Rao
Member
Hey hey! So here it is. XD I suppose I'll start this off with some of the things I know, and everyone can add on, comment, correct, etc. Hah, maybe we'll learn something!
Japanese Alphabet
The Japanese language has two kinds of alphabet, Hiragana and Katakana. Hiragana is used when we have no Japanese characters (Kanji) for the words or we don't remember the right Kanji. Katakana is used mainly for foreign names. The Japanese alphabet consists of 99 sounds formed with 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, and u) and 14 consonants (k, s, t, h, m, y, r, w, g, z, d, b, p, and n).
Hiragana
![hiragana.gif](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nihongo.dk%2Fresource%2Fhiragana.gif&hash=57751485161a103d1e9c03165935cc38)
Katakana
![katakana.gif](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nihongo.dk%2Fresource%2Fkatakana.gif&hash=53887543cdd791c67f6c6d55cc188c43)
A great place to practice your Hiragana/Katakana is realkana.com. Thanks to zombieharlot for the site! ^^
Basic Vocabulary
Self Introduction:
How do you do? はじめまして (Hajimema****e)
I am Keita. わたしは けいたです (Watashi wa Keita desu)
Nice to meet you. どうぞ よろしく (Doozo yoroshiku)
How do you do? はじめまして (Hajimema****e)
I am Keita. わたしは けいたです (Watashi wa Keita desu)
Nice to meet you. どうぞ よろしく (Doozo yoroshiku)
Greetings:
Good morning (informal). おはよう (Ohayoo)
Good morning (formal). おはよう ございます (Ohayoo gozaimasu)
Hello/hi. こんにちは (Konnichi wa)
Good-bye. さようなら (Sayoonara)
Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr. Yamada. やまだ せんせい (Yamada sensei)
Yes. はい (Hai)
No. いいえ (Iie)
Good evening. こんばんは (Konban wa)
See you. じゃあね (Jaa ne)
Good morning (informal). おはよう (Ohayoo)
Good morning (formal). おはよう ございます (Ohayoo gozaimasu)
Hello/hi. こんにちは (Konnichi wa)
Good-bye. さようなら (Sayoonara)
Mr./Mrs./Ms./Dr. Yamada. やまだ せんせい (Yamada sensei)
Yes. はい (Hai)
No. いいえ (Iie)
Good evening. こんばんは (Konban wa)
See you. じゃあね (Jaa ne)
Colors:
Red あか (aka)
Orange オレンジ (orenji)
Yellow きいろ (kiiro)
Green みごり (migori)
Blue あお (ao)
Purple むらさき (murasaki)
White しろ (shiro)
Black くろ (kuro)
Red あか (aka)
Orange オレンジ (orenji)
Yellow きいろ (kiiro)
Green みごり (migori)
Blue あお (ao)
Purple むらさき (murasaki)
White しろ (shiro)
Black くろ (kuro)
Counting:
1. いち (ichi)
2. に (ni)
3. さん (san)
4. し, よん (shi, yon) Note: 'Shi' means death, therefore it is a superstition much like our number 13. You would normally use 'yon' when counting.
5. ご (go)
6. ろく (roku)
7. しち, なな (shichi, nana) Note: You may use either when counting, although 'nana' is more common.
8. はち (hachi)
9. く, きゅう (ku, kyuu) Note: You may use either when counting, although 'kyuu' is more common.
10. じゅう (juu)
1. いち (ichi)
2. に (ni)
3. さん (san)
4. し, よん (shi, yon) Note: 'Shi' means death, therefore it is a superstition much like our number 13. You would normally use 'yon' when counting.
5. ご (go)
6. ろく (roku)
7. しち, なな (shichi, nana) Note: You may use either when counting, although 'nana' is more common.
8. はち (hachi)
9. く, きゅう (ku, kyuu) Note: You may use either when counting, although 'kyuu' is more common.
10. じゅう (juu)
Counting Objects:
I suppose the Japanese like to make things difficult on us, so you can't simply count objects by the numbers above. They have different counting systems for flat objects, round objects, people, ages and even different animals. Annoying, eh? Well, here are the basics.
