Help!! with Nihongo
Greetings and Useful expressions in everyday life
| Good morning = Ohayou gozaimasu | Hello = Konnichi wa | Good night = Oyasumi nasai | |
| Excuse me, I’m sorry, Thank you = Sumimasen | I’m sorry = Gomen nasai | ||
| I don’t understand = Wakarimasen | I understood = Wakarimashita | ||
| Please give me ~~ = ~~ Kudasai | Could you please… = …Onegai shimasu | ||
| Thank you = Arigatou gozaimasu | You are welcome = Douitashimashite | ||
| Kekkou desu = No thank you (e.g. declining food) | Douzo = Please…/After you… | ||
| Ii desu ka = Is it ok? | Yes = Hai No = Iie | ||
| Thanks for your hard work (said to someone leaving)= Otsukare sama deshita | Please forgive me for leaving work before you(woo hoo!) = Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu | ||
| Try your best = Ganbatte kudasai | Answer: I will do my best = Ganbarimasu | ||
| {Said before eating} = Itadakimasu | Thanks for the delicious meal = Gochisousama deshita | ||
| How are you? = Genki desu ka | Answer: I’m fine = Genki desu | ||
Useful Adjectives (____________ desu)
| Difficult = Muzukashii | Easy = Kantan | Delicious = Oishii | Tastes bad = Mazui |
| Expensive/High = Takai | Cheap = Yasui | Cute = Kawaii | Cool = Kakkoi |
| Amazing = Sugoi | Not cool = Dasai | Bad at …= …Heta | Good at …= …Jouzu |
| Big = Ookii | Small = Chiisai | Boring = Tsumaranai | Interesting/funny= Omoshiroi |
| Like = Suki | Dislike = Kirai | Hate = Dai kirai | Good = Yokatta |
The weather… (___________ desu)
| Hot = Atsui | Cold = Samui | Hot&humid = Mushiatsui |
More colloquial expressions…
| Lie = Uso | Truth = Hontou | Really? = Hontou ni? | Seriously?! = Maji de? | ||
| Embarrassed = Hazukashii | I don’t want to do it = Yada | I was surprised! = Bikkuri shita! | |||
| That’s wrong =Chigau(informal)/Chigaimasu (formal) | No good = Dame | ||||
Question words (__________ desu ka?)
| Who ＝ Dare | What = Nan (inf. Nani?) | When = Itsu | Where = Doko |
| Why = Doushite | Why = Nande | How = Dou | How much (\)= Ikura |
Traveling
| Bus = Basu (バス) | Taxi = Takushiiタクシー | Bicycle =Jitensha(自転車) |
| Train Station = Eki(駅) | Train = Densha (電車) | Ticket = Kippu (きっぷ) |
| Beer = Biiru (ビール) | Wine = Wain (ワイン) | Alcohol = Sake (酒) |
| Toilet = Toire (トイレ) | Man = Otoko (男) | Woman = Onna (女) |
Japanese Study Resources
☆ Electronic resources
| iPhone appsKotoba – dictionaryAnkiMobile – SRS review-based flash cards (can sync w/ website & PC software)Kanji Box – flash cards (also on Facebook)Ninja Words – kanji gameWebsites / plugins / software
Rikaichan (Firefox) / Rikaikun (Chrome) – dict. plugin Ankisrs.net – website, desktop software, iPhone app Kanji.koohii.com – RTK stories, SRS review (see note) http://www.nihongomaster.com/?utm_source=ajet&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=july2013ajet |
www.alljapaneseallthetime.com – self-teachingwww.nihongodict.com – dictionarywww.popjisyo.com – dictionary, web translationwww.japanesepod101.com – Japanese podcastMixi.jp – Japanese version of Facebookwww.lang-8.com – native speakers check your writing
www.tofugu.com – wonky Japanese language & culture www.textfugu.com – online beginner’s textbook (not free) www.gakuu.com – online int/adv textbook (some free) |
☆ Dictionaries
Electronic dictionaries (Canon, Casio, Sharp)
Nintendo DS dictionary (漢字そのままDS楽引辞典 / Kanji sonomama DS rakubiki jiten) (￥3813)
iPhone – Kotoba
Kodansha’s Furigana Japanese Dictionary (E-J: 978-4770027511, ￥3675) (J-E: 978-4770027504)
Kodansha’s Essential Kanji Dictionary (978-4770028914, ￥4410)
New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary (978-0804820363, ￥5529)
☆ Textbooks & self-study
– Remembering the Kanji 1: A Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters, James W. Heisig (978-0824831653, ￥3104)
Often referred to as “RTK” or “the Heisig method”.
Learn the meanings & stroke order (ONLY) of 2042 kanji in vol. 1, then the readings in vol. 2.
Useful in conjunction with other forms of study. Great for improving your reading comprehension.
– 完全マスター日本語能力試験Kanzen Master: Nihongo Noryoku Shiken series, publisher スリーエーネットワーク
Japanese Language Proficiency Test prep books, available for test levels 1~3級 (old lv 1 to 3), N1~N3級 (new 1 to 3).
