mind.
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
Adding “gozaimasu ございます” to the end of a sentence makes it more polite.
The direct translation for “You’re welcome” is “Dō itashimashite どういたしまして,” but in Japan, it is more common to answer with one of the above phrases. You’re not expected to say this to people in the service industry, such as at a restaurant.
もうどのくらいここにいるんですか。
Mō dono kurai koko ni irun desu ka?
How long have you been here?
Is-shūkan desu.
I’ve been here one week.
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
The subject pronoun, for example “you,” “he,” “she,” “I,” is regularly left out of sentences if it is understood.
The “n-desu んです” ending generally is added to imply that an explanation is being made, or asked for.
これからどのくらいここにいるんですか。
Kore kara dono kurai koko ni irun desu ka?
How long will you be here?
Ni-ka-getsu desu.
I’ll be here two months.
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
“Dono kurai どのくらい” means “how long?”
“Kore これ” means “this.”
“Kara から” means “from.”
“Koko ここ” means “here.”
“Ni に” means “in/at.”
“Iru(n) いるん” means “to be.”
“Desu です” means “is.”
“Ka か” means “?”
すごいですね。
Sugoi desu ne.
That’s great!
すばらしい。
Subarashii.
Excellent!
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
The informal term for foreigner is “gaijin” (“outside person”). Sometimes, foreigners take offense when Japanese use this term (in particular if they laugh at the same time). Another, more polite term is “gaikokujin” or “international person.”
○○ ni wa, ryokō / oshigoto desu ka?
Are you in [place name] for pleasure / business?
Ryokō / Shigoto desu.
I’m traveling / working.
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
It would sound a little odd to a Japanese to ask: “What are you doing here?” Instead, they will almost always ask if you’re on business or traveling. The first part of the sentence would be the city, the country or “here.” “Ryokō
(○○-san wa,) Eigo no sensei desu ka?
Are you an English teacher?
Iie, chigaimasu.
No, I’m not.
はい、そうです。
Hai, sō desu.
Yes, that’s right.
————————— LANGUAGE NOTE —————————
In Japanese, we don’t use the word “you” too much. If you know the person’s name, put it in place of the marks “○○”. For example, “Maki-san wa, eigo no sensei desu ka? マキさんは、
“-San さん” should follow the person’s name to be polite; it means “Mr.” or “M(r)s.”
Kekkon shitemasu ka?
Are you married?
はい、してます。
Hai, shitemasu.
Yes.
いいえ、まだです。
Iie, mada desu.
Not yet.
————————— CULTURAL NOTE —————————
In some cultures, asking if someone is married when you meet for the first time is considered friendly. But in Japanese culture, it’s not a very good thing to ask, especially if the person is an older female and the answer is “Mada まだ” (“not yet”).
Okusan / goshujin wa nihonjin desu ka?
Is your wife / husband Japanese?
