The Ultimate Japanese Phrasebook

And it is compact enough to carry in your briefcase or bag.

Doesn't sound too compact. LOL. What can;t you put in a bag or briefcase?

The only phrase you'll ever really need is:

"Sumimasen, terebi motte naindesu."( Sorry, I don't have a TV )

The only phrase you'll ever really need is: "Sumimasen, terebi motte naindesu."

Actually, the phrase that best responds to that one is "Zen zen omoshiroku nai."

I bought this book around the first of the year and will testify that it is well worth the money. The audio samples of the phrases are excellent in that they represent Japanese as you will hear it spoken by folks in Tokyo.

Here's a sample of what you can learn to say in Japanese from a section called "Insults and Incendiaries":

A..hole! ; F* off!; Screw you! ; Let's take it outside ; You want a piece of me? ; Kiss my a ; Get out of my face ; Just shut up ; Come over here and say that.

And following that, the apologies: I'm so sorry ; I really didn't know ; That's not what I intended ; Can you accept my apology ; How can I make it right ; We want to make up for it ; It won't happen again.

Extremely useful and entertaining book!!

why buying a book that teaches you how to fight? A well landed punch will do the same job, for free.

why buying a book that teaches you how to fight?

Maybe it's also to learn what people might be saying to you.... (There's even a section with phrases for reporting a fight or other problem to the police.)

The point is that in each section there are phrases that cover many nuances of a situation from finding work to getting something repaired to describing personality types.

Good point yabits, I was joking about the punch thing. Anyway I would never want to understand Japanese. To me, it's a waste of time. Once I left Japan for once, I discovered the only useful thing about Japanese language are the kanas, people keep asking me to write their names in kanas - and I update them telling that if they want to have your name in kana tattoed is now past, it's tacky.

Anyway I would never want to understand Japanese. To me, it's a waste of time.

Understanding anything is never a waste of time. You can waste a lot of time by not understanding. What you mean is you can't be bothered to learn.

I update them telling that if they want to have your name in kana tattoed is now past, it's tacky.

It was always tacky, wasn't it?

Not at all, if you want your name tattoed - have it in Thai or Arabic alphabets.

Not at all, Cleo, I can speak 4 languages fluently. Learned the hard way two of them. But Japanese is really a waste of time. It's been almost one year since I left Japan, have been to US, UK and Brazil, have used all 4 languages to communicate. Except Japanese. So you see, all those hours studying, and nowhere to use it.

LostinNagoya -

You're talking about the time spent learning a language. That's not the same as understanding a language. Now at 9:58 you tell us you would never want to understand Japanese, then at 10.18 you're saying you haven't used Japanese to communicate with on your travels. How could you, if you don't understand it? Or do you mean that if you weren't already fluent in it, you wouldn't bother to learn?

if you want your name tattoed - have it in Thai or Arabic alphabets If a person is so challenged they might forget who they are otherwise, and their native tongue is English, wouldn't it be best to have it tattoo'd in ABC?

Preferably in reverse, on their foreheads so's they can be reminded every time they look in the mirror. That way they might actually learn it in time.

:-)

Oh I have to draw my thoughts, so you can understand them...I can speak Japanese to some degree, frankly I could be more fluent. What I meant then is that I decided to stop studying it some point down the road. If you love it Cleo, good for you. Not good for me. Accept it.

As for the tattoo thing, I guess you are too old to know what's going on in the tattoo world these days. I am not against kanas, it's just that any tatooer will advice you the same way I advice my friends: don't to kanas, they're past. It's a matter of what's in and what's out. And don't criticize people who want to have a tattoo, we're in 2010!

Anyway I would never want to understand Japanese. To me, it's a waste of time.

I've been spending about 5-10 hours a week for the last couple of years learning to read and write kanji. I'm at the point now where I can "get" about 80% of manga and somewhat less than that on newspaper and magazine stories.

I don't live in Japan and I'm in my mid-50s, but I count learning kanji as one of the most satisfying and enjoyable things I've ever done. There always seems to be a new suprise in each paragraph, and it has done much to help me appreciate the beauty of the language.

What I meant then is that I decided to stop studying it some point down the road.

lol That's not what 'I would never want to understand Japanese' means. There was a time when you did want to understand Japanese, but then gave up because it wasn't doing it for you, right? (Maybe a brushup of English skills is in order....) Don't sweat it Nagoya, I'm just having a bit of fun with you.

If you love it Cleo, good for you.

Loving it or not has nothing to do with it. I'm in a permanent immersion programme, if I didn't understand Japanese I'd be lost.

Tattoos - there's nothing 21st century about them. People have been decorating their bodies every since they've been people. (Yes, even when I was a little girl).

'too old' indeed, I've a good mind to stand you in the corner with no milk till break time, young Nagoya.

yabits -

That is truly cool.

Anyway I would never want to understand Japanese. To me, it's a waste of time.

