ドイツ語（ご）
French
Furansu-go
フランス語（ご）
Indonesian
Indoneshia-go
インドネシア語（ご）
Italian
Itaria-go
イタリア語（ご）
Korean
Kankoku-go
韓国語（かんこくご）
Portuguese
Porutogaru-go
ポルトガル語（ご）
Russian
Roshia-go
ロシア語（ご）
Spanish
Supein-go
スペイン語（ご）
Thai
Tai-go
タイ語（ご）
CHAPTER 2
What’s What
Over half of what we say in English is made up of fewer than fifty words. It’s the same in Japanese. Just by learning the following words and phrases, you’ll be able to make hundreds of different sentences. And remember, to make a question, add -ka to the end of a sentence with a rising intonation.
WORDS & EXPRESSIONS
this
kore
これ
[subject particle]
wa
は
Shinto shrine
jinja
神社（じんじゃ）
is; am; are
dess
です
that
are
あれ
Buddhist temple
o-tera
お寺（てら）
the Kabuki Theater
Kabuki-za
歌舞伎座（かぶきざ）
Kabuki
Kabuki
歌舞伎（かぶき）
yes
hai
はい
that’s right
sō dess
そうです
no
iie
いいえ
isn’t; am not; aren’t
dewa arimasen
ではありません
woodblock print
hanga
版画（はんが）
what
nan(i)
何（なん、なに）
Shinto shrine archway
torii
鳥居（とりい）
the Imperial Palace
Kōkyo
皇居（こうきょ）
castle
o-shiro
お城（しろ）
bonsai (miniature potted tree or shrub)
bonsai
盆栽（ぼんさい）
wind chime
fūrin
風鈴（ふうりん）
EXAMPLES
This is a Shinto shrine.
Kore wa jinja dess.
これは神社（じんじゃ）です｡
That is a Buddhist temple.
Are wa o-tera dess.
あれはお寺（てら）です｡
Is that the Kabuki Theater?
Are wa Kabuki-za dess ka?
あれは歌舞伎座（かぶきざ）ですか？
Yes, it is.
Hai, sō dess.
はい、そうです｡
What’s this?
Kore wa nan dess ka?
これは何（なん）ですか？
This is a Shinto shrine archway.
Kore wa torii dess.
これは鳥居（とりい）です｡
Is this the Imperial Palace?
Kore wa Kōkyo dess ka?
これは皇居（こうきょ）ですか？
Is that a castle?
Are wa o-shiro dess ka?
あれはお城（しろ）ですか？
This is a bonsai.
Kore wa bonsai dess.
これは盆栽（ぼんさい）です｡
That isn’t a wind chime.
Are wa fūrin dewa arimasen.
あれは風鈴（ふうりん）ではありません。
SHRINES AND TEMPLES
What’s the difference between a shrine and a temple? Shrines are worship grounds for Shinto, a religion that originated in Japan. Temples are places of worship for Buddhism, which originally came from India. In some places in Japan, shrines and temples stand side by side.
A shrine can be identified by a torii, an arch made of two crossbeams supported by two pillars. The torii represents the union of man and woman and marks the entrance to the shrine grounds. At a temple, you can always find a statue of a Buddha inside one of the buildings.
EXPRESSIONS IN CONTEXT
A: What’s this?
Kore wa nan dess ka?
これは何（なん）ですか？
B: