Countries, Nationalities and Languages

Most countries have their names written in KATAKANA, based on their pronunciation in English or in that country’s language.

To talk about the people of a particular country, add the suffix JIN to the country name.

To talk about the language of a particular country, you can usually add the suffix GO to the country name.

For example, Italy is ITARIA, Italian people are ITARIAJIN and the Italian language is ITARIAGO.

	Country	People	Main Language
Argentina	Aruzenchin	Aruzenchinjin	Supeingo
Australia	Oosutoraria	Oosutorariajin	Eigo
Austria	Oosutoria	Oosutoriajin	Doitsugo
Belgium	Berugii	Berugiijin	Furansugo
Brazil	Burajiru	Burajirujin	Porutogarugo
Canada	Kanada	Kanadajin	Furansugo Eigo
Chile	Chiri	Chirijin	Supeingo
China	Chuugoku	Chuugokujin	Chuugokugo
Denmark	Denmaaku	Denmaakujin	Denmaakugo
Egypt	Ejiputo	Ejiputojin	Ejiputogo
Finland	Finrando	Finrandojin	Arabiago
France	Furansu	Furansujin	Furansugo
Germany	Doitsu	Doitsujin	Doitsugo
Greece	Girisha	Girishajin	Girishago
Holland	Oranda	Orandajin	Orandago
Hungary	Hangarii	Hangariijin	Hangariigo
Iceland	Aisurando	Aisurandojin	Aisurandogo
India	Indo	Indojin	Hindiigo
Iran	Iran	Iranjin	Perushago
Iraq	Iraku	Irakujin	Arabiago
Ireland	Airurando	Airurandojin	Airurandogo
Israel	Isuraeru	Isuraerujin	Heburaigo
Jamaica	Jamaika	Jamaikajin	Eigo
Japan	Nihon	Nihonjin	Nihongo
Malaysia	Mareeshia	Mareeshiajin	Mareeshiago
Malta	Maruta	Marutajin	Marutago
Mexico	Mekishiko	Mekishikojin	Mekishikogo
Morocco	Morokko	Morokkojin	Morokkogo
New Zealand	Nyuujiirando	Nyuujiirandojin	Nyuujiirandogo
Norway	Noruwee	Noruweejin	Noruweego
Pakistan	Pakisutan	Pakisutanjin	Pakisutango
Peru	Peruu	Peruujin	Supeingo
Philippines	Firipin	Firipinjin	Firipingo
Poland	Poorando	Poorandojin	Poorandogo
Portugal	Porutogaru	Porutogarujin	Porutogarugo
Russia	Roshia	Roshiajin	Roshiago
Scotland	Sukottorando	Sukottorandojin	Eigo
Singapore	Shingapooru	Shingapoorujin	Eigo
South Africa	Minamiafurika	Minamiafurikajin	Afurikaansugo
South Korea	Kankoku	Kankokujin	Kankokugo
Spain	Supein	Supeinjin	Supeingo
Sweden	Suweeden	Suweedenjin	Suweedengo
Switzerland	Suisu	Suisujin	Suisugo
Taiwan	Taiwan	Taiwanjin	Taiwango
Thailand	Tai	Taijin	Taigo
Turkey	Toruko	Torukojin	Torukogo
UK	Igirisu	Igirisujin	Eigo
USA	Amerika	Amerikajin	Eigo
Vietnam	Betonamu	Betonamujin	Betonamugo
Wales	weeruzu	Weeruzujin	Weeruzugo

Example:

1. Watashi no namae wa Adam desu. USA kara kimashita. Amerika-jin desu. Eigo o

     hanashimasu. Nihongo ga zenzen hanasemasen.

     My name is Adam. I came from UK. I am American. I speak English. I can’t

     speak Japanese very well.

AGE

To express age in Japanese, you use the number of years + the counter SAI

How old are you?              -         nansai desuka?

