Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Konnichiwa.
Good morning.
Ohay gozaimasu.
The last vowel "u" is not pronounced ly. It's like "gozaimas".
Informal: Ohay.
Good evening.
Konbanwa.
Good night.
Oyasuminasai.
Informal: Oyasumi.
Goodbye.
Saynara.
In general, used when people will not see each other for some time.
Informal: Sayonara. (short "o" after y).
See you.
Dewa mata.
Arigat gozaimasu.
Arigat gozaimashita.
Thanks.
Dmo.
You're welcome.
Ditashimashite.
Iie.
Iie. (literally means "No.") also can be used with the rising accent if it's not a big deal.
Excuse me.
Sumimasen.
Yes.
Hai.
Used when you talk to someone, and to apologize for small faults (Sorry.).
Hai. (Yes.) can be used to answer someone's call.
I'm sorry.
Gomennasai.
I'm sorry.
Dmo sumimasen.
Don't be sorry.
Iie.
Itadakimasu.
Literally means "I accept (the food)". Used when you start eating as a signal "Let's start".
You can say this to the person who is treating you the meal.
(after eating)
Gochissamadeshita.
Literally means "It was a wonderful feast". Used when you finished eating.
You can say this to thank the person who treated you the meal.
You can download audio recordings of all the sample expressions at Resources page.
In this course, all the Japanese words and sentences are shown in Rmaji (Roman alphabet). See Rmaji page to
check how to pronounce Rmaji letters.
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Basic Rules
How to address a person
In general, add "san" after one's family name.
"san" is like Mr., Mrs., or Miss..
For example, Mr. Tanaka is Tanaka-san. But for foreigners (westerners), people add san after the first names such as
Paul-san or Kate-san.
Except for the close relationships, people address almost anybody with san.
Hello, Mr. Tanaka.
Tanaka-san, konnichiwa.
Yes and No
Yes is "hai". No is "iie".
As shown above, Hai. and Iie. can be used in the different contexts.
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Communication Tips
Styles of speech - plain, honorific and informal
Spoken Japanese has some variations - plain, honorific and informal. People use different styles of speech in
different situations. For example, the same person uses the plain style at work and the informal style at home.
Plain style is a standard textbook language. Newscasters speak in this style.
Honorific style is called "keigo" in Japanese, and is used when you speak to a person who is in higher status.
Informal style is used in close relationships such as with friends or with family members.
In this course, you will learn the plain style of speech. In addition, frequently-used honorific and informal expressions
are included.
In the Japanese society, politeness is one of the most cherished value. Using plain (standard) language is taken to be
a polite attitude. It's safe for you to use the plain language till you become fluent enough.
Inappropriate use of informal (casual) language could be taken as rude or offensive.
As you can see in this lesson, informal expressions are shorter in many cases.
Lesson 2:
How are you?
Are you well?
Ogenki desuka?
So so.
Mm desu.
genki: well
"o" in front of genki is a prefix which makes the word more polite.
Genki desu.: I'm well.
Genki dewa (ja) arimasen.: I'm not well.
"ja arimasen" sounds more casual, and is used more in daily conversation.
Informal: Genki?
Understand?
Do you understand?
Wakari masuka?
Yes, I understand.
I understand a little.
Onegaishimasu.
Michido onegaishimasu.
Slowly please.
Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Menu please.
Meny o onegaishimasu.
Dzo.
Wait!
One moment, please.
chotto: a little
matte kudasai: Please wait.
Informal: Chotto matte.
What?
What is it?
Nan desuka?
What time?
What time is it?
Nanji desuka?
Where?
Where is it?
Doko desuka?
Is there...?
Do you have? Is there?
Ari masuka?
How much?
How much is it?
Ikura desuka?
Why?
Why is it?
Naze desuka?
OK?
Are you all right?
Daijbu desuka?
Informal: Daijbu?
You will learn more in the lesson 10.
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Basic Rules
The following rules are very simplified. Please note that there are some exceptions.
Word Order
Usually, the subject is placed at the beginning, and the verb at the end of the sentence.
Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu.
I / Japanese / understand
The subject (sometimes the object too) of the sentence is usually omitted when it can be clearly known from the
context.
(Anata wa) eigo ga wakari masuka?
Particles (joshi)
Particles (joshi in Japanese) are usually attached after a word to indicate the function of that word.
For example, "wa" in the following sentence indicates that "watashi (I)" is a subject, and "ga" indicates that "Nihongo
(Japanese)" is an object of the verb "wakarimasu (understand)".
Particles
Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu.
I understand Japanese.
Each particle has different functions and meanings. And some are used with the particular verbs.
When you are not sure which particle should be used, you can try to say without it like "Watashi, Nihongo,
Wakarimasu.". In most cases, people will understand if the word order is correct.
Sentence Forms
You can easily make different forms by changing the end of the sentence. Word order stays the same.
Affirmative
Affirmative sentences normally end with "desu" or "masu".
You can assume that the sentences with the verb "be" (am, is, are...) end with "desu". And the sentences with other
verbs end with "masu".
Genki desu.
I am well.
Wakari masu.
I understand.
Negative
Change "desu" into "dewa arimasen" or "ja arimasen". "ja" sounds more casual, and is used more often in daily
conversation.
Change "masu" into "masen".
Genki dewa (ja) arimasen.
I am not well.
Wakari masen.
I don't understand.
Question (Interrogative)
To make a question sentence, add "ka" at the end of the sentence.
This "ka" is pronounced with a rising intonation.
(O) Genki desuka?
Wakari masuka?
Do you understand?
Wakari masenka?
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lesson 3:
Expressions
Click button to play audio.
I'm from ...
I'm from Brazil.
South Korea
China
Australia
U. S. A.
kara: from
kimashita: came
See Nations page for other countries.
Nationality
I am Japanese.
He is not American
Profession
We are also students.
watashi tachi: we / anata tachi: you (all) / kare ra: they (men) / kanojo tachi: they (women)
mo: also (comes after the subject instead of "wa")
gakusei: student
kaishain: office worker
enjinia: engineer
Hai, so desu.: Yes, it is so.
Iie, chigai masu.: No, it isn't so.
Name
His name is Paul.
noun + no = possessive
watashi no: my / anata no: your / kare no: his / kanojo no: her
namae: name
shigoto: job
onamae wa nandesuka?: What is (your) name?
oshigoto wa nandesuka?: What is (your) job?
"o" (prefix to make the word polite) is usually attached when you ask name or job directly to the person.
Who?
Whose?
Whose pen is this?
pen: pen
hon: book
dare no: whose
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Basic Rules
Articles and Nouns
Japanese language does not have articles (a, an, the).
You can assume that nouns don't change the form. Basically, there is no plural form, and no gender (feminine,
masculine, neuter etc.).
In English, "apple" can be "an apple", "apples" or "the apple". In Japanese, it is just "apple". To mention how many,
you say "one apple", "two apple" or "many apple"...
Verbs
Verbs don't change the form depending on the person or the number of the subject.
In English, "I am", "he or she is" and "we, you or they are", and also "I speak" and "he or she speaks". There is no
such changes in Japanese.
But they do change the form for other purposes such as tense (past, present, present progressive, etc.). You will
learn more in the following lessons.
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Communication Tips
Business Card
If you are a business person, you definately should bring your business card (with the Japanese translation on the
back side if possible). It is a must-have item in Japan. Even many of collage students have it.
People exchange their business cards at the first meetings - not only for the business, but also for the personal
relationships. The following are some tips to give a good impression to your potential clients.
When you hand your card, the card should be readable from the receiver (upside down from yourself).
Receive the card with both hands. Treat it as a valuable thing, and don't put it into your pocket right away without a
glance.
While business meetings, people usually put client's cards on the table so that you know who is sitting on which seat.
Lesson 4:
Numbers
It should be enough if you memorize 1-10 and know how to count 1-100.
