Learn Japanese Pod

Today’s Key phrase If you only learn one thing from this podcast, learn today’s key phrase which is: て を 貸して くれる？ Can you lend me a hand? TE O KASHITE KURERU This phrase literally translates as “Could you lend me a hand?” and it has the same meaning. This is a casual level phrase used between people of similar social standing. It’s fine to use this at work with your coworkers but you might not want to use this with your boss. Even if you are a beginner in Japanese and don’t understand everything in the following dialogs don’t worry. Just try to listen out for the key phrase to get a feel of how it is used in daily conversation. You can also memorize the phrase and try to use it in real life when the opportunity arises. Even if you can’t describe exactly what it is you want help with, you can just say 手を貸してくれる and depending on the context the listener should probably be able to understand what you want. If you wanted to ask someone of high social status for help you might say something like: 手伝っていただけますか Would you help me please? Tetsudatte itadakemasu ka If you want to ask someone if they need help politely you might say: なにかお手伝いしましょうか Do you need help with anything? Nani ka otetsudai shimashōka Dialog 1 Asuka: ちょっといい？ Chotto ii? Can I bother you for a minute? Alex: うん。どうした？ Un. Dō shita Sure, what’s up? Asuka: このパソコンを全部会議室 へ運びたいんだけど手を貸 してくれる？ Kono pasokon o zenbu kaigishitsu e hakobitain dakedo te o kashite kureru? I want to take all these PCs to the meeting room. Could you lend me a hand? Alex: うん、いいよ。 Un, ii yo. Sure. Dialog 2 Asuka: アレックス、ちょっとい い？ Arekkusu, chotto ii? Alex, can I bother you for a minute? Alex: どうした？ Dō shita What’s up? Asuka: 週末引越しするんだけど手 を貸してくれる？ Shuumatsu hikkoshi surun dakedo te o kashite kureru? I’m moving this weekend. Could you lend me a hand? Alex: あの、今週末ちょっと髪の 毛洗わなきゃいけない Ano, konshuumatsu chotto kaminoke arawanakya ikenai Well, I have to wash my hair this weekend… Asuka: まじでお前？週末しか洗っ てないのかよ Maji de omae. Shuumatsu shika arattenai no ka yo Are you kidding me? You only wash on the weekends?! Alex: 手伝うよ Tetsudau yo I’ll help you Asuka: ありがとう Arigatō Thanks Dialog 3 Asuka: アレックス、ちょっとい い？ Arekkusu, chotto ii? Alex, can I bother you for a minute? Alex: うん。どうした？ Un. Dō shita Sure, what’s up? Asuka: 廊下の電球とりかえたいん だけど手を貸してくれる？ Rōka no denkyuu torikaetain dakedo te o kashite kureru I want to change the lightbulb in the corridor. Could you lend me a hand? Alex: あの実は暗いところは ちょっと怖いんですけど Ano jitsu wa kurai tokoro wa kowain desu kedo Well, the thing is I’m afraid of dark places. Asuka: まじかよ？！ Maji ka yo Are you serious?! Dialog 4 Asuka: アレックス、ちょっとい い？ Arekkusu, chotto ii? Alex, can I bother you for a minute? Alex: うん。どうした？ Un. Dō shita Sure, what’s up? Asuka: 宿題でわからないところが あるんだけど手を貸してく れる？ Shukudai de wakaranai tokoro ga arun dakedo te o kashite kureru There’s something I don’t understand in my home work. Could you lend me a hand? Alex: いいよ Ii yo Sure Asuka: 本当わかるのか？ Hontō wakaru no ka Do you really understand? Alex: あの、とりあえずわかるふ りをする Ano, toriaezu wakaru furi o suru Well, for now I’ll pretend to understand Dialog 5 Asuka: アレックス、ちょっとい い？ Arekkusu, chotto ii? Alex, can I bother you for a minute? Alex: うん。どうした？ Un. Dō shita Sure, what’s up? Asuka: 部屋を片付けたいんだけど 手を貸してくれる？ Heya o katazuketain dakedo te o kashite kureru? I want to clean up the room, could you lend me a hand? Alex: 絶対やだ！ Zettai yada Absolutely not! Asuka: 大きソーファがあってうご かせないの！ Ōkii sōfa ga atte ugokasenai no There’s a big sofa I can’t move Alex: なんでいつもいやな仕事？ Nande itsumo iya na shigoto Why is it always these sucky jobs? Asuka: アレックス手を貸してくれ るかな… Arekkusu te o kashite kureru ka na… I thought you might be able to help… Asuka: ぎっくり腰なんですよ！ Gikkuri koshi nan desu yo I’ve got a strained back. Asuka: わかった、わかった、ごめ ん。違う人に聞いてみる Wakatta, wakatta, gomen. Chigau hito ni kiite miru OK, OK, sorry. I’ll try asking someone else. Random Phrase – Mottainai – It’s a waste やみつき　Yamitsuki To be completely addicted to something / To be hooked on something you can’t stop Examples: Pokemon Go にみんなやみつき Pokemon Go ni minna yamitsuki Everyone is hooked on Pokemon Go ぱちんこにやみつき Pachiko ni yamitsuki I’m hooked on Pachinko ロスアンゼルスのみんなラーメンにやみつき Rosuanzerusu no minna raamen ni yamitsuki Everyone in Los Angeles is hooked on ramen noodles

