| |
Now, I’ve been known to study a language or two in my day, and I really enjoy learning to communicate in a foreign language. However, where my Japanese studies were concerned, I wasn’t as diligent as I normally would have been, knowing that I would be in the competent hands of Japanese speakers for the duration of my stay. I did manage to learn a couple dozen phrases of the "where is the toilet?" variety, but after a few days I realized that I could get by with two all-important phrases: "yes" and "thank you". If you find yourself in Japan for a week or so, and you happen to have Japanese speakers present to do the little things like order your food and make all of your hotel reservations, you too can get by with these phrases and a frequent bow.
Hai - yes
I always say this as if there's a permanent exclamation mark attached to the end (Hai!). When in doubt, say "yes", that’s my motto. It wasn't until my fourth or fifth day in Japan that I even asked Patrick how to say "no", and I don’t think I ever heard the word uttered by anyone the entire time I was there (as opposed to, say, in France, where it's practically a national pastime to deny you everything you need or desire). Apparently saying "no" in Japan is a bit too direct, so it doesn't really need to be included in any traveler's set of language flashcards.
Arigato gozaimasu - thank you
I spent a lot of time thanking people in Japan. I don't consider myself an unusually prolific thanker in everyday life, but when your whole vocabulary consists of two phrases, you tend to repeat back what someone just said to you, and the Japanese seem to be very thankful. It's especially effective if you accompany it with a little bow. Patrick tells me that the Japanese even bow when they're talking on the phone, which I think is just adorable. I noticed that after just a week in Japan, I was bowing to the U.S. customs officials when I returned to the States, so it might be habit-forming.
Note: arigato gozaimasu should not be confused with ohayo gozaimasu. They sound similar, I know, but one means "good morning", which is in fact entirely different, particularly if you say it to a waiter after he's served you dessert.
Also, you should know that it's easy to get caught in a vicious circle of Hai!s and arigato gozaimasus if you're not cafeful. You say Hai! and bow, they say Hai! and bow, you say Hai! and bow... etc. It's funny in a Marx Brothers sort of way, but it can turn awkward rather quickly.
Here are some other phrases you might find useful (you know, if you really feel like these two phrases aren't enough):
- sumimasen - excuse me
- irashaimase - welcome (you'll hear this as you enter any shop or small restaurant)
- wakarimasen - I don't understand (a blank look will communicate this just as well)
- beer onegai shimasu - beer please!
Interestingly, this also about covers the phrases I know in Spanish. I'm multi-lingual!
|
|
verbal