Little Language Lessons from Google
Latest News: Google has introduced an experimental Google Labs “Little Language Lessons“. Click on that link, and it will prompt you to log into your Google account. Once you’re there, it will give you three options: “Tiny Lesson”, “Slang Hang”, and “Word Cam”. I have only tried “Tiny Lesson”: Click on “Try it”, and will then prompt you for which language (in our case, Japanese), and a phrase to describe the situation. I entered “arriving at the hotel in Tokyo”, and it then gave me an appropriate Vocabulary, Phrases, and Tips, including icons to click to hear pronunciation. Potentially, very useful. Of course, you can go back and choose other suitable situations.
Useful Phrases
Note: The following table containing audio files for Japanese phrases was created with the help of a very useful website, Sound of Text.
Hello |
Kon’nichiwa (こんにちは) |
Goodbye |
Sayōnara (さようなら) |
Please |
Onegaishimasu (お願いします) |
Thank you (informal) |
Arigatō (ありがとう) |
Thank you very much (informal) |
Domo Arigatō (どうもありがとう) |
Thank you very much (formal) |
Arigato gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) |
You’re welcome |
Dōitashimashite (どういたしまして) |
Excuse me |
Sumimasen (すみません) |
How much does that cost? |
Sore wa ikuradesu ka? (それはいくらですか) |
I don’t understand |
Rikaidekinai (理解できない) |
Please speak more slowly |
Motto yukkuri hanashite kudasai (もっとゆっくり話して下さい) |
Where is the toilet? |
Toire wa dokodesu ka? (トイレはどこですか？) |
Do you speak English? |
Anata wa eigo o hanashimasu ka? (あなたは英語を話しますか？) |