Conversation in Japanese of Recent Article

"Teach me" and "Tell me" in Japanese are both "Oshiete kudasai"

 

Teach; tell; instruct; show : you can use the word of "教える(oshieru)" for these.

Especially, in Japanese, "Oshieru" is usually used for "Teach" and "Tell".

教える(oshieru): Verb conjugations

Oshieru
Informal Present (Dictionary Form)	教える (oshie ru)
Formal Present (~ masu Form)	教えます (oshie masu)
Informal Past  (~ ta Form)	教えた (oshie ta)
Formal Past	教えました (oshie mashita)
Informal Negative (~ nai Form)	教えない (oshie nai)
Formal Negative	教えません (oshie masen)
Informal Past Negative	教えなかった (oshie nakatta)
Formal Past Negative	教えませんでした (oshie masen desita)
~ te Form	教えて (oshie te)
Conditional	教えたら (oshie tara)
Volitional	教えよう (oshie yō)
Passive	教えられる (oshie rareru)
Causative	教えさせる (oshie saseru)
Potential	教えられる (oshie rareru); 教えれる(oshie reru)
Imperative (Command)	教えろ (oshie ro)

 

1.teach	a subject, a skill, study, learning, expertise etc.
	sports, musical instruments, language, and how to, etc.
2.tell	imparting information; describing information,
	Name, address, telephone number, mail address, date, time, place and route, etc.
3. instruct, show	Manner of operation of a practical apparatus; Skill and technology of equipment, etc.
4. others	Let, give, tutor, explain, etc.

 

1.teach

I teach English in Japan. 私は日本で英語を教えています。*masu Form wtashi wa nihon de eigo wo oshiete imasu.

I'll teach you how to ski. 僕がスキーを教えてあげるよ(=教えよう)。 *Volitional boku ga sukii wo oshiete ageruyo.

I'll teach you how to shop. 私が買い物の仕方を教えてあげる(=教えよう)。 *Volitional watashi ga kaimono no shikata wo oshiete ageru.

I'll teach him how to make Japanese tea. 私が彼に日本茶の入れ方を教えるよ(=教えよう)。 *Volitional watashi ga kare ni nihoncha no irekata wo oshieruyo.

Teach me how to swim. 泳ぎ方を教えてください。 *te Form oyogi kata wo oshiete kudasai.

 

 

2. tell

Can you tell me the way to the station? 駅への行き方を教えてもらえますか？ *te Form eki eno ikikata wo oshiete moraemasuka?

Could you tell me your name, please? お名前を教えていただけませんか？ *te Form onamae wo oshiete itadakemasenka?

Would tell me when your sale starts? セールがいつから始まるか教えてもらえますか？ *te Form sēru ga itsukara hajimaru ka oshiete moraemasuka?

Please tell me why. なぜなのか理由を教えてください。 *te Form nazenanoka riyuu wo oshiete kudasai.

Please tell me your email address. メールアドレスを教えてください。*te Form mēru-adoresu wo oshiete kudasai.

She taught her pupils that they should not tell lies. 彼女は生徒たちに嘘をついてはいけないと教えた。 *Informal Past (~ ta Form) kanojo wa seitotachi ni uso wo tsuitewa ikenai to oshieta.

 

 

3. instruct, show

I instruct a class in physics. 私はあるクラスに物理学を教えています。*Formal Present (~ masu Form) wtashi wa aru kurasu ni butsurigaku wo oshiete imasu.

He instructed us in self-defense skills. 彼は私たちに護身術を教えてくれた。* Informal Pastfc (~ ta Form) kare wa watashitachi ni goshinjutsu wo oshiete kureta.

I will show him how to use the machine. 私が彼にその機械の使い方を教えます。 *Formal Present (~ masu Form) watashi ga kare ni kikai no tsukaikata wo oshiemasu.

I showed my sister how to use the copier. 私は妹にコピー機の使い方を教えてやった。 *Informal Pastfc (~ ta Form) watashi wa imouto ni kopiiki no tsukaikata wo oshiete yatta.

"Excuse me. Could you show me how to make a phone call here?" 「すみませんが、ここの電話のかけ方を教えていただけますか？」 *te Form "sumimasenga, kokono denwa no kakekata wo oshiete itadake masuka?"

 

 

4. Others

Let me know at once if anything happens. 何か変わったことがあったらすぐ教えてください。 *te Form nanika kawwatta kotoga attara sugu oshiete kudasai.

Could you give me his phone number? 彼の電話番号を教えて頂けますか? *te Form kare no denwa-bangou wo oshiete itadake masuka?

She gives piano lessons to my daughter. 彼女は私の娘にピアノを教えてくれています。*te Form kanojo wa watashi no musume ni piano wo oshiete kureteimasu.

He tutors a junior-high school student as a part-time job. 彼はアルバイトで中学生を教えている。*Informal Present (Dictionary Form) kare wa arubaito de chuugakusei wo oshieteiru.

Please explain what it means here. ここのところがどういう意味か教えてください。 *te Form kokono tokoroga douiu imi ka oshiete kudasai.

Hararie

 

 

Many ways for you to say "I'm sorry" in Japanese

 

The most polite way to say I'm sorry is to say "すみません(sumimasen) or すいません(suimasen).
Another basic Japanese word for offering an apology is "ごめん(gomen)".

The Japanese typically apologize more frequently.
This results from cultural differences between them.Apologizing is considered a virtue in Japan.
When apologizing the Japanese often bow.

