Glossary
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
PHRASE
Pronunciation
essential
Grammar tips
Accommodations
Eating out
Stores & Services

A

Arigato
Many thanks Also ariagto gozaimasu(thank you)
Akuma
Devil
Aho
Idiot
B

B

Baka
Idiot or fool, uesd as an insult
Bishojo
Literally "beautiful girl", but often translated into "pretty"
Bishounen
Literally "beautiful boy"

C

Chotto
little-almost none

D

Dama
NO!! (It will not be.)

E

Etchi
Perverted or lewd

F

Fuku
Clothing. THe Scouts wear sailor fuku (sailor suits).

G

Ginzuishou
The Silver Crystal
Gomen nasai
Excuse me. Somtines shrtened to gomen (pardon).

H

Hai
Yes or Okay
Hen
weird
Henshin
Transform. The Sailor Moon protagonists use their henshin sticks (transformation pens or wands) to change into the Sailor Scouts.
Hiragana
An alphabet or, more properly, a syllabary in which each symbol represents a spokemon syllable.

I

Iie
No
Inu
Dog

J

jitensha
bicycle

K

Kanji
A form of character symbols or ideograms used to write the Japanese Language. Other character forms include hiragana and katakana.
Katakana
Another distinct syllabary. For foreign words. (Not Japaese)
Kawaii
Cute. Kawaii anime characters are often the ones with the largest eyes.
Ki
Spiritual essence.
Konban wa
Good evening
Konnichi wa
Good afternoon.

L

M

Maho
Magic or magical spell.
Manga
Japanese comic.
Mina
Everyone
Minikui
Ugly
moshi moshi
A greeting used when answering the telephon equivalent to "hello, I am here."

N

Nani
The term "what?"
Neko
Cat
Nigizuishou
A rainbow crystal

O

Oba
aunt
Ohay gozaimasu
Good morning
ofuda
Anti-evil scrolls that Raye/Sailor Mars uses to vanquish
evil spirits
otaku
Japanese slang for an unhyealthy fan obession (anime otaku)For many people , the word "otaku" now simly means "anime fan".
Oyasumi nasai
Good night, said when going to bed.

P

Q

R

Robatayaki-ya
Country-stayle restaurants serving meat, fish, and vegetabies grilled over ahearth (ro) in front of guests. Some are designed so that guests themslevs sit around the brazier and grill their oun food.

S

Seiyuu
Voice actor/actdess
Seki
table
Senshi
Warriors or soldiers. Translated to "Scout" in the North American English version. "Inner Senshi"(Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus) "Outer Senshi" (Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn)
Shojo
Literally "young girl" Shojo-anime is a genre that specifically targetrs school girls.
Shonen
Literally "young boy" Shonen-anime is a genre that is more agressive and action oriented than the shojo-style of storytelling.

T

U

V

W

Watashi
I, my, me (you get the idea)

X

Y

Yasha
half demon
Yoma
A monster, demon or ghost

Z

zubon
trouser

Prouncation

The Japanese Language
Written Japanese
Consonants
Vowels
Sentence Pitch
Essential

The Japanese Language
Japanes is a unique languang. "Apart from a similarty of script the japanese sadopted (Chanese ideograms) it bears no resemblance to Chainese or other Asian languages, except for Korean. Where Japanese comes from is still a matter of conjecture.

Written Japanese

Japanese is composed of three different "scripts" or ways of writing: Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana These thre systems are used in combination to write modern japanese.
Traditionally Japenese is written from the top to the bottom of the page starting in the upper right-hand corner. Today it is also commonly written horizontally and from left to right.

