Japanese Vocabulary related to Calendar

Month
Month
Week
day of a week
Gatsu/ Gestu
Ichigatsu
Nigatsu
Sangatsu
Shigatsu
Gogatsu
Rokugatsu
Nanagatsu/ Shichigatsu
Hachigatsu
Kugatsu
Jyugatsu
Jyuichigatsu
Jyunigatsu
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
ctober
No!ember
"ecember
#oubi
Shyuu
Nichiyoubi
Getsuyoubi
Kaiyoubi
Suiyoubi
Mokuyoubi
Kinyoubi
"oyoubi
$eek
Sun%ay
Mon%ay
&ues%ay
$e%nes%ay
&hurs%ay
Fri%ay
Satur%ay
Vocabulary related to family &
Relations
haha'kaasan ' Mother
(hichi'tousan ' Father
Sobo'baasan ' Gran%mother
So)u'*iisan ' Gran%)ather
Imouto'Imoutosan ' #ounger Sister
touto'toutosan ' #ounger +rother
Ani'niisan ' ,l%er +rother
Ane'neesan ' ,l%er Sister
Musume'Musumesan ' "uaghter
Musuko'Musukosan ' Son
*i'*isan' -ncle
ba'basan' Aunt
&suma'kusan' $i)e
tto 'Goshyu*in' Husban%
Vocabulary for Colors
Iro . (olor
Akai . Re%
Aoi . +lue
Shiroi . $hite
Kuroi . +lack
Kiiroi . #ello/
(hyairo . +ro/n
Haiiro ' Grey
"ai%aiiro . range
Mi%ori . Green
Kimi%ori . 0ight Green
Mi1uiro . 0ight +lue
Murasaki . 2urple
Momoiro ' 2ink
Vocabulary for Direction or Location
-e . -p
Shita . "o/n
Koko . Here
Soko . &here
Asoko . &hat o!er there
Migi . Right
Hi%ari . 0e)t
&onari . +esi%es3 Ne4t to
Mae . Front
-shiro . +ehin%
(hikai . Nearby
#oko . Si%e
&ooi . Far
Masuugu . Straight
Higashi . ,ast
Nishi . $est
Minami . South
Kita . North
Vocabulary for Food
Ryori . )oo%
Shyoku*i . Meal
Gohan . (ooke% Rice/ Meal
Asagohan . +reak)ast
Hirugohan . 0unch
+angohan . "inner
#asai . 5egetable
Ku%amono . Fruits
&oriniku . (hicken
+utaniku . 2ork
Gyuniku . +ee)
Gyunyu . Milk
&abemono . ,atables
Nomimono . "rinkables
Vocabulary related to Rooms
"ai%okoro . Kitchen
Ima . 0i!ing room
Shinshitsu . +e%room
Heya . Room
Genkan . ,ntrance
&oire . +athroom
Kabe . $all
&en*ou . (eiling
Ni/a . Gar%en
#uka . Floor
Ma%o . $in%o/
Vocabulary related to ime
&okei . $atch
Ji . 6clock/ Hour
Jihan . Hal) an Hour
Jikan . &ime "uration
Fun/+un/2un . Minutes
Gogo . p7m
Go1en . a7m
Asa . Morning
Hiru . A)ternoon
+an . ,!ening
#oru . Night
Kesa . &o%ay Morning
Ashita . &omorro/
Kyou . &o%ay
Kinou . #ester%ay
Assatte . "ay a)ter tomorro/
totoi . "ay be)ore yester%ay
Vocabulary related to Weather
&enki . (limate
#ouhou . Forecast
Hare . Sunny
Kumori . (lou%y
n%o . &emperature
#uki . Sno/
Ame . Rain
Kaminari . &hun%er
Kiri . Fog
Ka1e . $in%
Arashi . Storm
Vocabulary related to Vehicle
"enshya . &rain
Shinkansen . +ullet &rain
Jitensha . +icycle
Sanrinsha . &rycycle
Kuruma ' (ar
Ji%ousha . (ar
&akushi . &a4i
otobai . Motorcycle
(hikatetsu . Sub/ay
Hikouki . Airplane
Fune . Ship
Kisha . Steam &rain
Hansen . Sailing +oat
Vocabulary related to famili &
Relations
Ko%omo . (hil%
Ryoushin . 2arents
Ka1oku . Family
Kyou%ai . siblings
Shinseki . Relati!es
Itoko . (ousin