If you are apologizing that something has been done, "申し訳ありませんでした(moushiwake arimasen deshita)" can be used.
Like "すみません(sumimasen)", "申し訳ありません(or ございません）Moushiwake arimasen(or gozaimasen)" is also used to express gratitude.

Here are some expressions used to apologize.

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
I'm sorry	ごめん gomen
	ごめんなさい(polite) gomen nasai
	すまん suman
	すみません/すいません(polite) sumimasen/suimasen

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
I'm very(so)sorry	どうもすみません。 doumo sumimasen.
	If you are apologizing that something has been done, どうもすみませんでした。 doumo sumimasen deshita
	申し訳ありません。/申し訳ございません。 moushiwake arimasen/moushiwake gozaimasen
	If you are apologizing that something has been done, 申し訳ありませんでした。/申し訳ございませんでした。 moushiwake arimasen deshita/moushiwake gozaimasen deshita

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
Sorry, I said too much.	言いすぎてごめん。 iisugite gomen
I'm sorry, I said too much.	言いすぎてごめんなさい。 iisugite gomen nasai. 言いすぎてすみません。 iisugite sumimasen.

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
Sorry, I didn't it(that).	ごめん、そんなつもりじゃなかったんだ。 gomen, sonna tsumorija nakattanda.

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
Sorry, if I'm wrong.	ちがってたらごめん。 chigattetara gomen.
I'm sorry, if I'm wrong.	ちがってたらごめんなさい。 chigattetara gomen nasai.

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
Sorry, if I'm mistaken.	まちがってたらごめん。 machigatte tara gomen.
I'm sorry, if I'm mistaken.	まちがってたらごめんなさい。 machigatte tara gomen nasai.

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
Sorry, my bad.	ごめんごめん、私のミス。 gomen gomen, watashi no misu.

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
I'm sorry [Sorry], I was wrong.	ごめんなさい[ごめん]、私がまちがってた。 gomennasai[gomen], watashi ga machigatteta. ごめんなさい[ごめん]、私が悪かった。 gomennasai[gomen], watashi ga warukatta.

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
Sorry, I'm late.	遅れてごめん。 okurete gomen.
I'm sorry, I'm late.	遅れてごめんなさい。 okurete gomen nasai. 遅れてすみません。 okurete sumimasen.

English	Japanese & Pronunciation
Sorry, I bothered you.	じゃましてごめん。 jama shite gomen.
I'm sorry, I bothered you.	じゃましてごめんなさい。 jama shite gomen nasai. じゃましてすみません。 jama shite sumimasen.

Hararie

 

How To Say I'm Sorry In Japanese

The most polite way to say I'm sorry is to say "すみません(sumimasen) or すいません(suimasen).
Another basic Japanese word for offering an apology is "ごめん(gomen)".

English	Japanese	Pronunciation
I'm sorry	ごめん	gomen
	ごめんなさい(polite)	gomen nasai
	すまん	suman
	すみません/すいません(polite)	sumimasen/suimasen

Sumimasen has some meanings.

• You can use sumimasen as thank you.
• You can use sumimasen as excuse me too.

 

The Japanese greet many ways depending on the time of day.

 

Greetings are important to know in Japan.

The Japanese greet many ways depending on the time of day.
For instance, saying "Hello" takes many different forms, depending on the time of day.

 

 

Saying Hello

The Japanese have three major greetings based on morning, afternoon, and evening.

1. Good Morning: おはようございます(ohayou gozaimasu)
2. Hello or Good Afternoon: こんにちは(konnichiwa)
3. Good Evening: こんばんわ(konbanwa)
   

 

Saying Goodbye

Goodbye is done in two ways.
Say "Sayounara" for goodbyes that are more formal or more permanent.
A simple informal "bai bai" (=bye-bye) is fine for friends.
Occasionally you will hear Japanese use "Jaa-ne" or "Jaa-matane".
Literally, it would probably be more akin to "well, all right then," but it is employed in the same way as you would say "bye bye", or "see you".

1. Goodbye: さようなら/さよなら(sayounara/sayonara)
2. See you: バイバイ/じゃあね/じゃあまたね(bai bai/jaa-ne/jaa-matane)

 

Greeting when you leave home for school, work, a trip, or whatever reason

"Itterasshai" is what is normally said when sending someone off.
It literally means "go and return" and it's ittekimasu's response.
"Ki wo tsukete(ne)" is often used with "Itterasshai", it means "be careful" or "stay safe"

1. Have a nice day/Bye/See you/Take care: いってらっしゃい/行ってらっしゃい(itterasshai)
2. Be careful/Stay safe: きをつけて（ね）/気をつけて（ね）(ki wo tsukete[ne])
3. I'm going/I'm leaving/Bye/See you: いってきます/行ってきます(ittekimasu)

 

Greeting when you get home for school, work, a trip, or whatever reason

It's a salutations for going home.
"Tadaima" means "I'm home".
And my family members say "Okaeri" or "Okaerinasai" to me after I say "Tadaima".
"Okaeri" or "Okaerinasai" is tadaima's response, and it's a greeting to confirm family's (friend and partner) safety.
We feel that these words "Okaeri" and "Tadaima" symbolize family(friends and partners) ties.

