The basics of Japanese

[uje]

The basics of Japanese

A lot of people want to learn how to speak Japanese (even if it is basic!) but some don’t know were to start. After looking at the other threads and seeing one for French, German and Spanish I thought it would be handy if I shared some basic knowledge of the Japanese language with some Greetings and Goodbyes and some other used phrases! I have left out a lot of words like the plural of some words ect as this is just a basic guide, once you have learnt these words you should be able to speak small sentences. Then you can get a feel for if you think the language is still what you want to learn. If the answer is yes then you should go on to more lessons online or even with a teacher! :) Sorry that I didn’t add numbers I just hate counting in Japanese, but it is easy!

Greetings / Goodbyes

Good morning – Ohayou gozaimasu
Hello, Good afternoon – Konnichi wa
Good Evening – Konban wa
How are you? – Genki desu ka?
I’m fine. – Genki desu
Nice to meet you – Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Nice to meet you (a less formal way) – hajimema****e
What kind of things do you like? – Donna mono ga suki desu ka?
Bye Bye – Bai bai
See you later - Jaa, mata ne
Goodbye – Sayounara
Good night – oyasumi nasai
Night – oyasumi


Some other usefull things to say!

I’m sorry – Gomen nasai
Excuse me (In an apologizing way) – Sumimasen
Thank you – Arigatou
Your welcome – dou itashima****e
Thank you very much (very formal :P) – Doumo arigatou gozaimasu
Do you understand English? – eigo ga wakarimasu ka?
What is your name? – onamae wa?
My name is ___. – Watashi no namae wa _____ desu
Yes – Hai
No – Iie
You – Anata
My – Watashi no
Their – Karera no
This – Kore
That (what is close to you) – sore
That (what is away from you) - are
English – Eigo
Japanese – Nihongo
Japanese (person, used when saying “that Japanese person!) – Nihon jin
American (person, used when saying “that American person!) – Amerika jin
Large – Ooki
Small – Chiisai
I love you (In a friendly way) – Anata ga suki desu
I love you (In a love way) – Ai ****e imasu
Do you like me? – Watashi no koto ga suki desu ka?
Will you marry me? – Kekkon shimasen ka?
Happy Birthday! – Otanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu!
Merry Christmas! – Meri kurisumasu!

Basic directions!

Up – Ue
Down – ****a
Left – Hidari
Right – Migi
In front – Mae
Behind – Ushiro
North – Kita
South – Minami
East – Higashi
West – Nishi
Look up! – Ue o mite kudasai

Edited by iSarcastix (Trialist Forum Moderator): Thread stuck with permission from MattGarner. Nice Work :P!

[Kardan]

Tennis Boyfriend - Tenisu No Boyfriendo

[Immenseman]

I can now speak Japanese! Aha, very good thread here. Should be stickied. Pronunciation is very hard mind you :P Good thread :)

[uje]

Yeah the pronunciation for some of the words is a bit odd as the Romaji looks nothing like how it should be pronounced! :P I was thinking as I was writing it “How am I going to show the pronunciations” But I guess that’s half the fun of learning it hehe! :]

Maybe if the thread gets really popular in needing the pronunciations and if I have a spair few hours ill write them In. But it would take me ages since I am lazy. :P I also tried using simplified versions of sentences as well as the formal versions. But that didn’t make it any easier for pronunciation ;( Just looks easier.

EDIT:

Slang and a funny wise proverb :)

Cool! – Sugoi!
Awsome! – Suge!
SMILE (For the camera) – Hai, chi-zu!
Cya! – Abayo!
Let’s go out! (Basically means to go hang out) – Dekakemashou
Where would you like to go? – Doko ni ikatai desu ka?
A frog who stays in a well doesn’t know about the great sea – I no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu

It would not let me edit my original post ;(

[Jarkie]

Good thread! ;) shoud be sticked like the other ones

[PaulMacC]

I recognize most of those words ;P
Good job.

