Useful Expressions in Japanese

Lesson 2: Greetings and Common Everyday Expressions

Basic expressions in common Japanese.

Okay, now you've practiced how to pronounce the Japanese Kana. You did practice, right!! Now, you're ready to try out some useful expressions. Remember that Japanese is used differently than English. Along with any language comes culture.

HINT 1: When speaking to a boss, or some one of a higher status than you, you would use polite/formal ["f."] Japanese (not much choice, ya gotta do it!) When speaking with friends, you would use casual ["c."]Japanese.

HINT 2: Two of the same vowel placed together is pronounced as the one letter held out; "Ohayoo" 's "oo": like in "whoa" not "moose". Two consonants placed together is a little different. This time, it's almost like saying two words, without breathing in between. Hold the first letter, then pronounce it again starting the second part of the word; "Matte" (wait) 's "tt" should be pronounced like "mat~te", not "mate". Good luck!

Ohayoo gozaimasu おはようございます	f.	Good Morning	used until about 10:00 a.m.
Ohayoo おはよう	c.	'morning!	used until about 10:00 a.m.
Konnichiwa こんにちは	*f.c.*	Hello / Good afternoon	used almost anytime of day 10:00 - sundown
Kombanwa こんばんは	f.	Good evening	about 6 p.m. - late
Sayoonara さようなら	*f.c.*	Good-bye	to be more formal, you could say *shitsurei shimasu*
ja, mata ne じゃ、またね	c.	See ya later	used only between friends or relatives
Oyasumi nasai おやすみなさい	f.	Good night	before bed or, sometimes, when parting late at night
Itte kimasu いってきます	*f.c.*	I'll be back	when leaving (and planning to return)- used often
Itte rasshai いってらっしゃい	*f.c.*	Good bye	lit. go and return -the reply to "*ittekimasu*", said to the person leaving
Tadaima ただいま	*f.c.*	I'm back	by the person returning home
Okaeri nasai おかえりなさい	f.	Welcome home	the reply to "*tadaima*", to the person returning
Okaeri おかえり	c.	Welcome back	more casual than "*okaeri nasai*"
Ogenki desu ka. おげんきですか？	f.	How are you?	lit. Are you well?
Genki. げんき？	c.	How are you?	shortened version of "*ogenki desu ka*"- very casual
Genki desu げんきです	*f.c.*	I'm fine.	very casually, you could say "*genki yo*"
Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu どうもありがとうございます	f.	Thank you very much	extremely formal!
Arigatoo gozaimasu ありがとうございます	*f.c.*	Thank you	still formal
Arigatoo ありがとう	f.	Thank you	most often used
Doomo どうも	c.	Thanks	pretty casual
Doo itashimashite どういたしまして	*f.c.*	Your welcome	okay in most any occasion
Otsukaresama desu おつかれさまです	f.	Good job, (good-bye greeting when leaving work for the day, or said to a co-worker who is going home.)	mostly formal, but also used in casual situations

You might notice that "gozaimasu" and "nasai" can sometimes be added to words to make them more formal. If you take them off, it has the same meaning, only more casual.

Another thing you might notice is the lack of question marks (?). In Japanese, you use the particle "ka" at the end of the word in its place. This is supplemented with a rise in intonation at the end of a question (same in English, right!)

I've tried to include both the formal and casual versions of each expression here. The problem with most books is they don't include much casual language, which you would use mostly unless you're traveling on business (or planning to meet the Emperor!) It is best to know both however, because you should speak somewhat formally when you first meet a person.

Study this lesson for a while, practice on your friends! If they have no idea what you're talking about, TEACH THEM!! Remember: if you can teach it, that means you understand it.

(eldonline.com grants permission to make print copies of this page. Feel free to print this page out for practice.)

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'VE FINISHED LESSON 2.

When you feel comfortable with this lesson, move on to lesson 3, "Useful Expressions Part II."

Last Updated on Monday, 15 September 2008 23:53

Keith Dream art

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