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This is a quick guide to some words and expressions which are
useful in daily life in Japan. They are written in romaji
(roman letters) as many computers are not equipped to read Japanese
script.
See also these related pages:
Learning Japanese | Kanji | Kana/alphabets | "New" Japanese
The Japanese counting system is too complex to explain
here in full. Given below are the cardinal numbers, which are
combined with various counters to count objects or people. For
example, otoko san-nin means three men, hon san-satsu
means three books and san-ji means three o'clock. There
is also a set of numbers, from one
to ten, for counting objects without using counters.
(Spelling note: on this site in general, I have spelled Japanese
names and words in a way that I hope is most easily understood
by non-Japanese speakers. It is dificult to be consistent to any
standard system without having an explanatory note of Japanese
pronunciation on every page. I do plan to add one to this section,
though. In short, there are inconsistencies so please be understanding.
If you have any queries on these things, please feel free to drop
me a line and I'll try to help)
|
Numbers |
(without counters) |
|
ichi |
1 |
hitotsu |
|
ni |
2 |
futatsu |
|
san |
3 |
mittsu |
|
shi, yon |
4 |
yottsu |
|
go |
5 |
itsutsu |
|
roku |
6 |
mutsu |
|
shichi, nana |
7 |
nanatsu |
|
hachi |
8 |
yatsu |
|
kyu |
9 |
kokonotsu |
|
ju |
10 |
to |
Examples
ichi-nin mae = serving for one person
shichi-nin no samurai = The Seven Samurai |
|
|
Numbers (over 10) |
|
ju-ichi |
11 |
|
ju-ni |
12 |
|
ju-san |
13 |
|
ni-ju |
20 |
|
yon-ju |
40 |
|
go-ju-go |
55 |
|
hyaku |
100 |
|
san-byaku |
300 |
|
sen |
1,000 |
|
man |
10,000 |
Examples
go-gatsu ju-san nichi = May 13th
hyaku-man en = 1 million yen |
|
|
Food & Drink |
|
gohan |
cooked rice |
|
miso shiru |
miso soup |
|
tsukemono |
pickles |
|
tei-shoku |
lunch set |
|
bento |
lunch box |
|
o-cha |
green tea |
|
kohii |
coffee |
|
gyunyu |
milk |
|
o-sake |
alcohol |
|
mizu |
water |
|
|
Colors |
|
akai |
red |
|
aoi |
blue |
|
kuroi |
black |
|
shiroi |
white |
|
kiiroi |
yellow |
|
midori |
green |
|
cha-iro |
brown |
|
hai-iro |
gray |
|
murasaki |
purple |
|
orenji-iro |
orange |
|
|
Places |
|
byou-in |
hospital |
|
kouban |
police box |
|
yubinkyoku |
post office |
|
toshokan |
library |
|
ginkou |
bank |
|
kuukou |
airport |
|
eki |
station |
|
kouen |
park |
|
ie |
house |
|
mise |
shop |
|
|
General |
|
hai, ee, un |
yes |
migi |
right |
kyo |
today |
|
iie |
no |
hidari |
left |
kino |
yesterday |
|
chigau |
wrong |
ue |
up |
ototoi |
2 days ago |
|
tadashii |
correct |
shita |
down |
ashita |
tomorrow |
|
ikura |
how much? |
naka |
in, inside |
asatte |
in 2 days |
|
ikutsu |
how many? |
soto |
outside |
hi, nichi |
day |
|
koko |
here |
mae |
in front of |
shu, shukan |
week |
|
soko, asoko |
there |
ushiro |
behind |
tsuki, getsu |
month |
|
itsu |
when? |
aida |
between |
toshi, nen |
year |
|
dare |
who? |
muko |
opposite |
jikan |
hour |
|
nani |
what? |
toi |
far |
fun, pun |
minute |
|
Greetings |
Parting |
|
O-hayou gozaimasu |
Good morning |
Sayounara |
Goodbye |
|
Konnichi wa |
Hello |
O-tsukare sama desu |
Goodbye (after work) |
|
Konban wa |
Good evening |
O-yasumi nasai |
Goodnight |
|
Eating |
At home |
|
Itadakimasu |
Said before eating |
Tadaima |
I'm home! |
|
O-kawari kudasai |
Same again, please |
O-kaeri nasai |
Welcome home! |
|
Go-chisou sama deshita |
Said after eating |
Itte kimasu |
I'm off now |
|
O-kanjou kudasai |
Check, please |
Itte rasshai |
OK. See you later |
|
Shopping |
|
Sumimasen |
Excuse me |
Arigatou gozaimasu |
Thank you very much |
|
Kore wa ikura desu ka |
How much is this? |
Sore wa nan desu ka |
What is that? |
|
Kore kudasai |
I'll take this, please |
Takai desu ne |
Expensive, isn't it! |
Motto yasui no wa
arimasu ka |
Do you have a
cheaper one? |
Kekko desu |
No, thank you
I'm fine, thank you |
See also these related pages:
Learning Japanese | Kanji | Kana/alphabets | "New" Japanese
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