Common Japanese Sentences | Generated by AI

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Below is a detailed, word-by-word breakdown of 30 common Japanese sentences used in daily life. Each sentence is analyzed by separating every individual word (or particle) and explaining its meaning and role in the sentence. This analysis will help you understand the structure and components of each phrase thoroughly. The original Japanese characters are included for reference.

Greetings and Introductions

  1. Konnichiwa (こんにちは) - Hello
    • Konnichiwa (こんにちは): A single word meaning “Hello” or “Good afternoon.” It’s used as a general daytime greeting.
  2. Ohayou gozaimasu (おはようございます) - Good morning
    • Ohayou (おはよう): “Morning” (informal greeting).
    • Gozaimasu (ございます): A polite suffix that adds formality and respect, often translating to “there is” or “to be” in a polite form.
    • Together: “Good morning” (formal).
  3. Konbanwa (こんばんは) - Good evening
    • Konban (こんばん): “This evening.”
    • Wa (は): A particle marking the topic of the sentence (“this evening” in this case).
    • Together: “Good evening.”
  4. Namae wa nan desu ka? (名前は何ですか？) - What’s your name?
    • Namae (名前): “Name.”
    • Wa (は): Topic marker, indicating “name” is the subject of the question.
    • Nan (何): “What.”
    • Desu (です): A copula meaning “is.”
    • Ka (か): A question particle that turns the sentence into a question.
    • Together: “What is your name?”
  5. Watashi no namae wa [name] desu (私の名前は[name]です) - My name is [name]
    • Watashi (私): “I” or “me.”
    • No (の): A possessive particle, meaning “of” or indicating ownership (like “’s” in English).
    • Namae (名前): “Name.”
    • Wa (は): Topic marker, indicating “my name” is the subject.
    • [Name]: Placeholder for your actual name.
    • Desu (です): “Is.”
    • Together: “My name is [name].”
  6. O-genki desu ka? (お元気ですか？) - How are you?
    • O (お): A polite prefix added for respect.
    • Genki (元気): “Health” or “well-being.”
    • Desu (です): “Is.”
    • Ka (か): Question particle.
    • Together: “Are you well?”
  7. Genki desu (元気です) - I’m fine
    • Genki (元気): “Fine” or “well.”
    • Desu (です): “Is.”
    • Together: “I am fine.”
  8. Hajimemashite (初めまして) - Nice to meet you
    • Hajimemashite (初めまして): A set phrase meaning “Nice to meet you” or “For the first time.” It’s used when meeting someone new.

Politeness and Thanks

  1. Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) - Thank you
    • Arigatou (ありがとう): “Thank you” (informal).
    • Gozaimasu (ございます): Polite suffix adding formality.
    • Together: “Thank you” (formal).
  2. Douitashimashite (どういたしまして) - You’re welcome
    • Dou (どう): “How” or “in what way.”
    • Itashimashite (いたしまして): Polite form of “to do,” here used as part of a set phrase meaning “I did it” or “it’s nothing.”
    • Together: “You’re welcome” (a fixed polite response).
  3. Sumimasen (すみません) - Excuse me / I’m sorry
    • Sumimasen (すみません): A single word used to apologize (“I’m sorry”) or get attention (“Excuse me”).

Asking Questions

  1. Doko desu ka? (どこですか？) - Where is it?
    • Doko (どこ): “Where.”
    • Desu (です): “Is.”
    • Ka (か): Question particle.
    • Together: “Where is it?”
  2. Itsu desu ka? (いつですか？) - When is it?
    • Itsu (いつ): “When.”
    • Desu (です): “Is.”
    • Ka (か): Question particle.
    • Together: “When is it?”
  3. Ikura desu ka? (いくらですか？) - How much is it?
    • Ikura (いくら): “How much.”
    • Desu (です): “Is.”
    • Ka (か): Question particle.
    • Together: “How much is it?”
  4. Ima nanji desu ka? (今何時ですか？) - What time is it?
    • Ima (今): “Now.”
    • Nanji (何時): “What time.”
    • Desu (です): “Is.”
    • Ka (か): Question particle.
    • Together: “What time is it now?”
  5. Toire wa doko desu ka? (トイレはどこですか？) - Where is the toilet?
    • Toire (トイレ): “Toilet” (borrowed from English).
    • Wa (は): Topic marker, indicating “toilet” is the subject.
    • Doko (どこ): “Where.”
    • Desu (です): “Is.”
    • Ka (か): Question particle.
    • Together: “Where is the toilet?”

