Greetings
Japanese Expressions Used Inside the Classroom
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) |
Greeting Words (あいさつ)
Useful Greetings Inside the School
Ohayou | Good Morning |
Ohayou Gozaimasu | Good Morning (polite) |
Konnichiwa | Good Afternoon/hello |
Konbanwa | Good Evening |
Sayounara | Good-bye |
Oyasumi (nasai) | Good Night |
Arigatou Gozaimasu | Thank you |
Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu | Thank you very much |
Sumimasen | Excuse me/ Sorry |
Ittekimasu | I’ll go and come back |
Itterasshai | Please go and come back |
Tadaima | I’m home |
Okaeri (nasai) | Welcome home |
Itadakimasu | Thank you for the meal (before eating) |
Gochisousama deshita | Thank you for the meal (after meal) |
Dou desu ka | How do you do? |
Hajimemashite | Nice to meet you |
Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu | Please be good to me. |
Omedetou Gozaimasu | Congratulations |
Dou Itashimashite | Your welcome |
Osaki ni shitsureishimasu | I’ll be leaving ahead |
Shitsureishimasu | Excuse me |
Otsukaresama deshita | Thank you for your hardwork |
Ki o tsukete | Take care |
おはよう | Ohayou |
おはよう ございます | Ohayou Gozaimasu |
こんにちは | Konnichiwa |
こんばんは | Konbanwa |
さようなら | Sayounara |
おやすみ(なさい) | Oyasumi (nasai) |
ありがとう ございます | Arigatou Gozaimasu |
どうもありがとうございます | Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu |
すみません | Sumimasen |
いってきます | Ittekimasu |
いってらっしゃい | Itterasshai |
ただいま | Tadaima |
おかえり(なさい) | Okaeri (nasai) |
いただきます | Itadakimasu |
ごちそうさま でした | Gochisousama deshita |
どう ですか | Dou desu ka |
はじめまして | Hajimemashite |
よろしく おねがいします | Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu |
おめでとう ございます | Omedetou Gozaimasu |
どう いたしまして | Dou Itashimashite |
おさきに しつれいします | Osaki ni shitsureishimasu |
しつれいします | Shitsureishimasu |
おつかれさま でした | Otsukaresama deshita |
きをつけて | Ki o tsukete |
ごめん ください | Gomen Kudasai |
おげんき ですか | Ogenki desuka |
おげんき で | Ogenki de |
おだいじ に | Odaiji ni |
だいじょうぶ です | Daijoubu desu |
では また/ じゃまた | ja mata |
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.
Self-introdction(じこしょうかい)
- 自己紹介 Jikoshoukai
What is your name? O-namae wa nan desu ka
My name is ______ watashi no namae wa_________desu.
Nice to meet you hajimemashite
I can speak Japanese Nihongo ( yoku) hanasemasu
Do you speak English? Eigo o hanasemasuka?
NOTES
- Hajimemashite
Salutation used on meeting a person for the first time. It is a form of the verb hajimeru, “to begin”.
- 私 はマイク・シュミットです。
Watashi wa Maiku Shumitto desu, “My name is Mike Smith.”
PATTERN:
わたし は YOUR NAME です。
Watashi wa YOUR NAME desu.
わたしは YOUR NAME ともうします。
Watashi wa YOUR NAME to moushimasu.
3 WAYS to say your name:
- Your name です/ともうします。
- Your Name desu / to moushimasu.
Ex. Juan desu / Juan to moushimasu.
- Surname, Given name です/ともうします。
- Surname, Given name desu / to moushimasu.
Ex. Dela Cruz, Juan desu / Dela Cruz, Juan to moushimasu.
- Surname です/ともうします。 Surname desu / to moushimasu.
Ex. Dela Cruz desu / Dela Cruz to moushimasu.
To say your nickname
PATTERN: どうぞ NICKNAME とよんでください。
Douzo NICKNAME to yonde kudasi
Please call me NICKNAME.
Ex. Douzo Juan to yonde kudasai.
To say where you from
PLACE からまいりました。
PATTERN: PLACE kara mairimashita.
I am from PLACE
Ex. Firipin kara mairimashita
I am from PLACE
PLACE にすんでいます。
PLACE ni sunde imasu.
I lived in PLACE.
Ex. Manira ni sunde imasu.
I lived in Manila.
To say your hobby
PATTERN: わたしのしゅみは HOBBY です。
Watashi no shumi wa HOBBY desu.
My hobby is HOBBY.
- Tanaka-san
San is a title of respect added to name, so it cannot be used after one’s own name. San may be used with both male and female names, and with either surname or given name. it may even be suffixed to the name of an occupation.
Ex. Bengoshi-san, “Mr. Lawyer”.
sama, used for the higher position like the President, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
kun, used for the boys ages 10 years old below
chan used for the girl ages 10 years old below
Kochira wa Sumisu-san desu
Kochira, “this one,” implies “this person here” and is a polite way of saying “this person.”
[Watashi wa] Sumisu desu
Especially in conversational Japanese, watashi, “I,” is hardly ever used. Anata, “you,” is similarity avoided, especially when addressing superiors, in which case the person’s surname, title or occupation is used when necessary. “My name’s Smith.” (lit. “I’m Smith”)
- Dozo yoroshiku
A phrase used when taking one’s leave after having asked a favor. Yoroshiku means “good” and is a request for the other person’s favorable consideration in the future. It can also be used as follows: Tanaka-san ni yoroshiku. “Please give my regards to Mr. Tanaka”.
- Tokyo Denki no (Tanaka desu)
The possessive particle no indicates ownership or attribution and comes after the noun it modifies, like “ ‘s” in English. Here it shows that Mr. Tanaka belongs to, in the sense that he works for, Tokyo Electric. Japanese customarily give their company and position when being introduced.
- Dare/donate, “who?”
The basic word for “who” is dare, but donate is more polite.
Ex. Kochira wa dare desu ka. “Who is this?”
JAPANESE BOWING (OJIGI)
In the Japanese bow, the bower expresses appreciation and respect to the person being bowed to by bending at the waist.
A gesture widely used in tandem with greetings like “ohayo gozaimasu” (good morning) and “konnichiwa” (hello, good afternoon) as well as words of gratitude or apology.
3 types of Japanese bow: Bows can generally be classified depending on the deepness of the waist bend.
“eshaku” bow
Most casual bow. The waist is generally bent at about a 15 degree angle. It is common to lightly dip the head and give an “eshaku” bow when exchanging a casual greeting or passing by someone of a higher social status.
Of course using words by themselves is sufficient, but if you add an eshaku bow while saying “arigato” (thank you) to someone who has shown you kindness, your feeling of gratitude will come across as incredibly more heartfelt.
“keirei” bow
The bow generally used in business interactions. In this bow, the torso is lowered to about 30 degrees.
It is used when entering and leaving reception rooms and meeting rooms and when greeting customers.
“saikeirei” bow
The most polite bow. Consists of lowering the torso about 45 degrees. It is used to express feelings of deep gratitude or apology.