You can download and print out the list of numbers. Just look up the list when you have a difficulty with bigger
numbers.
ichi, ni, san, yon, go, roku, nana,
hachi, ky, j
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Basically, you can read any numbers in this way. But there are some irregular pronunciations. For example, 300 is
san-byaku (not san-hyaku), 600 is rop-pyaku (not roku-hyaku).
See Numbers page for more details.
Time
Basically, you use "ji" for hours and "fun" for minutes.
For example, 1:25 is ichi-ji ni-j go-fun.
But there are irregular pronunciations.
For hours, some numbers are pronounced differently.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, ichi-ji, ni-ji, san-ji, yo-ji, go-ji, roku-ji, shichi-ji, hachi-ji, ku-ji, j-ji, j
12 (o'clock)
ichi-ji, j ni-ji
For minutes, some numbers are pronounced differently and "fun" becomes "pun" in many cases.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
(minutes past)
ip-pun, ni-fun, san-pun, yon-pun, go-fun, rop-pun, nana-fun, happun, kyu-fun, jup-pun.
3:15pm.
noon.
Shgo desu.
Date
Basically, you use "gatsu" for months and "nichi" for days.
For example, January 25th is ichi-gatsu ni-j go-nichi.
But there are irregular pronunciations...
For months, some numbers are pronounced differently.
Jan., Feb., Mar.,
For days, 1st to 10th and 20th are quite different from the usual way. Other days are more straight forward.
tsuitachi, futsuka, mikka, yokka,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (day)
tanjbi: birthday
nan-nen: what year? / nan-gatsu: what month? / nan-nichi: what day?
kekkonshiki: wedding
tsugi no: next
orinpikku: olympics
birthday when?
May 23rd.
11th.
ju-ichi-nichi desu.
June.
Roku-gatsu desu.
2012.
Ky wa nan-ybi desuka?
Monday.
Getsu-ybi desu.
Tuesday.
Ka-ybi desu.
30th.
San-ju-nichi desu.
Duration
minutes: "fun(kan)" or "pun(kan)". 5 minutes is go-fun or go-funkan.
hours: "jikan". 2 hours is ni-jikan.
days: "ka(kan)" or "nichi(kan)". 3 days is mikka or mikkakan.
weeks: "shkan". 2 weeks is ni-shukan.
months: "kagetsu(kan)". 4 months is yon-kagetsu or yon-kagetsukan.
years: "nen(kan)". 6 years is roku-nen or roku-nenkan.
1 min., 2 hrs., 3 days, 4 wks, 5 months,
ip-punkan, ni-jikan, mikkakan, yon-shukan, go6 years
kagetsukan, roku-nen-kan
donokurai: how much (time)
kakarimasu (kakaru): to take
yaku: about / kurai: about
ni imasu (iru): be at, be in
How long does it take?
Donokurai kakarimasuka?
About 2 weeks.
about 3 hours.
18 days.
J hachi-nichikan desu.
I went to Kyoto.
I studied Japanese.
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Basic Rules
Counting System
Japanese counting system is complex and has a lot of irregular pronunciations. It can take some time to master all of
them.
But to be practical, you just need to know the following.
Master how to count 1 to 100. (You just need to memorise 1-10.)
Know the basic principles. For example, time is "ji" and "fun", date is "gatsu" and "nichi", etc.
In addition, days of the week and dates (1st to 10th) would be good to know.
People will understand when you say roku-fun (not roppun) or ni-nichi (not futsuka).
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Communication Tips
Punctuality
In the Japanese society, everything supposed to be on time. And people do care about it.
If you are asked to come at 2pm, it really means 2:00pm sharp - not later than that. In general, people show up 5-10
minutes before.
If you are late, better to apologize with no fake excuse which could make the situation worse.
If you are meeting with someone important to you, and if you want to give a good impression. Be on time. This is true
especially in business.
Lesson 5:
Expressions
Where?
Where is this?
doko: where?
koko: here
eki: train station
basu: bus
_ e: to _
_ kara: from _
shuppatsu suru: to depart <shuppatsu (departure) + suru (to do)>
Basic Rules
koko (here), soko (there) and asoko (over there) refer the place.