Vocabulary for the seasons
Shiki . Four Seasons o) Japan
Haru . Spring
Natsu . Summer
Aki . Autumn
Fuyu . $inter
Vocabulary for !ody "arts
Kara%a .+o%y
Me . ,ye
Atama . Hea%
Mimi . ,ar
Kami . Hair
#ubi . Finger
Kao . Face
Mayu . ,yebro/
Hitai . Forehea%
Mabuta . ,yeli%
Mastuge . ,yelash
Kuchi . Mounth
Hana . Nose
Ha . &eeth
Kuchibiru . 0ip
No%o . &hroat
Shita . &ongue
Ago . Ja/
Kata . Shoul%er
-%e . Arm
Kubi . Neck
&e . Han%
Hi*i ' ,lbo/
&sume . Nail
Mune . (hest
naka . Stomach
Senaka . +ack
Hi1a . Knee
Ashikubi . Anckle
Ashi . Foot3 0eg
Kakato . Heel
&sumashi . &oe
Japanese Vocabulary for Dates
Nichi . "ay/ "ate
&suitachi . 8st
Futsuka . 9n%
Mikka . :r%
#okka . ;th
Itsuka . <th
Muika . =th
Nanoka . >th
#ouka . ?th
Kokonoka . @th
&ooka . 8Ath
Jyuuichinichi . 88th
Jyuuninichi . 89th
Jyuusannichi . 8:th
Jyuuyokka . 8;th
Jyuugonichi . 8<th
Jyuurokunichi .8=th
Jyuushichinichi . 8>th
Jyuuhachinichi . 8?th
Jyuukunichi . 8@th
Hatsuka . 9Ath
Ni*yuuichinichi . 98st
Ni*yuuninichi . 99n%
Ni*yuusannichi . 9:r%
Ni*yuuyokka . 9;th
Ni*yuugonichi . 9<th
Ni*yuurokunichi . 9=th
Ni*yuushichinichi . 9>th
Ni*yuuhachinichi . 9?th
Ni*yuukunichi . 9@th
San*yuunichi . :Ath
San*yuuichinichi . :8
st
Japanese Vocabulary for #nimals
"oubutsu . Animals
&ori . +ir%s
Neko . (at
Inu . "og
+uta . 2ig
Kaba . Hippopotamus
Ne1umi . Mouse
Bou . ,lephant
Hitsu*i . Sheep
Kirin . Gira))e
Kuma . +ear
Kitsune . Fo4
Raion . 0ion
okami . $ol)
Saru . Monkey
Raku%a . (amel
Shika . %eer
Risu . SCuirrel
&ora . &iger
Shimauma . Bebra
-shi . (o/
-ma . Horse
-sagi . Rabbit
#agi goat
Sakana . Fish
Vocabulary for
Isha . "octor
Sensei . &eacher
Kenchikuka . Architect
,n*inia . ,ngineer
"aiku . (arpenter
Gei*utsuka . Artist
Kokku . (he)
Ginkouin . +anker
Shouboushi . Fireman
Noumin . Farmer
Jaanarisuto . Journalist
Kaishain . ))ice ,mployee
Ryoushi . Fisherman
+engoshi . 0a/yer
Koumuin . Go!ernment ,mployee
Kango)u . Female Nurse
Kyou*u . 2ro)essor
Gaka . 2ainter
Sei*ika . 2olitician
Sarariman . Salarie% ,mployee
Keikan . 2olice man
Kagakusha . Scientist
Shashinka . 2hotographer
Gakusei . Stu%ent
Sakka . $riter
&enin . Store (lerk
Misein . Shopkeeper
Hisho . Secretary
Demonstrati$e "ronouns
Kore Dko'reEF &his
Sore Dso'reEF &hat
Are Da'reEF &hat o!er there
Kore is use% )or things in your territory7
In other /or%s3 things3 /hich you can
see3 touch an% )eel3 are in%icate% by this
pronoun7
Sore is use% )or things in other6s
territory7 In other /or%s3 things3 /hich
you cannot touch but are near an% can be
seen clearly are in%icate% by this
pronoun7
Are is use% )or things outsi%e both your
territories7 In other /or%s3 things3 /hich
cannot be touche% an% may be seen at a
!ery )ar %istance or may not be seen but
the person has kno/le%ge o) its
e4istence are sho/n by this pronoun7
