Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast Ami and Alex go through the top 10 most common questions you will be asked by Japanese people on your first visit to Japan. Enjoy! For more podcasts visit http://learnjapanesepod.com

These are the dialogues from podcast #10 “The top 10 questions you will be asked in Japan” After living in Japan for over 20 years as a foreigner, I have noticed a clear pattern of questions I am often asked. As well as being very hospitable, the Japanese are inquisitive people who are genuinely interested in why people visit or live in their country. Therefore students of Japanese who are planning a trip to Japan will find it extremely useful to study those questions and how to answer them in Japanese. In this podcast, Ami Sensei and I go through the top 10 most common questions Japanese people ask and the cultural reasons behind them. So if you are slightly surprised or shocked by what you are asked, it’s usually due to a cultural difference which we discuss in the podcast. 1: お名前はなんですか Oname wa nan desu ka – What is your name? Although obvious, this is the first question you should learn. To reply, simply say your name + desu. アレックスです – Arekkusu desu – I am Alex. The other thing you should keep in mind is that Japanese say their surname first and first name last. So, if you want to say I am John Smith you would say スミスジョンです – Sumisu Jon Desu. Finally, saying your name using a Japanese accent or Katakana sounds might will make it a little easier for Japanese to understand you name. 2: お国はどちらですか Okuni wa dochira desu ka – Where are you from? Japanese people are always very interested in where you are from. To answer this question you could simply say アメリカです Amerika desu – America or イギリスです Igirisu desu – The UK. You can also say アメリカから来ました Amerika kara kimashita – I come from America. 3: お仕事は何をされていますか Oshigoto wa nani o sarete imasu ka – What do you do? This is a very common question that might be asked anywhere in the world. However, there is an added cultural dimension to this. When meeting people for the first time, Japanese people tend to ask questions that give them an idea of the social status of the person they are speaking to so as to communicate with an appropriate level of politeness or respect. To answer this question simply say your job + desu. For example 学生です Gakusei desu – I am a student. サラリマンです Sarariman desu –  I am an office work (only for men). Women might say OLです – Oh Eru desu – I am (a female) office worker. 4: なんで日本へ来たんですか Nande nihon e kitan desu ka – Why did you come to Japan? This is the perhaps the most commonly asked question foreigners get when visiting or living in Japan. In fact there is a very popular show on TV entitled “Youは何しに日本へ” You wa nani shi ni nihon e – Why did you come to Japan? Japanese people are fascinated in why people take the trouble to travel to Japan. Perhaps this is something to do with the fact that Japanese people are interested in how their country is perceived abroad and what might be interesting or attractive to foreigners. When replying say your reason + tame which means the reason why you did something. For example: はじめて日本に来た時は日本語を勉強するためでした Hajimete nihon ni kita toki wa nihongo o benkyō suru tame deshita – I first came to Japan in order to study Japanese. 5: おいくつですか/ 何歳ですか Oikutsu desu ka – How old are you? This is one of those questions that some visitors to Japan might find a little surprising or rude. However, when Japanese ask what your age is, what they are really saying is “I want to know your age so I don’t speak to you with an inappropriate level of politeness”. At the same time, you are under no obligation to give your age if you feel it is too personal. Deflecting with humour usually works and you can say something like 秘密です Himitsu desu – It’s a secret. If you don’t mind giving your age, say your age + sai desu. For example ２５歳です Nijuugo sai desu – I am 25. 6: 箸使えますか Hashi tsukaemasu ka – Can you use chopsticks? For a cosmopolitan westerner who is used to eating Chinese or Vietnamese food at home, you might be surprised if Japanese people ask you if you can use chopsticks. Your answer might be a slightly irritated “Well of course I can dammit!”. However, Japanese are trying to be polite and are showing you their hospitality in making sure you don’t have any problems with their food. You can simply say 箸使えますよ Hashi tsukaemasu yo – I can use chop sticks If you can’t you could say ちょっと難しです Chotto muzukashii desu – It’s a little difficult (for me) 7: 納豆食べられますか Natto taberaremasu ka – Can you eat natto? If you didn’t know, natto is a Japanese delicacy which is made from fermented beans. It has quite a strong smell which can put off people new to the food. But don’t worry if you don’t like it, don’t worry, it’s one of those foods that divides Japanese people into natto fans and natto haters. If you like natto you can say 納豆食べられます Natto taberaremasu – I can eay natto. If you don’t like it you can say 納豆食べられません Natto taberaremasen – I can’t eat natto. Alternatively you can say ちょっと口に合わないです Chotto kuchi ni awanai desu – I don’t like eating it. 8: 結婚していますか Kekkon shite imasu ka – Are you married? This is another one of those questions which is simply trying to ascertain your social standing. If you are married you can say 結婚しています Kekkon shite imasu – I am married. If you aren’t married you can say 結婚していません Kekkon shite imasu OR 独身です Dokushin desu – I am single. 9: 日本ははじめてですか Nihon wa hajimete desu ka –  Is this your first time to Japan? This is another question you will be often asked. If it is your first time you can say はい、初めてです Hai, hajimete desu – Yes, this is my first time. If it is your 2nd time you could say いいえ、２回目です Ni kai me desu – No, this is my second time. 10: 苦てな食べ物はありますか Nigatena tabemono wa arimasu ka – Are there any foods you can’t eat? Again, Japanese people are obsessed with food which is good news for you because you will eat in some amazing restaurants. The Japanese are also aware that some parts of their cuisine including natto or raw fish might be difficult for foreigners to eat. Japanese like to make sure their guests are comfortable and so it is common to be asked what foods you can and can’t eat. If you have no problems with food you could answer 特にないです Toku ni nai desu – Nothing in particular. If there is a type of food you can’t eat then use the same pattern as we learned for not being able to eat natto: 納豆食べられません Natto taberaremasen or perhaps 肉食べられません Niku taberaremasen – I can’t eat meat.    

