Japanese phrases
About[edit]
Japan is well known for its extraordinary humble greetings and respect. Many of these greetings (あいさつ・挨拶）and farewells（さよなら）can be ordered according to the politeness level they resemble. This depends on social status and age. Bowing is a traditional custom in Japan, which can be separated according to the inclination implying the level of respect. A slight bow usually contains 15°, while a salute contains 30° and a respectful bow consists of a 45° inclination.
Pronunciation[edit]
Japanese is not like Chinese or Korean. Though it is quite easy to pronounce. But it consists of some consonants missing in English. When it comes to pronunciation all the syllables are pronounced at equal length except for long vowels which take the length of two syllables. Vowels slide in words like kya(きゃ), kyu(きゅ), kyo(きょ). etc but treated as one syllable. (examples in this text are close to the real utterances, use native speakers' advices)
Vowels[edit]
Japanese Language consists of only five basic vowels. But the difference between short and long vowels must be identified clearly. Below are romanized [Japanese letter ・ hiragana ・ katakana] in order.
Short Vowels:[edit]
a・あ・ア - sounds like a in "bark"
i・い・イ - sounds like ee in "been"
u・う・ウ - sounds like oo in "room"
e・絵・エ - sounds like ay in "bay"
o・お・オ - sounds like o in "boat"
Long Vowels:[edit]
ā・あō・アー - sounds like a in "garden"
ii・いっ・イー - sounds like ee in "green"
u・うう・ウー - sounds like oo in "boot" (longer oo utterance)
e・えう・エー- sounds like ay in "may"
o・おう・オー- sounds like o in "joke"
| Rōmanji* | Pronunciation | Rōmanji | Pronunciation | Rōmanji | Pronunciation | Rōmanji | Pronunciation | Rōmanji | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | aah | i | ee | u | oo | e | ay | o | oh |
| ka | kah | k | kee | ku | koo | ke | kay | ko | koh |
| sa | sah | si/shi | shee | su** | soo | se | say | so | soh |
| ta | tah | chi | chee | tsu | tsoo | te | tay | to | toh |
| na | nah | ni | nee | nu | noo | ne | nay | no | noh |
| ha | hah | hi | hee | hu | hoo | he | hay | ho | hoh |
| ma | mah | mi | mee | mu | moo | me | may | mo | moh |
| ya | yah | yu | yoo | yo | yoh | ||||
| ra | rah | ri | ree | ru | roo | re | ray | ro | roh |
| wa | wah | wo | w | ||||||
| n | n*** | ||||||||
| ga | gah | gi | gee | gu | goo | ge | gay | go | goh |
| za | zah | ji | jee | zu | zoo | ze | zay | zo | zoh |
| da | dah | di | dee | dsu | dsoo | de | day | do | doh |
| ba | bah | bi | bee | bu | boo | be | bay | bo | boh |
| pa | pah | pi | pee | pu | poo | pe | pay | po | poh |
| kya | kyah | kyu | kyoo | kyo | kyoh | ||||
| sha | shah | shu | shoo | sho | shoh | ||||
| cha | chah | chu | choo | cho | choh | ||||
| nya | nyah | nyu | nyoo | nyo | nyoh | ||||
| hya | hyah | hyu | hyoo | hyo | hyoh | ||||
| mya | myah | myu | myoo | myo | myoh | ||||
| rya | ryah | ryu | ryoo | ryo | ryoh | ||||
| gya | gyah | gyu | gyuh | gyo | gyoh | ||||
| ja | jah | ju | joo | jo | joh | ||||
| bya | byah | byu | byoo | byo | byoh | ||||
| pya | pyah | pyu | pyoo | pyo | pyoh |
| Blank cells do not represent missing pronunciation. There are no letters in Japanese sounds representing them. |
* (romanized Japanese)
** (weak at end of sentences)
*** (tongue touches your upper palate)
Phrases[edit]
Japanese phrases must be handled in in the right way at the right situation. Phrases vary according to the politeness they resemble. For example: dōmo means thank you but it is too casual to use with a respected person. Instead Japanese use dōmo arigatho to be more polite. These phrases are used daily between Japanese. Within brackets you can find their forms and where to use. Bracket-less words can be used in any situation and those words contain no politer forms.
| Japanese | Rōmaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ありがと。 | Arigatō | Thank you (casual, polite) |
| どうも。 | Dōmo | Thank you (casual) |
| どうもありがと。 | Dōmo Arigatō | Thank you (casual, politer) |
| どうもありがとございます。 | Dōmo Arigatō Gozaimasu | Thank you (very polite) |
| どうもありがとございますた。 | Dōmo Arigatō Gozaimashita | Thank you (very polite, past tense) |
| どいたしました。 | Dō itashimashita | You're Welcome |
| さようなら。 | Sayōnara | Good bye |
| おやすみなさい。 | Oyasuminasai | Good night |
| こんばんわ。 | Konbanwa | Good evening |
| ただいま。 | Tadaima | I'm home (when you return home) |
| しつれいします。 | Shitsureishimasu | Excuse |
| おだいじに。 | Odaizini | Take care |
| はじめまして。 | Hajimemashite | Nice to meet you ( in the first meeting) |
| こんにちわ。 | Konnichiwa | Hello, Welcome |
| おかえりなさい。 | Okaerinasai | Welcome back (when someone returns back home) |
| お早うございます。 | Ohayō gozaimasu. . | Good morning (until 10 am) |
| おはよう。 | Ohayō | Good morning (casual) |
| すみません。 | Sumimasen | I am sorry, Excuse |
| ごめんなさい。 | Gomennsai | I am sorry (severe mistake, irreplaceable) |
| みせてください。 | Misete kudasai | Please show |
| おはいりください。 | Ohairi kudasai | Please come-in |
| こんばんは。 | Konbanwa | Good evening |
| どぞよろしく。 | Dōzo yoroshiku | Please favor me (in a meeting) |
| ええ。 | Ee | Yes (agreement) |
| はじめまして。 | Hai | Yes (acknowledgement) |
| どれ。 | Dore | Which one? |
| どこ。 | Doko | Where? |
| どうして。 | Dōshite | Why?, How? |
| いつ | Itsu | When? |
| いらついませ。 | Irasshaimase | Welcome, Come in |
| たすけて。 | Tasukete | Please help! |
| なに。 | Nani | What? |
| いま。 | Ima | Now |
| なんにち。 | Nannichi | Which day? (of the month) |
| なんよび。 | Nanyōbi | Which day? (of the week) |
| らいしゅう。 | Raishuu | Next week |
| らいげつ。 | Raigetsu | Next month |
| なんねん。 | Nannen | Which year? |
| なんにん。 | Nannin | How many people? |
| もしもし。 | Moshimoshi | Hello, I say |
| こんにちは。 | Konnichiwa | Hello, Good day |
| おはいりください。 | Ohairi kudasai | Please sit down |
| おねがいします。 | Onegaishimasu | Please do |
| お待ちください。 | Omachi kudasai | Please wait |
| もうけっこです | Mō kekko desu | No thank you |
You may find あ in the beginning of some phrases which is used for more politeness.
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