Collin's Japanese Easy Learning

FUMI TSUGU ENOKI DA AND J UNKO OGAWA
SERI ES EDI TOR ROSI McNAB

Japanese
Collins
easy learning
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2 PM Page 1
Collins Easy Learning Japanese
HarperCollins Publishers
77-85 FulhamPalace Road
Hammersmith
London
W6 8JB
www.collinslanguage.com
First published 2009
Reprint 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
HarperCollins Publishers 2009
ISBN 978-0-00-731366-2
All rights reserved.
Recorded at ID Audio
www.idaudio.co.uk
Edited by Cheryl Hutty
Typeset by NewGen
Produced in Austria by Sony DADC
Other titles in the
Collins Easy Learning Audio series:
French, French 2, German, Greek,
Italian, Italian 2, Mandarin, Polish,
Portuguese, Spanish and Spanish 2.
CONTENTS
welcome to japanese 4
pronunciation guide 5
introduction 6
units UNIT 1 Greetings 8
UNIT 2 Attracting attention 11
UNIT 3 Nationalities 13
UNIT 4 Occupations 16
UNIT 5 Asking directions 18
UNIT 6 Going places (1): where? 21
UNIT 7 Going places (2): when? 25
UNIT 8 Going places (3): how? 27
UNIT 9 Food (1): wants 31
UNIT 10 Food (2): likes and dislikes 34
UNIT 11 Ordering drinks 36
UNIT 12 Paying the bill 39
track list 43
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4
WELCOME TO JAPANESE
Japanese is spoken by over 130 million people, both in Japan

and in Japanese communities all around the world. In fact,
you probably know a lot of Japanese words already! Words
like sudoku, tsunami, bonsai, karate, samurai, karaoke,
manga and origami have all become part of the English
language. And its likely that your local supermarket stocks
sh
take mushrooms, edamame beans and nashi pears!

Japanese isnt as hard to learn as you might think most
sounds are similar to English and they are pronounced
consistently. There are no genders, plurals or articles, and
verbs stay the same whether I or she is doing it.
However, reading and writing in Japanese can be difficult
because it uses a completely different writing system!
Japanese is written in a combination of three scripts:
hiragana Japan used for grammar and words for
which there are no kanji
(nihon) each symbol = one sound
katakana Japan used for emphasis, foreign names
and loan words
(nihon) each symbol = one sound
kanji Japan each symbol = an idea
and can be pronounced
(ni sun different ways depending
hon origin) on the word
So, youll be glad to know that Japanese can also be written
using ro
maji roman letters which weve used

throughout this booklet.
Gambatte kudasai! Please try your best!
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5
Pronunciation guide
There are five basic vowel sounds in Japanese: a, i, u, e and
o. They are similar to the following English sounds, but keep
them short and crisp.
a ah i eat u too e head o hot
There are also long vowel sounds: a
, u
, e
and o
. These
sounds are pronounced like the basic vowels just hold
them for twice as long!
And then there are some semi-vowel sounds: ya, yu and yo.
The more complex sounds are made by adding a consonant
sound, such as k, g, s, sh, z, t, ch, j, d, etc., in front of one of
the vowel sounds.
e.g. ka ki ku ke ko
ka
ku
ke
ko
kya kyu kyo

kya
kyu
kyo
Most consonant sounds are similar to English, but watch

out for these:
g as in get, but can also sound like ng
ts its
f between an f and an h; almost like blowing out
a candle
r place your tongue where it would be if you were
going to say an l, but then say an r
To break a word up into easier mouthfuls, just remember
that syllables end with either a vowel or a final n sound.
e.g. kon-ni-chi-wa
o-ha-yo
go-za-i-ma-su
Welcome to Collins Easy Learning Japanese. This course is
specifically designed to help you to ask for the things youre
most likely to need when visiting Japan and to give you the
skills to cope with situations you might find yourself in. It is
different from other courses in that youll also learn to
understand the likely replies to your questions. Youll hear
key words and phrases used in dialogues between native
speakers, so youll learn not only how to say them but how
they are used in conversation. To help you remember what
you learn, the course makes use of all the latest techniques
in memory building, backed up by regular revision. Unlike
some other courses, Easy Learning Japanese isnt just a
collection of useful phrases to learn by rote; it allows you to
practise them, gives you listening tips to help you to
recognise what you hear, and tells you what to say when
you dont understand and need help.
Your course consists of three CDs and this booklet.
Everything you need for learning is included on the CDs.
At the beginning of each unit, you are introduced to your
new key words and phrases. You can listen to them and
repeat them as many times as you like. You will be talked
through each new vocabulary item and given handy hints
on how to remember them.
Then, youll hear the new language used in short
conversations. First you will practise listening to help you
pick out the key words and phrases and understand the gist
of the conversations. After that, youll have a chance to try
some of the phrases yourself. This step-by-step approach is
designed to build up your confidence in understanding and
speaking.
6
INTRODUCTION
CD1
Track 1
Revision of the key words and phrases is built into the
course, with a review section at the end of each unit. At the
end of each CD there is also a Mo
ichido (one more time)

section which reintroduces the key words and phrases in
each unit so that you can revise and check what you know
and decide whether you need to go back and listen to any of
it again.
At the beginning of the first few units, and again at the
beginning of each CD, there will be a section called Tuning
in to Japanese. These sections are there to switch your brain
on to how Japanese sounds, and to get you used to hearing
it. If youre already feeling tuned in then you can skip these
tracks and move straight on to the new material.
At times during the course there will be sections after the
review called Taking it further. Taking it further sections are
an opportunity for you to try out some dialogues and to
expand your vocabulary a little beyond the key structures
covered in the unit. If you feel that you have enough to cope
with already from the key words and phrases, then skip
them for now. You can always come back to them later
when youre feeling more confident.
This booklet contains the key phrases and selected
conversations for each unit, with translations, for easy
reference. It also gives learning tips, lots of cultural
information, some extra vocabulary and simple explanations
of how Japanese works. You dont need to use the booklet,
but its here if you want it.
So, lets get started!
7
Greetings Unit 1
Key phrases
konnichiwa hello
-san Mr, Mrs or Miss
ohayo
good morning (casual form)