Niko, creator of Nihongo Shark, shares tips for learning Japanese and discusses obtaining a Green Card in the US. They talk about different study methods, improving pronunciation, and debating 'hikoshi' vs 'hikosu'. Closing with an endorsement for their website and wishing good luck with their move.

In this week’s podcast Yoshiko and Alex discuss useful Japanese vocabulary and cultural points and advice for ordering sushi at a Japanese restaurant like a native. The good news is you don’t have to learn a huge amount of vocabulary to order your your favorite dishes if you learn just a few useful key phrases. For more podcasts visit http://learnjapanesepod.com

These are the dialogues for podcast #09 ““How to order Sushi at a Japanese Restaurant” In this week’s podcast Yoshiko and Alex discuss useful Japanese vocabulary and cultural points and advice for ordering sushi at a Japanese restaurant like a native. The good news is you don’t have to learn a huge amount of vocabulary to order your your favorite dishes if you learn just a few useful key phrases. Sushi Vocabulary 大将 Taishō – (Sushi) chef サーモン Saamon – Salmon マグロ Maguro – Tuna たまご Tamago – Egg 雲丹 Uni – Sea urchin いくら Ikura – Salmon roe 貫 Kan – Counter for sushi 一貫 Ikkan – 1 piece of sushi 二貫 Nikan – 2 pieces 三貫 Sankan – 3 pieces 一貫ずつ Ikkan zutsu – One piece of each お願いします Onegaishimasu – Please さび抜き Sabinuki – Without wasabi あがり一丁 Agari ichō – Tea できますか Dekimasu ka – Can you make it? お冷や Ohiya – Cold water お椀 Owan – Soup 茶碗蒸し Chawan Mushi – Egg and custard dish えんがわ Engawa – Fin of flounder (flatfish) ごちそうさまでした Gochisōsama deshita – That was delicious 回転寿し Kaitenzushi – Conveyor belt sushi お腹いっぱい Onaka ippai – I’m full 刺身 Sashimi – Slices of fish 寿司 Sushi – Slices of fish on rice つまみ Tsumami – Used when ordering just the meat of the fish rather than sushi ガリ Gari – Slices of ginger in sweet vinegar Main Dialogue A: 大将！サーモン２貫ください Taishō! Saamon Ni Kan Kudasai – Chef, 2 pieces of salmon please. B: はいよ Hai yo – Yes A: 雲丹といくら１貫ずつできますか Uni to ikura Ikkan zutsu dekimasu ka – Can you do 1 sea urchin and 1 salmon roe? B: はいよ Hai yo – Yes A: さび抜きでお願いします Sabi nuki de onegaishimasu – Without wasabi please. B: はいよ Hai yo – Yes A: お腹いっぱい。大将あがり一丁 Onaka ippai. Taishō agari ichō – I’m full. Chef, 1 tea please. B: はいよ Hai yo – Yes 10 Cultural Tips for Ordering Sushi Here are 10 useful cultural points that will really help you when ordering sushi in Japan. 1. Call the Sushi chef “Taishō” When you order from a sushi chef it is custom to refer to them as 大将 – Taishō. This means various things including general, boss, cheif etc. but in this context is used specifically to adress a sushi chef. 2. Use “Kan” counter to order sushi. When counting pieces of Sushi you usually use the counter “kan”. For example: 一貫 – Ikkan – One piece of sushi 二貫 – Nikan – Two pieces of sushi 三貫 – Sankan – Three pieces of sushi 四貫 – Yonkan – Four pieces of sushi Japanese Pronunciation English 大将サーモンを一貫下さい Taishō saamon o ikkan kudasai One piece of salmon please chef  大将マグロを二貫ください  Taishō maguro o nikan kudasai Two pieces of tuna please chef  大将たまごを三貫ください  Taishō tamago o sankan kudasai Three piece of egg please chef  大将雲丹を四貫ください  Taishō uni o yonkan kudasai Four pieces of sea urchin please chef An important thing to remember is it is not so common to order more than 2 or 3 pieces of the same type of sushi at the same time. The most common is ２貫 Nikan – two pieces of sushi. It is possible to say something like this: たまごを二貫、サーモンを二貫、マグロを二貫ください Tamago o nikan, saamon o nikan, maguro o nikan kudasai 2 pieces of egg, 2 salmon and 2 tuna please. 5) Use the word “agari” to order green tea When you want to order tea say あがり一丁 agari ichō. This is a special way to order green tea that is particular to sushi restaurants. When you order, they usually bring it to you in a cup. However, in many conveyor belt sushi restaurants it’s common to make your own tea by putting green tea powder in a cup and adding hot water from a tap at the counter. 6) It is OK to use your hands when eating sushi Believe it or not it is acceptable to use your hands when eating sushi. There is no decidedly proper way to eat sushi. However, when in doubt just copy what every one else is doing in the restaurant. 7) How to dip sushi in soy sauce The proper way to eat sushi is to very lightly dip the meat of the fish in the soy sauce and not the rice. If soy gets on the rice it can start to fall apart and is not considered the most tasty way to eat it. Some people even turn the sushi upside down in their mouth when eating so that the tongue touches the meat first. Also, go easy on the soy sauce and the ginger. Japanese people tend not to drown each piece of sushi in soy sauce. Ginger is supposed to be eaten just to cleanse the palate between dishes. 8) Not all sushi is raw It is in fact possible to order broiled versions of your favorite sushi which is called 炙り aburi. One particular favorite is 炙りサーモン Aburi saamon or broiled salmon. The chef will take a torch to the Sushi which gives it a delicious seared and smokey taste. 9) Say Gochisōsama when you finish eating ごちそうさま Gochisōsama means “that was delicious” and you usually say it at the end of a meal. It’s common to say it either eating at a restaurant or at someone’s house after eating a meal with them. 10) To get the bill say Okaikei kudasai To get the bill say お会計ください okaikei kudasai. The staff will come to the counter or table where you are seated and count the empty dishes to calculate the bill.