Verbs have different forms with different endings. Basic form is called jisho-kei (dictionary form). The basic form ends
with the u-column syllables (u, ku, su, tsu, nu, mu, ru).
Examples: iku (to go), kaku (to write), suru (to do)
Directions
You turn right at the 3rd
crossing.
Destination
Is this bound for Shinjuku?
at _
Does this bus stop at Shibuya?
At where do I change?
norikae: transfer
by _
How long does it take on foot?
Is it near? / Is it far?
want to _
I want to go to Mt. Fuji.
want to do_
_ please.
Reserved seat please.
onegaishimasu: please
shitei seki: reserved seat / jiy seki: nonreserved seat
fuku kippu: return ticket / katamichi kippu: one-way ticket
Hakata: one of the largest station in Kysh
Kyto: ancient capital city, popular tourist destination
Please _.
Please stop here.
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Communication Tips
Asking Directions
When you get lost, it's best to ask the people. In Japan, street names are not shown in many cases.
People are generally kind and will try to give you the best advice. Or they will take you to the place if it's close.
The biggest challenge for you would be to understand what people are saying. To make it easier, try the following...
(1) Show where you want to go on the map (if you have).
(2) Ask to draw a route map. "Kantan na chizu o kaite morae masuka? (Can you draw a simple map?)"
(3) Ask to write down the name of the places in Japanese so that you can identify where you are. "Basho no
namae o nihongo de kaite morae masuka? (Can you write the name of the place in Japanese?)"
Lesson6:
Expressions
Number of person
Welcome. How many persons?
6 persons.
Roku-mei desu.
4 persons.
Yo-nin desu.
-nin: _persons
-mei: _persons (sounds more formal)
irasshaimase: welcome (polite)
-sama: prefix for a person (more polite than "san")
otona: adult
kodomo: child
_ to _: _ and _
Basic Rules
Number of persons:
-nin: number + nin (except for 1 & 2). 4 is pronounced "yo".
Examples: hitori (1), futari (2), san-nin (3), yo-nin (4), go-nin (5)
-mei: number + mei
Examples: ichi-mei (1), ni-mei (2), san-mei (3), yon-nin (4)
Polite form:
In Japan, it is said that "the customer is god.". Every sales person speaks polite language to their customers.
You may not have a chance to speak in that way, but you need to understand what they are saying.
In this course, such polite expressions are colored in blue.
manshitsu: full
-y: for the use of_ (otona-y :for adults, kodomo-y :for children)
beddo: bed
futatsu: 2 (things)
Basic Rules
Counting things:
In Japanese, different suffixes are attached to indicate the number of particular things.
Examples: 3 nin (3 persons), 2 mai (2 thin objects), 4 hiki (4 animals)
In this course, you will learn the most common way of counting things which can be used for almost everything.
1 to 10 are as follows. For more quantity, you can just say the number without preffix.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
(things)
Length of stay
How long will you stay?
About fares
How much for a night?
Breakfast included?
About utilities
Is there a shower in the room?
aru: there is
heya: room
- ni: in, at (place)
shaw: shower
kyy: shared, for common use
Koin randorii: coin operated washing machine
shokud: dining room
-kai: floor
ik-kai (1st), ni-kai (2nd), san-kai (3rd)... nan-kai (which floor?)
eakon: air conditioner
- no: of_
suicchi: switch
doko ni?: at where?
Basic Rules
there is_:
Affirmative: ari masu (present) / ari mashita (past)
Negative: ari masen (present) / ari masendeshita (past)
Question: ari masuka? (present) / ari mashitaka? (past)
Selecting a room
Which is the cheapest room?
Order
Can I take your order?
Order please.
Chmon o onegaishimasu.
3 tendon please.
chmon: order
tendon: tempura bowl
mittsu: 3
About ingredients
What is in it?
