Quick Nihongo!

= Quick(Survival) Nihongo =

1. "はい" & "いいえ"

はい - or Hai is the japanese word for yes. You can also use this when you want to show that your are paying attention to someone. Sometimes you can also say this when you want attention too especially when you offer something - It's like saying "here you can have this".

いいえ - or Iie is the japanese word for no. It is usually followed by the word ちがいます or Chigaimasu.
This means "different" so when you "Iie, chigaimasu" means "No, it's different!".

2. "すみません"

"sumimasen" means excuse me or sorry. But when you use it to say sorry make sure the mistake you've made is not serious like being 1 hour late or you broke your friend's antique vase!

3. "お願いします"

"onegai shimasu" means "please do". One of the most commonly used expression by the Japanese. You say this after you state your request or they will do something for you too. When I first arrived here in japan, a  delivery guy called me saying that he is on his way for the rented futon(bed) and I don't know what to say. For this situation you can just say "onegai shimasu".

4. "有難うございます" & ”どうも”

"arigatou gozaimasu" and "doumo" are both used for expressing gratitude. "arigatou gozaimasu" can be shorten to "arigatou" but you can't say this to your boss as this form is casual same with the "doumo".

5. Referring to people.

私(watashi)     - means "I"
あなた(anata) - means "You"
彼ら(karera)   - means "They"
彼(kare)         - means "He"
彼女(kanojo) - means "She" (this is also used to refer to "girlfriend")
私たち(watashi tachi) - means "We". See "tachi" word? if you add this at the end of a word it becomes plural say "kodomo tachi" means children ("kodomo" means child)

*** More survival phrases to come. Please check this page for new updates! ***