COMMUNICATE AND GREET IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE
LO2: Express self through classroom expressions and instruction
LO3: Familiarize self to different Japanese numerical symbols and count using Japanese numbers
LO4: Formulate simple conversation or script using Japanese language
LO1: Provide a self-introduction and respond with daily greetings.
If you know English, you may already know more Japanese than you think. Thousands of English “loan words” are in everyday use in Japan. Most of these common words have been borrowed with no change in meaning. But the pronunciation has been changed.
This can be tricky. On the one hand, you’re secure with the familiarity of the words while on the other, if you pronounce them as you’re used to doing, you won’t be understood. And you probably won’t understand the words when Japanese use them. What should you do? Try to pronounce them the Japanese way.
Here are some examples of familiar words with somewhat different pronunciations in Japanese:
English
|
Japanese
|
Pronunciation
|
Gasoline | gasorin | gah-soh-reen |
poketto | poh-keht-toh | |
Pink | pinku | peen-koo |
ballpen | borupen | boh-roo phen |
Supermarket | supa | soo-paah |
Word processor | warupo | wah-pp-roh |
Dress | wapisu | wahn-pee-soo |
JAPANESE PRONUNCIATION
Japanese isn’t difficult to pronounce if you follow a few simple guidelines. Take the time to read this section, and try out each sound on the vowel and consonant charts.
To make it even easier for you, each time a new word is introduced in this book, the pronunciation is also shown.
We start with the vowels. If you have studied Spanish, it may help you to know that Japanese vowels are more like those of Spanish than English.
Japanese Vowel
•a
•e
•i
•o
•u
English Equivalent
•as in father
•as in men
•as in see
•as in boat
•as in food
Japanese Greetings
In many western cultures, greetings are saying hello, smiling or a slight nod to people you know. In Japan though, aisatsu is very important and is taught from early childhood. For example, it’s not uncommon for school kids to greet every passing student of a higher grade in a sign of respect. Also important in the workplace, greetings can create a positive working environment and promote communication between coworkers.
Another interesting thing to note is that handshaking is not as common and bowing is much more prevalent as a custom.
Because of the importance of greetings in the Japanese culture, it should be one of the first things you learn when learning Japanese, in addition to characters.
Basic Japanese Greetings and Expressions
(あいさつ)
おはよう | Ohayou | Good Morning |
おはよう ございます | Ohayou Gozaimasu | Good Morning (polite) |
こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Good Afternoon/hello |
こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good Evening |
さようなら | Sayounara | Good-bye |
おやすみ(なさい) | Oyasumi (nasai) | Good Night |
ありがとう ございます | Arigatou Gozaimasu | Thank you |
どうもありがとうございます | Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu | Thank you very much |
すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me/ Sorry |
いってきます | Ittekimasu | I’ll go and come back |
いってらっしゃい | Itterasshai | Please go and come back |
ただいま | Tadaima | I’m home |
おかえり(なさい) | Okaeri (nasai) | Welcome home |
いただきます | Itadakimasu |
Thank you for the meal (before eating) |
ごちそうさま でした | Gochisousama deshita |
Thank you for the meal (after meal) |
どう ですか | Dou desu ka | How do you do? |
はじめまして | Hajimemashite | Nice to meet you |
よろしく おねがいします | Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu | Please be good to me. |
おめでとう ございます | Omedetou Gozaimasu | Congratulations |
どう いたしまして | Dou Itashimashite | Your welcome |
おさきに しつれいします | Osaki ni shitsureishimasu | I’ll be leaving ahead |
しつれいします | Shitsureishimasu | Excuse me |