I suppose the Japanese like to make things difficult on us, so you can't simply count objects by the numbers above. They have different counting systems for flat objects, round objects, people, ages and even different animals. Annoying, eh? Well, here are the basics.
Counter for flat objects (paper, plates, CDs, tickets, shirts, tissues, etc):
1. いちまい (ichimai)
2. にまい (nimai)
3. さんまい (sanmai)
4. よんまい (yonmai)
5. ごまい (gomai)
6. ろく まい (rokumai)
7. なな まい (nanamai)
8. はちまい (hachimai)
9. きゅうまい (kyuumai)
10. じゅうまい (juumai)
Alright, so that wasn't so hard, just add the suffix 'mai' to the end of each number. This next one is just オウシコソ, as if I don't have enough to memorize in college.
1. いちまい (ichimai)
2. にまい (nimai)
3. さんまい (sanmai)
4. よんまい (yonmai)
5. ごまい (gomai)
6. ろく まい (rokumai)
7. なな まい (nanamai)
8. はちまい (hachimai)
9. きゅうまい (kyuumai)
10. じゅうまい (juumai)
Alright, so that wasn't so hard, just add the suffix 'mai' to the end of each number. This next one is just オウシコソ, as if I don't have enough to memorize in college.
Counter for round objects (keys, apples, candies, hamburgers, rings, etc.):
1. ひとつ (hitotsu)
2. ふたつ (futotsu)
3. みっつ (mittsu)
4. よっつ (yottsu)
5. いつつ (itsutsu)
6. むっつ (muttsu)
7. ななつ (nanatsu)
8. やっつ (yattsu)
9. ここのつ (kokonotsu)
10. とお (too)
1. ひとつ (hitotsu)
2. ふたつ (futotsu)
3. みっつ (mittsu)
4. よっつ (yottsu)
5. いつつ (itsutsu)
6. むっつ (muttsu)
7. ななつ (nanatsu)
8. やっつ (yattsu)
9. ここのつ (kokonotsu)
10. とお (too)
Weather Expressions:
It's hot! あついですねえ (Atsui desu nee)
It's cold! さむいですねえ (Samui desu nee)
It is cool (temperature)! すずしいですねえ (Suzushii desu nee)
Yes, it is! そうですねえ (Soo desu nee) Note: Indicates strong agreement.
How are you? おげんきですか (Ogenki desu ka) Note: This expression is only used when one meets a person after not seeing them for several days or more.
Yes, I am fine. はい, げんきです (Hai, genki desu)
It's hot and humid! むしあついですねえ (Mushiatsui desu nee)
The weather is nice! いい(お
てんきですねえ (Ii [o]tenki desu nee)
It's raining (a lot)! あめですねえ (Ame desu nee)
It's hot! あついですねえ (Atsui desu nee)
It's cold! さむいですねえ (Samui desu nee)
It is cool (temperature)! すずしいですねえ (Suzushii desu nee)
Yes, it is! そうですねえ (Soo desu nee) Note: Indicates strong agreement.
How are you? おげんきですか (Ogenki desu ka) Note: This expression is only used when one meets a person after not seeing them for several days or more.
Yes, I am fine. はい, げんきです (Hai, genki desu)
It's hot and humid! むしあついですねえ (Mushiatsui desu nee)
The weather is nice! いい(お
It's raining (a lot)! あめですねえ (Ame desu nee)
Possession:
This ~ この + Noun (Kono + noun)
That ~ その + Noun (Sono + noun)
That ~ over there あの + Noun (Ano + noun)
You あなた (Anata)
Mine わたしの (Watashi-no)
Yours あなたの (Anata-no)
Here ここ (Koko)
There そこ (Soko)
Over there あそこ (Asoko)
This ~ この + Noun (Kono + noun)
That ~ その + Noun (Sono + noun)
That ~ over there あの + Noun (Ano + noun)
You あなた (Anata)
Mine わたしの (Watashi-no)
Yours あなたの (Anata-no)
Here ここ (Koko)
There そこ (Soko)
Over there あそこ (Asoko)