21 MOST COMMON JAPANESE IDIOMS AND PHRASES
Do you want to know a lot of Japanese Phrases?
Then read here! After remembering them, I’m sure your Japanese will turn like native Japanese speakers!
Let’s go!
Just saying!：ちょっと言ってみただけだよ！(chotto itte mita dake dayo)
When you are making a criticism or complaint, to make it less likely to offend someone”, you would be able to use “ちょっと言ってみただけだよ！(chotto itte mita dake dayo)” which means “Just saying!”. Everybody could use this in daily conversations as casual and “ちょっと言ってみただけです！(chotto itte mita dake desu)” is used as polite and formal.
Sample 1
tatsuyaあいつしばきたいよ！ (I wanna beat him!) (aitsu shibaki tai yo!)
yuka・・・えっ？ (…What?) (…e?)
tatsuyaちょっと言ってみただけだよ！ (Just saying!) (chotto itte mita dake dayo!)
Sample 2
yuka仕事やめよっかなー？ (I think I’m going to quit my job.) (shigoto yame yokka na ̄?)
tatsuyaえっ、マジで？ (What? Seriously?) (e, majide?)
yukaちょっと言ってみただけだよ！草 (Just saying! haha) (chotto itte mita dakeda yo! kusa)
You’re exaggerating!：おおげさでしょ！ (ōgesa desho)
When you feel someone said as being larger, greater, better, or worse than it really is, you would say “おおげさでしょ！(ōgesa desho)” which means “You’re exaggerating!” and “おおげさじゃない？(ōgesa janai)” is often used that is “You’re exaggerating, huh?”. “おおげさでしょ！” is not slang so everybody would be able to use it.
Sample 1
tatsuyaゆかみたいにきれいな女性、見たことないよ！ (I’ve never seen you, Yuka such a super hot woman!) (Yuka mitai ni kireina josei, mita koto nai yo!)
yukaおおげさでしょ！！草 (You’re exaggerating!haha) (ōgesa desho! ! kusa)
tatsuyaマジだって！ (I mean it!) (maji datte!)
Sample 2
yukaトムクルーズに会えるなら、何でも出来る！ (If I meet Tom Cruise, I can do anything!) (tomukurūzu ni aeru nara, nan demo dekiru!)
tatsuyaおおげさじゃない？！ (You’re exaggerating, huh?) (ōgesa janai?!)
yukaマジだって！ (I mean it!) (maji datte!)
You freak me out!：ああびっくりした！(ā bikkuri shita)
When you are surprised at something, you would say “ああびっくりした！(ā bikkuri shita)” which means “You freak me out!” that native speakers are really surprised at something, they would be saying “ああびっくりした!” than “驚いた”.
Sample 1
tatsuyaわっ！ (Boo！) (wa!)
yukaああびっくりした！ (You freak me out!) (ā bikkuri shita!)
tatsuyaあはははは！ (Ahahahaha!) (a ha ha ha ha!)
Sample 2
yukaわっ！ (Boo！) (wa!)
tatsuyaああびっくりした！ (You freak me out!) (ā bikkuri shita!)
yukaごめんごめん！草 (My bad! haha) (gomen gomen! kusa)
IKR：だよねー！ (dayone-!)
“だよねー！(dayone-!)” is one of the “back-channeling(Uh-huh, I see, Right, Really?, Great! etc)” and which younger generation usually use. When you agree with what your friends said, you would use this.
Sample 1
tatsuyaこの犬超かわいい！ (How cute this dog is!) (kono inu chō kawaī!)
yukaだよねー！ (I know, right?) (dayo ne-!)
tatsuya名前なんだろう？ (I’m wondering if the name of the dog is.) (namae nan darou?)
Sample 2
yukaハリーポッターは最高だね！ (Harry Potter is awesome!) (harīpottā wa saikō dane!)
tatsuyaだよねー！ (I know, right?) (dayo ne-!)
yuka明日、映画見に行こうよ！ (Let’s go to the movies tomorrow!) (ashita, eiga mi ni ikou yo!)
How can I say __ in Japanese?：___は日本語で何て言ったらいいですか？ (___wa nihongo de nante ittara ī desu ka?)
