Expression Bank 表現バンク
Master the phrases natives actually use. Organized by situation — from first meetings to business emails.
はじめまして
Hajimemashite
Beginner
Nice to meet you
Said when meeting someone for the first time
はじめまして、田中と申します。
Nice to meet you, I'm Tanaka.
#greetings
よろしくお願いします
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Beginner
Please treat me well / I'm counting on you
Extremely versatile — used when meeting, starting a project, asking a favor
今後ともよろしくお願いします。
I look forward to working with you.
#greetings#essential
お久しぶりですね
Ohisashiburi desu ne
Beginner
Long time no see
Said when you haven't seen someone for a while
先生、お久しぶりですね！
Teacher, long time no see!
#greetings
おかげさまで
Okagesama de
Intermediate
Thanks to you (I'm doing well)
Humble expression of gratitude for others' support
おかげさまで、プロジェクトが成功しました。
Thanks to everyone's help, the project was a success.
#gratitude#formal
ご無沙汰しております
Gobusata shite orimasu
Advanced
I apologize for my long absence (formal)
Formal version of お久しぶり
ご無沙汰しております。田中でございます。
I apologize for not being in touch. This is Tanaka.
#formal#business
どうぞよろしく
Douzo yoroshiku
Beginner
Please be kind to me (casual)
Casual form of よろしくお願いします
転校してきた田中です。どうぞよろしく。
I'm Tanaka, the transfer student. Please be kind to me.
#greetings#casual
初めてお目にかかります
Hajimete ome ni kakarimasu
Advanced
It's my honor to meet you (very formal)
Very formal first meeting
初めてお目にかかります。営業部の山田と申します。
It is my honor to meet you. I'm Yamada from Sales.
#formal#business
なるほど
Naruhodo
Beginner
I see / That makes sense
Showing understanding or agreement
なるほど、そういう意味でしたか。
I see, that's what you meant.
#conversation
そうですね
Sou desu ne
Beginner
That's right / I agree
Soft agreement or acknowledging what someone said
そうですね、それがいい方法だと思います。
You're right, I think that's a good way.
#conversation
おっしゃる通りです
Ossharu toori desu
Advanced
You are absolutely right (formal)
Formal way to agree completely
おっしゃる通りです。反省します。
You are absolutely right. I will reflect on this.
#formal#agreement
ちょっと違うかもしれません
Chotto chigau kamoshiremasen
Intermediate
That might be a little different
Polite way to disagree
それはちょっと違うかもしれませんが...
That might be a little different, but...
#disagreement#polite
一概には言えませんが
Ichigai ni wa iemasen ga
Advanced
It's not something you can generalize, but...
Expressing nuanced disagreement
一概には言えませんが、状況によります。
You can't generalize, it depends on the situation.
#nuance
それはどうでしょうか
Sore wa dou deshou ka
Intermediate
I wonder about that / That's questionable
Indirect way to express doubt
うーん、それはどうでしょうか。
Hmm, I wonder about that.
#disagreement#indirect
大変失礼しました
Taihen shitsurei shimashita
Intermediate
I sincerely apologize
Formal apology for a mistake
遅くなってしまい、大変失礼しました。
I sincerely apologize for being late.
#apology#formal
申し訳ありません
Moushiwake arimasen
Intermediate
I'm very sorry (there is no excuse)
Stronger formal apology
ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ありません。
I'm very sorry for causing you trouble.
#apology#formal
ご迷惑をおかけしました
Gomeiwaku wo okake shimashita
Intermediate
I'm sorry for the trouble I caused
Acknowledging the burden placed on someone
今回は本当にご迷惑をおかけしました。
I really caused you so much trouble this time.
#apology
お世話になっております
Osewa ni natte orimasu
Advanced
Thank you for all you do (business)
Standard business greeting — thank you for your continued support
いつもお世話になっております。山田でございます。
Thank you for your continued support. This is Yamada.
#business#gratitude
ありがたいです
Arigatai desu
Intermediate
I am grateful / That's a blessing
Expressing deep gratitude
こんなに助けていただいてありがたいです。
I am so grateful that you helped me so much.
#gratitude
恐れ入ります
Osore irimasu
Advanced
I'm humbled / How kind of you (formal)
Formal expression of humility and gratitude
わざわざお越しいただき、恐れ入ります。
I'm humbled that you came all this way.
#formal#gratitude
〜していただけますか？
~shite itadakemasu ka?
Advanced
Would you be so kind as to ~ ?
