Let's learn how to communicate in Japanese, or Nihongo as they call it, without getting into a long and involved study of grammar. In fact without any study of Japanese grammar at all!
Japanese is a very interesting language and one that not a lot of foreigners know. Usually, people learn a language with the purpose of speaking that language to a native speaker, but that doesn't have to be the main purpose for learning the Japanese language. Japanese is a language that can be learned just for itself.
Again, the conversational Japanese in this dialogue will carry on from where the previous page's conversation left off.
How it's done:
I've continued the simple beginning conversation.
As before, on the left side of the screen it's in English and on the right side of the screen is its Japanese translation as a romaji dialogue.
Practice this dialogue, in the following ten steps, until you can think of the target sentences in English and they immediately comes to you in Japanese sentences.
All of the dialogue is translated and written in romaji, except the day two conversation, which is in English only.
A note on culture to do with the language.
The Japanese, when they introduce themselves, say their surname first, followed by their first name or Christian name. As a foreigner, you don't need to do this. I think if you did, it might be confusing. Most Japanese know that in the West it's first name followed by family name.
The Japanese have a real problem pronouncing the "L." It normally comes out as an "R."
They also use a lot of English words. Think in terms of syllables, when it comes to the Japanese pronunciation. For example: Sport. We might think of this as one syllable. However, to the Japanese, it is actually three: su-po-tsu. The "po" is long. So, say it like: soo-poh-tsoo. Try practicing this on some English words, especially names.
Give each syllable a monotone pronunciation, with no emphasis.
Let's begin at step 1 and work our way through the ten step process to master this third romaji dialogue.
Practice like this:
In English1A: Is this your first trip to England? 1B: No it isn’t. I was here 10 years ago, on my honeymoon. 2A: Is that so? How long did you stay? 2B: We stayed for six days. We enjoyed it very much. you do? 3B: We visited many places. We especially enjoyed Buckingham Palace. 4A: Yes, I like Buckingham Palace too. Did you visit anywhere else? 4B: We also went to the British Museum. I also liked that very much. 5A: By the way, my name is Harry Watson. Please call me Harry. your name? 5B: Nice to meet you. My name is Kenji Susuki. Please call me Kenji. 6A: Nice to meet you. Where will you go this trip? 6B: I will visit the Lake District. 7A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will you stay for? 7B: I will stay for seven days. 8A: When will you return to Japan? 8B: After the Lake District, I will return to London and spend another two days there. I will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 9A: Well, nice talking to you. Have a nice trip. 9B: Thank you. Sayonara. |
In Romaji1A: 1B: 2A: 2B: 3A: 3B: 4A: 4B: 5A: Tokoro de, watashi no namae wa Harry Watson desu. Harry o yonde kudasi. o-namae wa nan desu ka? 5B: Susuki Kenji desu. Douzo yoroshiku. Kenji o yonde kudasai. 6A: Douzo yoroshiku. Kono ryokou wa doko ni ikimasu ka? 6B: Watashi wa Lake District ni ikimasu. 7A: Tanoshii sou desu. Totemo ii tokoro da sou desu. Itsu made taizai shimasu ka? 7B: Shichi nichi taizai shimasu. 8A: Itsu nihon ni kaerimasu ka? 8B: Watashi wa Lake District no ato de, Rondon ni kaete mou futsuka kan sugo- -shimasu. Sore kara hikouki de toukyou ni kaerimasu. 9A: 9B: |
Dialogue in English 1A: Is this your first trip to England? 1B: No it isn’t. I was here 10 years ago, on my honeymoon. 2A: Is that so? How long did you stay? 2B: We stayed for six days. We enjoyed it very much. 3B: We visited many places. We especially enjoyed Buckingham Palace. 4A: Yes, I like Buckingham Palace too. Did you visit anywhere else? 4B: We also went to the British Museum. I also liked that very much. 5A: By the way, my name is Harry Watson. Please call me Harry. 5B: Nice to meet you. My name is Kenji Susuki. Please call me Kenji. Where will you go this trip? 6B: I will visit the Lake District. 7A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will you stay for? 7B: I will stay for seven days. 8A: When will you return to Japan? 8B: After the Lake District, I will return to London and spend another two days there. I will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 9A: Well, nice talking you. Have a nice trip. 9B: Thank you. Sayonara. |
Dialogue in Romaji 1A: 1B: 2A: 2B: 3A: 3B: 4A: Watson desu. Harry o yonde kudasi. o-namae wa nan desu ka? 5B: Susuki Kenji desu. Douzo yoroshiku. Kenji o yonde kudasai. 6A: Douzo yoroshiku. Kono ryokou wa doko ni ikimasu ka? 6B: Watashi wa Lake District ni ikimasu. 7A: Tanoshii sou desu. Totemo ii tokoro da sou desu. Itsu made taizai shimasu ka? 7B: Shichi nichi taizai shimasu. 8A: Itsu nihon ni kaerimasu ka? 8B: Watashi wa Lake District no ato de, Rondon ni kaete mou futsuka kan sugoshimasu. Sore kara hikouki de toukyou ni kaerimasu. 9A: 9B: |
Important:
Let's now go on to step 2.
