Useful Japanese phrases

This is a monumental undertaking on my part, mostly inspired by the EJE. This will surely be a work in progress. If you notice a Node Title in Japanese, refer it to me. I will either include it here, or reference here as appropriate. For idioms and other kotowaza see: Japanese expressions.

There exist (or have existed) many useful Japanese phrases in the nodegel. However, a reference such as this may be more helpful than trying to locate a phrase by searching for the Japanese, and then reading the node. (If you knew the Japanese why would you search for it in the first place?) Like any first year Japanese text book, the phrases are arranged by situation. For hiragana, katakana, and kanji I've used Unicode and included spaces and other English punctuation to increase clarity.

Greetings, Meetings, and (soon to be added) Partings

Good morning Ohayou gozaimasu お早うございます (おはようございます)

This greeting is used in the morning until around 10 AM or when it stops feeling like morning time. In the 'feeling' vein, co-workers will greet each other this way at the beginning of a shift, even the night shift. When one is familiar with the greetee you might just say Ohayou (prounounced a lot like "Ohio" but the o trails off. Learn more at Japanese long vowels). See also: Japanese Slang For Greeting Your Shiftless Friends See also: Ohayou gozaimasu*

Good day / Hello Konnichi wa 今日は (こんにちは)

This greeting is used during the day, until sundown. The term itself is idiomatic. The particle wa (は the subject marker) can be translated as "speaking about" and konnichi as "today" with a meaing abbreviated from "Speaking about today..." or "Today is... something." Konnichi wa ii Otenki desu for example. While that may sound like "Today is good weather" to us, English speakers, it sounds just fine to speakers of Japanese.

Good evening, sir Sensei, konban wa 先生, 今晩は (せんせい, こんばんは)

This greeting is used from sun down to sun up. The addition of the honorific sensei is for elders or men you aren't on familiar terms with (total strangers) as a more formal greeting. Typically (i.e. almost all the time) one would use just Konban wa with friends, family, and co-workers. See also: Sensei, Konban wa.*

Are you doing well? / How are you? Ogenki desu ka? お元気ですか (おげんきですか)

Unless you are talking to your shiftless friends you would ask Ogenki desu ka? (note the honorific O). This term means literally "Are you healthy?" See also: Ogenki desu ka (idea)*, Go-kigen ikaga desu ka 御機嫌 (ごきげん) "Are you in good spirts" -- something you would ask your Lord. obsolete as far as I can tell. More research is necessary.

Thanks be to you (for asking). Okagesama de お蔭様で (おかげさまで)

The Okage is a respectful reference to one who offers assistance or "backs you up", God, Buddha, a friend concerned for your health, etc. Sama is the extra polite suffix. The phrase itself is idiomatic for English phrases along the lines of "thank God", "thank my lucky stars", or "thank you for your support" and is therefor used in a greeting as such, "Thank you, Okage-sama (for being concerned about my welfare)". See also: O-kagesama de.*

I'm doing well. Genki desu. 元気です (げんきです)

Literally "I'm healthy". A more emphatic way of saying this is Genki da yo! which is a lot like saying "I'm Grrrrreat!". Be careful with the use of yo, reserve it's usage like you would baka, since it's a strong term and isn't appropriate in all places.

Been a long time, huh? Ohisashiburi desu ne? お久し振りですね (おひさしぶりですね)

Making or accepting an introduction

How do you do? / Pleased to meet you Hajimemashite 初めまして (はじめまして)

This means simply "For the first time" so think of it as "(please to meet you) for the first time." It's probably noted elsewhere on E2, but the vowel i between to voiced consonants is contracted. The pronunciation then sounds like this: /ha-JI-may-MA-shtay/. See also: Hajimemashite*

Pleased to meet you / Have my best regards Douzo yoroshiku どうぞ宜しく (どうぞよろしく)

Literally "I offer my best regards (so that you will treat me and our relationship well)". Most of the meaning is implied. See also: Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu, Douzo yoroshiku.*

Talking about the Weather

Muggy/Humid isn't it? Mushiatsui desu ne? 蒸し暑いですね (むしあついですね)

Use this phrase nine months out of the year, if you live in Florida. Also to cover: ame, hare, kumori, yuki, summer, winter, fall, spring, maybe tips for understanding the impossibly fast talking weather girls.

After the Bar

Where is (a/my/the) hotel? Hoteru wa doko ni arimasu ka? ホテルはどこに有りますか (ホテルはどこにありますか)

A general form for "Where exists the subject?". In this example hoteru, hotel. Other subjects/locations which might be appropriate after the bar: anata no apaato, eki, Keisatsu-sho.

Finally, other references can be found on E2:

To include or consolidate:
Osaki e douzo. (idea) O-mizu o itadakemasu ka. (thing) Dou itashimashite. (idea) Itte kimasu. (idea) Oyasuminasai Kunio-kun. (idea) Oyasumi nasai konnichiwa Tanaka to moushimasu. Onamae wa nan to osshaimasu ka. (thing) Kiiro no kuruma wa anata no desu ka. (idea)

Finally, special thanks to gn0sis, Gritchka, Mowph et al for help, comments, and/or encouragement.

Japanese pickup lines	For greeting your shiftless friends	making love in Japanese	Japanese Slang
so desu ka	Japanese expressions	Tokyo's Worst Stuff	Baking bread in Ultima VII
Ohisashiburi desu ne	baka	Yoroshiku onegai shimasu	Japanese numbers and counting
Everything Japanese Encyclopedia	I actually, um, created, um, thefez	wagahai wa neko de aru	Men who are willing to listen to women talk about their periods
Japanese Words About Gardens	matte kudasai	arigato gozaimasu	so desu ne
Itte kimasu	tadaima	Moshi moshi

Greetings, Meetings, and (soon to be added) Partings

Talking about the Weather

Talking about Gardens

Talking about Yourself, and asking about Others

Smalltalk (agreements and disagreements)

Terms for Travelers

Going out, Returning, Inviting

When out Shopping

At the Bar

After the Bar

Finally, other references can be found on E2: