Random 30 Japanese Flashcards
(JP)
I can’t read Hiragana or Katagana, but luckily because I speak Chinese, I’m able to read some of the Kanji characters
do you speak English?
yes, just a little
ひらがなもカタカナも読めないけど、幸い中国語を話せるから、漢字はいくつか読める。
- Hiragana mo katakana mo yomenai kedo, saiwai chuugokugo o hanaseru kara, kanji wa ikutsuka yomeru.
英語話せますか？
- Eigo hanasemasu ka?
はい、少しだけです。
- Hai, sukoshi dake desu.
- hiragana - Hiragana (Japanese syllabary)
- mo - also (used twice for “neither…nor” effect)
- katakana - Katakana (Japanese syllabary)
- mo - also
- yomenai - can’t read (negative potential form of “yomu” - to read)
** Yolanda’s merry nightingale can’t read - kedo - but (casual)
- saiwai - luckily, fortunately
- chuugokugo - Chinese language (Mandarin)
- o - object marker
- hanaseru - can speak (potential form of “hanasu” - to speak)
- kara - because
- kanji - Kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese)
- wa - topic marker
- ikutsuka - some, a few
- yomeru - can read (potential form of “yomu” - to read)
** Yolanda’s merry Russian can read - eigo - english
- hanasemasu - can speak (polite)
- ka - question marker
- hai - yes
- sukoshi - a little
- dake - just
- desu - is (polite)
(JP)
I’m just learning a few sentences online. I’m still a beginner!
or do you speak Chinese?
No I don’t!
No I don’t speak Chinese
ネットで少しだけ文を学んでるだけ。まだ初心者だよ！
- Netto de sukoshi dake bun o mananderu dake. Mada shoshinsha da yo!
それとも、中国語話せますか？
- Soretomo, Chūgokugo hanasemasu ka?
いいえ、話せません！
- Iie, hanasemasen!
いいえ、中国語は話せません。
- Iie, Chūgokugo wa hanasemasen
- netto - internet (short for “intānetto”)
- de - using / through (particle indicating means or method)
- sukoshi - a little / a few
- dake - only / just
- bun - sentences
- o - object marker particle
- mananderu - learning (continuous form of “manabu” / to learn)
** Manu Nandor and Derrick are learning - dake - just / only (emphasizing you’re only doing that)
- mada - still / yet
- shoshinsha - beginner
** Shogun Shinra shaves like a beginner - da - casual form of “desu” (used to state something)
- yo - sentence-ending particle for emphasis (adds friendliness)
- soretomo - or
- chūgokugo - Chinese (language)
- Hanasemasu - can speak (polite)
- ka - question marker
- Iie - No
- Hanasemasen - cannot speak (polite)
- wa - topic marker
(JP)
I live in vancouver, do you know this city?
do you speak English or Chinese?
Yes, a speak a little Chinese!
バンクーバーに住んでるけど、この街知ってる？
- Bankūbā ni sunderu kedo, kono machi shitteru?
英語か中国語話せますか？
- Eigo ka Chūgokugo hanasemasu ka?
はい、少し中国語が話せます！
- Hai, sukoshi Chūgokugo ga hanasemasu!
- bankūbā - Vancouver
- ni - in (particle indicating location)
- sunderu - living (casual contraction of “sundeiru”)
- kedo - but (often used casually like “you know?” or “by the way”)
- kono - this
- machi - city/town
- shitteru - know (casual form of “shitteiru”)
- Eigo - English
- ka - or
- chūgokugo - Chinese (language)
- hanasemasu - can speak (polite)
- ka - question marker
- hai - yes
- sukoshi - a little
- ga - subject marker
(JP)
do you know this city?
nice to meet you
please be kind to me, please look favorably upon me
that’s awesome! (2)
この街知ってる？
- kono machi shitteru?
はじめまして, よろしくお願いします
- Hajimemashite, Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
すごいね！半端ない！
- Sugoi ne! Hanpa nai!
- machi - town / neighborhood
(JP)
Excuse me, I don’t understand. I can only say a few things in Japanese
Do you speak any other languages?
in which city do you live?
