Lesson 9: Socializing
Expressions
| Asking to get together |
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|---|---|---|
| Why don't we eat out together some time? | Kondo, issho ni shokuji ni iki masenka? | |
| Yes, I'd like to go. | Hai, iki taidesu. | |
| Why don't we watch DVD together tonight? | Konban, issho ni DVD o mi masenka? | |
| Yes, sounds good. | Hai, iidesune. | |
| Why don't we go out together tomorrow? | Ashita, issho ni dekake masenka? | |
| Some other time. | Mata kondo. | |
| PLEASE, come to the party. | Zehi, pāthii ni kite kudasai. | |
| Yes, with pleasure. | Hai, yorokonde. | |
| Let's play a game. | Gēmu o shi mashō. | |
| I'm a little busy. | Chotto isogashii desu. | |
kondo: some time in the near future, at the next chance issho ni: together shokuji: having meal _masenka?: Why don't we_? _mashō: Let's _. Iidesune.: Sounds good. miru: to watch, to look, to see dekakeru: to go out Mata kondo.: Maybe, some other time. (Used often as indirect refusal.) zehi: Used to emphasize your willingness. Yorokonde.: With pleasure. (positive acceptance) chotto: little (sounds more casual than "sukoshi") isogashii: busy |
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Basic Rules verb + masenka? = Why don't we _? Literally, it seems to mean "Don't you _?". But mostly, this sentence form is used to invite someone. Examples: tabe masenka?: Why don't we eat?, nomi masenka?: Why don't we drink (go for a drink)?, tenisu o shi masenka?: Why don't we play tennis? verb + mashō = Let's _. It is also used to invite someone, but sounds more stronger than "_masenka?". Use this sentence pattern when you are almost sure that the person also wants to do it. Examples: tabe mashō: Let's eat, nomi mashō: Let's drink (go for a drink), tenisu o shi mashō: Let's play tennis. |
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| Making an appointment |
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|---|---|---|
| When would be good? | Itsu ga ii desuka? | |
| How about this Saturday? | Konshū no Doyō wa dō desuka? | |
| Saturday is not good. | Doyōbi wa tsugō ga warui desu. |
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| Then, how about Sunday? | Dewa, Nichiyō wa dō desuka? | |
| All right. | Daijōbu desu. | |
| Then, let's meet here at 2pm. | Dewa, gogo ni-ji ni kokode ai mashō. | |
ii: good, fine warui: bad dō: how? tsugō ga ii: convenient, suit one's schedule, can make it tsugō ga warui: inconvenient, not suit one's schedule, can't make it dewa: then kokode: at this place (koko: here + de: at) au: to meet |
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| Exchanging contact information |
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|---|---|---|
| Can you tell me (your) phone number? | Denwabangō o oshiete moraemasuka? | |
| Do you have a cell phone? | Keitai o motte imasuka? | |
| Can you enter (input) the mail address here? | Mēru adoresu o koko ni irete moraemasuka? | |
| I'll send my address by e-mail later. | Ato de watashi no jushō o mēru de okuri masu. | |
denwabangō: phone number (denwa: phone + bangō: number) keitai: cell phone, mobile phone mēru adoresu: mail address ireru: enter, input atode: at later time jūsho: address okuru: to send |
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Basic Rules verb + te (tte) + imasu = continuous state This present progressive sentence form can also mean the continuous state. Examples: keitai o mot te imasu (I own a cell phone. It doesn't mean that "I am holding it at this moment."), kare o shitte imasu. (I know him. Does not mean that "I'm getting to know him now.") |
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| Eating out |
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|---|---|---|
| Why don't we eat something? | Nanika tabe masenka? | |
| What do you want to eat? | Nani o tabe tai desuka? | |
| How about Italian food? | Itaria ryōri wa dō desuka? | |
| Why don't we drink beer? | Biiru o nomi masenka? | |
| Sounds good. | Ii desune. | |
| No, I don't drink alcohol. | Iie, watashi wa osake o nomi masen. | |
| Cheers! | Kanpai! | |
| It's my treat, today. | Kyō wa gochisō shimasu. | |
| Let's split the bill. | Warikan ni shi mashō. | |
| Thank you for the treat. | Gochisōsama deshita. | |
nanika: something, anything itaria: Italy / itaria ryori: Itarian food, dishes, cuisine biiru: beer taberu: to eat ii desune: Sounds good. osake: alcoholic drinks kanpai!: Cheers! gochisō suru: treat the meal (pay for the meal) warikan: separating the bill (paying separately) gochisōsamadeshita: Greeting when you finished the meal. Also can be used to thank someone who treated you a meal. |
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| About language skills |
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|---|---|---|
| Can you read (display) the Japanese characters on your computer? | Anata no konpyutā de Nihongo no moji o yome masuka? | |
