| Yes/No |
Hai/Iie |
| Please |
Onegai shimass |
| Do you speak English ? |
Eigo o hanasemass-ka ? |
| Excuse me/sorry |
Sumimasen (*1) |
| My name is X |
Watashi no namae wa X desu (*2) |
| I've reserved a room |
Yoyaku shitemasu |
| Kuidaore |
The civilised practice of bankrupting oneself through sheer gluttony |
| Hello |
Konnichiwa |
| Don't give up |
Gambatte kudassai |
| Master/Beginner |
Sempai/Kohai |
| Death through overwork |
Karooshi |
| Thank you |
(Domo) Arigato (gozaimass) (*3) |
| Good bye |
Sayonara |
| Enough |
Jubun desu |
| How do you do ? |
Hajimemashite |
| My name is X |
Watashi no namae wa X desu |
| Mahlzeit |
Itadakimasu |
| Where is X |
X wa doko desuka ? |
| Toilet |
Otearai/Keshoshitsu |
| Taxi |
Takushi |
| Train |
Densha |
| Left/Right/Straight on |
Migi/Hidari/Massugu |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger |
Arnodu Schwa |
*1 note that the "u" is sometimes pronounced
*2 and sometimes it isn't
*3 three of dozens of levels of politeness. In an otherwise wonderfully simple language (no genders, no declinations, not even plurals !) they have added enourmous complexity by distinguishing linguistically whether a man or a woman is speaking, whether the person spoken to is a man or a woman, a superiour to an inferiour, an old person to a young one etc.. That and the amazing writing (3 alphabets in parallel !) make sure any simplicity is entirely removed.
Posted at 09:20 pm by
salmony