1. I'm home/I'm back: ただいま(tadaima)
2. How was your work?/How was your day?: おかえり（なさい）/お帰り（なさい）(okaeri nasai)

 

Saying Good night

The word "yasumi" by itself means rest, a break as in a coffee break, or a vacation.
The expression "Oyasumi nasai" is commonly said to people who are going to bed.
It means "Please have a rest" or in other words, "Good night."

• Good night: おやすみ（なさい）/お休み（なさい）

 

 

*The time of each image is "Rough standard time."
*The hiragana, the katakana, and Mixed kana-kanji: The word written by a black-character is used most in Japan.  

Good Morning

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	おはよう ohayou	おはようございます ohayou gozaimasu
Katakana	オハヨウ ohayou	オハヨウゴザイマス ohayou gozaimasu
Mixed kana-kanji	お早う ohayou	お早う御座います ohayou gozaimasu

Top  

I'm going/I'm leaving/Bye/See you

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	いってきます itte kimasu	いってまいります itte mairimasu
Katakana	イッテキマス itte kimasu	イッテマイリマス itte mairimasu
Mixed kana-kanji	行ってきます itte kimasu	行って参ります itte mairimasu

Have a nice day/Bye/See you/Take care

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	いってらっしゃい itte rasshai	いってらっしゃいませ itte rasshai mase
Katakana	イッテラッシャイ itte rasshai	イッテラッシャイマセ itte rasshai mase
Mixed kana-kanji	行ってらっしゃい itte rasshai	行ってらっしゃいませ itte rasshai mase

Be careful/Stay safe

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	きをつけて（ね） ki wo tsukete(ne)	おきをつけて o ki wo tsukete
Katakana	キヲツケテ（ネ） ki wo tsukete(ne)	オキヲツケテ o ki wo tsukete
Mixed kana-kanji	気をつけて（ね） ki wo tsukete(ne)	お気をつけて itte rasshai mase

Top

Goodbye/See you

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	ばいばい bai bai またね matane じゃあまたね jaa matane	さよなら/さようなら sayonara/sayounara
Katakana	バイバイ bai bai マタネ matane ジャアマタネ jaa matane	サヨナラ/サヨウナラ sayonara/sayounara

Hello/Good Afternoon

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	こんにちは konnichiwa	*The honorific doesn't exist because "Konnichiwa" is an interjection.
Katakana	コンニチワ konnichiwa
Mixed kana-kanji	今日は konnichiwa

Top
*Use "おはよう(ohayou)" from waking to about 12:00, "こんにちは(konnichiwa)" until dusk, "こんばんは(konbanwa)" throughout the evening, and "Oyasumi" only before bed or sleeping.

Good Evening

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	こんばんは konbanwa	*The honorific doesn't exist because "Konbanwa" is an interjection.
Katakana	コンバンハ konbanwa
Mixed kana-kanji	今晩は konbanwa

I'm home/I'm back

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	ただいま tadaima	ただいまかえりました tadaima kaeri mashita ただいまもどりました tadaima modori mashita
Katakana	タダイマ tadaima	タダイマカエリマシタ tadaima kaeri mashita タダイマモドリマシタ tadaima modori mashita
Mixed kana-kanji	只今 tadaima	只今帰りました tadaima kaeri mashita 只今戻りました tadaima modori mashita

Top

How was your work?/How was your day?

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	おかえり okaeri	おかえりなさい okaeri nasai
Katakana	オカエリ okaeri	オカエリナサイ okaeri nasai
Mixed kana-kanji	お帰り okaeri	お帰りなさい okaeri nasai

Good night

Japanese	Informal Japanese	Formal Japanese
Hiragana	おやすみ oyasumi	おやすみなさい oyasumi nasai
Katakana	オヤスミ oyasumi	オヤスミナサイ oyasumi nasai
Mixed kana-kanji	お休み oyasumi	お休みなさい oyasumi nasai

Hararie

 

Sanshodo-Kotoba tsukaikata ejiten

三省堂ことばつかいかた絵じてん [sanshoudou kotoba tsukaikata e jiten]   In this page, I used the image of this book. This is a book for children in Japan to learn basic Japanese. In this book, the word of Japan that we use in daily life is explained with the image, and it is very convenient. This book will be very useful for you who is learning Japanese. *You can buy this book in Japanese Amazon. (It is not sold outside Japan.)

 

"Hello" and "Good evening" in Japanese

<こんにちは(konnichiwa); Hello>:

"Konnichiwa" is general greeting of saying hello in Japanese.
You can use "Konnichiwa" any time of the day.
Basically, the greeting word "Konnichiwa" is used from about 10:00AM to about 6:00PM.
(It is "Time the sun is shining" actually.)

<こんばんわ(konbanwa); Good evening>:
Konbanwa means "Good Evening".
It's usually used in formal conversation, and "Konbanwa" is a fixed greeting.

Or, expression "おばんでございます(obande gozaimasu)" is used. (It's the Touhoku dialect.)
If you're in Sendai, the largest city in north-east Japan, they may refer to it as Sendaiben.
In all of these cases, "ben" means dialect.

 

 

Writing "Hello" and "Good evening" in Japanese

There are two ways of writing "Konnichiwa and Konbanwa".

1. Writing in the hiragana and kanji

Kanji and Konnichiwa in the hiragana have the meaning "Today".
"Konnichiwa" in the hiragana and kanji is "Today + particle "は(ha)".

