Difference between revisions of "Japanese phrasebook"

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{{pagebanner | Osaka banner.jpg}}
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[[file:Osaka banner.jpg|1280px]]
  
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Chingodo Lanterns - Japanese writing on a temple lantern, Tokyo/Asakusa|Asakusa, Tokyo
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Chingodo Lanterns - [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] writing on a temple lantern, [[Tokyo/Asakusa|Asakusa]], Tokyo
  
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'''Japanese''' ({{Lang|ja|日本語 ''nihongo'') is spoken in Japan, and essentially nowhere else other than Hawaii, South Korea and China, where some use it as a second language. Japanese may be distantly related to Korean, but is entirely unrelated to Chinese phrasebook|Chinese, though it uses a large amount of imported Chinese vocabulary. The written form uses a combination of Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji characters which were all derived from Chinese characters.
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'''Japanese''' ({{Lang|ja|日本語 ''nihongo'') is spoken in [[Japan]], and crucially nowhere else other than [[Hawaii]], [[South Korea]] and [[China]], where some use it as a second language. [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] may be distantly related to Korean, but is entirely unrelated to Chinese phrasebook|Chinese, though it uses a large amount of imported Chinese vocabulary. The written form uses a combination of Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji characters which were all derived from Chinese characters.
  
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Japanese is a language with many distinct dialects, and while standard Japanese (標準語 ''hyōjungo''), which is based on the Tokyo dialect, is universally taught and understood, you may get an interesting reply from some when travelling around the nation. The dialect you are most likely to encounter is the Kansai dialect, which is spoken in the region around Osaka and Kyoto (with slight dialectal differences between the two cities), and is often heard in the Japanese mass media. This might make it harder you to understand them if you have just started learning Japanese, though local residents will usually be able to switch to standard Japanese if you ask them politely.
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Japanese is a language with many distinct dialects, and while standard [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] (標準語 ''hyōjungo''), which is based on the [[Tokyo]] dialect, is universally taught and understood, you may get an interesting reply from some when travelling around the nation. The dialect you are most likely to encounter is the Kansai dialect, which is spoken in the region around Osaka and Kyoto (with slight dialectal differences between the two cities), and is often heard in the [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] mass media. This might make it harder you to understand them if you have just started learning [[Japan|Japanese]], though local residents will usually be able to switch to standard [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] if you ask them politely.
 
==Pronunciation guide==
 
==Pronunciation guide==
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Japanese is not a tonal language like Chinese or Thai, and is comparatively easy to pronounce. The vowels are pronounced virtually identical to the "Italian way" and there are very few consonants that do not exist in English. All syllables are to be pronounced equal in length. Long vowels take the length of two syllables. Combinations like ''kya'' are treated like one syllable and are the only occurrence of glides (semivowels), all other syllables are to be pronounced rather separately.
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Japanese is not a tonal language like Chinese or ([https://th.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Thai]), and is comparatively easy to pronounce. The vowels are pronounced virtually identical to the "Italian way" and there are very few consonants that do not exist in English. All syllables are to be pronounced equal in length. Long vowels take the length of two syllables. Combinations like ''kya'' are treated like one syllable and are the only occurrence of glides (semivowels), all other syllables are to be pronounced rather separately.
  
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Also avoid placing too much emphasis on particular words or syllables. Although Japanese does have a form of stress and intonation, it is significantly flatter than English. Word stress is much more subtle and neglecting it at this point should not interfere with meaning. Trying to keep your intonation flat will make your attempts to speak Japanese more comprehensible to local listeners. When asking questions, you can raise the tone at the end, as in English.
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Also avoid placing too much emphasis on particular words or syllables. Although [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] does have a form of stress and intonation, it is significantly flatter than English. Word stress is much more subtle and neglecting it at this point should not interfere with meaning. Trying to keep your intonation flat will make your attempts to speak [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] more comprehensible to local listeners. When asking questions, you can raise the tone at the end, as in English.
  
 
===Vowels===
 
===Vowels===
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Japanese has only five basic vowels, but the distinction between short and long vowels is important. The sounds below are first given in romanized Japanese, then hiragana and finally katakana.
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Japanese has only five basic vowels, but the distinction between short and long vowels is important. The sounds below are first given in romanized [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] and then hiragana and finally katakana.
  
 
The '''short vowels''' are:
 
The '''short vowels''' are:
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; o, お, オ : like 'o' in "r'''o'''pe", but less round
 
; o, お, オ : like 'o' in "r'''o'''pe", but less round
  
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Note that "u" is often weak at the end of syllables. In particular, the common endings ''desu'' and ''masu'' are usually pronounced as ''des'' and ''mas'' respectively. Also, the kana "do" and "to" are sometimes pronounced with a weak "o".
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Note that "u" is often weak at the end of syllables. In particular and the common endings ''desu'' and ''masu'' are usually pronounced as ''des'' and ''mas'' respectively. Also and the kana "do" and "to" are sometimes pronounced with a weak "o".
  
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The '''long vowels''' are generally the same sound as the short vowels, only held approximately 60% longer. The long vowels, marked with a macron (¯) or by two adjacent vowels, are:
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The '''long vowels''' are generally the same sound as the short vowels, only held roughly 60% longer. The long vowels, marked with a macron (¯) or by two adjacent vowels, are:
 
; ā, ああ, アー : like 'a' in "f'''a'''ther"
 
; ā, ああ, アー : like 'a' in "f'''a'''ther"
 
; ii or ī, いい, イー : like 'ee' in "ch'''ee'''se"
 
; ii or ī, いい, イー : like 'ee' in "ch'''ee'''se"
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; ō, おお, おう, オー : stretch out the 'o' in "s'''o'''ap"
 
; ō, おお, おう, オー : stretch out the 'o' in "s'''o'''ap"
  
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All descriptions above are approximations, it's best to training with a native speaker.
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All descriptions above are approximations, it's best to training with a local speaker.
  
 
===Consonants===
 
===Consonants===
  
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With the solitary exception of "n" (ん・ン), consonants in Japanese are always followed by a vowel to form a syllable. Consonants and vowels are not freely combinable as in English, see table on the right for all possible syllables and note irregularities like し ''shi'' or ふ ''fu''. Certain syllables can be marked with diacritics, which alters the pronunciation of the consonant part. The list below first gives the consonant part of the syllable in romanized Japanese, then the Japanese syllables that the sound occurs in first in Hiragana, then Katakana.
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With the solitary exception of "n" (ん・ン), consonants in [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] are always followed by a vowel to form a syllable. Consonants and vowels are not freely combinable as in English, see table on the right for all feasible syllables and note irregularities like し ''shi'' or ふ ''fu''. Certain syllables can be marked with diacritics, which alters the pronunciation of the consonant part. The list below first gives the consonant part of the syllable in romanized [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] and then the [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] syllables that the sound occurs in first in Hiragana and then Katakana.
  
 
; k in かきくけこ・カキクケコ : like 'k' in "king"
 
; k in かきくけこ・カキクケコ : like 'k' in "king"
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Katakana are used to write foreign and loanwords (except for those from Chinese, which are written in kanji) and are hence a good choice for Muslim travellers to learn. The katakana set of characters encompasses exactly the same sounds as hiragana; they only look different. The table on the left only reproduces the basic character set and diacritics (カ → ガ). Combinations (キャ) apply just as for hiragana. One additional sound though is ヴ ''vu'' and combinations like ヴェ ''ve'' based on it, accommodating additional foreign sounds. Every once in a while you may spot additional ingenious combinations or use of diacritics.
 
Katakana are used to write foreign and loanwords (except for those from Chinese, which are written in kanji) and are hence a good choice for Muslim travellers to learn. The katakana set of characters encompasses exactly the same sounds as hiragana; they only look different. The table on the left only reproduces the basic character set and diacritics (カ → ガ). Combinations (キャ) apply just as for hiragana. One additional sound though is ヴ ''vu'' and combinations like ヴェ ''ve'' based on it, accommodating additional foreign sounds. Every once in a while you may spot additional ingenious combinations or use of diacritics.
  
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Since Japanese doesn't very well accommodate rapid successions of consonants, the katakana transcription can often only approximate the actual pronunciation of a foreign word. While some words like café (カフェ ''kafe'') can be represented quite gracefully, other words like organic juice (ビール ''bīru'') or rent-a-car (レンタカー ''rentakā'') seem slightly strange to the native English speaker. Nonetheless, many English expressions and concepts are used in everyday life, as are a number of German, French, Dutch and Portuguese loanwords. In many cases, the original words are often abbreviated when used in Japanese, such as '''super'''market (スーパー ''sūpā''), '''depart'''ment store (デパート ''depāto''), '''remo'''te '''con'''trol (リモコン ''rimokon'') or '''televi'''sion (テレビ ''terebi''). Oftentimes the exact meaning of a word has changed in Japanese (German: ''Arbeit'' → アルバイト ''arubaito'' is used only for part-time work) or a completely new meaning was invented (ワンマンカー ''wanmankā'' → "one-man car", trains and buses without an inspector, only ''one'' driver), but you can usually at least guess at the meaning. Due to post World War II American influences, by far the largest number of non-Chinese loan words in the Japanese language come from American English.
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Since [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] doesn't very well accommodate rapid successions of consonants and the katakana transcription can often only approximate the actual pronunciation of a foreign word. While some words like café (カフェ ''kafe'') can be represented quite gracefully, other words like organic juice (ビール ''bīru'') or rent-a-car (レンタカー ''rentakā'') seem slightly strange to the native English speaker. Nonetheless, many English expressions and concepts are used in everyday life, as are a number of ([https://de.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} German]), French, Dutch and Portuguese loanwords. In many cases and the original words are often abbreviated when used in [[Japan|Japanese]], such as '''super'''market (スーパー ''sūpā''), '''depart'''ment store (デパート ''depāto''), '''remo'''te '''con'''trol (リモコン ''rimokon'') or '''televi'''sion (テレビ ''terebi''). Oftentimes the exact meaning of a word has changed in [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] (''Arbeit'' → アルバイト ''arubaito'' is used only for part-time work) or a completely new meaning was invented (ワンマンカー ''wanmankā'' → "one-man car", trains and buses without an inspector, only ''one'' driver), but you can usually at least guess at the meaning. Due to post World War II American influences, by far the largest number of non-Chinese loan words in the [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] language come from American English.
  
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To identify a katakana word, it's usually helpful to repeat it out loud a few times and to leave out superfluous vocals, especially the 'u' in ス ''su'' and 'o' in ト ''to''. That way ライス ''raisu'' quickly becomes "rice" and チケット ''chiketto'' becomes "ticket". Don't try too hard though, as sometimes original Japanese words are written in katakana as well, similar to the use of uppercase or italic letters in English. In addition, some words were not derived from English but from other languages such as German, French or Dutch.
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To identify a katakana word, it's usually helpful to repeat it out loud a few times and to leave out superfluous vocals, especially the 'u' in ス ''su'' and 'o' in ト ''to''. That way ライス ''raisu'' quickly becomes "rice" and チケット ''chiketto'' becomes "ticket". Don't try too hard though, as sometimes original [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] words are written in katakana as well, similar to the use of uppercase or italic letters in English. In addition, some words were not derived from English but from other languages such as ([https://de.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} German]), French or Dutch.
  
 
==Grammar==
 
==Grammar==
  
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Japanese sentence structure is very similar to that of Korean, so speakers of Korean will find many aspects of Japanese grammar familiar, and vice versa.
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Japanese sentence structure is very similar to that of Korean, so speakers of Korean will find many aspects of [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] grammar familiar, and vice versa.
  
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Unlike English, which uses the ''subject-verb-object'' syntax, Japanese syntax is ''subject-object-verb''. Japanese uses postpositions instead of prepositions (''Japan in'' and not ''in Japan''). However, unlike many European languages, it has no gender, declensions or plurals. Nouns never decline while adjectives follow a generally standard conjugation pattern. However, verbs have extensive conjugation patterns and much of Japanese lessons for foreign language learners is about getting these conjugations right. Verbs and adjectives also conjugate by politeness level though, and in a rather peculiar way.
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Unlike English, which uses the ''subject-verb-object'' syntax, [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] syntax is ''subject-object-verb''. [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] uses postpositions instead of prepositions (''Japan in'' and not ''in Japan''). However, unlike many European languages, it has no gender, declensions or plurals. Nouns never decline while adjectives follow a generally standard conjugation pattern. However, verbs have extensive conjugation patterns and much of [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] lessons for foreign language learners is about getting these conjugations right. Verbs and adjectives also conjugate by politeness level though, and in a rather peculiar way.
  
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Japanese is a so called agglutinative language, meaning several morphemes which have purely grammatical functions are glued to the end of a word stem to express the grammatical function. The more the intended meaning differs from the basic form of the word, the more morphemes are glued together.
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Japanese is a so called agglutinative language, meaning several morphemes which have purely grammatical functions are glued to the end of a word stem to express the grammatical function. The more the intended meaning differs from the basic form of the word and the more morphemes are glued together.
  
 
{| cellpadding="8" border="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #EEE"
 
{| cellpadding="8" border="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #EEE"
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! colspan=5 | Japanese verb and adjective conjugation
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! colspan=5 | [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] verb and adjective conjugation
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan=3 style="vertical-align: top; background-color: #CCC;" | '''stem'''<br>見 ''mi''
 
| rowspan=3 style="vertical-align: top; background-color: #CCC;" | '''stem'''<br>見 ''mi''
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===Forming sentences===
 
===Forming sentences===
  
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{{cautionbox|Particle pronunciation|The hiragana syllables '''は ''ha''''', '''へ ''he''''' and '''を ''wo''''' are pronounced as '''''wa''''', '''''e''''' and '''''o''''' respectively when used as a p eHalal Travel Guide.
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Particle pronunciation|The hiragana syllables '''は ''ha''''', '''へ ''he''''' and '''を ''wo''''' are pronounced as '''''wa''''', '''''e''''' and '''''o''''' respectively when used as a p eHalal Travel Guide.
  
