Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Greetings and Daily Expressions

Ohayou gozaimasu. (おはようございます。) - Good morning.
Japanese people greet many ways depending on the time of day. Some greetings differ depending on the relationship you have with the person you are greeting.
One can also say just "Ohayou (おはよう)". This is casual, and should not be used with one's boss.

Konnichiwa. (こんにちは。) - Hello/Good afternoon.
  
There is a rule for writing hiragana "wa" and "ha." When "wa" is used as a particle, it is written in hiragana as "ha." "Konnichiwa" is now a fixed greeting. However, in the old days it was a part of sentence such as "Today is ~ (Konnichi wa ~)" and "wa" functioned as a particle. That's why it is still written in hiragana as "ha."

Konbanwa. (こんばんは。) - Good evening.
 
There is a rule for writing hiragana "wa" and "ha." When "wa" is used as a particle, it is written in hiragana as "ha." "Konbanwa" is now a fixed greeting. However, in the old days it was a part of sentence such as "Tonight is ~ (Konban wa ~)" and "wa" functioned as a particle. That's why it is still written in hiragana as "ha."
Oyasuminasai. (おやすみなさい。) - Good night.
 
 Unlike English, "Oyasuninasai (おやすみなさい) is mostly used before going to bed.

 Sayonara. (さよなら。)- Good-bye.

 
"Sayounara (さようなら)" can be also used instead of "sayonara (さよなら)." People do not say "sayonara (さよなら)" when leaving their own home. "Ittekimasu(いってきます)" is normally used. The response to "Ittekimasu (いってきます)" is "Itterasshai (いってらっしゃい)". "Dewa mata (ではまた)" is also often used as "see you later", similar to the English expression.

How about "See you tomorrow"? "Tomorrow" is "ashita (明日)" in Japanese. I think you can guess what the the answer is: "Mata ashita (また明日)".

I hope you can practice these greetings. I am going to tell you one more phrase, "Mata raishuu(また来週)". This means "See you next week".

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!

Akemashite omedetou

Happy New Year!

 

New Year's Celebration
The New Year is the most important time of the year in Japan. (just like Christmas in the west).
At the end of the year:

  • I wish you will have a good new year.
    Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai. (formal)
    よいお年をお迎えください。
    Yoi otoshi o! (casual)
    よいお年を!

  • During New Year's days (Jan.1st to 3rd), up to the middle of January:
  • Happy New Year.
    Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu. (formal)
    あけましておめでとうございます。
    Akemashite omedetou. (casual)
    あけましておめでとう。 "Akemasu" literally means "to open". "Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu (I look forward to our continued relationship over this year)" is often added after "Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu". To reply, "Kochira koso" is used.
    Seeing someone after a long absence

  • I haven't seen you in a long time.
    Gobusata shite imasu. (very formal)
    ご無沙汰しています。

  • Long time no see.
    Ohisashiburi desu. (formal)
    お久しぶりです。
    Hisashiburi! (casual)
    久しぶり!

  • There is a Japanese song titled "Ohisashiburi ne(お久しぶりね)". "Ne(ね)" is a sentence particle. Ne is used to seek confirmation and is similar to English expressions such as "right?" or "don't you agree?".
    To reply to "Gobusata shite imasu," "Kochira koso (Same here)" is used. In casual conversations among friends, simply repeat "Hisashiburi!" or "Hisashiburi ne".