Responses and Understanding

  1. Hai (はい) - Yes
    • Hai (はい): “Yes.”
  2. Iie (いいえ) - No
    • Iie (いいえ): “No.”
  3. Wakarimasen (わかりません) - I don’t understand
    • Wakarimasen (わかりません): Negative polite form of “wakaru” (わかる), meaning “to understand.” Translates to “I don’t understand.”
  4. Mou ichido kudasai (もう一度ください) - Please say that again
    • Mou (もう): “Again.”
    • Ichido (一度): “Once.”
    • Kudasai (ください): “Please” (polite request).
    • Together: “Please say it once again.”

Daily Activities and Dining

  1. Itadakimasu (いただきます) - Let’s eat
    • Itadakimasu (いただきます): Polite form of “itadaku” (いただく), meaning “to receive.” Said before eating to express gratitude for the food.
  2. Gochisousama deshita (ごちそうさまでした) - That was delicious
    • Gochisousama (ごちそうさま): “Thank you for the meal” (a set phrase).
    • Deshita (でした): Past tense of “desu” (です), meaning “was.”
    • Together: “It was a feast” or “Thank you for the meal.”
  3. Menu o kudasai (メニューをください) - Please give me a menu
    • Menu (メニュー): “Menu” (borrowed from English).
    • O (を): Object marker, indicating “menu” is the object of the request.
    • Kudasai (ください): “Please give.”
    • Together: “Please give me a menu.”
  4. O-kaikei o onegaishimasu (お会計をお願いします) - Check please
    • O (お): Polite prefix.
    • Kaikei (会計): “Bill” or “check.”
    • O (を): Object marker.
    • Onegaishimasu (お願いします): “Please” (more formal than “kudasai”).
    • Together: “Please give me the bill.”

Social and Safety

  1. Omedetou gozaimasu (おめでとうございます) - Congratulations
    • Omedetou (おめでとう): “Congratulations.”
    • Gozaimasu (ございます): Polite suffix.
    • Together: “Congratulations” (formal).
  2. Ki o tsukete (気を付けて) - Be careful
    • Ki (気): “Spirit” or “mind.”
    • O (を): Object marker.
    • Tsukete (付けて): Te-form of “tsukeru” (付ける), meaning “to take care of.”
    • Together: “Take care of yourself” or “Be careful.”
  3. Oyasumi nasai (おやすみなさい) - Good night
    • Oyasumi (おやすみ): “Rest” or “sleep.”
    • Nasai (なさい): Polite imperative form, meaning “do.”
    • Together: “Please rest” or “Good night.”
  4. Tasukete! (助けて！) - Help me!
    • Tasukete (助けて): Te-form of “tasukeru” (助ける), meaning “to help.” Used here as a command: “Help me!”
  5. Keisatsu o yonde kudasai! (警察を呼んでください！) - Please call the police!
    • Keisatsu (警察): “Police.”
    • O (を): Object marker.
    • Yonde (呼んで): Te-form of “yobu” (呼ぶ), meaning “to call.”
    • Kudasai (ください): “Please.”
    • Together: “Please call the police!”
  6. Kyuu kyuusha o yonde kudasai! (救急車を呼んでください！) - Please call an ambulance!
    • Kyuu kyuusha (救急車): “Ambulance.”
    • O (を): Object marker.
    • Yonde (呼んで): Te-form of “yobu” (呼ぶ), meaning “to call.”
    • Kudasai (ください): “Please.”
    • Together: “Please call an ambulance!”

Conclusion

This breakdown dissects each word (or particle) in these 30 Japanese sentences, showing how they combine to form meaningful phrases for daily use. By understanding each component—whether it’s a noun, particle, verb, or polite expression—you can better grasp Japanese sentence structure and adapt these phrases to other situations. These sentences are practical for greetings, questions, politeness, dining, and emergencies, making them essential for communication in Japanese.

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