(na)
Learning from the Dialogues
“AH!” USING Ě
Ě with a rising intonation is used when the listener is not able to catch clearly what is said or when the listener cannot believe what is said.
It is similar to English “Eh,” “Oh” or “Huh” indicating surprise.
| Ⓜ : | Ǎ, Tanaka-san! | Ah, it’s Mr. Tanaka! |
| Ě, dare? | Who? Who is it? |
“OH!” THE INTERJECTIONS WĀ, Ō, AND MĀ
These words—Wā, Ō, and Mā—are used to express great surprise or admiration. But notice that Mā is used only by women.
| Wā, kirei! | Wow, it’s beautiful! |
| Ō, subarashii! | Oh boy, it’s fantastic! |
| Mā, suteki! | Oh, how lovely! |
USING ARA/ARE
Ara and Are indicate surprise or wonder. But Ara is used only by women; men (or younger women) prefer to use Are.
| Ara, ame! | Oh my, it’s raining! |
| Are, mata denwa ka? Ⓜ | What, the phone again? |
USING HORA
Hora is a word which is used to gain someone’s attention or to confirm something with someone. The meaning is equivalent to “Look,” “There,” or “Listen” in English.
| Hora, asoko! | Look! Over there! |
| Hora, kita! | Here it comes! |
Formal and Informal Japanese: Understanding the Difference
In Japanese there are two different speech styles: formal (polite) and informal (plain). This is true in English also to some degree; in English you use different expressions and vocabulary when speaking to a distinguished person, compared to when you speak to your family and friends. But in Japanese the differences between the two speaking styles are much greater than in English.
Many different words are added or used when speaking more formal Japanese to a respected person, and it is expected that any older person will be addressed in this way. Women are also expected to address men using more formal speech, and in general men and women tend to use different sets of expressions.
If a desu or masu form of a verb is used at the end of a sentence, it indicates a formal speech style. This polite style is used when talking with strangers, with people older than you or with people of a higher social status. (Of course, other even more polite expressions will be used in business or offi cial situations.)
In contrast, the informal speech style doesn’t use desu or masu at the end of a sentence. The informal style is a plain form of expression used when speaking to close friends, with family members, with people younger than you or with people of a lower social status. (For beginners in Japanese, of course, the idea of “a lower social status” is going to be tricky. If one is unfamiliar with Japan and Japanese society, it is difficult to determine one’s place in the social hierarchy.)
Read the following examples and say the following English expressions in both formal and informal Japanese. Notice the difference?
| ENGLISH EXPRESSIONS | FORMAL JAPANESE | INFORMAL JAPANESE |
| 1. I’m a student. | Boku wa gakusei desu. | Boku wa gakusei da. |
| 2. This is cheap. | Kore wa yasui desu. | Kore wa yasui. |
| 3. Are you going to school? | Gakkō e ikimasu ka? | Gakkō e iku? |
Words: gakusei (student); yasui (cheap); gakkō (school); iku (to go)
The informal style, which you’re learning in this book, is the way that people actually talk in casual situations. Knowing it will help you fit more naturally into Japanese society. When you chat with others, go out to a movie with Japanese friends, and so on, you can contribute to conversations and be part of the friendly atmosphere by using informal Japanese.
Practice
Answer the following questions.
1. What’s the meaning of the term “interjection”? (list 3 characteristics)
a) _______________________________
b) _______________________________
c) _______________________________
2. What does the informal speech style mean? (list 2 characteristics)
a) _______________________________
b) _______________________________
Chapter 3
Excuse Me, …?
Short Dialogues
| FEMININE | MASCULINE | ||
| 1. | Anō, chotto? Hai. | Anō, chotto? Hai. | Excuse me, sir/ma’am? Yes. |
| 2. | Nē, kore nani? Nandemo nai. | Oi, kore nani? Nandemo nai. | Listen, what’s this? Nothing. |
| 3. | Ara, genki? Ē, genki. Anata wa? | Ǎ, genki? Un, genki. Kimi wa? | Oh! How’re you? I’m all right. And you? |
| 4. | Sā, kaerō! Mō sonna jikan! | Sā, kaerō! Mō sonna jikan! | Okay, let’s go home! Wow! Is that the time already! (Look at the time!) |
Shaded items: Check the “Learning from the Dialogues” section in this chapter to learn more about these.
Vocabulary