cheatsheet · 文法
Survival grammar
Eight tiny patterns that unlock most of what you'll say on the trip. You don't need to analyse them — copy the shape, swap the noun.
は / が / を — the three workhorse particles
Tiny words placed AFTER a noun to mark its job. は (said "wa") marks the topic — "as for...". を (said "o") marks the thing the action hits (the object). が ("ga") often points to what exists or which one you specifically mean. As a beginner, copy the patterns; you don't need to analyze them.
- これはいくらですか？ Kore wa ikura desu ka? How much is this? (as for this, how much?)
- 水をください。 Mizu o kudasai. Water, please. (water = the thing I want)
- これがいいです。 Kore ga ii desu. This one's good. (I'll take this specific one)
に / で — "to/at" a place vs "by means of / where action happens"
に marks a destination or a point in time — where you're going or when. で marks where an action happens or the method/tool you use ("by card", "in cash"). Quick rule of thumb: going somewhere → に; doing something somewhere or paying with something → で.
- 東京に行きます。 Toukyou ni ikimasu. I'm going to Tokyo.
- カードで払います。 Kaado de haraimasu. I'll pay by card.
- ここで食べます。 Koko de tabemasu. I'll eat here.
です / ます — the polite ending that keeps you safe
です (after a noun or adjective) and ます (on verbs) are the polite, neutral endings you should default to with strangers and staff — always appropriate, never rude. です ≈ "is/am/are"; ます makes a verb polite. When in doubt, end your sentence with one of these.
- 学生です。 Gakusei desu. I'm a student.
- 高いです。 Takai desu. It's expensive.
- 駅に行きます。 Eki ni ikimasu. I'm going to the station.
〜をください — "please give me ___"
The single most useful ordering pattern. Put any noun in front, add をください, and you've politely asked for it. Point at a menu or shelf and you don't even need the word. For an amount, slot a counted quantity in front (e.g. 二つください).
- これをください。 Kore o kudasai. This one, please. (I'll take this)
- お水をください。 Omizu o kudasai. Water, please.
- 切符を二枚ください。 Kippu o nimai kudasai. Two tickets, please.
〜たいです — "I want to ___"
Take a verb, swap its polite ます ending for たいです, and you've said you want to do it. 行きます (go) → 行きたいです (want to go); 食べます (eat) → 食べたいです (want to eat). Great for telling staff or strangers your goal.
- ここに行きたいです。 Koko ni ikitai desu. I want to go here. (showing a map)
- 寿司を食べたいです。 Sushi o tabetai desu. I want to eat sushi.
- 荷物を預けたいです。 Nimotsu o azuketai desu. I'd like to leave my luggage.
〜か — turn any statement into a question
Add か to the end of a polite sentence and it becomes a question — no change in word order, no rising voice needed (though Japanese people often raise it anyway). It's like a spoken question mark. Pairs with です/ます.
- トイレはどこですか？ Toire wa doko desu ka? Where is the toilet?
- 英語を話せますか？ Eigo o hanasemasu ka? Can you speak English?
- これは魚ですか？ Kore wa sakana desu ka? Is this fish?
〜はありますか？ — "do you have / is there ___?"
あります means "there is / exists" (for things). Put a noun + はありますか？ to ask if a shop has something or whether a facility exists. The answer あります = yes (we have it); ありません = no (we don't). Hugely reusable when shopping or hunting for amenities.
- 英語のメニューはありますか？ Eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka? Is there an English menu?
- 別のサイズはありますか？ Betsu no saizu wa arimasu ka? Do you have another size?
- コインロッカーはありますか？ Koin rokkaa wa arimasu ka? Are there coin lockers?
Counters — you can't just say a number
To count things in Japanese you attach a little "counter" word to the number, and it changes by object shape. The safe all-purpose set is ひとつ (1), ふたつ (2), みっつ (3)... — use it for almost anything when unsure. Flat things (tickets, paper) use 〜枚 (mai); long things (bottles, umbrellas) use 〜本 (hon). People use 〜人 (nin). Holding up fingers always works as a backup.
- これを一つください。 Kore o hitotsu kudasai. One of these, please.
- コーヒーを二つください。 Koohii o futatsu kudasai. Two coffees, please.
- 切符を三枚ください。 Kippu o sanmai kudasai. Three tickets, please.