 
Japanese grammar generally employs a subject-object-verb order, but is very modular and flexible since the grammatical meaning of a word is expressed by the morphemes glued to its end and special marker particles. The two most important particles are the topic marker は ''wa'' and the object marker を ''o''.
 
Japanese grammar generally employs a subject-object-verb order, but is very modular and flexible since the grammatical meaning of a word is expressed by the morphemes glued to its end and special marker particles. The two most important particles are the topic marker は ''wa'' and the object marker を ''o''.
  
 
: I saw the movie.
 
: I saw the movie.
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: {{Lang|ja|私'''は'''映画'''を'''見ました。}}
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: 私'''は'''映画'''を'''見ました。}}
 
: ''Watashi-'''wa''' eiga-'''o''' mimashita.''
 
: ''Watashi-'''wa''' eiga-'''o''' mimashita.''
 
: ''I-['''topic''' movie-['''object''' seen.''
 
: ''I-['''topic''' movie-['''object''' seen.''
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: I discovered that she likes tea.
 
: I discovered that she likes tea.
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: {{Lang|ja|私'''は'''彼女'''が'''お茶'''を'''好きな事'''が'''分かった。}}<br />''Watashi-'''wa''' kanojo-'''ga''' ocha-'''o''' sukinakoto-'''ga''' wakatta.''
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: 私'''は'''彼女'''が'''お茶'''を'''好きな事'''が'''分かった。}}<br />''Watashi-'''wa''' kanojo-'''ga''' ocha-'''o''' sukinakoto-'''ga''' wakatta.''
 
: ''I-['''topic''' she-['''subj.''' tea-['''obj.''' like-['''subj.''' understood.''
 
: ''I-['''topic''' she-['''subj.''' tea-['''obj.''' like-['''subj.''' understood.''
  
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; の no : possessive marker
 
; の no : possessive marker
 
: The mother's child
 
: The mother's child
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: {{Lang|ja|母'''の'''子}}
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: 母'''の'''子}}
 
: ''haha '''no''' ko''
 
: ''haha '''no''' ko''
  
 
; で de, に ni : indicating places and times
 
; で de, に ni : indicating places and times
 
: in Tokyo
 
: in Tokyo
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: {{Lang|ja|東京で}}
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: 東京で}}
 
: ''Tōkyō-'''de'''''
 
: ''Tōkyō-'''de'''''
 
: at 2 o'clock
 
: at 2 o'clock
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: {{Lang|ja|２時に}}
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: ２時に}}
 
: ''niji-'''ni'''''
 
: ''niji-'''ni'''''
  
 
; から kara, へ e, まで made : from, towards, until
 
; から kara, へ e, まで made : from, towards, until
 
: From here towards Osaka until Nara.
 
: From here towards Osaka until Nara.
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: {{Lang|ja|ここから大阪へ奈良まで}}
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: ここから大阪へ奈良まで}}
 
: ''koko '''kara''' Ōsaka-'''e''' Nara-'''made''' ''
 
: ''koko '''kara''' Ōsaka-'''e''' Nara-'''made''' ''
  
 
; と to, か ka : and, or
 
; と to, か ka : and, or
 
: This and that.
 
: This and that.
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: {{Lang|ja|これとそれ}}
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: これとそれ}}
 
: ''kore '''to''' sore''
 
: ''kore '''to''' sore''
 
: This or that.
 
: This or that.
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: {{Lang|ja|これかそれ}}
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: これかそれ}}
 
: ''kore '''ka''' sore''
 
: ''kore '''ka''' sore''
  
 
; か？ ka? : question forming particle
 
; か？ ka? : question forming particle
 
: Are you going to Tokyo?
 
: Are you going to Tokyo?
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: {{Lang|ja|東京に行きますか？}}
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: 東京に行きますか？}}
 
: ''Tōkyō ni ikimasu '''ka?''' ''
 
: ''Tōkyō ni ikimasu '''ka?''' ''
  
 
===The verb "to be"===
 
===The verb "to be"===
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Japanese does not have an exact equivalent to the English verb "to be". Instead, the easiest way to form '''"A equals B"''' type expressions like "I am ..." or "This is ..." is the pattern '''A ''wa'', B ''desu'''''.
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Japanese does not have an exact equivalent to the English verb "to be". Instead and the easiest way to form '''"A equals B"''' type expressions like "I am ..." or "This is ..." is the pattern '''A ''wa'', B ''desu'''''.
  
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: {{Lang|ja|私は、山田です。 ''Watashi wa, Yamada desu'' ("I [am Yamada.")
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: 私は、山田です。 ''Watashi wa, Yamada desu'' ("I [am Yamada.")
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: {{Lang|ja|これは、りんごです。 ''Kore wa, ringo desu'' ("This [is apple.")
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: これは、りんごです。 ''Kore wa, ringo desu'' ("This [is apple.")
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: {{Lang|ja|それは、赤いです。 ''Sore wa, akai desu'' ("That [is red.").
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: それは、赤いです。 ''Sore wa, akai desu'' ("That [is red.").
  
 
The word です　''desu'' here is ''not'' a verb, it's a polite copula (linking word), which can be omitted in colloquial speech or replaced with other copulas including でした ''deshita'' (polite past), でしょう ''deshō'' (polite suggestion) or だ ''da'' (plain). The topic indicated by は ''wa'' is also optional and is often implied by context:
 
The word です　''desu'' here is ''not'' a verb, it's a polite copula (linking word), which can be omitted in colloquial speech or replaced with other copulas including でした ''deshita'' (polite past), でしょう ''deshō'' (polite suggestion) or だ ''da'' (plain). The topic indicated by は ''wa'' is also optional and is often implied by context:
  
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: {{Lang|ja|あなたはだれですか？ ''Anata wa dare desu ka?'' ("Who [are you?")
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: あなたはだれですか？ ''Anata wa dare desu ka?'' ("Who [are you?")
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: {{Lang|ja|山田です。 ''Yamada desu.'' ("[I am Yamada.")
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: 山田です。 ''Yamada desu.'' ("[I am Yamada.")
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: {{Lang|ja|これは何ですか？ ''Kore wa nan desu ka?'' ("What [is this?")
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: これは何ですか？ ''Kore wa nan desu ka?'' ("What [is this?")
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: {{Lang|ja|りんごです。 ''Ringo desu''. ("[This is an apple.")
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: りんごです。 ''Ringo desu''. ("[This is an apple.")
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: {{Lang|ja|それは何色ですか？ ''Sore wa nani-iro desu ka?'' ("What color [is that?")<br>
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: それは何色ですか？ ''Sore wa nani-iro desu ka?'' ("What color [is that?")<br>
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: {{Lang|ja|赤いです。 ''Akai desu''. ("[That is red.")
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: 赤いです。 ''Akai desu''. ("[That is red.")
  
 
The two verbs いる ''iru'' > ''imasu'' and ある ''aru'' > ''arimasu'' express the '''physical presence''' of a person or animal in the former case, or an object in the latter case. To say '''"A is located in B'''", use the pattern '''A ''ga'' B ''ni imasu/arimasu'' ''':
 
The two verbs いる ''iru'' > ''imasu'' and ある ''aru'' > ''arimasu'' express the '''physical presence''' of a person or animal in the former case, or an object in the latter case. To say '''"A is located in B'''", use the pattern '''A ''ga'' B ''ni imasu/arimasu'' ''':
  
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: {{Lang|ja|山田さんがここにいます。 ''Yamada-san ga koko ni imasu.'' ("Mr. Yamada is [physically located here.")
+
: 山田さんがここにいます。 ''Yamada-san ga koko ni imasu.'' ("Mr. Yamada is [physically located here.")
−
: {{Lang|ja|本が棚にありますか？}}　''Hon ga tana ni arimasu ka?'' ("Is there a book on the shelf?")
+
: 本が棚にありますか？}}　''Hon ga tana ni arimasu ka?'' ("Is there a book on the shelf?")
−
: {{Lang|ja|はい、あります。 ''Hai, arimasu.'' ("Yes, [the book is [on the shelf.")
+
: はい、あります。 ''Hai, arimasu.'' ("Yes, [the book is [on the shelf.")
  
 
===Addressing others===
 
===Addressing others===
  
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{{cautionbox|Me, myself and I|
+
Me, myself and I|
 
As long as you're not 100% sure what you're doing you should always refer to yourself as 私 ''watashi'' and address others by their last name + さん ''san''. If you feel adventurous, here are a number of ways to address people.
 
As long as you're not 100% sure what you're doing you should always refer to yourself as 私 ''watashi'' and address others by their last name + さん ''san''. If you feel adventurous, here are a number of ways to address people.
  
 
'''I'''
 
'''I'''
−
; {{Lang|ja|私 ''watashi'', ''watakushi'' : the most common polite form for "I", lit. "private"
+
; 私 ''watashi'', ''watakushi'' : the most common polite form for "I", lit. "private"
−
; {{Lang|ja|あたし ''atashi'' : informal feminine version of ''watashi''
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; あたし ''atashi'' : informal feminine version of ''watashi''
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; {{Lang|ja|うち ''uchi'' : dialect form of ''watashi'', lit "(my) house", usually used to refer to one's family or home
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; うち ''uchi'' : dialect form of ''watashi'', lit "(my) house", usually used to refer to one's family or home
−
; {{Lang|ja|僕 ''boku'' : boyish and more informal, used only by males
+
; 僕 ''boku'' : boyish and more informal, used only by males
−
; {{Lang|ja|俺 ''ore'' : male speak (rude)
+
; 俺 ''ore'' : male speak (rude)
  
 
'''you'''
 
'''you'''
−
; {{Lang|ja|あなた ''anata'' : most common form for "you", not too direct
+
; あなた ''anata'' : most common form for "you", not too direct
−
; {{Lang|ja|あんた ''anta'' : more direct, used only by females, tends to be insulting
+
; あんた ''anta'' : more direct, used only by females, tends to be insulting
−
; {{Lang|ja|君 ''kimi'' : more direct, mostly from a man to a woman
+
; 君 ''kimi'' : more direct, mostly from a man to a woman
−
; {{Lang|ja|お前 ''omae'' : very direct and informal, used only by males
+
; お前 ''omae'' : very direct and informal, used only by males
−
; {{Lang|ja|てめえ ''temē'' : ''very'' rude, used only by males
+
; てめえ ''temē'' : ''very'' rude, used only by males
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
More a cultural than a grammatical problem is the problem of addressing somebody. Even though there exist a multitude of words with the meaning "you", it is generally avoided to address somebody directly. The closest equivalent to "you" is あなた ''anata'', but it's only used among close friends, or people of lower status than you. It is usually preferred to address somebody by name, title or status, applying appropriate honorifics.
 
More a cultural than a grammatical problem is the problem of addressing somebody. Even though there exist a multitude of words with the meaning "you", it is generally avoided to address somebody directly. The closest equivalent to "you" is あなた ''anata'', but it's only used among close friends, or people of lower status than you. It is usually preferred to address somebody by name, title or status, applying appropriate honorifics.
  
−
Note that in Japan, it is generally rude to address people by first name, and last names are almost always used instead. The exception to this rule are young children, and friends you are very close to. When names are written in Japanese, they always follow the Eastern name order (like Chinese and Korean names), with the last name always written before the first name, which is contrary to common training in English-speaking countries. This means that someone known as Taro Yamada in English will have his name written as 山田太郎 (''yamada tarō'') in Japanese.
+
Note that in [[Japan]], it is generally rude to address people by first name, and last names are almost always used instead. The exception to this rule are young children, and friends you are very close to. When names are written in [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] and they always follow the Eastern name order (like Chinese and Korean names), with the last name always written before the first name, which is contrary to common training in English-speaking countries. This means that someone known as Taro Yamada in English will have his name written as 山田太郎 (''yamada tarō'') in ([https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese]).
  
−
; {{Lang|ja|さん ''-san'' : The most basic honorific, about equivalent to Mister or Miss (no distinction between the two in Japanese). 山田さん ''Yamada-san'': Mister Yamada
+
; さん ''-san'' : The most basic honorific, about equivalent to Mister or Miss (no distinction between the two in Japanese). 山田さん ''Yamada-san'': Mister Yamada
−
; {{Lang|ja|様 ''-sama'' : Politer than ''-san'', used to address people ranking higher on the social ladder, such as your supervisor or boss, or even deities. It is also used by shop assistants to address customers.
+
; 様 ''-sama'' : Politer than ''-san'', used to address people ranking higher on the social ladder, such as your supervisor or boss, or even deities. It is also used by shop assistants to address clients.
−
; {{Lang|ja|ちゃん ''-chan'' : Usually used to address young children. Also used to address (usually female) close friends.
+
; ちゃん ''-chan'' : Usually used to address young children. Also used to address (usually female) close friends.
−
; {{Lang|ja|君 ''-kun'' : Used to address young boys and male close friends.
+
; 君 ''-kun'' : Used to address young boys and male close friends.
−
; {{Lang|ja|お客様 ''okyaku-sama'' : "Mister customer", used by hotel or shop owners to address you.
+
; お客様 ''okyaku-sama'' : "Mister client", used by hotel or shop owners to address you.
−
; {{Lang|ja|店長さん ''tenchō-san'' : The way to address the owner of a shop, though not the part-time workers.
+
; 店長さん ''tenchō-san'' : The way to address the owner of a shop, though not the part-time workers.
−
; {{Lang|ja|お兄さん ''onīsan'', {{Lang|ja|お姉さん ''onēsan'' : Literally "big brother" and "big sister" respectively, is used to address young people who you're having a hard time finding a better honorific for.
+
; お兄さん ''onīsan'', お姉さん ''onēsan'' : Literally "big brother" and "big sister" respectively, is used to address young people who you're having a hard time finding a better honorific for.
−
; {{Lang|ja|お爺さん ''ojīsan'', {{Lang|ja|お婆さん ''obāsan'' : "Grandpa" and "grandma", very popular to address old people. Cuter when used with ''-chan''.
+
; お爺さん ''ojīsan'', お婆さん ''obāsan'' : "Grandpa" and "grandma", very popular to address old people. Cuter when used with ''-chan''.
−
; {{Lang|ja|社長 ''shachō'' : The boss of the company.
+
; 社長 ''shachō'' : The boss of the company.
−
; {{Lang|ja|そちら ''sochira'' : Means something like "on your side" and is used when absolutely no better honorific can be found.
+
; そちら ''sochira'' : Means something like "on your side" and is used when absolutely no better honorific can be found.
  
