Survival Japanese. Boye Lafayette De Mente

did you study English?

      Doko-de Eego-o benkyoo-shimashita-ka.

       (Doe-koe day aa-go oh bane-k’yoe she-mah-sshta kah)

       どこで えいごを べんきょう しましたか。

      Have you been to the United States?

      Amerika-ni itta koto-ga arimasu-ka.

       (Ah-may-ree-kah nee eet-tah koe-toe gah ah-ree-mahss kah)

       アメリカに いったことが ありますか。

      Greeting People

      Good morning. (Said until about 11:00 a.m.)

       Ohayoo gozaimasu.

       (Oh-hah-yoe go-zie-mahss)

       おはよう ございます。

      Good afternoon. (Said from around 11:00 a.m. until dusk.)

       Konnichiwa.

       (Kone-nee-chee wah)

       こんにちは。

      Note that konnichiwa is not used among family members or close friends, or between colleagues in their workplace.

      Good evening. (Said from dusk.)

      Konbanwa.

       (Kome-bahn wah)

       こんばんは。

      Note that konbanwa is not used among family members or close friends, or between colleagues in their workplace.

      Good night.

      Oyasumi-nasai.

       (Oh-yah-sue-me nah-sie)

       おやすみなさい。

      See you again tomorrow.

       Mata ashita.

       (Mah-tah ah-ssh-tah)

       また あした。

      How are you?

      O-genki-desu-ka.

       (Oh-gain-kee dess kah)

       おげんきですか。

      Note that Japanese do not say this to people they meet regularly or to strangers.

      I’m fine.

      Genki-desu.

       げんきです。

       (Gain-kee dess)

      I’m fine, thanks to you. (A set expression.)

      Ee, okagesama-de.

       (Eeh-eh oh-kah-gay-sah-mah day)

       ええ、おかげさまで。

      This phrase is used in reply to o-genki-desu-ka (oh-gain-kee dess kah) It literally means “yes, thanks to you.”

      It’s been a long time, hasn’t it!

       O-hisashiburi-desu-ne.

       (Oh-he-sah-she-buu-ree dess nay)

       おひさしぶりですね。

       Shibaraku-desu-ne.

       (Shee-bah-rah-kuu dess nay)

       しばらくですね。

      I’ve been out of touch for a long time!

      Gobusata-shite-imashita.

       (Go-buu-sah-tah she-tay ee-mah-sshtah)

       ごぶさたして いました。

      This phrase is often used when meeting someone after having been out of touch for a long time and you feel a bit guilty.

      Family Terms

      How is your wife?

      Oku-san-wa ikaga-desu-ka.

       (Oak-sahn wah ee-kah-gah dess kah)

       おくさんは いかがですか。

      How is your husband?

      Go-shujin-wa ikaga-desu-ka.

       (Go-shuu-jean wah ee-kah-gah dess kah)

       ごしゅじんは いかがですか。

      She/He is well, thank you.

       Okagesama-de genki-desu.

       (Oh-kah-gay-sah-mah day, gain-kee dess)

       おかげさまで げんきです。

      How do you feel? (Said to someone who has been ill.)

       Go-kibun-wa ikaga-desu-ka?

       (Go-kee-boon wah ee-kah-gah dess kah)

       ごきぶんは いかがですか。

      I’m better now, thank you.

      Okagesama-de yoku narimashita.

       (Oh-kah-gay-sah-mah day yoe-kuu nah-ree-mah-sshtah)

       おかげさまで よく なりました。

      Welcome.

      Irasshaimase.

       (Ee-rash-shy-mah-say)

       いらっしゃいませ。

      This is the polite, formal expression commonly used in an institutionalized way when welcoming people to your home, etc. It is also the expression that restaurant/bar staff and shop assistants traditionally call out when customers enter.

      Introductions