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Contents
Page
2. Introducing Oneself
How to say where you come from: Nationality (Kokuseki) 4
3. Professions 5
7. Greetings Quiz 9
8. Numbers 1-12 10
2
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Introduction
Welcome to the Japanese lesson! Just to give you a quick insight into the
Japanese language to kick-start, as you will see in this handbook, all the
Japanese words are written in Western alphabets so they are easy for you to
read. Normally in Japan, people use their own writing system, mixing 3 types
of letters (Chinese characters, phonetic Hiragana and Katakana) in a
sentence - as in the nationality section on the next page. However, all the
words can be transcribed perfectly in alphabets without changing the
authentic Japanese sounds. So there is no need to worry about the wrong
pronunciation! Let’s begin!!!
Hajimemashite。 Hajimemashite.
When you meet someone for the first time you say,
Then to finish
Do-zo yoroshiku.
(I’m looking forward to our friendship in the future.)
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Introducing Oneself
How to say where you come from: Nationality - Kokuseki
♦ Dialogue
A: Okuni wa? (Your country?)
B: Nihon desu. / ( Nihon) - jin desu. (It’s Japan. / I’m Japanese.)
If you simply add the word ‘-jin’ after the name of the country, that would mean
the person from the country.
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Professions
♦ Dialogue
A: Oshigoto wa? (What is your job?)
B: (Name of the profession) desu. (My job is ________.)
Hanbai’in
Shefu (Cook) (Sales assistant)
Ke-bi’in
(Security agent)
B: __________ desu. A-san oshigoto wa? (I’m ____. And your work? )
A: __________ desu. B-san oshigoto wa? (I’m ____. How about you?)
5
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Useful and common Japanese phrases
All these greetings can be used to address anyone regardless of their age or
gender. They can be used equally to people you already know or to
complete strangers; the formal expressions are recommended for strangers.
• Ohayo- (informal)
• Ohayo- gozaimasu Good morning
(formal)
Greetings in the
morning
• Konnichiwa
(Used only for non-family Hello, Hi
Greetings in the members)
afternoon
• Konbanwa
(Used only for non-family Good evening
members)
Greetings in the
evening • Oyasuminasai (used only
when or before you go to Good night
sleep, not to be used to
mean ‘Have a good night’)
6
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Communication - Politeness/Basics
• Arigato- (informal)
• Arigato- gozaimasu Thank you.
(formal)
• Wakarimasuka Do you
understand?
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Etiquette
One does not repeat greetings throughout the day. If people who have
already greeted meet again later in the day, they usually just smile and bow.
Bowing is extensively used and bowing techniques range from a small nod of
the head to a long 90 degree bow.
Since most Japanese do not expect non-Japanese to know the bowing rules,
a nod of the head is usually sufficient in Japan. It is also common to bow to
express thanks or an apology or when making a request or asking somebody
for a favour. However, if you approach Japanese passengers to offer to help
outside Japan, it is best to keep to your own natural style as heartless bowing
can be seen as if you were making fun of them. Shaking hands is uncommon
among the Japanese, but many find it a warm gesture and will be happy to do
so with Westerners. Any sort of physical contact (such as kissing) is very
rare.
♦ Dialogue
A: Daijo-bu desuka. Are you okay?
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Quiz: Draw lines to match English words and Japanese words.
Greetings
Oyasuminasai • • Goodbye
Konbanwa Please
• •
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Numbers 1-12
Ichi Roku
Ni- Nana
San Hachi
Yon Kyu-
Go
Ju-
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Country and language awareness
MAP OF JAPAN
The population of Japan is approximately 127million and they all speak Japanese
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Nihongo (Japanese language)
Pronunciation
Japanese uses relatively few sounds, so most learners find the words easy to
pronounce. Also, about 12% of everyday Japanese words were ‘borrowed’
from English or other languages. These words have been modified into
Japanese, but they sometimes end up with a completely different sound
and/or meaning to the original word. For example, what are these major cities
of the world?
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Airport environment:
How to say the common signs & places at the airport in Japanese
Chu-shajo- Menze-ten
(Parking) (Duty-free shop)
Baiten An’nai
(Kiosk)
i (Information desk)
Toire Chekku-in
(Toilet) Kaunta-
(Check-in counter)
Shuppatsu Ge-to
(Departure) GATE (Gate)
To-chaku
(Arrival)
Kaidan Erebe-ta-
(Stairs) (Lift)
Pasupo-to
(Passport) Nimotsu Uketori
(Baggage claim)
Shukkoku
(Passport control)
Deguchi
Kippu / Chiketto Exit (Exit)
(Ticket)
Iriguchi
Entrance (Entrance)
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Simple directions: How to ask directions in Japanese
♦ Dialogue
A: ----------- wa doko desuka. (Where is ---------?)
Key Vocabulary
Massugu
(straight)
Achira Kochira
(over there) (over here)
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Cultural awareness
• Avoid fixing someone in the eyes. Japanese people are often made
uncomfortable by eye-contact. If they don’t look at you, it doesn’t mean
they want to avoid or ignore you, but rather they feel shy about looking at
you or concerned that doing so would seem aggressive.
Business etiquette
• "Meishi" (business cards) are exchanged when meeting someone for the
first time. They should be given and accepted with both hands in formal
situations.
Make sure to observe it carefully and remember your opposite's name.
Place the card on the table in front of you if you are sitting, or put it in your
wallet. Do not put it away into your pocket or fold it in any way.
Exchanging ‘meishi’
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Time in Japanese
♦ Dialogue
A: Ima nan-ji desuka? (What time is it now?)
B: 2-ji desu. (It’s 2 o’clock now.)
A: Arigato- (Thank you.)
B: Do- itashimashite. (Not at all.)
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Useful websites for beginners
Grammar
General resources
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/japan
http://www.hellonavi.com/foldera/html/english.html
http://www.epochrypha.com/japanese/
http://www.coscom.co.jp/
http://www.ak.cradle.titech.ac.jp/Rise/index.htm
http://homepage1.nifty.com/netsuma/workshop/uta/
http://www.rikai.com/perl/Home.pl
http://www.thomsonlearning.com.au/secondary/lote/obento/deluxe/student/Ind
ex.html
http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~japanese/japanpicturegallery/
http://www.journeythroughjapan.org/
http://www.japan-guide.com/
http://www.mofa.go.jp/link/visit.html
http://web-jpn.org/index.html
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Prepared by Santosh kumar, JapLang Language services
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