In this unit, we will cover basic - yet very useful - phrases, questions, and more. To make the process more beneficial, I will also explain the different levels of formality and when to use them. This way, you won't find yourself addressing a child with the respect of a general, or vice-versa! Also, we will discuss the difference between traditional and present-day speaking style differences according to gender. Let's get started!
Note: The spelling of Japanese words phoenetically using romanized letters is known as "romanji" (this is also spelled "romaaji" or "romaji"). In order to differentiate between hirigana and katakana, romanji will be capitalized for words written in katakana. So, for example, the word sushi will be written normally since it is written in hirigana, but the word DOA (door) will be capitalized since it is written in katakana.
Basic terms
This list contains several basic words that are nevertheless crucial to learning Japanese. Please memorize them. These terms will be used throughout the units and you will need to know what they mean.
"To be, or not to be" is the first thing we will cover. In Japanese, the words indicating that something "is" or "is not" go at the end of statements. This is very important to know and remember. Once again, every language has different grammar rules, so don't compare Japanese to English. Just keep them in different parts of your brain except when you are translating one into the other. Desu means "it is" or "is". Let's look at an example sentence:
DEEVU wa baka desu.
Dave is an idiot.
The literal, or word-by-word, translation of this sentence is "Talking about Dave, idiot is." Because the wa follows DEEVU, we know that Dave is the subject of the sentence. Changing words around is normal during translations. Don't get attached to changing the words around to make sense out of them. Instead, just memorize how Japanese sentence structure works so that you will be able to immediately understand what you are reading. Later on, I will provide Japanese-only text as examples. (Don't worry; they'll all be in image form so that everyone can read the characters.)
Of course, if you're going to learn how to say that (something) is (something), you also need to learn how to state something in the negative. Dewa arimasen means "it is not" or "is not". Ja nai is another way to say "(it) is not". The arimasen part comes from the verb arimasu. An -en ending or nai, such as in ja nai, will often signify a negative statement (meaning that something "is not" something.)
Example:
DEEVU wa baka dewa arimasen./DEEVU wa baka ja nai.
Dave is not an idiot.
The only difference between dewa arimasen and ja nai is that dewa arimasen is a little bit more formal than the latter. Generally, though, Japanese people use both in everyday conversation.
You should have noticed that there are different words for "I", based on gender. This is because traditionally, women spoke more politely (with more polite words) than men. This stemmed from the belief that women should be pure and untainted, and thus speak in the same manner. Also, women were required to show respect to men. This is why women usually say watashi, while men say either boku or ore, which is more "macho." The only time men would be required to use watashi would be in circumstances of high formality, such as during ceremonies or business meetings. Nowadays, though, it is not uncommon to hear a girl say boku or ore. Japanese people these days are not as traditional or strict as they used to be, and the younger generation speaks with considerably less formality. You might be able to notice a difference in speech between the young, middle-aged, and old while watching Japanese shows.
A very important thing for you men to know is that sometimes Japanese men will use watashi in daily conversation to imply that they are homosexual. Likewise, a girl may use boku or ore to hint that she is a lesbian. So, guys, don't use watashi in day-to-day conversations unless you want people to think that you are effeminate! (Interesting note: Akabane Kuroudo always uses "watashi" in Get Backers. This is because he speaks in an extremely formal way, so don't get him wrong. :) )Girls using the opposite gender's versions of "I" are not always hinting at their sexual preference, however - they may be just trying to express their carefree attitudes towards the strict formalities of the former days.
The word go means "language." The way to use this word is to add it to the end of a country's name. For example, the word nihon means Japan (sometimes nippon is used). So, nihongo means the Japanese language, or Japanese.
Nihongo does not mean the race Japanese, though. This is where the word jin comes into play. Adding jin to the end of a country's name will create the word for a person originating from that country. So, as chuugoku means China, chuugokujin means Chinese, or a person (jin) of China. However jin is not used if you are saying something like "That person is Dave." When you are talking about a person in particular, you use the word hito. For example, if you wanted to say, "That person is Dave," you would say, "Ano hito wa DEEVU (Dave) desu."
