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日本語の勉強

A must for all Japanese learners! 11 Japanese words often used when making requests　

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Hi there. The number of people infected with the coronavirus is decreasing in Japan now, and we are gradually getting back to normal lives. However, there still is a fear that the virus may recur again, so it seems that we have to stay/work home for a little longer…

This time, I have compiled a list of eleven Japanese expressions that are often used when making requests. When using Japanese, it is important to learn how to phrase things in a way that is considerate of the others.

So, when making a request, don’t directly say, “Do it for me”. When making a request, it is normal to add preface words before making the request with something like, “I’m sorry to bother, but could you -?”

Let’s learn how to request in Japanese, and practice so that you can communicate naturally!

Before learning them… regarding request expressions

When making a request to someone who is close to you, or to someone who does not require much consideration,

「～て」（～te）is used at the end.

Example:
パソコンの使い方を教えて。
（Pasokon no tsukaikata wo oshie te)
Teach me how to use the computer.

When giving instructions or making a request to a colleague or subordinate at work,

「～てください」（~te kudasai) is used at the end. 

Example sentence:
パソコンの使い方を教えてください。
（Pasokon no tsukaikata wo oshie te kudasai)
Please teach me how to use the computer.

If you want to be polite to your boss or other people「～てくださいませんか」”~te kudasai masenka” is used at the end.

Example:
パソコンの使い方を教えてくださいませんか？
（Pasokon no tsukaikata wo oshie te kudasai masenka)
Would you please teach me how to use the computer?

11 Preface words often used when making a request

3 casual expressions

1.悪いんだけど、（Waruindakedo)
I’m sorry,

2.ごめん、(Gomen)
I’m sorry,

3.あのね、(Anone)
I have a favor to ask you,

*Gomen is also used to apologize and Anone is also used when explaining something.

Example sentence:
悪いんだけど、パソコンの使い方を教えて。
(Waruindakedo, Pasokon no tsukaikata wo oshiete)
Sorry, but can you teach me how to use the computer?

8 polite expressions

4.すみませんが、(Sumimasenga)
Excuse me,

5.恐れ入りますが、(Osoreirimasuga)
Excuse me,

6.恐縮ですが、(Kyoushukudesuga)
Excuse me,

7.お手数ですが、(Otesuudesuga)
Sorry to trouble you,

8.申し訳ございませんが、(Moushiwake gozaimasenga)
I’m really sorry, but

9.ご迷惑かとは存じますが、(Gomeiwaku katowa zonzimasuga)
I know it might be annoying,

10.お忙しいところ申し訳ありませんが、(Oisogashiitokoro Moushiwakearimasenga)
I’m sorry to bother you,

11.ご都合の良い時で構いませんが、(Gotsugouno yoitokide kamaimasenga)
I’d appreciate it if you could help this when you are free,

Example:
すみませんが、パソコンの使い方を教えてください。
(Sumimasenga, Pasokon no tsukaikata wo oshie te kudasai)
I’m sorry to bother, but please teach me how to use the computer.

There are many other expressions that can be used, but if you know the phrases listed here, you will have no problem carrying on/understanding conversations. If you like watching anime/comics, I recommend that you check how the characters change the way they request according to the situation/based on whom they are requesting to. On a side note, in many Asian countries including Japan, people often put hands together  to express gratitude, but in Japan this is also done when making a request. 

Enjoy learning Japanese! 
Taka

7 useful phrases to cheer someone up in Japanese

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Good friends and families support one another. It’s always good to encourage and cheer up each other especially when we are in a difficult situation. Here are 7 most common and useful phrases to cheer someone up in Japanese. 

1.頑張って!
Ganbatte! 
(Good luck!/ Keep it up!/ Do your best!)

This is one of the most common ways to cheer someone up.
頑張る(Ganbaru) means to try. If you would like to be a bit more polite, you can add ください (kudasai) at the end and say 頑張ってください(Ganbatte kudasai). And if you would like to say “Let’s do our best” to your colleagues or friends working together, 頑張ろう(Ganbarou) can be used.

2.幸運を祈ります　
Kouun wo inori masu
(Best of luck to you/I’ll keep my fingers crossed)

This is a very formal way of wishing someone’s luck. 幸運(Kouun) means good luck, and 祈ります (Inorimasu) means “I pray”. Together, the phrase means “I pray for your good luck/Best of luck to you”.

3.大丈夫ですよ
Daijoubu desuyo
(It will be alright/You’ll be OK)

大丈夫(Daijoubu) means “Alright”. You can add certainty to it by saying よ(Yo) at the end. Another way of saying it is 大丈夫だよ(Daoijoubu dayo), or you could simply say 大丈夫.

4.考えすぎないで
Kangae suginaide
(Don’t think/worry too much)

考える(Kangaeru) means to think, and 考えすぎる(Kangae sugiru) is to think too much. To make it a negative sentence, 〜ない(nai) can be added. で(de) at the end is like saying, “Please”.

