Communication

面白いおもしろい話はなしを聞いてきいて思わずおもわず笑ってわらってしまいました。

I heard a funny story and couldn't help laughing.

Usage 話 is the noun from 話す: a story, a talk, or a topic. 話を聞く = to listen to someone. 思わず = involuntarily, before you can stop yourself.

Remember it 話 = 言 (words) + 舌 (tongue). Words set moving by the tongue.

日本語にほんごの会話かいわが上手じょうずになりたいです。

I want to get better at Japanese conversation.

Usage 上手になる = to become skilled at. 会話 is two-way conversation; 話 alone can be a one-way story. 日常会話 = everyday conversation.

Remember it 会 (to meet) + 話 (to talk). Talk between people who have met.

メールを送おくりましたが、まだ返事へんじが来きません。

I sent an email, but there's still no reply.

Usage 返事をする = to reply, 返事が来る = a reply arrives. 返信 (へんしん) is more formal and is what you use for business email.

Remember it 返 (to return) + 事 (matter). The matter sent back to you.

メールを送っておくっておいたので確認かくにんしてください。

I've sent the email, so please check it.

Usage メール covers email and phone messages alike. メアド is the clipped form of メールアドレス. ておく = to do something in advance.

Remember it Clipped from English 'mail'. Post is 郵便 — the loanword took the electronic sense.

遠くとおくに住むすむ祖父そふに手紙てがみを書きかきました。

I wrote a letter to my grandfather, who lives far away.

Usage Warning for Chinese speakers: 手紙 means letter in Japanese, but toilet paper in Chinese. The recipient takes に: 祖父に手紙を書く.

Remember it 手 (hand) + 紙 (paper). Paper passed by hand.

初めてはじめて会うあう人ひとにきちんと挨拶あいさつすることが大切たいせつです。

It's important to greet people properly when you meet them for the first time.

Usage 挨拶 covers greetings, and also a short formal speech at a wedding or ceremony. きちんと = properly, neatly — a very Japanese kind of praise.

Remember it Both kanji are rare outside this word, so most Japanese people write it in kana too.

「おはようおはようございます」と元気げんきよく挨拶あいさつしました。

I greeted them cheerfully with 'good morning'.

Usage Add ございます for anyone not a close friend. Oddly, in broadcasting and hospitality おはようございます is said at any hour — it means 'first time seeing you today'.

Remember it From 早い (early) via お早く — literally 'it is early'.

「こんにちは、お元気おげんきですか？」と声こえをかけました。

I called out, 'Hello, how are you?'

Usage Note the spelling: it ends in は, the topic particle, but is pronounced わ. Never write こんにちわ. Also, it is not used to your own family at home.

Remember it Originally 今日は… ('as for today…'), the opening of a longer greeting that was eventually left hanging.

「こんばんは、涼しくすずしくなりましたね」と隣人りんじんに声こえをかけました。

I said to my neighbour, 'Good evening, it's got cooler, hasn't it?'

Usage Same rule as こんにちは: written は, pronounced わ. Remarking on the weather is the standard way to open small talk in Japanese.

Remember it From 今晩は… ('as for this evening…'), another sentence that lost its ending.

「さようなら、また会いあいましょう」と手てを振りふりました。

I waved and said, 'Goodbye, let's meet again.'

Usage Textbooks oversell this one. さようなら sounds formal and rather final — Japanese people mostly say じゃあまた, またね, or お疲れ様でした when leaving work.

Remember it From 左様ならば ('if that is how it is') — a farewell that began as a resigned conjunction.

助けてたすけてくれて本当ほんとうにありがとう。

Thank you so much for helping me.

Usage Add ございます except with close friends, and use the past ありがとうございました for something already finished. てくれて marks the favour being thanked for.

Remember it From 有り難い (ありがたい), 'difficult to exist' — that is, rare and precious, hence something to be grateful for.

「どうも、先日せんじつはお世話おせわになりました」と挨拶あいさつしました。

I greeted them with, 'Thank you for your help the other day.'

Usage どうも is enormously flexible: hello, thanks, or sorry, depending on tone. お世話になりました = 'thank you for looking after me', essential Japanese social glue.

Remember it Literally 'in every way'. It leaves the rest of the sentence unsaid, which is very Japanese.

すみません、この近くちかくにコンビニこんびにはありますか？

Excuse me, is there a convenience store near here?

Usage The most useful word in Japanese: it means excuse me, sorry, and thank you all at once. Thanking with すみません acknowledges the trouble you caused — very Japanese.

Remember it From 済まない — 'this is not settled', meaning the debt to you remains unpaid.

遅れておくれて本当ほんとうにごめんなさい。

I'm really sorry for being late.