 
There are also several different words for "I", with 私 ''watashi'' being the most commonly used. Grammatically it's often unnecessary to use the words "you" or "I" as the intended meaning is obvious from context, so they should generally be avoided. Sometimes people will also call themselves by their own name. When doing so they must not add any additional honorifics though; one only does this when addressing others.
 
There are also several different words for "I", with 私 ''watashi'' being the most commonly used. Grammatically it's often unnecessary to use the words "you" or "I" as the intended meaning is obvious from context, so they should generally be avoided. Sometimes people will also call themselves by their own name. When doing so they must not add any additional honorifics though; one only does this when addressing others.
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There's no specific form for "we" or the plural "you". To address groups of people you add the plural particle たち ''-tachi'' to somebody within the group or the group designator.
 
There's no specific form for "we" or the plural "you". To address groups of people you add the plural particle たち ''-tachi'' to somebody within the group or the group designator.
  
−
; {{Lang|ja|私たち ''watashi-tachi'' : lit. "the group around myself", meaning "we"
+
; 私たち ''watashi-tachi'' : lit. "the group around myself", meaning "we"
−
; {{Lang|ja|我々 ''ware-ware'' : a less formal way of saying "we"
+
; 我々 ''ware-ware'' : a less formal way of saying "we"
−
; {{Lang|ja|あなたたち ''anata-tachi'' : "the group around you", plural "you"
+
; あなたたち ''anata-tachi'' : "the group around you", plural "you"
−
; {{Lang|ja|子供たち ''kodomo-tachi'' : "a group of children", meaning "the children"
+
; 子供たち ''kodomo-tachi'' : "a group of children", meaning "the children"
−
; {{Lang|ja|山田さんたち ''Yamada-san-tachi'' : "the group around Yamada-''san''", everybody you'd associate with Mr. Yamada, based on context
+
; 山田さんたち ''Yamada-san-tachi'' : "the group around Yamada-''san''", everybody you'd associate with Mr. Yamada, based on context
  
 
==Reading and writing==
 
==Reading and writing==
−
Reading and writing Japanese are advanced skills which take years of work to gain much real proficiency. Japanese themselves use three different writing systems of various complexity, two of which (''hiragana'' and ''katakana'') are syllabic and relatively easy to learn with 50 characters each.
+
Reading and writing [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] are advanced skills which take years of work to gain much real proficiency. [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] themselves use three different writing systems of various complexity, two of which (''hiragana'' and ''katakana'') are syllabic and relatively easy to learn with 50 characters each.
  
−
The clincher is the set of Chinese characters known as ''kanji'', roughly 2,000 of which are in daily use while many more exist. The components of kanji originated as pictures representing concepts, and even though kanji have since evolved dramatically and many have long since jettisoned any connection to the original concept, the meaning of a few simple kanji can still be guessed at (see below).
+
The clincher is the set of Chinese characters known as ''kanji'', roughly 2,000 of which are in daily use while many more exist. The components of kanji originated as pictures representing concepts, and even though kanji have since evolved dramatically and many have long since jettisoned any connection to the original concept and the meaning of a few simple kanji can still be guessed at (see below).
  
−
One difficulty in reading Japanese lies often in the fact that a kanji can obtain several different pronunciations. The kanji 人 for example has the meaning of a person, and by itself it may be pronounced ''hito''. The kanji 大 means big (imagine a person with outstretched arms) and can be pronounced as ''dai'' or ''ō''. Together they form the word 大人 ''otona'', "adult" (lit. ''big person''). In the word {{Lang|ja|外国人 ''gaikokujin'' ("foreigner", lit. ''outside country person'') the same kanji 人 is pronounced ''jin''. These pronunciations exist because a single kanji may be used to write one or more different words, or parts of words. These "readings" are normally categorized as either Sino-Japanese ({{Lang|ja|音読み ''onyomi''); a Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation of the character at the time it was introduced to Japanese, or native Japanese ({{Lang|ja|訓読み ''kunyomi''); based on the pronunciation of a native Japanese word. Generally, ''kanji'' are read with their native Japanese reading when on their own (eg. {{Lang|ja|話, '''hanashi''') and with Sino-Japanese readings when part of compound words (eg. {{Lang|ja|電話, den'''wa'''), though there are many exceptions.
+
One difficulty in reading [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] lies often in the fact that a kanji can obtain several different pronunciations. The kanji 人 for example has the meaning of a person, and by itself it may be pronounced ''hito''. The kanji 大 means big (imagine a person with outstretched arms) and can be pronounced as ''dai'' or ''ō''. Together they form the word 大人 ''otona'', "adult" (lit. ''big person''). In the word 外国人 ''gaikokujin'' ("foreigner", lit. ''outside country person'') the same kanji 人 is pronounced ''jin''. These pronunciations exist because a single kanji may be used to write one or more different words, or parts of words. These "readings" are normally categorized as either Sino-Japanese ({{Lang|ja|音読み ''onyomi''); a [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] approximation of the Chinese pronunciation of the character at the time it was introduced to [[Japan|Japanese]], or native [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] ({{Lang|ja|訓読み ''kunyomi''); based on the pronunciation of a local [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] word. Generally, ''kanji'' are read with their native [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] reading when on their own (eg. 話, '''hanashi''') and with Sino-Japanese readings when part of compound words (eg. 電話, den'''wa'''), though there are many exceptions.
  
−
While knowing Chinese will give one a huge advantage in tackling kanji, and someone who knows Chinese would generally be able to guess the meanings of new kanji with about 70% accuracy, one should still be careful. While most characters have similar meanings in both Japanese and Chinese, there are a few which have drastically different meanings. For example, the word {{Lang|ja|手紙 "hand paper" means "toilet paper" (''shouzhi'') in China, but "letter" (''tegami'') in Japan. In addition, many ''kanji'' used in Japanese have since become archaic in Chinese (eg. {{Lang|ja|犬 ''inu'', meaning "dog"), meaning that while a native speaker of Chinese would likely recognise them, foreign language learners of Chinese may not be familiar with these characters as they are rarely used outside of idioms and proverbs in modern times.
+
While knowing Chinese will give one a huge advantage in tackling kanji, and someone who knows Chinese would generally be able to guess the meanings of new kanji with about 70% accuracy, one should still be careful. While most characters have similar meanings in both [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] and Chinese and there are a few which have drastically different meanings. For example and the word 手紙 "hand paper" means "toilet paper" (''shouzhi'') in [[China]], but "letter" (''tegami'') in [[Japan]]. In addition, many ''kanji'' used in [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] have since become archaic in Chinese (eg. 犬 ''inu'', meaning "dog"), meaning that while a local speaker of Chinese would likely recognise them, foreign language learners of Chinese may not be familiar with these characters as they are rarely used outside of idioms and proverbs in modern times.
  
−
Kanji are mixed with hiragana and katakana in everyday writing for historical reasons. Japan adapted the Chinese ''hanzi'' system into ''man'yōgana'', which is using the characters for their sounds rather than their meaning. Cursive form of man'yōgana was later on simplified into hiragana by women and its printed form into katakana by Buddhist monks. Until 1900 there were several hiragana characters to write each syllable. There are also several competing systems for rendering Japanese in the Latin alphabet, although the w:Hepburn_romanization|Hepburn romanization system is the most common and is used on Wikivoyage as well. Do not be surprised if you see these words romanized differently elsewhere.
+
Kanji are mixed with hiragana and katakana in everyday writing for historical reasons. [[Japan]] adapted the Chinese ''hanzi'' system into ''man'yōgana'', which is using the characters for their sounds rather than their meaning. Cursive form of man'yōgana was later on simplified into hiragana by women and its printed form into katakana by Buddhist monks. Until 1900 there were several hiragana characters to write each syllable. There are also several competing systems for rendering [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] in the Latin alphabet, although the Hepburn_romanization|Hepburn romanization system is the most common and is used on as well. Do not be surprised if you see these words romanized differently elsewhere.
  
−
Also note that there are many homophones in Japanese, i.e. words with different meanings that have the same pronunciation (like "there", "they're" and "their"). This can be confusing even to native speakers, to the extent that words have to be explained with an alternative reading or need to be drawn. These words may also employ a pitch-accent system to distinguish them, which speakers of non-tonal languages may have difficulty learning to understand.
+
Also note that there are many homophones in [[Japan|Japanese]], i.e. words with different meanings that have the same pronunciation (like "there", "they're" and "their"). This can be confusing even to native speakers, to the extent that words have to be explained with an alternative reading or need to be drawn. These words may also employ a pitch-accent system to distinguish them, which speakers of non-tonal languages may have difficulty learning to understand.
  
 
{| cellpadding="8" border="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #EEE"
 
{| cellpadding="8" border="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #EEE"
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==Phrase list==
 
==Phrase list==
  
−
{{cautionbox|Common signs|
+
Common signs|
 
; 営業中 (eigyōchū) : Open
 
; 営業中 (eigyōchū) : Open
 
; 準備中 (junbi-chū) : Closed
 
; 準備中 (junbi-chū) : Closed
Line 273: Line 273:
 
; How about you? : あなたは？ ''Anata wa?'' (''Ah-nah-tah wa'')
 
; How about you? : あなたは？ ''Anata wa?'' (''Ah-nah-tah wa'')
 
; What's your name? (lit. "Your name is...") : お名前は？ ''O-namae wa?'' (''Oh-nah-mah-eh wah?'')
 
; What's your name? (lit. "Your name is...") : お名前は？ ''O-namae wa?'' (''Oh-nah-mah-eh wah?'')
−
; My name is ... . : ... です。 ''... desu.'' (''... dess.'')
+
; My name is ... : ... です。''... desu.'' (''... dess.'')
 
; Nice to meet you. (formal) : 始めまして。どうぞ宜しくお願いします。 ''Hajimemashite. Dōzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.'' (''Hah-jee-meh-mash-teh dohh-zoh yoh-roh-sh-ku oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mah-ss'')
 
; Nice to meet you. (formal) : 始めまして。どうぞ宜しくお願いします。 ''Hajimemashite. Dōzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.'' (''Hah-jee-meh-mash-teh dohh-zoh yoh-roh-sh-ku oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mah-ss'')
 
; Please. (request) : お願いします。 ''Onegai shimasu.'' (''oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mahs'')
 
; Please. (request) : お願いします。 ''Onegai shimasu.'' (''oh-neh-gah-ee shee-mahs'')
 
; Please. (offer) : どうぞ。 ''Dōzo.'' (''Dohh-zoh'')
 
; Please. (offer) : どうぞ。 ''Dōzo.'' (''Dohh-zoh'')
−
; This person is ... . (when introducing somebody) : こちらは ... ''Kochira wa ...'' (''ko-chi-rah wah...'')
+
; This person is ... (when introducing somebody) : こちらは ... ''Kochira wa ...'' (''ko-chi-rah wah...'')
 
; Thank you very much. (formal) : どうもありがとうございます。 ''Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu.'' (''doh-moh ah-ree-GAH-toh go-ZAh-ee-mah-ss'')
 
; Thank you very much. (formal) : どうもありがとうございます。 ''Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu.'' (''doh-moh ah-ree-GAH-toh go-ZAh-ee-mah-ss'')
 
; Thank you. (less formal) : ありがとうございます。 ''Arigatō gozaimasu.'' (''ah-ree-GAH-toh go-ZAh-ee-mahs'')
 
; Thank you. (less formal) : ありがとうございます。 ''Arigatō gozaimasu.'' (''ah-ree-GAH-toh go-ZAh-ee-mahs'')
Line 290: Line 290:
 
; Goodbye. (long-term) : さようなら。 ''Sayōnara.'' (''sa-YOHH-nah-rah'')
 
; Goodbye. (long-term) : さようなら。 ''Sayōnara.'' (''sa-YOHH-nah-rah'')
 
; Goodbye. (informal) : じゃね。 ''Ja ne.'' (''Jah-neh'')
 
; Goodbye. (informal) : じゃね。 ''Ja ne.'' (''Jah-neh'')
−
; I can't speak Japanese (very well). : 日本語が（よく）話せません。 ''Nihongo ga (yoku) hanasemasen.'' (''nee-hohn-goh gah (yo-koo) hah-nah-seh-mah-sen'')
+
; I can't speak [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] (very well). : 日本語が（よく）話せません。 ''Nihongo ga (yoku) hanasemasen.'' (''nee-hohn-goh gah (yo-koo) hah-nah-seh-mah-sen'')
 
; Do you speak Japanese? : 日本語が話せますか？ ''Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?'' (''ni-HON-go gah hah-nah-se-mahs-KAH?'')
 
; Do you speak Japanese? : 日本語が話せますか？ ''Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?'' (''ni-HON-go gah hah-nah-se-mahs-KAH?'')
 
; Yes, a little. : はい、少し。 ''Hai, sukoshi.'' (''HIGH sko-shee'')
 
; Yes, a little. : はい、少し。 ''Hai, sukoshi.'' (''HIGH sko-shee'')
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; Good night (to sleep) (informal) : お休み。 ''Oyasumi.''
 
; Good night (to sleep) (informal) : お休み。 ''Oyasumi.''
 
; I don't understand. : 分かりません。 ''Wakarimasen.'' (''wah-kah-ree-mah-sen'')
 
; I don't understand. : 分かりません。 ''Wakarimasen.'' (''wah-kah-ree-mah-sen'')
−
; I am not Japanese. : 日本人ではありません。 ''Nihonjin dewa arimasen.'' (''nee-hon-jin deh-wah a-ree-ma-sehn'')
+
; I am not ([https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese]). : 日本人ではありません。 ''Nihonjin dewa arimasen.'' (''nee-hon-jin deh-wah a-ree-ma-sehn'')
 
; Where is the toilet? : お手洗い・トイレはどこですか？ ''Otearai/toire wa doko desu ka?'' (''Oh-teh-ah-rah-ee/toh-ee-reh wah DOH-koh dess kah?'')
 
