1 Shitsurei shimasu 失礼します is said when leaving the table while others are still eating, when entering other people's rooms, or when walking in front of others. Shitsurei shimashita 失礼しました is said when returning to the room you left in the middle of a meeting or meal, or after bumping into someone.
2 An expression of gratitude, Itadakimasu いたたさます is said when receiving a gift or the like, or before eating or drinking.
3 Gochisō-sama deshita しちそうさまでした, also an expression of gratitude, is said after having finished eating or drinking.
EXERCISES
A. Practice saying the following sentences in Japanese. Repeat the exercises until you no longer need to refer to the Japanese half.
| 1. | Who is that person? | Ano hito wa dare desu ka? | あの人は誰ですか。 |
| That is Miss Toda. | Toda-san desu. | 戸田さんです。 | |
| She is a reporter. | Kisha desu. | 記者です。 | |
| She is a nurse. | Kangoshi desu. | 看護師です。 | |
| She is a teacher. | Sensei desu. | 先生です。 | |
| She is a company employee. | Kaisha-in desu. | 会社員です。 | |
| She is a writer. | Sakka desu. | 作家です。 | |
| She is a doctor. | Isha desu. | 医者です。 | |
| 2. | This is Mr. Sato of the Asahi Newspaper. | Kochira wa Asahi Shinbun no Satō-san desu. | こちらは朝日新聞 の佐藤さんです。 |
| This is Miss Toda of Tōkyō. | Kochira wa Tōkyō no Toda-san desu. | こちらは東京の 戸田さんです。 | |
| This is Mrs. Carter of America. | Kochira wa Amerika no Kātā-san desu. | こちらはアメリカの カーターさんです。 | |
| 3. | Good morning. | Ohayō gozaimasu. | おはようございます。 |
| Good afternoon. | Konnichiwa. | こんにりは。 | |
| Good evening. | Konbanwa. | しんばルは。 | |
| Good night. | O-yasumi-nasai. | おやすみなさい。 | |
| Goodbye. | Sayōnara/Sayonara. | さようなら/さよなら。 | |
| How are you?/ Are you well? | O-genki desu ka? | お元気ですか。 | |
| Yes. I'm fine. | Hai, genki desu. | はい、元気です。 | |
| How do you do? | Hajimemashite. | はじめまして。 | |
| Glad to meet you. | Dōzo yoroshiku. | どうぞよろしく。 | |
| Excuse me. | Shitsurei shimasu/ shimashita. | 失礼します/しま した。 | |
| I will receive/have. | Itadakimasu. | いただきます。 | |
| It was delicious. | Gochisō-sama deshita. | ごちそうさまでした。 | |
| Please. | Dōzo. | どうぞ。 |
B. What would you say under the following circumstances?
1.You meet someone in the morning.
2. You meet someone in the afternoon.
3. You meet someone in the evening.
4. You offer someone a cup of tea.
5. You are leaving the table for a moment.
6. You have enjoyed a delicious meal.
7. You introduce Mr. Carter to Miss Toda.
