{provided bu Adamcube}
です[desu]
The polite copula; goes at the end of a sentence equation one thing to another.
と [to]
Basic word for "and", used within sentences. わたしはりんごといちごがすき。 [Watashi wa ringo to ichigo ga suki. -> I like apples and strawberries.]
なに [nani]
General "Say, wuh?" ("What?") on its own, but can also be used in sentences. Usually if you what to use "what" in a sentence, in its common English sense, なん [nan] is the better word. これはなんですか。 [Kore wa nan desu ka. -> What's this? (Polite)]
あした [ashita]
Tomorrow. じゃ、またあした、ね。 [Ja, mata ashita, ne. -> Well then, see ya tomorrow, okay? (Informal: probably heard it in anime - sure as hell I have.)]
きょ [kyo]
Today. きょはげつようび。 [Kyo wa getsuyoubi. -> Today is Monday.]
Pronunciations for numbers:
1: いち [ichi], 2: に [ni], 3: さん [san], 4: よん or し [yon or shi], 5: ご [go], 6: ろく [roku], 7: なな or しち [nana or shichi], 8: ひゃく [hyaku], 9: きゅう [kyuu], 10: じゅう [juu]. Where more than one pronunciation is given, the first is most common in my experience. Learn where to use which case by case.
おはようございます [Ohayou gozaimasu]
Good morning, set phrase.
こんにちは [Konnichiwa]
Good day, or general "hello", set phrase.
こんばんは [Konbanwa]
Good evening, set phrase.
おげんきですか。 [O-genki desu ka.]
Are you well? How are you? This is really polite.
Between equals だいじょうぶ [Daijoubu] is far more common, which can be used both as a question with rising intonation, and as an answer with an afirmative tone.
げんきです。 [Genki desu.]
I'm well, quite polite, again see だいじょうぶ [Daijoubu].
おなまえはなんですか。 [O-namae wa nan desu ka.]
What is your name? This is very polite, in most cases you could just say あなたは [Anata wa] with a rising intonation, prefixing it with "sorry", すみません [Sumimasen], to soften it's harshness a tad.
There are many ways to answer this. In most cases, if it's clear you're the person being talked about, you may skip the whole わたしは [Watashi wa], just saying NAME です [NAME desu]. There are more polite ways, but generally you won't need these.
Generally, a polite introduction will go like this:
はじめまして。わたしはadamcubeです。どぞうよろしく。 [Hajimemashite. Watashi wa adamcube desu. Dozou yoroshiku. -> Pleased to meet you. I am adamcube. Please treat me kindly.]
There are infinite variations to work with, depending on social status, but you won't go far wrong with that general one.
はい / いいえ [Hai / Iie]
Yes and No. Be careful with the pronunciation of いいえ [Iie]; if you fail to stress the double "i" then it becomes いえ [Ie], or house.
わかります / わかりません / わかりますか。 [Wakarimasu / wakarimasen / wakarimasu ka.]
I (he, she, it, ect.) understand(s) / I (he, she, it, ect.) do(es) not understand / Do(es) you (he, she, it, ect.) understand? For the most part, in rudimentary Japanese speech, subject is ambiguous, and is understood from content.
ありがとう / ありがとうございます [Arigatou / arigatou gozaimasu]
Thank you / thank you very much.
どもう [Domou]
Thanks.
The above two can be combined for greater politeness and emphasis; どもうありがとう / どもうありがとうございます [Domou arigatou / Domou arigatou gozaimasu -> Thank you so much / Thank you so, so very much. (Haha - these are horrible approximations!)]
おねがい [Onegai]
Please. This actually means a wish or request. Add -します [-shimasu] to the end, and the translation is "please do it" or "please take the discussed action".
いくらですか [Ikura desu ka.]
How much is it (that)? Talking to a taxi driver: しんじゅくまではいるかですか。 [Shinjuku made wa ikura desu ka. -> How much is it to the Shinjuku district (of Tokyo)?]
どぞ 「Dozo]
Please, go ahead. This has several meanings, but usually indicates "you first" in a polite sense. It could be said allowing someone to pass through a door ahead of you, or when handing them a drink. Keep in mind that it is very polite; you probably won't hear it that much between equals.
わたしとたべませんか。 [Watashi to tabemasen ka.]
