We Japanese people use 3 different writing forms, kanji, hiragana and katakana. Originally mainly women wrote in hiragana and men wrote in Chinese. So the oldest Japanese literature was mostly written by women. Today all three alphabets are used together. As a rule, most words (of Chinese or Japanese origin) are written with kanji + hiragana. And foreign loan words are written with katakana.
Japanese
alphabet
Japanese Language
|
Hello |
|
Konnichiwa |
|
Good Bye |
|
Sayonara |
|
Yes |
|
Hai |
|
No |
|
Iie |
|
Thank You |
|
Arigatou |
|
I'm sorry |
|
Sumimasen / Gomennasai |
|
Good Morning |
|
Ohayou |
|
Good Night |
|
Oyasumi |
|
How are you ? |
|
Ogenki desuka ? |
|
I don't know |
|
Wakarimasen |
|
I'm glad |
|
Ureshii |
|
I'm sad |
|
Kanashii |
|
I'm sleepy |
|
Nemui |
|
I'm hungry |
|
Onaka ga suita |
|
I |
|
Watashi wa/ ga |
|
You |
|
Anata wa / ga |
|
He |
|
Kare wa / ga |
|
She |
|
Kanojo wa / ga |
|
It |
|
Sore wa / ga |
|
We |
|
Watashitachi wa / ga |
|
Am Are Is |
|
dearu, desu, aru, iru |
|
I like you |
|
Watashi wa anata ga suki desu |
|
1. I ( the subject ) |
2. like ( verb ) |
3. you ( object ) |
|
1. I = watashi wa ( the subject ) |
2. you = anata ga ( object ) |
3. like = suki desu ( verb ) |
|
What is your name ? |
|
Anata no namae wa nan desuka ? |
|
1, What ( interrogative pronoun ) |
2, Is ( verb ) |
3, Your name ( subject ) |
|
1, Your name = Anata no namae wa ( subject ) |
2, What = Nan / Nani ( interrogative pronoun ) |
3, Is = desuka ( you use " desuka " when you ask anything ) ( verb ) |
|
I am Tom |
|
Watashi wa Tom desu |
|
1, I ( subject ) |
2, Am ( verb ) |
3, Tom ( noun ) |
|
1, I = Watashi wa ( subject ) |
2, Tom ( noun ) |
3, Am = desu (verb ) |
|
The horse kicked me |
|
Sono uma wa watashi o kettobashita |
|
1, the horse ( subject ) |
2, kicked ( verb ) |
3, me ( object ) |
|
1, the horse = Sono uma wa ( subject ) |
2, me = watashi o ( object ) |
3, kicked = kettobashita (verb ) |
How to write of the past tense
|
Present |
|
Past |
|
Meet |
Au |
Atta
|
|
Stand |
Tatsu |
Tatta
|
|
Do |
Suru |
Shita
|
|
Write |
Kaku |
Kaita
|
|
Drink |
Nomu |
Nonda
|
|
Meet |
Ai masu |
Ai mashita |
|
Stand |
Tachi masu |
Tachi mashita |
|
Do |
Shi masu |
Shi mashita |
|
Write |
Kaki masu |
Kaki mashita |
|
Drink |
Nomi masu |
Nomi mashita |
negative
sentence
|
Present |
|
Past |
|
Meet |
Awa-nai |
Awa-naktta |
|
Stand |
Tata-nai |
Tata-nakatta |
|
Do |
Shi-nai |
Shi-nakatta |
|
Write |
Kaka-nai |
Kaka-nakatta |
|
Drink |
Noma-nai |
Noma-nakatta |
|
Present |
|
Past |
|
Meet |
Aimas-en |
Aimas-endeshita |
|
Stand |
Tachimas-en |
Tachimas-endeshita |
|
Do |
Shimas-en |
Shimas-endeshita |
|
Write |
Kakimas-en |
Kakimas-endeshita |
|
Drink |
Nomimas-en |
Nomimas-endeshita |
The present progressive form
|
What are you doing ? |
|
anata wa nani o shite imasuka ? |
In English Language
|
1, what ( interrogative pronoun ) |
2, are ( verb ) |
3, you ( subject ) |
4, doing ? ( a present participle )
|
|
1, You = anata wa ( subject ) |
2, what = nani o ( interrogative pronoun ) |
3, doing + are = shite imasuka ? ( a present participle + verb ) |
( The explanation about " shite imasuka " )
" shite imasuka " is what " suru " and " imasu " were joined.
