There are a lot of different ways you can say goodbye in Japanese depending on who you're talking to, where you are going and the length of time you will be gone for.
The word mata (また) means again. Ja is close to the English word then or well. You will also see the particle ne used bellow which adds a friendly emphasis to the situation.
(see you) again tomorrow = mata ashita ne (また明日ね) well (see you) again = ja mata ne (じゃまたね)
(see you) again = mata ne (またね)
then (see you) again = ja mata (じゃまた)
then (bye) = ja (じゃ)
Sometimes instead of ja you will see the word dewa (では) used. In these cases they both mean the same thing and are interchangeable. There are also many other combinations you can put together just like the examples above.
Hajimemashite (初めまして) is a standard greeting you say when you meet someone for the first time. It is kind of like saying 'nice to meet you', but it literally means it is the first time.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (よろしくお願いします) is a standard formal phrase. It's translation is literally asking for someone to be kind to you, but it can be used in different situations. It is often used after you introduce yourself to someone. Some general translations of this word include;
● Nice to meet you
● Please take care of me
● I am counting on you
Japanese honorifics
In Japanese, polite words are added to the end of someone's name (san, chan, etc) to give respect. It can be used with someone's first/last name or title. You don't usually attach a suffix to your own name because this can be considered rude.
● SAN (さん) is used for both boys and girls. It can be used in polite situations and casual situations. Can be attached to animals and inanimate objects (special areas, buildings, job titles, company names).
● KUN (くん/君) is in general used for boys. However, in some cases it is used on girls (in some companies to address lower position females). This honorific is usually used for males same age or younger. It is also used to address little boys. Girls also use this to address male friends of theirs.
● CHAN (ちゃん) is used for children, nicknames, animals and close friends. Often Japanese children and young girls will use this attached to their own name when they refer to themselves in the third person. Chan is probably the most used and most useful honorific. The books will tell you that this is for girls, however both males and females use this.
● SAMA (さま/様) is the formal version of SAN. You can use this if you are talking to a customer, someone who you worship or idolize, or someone of very high status or royalty compared to you.
● SENPAI (先輩) is often used by students/workers to address senior position people. It can be used in other situations where someone has more experience than you. It can be used by itself or attached to a name.
● SENSEI (先生) used to address teachers, or people that that are seen as a wisdom giver or someone who has knowledge and gives advice. It can be used by itself or attached to a name.
I/Me
Watashi (私) is used by women in any situation. When used by men it is usually only used in polite situations.
Watakushi (私) is used in formal situations. This will be heard when giving a company presentation or a press conference.
Boku (僕) is used by men in a polite situation. It is commonly used by small boys, or by men who have friendly soft personalities. It is not usually used by girls because it makes her seem like a tomboy.
Atashi (あたし) is used in casual situations by teenage girls. It generally makes you sound very girly or childish.
Ore (俺) is used in casual situations by men. This is the pronoun of choice when men are talking with friends or family.
You
Anata (あなた) is another commonly miss-used pronoun in Japanese. If you use it in the wrong way you may sound rude. It can be used when asking someone a question about them, however it is best to avoid it all together or use the persons name if you know it.
Kimi (君) is casual and is often used by men, but sometimes its used by girls. It is used by people who are higher status than others, or between friends. It is used often in pop and rock songs.
Anta (あんた) is a very casual way to say you. This is used when you are expresing anger at someone.
Omae (お前) is very informal and is often only used by men. It can be used in an insulting way towards someone and is often used when people fight. However, it can be used in non-rude situations such as where a father speaks to his children, a husband to his wife, speaking to pets or a teacher talking to his students.
Other people
Kare (彼) is often only used to mean he/him in polite situations. Usually you refer to the person by name if you want to speak about them. Most of the time when the word kare is used it means Boyfriend. If you don't know the persons name and you want to speak about a person you can use ano otoko (that man).
Kanojo (彼女) is also most of the time translated as girlfriend. In polite situations it can be used to mean she/her. If you want to speak about a person you don't know you can useano ko (that kid/girl) in casual situations.
Ano hito (あの人) means that person and is used when you don't want to state a gender.
Ano kata (あの方) means that person but it is used in formal/polite situations between people you do not know.
Plural
You can use the suffix's tachi (たち/達) or ra (ら) to make a pronoun plural. In Japanese other nouns don't become plural and remain the same no matter how many things your talking about.
Watashitachi (私たち) means we/us.
Karera (彼ら) is used for a group of guys or mixed genders.
Kanojotachi (彼女たち) is used for a group of girls.
Anatatachi (あなた達) is used in casual conversation and means you(s).
Anatagata (あなた方) is used in polite conversation and means you(s).
Orera (俺ら) is used by men in casual conversation.
Japanese sentences can also mean completely different things based on the context of the situation they are used in. Most sentences are actually very vague, but understood when you are in the situation.
Watashi wa pan da (私はパンだ)
The sentence above can mean different things depending on the situation. With no context you might translate this as I am bread. One situation you can use this sentence is in a restaurant. If this is said in a restaurant it can then be translated as My order will be bread based on the context.
