¤ Survival Japanese Phrases ¤

mteric

Let's have a Survival Japanese Phrase thread!

I'll start the show off with a few essential phrases...

  こんにちは
  konnichiwa
  Hello

  お元気ですか。
  o genki desu ka
  How are you?

  元気です
  genki desu
  Fine

  初めまして
  hajimemashite
  Nice to meet you

  ありがとうごうざいます
  arigatou gouzaimasu
  Thank you

  どういたしまして
  douitashimashite
  You are welcome

  すみません
  sumimasen
  Excuse me

  さようなら
  sayounara
  Good bye

SallyDP · Active Poster Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 100

This comes really handy. Did you take Japanese clases? Are you Japanese? Just curious to know.

mteric

I'm glad you think it's useful. I'm American, but I've always been fascinated by Japan--the culture and language. I haven't officially taken any classes; I've been pretty much just learning it on my own. It has been a challenging, but definitely interesting!

suze · Active Poster Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 100

that is so impressive! I heard that japanese is the most difficult language to learn - and you are not taking classes? so impressive, really, wow!

FaWzY

Hmm...
I think you know it already, but it should be noted though!

初めまして (hajimemashite) is only said when you meet someone for the 1st time only

さようなら (sayounara) is very strong, more like farewell... the more casual way is またね (matane) or じゃね (jane)

Let's add some more, shall we!

はい
(hai)
Yes

いいえ
(iie)
No

お早う御座います
(ohayou gozaimasu)
Good Morning

今晩は
(konbanwa)
Good Evening

お休みなさい
(oyasumi nasai)
Good Night

ご免なさい
(gomen nasai)
I'm Sorry

お願いします
(onegaishimasu)
Please

ようこそ
(youkoso)
Welcome

いらっしゃいませ
(irasshaimase)
Welcome (to a shop) (you'll usually hear that when you walk in a shop)

もしもし
(moshi moshi)
Hello (on the phone) (when you call someone, you must say moshi moshi, but not when you're receiving the call)

どうぞ
(douzo)
Here you go, this way please,...


I think that's enough for now, more to come later on!

mteric

Thanks for adding more phrases, FaWzY!

I'll add that normally greetings are only written in hiragana.

おはようございます
Good morning

こんばんは
Good evening