Basic Japanese Options

[HoTaZnDuDe]

Hi ya all japanese people(especially girls)lol (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/embarassedlaugh.gif)

Can any of you pls teach me some basic japanese words, as i am planning to visit japan next month. I'd really appreciate the good deed. Thanks guys in advance (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_smile.gif)

Peace out! (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/cool30.gif)

[ranmatatsumaru]

^
What kind of words would you like to know? Specific phrases?
Anyways here are a few essentials:
今日は (konnichiwa - good day; hello)
今晩は (konbanwa - good evening)
お元気ですか (ogenki desu ka - how are you?)
俺の名前は。。。です　　　(ore no namae wa (insert your name) desu - My name is...)
あなたの名前は何ですか (anata no namae wa nan desu ka - What's your name?)
御免なさい日本語が話せません (gomen nasai nihongo ga hanasemasen - Sorry but I don't speak Japanese)
判りません　　(wakarimasen - I don't understand; I don't know)
お早う (ohayō - good morning)
有り難う (arigatō - thanks)
はい (hai - yes)
いいえ (īe - no)
初めまして (hajimema$hite - nice to meet you)
英語が話せますか　　　(eigo ga hanasemasu ka - Do you speak English?)

[shiro]

俺の名前は。。。です　　　(ore no namae wa (insert your name) desu - My name is...)

I wouldn't use "ore", I'd stick with "boku" for boys and "atashi" for girls
"boku/atashi wa (your name) desu."
most foreigners sound funny called themselves "ore"

あなたの名前は何ですか   (anata no namae wa nan desu ka - What's your name?)

you can also say "o-namae wa?"

初めまして   (hajimema$hite - nice to meet you)

you can also say "yoroshiku"
"hajimema$hite" is more formal


and, don't forget "toiree ni doko desu ka?"
it's always good to be able to ask for directions to the bathroom (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif)

This post has been edited by shiro: Mar 24 2004, 11:20 PM

[HoTaZnDuDe]

OMG, that is so hard. But thnx really, thanx a lot. i really appreciate this. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_smile.gif)
Later... (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[ranmatatsumaru]

(shiro @ Mar 25 2004, 12:17 AM)
most foreigners sound funny called themselves "ore"

You think so?

[HTT]

Well, I wouldn't really use "ore" with "no namae ha". Especially not if I've said "Ogenki desu ka" a few second before. Anyway, these examples should relate more to the spoken japanese. Starting from unformal.

Ore ha X. Yoroshiku!
Boku ha X desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
Hajimema$hite. Watakushi ha X to moushimasu. Douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.

You don't really have to tell anyone your name anyways, right? Safe yourself the headache. It's just a little trip, and I'm sure that some of them, know english and will be happy to use it.

"Sayonara" means goodbye.

[shiro]

(shiro @ Mar 25 2004, 12:17 AM)
most foreigners sound funny called themselves "ore"

You think so?

that's what I was told by my homestay
"ore" is very informal, and most gaijin say "ore" for all occasions
so, it sounds very out of place

that, and if you're gonna use "ore", you might as well end sentences with "da" instead of "desu"
ex: "Watashi no namae wa BUREIN desu." vs. "Boku wa BUREIN desu." vs. "Ore wa BUREIN da."

This post has been edited by shiro: Mar 25 2004, 03:25 PM

[AtlantisStar]

I never learned how to write in japanese, just speaking and listen! (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_sad.gif)

[ranmatatsumaru]

(HTT @ Mar 25 2004, 02:49 PM)
"Sayonara" means goodbye.

That's sayōnara; it's a long "o" sound.
Also, HTT, try not to confuse HoTaZnDuDe by transliterating the topic particle as ha. Although the particle is written with ha in hiragana it's not pronounced like that. I'm sure you know this but try not to confuse people on that since we are teaching speech which should be phoenetic.

[shiro]

That's sayōnara; it's a long "o" sound.

why use the line on the o?
is that how you learned roomaji?
I've never seen that way taught in roomaji before...
I've always seen it as adding another vowel

i.e.:sayōnara = sayoonara, or sayounara

but yeah, good point about vowel length

This post has been edited by shiro: Mar 25 2004, 09:22 PM

[Dachink]

my goodness this is hard (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif) I'll be learning japanese next year so I hope it starts off easy

[ranmatatsumaru]

^
Don't worry about it. Japanese is by no means difficult if you apply yourself.

(shiro @ Mar 25 2004, 10:21 PM)
why use the line on the o?
is that how you learned roomaji?
I've never seen that way taught in roomaji before...
I've always seen it as adding another vowel

i.e.:sayōnara = sayoonara, or sayounara

Yes, that's how I learned rōmaji alright.
Also, that line is called a macron. I've also seen the circumflex (^) used to indicate long vowels.
It seems more accurate to use the diacritic mark to indicate long vowels. Although using the two vowels is a direct transliteration of the hiragana it can be confusing for some people to see "ou" (king); they might pronounce it as an "o" sound followed by an "u" sound as opposed to the long "o" sound.

[HTT]

Also, HTT, try not to confuse HoTaZnDuDe by transliterating the topic particle as ha.  Although the particle is written with ha in hiragana it's not pronounced like that.  I'm sure you know this but try not to confuse people on that since we are teaching speech which should be phoenetic.

Since I prefer using kunreishiki when transliterating, I've become a little rusten with hepburn. Sorry 'bout that. But since we're only teaching speech, why do you type up kanji anyway?

[shiro]

I'm guessing he typed the Kanji for reference
just a little bit of extra info (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif)

and, you don't have to transliterate the long o as "ou"
I've seen it lots (and learnt it) as "oo", even though those aren't the kana that are used
same deal as the subject particle, ha --> "wa"

[HoTaZnDuDe]

Honestly, i'm still confuse of some of the words you guys are teaching me. It's so difficult especially the pronunciation. Anyhow, arigato to everyone... (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_smile.gif) (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/cool30.gif)

[shiro]

if you're confused, then ask questions

I'm not trying to confuse you.... (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif)

(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[HoTaZnDuDe]

if you're confused, then ask questions

I'm not trying to confuse you.... (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_confused.gif)

(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

It's okay, i'm merely having difficulties pronouncing it, but other than that, i've learn a whole lot of japanese words i've never heard before thanx to you guys. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_smile.gif)

(IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/cool30.gif)

[shiro]

okay
but if you have anything specific you want to know, ask

I only took three terms worth, and that was 5 years ago now, but I still know enough to get by (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif)

[HoTaZnDuDe]

okay
but if you have anything specific you want to know, ask

I only took three terms worth, and that was 5 years ago now, but I still know enough to get by (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif)

Well i am glad to hear that. (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/icon_wink.gif)

Anyway shiro? you a guy? or a girl? Just out of curiosity, though i'd say you're a guy? (IMG:http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/confused.gif)

[shiro]

good guess