Vegetarian food
Where is this?
yasai: vegetables
dake: only
ryri: dishes, cuisine, food
niku: meat / shiifdo: seafood
tamago: egg / ny seihin: dairy products
daijbu: all right
tsukuru: to make, to cook (tsukutte moraemasuka?: Can you cook?)
How about_?
How about drinks?
No, thanks.
nomimono: drinks
ikaga desuka?: how about?, what about?, how is? (polite)
khii: coffee / kcha: English tea / orenji jsu: orange juice
Iie, kekk desu: No, thanks.
"kekk" can mean both positive and negative response, like English "fine". Better to put "hai (yes)" or "iie (no)" in front
to make it .
Extra arrangements
Is take-away possible?
Mochikaeri wa dekimasuka?
mori wa dekimasuka?
Payment
Can I use credit card?
Cash only.
Can I pay?
Kaikei o onegaishimasu.
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Communication Tips
There is no tipping custom in Japan. You don't have to pay any extra money at the hotel, restaurant or to the taxi
drivers.
To get a place to sleep, it's always better to make a reservation and to check what time you can check-in. In some
hotels, it's in the late afternoon like 3 or 4pm.
When you leave the restaurant, you normally pay at the cash register near the entrance, not at your table.
Lesson7:
Expressions
About the store
Where can I buy electric appliances?
chikaku: nearby
konbiniensu sutoa: convenience store / sp: supermarket / yakkyoku: pharmacy
mise: store, shop
kaiten: opening (of the store) / heiten: closing (of the store)
shurui ga hfu: full of variety (shurui: kinds, hfu: plenty, abundant)
I am looking for _.
Are you looking for something?
100% cotton.
Extra arrangements
Shichaku dekimasuka?
Toriyose wa dekimasuka?
Can I return?
Fitting
How is it?
Ikaga desuka?
Little small.
Little short.
sukoshi: little
kii: large / chiisai: small
nagai: long / mijikai: short
ikaga desuka?: How is it? (polite) / d desuka? (informal)
chdo ii: just right (it fits) (chdo: just + ii: right, good)
Back order
Do you have a little smaller size?
Color
Do you have a little lighter color?
Do you have a pink color with the same design? Onaji dezain de pinku wa arimasuka?
akarui: light / kurai: dark
iro: color
onaji: same
dezain: design
Basic Rules
Colors:
People know most colors in English. Try with the Japanese way of pronunciation.
howaito (white), burakku (black), reddo (red), buruu (blue), ier (yellow), guriin (green)
Nitamono wa arimasuka?
hoka: other
gara: pattern (print)
burando: brand
nitamono: similar goods
Is _ included?
Batteries included?
Bargaining
Can it be a little cheaper?
yasui: cheap
naru: become (yasu ku naru: becomes cheap)
kau: to buy (ka ttara: if I buy)
zenbu: all
_de ddesuka?: How about_? (inpolite)
dewa: then
Basic Rules
adjectives or adverbs + ku (or ni) + naru = become_
Affirmative: ku nari masu (present) / ku nari mashita (past)
Negative: ku narimasen (present) / ku narimasendeshita (past)
Question: ku nari masuka? (present) / ku nari mashitaka? (past)
Examples: taka ku nari masu (become expensive), chiisaku takuarimasen (doesn/t become small), shizuka ni nari
mashita (became quiet)
verb + ta (tta) + ra = if I _
Examples: i ttara (if I go), tabe tara (if I eat), shi tara (if I do)
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Communication Tips
In most shops, prices are labeled. Consumption tax (5%) is included in that price.
Bargaining is not a common practice in Japan. You can try at the privately owned small shops, and electric appliance
stores especially in Akihabara, Tokyo (famous tourist destination for shopping).
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Lesson 8:
Expressions
Impression
That was good / not good.
yo i: good
omoshiro i: funny, interesting
tsumarana i: boring
oishi i: delicious
mazu i: bad taste
tsumarana i: boring
muzukashi i: difficult
kirei na: beautiful
kantan na: easy
raku na: effortless
taihen na: hard
Basic Rules
i-adjectives - "i" + katta desu = past tense
i-adjectives are the adjectives ends with "i" when it modifies a noun.
