Japanese is good. Nominal suffixes in Japanese
I bring to your attention a post about the Japanese language. This time I'll tell you about in a simple way formation of names of languages and nationalities. As in many Asian languages, this can be done by simply adding the desired word ( Human or language) to the name of the country. But there is no language in the world where there are no exceptions to the rules. And you will learn about them by reading this post to the end. So let's get started!
Instead of introducing
Reading Notes. Here and below, the reading written in Hiragana alphabet broken down into words is indicated in square brackets (if the text contains hieroglyphs). If you hover your mouse over the Latin reading, the Cyrillic reading will appear (closer to the pronunciation). Vowels with colon type a:, i:, y:, e:, o: are long, pronounced longer than their short equivalents without a colon. They are written in Latin aa, ii, uu, ei (or ee), ou (or oo) respectively. The "。" at the end of a sentence is just the Japanese version of a period, and the "、" is a comma. The Hiragana sign は is read as HA, but as a case indicator, for example in sentences like AはBです(A wa B desu) etc. reads like VA, or rather UA(How English W, average between Russian IN And U). The U sound at the end of words is usually not pronounced at all.
Country names
Previously, country names were formed using the character 国[くに] (kuni) country, state or simply in hieroglyphs with a suitable reading, so to speak, in the Chinese manner. For example Russia was 露国[ろこく] (rokoku) or 露西亜[ろしあ] (roshia). But in modern Japanese, the names of countries (except Japan, China and Korea) are not written in hieroglyphs. In general, they are borrowed words (most often from English), therefore they are written in Katakana. Exceptions include some Asian countries, including Japan.
| ロシア | roshia | Russia |
| 越南[べとなむ], more often ベトナム | betonamu | Vietnam |
| 泰国[たいこく] , more often タイ国 | taikoku | Thailand |
| イギリス | igirisu | Great Britain |
| フランス | furansu | France |
| ドイツ | doitsu | Germany |
| スペイン | supein | Spain |
| アメリカ | America | USA | BUT |
| 日本[にほん/にっぽん] | nihon / nippon | Japan |
| 中国[ちゅうごく] | chuugoku | China |
| 韓国[かんこく] | kankoku | (South Korea |
Language names
You just need to add the character 語[ご] (go) to the name of the country to get the name of the language. But there may be exceptions. For example, English or Arabic.
Country + 語 = Language
| 日本語[にほんご] | nihongo | Japanese |
| ロシア語 | roshiago | Russian language |
| 英語[えいご] | eigo | English language |
| フランス語 | furansugo | French |
| ベトナム語 | betonamugo | Vietnamese language |
| 中国語[ちゅうごくご] | chuugokugo | Chinese (common name) |
| 北京語[ぺきんご] | pekingo | Chinese (Mandarin, Beijing Chinese) |
| インドネシア語 | indonesiago | Indonesian |
| アラビア語 | arabiago | Arabic |
| 外国語[がいこくご] | gaikokugo | foreign language |
Names of nationalities
Formed using the character 人[じん] (jin).
Country/city + 人 = Nationality/resident
| 日本人[にほんじん] | nihon jin | Japanese |
| ロシア人 | roshia jin | Russian |
| フランス人 | furansu jin | Frenchman |
| イタリア人 | itaria jin | Italian |
| 韓国人[かんこくじん] | kankoku jin | Korean |
| ドイツ人 | doitsu jin | German |
| インド人 | indo jin | Indian |
| ベトナム人 | betonamu jin | Vietnamese |
| スペイン人 | supein jin | Hispanic |
| 大阪人[おおさかじん] | oosaka jin | Osaka resident |
| 東京人[とうきょうじん] | toukyou jin | Tokyo resident |
| モスクワ人 | musukuwa jin | resident of Moscow |
| パリス人 | Parisu Jin | resident of Paris |
| 外国人/外人[がいこくじん/がいじん] | gaikoku jin / gai jin | foreigner |
And some examples:
ロシア人はロシアにロシア語を話す。[ロシアじんはロシアにロシアごをはなす]
(roshiajin wa roshia-ni roshiago-o hanasu) = In Russia, Russians speak Russian.
彼はベトナム語ができない。[かれはベトナムごができない]
(kare wa betonamugo ga dekinai) = He doesn't speak Vietnamese.