すみません、わかりません。日本語は少ししか話せません
- Sumimasen, wakarimasen. Nihongo wa sukoshi shika hanasemasen.
他の言語を話せますか？
- Hoka no gengo o hanasemasu ka?
どの都市に住んでるの？
- Dono toshi ni sunderu no?
Sumimasen - Excuse me/I’m sorry
Wakarimasen - I don’t understand
Nihongo - Japanese language
wa - (topic marker particle)
Sukoshi - A little/few
Shika - Only/just (used with negation)
Hanasemasen - Cannot speak
(JP)
where are you from?
Nice to meet you, please be kind to me
Where did you learn Japanese?
Do you understand Japanese?
どこから来ましたか？
- Doko kara kimashita ka?
はじめまして. よろしくお願いします
- Hajimemashite, yoroshiku onegaishimasu
どこで日本語を覚えたの？
- Doko de nihongo o oboeta no?
日本語わかるの？
- Nihongo wakaru no?
どこ (Doka) means “where.”
から (kara) means “from.”
来ました (kimashita) is the past tense of 来る (kuru), which means “to come.”
か (ka) is the question marker.
(JP)
I’m German, I’m from Germany. But I live in Canada
Where are you from?
Is it true that you can speak German?
ドイツ人です。ドイツ出身ですけど、カナダに住んでいます。
- Doitsujin desu. Doitsu shusshin desu kedo, Kanada ni sunde imasu.
どこから来ましたか？
- Doko kara kimashita ka?
ドイツ語が話せるって本当ですか？
- Doitsugo ga hanaseru tte hontō desu ka?
Doitsujin desu - I’m German.
Doitsu shusshin desu - I’m from Germany.
Kedo - But
Kanada ni - In Canada
Sunde imasu - I live/am living.
(JP)
Please give me one bowl of ramen and one soft-boiled egg
I can only say a few things in Japanese.
I haven’t been to Japan yet, but I want to go!
ラーメン一つと半熟玉子を一つください。
- Rāmen hitotsu to hanjuku tamago o hitotsu kudasai.
日本語は少ししか話せません
- Nihongo wa sukoshi shika hanasemasen.
まだ日本に行ったことないけど、行ってみたい！
- Mada Nihon ni itta koto nai kedo, itte mitai!
Rāmen - Ramen
Hitotsu - One (object counter)
To - And
Hanjuku tamago - Soft-boiled egg
Wo - (object marking particle)
Hitotsu - One (object counter, repeated for the egg)
Kudasai - Please (making a request)
(JP)
I only know how to say a few things.
my Chinese is a lot better than my Japanese!
Why do you want to study Japanese?
いくつかのことしか言えないよ。
- Ikutsu ka no koto shika ienai yo.
私の中国語の方が日本語よりずっと上手だよ。
- Watashi no chūgokugo no hō ga nihongo yori zu tto jōzu da yo.
なんで日本語勉強したいの？
- Nande nihongo benkyou shitai no?
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Ikutsuka - a few
no koto - things
shika - only
ienai - can’t say
yo - (a particle used for emphasis)
no hō ga - is better (literally “the side of”)
yori - than
zutto - a lot/much
jouzu da - is good at
(JP)
are you japanese? Do you speak (formal) japanese?
That’s awesome! You can also do Japanese?
Where did you study?
日本人ですか？日本語が話せますか？
- Nihonjin desu ka? Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?
すごいね！日本語もできるか
- Sugoi ne! Nihongo mo dekiru ka?
どこで勉強したの？
- Doko de benkyō shita no?
** “ga” is more formal and can be omitted
* mo - also, too
(jp)
I’m sorry but I don’t speak Japanese
I would love to learn it in the future
that’s awesome (2)
Where did you study?
ごめんなさい、日本語が話せません。
- Gomen nasai, Nihongo ga hanasemasen
(hanasemasen - cannot speak)
将来、習いたいな。
- Shōrai, naraitai na.
すごいね！半端ない！
- Sugoi ne! Hanpa nai!
どこで勉強したの？
- Doko de benkyō shita no?
what’s your name? (JP)
My name is Manu
That’s awesome! (2)
Is it hard to learn Japanese?
