1
Japanese Language and
Culture Training
Name: ________________________
2
Japan True/False Quiz
Japanese students learn more than 1,500 kanji between
1st grade and the end of high school.
T
/ F
T
/ F
T
/ F
T
/ F
T
/ F
Japan consists of 3 main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, and
Kyushu.
T
/ F
There are vending machines in Tokyo that have face
reading capabilities and offer drink suggestions.
T
/ F
T
/ F
Only waiters and waitresses are tipped in Japan.
The tallest building in Tokyo is the Tokyo Tower.
Most trains arrive within one minute of their scheduled
time.
The population of Japan is currently more than 100 million.
Mt. Fuji is over 13,000 ft. tall.
Japanese mixes 4 writing systems

Hiragana: consists of 46 characters that make up the basic sounds of
Japanese.
A few modifications can be made to the characters to create
additional sounds. Hiragana is used for words originated in Japan. Hiragana
characters look fluid, and were made from abbreviating/simplifying the
strokes of certain Kanji.

Katakana: consists of the same sounds as Hiragana, but uses different
characters. Katakana is used to signify words of foreign origin. Katakana looks
more rigid and angled than hiragana.

Kanji: characters imported from China that were used to help Japan develop
a writing system. There are thousands of Kanji used in Japanese, but the first
200 learned cover about 50% of kanji use, and the first 500 cover about 70%.

Romaji: while not a traditional part of the Japanese language, Romaji
(literally meaning Roman characters) uses the alphabet to phonetically spell
out Japanese words.
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Pronounce words and write the English translation
Romaji
English
Romaji
hoteru
conpyuーtaー
resutoran
makudonarudo
takushiー
chiーzu
English
Write your name in Japanese: __________________________________
Self-Introductions

Hajimemashite. _____________ desu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
“Nice to meet you.

I am ___________.
Thank you in advance/Best
regards/I look forward to our relationship.”
3 Core Parts of Japanese Language

Basic structure is Subject-Object-Verb (SOV).

The tense comes at the end of the sentence with the verb.

Particles between regular words determine the relationship of the words.
*Note:

The subject is often implied instead of directly stated.

There are no plurals in Japanese.
Example sentence


English: “I went to the store.” The structure is SVO.

I: watashi

go: ikimasu

store: mise
went: ikimashita (past tense)
Japanese: “(Watashi wa) mise ni ikimashita.” The structure is SOV.

wa: particle that is a subject marker

ni: particle that indicates movement toward something

“Watashi wa” is often left out since it is implied that the speaker is talking
about him/herself and sometimes feels redundant if used.

Directly translated in order of the words: “I to the store went.” (Yoda speak)
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Ko/So/A/Do words

There are many sets of words that start with ko, so, a, or do that are related
in meaning.

Ko… words signal something close to the speaker

So… words signal something close to the listener

A… words signal something far from both parties

Do… words signal uncertainty or a question
One common set of ko/so/a/do words:
Another commonly used set:

kore = this

koko = here

sore = that

soko = there

are = that (over there)

asoko = over there

dore = which(?)

doko = where(?)
Desu/desuka/deshita

Desu, desuka, and deshita are ending verbs used for states/conditions.

Desu is used to make a statement in present tense.

Desuka is used to ask a question.

Deshita is used to make a statement in past tense.
The particle “wa”

The particle “wa” is used to comment on a condition. It is a topic marker.

It partly serves a similar function to “is,” “are,” “were,” “was”…

The meaning of “wa” can change slightly based on the ending of the sentence,
where tense is determined.


Example: ~ wa ~ desu = ~ is ~.

~ wa ~ deshita = ~ was ~.

~ wa ~ desuka = is ~ ~?
Example sentences with wa:

Kore wa ringo(apple) desu. = This is an apple.

Sore wa gyuunyuu(milk) desu. = That is milk.

Are wa ke-ki desu(cake). = That (over there) is a cake.

Kore wa tamago(egg) desuka? = Is this an egg?
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What is this?
Kore wa nandesuka?
What is that?
Sore wa nandesuka?
Is this ~?
Kore wa ~ desuka?
This is a ~.
Kore wa ~ desu.
That is a ~.
Sore wa ~ desu.
Romaji
A
B
pan
What is that?
This is bread.
Sore wa nandesuka?
Kore wa pan desu.
What is this?
That is a banana.
banana
Sore wa banana
orenji jyu-su
Kore wa nandesuka?
desu.
Is this orange juice?
Yes, that’s right.
Kore wa orenji
ko-hi-
ringo
bi-ru
jyu-su desuka?
Hai, soudesu.
What is this?
That is coffee.
Kore wa nandesuka?
Sore wa ko-hi- desu.
What is that?
This is an apple.
Sore wa nandesuka?
Kore wa ringo desu.
Is this coffee?
No, that’s incorrect.
Kore wa ko-hidesuka?
Iie, chigaimasu.
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Introduction to Numbers

Counting is contextual in Japanese.

The word for “one” is not always the same depending on what is counted. This
is similar to the English difference between “one” and “first.”