When you can’t say anything in Japanese, you would use this phrase. In the Japanese lesson, try to use it! You would also say “___は日本語で何て言ったらいい？(___wa nihongo de nante ittara ī desu ka)” to your friends.
Sample 1
tatsuya今日遊ばない？ (Are you free to hang out today?) (kyō asoba nai?)
yuka“Tomorrow”は日本語で何て言ったらいい？ (How can I say “Tomorrow” in Japanese?) (“Tomorrow” wa nihongo de nante ittara ī?)
tatsuya“明日“だよ！ (It’s “tomorrow”!) (“ashita“ dayo!)
Sample 2
yuka超のどかわいたー！ (I’m so thirsty.) (chō nodo kawaita-!)
tatsuya“Water”は日本語で何て言ったらいいですか？ (How can I say “Water” in Japanese?) (“Water” wa nihongo de nante ittara ī desu ka?)
yuka“水“だよ！ (It’s “Water”!) (“mizu“ dayo!)
Adorable!：かわいい！ (kawaī)
If you are a girl/woman, you may often use the word “かわいい！(kawaī)” for people or animals or even things that are easy to love because they are very attractive and you feel great affection for them. Japanese girls really love the word “かわいい！” in daily conversation.
Sample 1
tatsuyaねぇ！この犬見て！ (Hey! Take a look at this dog!) (ne-! kono inu mite!)
yukaかわいい！ (Adorable!) (kawaī!)
tatsuyaでしょ！？ (I know, right!) (desho!?)
Sample 2
yukaねぇ！お姉ちゃんの子供の写真見てよ！ (Hey! Take a look at this picture of my sister’s kids.) (ne-! onē-chan no kodomo no shashin mite yo!)
tatsuyaかわいいね！ (Adorable!) (kawaī ne!)
yuka双子なんだ！ (They’re twins!) (futa gona nda!)
Have a heart!：大目に見てよ！ (ōme ni mite yo!)
When asking someone to be kinder to you, him or her, you would say “大目に見てよ！(ōme ni mite yo)” means “Have a heart!”. If you say that, your friends, your parents, etc might forgive you doing wrong.
Sample 1
tatsuyaまた遅刻してるよ！ (He is late for school again!) (mata chikoku shiteru yo!)
yuka大目に見てあげてよ！ (Have a heart!) (ōme ni mite agete yo!)
tatsuya何で？好きなの？ (Why? Do you like him?) (nande? sukina no?)
Sample 2
yuka間違ってるよ！ (It’s wrong!) (你搞错了！) (machigatteru yo!)
tatsuya大目に見てよ！ (Have a heart!) (ōme ni mite yo!)
yukaまたー？ (Again?) (mata-?)
Bar/Pub crawl!：はしごする！ (hashigo suru)
“はしごする！(hashigo suru)” means “A bar/pub crawl is the act of drinking in multiple pubs or bars in a single night” which is “Bar or Pub crawl!”. “はしご(hashigo)” is a noun and “はしごする(hashigo suru)” is a verb.
Sample 1
tatsuya酒臭！ (You’re reeking of alcohol!) (sake kusa!)
yuka昨日、バーをはしごしたんだ。 (We went bar crawling yesterday.) (kinō, bā wo hashigo shita nda.)
tatsuyaやっぱり！ (I knew it!) (yappari!)
Sample 2
yukaまだ飲めるよ！ (I can still drink!) (mada nomeru yo!)
tatsuya今夜ははしごだね！笑 (Let’s bar crawl tonight.) (kon’ya wa hashigo dane! wara)
yukaいいねぇ！ (Sounds great!) (ī nē!)
Oh well!：しょうがない！ (shōganai)
“しょうがない！(shōganai)” means “Oh well!” and which has been used for accepting a bad situation or disappointment. Even though you or they are not very happy about it, you accept a situation or that someone else should accept it.
Sample 1
tatsuyaバスに乗り遅れちゃったじゃん！ (We missed the bus!) (basu ni noriokure chatta jan!)
yukaしょうがない！待とうよ。 (Oh well. I guess we’ll wait.) (shōganai! matou yo.)
tatsuya間に合うかなー？ (I’m wondering if we can make it.) (maniau kana-?)