ohayo
gozaimasu good morning (polite form)

hajimemashite how do you do?
do
zo yoroshiku pleased to meet you

Listening and speaking
Konnichiwa, Sumisu-san.
Hello, Mr Smith.
Konnichiwa, Yamada-san.
Hello, Mrs Yamada.
Ohayo
gozaimasu, Sumisu-san.
Good morning, Mr Smith.
Ohayo
gozaimasu, Honda-san.
Good morning, Miss Honda.
Sumisu-san, hajimemashite.
Mr Smith, how do you do?
Yamada-san, hajimemashite.
Mrs Yamada, how do you do?
Sumisu-san, do
zo yoroshiku.
Pleased to meet you, Mr Smith.
Honda-san, do
zo yoroshiku.
Pleased to meet you, Miss Honda.
8
UNIT 1 Greetings
CD1
Track 2
CD1
Track 3
CD1
Track 4
Greetings Unit 1
9
Japanese names and -san
In Japanese, surnames come before first names. So, looking at the
name Yamada Naomi, Yamada is her surname and Naomi is her
first name.
When addressing someone, you should always add -san after their
name unless you are very close to them. It is a sign of respect.
For example, Mrs Naomi Yamada can be called either:
Yamada-san
Naomi-san
or
Yamada Naomi-san
You should never use -san with your own name. If your name is John
Smith, call yourself Jon or Sumisu or Sumisu Jon, but not Jon-san
or Sumisu-san!
You can ask someones name by saying Onamae wa? Your name?
And they will probably reply in this way: Watashi wa Tanaka desu
Im Tanaka.
LANGUAGE LAB
Polite and casual forms
Some Japanese phrases have two forms: polite and casual. Generally
the longer formis the more polite one. It is best to use the polite form
when you talk to someone you dont know well the casual formmay
sound impolite. Use the casual formwith your friends and family.
LANGUAGE LAB
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Greetings Unit 1
10
Meeting people
In Japan, people usually bow when they meet for the first time. A bow
with a deeper and slower motion is thought to be more polite. Men
place their hands on their thighs and women cross their hands in
front of them when bowing. You should keep your chin pulled in
towards your neck, so make sure the person youre addressing isnt
too close before you start bowing!
On business occasions, people will also shake hands and exchange
business cards (meishi literally name cards). It is polite to offer
your card with both hands and to bow slightly at the same time. You
should also take the other persons business card with both hands
and examine it for a few moments to show your respect.
It is a good idea to get some business cards with your name printed
on them in both English and Japanese script. Remember to put your
surname first in Japanese!
CULTURAL TIP
Muted sounds: i and u
You may have noticed that the i in hajimemashite and do
zo
yoroshiku and the u in Sumisu and ohayo
gozaimasu are not

pronounced. These sounds disappear when they are next to certain other
sounds. But dont worry too much about this just try to repeat what
you hear on the CD.
LANGUAGE LAB
Attracting attention Unit 2
11
Key phrases
sumimasen excuse me / sorry
EE
go ga wakarimasu ka? do you understand English?

hai, wakarimasu yes, I understand
e, wakarimasen no, I dont understand

Sumimasen. E
go ga wakarimasu ka?
Excuse me. Do you understand English?
I
e, wakarimasen.
No, I dont understand.
Sumimasen. E
Hai, wakarimasu.
Yes, I understand.
Sumimasen. Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka?
Excuse me. Do you understand Japanese?
Sumimasen. Wakarimasen.
Sorry. I dont understand.
UNIT 2 Attracting attention
CD1
Track 7
Tip
Nihon = Japan
Nihongo = Japan
language (Japanese)
Tip
ka ?
You can turn a
statement into a
question simply by
adding ka to the end
of it. Think of it as a
spoken question
mark.
LANGUAGE LAB
CD1
Track 8
Omitting the obvious
In Japanese, when both you and the other speaker know what or
who you are talking about, you dont actually need to say it!
e.g. E EE
go ga wakarimasu ka? Do (you) understand English?

Hai, wakarimasu. Yes, (I) understand (English).
Attracting attention Unit 2
12
Nationalities Unit 3
13
Key phrases
watashi I
watashi wa Igirisu-jin desu ImBritish
Sumisu-san wa Mr Smith, are you British?
Igirisu-jin desu ka?
hai, so
desu yes, thats right
e, chigaimasu no, thats incorrect

Hello, Mr Smith.
Konnichiwa, Honda-san.
Hello, Miss Honda.
Sumimasen. Sumisu-san wa Igirisu-jin desu ka?
Excuse me. Mr Smith, are you British?
Hai, so
desu.
Yes, thats right.
UNIT 3 Nationalities
CD 1
Track 11
CD1
Track 12
Tip
desu = is, am or are

so
desu = thats right

so
desu ka = is that right?

Although so
desu ka is a question, when said with a falling

intonation it is simply an acknowledgement to show that youre
listening, similar to: Oh, is that so?, Really? or I see. No answer
is expected.
LANGUAGE LAB
Dialogue 1
Konnichiwa, Buraun-san.
Hello, Mr Brown.
Hello, Mrs Yamada.
Sumimasen. Buraun-san wa Nyu
rando-jin desu ka?

Excuse me. Mr Brown, are you a New Zealander?
Hai, watashi wa Nyu
rando-jin desu.
Yes, Ima New Zealander.
So
desu ka.
Is that right?
Dialogue 2
Hello, Mr Smith.
Konnichiwa, Honda-san.
Hello, Miss Honda.
Sumimasen. Sumisu-san wa O
sutoraria-jin desu ka?

