COMMUNICATE AND GREET IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE

LEARNING OUTCOMES

LO1: Provide a self-introduction and respond with daily greetings.

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.

HOW ENGLISH AND JAPANESE ARE SIMILAR

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
Pocket	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

akai (ah-kah-ee) red

ebi (eh-bee) shrimp

imi (ee-mee) meaning

otoko (o-to-koh) male

uma (oo-mah) horse

Japanese Greetings

The word aisatsu (挨拶) means “greeting” in Japanese, however, it’s more than just “hello.”

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.

BASIC JAPANESE CONVERSATION

LO3: Familiarize self to different Japanese Numerical symbols and count Using Numbers

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.