ブラジルに住んでいますか。[ブラジルにすんでいますか]
(burajiru ni sunde imasu ka) = Do you live in Brazil?
ちょっと日本語ができます。[ちょっとにほんごができます]
(chotto nihongo ga dekimasu) = I speak a little Japanese.
チャンさんはタイ人ではありません。[チャンさんはタイじんではありません]
(Chan-san wa taijin dewa arimasen) = Chan is not Thai.
君のフレンドはアメリカ人ですか。[きみのフレンドはアメリカじんですか]
(kimi-no furendo wa amerikajin desu ka) = Is your friend American?
今はインドにいる。[いまはインドにいる]
(ima wa indo-ni iru) = I am in India now.
Ohayou gozaimasu- "Good morning". Polite greeting. In youth communication it can also be used in the evening. Reminder: in most cases, "u" after voiceless consonants is not pronounced, that is, this expression is usually pronounced as "Ohayo gozaimas".
Ohayou- Informal option.
Ossu— A very informal masculine option. Often pronounced as "Oss".
Konnichiwa- "Good afternoon". The usual greeting.
Konbanwa- "Good evening". The usual greeting.
Hisashiburi desu- "Long time no see". Standard polite option.
Hisashiburi ne? (Hisashiburi ne?)- Female version.
Hisashiburi da naa... (Hisashiburi da naa)- Male version.
Yahho! (Yahhoo)- "Hello". Informal option.
Ooi! (Ooi)- "Hello". A very informal men's option. A common greeting for roll call over long distances.
Yo! (Yo!)- "Hello". An exclusively informal men's option.
Gokigenyou- "Hello". A rare, very polite female greeting.
Moshi-moshi- “Hello.” Answer by phone.
Sayonara- "Goodbye". The usual option. It is said that if the chances of an ambulance new meeting small.
Saraba- "Bye". Informal option.
Mata Ashita- "Till tomorrow". The usual option.
Mata ne- Female version.
Mata naa- Male version.
Dzya, mata (Jaa, mata)- "See you". Informal option.
Jia (Jaa)- A completely informal option.
De wa- A little more formal option.
Oyasumi nasai- "Good night". A somewhat formal option.
Oyasumi- Informal option.
Hai- "Yes". Universal standard expression. Can also mean “I understand” and “Continue.” That is, it does not necessarily mean consent.
Haa (Haa)- "Yes, sir". A very formal expression.
Uh (Ee)- "Yes". Not very formal.
Ryoukai- "Yes sir". Military or paramilitary option.
Ie- "No". Standard polite expression. Also a polite form of declining a thank you or compliment.
Nai- "No". An indication of the absence or non-existence of something.
Betsu ni- "Nothing".
Naruhodo- “Of course,” “Of course.”
Motiron- "Naturally!" An indication of confidence in a statement.
Yahari- “That’s what I thought.”
Yappari- A less formal form of the same thing.
Maa... (Maa)- "May be…"
Saa... (Saa)- “Well...” I mean, “It’s possible, but doubts still remain.”
Honto desu ka? (Hontou desu ka?)- “Really?” Polite form.
Honto? (Hontou?)- Less formal.
So what? (Sou ka?)- “Wow...” Sometimes pronounced like “Bitch!”
So desu ka? (Sou desu ka?)- Formal form of the same thing.
So desu nee... (Sou desu nee)- “That’s how it is...” Formal version.
So da na... (Sou da naa)— Men's informal option.
So nah... (Sou nee)— Women's informal option.
Masaka! (Masaka)- "Can't be!"
Onegai shimasu- Very polite form. Can be used independently. Especially often used in requests like “do something for me.” Let me remind you that in most cases “u” after voiceless consonants is not pronounced, that is, this expression is usually pronounced as "Onegai Shimas".
Onegai- Less polite, more common form.
- kudasai- Polite form. Added as a suffix to a verb. For example, "kite-kudasai"- "Please, come".
- kudasaimasen ka? (kudasaimasenka)- More polite form. Added as a suffix to a verb. Translates to “could you do something for me?” For example, “kite-kudasaimasen ka?”- “Could you come?”
Doumo — Short form, usually said in response to a small “everyday” help, say, in response to a given coat and an offer to enter.