名前は何ですか？
- Namae wa nan desu ka?
私はマヌです
- Watashi wa Manu desu
すごいね！半端ない！
- Sugoi ne! Hanpa nai!
日本語を覚えるのって大変？
- Nihongo o oboeru no tte taihen?
Do you speak any other languages? (JP)
Do you speak japanese?
Hello, how are you?
他の言語を話せますか？
- Hoka no gengo o hanasemasu ka?
日本語が話せますか？
- Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?
こんにちは、お元気ですか？
- Konnichiwa, ogenki desu ka?
Hello, how are you? (JP)
You can ALSO speak Japanese?
Okay, I understand!
Where did you learn Japanese?
こんにちは、お元気ですか？
- Konnichiwa, ogenki desu ka?
日本語も話せるか
- nihongo mo hanaseru ka
オッケー, 分かりました
- Okkē, wakarimashita
どこで日本語を覚えたの？
- Doko de nihongo o oboeta no?
- mo - too, also
(JP)
You can also do Japanese?
You can also speak Japanese?
I understand!
日本語もできるか
- Nihongo mo dekiru ka
日本語も話せるか
- nihongo mo hanaseru ka
分かりました - Wakarimashita
(JP)
My favorite language is Japanese. Can you speak Japanese? Can you understand Japanese?
See you later
Have you been to Japan?
俺の好きな言語は日本語.日本語しゃべれますか？日本語分かれますか。
- Ore no sukina gengo wa nihongo. Nihongo shaberemasu ka? Nihongo wakaremasu ka?
じゃあ、またね - Ja matane
日本に行ったことある？
- Nihon ni itta koto aru?
- ore - I (casual, masculine)
- no - possessive particle (“of” or “‘s”)
- sukina - favorite, liked
** Sue kisses Natalie, her favorite thing to do - gengo - language
- wa - topic particle
- nihongo - Japanese language
- shaberemasu - can speak (polite form)
- ka - question particle
- wakaremasu - can understand (polite form)
(JP)
I can understand a little bit of Japanese, but I’m not actively learning the language.
See you later
have you been to Japan?
日本語が少しわかるけど、積極的に勉強していない。
- Nihongo ga sukoshi wakaru kedo, sekkyokuteki ni benkyou shiteinai.
じゃあ、またね - Ja matane
日本に行ったことある？
- Nihon ni itta koto aru?
- ga - (subject marker)
- sukoshi - a little bit
- wakaru - understand
- kedo - but
- sekkyokuteki ni - actively
- benkyou - study/learn
- shiteinai - not doing
(jp)
in which city do you live?
I can understand a little bit of Japanese, but I’m not actively learning the language.
do you know this city?
どの都市に住んでるの？
- Dono toshi ni sunderu no?
日本語が少しわかるけど、積極的に勉強していない。
- Nihongo ga sukoshi wakaru kedo, sekkyokuteki ni benkyou shiteinai.
この街知ってる？
- kono machi shitteru?
- dono - which
- toshi - city | machi - town (smaller)
- ni - in (particle indicating location)
- sunderu - living (casual contraction of “sundeiru”)
- no - casual sentence-ending particle (adds a questioning tone)
(jp)
have you been to Japan?
Sorry, but I’m not very good at Japanese. Can you speak other languages?
日本に行ったことある？
- Nihon ni itta koto aru?
すみません、でも日本語があまり上手じゃないんです。他の言語で話せますか？
- Sumimasen, demo nihongo ga amari jōzu ja nai n desu. Hoka no gengo de hanasemasu ka?
- nihon - Japan
- ni - to (particle indicating direction)
- itta - went (past tense of “iku” - to go)
- koto - experience (used to talk about having done something)
- aru - have (indicates existence of the experience)
- not very, not much
(jp)
I have never been to Japan, but I would love to visit
in which city do you live?
まだ日本に行ったことないけど、行ってみたい！
- Mada Nihon ni itta koto nai kedo, itte mitai!
どの都市に住んでるの？
- Dono toshi ni sunderu no?
