Basic Japanese - Nihongo 101
Nihongo means Japanese Language. (That was easy...you've said your first japanese word!)
This lens introduces Japanese Language and has a list of basic greetings, some simple words, basic grammar and an introduction to the script. This is for those who would like to try a new language and dip their toes in the oriental world. It is also very helpful for those who would like to learn some quick Japanese before visiting the Land of the Rising Sun.
I would not be able to do justice to the language if I say that this lens will teach you how to read, write and speak Japanese. This is just the starting point, an introduction, if I may, to the language.
The Japanese Language, like any other foreign language, is very easy to learn as far as speaking is concerned. The scripts (yes, its plural, japanese has three scripts, but lets come to that in a bit) are very different from most other languages, but extremently intriguing all the same.
Japanese pronounciations are uncomplicated. Words are pronounced as they are written. Although kanji's have several reading ways depending on context (we can get to that later), the basic spoken japanese can be unmistakenably straightforward.
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Basic Greetings - Aisatsu
Here is a list of some very common greetings and words in english & japanese. The japanese words have been written in english based on the pronounciation.
Hello - Konnichiwa
Yes - Hai
No - Iiye
Good Morning - Ohayo Gozaimas
Good Afternoon - Konnichiwa
Good Evening - Konbanwa
Good Night - Oyasumi Nasai
Good Bye - Sayonara
See you - Dewa mata/Jaa mata
How are you - Ogenki Des Ka
I am fine - Hai, Genki Des
Thank You Very Much - Domo Arigato Gozaimas
Thanks - Domo (used mostly by men)/Arigato
You're Welcome - Do Itashi Mashite
Sorry - Gomen Nasai
Excuse Me (I'm Sorry) - Shitsurei Shimas
Excuse Me (in a crouded train) - Sumimasen
Hello (on the phone) - Moshi Moshi
Cheers - Kampai
There you go!!! Now, wasn't that easy. These basic greetings can get you through your first 30 seconds of conversation with a Japanese person or at your local Sushi restaurant. Read on, you'll love it.
Yes - Hai
No - Iiye
Good Morning - Ohayo Gozaimas
Good Afternoon - Konnichiwa
Good Evening - Konbanwa
Good Night - Oyasumi Nasai
Good Bye - Sayonara
See you - Dewa mata/Jaa mata
How are you - Ogenki Des Ka
I am fine - Hai, Genki Des
Thank You Very Much - Domo Arigato Gozaimas
Thanks - Domo (used mostly by men)/Arigato
You're Welcome - Do Itashi Mashite
Sorry - Gomen Nasai
Excuse Me (I'm Sorry) - Shitsurei Shimas
Excuse Me (in a crouded train) - Sumimasen
Hello (on the phone) - Moshi Moshi
Cheers - Kampai
There you go!!! Now, wasn't that easy. These basic greetings can get you through your first 30 seconds of conversation with a Japanese person or at your local Sushi restaurant. Read on, you'll love it.
Japanese Greetings
This YouTube Video is great for a beginner, illustrating how to pronounce the Basic Greetings and how they are used.
Japanese Grammar - Nihongo Bumpou
Forming sentences is just as easy. Here's a quick way of saying your first basic sentences.
Sentence#1:
This is a fish. --> Kore wa sakana des.
Now, let's break that up...
* kore - This (sore - that; aare - that over there)
* wa - is
* sakana - fish (object)
* des - is/are/am (used at the end of a sentence)
Examples:
1. This is a table - Kore wa tsukue(table) des
2. That is a book - Sore wa hon(book) des
3. That is a car - Aare wa kuruma(car) des
4. What is this? - Kore wa nan(what) des ka(question tag)?
Now you can form your own basic sentences in Japanese :)
This is a fish. --> Kore wa sakana des.
Now, let's break that up...
* kore - This (sore - that; aare - that over there)
* wa - is
* sakana - fish (object)
* des - is/are/am (used at the end of a sentence)
Examples:
1. This is a table - Kore wa tsukue(table) des
2. That is a book - Sore wa hon(book) des
3. That is a car - Aare wa kuruma(car) des
4. What is this? - Kore wa nan(what) des ka(question tag)?
Now you can form your own basic sentences in Japanese :)
More Grammar
Sentence#2:
My name is Kimiko. --> Watashi no namae wa Kimiko des.