Arigatou gozaimasu— Polite, somewhat formal uniform. Let me remind you that in most cases “u” after voiceless consonants is not pronounced, that is, this expression is usually pronounced as “ Arigato gozaimas«.
Arigatou— Less formal polite form.
Doumo arigatou- "Thank you very much". Polite form.
Doumo arigatou gozaimasu- "Thank you very much". Very polite, formal uniform.
Katajikenai - Old fashioned, very polite uniform.
Osewa ni narimashita- “I am your debtor.” Very polite and formal uniform.
Osewa ni natta— Informal form with the same meaning.
Dou itashimashite) - Polite, formal form.
Iie- "My pleasure". Informal form.
Gomen nasai- “Please excuse me”, “I beg your pardon”, “I’m very sorry.” A very polite form. Expresses regret for some reason, say, if you have to disturb someone. Usually not an actual apology for a significant offense (unlike "sumimasen").
Gomen- Informal form.
Sumimasen- "I'm sorry". Polite form. Expresses an apology related to the commission of a significant offense.
Sumanai/Suman- Not very polite, usually masculine.
Sumanu— Not very polite, old-fashioned form.
Shitsurei shimasu- "I'm sorry". Very polite formal uniform. Used, say, to enter the boss's office.
Shitsurei- Similar, but less formal
Moushiwake arimasen- “I have no forgiveness.” Very polite and formal uniform. Used in the military or business.
Moushiwake nai- Less formal option.
Dozo- "Ask". A short form, an invitation to enter, take a coat, and so on. The usual answer is "Domo".
Chotto... (Chotto)- "No worries". Polite form of refusal. For example, if you are offered tea.
Itte kimasu- “I left, but I’ll be back.” Pronounced when leaving for work or school.
Chotto itte kuru- Less formal. Usually means something like “I’ll go out for a minute.”
Itte irashai- “Come back quickly.”
Tadaima- “I’m back, I’m home.” Sometimes it is said outside the home. This phrase then means a “spiritual” return home.
Okaeri nasai- “Welcome home.” The usual answer to "Tadaima" .
Okaeri- less formal form.
Itadakimasu— Pronounced before starting to eat. Literally, “I accept [this food].” Let me remind you that in most cases “u” after voiceless consonants is not pronounced, that is, this expression is usually pronounced as "Itadakimas".
Gochisousama deshita- “Thank you, it was very tasty.” Pronounced at the end of a meal.
Gochisousama- Less formal.
Kawaii! (Kawaii)- "How lovely!" Often used in relation to children, girls, very handsome guys. In general, this word has a strong meaning of “the appearance of weakness, femininity, passivity (in the sexual sense of the word).” According to the Japanese, the most "kawaii" the creature is a fair-haired good girl of four or five years old with European features and blue eyes.
Sugoi! (Sugoi)- “Cool” or “Cool/cool!” In relation to people, it is used to denote "masculinity".
Kakkoii! (Kakkoii!)- “Cool, beautiful, drop dead!”
Suteki! (Suteki!)- “Cool, charming, wonderful!” Let me remind you that in most cases “u” after voiceless consonants is not pronounced, that is, this expression is usually pronounced as "Stacks!".
Forge! (Kowai)- "Scary!" Expression of fear.
Abunay! (Abunai)- "Dangerous!" or "Look out!"
Hide! (Hidoi!)- “Evil!”, “Evil, bad.”
Tasukete! (Tasukete)- “Help!”, “Help!” Let me remind you that in most cases “u” after voiceless consonants is not pronounced, that is, this expression is usually pronounced as "Taskete!".
Yamero!/Yamete! (Yamero/Yamete)- “Stop!”
Dame! (Dame)- “No, don’t do that!”
Hayaku! (Hayaku)- "Faster!"
Matte! (Matte)- “Wait!”
Yoshi! (Yoshi)- “So!”, “Come on!”. Usually pronounced as “Yes!” .
Ikuzo! (Ikuzo)- “Let's go!”, “Forward!”
Itai!/Itee! (Itai/Itee)- “Oh!”, “It hurts!”
Atsui! (Atsui)- “It’s hot!”
Daijōbu! (Daijoubu)- “Everything is fine”, “Healthy”.
Kampai! (Kanpai)- "To the dregs!" Japanese toast.