"o you get the i%eaG I) you %o3 you can
un%erstan% /hose eating tako Dta'koH
octopusE3 /ho6s eating ika Di'kaH sCupi%E3
an% /ho6s eating ebi De'biH shrimpE at
the restaurant in the )ollo/ing %ialogueF
Sore /a ika %esu ka7 DIs that sCui%GE
Iie3 kore /a tako %esu7 Sore /a ika %esu
ka7 DNo3 this one is octopus7 Is that
sCui%GE Hai3 kore /a ika %esu7 D#es this
is sCui%7E
Jya3 are /an nan %esu ka7 Dk then3 /hat
is that o!er thereGE
Are /a ebi %esu7 D&hat o!er there is
shrimp7E
Kono Dko'noEF &his
Sono Dso'noEF &hat
Ano Da'noEF &hat o!er there
Ko/no/ sono/ Ano are kno/n as
"emonstrati!e nouns7 &he basic
%i))erence bet/een the use o) Kore/
Sore/ Are an% Kono/ Sono/ Ano is as
)ollo/sF
Kono/ Sono/ Ano is use% to /hen
/e talk about a particular thing
or ob*ect7 It gi!es importance to
only 8 thing7 $hereas3 Kore/
Sore/ Are is use% to point out
things7 It is use% /hen /e talk
about ob*ects in a generali1e%
/ay7 0ook at the )ollo/ing
e4ampleF
Kore /a hon %esu7 D&his is a
book7E Kono hon /a nihongo no
%esu7 D&his book is o) Japanese
language7E
In the )irst sentence3 /e are pointing
out a book7 Here /e are not
speci)ying anything else about the
book or in other /or%s3 /e are not
gi!ing any importance to the book7
n the other han%3 in the secon%
statement /e are speci)ying that the
book is o) Japanese language only7
Kore/ Sore/ Are is use% only
/hen /e are talking about some
ob*ect or thing7 n the other
han%3 Kono/ Sono/ Ano is use%
)or both people an% ob*ects7
Kore/ Sore/ Are is imme%iately
)ollo/e% by either I/aI or IgaI
particle7 Kono/ Sono/ Ano is
)ollo/e% by a common noun7
For e4ampleF
Kore /a kuruma %esu7 D&his is a
car7E
Kono kuruma /a akai %esu7
D&his is a re% car7E

Verb %ru #nd #ru

&o tell someone that you ha!e or possess something3 use the !erbs iru Dee'rooE an% aru
Dah'rooE7 +oth mean Ito e4ist3I /hich sho/s possession in Japanese7 #ou choose the !erb
accor%ing to /hether the item you possess is animate or inanimateF
Iru sho/s possession o) animate items3 such as people an% animals7
Aru is )or inanimate items3 such as books3 money3 plants3 an% houses7
So II ha!e a boy)rien%I is $atashi /a boi)uren%o ga iru D/ah'tah'shee /ah bohh'ee')oo'
rehn'%oh gah ee'rooE3 /hich literally means IAs )or me3 a boy)rien% e4ists7I Similarly3
IAlison has moneyI is Alison /a okane ga aru Dah'ree'sohn /ah oh'kah'neh gah ah'rooE3
/hich literally means IAs )or Alison3 money e4ists7I
$hen speaking in a polite/neutral conte4t3 use the polite )orm o) these !erbs3 imasu Dee'
mah'sooE an% arimasu Dah'ree'mah'sooE3 both o) /hich are con*ugate% here7 Iru is a ru'
!erb3 but aru is slightly irregularH pay close attention to the negati!e )orm7
Form "ronunciation
iru ee'roo
inai ee'nah'ee
i ee
ite ee'teh
Form "ronunciation
aru ah'roo
nai nah'ee
ari ah'ree
atte aht'teh
