LESSON 1 GREETINGS

Expressions

When you meet or leave someone

Hello. Konnichiwa.

Pronounce "n" and "ni" separately. It's like "kon-nichiwa".

Good morning. Ohayō gozaimasu.

The last vowel "u" is not clearly pronounced. It's like "gozaimas".
Informal Style: Ohayō.

Good evening. Konbanwa.

Used at the beginning of the conversation, not at the end.

Good night. Oyasuminasai.

Informal Style: Oyasumi.

Goodbye. Sayōnara.

In general, used when people will not see each other for some time.
Informal Style: Sayonara. (short "o" after y).

See you. Dewa mata.

See you tomorrow. Dewa mata ashita.

See you next week. Dewa mata raishū.

dewa: well, now or so

mata: again

When you thank or apologize to someone

Thank you. Arigatō gozaimasu.

Thank you very much. Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu.

Thank you. (past) Arigatō gozaimashita.

Thanks. Dōmo.

The last vowel "u" is not pronounced ly. gozaimas(u).

Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu.: To emphasize.
Arigatō gozaimashita.: To thank for something in the past.
 Dōmo.: To thank for a small favor.
Informal Style: Arigatō.

You're welcome. Dōitashimashite.

Don't mention it. Iie.

Iie. (literally means "No.") also can be used with the rising accent if it's not a big deal.

Excuse me. Sumimasen.

Yes. Hai.

Used when you talk to someone, and to apologize for small faults (Sorry.).
Hai. (Yes.) can be used to answer someone's call.

I'm sorry. Gomennasai.

I'm sorry. Dōmo sumimasen.

Don't be sorry. Iie.

Dōmo sumimasen. is also used. It sounds more polite.

As a response, Iie. can be used if it's not a big deal.

When you start or finish eating

(before eating) Itadakimasu.

Literally means "I accept (the food)". Used when you start eating as a signal "Let's start".
You can say this to the person who is treating you the meal.

(after eating) Gochisōsamadeshita.

Literally means "It was a wonderful feast". Used when you finished eating.
You can say this to thank the person who treated you the meal.

In this course, all the Japanese words and sentences are shown in Rōmaji (Roman alphabet).
See Rōmaji page to check how to pronounce Rōmaji letters.

Basic Rules

In general, add "san" after one's family name."san" is like Mr., Mrs., or Miss..For example,
Mr. Tanaka is Tanaka-san. But for foreigners (westerners), people add san after the first
names such as Paul-san or Kate-san.

Except for the close relationships, people address almost anybody with san.
 Hello, Mr. Tanaka. Tanaka-san, konnichiwa.

Yes is "hai". No is "iie".

As shown on the Expressions page, Hai. and Iie. can be used in different contexts.

Lesson 2: Useful Expressions

Expressions
Click button to play audio.

How are you?

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.

So so. Māmā 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?

Understand?

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 Nihongo ga wakari masuka?

Japanese?

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. (to request)

Please. Onegaishimasu.

One more time,

Mōichido onegaishimasu.
please.

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.

Please. (to offer)

Please. Dōzo.

Used to offer something. (Here you are. After you. etc.)

Wait!

One moment, please. Chotto matte kudasai.

chotto: a little
matte kudasai: Please wait.
Informal: Chotto matte.

What?

What is it? Nan desuka?

What's this? (in speaker's Kore wa nan desuka?

hand)

What is it? (in the listener's

Sore wa nan desuka?
hand)

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
You will learn more in the lesson 3.

What time?

What time is it? Nanji desuka?

What time is the

Shuppatsu wa nanji desuka?
departure?

What time is the arrival? Tōchaku wa nanji desuka?

[Shuppatsu] wa nanji desuka?: What time is [the departure]?

You will learn more in the lesson 4.

Where?

Where is it? Doko desuka?

Where is the toilet? Toire wa doko desuka?

[Toire] wa doko desuka?: Where is [the toilet]?

You will learn more in the lesson 5.

Is there...?

Do you have? Is there? Ari masuka?

Do you have vegetarian

Bejitarian ryōri wa ari masuka?
dishes?

Is there an internet cafe? Intānetto kafe wa ari masuka?

 [Bejitarian ryōri] wa ari masuka?: Do you have [vegetarian dishes]?
[Intānetto kafe] wa ari masuka?: Is there [an internet cafe]?
You will learn more in the lesson 6.

How much?

How much is it? Ikura desuka?

How much is a
Daburu rūmu wa ikura desuka?
double room?

[Kore] wa ikura desuka?: How much is [this]?

You will learn more in the lesson 7.

Why?

Why is it? Naze desuka?

Informal: Naze? Dōshite? Nande?

You will learn more in the lesson 9.

OK?

Are you all right? Daijōbu desuka?

Yes, I'm all right. Hai, daijōbu desu.

Informal: Daijōbu?
You will learn more in the lesson 10.

Basic Rules
The following rules are very simplified. Please note that there are some exceptions.

Word Order

Usually, the subject is placed at the beginning, and the verb at the end of the sentence.
Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu. I / Japanese / understand

The subject (sometimes the object too) of the sentence is usually omitted when it can be
clearly known from the context.
 (Anata wa) eigo ga wakari masuka? Do (you) understand English?

Particles (joshi)

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)".
Particles

Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu. 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.

Sentence Forms

You can easily make different forms by changing the end of the sentence. Word order stays
the same.

Affirmative
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".
Genki desu. I am well.

Wakari masu. I understand.

Negative
Change "desu" into "dewa arimasen" or "ja arimasen". "ja" sounds more casual, and is used
more often in daily conversation.
Change "masu" into "masen".

Genki dewa (ja) arimasen. I am not well.

Wakari masen. I don't understand.

Question (Interrogative)
To make a question sentence, add "ka" at the end of the sentence.
This "ka" is pronounced with a rising intonation.
(O) Genki desuka? Are you well?

Genki dewa (ja) arimasenka? Aren't you well?

Wakari masuka? Do you understand?

Wakari masenka? Don't you understand?

Lesson 3: Introducing Yourself

Expressions
Click button to play audio.

I'm from ...

I'm from Brazil. Burajiru kara kimashita.

South Korea Kankoku kara kimashita.

China Chūgoku kara kimashita.

Australia Ōsutoraria kara kimashita.

U. S. A. Amerika kara kimashita.

kara: from
kimashita: came
See Nations page for other countries.

Nationality

I am Japanese. Watashi wa Nihon-jin desu.

Is Ms. Wang
Wan-san wa Ōsutoraria-jin desuka?
Australian?

He is not American Kare wa Amerika-jin dewa arimasen.

What nationality is
Kanojo wa Nani-jin desuka?
she?

watashi: I / anata: you / kare: he / kanojo: she

Country name + jin = nationality
Nihon-jin: Japanese
Nani-jin desuka?: What nationality?

Profession

We are also students. Watashi tachi mo gakusei desu.

Are they also engineers? Kare ra mo enjinia desuka?

Are you (all) also officeworkers? Anata tachi mo kaishain desuka?

watashi tachi: we / anata tachi: you (all) / kare ra: they (men) / kanojo tachi: they (women)
mo: also (comes after the subject instead of "wa")
gakusei: student
kaishain: office worker
enjinia: engineer
Hai, so desu.: Yes, it is so.
Iie, chigai masu.: No, it isn't so.

Name

His name is Paul. kare no namae wa Pōru desu.

What is (your) name? Onamae wa nan desuka?

What is her name? Kanojo no namae wa nan desuka?

What is (your) job? Oshigoto wa nan desuka?

What is Ms.Wang's job? Wan-san no shigoto wa nan desuka?

noun + no = possessive

watashi no: my / anata no: your / kare no: his / kanojo no: her
namae: name
shigoto: job
 onamae wa nandesuka?: What is (your) name?
oshigoto wa nandesuka?: What is (your) job?
"o" (prefix to make the word polite) is usually attached when you ask name or job directly to
the person.

Who?

Who is that person? Ano hito wa dare desuka?

Who are those people? Ano hito tachi wa dare desuka?

Who is her boyfriend? Kanojo no boifurendo wa dare desuka?

hito: person / hito tachi: people

kono (hito): this (person) / sono (hito): that (person) / ano (hito): that (person)
dare: who
tomodachi: friend
kazoku: family
bōifurendo: boyfriend / gārufurendo: girlfriend

Whose?

Whose pen is this? Kore wa dare no pen desuka?

Whose friend is he? Kare wa dare no tomodachi desuka?

It's not his family's

Sore wa kare no kazoku no hon dewa arimasen.
book.

pen: pen
hon: book
dare no: whose

Basic Rules

Articles and Nouns

Japanese language does not have articles (a, an, the).