5.元気を出して
Genki wo dashite 
(Cheer up)

It is often said to someone who’s feeling down to cheer him/her up.

6.応援しています
Ouen shiteimasu 
(I’m cheering you on)

応援(Ouen) is to cheer. 〜しています(shiteimasu) means “I’m -ing”. The phrase can be used to cheer up your friends and many fans of idols/athletes use this to tell that they are rooting for them.

7.あきらめないで
Akirame naide
(Never give up)

あきらめる(Akirameri) means to quit or give up. By adding 〜ないで(Naide/Do not) at the end, you can get the phrase “Never give up” .

There is another useful phrase, which is 気をつけて(Kiwotsukete/Be careful)

This phrase is often used with 〜に (Ni) right infront to specify what to be careful. For example, you could say 風邪に気をつけて(Kaze ni kiwotsukete), which means be careful of the cold/Don’t catch a cold (風邪 means cold). So if you would like to say, “Be careful of the coronavirus”, you could say コロナウィルスに気をつけて(Coronavirus ni kiwotsukete).

Thank you for reading today’s post. 
See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.

8 ways to say Hi in Japanese (Formal and Informal)

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If you want to start a conversation in Japanese, you need to know how to greet in Japanese! Here are the most common ways to say Hi in Japanese in informal and formal ways. Words are very short and easy to memorize, so have fun learning and greeting!

Very casual

Here are some very casual words for greeting. Some of them are informal slang and you might be surprised to know how short the words are. If you have some close friends, it will be cool to communicate using them.

1.やあ (Yaa)

It is used casually between friends especially when you want to say like, “Hi, I’m here/I just got here”.

2.おす(Osu)

It is like saying “Hey!” . It is a slang to greet other guys so girls don’t use this word and guys don’t usually say it to girls.

3.どうも(Doumo)

Depending on the situation, the meaning of this word changes. It could mean hello, good-bye, thank you, very much, somehow, just.

・In greetings

A:やあ (Yaa)     B: やあ、どうも(Yaa, Doumo) 
(A:Hi.       B:Hi, how are you?)

A:お先に失礼します(Osakini shitsurei shimasu)     B:どうも(Doumo)
(A:I’m leaving ahead of you.   B:Good-bye)

・To say thanks

A:これ、どうぞ (Kore, Douzo)     B:あー、どうも(Ah, Doumo)
(A:This is for you. B:Ah,Thanks.)

・To say “Very”

A:遅れて、どうもすみません。   B:大丈夫です（Daijobu desu)
(A:I’m very sorry to be late. B:It’s OK)

A:親切にどうもありがとうございます。
(Shinsetsu ni doumo arigatougozaimasu)　
B:とんでもないです（Tondemo nai desu)
(A:Thank you very much for your kindness.   B:It’s nothing)

・Used with negative

どうも理解できません。(Doumo rikai dekimasen)
(I just can’t understand)

どうもあの人は気に入らない。(Doumo ano hito wa kiniiranai)
(I don’t like that person somehow)

4.よー/よっ(Yoo/Yo)

These are used to get someone’s attention and the meaning is the same as in English. It is common for guys to greet friends saying like this but some girls also use them. 

Casual

5.元気ですか？元気？(Genki desuka?/Genki?)

These are the most common ways to say “How are you?”.
If you just say “Genki?”, it gets more informal than saying “Genki desuka?”. They are used between friends or someone close to you, and not to your boss. To ask “How are things going?” ,we say
調子はどうですか? (Chousi wa dou desu ka).

元気ですか?/元気?
調子はどうですか？

Formal

6.おはようございます/おはよう
(Ohayou Gozaimasu/Ohayou)

7.こんにちは (Konnichiwa)

8.こんばんは(Konbanwa)

I think every Japanese learner knows these famous words. 
They are all formal and mean “Good morning/Good afternoon/Good evening”. People often say just “おはよう(Ohayou)” to greet a little more casually. The time when you use Konnichiwa and Konbanwa is different depending on the person. Some people use Konnichiwa at all times (Even in the morning) and Ohayou Gozaimasu in the evening. This is because the kind of job he/she has. If the person starts work very early, they feel that the morning time is afternoon. And if the person wakes up in the afternoon and starts working in the evening (like at a nightclub), evening time is morning for him/her.

In addition to those common words ahove, the phrase we use when starting a conversation on the phone is もしもし (Moshi moshi), meaning “Hello?(Are you there?)”, and we use お久しぶりです/久しぶり (Ohisashiburi desu/Hisashiburi) to say hello to someone you have not met for some time. 
It’s really fun to learn a different language, isn’t it?

もしもし
お久しぶりです/久しぶり

Thank you for reading today’s post. 
See you next time!
Taka

*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.