Here are a )e/ e4amples o) ha!ing an% not ha!ingF
&ima 'a arimasen( Dhee'mah gah ah'ree'mah'sehnH I %onJt ha!e )ree time7E
"etto 'a imasu( Dpeht'toh gah ee'mah'sooH I ha!e a pet7E
Watashi wa kyodai 'a imasen( D/ah'tah'shee I /ah kyohh'%ah'ee gah ee'mah'
sehnH I %onJt ha!e siblings7E
Chichi wa o)kane 'a arimasu( Dchee'chee /ah oh'kah'neh gah ah'ree'mah'sooH
My )ather has 8 money7E
alkin' about your re'ular acti$ities
&o e4press that you %o something regularly ' run3 play tennis3 go to /ork3 an% so on ' use
the !erb that e4presses the acti!ity an% the !erb iru Dee'rooH to e4istE3 in that or%er7 Make
sure to con*ugate the !erb that e4presses ihe action in the te')orm7 DSee (hapter 9 )or
%etails oil the te')orm7E #ou can lea!e the !erb iru as it is or put it in the polite )orm3
imasu Dee'mah'sooE7
For e4ample3 you can combine the !erbs hashiru Dhah'shee'rooH to runE an% iru to get
hashitte iru Dhah'sheet'teh ee'rooE or hashitte imasu Dhah'sheet'teh ee'mah'sooE7 +oth
phrases mean that someone runs regularly3 sort o) like saying3 II run an% e4ist e!ery %ay7I
+e care)ulF hashitte iru can also be interprete% as IIJm in the mi%%le o) running7I $hich
meaning the phrase takes on %epen%s on the conte4t7 I) you say mainichi Dmah'ee'nee'
cheeH e!ery %ayE be)ore saying hashitte imasu3 you ob!iously mean a regular acti!ityF II
run e!ery %ay7I I) you say ima Dee'mahH no/E3 you mean IIJm in the mi%%le o) running
no/7I &he )ollo/ing sentences e4press regular actionsF
*en wa mainichi pi+a o tabete imasu( Dkehn /ah mah'ee'nee'chee pee'1ah oh
tah'beh'teh ee'mah'sooH Ken eats pi11a e!ery %ay7E
,tdto wa kyonen kara dai'aku ni itte imasu(Doh'tohh'toh /ah kyoh'nehn kah'
rah %ah'ee'gah'koo nee eet'teh ee'mah'sooH My younger brother has been going
to college since last year7E
,tosan wa itsumo nete iru yo( Doh'tohh'sahn /ah ee'tsoo'moh neh'teh ee'roo
yohH My %a% is al/ays sleeping7E
-hu.in wa maishu tenisu o shite imasu( Dshoo'*een /ah mah'ee'shooo teh'nee'
soo oh shee'teh ee'mah'sooH My husban% plays tennis e!ery /eek7IE
/i$in' out your contact information
A)ter chatting /ith someone3 you may /ant to contact him or her7 belo/ table lists the
in)ormation you may /ant to collect7
Contact %nformation
Japanese "ronunciation ranslation
*usho *ooo'shoh a%%ress
%en/a bango %ehn'/ah bahn'gohh phone number
%enshi meru a%oresu %ehn'shee mehh'roo ah'%oh'reh'soo e'mail a%%ress
)akkusu bango )ahk'koo'soo bahn'gohh )a4 number
,4changing meishi Dmehh'sheeH business car%sE is also a goo% i%ea7 &hese phrases are
use)ul /hen e4changing contact in)ormationF
Denshi meru de renraku shimasu( D%ehn'shee mehh'roo %eh rehn'rah'koo shee'
mah'sooH IJll contact you !ia e'mail7E
Denwa ban'o wa nan desu fca( D%ehn'/ah bahn'gohh /ah nahn %eh'soo kahH
$hatJs your telephone numberGE