There is a rule for writing hiragana "わ(wa)" and "は(ha)".
When "わ(wa)" is used as a particle, it is written in hiragana as "は(ha)".
However, in the old days it was a part of sentence such as "Tonight(今晩[konban] is(は[wa]) " and "わ(wa)" functioned as a particle.
That's why it is still written in hiragana as "は(ha)".

 

2. Writing only in the hiragana.

Typically "konnichiwa" is written "こんにちはorこんにちわ".
Writing "Konnichiwa and Konbanwa" in the hiragana is the most general.
And the use of hiragana "は(ha)" is correct.
Therefore, "こんにちは/今日は(konnichiwa)" and "こんばんは/今晩は(konbanwa)" are the most correct, general writing.

English	Hello	Pronunciation
Hiragana	こんにちは	konnichiwa
Katakana	コンニチハ
Kanji & Hiragana	今日は

English	Good evening	Pronunciation
Hiragana	こんばんは	konbanwa
Katakana	コンバンハ
Kanji & Hiragana	今晩は

Conversation: "Konnichiwa" and "Konbanwa".

Hello, How are you?
Japanese	Colloquialism: 今日はor今晩は、元気？ Honorific: 今日はor今晩は、ご機嫌いかが（ですか）？
Hiragna	Colloquialism: こんにちはorこんばんは、げんき？ Honorific: こんにちはorこんばんは、ごきげんいかが（ですか）？
Katakana	Colloquialism: コンニチハorコンバンハ、ゲンキ？ Honorific: コンニチハorコンバンハ、ゴキゲンイカガ（デスカ）？
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: konnichiwa or konbanwa, genki? Honorific: konnichiwa or konbanwa, gokigen ikaga desuka?

Hello, How's it going?
Japanese	Colloquialism: 今日はor今晩は、調子はどう？ Honorific: 今日はor今晩は、調子はいかがですか？
Hiragna	Colloquialism: こんにちはorこんばんは、ちょうしはどう？ Honorific: こんにちはorこんばんは、ちょうしはいかがですか？
Katakana	Colloquialism: コンニチハorコンバンハ、チョウシハドウ？ Honorific: コンニチハorコンバンハ、チョウシハイカガデスカ？
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: konnichiwa or konbanwa, chooshi wa doo? Honorific: konnichiwa or konbanwa, choushi wa ikaga desuka?

 

<The answer to "Konnichiwa" and "Konbanwa">:

How about you?
Japanese	Colloquialism: あなたor君orそっち はどう？ Honorific: あなたorそちら はいかがですか？
Hiragna	Colloquialism: あなたorきみorそっち はどう？ Honorific: あなたorそちら はいかがですか？
Katakana	Colloquialism: アナタorキミorソッチ ハドウ？ Honorific: アナタorソチラ ハイカガデスカ？
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: anata or kimi or socchi wa doo? Honorific: anata or sochira wa ikaga desuka?

Great!/Pretty good"
Japanese	Colloquialism: めちゃめちゃorすごい元気！ Honorific: とてもorとっても元気です。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: めちゃめちゃorすごいげんき！ Honorific: とてもorとってもげんきです！
Katakana	Colloquialism: メチャメチャorスゴイ ゲンキ！ Honorific: トテモorトッテモ ゲンキデス！
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: mechamecha or sugoi genki! Honorific: totemo or tottemo genki desu!

Good!
Japanese	Colloquialism: うん、元気。 Honorific: はい、元気です。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: うん、げんき。 Honorific: はい、げんきです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ウン、ゲンキ。 Honorific: ハイ、ゲンキデス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: un, genki. Honorific: hai, genki desu.

Not bad/I'm OK
Japanese	Colloquialism: まあまあかな。 Honorific: まあまあです。　　 *"maa maa" doesn't have kanji.
Hiragna	Colloquialism: まあまあかな。 Honorific: まあまあです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: マアマア カナ。 Honorific: マアマア デス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: maa maa kana. Honorific: maa maa desu.

 

Well, I'm OK.
Japanese	Colloquialism: うーん、まあまあかな。 Honorific: そうですねー、まあまあです。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: うーん、まあまあかな。 Honorific: そうですねー、まあまあです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ウーン、マアマアカナ。 Honorific: ソウデスネー、マアマアデス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: u---n, maa maa kana. Honorific: soodesune--, maa maa desu.

 

 

Some questions to "Yahoo answer"

A lot of questions on "Konnichiwa" and "Konbanwa" and the answers are in "Yahoo answer".
If you don't mind, read the questions and answers.

Q: How do you write konnichiwa?

How do you write konnichiwa? In hiragana? Why do they have an extra "n" in there? Isn't that redundant? Is there some obscure grammatical rule that explains this?

A.

The extra "n" is in there, because that's how the word is pronounced. It's actually a compound word that literally means "this day". "今(kon)" is "Now or This"; "日(nichi)" is "Day". To take out the first "n" would make the word sound really funny. Like in English, in the compound word "penknife" (pen+knife) you are really saying the sound "n" twice. Try saying it without that first "ん(n)". Penife. Sounds funny and wrong, doesn't it! It's the same for the Japanese! Just saying "konichiwa" sounds funny; so make sure you add that extra "ん(n)"!

Q. How to properly write konnichiwa in Japanese?

How to properly write konnichiwa in Japanese? I'm just starting to learn Japanese and know my Hiragana. As such I would assume konnichiwa to be written as: こんにちわbut i've also seen it as: こんにちは Which is right? and why?