Gambatte! (Ganbatte)- “Don’t give up!”, “Hold on!”, “Give your best!”, “Try to your conscience!” The usual parting words at the beginning of difficult work.
Hanase! (Hanase)- “Let go!”
Hentai! (Hentai)- “Pervert!”
Urusai! (Urusai)- "Shut up!"
Uso! (Uso)- "Lie!"
Yokatta! (Yokatta!)- “Thank God!”, “What happiness!”
Yatta! (Yatta)- "Happened!"
It’s good when arriving in a country you can freely communicate with local residents in their native language is ideal. But not everyone and not always have such knowledge, and although I believe that simply memorizing individual phrases, without a general knowledge of the language, will not lead to mutual understanding with local residents, perhaps some phrases can still be useful.
From my own experience, I know that a foreigner’s attempt to pronounce at least generally accepted phrases, such as good morning, thank you, goodbye, in the local language, always causes a good response.
So as not to read everything written on the screen, if you need these hint words for a trip to Japan or for communicating with Japanese friends download them for yourself for free, print and use. On this page the words are published partially, as clear example what you will see in the electronic version.
And for the correct pronunciation of words, it is better to read a couple of articles, since in the Japanese language there are such concepts as reduction - abbreviation and, as a result, words are pronounced differently from how they are written. This is especially true for words with the endings - です - desu, します - shimasu, in fact, the sound “u” is not pronounced.
Useful words and expressions in Japanese.
Greetings:
ohayo gozaimasu - good morning!
konnichiwa - hello (good afternoon)!
konbanwa - good evening!
hajimemashite - nice to meet you
douzo eroschiku - nice to meet you
o-yasumi nasai - Good night
sayunara - goodbye!
Politeness formulas:
namae-o oshiete kudasai - what is your name?
then moushimasu is my name...
sumimasen - sorry
o-genki des ka - how are you?
genki des - thank you, ok
ie - no
arigatou - thank you
doumo arigatou gozaimas - thank you very much
douitaschite - no need for gratitude
onegai... - please (if informal request)...
douzo - please (if invited)...
kekkou desu - no thanks
chetto matte kudasai - please wait
shitsurei shimashita - sorry (for disturbing you)
itadakimasu - bon appetit
gochisou-sama deshita... - thank you for the treat
Expression of basic needs:
onaka-ga suku - I'm hungry
nodo-ga kawaku - I'm thirsty
koohi-o kudasai - please give me a cup of coffee
tsukareta - I'm tired
nemuy des - I want to sleep
o-tearai-wa dochira desu ka - where is the toilet?
Doko desu ka - where is...
are-o misete kudasai - please show me this...
Communication in stereotypical situations:
douschitan des ka - what happened?
daijoubu desu ka - are you okay?
daijoubu desu - everything is fine
ikura desu ka - how much does it cost?
dochira-no go shushushchin desu ka - where did you (arrive) from?
Sagashite imas - I'm looking for...
michi-ni mayomashita - I got lost (in the city)
koko-wa doko desu ka - where am I?
eki-wa doko desu ka - where is the train station?
Basutei-wa doko desu ka - where is the bus stop?
Ginza-wa dochi desu ka - how to get to Ginza?
nihongo-ga wakarimasen - I don't understand Japanese
wakarimasu ka - do you understand?
wakarimasen - I don't understand
shitte imas - I know
Shirimasen - I don't know
kore-wa nan desu ka - what is it?
kore-o kudasai - I'll buy it...
eigo-o hanasemas ka - do you speak English?
roshchiago de hanasemasu ka - do you speak Russian?
eigo no dekiru-hito imasu ka - does anyone here speak English?
nihongo-de nanto iimasu ka - how do you say it in Japanese?
eigo-de nanto iimasu ka - how would it be in English?
Groveago de nanto iimasu ka - how would it be in Russian?
mou ichi do itte kudasai - say it again, please
yukkuri hanashite kudasai - please speak more slowly
E itte kudasai - please take me to... (in a taxi)
Made ikura desu ka - how much will it cost to travel to...
aishiteiru - I love you
kibun-ga varui - I feel bad
Questions:
Dare? - Who?
Nani? - What?
daughters? - which?
dore? -Which?
itsu? -When?
nan-ji desuka? - what time is it now?
doko? - Where?
naze - why?
Basic formulas for a telephone conversation:
power-power - hello!