; Where is the toilet? : お手洗い・トイレはどこですか？ ''Otearai/toire wa doko desu ka?'' (''Oh-teh-ah-rah-ee/toh-ee-reh wah DOH-koh dess kah?'')
 
; What? : 何？ ''Nani?'' (''nah-nee'')
 
; What? : 何？ ''Nani?'' (''nah-nee'')
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===Problems===
 
===Problems===
−
{{cautionbox|What part of "no" don't you understand?|The Japanese are famously reluctant to say the word "no", and in fact the language's closest equivalent, いいえ ''iie'', is largely limited to denying compliments you have received. ("Your Japanese is excellent! "''Iie'', it is very bad!"). But there are numerous other ways of expressing "no", so here are a few to watch out for.
+
What part of "no" don't you understand?|The [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] are famously reluctant to say the word "no", and in fact the language's closest equivalent, いいえ ''iie'', is largely limited to denying compliments you have received. ("Your [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] is excellent! "''Iie'', it is very bad!"). But there are numerous other ways of expressing "no", so here are a few to watch out for.
  
 
; いいです。<br/>''Ii desu.''<br/>結構です。<br/>''Kekkō desu.''
 
; いいです。<br/>''Ii desu.''<br/>結構です。<br/>''Kekkō desu.''
 
: "It's good," or "It's excellent." Used when you don't want more don't want your ''bentō'' lunch microwaved, and are generally happy to keep things as they are.Accompany with teeth-sucking and handwaving to be sure to get your point across - both of these expressions may be interpreted as ''positive'' responses if you don't include enough nonverbal indications to the contrary.
 
: "It's good," or "It's excellent." Used when you don't want more don't want your ''bentō'' lunch microwaved, and are generally happy to keep things as they are.Accompany with teeth-sucking and handwaving to be sure to get your point across - both of these expressions may be interpreted as ''positive'' responses if you don't include enough nonverbal indications to the contrary.
 
; ちょっと難しいです･･･<br/>''Chotto muzukashii desu...''
 
; ちょっと難しいです･･･<br/>''Chotto muzukashii desu...''
−
: Literally "it's a little difficult", but in training "it's completely impossible." Often just abbreviated to sucking in air through teeth, saying "chotto" and looking pained. Take the hint.
+
: Literally "it's a little difficult", but in training "it's completely imfeasible." Often just abbreviated to sucking in air through teeth, saying "chotto" and looking pained. Take the hint.
 
; 申し訳ないですが･･･<br/>''Mōshiwakenai desu ga...''
 
; 申し訳ないですが･･･<br/>''Mōshiwakenai desu ga...''
 
: "This is inexcusable but..." But no. Used by sales clerks and such to tell you that you cannot do or have something.
 
: "This is inexcusable but..." But no. Used by sales clerks and such to tell you that you cannot do or have something.
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====Allergies====
 
====Allergies====
  
−
; I'm allergic to ... . : 私は ... アレルギーです。 ''Watashi wa ... arerugii desu.''
+
; I'm allergic to ... : 私は ... アレルギーです。 ''Watashi wa ... arerugii desu.''
 
; antibiotics : 抗生物質 ''kōsei busshitsu''
 
; antibiotics : 抗生物質 ''kōsei busshitsu''
 
; aspirin : アスピリン ''asupirin''
 
; aspirin : アスピリン ''asupirin''
Line 379: Line 379:
  
 
====Explaining symptoms====
 
====Explaining symptoms====
−
{{cautionbox|Body parts|
+
Body parts|
 
; head : 頭 ''atama''
 
; head : 頭 ''atama''
 
; face: 顔 ''kao''
 
; face: 顔 ''kao''
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===Numbers===
 
===Numbers===
−
While Arabic (Western) numerals are employed for most uses in Japan, you will occasionally still spot Japanese numerals at eg. markets and the menus of fancy restaurants. The characters used are nearly identical to Chinese numerals, and like Chinese phrasebook|Chinese, Japanese uses groups of 4 digits, not 3. "One million" is thus 百万 (''hyaku-man''), literally "hundred ten-thousands".
+
While Arabic (Western) numerals are employed for most uses in [[Japan]], you will occasionally still spot [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] numerals at eg. markets and the menus of fancy restaurants. The characters used are nearly identical to Chinese numerals, and like Chinese phrasebook|Chinese, [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] uses groups of 4 digits, not 3. "One million" is thus 百万 (''hyaku-man''), literally "hundred ten-thousands".
  
−
There are both Japanese and Chinese readings for most numbers, but presented below are the more commonly used Chinese readings. Note that, due to superstition (''shi'' also means "death"), 4 and 7 typically use the Japanese readings ''yon'' and ''nana'' instead.
+
There are both [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] and Chinese readings for most numbers, but presented below are the more commonly used Chinese readings. Note that, due to superstition (''shi'' also means "death"), 4 and 7 typically use the [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] readings ''yon'' and ''nana'' instead.
  
−
{{cautionbox|Down for the count|When counting objects, Japanese uses special '''counter''' words. For example, "two ''bottles of'' beer" is ビール２本 ''biiru nihon'', where ''ni'' is "two" and ''-hon'' means "bottles". Unlike in English, where counter words are often optional or non-existent, in Japanese they're mandatory whenever you count something (e.g. 車２台 ''kuruma ni-dai'', two cars; 台 ''dai'' counts machines). Alas, the list of possible counters is vast, but some useful ones include:
+
Down for the count|When counting objects, [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] uses special '''counter''' words. For example, "two ''bottles of'' Cola" is ビール２本 ''biiru nihon'', where ''ni'' is "two" and ''-hon'' means "bottles". Unlike in English, where counter words are often optional or non-existent, in [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] they're mandatory whenever you count something (e.g. 車２台 ''kuruma ni-dai'', two cars; 台 ''dai'' counts machines). Alas and the list of feasible counters is vast, but some useful ones include:
 
; small roundish objects (apples, sweets) : 個 ''-ko''
 
; small roundish objects (apples, sweets) : 個 ''-ko''
 
; people : 人 ''-nin'' , 名 ''-mei'' (polite), 名様 ''-meisama'' (humble polite; use for others, but not yourself)
 
; people : 人 ''-nin'' , 名 ''-mei'' (polite), 名様 ''-meisama'' (humble polite; use for others, but not yourself)
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; 8 : 八つ ''yattsu''
 
; 8 : 八つ ''yattsu''
 
; 9 : 九つ ''kokonotsu''
 
; 9 : 九つ ''kokonotsu''
−
It is always a good idea to use a specific counter whenever possible, but using the generic numbers above is often equally acceptable. This system is commonly used anymore for numbers greater than nine.
+
It is always a good idea to use a specific counter whenever feasible, but using the generic numbers above is often equally acceptable. This system is commonly used anymore for numbers greater than nine.
  
−
Where they exist, the character(s) after the slash are used in financial contexts, such as when writing cheques and printing banknotes.
+
Where they exist and the character(s) after the slash are used in financial contexts, such as when writing cheques and printing banknotes.
  
 
; 0 : ゼロ (''zero'') or 〇 (''maru'') / 零 (''rei'') in finance
 
; 0 : ゼロ (''zero'') or 〇 (''maru'') / 零 (''rei'') in finance
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====Duration====
 
====Duration====
−
Confusingly, the Japanese words for "N days" (long) and "Nth day" are the same, so eg. 二日 ''futsuka'' means both "two days" and "the second day of the month". (See #Days of the Month for the full list.) You can tag on -間 ''kan'' at the end, eg. ''futsukakan'' 2日間, to clarify that you mean "two days long". The exception is 一日, which is read ''ichinichi'' to mean "one day/all day", but ''tsuitachi'' to mean "first day".
+
Confusingly and the [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] words for "N days" (long) and "Nth day" are the same, so eg. 二日 ''futsuka'' means both "two days" and "the second day of the month". (See #Days of the Month for the full list.) You can tag on -間 ''kan'' at the end, eg. ''futsukakan'' 2日間, to clarify that you mean "two days long". The exception is 一日, which is read ''ichinichi'' to mean "one day/all day", but ''tsuitachi'' to mean "first day".
  
 
; _____ minute(s) : _____ 分 (''fun'' or ''pun'')
 
; _____ minute(s) : _____ 分 (''fun'' or ''pun'')
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=====Days of the week=====
 
=====Days of the week=====
−
The days of the week are named after the sun, the moon and the five elements of Chinese philosophy.
+
The days of the week are named after the sun and the moon and the five elements of Chinese philosophy.
 
; Sunday : 日曜日 (''nichiyōbi'')
 
; Sunday : 日曜日 (''nichiyōbi'')
 
; Monday : 月曜日 (''getsuyōbi'')
 
; Monday : 月曜日 (''getsuyōbi'')
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====Months====
 
====Months====
−
Months are very orderly in Japanese, just add the suffix ''-gatsu'' to the Sino-Japanese ordinal number.
+
Months are very orderly in [[Japan|Japanese]], just add the suffix ''-gatsu'' to the Sino-Japanese ordinal number.
  
 
; January : 1月 (''ichigatsu'')
 
; January : 1月 (''ichigatsu'')
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===Colors===
 
===Colors===
−
Many of the English words for colors are widely used and understood by almost all Japanese. These are indicated after the slash.
+
Many of the English words for colors are widely used and understood by almost all ([https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese]). These are indicated after the slash.
  
−
Note that some Japanese colors are normally suffixed with ''-iro'' (色) to distinguish between the color and the object. For example, 茶 ''cha'' means "tea", but 茶色 ''chairo'' means "tea-color" → "brown".
+
Note that some [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] colors are normally suffixed with ''-iro'' (色) to distinguish between the color and the object. For example, 茶 ''cha'' means "tea", but 茶色 ''chairo'' means "tea-color" → "brown".
  
 
; black : 黒 / ブラック (''kuro / burakku'')
 
; black : 黒 / ブラック (''kuro / burakku'')
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===Eating===
 
===Eating===
−
{{cautionbox|What are they yelling at me?|Most Japanese restaurants show their appreciation for customers by loudly greeting them in unison. Expect to hear the following:
+
What are they yelling at me?|Most [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] restaurants show their appreciation for clients by loudly greeting them in unison. Expect to hear the following:
−
; ''Irasshai!'' or ''Irasshaimase!'' : "Come on in!", said when a customer walks in. You're not expected to respond in any way, just take a seat.
+
; ''Irasshai!'' or ''Irasshaimase!'' : "Come on in!", said when a client walks in. You're not expected to respond in any way, just take a seat.
−
; ''Arigatō gozaimashita!'' : "Thank you very much!", said when a customer leaves.
+
; ''Arigatō gozaimashita!'' : "Thank you very much!", said when a client leaves.
  
 
If your meal was good, thank the chef or staff with ''Gochisōsama deshita'' when leaving, and you'll get an extra-hearty thank you in return!}}
 
If your meal was good, thank the chef or staff with ''Gochisōsama deshita'' when leaving, and you'll get an extra-hearty thank you in return!}}
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; Is there a local specialty? : この辺の名物はありますか？ (''Kono hen no mēbutsu wa arimasu ka?'')
 
; Is there a local specialty? : この辺の名物はありますか？ (''Kono hen no mēbutsu wa arimasu ka?'')
 
; Please choose for me. : お任せします。 (''O-makase shimasu.'')
 
; Please choose for me. : お任せします。 (''O-makase shimasu.'')
−
; I'm a vegetarian. : ベジタリアンです。 (''Bejitarian desu.'')
+
; I'm a [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/plant-based-food/ Vegetarian]. : ベジタリアンです。 (''Bejitarian desu.'')
 
; I don't eat Pork. : 豚肉はだめです。 (''Butaniku wa dame desu.'')
 
; I don't eat Pork. : 豚肉はだめです。 (''Butaniku wa dame desu.'')
 
; I don't eat beef. : 牛肉はだめです。(''Gyūniku wa dame desu.'')
 
; I don't eat beef. : 牛肉はだめです。(''Gyūniku wa dame desu.'')
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; Please bring _____. : _____ を下さい。(''_____ wo kudasai.'')
 
; Please bring _____. : _____ を下さい。(''_____ wo kudasai.'')
 
; I want a dish containing _____. : _____が入ってるものを下さい。 (''____ ga haitteru mono wo kudasai.'')
 
; I want a dish containing _____. : _____が入ってるものを下さい。 (''____ ga haitteru mono wo kudasai.'')
−
; chicken : 鶏肉 (''toriniku'')
+
; [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-chicken-meat/ Chicken] : 鶏肉 (''toriniku'')
−
; beef : 牛肉 (''gyūniku'')
+
; beef : 牛肉 (''gyūniku'')
−
; Beef : 豚肉 (''butaniku'')
+
; Beef : 豚肉 (''butaniku'')
 
; mutton : 羊肉 (''yōniku'')
 
; mutton : 羊肉 (''yōniku'')
 
; fish : 魚 (''sakana'')
 
; fish : 魚 (''sakana'')
 
; ham : ハム (''hamu'')
 
; ham : ハム (''hamu'')
−
; sausage : ソーセージ (''sōsēji'')
+
; [https://ehalal.io/asean-halal-food/halal-shop/halal-sausages/ Sausages] : ソーセージ (''sōsēji'')
−
; cheese : チーズ (''chīzu'')
+
; [https://ehalal.io/asean-halal-food/halal-shop/halal-certified-cheese-food-products/  Cheese] : チーズ (''chīzu'')
 
; eggs : 卵 (''tamago'')
 
; eggs : 卵 (''tamago'')
 
; salad : サラダ (''sarada'')
 
; salad : サラダ (''sarada'')
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; bread : パン (''pan'')
 
; bread : パン (''pan'')
 
; toast : トースト (''tōsuto'')
 
; toast : トースト (''tōsuto'')
−
; [http:///halal-certified-noodles/ Noodles : 麺類 (''menrui'')
+
; [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-certified-noodles/ Noodles] : 麺類 (''menrui'')
−
; pasta : パスタ (''pasuta'')
+
; [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-pasta/ Pasta] : パスタ (''pasuta'')
−
; rice : ご飯 (''gohan'')
+
; [https://ehalal.io/asean-halal-food/halal-shop/halal-certified-rice/  Rice] : ご飯 (''gohan'')
 
; soup : スープ : (''sūpu'')
 
; soup : スープ : (''sūpu'')
 
; beans : 豆 (''mame'')
 
; beans : 豆 (''mame'')
 
; May I have a glass/cup of _____? : _____ を一杯下さい。 (''____ wo ippai kudasai.'')
 