Greetings
Now we will discuss greetings. As with all vocab lists, I recommend that you first memorize all the terms before you move on to other sections. Above you see a list of greetings. While they all seem pretty self-explanatory, you should know the specific usages of each. Ohayou gozaimasu is used from early morning to early mid-day. Gozaimasu is a term whose meaning can be translated to "very much", but it is basically used to emphasize the previous word or words. (In Japan, you might hear vendors crying, (We are selling ice cream and cookies) gozaimaaaasu!!. They are using the word to emphasize what they just said, and to bring attention to themselves.) Konnichi wa is used from early mid-day (about 11:00) to about 5:00 P.M. After that time one would use konban wa. Oyasumi nasai is used starting from about 8:00 or 9:00 P.M.
The actual meanings of many of these phrases are much more formal than the ones I have provided. For example, oyasumi nasai means something more like "Please sleep well", as opposed to "Good night." The rough meaning of the word nasai is "please". Japanese people use these phrases so often, though, that it pretty much means the same thing. Although I don't want to set a stereotype or offend anyone, typical Japanese society is more formal and polite than typical American society, which explains the more complex meanings of many everyday terms. We will go more in-depth with this in the Culture section.
Ogenki desu ka's actual meaning is "Do you have energy?" or "Are you feeling well today?". This greeting is only used when you have not seen the other person in a while, or if you know that they have recently been sick or in bad condition.
When Japanese people return from school, work, a trip, etc., they will say Tadaima to announce their return. This is not just something to say when you have been away for a long time. It's more how Ricky says, "Lucy, I'm hoome!" to Lucy every day in "I Love Lucy" - in other words, this is also an everyday thing to say, and considered polite behavior. If you came back from school, took off your shoes, and just started rummaging through the refrigerator, Japanese people would consider your behavior as very impolite (as you didn't even let others in the house know you were back). Likewise, the other(s) in the house with you would welcome you back by saying Okaeri nasai, or just okaeri if they are being less formal. As I have said many times before, watching Japanese shows, anime, etc. is an excellent way to listen in on some real Japanese and to make sure that your pronunciation is accurate.
Oohisashiburi desu ne is used when you run into someone who you haven't seen in a long time. For instance, if Kunio were to meet his old elementary school friend Akiko, he would likely greet her with this phrase. In response, Akiko would probably say Oohisashiburi desu. The word ne basically means "right?", but the meaning can differ depending on the context. In less formal situations, one can also simply say oohisashiburi.
Introductions and Thanks
The actual spelling of doomo is "doumo." As mentioned before in the Pronunciation section, double vowels are sometimes spelled different ways. Ee can be changed to eh, aa can be changed to ah, and ou can be changed to oo or oh. This is done to make reading easier, and varies based on the writer. Think about it: ee sounds just like "eh," and the same thing with aa and "ah". Also, notice that o is just a held and constant sound. This is unlike English, where a letter can have more than one sound. When you say "b", you don't just say "buh" or "ee"; you say "bee". In Japanese, though, all individual letters have an unchanging sound. Therefore ou is often changed to oh because it has the u, which provides the "oo" sound which ends the word "oh" (the "oo" at the end of "oh"). In case you didn't get all that, the main point is that, when you write doomo in Japanese, do not write the characters for do and o; use do and u.
In the question Onamae wa nan desu ka, the O means "you". Many times you can add the word "you" to a sentence by putting an o before a noun. In a textbook that I have read, this is referred to as the "honorific o." This is because of the necessity of showing respect to other people. O + namae = Onamae (You + name = your name), and o + tomodachi = otomodachi (You + friend = your friend). This does not apply to all nouns, but if you notice an o before a noun while watching anime, etc., the speaker is probably talking about "you/your-something".
Nan ban desu ka literally means "What number is it?". You can use this to ask someone for their phone number, but it is also used literally. For example, Nan ban desu ka can be used if you have taken a numbered tag in a bank or store, and the clerk is asking you which number you have. The word ban can also refer to a turn. Subsequently Anata no ban desu can mean either "It's your number" or "It's your turn."
