Japanese Phrasebook blog

Guides & comparisons

Honest comparisons, alternatives and how-tos from the Japanese Phrasebook team.

Free Japanese Phrasebook tools

• Japanese Date ConverterConvert dates between the Gregorian calendar and Japan's modern Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa, Heisei, and Reiwa era notation.→
• Japanese Greeting PickerPick a practical Japanese greeting for morning, daytime, evening, or night.→
• Japanese Number ConverterConvert whole numbers between Arabic digits and Japanese numerals, with kanji, kana, and romaji readings for prices, quantities, and travel details.→
• Konbini Phrase BuilderChoose what you need at a Japanese convenience store and get two ready-to-use phrases.→
• Sumimasen Situation ChooserChoose a situation to see how sumimasen works and add a useful follow-up.→

• Ordering food in Japanese: a full restaurant phrase guide

  Ordering food in Japanese from getting seated to asking for the check, plus how to flag allergies and spice level at a restaurant.

  Sep 17, 2026 →

• Do you speak English in Japanese, and other survival phrases

  Do you speak English in Japanese is eigo o hanasemasu ka. The survival phrases for prices, bathrooms, and signaling you dont understand.

  Sep 13, 2026 →

• Japanese phrases for tourists: airport, shops, and getting help

  Japanese phrases for tourists organized by scenario: airport and trains, konbini and shopping, asking for help when lost, and staying polite.

  Sep 10, 2026 →

• How to say how are you in Japanese, and what to say instead

  How to say how are you in Japanese with o-genki desu ka, plus my name is, nice to meet you, and asking someone their name.

  Sep 7, 2026 →

• How to say happy birthday in Japanese, and other celebrations

  How to say happy birthday in Japanese plus congratulations, happy new year, and merry Christmas — the everyday celebration phrases in one guide.

  Sep 4, 2026 →

• How to say sorry in Japanese: sumimasen vs gomennasai

  How to say sorry in Japanese: sumimasen, gomennasai, and shitsurei shimasu, plus onegaishimasu and kudasai for please, and when each fits.

  Sep 1, 2026 →

• Japanese numbers 1 to 10: how to count, ichi to juu

  Japanese numbers 1 to 10 with romaji and kanji: ichi through juu, why some have two readings, and the separate system for counting objects.

  Aug 29, 2026 →

• How to say no in Japanese (and why people rarely do)

  How to say no in Japanese: hai and iie, plus the softer phrases like chotto and daijoubu desu that native speakers actually use to decline.

  Aug 26, 2026 →

• How to say good morning in Japanese: morning, evening, night

  How to say good morning in Japanese: ohayou gozaimasu, plus konbanwa for good evening and oyasumi for good night, and how not to mix them up.

  Aug 23, 2026 →

• How to say goodbye in Japanese (not just sayounara)

  How to say goodbye in Japanese beyond sayounara: the casual jaa ne and mata ne, plus otsukaresama, the workplace goodbye with no English match.

  Aug 20, 2026 →

• How to say I love you in Japanese: suki vs daisuki vs aishiteru

  How to say I love you in Japanese: suki desu, daisuki, and aishiteru, and why Japanese rarely says love you the way English does.

  Aug 17, 2026 →

• How to say thank you in Japanese: the full politeness ladder

  How to say thank you in Japanese: doumo, arigatou, and arigatou gozaimasu, and which one fits a friend, a stranger, or a shopkeeper.

  Aug 14, 2026 →

• How to say hello in Japanese (and when each greeting fits)

  How to say hello in Japanese: konnichiwa, ohayou, moshi moshi, and osu, with exactly when each greeting fits by time of day and setting.