A.

Traditionally,"こんにちは" is correct. But these days a lot of the young generation write こんにちわ as well. Although no one thinks of it literally anymore, if we break it down, literally, it means "Today is", or "This day is". This means that the WA at the end is a grammatical particle, not a part of a noun. As you may have already learnt, we use the character "は(ha)"for the grammatical particle pronounced as "wa", meaning "is". Example: Kare 'WA' nihonjin desu. (He is Japanese) In this case, we use "は". Because of this, sometimes in Roman characters (English alphabet) the Japanese will write "Kare HA nihonjin desu" but still pronounced "wa". For other "wa"わ, for example for a noun such as "niwa" (garden) we would use the character わ. Example: Niwa ni wani ga iru. (There is a crocodile in the garden). Both 'wa' will use "わ".

Q. What is the difference between these three words for Konnichiwa?

What is the difference between these three words for Konnichiwa? こんにちは- isn't that ending in Ha? When it should be Wa? こんにちわ- this ending in Wa. 今日は- is this also ok?
A.	"こんにちは and 今日は" are orthographical. "こんにちは" looks softer. Spelling "こんにちわ" is wrong but often used among younger people.

Read More: "Yahoo answers; Konnichiwa"

 

Q. Is saying konbanwa gozaimasu acceptable in Japanese?

Is saying konbanwa gozaimasu acceptable in Japanese? I know you can say ohayoo gozaimasu is the formal way of saying ohayoo. So does that mean that konbanwa gozaimasu would be acceptable too? like a formal version of konbanwa?
A.	No, you shouldn't say "こんばんは ございます(konbanwa gozaimasu)" -it is not correct. It may seem to, and I do understand how you came to the conclusion, but it is not used that way. Konbanwa has no collocations that I know of, and is simply used by itself unlike ohayoo. The same applies to Konnichiwa, you can not add "gozaimasu" to that either.
R.H.	Advice from hararie: It is better to use expression "おばんでございます(obande gozaimasu)" if you want to speak "Konbanwa" politely.

Q. What the difference between konbanwa and konichiwa?

What the difference between konbanwa and konichiwa?
A.	Konbawa means 'good evening' and konnichiwa means 'good afternoon' . Konnichiwa can also be used as 'hello' =)
R.H.	Advice from hararie: Konnichiwa is as the case may be used at night.

Read More: "Yahoo answers; Konbanwa"

Hararie

 

 

"I like it" in Japanese; "I hate it" in Japanese.

If you want to say "I like [something]", say "watashi/boku/ore wa [something] ga suki(like) desu".
If it is a conversation, you need not say the conjunction "wa" and "ga" and "desu".
If you want to say "I hate [something]", say "watashi/boku/ore wa [something] ga kirai(hate) desu".
If it is a conversation, you need not say the conjunction "wa" and "ga" and "desu".

• "like" is "suki".
• "don't like" is "suki janai".
• "hate" is "kirai".

English	Japanese	Hiragna	Pronunciation
like	好き	すき	suki
love	大好き	だいすき	daisuki
don't like	好きじゃない	すきじゃない	suki janai
hate	嫌い	きらい	kirai

I listed details of sentences in the following illustration.
(Take a look at the following table)

1.

I like this song.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 私 この歌好き。 Honorific: 私はこの歌が好きです。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: わたし このうたすき。 Honorific: わたしは このうたが すきです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ワタシ コノウタスキ。 Honorific: ワタシハ コノウタガ スキデス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: watashi kono uta suki. Honorific: watashi wa kono uta ga suki desu.

So do I.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 僕も。 Honorific: 僕も（この歌が好き）です。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: ぼくも。 Honorific: ぼくも（このうたがすき）です。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ボクモ。 Honorific: ボクモ（コノウタガスキ）デス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: boku mo. Honorific: boku mo (kono uta ga suki) desu.

*Boku is a word that the boy uses.
　Read this page about the word that indicates oneself.

I don't.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 私 好きじゃない。 Honorific: 私は好きではありません。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: わたし すきじゃない。 Honorific: わたしはすきではありません。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ワタシスキジャナイ。 Honorific: ワタシハスキデハアリマセン。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: watashi sukijanai. Honorific: watashi wa suki dewa arimasen.

 

2.

I love sushi.
Japanese	Colloquialism: お寿司 大好き。 Honorific: 私は お寿司が 大好き です。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: おすし だいすき。 Honorific: わたしは おすしが だいすきです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: オスシ ダイスキ。 Honorific: ワタシハ オスシ ガ ダイスキ デス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: osushi dai suki. Honorific: watashi wa osushi ga dai suki desu.

Me too.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 僕も。 Honorific: 僕も（お寿司が大好き）です。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: ぼくも。 Honorific: ぼくも（おすしがだいすき）です。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ボクモ。 Honorific: ボクモ（オスシ ガ ダイスキ）です。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: boku mo. Honorific: boku mo (osushi ga dai suki) desu.

I hate it.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 私嫌い。 Honorific: 私は嫌いです。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: わたし きらい。 Honorific: わたしは きらいです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ワタシ キライ。 Honorific: ワタシハ キライデス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: watashi kirai. Honorific: watashi wa kirai desu.

 

3.