Consonants

Letter Approzimate Pronunciation
d,b,g,h,j,k,m,p,s,t,ch approximately as in english
f different from the Englesh f, pronounce with lips flattened and without putting lower teeth against lower lip o-furo
n 1. before vowels link n in now.
2.at the end of a word, said without letting your tongue touch the roof of your mouth.		 nagai
san
r dfferent from the English r,put the tip of the tongue against the fum behind the upper front teeth. ringo
W
[semi-vowel]		 the lips are not rounded but left slack. wakaru
z 1. at the beginning of words, like ds in beds.
2.in the middle of words, likn z in zoo.		 zero
mizu

Vowles

Letter Approximate pronunciation Pronunciation
alike the a in cat, pronued forward in the mouth sakana
e like e in get terebi
ilike i in sit igirisu
olike o in nototoko
ulike u in put, but without rounding the lips.fuyu

Sentence Pitch

As has been mrntioned Japanese words and phrases are pronounced very evenly, and stress is used only to emphasize meaning. However, pitch does vary. A normal sentence will begin on a high note and ginish on a low one.
As in English, questions normally have an Interrogativer rise at the end of the sentence.

Essential

Yes./NO.hai/iie
OkayOokee
Please(asking for a favor)onegai shimas(u)
Please.(offering a favor)doozo
Thank you (very much)(Doomo) arigatoo

Greetings/Apologies
Communication difficulties

Greeting/Apologies

Hello/hi/good afternoon.konnichi wa
Good morningohayooo gozaimas(u)
Good eveningkonban wa
Good nightoyasumi nosai
Excuse me!(getting attention)sumimansen
Excuse me. (may i get by)sumimasen
Excuse me!/Sorry!sumimasen/gomen nasai
Don't mention itki ni shinai de kudasai
Never minddaigoobu des(u)

Communication

Do you sepeak English?eego ga dekimas(u) ka
I don't speak (much)Japanese
nihongo wa (amri) hanase masen
could you repeat that?moo ichido itte kudasai
Can you tanslate this for me?yakush(i)te kudasai
I understanewakari mash(i)ta
I don't undrstand.wakari masen
Do you understand?wakari msa(u) ka

Grammar

Questions
Articles
Personal pronouns
Possessive pronouns

Questions

Japanese questions are formed by adding the grammar marker ka(a verbal question mark) to the verb at the end of a sentence. Note that in Japanese the verb alw3ays come last with the basic rule for word order within a sentence being:
Subject - object - verb
Watachi wa Smith desu.I'm (Mr./Mrs.) Smith.
Honda-san* desi ka?Are you (Mr./Mrs.) Smith?
*When addressing a Japanese person you should use the family name followed by san. (So not use san when referring to yourself!!!)

Articles

Japanese nouns have no articles (a, an, the)and, with the exception of very few nouns, no plual forms. wither the noun is singular or plural is judeged from the context, or by a number modifying the noun.
Yokohama made kippy o kudasaiI'd like a ticket to Yokohama.
Yokohama mode (kippu o) sanmai kudasai.I'd like three tickets to Yokohama.

Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns are used sparingly in gapeves. Use the persion's name + san instead of a pronoun, or omit the pronoun completely if it is clear who is being addressed or referred to. Personal pronouns are:
watashiI
watahi tachiwe
anata*
(singular)		you
anatagata*
(plural)		you
Avoid using these pronuns as they are very familiar and appropriate only between husband and wife, byfriend and girlfriend.

Possessive pronouns

To make possessive pronouns use the grammar marker no following the person's name or the personal pronoun as suitable.
Honda-san no hon.mr. /mrs. Honda's. book
Watashi no hon.my book

Accomodations


Hoteru


Western-style hotels. These are comparable to hotels in Europe and the U.S. They offer Western-style facilities and cuisine, as well as Japanese food.

Bijinesu hoteru


Business hotels. The rooms are small, often with no room service. They are clean and comfortable and are usualy located near train stations.

rabu hoteru


Love hotels. in the cramped housing conditions so common in Japan, love hotels offer private space. The architectural style of the hotels is often bizarre. Rooms are usually rented in two-hour blocks, but overnight stays are possible, Check-in times are late (11pm or 23:00) with check-out by 8am.

