Itsumo o-sewa ni natte imasu.いつもお世話になっています。
I am continually in your favor.
Or you could follow up the greeting with an enquiry into their health or their business.
• Genki? / O-genki desu ka? / O-kawari nai desu ka?
元気？ /お元気ですか？ /お変わりないですか？
You well? / Are you well? / No change? (in your health)
• O-isogashii desu ka? / Keiki wa dō desu ka?
お忙しいですか？ /景気はどうですか？
Are you busy? / How’s business?
You would respond with one of these:
• Mā-mā desu ne. / Hai, o-kagesama de.
まあまあですね。/はい、お力、げさまで。
Not bad. / Fine, thank you (lit. thanks to you).
Osaka businessmen greet each other with Mōkarimakka? 儲かりまっか？ (lit. Making money?). The standard reply is bochi-bochi ぼちぼち or botsu-botsu ぼつぼつ both meaning “a bit at a time”.
Dōmo/Dōmo dōmo
どうも/どうもどうも
Thanks
This is an all-encompassing expression of thanks and apology widely used, especially by men. It can be combined with almost any of the other set expressions in this chapter, e.g. Dōmo, konnichi wa どうもこんにちは and Dōmo, o-hisashiburi どうも、お久しぶり.
1.03 Commenting on the Weather kisetsu no aisatsu 季節の挨拶
To get the conversation going, you can always say something about the weather. Here’s a selection that should get you through most days.
• Samui desu ne
寒いですね。
It’s cold, isn’t it?
• Futte kimashita ne
降ってきましたね。
It’s started to rain, hasn’t it?
• Haremashita ne
隋れましたね。
It’s cleared up, hasn’t it?
• Uttōshii tenki desu ne
うっとうしい天気ですね。
It’s dreary weather, isn’t it?
• Atatakaku narimashita ne
暖かくなりましたね。
It’s really warming up, isn’t it?
• li o-tenki desu ne
良いお天気ですね。
It’s beautiful weather, isn’t it?
• Atsukute, taihen desu ne
暑くてたいへんですね。
It’s awfully hot, isn’t it?
• Mushi-atsui desu ne
蒸し暑いですね。
It’s hot and humid, isn’t it?
• Ijō kishō desu ne
異常気象ですね。
This is abnormal weather, isn’t it?
1.04 Being Introduced shōkai 紹介
When meeting someone for the first time, most people use the following set expression:
• Hajimemashite. Dōzo yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.
はじめまして。どうぞよろしくお願いします。
How do you do? Pleased to meet you.
This expression points out that it is a first-time meeting and then asks for the other person’s favorable consideration. The standard reply is:
• Kochira koso. Dōzo yoroshiku.
こちらこそ。どうぞよろしく。
The pleasure’s mine. Glad to meet you.
1.05 Saying Goodbye wakareru 別れる
Sayōnara
さようなら
Goodbye (lit. If it must be so)
Unfortunately, this famous and romantic farewell is not used so much. Although schoolchildren are taught to say Sayōnara to their teachers at the end of the school day, adults don’t usually use it in ordinary situations. Sayōnara is mostly used between friends when they are parting for a long time; for example, when they are seeing someone off who is moving away.
Shitsurei shimashita
失ネししました
Goodbye (lit. I have imposed)
This polite phrase is used in business situations, at social gatherings, or when leaving someone’s home.
Mata ne! またね Ja ne! じやね See you! Bye!
This is how friends say goodbye. Variations include Mataashita また明曰 See you tomorrow; Mata raishū Iまた来週 See you next week; and じや一また. Ja mata.
Baibai ハイハイ Bye-bye
Used by young people, especially children.
Gochisō-sama deshita ごちそうさまでした
Thank you. It was delicious
You say this as soon as you’ve finished eating but it’s often repeated when saying goodbye to someone who has treated you to a meal (or even to just a cup of tea). You can also say it to restaurant staff when leaving the premises.
O-yasumi-nasai おやすみなさい
Good night
Frequently used also on the phone, this is how friends
