A.
K(ì)tami: Ohayoo gozaimàs(u)/gozaimaas(u).
Guurudo: Ohayoo gozaimàs(u)/gozaimaas(u). Kyòo wa suzushìi desu nee.
K(i)tami: Ee, soo desu nee. Moo sùgu àki desu nee.
Guurudo: Ee, sugu samui fuyu ga kimasu nee.
## People often talk about weather in a small talk.
B.
Rafòndo: Tooi-sàn, shibàraku desh(i)ta. Ogènki des(u) ka?/
Tooi: Gobusata-shimàsh(i)ta. Okage-sama de gènki des(u). Rafòndo-san wa./
Rafondo: Arìgatoo gozaimas(u). Shigoto ga isogashìi desu ga, gènki des(u).
Tooi: Sòo des(u) ka. Watashi mo ìma totemo isogashìi des(u).
C.
Genda: Chèn-san, o-dekake dès(u) ka?/
Chèn: Èe, chòtto sanpo ni.
Genda: Sòo des(u) ka. Itte (i)rasshai/rasshaai.
Chen: Itte kimas(u)/kimaas(u).
## Asking a routine question like this is not considred nosy but polite. It is not a real
question, so the reply is also vague with chotto.
D.
Nakano: Mòi-san, Nihongo no benkyoo dès(u) ka?/
Mòi: Èe, ash(i)ta tès(u)to ga arimas(u).
Nakano: Sore wa taihen dèsu nee. Ganbàtte kudasai.
Moi: Arìgatoo gozaimas(u). Ganbarimàs(u)/Ganbarimaas(u).
## The first question is an opener for conversation, not a real question.
Ganbatte kudasai is probably the most commonly used pep talk expression.
E.
Satomi: Nàni o tabemàs(u) ka?/
Shìn: Tenpura o tabemàs(u). Satomi-san wa?/
Satomi: Watashi wa sùshi/s(u)shì o tabemas(u).
Shin: Jàa, watashi mo sùshi/sushì o tabemas(u).
[Vocabulary]
kyòo today
suzushìi cool
moo sùgu very soon
àki autumn, fall
samùi cold
fuyù winter
kimàs(u) come
shibàraku for a long time
gobusata-shimàs(u) neglect to contact
shigoto work
isogashìi busy
mo also, too
ìma now
totemo very
o-dekake going out
chòtto a little bit
sanpo going for a walk
Nihongo the Japanese language
benkyoo study
ash(i)tà tomorrow
tès(u)to test
arimàs(u) there is, have
sore that (on the hearer's side)
taihen tough, hard
Ganbàtte (kudasai). Good luck!
ganbarimàs(u) do one's best
nàni what
tabemàs(u) eat
tenpura tempura
s(u)shì or sùshi sushi
© Norio Ota 2009
