Japanese Words For Simple Communication
ADJECTIVE NOUN,PRONOUN VERB
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that (so-no) I, me (wa-ta-ku-shi) accept, receive (mora-i-ma-su)
this (ko-no) you (a-na-ta) awaken (o-ki-ma-su)
bad (wa-ru-i) he (ka-reh) become (na-ri-ma-su)
beautiful (ki-reh-i) she (ka-no-jo) buy (ka-i-ma-su)
clean (ki-reh-i) that (a-reh) come (ki-ma-su)
big (oh-ki-i) this (ko-reh) do (shi-ma-su)
black (ku-ro-i) afternoon, noon (hi-ru) can do (de-ki-ma-su)
cheap (ya-su-i) bag (fu-ku-ro) can't do (de-ki-ma-sen)
cold to the touch cake (keh-ki) won't do (shi-ma-sen)
(tsu-me-ta-i) chair (i-su) drink (no-mi-ma-su)
dark (ku-ra-i) child (ko-do-mo) eat (ta-be-ma-su)
dirty (ki-ta-na-i) cigaret (ta-ba-ko) give to... (a-geh-ma-su)
expensive (ta-ka-i) coffee (koh-hii) please give me (ku-da-sai)
far (toh-i) door (doh-a) go (i-ki-ma-su)
feel cold (sa-mu-i) electric train (den-sha) have, there is (a-ri-ma-su)
few (su-ko-shi) fruit (ku-da-mo-no) like (su-ki-de-su)
good (yo-i) girl, woman (on-na) don't like (ki-ra-i-de-su)
hard (ka-ta-i) hot water (o-yu) need (i-ri-ma-su)
heavy (o-mo-i) hotel (ho-te-ru) don't need (i-ri-ma-sen)
hot (a-tsu-i) human being (hi-to) pay (ha-ra-i-ma-su)
light (ka-ru-i) key (ka-gi) ride (no-ri-ma-su)
long (na-ga-i) man (o-to-ko) run (ha-shi-ri-ma-su)
many (ta-ku-san) meat (ni-ku) see (mi-ma-su)
near (chi-ka-i) money (o-ka-neh) sell (u-ri-ma-su)
new (a-ta-ra-shi-i) morning (a-sa) sit (su-wa-ri-ma-su)
old (fu-ru-i) night (yo-ru) sleep (ne-ma-su)
red (a-ka-i) paper (ka-mi) stand (ta-chi-ma-su)
round (ma-ru-i) pencil (en-pi-tsu) talk (ha-na-shi-ma-su)
salty (ka-ra-i) place (ba-sho) tastes good (o-i-shi-i-de-su)
short in height room (heh-ya) understand (wa-ka-ri-ma-su)
(hi-ku-i) stamp (kit-teh) walk (a-ru-ki-ma-su)
short in length station (e-ki) want (ho-shi-i-deh-su)
(mi-ji-ka-i) store (mi-se) write (ka-ki-ma-su)
slow (o-so-i) subway (chi-ka-te-tsu)
small (chi-sa-i) taxi (ta-ku-shi)
soft (ya-wa-ra-ka-i) telephone (den-wa)
sweet (a-ma-i) ticket (kip-pu)
tall (ta-ka-i) water (mi-zu)
white (shi-ro-i) window (ma-do)
A STRICT grammarian may object, but we offer here a simple system for communicating in pidgin Japanese.
The pronunciation is simple. Do not accent or stress any syllable; speak in a monotone.
The sound of a vowel is always the same: "a" as in papa, "e" as in pen; "i" as in ink; "o" as in go; and "u" as in put.
At left are free columns of Japanese words - adjectives, nouns, verbs. Select the words you want from the columns and speak them in that order. You will be understood. "I want a small room" will be 'chi-i-sai (small) heh-ya (room) ho-shi-i-deh-su (want) ".
The subject and object are usually understood. Thus, "I want it" can be expressed only by "ho-shii-deh-su" or, "I will go" will be just "i-ki-ma-su" (go).
Form a question merely by adding, "ka" to the verb. "I-ki-ma-su-ka" will do for "are you going?"; "ho-shi-i-deh-su-ka" for "do you want it?"; "a-rima-su-ka?"; for "do you have it?" or "is it there?"
The negative is usually formed by adding the suffix "...sen", but not always so. Therefore, just shake your head for the negative. Simple "no" is "ii-eh" and simple "yes" is "ha-i".
Dozen Phrases To Make Your Stay Pleasant:
o-ha-yo (good morning)
kon-ni-chi-wa (hello, in daytime)
kon-ban-wa (good evening)
sayonara (good-bye)
o-neh-ga-i-shi-ma-su (please, as in "please help me, please do so, please serve me, etc." with the verb being usually understood)
a-ri-ga-toh (thank you)
su-mi-ma-sen (I'm sorry)
chot-toh-mat-teh (wait a minute)
ha-ya-ku (quickly, "quickly please" will be ha-ya-ku o-neh-ga-i-shi-ma-su)
chi-ga-i-masu (it is wrong)
soh-deh-su (that's right)
wa-ka-ri-ma-sen (I can't understand)