文法Grammar / 漢字Kanji / 語彙Vocabulary / 聴解Listening / 読解Reading comprehension volumes available.
Books run roughly ￥1200-1600 each.
– みんなの日本語Minna no Nihongo, publisher スリーエーネットワーク
Offers levels 1 & 2. Roughly ￥2500 each.
– げんき: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese, publisher Japan Times (1 & 2, roughly ￥3000 for textbook & ￥1500 for workbook)
– An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese, publisher Japan Times (￥3300 textbook, ￥1500 workbook)
☆ Japanese language classes
| Tobu (Numazu Area) | |||||
| Japanese Language Courses | |||||
| Nirayama Jidaigekijo 055-944-0381 |
Just behind Nirayama Stn | Beginning, Intermediate | Tuesday7:30 – 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| Numazu Library 055-934-4717 |
5 min. walk from Numazu Stn South exit |
Beginning, Intermediate | Saturday1:30 – 3:00 pm | FREE | |
| Circullo (run by Natsu) 055-951-8500 |
Arranged by students | Tailored lessons | Arranged by students | \5000/10 90min lesson | |
| Chubu (Shizuoka Area) | |||||
| Japanese Language Courses | |||||
| Shimada Gakushu Center 053-737-7376 |
1 min. walk from Shimada Stn North exit |
Beginning, Intermediate | Wednesday7:15 – 8:45 pm | FREE | |
| Fujieda Cultural Center 054-643-3111 ext 292 |
7 min. walk from Fujieda Stn North exit |
Beginning, Intermediate | Friday7:00 – 8:30 pm | FREE | |
| SAME (Shizuoka Assocn for Multicultural Exchange) 054-273-5931 |
10 min. walk from Shizuoka Stn North exit (near Kencho) |
Beginning, Intermediate | Tuesday6:30 – 8:00 pm | \4000/12 classes | |
| Seibu (Hamamatsu City Area) | |||||
| Japanese Language Courses | |||||
| NPO Minnano Nihongo I090-9175-3265 Kawai | Hamamatsu Multicultural Center | Beginners lessons using the textbook, Minnano Nihongo | Saturday7:10 – 8:50 pm | FREE | |
| NPO Conversation090-9175-3265 Kawai | Zaza City Palette,5th floor | Japanese conversation for business | Thursday8:00 – 9:00 pm | \500/class | |
| HAJAC Japanese Class053-448-5300 Ogusu |
Hamamatsu Multicural Center | Fundamental Japanese lessons using the textbook, Minnano Nihongo | Saturday2:00 – 3:00 pm | \300/class | |
| Hokubu Community Center Japanese Class053-436-5931 Koyanagi | Hokubu Community Center | Primary: beginnersIntermediate: mainly conversationAdvanced: Kanji | Sunday10:00 am – 12:00 pm | \2000 | |
| Hamakita International Friendship AssociationJapanese Class | Hamakita Cultural Center | Fundamental courses for daily conversation and literacy. | Wednesday7:30 – 9:00 pm | \1000/3 months | |
| Japanese Delivery090-5113-0218 Miura | Nanbu Community Center | Primary to advanced | Sunday1:00 – 3:00 pm | \10,000/month including handouts | |
| NPO Nihongo Japanese Culture Workshop090-1823-6363 Kato |
Zaza City Palette,5th floor | Hiragana, Kanji, Primary to intermediate conversation | Sunday10:00 am – 12:00 pm | \500/ class | |
| NPO Nihongo Late primary class090-2923-2338 Sato | Nanbu Community Center | Pre-intermediate | Sunday9:30 – 11:30 am | \200/ class | |
| NPO Nihongo Reading class090-2923-2338 Sato | Nanbu Community Center | Intermediate to advanced reading | Sunday11:00 am –12:00 pm | \200/ class | |
| JLPT Preparation Courses | |||||
| Hamakita International Friendship AssociationJapanese Class | Hamakita Cultural Center | Preparation for JLPT | Wednesday7:30 – 9:00 pm | \1000/3 months | |
| Japanese Delivery090-5113-0218 Miura | Nanbu Community Center | JLPT preparation (available to N1) | Sunday1:00 – 3:00 pm | \10,000/Month,Including handouts | |
| NPO Nihongo Adv. JLPT Preparation090-2923-2338 Sato |
Nanbu Community Center | Preparation for N1,N2 | Sunday9:00 – 11:00 am |
\200/ class | |
| NPO NihongoInt. JLPT Preparation090-2923-2338 Sato | Nanbu Community Center | Preparation for N3 | Sunday10:00 am –12:00 pm | \200/ class | |
| Seibu (Tenryu Area) | |||||
| Japanese Language Courses | |||||
| Tenryu Japanese Class090-1098-3729 Okada | Futamata Community Center | 1.Hiragana, Kanji2.Conversation3.JLPT Preparation | Saturday10:00 – 11:30 am |
\500/ month | |
| Seibu (Kakegawa Area) | |||||
| Japanese Language Courses | |||||
| Kakegawa City Japanese Character 053-724-5595 Kishikawa |
Kakegawa International Center | Hiragana/Katakana,Kanji 1Kanji 2Kanji 3A, 3B | Sunday1:00 – 1:45 pm | \2000/ term | |
