Basics of the Japanese Language

Lunch-time sessions at PCCBy Peter Missen

Session 2

Greetings

Previous session

Any questions about the previous session?

Any items to share?

Recap of previous session

watashi wa “name” desu.

kore/sore/are wa “thing” desu.

kore/sore/are wa nan desu ka.

Objectives for this session

Common greetings– Openings– Closings– Politeness

A few common words

Grammar to show possession

Formal introduction of yourself

Common Greetingsohayou gozaimasu – Good morning

お早うございます。(kanji: early)

ohayou – Morning

お早う。

Common Greetings

konnichiwa – Good afternoon/general hello

今日は。 (2 kanji: now + day.)

Often written in hiragana only こんにちはsimilar to the topic marker the “ha” hiragana is used but pronounced wa

Common Greetings

konbanwa - Good evening

今晩は。

(2 kanji: now + evening.)

Often written in hiragana only

こんばんは

Common Greetings

moshi moshi - Hello

(used on the phone to answer a call)

申 申 (kanji: say/talk about/tell)

Common opener

ogenki desu ka. - How are you?

お元気ですか。o- shows honourgenki (2 kanji: source/cause + feelings/spirit)

Common reply

hai, genki desu. - I am fine.

はい、元気です。

hai = yes.

Common Closings

oyasumi nasai. - Good night

お休みなさい。 (kanji: sleep/rest/holiday)

sayounara. - Good bye

さようなら。

Common Closings

dewa mata/ja mata. - See you

ではまた／じゃまた。

(dewa is more polite than ja)

again the ha hiragana is used for wa.

Common politeness

doumo arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you very much.

どうも有り難うございます。

(2 kanji: happen + difficult/tough)

doumo/arigatou. - Thanks

Common politeness

douitashimashite.

You're welcome

どういたしまして。

Common politeness

gomen nasai. – Sorry

御免なさい。(2kanji: honorific + exempt)

shitsurei shimasu. - Excuse me (I'm sorry)

失礼します。 (2kanji: lose + gratitude)

Common politeness

sumimasen.

Excuse me

済みません。 (kanji: finish/end/conclude/settle)

Common wordskampai. = Cheers (when drinking).

かんぱいhai = yes

はいiie = no

いいえ

Grammar - possession particle

watashi no namae wa pi-ta- desu. My name is Peter.

私の名前はピーターです。Now, let's break that sentence up...

watashi = me no = possession (’s in English)namae = name (2 kanji: name + before)wa = topic markerpi-ta- = Peter (using katakana sounds)desu = is/are/am (used at the end of a sentence)

Grammar - possession

anata no onamae wa nan desu ka. What is your name?

あなたのお名前は何ですか。

anata = youonamae = honorable name

(o before the word shows honour)

Can just use “onamae wa?”

Formal greeting “sandwich”

hajimemashite - How do you do? (Said the first time you meet someone)

はじめまして。

blah blah blah – information about yourself.

douzo yoroshiku - Nice to meet you.

どうぞよろしく。

Example “sandwich” in ro-maji

hajimemashite.

[watashi wa] pi-ta- desu. [ ] words are optional

igirisu jin desu.

PCC no shain desu.

douzo yoroshiku.

Example “sandwich” translations

igirisu = English in katakana

jin = person

no = possession (“of” if read backwards)

shain = company worker

(2 kanji: company + member)

Example in Japanese script

はじめまして。 (How do you do? )

[ 私は ] ピーターです。 (I am Peter)

イギリス人です。 (I am English)

ピ ・シ ・シの社員です。 (I am a PCC worker)

どうぞよろしく。 (Nice to meet you)

Homework

Nothing compulsory

Suggestions– Work on your personal greeting “sandwich”– Or make up a character from another country

Check out the Communities of Practice siteYou should have had an invitation…

Any questions ????