Category Archives: Japanese

Tanoshikatta desu – formal way Tanoshikatta – Casual.

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）” … Continue reading →

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。 To reply, “Kochira koso” is used.

I wish you will have a good new year. Yoi otoshi o omukae kudasai. (formal)

* # Yatta(yaht-tah; Yahoo! I did it.) # Gambatte(gahm-baht-teh; Go for it! or Try your best!) # Omedeto (oh-meh-deh-tohh; Congratulations!) # Yokoso (yohh-koh-soh; Welcome!) # Shinpai shinaide (sheen-pah-ee shee-nah-ee-deh; Don’t worry!) # Makasete (mah-kahTseh-teh; Count on me!) # So, so … Continue reading →

# asagohan/choshoku (ah-sah-goh-hahn/chohh-shoh-koo; breakfast) # hirugohan/chushoku (hee-roo-goh-hahn/chooo-shoh-koo; lunch) # bangohan/yushoku (bahn-goh-hahn/yooo-shoh-koo; supper) A Japanese asagohan (ah-sah-goh-hahn; breakfast) can be downright exquisite if you have the eyes (and the palate) to see it that way. Before stepping into a Japanese-style shokudO … Continue reading →

furaido chikin (foo-rah-ee-doh chee-keen; fried chicken) hotto doggu (hoht-toh dohg-goo; hot dog) You may have to answer a couple of questions when you order at a fast-food joint: Omochi kaeri desu ka (oh-moh-chee kah-eh-ree deh-soo kah) means “Will you take … Continue reading →

Ask questions of your ueta (oo-ehh-tahh; waiter) or uetoresu (oo-ehh-toh-reh-soo; waitress), or just chat with them about the food they served. * Kore wa nan desu ka. (koh-reh wah nahn deh-soo kah; What is this?) * Watashi wa ebi ga … Continue reading →

Whether you go to a four-star restaurant or the corner pub, your waiter or waitress will ask you questions like these: * Gochumon wa. (goh-chooo-mohn wah; Your order?) * Nani ni nasaimasu ka. (nah-nee nee nah-sah-ee-mah-soo kah; What will you … Continue reading →

Kimura-san, kochira wa watashi no tomodachi desu. Yamada Hiroko-san desu. Mr. Kimura, this is my friend. This is Hiroko Yamada.