Excuse me. Mr Smith, are you Australian?
I
e, chigaimasu. Watashi wa Igirisu-jin desu.

No, thats incorrect. ImBritish.
Honda-san wa?
And you, Miss Honda?
Watashi wa Nihon-jin desu.
ImJapanese.
So
desu ka.
Is that right?
14
CD1
Track 15
CD1
Track 14
Tip
... wa?
A persons name
followed by a
questioning wa
means And you?
Tip
No articles
In Japanese there are
no words for the,
a or an. So to say
Im a New
Zealander, you
simply say I New
Zealander am
watashi wa
Nyu
rando-jin
desu.
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15
To say what nationality you are, take the name of your country and
add -jin, which means person.
Igirisu UK Igirisu-jin British
Amerika USA Amerika-jin American
Kanada Canada Kanada-jin Canadian
O
sutoraria Australia O
sutoraria-jin Australian
Nyu
rando New Zealand Nyu
rando-jin New Zealander

Airurando Ireland Airurando-jin Irish
Nihon Japan Nihon-jin Japanese
And if you want to say that you are of mixed blood, half X and half Y,
you can say X to Y no ha
fu. To is and, no is of, and ha
fu is half.
Igirisu-jin to Nihon-jin
no ha
fu half British, half Japanese

Amerika-jin to Airurando-
jin no ha
fu half American, half Irish

LANGUAGE LAB
Loan words
Japanese has borrowed many foreign words, like the country names
Airurando and O
sutoraria. Its a good idea to try and learn some

katakana, which is the script used to write foreign names and words.
Not only will you be able to write your own name in Japanese but
youll also be able to read some foreign menu items, such as
aisukur
mu, hotto doggu and ch
zuba
ga
, and take a reasonable

guess as to what they might mean!
CULTURAL TIP
Key phrases
kaishain company employee
watashi wa kaishain desu Ima company employee
Korinzu no kaishain a Collins employee
watashi wa Korinzu no
kaishain desu Ima Collins employee
Sumisu-san wa kaishain
desu ka? Mr Smith, are you a company
employee?
Hello, Mr Smith.
Hello, Mrs Yamada.
Sumisu-san wa kaishain desu ka?
Mr Smith, are you a company employee?
Hai, so
desu.
Yes, thats right.
Konnichiwa, Gur
n-san.
Hello, Miss Green.
Hello, Mrs Yamada.
Gur
n-san wa gakuse
desu ka?
Miss Green, are you a student?
I
e, chigaimasu.
No, thats incorrect.
Watashi wa ko
muin desu.
Ima civil servant.
Yamada-san wa?
And you, Mrs Yamada?
Watashi wa enjinia desu.
Iman engineer.
Occupations Unit 4
16
UNIT 4 Occupations
CD1
Track 16
CD1
Track 17
Tip
nyu
, kyo
, byo
, ryo
These are some of

the more difficult
syllables to
pronounce. Just try
and follow the audio,
and remember that
they should be
pronounced as one
sound, e.g. nyu
is
pronounced like
new, not knee-
you.
Tip
no means of, but

works the opposite
way round to English,
e.g. an English
teacher is a teacher
of English, but in
Japanese it becomes
an English of
teacher E
go no
kyo
shi.
Occupations Unit 4
17
Sumimasen. Suzuki-san wa Korinzu no kaishain desu ka?
Excuse me. Mr Suzuki, are you a Collins employee?
I
e, chigaimasu.
No, thats incorrect.
Watashi wa E
go no kyo
shi desu.
Iman English teacher.
So
desu ka.
Is that right?
Kaisha means company and -in means member, so kaishain is
literally company member. Here are some other common
professions:
ko
muin civil servant

gakuse
student
kyo
shi teacher
isha doctor
ryoko
sha traveller
ongakuka musician
shashinka photographer
bengoshi lawyer
ke
satsukan police officer

konpyu
ta
purogurama
computer programmer
enjinia engineer
Sarar
man is another word for company employee. Sarar
comes
from the English word salary and man comes from man. Although
strictly speaking anyone earning money can be a sarar
man, this is
used only to describe those who work for commercial companies.
LANGUAGE LAB
Dont be offended if Japanese people ask you a lot of personal
questions. Because of the importance of hierarchy and different
politeness levels in Japanese speech, they are just trying to determine
your status and how they should address you.
CULTURAL TIP
Asking directions Unit 5
Key phrases
doko where?
doko desu ka? where is?
eki wa doko desu ka? where is the train station?
eki wa soko desu the train station is there
eki wa asoko desu the train station is over there
wakarimasen I dont know
arigato
gozaimasu thank you
e, do
itashimashite no, dont mention it

eki train station
byo
in hospital
ko
ban police box

resutoran restaurant
hoteru hotel
toire toilet
tsu
risuto infome
shon tourist information

Sumimasen. Eki wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me. Where is the train station?
Sorry. I dont know.
Sumimasen. Toire wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me. Where is the toilet?
Toire wa soko desu.
The toilet is there.
18
UNIT 5 Asking directions
CD2
Track 3
CD2
Track 4
Tip
plurals
There are no plurals
in Japanese. So, toire
wa doko desu ka
can mean either
Where is the toilet?
or Where are the
toilets?
Sumimasen. Resutoran wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me. Where is the restaurant?
Resutoran wa asoko desu.
The restaurant is over there.
So
desu ka. Arigato
gozaimasu.
Is that right? Thank you.
Dialogue 1
Sumimasen. Eki wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me. Where is the train station?
Sorry. I dont know.
Ja, ko
ban wa doko desu ka?

Well then, where is the police box?
Ko
ban wa asoko desu.

The police box is over there.
So
desu ka. Arigato
gozaimasu.
I
e.
No (dont mention it).
Dialogue 2
Sumimasen. E
Sumimasen. Tsu
risuto infome
shon wa doko desu ka?

Excuse me. Where is tourist information?
E
to tsu
risuto infome
shon wa soko desu.

Let me see tourist information is there.
So
desu ka. Arigato
gozaimasu.
I
e, do
itashimashite.
No, dont mention it.
19
CD 2
Track 6
CD 2
Track 7
Tip
ja = well, then
This is often used
when you change
the topic.
Tip
to = Let me see
A useful phrase to
give yourself time to
think!
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20
In Japanese there are also polite versions of here, there, over
there and where. Hotel receptionists or shopkeepers might use the
polite versions when they answer your questions.
koko here kochira here (polite)
soko there sochira there (polite)
asoko over there achira over there (polite)
doko where dochira where (polite)
LANGUAGE LAB
Going places (1): where? Unit 6
21
UNIT 6 Going places (1): where?
CD 2
Track 8
CD 2
Track 9
Key phrases
doko e where to?
ikimasu go
doko e ikimasu ka? where are you going?
Tanaka-san wa doko where are you going, Mr Tanaka?
e ikimasu ka?
watashi wa To
kyo
e Imgoing to Tokyo
ikimasu
sayo
nara goodbye
ja mata see you later
Konnichiwa. Sumisu-san wa doko e ikimasu ka?
Hello. Where are you going, Mr Smith?
Watashi wa Kyo
to e ikimasu.
Imgoing to Kyoto.
Konnichiwa. Buraun-san wa doko e ikimasu ka?
Hello. Where are you going, Mr Brown?
Watashi wa O
saka e ikimasu.
Imgoing to Osaka.
Ohayo
gozaimasu. Teira
-san wa doko e ikimasu ka?

Good morning. Where are you going, Mrs Taylor?
Watashi wa To
kyo
eki e ikimasu.
Imgoing to Tokyo train station.
Dialogue 1
Hello, Mr Smith.
Hello, Mrs Yamada.
Sumisu-san wa doko e ikimasu ka?
Where are you going, Mr Smith?
Watashi wa Amerika e ikimasu.
Imgoing to the USA.
Yamada-san wa?
And you, Mrs Yamada?
Watashi wa O
sutoraria e ikimasu.
Imgoing to Australia.
Shutcho
desu.
Its a business trip.
So
desu ka. Sayo
nara.
Is that right? Goodbye.
Sayo
nara.
Goodbye.
Dialogue 2
Sumimasen. Chiketto o kudasai.
Excuse me. A ticket, please.
Doko e ikimasu ka?
Where are you going?
Sumimasen. Mo
ichido.
Sorry. One more time.
Doko e ikimasu ka?
Where are you going?
Watashi wa Kyo
to e ikimasu.
Imgoing to Kyoto.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Arigato
gozaimasu.
Thank you.
22
CD2
Track 11
CD2
Track 12
Tip
Double consonant
sounds
Sometimes
consonant sounds
get doubled. These
should be
pronounced with a
slight pause or a
clipped sound.
e.g. chi-ke-tto
is like Ive got
to go
shutcho
is like gotcha!
23
Markers (2)
The markers ga and wa were introduced in Unit 2. Here are some
others youll meet over the next few units.
e
can show movement in a certain direction. It is often translated as
to.
To
kyo
e ikimasu
Tokyo (direction) go
de
can indicate the tool/instrument you use to do something
basu de ikimasu
bus (by means of) go
o
can mark the direct object of actions
b ru o kudasai
beer (object) please give
LANGUAGE LAB
Onsen (Hot springs)
Onsen are a huge part of Japanese culture. Located all over the
country, you pay a small entrance fee and can then relax in the
natural hot water baths for as long as you like. Some onsen are
indoors, some are outdoors, but all are verabct)fee ehebaths
24
To
kyo
is Japans capital and the countrys largest city. Its one of the
most exciting cities in the world, famous for its eclectic fashion, neon
signs, huge electronic superstores and fast-paced way of life.
Asakusa is a suburb of To
kyo
with an old-town atmosphere. There

youll find lots of different market stalls where you can buy traditional
Japanese gifts.
Ko
kyo (The Imperial Palace) is where the Japanese emperor and

his family live in To
kyo
. Certain parts of it are open to the public and

you can ask for a tour in English. It has beautiful gardens, too.
Kyo
to is a city in central Japan, famous for its historical sights,

temples and geisha.
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) is a beautiful temple in central Kyo
to...
It is completely covered in gold plate so it glistens in the sun.
O
saka is Japans second largest city. Its only a 15-minute train

ride from Kyo
to... If youre looking for nightlife and excitement, you

should visit O
saka.
O
saka-jo
(Osaka Castle) is one of Japans most famous castles. It

played a major role in the unification of Japan during the 16th
century. It is one of the symbols of O
saka.
Himeji-jo
(Himeji Castle) is near O
saka. It is Japans most famous

castle and it is nicknamed the White Heron because of its white
plaster walls.
Fuji-san (Mt Fuji) is Japans highest mountain. It can be reached on
a day trip from To
kyo
. And on a clear day you can also get a great

view of it from the train on your way down to O
saka and Kyo
to. Here
-san means mountain, not Mr, Mrs or Miss!
For more information, visit the website of the Japan National Tourism
Organization: http://www.jnto.go.jp/
CULTURAL TIP
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2 PM Page 2.
Going places (2): when? Unit 7
Key phrases
kyo
today
ashita tomorrow
konshu
matsu this weekend

raishu
next week
itsu when
itsu To
kyo
e ikimasu ka? when are you going to Tokyo?

kyo
ikimasu Im going today

ashita ikimasu Im going tomorrow
konshu
matsu ikimasu Im going this weekend

raishu
ikimasu Im going next week

mada wakarimasen I dont know yet
Tanaka-san wa itsu To
kyo
e ikimasu ka?
When are you going to Tokyo, Mr Tanaka?
Kyo
ikimasu.
Im going today.
Sumisu-san wa itsu Himeji-jo
e ikimasu ka?
When are you going to Himeji Castle, Mr Smith?
Konshu
matsu ikimasu.
Im going this weekend.
So
desu ka. I

desu ne.
Is that right? Thats nice, isnt it?
Teira
-san wa itsu O
saka e ikimasu ka?