Now, let's break that up...
* watashi no - my (mine)
* namae - name
* wa - is
* des - is/are/am (used at the end of a sentence)
Examples:
1. What is your name? - Anata no (your) namae wa nan(what) des ka(question tag)?
Grammar may seem daunting to begin with, but once you get the rules straight, its pretty simple.
My name is Kimiko. --> Watashi no namae wa Kimiko des.
Now, let's break that up...
* watashi no - my (mine)
* namae - name
* wa - is
* des - is/are/am (used at the end of a sentence)
Examples:
1. What is your name? - Anata no (your) namae wa nan(what) des ka(question tag)?
Grammar may seem daunting to begin with, but once you get the rules straight, its pretty simple.
Japanese Scripts
Here's an introduction to written japanese.
Japanese is written with a combination of three scripts. It may take a while to master all the scripts, so I recommend starting with the first two.1. Hiragana
This is a phonetic script consisting of 46 characters. Hiragana is mainly used for non-kanji words, particles and prepositions for instance are written in hiragana. However, you can write a complete sentence in hiragana. Children's books are written in hiragana and kanji's are introduced as they grow older.
2. Katakana
This too is a phonetic script and consists of syllables, just like hiragana. However, katakana is used for writing 'foreign' words. There are several words which have non-japanese origin and are borrowed from other languages. Words like 'computer' or 'beer' for instance are written using the katakana script.
3. Kanji
This is a pictoral script. The kanji script consists of over 5000 characters, often used alone or in conjunction with other kanji's to form words. Learning kanji can be very addictive, so let's leave that for another lens.
"Romaji" (english alphabets) is a variation of script used in modern japanese for inputting the characters into the computer and writing names.
New Words - Atarashi Kotoba
Its always interesting to learn new words. Here are some common words categorized logically.
Pick a category everyday and practice it. It won't be long before you can use these words fluently!
Numbers - Suuji
One - Ichi
Two - Ni
Three - San
Four - Shi / Yon
Five - Go
Six - Roku
Seven - Shichi
Eight - Hachi
Nine - Kyuu / Ku
Ten - Jyuu
Relations - Shinseki
Mother - Okaasan / Haha
Father - Otousan / Chi chi
Elder Brother - Oniisan
Younger Brother - Otouto
Elder Sister - Oneysan
Younger Sister - Emouto
Uncle - Ojisan
Aunt - Obasan
Grandfather - Ojiisan (extended i)
Grandmother - Obaasan (extended a)
Friend - Tomodachi
Fruits - Kudamono
Apple - Ringo
Orange - Mikan
Strawberry - Ichigo
Watermelon - Suika
Grapes - Budou
Pineapple - Paainappuru
Banana - Banana
Mango - Maango
Colors - Iro
White - Shiroi / Shiro
Black - Kuroi / Kuro
Red - Akai
Blue - Aaoi
Green - Midori
Yellow - Kiiro
Purple - Murasaki
Orange - Orenjee
Animals - Doubutsu
Dog - Inu
Cat - Neko
Mouse - Nezumi
Horse - Uma
Cow - Ushi
Elephant - Zou
Lion - Raion
Tiger - Tora
Camel - Rakuda
Countries - Kuni
Japan - Nihon / Nippon
China - Chyugoku
USA - Aamerika
Europe - Yoroppa
France - Furansu
Germany - Doitsu
India - Indo
Australia - Oosutoraria
Languags - Kotoba / ~go (postfix)
English - Eigo
French - Furansugo
German - Doitsugo
Miscellaneous - Iro iro na
Boy - Otoko
Girl - Onna
Tea - Ocha
Fish - Sakana
Sea - Umi
Water - Mizu
Island - Shima
Road - Michi
Umbrella - Kasa
Key - Kagi
Near - Chikai
Far - Tooi
Question - Shitsumon
Answer - Kotae
Love - Ai
Since this is just a beginner's page, I would like to urge you to purchase a dictionary or use some of the free online resources available to improve vocabulary.