Denwa o shite kudasai( D%ehn'/ah oh shee'teh koo'%ah'sah'eeH 2lease call me7E
Jusho o oshiete kudasai( D*ooo'shoh oh oh'shee'eh'teh koo'%ah'sah'eeH 2lease
tell me your a%%ress7E
*ore wa watashi no meishi desu( Dkoh'reh /ah /ah'tah'shee noh mehh'shee
%eh'sooH &his is my business car%7E
0okattara1 renraku kudasai( Dyoh'kaht'tah'rah3 rehn'rah'koo koo'%ah'sah'eeH
Get in touch i) you like7E
2se ,f Verb Desu
0ike the ,nglish !erb to be3 %esu D%eh'sooE e4presses the i%entity or state o) people an%
things7 "esu is use% in a construction3 K /a # %esu DK /ah # %eh'sooH K is #E7 Instea%
o) saying IK is #3I the Japanese say IK # is7I &he particle /a D/ahE is the topic particle
%iscusse% earlier in this chapter7
"esu )ollo/s either a noun or an a%*ecti!e7 For e4ample3 toto /a gakuse %esu Doh'tohh'
toh /ah gah'koo'sehh %eh'sooE means IMy little brother is a stu%ent7I $atashi /a genki
%esu D/ah'tah'shee /ah gehn'kee %eh'sooE means II am )ine7I No/ you kno/ /hy many
Japanese sentences en% in %esu7
(on*ugation'/ise3 %esu %oesnJt look like any other !erb7 &he reason is that %esu %i%nJt
start out as a stan%'alone !erb7 It /as the combination o) the particle %e3 the !erb aru Dah'
rooH to e4istE3 an% the polite su))i4 'masu7
&he table belo/ sho/s the patterns o) %esu7 &o help you see the point3 I use the same
noun gakuse Dgah'koo'sehhH stu%entE in each e4ample7
Formal Form of 3oun "lus Desu
Japanese "ronunciation ranslation
gakusei %esu gah'koo'sehh %eh'soo is a stu%ent
gakusei *a arimasen gah'koo'sehh *ah ah'ree'mah'sehn isnJt a stu%ent
gakusei %eshita gah'koo'sehh %eh'shee'tah /as a stu%ent
gakusei *a arimasen
%eshita
gah'koo'sehh *ah ah'ree'mah'sehn %eh'
shee'tah
/asnJt a
stu%ent
%nformal Form of 3oun "lus Desu
Japanese 2ronunciation &ranslation
gakusei %a gah'koo'sehh %ah is a stu%ent
gakusei *anai gah'koo'sehh *ah nah'ee isnJt a stu%ent
gakusei %atta gah'koo'sehh %aht'tah /as a stu%ent
gakusei *a nakatta gah'koo'sehh *ah nah'kaht'tah /asnJt a stu%ent
Ja D*ahE3 /hich you see in the negati!e )orms in the abo!e &ables3 is the contraction o)
%e/a D%eh'/ahE7Most Japanese people use *a in e!ery%ay con!ersation3 but they use
%e/a occasionally7 +e prepare% to hear either one7
Makin' "olite43eutral Verb Forms
tabeni 5ru67eat8 miru5ru67watch8 nomu5u67drink8
Stem tabe mi nomi
A))irmati!e 2resent tabemasu mimasu nomimasu
Negati!e 2resent tabemasen mimasen nomimasen
A))irmati!e 2ast tabemashita mimashita nomimashita
Negati!e 2ast tabemasen %eshita mimasen %eshita nomimasen %eshita
Common Verb -uffi9es
Meanin'4Function -uffi9 :9ample ranslation
-uffi9es that Follow "lain4%nformal Forms
shoul% 'beki %esu taberu' beki %esu 8 shoul% eat7
probability '%esho taberu'%esho IJll probably eat7
possibility 'kamo
shiremasen
taberu' kamo
shiremasen
8 might eat7
