会話Phrases

The full exchange, in the order it happens. はじめまして only ever gets used here — it means the first time, so you say it once per person, ever.

1. You ask

   しつれいですが

   Shitsurei desu ga

   Excuse me but,

   Opens politely before you ask anything of a stranger.

2. You ask

   おなまえは？

   O namae wa?

   May I have your name?

3. They answer

   やまだです

   Yamada desu

   I'm Yamada

   Your own name goes where やまだ is.

4. You say

   はじめまして

   Hajimemashite

   Nice to meet you for the first time (used as a phrase when first meeting a person)

   Both of you say it.

5. You say

   どうぞよろしくおねがいします

   Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu

   Please take care of me (used in a cultural aspect when meeting for the first time)

   The long form. This is the one for a first meeting.

You present them, then the two of them greet each other. Note which suffix goes with whom.

1. こちらはたなかさんです

   Kochira wa Tanaka-san desu

   This is Tanaka

   The other person's name goes in the middle.

2. 〜さん

   ~san

   Mr., Ms. (title of respect added to a name)

   The safe default for anyone.

3. 〜ちゃん

   ~chan

   (suffix often added to a girl or child's name instead of ~san)

4. 〜くん

   ~kun

   (suffix often added to a boy's name)

5. はじめまして

   Hajimemashite

   Nice to meet you for the first time (used as a phrase when first meeting a person)

   Now they say it to each other.

6. よろしくおねがいします

   Yoroshiku onegaishimasu

   Please take care of me

   The shorter form does here.

Two different questions that sound similar in English: くに asks the country, なにじん asks the nationality.

1. You ask

   おくには？

   O kuni wa?

   May I have your country?

2. They answer

   モルジブからきました

   Morujibu kara kimashita

   I came from the Maldives

   Your country goes in front.

3. You ask

   なにじん？

   Nani-jin?

   May I have your nationality?

4. They answer

   モルジブじん

   Morujibu-jin

   Maldivian

   じん attaches to a country to make a nationality.

The question, and the suffix that builds most of the answers.

1. You ask

   おしごとは？

   O shigoto wa?

   May I have your occupation?

2. They answer

   がくせいです

   Gakusei desu

   I'm a student

   Any job from the list goes in the blank.

3. They answer

   〜しゃいん

   ~shain

   Employee of ~

   Attaches to a company name.

Two versions, and the gap between them matters more than it does in English.

1. You ask

   なんさい

   Nansai

   How old

   Fine for a child.

2. You ask

   おいくつ

   Oikutsu

   How old (polite)

   The polite one. Use this with adults.

3. They answer

   はちさい

   Hachi-sai

   Eight years old

   さい attaches to a number.

Japanese greetings are tied to the time of day, not to hello and goodbye. Pick by the clock.

1. おはようございます

   Ohayou gozaimasu

   Good morning

2. こんにちは

   Konnichiwa

   Hello, good afternoon

3. こんばんは

   Konbanwa

   Good evening

4. おやすみなさい

   Oyasumi nasai

   Good night

   Going to bed, or leaving late at night.

5. じゃまたね

   Ja mata ne

   See you later

   Casual, and you expect to see them again.

6. さようなら

   Sayounara

   Good bye

   Heavier than the English goodbye. Not for everyday partings.

And what to say back, which is the half people forget to learn.

1. You say

   どうもありがとうございます

   Domo arigatou gozaimasu

   Thank you very much

2. They answer

   どういたしまして

   Dou itashimashite

   You're welcome

3. They answer

   いいえ

   Iie

   No · It's no problem (as an answer to arigatou)

   Lighter than どういたしまして. Closer to 'oh, it's nothing'.