Introduction

to

Japanese

日本語

Disclaimer

I am not a Japanese teacher - I am still learning

Why Learn Japanese?

  • World's third largest economy
  • Culture baked into the language
  • Flows, makes sense, sounds great!

Why not Learn Japanese?

  • It's very different from English
  • Three character sets - including Chinese
  • Offending people is easy
  • Easy to forget if not used

A Brief History

Chinese characters were adopted 6th to 9th century, called "kanji"

By the 12th century, "hiragana" and "katakana" had been created from kanji

This gave the language the freedom it needed to grow

Since the mid 18th century, "gairaigo" (foreign borrowed words) have been used

Mainly English

Also from Portuguese, Dutch and Spanish

Almost always written in katakana

Katakana pronounciation English
テブル teburu table
ビリ biru beer
タクシ takushi taxi
ホテル hoteru hotel

Character Sets

Hiragana
Katakana
Kanji (Chinese characters)

... and Rōmaji (romanised)

hira·gana

A phonetic syllabary system

"hira" means "ordinary" or "simple"

"gana" comes from "kana" meaning "syllabary"

n w- r- y- m- h- n- t- s- k-
んn わwa らra やya まma はha なna たta さsa かka あa a-
りri みmi ひhi にni ちchi しshi きki いi i-
るru ゆyu むmu ふfu ぬnu つtsu すsu くku うu u-
れre めme へhe ねne てte せse けke えe e-
をwo ろro よyo もmo ほho のno とto そso こko おo o-

Try it!

hiragana rōmaji syllables meaning
くるま kuruma Ku Ru Ma Car
とけい tokei To Ke I Clock
まんが manga Ma N Ga Manga
てれび terebi Te Re Bi Television
しょっく shokku Shyo Ku Shock

Introduce Yourself

はじめ　まして
Ha Ji Me Ma Shi Te
First time we've met

<your_name>　です
<your_name> De S
I'm <your_name>

よろしく　おねがいします
Yo Ro Shi Ku O Ne Ga I Shi Ma S
Nice to meet you

Ask "How are you?"

おげんき　ですか？
O Ge N Ki De S Ka
Are you healthy?

げんき　です！
Ge N Ki De S
I'm healthy!

あなた　は？
A Na Ta Wa
You?

げんき！
Ge N Ki
Healthy!

Order a Drink

すみません
Su Mi Ma Se N
Excuse me

みず　ください
Mi Zu Ku Da Sa I
Can I have some water please?

ありがとう
A Ri Ga To U
Thank you

Respond When Asked Your Name

おなまえ　は　なんですか？
O Na Ma E Wa Na N De S Ka?
What is your name? (polite)

<your_name> といい　ます
<your_name> To I I Ma S
<your_name> is my name

Respond When Asked Where You Are From

しゅっしん は どちら　ですか？
Shu Shin Wa Do Chi Ra De S Ka
Where are you from?

わたし は イギリス　じん　です
Wa Ta Shi Wa I Gi Ri Su Ji N De S
I am British

でも、　アバディーン　に　すんで　います
De Mo, A Ba Dei- N Ni Su N De I Ma S
But, I live in Aberdeen

Say You Speak English, Not Japanese

えいご　を　はなせます
E I Go O Ha Na Se Ma S
I can speak English

にほんご　を　はなせません
Ni Ho N Go O Ha Na Se Ma Se N
I can not speak Japanese

えいご　を　はなせましょう、おねがいします
E I Go O Ha Na Se Ma Shyo U, O Ne Ga I Shi Ma S
Can we speak English, please?

A Conversation!

  1. Introduce yourselves to eachother
  2. Ask eachother
    "how are you"?
  3. Ask eachother
    "where are you from"?
  4. Tell eachother
    "I can speak English, not Japanese"?

Do

  • Remember someone's name!
  • Try to be polite
    (use "please" & "thank you")
  • Carefully inspect a business card,
    and place it down neatly in front of you
  • Try and learn phrases!

Don't

  • Forget someone's name!
  • Say "you" unless you really have to!
  • Expect anyone to speak English
  • Be afraid to make mistakes 😇

終わり

おわり - The end
Questions?