Regular pronunciation
600ろっぴゃく (roppyaku)Small つ (っ) added, sound shift
700ななひゃく (nana-hyaku)Uses “nana” instead of “shichi”
800はっぴゃく (happyaku)Small つ (っ) added, sound shift
900きゅうひゃく (kyuu-hyaku)Regular pronunciation

Read More: Guide on Double Consonants and Long Vowels in Japanese

Reading Larger Numbers in Japanese: 10,000 to 1,000,000,000

The Japanese counting system is still based on a base-10 structure, just like English, but the units are grouped differently, especially beyond 10,000.

Unlike English, which groups numbers by thousands (thousand, million, billion), Japanese groups by myriad units. In English, we count large numbers by thousands: 1,000 is one thousand, 1,000,000 is one million, and 1,000,000,000 is one billion. But in Japanese, the system is different. The key unit is 10,000, not 1,000. This unit is called 万 (まん or man). Ten thousand “man” makes the next unit: 億 (おく or oku), which is 100 million.

There are no in-between units like in English, so it jumps from man (10,000) to oku (100 million). This means numbers like 100,000 or 1,000,000 don’t have their own unique names; they are just “multiples of ten thousand.”

For example, to say 100,000, a Japanese speaker thinks of it as “ten blocks of ten thousand,” which becomes 十万 (juuman). When you move up to 1,000,000, the logic follows the same stacking principle: it is “one hundred blocks of ten thousand,” or 百万 (hyakuman).

The main units are:

Japanese UnitKanjiValue
まん (man)万10,000
おく (oku)億100 million
ちょう (chou)兆1 trillion
けい (kei)京10 quadrillion

This stacking continues all the way up to 10,000,000, which is “one thousand blocks of ten thousand,” known as 千万 (sen-man). It is only when you reach 100,000,000, or “ten thousand blocks of ten thousand,” that the man unit is finally “full,” and the language introduces a brand-new word: 億 (oku).

NumberJapanese (Kanji)Reading (Romaji)
10,000一万ichi-man
100,000十万juu-man
1,000,000百万hyaku-man
10,000,000千万issen-man
100,000,000一億ichi-oku
1,000,000,000十億juu-oku
1,000,000,000,000一兆icchou

Example:

  • 320,000 = san-juu ni man (さんじゅう に まん)
  • 18,257 = ichi-man hassen ni-hyaku go-juu nana (いちまん はっせん にひゃく ごじゅう なな)

How to Say Zero in Japanese

In Japanese, zero is commonly said as ゼロ (zero), borrowed from English, or れい (rei), which is the native Japanese word often used in counting and formal contexts. Both are correct, but ゼロ is more common in everyday speech and measurements. Maru should only be used when you are referring to zero as a number for phone numbers or codes, although the same word is also used to denote that something is correct.

  • ゼロ (zero): Common, borrowed from English
  • まる (maru): Used in phone numbers or codes
  • 零 (rei): Formal but rarely used in speech

Example:

  • 郵便番号は102-0072です。
  • Yuubin bango wa ichi maru ni no maru maru nana ni desu.
  • My postcode is 102-0072.

Do Japanese Use Arabic Numerals?

Nowadays, you might notice that Japanese people use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) in almost every aspect of daily life, including prices, phone numbers, and writing the time.

This is because Arabic numerals are the standard for horizontal writing, such as on digital screens, in newspapers, and on price tags at most retail stores.

But in traditional establishments, like high-end restaurants and izakaya, kanji numbers are often used to maintain an aesthetic of elegance and heritage. You might also notice that they write the text vertically, instead of horizontally, and read from right to left, instead of left to right.

However, you will still see Japanese kanji used for numbers in specific traditional or formal contexts. You will also see kanji numbers used on legal documents, certificates, and paper currency to prevent fraud, as it is much harder to alter a complex kanji character than it is to change a “1” into a “7” with a single stroke of a pen. Additionally, certain fixed expressions and compound words are always written in kanji, even in modern text.

Understanding numbers is just one part of mastering Japanese. To count things properly, you’ll also need to learn counters — like 本 (for long objects), 個 (for small items), and 枚 (for flat objects).

Conclusion: Japanese Numbers are Easier to Remember than You Think!

