Ask Away: Helpful Japanese phrases to recollect

Eleanor Barker solutions your journey questions

I am working out of time to study some Japanese earlier than my vacation. Are you able to assist with simply sufficient to indicate good manners?

Daijobu desu (no worries!) Any Kiwi who has been listening to Māori pronunciation can have a bonus in Japan. Japanese and Māori have the identical 5 phonemes, though technically 4 of them are barely completely different. Each languages have phonemic contrasting based mostly upon size, e.g. kēkē (armpit), keke (pie). I discover Romaji (the Romanisation of the Japanese written language) to be pretty phonetic. Anime tv exhibits will assist along with your pronunciation, as will Terrace Home on Netflix.

Once I first went to Japan I observed that many locals do have a little bit of English, however are usually shy about utilizing it. You do not have to be fluent to get round, however locals might be stoked in case you have a go at talking to them of their mom tongue.

When you’ve phrases, relatively than an actual grounding in a language, “wakarimasen” – “I do not perceive” – will turn out to be useful. “Nihongo” means Japanese or Japanese language, subsequently “Nihongo wakarimasen” (“I do not converse Japanese”). Sukoshi means “a bit” and might be helpful to recollect if anybody thinks you’re fluent – excessive reward!

Sumimasen (“excuse me, sorry”) is a really helpful phrase for any gaijin (outsider) negotiating Japanese public transport. Onegaishimasu “oh-nee-gai-shi-mas-(u)” means “please”. “Arigatou gozaimasu” means “thanks”.

Time for dinner is a good alternative to impress. Itadakimasu is heaps of enjoyable to sing out earlier than dinner “ita-daki-mas-(u)!” – it means, roughly, thanks for giving me life. Typically it appears like Japanese audio system are leaving out the “ooh/u” sound in desu, masu, and so forth, however it’s there, it’s simply laborious to listen to. “Gochisoosama deshita” (“thanks for the feast”). “Go-chi-soo-sama” by itself is much less well mannered, however means scrumptious. Your hosts is not going to thoughts if you happen to neglect your deshita. “Oishii” means yum and “kanpai” means “cheers”!

When getting into any store no less than one voice, if not a refrain, will enthusiastically name out “Irasshaimase!”. Responding to this with “arigatou gozaimasu” is like responding to a market vendor saying “Come nearer, come nearer!” with “Thanks! Thanks!”. A bit of bow or a smile is okay. Additionally helpful is “i-ku-ra-des(u)-ka?” (“how a lot is it?”).

I’ve a number of extra. Hai rhymes with kai and means “sure”, iie “e-aye” is “no”. Eigo “ee-go” is the Japanese phrase for English. “Mizu” is water, “toire” is rest room, comfort shops are “konbini”. “Eki” (prepare station), “sen” (line), “densha” (prepare). “Doko” means the place; use a noun and doko together to get instructions (your grammar might be unhealthy, however that is effective). “Kirei na” (clear, fairly), “umai” (good), “sugoi” (wonderful). Ohayo “o-hai-yo” is nice morning (add a gozaimasu for extra formality), “konbanwa” is nice night.