I don't enjoy math class.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 算数の時間って面白くないな。 Honorific: 算数の時間は面白くないです。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: さんすうのじかんっておもしろくないな。 Honorific: さんすうのじかんはおもしろくないです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: サンスウ ノ ジカンッテ オモシロクナイナ。 Honorific: サンスウ ノ ジカン ハ オモシロクナイ デス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: sansuu no jikan-tte omoshiroku nai na. Honorific: sansuu no jikan wa omoshiroku nai desu.

Neither do I.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 僕も（面白くない）。 Honorific: 僕も（面白くない）です。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: ぼくも（おもしろくない）。 Honorific: ぼくも（おもしろくない）です。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ボクモ（オモシロクナイ）。 Honorific: ボクモ（オモシロクナイ）デス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: boku mo (omoshiroku nai). Honorific: boku mo (omoshiroku nai) desu.

I do.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 私面白い。 Honorific: 私は面白いです。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: わたしおもしろい。 Honorific: わたしはおもしろいです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ワタシオモシロイ。 Honorific: ワタシハ オモシロイ デス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: watashi omoshiroi. Honorific: watashi wa omoshiroi desu.

 

4.

I'm very fond of cats.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 私、猫大好き。 Honorific: 私は猫が大好きです。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: わたし、ねこだいすき。 Honorific: わたしはねこがだいすきです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ワタシ、ネコダイスキ。 Honorific: ワタシ ハ ネコガ ダイスキデス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: watashi, neko dai suki. Honorific: watashi wa neko ga dai suki desu.

So am I.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 僕も。 Honorific: 僕もです。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: ぼくも。 Honorific: ぼくもそうです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ボク モ。 Honorific: ボク モ ソウデス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: boku mo sou(sō) desu. Honorific: boku mo sou(sō) desu.

I hate them.
Japanese	Colloquialism: 私大嫌い！ Honorific: 私は大嫌いです。
Hiragna	Colloquialism: わたしだいきらい！ Honorific: わたしはだいきらいです。
Katakana	Colloquialism: ワタシ ダイキライ！ Honorific: ワタシ ハ ダイキライ デス。
Pronunciation	Colloquialism: watashi dai kirai! Honorific: watashi wa dai kirai desu.

Hararie

 

Why does not Japanese people use the subject?
The subject is hardly used in a Japanese daily conversation !

 

The center of the West language is a subject, and a Japanese language center is a predicate.

The Japanese is usually using Japanese without the subject.
In Japanese, the subject of the act is not usually described clearly.

Especially, most Japanese people hardly uses the subject in the conversation.

 

 

For example, if Japanese people ran into an acquaintance on the road, they will say, "atsui desune[It is hot ,isn't it ?]

• "What is hot? "
• "Where is hot? "
• "Who is hot?"

They don't say about these in the daily conversation.

 

This is a phrase like a greeting for a Japanese, and they don't use a subject intentionally.It is because they can understand a meaning only by "atsui-desune".

 

Or, for example, if Japanese people ran into an acquaintance on the road, they will say, "odekake-desuka? [Do you go out?]".

• "Where"
• "Who"

Japanese people hardly touch on it.

 

In addition, the conversation becomes lengthy by using the subject.

Conversation will not be realized if a subject doesn't exist in English.
That is because existence of the subject in English is important.

But the conversation without a subject of Japanese is realized.
It is because existence of the predicate in Japanese sentence is important.

 

 

For instance, "I love you." in English.

The Japanese says "I love you." without word "I and YOU".

 

"I love you": When this is translated into Japanese, it is "私はあなたを愛しています。[Watashi wa Anata wo Aishite imasu]".

 

It becomes a lengthy and unnatural expression.

The expression like "好きだよ(Suki dayo)[=I love you.]" or "愛してるよ(Aishite ruyo)[=I love you]" is natural in Japanese.

 

 

 

 

In the case of texts, such as a novel, the expression for which the subject is not used improves reader's feelings.

 

This is a famous phrase in the novels "YUKIGUNI" by "Yasunari Kawabata" who is a famous writer in Japan.

"The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country."

「国境の長いトンネルを抜けると雪国であった」
(Kokkyo no Nagai Tonneru wo Nukeruto Yukiguni de atta.)

"The train came out of the long tunnel into the snow country."

This English sentence has been translated by "E. Seidensticker."

To tell the truth, the subject doesn't exist on Yasunari Kawabata's original.

E. Seidensticker translates "Train" as a subject.

He is not wrong.

But, the Japanese doesn't think "Train" to be a subject.

"The person who came out the tunnel" of this sentence is "me who looked at the outside of the window from a train".

　Note: "I" in this case is a hero of this novel.

If word "I" is written in these sentences, it becomes very unnatural sentences.

The expression for which the subject is not used improves reader's feelings.

As for readers, empathy becomes possible by such expression, and the reader is drawn in to the world of the novel.

But, "E. Seidensticker" is not wrong.

It is because the Japanese interpretation without the subject is not necessarily one.
In the case of this novel, it is because it is a fact that the train has come out from a tunnel with the hero.

 

Japanese sentence which needs to use a subject.

Japanese people hardly use a subject in daily conversation.
But, when a subject needs to be specified, they are using the subject.

If the subject is not necessary, the Japanese doesn't use the subject.
However, if the subject is necessary, they use it.

The feature of Japanese : "Japanese people are race who wants to omit wording" rather than "the subject doesn't exist in Japanese".

 

For instance, they do not omit the subject in the scene that gives the instruction to many people.
In such a case, Japanese people do very wordy and lengthy expression rather.