When are you going to Osaka, Mrs Taylor?
Mada wakarimasen.
I dont know yet.
So
desu ka.
Is that right?
25
UNIT 7 Going places (2): when?
CD 2
Track 13
CD 2
Track 14
Tip
shu
The shu
in raishu
and konshu
matsu
means week
Tip
ne
When you add ne to
the end of a
statement it acts like
a tag question, e.g.
isnt it?, arent
they?
Tip
= good, OK, nice,

fine, excellent,
pleasant, etc.
Going places (2): when? Unit 7
26
When you go to your own home, company or country, you say
kaerimasu instead of ikimasu. It means go back or return. For
example, if you are British and you are going to the UK, you should
say:
watashi wa Igirisu e kaerimasu Im going back to the UK
LANGUAGE LAB
Golden Week
Four Japanese national holidays occur within one week from late April
to early May, so many Japanese businesses close down for the whole
period. This is called Golden Week. It is the longest holiday of the
year for most Japanese people, so many of them take the opportunity
to travel. Flights, trains and hotels are often fully booked and prices
are significantly higher. Travelling to Japan should be avoided at this
time of year, over the New Year (13 January) and during Obon (a
mid-August holiday).
CULTURAL TIP
Going places (3): how? Unit 8
Key phrases
basu bus
takush
taxi
kuruma car
densha train
shinkansen Japanese bullet train
chikatetsu underground or subway
hiko
ki plane
nani de ikimasu ka? how are you going?
nani de Kyo
to e ikimasu ka? how are you going to Kyoto?

basu de ikimasu Im going by bus
shinkansen de ikimasu Im going by bullet train
Sumimasen. Tanaka-san wa nani de Himeji-joo
e
ikimasu ka?
Excuse me. How are you going to Himeji Castle, Mr Tanaka?
Basu de ikimasu.
Im going by bus.
Sumimasen. Yamada-san wa nani de resutoran e
ikimasu ka?
Excuse me. How are you going to the restaurant, Mrs Yamada?
Takush
de ikimasu.
Im going by taxi.
Sumimasen. Buraun-san wa nani de To
kyo
eki e
ikimasu ka?
Excuse me. How are you going to Tokyo train station, Mr Brown?
Chikatetsu de ikimasu.
Im going by subway.
27
UNIT 8 Going places (3): how?
CD 2
Track 16
CD 2
Track 17
Tip
nani = what
nani de = by what
= how
nani-jin = what
people = which
nationality
nani-go = what
language
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2? PM Page 27
Dialogue 1
Konnichiwa, Buraun-san.
Hello, Mr Brown.
Hello, Mrs Yamada.
Buraun-san wa doko e ikimasu ka?
Where are you going, Mr Brown?
Fuji-san e ikimasu.
Im going to Mt. Fuji.
I

desu ne.
Thats nice, isnt it?
Nani de ikimasu ka?
How are you going?
Densha de ikimasu.
Im going by train.
So
desu ka. Ki o tsukete.

Is that right? Take care.
Arigato
gozaimasu.
Thank you.
Dialogue 2
Sumimasen. E
Watashi wa Kyo
to e ikimasu.
Im going to Kyoto.
Kono densha wa Kyo
to e ikimasu ka?
Does this train go to Kyoto?
Hai, ikimasu.
Yes, it goes (to Kyoto).
So
desu ka. Arigato
gozaimasu.
I
e, do
itashimashite.
No, dont mention it.
28
CD 2
Track 20
CD 2
Track 19
29
Noriba rank, stop
Noriba means a place to get on. If you want to catch a taxi, you go
to a takush
noriba, taxi rank. To catch a bus, you go to a basu

noriba, bus stop.
LANGUAGE LAB
Cars drive on the left in Japan. So remember to look right when you
cross the road.
To flag down a taxi, simply stick out your hand. They should come to
you even if they are on the other side of the road. The rear doors of
the taxi are opened and closed automatically by the driver, so please
dont try to open or close them yourself. Its disrespectful to the driver
if you attempt to do so.
CULTURAL TIP
Train travel
Train stations in the major cities are likely to have ticket machines,
and some of them have English instructions. So, it is always easier to
buy your ticket at the machines if possible. However, if you need to
reserve a seat or want to buy a ticket for another day, you will need to
go to the ticket office. Have your destination and date of travel written
down to avoid any misunderstanding.
Japanese trains are usually classified as (slowest to fastest) local
(futsuu
), rapid (kaisoku), express (kyu
ko
) limited express (tokkyu
) or
super express (shinkansen). To know when your stop is coming up,
listen out for the announcement mamonaku [destination] desu.
Mamonaku means soon or shortly.
CULTURAL TIP
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2? PM Page 2?
Food (1): wants Unit 9
Key phrases
nani what
tabetai desu want to eat
nani ga tabetai desu ka? what do you want to eat?
sushi ga tabetai desu I want to eat sushi
nan demo
desu anything is fine

Konnichiwa. Sumisu-san wa nani ga tabetai desu ka?
Hello. What do you want to eat, Mr Smith?
Sushi ga tabetai desu.
I want to eat sushi.
Konnichiwa. Teira
-san wa nani ga tabetai desu ka?

Hello. What do you want to eat, Mrs Taylor?
Ra
men ga tabetai desu. Tanaka-san wa?