You can assume that nouns don't change the form. Basically, there is no plural form, and no
gender (feminine, masculine, neuter etc.).
In English, "apple" can be "an apple", "apples" or "the apple". In Japanese, it is just "apple".
To mention how many, you say "one apple", "two apple" or "many apple"...
Verbs

Verbs don't change the form depending on the person or the number of the subject.
In English, "I am", "he or she is" and "we, you or they are", and also "I speak" and "he or
she speaks". There is no such changes in Japanese.
But they do change the form for other purposes such as tense (past, present, present
progressive, etc.). You will learn more in the following lessons.

Lesson 4: Date and Time

Expressions

Numbers

It should be enough if you memorize 1-10 and know how to count 1-100.
You can download and print out the list of numbers. Just look up the list when you have a difficulty with bigger
numbers.
ichi, ni, san, yon, go, roku, nana, hachi, kyū, j
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
ū

11-19: jū ichi (10+1), jū ni (10+2), jū san (10+3)...

20-99: ni-jū (2x10), ni-jū ichi (2x10+1), ni-jū ni (2x10+2)...
zero: 0 / hyaku: 100 / sen: 1,000 / man: 10,000
yon-jū go-man roku-sen nana-hyaku hachi-jū
456,789
kyū

Basically, you can read any numbers in this way. But there are some irregular pronunciations. For example, 300
is san-byaku (not san-hyaku), 600 is rop-pyaku (not roku-hyaku).
See Numbers page for more details.
Time

Basically, you use "ji" for hours and "fun" for minutes.
For example, 1:25 is ichi-ji ni-jū go-fun.
But there are irregular pronunciations.
For hours, some numbers are pronounced differently.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, ichi-ji, ni-ji, san-ji, yo-ji, go-ji, roku-ji, shichi-ji, hachi-ji, ku-ji, jū-ji, jū
11, 12 (o'clock) ichi-ji, jū ni-ji

For minutes, some numbers are pronounced differently and "fun" becomes "pun" in many cases.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ip-pun, ni-fun, san-pun, yon-pun, go-fun, rop-pun, nana-fun, hap-pun,
(minutes past) kyu-fun, jup-pun.

11-19, jū ip-pun, jū ni-fun, jū san-pun, jū yon-pun...

20-59, ni-jup-pun, ni-jū ip-pun, ni-jū ni-fun... san-jup-pun...
ima: now
nan-ji: what time?
gozen: a.m. / gogo: p.m.
asagohan: breakfast
han: half past
kara: from / made: to (till)
shōgo: noon

now, what time? Ima, nan-ji desuka?

3:15pm. Gogo, san-ji jūgo-fun desu.

breakfast what time? Asagohan wa nan-ji desuka?

from 7:30 to 9:00. Shichi-ji han kara ku-ji made desu.

check-out what time? Chekkuauto wa nan-ji desuka?

noon. Shōgo desu.
Date

Basically, you use "gatsu" for months and "nichi" for days.
For example, January 25th is ichi-gatsu ni-jū go-nichi.
But there are irregular pronunciations...
For months, some numbers are pronounced differently.

Jan., Feb., Mar., ichi-gatsu, ni-gatsu, san-gatsu,

Apr., May, Jun., shi-gatsu, go-gatsu, roku-gatsu,
Jul., Aug., Sep., shichi-gatsu, hachi-gatsu, ku-gatsu,
Oct., Nov., Dec. jū-gatsu, jū ichi-gatsu, jū ni-gatsu

For days, 1st to 10th and 20th are quite different from the usual way. Other days are more straight forward.

tsuitachi, futsuka, mikka, yokka,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (day) itsuka, muika, nanoka, yōka,
kokonoka, tōka

tanjōbi: birthday
nan-nen: what year? / nan-gatsu: what month? / nan-nichi: what day?
kekkonshiki: wedding
tsugi no: next
orinpikku: olympics

birthday when? Tanjobi wa itsu desuka?

May 23rd. Go-gatsu ni-jū san-nichi desu.
departure which day? Shuppatsu wa nan-nichi desuka?
11th. ju-ichi-nichi desu.

wedding which month? Kekkonshiki wa nan-gatsu desuka?

June. Roku-gatsu desu.

next olympics what year? Tsugi no orinpikku wa nan-nen desuka?

2012. Ni-sen jū ni-nen desu.
Days of the week

Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., getsu-yōbi, ka-yōbi, sui-yōbi, moku-yōbi, kin-yōbi, do-yōbi, nichi-

Fri., Sat., Sun.
yōbi
yesterday, today,
tomorrow kinō, kyō, ashita

last week, this week,

next week senshū, konshū, raishū

yōbi: day of the week

nan-yōbi: which day of the week?
no: of
yasumi: day-off
to: and

today which day? Kyō wa nan-yōbi desuka?

Monday. Getsu-yōbi desu.

tomorrow which day? Ashita wa nan-yōbi desuka?

Tuesday. Ka-yōbi desu.

next Friday what date? Raishū no kin-yobi wa nan-nichi desuka?

30th. San-ju-nichi desu.

day-off which day? Yasumi wa nan-yobi desuka?

Saturdays and Sundays. Do-yōbi to nichi-yōbi desu.
Duration

minutes: "fun(kan)" or "pun(kan)". 5 minutes is go-fun or go-funkan.

hours: "jikan". 2 hours is ni-jikan.
days: "ka(kan)" or "nichi(kan)". 3 days is mikka or mikkakan.
weeks: "shūkan". 2 weeks is ni-shukan.
months: "kagetsu(kan)". 4 months is yon-kagetsu or yon-kagetsukan.
years: "nen(kan)". 6 years is roku-nen or roku-nenkan.
1 min., 2 hrs., 3 days, 4
ip-punkan, ni-jikan, mikkakan, yon-shukan, go-kagetsukan, roku-nen-kan
wks, 5 months, 6 years
donokurai: how much (time)
kakarimasu (kakaru): to take
yaku: about / kurai: about
ni imasu (iru): be at, be in

How long does it take? Donokurai kakarimasuka?

About 2 weeks. Yaku ni-shūkan desu.

to Kyoto how many hours? Kyōto made nan-jikan kakari masuka?

about 3 hours. San-jikan kurai desu.

how many days be in

Nan-nichikan Nihon ni imasuka?
Japan?
Jū hachi-nichikan desu.
18 days.
I read books everyday. Mainichi, hon o yomi masu.

Present tense = verb + masu, masuka?, masen

mai: every
mai-nichi: every day / mai-shū: every week
mai-asa: every morning / mai-ban: every night
yomi masu (yomu): to read
mi masu (miru): to watc, to see
oki masu (okiru): to wake up, to get up
ne masu (neru): to sleep, to go to bed
o: comes after the object of the verbs (read, watch, etc.)
ni: at
every Friday watch
Mai-shū kin-yōbi ni eiga o mi masu.
movies

every morning, at 7 get

Mai-asa shichi-ji ni oki masu.
up

every night, at what time

go to bed? Mai-ban, nan-ji ni ne masuka?

I went to Kyoto. Kyōto e iki mashita.

Past tense = verb + mashita, mashitaka?, masendeshita

Future tense = same as the present tense
iki masu (iku): to go
ai masu (au): to meet
tabe masu (taberu): to eat
ki masu (kuru): to come
e: to - comes after the object of the verb go.
to: with - comes after the object of the verb meet.
kesa: this morning / konya: tonight
hirugohan: lunch
ga: comes after the subject of the verb come.
this morning met her? Kesa, kanojo to ai mashitaka?

lunch did not eat Hirugohan o tabe masendeshita.

Konya, tomodachi ga ki masu.

tonight friend will come

Yesterday was rain. Kinō wa ame deshita.

Sentenses with the verb "be".

Present & Future: desu, desuka?, dewaarimasen
Past: deshita, deshitaka?, dewaarimasendeshita
-mae: before / -go: after
hare: / kumori: cloudy / ame: rain
han-toshi: half year
tabun: probably
2 hrs before was Ni-jikan-mae wa hare deshita.

half year before office

Hantoshi-mae wa kaishain dewaarimasendeshita.
worker was not

after 2 days will be

probably cloudy Futsuka-go wa tabun kumori desu.

