Engrish.com

Nihongo Wakarimasen – “I don’t speak Japanese”

Literal Translation: “I do not understand Japanese” (Nihongo = Japanese language; Wakarimasen = do not understand)

Overview: Tired of Japanese coming up to you on the street asking you questions? Even if you hardly ever run into a Japanese person, it never hurts be prepared for such an occasion and wear the “I don't speak Japanese” shirt.

Details/Background: In Japanese it is more common to say that you do not understand a foreign language than that you do not speak it. In the end it is the same meaning, so our official translation comes out to “I don't speak Japanese”.