Here’s the katakana chart in the same layout as the hiragana one I posted earlier.
It’s got the dakuten (ten-ten), and the syllable combos. The hiragana and katakana are the same…the characters are just written differently.
Enjoy~! ^^
Here’s the katakana chart in the same layout as the hiragana one I posted earlier.
It’s got the dakuten (ten-ten), and the syllable combos. The hiragana and katakana are the same…the characters are just written differently.
Enjoy~! ^^
One of the first things you’ll want to do is be able to introduce yourself to someone.
Here’s what a basic intro looks like:
はじめまして。リンガルイズムです。よろしくおねがいします。
Can’t read it or don’t know what’s going on? Here’s the breakdown:
Basic Structure:
[Your name] + [です・desu]
E.g. Lingualism です。
NOTE: In Japanese, foreign names and words use the ‘katakana’ writing system, which is similar to hiragana.
Using katakana, my blog name becomes: リンガルイズム・ringaru-izumu. Unlike hiragana, katakana often uses 【ー】 to indicate a lengthened sound.
Adding more:
When meeting someone for the very first time only, people say 「はじめまして・hajimemashite」.
NOTE: Don’t say it to someone you’ve already met…they’ll think you’ve forgotten them already =P
Then, they introduce themselves:
eg. はじめまして。 リンガルイズムです。
Closing the introduction:
To end your intro politely, you can add 「よろしくおねがいします・yoroshiku onegaishimasu」。It means “please treat me well”.
よろしく・yoroshiku = well; appropriately etc.
おねがいします・onegaishimasu = please.
Our intro now looks like this:
eg. はじめまして。 リンガルイズムです。よろしくおねがいします。
簡単ね!・かんたん ね!・Kantan ne! = It’s simple! Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments (^_^)/
おじゃまします translates into ‘sorry for disturbing you’ and essentially means the same sort of thing as しつれいします. It’s more preferred in informal situations, like entering or leaving your friend’s house, because it sounds softer.
NOTE: when entering somewhere it’s おじゃまします (present tense), and when leaving it’s おじゃましました (past tense).
こんにちは = Konnichiwa = Hello (during the day)
おはよう ございます = Ohayou gozaimasu = Good morning (Polite)
おはよう = Ohayou = Good morning (Casual)
こんばんは = Konbanwa = Good evening
さようなら = Sayounara = Goodbye (for a long period of time)
じゃあ、また(ね)= Ja, mata (ne) = See you later!
Thank you:
どうも ありがとう ございます = Doumo arigatou gozaimasu = Thank you very much (NOTE: only used for your ‘undying thanks’)
ありがとう ございます = Arigatou gozaimasu = Thank you (polite)
ありがとう = Arigatou = Thank you (casual)
どうも = Doumo = Thanks (NOTE: use when someone has done something small for you, ie. moving over a bit to let you through — they haven’t gone very far out of their way to do something for you)
How do you respond to someone saying ありがとう?You say:
いいえ = iie = It’s nothing (in this context.)
The word いいえ literally means ‘no’, but isn’t used very much aside from dismissing a ‘thank you’ or rejecting compliments:
Person A: ああ、<日本語 が 上手 ですね!
Aah, nihongo ga jouzu desu ne!
Your Japanese is good!
You: いいえ。
Sorry:
すみません = Sumimasen = I’m sorry/ Thank you/ Excuse me
(NOTE: すみません means all three at once. ie. you can use it when trying to grab someone’s attention: excuse me, sorry for bothering you and thanks (in advance)…where can I find an ATM? OR when you’re moving through a crowd.)
ごめんなさい = Gomen’nasai = I’m sorry (personal. ie. you’ve done something wrong and you are apologising.)
And now you know some basic expressions that are used all the time~!