Learn about drinking etiquette in Japan, including seating arrangements based on seniority, pouring beer to initiate conversation, and toasting with higher social status. Discover the proper eating etiquette in Japanese pubs, such as using 'jikabashi' and 'or shibori'. Dive into the tradition of 'iponjime' ending of a drinking party and learn about ordering and drinking etiquette in izakayas.

Learn how to express likes and dislikes in Japanese, explore the popularity of sushi and a famous sushi restaurant, discover the Skiji market and its relocation, hear about favorite sushi places and pairing drinks for an exceptional culinary experience.

These are the dialogues for podcast #08: Talking about your likes and dislikes in Japanese Dialog 1 Yoshiko: ねぇ、ところで食べ物は何が好き?  – Ne, tokoro de tabemono wa nani ga suki – Hey, by the way, what food do  you like? Alex: そうだな、やっぱりお寿司かな? –  Sō da na, yappari osushi kana – Hmm, let me see…well for me I  guess it is Sushi. Yoshiko: 何のネタが一番好き? – Nan no neta ga ichiban suki –  What topping do you like? Alex: 鮪が一番好きかも – Maguro ga ichiban suki kamo – I suppose it’s tuna. Dialog 2 Yoshiko: ねぇ、ところでスポーツは何が好き? –  Ne, tokoro de supōtsu wa nani – Hey, by the way, what sport do  ga suki you like? Alex: そうだな、やっぱり野球かな? – Sō da na, yappari yakyuu kana – Hmm, let me see…well for me I  guess it is baseball. Yoshiko: どこのチームが一番好き? – Doko no chiimu ga ichiban suki – Which team do you like? Alex: ジャイアンツが一番好きかも。 – Jaiantsu ga ichiban suki kamo – I suppose it’s The (Tokyo)  Giants. How to express how much you like or dislike things 寿司が大好きです – Sushi ga dai suki (desu) – I love sushi 寿司が好きです – Sushi ga suki (desu) – I like sushi. 寿司がまあまあすきです – Sushi ga mama suki (desu) – Sushi is OK. 寿司があんまり好きじゃない – Sushi ga amari suki ja nai – I don’t like sushi very much. 寿司が嫌いです – Sushi ga kirai (desu) – I don’t like sushi. 寿司が大嫌い – Sushi ga daikkirai (desu) – I hate sushi.    

Hosts discuss their experiences in Japan in 2016, including off-the-beaten-path destinations and favorite food experiences. They announce the opening of an online school and share insights into why people study Japanese. They also talk about surprise towards a person's actions, visiting anime locations, and the term 'Kami Tedu' that describes superhuman behavior. The episode ends with reflections on 2016 and plans for the future of the podcast.

Learn useful phrases in Japanese for asking for help, the concept of 'Yamitski' and addiction, prevalence of smartphone games on trains in Japan, popularity of ramen in Los Angeles