Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Japanese for All Occasions


Konnichi wa.

That means "hello" in Japanese, and I learned it from this 1990 book, Japanese for All Occasions by Anne Kaneko:


I don't speak Japanese (nor do I fluently speak Cantonese, even though I'm Chinese), but it's always handy to know new words in new languages.

So here are some practical Japanese-to-English examples (with corresponding page numbers) that are useful for all occasions:

p.71 - Kono chiizu o kinō kattan' desu ga, furukute taberarenain' desu.
"I bought this cheese yesterday but it's so old that we can't eat it."

p.116 - Moshi-moshi. Sanbyaku-san gō-shitsu desu ga, rāmen o motte kite kudasai.
"Hello? This is room 303. Can you bring a bowl of needles." *

*
I misread "noodles" as "needles". Please do not eat!

p.146 - Piinattsu ga nodo ni tsumatte iru.
"He's got a peanut stuck in his throat."

p.209 - Honjitsu wa, watashi no tsutanai hanashi o o-kiki itadaki, makoto ni arigatō gozaimashita.
"Thank you for listening to my poorly delivered speech."



p.21 - Dewa mata.
"See you./Bye!"

28 comments:

  1. lol, now i can survive japan! success!

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  2. It's strange how japanese will inspire us and fascinate us ;)
    Viva Amigurumi!
    Viva your creations!
    Yeah!

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  3. and here are some new words in a different language for this occasion: einsame spitze! grosse klasse!

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  4. Hilarious! I always love how you present your stories, very convincing!
    And I concur with Strickbombe ;-)

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  5. Can I put you in my pocket and take you with me? You are just too too funny...

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  6. HAHAHAHAHAH. that was really entertaining. a good break from my school work. thankyou! =)
    i love your work. ever since i chanced upon your blog, i was instantly hooked. it's the first bookmark on my toolbar! nice job as always! and thanks for the constant entertainment! YAYY! =)

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  7. Ahahahahaha!! I love the moldy cheese! That's awesome! Another hilarious post. :D

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  8. Hilarious! I've tried to learn a bit of Japanese because I'm very interested in classic haiku but I know I'm missing a lot from only reading English translations. To this day, the only words I know are kaeru (frog), hototogisu (cuckoo) and--inexplicably--shaneru go ban (Chanel No. 5).

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  9. Ha ha ha ha. I LOVED your photo styling on this one Howie. Just GREAT!!!! And the phrases in that book are a riot. Thanks for the lesson!

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  10. Fabulous! You need some wine to go with that moldy cheese.

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  11. From my daughter after we giggled our way through this post

    "who wakes up one day and decides; 'today, I'm going to crochet some moldy cheese.'?"

    Great post!

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  12. Haha.. So funny and nice amigurumi!

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  13. Totally hilarious!!! My fav one is the moldy cheese!!!

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  14. I LOVE this post!
    You are so CREATIVE!!!
    I have a question: what is the difference between Chinese and Cantonese languages.

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  15. pixelhazard: Yes, those four Japanese sentences will ensure survival AND success in Japan! ;)

    Christelle: You're so right about Japanese culture being endlessly fascinating! Thank you for your "Viva" :) Viva You!

    Strickbombe: Thanks for introducing me to some German words! (Google Translate might have mistranslated a bit, much as I did with the "noodles/needles" :) Danke!

    Weird: I'm happy that you find my stories convincing... ありがとうございました ! ;)

    The Litter Box House: You are certainly free to put me in your pocket, but I wouldn't recommend it when I'm holding the bowl of needles! :)

    Anonymous: I'm glad WooWork.com is temporarily distracting you from your school work haha I thought Facebook was the cause of most students' distractions ;)

    I'm honoured (and kinda intimidated) to be first on your bookmark toolbar. Because of you, I'll take more regular photos of my works-in-progress :)

    Shorty: Thank you! If I seem to be funny online, it's only cause I'm rarely funny in-person :) MJ is the real in-person comedian, especially among her co-workers!

    Kimi: Yes, moldy cheese is automatically comedy gold haha

    JenGoPop: That's admirable that you're learning some Japanese. I love the look of Japanese characters too. Thanks for the new words! I'm going to spray shaneru go ban on my kaeru and hotogisu now :)

    Kara: Thank you for attending these language lessons haha

    These wacky photos of me were taken by MJ, even though she had a cold that day. Also, it was her copy of the book we used!

    JelliDonut: Wine + moldy cheese = yum? :) Hmm, I'll may try that combo when I'm feeling bold + brave!

    Anna: haha Your daughter's question is too insightful. Like many, I look forward to a a daily dose of creative&cheesy absurdity ;) Thank you to both of you!

    miji: Arigato gozaimasu!

    PaisleyJade: Everybody loves moldy cheese :D Remember the scene in the "Naked Gun" movie where the moldy cheese is moving along the top of the fridge?

    manchurina: Cantonese is a variety of the Chinese language, like the Mandarin dialect. I can understand simple Cantonese, but I speak it clumsily. My sister, though, speaks it relatively well. Thanks for your good question! :)

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  16. Howie, I adore the bowl of "needles." So cute! Will you share the pattern with us?

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  17. Hahahahaha. You're funny man.
    Thanks a lot, I laughed too much.

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  18. Uh oh... I must be suffering some type of psychic link up!!!! I too am creating crocheted cheese... But mine is in doodle form... and is a foot and a half long (almost a half a meter (or metre) in Canadian (or Canadien) terms).

    I think your first on more bookmark lists than you realize...

    wo ai ni zi shi jing (I love you Amethyst) is the only Chinese I know (probably spelling it completely wrong and don't know any of the little symbols and accents)... an old boyfriend took it in highschool. I know an unfortunate Russian phrase that has yet to come in handy and is completely inappropriate for most board posts but gives me something to admit I know... like now.

    Thanks once again for your humor and insight!

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  19. Sugoi desu! Your projects are really cool. I want to learn how to crochet soon. Right now I only know how to knit a little. You are funny and very cute. I love your hair. :)

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  20. Now why didn't they teach us useful phrases like these at school?

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  21. Amin: Thanks! Yes, there sure are many curious sentences spoken every day in every country! :D

    Amethyst: Wow, a crocheted cheese doodle? I'll be keeping an eye out for that marvel :)

    This first-on-bookmark-list talk gives me stage fright haha

    It's handy that you know a loving expression in Chinese and an inappropriate expression in Russian! Ah, the sweet variety of languages :D

    Alia: You want to learn-to-crochet while I want to learn-to-knit! We should trade skills for awhile :D

    Thanks for your too-kind words!

    Ascasewwen: Yes, it's an outrage that schools don't teach us practical expressions in different languages! I took 3 years of French in school and never learned how to verbally rescue anyone choking on a legume!!

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  22. Haha, I think it like it best as "needles!"

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  23. so funny!

    and for me the best learn to learn Japanese is watching Hayao Miyazaki's films

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  24. Konnichiwa Howie-san! I saw this book at Urban Outfitters too! I couldn't have picked better phrases myself :)

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  25. so-yo! Nihongo o oboemashiyou!!! Guenki de né! :0))

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  26. You're a legend!

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