| Kakegawa City Japanese Conversation053-724-5595 Kishikawa |
Kakegawa International Center | 6 different levels.There will be a placement test. | Sunday2:00 – 4:00 pm | \2000/ term | |
| Seibu (Iwata Area) | |||||
| Japanese Language Courses | |||||
| Imanoura Japanese Class 053-837-4988 Suzuki |
Imanoura Kinenkan(Memorial Hall) | Literacy and primary to advanced conversation | Sunday2:30 – 4:30 pm | FREE | |
| Nishikai Japanese Class 053-837-4988 Suzuki |
Nishikai Commuinity Center | Literacy and primary conversation | Sunday10:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE | |
| Toyoda Japanese Class 053-837-4988 Suzuki |
Morishita Jichi Kaikan | Literacy and daily conversation | Saturday10:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE | |
| Nihongo Café | |||||
| FREE Japanese Conversation Group Gatherings | |||||
| Sanarudainihongocafe@hgu.ac.jp | Hamamatsu SanarudaiCommunity Center | Japanese conversation with native speakers | Sunday10:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE | |
| Sanarudai (Night)nihongocafe@hgu.ac.jp | Hamamatsu Sanarudai Community Center | Japanese conversation with native speakers | Saturday7:00 – 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| Enshuhamanihongocafe@hgu.ac.jp | Hamamatsu Minami-Mikuri Community Center | Japanese conversation with native speakers | Saturday10:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE | |
| Iwata nihongocafe@hgu.ac.jp | Iwata Minami-Mikuri Community Center | Japanese conversation with native speakers | Saturday10:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE | |
| Kosainihongocafe@hgu.ac.jp | Omote-WashizuCommunity Bosai Center | Japanese conversation with native speakers | Monday6:00 – 8:00 pm | FREE | |
☆ Using Japanese in your daily life
– Practice Japanese with your coworkers. Try speaking to non-JTEs. Enkais are a great place for this. (DON’T use Japanese in your classes, though!)
– Talk to your neighbors.
– Become a regular at a local establishment (bar, restaurant, cafe, bookstore… doesn’t matter!)
– Join community-based clubs, groups, and events. For example:
– Taiko (Japanese drumming) – Participate in a festival – dance, wear a costume, pull a float
– Sports teams (tennis, volleyball, etc) – Cooking classes (ABC Cooking Studio, etc)
– Community center: sewing, knitting… – Go rice picking or tea planting
– Ask your neighbors about other seasonal or regular community-based events
☆ Bonus: Slang and 静岡弁 Shizuoka-ben (local dialect) Shizuoka-ben marked with ＊
ー やばい yabai – all-purpose exclamation. Similar to “damn”, but less foul. Often stressed as やべーyabee.
Ex. やばい！これがうまい！Yabai! Kore ga umai! – Damn, this is delicious!
Ex. やべー！寝坊しちゃった！Yabee! Nebou shichatta! – Goddamn it, I overslept!
＊ ～だら~dara, or らra. – Right? Same as でしょうdeshou. ら is more informal.
Ex. 次はOCだら？Tsugi wa OC dara? – OC is next, right?
Ex. 明日のパーティーに来るら？ Ashita no pa-ti- ni kuru ra? – You’re coming to the party tomorrow, right?
＊ バカ～baka~ [same as the more widely known Kansai-ben メッチャmecccha] – really, extremely. (Lit. stupid)
Ex. やばい！これがバカうまい！Yabai! Kore ga baka umai! – Damn, this is crazy delicious! (This is stupidly good!)
Ex. その映画はバカ面白かったね！Sono eiga wa baka omoshirokatta ne! – That movie was really good, wasn’t it?
ー マジでmajide; ＊ガチでgachide – Seriously (can be used as a question or statement).
Ex. これ、マジでうまい！Kore, majide umai! – This is seriuosly delicious!
Ex. あの子はかわいいと思うけど・・・Ano ko wa kawaii to omou kedo… – I think that guy/girl’s kinda cute…
ガチで？！Gachide?! – Are you for reals?!
＊ ～だもんで damonde – therefore.
Ex. 私は日本人だもんで英語きらい。Watashi wa Nihonjin damonde Eigo kirai. – I’m Japanese so I hate English.
Ex. 今日は二日酔いだもんで遅刻します。Kyou wa futsukayoi damonde chikoku shimasu. – I’ll be late because of my hangover.
Note: SRS = “spaced repetition system”. “…flashcards are sorted into groups according to how well you know each one in the Leitner’s learning box. This is how it works: you try to recall the solution written on a flashcard. If you succeed, you send the card to the next group. But if you fail, you send it back to the first group. Each succeeding group has a longer period of time before you are required to revisit the cards.” (WP)
This is an original document compiled by: Rebecca Lee, Sally Little, Mark Simpson 2011