Learn useful classroom Japanese phrases, meaning and usage of 'sensei', cultural nuances of asking questions, significance of food and rituals in Japanese culture, wastefulness and minimalism in Japanese language.

These are just the Japanese dialogues taken from podcast #06 “Useful Classroom Japanese Phrases” In this podcast, Asuka and I teach you some useful classroom Japanese phrases so you can interact with your teacher and understand more. We teach you how to ask questions about vocabulary and sentences. In fact, I wish I had known all this when I started to study Japanese in Tokyo all those years ago. It would have helped me learn vocabulary a lot more quickly. We also teach you how to speak in a respectful way to your Sensei. And of course you can catch up with the rest of our random banter about what’s been going on with Asuka and I recently. Japanese Pronunciation English 先生 Sensei Teacher ちょっと Chotto A little 質問 Shitsumon Question どうぞ Dōzo Please go ahead …てどういう意味ですか …te dō iu imi desu ka What does … mean? …という意味です。 …to iu imi desu It means… …でどんな文章が作るんですか？ …de donna bunshō ga tsukurun desu ka What kind of sentence can you make with… 食事 Shokuji Food 残す Nokosu To leave something 彼女 Kanojo Girlfriend 振る Furu To shake / to dump someone 使える Tsukaeru To be able to use something 君 Kimi You (casual) 指輪 Yubiwa Ring Main Dialog 1 (Japanese) Student: 先生、ちょっと質問があります。 Sensei, chotto shitsumon ga arimasu. Teacher: はい、どうぞ。 Hai dōzo. Student: 「もったいない」ってどういう意味ですか？ Mottainai tte dō iu imi desu ka. Teacher: それはtoo good to wasteという意味です。 Sore wa too good to waste to iu imi desu. Student: 「もったいない」で、どんな文章が作れるんですか？ Mottainai de donna bunshō ga tsukurun desu ka. Teacher: 食事を残すなんてもったいない。 Shokuji o nokosu nante mottainai. Student: そのように使うんですね。わかりました。ありがとうございます。 Sono yō ni tsukaun desu ne. Wakarimashita. Arigatō gozaimasu. Main Dialog (English) Student: (Teacher) Could I just ask a question? Teacher: Yes, go ahead. Student: What does “Mottainai” mean? Teacher: “Mottainai” means too good to waste. Student: How do you use “Mottainai” in a sentence? Teacher: Leaving food is a waste (mottainai). Student: That’s how you use it! I understand. Thank you. Random Phrase – Mottainai – It’s a waste Here are some extra examples of this week’s random phrase which is “Mottainai” which means it’s such a waste. 1) 彼女を振ったなんてもったいない！ Kanojo futta nante mottainai It was such a shame (waste) that you dumped your girlfriend! 2) もう新しいパソコン買うの？もったいないな、まだ使えるのに。 mō atarashii pasokon kau no. mottainai na, mada tsukaeru noni. You’re buying a new PC already? That’s a waste, you can still use the old one. 3) 君にその指輪はもったいないよ。 Kimi ni sono yubiwa mottainai yo That ring is wasted on you. For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com

The hosts of the podcast offer their top 10 tips for studying Japanese, highlighting the importance of motivation, setting goals, and learning expressions that provide insight into Japanese culture. They discuss various Japanese phrases, survival sentence patterns, and the 'Learn Japanese Pod method'. They also cover Japanese grammar structures like 'Dokodeska' and the use of adjectives. Practical tips for learning Japanese are shared, including using formal language, verb conjugations, and sentence-enders. The hosts conclude by encouraging listeners to subscribe and explore their free membership for access to show notes and future updates.