Ryokan


Japanese-style inns. For a taste of the Japanese way of life, a stay at a ryokan is recommended. Many are situated in beauiful setting with access to hot springs. Room prices include breakfast, dinner, and service charge. The majority offer only traditianal style bathrooms, meals, and sleeping arrangements.

Minshuku


Guest houses. Like ryokan, minshuku are a good way of sampling Japan. They are often family run aninformal, friendly atmosphere. THe overnight charge includes dinner and breakfast.

Bathing at a ryokan or minshuku hotel


At ryokan and minshuku there may only be a communal bath with swparte facilities for men and woomen, or separate bathing times. Sometimes you will find mixed-sex baths, and may be required to wer a bathing costume. In Japan bathing is a form of relaxation, and the serious washing is done before getting into the bath. Use the basins and taps peovided to wash and rinse yourself down. When you are clean, step into the steaming bath and relax. Don't pull the plug out when you leave! Note: It is usual for bathing to be done in the evening. You will almost certainly find that htere is no hot water in the morning, andthe communal bath will be empty.

Personal needs at a Ryokan and minshuku hotel


Japaanese-style toiets are floor level and lack seats - you squat, facing the flushing handle. In ryokan andminshuku plastic tolit slippers are peovided at the entrance, and you should put these on in place of your house slippers, which you leave at the entrance. Public toilets are scarce, although most train stations have them (Japanese style). The door locks, but it is customary to knock twice to see if it's occupied; you rap back twice. Carry tissues with you when using public toilets.

Shuk(u)boo


Temple accomodation. For those with a particular interest in buddhism, a stay at a temple will allow you to jointhe monks' daily life.

Yuusu hos(u)teru


Youth hostels. There are over 500 youth hostels in every part of Japan and they provide the chieapest accommodation available.

Eating out


Japan offer an enormous variety of places to eat. The japanese like ot eat out and to entertain in restaurants. As a reult there is a huge variety of dining choices - you will find you can satisy virtually every craving. In cities you will also find foreign restaurants: French, Italian, Indian, etc. Many restaurants have very realistic plastic replicas of the dishes they serve displayed in the window. These are very helpful to the tourist,you can always point to what you want!

Ryootee


These restaurants specialixe in jJapanes-stayle food only. The former specialize in traditional Japanese food. as do the latter, but the latter are very exclusive and expensicve and may not always welcom foreigners.

Res(u)toran-gai


These are found in most departmen stores, usually on upper floors, and are open until about 10 pm or 22:00. They can be accessed agter store closing time by express elevators. You'll find restaurants catering to most taste, from Western - Italian, French, and family restaurant - Chinese and a variety of japanese.

Koryoori-ya


Small restaurants serving traditional Japanese food of high quality.

Robatayaki-ya


Country-staqly restaurants serving meat, fish, and vegetables, grilled over hearth (ro) in front of guests. Some are designed so that guest thenselves ait around the brazier and grill their oun food.

Baa


These bars serve drinks and snacks. Most bars have hostessees and karaoke singing.

Kissaten


These coffe shops are very common throughout japa and serve coffese and snacks. Some are very up-mardet with marvelous coffee-making apparatus, delicate bone china cups and plates, and delicious cakes.

Nomiya


These are skae bars specializing in nihonshu(Japanese rice wine), they also seve beer and other alcoholic drinks and a variety of snacks. Many stay open until late.

Subakku baa


These snack bars offer a good choice of drinks. A few are op0en all night and many stay open late.

Yatai


These are street stalls (pushcarts), serving roasted sweet potatoes, octopus and many stay open late.

Stores


Japan is a paradise for shoppers with every type of store imapinable in th ecities there are large departmen store and supermarkets offering almost everything. There are also numerous smaller stores specializing in everything from electronic goods to futons. You will find no difficulty in spending hours browsing and wondering at the array of goods for sale.

Parts were from this book.

berlitz: Japanese Phriase book and Dictionarey

ISBN 2-8315-6267-8
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

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