I studied Japanese. Nihongo o benkyō shi mashita.

shi masu (suru): do
The verb suru is usually used solely. And in this case, the particle "o" comes after the object.
For example, benkyō o shimasu.: I do study.
But sometimes, a noun together with suru functions as a verb.
For example, benkyō shimasu.: I study.
benkyō (study) suru: to study
ryokō (travel) suru: to travel
sōji (cleaning) suru: to clean
sengetsu: last month / kongetsu: this month / raigetsu: next month
kyonen: last year / kotoshi: this year / rainen: next year
ajia: Asia
heya: room
sakkā: soccor
last year, Asia traveled Kyonen, Ajia o ryokō shi mashita.
 last month, didn't clean the room Sengetsu, heya o sōji shi masen deshita.

next month, with friend will play

Raigetsu, tomodachi to sakkā o shi masu.
soccor

Basic Rules

Japanese counting system is complex and has a lot of irregular pronunciations. It

can take some time to master all of them.

But to be practical, you just need to know the following.

Master how to count 1 to 100. (You just need to memorise 1-10.)
Know the basic principles. For example, time is "ji" and "fun", date is "gatsu" and "nichi", etc.
In addition, days of the week and dates (1st to 10th) would be good to know.
People will understand when you say roku-fun (not roppun) or ni-nichi (not futsuka).

Lesson 5: Getting Around

Expressions

Where?

Koko wa doko
Where is this?
desuka?

Where is the station? Eki wa doko desuka?

To where do you go? Doko e iki masuka?

Basu wa doko kara shuppatsu

From where does the bus depart?
shimasuka?

doko: where?
koko: here
eki: train station
basu: bus
_ e: to _
_ kara: from _
shuppatsu suru: to depart <shuppatsu (departure) + suru (to do)>

Basic Rules
koko (here), soko (there) and asoko (over there) refer the place.
Verbs have different forms with different endings. Basic form is called jisho-kei (dictionary
form). The basic form ends with the u-column syllables (u, ku, su, tsu, nu, mu, ru). 
Examples: iku (to go), kaku (to write), suru (to do)

Directions

You turn right at the

Mittsu-me no kōsaten o migi e magari masu.
3rd crossing.

Go straight this way

Kono michi o gojū-mētoru kurai massugu iki masu.
about 50m.

Turn left at the T-

Tsukiatari o hidari e magari masu.
junction.

It is on the right-
hand side of the Dōro no migi gawa ni ari masu.
street.

mittsu-me: 3rd
kōsaten: crossing
michi: way, street
dōro: road
tsukiatari: far end (of the street)
migi: right / hidari: left
_ gawa: _ side / hantai gawa: opposite side
massugu: straight
magaru: to turn
mētoru: meters / kiro: kilo meters

Basic Rules
Ordinal number (1st, 2nd, 3rd) = cardinal number (1, 2, 3) + banme
Examples: ni-banme (2nd), roku-banme (6th), jū go-banme (15th)
In daily conversation, 1st to 9th are often spoken in different ways.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,

hitotsu-me, futatsu-me, mittsu-me, yottsu-me, itsutsu-me,
5th, 6th, 7th, 8th,
muttsu-me, nanatsu-me, yattsu-me, kokonotsu-me
9th
 Destination

Is this bound for

Kore wa Shinjuku iki desuka?
Shinjuku?

What time is the next

Tsugi no Tōkyō iki wa nan-ji desuka?
one to Tokyo?

Which platform is the

Ōsaka iki wa nan-bansen desuka?
train to Osaka?

From Tokyo to
Tōkyō hatsu Rondon iki wa manseki desu.
London is full

_hatsu: from_ / _iki: to_ (bound for_)

Shinjuku: one of the largest station in Tōkyō
Ōsaka: 2nd largest city in Japan
_bansen: platform number_
manseki: full, fully occupied

at _

Does this bus stop at

Kono basu wa Shibuya de tomari masuka?
Shibuya?

Express train does

not stop at that Kyūkō wa sono eki de tomari masen.
station.

Change to
yamanote-line at Tōkyō eki de Yamanotesen e norikae masu.
Tokyo station.

At where do I
Doko de norikae desuka?
change?

_de: at_ (place)

Shibuya: one of the most popular downtown in Tōkyō
kyūkō: express
Yamanotesen: Yamanote line (train in Tokyo)
tomaru: to stop
norikaeru: to change, to transfer, to connect
norikae: transfer

by _

How long does it take on foot? Aruki de donokurai kakari masuka?

About 15 minutes by bus. Basu de jūgo-fun kurai desu.

How long did it took by train? Densha de nan-jikan kakari mashitaka?

Is it near? / Is it far? Chikai desuka? / Tōi desuka?

_de: by_ (means)

aruki: on foot, walking
densha: train
chikai: near, close / tōi: far

Basic Rules
Particles de (place) and de (means) are pronounced the same way, but the function of these
is entirely different.

want to _

I want to go to Mt. Fuji. Fujisan e iki taidesu.

Hachi-ji no basu ni nori

I want to get on the 8 o'clock bus.
taidesu.

Yūbinkyoku de nimotsu o okuri

I want to send a package at the post office.
taidesu.

What do you want to eat? Nani o tabe taidesuka?

_tai: want to_

Fujisan: highest mountain in Japan
yūbinkyoku: post office
nimotsu: package, baggage
noru: to get on, to ride
okuru: to send
taberu: to eat

Basic Rules
want to_:
Affirmative: _taidesu (present) / _takattadesu (past)
Negative: _takuarimasen (present) / _takuarimasendeshita (past)
Question: _taidesuka? (present) / _takattadesuka? (past)
Examples: tabe taidesu (want to eat), tabe takuarimasen (don't want to eat), tabe
takattadesuka? (Did you want to eat?), tabe takuarimasendeshita (didn't want to eat)

want to do_

Ginkō de ryōgae o
I want to exchange money at the bank.
shitai desu.

Kaigai ni denwa o shitai

I want to make a phone call to overseas.
desu.

Akihabara de kaimono o
Do you want to do shopping in Akihabara?
shitai desuka?

What do you want to do? Nani o shitai desuka?

_o shitai: want to do_

ryōgae: money exchange
denwa: phone call
kaimono: shopping
ginkō: bank
kaigai: overseas
Akihabara: popular shopping area for electric appliances (Tokyo)

Basic Rules
want to do:
Affirmative: shi taidesu (present) / shi takattadesu (past)
Negative: shi takuarimasen (present) / shi takuarimasendeshita (past)
Question: shi taidesuka? (present) / shi takattadesuka? (past)
Examples: kaimono o shi taidesu (want to do shopping), kaimono o shi takuarimasen (don't
want to do shopping), kaimono o shi takattadesuka? (Did you want to do shopping?)

_ please.

Reserved seat please. Shitei seki o onegaishimasu.

To Hakata at 2
Ni-ji no Hakata iki o onegaishimasu.
o'clock please.

Return ticket please. Ōfuku kippu o onegaishimasu.

To Kyoto station
Kyōto eki made onegaishimasu.
please.

onegaishimasu: please
shitei seki: reserved seat / jiyū seki: nonreserved seat
ōfuku kippu: return ticket / katamichi kippu: one-way ticket
Hakata: one of the largest station in Kyūshū
Kyōto: ancient capital city, popular tourist destination

Please _.

Please stop here. Koko de tome te kudasai.

Please get off at Shibuya station. Shibuya eki de ori te kudasai.

Please change to the bullet train. Shinkansen e norikae te kudasai.

Please cancel the reservation. Yoyaku o kyanseru shi te kudasai.

...te (tte) kudasai: Please _.

tomeru: to stop
oriru: to get off
norikaeru: to change, to transfer
shinkansen: bullet train
yoyaku: reservation, booking
kyanseru: cancel

Basic Rules
_ please:
verb + te (tte) + kudasai
Examples: tabe te kudasai (Please eat), i tte kudasai (Please go), no tte kudasai (Please get
on)

Can you (please)_?

Can you write here? Koko ni kaite morae masuka?

Can you take a photo? Shashin o totte morae masuka?

Can you tell the address? Jūsho o oshiete morae masuka?

Can you do the cleaning? Sōji o shite morae masuka?

_te (tte) morae masuka?: Can you (please)_?

kaku: to write
toru: to take
oshieru: to tell, to teach
shasin: photo
jūsho: address
sōji: cleaning

Basic Rules
Can you (please)_?:
verb + te (tte) + morae masuka?
Examples: tome te morae masuka? (Can you stop?), i tte morae masuka? (Can you go?), ka
tte morae masuka? (Can you buy?)

Lesson 6: Eating and Sleeping

Expressions

Number of person

Welcome. How many persons? Irasshaimase. Nan-mei-sama desuka?

6 persons. Roku-mei desu.

4 persons. Yo-nin desu.

2 adults and 1 child. Otona futari to kodomo hitori desu.