These are just the Japanese dialogues taken from podcast #05 “Top 10 tips for studying Japanese” Top 10 Tips for Studying Japanese  One of the most common questions I get is “I want to study Japanese but where should I start?”. The next most common question is “I’ve hit a wall with my Japanese and don’t seem to be improving, what should I do?”. So, if you are a beginner, or have already started studying Japanese but got stuck, this podcast is for YOU! Asuka and I put our heads together and came up with our top 10 tips for studying Japanese more quickly and effectively. I also wanted to make this podcast to point out that, there aren’t any magical shortcuts or secret techniques for learning to speak perfect Japanese in only a few months. A lot of websites out there would have you believe otherwise! Rather, it is more about discovering your “why” or motivation for studying Japanese. Then, you want to focus on a specific goal. In that way, you won’t waste your time studying non-essential topics and save a lot of time. Podcast Dialog Japanese Pronunciation English Asuka: おはようございます ohayō gozaimasu Good morning Alex: おはようございます ohayō gozaimasu Good morning Asuka: 昨日のパーティー楽しかったですね kinō no paatii tanoshikatta desu ne Yesterday’s party was fun Alex: 楽しかったですね tanoshikatta desu ne It was fun wasn’t it? Asuka: またやりましょう mata yarimashō Let’s do it again Alex: ぜひ! zehi Absolutely! Top 10 Tips for Studying Japanese Tip # 1 – Set a clear goal This one is pretty obvious. Before you start anything, you should set a clear goal, preferably with a deadline. This will help to really focus your studies. If you’re not sure what your goal is, simply ask yourself “why do I want to study Japanese?” Do you want to visit Japan on holiday? Do you want to be able to read your favorite manga? Or perhaps you want to become a ninja. Depending on that answer, you can focus more effectively on a study plan. That might be obvious to you but it is worth saying. And there is one more reason to have a clear goal that people sometimes forget about. And that is, setting a goal avoids wasting time studying stuff you don’t need to know. If your goal is to visit Japan for a week on holiday, then you should just be studying simple phrases for booking tickets, asking directions and perhaps shopping. You don’t need waste your time studying 2500 kanji from a dusty textbook for that. So, why do you want to study Japanese? Think about it and leave a comment below. On to the next tip. Tip # 2 – Know your everyday expressions For those of you who want to visit Japan, work here and be able to hold a conversation in Japanese, learning high frequency everyday expressions is a great place to start. You should know greetings for different times of day, asking how people are and how to say please and thank you. For example: おはようございます – ohayō gozaimasu – Good morning こんにちは – Konnichi wa – Hello (Used around midday) こんばんは– Konban wa – Good evening お元気ですか – ogenki desu ka – How are you? 元気です – I’m fine お願いします – onegai shimasu – Please (Could you do something for me?) ありがとうございます – arigatō gozaimasu – Thank you どういたしまして – dō itashi mashite – You’re welcome Tip # 3 – Learn expressions that don’t translate easily into English After learning some basic daily expressions you should learn phrases that don’t easily translate into English. In other words, learn phrases that give you a deeper insight into Japanese culture. This also helps you to stop translating words from your own language into Japanese which wastes time and makes you sound unnatural. Here are some examples: お先に失礼します – osaki ni shitsurei shimasu This means something like, “I’m sorry for leaving before you”. You say this when you are the first person leaving work or some engagement with a group of people. お疲れ様です – otsukare sama This literally means, “you must be tired”. It is used in various situations but means something like good job, or well done. You use it to express your appreciation for someone after they have exerted a lot of effort for something. It can also be used when someone finishes work and goes home for the day. You often hear the last two phrases together like this. A: お先に失礼します – Right, I’m off (Excuse me for