Collins Gem

Copyright

HarperCollins Publishers

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Third Edition 2017

© HarperCollins Publishers 2007, 2010, 2017

Source ISBN: 9780008135928

Ebook Edition © March 2017 ISBN: 9780008230098

Version: 2017-02-01

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank those authors and publishers who kindly gave permission for copyright material to be used in the Collins Corpus. We would also like to thank Times Newspapers Ltd for providing valuable data.

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Editor

Holly Tarbet

Contributors

Tessa Carroll

Harumi Currie

Miyoko Yamashita

For the Publisher

Gerry Breslin

Janice McNeillie

Using your phrasebook

Whether you’re on holiday or on business, your Collins Gem Phrasebook and Dictionary is designed to help you locate the exact phrase you need, when you need it. You’ll also gain the confidence to go beyond what is in the book, as you can adapt the phrases by using the dictionary section to substitute your own words.

The Gem Phrasebook and Dictionary includes:

• Over 60 topics arranged thematically, so that you can easily find an expression to suit the situation

• Simple pronunciation which accompanies each word and phrase, to make sure you are understood when speaking aloud

• Tips to safeguard against any cultural faux pas, providing the essential dos and don’ts of local customs or etiquette

• A basic grammar section which will help you to build on your phrases

• FACE TO FACE dialogue sections to give you a flavour of what to expect from a real conversation

• YOU MAY HEAR sections for common announcements and messages, so that you don’t miss important information when out and about

• A dictionary with over 1,000 words and their translations, to ensure you’ll never be stuck for something to say

• A short chapter of LIFELINE phrases for quick reference. These basic words and phrases will be essential to your time abroad

Before you jet off, it’s worth spending time looking through the topics to see what is covered and becoming familiar with pronunciation.

Contents

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Using your phrasebook

Pronouncing Japanese

Top ten tips

Talking to people

Hello/goodbye, yes/no

Key phrases

Work

Weather

Getting around

Asking the way

Bus and coach

Metro

Train

Taxi

Boat and ferry

Air travel

Customs control

Car hire

Driving

Petrol

Breakdown

Car parts

Road signs

Staying somewhere

Hotel (booking)

Hotel desk

Camping

Self-catering

Shopping

Shopping phrases

Shops

Food (general)

Food (fruit and veg)

Clothes

Clothes (articles)

Maps and guides

Post office

Technology

Leisure

Sightseeing and tourist office

Entertainment

Nightlife

Leisure/interests

Hot springs/public baths

Music

Theatre/opera

Sport

Walking

Communications

Telephone and mobile

Messaging

Internet

Practicalities

Money

Paying

Luggage

Repairs

Laundry

Complaints

Problems

Emergencies

Health

Pharmacy

Body

Doctor

Dentist

Eating out

Food in Japan

In a bar/café

Menu reader

Reading the menu

In a restaurant

Dietary requirements

Wines

Reference

Measurements and quantities

Numbers

Days and months

Time

Time phrases

Public holidays

Signs and notices

Pronouncing place names

Grammar

Dictionary

English – Japanese

A – C

D – F

G – I

J – L

M – O

P – R

S – U

V – Z

LIFELINE words and phrases

About the Publisher

Pronouncing Japanese

Although the Japanese writing system is rather complicated, pronouncing Japanese is easy once you know the few basic rules. This book has been designed so that as you read the pronunciation of the phrases, you can follow the Japanese. This will help you to recognize the different sounds and give you a feeling for the rhythm of the language. Below are a few rules for you to note.

In Japanese the basic unit of speech is the syllable. Each syllable is pronounced approximately the same length and rather flatly. Japanese has a pitched accent (high and low) but syllables do not have tones as they do in Chinese. It is more important not to stress any one part of a word. For example, in English the word Paris is pronounced paris and in French paree. Japanese gives equal strength to both syllables: pari.

Japanese has relatively few sounds. Each vowel has only one sound.

Japanese vowels

Long vowel sounds

15 basic consonants

k, s, sh, t, ts, ch, n, h, m, y, r, w, g, z, d, b, p, n/m Each consonant is followed by one vowel to create a syllable as in

These consonants are close to their English equivalents but note the following:

g is pronounced as in golf, not as in Germany y is pronounced as in young, not as in cry.

