Counters
Another feature that exists in Japanese but not in English is a category of suffixes called counters. Counters are placed after numerals in order to express the quantity or amount of people and things, and the choice of counters varies depending on the shape, size, and type of the item. For example, go-nin no hito means ‘the five people’; go-hiki no inu means ‘the five dogs’; go-dai no kuruma means ‘the five cars.’ Nin, hiki, and dai are the counters for these respective types of items.
Honorifics
The Japanese language has rich and extensive honorific systems that express respect, humility, and politeness. These systems govern speech styles through the choices of suffixes, prefixes, (pro)nouns, verbs, adjectives, and phrases that are determined based on the relationship among the speaker, the listener, and a third party with respect to the social grouping and social hierarchy. For example, a simple question like ‘Will you go?’ can be Iku no, Ikimasu ka, or Irasshaimasu ka depending on how close or distant the speaker feels to the person. English does not have such verbal suffixes for expressing politeness or respect. However, this does not mean English speakers are rude. English speakers use different strategies for expressing politeness. For example, they tend to use a longer phrase for expressing politeness: they may say ‘I’m wondering whether it is okay for me to leave now’ instead of ‘Is it okay to leave now?’ for politely asking for permission to leave. Or, they may elaborate on a statement with the addition of kind comments or brief explanations for conveying politeness in a variety of speech functions such as asking for permission, requesting, apologizing, thanking, and refusing invitations.
LESSON 1
Sound It Out in Japanese!
日本語で言ってみよう！
Nihongo de Itte Miyō!
In this lesson you will learn some everyday phrases and sound structures of the Japanese language.
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Basic Sentences
| 1. | 「こんにちは。」“Kon’nichi wa.”“Hello! (literally, As for today…)” | 「ああ, こんにちは。」“Ā, kon’nichi wa.”“Oh, hi!” |
| 2. | 「先生, おはようございます。」“Sensei, ohayō gozaimasu.”“Professor, good morning! (lit., It is early.)” | 「ああ, 山田さん。おはよう。」“Ā, Yamada-san, ohayō.”“Oh, good morning, Ms. Yamada!’ |
| …ございます …gozaimasuRemember that you must add gozaimasu after ohayō ‘good morning’ and arigatō ‘thank you’ when you say these to your superior. | ||
| 3. | 「こんばんは。」“Konban wa!”“Good evening! (lit., As for this evening…)” | 「ああ, こんばんは。」“Ā, konban wa!”“Oh, good evening!” |
| 4. | 「(どうも) ありがとうございます。」“(Dōmo) arigatō gozaimasu.”“Thank you (very much).” | 「いいえ。」“Īe”“Not at all. (lit., No.)” |
| 5. | 「ありがとうございました。」“Arigatō gozaimashita.”“Thank you (for what you have done).” | 「どういたしまして。」“Dō itashimashite.”“You’re welcome.” |
| 6. | 「お元気ですか。」“Ogenki desu ka.”“How are you? (lit., Are you well?)” | 「はい, おかげさまで。」“Hai, okage-sama de.”“Yes, I’m fine, thank you. (lit., Thanks to you and others.)” |
| 7. | 「さようなら。」“Sayōnara!”“Goodbye!” | 「さようなら。」“Sayōnara!”“Goodbye!” |
| 8. | 「お母さん, おやすみなさい。」“Okāsan, oyasuminasai.”“Good night, mom! (lit., Please rest well.)” | 「ああ, おやすみ。」“Ā, oyasumi.”“Oh, good night!” |
| 9. | 「あのう, (ちょっと) すみません。」“Anō, (chotto) sumimasen.”“Excuse me.” | 「はい。」“Hai.”“Yes.” |
| ちょっと chottoChotto means ‘a little bit’ and is used with a variety of verbs and adjectives, but it also functions just to make one’s expression soft and friendly. It can be used by itself to get attention or softly refuse something or express dislikes. | ||
| 10. | 「(どうも）すみませんでした。」“(Dōmo) Sumimasen deshita.”“I’m (very) sorry. (I have committed a discourtesy.)” | 「いいえ。」“Īe.”“No, (don’t worry).” |
| すみません SumimasenSumimasen is one of the most frequently used words in Japanese. Depending on the context, it is used to catch attention or apologize. It is also used to thank someone when one receives overwhelming generosity or kindness from him/her. | ||
| 11. | 「あ, ごめんなさい。」“A, gomen nasai.”“Oh, I’m sorry.” | 「ううん, だいじょうぶ。」“Uun, daijōbu.”“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” |
| 12. | ちょっと失礼ですが…Chotto shitsurei desu ga…Excuse me, but… (I have a question or request). | |
| 13. | ちょっと待って (ください)。Chotto matte (kudasai).Please wait a moment. | |
| 14. | 「ゆっくり (話してください) 。」“Yukkuri (hanashite kudasai).”“(Please talk) slowly.” | 「はい。」“Hai.”“Sure.” |
| 15. | もう一度 (言ってください) 。Mō ichido (itte kudasai).(Please) (say it) again. | |
| 16. | お願いします。Onegai shimasu.Please (do so). (I’ll make a request of you.) | |
| 17. | では (or じゃ), 失礼します。“De wa (or Ja), shitsurei shimasu.”Well, I’ll say goodbye. (Excuse me.) | |
| 18. | 「じゃ, また。」“Ja, mata.”“So long! (Well, (see you) again!)” | 「ええ, じゃ, また。 」“Ē, ja, mata.”“Okay, see you!” |
| 19. | 「はじめまして 。スミスです。よろしく。」“Hajimemashite. Sumisu desu. Yoroshiku.”“Hi! I’m Ms. Smith. Nice to meet you!” | 「はじめまして。田中です。こちらこそよろしく。」“Hajimemashite.
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