I can help you out with that, Kristine. :: tu ::
I don't know all that much Japanese (what little I did learn I remember from high school), but what I do know I'll be happy to pass on to you. I'll start with simple words and break down how they sound when they are pronounced. I must warn you that many times the Japanese will use the same word to say different things. You'll see what I mean when you read my list below
Let's begin.
1) Yes -
Hai (pronounced "hi")
2) No -
Iie (pronounced "ee-eh")
3) Telephone -
Denwa
4) Good morning -
Ohayoo (pronounced "oh hi yoh")
5) Good afternoon -
Konnichiwa (pronounced "koh nee chee wah")
6) Good evening -
Konbanwa (pronounced "kon bahn wah")
7) Please -
Onegaishimasu (pronounced "oh neh guy ee shee mas". The letter "U" at the end is silent)
8) Thank you -
Arigatoo (even though there are two "O"'s, the end is pronounced "toh" instead of "too").
9) Thank you very much -
Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu (last word "gohz eye mas". Again, do not pronounce the letter "U" at the end).
10) Sorry -
Sumimasen (pronounced "soo mee mah sen")
11) Hello -
Konnichiwa (You see? It's the same word used for "Good afternoon" [#5]).
12) Goodbye -
Sayoonara (you musn't say the word quickly like we Americans tend to do, as the "O" in the middle is a long sound, indicated by the spelling. So you must say it "sigh ooh nara")
13) Left -
Hidari (pronounced "hee dah ree)
14) Right -
Migi (pronounced "mee gee". "G" is not pronounced as the "J" sound, but a hard sound as it would be used in the word "great", for example).
15) Water -
Mizu (pronounced "mee zoo")
16) Beer -
Biiru (pronounced "bee roo")
17) Wine -
Wain (pronounced the same way it is in English).
18) Milk -
Gyuunyuu (pronounced "gee yoon you". Hard "G" at the beginning).
19) Coffee -
Koohii (pronounced "koh hee")
Now, these last two are a little tougher to pronounce.......
20) Ladies' toilet -
Josei-yoo no o-tearai ("joe say yo no oh tay ah rye").
21) Men's toilet -
Dansei-yoo no o-tearai ("Dance ey yo no oh tay ah rye").
Alrighty, then. That should be enough for your first lesson. Good luck.
I'll be back here in a couple of days to give you some more. :: tu ::
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