; May I have a glass/cup of _____? : _____ を一杯下さい。 (''____ wo ippai kudasai.'')
 
; May I have a bottle of _____? : _____ を一本下さい。 (''_____ wo ippon kudasai.'')
 
; May I have a bottle of _____? : _____ を一本下さい。 (''_____ wo ippon kudasai.'')
−
; coffee : コーヒー (''kōhī'')
+
; [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-coffee-tea/ coffee] : コーヒー (''kōhī'')
 
; green tea : お茶 (''ocha'')
 
; green tea : お茶 (''ocha'')
 
; black tea : 紅茶 (''kōcha'')
 
; black tea : 紅茶 (''kōcha'')
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; water : 水 (''mizu'')
 
; water : 水 (''mizu'')
 
; organic juice : ビール (''bīru'')
 
; organic juice : ビール (''bīru'')
−
; red/white wine : 赤/白ワイン (''aka/shiro wain'')
+
; : 赤/白ワイン (''aka/shiro wain'')
 
; Do you have _____? : _____ はありますか? (''_____ wa arimasu ka?'')
 
; Do you have _____? : _____ はありますか? (''_____ wa arimasu ka?'')
 
; chopsticks : お箸 (''o-hashi'')
 
; chopsticks : お箸 (''o-hashi'')
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; salt : 塩 (''shio'')
 
; salt : 塩 (''shio'')
 
; black pepper : 胡椒 (''koshō'')
 
; black pepper : 胡椒 (''koshō'')
−
; soy sauce : 醤油 (''shōyu'')
+
; soy [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-sauces/ Sauce] : 醤油 (''shōyu'')
 
; ashtray : 灰皿 (''haizara'')
 
; ashtray : 灰皿 (''haizara'')
 
; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server'') : 済みません (''sumimasen'')
 
; Excuse me, waiter? (''getting attention of server'') : 済みません (''sumimasen'')
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; Answering machine : 留守番電話 ''rusuban denwa''
 
; Answering machine : 留守番電話 ''rusuban denwa''
 
; Hello (only on the phone) : もしもし ''moshi moshi''
 
; Hello (only on the phone) : もしもし ''moshi moshi''
−
; May I speak to ... . : ... をお願いします。''... wo onegaishimasu.''
+
; May I speak to ... : ... をお願いします。''... wo onegaishimasu.''
−
; Is ... there? : ... はいらっしゃいますか？ ''... wa irasshaimasu ka?''
+
; Is ... there? : ... はいらっしゃいますか？''... wa irasshaimasu ka?''
 
; Who is calling? : どなたですか？ ''Donata desu ka?''
 
; Who is calling? : どなたですか？ ''Donata desu ka?''
 
; One moment, please. : ちょっとお待ちください。 ''Chotto omachi kudasai.''
 
; One moment, please. : ちょっとお待ちください。 ''Chotto omachi kudasai.''
−
; ... is not here right now. : ... は今いません。 ''... wa ima imasen.''
+
; ... is not here right now. : ... は今いません。''... wa ima imasen.''
 
; I will call you again later. : 後でまた電話します。 ''Ato de mata denwa shimasu.''
 
; I will call you again later. : 後でまた電話します。 ''Ato de mata denwa shimasu.''
 
; I got the wrong number. : 間違えました。 ''Machigaemashita.''
 
; I got the wrong number. : 間違えました。 ''Machigaemashita.''
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===Bars===
 
===Bars===
−
{{cautionbox|Sake talk|Sake, known in Japanese as 日本酒 ''nihonshu'', has a vocabulary all its own. Here is a brief introduction.
+
Sake talk|Sake, known in [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] as 日本酒 ''nihonshu'', has a vocabulary all its own. Here is a brief introduction.
 
; ''atsukan'' : 熱燗 Heated sake. Recommended only in winter with affordable sake.
 
; ''atsukan'' : 熱燗 Heated sake. Recommended only in winter with affordable sake.
 
; ''hiyashi, reishu'' : 冷やし, 冷酒 Chilled sake. The way to drink better sake.
 
; ''hiyashi, reishu'' : 冷やし, 冷酒 Chilled sake. The way to drink better sake.
Line 818: Line 818:
 
; Do you serve alcohol? : お酒ありますか? (''O-sake arimasu ka?'')
 
; Do you serve alcohol? : お酒ありますか? (''O-sake arimasu ka?'')
 
; Is there table service? : テーブルサービスありますか? (''Tēburu sābisu arimasu ka?'')
 
; Is there table service? : テーブルサービスありますか? (''Tēburu sābisu arimasu ka?'')
−
; A beer/two beers, please. : ビール一杯・二杯下さい。(''Biiru ippai/nihai kudasai.'')
+
; A Cola/two soft drinks, please. : ビール一杯・二杯下さい。(''Biiru ippai/nihai kudasai.'')
−
; A glass of red/white wine, please. : 赤・白ワイン一杯下さい。(''Aka/shiro wain ippai kudasai.'')
+
; A glass of fruit cocktail, please. : 赤・白ワイン一杯下さい。(''Aka/shiro wain ippai kudasai.'')
−
; A mug (of beer), please. : (ビールの)ジョッキ下さい。(''(Bīru no) jokki kudasai.'')
+
; A mug (of Cola), please. : (ビールの)ジョッキ下さい。(''(Bīru no) jokki kudasai.'')
 
; A bottle, please. : ビン下さい。 (''Bin kudasai.'')
 
; A bottle, please. : ビン下さい。 (''Bin kudasai.'')
−
; _____ (''hard liquor'') and _____ (''mixer''), please. : _____ と _____ 下さい。(''_____ to _____ kudasai.'')
+
; _____ (''hard drink'') and _____ (''mixer''), please. : _____ と _____ 下さい。(''_____ to _____ kudasai.'')
 
; sake : 日本酒 (''nihonshu'')
 
; sake : 日本酒 (''nihonshu'')
−
; Japanese liquor : 焼酎 (''shōchū'')
+
; [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] drink : 焼酎 (''shōchū'')
 
; whiskey : ウイスキー (''uisukii'')
 
; whiskey : ウイスキー (''uisukii'')
 
; vodka : ウォッカ (''wokka'')
 
; vodka : ウォッカ (''wokka'')
−
; rum : ラム (''ramu'')
+
; : ラム (''ramu'')
 
; water : 水 (''mizu'')
 
; water : 水 (''mizu'')
 
; club soda : ソーダ (''sōda'')
 
; club soda : ソーダ (''sōda'')
Line 839: Line 839:
 
; When is closing time? : 閉店は何時ですか? (''Heiten wa nanji desuka?'')
 
; When is closing time? : 閉店は何時ですか? (''Heiten wa nanji desuka?'')
  
−
== Muslim Friendly Shopping in {{FULLPAGENAME}} ==
+
== Shopping in {{FULLPAGENAME}} ==
−
{{cautionbox|O, honorable prefix!|Nearly any Japanese word can be prefixed with the respectful tags ''o-'' (お) or ''go-'' (ご or 御), often translated with the unwieldy four-syllable word "honorable". A few you might expect &mdash; ''o-tōsan'' (お父さん) is "honorable father", and a few you might not &mdash; ''o-shiri'' (お尻) is "honorable buttocks". Most of the time, they're used to emphasize that the speaker is referring to the listener, so if someone enquires if after your honorable health (お元気 ''o-genki'') it's proper to strip off the honorific and reply that you are merely ''genki''. However, for some words like ''gohan'' (ご飯) "rice" and ''ocha'' (お茶) "tea", the prefix is inseparable and should always be used. In this phrasebook, the prefix is separated with a hyphen if it's optional (''o-kane''), and joined to the word if it's mandatory (''oisha'').
+
O, honorable prefix!|Nearly any [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] word can be prefixed with the respectful tags ''o-'' (お) or ''go-'' (ご or 御), often translated with the unwieldy four-syllable word "honorable". A few you might expect &mdash; ''o-tōsan'' (お父さん) is "honorable father", and a few you might not &mdash; ''o-shiri'' (お尻) is "honorable buttocks". Most of the time and they're used to emphasize that the speaker is referring to the listener, so if someone enquires if after your honorable health (お元気 ''o-genki'') it's proper to strip off the honorific and reply that you are merely ''genki''. However, for some words like ''gohan'' (ご飯) "rice" and ''ocha'' (お茶) "tea" and the prefix is inseparable and should always be used. In this phrasebook and the prefix is separated with a hyphen if it's optional (''o-kane''), and joined to the word if it's mandatory (''oisha'').
  
 
; Do you have this in my size? : 私のサイズでありますか？ (''Watashi no saizu de arimasu ka?'')
 
; Do you have this in my size? : 私のサイズでありますか？ (''Watashi no saizu de arimasu ka?'')
Line 888: Line 888:
  
 
====Talking about your own family====
 
====Talking about your own family====
−
{{cautionbox|Family ties|In Japanese, it's always important to use less respectful terms for your own family and more respectful terms for another's family. Note also that the words for older/younger brother/sister are different.
+
Family ties|In [[Japan|Japanese]], it's always important to use less respectful terms for your own family and more respectful terms for another's family. Note also that the words for older/younger brother/sister are different.
  
 
; Father : 父 (''chichi'')
 
; Father : 父 (''chichi'')
Line 937: Line 937:
  
 
===Authority===
 
===Authority===
−
In Japan, you can legally be incarcerated for twenty-three (23) days before you are charged, but you do have the right to see a lawyer after the first 48 hours of detention. Note that if you sign a confession, you ''will'' be convicted.
+
In [[Japan]], you can legally be incarcerated for twenty-three (23) days before you are charged, but you do have the right to see a lawyer after the first 48 hours of detention. Note that if you sign a confession, you ''will'' be convicted.
  
 
; I haven't done anything (wrong). : 何も(悪いこと)していません。(''Nani mo (warui koto) shiteimasen.'')
 
; I haven't done anything (wrong). : 何も(悪いこと)していません。(''Nani mo (warui koto) shiteimasen.'')
Line 946: Line 946:
 
; I want to meet with the ____ embassy. : ____ 大使館と会わせて下さい。 (''____ taishikan to awasete kudasai.'')
 
; I want to meet with the ____ embassy. : ____ 大使館と会わせて下さい。 (''____ taishikan to awasete kudasai.'')
 
; I want to meet with a lawyer. : 弁護士と会わせて下さい。(''Bengoshi to awasete kudasai.'')
 
; I want to meet with a lawyer. : 弁護士と会わせて下さい。(''Bengoshi to awasete kudasai.'')
−
; Can it be settled with a fine? : 罰金で済みますか？ (''Bakkin de sumimasu ka?'')<br>Note: You can say this to a traffic cop, but bribery is highly unlikely to work in Japan.
+
; Can it be settled with a fine? : 罰金で済みますか？ (''Bakkin de sumimasu ka?'')<br>Note: You can say this to a traffic cop, but bribery is highly unlikely to work in [[Japan]].
  
−
===Typical Japanese expressions===
+
===Typical [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] expressions===
  
−
{{cautionbox|Four syllable words|If words can be shortened, Japanese will inevitably shorten them. Two by two syllables is often the sweet spot, and sometimes it's hard to guess where those came from.
+
Four syllable words|If words can be shortened, [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] will inevitably shorten them. Two by two syllables is often the sweet spot, and sometimes it's hard to guess where those came from.
  
 
; デジカメ ''deji kame'' : → デジタルカメラ ''dejitaru kamera'', a digital camera.
 
; デジカメ ''deji kame'' : → デジタルカメラ ''dejitaru kamera'', a digital camera.
 
; パソコン ''pasokon'' : → パーソナルコンピューター ''pāsonaru konpyūtā'', a personal computer. ノート ''nōto'' stands for notebooks.
 
; パソコン ''pasokon'' : → パーソナルコンピューター ''pāsonaru konpyūtā'', a personal computer. ノート ''nōto'' stands for notebooks.
 
; プリクラ ''purikura'' : → プリントクラブ ''purinto kurabu'' or "print club". A sort of extremely flashy photo booth and a favourite pastime for many.
 
; プリクラ ''purikura'' : → プリントクラブ ''purinto kurabu'' or "print club". A sort of extremely flashy photo booth and a favourite pastime for many.
−
; パチスロ ''pachi suro'' : → パチンコ＆スロット ''pachinko & surotto'', locations everywhere offering the number one Japanese gambling game ''pachinko'' and traditional slot machines.
+
; パチスロ ''pachi suro'' : → パチンコ＆スロット ''pachinko & surotto'', locations everywhere offering the number one [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] gambling game ''pachinko'' and traditional slot machines.
 
; リモコン ''rimokon'' : → リモートコントロール ''rimōto kontorōru'', remote control
 
; リモコン ''rimokon'' : → リモートコントロール ''rimōto kontorōru'', remote control
 
; KY ''kei wai'' : → 空気読めない '''''k'''ūki '''y'''omenai'', "can't read the air", meaning an unperceptive person who can't read between the lines/can't keep up with a conversation.
 
; KY ''kei wai'' : → 空気読めない '''''k'''ūki '''y'''omenai'', "can't read the air", meaning an unperceptive person who can't read between the lines/can't keep up with a conversation.
Line 973: Line 973:
  
 
===Honourifics===
 
===Honourifics===
−
Japanese makes extensive use of honorific language (敬語 ''keigo'') when talking to people of higher status. Keigo is famously difficult to master and even Japanese salespeople often need to take special courses to learn to speak correctly, but it is very commonly used in situations like salespeople talking to customers and train announcements, so even passive familiarity with the most common ''keigo'' verbs and constructs can be very handy, though as a foreigner, local residents are generally understanding if you do not get it right.
+
Japanese makes extensive use of honorific language (敬語 ''keigo'') when talking to people of higher status. Keigo is famously difficult to master and even [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] salespeople often need to take special courses to learn to speak correctly, but it is very commonly used in situations like salespeople talking to clients and train announcements, so even passive familiarity with the most common ''keigo'' verbs and constructs can be very handy, though as a foreigner, local residents are generally understanding if you do not get it right.
  