Remembering how to say numbers in Japanese might seem a bit overwhelming to remember, especially since you have to conjugate numbers depending on what you’re counting. However, the first 10 numbers are where the most differences lie, so all you have to remember is the correct counter! Don’t worry; as you get used to speaking Japanese, you will start to quickly build an intuition for using the right counter and conjugating numbers as needed!

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FAQ

How do you count from 1 to 10 in Japanese?

You can use either Sino-Japanese (ichi, ni, san…) or native Japanese (hitotsu, futatsu…). The Sino-Japanese system is more common and used with counters.

What does 'man' mean in Japanese numbers?

Man (万) means 10,000. Unlike English, Japanese numbers are grouped by ten-thousands instead of thousands. For example, 20,000 is ni-man (二万).

Why are there two readings for Japanese numbers?

Japanese has Sino-Japanese (onyomi) readings from Chinese and native Japanese (kunyomi) readings. The context (counting objects, reading dates, math) determines which to use.

How do you say 100,000 in Japanese?

100,000 is said as juu-man (十万), which means “ten ten-thousands” — because Japanese groups numbers by 10,000 units.

Do Japanese people use kanji for numbers?

In daily life, Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) are common. Kanji (一, 二, 三) are used in formal documents, banking, and legal writing.

You may have heard about the expressions: いってきます (ittekimasu), いってらっしゃい (itterasshai), ただいま (Tadaima), おかえりなさい (okaerinasai), that are used daily in Japanese households, and even workplaces. They are said between someone departing and someone staying behind, as well as between someone declaring their return and someone welcoming them back.

In English, we might just say “goodbye” or “welcome back,” but in Japan, these four key phrases carry a deeper sense of everyday etiquette. You’ll hear them everywhere, from children leaving or returning home from school to coworkers heading out to visit clients. These short exchanges feel natural and warm, reflecting a shared sense of care and awareness. But when exactly do you use them, and how can you make them sound natural? Let’s break it down in our full guide below.

How to Use Ittekimasu and Itterasshai

When to Use Ittekimasu and Itterasshai

ittekimasu, itterasshai, okaeri, tadaima infographic
Infographic on ittekimasu, itterasshai, tadaima, okaeri.

Ittekimasu and itterasshai are everyday Japanese greetings used whenever someone is leaving a place. Ittekimasu is said by the person who’s leaving, and Itterasshai is the warm reply from those staying behind. It’s more than just a “goodbye.” There’s a subtle feeling of care and connection in the exchange that makes it feel personal.

You might think these phrases are only for leaving home, but they’re used throughout daily life in Japan, even in customer service and at work! In hotels, staff often say “itterasshaimase,” a polite version of “itterasshai,” when guests leave, wishing them a safe outing and a pleasant day. In offices, coworkers commonly exchange “ittekimasu” and “itterasshai” when someone heads out for a meeting, a client visit, or even a quick errand. Even in professional settings, these greetings are light, friendly, and help keep a sense of harmony among the team.

1. Ittekimasu (行ってきます）

The phrase “Ittekimasu” is typically used by a Japanese person when they are about to leave somewhere, such as from the office. 

Grammatically, it combines two verbs: 行く (iku), meaning “to go,” and 来る (kuru), meaning “to come,” into the compound form 行ってくる (itte kuru).

If you translate ittekimasu literally into English, it might come out as “to go, to come,” which can be confusing at first. But keep in mind that, unlike many languages, Japanese doesn’t have a true future tense. Any sense of “will” or future action is usually conveyed through context, other verb forms, or adverbs. In this case, you could interpret it as “I’m going, and I’ll come back.”

Also, the Japanese language often omits the subject when it’s clear from context. That means in everyday situations, the simplest way to understand ittekimasu is as “See you later” or “I’m leaving.” It’s a short, natural phrase that shows both departure and the intention to return.

The polite form of this is 行ってきます (itte kimasu). This structure follows the pattern of 〜てくる, which is often used to express doing something and then returning, or a change that occurs and reaches the speaker. For example, “学校に行ってくる” means “I’m going to school and will come back.”

The closest literal translation would be “I’ll go, and I’ll come back”. However, a more natural translation would be something like “see you later.”

2. Itterasshai (いってらっしゃい)

If you hear someone say ittekimasu, the proper response is itterasshai! Literally, itterasshai means “please go and come back.” In everyday use, it’s similar to saying “see you later,” “have a good day,” or “take care,” but none of these English expressions fully capture the warmth and care behind the Japanese phrase.

