I need to learn some basic Japanese?

Question

Hey i'm going on an exchange trip to Japan for 3 weeks, does anyone have some basic japanese that i can learn. I don't know any japanese.

Thanks!

Answer 1

"arigato gozaimasu" means "Thank you so much".

This is the most important Japanese words.

Have a nice trip !!

Answer 2

go to

http://www.japanesepod101.com/

and go to 'survival phrases'

http://www.japanesepod101.com/index.php?...

there are a lot of phrases there that can help you!

visit my blog too!

http://lunchmaniac.blogspot.com/

Answer 3

The Japanese in parenthesis are less formal, and therefore, not recommended when conversing with someone [unless a very good friend].

Yes:

Hai: extremely formal, but not uncommon

Ee: takes on a softer, gentler tone

Un: I understand

Ah: yeah [I recommend not using this one as it is informal, and usually guys use it]

Wakarimasu/wakarimashita [wakatta]: I understand.

Wakatteru [please restrain from using this]: I know.

No:

Iie: extremely formal, but not uncommon

Uun [equal to the "Un" in level of politeness]: No

For greetings [aisatsu]:

Arigatou gozaiimasu/gozaiimashita [arigatou]: Thank you.

Ohayo gozaiimasu [ohayo]: good morning

Konnichiwa: good afternoon/hello

Konbanwa: good evening

Oyasuminasai [oyasumi]: good night

O genki desu ka [genki desu ka]: How are you?

Others:

Hajimemashite doozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu [hajimemashite/doozo/doozo yoroshiku]: Nice/pleased to meet you.

Gomenasai [gomen]: Sorry [commonly used]

Sumimasen [suman]: Excuse me

Warui [I do not recommend using this one unless you are very good friends]: My bad.  

In case you are lost, and need to ask for directions:

Sumimasen, ________ wa doko desu ka?: I'm sorry to bother you, but where is ________?

For example:

Sumimasen, hoteru wa doko desu ka?: Excuse me, but where is the hotel?

If you need something:

Sumimasen, ________ wo kudasai: Excuse me, could you get me ________ please.

Sumimasen, ________ wo onegai shimasu [Sumimasen, _______ wo onegai]: Excuse me, could you get me ________ please?

Note: Onegai supposedly means "I beg you".  

For example: Sumimasen, mizu wo kudasai/onegai shimasu: Excuse me, but could I have a glass of water, please?

Buying:

Sumimasen, kore/sore/are wa ikura desu ka?: Excuse me, but how much is that?

Note: kore is used for close distance objects while sore is farther away, are is even farther away

Asking:

Sumimasen, kore/sore/are wa nan desu ka?: Excuse me, but what is that?

Time:

Sumimasen, ima wa nanji desu ka?: Excuse me, but what time is it?

Ways to say "I":

Atashi: feminine way to say "I', unused by males

Watashi: most common, used more commonly by females, but males are able to use it as well

Boku: commonly used by males, but females may use as well

Ore: "manly" way to say "I", used rarely by females and is informal, thus not recommended

Ways to say "you":

Omae: extremely formal, recommended if using is a must

Anata: common [but can also mean "honey/dear", however, the Japanese will not make that mistake]

Kimi: used when speaking to children [not always, but commonly] and to those of lower level [as in occupation ranking level], informal, and thus, not recommended unless used with close friends  

Note: most of the times when referring to a person, one would use the name

For example: Naomi san, nani wo tabemasu ka? means Ms. Naomi, what would you like to eat/what are you eating?

It is recommended to insert the name in places where "you" would be found.  

For example: You are a kind person. [speaking to Ms. Naomi]

Instead of: Omae wa yasashii hito desu.  It is more common for: Naomi san wa yasashii hito desu.

Honorifics:

San: Mr./Mrs./Ms.