Won't you eat with me? Would you eat with me? The "shi" sound in わたし [watashi] is often softened in fast, fluent speech, leaving a sound like "watash to". This should not be said on purpose, you will find naturally that as you speak faster, the sound will soften naturally.
useful phrases:
what is your name? - o namae wa nan desu ka? (o nam-aie wa nan deh-su kah)
my name is - Watashi no namae wa *NAME* desu (wa-tah-shi no nam-aie wa *NAME* dehsu)
welcome - Irasshaimase (e-ras-shaie-mase) (this is usualy said as you enter a shop, not so much basic shops)
nice to meet you - Dozo yoroshiku (doh-zo yo-ro-shi-kue)
yes - hie (high)
no - iie - (e-eh)
do you understand - wakadimasu ka (wah-ka-di-mahs-u kah?)
no i dont understand - Iie, wakarimasen (e-eh wa-ka-ri-mah-sen)
where is it? - doko desu ka? (do-ko deh-su kah)
thank you (very much) - domo arigato (goziemasu) (doh-mo ari-gat-oh (goh-zie-mas-u))
please onigishimasu (on-ee-guy-she-mas-u)
how much dose it cost - Iku ra desho ka? (iku-rah deh-sho kah)
like (enjoy) -suki (ski)
please (go ahead) - dozo (doh-zo)
excuse me - sumimasen (sum-ee-ma-sen)
sorry - gomennasai (go-men-e-sie)
what are you going to eat - nani o tabemasu ka? (nah-ni o tabi-masu kah)
what are you going to drink - nani o nomimasu ka? (nah-ni 0 nomi-masu kah)
wont you eat with me? - watasto tabimasen ka? (wa-tash-toh tabi-mas-sen kah)
wont you drink with me? - watasto nomimasen ka? (wa-tash-toh nomi-mas-sen kah)
im going to eat something - nanika tabemasu (na-ni-kah tabi-masu)
Well, let me see - sou desu ne (souh deh-su neh)
in that cast (or makeing up of mind) - ja (jah)
idiot (every one should know this ^^) - baka (bah-ka)
see you tomorrow ja atashta (jah at-ash-tah)
{provided by Kurogane}
I; Watashi, watakushi, ore, boku, kimi, atashi,
My; Any of the above + no
e.g: boku no namae kurisu (desu) = My name is Chris
or... watashi wa kurisu (desu) = I am Chris
Verbs:
すごい, sugoi - Great
すさまじい, susamajii - Terrible
きれい, kirei - Pretty
きれい, kirai - Hate
Objects:
えんぴつ, empitsu - Pencil
かみ, kami - Paper
くるま, kuruma - Car
ケ一キ, ke-ki - Cake
Places:
トイレ, toire - Toilet
えき, eki - Train Station
ほにゃ, honya - Bookstore
にくや, nikuya - Butchers
です[desu]
The polite copula; goes at the end of a sentence equation one thing to another.
と [to]
Basic word for "and", used within sentences. わたしはりんごといちごがすき。 [Watashi wa ringo to ichigo ga suki. -> I like apples and strawberries.]
なに [nani]
General "Say, wuh?" ("What?") on its own, but can also be used in sentences. Usually if you what to use "what" in a sentence, in its common English sense, なん [nan] is the better word. これはなんですか。 [Kore wa nan desu ka. -> What's this? (Polite)]
あした [ashita]
Tomorrow. じゃ、またあした、ね。 [Ja, mata ashita, ne. -> Well then, see ya tomorrow, okay? (Informal: probably heard it in anime - sure as hell I have.)]
きょ [kyo]
Today. きょはげつようび。 [Kyo wa getsuyoubi. -> Today is Monday.]
Pronunciations for numbers:
1: いち [ichi], 2: に [ni], 3: さん [san], 4: よん or し [yon or shi], 5: ご [go], 6: ろく [roku], 7: なな or しち [nana or shichi], 8: ひゃく [hyaku], 9: きゅう [kyuu], 10: じゅう [juu]. Where more than one pronunciation is given, the first is most common in my experience. Learn where to use which case by case.
おはようございます [Ohayou gozaimasu]
Good morning, set phrase.
こんにちは [Konnichiwa]
Good day, or general "hello", set phrase.
こんばんは [Konbanwa]
Good evening, set phrase.
おげんきですか。 [O-genki desu ka.]
Are you well? How are you? This is really polite.
Between equals だいじょうぶ [Daijoubu] is far more common, which can be used both as a question with rising intonation, and as an answer with an afirmative tone.
げんきです。 [Genki desu.]
I'm well, quite polite, again see だいじょうぶ [Daijoubu].
おなまえはなんですか。 [O-namae wa nan desu ka.]
What is your name? This is very polite, in most cases you could just say あなたは [Anata wa] with a rising intonation, prefixing it with "sorry", すみません [Sumimasen], to soften it's harshness a tad.
There are many ways to answer this. In most cases, if it's clear you're the person being talked about, you may skip the whole わたしは [Watashi wa], just saying NAME です [NAME desu]. There are more polite ways, but generally you won't need these.
