Learning Japanese 101
- Introduction to Japanese
- Japanese Writing System: Katakana
- Japanese Writing System: Kanji
- Intermediate Grammar
- Vocabulary Building
- Conversational Japanese
- Business Japanese
- Japanese Culture and Society
- Listening Practice
Introduction to Japanese
Basic Japanese Phrases
Language spoken in East Asia.
Learning a new language can be a daunting task, but starting with basic phrases can make the process easier and more enjoyable. In this unit, we will cover some of the most common phrases in Japanese that will be useful in everyday conversations.
Greetings and Expressions
In Japanese, greetings change depending on the time of day and the level of formality required. Here are some basic greetings:
- Good morning: おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu)
- Hello/Good afternoon: こんにちは (Konnichiwa)
- Good evening: こんばんは (Konbanwa)
- Goodbye: さようなら (Sayounara)
- Thank you: ありがとう (Arigatou)
- Excuse me: すみません (Sumimasen)
- I'm sorry: ごめんなさい (Gomen nasai)
Basic Question Phrases
Being able to ask questions is crucial when learning a new language. Here are some basic question phrases:
- What is this?: これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?)
- Where is the bathroom?: トイレはどこですか？ (Toire wa doko desu ka?)
- How much is this?: これはいくらですか？ (Kore wa ikura desu ka?)
- Do you speak English?: 英語を話せますか？ (Eigo o hanasemasu ka?)
Common Responses and Statements
Here are some common responses and statements that you might find useful:
- Yes: はい (Hai)
- No: いいえ (Iie)
- I understand: 分かります (Wakarimasu)
- I don't understand: 分かりません (Wakarimasen)
- I like it: 好きです (Suki desu)
- I don't like it: 好きではありません (Suki dewa arimasen)
Introduction to Numbers and Counting
In Japanese, the basic number system is quite straightforward. Here are the numbers from one to ten:
- One: 一 (Ichi)
- Two: 二 (Ni)
- Three: 三 (San)
- Four: 四 (Shi/Yon)
- Five: 五 (Go)
- Six: 六 (Roku)
- Seven: 七 (Shichi/Nana)
- Eight: 八 (Hachi)
- Nine: 九 (Kyu/Ku)
- Ten: 十 (Juu)
Remember, practice makes perfect. Try to use these phrases and numbers in your daily life to reinforce your learning. In the next unit, we will delve into the Japanese writing system, starting with Hiragana.