《Learn Japanese Language》Lesson 2: Useful Expressions
Advertisement
~*~
Usually, the subject is placed at the beginning, and the verb at the end of the sentence.
Example: Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu.
Meaning: I / Japanese / understand
The subject (sometimes the object too) of the sentence is usually omitted when it can be clearly known from the context.
Example: (Anata wa) eigo ga wakari masuka?
Meaning: Do (you) understand English?
Particles (joshi in Japanese) are usually attached after a word to indicate the function of that word.
For example, "wa" in the following sentence indicates that "watashi (I)" is a subject, and "ga" indicates that "Nihongo (Japanese)" is an object of the verb "wakarimasu (understand)".
Watashi Nihongo wakarimasu.
*Wa and ga are the particles. Which makes the sentence means I understand Japanese.
Each particle has different functions and meanings. And some are used with the particular verbs.
When you are not sure which particle should be used, you can try to say without it like "Watashi, Nihongo, Wakarimasu.". In most cases, people will understand if the word order is correct.
You can easily make different forms by changing the end of the sentence. Word order stays the same.
Affirmative sentences normally end with "desu" or "masu".
You can assume that the sentences with the verb "be" (am, is, are...) end with "desu". And the sentences with other verbs end with "masu".
Example 1: Genki desu.
Meaning: I am well.
Example 2: Wakari masu.
Meaning: I understand.
Change "desu" into "dewa arimasen" or "ja arimasen". "ja" sounds more casual, and is used more often in daily conversation.
Change "masu" into "masen".
Example 1: Genki dewa (ja) arimasen
Meaning: I am not well.
Example 2: Wakari masen.
Meaning: I don't understand.
To make a question sentence, add "ka" at the end of the sentence.
This "ka" is pronounced with a rising intonation.
Advertisement
You would probably be shocked when you come to Japan and realize that the most people don't speak English.
The main reason is that what they learn in school is mostly grammatical rules and they are not trained to use it for the actual communication.
If your Japanese doesn't work, you can try to speak in English simply and slowly. Or people would understand more if you write it down on a paper.
The good news is that many nouns especially for the name of foods or drinks are English (with a bit different pronunciation). The basic rules you learn in this course plus some extra vocabulary should work pretty well.
~*~
So, let's start!
*Are you well? - Ogenki desuka?
*Yes, I'm well. - Hai, genki desu.
*No, I'm not well. - Iie, genki dewa (ja) arimasen..
*Yes, I'm very well. - Hai, totemo genki desu.
(genki: well
"o" in front of genki is a prefix which makes the word more polite.
Genki desu.: I'm well.
Genki dewa (ja) arimasen.: I'm not well.
"ja arimasen" sounds more casual, and is used more in daily conversation.
Informal: Genki?)
~*~
Do you understand? - Wakari masuka?
*Yes, I understand. - Hai, wakari masu.
*No, I don't understand. - Iie, wakari masen.
*I understand a little. - Sukoshi wakari masu.
*Do you understand Japanese? - Nihongo ga wakari masuka?
*Do you understand English? - Eigo ga wakari masuka?
(wakaru: to understand, to know
Wakari masu.: I understand.
Wakari masen.: I don't understand.
Wakari mashita.: I understood. (I got it. All right.)
[Nihongo] ga wakari masu.: I understand [Japanese].
ga: Particle which comes after the object. Used with the verb "wakaru".)
~*~
Please. - Onegaishimasu.
*One more time, please. - Mōichido onegaishimasu.
*Slowly please. - Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
*Menu please. - Menyū o onegaishimasu.
(Used to ask some favor.
[Menyū] o onegaishimasu.: [Menu] please.
o: Particle which comes after the object.)
Advertisement
~*~
Please. - Dōzo.
(Used to offer something. (Here you are. After you. etc.))
~*~
One moment, please. - Chotto matte kudasai.
(chotto: a little
matte kudasai: Please wait.
Informal: Chotto matte.)
~*~
What is it? - Nan desuka?
*What's this? (in speaker's hand) - Kore wa nan desuka?
*What is it? (in the listener's hand) - Sore wa nan desuka?
*What's that? (in the sky) - Are wa nan desuka?
([Kore] wa nan desuka?: What is [this]?
wa: Particle which comes after the subject.
kore: this (something close to you - the speaker)
sore: it (close to the person you are talking to - the listener)
are: that (some distance away from the both)
nan (nani): what)
~*~
*What time is it? - Nanji desuka?
*What time is the departure? - Shuppatsu wa nanji desuka?
*What time is the arrival? - Tōchaku wa nanji desuka?
~*~
Where is it? - Doko desuka?
*Where is the toilet? - Toire wa doko desuka?
~*~
Do you have? Is there? - Ari masuka?
*Do you have vegetarian dishes? - Bejitarian ryōri wa ari masuka?
*Is there an internet cafe? - Intānetto kafe wa ari masuka?
~*~
How much is it? - Ikura desuka?
*How much is a double room? - Daburu rūmu wa ikura desuka?
~*~
Why is it? - Naze desuka?
(Informal: Naze? Dōshite? Nande?)
~*~
Are you all right? - Daijōbu desuka?
*Yes, I'm all right. - Hai, daijōbu desu.