Step 3.
You could look at the ceiling, or
if you are doing it with a partner,
look at your partner and say it.
Step 4
Step 5.
Step 6.
5A: Is this your first trip to England?
5B: No it isn’t. I was here 10 years ago,
on my honeymoon.
6A: Is that so? How long did you stay?
6B: We stayed for six days.
We enjoyed it very much.
7A: What did you do?
7B: We visited many places.
We especially enjoyed Buckingham Palace.
8A: Yes, I like Buckingham Palace too.
Did you visit anywhere else?
8B: We also went to the British Museum.
I also liked that very much.
9A: By the way, my name is Harry Watson.
Please call me Harry.
What’s your name?
9B: Nice to meet you. My name is Kenji Susuki.
Please call me Kenji.
10A: Nice to meet you.
Where will you go this trip?
11A: I will visit the Lake District.
12A: That sounds like fun.
I have heard that it’s a very nice place.
How long will you stay for?
12B: I plan to stay for seven days.
13A: When will you return to Japan?
13B: After the Lake District, I will return
to London and spend another two
days there.
We will then catch the plane back to Tokyo.
14A: Well, nice meeting you.
Have a nice trip.
14B: Thank you. Goodbye!
Step 8. Check the above, at Step 1, to see if you said it correctly.
Step 9. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 three times.
5A: Is this
your first
trip to
England?
5B: No it isn't.
I was here
10 years ago,
on my
honeymoon.
6A: Is that so?
How long
did you stay?
6B: We stayed
for six days.
We enjoyed
it very much.
7A: What did
you do?
7B: We visited
many places.
We especially
enjoyed
Buckingham
Palace.
8A: Yes, I like
Buckingham
Palace too.
Did you visit
anywhere else?
8B: We also
went to the
British Museum.
I also
liked that
very much.
9A: By the way,
my name is
Harry Watson.
Please call
me Harry.
What’s
your name?
9B: Nice to
meet you.
My name is
Kenji Susuki.
Please call
me Kenji.
10A: Nice to
meet you.
Where will
you go
this trip?
11A: I will visit
the Lake
District.
12A: That sounds
like fun.
I have heard
that it’s a
very nice
place.
How long
will you
stay for?
12B: I plan to
stay for
seven days.
13A: When will
you return
to Japan?
13B: After the
Lake District,
I will return
to London
and spend
another two
days there.
We will then
catch the
plane back
to Tokyo.
14A: Well, nice
meeting you.
Have a
nice trip.
41B: Thank you.
Goodbye!
Step 8. Check the above, at Step 1, to see if you said it correctly.
Step 9. Repeat Steps 7 and 8 three times.
I will write the full conversation in the English section, including the substitute words.
I will also write each of these substitute Japanese words, in romaji, in the dialogue in romaji space to the right.
Step 10. Read the below third romaji dialogue, without looking at the Japanese translation.
1. Look at the first English sentence and then say the sentence in Japanese,
using the substitute word.
2. Look at the next English sentence and then say that sentence in Japanese.
3. Continue like this until the end of the dialogue.
4. Look at the above Japanese dialogue in Romaji, to check if you got it right.
In English1A: By the way, my name is Pete Brown. Please call me Pete. your name? 1B: Nice to meet you. My name is Masao Nakamura. Please call me Masao. meet you. Where will you go this trip? 2B: We will visit Oxford. 3A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will you stay for? 3B: I will stay for four days. 4A: When will you return to Japan? 4B: After Oxford, I will return to London and spend another five days there. I will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 5A: Well, nice talking to you. Have a nice trip. 5B: Thank you. Goodbye! |
In Romaji1A: ...Pete Brown... ...Pete... 1B: ...Nakamura Masao ...Masao... 2A: 2B: ...Oxford... 3A: 3B: ...yokka (This = four days)... 4A: 4B ...go... 5A: 5B: |
In English 1A: By the way, my name is Pete Brown. Please call me Pete. 1B: Nice to meet you. My name is Masao Nakamura. Please call me Masao. Where will you go this trip? 2B: We will visit the Oxford. 3A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will you stay for? 3B: I will stay for four days. 4A: When will you return to Japan? 4B: After Oxford, I will return to London and spend another five days there. I will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 5A: Well, nice talking to you. Have a nice trip. 5B: Thank you. Goodbye! |
In Romaji 1A: ...Pete Brown... ...Pete... 1B: ...Nakamura Masao ...Masao... 2A: 2B: ...Oxford... 3A: 3B: ...yokka(This = four days)... 4A: 4B ...go... 5A: 5B: |
Step 10A. Read the below third romaji dialogue, without looking at the Japanese translation.