Kun: usually added to the end of boys names, not recommended for usage, only use if among good friends [as it supposedly adds terms of endearment]

Chan: usually added to the end of both boy and girls names as small children; added to the end of girls name, use if among good friends [as it also adds terms of endearment], usually when a male becomes a teen, chan is dropped, and usually when used, may be taken as an insult [supposedly]

Chin: a "cuter" way to say "chan" added to the end of very good friends that are girls, and usually when added to the end of male names, it would be taken as an insult

Others:

Oshiete kureru/wo kudasai/wo onegaishimasu: Please tell/teach me.

Note: kureru is supposedly more polite and is seemingly "begging" [how to explain...begging more than "onegai"]

Nippon/nihon jin de wa arimasen [extremely formal, and not used as commonly] More common is: Nippon/nihon jin ja arimasen [Nippon/nihon jin ja nai]: I am not Japanese.

Nihongo wo wakarimasen: I do not understand Japanese.

Nihongo wo hanashimasen: I do not speak Japanese.

Mou ichido wo onegai: One more time please [like repeat a phrase]

Samui desu ne/Atsui desu ne? [samui da ne/atsui da ne]: It's cold, isn't it/it's hot isn't it?

Note: Ne seems to soften the sentence and is seeking agreement.  Please refrain from using "da" at all costs for it is extremely informal and should only be used among friends.

Neko ga suki: I like cats.

Neko ga daisuki: I love cats.

Neko ga kirai: I dislike cats.

Neko ga daikirai: I hate cats.

For expressing like/dislike you would say: ____ ga suki/kirai.

You cannot say: Omae ga suki because then the Japanese would take it as romantic interest.  

Kirei desu ne: It's pretty, isn't it?  [Please be careful when prounouncing "kirei" because if accidentally prounounced as "Kirai" first the sentence would make no sense, and second, it would be "Dislike"]

Utsukushii desu ne: It's beautiful, isn't it?

Kawaii desu ne: Cute, isn' it?

Kowaii desu ne: Scary, isn't it? [Please be careful when prounouncing "Kawaii" because if accidentally prounounced as "Kowaii", it would be "Scary"]  

A mistake my teacher made was when she was visiting her friend's newborn, she ment to say "Akachan wa kawaii. [The baby is cute.]" but instead, she accidentally said "Akachan wa kowaii. [The baby is scary.]"

Ureshii desu: I'm happy.

Kanashii desu: I'm sad.

Sabishii desu: I'm lonely.

O hitori desu ka: Are you alone?

Counting for items:

Hitotsu: One

Futatsu: Two

Mitsu: Three

For example: Empitsu, hitotsu wo kudasai/onegaishimasu: Please give me one pencil.

Note:

Do not forget that Japan is a community that thrives upon coutesy, and it is important to keep polite.  Your tone should not be harsh, and when thanking, attempt as small bow [don't overdo it, but you could nod or slightly bend foward, if you understand what I'm getting at].

Be aware that trash cans are rarely found in public areas as they expect you to carry your trash home to throw away.

When eating with chopsticks, never stick them directly straight into the rice, it looks like you are grieving for the dead.

When someone sneezes, it is ignored. [If you sneeze, do not expect a "Bless you."]

"Mashita" is the past tense form of "masu".  

The Japanese are usually willing to help and will try their best to understand you, therefore, do not be afraid to ask for help.

Have fun and good luck!!

I hope this helped a bit.

Answer 4

Konnichiwa-Hello or Good afternoon

konbanwa-Good evening

sayounara(sp?)-goodbye

Genki desu ka/-Are you good?

Ohayou gozaimasu-Good morning

sumimasen-pardon me

arigato gozaimasu-thank you

kudasai-please

gomenasai-sorry

hai-yes

ie(sp?)-no

that's the basic phrases you should know for going to Japan

Answer 5

To add onto the previous list:

Bad- Dah-Meh

Stop- Yah-meh-teh

No- Nai (More casual way then IE)

Thanks- Doo-Moo

Sorry- Gomen

How much- EE-Kura?

Ok/Safe/Yes- Daiy-zyo-boo

Answer 6

You can use this site.

http://www.learnjapanesefree.com/