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SURVIVAL
JAPANESE
How to Communicate without
Fuss or Fear—Instantly!
by Boyé Lafayette De Mente
revised edition with Junji Kawai
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo|Rutland, Vermont|Singapore
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
Copyright © 1991 Boyé Lafayette De Mente
Copyright © 2004 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
LCC Card No.: 2009291154
ISBN: 978-1-4629-1076-2 (ebook)
Printed in Singapore
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Contents
Overcoming Instant Illiteracy
How to Use This Book
Note on Pronunciation
Dealing with Grammar
Key Words
Greeting People
Introductions
In a Taxi
At a Hotel
Asking Questions
Going Somewhere
The Cardinal Numbers
The Ordinal Numbers
Counting Things
Counting People
Time Frames
The Days
Counting Days
The Weeks
Counting Weeks
The Months
Counting Months
Giving Dates
The Years
The Seasons
The Time
The Weather
Using Money
In a Restaurant
Paying Bills
Locating Restrooms
When Shopping
At the Station
Visiting an Office
At the Post Office
Medical Emergencies
In the Bath
Housing
Age
In a Bar
The Telephone
Visiting a Home
Expressing Thanks
Apologizing
Saying Goodbye
Key Names & Places
Country, Islands & Regions
Prefectures & Capitals
Important City & Area Names
Names in Tokyo
Names in Kyoto
Names in Osaka
Department Stores
Major Newspapers
Major Industrial Zones
Other Common Terms
INTRODUCTION
Overcoming Instant Illiteracy
Hundreds of thousands of people who arrive in Japan each year go through an experience that is the equivalent of suddenly being struck deaf and dumb. They go from being literate—even brilliant—in their own culture to not being able to speak, understand, read, or write the language of their host country, and to being equally ignorant of the nonverbal language of Japan as well.
If this situation continues for any length of time, the experience results in a trauma known as culture shock—which in extreme cases can cause serious mental and physical damage; sometimes even death.
Short-time visitors to Japan are not likely to suffer significant health problems because of their sudden inability to interact with the culture surrounding them. But there is perhaps no more frustrating feeling than not being able to communicate with other people when we want to or need to. Where visiting businessmen are concerned, the handicap of not being able to communicate directly with their