Numbers - Suuji
One - Ichi
Two - Ni
Three - San
Four - Shi / Yon
Five - Go
Six - Roku
Seven - Shichi
Eight - Hachi
Nine - Kyuu / Ku
Ten - Jyuu
Relations - Shinseki
Mother - Okaasan / Haha
Father - Otousan / Chi chi
Elder Brother - Oniisan
Younger Brother - Otouto
Elder Sister - Oneysan
Younger Sister - Emouto
Uncle - Ojisan
Aunt - Obasan
Grandfather - Ojiisan (extended i)
Grandmother - Obaasan (extended a)
Friend - Tomodachi
Fruits - Kudamono
Apple - Ringo
Orange - Mikan
Strawberry - Ichigo
Watermelon - Suika
Grapes - Budou
Pineapple - Paainappuru
Banana - Banana
Mango - Maango
Colors - Iro
White - Shiroi / Shiro
Black - Kuroi / Kuro
Red - Akai
Blue - Aaoi
Green - Midori
Yellow - Kiiro
Purple - Murasaki
Orange - Orenjee
Animals - Doubutsu
Dog - Inu
Cat - Neko
Mouse - Nezumi
Horse - Uma
Cow - Ushi
Elephant - Zou
Lion - Raion
Tiger - Tora
Camel - Rakuda
Countries - Kuni
Japan - Nihon / Nippon
China - Chyugoku
USA - Aamerika
Europe - Yoroppa
France - Furansu
Germany - Doitsu
India - Indo
Australia - Oosutoraria
Languags - Kotoba / ~go (postfix)
English - Eigo
French - Furansugo
German - Doitsugo
Miscellaneous - Iro iro na
Boy - Otoko
Girl - Onna
Tea - Ocha
Fish - Sakana
Sea - Umi
Water - Mizu
Island - Shima
Road - Michi
Umbrella - Kasa
Key - Kagi
Near - Chikai
Far - Tooi
Question - Shitsumon
Answer - Kotae
Love - Ai
Since this is just a beginner's page, I would like to urge you to purchase a dictionary or use some of the free online resources available to improve vocabulary.
Books from Amazon
Here is some good learning material, which you can browse and buy from Amazon.
Genki 1: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 1 (English and Japanese Edition)
Beginner's Japanese Course
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2009) 
Beginner's Kana Workbook
This workbook will help get familiar with the hiragana and katakana scripts, learn their stroke orders and practice reading and writing.
Amazon Price: $9.56 (as of 12/02/2009)
Kanji Pict-O-Graphix: Over 1,000 Japanese Kanji and Kana Mnemonics
A very interesting kanji book. This book illustrates how the kanji's were derived and has simple tips on how to remember them. Warning: This books makes kanji's addicitve.
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/02/2009)
Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary: Japanese-English English-Japanese
This is a good beginners's dictionary because it has Furigana (the reading way of the kanji) printed with the words.
Amazon Price: $37.80 (as of 12/02/2009)
Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Grammar Exercises Level 3 (Kanzen Masutaa) (Japanese Edition)
Japanese Language Proficiency Tests are conducted from Level 4 (basic) to Level 1 (advanced). This book is a guide for Level 3.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2009)
What Next
After reading through this lens, you are equipped to speak some japanese words, greetings and basic sentences. Now that this lens has inspired you to dig deeper into this newly gained knowledge, where do you go?
This list gives a few links which can help you further your knowledge of japanese language and enjoy it.
- Intermediate Japanese Language
- My next lens in the series of Japanese Language lenses. This will talk some more about Japanese Grammar and some fun vocabulary and even a quiz! What're you waiting for, go check out the lens and ace it...I'm sure you will.
- About Japanese
- This site by Namiko Abe offers japanese lessons for students from beginner to advanced levels. You can also sign-up for the newsletter (recommended) and learn something new each week.