The word itterasshai is actually a combination of two Japanese words: 行く (iku), which means “to go,” and いらっしゃる (irassharu), an honorific form of “to come” or “to be.” Put together, it carries the meaning of “please go and come back.”

“Ittekimasu” expresses that “I will be going now, but do not worry, I will safely return” while “Itterasshai” indicates that, “You will be leaving soon, but please do come back safely”.

The casual form of itterasshai is 行っておいで (itte oide). Here, oide literally means “come here.” It’s common in Japan for people, especially among family or close friends, to just say おいで! as a casual way of telling someone to come along. Using itte oide keeps the same sense of “go and come back,” but in a more relaxed, familiar tone.

Of course, in many cases, you don’t have to wait to hear ittekimasu before saying itterasshai. For example, if you see someone heading out the door, you can greet them immediately with a cheerful, “Itterasshai!”

Take a look at a conversation between Toshio and Mika below, both who are brother and sister.

としお：アイス、買いに行くけど。
Toshio: Aisu, kai ni iku kedo.
Toshio: I am going to buy ice.

みか：いいね！わたしのもお願い。
Mika: iine. Watashi no mo onegai.
Mika: Nice! Me too, please!

としお：じゃ、いってくる！
Toshio: Ittekuru!
Toshio: I will leave!

みか：いってらっしゃい！
Mika: Itterasshai!
Mika: Take care!

Example 2:

みか：お母さん、いってきます！
Mika: Mum, I’m going out now!
Mika: Okaasan, ittekimasu!

母：どこ行くの？
Haha: doko iku no?
Mum: Mika, where are you going?

みか：友達と映画、見に。待ち合わせに遅れそうだから、バイバイ！いってきます。
Mika: I’m going to watch a movie with my friend. I’m a bit late, so bye-bye! I’m off!
Mika: Tomodachi to eiga mi ni. Machiawase ni okure souda kara, baibai! Ittekimasu.

母：はい、いってらっしゃい、気をつけてね！
Haha: Hai, itterasshai, ki o tsukete ne!
Mum: See you later, be careful!

“Ittekimasu” is not a simple goodbye and should not be employed as such. It implies that you will return to the place you are leaving. Hence, the “Itterasshai” as a reply implies that the other party is waiting for your return.

Although there is no absolute rule, most of the time, “Ittekimasu” comes first. Exchanging these two terms emits a strong and warm feeling of returning safely to the place where one belongs.

When Not to Use Ittekimasu and Itterasshai

Ittekimasu and itterasshai are greetings used when someone is leaving, but they aren’t appropriate in every situation. These phrases carry the nuance that the person leaving will return to the same place, so it only makes sense to use them when that’s actually the case.

For example, you wouldn’t normally say ittekimasu when leaving a store or restaurant, or when visiting someone else’s home as a guest. Saying ittekimasu in those situations would imply that you plan to come back, like inviting yourself back whenever you feel like it! In these cases, the proper phrase is お邪魔しました (ojama shimashita), which politely acknowledges that you were intruding and are now leaving.

Similarly, you wouldn’t say itterasshai to a guest unless they actually live there. Instead, a casual またね (mata ne), meaning “see you later,” or a polite farewell like 失礼します (shitsureishimasu) or さようなら (sayonara) would be more appropriate. Itterasshai is natural only when you are staying behind and have a friendly or familiar relationship with the person leaving. Using it with strangers or in formal customer interactions can feel awkward or out of place. In those situations, you might instead say 気を付けて帰ってきてください (Ki o tsukete kaette kudasai), which means “please have a safe trip home.”

How to Use Tadaima and Okaerinasai

Similar to “Ittekimasu” and “Itterasshai”, the phrases “Tadaima” and “okaerinasai” (or “okaeri”) go hand-in-hand, except they are used when someone returns.

1. Tadaima (ただいま)

Literally, the word “tadaima” means “right now”. Looking more closely at the phrase, tada means “just” and ima means “now.” However, in this specific context, it is a condensed version of ただいま帰りました (tadaima kaerimashita), which means, “I have just come back.”

Tadaima is used by someone returning home, to the office, or to a familiar place after being away.