  Aug 11, 2026 →

• Basic Japanese phrases every traveler should know

  The basic Japanese phrases you actually need for a trip: greetings, thank you, numbers, and the polite forms that keep you out of trouble.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Imiwa Alternatives in 2026: Top Japanese Dictionary Apps

  Compare 9 imiwa alternatives for iOS and Android. We evaluate offline support, handwriting input, example sentences, and JLPT filtering to find your next dictionary.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 8 Drops Japanese Alternatives in 2026: Learn Without the

  Searching for drops japanese alternatives? We compare 8 apps across platform availability, kanji depth, grammar support, and offline access to find your ideal fit.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Memrise Japanese Alternatives in 2026: Apps That Actually

  Searching for Memrise Japanese alternatives? We compare 9 apps across platform support, SRS quality, offline access, and kanji depth to find your best fit.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Obenkyo Alternatives in 2026: Learn Japanese Smarter

  Discover the best 9 obenkyo alternatives for 2026. We compare platforms, offline access, SRS, handwriting input, and watch support across top Japanese study apps.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Learn Japanese Daily Phrases Alternatives in 2026: Top

  Seeking learn japanese daily phrases alternatives? We compare 9 apps across platform availability, offline access, and lesson depth to find your ideal fit.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Learn Japanese Phrases Offline Alternatives in 2026

  Compare 9 learn japanese phrases offline alternatives across platform support, watch compatibility, and flashcard scoring rules. Find the best fit for your study style.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Pimsleur Japanese Alternatives in 2026: Learn Without the

  Discover the best Pimsleur Japanese alternatives across 9 apps. We compare platform support, offline access, speech recognition, and lesson structure to find your ideal fit.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Mondly Japanese Alternatives in 2026: Learn Japanese

  Discover the best mondly japanese alternatives in 2026. We compare 9 apps on platform availability, speech recognition accuracy, lesson structure, and offline access.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Renshuu Alternatives in 2026: Learn Japanese Smarter

  Compare 9 renshuu alternatives across platform availability, offline access, SRS type, and kanji depth. Find the best fit for your Japanese learning goals.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Rocket Japanese Alternatives in 2026: Apps That Actually

  Compare 9 rocket japanese alternatives across pricing, speech recognition, lesson structure, and platform support. Find the right fit for your learning style and goals.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Human Japanese Alternatives in 2026: Learn Without the

  Searching for human japanese alternatives? We compare 9 apps on native audio quality, platform support, offline access, and review systems to find the best fit.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 8 Lingodeer Alternatives in 2026: Learn Languages Your Way

  Searching for lingodeer alternatives? We compare 8 language apps on platform availability, teaching methods, offline access, and speech recognition to find your perfect fit.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Bravolol Alternatives in 2026: Smarter Language Learning

  Compare the 9 best bravolol alternatives for 2026, ranked by offline support, phrasebook depth, and platform availability. Find the right travel companion today.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Dango Alternatives in 2026: Learn Japanese Smarter

  Discover the best dango alternatives in 2026. We compare 9 apps across platform availability, offline support, and study methods to find your ideal Japanese learning companion.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Japanesepod101 Alternatives in 2026: Learn Japanese

  Compare 9 japanesepod101 alternatives across platform availability, offline access, speech recognition, and lesson structure to find the right fit for your level.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 8 Japy Alternatives in 2026: Learn Japanese Smarter

  Discover the best japy alternatives for 2026. We compare 8 apps on platform support, watch integration, scoring rules, and lesson depth to find your perfect fit.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 8 Journeymochi Alternatives in 2026: Learn Japanese Smarter

  Searching for journeymochi alternatives? We compare 8 Japanese learning apps across platform support, SRS quality, watch compatibility, and kanji depth.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Speakeasy Japanese Alternatives in 2026: Learn Without

  Searching for speakeasy japanese alternatives? We compare 9 apps across platform availability, offline support, and conversation practice features to find your fit.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 8 Travel Japanese Trainers in 2026: Learn Before You Land

  Compare the best travel japanese trainer alternatives across iOS and Android. We evaluate offline access, audio quality, and phrase search speed for travelers.

  Aug 8, 2026 →

• Best 9 Tabikana Alternatives in 2026: Travel-Ready Japanese

  Searching for tabikana alternatives? We compare 9 Japanese travel phrasebooks across platform availability, Apple Watch support, offline access, and audio quality.

  Aug 8, 2026 →