-nin: _persons
-mei: _persons (sounds more formal)
irasshaimase: welcome (polite)
-sama: prefix for a person (more polite than "san")
otona: adult
kodomo: child
_ to _: _ and _

Basic Rules
Number of persons:
-nin: number + nin (except for 1 & 2). 4 is pronounced "yo".
Examples: hitori (1), futari (2), san-nin (3), yo-nin (4), go-nin (5)
-mei: number + mei
Examples: ichi-mei (1), ni-mei (2), san-mei (3), yon-nin (4)
Polite form:
In Japan, it is said that "the customer is god.". Every sales person speaks polite language to
their customers.
You may not have a chance to speak in that way, but you need to understand what they are
saying.
In this course, such polite expressions are colored in blue.

Availability of the room

Do you have
a single Singuru rūmu wa ari masuka?
room?

Double
rooms are Daburu rūmu wa manshitsu desu.
full.

Dormitory
room is for 4 Aibeya wa yonin-yō desu.
persons.

In twin
rooms, there Tsuin rūmu niwa beddo ga futatsu ari masu.
are 2 beds.

_wa ari masuka?: Do you have_?

singuru rūmu: single room / daburu rūmu: double room / tsuin rūmu: twin room / aibeya:
dormitory room
manshitsu: full
-yō: for the use of_ (otona-yō :for adults, kodomo-yō :for children)
beddo: bed
futatsu: 2 (things)

Basic Rules
Counting things:
In Japanese, different suffixes are attached to indicate the number of particular things.
Examples: 3 nin (3 persons), 2 mai (2 thin objects), 4 hiki (4 animals)
In this course, you will learn the most common way of counting things which can be used
for almost everything.
1 to 10 are as follows. For more quantity, you can just say the number without preffix.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, yottsu, itsutsu, muttsu, nanatsu, yattsu, kokonotsu, t
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
ō
(things)

Length of stay

Nan-nichi-
How long will you stay? kan otomari
desuka?

Mikka-kan 
I'll stay for 3 days. tomari
masu.

I'll stay 2 nights. ni-haku shi masu.

Mō ip-paku shi
I'll stay one more night.
masu.

nan-nichi-kan: how many days?

tomaru: to stay
suru: to do
-haku: _overnight stay
ip-paku (1 night), ni-haku (2 nights), san-paku (3), yon-paku (4), go-haku (5), rop-paku
(6), nana-haku (7), hap-paku (8), kyu-haku (9), jup-paku (10)... nan-paku? (how many
nights?)
mō: more (mō ip-paku:one more night)

About fares

How much for a

Ip-paku ikura desuka?
night?

Breakfast included? Chōshoku tsuki desuka?

Is there a fare for a

Kodomo ryōkin wa ari masuka?
child?

When should I pay? Shiharai wa itsu desuka?

ikura: how much (price)?

chōshoku: breakfast (sounds more formal than "asagohan")
_tsuki: attached, included
ryōkin: fare (kodomo ryōkin: fare for a child)
waribiki: discount (gakusei waribiki: student discount)
shiharai: payment

About utilities

Is there a shower in
Heya ni shawā wa ari masuka?
the room?

Toilet and shower

Toire to shawā wa kyōyō desu.
are shared.

There are coin-

washers on the 3rd Koin randorii wa san-kai ni arimasu.
floor.

Where there is the

switch of air Eakon no suicchi wa doko ni ari masuka?
conditioner?

aru: there is
heya: room
- ni: in, at (place)
shawā: shower
kyōyō: shared, for common use
Koin randorii: coin operated washing machine
shokudō: dining room
-kai: floor
ik-kai (1st), ni-kai (2nd), san-kai (3rd)... nan-kai (which floor?)
eakon: air conditioner
- no: of_
suicchi: switch
doko ni?: at where?

Basic Rules
there is_:
Affirmative: ari masu (present) / ari mashita (past)
Negative: ari masen (present) / ari masendeshita (past)
Question: ari masuka? (present) / ari mashitaka? (past)

Selecting a room
 Ichiban yasui heya
Which is the cheapest room?
wa dore desuka?

Can you show me the room? Heya o misete moraemasuka?

Do you have a bigger room? Motto ōkii heya wa ari masuka?

The 3rd floor is quieter than the 1st floor. San-kai wa ik-kai yori shizuka desu.

I'll take this room. Kono heya ni shimasu.

ichiban: the most, number one

yasui: cheap / takai: expensive
dore: which
miseru: show (misete moraemasuka?: Can you show me?)
motto: more
ōkii: big / chiisai: small
_yori: than_
shizuka: quiet / urusai: noisy
_ni shimasu: I'll take...

Basic Rules
Superlative = ichiban + adjectives or adverbs
Examples: Kore ga ichiban ōkii desu. (This is the largest.), Koko ga ichiban shizuka desu.
(Here is the most quiet.)
Comparative = _yori + adjectives or adverbs
Examples: Kore wa are yori ōkii desu. (This is larger than that.), Koko wa asoko yori
shizuka desu. (Here is more quiet than over there.)

Order

Can I take your

Gochūmon wa okimari desuka?
order?

Order please. Chūmon o onegaishimasu.

3 tendon please. Tendon o mittsu onegaishimasu.

chūmon: order
tendon: tempura bowl
mittsu: 3

About ingredients
What is in it? Nani ga hai tte imasuka?

Fish is not in it. Sakana wa hai tte imasen.

Without wasabi
Wasabi nuki de onegaishimasu.
please.

What's the taste like? Donna aji desuka?

hai tte iru: be contained

sakana: fish
wasabi: green horseradish paste
_nuki: without_
donna: how? what kind of?
aji: taste
amai: sweet / shoppai: salty / karai: hot, spicy / nigai: bitter

Vegetarian food

Where is this? Yasai dake no ryōri wa ari masuka?

I don't eat meat and

Watashi wa niku to shiifūdo o tabe masen.
seafood.

Egg and dairy

Tamago to nyū seihin wa daijōbu desu.
products are OK.

Can you cook only

Yasai dake de tsuku tte moraemasuka?
with vegetables?

yasai: vegetables
dake: only
ryōri: dishes, cuisine, food
niku: meat / shiifūdo: seafood
tamago: egg / nyū seihin: dairy products
daijōbu: all right
tsukuru: to make, to cook (tsukutte moraemasuka?: Can you cook?)

How about_?

How about drinks? Onomimono wa ikaga desuka?

Yes, 2 coffee please. Hai, kōhii o futatsu onegaishimasu.

No, thanks. Iie, kekkō desu.

All right. Please wait for a moment. Kashikomarimashita. Shōshō omachi kudasaimase.

nomimono: drinks
ikaga desuka?: how about?, what about?, how is? (polite)
kōhii: coffee / kōcha: English tea / orenji jūsu: orange juice
Iie, kekkō desu: No, thanks.
"kekkō" can mean both positive and negative response, like English "fine". Better to put "hai
(yes)" or "iie (no)" in front to make it .

Extra arrangements

Is take-away
Mochikaeri wa dekimasuka?
possible?

Is it possible to have
Ōmori wa dekimasuka?
extra large helping?

Extra large helping

Ōmori wa hyaku-en mashi desu.
costs 100 yen extra.

We are sorry. We can

not do the home Mōshiwake gozaimasen. Takuhai wa dekimasen.
delivery.

dekimasuka?: Can you? Is it possible?

mochikaeri: take-away
ōmori: extra large helping (of food)
-en: _yen
_mashi: increase, extra
mōshiwake gozaimasen: I'm sorry. (polite)
takuhai: home delivery

Basic Rules
dekiru: can, possible
Affirmative: dekimasu (present) / dekimashita (past)
Negative: dekimasen (present) / dekimasendeshita (past)
Question: dekimasuka? (present) / dekimashitaka? (past)

Payment
Can I use credit card? Kurejitto kādo wa tsukae masuka?

Cash only. Genkin dake desu.

Can I pay? Kaikei o onegaishimasu.

Thank you. Please

Arigato gozaimashita. Mata okoshi kudasaimase .
come again.

kurejitto kādo: credit card

tsukau: to use (tsukae masuka?: Can I use?)
genkin: cash
kaikei: payment
Mata okoshi kudasaimase: Please come again. (polite)

Basic Rules
tsukae ru:
Affirmative: tsukae masu (present) / tsukae mashita (past)
Negative: tsukae masen (present) / tsukae masendeshita (past)
Question: tsukae masuka? (present) / tsukae mashitaka? (past)

Lesson 6: Eating and Sleeping

Expressions

Number of person

Welcome. How many persons? Irasshaimase. Nan-mei-sama desuka?

6 persons. Roku-mei desu.

4 persons. Yo-nin desu.

2 adults and 1 child. Otona futari to kodomo hitori desu.