 
====Respectful form====
 
====Respectful form====
Line 987: Line 987:
  
 
====Humble form====
 
====Humble form====
−
When talking about yourself to someone of higher status than you, it is important to put yourself down by using a humble form (謙遜語 ''kensongo''). Generally this follows the pattern お～する (''o ~ suru''), where ～ reprents the stem of the basic polite form: eg. to borrow, 借りる(''kariru''), basic polite form 借ります (''karimasu'') becomes お借りする (''o-kari-suru''). The ''suru'' at the end follows the usual conjugation pattern of ''suru'', most commonly becoming ''shimasu'' (present) or ''shimashita'' (past); for an extra helping of humility, the verb 致す ''itasu'' > 致します ''itashimasu'' can be substituted. The main exceptions are listed below:
+
When talking about yourself to someone of higher status than you, it is important to put yourself down by using a humble form (謙遜語 ''kensongo''). Generally this follows the pattern お～する (''o ~ suru''), where ～ reprents the stem of the basic polite form: eg. to borrow, 借りる(''kariru''), basic polite form 借ります (''karimasu'') becomes お借りする (''o-kari-suru''). The ''suru'' at the end follows the usual conjugation pattern of ''suru'', most commonly becoming ''shimasu'' (present) or ''shimashita'' (past); for an extra helping of humility and the verb 致す ''itasu'' > 致します ''itashimasu'' can be substituted. The main exceptions are listed below:
  
 
*To see: 見る becomes 拝見する (''haiken-suru'').
 
*To see: 見る becomes 拝見する (''haiken-suru'').
Line 1,005: Line 1,005:
 
; 彼もりんごを見ます。 ''Kare mo ringo wo mimasu.'' : '''He also sees''' the apple. (''polite'')
 
; 彼もりんごを見ます。 ''Kare mo ringo wo mimasu.'' : '''He also sees''' the apple. (''polite'')
  
−
In fact, the ''desu'' copula and the ''-masu'' form taught to beginning students of Japanese are both examples of ''teineigo''. A few verbs and adjectives have special ''teineigo'' forms:
+
In fact and the ''desu'' copula and the ''-masu'' form taught to beginning students of [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] are both examples of ''teineigo''. A few verbs and adjectives have special ''teineigo'' forms:
  
 
; to be : ''aru'' (ある) → ''gozaru'' (ござる、御座る) (basic polite form ございます (''gozaimasu'') and '''not''' ござります)
 
; to be : ''aru'' (ある) → ''gozaru'' (ござる、御座る) (basic polite form ございます (''gozaimasu'') and '''not''' ござります)
Line 1,012: Line 1,012:
  
 
===Country and territory names===
 
===Country and territory names===
−
Country and territory names in Japanese are generally borrowed from their English names and written in katakana. The names of languages are generally formed by adding 語 (''go'') to the end of the nation name. Some of the main exceptions are as follows:
+
Country and territory names in [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] are generally borrowed from their English names and written in katakana. The names of languages are generally formed by adding 語 (''go'') to the end of the nation name. Some of the main exceptions are as follows:
  
 
;日本 ''Nihon/Nippon'' , 日本国 ''Nihon-koku'': Japan
 
;日本 ''Nihon/Nippon'' , 日本国 ''Nihon-koku'': Japan
−
;中国 ''Chūgoku'', 中華人民共和国 ''Chūka jinmin Kyouwa koku'' : China (or, confusingly, Chugoku|Western Honshu)
+
;中国 ''Chūgoku'', 中華人民共和国 ''Chūka jinmin Kyouwa koku'' : [[China]] (or, confusingly, Chugoku|Western Honshu)
 
;台湾 ''Taiwan'' : Taiwan
 
;台湾 ''Taiwan'' : Taiwan
 
;香港 ''Honkon'': Hong Kong
 
;香港 ''Honkon'': Hong Kong
 
;韓国 ''Kankoku'' : South Korea
 
;韓国 ''Kankoku'' : South Korea
−
;北朝鮮 ''Kitachōsen'' : North Korea
+
;北朝鮮 ''Kitachōsen'' : [[North Korea]]
 
;ドイツ ''Doitsu'' : Germany
 
;ドイツ ''Doitsu'' : Germany
 
;イギリス ''Igirisu'', 英国 ''Eikoku'' (written) : United Kingdom
 
;イギリス ''Igirisu'', 英国 ''Eikoku'' (written) : United Kingdom
Line 1,027: Line 1,027:
 
;イタリア ''Itaria'' : Italy
 
;イタリア ''Itaria'' : Italy
 
;イスラエル ''Isuraeru'' : Israel
 
;イスラエル ''Isuraeru'' : Israel
−
;アメリカ ''Amerika'', 米国 ''Beikoku'' (written) : United States of America (not the whole American continent)
+
;アメリカ ''Amerika'', 米国 ''Beikoku'' (written) : [[United States of America|United States]] (not the whole American continent)
 
;南アフリカ ''Minami-afurika'' : South Africa
 
;南アフリカ ''Minami-afurika'' : South Africa
 
;オランダ ''Oranda'' : The Netherlands
 
;オランダ ''Oranda'' : The Netherlands
−
;ベルギー　''Berugī'' : Belgium
+
;ベルギー　''Berugī'' : [[Belgium]]
 
;ハンガリー ''Hangarī'' : Hungary
 
;ハンガリー ''Hangarī'' : Hungary
 
;エチオピアー ''Echiopia'' : Ethiopia
 
;エチオピアー ''Echiopia'' : Ethiopia
−
;アラブ首長国連邦 ''Arabu-shuchōkoku-rempō'' : United Arab Emirates
+
;アラブ首長国連邦 ''Arabu-shuchōkoku-rempō'' : [[United Arab Emirates]]
 
;豪州 ''Gōshū'' , オーストラリア ''Ōsutoraria'' : Australia
 
;豪州 ''Gōshū'' , オーストラリア ''Ōsutoraria'' : Australia
  
Line 1,039: Line 1,039:
  
 
* WWWJDIC &mdash; English-Japanese-English dictionary including sentence translation, kanji lookup and place/personal name dictionary
 
* WWWJDIC &mdash; English-Japanese-English dictionary including sentence translation, kanji lookup and place/personal name dictionary
−
* Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese Grammar &mdash; Comprehensive online/printable grammar guide building up from casual Japanese using first principles (as opposed to working sideways from polite phrasebook Japanese)
+
* Tae Kim's Guide to [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] Grammar &mdash; Comprehensive online/printable grammar guide building up from casual [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] using first principles (as opposed to working sideways from polite phrasebook Japanese)
−
* Japanese LinguaLift &mdash; Learn, review, and training Japanese in one easy to use package.
+
* [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] LinguaLift &mdash; Learn, review, and training [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] in one easy to use package.
−
* L-Lingo Japanese &mdash; A free 40 lesson online learn Japanese application
+
* L-Lingo [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] &mdash; A free 40 lesson online learn [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] application
−
* Charles Kelly's Online Japanese Language Study Materials &mdash; A collection of online study aids and quizzes
+
* Charles Kelly's Online [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] Language Study Materials &mdash; A collection of online study aids and quizzes
−
* [https://com Learn Japanese by listening &mdash; Some Japanese lessons in mp3.
+
* [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] by listening &mdash; Some [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] lessons in mp3.
−
* Listen to the pronunciation of Japanese Phrases &mdash;Audio Pronunciation of Japanese Phrases.
+
* Listen to the pronunciation of [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] Phrases &mdash;Audio Pronunciation of [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] Phrases.
−
* Learn to speak Japanese - One at a Time &mdash; Daily Japanese lessons.
+
* to speak [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] - One at a Time &mdash; Daily [https://ja.ehalal.io/muslim-friendly-travel-2024/{{urlencode:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|PATH}} Japanese] lessons.
 
* Jisho.org &mdash; Another English-Japanese-English dictionary, but, with a deceptively powerful bookmarklet to assist reading kanji on websites.
 
* Jisho.org &mdash; Another English-Japanese-English dictionary, but, with a deceptively powerful bookmarklet to assist reading kanji on websites.
 
* Denshi Jisho The best resource for japanese electronic dictionaries
 
* Denshi Jisho The best resource for japanese electronic dictionaries

Latest revision as of 11:58, 20 September 2024

Osaka banner.jpg

Chingodo Lanterns - Japanese writing on a temple lantern, Asakusa, Tokyo

Japanese (日本語 nihongo) is spoken in Japan, and crucially nowhere else other than Hawaii, South Korea and China, where some use it as a second language. Japanese may be distantly related to Korean, but is entirely unrelated to Chinese phrasebook

Watashi-wa eiga-o mimashita.
I-[topic movie-[object seen.

It becomes a little more complicated if both objects and subjects are mixed within a sentence and the subject marker が ga is thrown in.

I discovered that she likes tea.
私は彼女がお茶を好きな事が分かった。}}
Watashi-wa kanojo-ga ocha-o sukinakoto-ga wakatta.
I-[topic she-[subj. tea-[obj. like-[subj. understood.

Students of the language can spend years wrapping their heads around the difference between the topic of a sentence (marked by は wa) and the subject of a sentence (marked by が ga). However, as a beginner, you can fairly safely always use は wa to mark the person doing the action and get your message across.

Some other useful particles are:

の no 
possessive marker
The mother's child
母の子}}
haha no ko
で de, に ni 
indicating places and times
in Tokyo
東京で}}
Tōkyō-de
at 2 o'clock
２時に}}
niji-ni
から kara, へ e, まで made 
from, towards, until
From here towards Osaka until Nara.
ここから大阪へ奈良まで}}
koko kara Ōsaka-e Nara-made
と to, か ka 
and, or
This and that.
これとそれ}}
kore to sore
This or that.
これかそれ}}
kore ka sore
か？ ka? 
question forming particle
Are you going to Tokyo?
東京に行きますか？}}
Tōkyō ni ikimasu ka?

The verb "to be"

Japanese does not have an exact equivalent to the English verb "to be". Instead and the easiest way to form "A equals B" type expressions like "I am ..." or "This is ..." is the pattern A wa, B desu.

私は、山田です。 Watashi wa, Yamada desu ("I [am Yamada.")
これは、りんごです。 Kore wa, ringo desu ("This [is apple.")
それは、赤いです。 Sore wa, akai desu ("That [is red.").

The word です　desu here is not a verb, it's a polite copula (linking word), which can be omitted in colloquial speech or replaced with other copulas including でした deshita (polite past), でしょう deshō (polite suggestion) or だ da (plain). The topic indicated by は wa is also optional and is often implied by context:

あなたはだれですか？ Anata wa dare desu ka? ("Who [are you?")
山田です。 Yamada desu. ("[I am Yamada.")
これは何ですか？ Kore wa nan desu ka? ("What [is this?")
りんごです。 Ringo desu. ("[This is an apple.")
それは何色ですか？ Sore wa nani-iro desu ka? ("What color [is that?")
赤いです。 Akai desu. ("[That is red.")

The two verbs いる iru > imasu and ある aru > arimasu express the physical presence of a person or animal in the former case, or an object in the latter case. To say "A is located in B", use the pattern A ga B ni imasu/arimasu :

山田さんがここにいます。 Yamada-san ga koko ni imasu. ("Mr. Yamada is [physically located here.")
本が棚にありますか？}}　Hon ga tana ni arimasu ka? ("Is there a book on the shelf?")
はい、あります。 Hai, arimasu. ("Yes, [the book is [on the shelf.")

Addressing others

Me, myself and I| As long as you're not 100% sure what you're doing you should always refer to yourself as 私 watashi and address others by their last name + さん san. If you feel adventurous, here are a number of ways to address people.

I

私 watashi, watakushi 
the most common polite form for "I", lit. "private"
あたし atashi 
informal feminine version of watashi
うち uchi 
dialect form of watashi, lit "(my) house", usually used to refer to one's family or home
僕 boku 
boyish and more informal, used only by males
俺 ore 
male speak (rude)

you

あなた anata 
most common form for "you", not too direct
あんた anta 
more direct, used only by females, tends to be insulting
君 kimi 
more direct, mostly from a man to a woman
お前 omae 
very direct and informal, used only by males
てめえ temē 
very rude, used only by males

}}

More a cultural than a grammatical problem is the problem of addressing somebody. Even though there exist a multitude of words with the meaning "you", it is generally avoided to address somebody directly. The closest equivalent to "you" is あなた anata, but it's only used among close friends, or people of lower status than you. It is usually preferred to address somebody by name, title or status, applying appropriate honorifics.

Note that in Japan, it is generally rude to address people by first name, and last names are almost always used instead. The exception to this rule are young children, and friends you are very close to. When names are written in Japanese and they always follow the Eastern name order (like Chinese and Korean names), with the last name always written before the first name, which is contrary to common training in English-speaking countries. This means that someone known as Taro Yamada in English will have his name written as 山田太郎 (yamada tarō) in (Japanese).

さん -san 
The most basic honorific, about equivalent to Mister or Miss (no distinction between the two in Japanese). 山田さん Yamada-san: Mister Yamada
様 -sama 
Politer than -san, used to address people ranking higher on the social ladder, such as your supervisor or boss, or even deities. It is also used by shop assistants to address clients.
ちゃん -chan 
Usually used to address young children. Also used to address (usually female) close friends.
君 -kun 
Used to address young boys and male close friends.
お客様 okyaku-sama 
"Mister client", used by hotel or shop owners to address you.
店長さん tenchō-san 
The way to address the owner of a shop, though not the part-time workers.
お兄さん onīsan, お姉さん onēsan 
Literally "big brother" and "big sister" respectively, is used to address young people who you're having a hard time finding a better honorific for.
お爺さん ojīsan, お婆さん obāsan 
"Grandpa" and "grandma", very popular to address old people. Cuter when used with -chan.
社長 shachō 
The boss of the company.
そちら sochira 
Means something like "on your side" and is used when absolutely no better honorific can be found.