- Japanese Tools
- This site has some interesting tools, most important being the online dictionary. This site also offers a compilation of several links offering japanese language learning tools.
- Japanese Grammar
- This site is all about japanese grammar. You can go through this site for a step-by-step approach to the various grammar patterns. You will need to know and install japanese script (atleast hiragana) for this site.
- Meguro Language Centre
- This site offers a host of (free) material for a Japanese language student ranging from Level 4 to Level 1. For a beginner it offers some flash animation tools, which help in learning the script. For advanced students, the worksheets and practice tests are very helpful. It has several short dialogues for listening practice too.
Japanese on eBay
Here's what eBay has to offer on Japanese
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Learning Japanese Language
This is a well-composed introductory video on Japanese Language by www.TheJapanesePage.com & www.TheJapanShop.com
My Guestbook
I would love to hear from you, so do drop in a line on your feedback and comments here.
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- armant armant Oct 26, 2009 @ 1:01 am
- minna sama konnichi wa,..armant desu,.indonesia kara kimashita,..yoroshiku onegaishimasu,.hontouni minnasama no tomodachi ni naritain desuga yoroshikattara meru matawa chatto shimashou,.armant42@yahoo.com ni.
doumo
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- dahlei28 dahlei28 Oct 21, 2009 @ 5:53 am
- watashi no onamae wa dahlei san desu, philippines ni dochina desu.
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- NEIL ZURITA NEIL ZURITA Oct 5, 2009 @ 9:20 am
- KONNICHIWA WATASHI NO NAMAE WA NEIL ZURITA DES FILIPINO I AI TO SPEAK JAPANESE BUT DES NOT GOOD TO SPEAK THAT ~_~ PLEASE HELP ME TO LEARN MORE!!! DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMAS.........
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- NEIL ZURITA NEIL ZURITA Oct 5, 2009 @ 9:20 am
- KONNICHIWA WATASHI NO NAMAE WA NEIL ZURITA DES FILIPINO I AI TO SPEAK JAPANESE BUT DES NOT GOOD TO SPEAK THAT ~_~ PLEASE HELP ME TO LEARN MORE!!! DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMAS.........
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- charlieinjapan charlieinjapan Aug 14, 2009 @ 10:00 am
- Great Lens.
But can sumo be called "non-competitive"?
Those guys look like they are going all out, to me.
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Reply
- val val Aug 10, 2009 @ 4:27 am
- Is there anyone who can give us a short play script that would last for 5-10 minutes only. We will write our program in English first and we also need help ho can interpret it to Nihongo. Can somebody help us with it pls?
for those who are willing to help us pls contact me at 09158011258. My name is Val.
Thank you to all of you here.
Thanks or this site as well.
Val
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- val val Aug 10, 2009 @ 4:21 am
- Hajemimashite! Watashi ha, Val desu. I am a basic nihongo teacher. to be honest with you I am not fluent in Nihongo. I am just teaching what I've learned from my nihongo teacher in college and with the help of the books. In fact the medium of instruction that I am using inside of the classroom is english. I am teaching my studnts at STI Pasay Philippines just the very basic lessons like the greetings, uses of kore,sore,are,kono,sono,ano, numbers, dates,time,vocabularies and using them in simple sentences. And when I found this site, it encouraged me a lot because I got some people here who I think and hope can help me.
If there are some of you here who will consider their "help" as a joy and fun in helping me about my inquiries, i would really appreciate it.
Before the semester ends in October, I want my students to have a short program to be done in Nihongo. I need your help for our short play.
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- Cindy Ann Cindy Ann Jun 5, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
- Hi! Thanks for this, I will keep your page as reference, I'm from the Philippines, and currently a Tourism student, and I have enrolled my first Foreign Language subject-Niponggo, and I'm doing my research to prepare myself for this Semester... Domo Arigatou Gozaimas!
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- Liz Liz Jun 2, 2009 @ 1:30 am
- domo arigatou! this helped me a lot since im studying elementary japanese as one of my major classes.
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- karlo karlo Feb 18, 2009 @ 7:12 am
- dis helped me alot tnx
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