(other alternative way of asking the same question - oikutsu desuka? However, the answers have no alternative style)

How old is she?                 -         kanojyo wa nansai desuka?

The suffix SAI is never dropped.

I am thirty-one (years old)  -         san-jyuu-issai desu.

The only exception is 20 which is HATACHI 

(remember, you cannot use SAI for the age of things, only people)

This car is two years old     -         kono kuruma o ni-nen mae ni kaimashita.

This building is one hundred years old   -      
                                                       kono tatemono wa hyaku-nen mae ni tateraremashita.
                                                      (This building was built 100 years ago)

A person in their fifties        -         go-jyuu-dai no hito

A person in their seventies  -         nana-jyuu-dai no hito

People over eighteen          -         jyuu-hassai ijyoo no hito 

   

phrases in classroom 2

15.  MIEMASUKA?                                           -      can you see?
       - HAI, MIEMASU                                            -      yes, i can see
       - IIE, MIEMASEN                                             -      no, i can't see

16.  KIKOEMASUKA?                                        -      can you hear?
       - HAI, KIKOEMASU                                      -      yes, i can hear
       - IIE, YOKU KIKOEMASEN                            -      no, i can't hear very well

17.  WAKARIMASHITAKA?                          -      do you understand?
       - HAI, WAKARIMASHITA                              -      yes, i do understand
       - IIE, YOKU WAKARIMASEN                          -      no, i don't understand very  well                                                
                                                                                                            
18.  SHITSUMON GA ARIMASUKA? -       do you have question?
       - HAI, ARIMASU                                                 -       yes, i do have 
       - IIE, ARIMASEN                                               -       no, i don't have

19.  KORE WA SHUKUDAI DESU            -      this is homework

20.  IIDESU                                                                -      good/nice

21.  HAJIMEMASHOO                                         -      let's start (it)

22.  DEWA, OWARIMASHOO                     -      alright, let's finish (it)

23.  CHOTTO YASUMIMASHOO                   -      let's rest for a while

phrases in classroom 1

1.   MITE KUDASAI   -   please look
2.   KIITE KUDASAI  -   please listen
3.   YONDE KUDASAI - please read
4.   KAITE KUDASAI - please write
5.   MOU ICHIDO ITTE KUDASAI  -  please say once again
6.   YUKKURI ITTE KUDASAI  -  please say slowly
7.   OOKII KOE DE ITTE KUDASAI  -  please say out loud
8.   ISSHOU NI ITTE KUDASAI  -  please say together
9.   NIHONGO DE ITTE KUDASAI  -  please say in Japanese language
10. OBOETE KUDASAI  -  please memorize 
11. CHOTTO MATTE KUDASAI  -  please wait for a while
12. SHUKUDAI O DASHITE KUDASAI-  please submit (your) homework
13. HON O HIRAITE KUDASAI  -  please open (your) book
14. KYOUKASHO O TOJITE KUDASAI  -  please close your text book

suuji (number)

                0 - zero/rei
                1 - ichi
                2 - ni
                3 - san
                4 - yon/shi
                5 - go
                6 - roku
                7 - nana/shichi
                8 - hachi
                9 - ku/kyuu
              10 - jyuu
              11 - jyuu-ichi
              12 - jyuu-ni
               :
               :
              20 - ni-jyuu
              21 - ni-jyuu-ichi
                :
              27 - ni-jyuu-nana/ni-jyuu-shichi
              30 - san-jyuu
                :
              33 - san-jyuu-san
                :
              40 - yon-jyuu
              50 - go-jyuu
              60 - roku-jyuu
              70 - nana-jyuu
              80 - hachi-jyuu
              90 - kyuu-jyuu
            100 - hyaku
            200 - ni-hyaku
            300 - sanbyaku
            400 - yon-hyaku
            500 - go-hyaku
            600 - roppyaku
            700 - nana-hyaku
            800 - happyaku
            900 - kyuu-hyaku
         1 000 - sen
         2 000 - ni-sen
         3 000 - sanzen
         4 000 - yon-sen
         5 000 - go-sen
         6 000 - roku-sen
         7 000 - nana-sen
         8 000 - hassen
         9 000 - kyuu-sen
       10 000 - ichi-man
     100 000 - jyuu-man
  1 000 000 - hyaku-man
10 000 000 - sen-man
              