Tanaka-san-wa imasu ka - can I please Mr. Tanaka?
donata desu ka - please tell me who is on the phone?
Ivanov desu - Ivanov is on the phone
rusu desu - he is not at home
gaischutsu shiteimasu - he left the office
denwashimasu - I'll call you
bangouchigai desu - you dialed the wrong number
Main health-related complaints:
onaka-ga itai - my stomach hurts
kaze-o hiita - I have a cold
kega-o shield - I got hurt
Samuke-ga suru - I'm chilling
netsu-ga aru - I have a high fever
nodo-ga itai - my throat hurts
kouketsuatsu - my blood pressure has risen
kossetsu - I have a fracture
haita - I have a toothache
shinzoubeu - my heart worries me
jutsuu - I have a headache
haien - I have pneumonia
mocheuen - I'm having an attack of appendicitis
yakedo - I have a burn
hanazumari - I have a runny nose
Gary - I have diarrhea
arerugia - I have allergies
Most used nouns:
juusche - address
Kuukou airport
ginkou - bank
yakkyoku - pharmacy
beuin - hospital
okane - money
bangou - number
keisatsu - police
yuubinkyoku - post office
jinja - Shinto shrine
Otera - Buddhist temple
eki - station
denva - telephone
kippu - ticket
denshcha - electric train
sakana - fish
yasai - vegetables
kudamono - fruit
niku - meat
mizu - water
fuyu - winter
haru - spring
Natsu - summer
aki - autumn
ame - rain
Most used verbs:
kau - buy
dekiru - to be able
kuru - to come
nomu - to drink
taberu - to eat
iku - to go
uru - sell
hanasu - talk
tomaru - rent (hotel room)
vakaru - to understand
aruku - to walk
kaku - write
Pronouns:
vataschi - I
wataschitachi - we
anata - you, you
kare - he
kanojo - she
karera - they
Most used adjectives:
ii - good
varui - bad
ookii - big
chiisai - small
You can also get acquainted with the phonetics of the Japanese language, learn the pronunciation of adverbs, colors, numerals, directions, see the writing of useful hieroglyphs indicating the days of the week, months, announcements and signs, the names of cities and regions, you can download a free Japanese phrasebook. I would be glad if he helps you navigate when visiting Japan. Additionally, I recommend reading the article about the Japanese language and
To receive the Russian-Japanese phrasebook, you must subscribe to receive the electronic version of the phrasebook, located in the sidebar of the blog.
Imagine saying “thank you” in perfect Japanese to a nice waiter and seeing a surprised smile on his face. Or ask for the bill like a local, even though this is your first visit to Japan. It will be great, right? Your next trip to Japan can be twice as interesting if you know some Japanese, which you can learn thoroughly by attending a language school in Japan. You'll have a lot more fun when you can interact with the locals without the awkward grunting and waving of your arms.
The good news is that you don't have to spend months or even weeks learning Japanese—all you need to know are a few simple (and very user-friendly) phrases that you can read in minutes and master in a few days. Of course, a few memorized phrases cannot be compared with the amount of knowledge that you can get by going to study at a language school in Japan, the cost of which largely depends on the training program. However, even some phrases will significantly help in the first days of your stay in Japan. Once you've mastered these phrases, you'll be able to use them expertly, and your new Japanese friends will be delighted.
Note: Desu and masu are pronounced "des", as in the English word "desk" and "mas", as in the English word "mask". Well, unless you're an anime character. The particle は is pronounced "wa".
1. Hello!
Ohayo (good morning) おはよう
Konichiwa (good afternoon)
Konbanwa (good evening)
In Japan, people usually do not say "hello" but greet each other depending on the time of day. Say "Ohayo" in the morning and "Konichiwa" in the afternoon. From 18:00 onwards use "konbanwa". Note that "konbanwa" is a greeting and is not used to say goodnight - the word for that is "oyasumi". If you confuse these two words, you will receive laughter or strange looks in response. Don't ask me how I know.
2. Everything is fine, or I'm fine
Daijōbu des だいじょうぶです
This is a very useful phrase that has many nuances depending on the situation (it can mean “yes” or “no”). Use it for:
- telling someone that you are okay (For example, "daijobu des", which is a minor injury)
- polite refusal (For example, if the seller asks if you want your gift wrapped, you can politely refuse by saying “daijobu des”).
