h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Handy Japanese Phrases - A775109
Author: FritzOnline - U189296

This is a basic Japanese phrase guide, similar to many others in h2g2.

Seema pretty comprehensive to me, though no mention of the Japanese word I use most;
Kawaii-cute.

Useful stuff though.
I was told as a rule of thumb with vowels was to always hold them for one beat longer than seemed right? Seems to work with most japanese.

I thought it best to cover the basics, and leave the really cool words to be discovered. It wouldn't take a person long to learn kawaii, kakkoii (or bekkam if your hair is vaguely spiky.) I'm planning on a separate slang guide, when I get the chance.

The vowel thing. The vowels are actually shorter or longer, depending on whether it is a single or double sound eg. a in "mata" is shorter than "father" while o "ohayoo" is longer than "Yo!"

Fair enough.
Makes sense to me.

Hi Fritz,

Nice entry,

Well presented and understandable. Shame it didn't hit the front page in time to be useful to any England fans who braved the journey to the land of the rising sun.

One suggstion - I didn't see please in there anywhere. I think this is a must in any simple phrase-book. Just a thought.

Good luck with this, looks like a winner to me,

seeya
spiff

Ok, I spotted please this time! Which of the Japanese words is it, though?

Oh, and another possible addition - 'sorry'. You include 'excuse me' (twice, actually) but I'm not sure if that would suffice for a 'post-accidental-collision' situation. What do you think?

spiff

Maybe you should add the things that a tourist will hear said and what to respond.

For example, when you go into a restaurant, often the proprietor will yell out ...
IRRASSHAIMASE!___ In a loud voice scaring the tourist. Maybe you could explain what it means and what responses are proper when entering and leaving.

They should also know how to respond to the ultrapolite shopkeepers.

Other suggestions.(Please forgive my spelling, I am not formally trained in Japanese).

Taihen - danger
Gomen (Gomen nasai) - I'm sorry
Hajimemashite - Nice to meet you (first meeting)

Also, it would be helpful to know how to say,
I don't understand
That is the first thing I try to learn in any language.

Otherwise, I found it easy to read and understand.

Arigato Gozaimasu

I remember practicing my *very* limited Japanese on a couple I met on holiday. They corrected my pronounication of 'Sayonara'. I had pronounced it as I had always heard it on films 'Saiy-on-ah-ra', whereas I was told it was 'Sa-yonn-a-ra', with the emphasis on the 'yon'. Maybe this needs pointing up.

Does anyone know how long moderation takes?

What are you being moderated for?

I think it was moderated because it contained foreign phrases. It's up again, thanks to Sam for that.

It looks to me as though there are some suggestions what have not been taken up. Are you intending to amend the entry or are you happy with it as it is?

It looks like some suggestions have been included.

Excellent Entry,

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