I want to eat ramen noodles. And you, Mr Tanaka?
Udon ga tabetai desu.
I want to eat udon noodles.
Buraun-san wa nani ga tabetai desu ka?
Mr Brown, what do you want to eat?
Nan demo
desu.
Anything is ne.
30
UNIT 9 Food (1): wants
CD 3
Track 2
CD 3
Track 3
Tip
nal n sound
When a final n
comes before a b,
m or p, it is
pronounced more
like an m thats
why its tempura, not
tenpura.
31
sushi sticky vinegared rice, topped with fish, meat or vegetables. It
can also be wrapped in seaweed or stuffed into a pocket of fried tofu.
sashimi sliced raw fish which is often the first course in a formal
Japanese meal.
tempura seafood and vegetables deep fried in a very light batter.
Although very popular in Japan, it is originally from Portugal.
yakitori grilled chicken skewers. They are often served as a snack to
eat while drinking alcohol.
takoyaki fried octopus dumplings. They are a popular street-side
snack and stalls selling them usually display a picture of an octopus.
okonomiyaki Japanese style pancake/pizza. Okonomi means what
you like and yaki means grill or cook, so you can literally cook
what you like.
ra
men thin, yellow noodles, usually served in a meat-based broth.

udon thick, white noodles.
soba thin, brown noodles.
wagashi Japanese sweets, usually made from rice paste, bean paste
and fruit.
yakiniku Japanese-style barbeque, something that many foreign
visitors really enjoy when they visit Japan.
CULTURAL TIP
32
Dialogue 1
Hello, Mr Smith.
Hello, Mrs Yamada.
Sumisu-san wa nani ga tabetai desu ka?
What do you want to eat, Mr Smith?
Tempura ga tabetai desu.
I want to eat tempura.
So
desu ka. Watashi mo desu.

Is that right? Me, too.
So
desu ka.
Is that right?
Dialogue 2
Sumimasen.
Excuse me.
Hai.
Yes.
Watashi wa sushi ga tabetai desu.
I want to eat sushi.
Sushi-ya wa doko desu ka?
Where is a sushi restaurant?
E
to Sushi-ya wa asoko desu.

Let me see a sushi restaurant is over there.
Sumimasen. Namae o kaite kudasai.
Excuse me. Please write down the name.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Arigato
gozaimasu.
Thank you.
CD 3
Track 5
CD 3
Track 6
Tip
watashi mo desu
watashi means
I or me and mo
means too or
also, so watashi
mo desu means
me, too
Tip
-ya
-ya means shop or
restaurant, so a
sushi-ya is a sushi
restaurant, a
tempura-ya is a
tempura restaurant
and a ra
men-ya is a
ramen noodle bar.
33
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
If you dont know what to order from the menu, you can always ask
the waiter or waitress what they would recommend.
Osusume wa nan desu ka? What is your recommendation?
Or you can ask for:
something light, a snack: karui mono
something sweet: amai mono
something hot or spicy: karai mono
LANGUAGE LAB
Famiresu a family restaurant
It is always advisable to go to a specific place if you know what you
want to eat (for example, a sushi-ya for sushi, a ra
men-ya for ramen

noodles). However, if youre not sure what you want or if everybody in
your group wants something different, a famiresu might be a good
idea. Famiresu serve a wide range of foods from traditional Japanese
dishes to Western dishes, from snacks to desserts. Some famiresu
are even open 24 hours.
CULTURAL TIP
kaite kudasai
Its very useful to ask someone to write down the names of places
youre going to in Japanese script. You can then show this to taxi
drivers or anyone else you might need to ask for help. Kaite kudasai
means please write and namae o kaite kudasai means please
write down the name.
CULTURAL TIP
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2? PM Page
Food (2): likes and dislikes Unit 10
Key phrases
nihon ryo
ri Japanese food
niku ryo
ri meat dishes
sakana ryo
ri fish dishes
yasai ryo
ri vegetable dishes
watashi wa nihon ryo
ri
ga suki desu I like Japanese food
watashi wa nihon ryoo
ri ga
suki dewa arimasen I dont like Japanese food
Sumisu-san wa nihon ryo
ri
ga suki desu ka? Mr Smith, do you like
Japanese food?
hai, suki desu yes, I like it or yes, I like them
e, suki dewa arimasen no, I dont like it or no,

I dont like them
e, chotto No, not really

Sumisu-san wa nihon ryo
ri ga suki desu ka?

Mr Smith, do you like Japanese food?
Hai, suki desu.
Yes, I like it.
Watashi wa niku ryo
ri ga suki desu. Teira
-san wa?
I like meat dishes. And you, Mrs Taylor?
Watashi wa sakana ryo
ri ga suki desu.
I like sh dishes.
Buraun-san wa sushi ga suki desu ka?
Mr Brown, do you like sushi?
I
e, chotto
No, not really
34
UNIT 10 Food (2): likes and dislikes
CD 3
Track 7
CD 3
Track 8
Tip
bejitarian =
vegetarian
bejitarian desu =
Im a vegetarian
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2? PM Page .
Food (2): likes and dislikes Unit 10
35
How much do you like it?
suki desu means like, and you can easily add other words in front
of suki to say how much you like something.
ichiban literally means number one, so if something is your
favourite you can say sushi ga ichiban suki desu I like sushi the
best/the most.
totemo means very much. So, you can say: sushi ga totemo suki
desu I like sushi very much.
And ma
ma
means so-so. If you dont really like something, its

probably better to say: sushi ga ma
maa
suki desu I kind of like

sushi, rather than saying you dont like it!
LANGUAGE LAB
Table manners
You might be shocked to hear Japanese people making loud slurping
noises as they eat noodles. However, dont judge them as being ill-
mannered, because thats the right way to eat noodles in Japan! The
slurping actually cools the noodles down, allowing you to eat them
while theyre still piping hot.
And when you use chopsticks, the following are considered bad
manners:
licking or chewing your chopsticks;
putting back anything youve already picked up with your
chopsticks; and
dragging plates towards you with your chopsticks.
CULTURAL TIP
Oshibori steamed hand towels
When you are seated in a restaurant or bar, you will receive a steamed
hand towel (or sometimes a paper towel). This is for you to clean your
hands. Itll be either hot or cold depending on the season.
CULTURAL TIP
Ordering drinks Unit 11
Key phrases
nihonshu Japanese rice wine
nihonshu o kudasai some Japanese rice wine,
please
nihonshu to b
ru o kudasai some Japanese rice wine and

a beer, please
ippai a glass of or a cup of
nihonshu o ippai kudasai a glass of Japanese rice wine,
please
ippon a bottle of
b
ru o ippon kudasai a bottle of beer, please