-nin: _persons
-mei: _persons (sounds more formal)
irasshaimase: welcome (polite)
-sama: prefix for a person (more polite than "san")
otona: adult
kodomo: child
_ to _: _ and _

Basic Rules
Number of persons:
-nin: number + nin (except for 1 & 2). 4 is pronounced "yo".
Examples: hitori (1), futari (2), san-nin (3), yo-nin (4), go-nin (5)
-mei: number + mei
Examples: ichi-mei (1), ni-mei (2), san-mei (3), yon-nin (4)
Polite form:
In Japan, it is said that "the customer is god.". Every sales person speaks polite language to
their customers.
You may not have a chance to speak in that way, but you need to understand what they are
saying.
In this course, such polite expressions are colored in blue.

Availability of the room

Do you have
a single Singuru rūmu wa ari masuka?
room?

Double
rooms are Daburu rūmu wa manshitsu desu.
full.

Dormitory
room is for 4 Aibeya wa yonin-yō desu.
persons.

In twin
rooms, there Tsuin rūmu niwa beddo ga futatsu ari masu.
are 2 beds.

_wa ari masuka?: Do you have_?

singuru rūmu: single room / daburu rūmu: double room / tsuin rūmu: twin room / aibeya:
dormitory room
manshitsu: full
-yō: for the use of_ (otona-yō :for adults, kodomo-yō :for children)
beddo: bed
futatsu: 2 (things)

Basic Rules
Counting things:
In Japanese, different suffixes are attached to indicate the number of particular things.
Examples: 3 nin (3 persons), 2 mai (2 thin objects), 4 hiki (4 animals)
In this course, you will learn the most common way of counting things which can be used
for almost everything.
1 to 10 are as follows. For more quantity, you can just say the number without preffix.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu, yottsu, itsutsu, muttsu, nanatsu, yattsu, kokonotsu, t
6, 7, 8, 9, 10
ō
(things)

Length of stay

Nan-nichi-
How long will you stay? kan otomari
desuka?

Mikka-kan 
I'll stay for 3 days. tomari
masu.

I'll stay 2 nights. ni-haku shi masu.

Mō ip-paku shi
I'll stay one more night.
masu.

nan-nichi-kan: how many days?

tomaru: to stay
suru: to do
-haku: _overnight stay
ip-paku (1 night), ni-haku (2 nights), san-paku (3), yon-paku (4), go-haku (5), rop-paku
(6), nana-haku (7), hap-paku (8), kyu-haku (9), jup-paku (10)... nan-paku? (how many
nights?)
mō: more (mō ip-paku:one more night)

About fares
How much for a
Ip-paku ikura desuka?
night?

Breakfast included? Chōshoku tsuki desuka?

Is there a fare for a

Kodomo ryōkin wa ari masuka?
child?

When should I pay? Shiharai wa itsu desuka?

ikura: how much (price)?

chōshoku: breakfast (sounds more formal than "asagohan")
_tsuki: attached, included
ryōkin: fare (kodomo ryōkin: fare for a child)
waribiki: discount (gakusei waribiki: student discount)
shiharai: payment

About utilities

Is there a shower in
Heya ni shawā wa ari masuka?
the room?

Toilet and shower

Toire to shawā wa kyōyō desu.
are shared.

There are coin-

washers on the 3rd Koin randorii wa san-kai ni arimasu.
floor.

Where there is the

switch of air Eakon no suicchi wa doko ni ari masuka?
conditioner?

aru: there is
heya: room
- ni: in, at (place)
shawā: shower
kyōyō: shared, for common use
Koin randorii: coin operated washing machine
shokudō: dining room
-kai: floor
ik-kai (1st), ni-kai (2nd), san-kai (3rd)... nan-kai (which floor?)
eakon: air conditioner
- no: of_
suicchi: switch
doko ni?: at where?

Basic Rules
there is_:
Affirmative: ari masu (present) / ari mashita (past)
Negative: ari masen (present) / ari masendeshita (past)
Question: ari masuka? (present) / ari mashitaka? (past)

Selecting a room

Ichiban yasui heya
Which is the cheapest room?
wa dore desuka?

Can you show me the room? Heya o misete moraemasuka?

Do you have a bigger room? Motto ōkii heya wa ari masuka?

The 3rd floor is quieter than the 1st floor. San-kai wa ik-kai yori shizuka desu.

I'll take this room. Kono heya ni shimasu.

ichiban: the most, number one

yasui: cheap / takai: expensive
dore: which
miseru: show (misete moraemasuka?: Can you show me?)
motto: more
ōkii: big / chiisai: small
_yori: than_
shizuka: quiet / urusai: noisy
_ni shimasu: I'll take...

Basic Rules
Superlative = ichiban + adjectives or adverbs
Examples: Kore ga ichiban ōkii desu. (This is the largest.), Koko ga ichiban shizuka desu.
(Here is the most quiet.)
Comparative = _yori + adjectives or adverbs
Examples: Kore wa are yori ōkii desu. (This is larger than that.), Koko wa asoko yori
shizuka desu. (Here is more quiet than over there.)

Order
Can I take your
Gochūmon wa okimari desuka?
order?

Order please. Chūmon o onegaishimasu.

3 tendon please. Tendon o mittsu onegaishimasu.

chūmon: order
tendon: tempura bowl
mittsu: 3

About ingredients

What is in it? Nani ga hai tte imasuka?

Fish is not in it. Sakana wa hai tte imasen.

Without wasabi
Wasabi nuki de onegaishimasu.
please.

What's the taste like? Donna aji desuka?

hai tte iru: be contained

sakana: fish
wasabi: green horseradish paste
_nuki: without_
donna: how? what kind of?
aji: taste
amai: sweet / shoppai: salty / karai: hot, spicy / nigai: bitter

Vegetarian food

Where is this? Yasai dake no ryōri wa ari masuka?

I don't eat meat and

Watashi wa niku to shiifūdo o tabe masen.
seafood.

Egg and dairy

Tamago to nyū seihin wa daijōbu desu.
products are OK.

Can you cook only Yasai dake de tsuku tte moraemasuka?

with vegetables?

yasai: vegetables
dake: only
ryōri: dishes, cuisine, food
niku: meat / shiifūdo: seafood
tamago: egg / nyū seihin: dairy products
daijōbu: all right
tsukuru: to make, to cook (tsukutte moraemasuka?: Can you cook?)

How about_?

How about drinks? Onomimono wa ikaga desuka?

Yes, 2 coffee please. Hai, kōhii o futatsu onegaishimasu.

No, thanks. Iie, kekkō desu.

All right. Please wait for a moment. Kashikomarimashita. Shōshō omachi kudasaimase.

nomimono: drinks
ikaga desuka?: how about?, what about?, how is? (polite)
kōhii: coffee / kōcha: English tea / orenji jūsu: orange juice
Iie, kekkō desu: No, thanks.
"kekkō" can mean both positive and negative response, like English "fine". Better to put "hai
(yes)" or "iie (no)" in front to make it .

Extra arrangements

Is take-away
Mochikaeri wa dekimasuka?
possible?

Is it possible to have
Ōmori wa dekimasuka?
extra large helping?

Extra large helping

Ōmori wa hyaku-en mashi desu.
costs 100 yen extra.

We are sorry. We can

not do the home Mōshiwake gozaimasen. Takuhai wa dekimasen.
delivery.

dekimasuka?: Can you? Is it possible?

mochikaeri: take-away
ōmori: extra large helping (of food)
-en: _yen
_mashi: increase, extra
mōshiwake gozaimasen: I'm sorry. (polite)
takuhai: home delivery

Basic Rules
dekiru: can, possible
Affirmative: dekimasu (present) / dekimashita (past)
Negative: dekimasen (present) / dekimasendeshita (past)
Question: dekimasuka? (present) / dekimashitaka? (past)

Payment

Can I use credit card? Kurejitto kādo wa tsukae masuka?

Cash only. Genkin dake desu.

Can I pay? Kaikei o onegaishimasu.

Thank you. Please

Arigato gozaimashita. Mata okoshi kudasaimase .
come again.

kurejitto kādo: credit card

tsukau: to use (tsukae masuka?: Can I use?)
genkin: cash
kaikei: payment
Mata okoshi kudasaimase: Please come again. (polite)

Basic Rules
tsukae ru:
Affirmative: tsukae masu (present) / tsukae mashita (past)
Negative: tsukae masen (present) / tsukae masendeshita (past)
Question: tsukae masuka? (present) / tsukae mashitaka? (past)

Lesson 7: Shopping

Expressions

About the store

Where can I buy electric
Denka seihin wa doko de kae masuka?
appliances?

Is there a convenience
Chikaku ni konbiniensu sutoa wa ari masuka?
store nearby?

