Speak / Learn Japanese (Nihongo), Tokyo

This is the bare minimum to get you by as a tourist. Not enough to live on by any means, but at least it's better than grunting and pointing!

- ko-re o kudasai = this, please (good when looking at food or menus)
- doumo = thanks (casual, OK for most situations)
- arigatou = thank you (a little more polite)
- sumimasen = excuse me
- _______ wa doko desu ka? (where is the _____?)

PS: Travel phrasebooks always give you complex phrases & questions to learn... and they're all pretty useless if you can't understand the response, so I wouldn't bother. I've seen several non-Japanese-speaking friends come to Tokyo and they've always done OK. Japanese people, even in Tokyo, are quite helpful if you obviously look like a tourist in need of assistance.

i've learnt a few useful phrases :
'ka' - at the end of the sentence means a question.
'sen'- at the end of the sentence means a 'negative'.
Japanese language has hardly any grammar or plural/singular, so it's not too difficult to pick up a word or two.

'wakarimasen' - (pronounced as wa-ka-ri-ma-sen) means 'i don't understand'.
Once you said this, the japanese will quickly switch to speaking English to you.

'doko-desu-ka' - (pronounced as doh-ko-desk-ka) means 'where is ' ....
but one puts the subject/object always in the front of a sentence/question.
example : where is the toilet ? 'toilet' doko desu ka?

Make sure that you know a little bit of Hiragana and Katakana in mind. This is good for asking for direction. Most of the railway station in Tokyo are bi-lingual when you go out of Tokyo, some station will write in Hiragana only, knowing a little bit of Hiragana will benefit you if no one speak English to help you.

I have been already Tokyo 4 years befor.
But that was a study tour from GOV of Japan,
But this time I visit Tokyo for 6 months,
I saw lotof things which I was never imagine in my life,
people, very kind, but it is very dificult ot judgment,
Hotel,s services, I feel some time that I am only staying here in hotel, every body stand up for Hospitality.

SERVICES, HOSPITALITY, RESPECT.
LOVE, NATURE, ZOOMY NIGHTS,
TOUCHING SKY BUILDINGS,
CUTE FACES,
I NVER FORGET.

Kore onegai shimasu (core-ay oh-nay-guy she-mah-s)

This means "this, please." I found it extremely helpful. When you're ordering food, you can point and say, "kore onegai shimasu." When you're lost, you can get in a cab and give the driver the address (written if you're an idiot like me) and say, "kore onegai shimasu." When you're buying something in a store, you can put it on the counter and say, "kore onegai shimasu." While I'm sure I was using it wrong half the time, everyone always understood what I meant. Very helpful phrase.

Japanese language is one of the most complicated! Three types of characters. Anyway, here's some useful phrases to keep in mind in case you need help.

IN AN EMERGENCY:Help! Tas'kete!
Stop! Tomete!
Fire! Kaji!
Call the police Keisatsu o yonde kudasai!

Useful Phrases:

Yes Hai
No Ie
Thank you Arigato gozaimasu
Please Dozo
Sorry Sumimasen
Excuse Me Sumimasen
I don't understand Wakarimasen
Do you speak English? Eigo o hanashimasuka?
How are you? Ogenki desu ka ?
Good morning Ohayo gozaimasu
Good afternoon Konnichiwa
Good evening Konbanwa
Good night Oyasumi nasai
Good bye Sayonara

Try and learn the simple greetings and thank you in Japanese. It makes for a much friendlier atmosphere since everyone in hotels, stores, etc. in Japan always greet you when you enter and thank you when you leave. Also remember there is no tipping for services in Japan. I wonder if this will ever catch on in Las Vegas?!

O.K., time to learn some JAPANESE.... I know, I know. It ain't easy learning those curly words known as 'Japanese language'. So I'll try my best to make life a little easier for you. I can't speak Japanese as well as my best buddy, V.Y. That gal speaks FLUENT Japanese, French, Urdu, English, Chinese.. and some more languages I don't even know exist! So, here's just a basic list. Please don't email me to ask me to teach you because I'm not that good/ knowledgeable myself either!

Yes = Hai (just imagine you're climbing a steep slope - HIGH!)

No = Lie

Thank you = Domo Arigato

Thank you very much = Arigato gozaimasu

You're welcome = Douitashimashite

Please = Dozo (sounds like Bozo huh?)

Excuse me = sumimasen

Goodbye = Sayonara
Good morning = Ohaiyo gozaimasu (just remember the US State - OHIO - & you should be getting the rest correct... I hope!)

Good afternoon = Konichiwa

Good evening = Konbanwa

Good night = Oyasuminasai

I don't understand = Wakarimasen (No, no... it's not a bad word. Really!)

How do you say this in English? = Kore wa Nihongo de nan to iimasuka?

Do you speak ... = Anata wa ...go wo hanasemasuka

What is your name? = Anata no namae wa nan to iimasu ka?

Nice to meet you. = O-ai dekite ureshii desu.
How are you? = Ogenki des ka?

So so = Souda neh

Friend = Tomodachi (sounds like your once favorite toy - The Tamagotchi huh?)

Super = Tiehen Joe zoo (Shortcut to remembering: TIE (guys don it for work/ special occasions) + HEN (read: rooster) + JOE (joecooper?) + ZOO (yeah, the one with full of animals)




Have fun learning Japanese!