2. Okaerinasai (お帰りなさい)

When you’re the one greeting someone who has just returned, you say おかえりなさい (okaerinasai). This phrase is used in response to ただいま (tadaima), acknowledging the person’s return. The full, polite form, okaerinasai, breaks down into three parts: お (an honorific prefix), 帰り (kaeri, meaning “return”), and なさい (nasai, a polite imperative roughly meaning “please do”). Literally, it conveys “Please return safely” or “Welcome back.” The shorter form, おかえり (okaeri), is the casual version, commonly used among family, close friends, or colleagues in informal situations.

At home, a family member returning from school, work, or errands might say tadaima, and those at home respond with okaeri. In workplaces, coworkers might greet someone returning from a meeting, an errand, or even a short break with okaeri.

Example 1:

としお：ただいま！バニラアイス、買ってきたよ！
Toshio: I’m back! I bought vanilla ice cream.
Toshio: Tadaima! Banira aisu katte kita yo!

みか：おかえりなさい！ありがとう。
Mika: Welcome back! Thank you, Toshio~
Mika: Okaerinasai! Arigatou.

Example 2:

みか：ただいま！
Mika: I’m home!
Mika: Tadaima!

母：おかえり。楽しかった？
Haha: Okaeri. Tanoshikatta?
Mum: Welcome home! Was it fun?

みか：うん！
Mika: Un!
Mika: Yes!

When Not to Use Tadaima and Okaerinasai

While tadaima and okaerinasai are everyday greetings at home and in familiar settings, they aren’t used in every situation. You generally wouldn’t say tadaima when returning to a place where you don’t have a personal connection, such as a stranger’s house or a public space. Similarly, okaerinasai is reserved for welcoming someone back who has a meaningful tie to the place: family members, close friends, coworkers, or hotel guests. Using it in a casual or professional setting where there’s no relationship might feel awkward or overly familiar.

Conclusion: Ittekimasu, Itterashai, Tadaima, and Okaeri Express Warmth And Respect

The expressions, ittekimasu, itterashai, tadaima, and okaeri, are unique to the Japanese language and communicate both a sense of politeness and warmth. The person leaving says “ittekimasu,” while the one staying responds “itterashai” and when the person returns says “taidama” while the person who stayed replies “okaeri.” This interaction although customary and routine is a part the Japanese culture of constantly communicating care and awareness of those around you.

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FAQ

What does "Ittekimasu" mean and when is it used?

“Ittekimasu” (いってきます) is a phrase used by individuals when they are about to leave a place, such as home or the office. It literally translates to “I’ll go, and I’ll come back,” conveying the message “I am going now, but I will return safely.” It’s similar to saying “See you later” in English.

How should one respond to "Ittekimasu"?

The appropriate response to “Ittekimasu” is “Itterasshai” (いってらっしゃい), which literally means “Please go and come back.” This phrase expresses the sentiment, “You will be leaving soon, but please do come back safely.” It’s like saying “Have a good day” or “Take care” in English.

What is the meaning of "Tadaima" and when is it used?

“Tadaima” (ただいま) is a phrase used by individuals upon returning home or to a familiar place. It translates to “I am back” or “I’m home,” signaling one’s return.

How should one respond to "Tadaima"?

The customary response to “Tadaima” is “Okaerinasai” (おかえりなさい), meaning “welcome back.” It acknowledges and greets the person returning home.

Can "Ittekimasu" and "Itterasshai" be used in professional settings?

Yes, in professional settings, when leaving the office for a short period, such as running an errand or going for lunch, employees might use “Ittekimasu” or the more formal “Itte mairimasu” (行って参ります). Colleagues typically respond with “Itterasshai” or the formal “Itterasshaimase” (いってらっしゃいませ).

Are there other common Japanese greeting phrases related to departures and arrivals?

Yes, other related phrases include:​

“Konbanwa” (こんばんは): Used to say “good evening.”

“Ohayou gozaimasu” (おはようございます): Used to say “good morning.”​

“Konnichiwa” (こんにちは): Used to say “good afternoon” or “hello.

Read more:

Writing your address in Japanese is essential for living in Japan, from completing administrative procedures at the Japanese city hall to using postal services. The first thing you might notice about Japanese addresses is that they start with the largest unit (region/city) and end with the smallest (street name). So, in order to write an address in Japanese, there are a few things you might need to know when it comes to Japanese street systems and wards. 

So, how do you actually write your address, and is it completely different than writing your name in English? Let’s find out everything you need to know!

Japanese Address Converter

So, before we break down how to actually write your address in Japanese, if you’re in a bind, you can use our Japanese address converter below! Simply enter the address you need in English or Romaji, and the converter will provide it in the correct Japanese format.

Whichever address you input will be reordered into proper Japanese format (postal code → prefecture → city/ward → block/house number → building/room), plus a breakdown table. It will also flag anything ambiguous, like a missing postal code.

Wondering how to write your name in Japanese? Check out our blog: What is Your Name? Japanese Name Converter

Are Japanese Addresses Written Differently Compared to English?

When writing addresses in Japanese, there are a few things to keep in mind to prevent confusion. Japanese addresses are written starting with the largest area, generally the city, 都 (to), or the prefecture, 県 (ken). At the end, you write the smallest area, usually your apartment name and room number or house name. In other countries, like the United States, this is the opposite: you start with the smallest area and work up to the largest.

Also, keep in mind that addresses rarely use street names (except for major roads in some cases). This is because Japanese cities are generally divided into blocks and sub-areas, so most addresses use block names rather than road names. Here is how a typical Japanese address might look:

〒151-0073 
東京都渋谷区笹塚1-2-3

Now, let’s break down this address piece by piece, starting from the top, so you can learn how it works to write your address as well.

1. Writing Japanese Postal Codes

Postal codes are essentially equivalent to a zip code. However, you usually have to start every address with a postal code, which always starts with the postal symbol, 〒, followed by a 7-digit number separated by a dash after the first 3 digits. Let’s take a look at the example again.

〒151-0073

This is the actual postal code for the Sasazuka district, so every apartment or house in Sasazuka uses it. If you’re unsure what your postal code is, you can simply look up your specific district’s postal code on Google.

To tell people your postal code over the phone, you will need to know Japanese numbers! So, check out our detailed guide: How to Count Numbers in Japanese: 0 – 1,000,000

2. Writing the Prefecture in Japanese Addresses

After entering your postal code, you will need to write the prefecture name, which is similar to entering your state in the United States. If you live in Tokyo, you will need to attach the character 都 (to), as in the earlier example.

東京都
Toukyouto
Tokyo State/Prefecture

都 marks Tokyo specifically; it’s the only place in Japan that uses this character, reflecting its unique status as the capital. Everywhere else, you’ll see one of three other prefecture-level characters instead:

県 (ken) → used for most prefectures, like 熊本県 (Kumamoto-ken)
府 (fu) → used for Osaka and Kyoto, like 大阪府 (Osaka-fu)
道 (dou) → used only for Hokkaido, 北海道 (Hokkaidou). 

So, in total, there are four possible prefecture-level characters: 都, 道, 府, and 県. If you ever move from one prefecture to another, it’s important to check which one applies, since using the wrong kanji character (or leaving it off entirely) can cause confusion on forms and deliveries.

3. Writing the Ward in Japanese Addresses

Now we write the ward or city part of the address, so let’s revisit the example once again:

渋谷区 
Shibuyaku 
Shibuya ward

Shibuya uses the character 区 (ku), meaning “ward.” This is common in Tokyo’s 23 special wards, as well as in other major cities like Osaka, Nagoya, and Yokohama, which are also divided into wards. However, not every city in Japan uses 区. Smaller or less densely populated cities often skip the ward system entirely and use 市 (shi), meaning “city,” on its own instead. Let’s take a look at some examples.

大阪市 (Osaka shi) → Osaka City, with no ward attached, if you’re referring to the city as a whole rather than a specific ward within it
箱根町 (Hakone-machi) → Hakone Town, using 町 (machi), meaning “town”
白川村 (Shirakawa-mura) → Shirakawa Village, using 村 (mura), meaning “village”

So, depending on where you live, your address might use 区, 市, 町, or 村 at this point in the address, and it’s worth double-checking which one applies to you rather than assuming. A good rule of thumb is that the more urban and populous the area, the more likely it is to use 区; smaller cities, towns, and villages generally stick with 市, 町, or 村 instead.