Another situation you can think of is a group of guys looking at a magazine full of pretty girls. One guy points to a girl and says boku wa kanojo da (僕は彼女だ). In this situation it implies that he likes her.
Family
| Own family | Own or another's family | |
| Mother | haha (母) | okaasan (お母さん) |
| Father | chichi (父) | otousan (お父さん) |
Okaasan and otousan have the honorable letter O in front of them. I can be removed when talking about your own family members.
(This is my) dad = chichi desu (父です)
He is the one that is (my) dad = kare ga otousan desu
(彼がお父さんです)
Other words used on parents are mama (ママ) and papa (パパ). This are especially used by children or from parents to their children.
| Own family | Own or another's family | |
| Grandmother | sobo (祖母) | obaasan (お婆さん/お祖母さん) |
| Grandfather | sofu (祖父) | ojiisan (お爺さん/お祖父さん) |
When Japanese parents are around their children or grandchildren they often refer to each other as otousan or okaasan and ojiisan or obaasan, instead of using their names.
The polite suffix san (さん) can be removed and converted into another suffix to change the politeness level.
(How is your) grandmother? = obaasama wa? (おばあさまは？)
| Own family | Own or another's family | |
| Aunt | oba (叔母/伯母) | obasan (おばさん) |
| Uncle | oji (叔父/伯父) | ojisan (おじさん) |
The words for aunt and uncle in Japanese can also mean a middle aged man or women. These words are also similar to Grandma and Grandpa, but the sounds are shorter. Make sure you pronounce both these words the correct length and not get them mixed up.
| Own family | Own or another's family | |
| Older sister | ane (姉) | oneesan (お姉さん) |
| Older brother | ani (兄) | oniisan (お兄さん) |
| Younger sister | imouto (妹) | imoutosan (妹さん) |
| Younger brother | otouto (弟) | otoutosan (弟さん) |
In Japanese there are different words for your siblings depending on their age in relation to you. The words Oniisan and Oneesan can also be used on someone who is not a relative, but a close friend. You use these words if one of your friends has a special relationship with your or bond and you feel like they are your older brother or sister.
| Own family | Own or another's family | |
| Daughter | musume (娘) | musumesan (娘さん) |
| Son | musuko (息子) | musukosan (息子さん) |
(I) have children = kodomo wa imasu (子どもはいます)
Kochira koso (こちらこそ)
When someone says thank you in Japanese, one way you can reply is kochira koso (こちらこそ). This phrase can mean any of the following.
It was my side that should have thanked
Right back at you
This way too
The particle KA
Ka (か) is a particle that you can use to make a question. When you use it the sentence order doesn't change. It's used in the same place where a question mark would be in English.
What month is it? = nan gatsu desu ka (何月ですか)
What is the date today? = kyou wa nan nichi desu ka
(今日は何日ですか)
Another way you can ask a question is using a rise in intonation. This is especially common in casual Japanese.
Where is dog? = inu wa doko? (犬はどこ？)
You can ask a lot of different questions alone with the particle wa and a rise in intonation. The translations of these types of questions depend on the situation that you are currently in.
(What is your) name? = onamae wa? (お名前は？)
(Where is) John? = jon wa? (ジョンは?)
What's that? = nani sore? (何それ？)
Hon
The word hon (本) means book in Japanese. Both horizontal and vertical writing are used in Japan. Traditionally books are written vertically and read top-to-bottom, right-to-left. This way of writing words is called yokogaki (横書き).There are some books that are written just as western style books, this way of writing is called tategaki (縦書き)
Koto
The word koto (こと) means things about. This word can be used on people or things. When it's used on people, it emphasizes the person as a whole.
I love you = anata no koto ga suki desu (あなたのことが好きです)
To go
The verb iku (行く) means go. Iku is a slightly irregular verb. The conjugation for the te/ta form is itte & itta. In all other forms it follows the regular conjugation rules.
(I) wont go with jon = jon to ikanai (ジョンさんと行かない)
Jon will go = jonsan wa iku (ジョンさんは行く)
Since iku is a motion verb it's often seen with the particle ni.
(I am) going to school = gakkou ni iku (学校に行く)
(I) went to park = kouen ni itta (公園に行った)
(My) child wont go to school = kodomo wa gakkou ni ikanai
(子どもは学校に行かない)
(I am) going to work = shigoto ni ikimasu (仕事に行きます)
To come
The verb kuru (来る) means to come. It is a irregular verb. You must memorize the different forms of this verb. Here is a list of the conjugations using the forms we have already learned.
| English | Japanese |
| come/will come (polite) | 来ます kimasu |
| don't/wont come | 来ない konai |
| didn't come | 来なかった konakatta |
| came | 来た kita |
| came (polite) | 来ました kimashita |
| TE form | 来て kite |
Come to (my) house please = uchi ni kite kudasai (家に来てください)
Today, (you) didn't come to school = kyou gakkou ni konakatta
(今日、学校に来なかった)
Japanese coins:
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