leaving first) B: お疲れ様です – Bye (Good job) これからよろしくお願いします – kore kara yoroshiku onegaishimasu The word “yoroshiku” means something like good or please treat me well. So this phrase is could be used to mean “I look forward to working with you” or ” I look forward to doing something with you in the future”. It’s used a lot at the end of a self introduction. いただきます – itadakimasu The closest phrase I could think of would be “bon apetite”. You say it before eating, usually at home when someone has cooked for you. Itadakimasu literally means “I receive”. It’s not only used for food but 9 times out of 10 you’ll hear it before people eat. ごちそうさまです – gochisō sama desu This basically means “That was delicious”. You use it after you’ve eaten to show your appreciation for having received the food and that it was delicious. All of these phrase teach you the deeper cultural values of the Japanese and give you a glimpse into the way they interact with each other. This isn’t a complete list but it’s a good place to start. Learn these phrases well young Jedi. Tip # 4 – Drill common speech patterns If you only learn one thing this from this lesson, learn this: Drill, drill and drill again common speech patterns. This is perhaps the single most effective method I used to develop my own fluency in Japanese. It’s not rocket science or anything new, but it does work. You just have to do it. It’s super simple. Just choose a phrase, say it over and over again and just change one word every time. In that way, you practice the pattern until you can say it without thinking and you also expand your vocabulary at the same time. For example, let’s learn how to say “where is…” so and so in Japanese which is… “…はどこですか” ( …wa doko desu ka) Now, let’s drill and change one word every time. 銀行はどこですか？ – ginkō wa doko desu ka – Where is the bank? 郵便局はどこですか？- yūbinkyoku wa doko desu ka – Where is the post office? 駅はどこですか？eki wa doko desu ka – Where is the station? コンビニはどこですか？konbini wa doko desu ka – Where is the convenience store? ガンダムはどこですか？gandamu wa doko desu ka – Where is Gundam? That’s it. You just gotta do it! You can drill phrases from whatever textbooks you are studying from, manga or even Learn Japanese Pod lesson notes which you can find on our podcast pages. Tip # 5 – Know your Japanese adjectives One really good way to start having conversations quickly in Japanese is learning adjectives. Why? Japanese usually omits the subject of a sentence. So although you could say 今日は暑いですね Today is hot. You could just say, 暑いですね it is hot. Or even just 暑い！ So you can simply say “hot” and it will make sense in Japanese. So by learning adjectives you are going to be able to say more with less. This is because Japanese is what’s called a high context language. If you compare it with English, a low context language, you rely on the words in the sentence to convey all the meaning. However with Japanese, you have to take into account the situation in which the word is being spoken. So, if you are standing outside in the park, sweating and fanning yourself and you just say 暑い atsui – hot, the person listening will fill in the blanks and understand that you are saying that you are hot now. That means, on the plus side, Japanese can be extremely minimal and efficient in conveying what you want to say. On the minus side, it can sometimes lead to infuriatingly vague and confusing conversations. So when in Japan, it’s not what you say, it’s where, when and by whom it is being said by. Here are some examples: 暑い – atsui – hot 寒い – Samui – cold 冷たい – Tsumetai – cold, used for things like liquids or solids 高い – takai – high or expensive 安い – yasui – cheap 楽しい – tanoshii – fun Also, adjectives conjugate. For example, if you wanted to say, it was fun, you say: 楽しかった – tanoshikatta – it was fun Tip # 6 – Know your basic Japanese verb conjugation Just like adjectives, you can use verbs to express more with less. Also, basic verb conjugation in Japanese is pretty simple. Just like adjectives, you can use single verbs on their own without a subject and sometime without an object. Check out this basic pattern: 行きます – ikimasu – to go (present) 行きません – ikimasen – not go (negative present) 行きました – ikimashita – went (past) 行きませんでした – ikimasen deshita – didn’t go(negative past) Depending on the situation you could simply say 行きませんでした which could mean “I didn’t go” or if you raised your voice “Didn’t you go?”