Chapter 4 BUSUU

Question 1

Shitsurei shimasu. / しつれいします。

Answer 1

(Goodbye - formal)

Question 2

Arigatou! Jaa, mata! / ありがとう！じゃあ、また！

Answer 2

Thanks! See you later!

Question 3

Mukai-sensei, shitsurei shimasu. / むかい先生、失礼します。

Answer 3

Mukai-sensei, goodbye.

Question 4

Watashi wa Anna desu. / わたしは、あんなです。 (both formal and informal contexts)
Watashi wa Akira desu. / わたしは、あきらです。 (predominantly formal contexts)

Answer 4

We know that “I” in Japanese is “watashi”. In formal contexts, men and women both use “watashi” when referring to themselves. In informal contexts, it is usually only women who use “watashi”.

Question 5

Watashi wa Akira desu. / わたしは、あきらです。(at a company meeting)
Boku wa Akira desu. / ぼくは、あきらです。 (meeting new friends)
Ore wa Akira desu. / おれは、あきらです。 (on a date)

Answer 5

Let’s learn other words for “I” in informal contexts. The most popular ones are “boku” and “ore”. They are mostly used by men.

“Boku” conveys that the speaker has a soft masculine personality, whilst “ore” conveys a strong masculine personality.

One person can switch between “watashi”, “boku” and “ore” depending on the context.

Question 6

Ore wa Akira desu. / おれは、あきらです。

Answer 6

I am Akira.

Question 7

Akira-kun, jaa, mata! / あきらくん、じゃあ、また！ (Akira-kun, bye!)

Yuri-chan, jaa mata! / ゆりちゃん、じゃあ、また！ (Yuri-chan, bye!)

Answer 7

When talking to our friends or someone younger than us, instead of using “san”, we can add “kun” to male names and “chan” to female names.

Question 8

ー Yoshi-kun, arigatou! ー iie! ー Jaa, mata!

Answer 8

Yoshi, thanks! (informal) - Not at all! - See you later! (informal)

Question 9

Sou desu ne. / そうですね
e.g. Sou desu ne… Hai, Murakami wa nihonjin desu. / そうですね… はい、むらかみはにほんじんです。

Answer 9

That’s right; Let me think
e.g. Let me think… Yes, Murakami is Japanese.

Question 10

anou / あのう
e.g. Anou, sumimasen. Shibuya wa doko desu ka. / あのう、すみません。しぶやはどこですか。

Answer 10

um
e.g. Um, excuse me. Where is Shibuya?

Question 11

Sou desu ka. / そうですか。
e.g. A, sou desu ka. / あ、そうですか。

Answer 11

Is that so?
e.g. Oh, is that so?

Question 12

ーOosaka wa nihon desu ka. ーSou desu ne… Hai, nihon desu.

Answer 12

–Is Osaka in Japan? –Let me think… Yes, it’s in Japan.

Question 13

Hee / へえ
e.g. Hee! Naruto wa ninja desu ka! / へえ！ナルトはにんじゃですか！

Answer 13

Oh! (strong surprise and interest)
e.g. Oh! Naruto is a ninja?!

Question 14

Watashi wa gakusei desu. Tanaka-san wa?
わたしはがくせいです。たなかさんは？

Answer 14

I am a student. How about you, Tanaka-san?
To ask the question “How about you?” we use the construction:
Name + san + wa?