Little phrasebook for first-timers in Japan

**A ke bono kane kotto** · Jan 15, 2008, 03:55

I thought it might be useful to compile a few sentences for people visiting Japan for the first time with no knowledge of Japanese language. You want to avoid trouble in a strange foreign country. Don't bother reading if you already know the basics in Japanese.

Japanese people are vert polite and many expressions are used frequently which do not really have a translation in English. It's good to memorise them just "as is" since you will need them a lot in daily life.

This was actually written by a friend of mine who has been reading manga in Japanese for a looong time and can now write Japanese very naturally (you'd be surprised !)

窶堙�堋ｯ窶堙�堙溪堙ｧﾂ、窶ｰﾂｴ窶罵窶堋ｪ窶凖岩堙ｩ窶堙ｱ窶� ﾂｾ [doke temera, oresama ga torunda] : excuse me (when trying to pass between people in a crowded place)

窶堙�窶堋､ﾋ�ｪ窶ｰﾃｱ窶堙｢窶堙≫堙�堙昶堙ｩ窶堙� 、窶堙披堙≫堋ｽ窶ｰﾅｸ窶堋ｵ窶堙�堙｢窶堙ｩ [mou ikkai yattemiruto buttaoshiteyaru] : (after someone pushed you or stepped on your feet) it's alright, don't worry

窶堙凪堋ｳ窶堋ｰ窶堙ｩ窶堙按、窶堋ｱ窶堙ｫ窶堋ｷ窶堋ｼ [fusageruna, korosuzo] : (when someone gives you your help as they think you are lost) : I will be fine, but thanks for asking

窶堙遺堙ｱ窶堋ｾ窶� 窶堙娯堙寂堙射彙ﾂ　[nanda sono bababanashi] : (to a woman who talks to you and that you want to please) you speak so elegantly

窶堋､窶堋ｹ窶堙ｫﾂ、窶堋ｭ窶堋ｻ窶堋ｪ窶堋ｫ ! [usero, kusogaki] : (to a child who shows interest in your foreignness) hey there sweety !

**BlueThunderKuno** · Jan 15, 2008, 04:49

I will tell you with learning Japanese the hardest part is the prononciation. I wish they made a little phrase book that had all the words spelled out phonetically. Like instead of konichiwa it would be (Kon-eech-ie-wa)

But I did add your phrases to my growing phrase book

**Homerduff** · Jan 15, 2008, 06:59

Actually Japanese pronounciation is very easy. If you know the soundings of all kana then you will know how to pronounce any word because the pronounciation doesn't change no matter what the combination of different syllables is.

**undrentide** · Jan 15, 2008, 10:10

Originally Posted by A ke bono kane kotto

It's good to memorise them just "as is" since you will need them a lot in daily life.

This was actually written by a friend of mine who has been reading manga in Japanese for a looong time and can now write Japanese very naturally (you'd be surprised !)

I wonder if you're aware what your friend wrote as "natural" language is actually very rough and extremely rude language?
If you and your friend are joking, then you should state so more clearly.

To whoever read this post, I'd like to warn not to use any of the above sentences unless you want to offend people around and get into trouble.

**Kirirao** · Jan 15, 2008, 20:09

どけてめら、俺様が通るんだ [doke temera, oresama ga torunda] : excuse me (when trying to pass between people in a crowded place)

もう一回やってみると、ぶった押してやる [mou ikkai yattemiruto buttaoshiteyaru] : (after someone pushed you or stepped on your feet) it's alright, don't worry

ふさげるな、ころすぞ [fusageruna, korosuzo] : (when someone gives you your help as they think you are lost) : I will be fine, but thanks for asking

なんだあのばば話　[nanda sono bababanashi] : (to a woman who talks to you and that you want to please) you speak so elegantly

うせろ、くそがき ! [usero, kusogaki] : (to a child who shows interest in your foreignness) hey there sweety !

lol?
Lost in translation?

Obviously the OP knows what the sentence means, either he is trying to post it here as a joke, or really trying to screw up someone life up for the fun of it.

**BlueThunderKuno** · Jan 15, 2008, 22:42

Well whoops lol, guess I fell for the trick.

**Glenski** · Jan 16, 2008, 06:47

Geez, need a phrase book? Buy one!

If you know the soundings of all kana then you will know how to pronounce any word because the pronounciation doesn't change no matter what the combination of different syllables is.

Not exactly true. "ha" は can be pronounced as ha or wa, depending on its use, and "wo" を sounds like "oh". Plus, there will always be the slurring of sounds in some words. "Sumimasen" often gets shorted to "simasen", for example. And, I just love (sarcastic statement) the dropping of the 'o' in Toronto, making it sound like Toront.