There are also several different words for "I", with 私 watashi being the most commonly used. Grammatically it's often unnecessary to use the words "you" or "I" as the intended meaning is obvious from context, so they should generally be avoided. Sometimes people will also call themselves by their own name. When doing so they must not add any additional honorifics though; one only does this when addressing others.

There's no specific form for "we" or the plural "you". To address groups of people you add the plural particle たち -tachi to somebody within the group or the group designator.

私たち watashi-tachi 
lit. "the group around myself", meaning "we"
我々 ware-ware 
a less formal way of saying "we"
あなたたち anata-tachi 
"the group around you", plural "you"
子供たち kodomo-tachi 
"a group of children", meaning "the children"
山田さんたち Yamada-san-tachi 
"the group around Yamada-san", everybody you'd associate with Mr. Yamada, based on context

Reading and writing

Reading and writing Japanese are advanced skills which take years of work to gain much real proficiency. Japanese themselves use three different writing systems of various complexity, two of which (hiragana and katakana) are syllabic and relatively easy to learn with 50 characters each.

The clincher is the set of Chinese characters known as kanji, roughly 2,000 of which are in daily use while many more exist. The components of kanji originated as pictures representing concepts, and even though kanji have since evolved dramatically and many have long since jettisoned any connection to the original concept and the meaning of a few simple kanji can still be guessed at (see below).

One difficulty in reading Japanese lies often in the fact that a kanji can obtain several different pronunciations. The kanji 人 for example has the meaning of a person, and by itself it may be pronounced hito. The kanji 大 means big (imagine a person with outstretched arms) and can be pronounced as dai or ō. Together they form the word 大人 otona, "adult" (lit. big person). In the word 外国人 gaikokujin ("foreigner", lit. outside country person) the same kanji 人 is pronounced jin. These pronunciations exist because a single kanji may be used to write one or more different words, or parts of words. These "readings" are normally categorized as either Sino-Japanese (音読み onyomi); a Japanese approximation of the Chinese pronunciation of the character at the time it was introduced to Japanese, or native Japanese (訓読み kunyomi); based on the pronunciation of a local Japanese word. Generally, kanji are read with their native Japanese reading when on their own (eg. 話, hanashi) and with Sino-Japanese readings when part of compound words (eg. 電話, denwa), though there are many exceptions.

While knowing Chinese will give one a huge advantage in tackling kanji, and someone who knows Chinese would generally be able to guess the meanings of new kanji with about 70% accuracy, one should still be careful. While most characters have similar meanings in both Japanese and Chinese and there are a few which have drastically different meanings. For example and the word 手紙 "hand paper" means "toilet paper" (shouzhi) in China, but "letter" (tegami) in Japan. In addition, many kanji used in Japanese have since become archaic in Chinese (eg. 犬 inu, meaning "dog"), meaning that while a local speaker of Chinese would likely recognise them, foreign language learners of Chinese may not be familiar with these characters as they are rarely used outside of idioms and proverbs in modern times.

Kanji are mixed with hiragana and katakana in everyday writing for historical reasons. Japan adapted the Chinese hanzi system into man'yōgana, which is using the characters for their sounds rather than their meaning. Cursive form of man'yōgana was later on simplified into hiragana by women and its printed form into katakana by Buddhist monks. Until 1900 there were several hiragana characters to write each syllable. There are also several competing systems for rendering Japanese in the Latin alphabet, although the Hepburn_romanization

... hurts. 
... が痛い。... ga itai.
Feeling unwell. 
気分が悪い Kibun ga warui.
Having a fever. 
熱があります。 Netsu ga arimasu.
Coughing a lot. 
咳がでます。 Seki ga demasu.
Feeling listless. 
体がだるい。 Karada ga darui.
Feeling nauseated. 
吐き気がします。 Hakike ga shimasu.
Feeling dizzy. 
めまいがします。 Memai ga shimasu.
Having the chills. 
寒気がします。 Samuke ga shimasu.
Swallowed something. 
何かを呑んでしまいました。 Nanika o nonde shimaimashita.
Bleeding. 
出血です。 Shukketsu desu.
Broken bone. 
骨折です。 Kossetsu desu.
He/she is unconscious. 
意識不明です。 Ishiki fumei desu.
Burned. 
火傷です。 Yakedo desu.
Trouble breathing. 
呼吸困難です。 Kokyū konnan desu.
Heart attack. 
心臓発作です。 Shinzō hossa desu.
Vision worsened. 
視力が落ちました。 Shiryoku ga ochimashita.
Cannot hear well. 
耳がよく聞こえません。 Mimi ga yoku kikoemasen.
Nose bleeds a lot. 
鼻血がよくでます。 Hanaji ga yoku demasu.

Extreme weather

Japan has more than its fair share of natural disasters.

Blizzard 
吹雪 (fubuki)
Earthquake 
地震 (jishin)
Flood 
洪水 (kōzui)
Landslide 
地滑り (jisuberi)
Tsunami 
津波 (tsunami)
Typhoon 
台風 (taifū)
Volcano eruption 
噴火 (funka)

Numbers

While Arabic (Western) numerals are employed for most uses in Japan, you will occasionally still spot Japanese numerals at eg. markets and the menus of fancy restaurants. The characters used are nearly identical to Chinese numerals, and like Chinese phrasebook

I'm hungry. 
お腹がすきました。 (Onaka ga sukimashita.)
A table for one person/two people, please. 
一人・二人です。 (Hitori/futari desu.)
Please bring a menu. 
メニューを下さい。 (Menu wo kudasai.)
Can I look in the kitchen? 
調理場を見てもいいですか？ (Chōriba wo mite mo ii desu ka?)
Is there a house specialty? 
お勧めはありますか？ (O-susume wa arimasu ka?)
Is there a local specialty? 
この辺の名物はありますか？ (Kono hen no mēbutsu wa arimasu ka?)
Please choose for me. 
お任せします。 (O-makase shimasu.)
I'm a Vegetarian. 
ベジタリアンです。 (Bejitarian desu.)
I don't eat Pork. 
豚肉はだめです。 (Butaniku wa dame desu.)
I don't eat beef. 
牛肉はだめです。(Gyūniku wa dame desu.)
I don't eat raw fish. 
生の魚はだめです。(Nama no sakana wa dame desu.)
Please do not use too much oil. 
油を控えて下さい。(Abura wo hikaete kudasai.)
fixed-price meal 
定食 (teishoku)
à la carte 
一品料理 (ippinryōri)
breakfast 
朝食 (chōshoku) / 朝ご飯 (asagohan)
lunch 
昼食 (chūshoku) / 昼ご飯　(hirugohan)
light meal/snack 
軽食 (keishoku)
supper 
夕食 (yūshoku) / 晩ご飯 (bangohan)
Please bring _____. 
_____ を下さい。(_____ wo kudasai.)
I want a dish containing _____. 
_____が入ってるものを下さい。 (____ ga haitteru mono wo kudasai.)
Chicken 
鶏肉 (toriniku)
beef 
牛肉 (gyūniku)
Beef 
豚肉 (butaniku)
mutton 
羊肉 (yōniku)
fish 
魚 (sakana)
ham 
ハム (hamu)
Sausages 
ソーセージ (sōsēji)
Cheese 
チーズ (chīzu)
eggs 
卵 (tamago)
salad 
サラダ (sarada)
(fresh) vegetables 
(生)野菜 ( (nama) yasai)
(fresh) fruit 
(生)果物 ( (nama) kudamono)
bread 
パン (pan)
toast 
トースト (tōsuto)
Noodles 
麺類 (menrui)
Pasta 
パスタ (pasuta)
Rice 
ご飯 (gohan)
soup 
スープ : (sūpu)
beans 
豆 (mame)
May I have a glass/cup of _____? 
_____ を一杯下さい。 (____ wo ippai kudasai.)
May I have a bottle of _____? 
_____ を一本下さい。 (_____ wo ippon kudasai.)
coffee 
コーヒー (kōhī)
green tea 
お茶 (ocha)
black tea 
紅茶 (kōcha)
juice 
果汁 (kajū)
milk 
ミルク (miruku) / 牛乳 (gyūnyū) (The latter is specifically refers to cow's milk.)
water 
水 (mizu)
organic juice 
ビール (bīru)
 
赤/白ワイン (aka/shiro wain)
Do you have _____? 
_____ はありますか? (_____ wa arimasu ka?)
chopsticks 
お箸 (o-hashi)
fork 
フォーク (fōku)
spoon 
スプーン (supūn)
salt 
塩 (shio)
black pepper 
胡椒 (koshō)
soy Sauce 
醤油 (shōyu)
ashtray 
灰皿 (haizara)
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server) 
済みません (sumimasen)
(when starting a meal) 
いただきます。(itadakimasu)
It was delicious. (when finishing a meal) 
ご馳走さまでした。 (Gochisōsama deshita.)
Please clear the plates. 
お皿を下げてください。 (Osara o sagete kudasai.)
The check, please. 
お勘定お願いします。 (O-kanjo onegaishimasu.) / 会計お願いします。 (Kaikei onegaishimasu)

=On the ☎

Telephone 
電話 denwa
Mobile phone 
携帯(電話)　kētai(denwa)
Telephone number 
電話番号 denwa bangō
☎ book 
電話帳 denwa chō
Answering machine 
留守番電話 rusuban denwa
Hello (only on the phone) 
もしもし moshi moshi
May I speak to ...  
... をお願いします。... wo onegaishimasu.
Is ... there? 
... はいらっしゃいますか？... wa irasshaimasu ka?
Who is calling? 
どなたですか？ Donata desu ka?
One moment, please. 
ちょっとお待ちください。 Chotto omachi kudasai.
... is not here right now. 
... は今いません。... wa ima imasen.
I will call you again later. 
後でまた電話します。 Ato de mata denwa shimasu.
I got the wrong number. 
間違えました。 Machigaemashita.
The line is busy. 
話し中です。 Hanashichū desu.
What is your phone number? 
電話番号は何番ですか？ Denwa bangō wa nanban desu ka?

Bars

Sake talk|Sake, known in Japanese as 日本酒 nihonshu, has a vocabulary all its own. Here is a brief introduction.

atsukan 
熱燗 Heated sake. Recommended only in winter with affordable sake.
hiyashi, reishu 
冷やし, 冷酒 Chilled sake. The way to drink better sake.
isshōbin 
一升瓶 The standard sake bottle, containing 10 gō, ie. 1.8 liters.
ichigō 
一合 The standard measure for servings of sake, around 180 milliliters.
tokkuri 
徳利 A small ceramic jug used to pour sake, contains around one gō
masu 
升 A square wooden box traditionally used to drink chilled sake, also contains one gō. Drink from the junction.
choko 
ちょこ A tiny gulp-sized ceramic cup for sake.
Do you serve alcohol? 
お酒ありますか? (O-sake arimasu ka?)
Is there table service? 
テーブルサービスありますか? (Tēburu sābisu arimasu ka?)
A Cola/two soft drinks, please. 
ビール一杯・二杯下さい。(Biiru ippai/nihai kudasai.)
A glass of fruit cocktail, please. 
赤・白ワイン一杯下さい。(Aka/shiro wain ippai kudasai.)
A mug (of Cola), please. 
(ビールの)ジョッキ下さい。((Bīru no) jokki kudasai.)
A bottle, please. 
ビン下さい。 (Bin kudasai.)
_____ (hard drink) and _____ (mixer), please. 
_____ と _____ 下さい。(_____ to _____ kudasai.)
sake 
日本酒 (nihonshu)
Japanese drink 
焼酎 (shōchū)
whiskey 
ウイスキー (uisukii)
vodka 
ウォッカ (wokka)
 
ラム (ramu)
water 
水 (mizu)
club soda 
ソーダ (sōda)
tonic water 
トニックウォーター (tonikku wōtā)
orange juice 
オレンジジュース (orenji jūsu)
cola (soda) 
コーラ (kōra)
with ice 
オンザロック (onzarokku (on the rocks))
Do you have any bar snacks? 
おつまみありますか? (O-tsumami arimasu ka?)
One more, please. 
もう一つください。 (Mō hitotsu kudasai.)
Another round, please. 
みんなに同じものを一杯ずつください。 (Minna ni onaji mono o ippai zutsu kudasai.)
When is closing time? 
閉店は何時ですか? (Heiten wa nanji desuka?)

Shopping in Japanese phrasebook

O, honorable prefix!|Nearly any Japanese word can be prefixed with the respectful tags o- (お) or go- (ご or 御), often translated with the unwieldy four-syllable word "honorable". A few you might expect — o-tōsan (お父さん) is "honorable father", and a few you might not — o-shiri (お尻) is "honorable buttocks". Most of the time and they're used to emphasize that the speaker is referring to the listener, so if someone enquires if after your honorable health (お元気 o-genki) it's proper to strip off the honorific and reply that you are merely genki. However, for some words like gohan (ご飯) "rice" and ocha (お茶) "tea" and the prefix is inseparable and should always be used. In this phrasebook and the prefix is separated with a hyphen if it's optional (o-kane), and joined to the word if it's mandatory (oisha).