person
'hito taberu'hito
the person /ho
eats
because 'kara taberu'kara because 8 eat
noun'maker 'koto taberu'koto the act o) eating
things 'mono taberu'mono things to eat
time 'toki taberu'toki /hen 8 eat
intention 'tsumori %esu taberu'tsumori %esu 8 plan to eat7
-uffi9es that Follow -tem Forms
/hile 'nagara tabe'nagara /hile eating
purpose 'ni tabe'ni in or%er to eat
%i))iculty 'nikui tabe'nikui ItJs har% to eat7
o!er%oing 'sugiru tabe'sugiru 8 o!ereat7
%esire 'tai tabe'tai 8 /ant to eat7
-uffi9es that Follow e)forms
%oing a )a!or 'ageru tabete'ageru 8 eat )or you7
present per)ect 'aru tabete'aru 8 ha!e eaten7
present progressi!e 'iru tabete'iru 8 am eating7
reCuesting 'ku%asai tabete'ku%asai 2lease eat7
attempt 'miru tabete'miru IJll try to eat7
completion 'shimau tabete'shimau I )inish eating7
Japanese Vowel -ounds
Letter "ronunciation :n'lish Word
with the -ound
:9ample
a a aa obasan Do'ba'sanH auntE
a a ' obaasan Do'ba'sanH gran%motherE
e ee be% Seto Dse'toH a city in JapanE
e ehh ' seto Dseh'toH pupilE
i i )eet o*isan Do'*i'sanHuncleE
ii ii ' o*isan Do'*i'i'sanH gran%)ather
A o %ome tori Dto'riH bir%E
A oo ' tori Dto'o'riH streetE
u u )oot yuki Dyu'kiH sno/E
u uu ' yuiki Dyu'i'kiH courageE
In Japanese3 any t/o !o/els can appear ne4t to each other in a /or%7 #ou may hear them
as one !o/el soun%3 but to the Japanese3 they soun% like t/o !o/els7 For e4ample3 ai Dah'
eeH lo!eE soun%s like one !o/el ' the ,nglish i Das in eyeE ' but to the Japanese3 itJs
actually t/o !o/els3 not one7 &he /or% koi Dkoh'eeH carpE soun%s like the one'syllable
,nglish /or% coy3 but in Japanese3 koi is a t/o'syllable /or%7
&able belo/ lists some other common !o/el combinations7 Some o) them may soun%
a/)ully similar to you3 but Japanese speakers hear them %i))erently7 &ry saying them
alou% so that you can hear the %i))erences7
Vowel Combinations
Vowel Combination "ronunciation ranslation
Ai a'i lo!e
Mae ma'e )ront
Ao a'o blue
Au a'u meet
-e u'e up
Koi ko'i carp
Koe ko'e !oice
&he !o/els i DeeE an% u DooE come out as a /hisper /hene!er they )all bet/een the
consonant soun%s ch3 h3 k3 p3 s3 sh3 t3 an% ts or /hene!er a /or% en%s in this consonant'
!o/el combination7 $hat %o those consonants ha!e in commonG &heyJre /hat linguists
call I!oiceless3I meaning that they %onJt make your !ocal cor%s !ibrate7 2ut your han%
o!er your !ocal cor%s an% say a !oiceless consonant like the k soun%7 &hen say a
I!oice%I consonant like the g soun%7
Words with Whispered Vowels
Japanese "ronunciation ranslation
Suketo Su'Ke'to skating
Kusai Ku'Sa'i stinky
Ashita A'Shi'ta tommoro/
So %esu so'%u'su thatJs right
Words without Whispered Vowels
Japanese "ronunciation ranslation
Sugoi Su'go'i ama1ingH /o/
Kuni Ku'ni country
Kagu Ka'gu )urniture
Consonant sounds