. It’s all pretty useful stuff so make sure to learn some basic verbs. Tip # 7 – Supercharge your Japanese with sentence enders Although there are many sentence ending particles, you won’t go far wrong if you start by learning “yo” and “ne”. “ne” means something like “isn’t it” so for example: 楽しかったね – tanoshikatta ne – it was fun wasn’t it いいね – ii ne – That’s good isn’t it (This is also used on facebook for the “like” button) “yo” emphasizes the point you want to make. So you could say: 楽しかったよ – tanoshikatta yo – It really was fun いいよ – ii yo – That’s fine. (That’s totally OK) Using sentence enders like these make you sound a lot more natural so learn them! Tip # 8 – Listen to Japanese language learning podcasts OK, shameless self promotion here but you can listen to my Japanese language learning podcasts here. You want to get as much listening practice as you can and these days there is a lot on line you can download and listen to. It’s important to find something that you find interesting and can engage in to increase the chances you will keep listening to it. You don’t have to limit yourself to podcasts. Check out Youtube videos, listen to the weather forecast on NHK news or perhaps watch anime online. When I started studying Japanese a million years ago, I just bought a simple Japanese conversation textbook with a CD and listened to that religiously. It wasn’t the best textbook out there but it really helped with my listening and prepared me well for studying Japanese conversation. Whatever you listen to, the point is to just listen, even if you don’t understand everything. The goal is to get used to the sounds, pace and intonation of Japanese. Trust me, it will really help with listening and building the base to develop your conversational skills. You can also listen to a repeat audio out loud which is called “shadowing”. It’s another great way to drill common sentence patterns as I talked about in point #4. Tip # 9 – Learn Hiragana and Katakana and don’t use Romaji Just a quick tip here but try to learn Hiragana and Katakana as quickly as you can. Try to get away from using “romaji” to learn Japanese. This is because it’s somewhat confusing to read Japanese in romaji script. Also, being able to read Hiragana and Katakana helps a little with pronunciation as it forces you to speak using the basic sounds of Japanese. And don’t be shy to start learning Kanji right from the start. But that’s another article for later… Tip # 10 – Get out there and practice your Japanese I was having a conversation with a well traveled multi-lingual friend of mine who said something very interesting. He said “if you can engage with the culture, you won’t need any language classes”. In other words, if you can take part in something you enjoy with other people who speak the language you want to learn, then you’ll learn a lot faster. Of course, taking lessons is essential. However, it can be all too easy to get stuck learning kanji lists and grammar points and not get out there and actually practice speaking with Japanese people. If you can create the opportunity to interact with Japanese people in real life situations outside of the classroom, that’s when you start to really internalise the language and really start communicating. My own Japanese speaking skills really improved when I studied in Japan and lived in a dormitory of Japanese students who didn’t speak English very well. I was forced to used Japanese on a daily basis which really helped me improve. I also studied Aikido for a while which also really boosted my speaking and listening skills. Also, just hanging out with my Japanese buddies and drinking with them in Izakayas was a great experience and a really fun was to consolidate everything I had learned in the classroom. Even if you don’t live in Japan, you can create opportunities to speak with Japanese people. For example, joining a club, taking Japanese lessons or even speaking to people online.  