The consonant n/m, which appears at the end of the list above, counts as a syllable in its own right. It is pronounced like the nasal n in sing when it appears at the end of words, e.g. en ‘yen’, and before most other sounds, e.g. onsen ‘hot spring’. Before p, b and m, it sounds more like m and is therefore written here as m, e.g. shimbun ‘newspaper’. When n appears before a vowel or y, it is written as n’ to distinguish it from the syllables beginning with n, e.g. kin’en ‘non-smoking’ compared with kinen ‘commemoration’.

Since Japanese lacks the consonants l and v, foreign loanwords with these letters are pronounced with r and b, respectively. Thus, English words ‘love’ and ‘rub’ both become indistinguishable as ra-bu in Japanese.

Japanese also lacks the si sound (as in ‘to sit’): shi is used instead, sometimes with embarrassing results! Other English sounds that do not exist in Japanese are hu (as in ‘hook’: fu is used instead); th (as in ‘thin’: shi is used instead); and ti (as in ‘tin’: chi is used instead).

Double consonants kk, pp, ss and tt are written before a vowel, which indicates a pause equivalent to one syllable in length before that consonant. The sound before the pause tends to become sharper than at other times.

ki, shi, chi, ni, hi, mi, ri, gi, ji, bi and pi sounds can be combined with ya, yu or yo to create combined syllables. For example, ki + ya become kya, ki + yu become kyu and ki + yo become kyo. Examples of this can be found in the words Tookyoo and Kyooto, where the combined syllable is pronounced as two sounds, but said very quickly with the same length as one syllable.

In the case of the chi syllable, a double consonant sound is written as tchi as in the example above.

You should also remember that Japanese does not have a silent e at the end of a word such as in the English ‘to take’. If ‘take’ is read as the Japanese word take (bamboo), it should be pronounced tah-keh. Similarly sake (rice wine), is pronounced sah-keh, etc.

However, the vowel u at the end of a word such as desu will sound very weak.

Top ten tips

1 Always remember to remove your shoes before entering someone’s home. Before stepping on tatami matting, slippers must also be removed. Slippers must be changed when going to the toilet. Remember not to leave the toilet still wearing the toilet slippers, as it would be very embarrassing!

2 Always make sure that you do not have any holes in your socks or tights, as you may have to take your shoes off unexpectedly.

3 Shaking hands is uncommon in Japan; Japanese people greet each other by bowing. However, foreigners are sometimes greeted with a handshake.

4 Sumimasen is a word with many purposes: it can be used to attract someone’s attention before making a request, or to get past people on a crowded train. It can also be used to say ‘sorry’.

5 Credit cards are only accepted in the more expensive hotels, shops and restaurants.

6 If you receive a gift from a Japanese visitor, ask if you can open it before doing so. If you are invited to a Japanese person’s house, make sure you take a gift-wrapped present with you.

7 You can only buy cigarettes and alcohol if you are over 20 years of age. You will be asked to produce ID to prove your age.

8 Japanese people tend not to use assertive words such as ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Good alternatives are ii desu ne, which literally means ‘that sounds good’, for ‘yes’ and chotto for ‘no’.

9 Cleanliness is important to Japanese people. Never drop or leave rubbish.

10 It’s advisable that you carry proof of identity at all times, so make sure that you always have your passport with you.

Talking to people

Hello/goodbye, yes/no

In Japanese there is no exact equivalent for the word ‘hello’ – different greeting words are used based on the time of the day. Similarly, the word chotto (whose literal meaning is ‘a bit’) is influenced by body language: if said with one’s head slightly tilted, it means ‘no’.

Bowing おじぎ ojigi

Japanese people bow to express their respect and appreciation. People bow along with greetings, words of appreciation or apologies. The strength of the respect, gratitude or apology, dictates how low your bow should be.

Key phrases

There are no genders, articles or singular/plural forms in Japanese. Different counters are used together with numbers.

Work

Japanese people tend to tell you where they work rather than what they do.

Weather

Getting around

Asking the way

Bus and coach

Places such as Kyoto have tourist day passes and bus route maps in English, which you can obtain at a bus station. Local buses usually board from the rear door, but if your journey is not covered by a flat fee you may need to pick up a numbered ticket. A board at the front of the bus displays the fares, based on the numbers. You will need to know your destination in Japanese characters. Some buses board from the front door and require you to pay as you enter. Tickets for long/middle distance coach trips, as well as express buses, are usually sold at the coach counter or ticketing machine.

Public transport is free for up to two children under 6 when travelling with a paying adult. An elementary school pupil pays half price (aged between 7 and 12). Junior high (13 to 15) and senior high (16 to 18) school students are often given discounts too.