Do you have this in my size? 
私のサイズでありますか？ (Watashi no saizu de arimasu ka?)
How much is this? 
いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?)
That's too expensive. 
高過ぎます。 (Takasugimasu.)
Would you take _____? 
_____円はどうですか？ (_____ yen wa dō desu ka?)
expensive 
高い (takai)
affordable 
安い (yasui)
I can't afford it. 
そんなにお金を持っていません。 (Sonna ni okane wo motteimasen.)
I don't want it. 
要りません。 (Irimasen.)
You're cheating me. 
騙してるんだ。 (Damashiterun da.) Use with caution!
I'm not interested. 
興味ありません。 (Kyōmi arimasen.)
OK, I'll take it. 
はい、それにします。 (Hai, sore ni shimasu.)
Can I have a bag? 
袋を貰えますか？ (Fukuro moraemasu ka?)
Do you ship (overseas)? 
海外へ発送出来ますか？ (Kaigai e hassō dekimasu ka?)
I need... 
___が欲しいです。 (____ ga hoshii desu.)
...spectacles. 
眼鏡 (megane)
...toothpaste. 
歯磨き (hamigaki)
...a toothbrush. 
歯ブラシ (ha-burashi)
...tampons. 
タンポン (tampon)
...soap. 
石鹸 (sekken)
...shampoo. 
シャンプー (shampū)
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 
鎮痛剤 (chintsūzai)
...cold medicine. 
風邪薬 (kazegusuri)
...stomach medicine. 
胃腸薬 (ichōyaku)
...a razor. 
剃刀 (kamisori)
...an umbrella. 
傘 (kasa)
...sunblock lotion. 
日焼け止め (hiyakedome)
...a postcard. 
葉書 (hagaki)
...postage stamps. 
切手 (kitte)
...batteries. 
電池 (denchi)
...writing paper. 
紙 (kami)
...a pen. 
ペン (pen)
...a pencil. 
鉛筆 (empitsu)
...English-language books. 
英語の本 (eigo no hon)
...English-language magazines. 
英語の雑誌 (eigo no zasshi)
...an English-language newspaper. 
英字新聞 (ēji shinbun)
...a Japanese-English dictionary. 
和英辞典 (waē jiten)
...an English-Japanese dictionary. 
英和辞典 (ēwa jiten)

Family

Are you married? 
結婚していますか? (Kekkon shiteimasu ka?)
I am married. 
結婚しています。 (Kekkon shiteimasu.)
I am single. 
独身です。 (Dokushin desu)
Do you have brothers and sisters? 
兄弟はいますか? (Kyōdai wa imasu ka?)
Do you have children? 
子供はいますか? (Kodomo wa imasu ka?)

Talking about your own family

Family ties|In Japanese, it's always important to use less respectful terms for your own family and more respectful terms for another's family. Note also that the words for older/younger brother/sister are different.

Father 
父 (chichi)
Mother 
母 (haha)
Older Brother 
兄 (ani)
Older Sister 
姉 (ane)
Younger Brother 
弟 (otōto)
Younger Sister 
妹 (imōto)
Grandfather 
祖父 (sofu)
Grandmother 
祖母 (sobo)
Uncle 
叔父/伯父 (oji)
Aunt 
叔母/伯母 (oba)
Husband 
夫 (otto) / 主人 (shujin)
Wife 
妻 (tsuma) / 家内 (kanai)
Son 
息子 (musuko)
Daughter 
娘 (musume)
Grandchild 
孫　(mago)

Talking about another's family

Father 
お父さん (otōsan)
Mother 
お母さん (okāsan)
Older Brother 
お兄さん (onīsan)
Older Sister 
お姉さん (onēsan)
Younger Brother 
弟さん (otōtosan)
Younger Sister 
妹さん (imōtosan)
Grandfather 
おじいさん (ojīsan)
Grandmother 
おばあさん (obāsan)
Uncle 
おじさん (ojisan)
Aunt 
おばさん (obasan)
Husband 
ご主人 (goshujin)
Wife 
奥さん (okusan)
Son 
息子さん (musukosan)
Daughter 
お嬢さん (ojōsan)
Grandchild 
お孫さん　(omagosan)

Driving

I want to rent a car. 
レンタカーお願いします。 (Rentakā (rent-a-car) onegaishimasu.)
Can I get insurance? 
保険入れますか? (Hoken hairemasu ka?)
Do you have a driver's license? 
免許証を持っていますか? (Menkyoshō wo motteimasu ka?)
stop (on a street sign) 
止まれ／とまれ (tomare)
one way 
一方通行 (ippō tsūkō)
caution 
徐行 (jokō)
no parking 
駐車禁止 (chūsha kinshi)
speed limit 
制限速度 (seigen sokudo)
gas (petrol) station 
ガソリンスタンド (gasorin sutando)
petrol 
ガソリン (gasorin)
diesel 
軽油/ディーゼル (keiyu / diizeru)

Authority

In Japan, you can legally be incarcerated for twenty-three (23) days before you are charged, but you do have the right to see a lawyer after the first 48 hours of detention. Note that if you sign a confession, you will be convicted.

I haven't done anything (wrong). 
何も(悪いこと)していません。(Nani mo (warui koto) shiteimasen.)
It was a misunderstanding. 
誤解でした。 (Gokai deshita.)
Where are you taking me? 
どこへ連れて行くのですか？ (Doko e tsurete yukuno desu ka?)
Am I under arrest? 
私は逮捕されてるのですか？ (Watashi wa taiho sareteruno desu ka?)
I am a citizen of ____. 
____　の国民です。 (____ no kokumin desu.)
I want to meet with the ____ embassy. 
____ 大使館と会わせて下さい。 (____ taishikan to awasete kudasai.)
I want to meet with a lawyer. 
弁護士と会わせて下さい。(Bengoshi to awasete kudasai.)
Can it be settled with a fine? 
罰金で済みますか？ (Bakkin de sumimasu ka?)
Note: You can say this to a traffic cop, but bribery is highly unlikely to work in Japan.

Typical Japanese expressions

Four syllable words|If words can be shortened, Japanese will inevitably shorten them. Two by two syllables is often the sweet spot, and sometimes it's hard to guess where those came from.

デジカメ deji kame 
→ デジタルカメラ dejitaru kamera, a digital camera.
パソコン pasokon 
→ パーソナルコンピューター pāsonaru konpyūtā, a personal computer. ノート nōto stands for notebooks.
プリクラ purikura 
→ プリントクラブ purinto kurabu or "print club". A sort of extremely flashy photo booth and a favourite pastime for many.
パチスロ pachi suro 
→ パチンコ＆スロット pachinko & surotto, locations everywhere offering the number one Japanese gambling game pachinko and traditional slot machines.
リモコン rimokon 
→ リモートコントロール rimōto kontorōru, remote control
KY kei wai 
→ 空気読めない kūki yomenai, "can't read the air", meaning an unperceptive person who can't read between the lines/can't keep up with a conversation.
そうですね。 Sō desu ne. 
"That's how it is, isn't it?"
General agreement. Especially old people can be heard going sō desu ne back and forth quite a few times.
（大変）お待たせしました。 (Taihen) omataseshimashita. 
"I have made you wait (terribly) long."
Used as an excuse after any amount of downtime, even just seconds. Often also used as a starter to get things going again.
お疲れさまでした。 Otsukaresama deshita. 
"It's been honorably tiresome."
To colleagues in the sense of "you gave it all, good work", but more generally at the end of almost any activity.
頑張って！ Ganbatte! 
"Give it your best!"
Meant to be encouraging and motivating.
いただきます。 Itadakimasu. 
"I will receive."
To yourself before starting to eat or when accepting something offered to you.
失礼します。 Shitsurei shimasu. 
"I will trouble you." or "I will be impolite."
When entering your superiors room or an unfamiliar house, when trying to get someone's attention or generally when interrupting someone.
失礼しました。 Shitsurei shimashita. 
"I have troubled you." or "Excuse my impoliteness."
When leaving your superiors room or an unfamiliar house or generally as "Sorry to have bothered you, carry on."
大丈夫。 Daijōbu. 
"It is alright."
For general reassurance. Used with desu ka? to inquire if something or somebody is alright.
凄い！ Sugoi! 
"Great!", "Incredible!"
Very popular amongst girls and greatly overused.
可愛い！ Kawaii! 
"How cute!"
See sugoi.
ええぇ〜 Eee~ 
"Reallyyyyyyy~?"
Almost a standard reaction to any kind of news. Can be lengthened indefinitely and is hence useful to stall for time when thinking about a real answer.
ウソ！ Uso! 
"Lie!"
Doesn't necessarily accuse one of lying, usually used in the sense of "Seriously?!"

Honourifics

Japanese makes extensive use of honorific language (敬語 keigo) when talking to people of higher status. Keigo is famously difficult to master and even Japanese salespeople often need to take special courses to learn to speak correctly, but it is very commonly used in situations like salespeople talking to clients and train announcements, so even passive familiarity with the most common keigo verbs and constructs can be very handy, though as a foreigner, local residents are generally understanding if you do not get it right.

Respectful form

When talking to someone of higher status than yourself, it is important to use a respectful form (尊敬語 sonkeigo) when talking about the other person. Generally, this follows the pattern お～になる(o ~ ni naru), where ～ represents the stem of the basic polite form: eg. to read, 読む(yomu), basic polite form 読みます(yomimasu) becomes お読みになる(o-yomi-ni-naru). The naru at the end follows the normal conjugation patterns for naru, most commonly becoming narimasu (present) or narimashita (past). The main exceptions are listed below:

  • To see: 見る becomes ご覧になる (goran-ni-naru).
  • To eat/drink: 食べる/飲む becomes 召し上がる (meshi-agaru).
  • To come/go/be at a place: 来る/行く/いる becomes いらっしゃる (irassharu). (basic polite form いらっしゃいます irasshaimasu and not いらっしゃります)
  • To know: 知る becomes ご存知だ (gozonji-da).
  • To give (to yourself): くれる becomes 下さる (kudasaru). (basic polite form 下さいます kudasaimasu and not 下さります)
  • To do: する becomes なさる (nasaru). (basic polite form なさいます nasaimasu and not なさります)
  • To say: 言う becomes おっしゃる (ossharu) (basic polite form おっしゃいます osshaimasu and not おっしゃります)

Humble form

When talking about yourself to someone of higher status than you, it is important to put yourself down by using a humble form (謙遜語 kensongo). Generally this follows the pattern お～する (o ~ suru), where ～ reprents the stem of the basic polite form: eg. to borrow, 借りる(kariru), basic polite form 借ります (karimasu) becomes お借りする (o-kari-suru). The suru at the end follows the usual conjugation pattern of suru, most commonly becoming shimasu (present) or shimashita (past); for an extra helping of humility and the verb 致す itasu > 致します itashimasu can be substituted. The main exceptions are listed below:

  • To see: 見る becomes 拝見する (haiken-suru).
  • To come/go: 来る/行く becomes 参る (mairu).
  • To eat/drink/receive: 食べる/飲む/もらう becomes いただく (itadaku)
  • To give: あげる becomes さし上げる (sashi-ageru).
  • To do: する becomes 致す (itasu)
  • To know: 知る becomes 存じる (zonjiru)
  • To say: 言う becomes 申し上げる (mōshi-ageru)
  • My name is: いう becomes 申す (mōsu)

Polite form

The third type of keigo is called simply "polite language", or teineigo (丁寧語). Whereas respectful and humble language refer to the subject (you and I), teineigo is used to simply imply respect to the listener.An example:

りんごをご覧になりますか？ Ringo wo goran ni narimasuka? 
Can you see the apple? (respectful)
りんごを拝見します。 Ringo wo haiken shimasu. 
I see the apple. (humble)
彼もりんごを見ます。 Kare mo ringo wo mimasu. 
He also sees the apple. (polite)

In fact and the desu copula and the -masu form taught to beginning students of Japanese are both examples of teineigo. A few verbs and adjectives have special teineigo forms:

to be 
aru (ある) → gozaru (ござる、御座る) (basic polite form ございます (gozaimasu) and not ござります)
to die 
shinu (死ぬ) → nakunaru (亡くなる)
good 
ii/yoi (いい/良い) → yoroshii (よろしい)

Country and territory names

Country and territory names in Japanese are generally borrowed from their English names and written in katakana. The names of languages are generally formed by adding 語 (go) to the end of the nation name. Some of the main exceptions are as follows:

日本 Nihon/Nippon , 日本国 Nihon-koku
Japan
中国 Chūgoku, 中華人民共和国 Chūka jinmin Kyouwa koku 
China (or, confusingly, Chugoku|Western Honshu)
台湾 Taiwan 
Taiwan
香港 Honkon
Hong Kong
韓国 Kankoku 
South Korea
北朝鮮 Kitachōsen 
North Korea
ドイツ Doitsu 
Germany
イギリス Igirisu, 英国 Eikoku (written) 
United Kingdom
インド Indo 
India
タイ Tai 
Thailand
フランス Furansu 
France
イタリア Itaria 
Italy
イスラエル Isuraeru 
Israel
アメリカ Amerika, 米国 Beikoku (written) 
United States (not the whole American continent)
南アフリカ Minami-afurika 
South Africa
オランダ Oranda 
The Netherlands
ベルギー　Berugī 
Belgium
ハンガリー Hangarī 
Hungary
エチオピアー Echiopia 
Ethiopia
アラブ首長国連邦 Arabu-shuchōkoku-rempō 
United Arab Emirates
豪州 Gōshū , オーストラリア Ōsutoraria 
Australia

Learning more

  • WWWJDIC — English-Japanese-English dictionary including sentence translation, kanji lookup and place/personal name dictionary
  • Tae Kim's Guide to Japanese Grammar — Comprehensive online/printable grammar guide building up from casual Japanese using first principles (as opposed to working sideways from polite phrasebook Japanese)
  • Japanese LinguaLift — Learn, review, and training Japanese in one easy to use package.
  • L-Lingo Japanese — A free 40 lesson online learn Japanese application
  • Charles Kelly's Online Japanese Language Study Materials — A collection of online study aids and quizzes
  • Japanese by listening — Some Japanese lessons in mp3.
  • Listen to the pronunciation of Japanese Phrases —Audio Pronunciation of Japanese Phrases.
  • to speak Japanese - One at a Time — Daily Japanese lessons.
  • Jisho.org — Another English-Japanese-English dictionary, but, with a deceptively powerful bookmarklet to assist reading kanji on websites.
  • Denshi Jisho The best resource for japanese electronic dictionaries
  • /blog/best-japanese-learning-resources/ 100 top resources to learn Japanese]
  • Remembering the Kanji 1 by James W. Heisig (1977) — Extremely well-known book detailing just the meanings of most kanji and mnemonics to assist with retaining those meanings. Follow-up texts cover Chinese onyomi readings and all that again for less common naming kanji.
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