Hmm, I don't think learning languages is ever a waste of time. It gives you great insight into the people who speak the language and their culture. Coming from a western background and learning an Asian language, I find it interesting how your brain re-orders itself a bit. I studied several western languages before but the thought process was the same as my native English. I find studying Japanese to be great for stretching my mind - not to mention its very useful for daily life!

I've actually used my Japanese quite a bit outside of Japan, mainly in other parts of Asia. Sometimes it's nice to be able to converse in Japanese in Thailand, for example.

I might take a look at this phrasebook, though I hate books with romaji. I'm getting better and better at 'book' Japanese but I still have problems with conversational patterns...

Well, Cleo, I am tired of explaining small details to you. Because your next post you will find another small detail of the previous detail to validate your point of view. It's tiresome, you know? Yes, indeed, an improvement in English would be good. However, once I read (was it French ballerina Isabelle Duncan?) that the charm of speaking somebody else's language is in the mistakes. Isn't that so true? Plus, my English is enough to do whatever I want, and I am never misunderstood. As for tattoos, if you have such a modern frame of mind, then you should not joke about writing a name in reverse, so one could remember his own name...

I am never misunderstood

But you were, Nagoya.....But like I said don't sweat it, I'm only having a bit of fun. If English isn't your first language (and I assumed it was), then your ability is awesome.

you should not joke about writing a name in reverse

Why? Are tattoos somehow off limits for a bit of humour?

Moderator: It is not a book on colloquial (i.e. casual) Japanese phrases... The phrases are all in formal/polite Japanese...

Plus it's about $10 cheaper on Amazon at $16:47 http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Japanese-Phrasebook-Sentences-Everyday/dp/4770031009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267412914&sr=8-1#noop

I bought it some time ago. While reading the text was fun, listening especially to the male speaker (Jeff Gedert) was definitely not. In most cases he pronounces the English sentences in a way, a high level banker (or likewise consultant) in the USA is speaking to subordinates. If the subordinates do not follow immediately, they have to fear to be fired.

Then the Japanese version of these expressions was much more polite and considerate.

On the other hand, when a female actor spoke English sentences, and another female voice actor spoke the related Japanese sentences, this was much more consistent.

On a sidenote: I had the MP3 CD in my Navigation and Audio system, when I was driving together with my family. Lucky I was able to skip the passages about "bedding down" and "swear words" before my kids could start to understand and ask what is going on there.

Ok... Japanese is interesting, unique and challenging. If you live in Japan, do business with Japanese or have any real ties to Japan, then the language is great and necessary.

But...

If you don't then the posters above are right. It isn't terribly useful. If you are looking for a more globally useful language, after English, then Spanish is clearly next. Beyond that, if you are looking for economically viable languages then look to Chinese and to a much lesser degree, Russian or Arabic. Japanese just doesn't have the economic value it once had and is likely to continue to decline.

If you are an engineer or scientist, chances are you'll get the chance to use German, Japanese or Mandarin, so Japanese is a useful language for some people.

And don't criticize people who want to have a tattoo, we're in 2010!

The last number I saw is that 20% of people under 40 have tattoos. I hate the things, but I find them very useful to quickly identify (and avoid) girls who are trend followers and don't have a long term outlook on life.

tkoind2: Another reason to learn Japanese: Japanese women. How many of you guys learned Japanese for that reason?

paulinusa. Not a good reason to learn any language. Though a frequent side effect of dating internationally.

"I hate the things, but I find them very useful to quickly identify (and avoid) girls who are trend followers and don't have a long term outlook on life." Berbert61, way to set a new high on superficiality my friend. Somewhat ironic that you see their tatoos as superficial and lacking long term thinking. While she may see your judgment of her character based upon a single personal choice as equally vacuous and lacking in social maturity and long term thinking.

I for one know some wonderful, intelligent and successful women with tatoos that a guy with your attitude and outlook would never have the opportunity to refuse because they would not give you the time of day to begin with.

it looks interesting. i learned my japanese watching movies... well yakuzza movies

Isn't the point of learning a second language to broaden ones mind by experiencing another culture? I also speak four languages, (although not fluently) and I have had emmence joy in being able to speak to a Russian in Korean, a japanese in English, a Greek in Japanese and an Italian in Maori.

I was always told that the first words you should learn in a language are the swear words. That way if someone calls you babo, baka or idiot, you can turn around and answer like wise.

Ok, this is just my opinion... This is not a very good book for beginners. The translations are not literal (which I think is necessary when you are learning a language) e.g. お二人が会うのは、初めてですか。Gets translated as: "Have you two met?" A better translations would have been: Is this the first time you two meet? The authors purport to be "seasoned translators". However, they fail to provide the reader/learner with a correct interpretation of what is being said. Yes, the point comes across in English and the translation does make sense, but if you are more into in-depth learning i.e. deconstructing each sentence to get a better understanding of each word, like for studying kanji or vocabulary for example, you will find that the english translation does not work well with what is being said in Japanese.

The next generation of 'Making Out in Japanese?'

Taka