Brenton
Philip SharpJapanese Swear Words
July 18th 2008 09:49
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Referring to other people
June 5th 2008 12:03
あなた (Anata) is the way to say ‘you’ with people you don’t know.
あなた の いぬ が おおきい.
Anata no inu ga ookii
Your dog is big.
The more polite way to say ‘you’ (and the only way you should say it to people with whom you are familiar) is to replace ‘you’ with the name of the person you are talking to.
Let’s have a look at this in action; looking at two ways to ask Dr Spin what his favourite movie is.
スピン せんせい の いち ばん すきな えいが は なん ですか.
Kuroi Kaji san no ichiban sukina eiga wa nan desu ka?
This says, literally “What is Dr Spin’s favourite movie?” This is how one should frame the question when speaking to Dr Spin. Remember, it is ALWAYS better to refer to somebody in third person, than to say ‘you’.
There is one final way to say ‘you’, however it is not commonly used. This is おれ (Ore). It is a very crude and impolite way to say it, and is best avoided wherever possible.
あなた の いぬ が おおきい.
Anata no inu ga ookii
Your dog is big.
The more polite way to say ‘you’ (and the only way you should say it to people with whom you are familiar) is to replace ‘you’ with the name of the person you are talking to.
Let’s have a look at this in action; looking at two ways to ask Dr Spin what his favourite movie is.
スピン せんせい の いち ばん すきな えいが は なん ですか.
Kuroi Kaji san no ichiban sukina eiga wa nan desu ka?
This says, literally “What is Dr Spin’s favourite movie?” This is how one should frame the question when speaking to Dr Spin. Remember, it is ALWAYS better to refer to somebody in third person, than to say ‘you’.
There is one final way to say ‘you’, however it is not commonly used. This is おれ (Ore). It is a very crude and impolite way to say it, and is best avoided wherever possible.
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Houses and buildings
May 4th 2008 14:24
Residential and Community:
Apartment –アパート – Apaato.
Building ビ-ル Biiru.
Construction Site –けんちくげんば – Kenchikugenba.
Hotel – ホテル Hoteru.
House/Home いえ Ie.
Office – じむしつ - Jimushitsu
Town – まち Machi.
Shops:
Barber – かみど{ 71; – Kamidoko.
Bakery –パンや – Panya.
Department Store - デパート – Depaato.
Pizza shop – ピザや - Pizaya.
Restaurant – レストラン Resutoran.
Supermarket – スーパー Suupaa.
• A note on shop names. や (Ya) means ‘Shop.’ Theoretically, almost any word can be placed in front of Ya to make a ___shop. In the above list, Pizza Shop is literally ‘Pizza shop’ and Bakery is literally written as Bread Shop.
Facilities:
Airport – くうこう Kuukou.
Church – きょうかい Kyoukai.
Fire Station – しょうぼうしょ Shoubousho.
Gym – たいいくかん – Taiikukan.
Hospital – びょういん - Byouin
Library – としょかん - Toshokan.
Love Hotel –つれこみやど / ラブホテル Tsurekomiyado / Rabu hoteru. (Place for couples to stay)
Museum – はくぶつかん Hakutsukan.
Post Office – ゆうびんきょく- Yuubinkyoku.
Train Station – えき - Eki
Apartment –アパート – Apaato.
Building ビ-ル Biiru.
Construction Site –けんちくげんば – Kenchikugenba.
Hotel – ホテル Hoteru.
House/Home いえ Ie.
Office – じむしつ - Jimushitsu
Town – まち Machi.
Shops:
Barber – かみど{ 71; – Kamidoko.
Bakery –パンや – Panya.
Department Store - デパート – Depaato.
Pizza shop – ピザや - Pizaya.
Restaurant – レストラン Resutoran.
Supermarket – スーパー Suupaa.
• A note on shop names. や (Ya) means ‘Shop.’ Theoretically, almost any word can be placed in front of Ya to make a ___shop. In the above list, Pizza Shop is literally ‘Pizza shop’ and Bakery is literally written as Bread Shop.
Facilities:
Airport – くうこう Kuukou.
Church – きょうかい Kyoukai.
Fire Station – しょうぼうしょ Shoubousho.
Gym – たいいくかん – Taiikukan.
Hospital – びょういん - Byouin
Library – としょかん - Toshokan.
Love Hotel –つれこみやど / ラブホテル Tsurekomiyado / Rabu hoteru. (Place for couples to stay)
Museum – はくぶつかん Hakutsukan.
Post Office – ゆうびんきょく- Yuubinkyoku.
Train Station – えき - Eki
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
I: First Person Pronouns
April 27th 2008 11:56
The Japanese have a number of words for ‘I’.
