1-3 Introductions and Professions

Question 1

Excuse me. What’s your name? [lit: As for name?]

Answer 1

Sumimasen. O-namae wa?

Question 2

Hello. Nice to meet you. (when meeting someone for first time)

Answer 2

Hajimemashite. Doozo yoroshiku.

Question 3

Nice to meet you, too

Answer 3

KochiraKOso yoroshiku.

Question 4

I’m not Ichiro Tanaka. I’m Ichiro Suzuki.

Answer 4

Watashi wa Tanaka Ichiroo dewa arimasen. Suzuki Ichiroo desu.

Question 5

No, I’m not from America. I’m from Canada.

Answer 5

Iie. Amerika kara dewa arimasen. Kanada kara desu.

Question 6

I’m not American. I’m Canadian.

Answer 6

Watashi wa Amerikajin dewa arimasen. Kanadajin desu.

Question 7

We are Japanese. We speak Japanese.

Answer 7

Watashitachi wa nihonjin desu. Nihongo o hanashimasu.

Question 8

This is my wife Nozomi.

Answer 8

Kochira wa tsuma no Nozomi desu.

Question 9

This is my husband Randy.

Answer 9

Kochira wa otto no Randy desu.

Question 10

This is my friend, Mr. (Mrs., Ms., Miss) Sato.

Answer 10

Kochira wa tomodachi no Satoo san desu.

Question 11

What is your home country (nationality)? [lit: As for country?]

Answer 11

O-kuni wa?

Question 12

Excuse me for asking, but what do you do for a living? [lit: As for work?]

Answer 12

Shitsuree desu ga, o-shigoto wa? [more polite than “sumimasen . . .”]

Question 13

Who is the person with you?

Answer 13

Sochira wa, donata desu ka? [lit: As for that person, who is it? “Donata” is polite form of “dare,” meaning who or whom.]

Question 14

I am not a student. I am a company employee.

Answer 14

Watashi wa gakusee dewa arimasen. Kaishain desu.

Question 15

Is your husband a medical doctor?

Answer 15

Goshujin wa isha desu ka? [Use “goshujin” to refer to someone else’s husband. Use “otto’ to refer to own husband.]

Question 16

I am a teacher.

Answer 16

Watashi wa kyooshi desu. [Use “kyooshi” to refer to yourself or a family member who is a teacher. Use “sensee” to address a teacher or to refer to a third-person teacher respectfully.]

Question 17

My wife is a teacher, too.

Answer 17

Tsuma mo kyooshi desu. [Particle “mo” in place of “wa” means also, too, or either.]

Question 18

Is your wife a teacher, too?

Answer 18

Okusan mo sensee desu ka?

Question 19

Yes, she is. I’m an English teacher. My wife is a Japanese teacher.

Answer 19

Hai, soo desu. Watashi wa eego kyooshi desu. Tsuma wa nihongo kyooshi desu.

Question 20

No, she is not. My wife is a store clerk.

Answer 20

IIe, soo dewa arimasen. Tsuma wa ten-in desu.

Question 21

Is Mr. Tanaka an engineer or a computer programmer?

Answer 21

Tanaka san wa enjinia desu ka, puroguramaa desu ka?

Question 22

Mr. Tanaka? He’s an engineer.

Answer 22

Tanaka san desu ka? Enjinia desu.

Question 23

Hello. My name is Tom Smith. I’m a computer programmer. I come from Canada. Nice to meet you.

Answer 23

Hajimemashite. Watashi wa tomu sumisu desu. Puroguramaa desu. Kanada kara kimashita. Doozo yoroshiku.