Japanese For Dummies

Japanese For Dummies®, 2nd Edition......Page 1
Contents at a Glance......Page 11
Table of Contents......Page 13
About This Book......Page 23
Conventions Used in This Book......Page 24
How This Book Is Organized......Page 26
Icons Used in This Book......Page 27
Where to Go from Here......Page 28
Part I: Getting Started......Page 29
Discovering Basic Japanese Sounds and Script......Page 31
Easing into Common Expressions......Page 32
Counting on Numbers......Page 33
Using Japanese in Social Scenarios......Page 34
Tackling Travel-Related Topics......Page 37
Pronouncing Basic Japanese Sounds......Page 39
Sounding Fluent......Page 42
Introducing the Japanese Scripts......Page 45
Using Appropriate Speech Styles......Page 55
Forming Sentences......Page 56
Asking Questions......Page 61
Getting a Handle on Pronouns......Page 64
Working with Verbs......Page 67
Introducing the Verb Desu, to Be......Page 73
Describing People and Things with Adjectives......Page 75
Using Adverbs to Describe Your Actions......Page 78
Expressing Moods and Attitudes......Page 79
Beginning (And Ending) Conversations......Page 83
Making Introductions......Page 88
Finding Out About Your New Friend......Page 92
Expressing Gratitude and Regret......Page 96
Speaking about Speaking: The Verb Hanasu......Page 97
Ichi, Ni, San: Counting in Japanese......Page 99
Telling Time......Page 106
It’s a Date! Delving into the Calendar......Page 110
Familiarizing Yourself with the Metric System......Page 119
Taking a Tour of Your Home......Page 121
Home Is Where the Food Is......Page 129
Engaging in Common Household Activities......Page 134
Talking about What You Do Regularly......Page 135
Part II: Japanese in Action......Page 139
Initiating Small Talk......Page 141
Chatting About Your Life......Page 144
Specifying Where You Live with the Verb Sumu......Page 147
Existing and Possessing: The Verbs Iru and Aru......Page 148
Giving Out Your Contact Information......Page 151
Figuring Out Where Places Are Located......Page 153
Finding Your Way to Your Destination......Page 161
Eating Out at Fast-Food and Sit-Down Restaurants......Page 169
Going Grocery Shopping......Page 181
Naming Shops and Stores......Page 185
Telling a Salesperson What You’re Looking For......Page 186
Exploring the Variety of a Department Store......Page 188
Going Clothes Shopping......Page 189
Deciding What You Want to Buy......Page 195
You Gotta Pay to Play: Buying Your Merchandise......Page 200
Checking Out Entertaining Activities......Page 205
Talking about Entertainment......Page 212
Getting Your Friends to Go Out with You......Page 213
Inviting Friends Over and Asking Them to Bring Something......Page 216
Embarking on the Great Job Hunt......Page 221
Making Sense of Your Office Environment......Page 226
Phoning Made Simple......Page 228
Catching Up on Computing Basics......Page 237
Having Meetings in the Workplace......Page 239
Using the Verb Suru (To Do)......Page 241
Saying “I Can”......Page 242
Discussing Your Hobbies......Page 244
Exploring Nature......Page 246
Living the Sporting Life......Page 249
Using Your Artistic Talent......Page 250
Making Music with Instruments......Page 251
Playing Games......Page 253
Part III: Japanese on the Go......Page 255
Picking the Place for Your Trip......Page 257
Dealing with Passports and Visas......Page 260
Getting Help from a Travel Agency......Page 261
Stating Your Opinions......Page 262
Packing for Your Trip......Page 264
Getting Money......Page 267
Spending Money......Page 274
Getting On and Off with the Verbs Noru and Oriru......Page 279
Asking about the Best Method of Transportation......Page 281
Navigating the Airport......Page 282
All Aboard: Hopping on a Train or Boat......Page 286
Conquering Public Transportation......Page 289
Driving Around......Page 293
Picking the Right Accommodations for Your Needs......Page 297
Narrowing Your Choice Further......Page 299
Making a Room Reservation......Page 303
Checking In......Page 304
Keeping Track of What’s Yours during Your Stay......Page 308
Checking Out......Page 311
Asking (Or Shouting!) for Help......Page 313
Seeking Medical Attention......Page 315
Navigating a Doctor’s Visit......Page 317
Calling the Police......Page 323
Getting Legal Help......Page 329
Part IV: The Part of Tens......Page 331
Cook or Eat Japanese Foods......Page 333
Watch Japanese Anime, Films, and Sports......Page 334
Exchange Language Lessons......Page 335
Be Positive, Curious, and Creative......Page 336
“San” After Your Own Name......Page 337
“Thank You” for a Compliment......Page 338
“Yes” Right After Being Offered Food......Page 339
“Do You Want Coffee?”......Page 340
Yatta!......Page 341
Mochiron!......Page 342
Nani?......Page 343
A, Bikkurishita!......Page 344
Mottainai.......Page 345
Kanpai!......Page 346
Okage-sama De.......Page 347
Taihen Desu Ne.......Page 348
Part V: Appendixes......Page 349
Japanese-English Mini-Dictionary......Page 351
English-Japanese Mini-Dictionary......Page 361
Regular Japanese Verbs......Page 371
Irregular Japanese Verbs......Page 377
Track Listing......Page 381
Customer Care......Page 383
Appendix D: Answer Key......Page 385
Index......Page 387