            125 - hyaku ni-jyuu-go
            849 - happyaku yon-jyuu-kyuu
         3 562 - san-zen go-hyaku roku-jyuu-ni
       18 793 - ichi-man hassen nana-hyaku kyuu-jyuu-san

jiko-shookai (self-introduction)

WATASHI NO NAMAE WA MAIKU DESU.
*My name is Mike.

WATASHI WA RINA DESU.
* I'm Rina.

MARIA DESU.
* (I'm) Maria.

Here is an example on how you introduce yourself when meet new people for a first time

DOOMO. HAJIME MASHITE. WATASHI NO NAMAE WA RYO NISHIKIDO DESU. YOKOHAMA KARA KIMASHITA. DOOZO YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU.
Hi. How do you do? My name is Ryo Nishikido. I came from Yokohama. Pleased to meet you. 

note:

* DOOMO - hi
* HAJIME MASHITE - how do you do? 
(literally means, I am meeting you for the first time)
* ~ KARA KIMASHITA - i came from ~
* DOOZO YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU - pleased to meet you. 
(literally means, please be nice to me.)

aisatsu (greeting) - part 3

Doomo sumimasen - i'm sorry.
* Different ways of apologising:
  - 'mooshi wake arimasen' (honorific)
  - 'doomo sumimasen' (polite)
  - 'gomenasai' (commonly used to friends, family members and children)

Doozo - please.

Sumimasen - i'm sorry.
* In this context, 'sumimasen' resembles more of the expression 'Doomo arigatoo' which means 'thank you' to express one's appreciation.

Taihen desune - You're terribly burdened, aren't you!
* This expression is used to show one's sympathy to someone who is busy trying to cope with his work or to someone who is in a troubled position.

Ganbatte kudasai - Please do your best.
* This expression is used as a word of encouragement for someone to work harder or to put more effort in whatever he's doing.

Mata aimashoo - See you again.
* The more polite expression is 'mata oai shimashoo'.

Ogenki desuka? - How are you?
* Literally this expression means 'Are you fine?'

Hai, genki desu - I'm fine, thank you.
* This is a reply to the question 'Ogenki desuka?' Literally it means 'Yes, I'm fine.' It is more polite to reply 'Hai, okagesama de, genki desu'.

Daijoobu desuka? - Are you alright?

Hai, daijoobu desu -Yes, I'm alright.
* This is a reply to the question 'Daijoobu desuka?' This expression is used when someone is in trouble, meets with an accident etc.

aisatsu (greeting) - part 2

Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu - Thank you very much
* Different ways of saying thank you:
                       -Doomo arigatoo
                       -Arigatoo gozaimasu
                       -Arigatoo (commonly used to friends, family members and children)

Doo itashimashite - You're welcome
* One could also begin the reply to this expression with 'iie' which means 'no/not at all'.

Itadakimasu - Literally means 'I accept your offer'
* The expression used before one starts a meal, a cup of tea etc.

Gochisoosama deshita -
 Literally means 'Thank you for your offer of delicious food/drink'
* The expression used after one has finished a meal, a cup of tea etc.

Shitsuree shimasu - Excuse me, (for disturbing)
* This expression is used when someone feels that he is disturbing someone else. This expression is also used when someone is leaving.

Osakini shitsuree shimasu - I'm sorry, but i'd like to excuse myself first.
* This expression is used when someone have done the job and want to leave the conversation.

Otsukaresama deshita - Thank you for working hard
* This expression is used to address colleagues or someone after work to express one's appreciation for their hardwork.