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This is a quick guide to some words and expressions which
are useful in daily life in Japan. They are written in
romaji (roman letters) as many computers are not
equipped to read Japanese script.
The Japanese counting system is too complex to explain here
in full. Given below are the cardinal numbers, which are
combined with various counters to count objects or people. For
example, otoko san-nin means three men,
hon
san-satsu means three books and
san-ji means three
o'clock. There is also a set of numbers, from one to ten, for
counting objects without using counters.
|
| Numbers(Bango) |
(without
counters) |
| ichi |
1 |
hitotsu |
| ni |
2 |
futatsu |
| san |
3 |
mittsu |
| shi, yon |
4 |
yottsu |
| go |
5 |
itsutsu |
| roku |
6 |
mutsu |
| shichi, nana |
7 |
nanatsu |
| hachi |
8 |
yatsu |
| kyu |
9 |
kokonotsu |
| ju |
10 |
to |
Examples
ichi-nin mae = serving for one
person
shichi-nin no samurai = The Seven
Samurai | |
|
Numbers (over 10) |
| ju-ichi |
11 |
| ju-ni |
12 |
| ju-san |
13 |
| ni-ju |
20 |
| yon-ju |
40 |
| go-ju-go |
55 |
| hyaku |
100 |
| san-byaku |
300 |
| sen |
1,000 |
| man |
10,000 |
Examples
go-gatsu ju-san
nichi = May
13th
hyaku-man en =
1 million
yen | |
|
| Tabemono & Nomimono |
Food &
Drink |
| gohan |
cooked
rice |
| miso shiru |
miso soup |
| tsukemono |
pickles |
| tei-shoku |
lunch set |
| bento |
lunch box |
| o-cha |
green tea |
| kohii |
coffee |
| gyunyu |
milk |
| o-sake |
alcohol |
| mizu |
water | |
| Iro |
Colors |
| akai |
red |
| aoi |
blue |
| kuroi |
black |
| shiroi |
white |
| kiiroi |
yellow |
| midori |
green |
| cha-iro |
brown |
| hai-iro |
gray |
| murasaki |
purple |
| orenji-iro |
orange | |
| Places |
| byou-in |
hospital |
| kouban |
police box |
| yubinkyoku |
post
office |
| toshokan |
library |
| ginkou |
bank |
| kuukou |
airport |
| eki |
station |
| kouen |
park |
| ie |
house |
| mise |
shop | |
| General |
| hai, ee, un |
yes |
migi |
right |
kyo |
today |
| iie |
no |
hidari |
left |
kino |
yesterday |
| chigau |
wrong |
ue |
up |
ototoi |
2 days ago |
| tadashii |
correct |
shita |
down |
ashita |
tomorrow |
| ikura |
how much? |
naka |
in, inside |
asatte |
in 2 days |
| ikutsu |
how many? |
soto |
outside |
hi, nichi |
day |
| koko |
here |
mae |
in front of |
shu, shukan |
week |
| soko, asoko |
there |
ushiro |
behind |
tsuki, getsu |
month |
|
itsu |
when? |
aida |
between |
toshi, nen |
year |
| dare |
who? |
muko |
opposite |
jikan |
hour |
| nani |
what? |
toi |
far |
fun, pun |
minute |
| Greetings |
Parting |
| O-hayou gozaimasu |
Good morning |
Sayounara |
Goodbye |
| Konnichi wa |
Hello |
O-tsukare sama desu |
Goodbye (after
work) |
| Konban wa |
Good evening |
O-yasumi nasai |
Goodnight |
| Eating |
At
home |
| Itadakimasu |
Said before eating |
Tadaima |
I'm home! |
| O-kawari kudasai |
Same again, please |
O-kaeri nasai |
Welcome home! |
| Go-chisou sama deshita |
Said after eating |
Itte kimasu |
I'm off now |
| O-kanjou kudasai |
Check, please |
Itte rasshai |
OK. See you
later |
| Shopping |
| Sumimasen |
Excuse me |
Arigatou gozaimasu |
Thank you very
much |
| Kore wa ikura desu ka |
How much is this? |
Sore wa nan desu ka |
What is that? |
| Kore kudasai |
I'll take this,
please |
Takai desu ne |
Expensive, isn't
it! |
Motto yasui no wa
arimasu ka |
Do you have a
cheaper
one? |
Kekko desu |
No, thank you
I'm fine,
thank you |
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