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Usually, the subject is placed at the beginning, and the verb at the end of the sentence.

Example: Watashi wa Nihongo ga wakarimasu.

Meaning: I / Japanese / understand

The subject (sometimes the object too) of the sentence is usually omitted when it can be clearly known from the context.

Example: (Anata wa) eigo ga wakari masuka?

Meaning: Do (you) understand English?

Particles (joshi in Japanese) are usually attached after a word to indicate the function of that word.

For example, "wa" in the following sentence indicates that "watashi (I)" is a subject, and "ga" indicates that "Nihongo (Japanese)" is an object of the verb "wakarimasu (understand)".

Watashi Nihongo wakarimasu.

*Wa and ga are the particles. Which makes the sentence means I understand Japanese.

Each particle has different functions and meanings. And some are used with the particular verbs.

When you are not sure which particle should be used, you can try to say without it like "Watashi, Nihongo, Wakarimasu.". In most cases, people will understand if the word order is correct.

You can easily make different forms by changing the end of the sentence. Word order stays the same.

Affirmative sentences normally end with "desu" or "masu".

You can assume that the sentences with the verb "be" (am, is, are...) end with "desu". And the sentences with other verbs end with "masu".

Example 1: Genki desu.

Meaning: I am well.

Example 2: Wakari masu.

Meaning: I understand.

Change "desu" into "dewa arimasen" or "ja arimasen". "ja" sounds more casual, and is used more often in daily conversation.

Change "masu" into "masen".

Example 1: Genki dewa (ja) arimasen

Meaning: I am not well.

Example 2: Wakari masen.

Meaning: I don't understand.

To make a question sentence, add "ka" at the end of the sentence.

This "ka" is pronounced with a rising intonation.

You would probably be shocked when you come to Japan and realize that the most people don't speak English.

The main reason is that what they learn in school is mostly grammatical rules and they are not trained to use it for the actual communication.

If your Japanese doesn't work, you can try to speak in English simply and slowly. Or people would understand more if you write it down on a paper.

The good news is that many nouns especially for the name of foods or drinks are English (with a bit different pronunciation). The basic rules you learn in this course plus some extra vocabulary should work pretty well.

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So, let's start!

*Are you well? - Ogenki desuka?

*Yes, I'm well. - Hai, genki desu.

*No, I'm not well. - Iie, genki dewa (ja) arimasen..

*Yes, I'm very well. - Hai, totemo genki desu.

(genki: well

"o" in front of genki is a prefix which makes the word more polite.

Genki desu.: I'm well.

Genki dewa (ja) arimasen.: I'm not well.

"ja arimasen" sounds more casual, and is used more in daily conversation.

Informal: Genki?)

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Do you understand? - Wakari masuka?

*Yes, I understand. - Hai, wakari masu.

*No, I don't understand. - Iie, wakari masen.

*I understand a little. - Sukoshi wakari masu.

*Do you understand Japanese? - Nihongo ga wakari masuka?

*Do you understand English? - Eigo ga wakari masuka?

(wakaru: to understand, to know

Wakari masu.: I understand.

Wakari masen.: I don't understand.

Wakari mashita.: I understood. (I got it. All right.)

[Nihongo] ga wakari masu.: I understand [Japanese].

ga: Particle which comes after the object. Used with the verb "wakaru".)

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Please. - Onegaishimasu.

*One more time, please. - Mōichido onegaishimasu.

*Slowly please. - Yukkuri onegaishimasu.

*Menu please. - Menyū o onegaishimasu.

(Used to ask some favor.

[Menyū] o onegaishimasu.: [Menu] please.

o: Particle which comes after the object.)

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Please. - Dōzo.

(Used to offer something. (Here you are. After you. etc.))

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One moment, please. - Chotto matte kudasai.

(chotto: a little

matte kudasai: Please wait.

Informal: Chotto matte.)

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What is it? - Nan desuka?

*What's this? (in speaker's hand) - Kore wa nan desuka?

*What is it? (in the listener's hand) - Sore wa nan desuka?

*What's that? (in the sky) - Are wa nan desuka?

([Kore] wa nan desuka?: What is [this]?

wa: Particle which comes after the subject.

kore: this (something close to you - the speaker)

sore: it (close to the person you are talking to - the listener)

are: that (some distance away from the both)

nan (nani): what)

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*What time is it? - Nanji desuka?

*What time is the departure? - Shuppatsu wa nanji desuka?

*What time is the arrival? - Tōchaku wa nanji desuka?

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Where is it? - Doko desuka?

*Where is the toilet? - Toire wa doko desuka?

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Do you have? Is there? - Ari masuka?

*Do you have vegetarian dishes? - Bejitarian ryōri wa ari masuka?

*Is there an internet cafe? - Intānetto kafe wa ari masuka?

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How much is it? - Ikura desuka?

*How much is a double room? - Daburu rūmu wa ikura desuka?

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Why is it? - Naze desuka?

(Informal: Naze? Dōshite? Nande?)

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Are you all right? - Daijōbu desuka?

*Yes, I'm all right. - Hai, daijōbu desu.

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