~*~
Advertisement
- In Serial56 Chapters
Other West: Diablero
What if the life you want is taken from you? After surviving the brutal slaughter of his naval squadron, Van Bran believed he could escape the world of empires, war, and magic by forging a new life on the American frontier. As a rancher, Van's life was simple, quiet, and far more peaceful. But when Van and his drovers come face to face with an ancient evil vying for control of the New World, a life of peace may be forever outside his grasp. Unless Van can take up arms once more and face the terrors of his past, he and his friends will serve as spiritual hosts to demonic skinwalkers. Enter the Other West... Follow, read, and comment today! Thank you for reading.
8 107 - In Serial21 Chapters
Absolute Supremacy
Cao Huang's father was arrested when he was wrongly accused of smuggling drugs from China to USA. His mother, disowned by her family fell in into critical heart disease, an operation costing millions of credits. He is the only one who can provide fee for his sister's school even if he is about to be expelled from his own. Everything changes when suddenly.... A certain malfunctioning gaming equipment shall change his future for the better. He will stand above everyone else by become the first Absolute Supreme with the mark of supremacy. Cao Huang shall rise from the bottom to the top and take revenge for all the grievances suffered by his family. Marked by supremacy, he shall be the overlord of the second world of Humanity >. Devil and Hero. He shall become all.
8 189 - In Serial81 Chapters
Essentia Animus
Second Book of the Soul - Celesi Veil Trilogy When the living essence of three girls are put at risk, giving room for a second essence within themselves, even their hyper developed fantasy world might not be enough to contain their new found ambitions. Another story of another world, these three girls must adapt to their new essence, all while each is left to question if they are truly still even alive. While this story is a sequel of the previous story in the trillogy, it is also fully capable of standing alone in its own light, taking place in a distant corner of a Celese returning readers will be otherwise incapable of recognizing. However, the events of the story are a spoiler for the previous book, in case that matters to anyone. This story takes place over two centuries after the events of Vitae Memorandum, when Celese had developed into an advanced world, improved to a point that it is much like modern-day Earth while still using the gift instead of technology. The Aethyx languages are still present in this book, and even English still exists in the world after the events of the previous book, but are much less of a focus after the same closing events of the previous book. What is instead important is how the ending events of the previous book had resulted in the start of the Instrumentation Era, and exactly how the gift translates in a modern-day sense. While this book is still effectively a fantasy world of its own kind of magic, it isn’t the classical medieval scene that would be typical for such a story. The laws of science still do not exist in Celese, but that didn’t stop it from developing into something that looks similar enough. Earth itself still remains present on the other side of the veil, and its previous exposure continues to shape and advance Celese into the world it has become. This story contains scenes exibiting mania and similar dark themes, as it goes to great length to explore concepts of life and death. While the degree of such themes should not be considered to be as serious compared to matters such as actual horror, the psychological depth is still siginifcant enough to be potentially concerning for people sensitive to matters of this nature, such as any individuals with concerns questioning matters of suicide, mental harm, or a variety of emotional injuries. While none of these subjects actually occur in the story, readers who are currently troubled by such matters may find themselves considering old wounds if they are especially capable of empathy while reading, which could lead to furthered emotional or mental stress. Readers with a high capacity for empathy may find themselves troubled by concerns regarding any potential lack of mental/emotional control as well as considerations regarding the meaning of death. Readers who appreciate subtle dark themes in a story may instead find this to be an interesting twist of the same idea.
8 116 - In Serial15 Chapters
Perspective
Einheim is a world of magic and mystery populated by mortal and immortal, and whenever they meet each other, there is a clash of perspectives. This world follows its own rules and even if the Dvergr, Giants and Faeries are inspired by norse and celtic mythologies; they are their own things.
8 124 - In Serial10 Chapters
It's time to be a Champion
Follow Ash's journey through Sinnoh along with Dawn. A more mature, smart and less oblivious Ash! A different take on Ash's jouney in Sinnoh where he makes use of all his previous Pokemon along with the new ones and teaches Dawn about Pokemon battles and all, helping her to achieve her dream of becoming a Top Coordinater. Pearlshipping!
8 186 - In Serial31 Chapters
True Love [BxB] (Unedited)
Jeon Jungkook , the only heir to The Heartless Dragon mafia is exactly what you would expect from a future mafia leader. He's ruthless, vindictive, heartless and cruel. He derives pleasure from hurting others and cares for nothing and no one but power. He has not a single thread of humanity in him, and after recently being betrayed by his right hand man and having to personally execute the man he came to love, the last bit of what could be called as humanity left within Jungkook , has been sniffed out. He closes himself off with the belief that no one can truly love him as he recalls the last words of his love.."You're unlovable"Kim Taehyung, a poor college student struggling to make ends meet along with working three jobs to pay for his sick mother's hospital bills and medication after his good for nothing father walked out on them finds himself with an opportunity of a lifetime when the head of one of the most dangerous mafia gangs in the whole of South Korea, knocks at his door with the proposal of becoming a right hand man to his son, the heir. The job would pay for college as well his mother's expenses, but that would mean losing himself in the process..Can he truly be what the young and ruthless heir needs? Can he sacrifice what he believes in to survive in the mafia world or will it eventually all suffocate him?NOTE: THIS BOOK IS TITLED "BXB" MEANING THERE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE SEXUAL INTERACTION BETWEEN MALES.
8 87
Prev Chap
Next Chap
Chap List
Boy
Girl