( shite imasuka = suru + imasuka )
" shite " about shite imasuka is what " suru " changed to join " suru " and " imasu "
|
I am meeting my friend |
|
watashi wa watashi no tomodachi ni atte imasu
|
In English Language
|
1, I ( subject ) |
2, am ( verb ) |
3, meeting ( a present participle ) |
4, my friend ( object ) |
In Japanese Language
|
1, I = watashi wa ( subject ) |
2, my friend = watashi no tomodachi ni ( object ) |
3, meeting + am = atte imasu ( a present participle + verb ) |
|
I am standing here |
|
watashi wa koko ni tatte imasu |
In English Language
|
1, I ( subject ) |
2, am ( verb ) |
3, standing ( a present participle ) |
4, here ( adverb ) |
In Japanese Language
|
1, I = watashi wa ( subject ) |
2, here = koko ni ( adverb ) |
3, standing + am = tatte imasu ( a present participle + verb ) |
|
I am doing my home work |
|
watashi wa watashi no shukudai o shite imasu |
In English Language
|
1, I ( subject ) |
2, am ( verb ) |
3, doing ( a present participle ) |
4, my home work ( object ) |
In Japanese Language
|
1, I = watashi wa ( subject ) |
2, my home work = watashi no shukudai o ( object ) |
3, doing + am = shite imasu ( a present participle + verb ) |
|
I am writing a letter |
|
watashi wa tegami o kaite imasu |
In English Language
|
1, I ( subject ) |
2, am ( verb ) |
3, writing ( a present participle ) |
4, a letter ( object ) |
In Japanese Language
|
1, I = watashi wa ( subject ) |
2, a letter = tegami o ( object ) |
3, writing + am = kite imasu ( a present participle + verb ) |
|
I am drinking a cup of tea |
|
watashi wa 1 ppai no koucha o nonde imasu |
In English Language
|
1, I ( subject ) |
2, am ( verb ) |
3, drinking ( a present participle ) |
4, a cup of tea ( object ) |
In Japanese Language
|
1, I = watashi wa ( subject ) |
2, a cup of tea = 1 pai no koucha ( object ) |
3, drinking + am = nonde imasu ( a present participle + verb ) |
|
am meeting |
|
atte imasu |
|
am standing |
|
tatte imasu |
|
am doing |
|
shite imasu |
|
am writing |
|
kaite imasu |
|
am drinking |
|
nonde imasu |
How to count of numbers
|
1 |
ichi |
2 |
ni |
3 |
san |
4 |
shi |
5 |
go |
|
6 |
roku |
7 |
nana |
8 |
hachi |
9 |
kyuu |
10 |
juu |
|
11 |
juuichi |
12 |
juuni |
13 |
juusan ... |
19 |
juukyuu |
20 |
nijuu |
|
21 |
nijuuichi |
22 |
nijuuni |
23 |
nijuusan ..... |
29 |
nijuukyuu |
30 |
sanjuu |
|
40 |
yonjuu |
50 |
gojuu |
60 |
rokujuu |
70 |
nanajuu |
80 |
hachijuu |
|
90 |
kyuujuu |
100 |
hyaku |
101 |
hyakuichi |
102 |
hyakuni..... |
110 |
hyakujuu |
|
112 |
hyakujuuni..... |
119 |
hyakujuukyuu |
120 |
hyakunijuu |
121 |
hyakunijuuichi..... |
130 |
hyakusanjuu |
|
140 |
hyakuyonjuu |
200 |
nihyaku |
201 |
nihyakuichi ..... |
300 |
sanbyaku |
400 |
yonhyaku |
|
500 |
gohyaku |
600 |
roppyaku |
700 |
nanahyaku |
800 |
happyaku |
900 |
kyuuhyaku |
|
1000 |
sen |
1111 |
senhyakujuuichi..... |
2000 |
nisen |
3000 |
sanzen |
4000 |
yonsen |
|
5000 |
gosen |
6000 |
rokusen |
7000 |
nanasen |
8000 |
hassen |
9000 |
kyuusen |
|
10000 |
ichiman |
20000 |
niman |
30000 |
sanman |
40000 |
yonman |
50000 |
goman |
|
60000 |
rokuman |
70000 |
nanaman |
80000 |
hachiman |
90000 |
kyuuman |
100000 |
juuman |
Day of the week
|
Monday |
|
Getsuyoubi |
|
Tuesday |
|
Kayoubi |
|
Wednesday |
|
Suiyoubi |
|
Thursday |
|
Mokuyoubi |
|
Friday |
|
Kinyoubi |
|
Saturday |
|
Doyoubi |
|
Sunday |
|
Nichiyoubi |
Month
|
January |
|
Ichigatsu |
|
February |
|
Nigatsu |
|
March |
|
Sangatsu |
|
April |
|
Shigatsu |
|
May |
|
Gogatsu |
|
