Japanese Cheatsheet
Basic Concepts
- Japanese is a language spoken by over 125 million people in Japan and around the world.
- Japanese is a member of the Japonic language family, which also includes Ryukyuan languages.
- Japanese is written using a combination of three scripts: kanji, hiragana, and katakana.
Pronunciation
- Japanese has five vowel sounds: a, i, u, e, o.
- The consonant sounds in Japanese are similar to those in English, but some sounds, such as “r” and “ts,” are pronounced differently.
- Japanese has a pitch accent system, where the pitch of a syllable can change the meaning of a word.
Grammar
- Japanese grammar is based on a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order.
- Particles are used to indicate the grammatical function of words in a sentence.
- Verbs are conjugated to indicate tense, aspect, and politeness level.
Vocabulary
- Japanese vocabulary includes loanwords from other languages, such as English and Portuguese, as well as native Japanese words.
- Honorific language is used in Japanese to show respect and politeness, and includes different verb forms and vocabulary.
Writing
- Kanji are Chinese characters that are used in Japanese writing, and represent words or concepts.
- Hiragana and katakana are syllabic scripts that are used to represent the sounds of Japanese words.
- Japanese text can be written horizontally from left to right, or vertically from top to bottom.
Examples
- こんにちは (Konnichiwa) - Hello
- ありがとう (Arigatou) - Thank you
- すみません (Sumimasen) - Excuse me/I’m sorry
- おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu) - Good morning
- こんばんは (Konbanwa) - Good evening
- おやすみなさい (Oyasumi nasai) - Good night
- はい (Hai) - Yes
- いいえ (Iie) - No
- お願いします (Onegaishimasu) - Please
- どういたしまして (Dou itashimashite) - You’re welcome
- 失礼します (Shitsurei shimasu) - Excuse me (when leaving)
Culture
- Japanese culture includes traditions such as tea ceremonies, flower arrangement, and martial arts.
- Anime and manga are popular forms of Japanese entertainment that have gained a global following.
- Japanese cuisine includes dishes such as sushi, ramen, and tempura.
Resources