Usage ごめんなさい is a personal apology between people who know each other; すみません is more neutral; 申し訳ありません is the formal business apology.

Remember it From 御免なさい — literally 'please grant me pardon'.

この書類しょるい、確認かくにんしてお願いねがいします。

Please check this document for me.

Usage よろしくお願いします is the phrase Japanese life runs on — used when introducing yourself, ending an email, or asking any favour. It has no English equivalent.

Remember it 願う (to wish) with お and します. Literally 'I make this wish of you'.

「了解りょうかいしました。すぐに対応たいおうします」と返事へんじしました。

I replied, 'Understood. I'll deal with it right away.'

Usage Business warning: 了解しました can sound presumptuous to a superior. Use 承知しました or かしこまりました upward, and keep 了解 for peers and juniors.

Remember it 了 (to complete, to grasp) + 解 (to understand). The matter is fully grasped.

みなさんみなさんの意見いけんを聞かせきかせてください。

Please let me hear everyone's opinions.

Usage 聞かせて is the causative of 聞く — 'let me hear'. 意見を言う = to state an opinion, 意見が合う = to see eye to eye.

Remember it 意 (thought, intention) + 見 (view). Your thought-view on something.

映画えいがを見たみた感想かんそうを教えておしえてください。

Please tell me your impressions of the film.

Usage 感想 is a personal impression or reaction; 意見 is a reasoned opinion. Japanese schools set 読書感想文 — a book-impression essay — every summer.

Remember it 感 (to feel) + 想 (to think). What you felt and thought about it.

最近さいきん話題わだいの映画えいがを見みに行きいきました。

I went to see the film everyone's talking about lately.

Usage 話題の + noun = the much-talked-about X, a phrase advertising loves. 話題を変える = to change the subject.

Remember it 話 (talk) + 題 (a topic, a title). The heading of the conversation.

これは二人ふたりだけの秘密ひみつにしておきましょう。

Let's keep this a secret just between the two of us.

Usage 秘密にする = to keep something secret. Noun + にしておく = to leave it in that state. 秘密を守る = to keep a secret.

Remember it 秘 (to conceal) + 密 (dense, close). Sealed up tight.

嘘うそをついても必ずかならずバレるばれるものです。

Even if you tell a lie, it's bound to come out.

Usage 嘘をつく = to tell a lie, with つく, never 言う. バレる = to be found out, casual. 嘘！ on its own means 'no way!' rather than an accusation.

Remember it 嘘 = 口 (mouth) + 虚 (empty, false). Empty words from the mouth.

「本当ほんとうに？」と驚いておどろいて聞ききき返しました。

'Really?' I asked back in surprise.

Usage 本当に = really, truly, as an adverb. In casual speech it contracts to ほんと. 本当のこと = the truth, the opposite of 嘘.

Remember it 本 (origin, true) + 当 (to hit the mark). Hitting the true mark.

国際こくさい会議かいぎで通訳つうやくをする仕事しごとに就つきたいです。

I want a job interpreting at international conferences.

Usage Key distinction: 通訳 is spoken interpreting, 翻訳 (ほんやく) is written translation. English blurs them as 'translation'; Japanese does not, and N3 tests it.

Remember it 通 (to pass through) + 訳 (to render). Letting meaning pass between two languages.

何かなにかあったらあったらすぐすぐ連絡れんらくしてください。

Please get in touch straight away if anything happens.

Usage 連絡する takes に for the person contacted: 私に連絡してください. 連絡を取る = to keep in contact, 連絡先 (れんらくさき) = contact details.

Remember it 連 (to link) + 絡 (to entwine). Keeping the thread between people tied.

田中たなかさんに伝言でんごんをお願いねがいできますか？

Could I leave a message for Mr Tanaka?

Usage 伝言 is a message passed on through a third person — exactly what you leave with a receptionist. The verb 伝える (つたえる) = to convey.

Remember it 伝 (to convey) + 言 (words). Words handed along.

説明書せつめいしょをよく読んでよんでから組み立てくみたててください。

Please read the manual carefully before assembling it.

Usage 書 (しょ) turns things into documents: 説明書, 履歴書, 教科書, 報告書. 取扱説明書 (とりあつかい〜) is the full formal name, often shortened to 取説.

Remember it 説明 (explanation) + 書 (a document). The explaining document.

テレビてれび広告こうこくは商品しょうひんの認知度にんちどを高めるたかめるのに効果的こうかてきだ。

Television advertising is effective at raising awareness of a product.

Usage 広告 is advertising generally; a TV commercial is CM (シーエム), not コマーシャル in everyday speech. のに here = 'for the purpose of'.

Remember it 広 (wide) + 告 (to announce). Announcing widely.

テレビでニュースにゅーすを見てみて地震じしんのことを知りしりました。

I saw the news on TV and found out about the earthquake.