To make it the past tense, remove ending "i", and add "katta".
To make it negative, remove ending "i", and add "kunakatta".
Examples: oishi i desu (It's delicious) / oishi katta desu (It was delicious) / oishi kunai desu (It isn't delicious). / oishi
kunakatta desu (It wasn't delicious).
na-adjectives + deshita = past tense
na-adjectives are the adjectives ends with "na" when it modifies a noun.
To make it the past tense, remove ending "na", and add "deshita".
To make it negative, remove ending "i", and add "dewa arimasen deshita".
Examples: kantan desu (It's easy) / kantan deshita (It was easy) / kantan dewa arimasen (It isn't easy). / kantan dewa
arimasen deshita (It wasn't easy).
I like sushi.
Sushi is OK.
I hate sushi.
Emotions
I'm glad. / I was sad.
I was surprised. / I was surprised. (more casual) Odoroki mashita. / Bikkuri shi mashita.
ureshii: be glad, be pleased
kanashii: sad
tanoshii: fun, enjoyable
atama ni kita: got ungly (atama: head + ni: into + kuru: to come) Used in the past tense.
sabishii: to feel lonely
odoroku: be surprised
bikkuri suru: be surprised (sounds more casual)
Degree of Feelings
It's very hot.
It's hot.
Atsui desu.
Atsuku arimasen.
About a person
yasashii / tsumetai
beautiful / handsome
kirei / hansamu
intelligent / stupid
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Communication Tips
Japanese people tend to say the negative things indirectly. Because they try not to hurt the feeling of others, and to
avoid confrontational situations.
It's better in general to use the mild expressions rather than the direct critical ones. People can take your words
differently than you meant.
For example, if you say the food in the restaurant tastes bad, the person may feel guilty to chose that restaurant.
Also, be a little careful about what you hear. The person may be implying something more than the word simply
means. People usually don't say "Stop it." or "Don't do it.".
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Lesson 9:
Expressions
Asking to get together
Hai, iidesune.
Mata kondo.
Hai, yorokonde.
Making an appointment
Itsu ga ii desuka?
All right.
Daijbu desu.
d: how?
tsug ga ii: convenient, suit one's schedule, can make it
tsug ga warui: inconvenient, not suit one's schedule, can't make it
dewa: then
kokode: at this place (koko: here + de: at)
au: to meet
Denwabang o oshiete
moraemasuka?
Eating out
Sounds good.
Ii desune.
Cheers!
Kanpai!
Ky wa gochis shimasu.
Gochissama deshita.
Probably OK.
Why?
Naze desuka?
, s desuka.
kaeru: to go back
naze?: why?
dekakeru: to go out
s desuka: I see.
Basic Rules
verb (a) + nakutewa ikemasen = have to _
Change the end vowel of the verb from "i (desu, masu form)" to "a" and add "nakutewa ikemasen".
Examples: kaeri masu (I go back) / kaera nakutewa ikemasen (I have to go back), hanashi masu (I speak) / hanasa
nakutewa ikemasen (I have to speak).
verb (u) + karadesu = Bacause _. (Explaining the reason why)
Change the end vowel of the verb from "i (desu, masu form)" to "u (dictionary form)" and add "karadesu".
Examples: kaeri masu (I go back) / kaeru karadesu (Because I go back), kai masu (I buy) / kau karadesu (Because I
buy)
Giving a present
Happy birthday!
Can I open?
Yes, please.
, dzo.
Wow, beautiful!
W, kirei!
Wow, great!
W, sugoi!
Wow, cute!
W, kawaii!
W, oishis!
tanjbi: birthday
omedet gozaimasu: Congratulations!
Tai: Thailand
omiyage: souvenir
akeru: to open
wakeru: to share
: yes (sounds more casual)
w: wow! Used when you are surprised.
kirei: beautiful
sugoi: great, amazing
kawaii: cute, pretty Young girls use this often.
oishis: looks delicious
Basic Rules
verb + temo iidesuka = May I _?