As with oyasumi nasai, the actual meaning of hajimemashite doozo yoroshiku (some people add a comma before doozo) is much more complex and polite than the one I provided. Hajimemashite means "Pleased to meet you", and can be used alone. Doozo means "please" or sometimes "go ahead". For instance you might say Doozo to someone when you open a door for them, which would indicate that you are letting them go first out of courtesy. The last word, yoroshiku, means "Please take care of it", or "I'll leave it to you (to take care of)." The loose translation of Hajimemashite doozo yoroshiku is therefore "Pleased to meet you, and please take care of me (in the future)." This is not going as far as to ask the person you have just met to pay for your hospital bill, however. It's more like a way of asking a person to respect you and treat you well (with respect, politeness, etc.) now that you have been introduced to each other. The same is expected of you, too. In a country where city life is often crowded and space is limited, people must respect each other and each other's privacy to maintain order and harmony.
Now let's discuss Ima wa nanji desu ka. The word ima means "now", so this sentence literally means "Right now/Currently, the time is what?", or "Right now, what is the time?". The word ji means "time." To respond to this question, one would say Ima wa (current time)ji desu, or Wakaranai or wakarimasen(I don't know) if one does not know the time. There will be a Telling Time section later on, along with the Numbers section, so just hang tight for now.
Sumimasen ga means "Excuse me, but...". You use this when you want to attract someone's attention in a polite way. For instance, you could use this phrase if you wanted to say, "Excuse me, but you dropped your tie." You can also use sumimasen alone to say "Excuse me." It's a very useful word when you are trying to get by people on a crowded railcar (metro) and in crowded areas in general. Another way to use sumimasen is when you want to say that you're sorry. If you spill some tea or drop some books in front of someone, you could say Sumimasen!
Titles
Something that is very important in Japanese society is title. By this I mean the title that you use to address someone to acknowledge their station or relation to you. Addressing someone with the wrong title, or with no title at all - whether by carelessness or just ignorance - might easily offend the person who you are talking to. Now we will discuss the different titles and their usages.
In Japanese, the different titles show varied levels of respect, and are added after someone's name. When you meet someone, depending on their social status, one would usually start out using the most polite or respectful title to address that person, within reason. (You wouldn't go around calling your neighbor "Lord Bob"!) As one's relationship with that person increases, though, one has the option of using more familiar (and hence less formal) titles to express one's affections towards that person. When addressing someone who is of a very high or important station, however, such as an emperor or a mayor, one usually will not use more familiar titles. In such a case, one is expected to show the proper respect for that person's station, and the correct title usage is an essential part of doing so. Also, when Japanese people first meet, they usually call each other by their last names. This is an ancient Asian custom which is still considered normal behavior today. For instance, Mrs. Kikyo Takahashi would introduce herself as Takahashi Kikyo, and her new aquaintance would likely address her as Takahashi-(title). The reason for this is that since you have just met this person, you should not act impolite and assume an overly-familiar attitude towards them by using their first name. Please refer to the titles chart for examples of the usages of the provided titles.
Many titles cannot stand on their own, like -kun, -chan, and -san. You cannot just call someone "San". You would have to call them "Justin-san", "Julie-san", etc. Some titles, though, are also nouns and thus can be used by themselves.
San is used to show moderate respect for someone, and basically means Mr., Mrs., or Ms. When meeting someone who is around your own status, you would refer to them as (name)-san. The following example is a scenario where one would use the title -san, and contains a lot of vocabulary from previous lists.
Example: Yuusuke introduces his friend Kimiko to his friend Arisa in school.
Yuusuke: Konnichi wa. Kore wa watashi no tomodachi desu.
Yuusuke: Good morning/afternoon. This is my friend.
Kimiko: Hajimemashite doozo yoroshiku. Watashi no namae wa Yuukishiro Kimiko desu. Anata wa?