Usage Japanese watches the news: ニュースを見る, not 聞く, unless it is radio. 知る in the past = to have found something out.

Remember it From English 'news', four mora: に-ゅ-う-す.

最新さいしんの情報じょうほうはウェブサイトで確認かくにんできます。

You can check the latest information on the website.

Usage 情報 is information as data or intelligence; 知識 (from the school lesson) is knowledge you hold. 個人情報 = personal data, 情報化社会 = the information society.

Remember it 情 (circumstances, feeling) + 報 (a report). A report on how things stand.

噂うわさは本当ほんとうのことかどうか確かめてたしかめてから話すはなすべきです。

You should check whether a rumour is true before repeating it.

Usage 噂をする = to gossip. かどうか = whether or not, an N3 staple. There is even a saying: 噂をすれば影 — speak of the devil.

Remember it 噂 = 口 (mouth) + 尊. Something passed from mouth to mouth.

クラスくらすで環境問題かんきょうもんだいについて討論とうろんしました。

We held a debate about environmental problems in class.

Usage 討論 is a formal structured debate; 議論 is arguing a point out; 話し合い is a friendly discussion. について = about, concerning.

Remember it 討 (to attack, to examine) + 論 (an argument). Attacking an argument from both sides.

親おやを説得せっとくして海外かいがい留学りゅうがくの許可きょかをもらいました。

I persuaded my parents and got permission to study abroad.

Usage 説得する takes を for the person persuaded: 親を説得する. 許可 (きょか) = permission, 許可をもらう = to obtain it.

Remember it 説 (to explain, to persuade) + 得 (to gain). Explaining until you gain agreement.

質問しつもんがある方かたは手てを挙げてあげてください。

If you have a question, please raise your hand.

Usage 質問する takes に for the person asked. 方 (かた) is the polite word for 'person'. 手を挙げる = to raise your hand, with 挙げる.

Remember it 質 (substance, to enquire) + 問 (to ask). Asking after the substance of something.

アンケートあんけーとの回答かいとうをお願いねがいします。

Please complete the survey.

Usage 回答 is a formal reply to a survey or enquiry; 答え (こたえ) is an answer to a question; 返事 (へんじ) is a personal reply. アンケート comes from French enquête.

Remember it 回 (to return, to go round) + 答 (to answer). An answer sent back.

困ったこまったことがあれば、いつでも相談そうだんしてください。

If you're ever in trouble, please talk to me about it any time.

Usage 相談する takes に for the person consulted: 先生に相談する. It covers everything from asking advice to a formal consultation. 困る = to be in difficulty.

Remember it 相 (mutual) + 談 (to talk). Talking a matter over together.

先輩せんぱいの助言じょげんのおかげで問題もんだいが解決かいけつしました。

Thanks to my senior's advice, the problem was solved.

Usage 助言 is formal and written; in speech people say アドバイス. のおかげで = thanks to, for good outcomes — its negative twin is のせいで.

Remember it 助 (to help) + 言 (words). Words that help.

政府せいふの政策せいさくを批判ひはんする声こえが高まっていますたかまっています。

Voices criticising government policy are growing louder.

Usage 批判 is negative criticism; 批評 (ひひょう) is neutral critique, as in a book review. 声が高まる = voices grow louder, a common news phrase.

Remember it 批 (to judge, to strike) + 判 (to judge). Judgement twice over.

賛成さんせいの方かたは手てを挙げてあげてください。

Those in favour, please raise your hand.

Usage 賛成する takes に for what you agree with: 意見に賛成する. Its opposite is 反対する, which also takes に.

Remember it 賛 (to approve, to praise) + 成 (to accomplish). Approving that it go ahead.

反対はんたい意見いけんがあれば遠慮えんりょなく言っていってください。

If you have an opposing view, please say so without holding back.

Usage 反対 means both opposition and 'the opposite': 反対の方向 = the opposite direction. 遠慮なく = without reserve, a set phrase inviting frankness.

Remember it 反 (to reverse) + 対 (facing). Facing the other way.

長いながい議論ぎろんの末すえ、結論けつろんが出ましたでました。

After a long discussion, a conclusion was reached.

Usage の末 (すえ) = after a long process of, usually with effort behind it. 結論が出る = a conclusion emerges, using 出る rather than a person deciding.

Remember it 議 (to deliberate) + 論 (argument). The same 議 as in 会議.

研究けんきゅう結果けっかを学会がっかいで発表はっぴょうしました。

I presented the research results at an academic conference.

Usage 発表 covers both giving a presentation and making an announcement — 結果発表 = announcing results. In class, a student's talk is a 発表.

Remember it 発 (to send out) + 表 (to show, the surface). Bringing something out into the open.