Language lessons

[cjsmith]

Anybody know any of these in Japanese? As usual, after arrival I am figuring out what it was I should have learned before departure.

"eat in" or "eat here"
"take out"
"more"
"less"
"with"
"without"
"how do you say __________ in Japanese?" (where ________ is probably pointing to an object)

Thanks!!

Comments

[visgoth.livejournal.com]

I can offer no help, but the subject made me think, "'Language lessons...' Inspired words from a man who knows how to ski."

And that made me happy, despite the fact I have to leave for work in a half hour. Better Off Dead was such a great movie.

[sandpanther.livejournal.com]

"eat in" = "koko de tabemasu"
"take out" = "mochikaeru" or just "taku outto"

"more" and "less" really depend on the context. I'm assuming food, so I'd use "motto" for "more" and "kekkou desu" or "ii desu" for "less". (Just saying "less" is a little weird.)

"with" will really depend on the situation. Probably the most likely would be "xxx to", where xxx = what you want with. If you're meaning someone going along with you, then use "isshou ni"

"without" would probably be "nashi de"

"how do you say ______ in Japanese" = "Nihongo de ________ o dou iimasu ka?"


When and where are you going?

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

"koko de tabemasu"

Wow, I should be recognizing that one! Is that how it's said by folk selling you a sandwich? I'm totally not picking that out so far. Now that I'm listening for it I may actually get it.

"mochikaeru"

AWESOME. Thank you. I'll definitely be using this. It's embarrassing to be able to do almost all of the transaction in my halting Japanese and then have to switch to English to say "take out"!

"nashi de"

Thanks again! Would I use this with food, too? This noodle dish without the fish flakes?

When and where are you going?

Tokyo, from yesterday until about April 5. We're working two weekends and the rest of the time we're bumbling around the city. Thank goodness we've been here before. It's somehow easier being functionally illiterate the second time around. :)

[sandpanther.livejournal.com]

"koko de tabemasu"

Eh, I'm totally braindead this week. They would probably say "koko de meshi agarimasu ka". It's the more polite form of "tabemasu". (I better get my brains together soon, since I'm going in three weeks, and would like to pretend at least some proficiency with the language...)

"nashi de"

Yup, you would use this with food. So if you want oyako donburi with no egg, you would order "oyakodon, tamago nashi de". (They will then look at you really funny, since why would you order oyakodon if you didn't want the egg. But at least they'd do it!)

If you're in the Tokyo area until April 5, you might be interested in checking out the Kanamara Festival (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanamara_Matsuri) It's in Kawasaki (just outside Tokyo) on April 4.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Excellent. Thanks! I can say "sakana nashi de" all day and have a pretty good shot at being able to eat stuff. :)

April 4 we're on stage all day, sadly. That festival looks like it's a must see! Wow!

[zarex.livejournal.com]

Have a great time. Japan is my favorite country to visit, and have had a wonderful time every visit.

And you're just in time for cherry blossoms!

One tip - the best sushi I found in Tokyo. A couple of business colleagues took me there. It's in the lower level in a neighborhood on the edge of Harajuku. It's run by a sweet old lady who will take good care of you. She doesn't speak english, but it doesn't matter.

Here's the map!



Also the gardens at Ueno during cherry blossom season.

Wow, I really want to go back now. *jealous*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

We just went to Ueno, and apparently cherry blossom season is next week. Boy are they gearing up for something, too. There are massive temporary trash/recycling bins, arrows painted all over the ground, and people apparently camping out along the sides of the walkways. Is there some huge event at Ueno Park during cherry blossom season?

[zarex.livejournal.com]

Droves of people turn out, and the trees are spectacular. Thousands wander around enjoying them. The rest of the park (everywhere) is lined with stalls for japanese-style carnival food, trinkets, and similar stuff. It's like a big country fair. You might want to check late in the week, it's possible things will start early.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ooo, that sounds AWESOME, until my crowd-frustration would kick in. We'll definitely have to go check it out.

[zarex.livejournal.com]

You'll find Japanese crowds are much more tolerable than American crowds. :) Another good spot is the riverbanks by Asakusa.

I really should put up my photos.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I have a little trouble with anyplace I can't move freely - particularly since it's exquisitely painful for me to be on my feet in the first place. Japanese crowds are politer, but they also move very slowly.

We went to the riverbanks by Asakusa first, and it looks like Ueno might be a week ahead of them, blossom-wise. I wonder why. It seemed like the riverfront had a wide variety of types of trees, so some of them should have been just about there.

[sandpanther.livejournal.com]

If you have time, you might want to take a day and go down to Kamakura. There's a walk down one of the streets that's lined with cherry trees on both sides, and is really impressive when they're in bloom. Kamakura's an hour away from Tokyo. Catch the Yokosuka line from Tokyo Station and you're there.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

We have a friend taking us down to Kamakura on Monday, after we're done with the first bout of dancing. I'm looking forward to it!

[kateyule.livejournal.com]

Man, I should know these. It's as though the minute we got off the plane at home, every bit of Japanese just switched off.

For the question "In Japanese language-- what is it?" you should do OK with: "Nihongo de, nan des' ka?" as long as there's some object you can point to. We used "Nan des' ka?" an awful lot.

Also v. useful: Daijobu des'. It means ~it's good, that's fine, we're happy, no problem.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ah, good idea: "nan desu ka" should do a lot for us. (Er, for me. I'm the one attempting the pitiful amount of Japanese I have. Rob bows a lot and says "arigatou gozaimasu" and that's it.)

Thanks!!

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

Bill
This is best I can do

"eat in" ----Naka de tabemasu
"eat here"----- Koko de tabemasu
"take out ______ motte iku
"more" --- a little
"less"----- Motto chiisai
"with" ---- Issho de or issho ni
"without" ------ Nashi de
'How do you say __________ in Japanese" -----Nihon go de nanito iimasuka


Yuriko Dennison
Marketing Assistant
NewSpace Entertainment

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Bill! (Thanks also to Yuriko!) :)