Sumimasen. Nihonshu o kudasai.
Excuse me. Some Japanese rice wine, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Sumimasen. Hotto ko
to aisu ko
o kudasai.
Excuse me. A hot coffee and an iced coffee, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Sumimasen. Nihoncha o ippai kudasai.
Excuse me. A cup of Japanese tea, please.
Hai. Nihoncha o ippai desu ne.
Yes (certainly). A cup of Japanese tea, isnt it?
36
UNIT 11 Ordering drinks
CD 3
Track 10
CD 3
Track 11
Tip
Ko
Coffee
Hot coffee is hotto
ko
and iced coffee

is aisu ko
. Or why
not order an
esupuresso or a
kapuch no?
Tip
Tea for two?

Two glasses or cups
is nihai. Two bottles
is nihon.
Tip
mizu = water
nama b
ru = draft
beer
Dialogue
Irasshaimase.
Welcome.
Sumimasen. E
So
desu ka. E
to nihonshu o kudasai.
Is that right? Let me see some Japanese rice wine, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Sorekara, yakitori o kudasai.
And some grilled chicken skewers, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Sumimasen. Okanjo
o kudasai.
Excuse me. The bill, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
37
CD 3
Track 13
Tip
ippai and ippon

Remember double
consonant sounds
should be
pronounced with a
slight pause or a
clipped sound.
A / Some
When an amount isnt specified (ippai, ippon, etc.) then nihonshu o
kudasai could mean a Japanese rice wine, please or some Japanese
rice wine, please and b
ru o kudasai could mean a beer, please or

some beer, please.
LANGUAGE LAB
Arabic numbers are widely used in Japan, but Chinese numbers are
also used. Below are the numbers 1 to 5 in Chinese with their
Japanese pronunciation. The English words in brackets might help you
to remember how theyre pronounced.
1 ichi (itchy)
2 ni (knee)
3 san (sun)
4 yon (yawn)
5 go (go)
LANGUAGE LAB
38
Japanese drinks
nihonshu Japanese rice wine or sake. It can be served hot or cold.
Osake usually means alcohol in general, so its best to remember
nihonshu.
sho
chu
A strong alcohol distilled mainly from sweet potatoes. It can

also be served hot or cold. Hot sho
chu
with plums is very popular.

nihoncha Japanese tea. Like osake, ocha is the generic word for
non-alcoholic drinks and it can mean English tea, Chinese tea,
Japanese tea or even coffee in some contexts!
umeshu Japanese plum liqueur.
CULTURAL TIP
Izakaya Japanese bar
An izakaya is a popular place to socialise for all kinds of people:
young and old, students and workers, men and women. Some
izakaya serve food and drinks at very reasonable prices, and some
even offer all-you-can-drink specials for a fixed price.
Once you take a seat in an izakaya, the staff will automatically serve
you a small plate called oto
shi. This is an appetizer which is served to

every customer. Oto
shi arent free, and you cant choose what to

have, but its a good chance to taste something that you wouldnt
necessarily have chosen yourself. In fact, many people judge an
izakaya by the quality of their oto
shi.
CULTURAL TIP
Cheers!
The Japanese toast is kampai (empty glass). When drinking alcohol,
it is polite to serve each other. Hold your glass up with both hands
whenever it is being refilled. Likewise, if your companions glasses are
getting empty, you should pour some more for them. And, if you
dont want to drink any more, dont empty your glass!
CULTURAL TIP
Paying the bill Unit 12
Key phrases
kore this
sore that
are that over there
kore o kudasai this, please
kurejitto ka a
do credit card
torabera
zu chekku travellers cheques

kurejitto ka a
do ga
tsukaemasu ka? can I use credit card?
hai, tsukaemasu yes, you can use it
sumimasen. tsukaemasen sorry, you cant use it
Sumimasen. Kore o kudasai.
Excuse me. This, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Kurejitto ka
do ga tsukaemasu ka?
Can I use credit card?
Hai, tsukaemasu.
Yes, you can use it.
Sumimasen. Are o kudasai.
Excuse me. That over there, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Torabera a
zu chekku ga tsukaemasu ka?

Can I use travellers cheques?
I
e, tsukaemasen.
No, you cant use them.
39
UNIT 12 Paying the bill
CD 3
Track 14
CD 3
Track 15
Tip
okane = money
Tip
kono/kore this
Both of these words
mean this, but with
kono you always
need to specify what
youre talking about,
e.g. this train kono
densha, this credit
card kono kurejitto
ka
do. If you just

want to say this on
its own, use kore.
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2? PM Page ?
Sumimasen. Chiketto o kudasai.
Excuse me. A ticket, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Kurejitto ka
Hai, tsukaemasu.
Dialogue 1
Irasshaimase.
Welcome.
Sumimasen. Kore o kudasai.
Excuse me. This, please.
Hai. Arigato
gozaimasu.
Yes (certainly). Thank you.
Kurejitto ka
Sumimasen. Tsukaemasen.
Sorry. You cant use it.
So
desu ka.
Is that right?
Ja, ryo
gaesho wa doko desu ka?