- mada - yet
- nihon - Japan
- ni - to (particle indicating direction)
- itta - went (past tense of “iku” - to go)
- koto - experience
- nai - not (negation of existence)
- kedo - but
- itte - go (te-form of “iku” used to connect with “mitai”)
- mitai - want to try (expresses the desire to try something new)
(jp)
I live in vancouver, do you know this city?
in which city do you live?
バンクーバーに住んでるけど、この街知ってる？
- Bankūbā ni sunderu kedo, kono machi shitteru?
どの都市に住んでるの？
- Dono toshi ni sunderu no?
- bankūbā - Vancouver
- ni - in (particle indicating location)
- sunderu - living (casual contraction of “sundeiru”)
- kedo - but (often used casually like “you know?” or “by the way”)
- kono - this
- machi - city/town
- shitteru - know (casual form of “shitteiru”)
- dono - which
- toshi - city
- no - casual sentence-ending particle (adds a questioning tone)
(jp)
Sorry, but I’m not very good at Japanese. Can you speak other languages?
すみません、でも日本語があまり上手じゃないんです。他の言語で話せますか？
- Sumimasen, demo nihongo ga amari jōzu ja nai n desu. Hoka no gengo de hanasemasu ka?
- sumimasen - excuse me / sorry
- demo - but
- nihongo - Japanese language
- ga - subject marker particle
- amari - really (used with negatives to mean “not very” or “not really”)
- jōzu - good/skilled
- ja nai - not (casual negation)
- n desu - adds explanation or softens the statement
- hoka - other
- no - particle linking “hoka” with “gengo” (like “of” in English)
- gengo - language
- de - in (particle indicating means or method)
- hanasemasu - can speak (polite potential form of “hanasu” - to speak)
- ka - question particle
(jp)
can you really speak German?
Excuse me but my Japanese is really bad. Can we speak in another language?
ドイツ語が話せるって本当ですか？
- Doitsugo ga hanaseru tte hontō desu ka?
すみません、でも日本語があまり上手じゃないんです。他の言語で話せますか？
- Sumimasen, demo nihongo ga amari jōzu ja nai n desu. Hoka no gengo de hanasemasu ka?
- doitsugo - German language
- ga - subject marker particle
- hanaseru - can speak (potential form of “hanasu” - to speak)
- tte - casual quoting particle (indicates reported speech or hearsay, like “I heard that…”)
- hontō - true / really
- desu - polite copula (used to make the sentence polite)
- ka - question particle (turns the sentence into a question)
(jp)
Where did you learn Japanese?
You understand Japanese?
Yes, I understand!
どこで日本語を覚えたの？
- Doko de nihongo o oboeta no?
日本語わかるの？
- Nihongo wakaru no?
はい、わかりました！
- Hai, wakarimashita!
- doko - where
- de - at/in (particle indicating location)
- nihongo - Japanese language
- o - object marker particle
- oboeta - learned/memorized (past tense of “oboeru” - to learn/remember)
** Old Bob’s ETA to have learned it all - no - casual question particle (adds curiosity)
(jp)
Where did you study?
I have never been to Japan, but I would love to visit
I understand a little bit of Japanese, but I’m not actively studying it.
どこで勉強したの？
- Doko de benkyō shita no?
まだ日本に行ったことないけど、行ってみたい！
- Mada Nihon ni itta koto nai kedo, itte mitai!
日本語が少しわかるけど、積極的に勉強していない。
- Nihongo ga sukoshi wakaru kedo, sekkyokuteki ni benkyou shiteinai.
- doko - where
- de - at/in (particle indicating location or means)
- benkyō - study
- shita - did (past tense of “suru” - to do)
- no - casual question particle (adds curiosity or a soft, friendly tone)
- mada - yet
- nihon - Japan
- ni - to (particle indicating direction)
- itta - went (past tense of “iku” - to go)
- koto - experience
- nai - not (negation of existence)
- kedo - but
- itte - go (te-form of “iku” used to connect with “mitai”)
- mitai - want to try (expresses the desire to try something new)
(jp)
I’m just learning a few sentences online. I’m still a beginner!
