japanese phrases

Japanese is the sixth most spoken language in the world, with over 99% percent of the country's population using it. Amazingly, the language is scarcely spoken in any region outside Japan.

The origin of the Japanese language has many theories in reference to it, some believe it is similar to the Altaic languages, namely Turkish or Mongolian. It is recognized and acknowledged to be close in syntax to the Korean language.

In addition, it is believed that morphology and vocabulary were influenced Malayo-Polynesian languages to the south. The writing system of Japanese itself comes from the Chinese, but the differences between the two languages are immense.

Dialects are used in areas, particularly in Kyoto and Osaka, but standard Japanese, based on the speech of Tokyo, has become more popular through the use of television, radio and movies.

Pronunciation

A: as the 'a' in 'father'

E: as the 'e' in 'get'

I: as the 'I' of 'macaroni'

O: as the 'o' in 'bone'

U: as the 'u' in 'flu'

F: this sound is produced by pursing the lips and blowing lightly.

G: as in 'goal' at the start of the word; nasalized - as the 'ng' in 'sing' - in the middle of a word

R: more like an 'l' than an 'r'

Basics

Good morning: ohayô gozaimasu

Good afternoon: konnichiwa

Good evening: kombanwa

What's your name?: O-namae was nan desu ka?

My name is ...: watashi wa . desu

How are you?: O-genki desu ka?

Please: onegai shimasu

Thank you: dômo arigato

You're welcome: dô itashimashite

Excuse me/Pardon me: sumimasen

Yes: hai

No: iie

OK: daijôbu / ôke

What?: Nani?

When?: Itsu?

Where?: Doko?

Who?: Dare?

Getting Around

Boat: bôto / fune

Bus: shibasu

Train: densha

Subway: chikatetsu

Station: eki

Taxi: takushi

Entrance: iriguchi

Exit: deguchi

One-way: kata-michi

Return: ôfuku

Around Town

Bank: ginkô

Embassy: taishi-kan

Post Office: yûbin kyoku

Market: ichiba

Toilet: toire

Hotel: hoteru

Japanese-style inn: ryokan

Food

Breakfast: chôshoku / asa gohan

Lunch: chûshoku / hiru gohan / ranchi

Dinner: yûshoku / ban gohan

I'm a vegetarian: watashi wa saishoku-shugisha desu

Time

Today: kyô

Tomorrow: ashita

Yesterday: kinô

Morning : asa

Afternoon: hiru

Monday: getsuyôbi

Tuesday: kayôbi

Wednesday: suiyôbi

Thursday: mokuyôbi

Friday: kinyôbi

Saturday: doyôbi

Sunday: nichiyôbi

Numbers

Zero: zero

One: ichi

Two: ni

Three: san

Four: shi

Five: go

Six: roku

Seven: nana/shichi

Eight: hachi

Nine: kyû/ku

Ten: jû

To learn Japanese why not consider some Foreign Language Tution?

Japanese Phrases