Examples: ake masu (I open) / ake temo iidesuka? (May I open?), tabe masu (I eat) / tabe temo iidesuka? (May I
eat?),
Farewell
Thank you for taking care of me so
Osewa ni nari mashita.
nicely.
PLEASE stay my house when you Rosia ni ki tara, zehi, watashi no ie ni
come to Russia.
tomatte kudasai.
Please contact me when you arrive
Bankoku ni tsui tara renraku shite kudasai.
in Bangkok.
Please come to visit us again, any
Mata, itsudemo asobi ni kite kudasai.
time.
I really appreciate that.
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Communication Tips
Japanese people have a group-oriented mentality. People tend to value the benefit and the harmony of the whole
group, rather than the benefit of oneself.
For example, when people decide which restaurant they go, minority happily give up their desire and follow the will of
majority. Nobody starts to say "Then, I don't go.".
Self-oriented attitude is not welcomed in Japan. Compromise and "after you" attitude are the keys to get along with a
group of people.
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Lesson 10:
Expressions
Health problems
I don't feel well.
What's wrong?
daijbu desuka?
Taishitakoto arimasen.
Take care.
Odaijini.
karada: body
guai: condition
warui: bad
chikaku: nearby
yakkyoku: pharmacy
byin: hospital
odaijini: Used only to the person who is sick or injured.
Body parts
head, eye, ear, nose, mouth
Symptoms
I caught a cold.
I have a fever.
I have a headache.
I feel nauseous.
Hakike ga shimasu.
I have diarrhea.
It's swelled.
Harete imasu.
It's itchy.
Kayui desu.
Injury
I got hurt.
I got burned.
I had a tumble.
Korobi mashita.
I banged my head.
I'm bleeding.
kega: injury
yakedo: burn
krobu: to have a tumble, to fall down
butsukeru: to bang, to bump
naifu: knife
kiru: to cut
chi: blood / chi ga deru: to bleed
At the pharmacy
How many hours will this medicine be effective? Kono kusuri wa nan-jikan kurai kiki masuka?
Take twice a day after meals.
kusuri: medicine
kiku: to effect, to be effective
shokugo: after the meal
shokuzen: before the meal
At the hospital
Surgery has to be performed at once.
Lost property
D shitara iidesuka?
It may be found.
densha: train
kaban: bag
okiwasureru: leave (oku: to put + wasureru: to forget)
do sureba iidesuka?: Used to ask what you should do.
ekiin: station staff
sdan suru: to consult
mitsukaru: to be found
mitsukeru: to find
moshi: if
renraku suru: to contact, to get in touch
Basic Rules
verb (u) + kamo shiremasen = may _. (mentioning about the possibility)
Change the ending "i" to "u" and add "kamo shiremasen".
Examples: iki masu (I go) / iku kamo shiremasen (I may go, Maybe I go), Kanojo ni ai masu (I see her) / Kanojo ni au
kamo shiremasen (I may see her, Maybe I see her).
Moshi + verb + tara (ttara) = If _.
Change the ending "i" to "u" and add "kamo shiremasen".
Examples: tabe masu (I eat) / moshi tabe tara (If I eat), kai masu (I buy) / Moshi ka ttara (If I buy).
At the police
I lost my wallet.
What happened?
Dshimashitaka?
Emergency
Please help.
Tasukete kudasai.
tasukeru: to help
kyukyusha: ambulance
yobu: to call (to come)
keisatsu: police
kega: serious injury
hidoi: terrible
byoki: disease, illness
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Communication Tips
Japan is said to be one of the safest country in the world. But bad things can happen. You should be careful
especially about your money and belongings.
If you have a problem, police can be trustworthy and helpful in general. There are many small police stations in town.
They even happily show you the directions.
When you lost your belongings, don't give up and report to the facilities you can think of. The chance to have your lost
item returned is actually surprisingly high.
In emergency situations, it is best to ask the local people for the help. They can call an ambulance or the police for
you. You may lose your time if you try to do it by yourself.
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