 

"Mr. Suzuki must pass on the content to you when Ms. Sato calls Mr. Suzuki at the conference room.
After that, you must go to Mr. Sasaki's room and tell Ms. Sato's report to Mr. Sasaki."

The explanation in Japanese for this case is confusion.

 

「佐藤さん（女）が会議室から鈴木さん（男）に電話をしたら、鈴木さんはあなたたちにその内容を伝えなさい。あなたたちは社長室に行って佐藤さんの報告を社長にしなさい。」

-Sato san ga kaigi-shitsu kara Suzuki san ni denwa wo shitara, Suzuki san wa anata tachi ni sono naiyou wo tsutaenasai.
anata tachi wa shacho-shitsu ni itte Sato san no houkoku wo shacho ni shinasai.-

　　　[What a wordy and lengthy sentence it is!]

Since Japanese people have a custom not using a subject in daily conversation, they feel explanation in such a scene very troublesome.

But in such a scene, Japanese people explain carefully, in order to avoid misunderstanding.

 

Japanese may be "a language on which it lives together with a situation."

 

By Hararie

What does "II DESU" mean?

To begin with, word "II DESU" is used in the meaning of both the affirmative and the denial.

And, it is a phrase used over many topics like permission, agreement, the proposal, the recommendation, the opinion, information, the denial, anger, and the rejection, etc.

And, the following expressions are chiefly used.

1. いいですよ。[II DESU YO]:（permission, approval, proposal, recommendation, and advice）

2. いいですね。[II DESU NE]: (agreement)

3. いいですか？[II DESU KA?]: (asking for permission(confirms))

4. ...たら いいですか？[...TARA II DESU KA?]: (asking for opinion and information)

5. いいです。/ もういいです。[II DESU/Mooo IIDESU]: (Refusal, rejection, and anger)

 

1. "II DESU YO" for permission, approval, proposal, recommendation, and advice.

This II DESU YO form is "Sure you can...".
It's an adjective which means "good," "fine," "okay," etc.
"...temo" means something like "if (someone) were to...."

Accordingly, adding "ii desu" makes it "if (someone) were to (do something) it would be okay," "it's okay if (someone does something)," etc.
And, almost all forms of this "II DESU" are "II DESU YO".

 

Permission Example:

English	Japanese
You can use my PC.	私 の パソコン を 使って いい です よ。 watashi no PC wo tsukatte ii desu yo.
You can watch TV after you've finished your homework.	宿題 を やったら テレビ を 見て いい（です）よ。 shukudai wo yattara terebi wo mite ii desu yo.
You can use my dictionary.	私 の 辞書 を 使って いい です よ。 watashi no jisho o tsukatte ii desu yo.
<Note>: "II DESU(YO)" is a polite form. If you say to your family and friend, you should use "II YO", because "II DESU(YO)" is a polite form.

Approval Example:

English	Japanese
Would you mind sending this package by mail? Okay.	この 包み を 郵便 で 送って もらえません か？ kono tsutsumi wo yuubin de okutte moraemasen ka? いい です よ。 ii desu yo.
Would you take me home? With pleasure.	家 まで 送って もらえます か？ ie(uchi) made okutte moraemasu ka? いい です よ。 ii desu yo.
Would you call a taxi for me? Certainly.	タクシー を 呼んで もらえます か？ takushii wo yonde moraemasu ka? いい です よ。 ii desu yo.
Answer if your answer is "YES" when you undertake something as "II DESU YO".

 

Proposal and recommendation: Example:

English	Japanese
Keeping regular hours is good for your health.	早寝 早起き は 健康 に いい です よ。 hayane hayaoki wa kenkou ni ii desu yo.
This sweater fits you very well.	この セーター は あなた に ちょうど いい です よ。 kono seetah wa anata ni choudo ii desu yo.
The mountain air would help you get better.	山 の 空気 は あなた の 健康 回復 に いい です よ。 yama no kuuki wa anata no kenkou kaifuku ni ii desu yo.
This "II DESU YO" means "good" or "better".

 

Advice Example:

English	Japanese
You shouldn't personal e-mail from the computers in the office.	知らない 人 から の メール は 開かない 方 が いい です よ。 shiranai hito kara no meeru wa hirakanai hou ga ii desu yo.
You should see a doctor for advice.	医者 に 相談 した 方 が いい です よ。 isha ni soudan shita hou ga ii desu yo.
Don't underestimate him.	彼 を 甘く 見ない 方 が いい です よ。 kare wo amaku minai hou ga ii desu yo.
The form "方がいいですよ[hou ga ii desu yo]" is often used for "II DESU YO" of advice. This is meaning "You shouldn't do.".

 

 

 

2. "II DESU NE, II DESU YO" for agreement.

This "II DESU NE" is an answer for agreement.

Example:

English	Japanese
I shall be pleased to go with you. Sure.	一緒 に 行きません か？ issho ni ikimasen ka? いい です ね。/いいですよ。 ii desu ne./ ii desu yo.
How about a drink before dinner? That's great!	夕食 前 に 一杯 どうです か？ yuushoku mae ni ippai doudesu ka? いい です ね。 ii desu ne.
Is this all right? Oh, Okay.	これ で いい です か？ kore de ii desu ka? ああ、いい です ね。/ああ、いい です よ。 aa, ii desu ne./ aa, ii desu yo.
Let's go for a swim in the pool tomorrow. OK./Yeah, let's.	明日 プール に 行かない？ ashita puuru ni ikanai? いい(です)ね。 ii (desu) ne.