What time does the

Yakkyoku wa nan-ji ni heiten desuka?
pharmacy close?

Does that store have

Sono mise wa shurui ga hōfu desuka?
variety of products?

denka seihin: electric appliances / tabemono: food / fuku: clothes

dokode?: at where? (doko: where + de: at)
kau (kai masu): to buy (kae masu: can buy)
chikaku: nearby
konbiniensu sutoa: convenience store / sūpā: supermarket / yakkyoku: pharmacy
mise: store, shop
kaiten: opening (of the store) / heiten: closing (of the store)
shurui ga hōfu: full of variety (shurui: kinds, hōfu: plenty, abundant)

I am looking for _.

Are you looking for something? Nanika osagashi desuka?

I'm looking for second-hand

Chūko no konpyūta o sagashi te imasu.
computers.

Where's camera section? Kamera uriba wa doko desuka?

Watch section is on the 3rd flr. Tokei uriba wa san-kai desu.

sagasu: to look for, to search

_te (tte) imasu: doing something right now (present progressive)
chūko: second-hand / shinpin: brand-new
konpyūta: computer / kamera: camera / tokei: watch
_uriba: _section (for sale)

Basic Rules
verb + te (tte) + imasu = present progressive form
Affirmative: te imasu (present) / te imashita (past)
Negative: te imasen (present) / te imasen deshita (past)
Wuestion: te imasuka? (present) / te imashitaka? (past)
Examples: tabe te imasu (I'm eating), ka tte imashita (I was buying), tsuka tte
imasendeshita (I was not using)

About the product

Can this also be used

Gaikoku demo tsukae masuka?
in foreign countries?

What is this made of? Kore wa nani de dekite imasuka?

What is the material? Sozai wa nan desuka?

100% cotton. Men hyaku pāsento desu.

gaikoku: foreign country

_demo: also at_, also in_ (place) (de: at + mo: also)
tsukau: to use (tsukae masu: can use)
_de dekite iru: be made of_
sozai: material
men: cotton / kinu: silk / poriesuteru: polyester

Extra arrangements

Can I try this on? Shichaku dekimasuka?

Can I back order? Toriyose wa dekimasuka?

Can you do
Sunpō naoshi wa dekimasuka?
alteration?

Can I return? Henpin wa deki masuka?

shichaku: trying to put clothes on

toriyose: back order
sunpō naoshi: alteration (sunpo: size + naoshi: fix)
henpin: return (of the purchased goods)

Fitting

How is it? Ikaga desuka?

Little small. Sukoshi chiisai desu.

It fits. I'll take this. Chōdo ii desu. Kore ni shimasu.

Little short. Sukoshi mijikai desu.

sukoshi: little
ōkii: large / chiisai: small
nagai: long / mijikai: short
ikaga desuka?: How is it? (polite) / dō desuka? (informal)
chōdo ii: just right (it fits) (chōdo: just + ii: right, good)

Back order

Do you have a little

Mōsukoshi chiisai saizu wa ari masuka?
smaller size?

L size is out of stock. Eru saizu wa shinagire desu.

How long does it

Toriyose wa donokurai kakarimasuka?
take for back order?

Then, please (back

order). / Then, no Dewa, onegaishimasu. / Dewa, kekkō desu.
thanks.

mōsukoshi: little more (mō: more + sukoshi: little)

saizu: size
shinagire: out of stock
dewa: then

Color

Do you have a little lighter

Mōsukoshi akarui iro wa arimasuka?
color?

white, black, red, blue,

shiro, kuro, aka, ao, kiiro
yellow

green, orange, pink midori, orenji, pinku

purple, brown, gray murasaki, chairo, haiiro

Do you have a pink color

Onaji dezain de pinku wa arimasuka?
with the same design?
akarui: light / kurai: dark
iro: color
onaji: same
dezain: design

Basic Rules
Colors:
People know most colors in English. Try with the Japanese way of pronunciation.
howaito (white), burakku (black), reddo (red), buruu (blue), ierō (yellow), guriin (green)

Ask for other items

Do you have other

Hoka no gara wa arimasuka?
patterns?

Do you have other

colors? Hoka no iro wa ari masuka?

Do you have other

Hoka no burando wa arimasuka?
brands?

Do you have
something similar to Nitamono wa arimasuka?
this?

hoka: other
gara: pattern (print)
burando: brand
nitamono: similar goods

Is _ included?

Batteries included? Denchi wa tsui te imasuka?

Half year warranty is

Han-toshi kan hoshō ga tsuite imasu.
included.

Instructions in English is not

Eigo no setsumeisho wa tsuite imasen.
included.

tsuku: attach, include (tsui te iru: be attached, be included)

denchi: battery
hoshō: warranty
setsumeisho: instruction, manual

Basic Rules
verb + te (tte) + imasu = state of things
The present progressive form can be used to refer the state of things.
It is like English passive form also refers the state of things. "It's frozen." for example.

Bargaining

Mōsukoshi yasuku
Can it be a little cheaper?
nari masuka?

Futatsu kattara yasuku nari

Can it be cheaper if I bought two?
masuka?

How much in total? Zenbu de ikura desuka?

How about 7,500 yen? Nana-sen go-hyaku en de

dōdesuka?

Dewa, kore ni
Then I'll take it. / Then, no thanks. shimasu. / Dewa, kekkō
desu.

yasui: cheap
naru: become (yasu ku naru: becomes cheap)
kau: to buy (ka ttara: if I buy)
zenbu: all
_de dōdesuka?: How about_? (inpolite)
dewa: then

Basic Rules
adjectives or adverbs + ku (or ni) + naru = become_
Affirmative: ku nari masu (present) / ku nari mashita (past)
Negative: ku narimasen (present) / ku narimasendeshita (past)
Question: ku nari masuka? (present) / ku nari mashitaka? (past)
Examples: taka ku nari masu (become expensive), chiisaku takuarimasen (doesn/t become
small), shizuka ni nari mashita (became quiet)
 
verb + ta (tta) + ra = if I _
Examples: i ttara (if I go), tabe tara (if I eat), shi tara (if I do)
Lesson 8: Expressing Your Feelings

Expressions

Impression

Yo katta desu. / Yo kunakatta

That was good / not good.
desu.

Omoshiro katta desu. / Tsumarana katta

That was funny (interesting) / boring.
desu.

That was delicious / bad taste. Oishi katta desu. / Mazu katta desu.

Kirei deshita. / Kirei dewa arimasen

That was beautiful / not beautiful.
deshita.

That was easy / difficult. Kantan deshita. / Muzukashi katta desu.

That was effortless / hard. Raku deshita. / Taihen deshita.

yo i: good
omoshiro i: funny, interesting
tsumarana i: boring
oishi i: delicious
mazu i: bad taste
tsumarana i: boring
muzukashi i: difficult
kirei na: beautiful
kantan na: easy
raku na: effortless
taihen na: hard

Basic Rules
i-adjectives - "i" + katta desu = past tense
i-adjectives are the adjectives ends with "i" when it modifies a noun.
To make it the past tense, remove ending "i", and add "katta".
To make it negative, remove ending "i", and add "kunakatta".
Examples: oishi i desu (It's delicious) / oishi katta desu (It was delicious) / oishi kunai
desu (It isn't delicious). / oishi kunakatta desu (It wasn't delicious).
na-adjectives + deshita = past tense
na-adjectives are the adjectives ends with "na" when it modifies a noun.
To make it the past tense, remove ending "na", and add "deshita".
To make it negative, remove ending "i", and add "dewa arimasen deshita".
Examples: kantan desu (It's easy) / kantan deshita (It was easy) / kantan dewa arimasen (It
isn't easy). / kantan dewa arimasen deshita (It wasn't easy).

Likes & Dislikes

I like sushi very much. Sushi ga dai suki desu.

I like sushi. Sushi ga suki desu.

Sushi is OK. Sushi ga mama suki desu.

I don't like sushi very much. Sushi ga amari suki dewaarimasen.

I don't like sushi. Sushi ga kirai desu.

I hate sushi. Sushi ga dai kirai desu.

suki: like, be fond of

kirai: dislike
dai_: Used to emphasize the following word. Only applicable to some words such as suki
and kirai, not to all.

Emotions

I'm glad. / I was sad. Ureshi i desu. / Kanashi katta desu.

It's fun. / It was not fun. Tanoshi i desu. / Tanoshi kunakatta desu.

I got angry. / I didn't get

Atama ni ki mashita. / Atama ni ki masen deshita.
angry.

I feel lonely. / I didn't

Sabishii desu. / Sabishi kunakatta desu.
feel lonely.

