Greetings

On seeing someone in the morning, you can use the greeting Ohayoo-gozaimasu no matter who the other person is - a family member, a co-worker, your boss, etc. With, however, Konnichiwa, which is used in the afternoon, and Konbawa, which is used in the evening, you have to be a little careful. With such people as family members and co-workers you see on a daily business - in other words, people who are in your "in group" - you do not use these greetings; if you use them with these people, you will sound a little strange and distant. So, if, in the afternoon, you happen to run into a co-worker somewhere outside the company, say Aa, xx-san, doomo; when you return to your office during the day, say Tadaima.

Back to Everyday Phases

Meeting someone for the first time

After saying Hajimemashite you give your name. for adults it's customary to say your last name. Remember in Japan there is no customer of shaking hands while introducing oneself in this way. The usual practice is to bow your head slightly while saying Hajimematshite. At first this may be rather difficult, but with practice you will find yourself getting used to it.

Back to Everyday Phases

When you don't understand

Whether it's the price, a telephone number, or a difficult name, there will be times when you just can't catch what was said. In these cases, these expressions are nothing less than basic survival tools, But what happens when even after someone had repeated it slowly, you still don't understand? The best thing is to ask that the information be written: Sumimasen, kaite-kudasai (Excuse me, could you write it please?) or else Sumimasen, Roomaji-de kaite-kudasai (Excuse me, write it in Roman characters please). Such phrases as Eego go wakaru kata imasu-ka (Is there someone here who speak English?) or else Sumimasen, Nihongo-ga yoku wakarimasen (Excuse me, i don't speak Japanese well) may come in handy.

Back to Everyday Phases

Talking about the weather

After exchanging greetings such a Ohayoo-gozaimasu, we often talk just a little bit about the weather. Especially when we're passing the time with some we don't know very well, it's a convenient topic of conversation: The fine weather, the temperature - these are things that everyone has in common.

Because there is are four distinct seasons in Japan, there is no lack of climate-related topic. For example, when the seasons are changing, you'll often hear Suzushiku / atatakaku nariashita-nee (it's gotten cool/warm, hasn't it?) Another phrase you'll often hear in Japan is Yayyo tsuyu-ga akemashita-nee (The rainy season has finally ended)

Back to Everyday Phases

Expressing gratitude

Back to Everyday Phases

 

Apologizing

In the course of daily life there are many situations where we have to apologize - for example, in a rush-hour train, when we step on someone's foot or our baggage knocks into some. In these cases, it's best to say promptly, A, doomo sumimasen (Oh, excuse me). If you're late for meeting someone, say Osoku-natte sumimasen (I'm sorry I'm late) or else Renraku-dekinakuta sumimasen (I'm sorry I couldn't get in touch with you). You can use the ~te for of a verb to describe the offense for which you're apologizing. With close friends Gomennasai (Pardon me) is used. Remember that in Japan, it is considered proper to acknowledge one's mistake and apologize.

Back to Everyday Phases

Getting someone's attention

When we're walking along the street somewhere, we will never approach someone and suddenly say, for example, Chikatetsu-no iriguchi-wa doko-desu-ka (Where is the entrance to the subway station?). Without fail, we will preface our question with one of the phrases above. If we don't, we will seem abrupt and rude.

When we want to ask a question to a superior or a teacher, we must realize that we're asking them to spare some of their time for us, so it's best to say something like Anno, ima chotto yoroshii-deshoo-ka (May i bother you for a moment now?) Or Sumimasen, shitsuman-ga aru-n-desu-ga (Excuse me, but i have question..). You could say these phrases open the doors to conversations.

Back to Everyday Phases

Conversational responses

Back to Everyday Phases

Expressing sympathy

It's difficult to express sympathy in a fitting way: we worry both about saying something that might unintentionally upset the person we're trying to console, and also about saying some stiff set phrase that does not have any warmth. But we should remember that when someone's sad or depressed, very often there's no real need to say very much. In those cases it's probably best simply to say the phrases above in a soft voice. To someone who is deeply grieving the loss of a family member, you might start off with a phrase like Hontoo-ni nanto ittara ii-ka... (I really don't know what to say).