Sample 2
yuka日本語が上手く喋れないよー。 (I can’t speak Japanese well.) (nihongo ga umaku shabere nai yo-.)
tatsuyaしょうがないよ！一緒に練習しようよ！ (Oh well. I guess we’ll wait. Let’s practice Japanese together!) (shōganai yo! issho ni renshū shiyou yo!)
yukaありがと！ (Thanks!) (arigato!)
Come to think of it___：そういえば___！ (sō ieba___!)
When you have suddenly remembered about a subject that you are talking about, you would use “そういえば___(sō ieba)” means “Come to think of it”. “そういえば___” is often used with “あっ！(a)” which word sounds you suddenly remembered about something. For instance, “あっ、そういえば___(a, sō ieba)”.
Sample 1
tatsuya明日僕の誕生日なんだ！ (Tomorrow will be my birthday!) (ashita boku no tanjōbi nanda!)
yukaふーん。あっ、そういえば今日お母さんの誕生日だった！ (I see. Come to think of it, today’s mom’s birthday!) (fu-n. a, sō ieba kyō okāsan no tanjōbi datta!)
tatsuya何か買ったの？ (Did buy something for her?) (nanika katta no?)
Sample 2
yukaこの問題分かる？ (Can you answer this question?) (kono mondai wakaru?)
tatsuyaわかんない。あっ、そういえば宿題するの忘れてた！ (I can’t. Come to think of it, I forgot to do my homework!) (wakan’nai. a, sō ieba shukudai suru no wasureteta!)
yukaいつもじゃない？草 (You always forget about it, huh? haha) (itsumo janai? kusa)
Indecisive：優柔不断。(yūjū fudan)
When a person finds it very difficult to make decisions, you would be able to use “優柔不断。(yūjū fudan)” means “Indecisive!”. When he/she is indecisive at the restaurants or at the shops, “彼/彼女は優柔不断です！(kare/kanojo wa yūjū fudan desu)” is often used or even “あなたは/私は優柔不断です！(You are/I am indecisive!) (anata/watashi wa yūjū fudan desu)”.
Sample 1
tatsuyaどれにしようか迷うー。 (I can’t make up my mind which one to choose.) (dore ni shiyou ka mayou-.)
yuka優柔不断だね！ (You’re indecisive!) (yūjū fudan dane!)
tatsuyaだって、多いじゃん！ (But you know, that’s a lot!) (datte, ōi jan!)
Sample 2
yukaまだー？ (…still?) (mada-?)
tatsuya優柔不断なんだ！笑 (I’m indecisive!) (yūjū fudan na’nda! wara)
yukaもぉ〜・・・ (Oh come on…) (mo~…)
It’s not your business!：あなたに関係ない！ (anata ni kankei nai!)
When someone asks you something but you want it to be a secret, you would be able to use “あなたに関係ない！(anata ni kankei nai)” means “It’s not your business!”. If someone is so persistent about it, that would be the chance to use this. Native speakers tend to say “his/her name” instead of using あなた(anata).
Sample 1
tatsuya彼氏と別れたんだって？ (You broke up with your boyfriend, right?) (kareshi to wakare tan datte?)
yukaたつやに関係ないじゃん！ (It’s not your business!) (Tatsuya ni kankei nai jan!)
tatsuyaあっ、ごめん！ (Oh, sorry!) (a, gomen!)
Sample 2
yukaテスト何点だったの？ (What was your score on the test?) (tesuto nan ten datta no?)
tatsuyaゆかに関係ないよ！ (It’s not your business!) (Yuka ni kankei nai yo!)
yuka0点とか？ (Was that 0 or something?) (reiten toka?)
It’s not your business!：あなたに関係ない！ (anata ni kankei nai)
When someone asks you something but you want it to be a secret, you would be able to use “あなたに関係ない！(anata ni kankei nai)” means “It’s not your business!”. If someone is so persistent about it, that would be the chance to use this. Native speakers tend to say “his/her name” instead of using あなた(anata).