I was surprised. / I was

Odoroki mashita. / Bikkuri shi mashita.
surprised. (more casual)

ureshii: be glad, be pleased

kanashii: sad
tanoshii: fun, enjoyable
atama ni kita: got ungly (atama: head + ni: into + kuru: to come) Used in the past tense.
sabishii: to feel lonely
odoroku: be surprised
bikkuri suru: be surprised (sounds more casual)

Degree of Feelings

It's very hot. Totemo atsui desu.

It's hot. Atsui desu.

It's a little hot. Sukoshi (warito) atsui desu.

It's not so hot. Amari atsuku arimasen.

It's not hot. Atsuku arimasen.

It's not hot at all. Zenzen atsuku arimasen.

atsui: hot (temperature)
totemo: very
sukoshi: little / warito: relatively
amari: not very_
zenzen: not at all

Basic Rules
different degree of feelings
The list above shows how to express the different degrees. Top is the most positive and the
bottom is the most negative.
This rule can be applied to most cases.
"sukoshi" does not fit to some words, and "warito (means relatively)" can be used instead.
Examples: Ano eiga wa warito yokatta desu. (That movie was OK.)

About the Environment

It's hot. / It was cold. Atsui desu. / Samu katta desu.

It's warm. / It was

Atatakai desu. / Suzushi katta desu.
cool.
It's clean. / It was
Kirei desu. / Kitana katta desu.
dirty.

It's quiet. / It was

Shizuka desu. / Urusa katta desu.
noisy.

atsui: hot (temperature)
samui: cold, chilly (temperature)
atatakai: warm (temperature)
suzushii: cool (temperature)
kirei: clean (also means beautiful)
kitanai: dirty
shizuka: quiet, silent
urusai: noisy

About the Physical Conditions

Are you well? / I'm

Genki desuka? / Chōshi ga warui desu.
not feeling good.

Are you tired? / I'm

Tsukare mashitaka? / Tsukare te imasen.
not tired.

Are you hungry? /

Onaka ga suite imasuka? / Onaka ga ippai desu.
I'm full.

Are you thirsty? / I

want to drink Nodo ga kawaite imasuka? / Nani ka nomi tai desu.
something.

Are you busy. / I

Isogashii desuka? / Hima desu.
have time to spare.

genki: being well
choshi: condition (physical and mental)
warui: bad
tsukareru: be tired
warui: bad
onaka ga suku: hungry (onaka: stomach + suku: be empty)
onaka ga ippai: full stomach (onaka: stomach + ippai: full)
nodo ga kawaku: thirsty (nodo: throat + kawaku: be dry)
isogashii: busy
hima: nothing to do, have plenty of time

About a person

nice person /
ii hito / iyana hito
annoying person

gentle / cold
yasashii / tsumetai
(attitude)

beautiful / handsome kirei / hansamu

intelligent / stupid atama ga ii / atama ga warui

good at cooking /
ryōri ga jōzu / ryōri ga heta
bad at cooking

ii: good, nice

iyana: annoying, unpleasing
hito: person
yasashii: gentle, sweet
tsumetai: cold
kirei: beautiful (about women)
hansamu: handsome (about men)
atama ga ii: smart, intelligent (atama: head + ii: good)
atama ga warui: dull, stupid (atama: head + warui: bad)
ryōri: cooking (also means dishes, cuisine)
_ga jōzu: be good at_
_ga heta: be bad at_

Lesson 9: Socializing

Expressions

Asking to get together

Kondo, issho ni shokuji ni iki

Why don't we eat out together some time?
masenka?

Yes, I'd like to go. Hai, iki taidesu.

Why don't we watch DVD together tonight? Konban, issho ni DVD o mi masenka?

Yes, sounds good. Hai, iidesune.

Why don't we go out together tomorrow? Ashita, issho ni dekake masenka?

Some other time. Mata kondo.

PLEASE, come to the party. Zehi, pāthii ni kite kudasai.

Yes, with pleasure. Hai, yorokonde.

Let's play a game. Gēmu o shi mashō.

I'm a little busy. Chotto isogashii desu.

kondo: some time in the near future, at the next chance

issho ni: together
shokuji: having meal
_masenka?: Why don't we_?
_mashō: Let's _.
Iidesune.: Sounds good.
miru: to watch, to look, to see
dekakeru: to go out
Mata kondo.: Maybe, some other time. (Used often as indirect refusal.)
zehi: Used to emphasize your willingness.
Yorokonde.: With pleasure. (positive acceptance)
chotto: little (sounds more casual than "sukoshi")
isogashii: busy

Basic Rules
verb + masenka? = Why don't we _?
Literally, it seems to mean "Don't you _?". But mostly, this sentence form is used to invite
someone.
Examples: tabe masenka?: Why don't we eat?, nomi masenka?: Why don't we drink (go for a
drink)?, tenisu o shi masenka?: Why don't we play tennis?
verb + mashō = Let's _.
It is also used to invite someone, but sounds more stronger than "_masenka?".
Use this sentence pattern when you are almost sure that the person also wants to do it.
Examples: tabe mashō: Let's eat, nomi mashō: Let's drink (go for a drink), tenisu o shi
mashō: Let's play tennis.
 Making an appointment

When would be good? Itsu ga ii desuka?

How about this

Konshū no Doyō wa dō desuka?
Saturday?

Saturday is not good. Doyōbi wa tsugō ga warui desu.

Then, how about

Dewa, Nichiyō wa dō desuka?
Sunday?

All right. Daijōbu desu.

Then, let's meet here

Dewa, gogo ni-ji ni kokode ai mashō.
at 2pm.

ii: good, fine
warui: bad
dō: how?
tsugō ga ii: convenient, suit one's schedule, can make it
tsugō ga warui: inconvenient, not suit one's schedule, can't make it
dewa: then
kokode: at this place (koko: here + de: at)
au: to meet

Exchanging contact information

Denwabangō
Can you tell me (your) phone number? o oshiete
moraemasuka?

Keitai o motte
Do you have a cell phone?
imasuka?

Mēru adoresu o koko ni irete

Can you enter (input) the mail address here?
moraemasuka?

Ato de watashi no jushō

I'll send my address by e-mail later.
o mēru de okuri masu.

denwabangō: phone number (denwa: phone + bangō: number)

keitai: cell phone, mobile phone
mēru adoresu: mail address
ireru: enter, input
atode: at later time
jūsho: address
okuru: to send

Basic Rules
verb + te (tte) + imasu = continuous state
This present progressive sentence form can also mean the continuous state.
Examples: keitai o mot te imasu (I own a cell phone. It doesn't mean that "I am holding it at
this moment."), kare o shitte imasu. (I know him. Does not mean that "I'm getting to know
him now.")

Eating out

Why don't we eat something? Nanika tabe masenka?

What do you want to eat? Nani o tabe tai desuka?

How about Italian food? Itaria ryōri wa dō desuka?

Why don't we drink beer? Biiru o nomi masenka?

Sounds good. Ii desune.

No, I don't drink alcohol. Iie, watashi wa osake o nomi masen.

Cheers! Kanpai!

It's my treat, today. Kyō wa gochisō shimasu.

Let's split the bill. Warikan ni shi mashō.

Thank you for the treat. Gochisōsama deshita.

nanika: something, anything
itaria: Italy / itaria ryori: Itarian food, dishes, cuisine
biiru: beer
taberu: to eat
ii desune: Sounds good.
osake: alcoholic drinks
kanpai!: Cheers!
gochisō suru: treat the meal (pay for the meal)
warikan: separating the bill (paying separately)
gochisōsamadeshita: Greeting when you finished the meal. Also can be used to thank
someone who treated you a meal.

About language skills

Can you read (display) the Japanese Anata no konpyutā de Nihongo no moji
characters on your computer? o yome masuka?

Probably OK. Tabun, daijōbu desu.

No, not possible. Iie, muri desu.

Can you write Kanji letters? Kanji o kake masuka?

I can write Hiragana and Katakana

Hiragana to Katakana dake kake masu.
only.

Can you speak English? Eigo o hanase masuka?

I can speak just a little. Sukoshi dake hanase masu.

moji: letters, characters
tabun: probably
muri: not possible, can't make it
dake: only
yomu: to read
kaku: to write
hanasu: to speak

Basic Rules
verb (e) + masu = be able to _
Change the end vowel of the verb from "i (desu, masu form)" to "e".
Examples: yomi masu (I read) / yome masu (I can read) / yome masen (I can't read),
iki masu (I go) / ike masu (I can go) / ike masen (I can't go).

Asking the reason

A, mō, kaera nakutewa
Oh, I have to go home.
ikemasen.

Why? Naze desuka?