| Probably OK. | Tabun, daijōbu desu. | |
| No, not possible. | Iie, muri desu. | |
| Can you write Kanji letters? | Kanji o kake masuka? | |
| I can write Hiragana and Katakana only. | Hiragana to Katakana dake kake masu. | |
| Can you speak English? | Eigo o hanase masuka? | |
| I can speak just a little. | Sukoshi dake hanase masu. | |
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moji: letters, characters tabun: probably muri: not possible, can't make it dake: only yomu: to read kaku: to write hanasu: to speak |
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Basic Rules verb (e) + masu = be able to _ Change the end vowel of the verb from "i (desu, masu form)" to "e". Examples: yomi masu (I read) / yome masu (I can read) / yome masen (I can't read), iki masu (I go) / ike masu (I can go) / ike masen (I can't go). |
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| Asking the reason |
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|---|---|---|
| Oh, I have to go home. | A, mō, kaera nakutewa ikemasen. | |
| Why? | Naze desuka? | |
| Because, I'll go out tomorrow morning at 6. | Ashita, asa roku-ji ni dekakeru karadesu. | |
| Oh, I see. | Ā, sō desuka. | |
kaeru: to go back naze?: why? dekakeru: to go out sō desuka: I see. |
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Basic Rules verb (a) + nakutewa ikemasen = have to _ Change the end vowel of the verb from "i (desu, masu form)" to "a" and add "nakutewa ikemasen". Examples: kaeri masu (I go back) / kaera nakutewa ikemasen (I have to go back), hanashi masu (I speak) / hanasa nakutewa ikemasen (I have to speak). verb (u) + karadesu = Bacause _. (Explaining the reason why) Change the end vowel of the verb from "i (desu, masu form)" to "u (dictionary form)" and add "karadesu". Examples: kaeri masu (I go back) / kaeru karadesu (Because I go back), kai masu (I buy) / kau karadesu (Because I buy) |
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| Giving a present |
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|---|---|---|
| Happy birthday! | Tanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu. | |
| Here, a present for you. | Kore, purezento desu. | |
| Here, a souvenir from Thailand. | Kore, Tai no omiyage desu. | |
| Can I open? | Ake temo ii desuka? | |
| Can I share with my family? | Kazoku to wake temo ii desuka? | |
| Yes, please. | Ē, dōzo. | |
| Wow, beautiful! | Wā, kirei! | |
| Wow, great! | Wā, sugoi! | |
| Wow, cute! | Wā, kawaii! | |
| Wow, looks delicious! | Wā, oishisō! | |
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tanjōbi: birthday omedetō gozaimasu: Congratulations! Tai: Thailand omiyage: souvenir akeru: to open wakeru: to share ē: yes (sounds more casual) wā: wow! Used when you are surprised. kirei: beautiful sugoi: great, amazing kawaii: cute, pretty Young girls use this often. oishisō: looks delicious |
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Basic Rules verb + temo iidesuka = May I _? Examples: ake masu (I open) / ake temo iidesuka? (May I open?), tabe masu (I eat) / tabe temo iidesuka? (May I eat?), |
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| Farewell | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thank you for taking care of me so nicely. | Osewa ni nari mashita. | |
| PLEASE stay my house when you come to Russia. | Rosia ni ki tara, zehi, watashi no ie ni tomatte kudasai. | |
| Please contact me when you arrive in Bangkok. | Bankoku ni tsui tara renraku shite kudasai. | |
| Please come to visit us again, any time. | Mata, itsudemo asobi ni kite kudasai. | |
| I really appreciate that. | Hontō ni arigatō gozaimashita. | |
| So, see you again. Good-bye. | Dewa, mata aimashō. Sayōnara. | |
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osewa ni narimashita: Used to thank for the hospitality Rosia: Russia kuru: to come ie: house tomaru: to stay Bankoku: Bangkok tsuku: to arrive renraku suru: to contact, to get in touch itsudemo: any time asobi ni kuru: come to visit, come to play asobi ni iku: go to visit, go to play honto ni: truly, really |
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Basic Rules verb + tara = when _, if _ Examples: Kare ga ki masu (He comes) / Kare ga ki tara (When he comes, If he comes), tabe masu (I eat) / tabe tara (When I eat, If I eat). |
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Communication Tips
Japanese people have a group-oriented mentality. People tend to value the benefit and the harmony of the whole group, rather than the benefit of oneself.
For example, when people decide which restaurant they go, minority happily give up their desire and follow the will of majority. Nobody starts to say "Then, I don't go.".
Self-oriented attitude is not welcomed in Japan. Compromise and "after you" attitude are the keys to get along with a group of people.
Drill Exercise