4. Writing the District Town and City Block in Japanese

Finally, we get to the last part of the address: 

笹塚1-2-3 
Sasazuka ichi no ni no san
Sasazuka 1-2-3

Note: sometimes the address could be written like this:

笹塚1丁目2番3号
Sasazuka ichhoume ni ban san gou
Sasazuka 1-2-3

This part starts with the district or neighborhood name, 笹塚 (Sasazuka) in this case, followed by a set of numbers separated by hyphens. As the second example demonstrates, those numbers aren’t random; they’re shorthand for three separate units:

  • 丁目 (choume/chome) → a sub-district or block area
  • 番地 (banchi) → a specific block number within that chome
  • 号 (gou) → the building or house number within that block

So 笹塚1-2-3 is technically shorthand for 笹塚1丁目2番3号 (Sasazuka Icchoume, 2 banchi, 3 gou). In everyday use, especially on envelopes, forms, and business cards, almost everyone writes it in the shortened hyphenated format rather than spelling out 丁目, 番地, and 号 in full, but it’s useful to know what each number actually represents.

One more regional variation to keep in mind: some older or more rural addresses use 大字 (Ooaza) or 字 (aza) instead of the choume system. These are older land divisions that predate the modern block-numbering system, and you’ll still come across them in more traditional or countryside areas. If your address includes 大字 or 字, the same overall logic applies, largest unit to smallest, but the internal numbering may look a little different from the standard choume-banchi-gou format. Ward name using the 区 character meaning “ward.”

5. Writing Your Apartment/House Name and Room Number

At the very end of the address, you write your apartment building name (or house name, if applicable) followed by your room number. This part comes last because it’s the smallest, most specific unit in the address, narrowing everything down to your exact door.

Example:

笹塚コーポ101
Sasazuka Koopo 101
Sasazuka Corp, Room 101

Here, 笹塚コーポ (Sasazuka Koopo) is the building name, and 101 is the room number. Building names in Japan often borrow English- or French-sounding words like コーポ (koopo, from “corporate/corp”), ハイツ (haitsu, from “heights”), or メゾン (mezon, from the French “maison”), so don’t be surprised if your building name doesn’t look like standard Japanese vocabulary at all.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind for this part of the address. If you live in a house rather than an apartment, you typically won’t have a building name or room number at all. In that case, the address simply ends after the block and house number from the previous section (笹塚1-2-3), with no additional line needed.

If you live in an apartment or mansion (マンション), you’ll almost always need to include both the building name and room number, since multiple households share the same block/house number.

Room numbers often loosely correspond to the floor: for example, 101 usually means “1st floor, room 01,” and 305 would mean “3rd floor, room 05,” though this isn’t a strict rule and can vary by building.

Some older or smaller buildings don’t have an official building name at all. In these cases, you may only need to write the room number, or the block number itself may already be specific enough to identify the address.

Conclusion: Knowing How to Write Addresses in Japanese is Essential!

To live in Japan, being able to write and say your address in Japanese will make your life a whole lot easier! All the Japanese ward, city, and block names might be overwhelming at first, but as you understand how Japanese cities work, you will start remembering your address in no time. But if your address just completely wanders out of your mind, you can always show your address from your residence card or phone! Of course, feel free to use our Japanese Address converter above if you only know the address in English! 

Learn How to Write and Say Your Address at Coto Academy!

If you want to learn how to write your address properly, then we highly recommend joining us at Coto Academy! We have courses that will get you reading and writing not only hiragana and katakana but also kanji. But if you’re looking to get real practice speaking Japanese in practical settings, not just from a textbook, our conversation courses also have you covered!

Drop by our campuses in Tokyo and Yokohama, or join us online from anywhere in the world! Simply fill out the form if you’re ready to sign up or if you just want a casual chat for more details!

FAQ:

Do I need to use kanji when writing my address in Japan?

For most official purposes (city hall, banks, delivery services), it is safer to write Japanese addresses in kanji and kana. That said, many postal and delivery services can still process addresses written in romaji, especially for mail coming from overseas, so it’s not always a hard requirement.

Do all Japanese addresses include a building name?

Not always, if you live in a standalone house, you typically won’t have a building name at all, and the address ends after the block and house number. Apartments and mansions almost always require a building name and room number, since multiple households share the same block number.

Is it okay to write my address in the English order (smallest to largest) on forms in Japan?

It’s best to avoid this. Japanese forms and postal systems expect the largest-to-smallest order (postal code → prefecture → ward/city → block → building/room), and writing it in reverse can cause confusion or delivery issues, even if all the individual pieces are correct.

Can I just use the address converter instead of learning the format?

The converter is a great shortcut when you’re in a pinch, but it’s still worth understanding the structure yourself, since you’ll likely need to write your address by hand on forms, at the post office, or when giving it verbally.