The main Japanese word for I is わたし (watashi). This word always goes at the beginning of a sentence where one is speaking about oneself, or ones opinion.
[ Click here to read more ]
The main Japanese word for I is わたし (watashi). This word always goes at the beginning of a sentence where one is speaking about oneself, or ones opinion.
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Kuroi Kaji no Jikoshoukai
April 25th 2008 06:47
A Jikoshoukai is a self introduction. This is the self introduction of Kuroi Kaji, the girl Dr Spin met in Harajuku.
[ Click here to read more ]
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Names
April 24th 2008 09:25
How to ask: なまえはなんですか (namae wa nan desuka) means ‘what is your name?’ ~はなんですか (wa nan desuka) is a form that means ‘what is~’ and can be appropriated to various purposes.
The best answer is なまえはNAMEです (namae wa NAME desu) where name is replaced with the name. E.g, なまえは スピン せんせ{ 56; です (namae wa supin sensei desu) The name is Dr Spin. If you want to specifically want to say MY name you need to add ‘ わたし の (watashi no) to the beginning of the sentence; わたし の なまえはスピン せんせ{ 56; Really Long Linkです (watashi no namae wa Supin Sensei desu); My name is Dr Spin.
• VARIATION[ Click here to read more ]
The best answer is なまえはNAMEです (namae wa NAME desu) where name is replaced with the name. E.g, なまえは スピン せんせ{ 56; です (namae wa supin sensei desu) The name is Dr Spin. If you want to specifically want to say MY name you need to add ‘ わたし の (watashi no) to the beginning of the sentence; わたし の なまえはスピン せんせ{ 56; Really Long Linkです (watashi no namae wa Supin Sensei desu); My name is Dr Spin.
• VARIATION
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Inquiring about Others
April 18th 2008 10:49
In Japanese there are a number of ways to directly inquire about another person. This list begins with phrases used to gather information from new people, and becomes progressively less formal and more friendly.
なまえは　なん　ですか (namae wa nan desuka) means ‘what is your name?’ ~は　なん　ですか (wa nan desuka) is a form that means ‘what is~’ and can be appropriated to various purposes.
[ Click here to read more ]
なまえは　なん　ですか (namae wa nan desuka) means ‘what is your name?’ ~は　なん　ですか (wa nan desuka) is a form that means ‘what is~’ and can be appropriated to various purposes.
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Getting Attention.
April 8th 2008 12:23
One thing to remember at all times with learning Japanese, is that the culture is incredibly polite, and that this is intertwined with the language.
EXCUSE ME (Getting Attention):
[ Click here to read more ]
EXCUSE ME (Getting Attention):
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
List of Japanese Onomatapaea
April 1st 2008 05:14
Onomatapaea are words that immitate the sound of what they describe. English language examples include 'Boom', 'Woof' or 'Splat'.
Japanese has a number on Onomatapaea. These are always written in the Katakana alphabet.
The list is divided into three types - Gisei-go (ぎせいご - 擬声語
, sounds that immitate natural sounds (also reffered to as giongo 擬音語. Gitai-go (ぎたいご - 擬態語, sounds that describe the state of the external world. Finally Gijoo-go (擬情語 which names mental conditions or sensations [ Click here to read more ]
Japanese has a number on Onomatapaea. These are always written in the Katakana alphabet.
The list is divided into three types - Gisei-go (ぎせいご - 擬声語
, sounds that immitate natural sounds (also reffered to as giongo 擬音語. Gitai-go (ぎたいご - 擬態語, sounds that describe the state of the external world. Finally Gijoo-go (擬情語 which names mental conditions or sensations | 66 |
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Japanese Introductions
July 20th 2007 05:22
This section will tell you how to best introduce yourself to another person, in Japanese.
[ Click here to read more ]
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Basic Japanese Question Words
July 19th 2007 10:57
There are a number of ways to ask questions in Japanese. The most easy, and obvious of these is to add a ka onto the end of a statement, just after desu. (Also discussed in the Desu article)
Eg[ Click here to read more ]
Eg
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Yes! No!
June 29th 2007 01:17
There are a number of ways to express Yes and No in Japanese.
The most obvious two terms are Hai - Yes[ Click here to read more ]
The most obvious two terms are Hai - Yes
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
Explaining "San" "Kun" "Chan" and "Sama"
June 27th 2007 15:31
No matter what your level of Japanese Knowledge you've probably come across the 'san' sama' 'chan' or 'kun' terms from Japanese.
In Japan, to be polite you address others (never yourself) by an honorable suffix. Let's look at Dr Spin's best friend's son, Ben[ Click here to read more ]
In Japan, to be polite you address others (never yourself) by an honorable suffix. Let's look at Dr Spin's best friend's son, Ben
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Posted By: Brenton - Category: Basic Phrases
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