In this podcast, Asuka and Alex teach you how to talk about your home town in Japanese. You will also learn how to ask and answer questions about where you are from. For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com    

These are just the Japanese dialogues taken from podcast #04 “How to talk about your home town in Japanese” How to talk about your home town in Japanese I can guarantee you, if you are visiting or living in Japan as a foreigner, you will undoubtedly be asked 出身はどこですか – shusshin wa doko desu ka – where you are from? So Asuka and I (Alex) thought we would make this podcast to teach you how to talk about your home town with someone you have just met in Japan. This is a great way to get a conversation going and with the simple vocabulary and phrases in the podcast, you’ll learn how to do this without too much trouble. You’ll learn how to say where you are from, describe what it’s like and recommend cool places to visit. Japanese are very interested and inquisitive when it comes to finding out why a foreigner would take the time to travel all the way to Japan. Main podcast dialog A:　ご出身はどこですか？ shusshin wa doko desu ka Where are you from? B:　ロンドンです rondon desu (It is) London A:　そうですか。どんなところですか sou desu ka. donna tokoro desu ka Really? What is it like? B:　賑やかですね nigiyaka desu ne It’s lively A:　おすすめな観光スポットはありますか？ osusume na kankou suppoto wa arimasu ka What’s your recommendation for sightseeing? B:　バキングハム宮殿がいいですね。ぜひ遊びに来てください。案内しますよ。bakinguhamu kyuuden ga ii desu ne. zehi asobi ni kite kudasai. annai shimasu yo. Buckingham Palace is good. You should visit. I’ll show you around.   For more Japanese language learning podcasts go to http://learnjapanesepod.com

As discussed in Top 10 Etiquette Mistakes in Japan, there are two golden rules for apologising in Japanese: 1) If it’s your fault apologize. 2) If it’s not your fault, apologize. I’m half joking but Japanese people tend to apologize more frequently than westerners. As they say in Japan: とりあえず謝る – toriaezu ayamaru (Whatever happens) just apologize In this podcast, Asuka and Alex go through the basics of apologizing in Japanese in different situations and contexts. This is perhaps one of the most important skills you will learn when studying Japanese. Lesson goal In this lesson you’re going to learn some various ways to apologize in Japanese and what situations to use them in naturally. Being humble, sincere and ready to admit you are wrong are traits held in high regard in Japan. Making excuses is avoided as that can be interpreted as being selfish or childish. Japanese are also sometimes quick to apologize for the actions of others especially if they are in the same group. Some westerners might sometimes find this hard to understand however Japanese people are highly sensitive to the group dynamic and how their actions might affect others. So, let’s have a look at the most useful vocabulary and phrases for apologizing in Japanese. すみません Sumimasen This is most common way to say sorry for something. It is common for people in conversation to pronounce it “seimasen”. However, it is also useful in a variety of other situations, for example: 1) “Excuse me” if you bump into someone on the street or just a simple apology すみません – sumimasen Sorry, that was bad of me 2) Getting someone’s attention such as a waiter or when you want to ask someone directions. すみません、メニューお願いします – sumimasen, menyuu onegaishimasu Excuse me, can I have the menu please? すみません、駅はどこですか – sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka Excuse me, where is the station? 3) Receiving something from someone A: メニューをどうぞ – menyuu o dozo B: すみません – sumimasen A: Here’s the menu B: Thanks ごめんなさい Gomen nasai “Gomen nasai” is a little less formal than “sumimasen” and can sometimes sound a little childish so it’s better to only use this with friends and not your boss or other superiors. It can also be shortened to ごめんね – gomen ne which is much more casual. When in doubt, use “sumimasen”. 