June |
|
Rokugatsu |
|
July |
|
Shichigatsu |
|
August |
|
Hachigatsu |
|
September |
|
Kugatsu |
|
October |
|
Juugatsu |
|
November |
|
Juuichigatsu |
|
December |
|
Juunigatsu |
The 4 seasons
|
Spring |
|
Haru |
|
Summer |
|
Natsu |
|
Autumn |
|
Aki |
|
Winter |
|
Fuyu |
Day
|
1st of May |
|
Gogatsu Tsuitachi |
|
2nd of May |
|
Gogatsu Hutsuka |
|
1st |
|
Tsuitachi |
|
2nd |
|
Futsuka |
|
3rd |
|
Mikka |
|
4th |
|
Yokka |
|
5th |
|
Itsuka |
|
6th |
|
Muika |
|
7th |
|
Nanoka |
|
8th |
|
Yooka |
|
9th |
|
Kokonoka |
|
10th |
|
Tooka |
|
11th |
|
Juuichi nichi |
|
12th |
|
Juuni nichi |
|
13th |
|
Juusan nichi |
|
14th |
|
Juuyokka |
|
15th |
|
Juugo nichi |
|
16th |
|
Juuroku nichi |
|
17th |
|
Juushichi nichi |
|
18th |
|
Juuhachi nichi |
|
19th |
|
Juuku nichi |
|
20th |
|
Hatsuka |
|
21st |
|
Nijuuichi nichi |
|
22nd |
|
Nijuuni nichi |
|
23rd |
|
Nijuusan nichi |
|
24th |
|
Nijuuyokka |
|
25th |
|
Nijuugo nichi |
|
26th |
|
Nijuuroku nichi |
|
27th |
|
Nijuushichi nichi |
|
28th |
|
Nijuuhachi nichi |
|
29th |
|
Nijuuku nichi |
|
30th |
|
Sanjuu nichi |
|
31st |
|
Sanjuuichi nichi |
|
Today |
|
Kyou |
|
Yesterday |
|
Kinou |
|
Tomorrow |
|
Ashita |
|
The day before yesterday |
|
Ototoi |
|
The day after tomorrow |
|
Asatte |
|
Weekday |
|
Heijitsu |
|
Weekend |
|
Shuumatsu |
|
This week |
|
Konshuu |
|
Last week |
|
Senshuu |
|
Next week |
|
Raishuu |
|
This month |
|
Kongetsu |
|
Next month |
|
Raigetsu |
|
Last month |
|
Sengetsu |
|
This year |
|
Kotoshi |
|
Next year |
|
Rainen |
|
Last year |
|
Kyonen |
|
Day off |
|
Kyuuka |
|
Holiday |
|
Kyujitsu |
|
Summer vacation |
|
Natsu yasumi |
|
Winter vacation |
|
Fuyu yasumi |
|
Morning |
|
Asa |
|
Daytime |
|
Hiruma |
|
Afternoon |
|
Gogo |
|
Evening |
|
Yuugata |
|
Night |
|
Yoru |
|
Midnight |
|
Shinya |
Time
|
1 o'clock |
|
ichi ji |
|
2 o'clock |
|
ni ji |
|
3 o'clock |
|
san ji |
|
4 o'clock |
|
yo ji |
|
5 o'clock |
|
go ji |
|
6 o'clock |
|
roku ji |
|
7 o'clock |
|
shichi ji |
|
8 o'clock |
|
hachi ji |
|
9 o'clock |
|
ku ji |
|
10 o'clock |
|
juu ji |
|
11 o'clock |
|
juuichi ji |
|
12 o'clock |
|
juuni ji |
|
13 o'clock |
|
juusan ji |
|
14 o'clock |
|
juuyo ji |
|
15 o'clock |
|
juugo ji |
|
16 o'clock |
|
juuroku ji |
|
17 o'clock |
|
juushichi ji |
|
18 o'clock |
|
juuhachi ji |
|
19 o'clock |
|
juuku ji |
|
20 o'clock |
|
nijuu ji |
|
21 o'clock |
|
nijuuichi ji |
|
22 o'clock |
|
nijuuni ji |
|
23 o'clock |
|
nijuusan ji |
|
24 o'clock |
|
nijuuyo ji |
|
It's 10:23 |
|
juu ji nijuusan pun desu |
|
It's 10:01 |
|
juu ji ippun desu |
|
It's 10:02 |
|
juu ji ni fun desu |
|
It's 10:03 |
|
juu ji san pun desu |
|
It's 10:04 |
|
juu ji yon pun desu |
|
It's 10:05 |
|
juu ji go fun desu |
|
It's 10:06 |
|
juu ji roppun desu |
|
It's 10:07 |
|
juu ji nana fun desu |
|
It's 10:08 |
|
juu ji happun desu |
|
It's 10:09 |
|
juu ji kyuu fun desu |
|
It's 10:10 |
|
juu ji juppun desu |
|
It's 10:11 |
|
juu ji juuichi fun desu |
|
It's 10:20 |
|
juu ji nijuppun desu |
|
It's 10:30 |
|
juu ji sanjuppun desu |
|
It's 10:40 |
|
juu ji yonjuppun desu |
|
It's 10:50 |
|
juu ji gojuppun desu |
A.M. 
gozen
P.M. gogo
Currency
Yen en 100 yen
hyaku en
Shopping
|
How much is it ? |
|
Ikura desuka ? |
|
Just looking |
|
Miteru dake desu |
|
This one |
|
Kore o |
|
That one |
|
Are o |
|
One |
|
Ikko |
|
Two |
|
Ni ko |
|
Three |
|
San ko |
|
Four |
|
Yon ko |
|
Five |
|
Go ko |
|
Six |
|
Rokko |
|
Seven |
|
Nana ko |
|
Eight |
|
Hakko |
|
Nine |
|
Kyuu ko |
|
Ten |
|
Jukko |