Chapter Two: Vocabulary
じゃ ない。 ja nai - Not...; Negates whatever was before; Used at the end of sentences
なまえ namae - Name; sounds similar to the English 'name' (sort of!)
なん です か？ nan desu ka - What is it? This is a very useful expression
なん nan - What? Another way to write NAN is NANI
なにか nanika - Something; Notice there is a relation to NAN (what); the KA adds the unknown (SOMEthing)
のみます nomimasu - To drink; it can also mean, "I will drink."
はい、どぞ。 hai, dozo - Here you are; another very useful phrase used when offering things to guests
カルピス karupisu - Calpis - Japanese drink made from milk and water; This is spelled with katakana. This is a strange name. It is spelled "Calpis" but pronounced more or less as "cow piss" - pardon the low educational value of this entry... The very first day I came to Japan, I met a foreigner at the airport and he told me of this drink. Our conversation went as follows: "You know there is a drink here called Calpis." I answered, "No... really?" "Yes, it is spelled C-A-L-P-I-S but it's Calpis!"
そうか。 souka - really, is that so? I see ; This is said to show that you are still interested in what the speaker has to say and you are not sleeping. It also has the feel you have learned something new.
-
- Printer-friendly version
- Login or register to post comments