おつかれさま でした | Otsukaresama deshita | Thank you for your hardwork |
きをつけて | Ki o tsukete | Take care |
ごめん ください | Gomen Kudasai | Is there anybody in? |
おげんき ですか | Ogenki desuka | How are you? |
おげんき で | Ogenki de | Look after yourself |
おだいじ に | Odaiji ni | Get well soon |
だいじょうぶ です | Daijoubu desu | No problem |
では また/ じゃまた | ja mata | See you |
LO2: Express self through classroom expressions and instruction
1 | Hai | Yes |
2 | Iie | No |
3 | Mada Desu | Not yet |
4 | Tsugi | Next |
5 | Moichido Onegaishimasu | Please repeat. |
6 | Gomennasai | I’m sorry |
7 | Sumimasen | Excuse me (I’m Sorry) |
8 | Wakarimasuka | Do you understand? |
9 | Hai, wakarimashita | Yes, I understand |
10 | Iie, wakarimasen | No, I don’t understand |
11 | Owarimasuka | Are you finished? |
12 | Hai, Owarimashita | Yes, I’m finished |
13 | Iie, mada Owarimasen | No, I’m not finished |
14 | Chotto dekakete mo ii desuka | Is it alright to go out for a moment? |
15 | Hai, dekakete mo ii desu | Yes, it’s alright to go out |
16 | Iie, dekakete wa ikemasen | No, you may not go out |
17 |
Wakuban o keshite mo ii desuka |
Is it alright to erase the board? |
18 |
Hai,keshite mo ii desu |
Yes, you may erase the board |
19 |
Iie,keshite wa ikemasen |
No, you may not erase the board |
20 |
Issho ni douzo |
All together please |
21 |
Yonde kudasai |
Please read |
22 |
Kaite Kudasai |
Please write |
23 |
Kiite kudasai |
Please listen |
24 |
Oboete Kudasai |
Please remember |
25 |
Kotaete kudasai |
Please answer |
26 |
Shitsumon ga arimasuka |
Do you have a question |
27 |
Koopii o shite kudasai |
Please copy |
28 |
Yukkuri hanashite onegaishimasu |
Please speak slowly |
29 |
Tatte kudasai |
Please stand |
30 |
Suwatte kudasai |
Please take a sit |
31 |
Kaette kudasai |
Please go home |
32 |
Wasurenai de kudasai |
Please don’t forget |
33 |
Shitsurei shimasu |
Excuse me (door) |
Basic Japanese Classroom Instructions
BEFORE CLASS (OFFICE)
- GAKUSEI: SHITSUREI SHIMASU.
- (Excuse me)
- HAITTE MO II DESU KA.
- SENSEI: HAI DOUZO.
- LEADER: KIOTSUKE…REI!
- GAKUSEI: OHAYOU GOZAIMASU/
- KONNICHIWA
- YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU
- SENSEI: YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU!
- GANBATTE MINNASAN.
- GAKUSEI: HAI! GAMBARIMASU!
- SHITSUREI SHIMASU.
BEFORE CLASS (ROOM)
- SENSEI: HAJIMEMASHOU.
- (Let’s start)
- LEADER: MINASAN KIRITSU! (Stand up)
- KIOTSUKE! (Attention) REI!
- GAKUSEI: OHAYOU GOZAIMASU/
- KONNICHIWA!
- YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU.
- LEADER: CHAKUSEKI (Sit down)
- GAKUSEI: (SIT DOWN)
BREAKTIME
- SENSEI: KYUUKEI SHIMASHOU
- (Let’s take a break)
- LEADER: MINASAN….
- KIRITSU! KIOTSUKE! REI!
- GAKUSEI: DOUMO ARIGATOU
- GOZAIMASHITA
AFTER BREAKTIME
- SENSEI: HAJIMEMASHOU (Let’s start)
- LEADER: MINASAN KIRITSU! KIOTSUKE! REI!
- GAKUSEI: DOUMO ARIGATOU
- GOZAIMASHITA/
- YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU
- LEADER: CHAKUSEKI
- GAKUSEI: (SIT DOWN)
AFTER CLASS:
- SENSEI: KORE DE OWARIMASHOU.
- (Let’s finish with this)
- LEADER: MINASAN KIRITSU! KIOTSUKE! REI!
- GAKUSEI: KYOU MO DOUMO
- ARIGATOU GOZAIMASHITA.
- SENSEI: OTSUKARESAMA DESHITA.
- GAKUSEI: OTSUKARESAMA DESHITA.
- SENSEI: MATA ASHITA/RAISHUU.
- KIOTSUKETE KAETTE KUDASAI.
- GAKUSEI: ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU.
CLASS INTERRUPTIONS
RESTROOM BREAK
- GAKUSEI: SENSEI, SUMIMASEN.
- TOIRE NI ITTE MO II
- DESU KA?
- SENSEI: HAI DOUZO.
- GAKUSEI: ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU.
GOING OUT FOR A WHILE
- GAKUSEI: SENSEI, SUMIMASEN.
- CHOTTO DEKAKETE
- MO II DESU KA?
- SENSEI: HAI DOUZO.
- GAKUSEI: ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU.
ENTERING A ROOM
- GAKUSEI: SHITSUREI SHIMASU.
- HAITTE MO II DESUKA?
- SENSEI: HAI DOUZO.
- GAKUSEI: ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU.
UNEXPECTED VISITOR
- LEADER: MINASAN KIRITSU!