 

3. "II DESU KA?" for permission.

These are "II DESU KA" when you ask for permission someone.
And, almost all forms of this "II DESU" are "II DESU KA ?".

Example:

English	Japanese
Can I borrow your fountain pen?	万年筆 を 借りて も いい です か？ mannenhitsu wo karite mo ii desuka?
Would you please help me?	手伝って もらって も いい です か？ tetsudatte moratte mo ii desu ka?
Would you mind if I ask you a favor?	お願いしてもいいですか？ onegai shite mo ii desu ka?
Are we allowed to take pictures here?	ここ で 写真 を 撮って も いい です か？ koko de shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka?
<Note>: If your answer is "Yes", answers to these questions are all "II DESU YO".

 

Column: Ii n desuka vs Ii desu ka

Understand the difference between "Ii desu ka?" and "Ii n desu ka?"

Normally "ii desu ka?" is the standard expression for "is it OK?" Then, understand why "n" is skipped. This little "n" thing is difficult to explain, but "n" is often used to refer to something already talked about before. So, if you are asking for permission, "ii desu ka?"(first time) Because it's the first time you are mentioning it. As a result, the person whom you had asked for permission said "Yes, of course". You are surprise at the unexpected answer, and you asks it again. "Ii ndesuka?"("Really? Is THAT ok?") "n" is used for "Ii desuka?" of second time. In a word, "Ii n desuka" is "Ii n desuka of the confirmation" to "Unexpected result and answer". By the way, using "n" isn't rude.

 

 

4. "...TARA II DESU KA?" for opinion and information.

This "II DESU KA" is asking for opinion and information.
The meaning is "Where(When, What, etc.) should I ...?" or "What should I do...?".
The form is " .... tara idesuka?"

And use this when you have to cope with difficult situation.

 

Example:

English	Japanese
Which platform should I go to to get on the Shinkansen train?	新幹線 に 乗る には 何番線 に 行ったら いいです か？ shinkansen ni noru niwa nanbansen ni ittara ii desu ka?
Where should I buy shoes ?	どこ で 靴 を 買ったら いい です か？ doko de kutsu wo kattara ii desu ka?
When should I borrow the book ?	いつ 本 を 借りたら いい です か？ itsu hon wo karitara ii desu ka?
How should I eat this?	これ は どうやって 食べたら いい です か？ kore wa douyatte tabetara ii desu ka?
If I have late, what should I do ?	もし 時間 に 間に合わなかったら どうしたら いいですか？ moshi jikan ni maniawanakattara doushitara iidesu ka?
If I have troubled what should I do?	もし 困った こと が あったら どうしたら いい です か？ moshi komatta koto ga attara doushitara ii desu ka?
Reference: I think that form "Dou shitara ii desu ka?" is useful for you. In that case, talk your difficulty before phrase "Dou shitara ii desu ka?". As for your difficulty, if you can hardly talk Japanese, use easy Japanese words. In this way, "Watashi(=I), mayotta(=I'm lost), dou shitara ii desu ka?(=What should I do?)" "Watashi(=I), kyoto(=Kyoto), iku(=go/visit), dou shitara ii desu ka?(=What should I do?)" "Watashi(=I), takushii(=taxi), noru(=take), dou shitara ii desu ka?(=What should I do?)" Probably, the Japanese is able to understand it.

 

 

 

5. "II DESU, Mooo II DESU" for refusal, rejection, and anger.

This "II DESU" means the refusal.
Almost all Japanese people not use "NO".
Because Japan has the culture that values harmony, the Japanese doesn't use word "NO".
The Japanese think that word "NO" deteriorates the atmosphere of the scene.
Therefore, the Japanese often uses the phrase that shows refusals such as "Kekkou desu" and "Ii desu".

This "II DESU" is the following meanings.

• I'm not in the mood.
• I don't want it.
• I don't want to go.
• I'm reluctant.

"II DESU" is polite and used a lot for conveying a different and negative meaning.

Example:

English	Japanese
Can I be of any help? No, I got it.	手伝い ましょう か？ tetsudai mashou ka? いえ、いい です。 ie, ii desu.
How about some coffee? I don't want to drink.	コーヒー でも どう？ kohi demo dou? いい です。 ii desu.
I'd like you to come. Sorry, but I can't.	来て もらいたい んだけど。 kite morai tain dakedo. いい です。遠慮 して おきます。 ii desu. enryo shite okimasu.

 

Column: "Mooo ii desu/Mooo iidesu kara"

What does "Mooo II DESU/ Mooo II DESU KARA" mean?
If you hear people arguing, you may hear "ii desu!" yelled out by one of the arguers, with the "ii" strongly emphasized, said much louder than "desu". Sometimes you may hear a long mou before the ii. "mou ii desu !". ( "Enough already! just forget it!") The person who is shouting "Mooo II DESU" is very angry.

 

In spite of the same phrase, "IIDESU" is used in various scenes.
Probably you will be confused by these words.

If you are troubled by such a scene, please observe "expression of the Japanese's and behavior" carefully.

If they are nodding, it will be "Consent or approval."
If they are shaking their head, it will be "Refusal."

It is better to ask them their intention once again, when you cannot understand their feeling.

 

By Hararie