Very polite request
書類を確認していただけますか？
Would you be so kind as to check the documents?
#request#formal
〜してもらえる？
~shite moraeru?
Beginner
Can you ~ for me? (casual)
Casual request between friends
ちょっと手伝ってもらえる？
Can you help me for a bit?
#request#casual
〜してよろしいでしょうか？
~shite yoroshii deshou ka?
Advanced
Would it be alright if I ~ ?
Polite way to ask permission
少し早く帰らせていただいてよろしいでしょうか？
Would it be alright if I left a little early?
#permission#formal
〜していただけると助かります
~shite itadakeru to tasukarimasu
Advanced
It would be a great help if you could ~
Softer request
明日までに返信していただけると助かります。
It would be a great help if you could reply by tomorrow.
#request
〜させてください
~sasete kudasai
Intermediate
Please let me ~
Asking permission to do something
少し考える時間をください。
Please give me a little time to think.
#permission
感動しました
Kandou shimashita
Intermediate
I was deeply moved
When something stirs deep emotion
そのスピーチには本当に感動しました。
I was truly moved by that speech.
#emotions
胸がいっぱいです
Mune ga ippai desu
Advanced
My heart is full (I'm overwhelmed with emotion)
Strong emotional state, often positive
みなさんの応援で胸がいっぱいです。
My heart is full from everyone's support.
#emotions
気にしないで
Ki ni shinai de
Beginner
Don't worry about it / Don't mind
Telling someone not to worry
大丈夫、気にしないで。
It's okay, don't worry about it.
#reassurance
思い切って
Omoikitte
Intermediate
Gathering up one's courage / Taking the plunge
Doing something bold despite hesitation
思い切って彼女に告白しました。
I gathered up my courage and confessed to her.
#emotions
複雑な気持ちです
Fukuzatsu na kimochi desu
Intermediate
I have mixed feelings about this
Expressing conflicting emotions
引越しについて複雑な気持ちです。
I have mixed feelings about moving.
#emotions
ご確認よろしくお願いいたします
Go-kakunin yoroshiku onegai itashimasu
Advanced
Please check this / Please confirm
Standard business request
添付資料のご確認よろしくお願いいたします。
Please review the attached documents.
#business
承知しました
Shouchi shimashita
Intermediate
Understood / I acknowledge this
Formal acknowledgment (safer than 了解 with superiors)
承知しました。本日中に対応します。
Understood. I will handle it today.
#business#acknowledgment
取り急ぎご連絡いたします
Toriisogi go-renraku itashimasu
Advanced
I'm contacting you in haste
Business email opener for urgent matters
取り急ぎご連絡いたします。明日の会議が変更になりました。
I'm contacting you in haste. Tomorrow's meeting has been changed.
#business#email
以上、よろしくお願いいたします
Ijou, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu
Advanced
That's all, thank you (email closing)
Standard business email closing
以上、ご確認のほどよろしくお願いいたします。
That is all — please review at your convenience.
#business#email
ご検討いただけますでしょうか
Go-kentou itadakemasu deshou ka
Advanced
Could you please consider this?
Extremely polite request for consideration
新しい提案についてご検討いただけますでしょうか。
Could you please consider our new proposal?
#business#formal
まじで！？
Maji de!?
Beginner
Seriously!? / No way!
Expression of surprise, very common among young people
えー、まじで！？信じられない！
What, seriously!? I can't believe it!
#casual#slang
ちょうどいい
Choudo ii
Beginner
Just right / Perfect timing
When something fits perfectly
この服、サイズがちょうどいい。
This clothes, the size is just right.
#casual
なんか
Nanka
Intermediate
Like / Somehow / Something (filler)
Very common filler word
なんかおかしい気がする。
Something feels off somehow.
#casual#filler
てか
Teka
Intermediate
Actually / Or rather / By the way
Topic shift in casual speech
てか、明日暇？
Actually, are you free tomorrow?
#casual#slang
めっちゃ
Meccha
Beginner
Super / Really / Very (Kansai origin)
Intensifier, now used nationwide by young people
これ、めっちゃおいしい！
This is super delicious!
#casual#slang
気をつけて
Ki wo tsukete
Beginner
Take care / Be careful
Saying goodbye to someone going somewhere
気をつけて帰ってね！
Take care going home!
#casual#farewell
どんまい
Don mai
Beginner
Don't mind (from English)
Consoling someone who made a mistake
負けちゃったけど、どんまい！
You lost, but don't mind!
#casual#consolation