Well then, where is the bureau de change?
Asoko desu.
Its over there.
So
desu ka. Arigato
gozaimasu.
40
CD 3
Track 17
Tip
ryoo
gaejsho = bureau
de change
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2? PM Page .0
Dialogue 2
Sumimasen. Okanjo
o kudasai.
Excuse me. The bill, please.
Hai.
Yes (certainly).
Kurejitto ka
Hai, tsukaemasu.
So
desu ka.
Is that right?
Gochiso
sama deshita.
I really enjoyed the meal, thank you.
Arigato
gozaimasu.
Thank you.
41
CD 3
Track 18
Japanese people say itadakimasu before they start eating. It literally
means I will receive and is used in a similar way as bon apptit.
And when they finish a meal, they say gochiso
sama deshita, which

literally means it was a feast.
CULTURAL TIP
42
In Japan, you dont have to worry about tipping because a service
charge is already included in your bill.
CULTURAL TIP
Japan is still very much a cash culture, so its advisable to always
have some cash on you to pay for things. Larger restaurants or
department stores may accept some credit cards, but its best not to
rely on this especially outside of Tokyo. Also be aware that when you
see a credit card sign, it may well be that they only accept credit cards
issued in Japan. It pays to always ask first.
CULTURAL TIP
Japanese Yen
The Japanese currency is the yen (which is actually pronounced en in
Japanese). There are six coins 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen and
four notes 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen. The 5 and 50 yen
coins have a small hole in the middle of them. Each note features a
different portrait of a famous Japanese person, including a
philosopher, a novelist, a poet and a bacteriologist.
To prevent forgery, Japanese notes use different types of technology
such as watermarks, micro-letters and special luminous ink. A
hologram is used on 5,000 and 10,000 yen notes cherry blossoms
appear in the bottom left corner of the portrait side of the notes when
they are turned at an angle.
CULTURAL TIP
Track list Track list
1 Introduction
Unit 1: Greetings
2 Key phrases
3 Listening and speaking
4 Key phrases
5 Review
Unit 2: Attracting attention
6 Tuning in to Japanese
7 Key phrases
9 Review
Unit 3: Nationalities
11 Key phrases
13 Review
Taking it further
14 Dialogue 1
15 Dialogue 2
Unit 4: Occupations
16 Key phrases
18 Review
Mo
ichido
Unit 1
19 Key phrases
20 Dialogues
Unit 2
21 Key phrases
22 Dialogues
Unit 3
23 Key phrases
24 Dialogues
43
Track list
CD 1
Unit 4
25 Key phrases
26 Dialogues
1 Introduction
Unit 5: Asking directions
3 Key phrases
5 Review
Taking it further
6 Dialogue 1
7 Dialogue 2
Unit 6: Going places (1): where?
8 Key phrases
10 Review
Taking it further
11 Dialogue 1
12 Dialogue 2
Unit 7: Going places (2): when?
13 Key phrases
15 Review
Unit 8: Going places (3): how?
16 Key phrases
18 Review
Taking it further
19 Dialogue 1
20 Dialogue 2
Mo
ichido
Unit 5
21 Key phrases
22 Dialogues
44
CD 2
Japanee ooet na:Layout 1 ./2?/0? 7:2? PM Page ..
Unit 6
23 Key phrases
24 Dialogues
Unit 7
25 Key phrases
26 Dialogues
Unit 8
27 Key phrases
28 Dialogues
Unit 9: Food (1): wants
2 Key phrases
4 Review
Taking it further
5 Dialogue 1
6 Dialogue 2
Unit 10: Food (2): likes and dislikes
7 Key phrases
9 Review
Unit 11: Ordering drinks
10 Key phrases
12 Review
Taking it further
13 Dialogue
Unit 12: Paying the bill
14 Key phrases
16 Review
Taking it further
17 Dialogue 1
18 Dialogue 2
45
CD 3
Track list Unit ?
Mo
ichido
Unit 9
19 Key phrases
20 Dialogues
Unit 10
21 Key phrases
22 Dialogues
Unit 11
23 Key phrases
24 Dialogue
Unit 12
25 Key phrases
26 Dialogues
46
Tracklist
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What are the main sections covered in the booklet?

What are the main sections covered in the booklet?

What are some Japanese words that have become part of the English language?

What are some Japanese words that have become part of the English language?

FUMI TSUGU ENOKI DA AND J UNKO OGAWA

SERI ES EDI TOR ROSI McNAB

Japanese is spoken by over 130 million people, both in Japan

take mushrooms, edamame beans and nashi pears!

maji roman letters which weve used

kya kyu kyo

Most consonant sounds are similar to English, but watch

ichido (one more time)

good morning (casual form)

gozaimasu good morning (polite form)

zo yoroshiku pleased to meet you

gozaimasu are not

go ga wakarimasu ka? do you understand English?

e, wakarimasen no, I dont understand

go ga wakarimasu ka? Do (you) understand English?

desu yes, thats right

e, chigaimasu no, thats incorrect

desu = is, am or are

desu = thats right

desu ka = is that right?

desu ka is a question, when said with a falling

rando-jin desu ka?

sutoraria-jin desu ka?

e, chigaimasu. Watashi wa Igirisu-jin desu.

rando New Zealand Nyu

rando-jin New Zealander

fu. To is and, no is of, and ha

fu half British, half Japanese

fu half American, half Irish

sutoraria. Its a good idea to try and learn some

mu, hotto doggu and ch

, and take a reasonable

These are some of

no means of, but

muin civil servant

satsukan police officer

man is another word for company employee. Sarar

gozaimasu thank you

itashimashite no, dont mention it

ban police box

shon tourist information

desu ka. Arigato

ban wa doko desu ka?

ban wa asoko desu.

desu ka. Arigato

shon wa doko desu ka?

shon wa soko desu.

desu ka. Arigato

-san wa doko e ikimasu ka?

desu ka. Sayo

with an old-town atmosphere. There

kyo (The Imperial Palace) is where the Japanese emperor and

. Certain parts of it are open to the public and

to is a city in central Japan, famous for its historical sights,

saka is Japans second largest city. Its only a 15-minute train

to... If youre looking for nightlife and excitement, you