ぞ and ze ぜ can be added (usually by guys) to give instructions. Zo means “let’s do...” as in Yoshi, iku-zo よし行いくぞ (Right, let’s go), similar to but slightly harsher than ikō 行いこう. Ze is a very strong command form, e.g. Iku-ze! 行いくぜ！ (Move it!) Finally, -kke is a handy ending, expressing either uncertainty or forgetfulness Nan-datta-kke? 何なんだっ たっけ？ (What was it again...?)
The meaning of some phrases may be changed from a statement to a question by a rising final intonation, and these phrases are marked by diamonds (◆). For example:
Haven’t seen you around for a while.
◆ Hisashiburi-ne. ♀
久しぶりね。
◆ Hisashiburi-dane.
久しぶりだね。
With a rising intonation, the sentence becomes “Haven’t seen you around for a while, have I?”
And which parts of the phrase you stress also make a big difference—stressing a yo emphasizes that you’re pushing your opinion. Stressing the sō in sō-dane/sō des-ne そうだ ね/そうですね (that’s right) means you agree more strongly.
Finally, put emotion into your voice. You might think that the Japanese spoken around you is emotionless because it seems so fast, but nothing could be further from the truth. Put feeling into your voice as you would in English, and your message will be loud and clear.
THE LAST WORD
Does all of this sound really daunting? It shouldn’t! Think of this introduction as a reference page for your journey through the Japanese-speaking world. Just keep these points in mind, and you’ll find this book a valuable resource to speed your street Japanese skills along.
And there’s one last thing: the Japanese love to see foreigners making an effort to speak Japanese! Through their troubles learning English, they know how hard it is, so even if you can’t get the point across to start with, keep trying and you’ll earn more respect. And if you’re using real phrases like the ones in this book, all the better!
1 Getting to Know You
Hello! Hi!
Ohayō!
おはよう！
Kon’nichi-wa!
こんにちは！
Komban-wa!
こんばんは！
Ohayō! is used in the morning, say until 10 a.m., and with people you’re seeing for the first time that day. Kon’nichiwa! is for the daytime, and Komban-wa! for the evening. As everyday phrases, there are many variations and contractions of these, formal and informal, and they differ between regions of Japan—but these are the universal standards!
Hajimemashite
はじめまして。
This is a (somewhat formal) word you use to say hi to someone you haven’t met before.
Allow us to introduce ourselves.
Atashitachi-no jikoshōkai sasete. ♀
あたしたちの自じ己こ紹しょう介かいさせて。
Bokutachi-no jikoshōkai sasete. ♂
僕ぼくたちの自じ己こ紹しょう介かいさせて。
Would you introduce your friends?
Anata-no tomodachi-o shōkai shite? ♀
あなたの友とも達だちを紹しょう介かいして？
Kimi-no tomodachi-o shōkai shite? ♂
君きみの友とも達だちを紹しょう介かいして？
I’m...
Atashi-wa... ♀
あたしは...
Boku-wa... ♂
僕ぼくは...
This is usually your first chance to practice katakanaized pronunciation. It’s sometimes a good idea to say your name in its original pronunciation first, and then in katakana form, which lets your new friend choose whether to try the “foreign version” or play safe with katakana—a choice they’ll appreciate.
Where do you live?
Doko-ni sunderu-no?
どこに住すんでるの？
Where are you from?
Doko kara kitano?
どこから来きたの？
Where is your hometown?
Jimoto doko?
地じ元もとどこ？
Where do you come from?
Dokkara kita-no?
どっから来きたの？
Doko-ni sunderu-no? should be used if you are introduced by someone. If there is no introduction, both Doko-ni sunderu-no? and Dokkara kita-no? are okay and both produce the same answer. Girls might tell you their address, or they may just say atchi あっち , meaning “over there.”
I’m from America/the U.K./Australia/New Zealand.
Atashi-wa Amerika/Igirisu/Ōsutoraria/Nyūjīrando-kara kita-no. ♀
あたしはアメリカ/イギリス/オーストラリア/ニュージーランドから来きたの。
Boku-wa Amerika/Igirisu/ Ōsutoraria/Nyūjīrandokara kita. ♂
僕ぼくはアメリカ/イギリス/オーストラリア/ニュージーラ ンドから来きた。
The Japanese don’t have a word for Britain—Igirisu is it, and the distinction between England, Great Britain and the U.K. is usually lost on the Japanese. Those wanting to emphasise their Scottish or Welsh background can substitute Sukottorando スコットランドorUēruzu ウェールズ .
How old are you?
Nansai?