Sample 1
tatsuya彼氏と別れたんだって？ (You broke up with your boyfriend, right?) (kareshi to wakare tan datte?)
yukaたつやに関係ないじゃん！ (It’s not your business!) (Tatsuya ni kankei nai jan!)
tatsuyaあっ、ごめん！ (Oh, sorry!) (a, gomen!)
Sample 2
yukaテスト何点だったの？ (What was your score on the test?) (tesuto nan ten datta no?)
tatsuyaゆかに関係ないよ！ (It’s not your business!) (Yuka ni kankei nai yo!)
yuka0点とか？ (Was that 0 or something?) (reiten toka?)
I’ll die without an air conditioner!：エアコンなしなんてムリ！ (eakon nashi nante muri!)
When it’s so hot outside, I’d say you would turn on the AC and you would say “エアコンなしなんてムリ！(eakon nashi nante muri)” which is one of the explorations that you want to say it’s so hot outside.
Sample 1
tatsuya今日暑いねー。 (It’s hot today, huh?) (kyō atsui ne-.)
yukaエアコンなしなんてムリ！ (I’ll die without an air conditioner!) (eakon’nashi nante muri!)
tatsuyaはははは！分かる！ (Hahahaha! I agree!) (ha ha ha ha! wakaru!)
Sample 2
yukaマジ暑いね。 (It’s so hot, huh?) (maji atsui ne.)
tatsuyaエアコンなしなんてムリだわー！ (I’ll die without an air conditioner!) (eakon’nashi nante murida wa-!)
yukaだね！後、アイスもね！ (Right! And ice cream as well!) (da ne! ato, aisu mo ne!)
That’s not the point!：そういう問題じゃない！ (sō iu mondai ja nai)
When a person who is talking about something which is not relevant to the question you were discussing, you would be able to say “そういう問題じゃない！(sō iu mondai ja nai)” means “That’s not the point!”
Sample 1
tatsuya彼氏が浮気したら、ゆかも浮気したら？ (If your boyfriend cheats on you, why don’t you also cheat on him?) (kareshi ga uwaki shitara, Yuka mo uwaki shitara?)
yukaそういう問題じゃない！ (That’s not the point!) (sō iu mondai janai!)
tatsuyaだよね。笑 (I know. haha) (da yo ne. wara)
Sample 2
yukaフラれたら、新しい彼女見つけたらいいんじゃない？ (If you were dumped, why don’t you get a new girlfriend?) (furare tara, atarashī kanojo mitsuke tara ī n janai?)
tatsuyaそういう問題じゃないんだよ！ (That’s not the point!) (sō iu mondai janai nda yo!)
yukaだよね。草 (I know. hehe) (da yo ne. kusa)
You’re speaking my language!：いいこと言うじゃん！ (ī koto iu jan!)
When you completely agree with what someone just said, you would be able to use “いいこと言うじゃん！(ī koto iu jan)” means “You’re speaking my language!”. Or you can also say “いいこと言うね！(ī koto iu ne)” which sounds a little bit soft than “いいこと言うじゃん！”.
Sample 1
tatsuya浮気とか最低だよ！ (Cheating on a partner sucks!) (uwaki toka saitei dayo!)
yukaいいこと言うじゃん！ (Now, You’re speaking my language!) (ī koto iu jan!)
tatsuyaでしょ！？ (I know, right!?) (desho!?)
Sample 2
yuka人生に良いときも悪いときもあるよ！ (There are ups and downs in life.) (jinsei ni ī toki mo warui toki mo aru yo!)
tatsuyaいいこと言うじゃん！ (Now, You’re speaking my language!) (ī koto iujan!)
yukaでしょ！？ (I know, right!) (desho!?)
I get drunk easily!：お酒に弱いです！ (osake ni yowai desu!)
When you easily get drunk, you would be able to say “お酒に弱いです！(osake ni yowai desu)” means “I get drunk easily!”. An interrogative sentence of it is “お酒に弱いですか？(Do you get drunk easily?) (osake ni yowai desu ka?)”.