[Blinger1]

Nice to meet you – Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu
One of the only phrases i remember from year 7.. oh and the basic "hi I am shane" and "hello/goodbye"

[Abbie.]

my best friend talks fluent japanese and her mums a translater and her dads an english teacher in japan

i can say 'persons name' is a stupid *******

thats about it :(

[uje]

Yeah! A few of my friends speak fluent Japanese with ease, I however self teach myself Japanese (with a lot of help from my friends) but to be honest I am not as dedicated as they are. But since it try to self teach myself, lists and books like this are godly.

[Rixion]

I love everything Japanese thanks for posting I can speak some of it now ;D

[Neversoft]

Great thread. I'd just like to point out that sumimasen doesn't necessarily mean excuse me, however. A lot of Japanese words mean different things in different context, and sumimasen is one of those words. It's basically a word you use when you believe you have bothered someone. When you say 'excuse me' to someone, you're interrupting what they are currently doing, so that is why sumimasen is used. Sumimasen can also be used to apologise when you have inconvenienced someone or have asked them to go out of their way for something. Unlike gommen or gomennsai, sumimasen also expresses a feeling of gratitude. If you ask someone for a favour and they do it for you, you can reply with sumimasen and it would mean both sorry for bothering you and thank you. Sumimasen is also a more mature word than gomennasai, which you would use to your superiors or perhaps people you don't know when apologising. In short, it can mean excuse me, thank you or sorry depending on the context.

Here are a few other words and phrases I have picked up that might help

I don't know - Shirimasen
What - Nani
Where - Doko
Who - Dare (prenounced da-reh)
Which - Dore (prenounced do-reh)
When - Itsu
Everyone - Minna
Please - Onegai
Welcome back - Okaeri
Dad - Tou-san
Mum - Ka-san
Wait - Matte
Help - Tasukete
What are you doing? - Nani o ****e imasuka?
Nothing - Betsuni
Really - Hontou

One - Ichi
Two - Ni
Three - San
Four - Yon
Five - Go
Six - Roku
Seven - Nana
Eight - Hachi
Nine - Kyuu
Ten - Juu
Eleven - Juu ichi
Twelve - Juu ni
Thirteen - Juu san
Fourteen - Juu yon
Fifteen - Juu go
Sixteen - Juu roku
Seventeen - Juu nana
Eighteen - juu hachi
Nineteen - juu kyuu
Twenty - Ni juu

[Black_Apalachi]

Wow awesome thread! Thanks :). I'm amazed at how much I already knew or at least recognised (in both the OP and Neversoft's post). I also already knew how to count to twenty in Japanese! :D

Edit @Neversoft: I was taught She as four and Sich as seven as well as Juu-- for fourteen and seventeen respectively (I'm just making up the spellings there based on pronunciation).

[Neversoft]

Four can be said as either si or yon, and seven can be said as either nana or sichi. Though I am unsure of the context you use each in, so I just went with what I've heard the most. I have noticed that si seems to be used for four a lot however, but when saying fourteen, twenty four, thirty four, etc yon is used.

[Black_Apalachi]

Ah right, thanks :).

[Sunnily]

I've heard people speak japanese it sounds so cute when people speak it. I dont know if that applies everywhere but you know :)

[Phil]

Great job. I always wanted to speak a few words!

[Josh]

Arigatou.

ありがとう

[Zak]

I have no idea how to say most of these words. I have got a friend who speaks chinese though, that's a cool language as well :)

No point in saying thanks as this stickied thread is 1 year old :P

[GirlNextDoor15]

That's gonna help my brother in his Japanese exam. Thank you very much

[Andy-]

I only know a few japaneese words like 1 or 2.

[Michael]

I only know a few japaneese words like 1 or 2.

Same but I want to learn more :D

[Enrq]

Wow, I want to learn some of Japanese, but I only know Itadakimasu... it's like "let's eat" or something like that.
I know Baka too, it's idiot.
You must learn the hiragana and katakana too, but it's really difficult ._. It's a long journey haha

[smithy1997]

Arigatou for the useful post, actually can use this with someone who knows Japanese