Byōin / Kōkō de hataraite masu.
At a hospital / high school.
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“Doko どこ” means “Where?” Question words are usually found at the end of a sentence, but interrogatives such as “where,” who” and “when” are sometimes found at the beginning.
Gojibun no oshigoto ga suki desu ka?
Do you like your job?
Hai, suki desu.
Yes, I like it.
Iie, amari (suki ja arimasen).
Not much.
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When answering “Iie いいえ,” “No,” you can omit “suki ja arimasen
Jetto Puroguramu ni tsuite kiita koto ga arimasu ka?
Have you heard of the JET Program?
もちろんです。
Mochiron desu.
Of course.
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The JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program is run through the Japanese Board of Education, and places native English speakers from around the world in Japanese public schools to teach English. Applications are usually due in December and can be requested through the Japanese consulate nearest you.
Nani o benkyō shite imasu ka?
What are you studying?
Nihongo / Eigo / Chūgokugo o benkyō shite imasu.
I’m studying Japanese / English / Chinese.
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“Nihon 日本” means “Japan” and “Chūgoku 中国” means “China.” “Ei 英” means “United Kingdom.” When combined with these and most other countries, “go 語” means “language.” Therefore, “Eigo 英語” literally means “United Kingdom’s language.” However, the English taught in Japanese schools is mostly American English.
Doko de benkyō shite imasu ka?
Where are you studying?
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The verb “benkyō 勉強” means “to study.” To make this verb the present continuous tense, “shite imasu しています” is added.
Nihon ni mō dore kurai imasu ka?
How long have you been in Japan?
Ichi-nichi / Is-shūkan / Ik-ka-getsu / Ichi-nen desu.
1 day / week / month / year.
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“Ichi 一” means “one.” When you want to say “one week” or “one year,” the “ichi” is shortened to “i” and the first letter of “week” and “year” is said with almost a stutter.
Yasumi ni wa doko e ikimasu ka?
Where are you going for the holiday?
Mada kimete imasen.
I haven’t decided yet.
○○へ行きます。
○○ e ikimasu.
I will go to [place name].
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
There are 14 national holidays in Japan. Golden Week comprises four national holidays that fall within days of each other, usually from the end of April to early May: Shōwa (Emperor) Day, Constitution Day, Green Day, and Children’s Day.
Ato dono kurai Nihon ni imasu ka?
How long will you be in Japan?
Futsuka / Ni-shūkan / Ni-kagetsu / Ni-nen desu.
2 days / weeks / months / years.
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“Ni 二” means the number “2.” But Japanese have a particular way to count people, days and some other objects. When counting days, one day becomes “Ichinichi 1 日”; two days becomes “futsuka 2 日”; three days becomes “mikka,” and the list goes on.
Naze Nihongo o benkyō shite imasu ka?
Why are you studying Japanese?
Nihonjin no kareshi/ kanojo ga iru kara desu.
Because I have a Japanese boyfriend / girlfriend.
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
“-Jin” is added to a country to make the nationality. For example: “Nihon” means “Japan,” but “Nihonjin
Nihongo ga yomemasu /