PRELIM TOPICS - Used for literature and personal letters

JAPAN HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, ECONOMY AND CULTURE - Default script

 Cursive Hiragana – widely used by women for writing of personal
Periods in Japan communications and literature
 Jomon Period (c. 14,000 – 300 BCE)  Kaisho – regular script form of Kanji used by men
 Yayoi Period (300 BCE – 300 AD)  Sosho – cursive script form used by women
 Kofun Period (300-538)  Tale of Genji – a novel written in Hiragana
 Asuka Period (538 – 710)  Furigana – superscript
- Centralization of Japan
 Nara Period (710 – 794) SELF INTRODUCTION (JIKOSHOUKAI)
- When Japan became a recognizable state
 Heian Period (794 – 1185) NAME
- When the capital was moved to Kyoto
 Kamakura Period (1185 – 1333) Casual:
- Shogun – army commander Watashi no namae wa (ha) Arukantara Miko desu.
 Sengoku Period (1467 – 1615) – “warring states” My name is Mico Alcantara.
 Edo Period (1600 - 1868)
 Meiji Period Polite:
- Kyoto -> Edo -> Tokyo (Kyoto of the East) Arukantara, Miko desu.
I am Mico alcantara.
NOTE:
 Japan – Land of the Rising Sun Akukantara Miko to iimasu.
- Nihon / Nippon (Sun’s Origin) My name is Mico Alcantara.
 Japan has 47 prefectures
 Hokkaido – largest prefecture. It is subdivided by sub-prefectures Formal:
 5 major islands in Japan Arukantara Miko to moushimasu.
 Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa I am Mico Alcantara.
 THREE DIFFERENT SCRIPTS:
 Kanji – used to describe meaning WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
- Used to write native Japanese words or
Firipin no Manira kara kimashita
words of Chinese origin
I came from Manila, Philippines
 Hiragana – represent spoken syllables
- used to write functional words and particles
Amerika no karifuorunia shuu kara kimashita.
 Katakana - represent spoken syllables
I came from California, in America
- used to write foreign words and names and
onomatopoeic sounds
NATIONALITY
 Religion in Japan
 Shinto and Buddhism
Firipin jin desu.
 Red disc in Japan’s flag I am Filipino
- Represents the “rising sun”
 Brand names developed in Japan: Madoriddo shusshin desu.
- Panasonic, Yamaha, Sony, Nintendo, Sharp, Casio, I am from Madrid.
Canon, Toshiba, Epson
 Currency in Japan – Yen JAPANESE WORDS:
 Martial arts – Sumo, Karate  Demo – but
 Manga and Anime  Sumimasen – excuse me / sorry
 Japanese Sentence structure – Subject + Object + Verb (SOV)  Hajimemashite – nice to meet you for the first time
 Mōichido – once more
WRITING SYSTEM OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE  Yukkuri – slowly
 Japanese language has 48 characters  Onegaishimasu – formal greeting “please”
- 1 character – 1 syllable
 Yoroshiku onegaishimasu – nice to meet you
 5TH Century – when Chinese writing system was first introduced to Japan
 Hai, sou desu – yes, that’s right
 Kanji – Chinese characters used by Japanese
 Watashi - I
- Used by elites or high ranked persons
 Wa – topic marking particle
- Used for official documents
 Desu – am
 Kojiki – oldest history book of Japan
 To yonde kudasai – please call me…. (nickname)
- Where distinctive mixed style of writing can be found
 Manyogana – a writing style which uses some Kanji to write Japanese as
BASIC GREETINGS AND USEFUL DAILY EXPRESSIONS:
a syllabic script, for their sounds in order to transcribe the words of
Japanese speech syllable by syllable
1. Ohayou gozaimasu - Good morning. It is used until about 10:00 AM.
 Hiragana – first original syllabic script of Japan invented from Mayogana
2. Ohayō – casual
- Originated from the cursive calligraphic style of Chinese
3. Ohayō gozaimasu – formal
- Was called “women’s writing”
4. Baibai, jᾱne or mata ne – see you again
5. Konnichiwa – Hello/Good day/Good afternoon – It is used from about
10:00 AM until sunset.
6. Kombanwa – Good evening. It is used from about 6:00 PM.
7. Sayōnara – Goodbye (informal)
8. Shitsureishimasu – Formal way of saying goodbye.
9. Oyasumi nasai – Goodnight. It is said at night before going to bed.
When parting at night outside the house, Sayounara is more usual.
10. Dewa mata/Ja mata – Well then… Said informally when parting from
relatives or friends.
11. Itte rasshai – So long. (lit. “Go and come back”)Said to members of a
household as they leave the house.
12. Itte mairimasu - So long. (lit. “I’m going and coming back”). This is the
reply to Itte rasshai.
13. Tadaima – I’m back. Said by a person on returning home
14. Okaeri nasai – Welcome home. This is the reply to Tadaima.
15. Ogenki desu ka - How are you? (lit. “Are you well?”
16. Arigatō gozaimasu genki desu – I’m fine, thank you.
17. Omedetō gozaimasu – Congratulations.
18. Odaijini – Get well soon.
19. Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu – Thank you very much.
20. Dōitashimashite – You’re welcome.
21. Chotto matte kudasai – Wait, just a moment please.
22. Mōichido onegaishimasu – Once more please.
23. Osakini – Pardon my going first (before you). Said when going ahead of
other people after being urged to do so.
24. Dōzo osakini – Please, go ahead.
25. Ki o tsukete kudasai – Take care, please/Be careful.
26. Abunai – Look out ! (lit. “It’s dangerous).
27. Dame desu – Out of the question/Bad/no good.
28. Gambatte kudasai – Keep your chin up ! / Do your best. Said to
encourage someone.

NOTE:
 Konbanwa – spelled kon, but pronounced kom (Kombanwa)
 Ganbatte – spelled gan, but pronounced gam (gambatte)
 ō is the same with ou (dōmo is the same with doumo)

JAPANESE BOWING
1. Eshaku – a light bow when you greet or apologize to people (nod)
(15 degrees)
2. Keirei – known as a salute in Japanese. A polite bow commonly
used in business situations (30 degrees)
3. Saikeirei – the most polite and respectful bow. Shows deep
appreciation or apology (45 degrees)
4. Dogeza – highest apology

KEY WORDS:
 O-jigi – bow
 Kakudo – angle
 Shurui – kind/type
 Meishi - business card
 Meishi-ire – business card holder
 Dōji-kōkan – simultaneous exchange
 Kaishamei – company name
 Hōmonsha – visitors

NOTE:
- Business cards are exchanged at the beginning of the meeting
when meeting for the first time. Done while standing
HIRAGANA
- Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing
system, along with katakana, kanji, and in some cases rōmaji (Latin
script).
- It is a phonetic lettering system.
- There are 46 basic Hiragana characters.
- In addition to these 46 basic letters called gojūon,
- there are modified forms to describe more sounds - 20 dakuon, 5
handakuon, 36 yōon, 1 sokuon and 6 additional letters.