 Ashita, asa roku-ji ni dekakeru
Because, I'll go out tomorrow morning at 6.
karadesu.

Oh, I see. Ā, sō desuka.

kaeru: to go back
naze?: why?
dekakeru: to go out
sō desuka: I see.

Basic Rules
verb (a) + nakutewa ikemasen = have to _
Change the end vowel of the verb from "i (desu, masu form)" to "a" and add "nakutewa
ikemasen".
Examples: kaeri masu (I go back) / kaera nakutewa ikemasen (I have to go back),
hanashi masu (I speak) / hanasa nakutewa ikemasen (I have to speak).
verb (u) + karadesu = Bacause _. (Explaining the reason why)
Change the end vowel of the verb from "i (desu, masu form)" to "u (dictionary form)" and
add "karadesu".
Examples: kaeri masu (I go back) / kaeru karadesu (Because I go back), kai masu (I buy) /
kau karadesu (Because I buy)

Giving a present

Happy birthday! Tanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu.

Here, a present for you. Kore, purezento desu.

Here, a souvenir from Thailand. Kore, Tai no omiyage desu.

Can I open? Ake temo ii desuka?

Can I share with my family? Kazoku to wake temo ii desuka?

Yes, please. Ē, dōzo.

Wow, beautiful! Wā, kirei!

Wow, great! Wā, sugoi!

Wow, cute! Wā, kawaii!

Wow, looks delicious! Wā, oishisō!

tanjōbi: birthday
omedetō gozaimasu: Congratulations!
Tai: Thailand
omiyage: souvenir
akeru: to open
wakeru: to share
ē: yes (sounds more casual)
wā: wow! Used when you are surprised.
kirei: beautiful
sugoi: great, amazing
kawaii: cute, pretty Young girls use this often.
oishisō: looks delicious

Basic Rules
verb + temo iidesuka = May I _?
Examples: ake masu (I open) / ake temo iidesuka? (May I open?), tabe masu (I eat) / tabe
temo iidesuka? (May I eat?),

Farewell

Thank you for taking care of me so

Osewa ni nari mashita.
nicely.

PLEASE stay my house when you Rosia ni ki tara, zehi, watashi no ie ni tomatte
come to Russia. kudasai.

Please contact me when you arrive

Bankoku ni tsui tara renraku shite kudasai.
in Bangkok.

Please come to visit us again, any

Mata, itsudemo asobi ni kite kudasai.
time.

I really appreciate that. Hontō ni arigatō gozaimashita.

So, see you again. Good-bye. Dewa, mata aimashō. Sayōnara.

osewa ni narimashita: Used to thank for the hospitality

Rosia: Russia
kuru: to come
ie: house
tomaru: to stay
Bankoku: Bangkok
tsuku: to arrive
renraku suru: to contact, to get in touch
itsudemo: any time
asobi ni kuru: come to visit, come to play
asobi ni iku: go to visit, go to play
honto ni: truly, really

Basic Rules
verb + tara = when _, if _
Examples: Kare ga ki masu (He comes) / Kare ga ki tara (When he comes, If he comes), tabe
masu (I eat) / tabe tara (When I eat, If I eat).

Lesson 10: Health and Emergency

Expressions
Health problems

I don't feel well. Karada no guai ga warui desu.

What's wrong? Doko ga warui desuka?

Is there a pharmacy
Chikaku ni yakkyoku wa ari masuka?
nearby?

I want to go to the
Byōin e iki taidesu.
hospital.

Are you all right? daijōbu desuka?

It's not a big deal. Taishitakoto arimasen.

Take care. Odaijini.

karada: body
guai: condition
warui: bad
chikaku: nearby
yakkyoku: pharmacy
byōin: hospital
odaijini: Used only to the person who is sick or injured.

Body parts

head, eye, ear, nose,

atama, me, mimi, hana, kuchi
mouth

neck, arm, hand, leg kubi, ude, te, ashi

chest, back, belly,

mune, senaka, hara, koshi
lower back

brain, heart,
no, shinzo, i, hai
stomach, lung

Symptoms

I caught a cold. Kaze o hiite imasu.

I have a fever. Netsu ga ari masu.

I have a headache. Atama ga itai desu.

I feel nauseous. Hakike ga shimasu.

I have diarrhea. Geri o shite imasu.

It's swelled. Harete imasu.

It's itchy. Kayui desu.

kaze: cold / kaze o hiku: catch a cold

netsu: fever, heat
itai: it pains, it hurts, painful
hakike: nausea
geri: diarrhea
hareru: to swell
kayui: it itches

Injury

I got hurt. Kega o shi mashita.

I got burned. Yakedo o shi mashita.

I had a tumble. Korobi mashita.

I banged my head. Atama o butsuke mashita.

I cut myself with a

Naifu de kiri mashita.
knife.

I'm bleeding. Chi ga dete imasu.

kega: injury
yakedo: burn
krobu: to have a tumble, to fall down
butsukeru: to bang, to bump
naifu: knife
kiru: to cut
chi: blood / chi ga deru: to bleed

At the pharmacy

How many hours will

this medicine be Kono kusuri wa nan-jikan kurai kiki masuka?
effective?

Take twice a day

Ichi-nichi ni-kai, shokugo ni non de kudasai.
after meals.

cold medicine,
headache pills, kazegusuri, zutsu yaku, geri dome
antidiarrheal

antiseptic, band-aid,
insect-repelling shodoku yaku, bandoeido, mushiyoke supure
spray

kusuri: medicine
kiku: to effect, to be effective
shokugo: after the meal
shokuzen: before the meal

At the hospital
Surgery has to be
Sugu ni shujutsu ga hitsuyō desu.
performed at once.

3 days hospitalization
Mikka-kan nyūin ga hitsuyō desu.
is needed.

The treatment takes a

Chiryō wa isshu-kan kakarimasu.
week.

Can I use the travel

Ryokō hoken wa tsukae masuka?
insurance?

suguni: at once, right away

shujutsu: surgery, operation
hitsuyō: necessary, in need
nyūin: hospitalization
chiryō: medical treatment
ryokō hoken: travel insurance (ryokō: travel + hoken: insurance)
tsukau: to use

Lost property

Densha ni kaban o
I left my bag in the train.
okiwasure mashita.

What should I do? Dō shitara iidesuka?

It's good to talk to a station staff. Ekiin ni sodan suruto iidesuyo.

It may be found. Mitsukaru kamo shiremasen.

Moshi mitsuka ttara, renraku

We will contact you if it is found.
shimasu.

densha: train
kaban: bag
okiwasureru: leave (oku: to put + wasureru: to forget)
do sureba iidesuka?: Used to ask what you should do.
ekiin: station staff
sōdan suru: to consult
mitsukaru: to be found
mitsukeru: to find
moshi: if
renraku suru: to contact, to get in touch

Basic Rules
verb (u) + kamo shiremasen = may _. (mentioning about the possibility)
Change the ending "i" to "u" and add "kamo shiremasen".
Examples: iki masu (I go) / iku kamo shiremasen (I may go, Maybe I go), Kanojo ni ai masu
(I see her) / Kanojo ni au kamo shiremasen (I may see her, Maybe I see her).
Moshi + verb + tara (ttara) = If _.
Change the ending "i" to "u" and add "kamo shiremasen".
Examples: tabe masu (I eat) / moshi tabe tara (If I eat), kai masu (I buy) / Moshi ka ttara (If I
buy).

At the police

My baggage was stolen. Nimotsu o nusuma re mashita.

I was cheated and got stolen my

Damasarete, okane o tora re mashita.
money.

I lost my wallet. Saifu o nakushi mashita.

Where is the police box? Koban wa doko desuka?

What happened? Dōshimashitaka?

koban: police box, police station

saifu: wallet, purse
nakusu: to lose
nimotsu: baggage, belongings
nusumu: to steal, to rob
damasu: to cheat
okane: money
toru: to take, to steal

Basic Rules
verb (a) + re mashita = passive form (past tense)
Change the ending vowel "i" to "a" and add "re mashita".
Examples: nusumi masu (I steal) / nusuma re mashita (I was stealed), kiri masu (I cut) / kira
re mashita (I was cut).

Emergency
Please help. Tasukete kudasai.

Please call an
Kyukyusha o yonde kudasai.
ambulance.

Please call the police. Keisatsu o yonde kudasai.

My friend got serious

Tomodachi ga ōkega o shimashita.
injury.

My friend got terrible

Tomodachi ga hidoi byoki desu.
disease.

tasukeru: to help
kyukyusha: ambulance
yobu: to call (to come)
keisatsu: police
ōkega: serious injury
hidoi: terrible
byoki: disease, illness