There are many more counting words in Japanese than in English.
Numeral
Number
(General) Counting Objects
1
Ichi
Hitotsu
2
Ni
Futatsu
3
San
Mittsu
4
Shi / Yon
Yottsu
5
Go
Itsutsu
6
Roku
Muttsu
7
Shichi / Nana
Nanatsu
8
Hachi
Yattsu
9
Kyuu
Kokonotsu
10
Jyuu
Jyukko
11
Jyuu Ichi
Jyuu Ikko
12
Jyuu Ni
Jyuu Niko
13
Jyuu San
Jyuu Sanko
20
Ni Jyuu
Ni Jyukko
21
Ni Jyuu Ichi
Ni Jyuu Ikko
22
Ni Jyuu Ni
Ni Jyuu Niko
23
Ni Jyuu San
Ni Jyuu Sanko
30
San Jyuu
San Jyukko
40
Yon Jyuu
Yon Jyukko
50
Go Jyuu
Go Jyukko
60
Roku Jyuu
Roku Jyukko
70
Nana Jyuu
Nana Jyukko
80
Hachi Jyuu
Hachi Jyukko
90
Kyuu Jyuu
Kyuu Jyukko
100
Hyaku
Hyakko
200
Ni Hyaku
Ni Hyakko
300
San Byaku
San Byakko
1,000
Sen
Senko
10,000
Man
Ichi manko
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The particle “to”
The particle “to” means “and” or “with”
Ichigo to banana
Strawberry and banana
Pan to chi-zu
Bread and cheese
Write the total price
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Tenses and Verb Conjugations

Depending on how the ending of a verb is changed, the meaning and tense
changes

Verb conjugations for go (iku) and buy (kau):

iku: (will) go

kau: to buy

ikimasu: will go (polite form)

kaimasu: will buy (polite form)

ikitai: want to go

kaitai: want to buy

ikimashita: went

kaimashita: bought

ikimasen: will not go

kaimasen: will not buy

ikimasendeshita: did not go

kaimasendeshita: did not buy

ikimashou: let’s go

kaimashou: let’s buy

ikimasuka: will you go?

kaimasuka: will you buy?
Fill in the following table for verb conjugations:
English
Present
Past
Let’s…
Want to…
Will you…?
Will not…
----------
…masu
…mashita
…mashou
…tai
…masuka
…masen
Go
Ikimasu
Go home
Kaerimasu
Eat
Drink
Ikimashou
Tabemashita
Ikitai
Ikimasuka
Kaeritai
Kaerimasuka
Tabetai
Nomimasu
Buy
Ride
Ikimashita
Ikimasen
Tabemasen
Nomimasuka
Kaimashita
Norimasu
Kaimasen
Norimashou
The particle “o”
The particle “o” is a direct object marker.
Ringo o tabemashita.
I ate an apple.
Gyuunyuu o kaimashou.
Let’s buy milk.
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The particle “ni” (for movement)
The particle “ni” has multiple uses. A common use is to indicate direction of
movement.
Kichijoji ni ikimasu.
I will go to Kichijoji.
Shinjuku ni ikitai.
I want to go to Shinjuku.
Translate to Japanese
1) I want to go to Mitaka.
2) Will you go to Shibuya?
3) I will go to Musashisakai.
4) I went to Roppongi.
5) Let’s go to Higashi Koganei.
6) I will not go to Fuchu.
Fill in the Japanese translation
How much is ~ ?
Please take care
See you next time
What is this?
Good bye
Where is (the) ~ ?
Yes, please
See you later
What time is it?
Good bye (after work) / Nice work today
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Pronouns and personal belongings
I / me
watashi
you
anata
him
kare
her
kanojo
shirt
shyatsu
pants
zubon
shoes
kutsu
socks
kutsushita
hat
boushi
jacket
jyaketto
wallet
saifu
cell phone
keitai
The particle “no” (for possession)
The particle “no” is often used to indicate possession.
Sore wa watashi no shyatsu desu.
That is my shirt.
Kore wa anata no boushi desu.
This is your hat.
Kare no saifu wa doko desuka?
Where is his wallet?
Translate to Japanese
That is my cell phone.
This is his jacket.
Where is my wallet?
That is her hat.
These are your socks.
Where is his shirt?
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Words around town
station
eki
taxi stand
takushi- noriba
convenience store
conbini
super market
su-pa-
Relative position words
North (side)
kita (gawa)
South (side)
minami (gawa)
East (side)
higashi (gawa)
West (side)
nishi (gawa)
The particle “no” (for relative positions)
The particle “no” can be used to indicate relative positions.
The particle “ni” (for location marker)
The particle “ni” can be used as a location marker.
Arimasu / Imasu
“Arimasu” is used as a verb to tell where objects / plants are located.
“Imasu” is used to as a verb to tell where people / animals are located.
Tying it together
Conbini wa eki no kita gawa ni arimasu.
The convenience store is on the
North side of the station.
Su-pa- wa eki no nishi gawa ni arimasu.
The supermarket is on the West
side of the station.
Pattern: NOUN-1 wa NOUN-2 no LOCATION ni
arimasu.
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Phrase Matching
(Yes), that’s correct
 
~ wa doko desuka?
Nice to meet you
 
~ wa ikura desuka?
(No), that’s incorrect
 
Hai, soudesu
Where is (the) ~ ?
 
Hajimemashite
Good evening
 
Iie, chigaimasu
How much is ~ ?
 
Konbanwa
What is this?
 
Konnichiwa
Yes, please
 
Kore wa ~ desu
This is a ~
 
Kore wa ~ desuka?
Hello (during the day)
 
Kore wa nandesuka?
What time is it?
 
Nanji desuka?
Is this ~ ?
 
Onegaishimasu
Excuse me
 
Sore wa ~ desu
That is a ~
 
Sou desuka?
Thanks in advance
 
Sumimasen
Is that so?
 
Wakarimasen
I don’t know / understand
 
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
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