Fortunately3 most Japanese consonants are pronounce% as they are in ,nglish7 &able
belo/ %escribes the soun%s that you nee% to pay attention to7
Japanese Consonants Different from :n'lish
Consonant Description of the -ound :9amples
r Here you tap your tounge on the roo) o)
your mouth *ust once ' almost like an
,nglish )'some/here bet/een an ) an% an
h soun%7
raku%a Dra'ku'%aH
camelEH toca Dtoh'
rahH tigerEH tori
Dtoh'reeH bir%E
)
A much so)ter soun% than the ,nglish )'
some/here bet/een an ) an% an h soun%7
Make the soun% by bringing your lips close
to each other an% gently blo/ing air
through them7
Fu*isan D)oo'*ee'
sahnH Mt7 Fu*iEH
to)u Dtohh')ooH
bean cur%EH )u)u
D)u')uH marrie%
coupleE
ts &he combination is har% to pronounce at
the beginning o) a /or%3 as in tsunami3
although itJs easy any/here else7 &ry
saying the /or% cats in your hea% an% then
saying tsunami7
tsunami Dtsoo'nah'
meeH ti%al /a!eEH
tsuki Dtsu'kiH the
moonE
ry &he combination o) ran% yis %i))icult to
pronounce /hen it occurs be)ore the !o/el
o7 &ry saying ri DreeE an% then yo DyohE7
Repeat many times an% gra%ually increase
the spee% until you can pronounce the t/o
soun%s simultaneously7 Remember that the
rsoun%s almost like a %m ,nglish7
ryo DryohhH
%ormitoryEH ryokan
Dryo'kanH Japanese'
style innE
0ike most other languages3 Japanese has %ouble consonants7 #ou pronounce these %ouble
consonants ' pp3 tt3 kk3 an% ss ' as single consonants prece%e% by a brie) pause7 (heck out
the )ollo/ing e4amplesF
kekkon Dkehk'kohnH marriageE
kippu Dkeep'pooH ticketsE
kitte Dkeet'tehH stampsE
massu'u Dmahs'soo'gooH straightE

"articles
"article ranslation /eneral Function :9ample
gaDgahE No ,nglish
eCui!alent
Speci)ies the sub*ect o) the
sentence
Jon ga kita7DJohn gah kee'tahH John
came7E
oDohE No ,nglish
eCui!alent
Speci)ies the %irect ob*ect
o) the sentence
Mari ga Jon o sasotta7 Dmah'reee
gah John oh sah'soht'tahH Mary
in!ite% John7E
kara
Dkah'rahE
)rom
Speci)ies the starting point
o) the action
Ku'*i kara benkyo shita7 Dkoo'*ee
kah'rah behn'kyohh shee'tahH I
stu%ie% )rom @FAA7E
ma%e
Dmah'
%ehE
until
Speci)ies the en%ing point
o) the action
San'*i ma%e benkyo shita7 Dsahn'*ee
mah'%eh behn'kyohh shee'tahH I
stu%ie% until :FAA7E
ni DneeE to3 on3 at
Speci)ies the target o) the
action
Nihon ni itta7 Dnee'hohn nee eet'tahH
I /ent to Japan7E &okyo ni tsuita7
Dtohh'kyohh nee tsoo'ee'tahH I
arri!e% at &okyo7E
niDneeE to3 on3 at Speci)ies the time o) the
e!ent San'*i ni tsuita7
Dsahn'*ee nee tsoo'ee'tahH I arri!e%
at :FAA7E
e DehE to3 to/ar% Speci)ies the %irection o)
the action
&okyo e itta7 Dtohh'kyohh eh eet'
tahH 8 /entto &okyo7E
%e D%ehE in3 by3 /ith3
at
Speci)ies ho/ the action
takes placeH in%icates the
location3manner3 or
backgroun% con%ition o) the
action
+osuton %e benkyo shita7 Dboh'soo'
