Note that this is merely an overview of what I have learned from 'Japanese for Dummies' by Eriko Sato.

The Basics (Ch. 1-2)

(Note: a double vowel corresponds to the long japanese vowel, which is simply held for an extra second)

VOCABULARY

Doomo Thank you or Hi!

IIe No or Dont mention it.

Soo, soo Youre right!

Dame Thats bad!

Zenzen Not at all or It was nothing.

Ii desu ne Thats a great idea!

Yatta Yahoo! I did it.

Gambatte Go for it or Try your best!

Omedetoo Congratulations!

Yookoso Welcome!

Shinpai shinaide Dont worry!

Makasete Count on me!

Sono toori Youre absolutely right!

PARTICLES

ga  (subject)

o (direct object)

kara from

made until

ni to location of, at time of

e toward (direction)

de by means of, done in location of

no (possession)

to and, with

ka or

YES/NO QUESTIONS

ka (particle at end of sentence)

CONTENT QUESTIONS (+ka)

dare who (informal)

doko where

donata who (formal)

dore which one

doo how

ikura how much

itsu when

nani what

PRONOUNS

kore Things in my territory

sore Things in your territory

are Things outside both territories

PERSONAL PRONOUNS

watashi I, me

watashitachi we, us

anata you (sing.) (impolite)

anatatachi you (plur.)

kare he, him

karera they, them (mixed genders)

kanojo she, her

kanojora they, them (females)

watakushi I, me (formal)

(impolite in formal situations):

boku I, me (male, informal/neutral)

ore I, me (male, informal)

washi I, me (older men, informal)

atashi I, me (young women,informal)

VERB FORMS

Dictionary: informal, present tense

Negative: informal, negative present

Stem: add suffixes

Te: informal request

INFORMAL VERB TENSES

Present: Dictionary form

Neg. Present: Negative form

Past: Te-form, change e to a

Neg. Past: Negative form, change i to katta

FORMAL VERB TENSES

Present: Stem form, -masu

Neg. Present: Stem form, -masen

Past: Stem form, -mashita

Neg. Past: Stem, -masendeshita