Generally, a polite introduction will go like this:
はじめまして。わたしはadamcubeです。どぞうよろしく。 [Hajimemashite. Watashi wa adamcube desu. Dozou yoroshiku. -> Pleased to meet you. I am adamcube. Please treat me kindly.]
There are infinite variations to work with, depending on social status, but you won't go far wrong with that general one.
はい / いいえ [Hai / Iie]
Yes and No. Be careful with the pronunciation of いいえ [Iie]; if you fail to stress the double "i" then it becomes いえ [Ie], or house.
わかります / わかりません / わかりますか。 [Wakarimasu / wakarimasen / wakarimasu ka.]
I (he, she, it, ect.) understand(s) / I (he, she, it, ect.) do(es) not understand / Do(es) you (he, she, it, ect.) understand? For the most part, in rudimentary Japanese speech, subject is ambiguous, and is understood from content.
ありがとう / ありがとうございます [Arigatou / arigatou gozaimasu]
Thank you / thank you very much.
どもう [Domou]
Thanks.
The above two can be combined for greater politeness and emphasis; どもうありがとう / どもうありがとうございます [Domou arigatou / Domou arigatou gozaimasu -> Thank you so much / Thank you so, so very much. (Haha - these are horrible approximations!)]
おねがい [Onegai]
Please. This actually means a wish or request. Add -します [-shimasu] to the end, and the translation is "please do it" or "please take the discussed action".
いくらですか [Ikura desu ka.]
How much is it (that)? Talking to a taxi driver: しんじゅくまではいるかですか。 [Shinjuku made wa ikura desu ka. -> How much is it to the Shinjuku district (of Tokyo)?]
どぞ 「Dozo]
Please, go ahead. This has several meanings, but usually indicates "you first" in a polite sense. It could be said allowing someone to pass through a door ahead of you, or when handing them a drink. Keep in mind that it is very polite; you probably won't hear it that much between equals.
わたしとたべませんか。 [Watashi to tabemasen ka.]
Won't you eat with me? Would you eat with me? The "shi" sound in わたし [watashi] is often softened in fast, fluent speech, leaving a sound like "watash to". This should not be said on purpose, you will find naturally that as you speak faster, the sound will soften naturally.
useful phrases:
what is your name? - o namae wa nan desu ka? (o nam-aie wa nan deh-su kah)
my name is - Watashi no namae wa *NAME* desu (wa-tah-shi no nam-aie wa *NAME* dehsu)
welcome - Irasshaimase (e-ras-shaie-mase) (this is usualy said as you enter a shop, not so much basic shops)
nice to meet you - Dozo yoroshiku (doh-zo yo-ro-shi-kue)
yes - hie (high)
no - iie - (e-eh)
do you understand - wakadimasu ka (wah-ka-di-mahs-u kah?)
no i dont understand - Iie, wakarimasen (e-eh wa-ka-ri-mah-sen)
where is it? - doko desu ka? (do-ko deh-su kah)
thank you (very much) - domo arigato (goziemasu) (doh-mo ari-gat-oh (goh-zie-mas-u))
please onigishimasu (on-ee-guy-she-mas-u)
how much dose it cost - Iku ra desho ka? (iku-rah deh-sho kah)
like (enjoy) -suki (ski)
please (go ahead) - dozo (doh-zo)
excuse me - sumimasen (sum-ee-ma-sen)
sorry - gomennasai (go-men-e-sie)
what are you going to eat - nani o tabemasu ka? (nah-ni o tabi-masu kah)
what are you going to drink - nani o nomimasu ka? (nah-ni 0 nomi-masu kah)
wont you eat with me? - watasto tabimasen ka? (wa-tash-toh tabi-mas-sen kah)
wont you drink with me? - watasto nomimasen ka? (wa-tash-toh nomi-mas-sen kah)
im going to eat something - nanika tabemasu (na-ni-kah tabi-masu)
Well, let me see - sou desu ne (souh deh-su neh)
in that cast (or makeing up of mind) - ja (jah)
idiot (every one should know this ^^) - baka (bah-ka)
see you tomorrow ja atashta (jah at-ash-tah)
{provided by Kurogane}
I; Watashi, watakushi, ore, boku, kimi, atashi,
My; Any of the above + no
e.g: boku no namae kurisu (desu) = My name is Chris
or... watashi wa kurisu (desu) = I am Chris
Verbs:
すごい, sugoi - Great
すさまじい, susamajii - Terrible
きれい, kirei - Pretty
きれい, kirai - Hate
Objects:
えんぴつ, empitsu - Pencil
かみ, kami - Paper
くるま, kuruma - Car
ケ一キ, ke-ki - Cake
Places:
トイレ, toire - Toilet
えき, eki - Train Station
ほにゃ, honya - Bookstore
にくや, nikuya - Butchers