- (Stand up)
- KIOTSUKE! (Attention)
- REI!
- GAKUSEI: KONNICHIWA!
- YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU.!
- VISITOR: YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU.
- LEADER: CHAKUSEKI.
GAKUSEI: (SIT DOWN)
WHEN LATE
- GAKUSEI: SHITSUREISHIMASU.
- OSOKUNATTE
- SUMIMASEN DESHITA.
- HAITTE MO II DESUKA?
- SENSEI: HAI DOUZO.
- GAKUSEI: ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU.
AFTER CLASS (OFFICE):
- LEADER: SHITSUREISHIMASU…
- HAITTE MO
- II DESUKA?
- SENSEI: HAI , DOUZO.
- LEADER: KIOTSUKE… REI!
- GAKUSEI: KYOU MO, DOUMO
- ARIGATOU
- GOZAIMASHITA.
- SENSEI: OTSUKARESAMA DESHITA.
- GAKUSEI: OTSUKARESAMA DESHITA.
- SENSEI: MATA ASHITA/RAISHUU.
- KIOTSUKETE KAETTE
- KUDASAI.
- GAKUSEI: ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU.
JIKAN To KAZU
Time and Numbers
The Japanese language is rich in numbers. It uses Japanese numbers and Chinese numbers. And it uses a system of classifiers or “counters” as well. This means that when you count things, you first have to classify them according to what they are, or by their size or shape. For example, to count pencils, bottles, or trees, you use the classifier for long, thin things; to count books or magazines, you use the classifier for bound objects. Later in this lesson you’ll see a chart of some of the most common classifiers.
KAZU
From 1 to 10 only, there are two sets of numbers. The set on the right, of Japanese origin, stops at 10. The set on the left, of Chinese origin, continues indefinitely.
1 | Ichi | Hitsotsu |
2 | Ni | Futatsu |
3 | San | Mittsu |
4 | Shi/Yon | Yottsu |
5 | Go | Itsutsu |
6 | Roku | Muttsu |
7 | Nana/shichi | Nanatsu |
8 | Hachi | Yattsu |
9 | Kyuu/Ku | Kononotsu |
10 | Juu | Tou |
11-19
To form numbers from 11 to 19, start with juu, 10, and then add the number you need from the column on the left.
11 | Juuichi |
12 | Juuni |
13 | Juusan |
14 | Juuyon |
15 | Juugo |
16 | Juuroku |
17 | Juunana |
18 | Juuhachi |
19 | Juukyuu |
20 | Nijuu |
20-100
The rest is easy. Twenty is two tens, or ni ju, and for 21, just add the 1: ni ju ichi
20 (Nijuu) | 21 (nijuuchi) |
30 (Sanjuu) | 31(Sanjuuichi |
40 (Yonjuu) | 41(Yonjuuichi) |
50 (Gojuu) | 51(Gojuuichi) |
60 (Rokujuu) | 61(Rokujuuichi) |
70 (Nanajuu) | 71(Nanajuuichi) |
80 (Hachijuu) | 81(Hachijuuichi) |
90 (Kyuujuu) | 91(Kyuujuuichi) |
With 100, hyaku, and 1000, sen, the pattern is basically the same, but there are some sound changes.
100 (Hyaku) | 1000(Sen) |
200 (Nihyaku) | 2000 (Nisen) |
300 (Sanbyaku) | 3000(Sansen) |
400 (Yonhyaku) | 4000(Yonsen) |
500 (Gohyaku) | 5000(Gosen) |
600(Roppyaku) | 6000(Rokusen) |
700 (Nanahyaku) | 7000(Nanasen) |
800 (Happyaku) | 8000(Hassen) |
900 (Kyuuhyaku) | 900(Kyuusen) |
Japanese uses 10,000 as a counting unit. Each unit of 10,000 is called man. So 10,000 is ichi man, 20,000 is ni man. 100,000 is ju man, 200,000 is ni ju man, 1,000,000 is hyaku man (unit of 10,000). This continues until 100,000,000 ichi oku.
JOSSU
ORDINAL NUMBERS
English Japanese | |||||||||||||||||||||
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CHIGATTA SHURUI NO MONO O KAZOERU
COUNTING DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS
One American is coming.
Amerikajin ga hitori kimasu.
American one
One pencil is on the table.
Enpitsu ga ippon teburu no ue ni arimasu.
pencil one
I have one book.
Hon o issatsu motte imasu.
book one
I’d like one ticket.
Kippu o ichimai kudasai.
Ticket one