Kimiko: Pleased to meet you, and may you please take care of me. My name is Kimiko Yuukishiro. And you?
Arisa: Hajimemashite, Yuukishiro-san! Watashi wa Fuyuki Arisa desu.
Arisa: Pleased to meet you, Ms. Yuukishiro! I am Arisa Fuyuki.
In this case, Arisa uses -san to address Kimiko. While my translation read, "Ms. Yuukishiro", which seems like a rather polite way to address a fellow student, the Japanese say it out of habit, and it doesn't seem overly-polite to them. Students often refer to other students as (last name)-san or just (last name) because they are on the same level or station, and can be more relaxed than they would be with an elder or a person of higher status. When used to address someone of one's same level, -san is considered quite normal. If Kimiko and Arisa were Americans, however, they would probably just refer to each other as Kimiko and Arisa. This is because of the more relaxed attitude that Americans have towards respect and conduct. Once again, you should be aware that all cultures are different, and keep that in mind when interacting with people of other cultures. (See the Culture section later on.)
Age can also be a factor that determines title. Someone in your establishment (school, office, etc.) who is older than you is your senpai. Likewise, this older person might refer to you as their koohai. You wouldn't necessarily refer to a random older person as senpai, though. Usually this title applies to people within an established group or institution, such as mentioned above. Senpai is both a title and a noun, so someone can be either Mark-senpai or just plain senpai.
-Kun and -chan are both titles that indicate that you are very familiar with the person you are speaking with. While -kun is traditionally reserved for males, it is now being used for girls, as well. -Kun can be used for a good friend, whether they are older or younger than you. However, respect for one's elders is a Rule of Thumb for the Japanese, so you wouldn't usually address someone a lot older - say, 20 years older - than you with -kun. -Chan is used to indicate that you have a deep relationship or intimacy (not necessarily physical or of sexual nature) with the person given this title. For example, you would probably call someone who you have been friends with for 12 years (name)-chan. As with -kun, however, you probably would not use -chan with people significantly older than you. -Chan is also used to address people much younger than you, generally children.
The word sensei is one title that can stand on its own - in other words, make sense by itself. Sensei can mean both teacher and doctor, but it is a term that refers to any professional (who may provide a service). Dentists and pediatrists, for example, are also sensei. You can say Ano sensei wa sugoi desu (That doctor is great), and you can also say Tsugihara-sensei wa sugoi desu (Doctor Tsugihara is great). Teachers and other professionals are given much respect for their hard work and services in Japan. A student passing a teacher in the school hallway would be expected, and would usually, greet that teacher with a Ohayoo gozaimasu/Konnichi wa/Konban wa, sensei!. This title is not used to address professors, however. The term for "professor" is different (I'm not sure what it is yet, but I'll change this when I am).
The last title I will be explaining in this section is -sama. If you have watched anime, you've probably heard someone say (name)-sama!! a lot. The word sama means lord or master, and is used to address someone who you are serving, or who is of a very high and respectful station (such as royalty). -Sama can be used regardless of one's age in relation to the age of the person being addressed. Even if a lord is ten years younger than you, he is still a -sama to you.
Of course, inappropriate titles can be used if one is being sarcastic or joking around with someone else. For example, if you were trying to get a rise out of your older cousin, or trying to embarrass him/her, you could call him/her (name)-chan. Similarly if you're fed up with your friend bossing you around, you could say, Hai, hai, Hiro-sama!!.
There are many more titles in the Japanese language which I have not covered. The ones I have were the basic and most commonly used ones. I have, however, added a small list of additional titles which are commonly used in Japanese shows or which you may hear in conversations.
- (name)-hime or Hime-sama Princess (name) or Princess
- (name)-hojo or Hojo-sama Prince (name) or Prince
- (name)-taichou or Taichou Chief/Captain/Boss (name) or Chief/Captain/Boss (basically, "Leader")
- -dono A term expressing profound respect. Can be heard used in such animes as Rurouni Kenshin and Jubei-chan: Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch!.