Back to Everyday Phases

Expressing agreement

In addition to Watashi-mo soo omoimasu ( I think so too), Hontoo-ni soo-desu-nee (That really is true, isn't it?) is another of many ways to express agreement. Sono toori (It's just as you say), dookan (I agree), and sasee (I agree) are also often used to express agreement during an exchange of opinions.

Back to Everyday Phases

Sending regards to a third party

Otsutae-kudasai is a polite form for tsutaete-kudasai (Please give my message). When someone asks you Yoroshiku otsutae-kudasai (Please give my regards [to someone]), you should reply Hai, tsutaematsu (Yes, I will) or Wakarimarshita (Yes, I will). When asked to give regards to your family, first say Arigatoo-gozaimasu (Thank you).

When you actually pass along regards from someone, you should say, Nakamura-san-ga yoroshiku-to itte-imashita. (Nakamura-san says hello). In place of itte-imashite, you can use the honorfic asshatte-imashita.

Back to Everyday Phases

Time

Although there will be occasions when you don't have to be all that precise about the time, you'll find that in Japan it is important to be able to discuss time in exact, to-the-minute terms. Trains almost always run exactly on time, and events and meetings will also open at precisely the scheduled time. Thus when you hear the pattern ~wa ~ji-kara-desu / made-desu (It starts from ~o'clock / it lasts until ~ o'clock), assume that the time is given in precise times. You will find that following kinds of phrases helpful: Tsugi-no densha-wa naji-desu-ka (What time is the next train?); Kaigai-wa nanji-kara desu-ka (What time does the meeting starts?); Eega-wa namji-made-desu-ka (What time does the movies end?)

Note also rokuji-goro (around 6 o'clock), gozen rokuji (6am) and gogo rokuji (6pm).

Back to Everyday Phases

Length of Time

Back to Everyday Phases

The days of the week

When we talk about the days of the week we often use abbreviated forms - for example: Getsu, sui, kin-wa kaigi-ga arimasu (There are meetings on Monday, Wedenesday, and Fridad); Doo, nichi-wa uchi-ni-imasu (I'm home on Saturdays and Sundays / I'll be at home on Saturday and Sunday); Kaa, moku-wa jikan-ga arimasu (I have time on Tuesday and Thursday).

In any given month a certain days of the week will come around four or five times. You can specify, for example, precisely which Saturday, by saying dai-chi / dai-ni / dai-san / dan-yon / dai-go doyoobi (the first / second / third / fourth / fifth Saturday of the month).

Back to Everyday Phases

Dates

Back to Everyday Phases

Saying which day

Back to Everyday Phases

Asking the price

Whether or not a purchase fits your budget certainly is an important matter. For this reason, it would be a good idea to remember these phrases: Koo-hii / hako-dai / sooryoo-wa betsu-ryookin-desu-ka (Is coffee/the box/postage extra?); Nani-ka betsu-ni hiyoo-ga kakarimasu-ka (Will there be any additional expenses?); Moo sukoshi yasui mono-wa arimasen-ka (Isn't there something a little less expensive?)

If there's some figure on the receipt that you don't understand, as Sumimasen, kore-was nan-no kingaku-desu-ka (Excuse me, what is this figure for?)

Back to Everyday Phases

Expressing likes and dislikes

If for example, you're talking about how even when you were a child you didn't like milk, you can use such blunt expression as Miruku-wa kirai-desu (I don't like milk)

When you've been invited to dinner, however, it's a different matter. This of course is because that food that's in front of you is something that your host kindly provided. If you find that you've been served something you can't eat, say, Suminmasen, ika-wa taberaremasen (I'm sorry, i can't eat squid); kore-wa chotto nigate-na-n-desu (i'm afraid i don't really like this); Osake-wa dame-na-n-desu (I don't drink). These phases should keep you from hurting your host's feelings - as long, of course as you bobble up the other dishes.

Back to Everyday Phases

Expressing emotions

Back to Everyday Phases

Talking about one's health

Back to Everyday Phases

 

 

 

 

 

100 MB free hosting. Click here to build your own free site.