Sample 1
tatsuya今度飲もうよ！ (Let’s go for a drink sometime!) (kondo nomō yo!)
yukaいいね！でも、お酒に弱いよ。草 (Why not? But I get drunk easily!) (ī ne! demo, osake ni yowai yo. kusa)
tatsuyaそんなの関係ないよ！笑 (That doesn’t even matter!) (son’nano kankei nai yo! wara)
Sample 2
yuka今度飲もうよ！ (Let’s go for a drink sometime!) (kondo nomō yo!)
tatsuya酒に弱いんだ。笑 (I get drunk easily! haha) (sake ni yowai nda. wara)
yukaじゃあ一杯だけだね！ (Just for a drink then!) (jā ippai dake dane!)
What do think about__?：__どう思う？ (___dō omou?)
When you want to ask someone about something, you would be able to use “__どう思う？(___dō omou?)” which means “What do think about__?”. Whatever you are curious about, you could put them into ___. The polite way to use it is “__をどう思いますか？(dō omoi masuka)”.
Sample 1
tatsuyaうぃーす！ (What’s up!) (ui-su!)
yukaこのブーツどう思う？ (What do you think about this boots?) (kono būtsu dō omou?)
tatsuyaそのブーツいいじゃん！どこで買ったの？ (I like your boots! Where did you get it?) (sono būtsu ījan! doko de katta no?)
Sample 2
yuka髪型変えた？ (New hairstyle?) (kamigata kaeta?)
tatsuyaこれどう思う？ (What do you think about this?) (kore dō omou?)
yukaかっこいいよ！ (I like your haircut!) (kakkoī yo!)
It’s a piece of cake!：超簡単！ (chō kantan!)
When you think of something that is simple to accomplish, you would be able to use “超簡単！(chō kantan!)” means “It’s a piece of cake!”. “とても簡単です。(totemo kantan desu)” is pretty formal than it.
Sample 1
tatsuya分かった？ (Got it?) (wakatta?)
yuka超簡単！ (It’s a piece of cake!) (chō kantan!)
tatsuyaさすが！ (That’s great!) (sasuga!)
Sample 2
yuka難しい？ (Is it difficult?) (muzukashī?)
tatsuya超簡単！ (It’s a piece of cake!) (chō kantan!)
yukaやるじゃん！ (Great!) (yaru jan!)
May I ask who’s calling?：どちら様でしょうか？(dochira sama de shō ka?)
When you answer the phone and want the name of someone calling, you would be able to use “どちら様でしょうか？(dochira sama de shō ka?)” which means “May I ask who’s calling?”. You could use this phrase, especially in business situations. For your information, “誰ですか？(dare desuka?)” means “Who’s calling?” in only casual situations.
Sample 1
tatsuyaもしもし？ (Hello?) (moshi moshi?)
yukaこんにちは。どちら様でしょうか？ (Hello. May I ask who’s calling?) (kon’nichiwa. dochira sama de shō ka?)
tatsuya田中と申します。 (This is Tanaka speaking.) (Tanaka to mōshi masu.)
Sample 2
yukaもしもし？ (Hello?) (moshi moshi?)
tatsuyaこんにちは。どちら様でしょうか？ (Hello. May I ask who’s calling?) (kon’nichiwa. dochira sama de shō ka?)
yuka何があったの？ (What happened?) (nani ga atta no?)
It’s not my thing.：得意じゃない。(tokui janai)
When you want to explain what you don’t like to do, what you’re not good at doing, you would be able to use “得意じゃない。(tokui janai)” which means “It’s not my thing.”. Everybody could use this phrase in both daily conversations as casual. The polite way to use it is “得意ではありません。(tokui dewa arima sen)”.
Sample 1
tatsuya得意料理は何？ (What’s your best dish?) (tokui ryōri wa nani?)
yuka料理は得意じゃないんだー。 (Cooking isn’t my thing.) (ryōri wa tokui janai nda-.)
tatsuyaそうなんだ。カップラーメンは作れる？ (I see. Can you cook cup noodle?) (sō na’nda. kappu rāmen wa tsukureru?)
Sample 2
yukaカラオケ行こうよ！ (Let’s go to a karaoke bar!) (karaoke ikōyo!)
tatsuyaカラオケは得意じゃないんだー。 (Karaoke is not my thing.）(karaoke wa tokui janai nda-.)
yukaじゃあ、ボーリングは？ (Then, what about bowling?) (jā, bōringu wa?)
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