Japanese is a fascinating language the comprehension of which will require you to learn not one, but three different character sets, namely the two times 46 syllabic characters of hiragana and katakana as well as the even more intricate kanji, an nearly open-ended set of 2,000+ characters originally imported from China. On top of that, of course, comes all the grammar. At least pronunciation is easy, and below you can see some simple phrases occurring in the novels and replicated here in “romaji”, the Roman alphabet.
Romaji | Original | Meaning |
---|---|---|
arigatai | ありがたい | grateful |
arigatou gozaimasu | ありがとうございます | thank you |
dareka | だれか | somebody |
deai | 出会い | meeting |
densha | 電車 | train |
dojo | 道場 | training hall |
gomen kudasai | ご免ください | excuse me |
ike | 池 | pond |
ippon | 一本 | 1 long object, e.g. a bottle |
itsumo | いつも | always |
itadakimasu | いただきます | receive (humbly), often said before dinner |
kisu shite | キスして | kiss |
konbanwa | 今晩は | good evening |
konyoku | 混浴 | mixed-gender bath |
made | まで | to |
maiko | 舞子 | geisha student |
mairimasu | まいります | come |
matane | またね | see you |
mizu | 水 | water |
moshi moshi | もしもし | hello (on the phone) |
nomikai | 飲み会 | party / entertaining clients |
nomimono | 飲み物 | beverages |
ohayo gozaimasu | お早うございます | good morning |
ojama shimasu | お邪魔します | excuse me |
onegai shimasu | お願いします | can I have […] please |
onsen | 温泉 | hot springs |
osewa ni natte orimasu | お世話になっております | thank you for your kindness |
oto | 音 | sound |
otsukaresama desu | お疲れ様です | well done (no equivalent) |
oyabun | 親分 | boss / godfather |
oyasuminasai | お休みなさい | good night |
ryokan | 旅館 | traditional Japanese inn |
sake | 酒 | rice wine |
senpai | 先輩 | someone with more experienced |
shitsurei shimasu | 失礼します | sorry, literally “being impolite” |
taihen | 大変 | terrible/terribly |
tasukete | 助けて | help |
tatami | 畳 | bamboo carpet |
tobikomi | 飛び込み | jump in |
tokubetsu | 特別 | special |
tsuzukete | 続けて | continue |
umeshu | 梅酒 | plum wine |
yukata | 浴衣 | summer kimono |
yurushite kudasai | 許してください | forgive me |
washitsu | 和室 | traditional Japanese room |