ネットで少しだけ文を学んでるだけ。まだ初心者だよ！
- Netto de sukoshi dake bun o mananderu dake. Mada shoshinsha da yo!
- netto - internet (short for “intānetto”)
- de - using / through (particle indicating means or method)
- sukoshi - a little / a few
- dake - only / just
- bun - sentences
- o - object marker particle
- mananderu - learning (casual contraction of “manandeiru”)
- dake - just / only (emphasizing you’re only doing that)
- mada - still / yet
- shoshinsha - beginner
- da - casual form of “desu” (used to state something)
- yo - sentence-ending particle for emphasis (adds friendliness)
(jp)
Your Japanese is good!
Thank you, that’s so kind! No, not yet!
日本語が上手ですね！
- Nihongo ga jōzu desu ne!
ありがとうございます、優しいですね！いえいえ、まだまだです！
- Arigatou gozaimasu, yasashii desu ne! Ie ie, madamada desu!
(jp)
Why do you want to study Japanese?
I’m just learning a few sentences online. I’m still a beginner!
なんで日本語勉強したいの？
- Nande nihongo benkyou shitai no?
ネットで少しだけ文を学んでるだけ。まだ初心者だよ！
- Netto de sukoshi dake bun o mananderu dake. Mada shoshinsha da yo!
- nande - why (casual)
- nihongo - Japanese language
- benkyou - study
- shitai - want to do
- no - sentence-ending particle (casual, softens the question)
(jp)
Do you find Japanese difficult?
(informal, formal)
Is it hard to learn Japanese?
Where did you learn Japanese?
日本語って難しい？日本語は難しいですか？
- Nihongo tte muzukashii? Nihongo wa muzukashii desu ka?
日本語を覚えるのって大変？
- Nihongo o oboeru no tte taihen?
どこで日本語を覚えたの？
- Doko de nihongo o oboeta no?
- nihongo - Japanese language
- tte - topic marker (casual, like “speaking of…”)
- muzukashii - difficult
- o - object marker
- oboeru - to learn, to memorize
(infinitive or future form)
(oboeta - past tense) - no - nominalizer (turns the verb into a noun phrase)
- taihen - tough, difficult, challenging
(jp)
Of course for Westerners it’s very hard to study an Asian language.
But in my opinion Japanese is much easier than Chinese, I also speak Chinese Mandarin.
Where did you learn Japanese?
もちろん、西洋人にとってアジアの言語を勉強するのはとても難しい。
- Mochiron, seiyoujin ni totte Ajia no gengo o benkyou suru no wa totemo muzukashii.
でも、私の意見では日本語は中国語よりずっと簡単だよ。中国語も話せるよ。
- Demo, watashi no iken de wa nihongo wa chuugokugo yori zutto kantan da yo. Chuugokugo mo hanaseru yo.
どこで日本語を覚えたの？
- Doko de nihongo o oboeta no?
- mochiron - of course
- seiyoujin - Westerner(s)
- ni totte - for (in terms of perspective)
- Ajia no gengo - Asian language(s)
- o - object marker
- benkyou suru - to study
- no wa - nominalizer (turning the phrase into “studying an Asian language is…”)
- totemo - very
- muzukashii - difficult
| - demo - but
- watashi no iken de wa - in my opinion
- nihongo - Japanese language
- wa - topic marker
- chuugokugo yori - than Chinese language
- zutto - much more, by far
- kantan - easy, simple
- da - informal copula (like “is”)
- yo - sentence-ending particle (adds emphasis, like “you know?”)
- chuugokugo - Chinese language (Mandarin in this context)
- mo - also
- hanaseru - can speak
- yo - sentence-ending particle (adds friendliness/emphasis)
(jp)
But in my opinion Japanese is much easier than Chinese, I also speak Chinese Mandarin.
Of course for Westerners it’s very hard to study an Asian language.
でも、私の意見では日本語は中国語よりずっと簡単だよ。中国語も話せるよ。
- Demo, watashi no iken de wa nihongo wa chuugokugo yori zutto kantan da yo. Chuugokugo mo hanaseru yo.