申し訳ありません Mōshi wake arimasen This is a very formal phrase and is stronger than “sumimasen” and “gomen nasai”. This should be used when apologizing to superiors. As a tourist or customer, you’ll often hear this when staff apologize to you. Here are some typical uses of this phrase: 大変申し訳ありません -taihen mōushiwake arimasen I’m very sorry 遅れて申し訳ありません – okurete mōshiwake arimasen I’m sorry for being late 申し訳ありません満席です – mōshiwake arimasen manseki desu I’m sorry, the flight is full. (no seats left) 申し訳ありません満室です – mōshiwake arimasen manshitsu desu I’m sorry we don’t have any available rooms left. 失礼します Shitsurei shimasu Shitsurei literally means “rude” so when you say Shitsurei shimasu is a semi-causal way to say you are sorry. It has various uses including the following; 失礼な!– shitsurei na How rude! – Used when complaining about a rude person. 失礼します – shitsurei shimasu I’m sorry / Excuse me 失礼しました – shitsurei shimashita I’m sorry (This is usually used for something bad you did or a mistake you made) 失礼 – Shitsurei Sorry (Very casual and usually used more by men) お先に失礼します – osaki ni shitsurei shimasu May I be excused? – This is used when you are the first person to leave a social gathering or the office at the end of the day. ご迷惑 Gomeiwaku This means trouble or troublesome and although is not an apology in itself, it is used a lot with “sumimasen” and “mōushiwake arimasen” and is quite formal. For example: ご迷惑をおかけてしてすみません – gomeiwaku o okakeshite sumimasen I’m sorry for any trouble I caused. (Polite) ご迷惑をおかけております – gomeiwaku o okakeshite orimasu (The most formal way of apologizing often seen on signs outside construction works) お詫び 申し上げます Owabi Mōshi agemasu This is extremely polite and formal. It is rarely used in speech and usually appears in formal letters of apology. Dialog examples from the podcast Example 01 A: あの、変なことして本当にすみません B: どんなこと? A: ちょっと言えないんですけど A: ano, hen na koto shite hontou ni sumimasen B: donna koto A: chotto ienain desu kedo A: I did something weird, I’m sorry B: What kind of thing? A: I can’t really say Example 02 遅れしまってすみません okurete shimatte sumimasen I’m sorry for being late Example 03 すみません、メニューお願いします sumimasen menyuu onegaishimasu Excuse me, may I have the menu please? Example 04 すみません、駅はどこですか sumimasen eki wa doko desu ka Excuse me, where is the station Example 05 A: 明香さんいろいろ助けてくれました。どうぞ、バラです。 B: すみませんアレックス A: asuka san iroiro tasukete kuremashita. douzo bara desu B: sumimasen arekusu A: Asuka, you’ve helped me with so many (various) things. Here are some roses. B: Thank you Alex (You shouldn’t have) Example 06 お忙しところ大変申し訳ございません oisogashii tokoro taihen moushi wake arimasen I’m sorry to disturb you at such a busy time Example 07 お待たせしてしまって本当に申し訳ございません omatase shite shimatte hontou ni moushi wake gozaimasen I’m sorry to have kept you waiting Example 08 ご迷惑をおかけして大変申し訳ございませんでした gomeiwaku o okake shite taihen moushi wake gozaimasen deshita I’m extremely sorry to have caused you such trouble Example 09 大変ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ございませんでした。では失礼します。 taihen gomeiwaku wo okake shite moushi wake gozaimasen deshita. dewa shitsurei shimasu. I’m sorry to have caused you so much trouble. Please allow me to excuse myself now (and leave)

Dive into the essence of politeness and patience in Japanese culture through engaging dialogues. Discover the art of apology and learn essential conversational phrases. Unpack the intricate norms that shape everyday interactions, revealing the subtleties of communication in Japan. Get ready to enhance your language skills while embracing the cultural nuances!

The hosts discuss the importance of self-introductions in Japanese, guess a listener's name and interests, explore phrases like 'ishokemme' and 'yoroshiku onegai itashimasu', teach how to express hobbies and interests, and provide advice on learning kanji and sentence structure.