1. Look at the first English sentence and then say the Japanese sentence.
2. Look at the next English sentence and then say that Japanese sentence.
3. Continue like this until the end of the dialogue.
4. Look at the Japanese dialogue in Romaji, to check if you got it right.
1A: By the way, my name is Bill Smith. Please call me Bill. your name? 1B: Nice to meet you. My name is Keisuke Yamada. Please call me Keisuke. meet you. Where will you go this trip? 2B: I will visit Scotland. 3A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will you stay for? 3B: I plan to stay for eight days. 4A: When will you return to Japan? 4B: After Scotland, I will return to London and spend another two days there. I will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 5A: Well, nice talking to you. Have a nice trip. 5B: Thank you. Goodbye! |
1A: ...Bill Smith... ...Bill... 1B: ...Yamada Keisuke ...Keisuke... 2A: 2B: ...Scotland... 3A: 3B: ...hachi... 4A: 4B: ...Scotland... ...ni ban... 5A: 5B: |
1A: By the way, my name is Bill Smith. Please call me Bill. 1B: Nice to meet you. My name is Keisuke Yamada. Please call me Keisuke. Where will you go this trip? 2B: I will visit Scotland. 3A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will you stay for? 3B: I plan to stay for eight days. 4A: When will you return to Japan? 4B: After Scotland, I will return to London and spend another two days there. I will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 5A: Well, nice talking to you. Have a nice trip. 5B: Thank you. Goodbye! |
1A: ...Bill Smith... ...Bill... 1B: ...Yamada Keisuke ...Keisuke... 2A: 2B: ...Scotland... 3A: 3B: ...hachi... 4A: 4B: ...Scotland... ...ni ban... 5A: 5B: |
Step 10B. Read the below third romaji dialogue, without looking at the Japanese translation.
1. Look at the first English sentence and then say the sentence in Japanese.
2. Look at the next English sentence and then say the sentence in Japanese.
3. Continue like this until the end of the dialogue.
4. Look at the Japanese dialogue in Romaji, to check if you got it right.
1A: By the way, my name is Sally Jones. Please call me Sally. your name? 1B: Nice to meet you. My name is Yuki Watanabe. Please call me Yuki. meet you. Where will you go this trip? 2B: I will visit Wales. 3A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will you stay for? 3B: I plan to stay for six days. 4A: When will you return to Japan? 4B: After Wales, I will return to London and spend another three days there. We will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 5A: Well, nice talking you. Have a nice trip. 5B: Thank you. Goodbye! |
1A: ...Sally Jones... ...Sally... 1B: ...Watanabe Yuki... ...Yuki... 2A: 2B: ...Werusu... 3A: 3B: ...roku... 4A: 4B: ...Werusu... ...san... 5A: 5B: |
1A: By the way, my name is Sally Jones. Please call me Sally. 1B: Nice to meet you. My name is Yuki Watanabe. Please call me Yuki. Where will you go this trip? 2B: I will visit the Wales. 3A: That sounds like fun. I have heard that it’s a very nice place. How long will you stay for? 3B: I plan to stay for six days. 4A: When will you return to Japan? 4B: After Wales, I will return to London and spend another three days there. We will then catch the plane back to Tokyo. 5A: Well, nice talking you. Have a nice trip. 5B: Thank you. Goodbye! |
1A: ...Sally Jones... ...Sally... 1B: ...Watanabe Yuki... ...Yuki... 2A: 2B: ...Werusu... 3A: 3B: ...roku... 4A: 4B: ...Werusu... ...san... 5A: 5B: |
You may have noticed these little prefixes to words. For example the "o" in o-namae or o-hanashi. The actual words are namae and hanashi, respectively. The "o" is called a honorific, added to make the word more polite. You will meet another one "go." Instead of ryokou, we could say "go-ryokou" to make it more polite.
If you feel confident on this third dialogue, then advance to the fourth Japanese conversation.
However, if you feel that you would like some more practice on some of the sentence patterns you met in the third romaji dialogue, then click here.
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