tohn %e behn'kyohh shee'tahH I
stu%ie% in +oston7E &akush& %e itta7
Dtah'koo sheee %eh eet'tahH I
/entthere by ta4i7E Foku %e tabeta7
D)ohh'koo %eh tah'beh'tahH I ate
/ith a )ork7E
noDnohE Js (reates a possessi!e phrase
or mo%i)ier phrase
Marl no hon Dmah'reee noh hohnH
MaryJs bookE Nihongo no hon Dnee'
hon'goh noh hohnH A Japanese
language bookE
to DtohE an% 0ists items Sushi to sashimi o tabeta7 Dsoo'shee
toh sah'shee'mee oh tah'beh'tahH 8
ate sushi an% sashimi7E
to DtohE /ith Speci)ies an item /ith the
same status as the sub*ect
Jon ga Marl to utatta7 DJohn gah
mah'reee toh oo'taht'tahH John sang
/ith Mary7E
kaDkahE or 0ists choices Sushi ka sashimi otaberu7 Dsoo'shee
kahsah'shee'mee oh tah'beh'rooH I
/ill eat sushi or sashimi7E
&onto 7Realty8
Say honto Dhohn'tohhE to con)irm /hat you *ust hear%7 Suppose your colleague tells you
that sheJs marrying your boss7 Respon% to the ne/s by saying honto7 #ou can use honto
in a lot o) situations because unbelie!able things happen e!ery %ay7
#1 so desu ka 7Realty8
Say a3 so %esu ka Dahh3 sohh %eh'soo kahE e!ery time your con!ersational partner
pro!i%es a ne/ piece o) in)ormation7 +e sure to no% as you say this e4pression7 I) you
talk casually /ith a Japanese person3 you may use this phrase 9AA times in an hour7
Mochiron 7,f course;8
-se this a%!erb /hen youJre 8AA percent con)i%ent in your opinion7 I) you /ere a marrie%
man3 ho/ /oul% you ans/er this Cuestion )rom your /i)eF I$oul% you marry me i) you
ha% a chance to %o it all o!er againGI "onJt think about itH *ust say mochiron Dmoh'chee'
rohnE7
#1 yokatta 7,h1 'ood8
Say a3 yokatta Dahh3 yoh'kaht'tahE e!ery time you )eel like saying I$hat a relie)I or Ih3
goo%7I I) youJre a /orrier3 you may say it ten times a %ay7
yatta 7% did it;8
Say yatta Dyaht'tahE /hen you accomplish something big or recei!e a great opportunity7
2assing a %i))icult test3 getting the *ob you /ante%3 or /inning the lottery all Cuali)y as
yatta material7
<en+en 73ot at all8
Ben1en D1ehn'1ehnE is the phrase o) %enial7 Suppose someone asks you3 IAm I %isturbing
youGI I) she isnJt bothering you3 say 1en1en an% shake your hea%7
3ani 7What=8
Say nani Dnah'neeE /hen you %onJt hear or un%erstan% /hat the other person sai%7 #ou
can also say nani /hen you canJt belie!e or %onJt like /hat you hear7
,oshiyo 7What shall % do=8
Say %oshiyo D%ohh'shee'yohhE /hen youJre in a panic an% ha!e no i%ea /hat to %o7 #ou
can repeat it o!er an% o!er /hile you try to think o) a solution7
#1 bikkurishita 7What a surprise;8
Say a3 bikkurishita Dahh3 beek'koo'ree'shee'tahE /hen youJre !ery surprise%7
ylappari 7% knew it Would happen8
Sometimes you ha!e a !ague suspicion that something /ill happen3 an% then it actually
happens7 At times like that3 say yappari Dyahp'pah'reeE7