もちろん、西洋人にとってアジアの言語を勉強するのはとても難しい。
- Mochiron, seiyoujin ni totte Ajia no gengo o benkyou suru no wa totemo muzukashii.
- demo - but
- watashi no iken de wa - in my opinion
- nihongo - Japanese language
- wa - topic marker
- chuugokugo yori - than Chinese language
- zutto - much more, by far
- kantan - easy, simple
- da - informal copula (like “is”)
- yo - sentence-ending particle (adds emphasis, like “you know?”)
- chuugokugo - Chinese language (Mandarin in this context)
- mo - also
- hanaseru - can speak
- yo - sentence-ending particle (adds friendliness/emphasis)
(jp)
I think the pronunciation in Chinese is much harder
I find it much more difficult to speak and understand a tonal language
中国語の発音はもっと難しいと思う。
- Chuugokugo no hatsuon wa motto muzukashii to omou.
声調のある言語を話したり理解するのはずっと大変だと思う。
- Seichou no aru gengo o hanashitari rikai suru no wa zutto taihen da to omou.
- chuugokugo - Chinese language
- no - possessive particle (“of” or “in”)
- hatsuon - pronunciation
** Hat Sue online Aussprache geübt? - wa - topic marker
- motto - more
- muzukashii - difficult
- to omou - I think (casual)
- seichou - tone (as in tonal language)
- no aru - that has (describes “language”)
- gengo - language
- o - object marker
- hanashitari - speaking (implies “speaking and also other related actions”)
- rikai suru - to understand (more formal than “wakaru”)
- no wa - nominalizer (turns it into “speaking and understanding a tonal language is…”)
- zutto - much more, by far
- taihen - tough, challenging, difficult
- da - informal copula (like “is”)
- to omou - I think
(jp)
I find it much more difficult to speak and understand a tonal language
I think the pronunciation in Chinese is much harder
声調のある言語を話したり理解するのはずっと大変だと思う。
- Seichou no aru gengo o hanashitari rikai suru no wa zutto taihen da to omou.
中国語の発音はもっと難しいと思う。
- Chuugokugo no hatsuon wa motto muzukashii to omou.
- seichou - tone (as in tonal language)
- no aru - that has (describes “language”)
- gengo - language
- o - object marker
- hanashitari - speaking (implies “speaking and also other related actions”)
- rikai suru - to understand (more formal than “wakaru”)
- no wa - nominalizer (turns it into “speaking and understanding a tonal language is…”)
- zutto - much more, by far
- taihen - tough, challenging, difficult
- da - informal copula (like “is”)
- to omou - I think
(jp)
Can you read Japanese? (2)
Can you speak Chinese by the way? (informal)
日本語読める？日本語は読めますか？
- Nihongo yomeru? Nihongo wa yomemasu ka?
ところで、中国語話せる？
- Tokoro de, chuugokugo hanaseru?
- nihongo - Japanese language
- yomeru - can read (potential form of “yomu” - to read)
- tokoro de - by the way
- chuugokugo - Chinese language (Mandarin)
- hanaseru - can speak (potential form of “hanasu” - to speak)
(jp)
I can’t read Hiragana or Katagana, but luckily because I speak Chinese, I’m able to read some of the Kanji characters
ひらがなもカタカナも読めないけど、幸い中国語を話せるから、漢字はいくつか読める。
- Hiragana mo katakana mo yomenai kedo, saiwai chuugokugo o hanaseru kara, kanji wa ikutsuka yomeru.
- hiragana - Hiragana (Japanese syllabary)
- mo - also (used twice for “neither…nor” effect)
- katakana - Katakana (Japanese syllabary)
- mo - also
- yomenai - can’t read (negative potential form of “yomu” - to read)
- kedo - but (casual)
- saiwai - luckily, fortunately
- chuugokugo - Chinese language (Mandarin)
- o - object marker
- hanaseru - can speak (potential form of “hanasu” - to speak)
- kara - because
- kanji - Kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese)
- wa - topic marker
- ikutsuka - some, a few
- yomeru - can read (potential form of “yomu” - to read)
