hasn’t it?
• Uttōshii tenki desu ne
うっとうしい天気ですね。
It’s dreary weather, isn’t it?
• Atatakaku narimashita ne
暖かくなりましたね。
It’s really warming up, isn’t it?
• li o-tenki desu ne
良いお天気ですね。
It’s beautiful weather, isn’t it?
• Atsukute, taihen desu ne
暑くてたいへんですね。
It’s awfully hot, isn’t it?
• Mushi-atsui desu ne
蒸し暑いですね。
It’s hot and humid, isn’t it?
• Ijō kishō desu ne
異常気象ですね。
This is abnormal weather, isn’t it?
1.04 Being Introduced shōkai 紹介
When meeting someone for the first time, most people use the following set expression:
• Hajimemashite. Dōzo yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.
はじめまして。どうぞよろしくお願いします。
How do you do? Pleased to meet you.
This expression points out that it is a first-time meeting and then asks for the other person’s favorable consideration. The standard reply is:
• Kochira koso. Dōzo yoroshiku.
こちらこそ。どうぞよろしく。
The pleasure’s mine. Glad to meet you.
1.05 Saying Goodbye wakareru 別れる
Sayōnara
さようなら
Goodbye (lit. If it must be so)
Unfortunately, this famous and romantic farewell is not used so much. Although schoolchildren are taught to say Sayōnara to their teachers at the end of the school day, adults don’t usually use it in ordinary situations. Sayōnara is mostly used between friends when they are parting for a long time; for example, when they are seeing someone off who is moving away.
Shitsurei shimashita
失ネししました
Goodbye (lit. I have imposed)
This polite phrase is used in business situations, at social gatherings, or when leaving someone’s home.
Mata ne! またね Ja ne! じやね See you! Bye!
This is how friends say goodbye. Variations include Mataashita また明曰 See you tomorrow; Mata raishū Iまた来週 See you next week; and じや一また. Ja mata.
Baibai ハイハイ Bye-bye
Used by young people, especially children.
Gochisō-sama deshita ごちそうさまでした
Thank you. It was delicious
You say this as soon as you’ve finished eating but it’s often repeated when saying goodbye to someone who has treated you to a meal (or even to just a cup of tea). You can also say it to restaurant staff when leaving the premises.
O-yasumi-nasai おやすみなさい
Good night
Frequently used also on the phone, this is how friends and family say good night. It’s not used, however, when you leave work; it would imply that those remaining at the office would sleep there until morning! Use O-saki ni instead.
O-saki ni お先に
Goodbye (lit. Excuse me for going ahead of you)
This expression (the more polite form is O-saki ni shitsurei shimasu お先に失礼します) is used when leaving a group of friends or colleagues. The appropriate response in work situations would be O-tsukare-sama deshita お疲れ様でした Goodbye. Thank you for your help.
Itte kimasu ネ亍ってきます
Goodbye. I’m off! (lit. I’ll go and come back)
This phrase, whose more polite form is Itte mairimasu 行ってまいります, is used when leaving home. It’s also used during working hours when people temporarily leave their offices. The appropriate response by those remaining would be Itte’ rasshai 行ってら っしやい, (lit. Go and come back).
O-daiji ni お大事に
Take care of your health
This friendly phrase is used when taking leave of the elderly or of someone who is sick or injured.
Go-kigen yō ごきげんよう
Farewell
This can sound either refined or affected depending on the circumstances. Although people rarely say this, it’s occasionally still heard at the end of television shows.
Ja, ki o tsukete じや、気をつけて
Take care
This casual farewell phrase is used between friends. More polite, but still friendly, equivalents are O-ki o tsukete お気をつけて and O-genki de お元気で.
1.06 Expressing Gratitude kansha 感謝
There are several ways to say “thank you”, from informal to very polite. They are:
Arigatō ありがどう
Dōmo arigatō どうもありがどう
Arigatō gozaimasu ありがどうございます, and
Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu どうもありがどうございます.
You can also use the past tense gozaimashita. As a general rule, when the action is happening or will happen, say Arigatō gozaimasu, for example, when you are being handed a present. When the action is completed, say Arigatō gozaimashita, for example, when you have received a present in the mail and are thanking the sender by phone. An appropriate response is Dō itashimashite どういたし まして You’re welcome, or Kochira koso こちらこそ On the contrary, let me thank you.
Sumimasen すみません
Thank you
This is an apology but is often used to thank someone when you’ve put them to some trouble. Similar expressions include: O-tesū o kakemashita お手数を掛けました and ご迷惑をかけました Go-meiwaku o kakemashita. In response, say Dō itashimashite どういたしまして You’re welcome, or O-kamai naku おかまいなく No worries.
O-sewa ni narimashita お世話になりました
I’m obliged to you
This is the best way to thank someone who has spent time helping you. When you want to thank someone who has shown you around, say something like:
• O-sewa ni narimashita. Go-annai itadaite, yokatta desu.
お世話になりました。ご案内いただいて、よかったです。
Thank you very much for all your kindness. It was great having you take us around.
Tasukarimashita