3. Thank you
Arigato gozaimas ありがとう ございます。
Saying "arigato" without "gozaimas" strangers, such as a cashier or waiter, will be a little careless. As a foreigner you can get away with it, but the more natural expression in this case is "arigato gozaimas". Say it when you get change or when someone, for example, helps you find a vending machine or gives you directions to a language school in Japan.
4. I'm sorry
Sumimasen
If you only need to remember one phrase in Japanese, this is it. This is a magic phrase. You can use it in almost any situation. Accidentally stepped on someone's foot? Sumimasen! Trying to get the waiter's attention? Sumimasen! Is someone holding the elevator door for you? Sumimasen! The waitress at the cafe brought you a drink? Sumimasen! Don't know what to say? You guessed it - sumimasen.
But wait, why should I apologize to the person serving me the drink, you ask? Good question. The thing is, the word "sumimasen" is essentially an acknowledgment that you are bothering or inconveniencing someone. Thus, the legendary Japanese politeness is partly true, even if it is superficial. You can (and should) say "sumimasen" before any of the phrases below.
5. Where is (train station)?
(Eki) wa doko des ka? (えき)はどこですか？
Feel free to use this phrase when you want to know where something is: the Totoro section of a store, a train station or a museum, or - and this is very important - a toilet.
6. How much does it cost?
Kore wa ikura des ka? これ は いくら ですか？
If you decide to learn Japanese at a language school in Japan, you will definitely have to shop in stores. Most stores have price tags in a visible place, but if the price is not visible and you want to know how much an item costs, say “sumimasen” and ask the question.
7. Can I have the bill, please?
O-kaikei onegai shimas
Use this phrase in places like izakayas, but if you find the bill on your table, there's no need to ask. Just pay for it.
“Onegai shimas” is another very convenient phrase. Use it like "please". You can use it whenever you ask for something, such as a bill. Just replace the word o-kaikei in the example above with whatever you need, such as "Sumimasen, o-mizu onegai shimas." (Can I ask for some water please?)
8. Does this train go to (Shibuya)?
Kono densha wa Shibuya ikimas ka? この でんしゃ は (しぶや) いきますか？
Tokyo's extensive train network can be confusing if you're using it for the first time, and this phrase helps you know if a certain train is going to your destination before you board it. Replace the word Shibuya with any other name railway station, to which you are heading.
9. Do you have (menu in English)?
(Eigo no menu) wa arimas ka? (えいご の めにゅう) は ありますか？
Sometimes you are in a hurry and need to find a certain item in the store. Instead of rushing around looking for an item, you can simply stop at the information desk or ask the nearest employee if the item is in the store. Ask this question in Japanese and they will show you where what you are looking for is located.
This phrase works great for restaurants too. If the entire menu is in Japanese, don't point your finger at it randomly. Just ask the waiter if they have something you would like to eat, such as chicken (tori), fish (sakana) or strawberry ramen (sutoroberi ramen). Just replace the words in brackets with whatever you like.
It is no coincidence that Japanese is considered one of the most difficult languages in the world. It does not have the slightest resemblance either to Russian or to the usual European languages. He acts according to his own laws and logic that is not understandable to everyone. In this regard, its study entails many difficulties.
Origin of the Japanese language
Next, you should work hard on your pronunciation. It is important to pay attention to the pronunciation of individual sounds. A peculiarity of the Japanese language is the change in the designation of the word used depending on the pronounced intonation. Then you should study the variations of sound combinations and having basic knowledge, you can turn to a mentor for help. To do this, it is recommended to enroll in a language school. Here you can learn Japanese phrases and words. Typically, cards, audio recordings and other attributes are used for this.
Immersion in the language environment
There are two ways to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Japan. The first is, of course, to go to the Country rising sun and communicate directly with real Japanese people. If this is not possible, then you can enroll in a circle where everyone speaks only Japanese, and usually it includes people born and living in this country.
It is important to understand that going on vacation to Japan for a week is, of course, a great idea, but this approach is not very effective in learning the language. For a deep dive, it is recommended to become a student at a local university or go to a given state under an experience exchange program within the framework of your profession. It is best to learn a language from the model of a peer of the same gender. After all, the presentation of an adult differs from the explanation of a young person, just like female communication from male communication.
