Free take away guide with useful phrases in Japanese and Chinese
Aug 24th, 2009, 06:35 AM
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Free take away guide with useful phrases in Japanese and Chinese
Last week we launched a spiffed up language section on the site with the help of our friends at Living Language. There are recordings of over 150 helpful phrases in Chinese and Japanese that you can listen to, as well as a free downloadable pdf that you can print out and take with you on your trip.
Main site: http://www.fodors.com/language/
Japanese: http://www.fodors.com/language/japanese/
Chinese: http://www.fodors.com/language/chinese/
Hope it comes in handy!
Katie
Main site: http://www.fodors.com/language/
Japanese: http://www.fodors.com/language/japanese/
Chinese: http://www.fodors.com/language/chinese/
Hope it comes in handy!
Katie
Aug 25th, 2009, 12:59 PM
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I just hope people know that some listed expressions do not go together with others so usually not to be used in the same conversation unless you want to make the local laugh/surprise.
Examples :
Japanese / meeting people
1. Good Day ! = Gokigen-yo
2. See you soon = Jaa Mata
Each translation is good on its own but perhaps you should know : 1. Gokingen-yo is a bit formal and old fashioned, expected e.g. from a person wealthy, well-educated and used more often by older ladies, not by men usually. You don't hear it said so often ... unless you are in the company of above middle class, older ladies.
2. Jaa Mata is an expression of a very familiar level and mostly used by the young, perhaps by some older too if between close friends but my parents in their 70/80 would never say that. Perhaps Fordors should have listed "sore dewa mata" instead from which Jaa Mata deprived.
Another example :
This is (my friend, wife, ect) = Kochirawa watashino .... Kochirawa is too polite to use in the given context. For wife, husband, boyfriend, Koré(this) is enough and usual. Kochira is appropriate to introduce e.g. your superior.
You can however make yourself understood with all above so if that's your only goal, fine.
Examples :
Japanese / meeting people
1. Good Day ! = Gokigen-yo
2. See you soon = Jaa Mata
Each translation is good on its own but perhaps you should know : 1. Gokingen-yo is a bit formal and old fashioned, expected e.g. from a person wealthy, well-educated and used more often by older ladies, not by men usually. You don't hear it said so often ... unless you are in the company of above middle class, older ladies.
2. Jaa Mata is an expression of a very familiar level and mostly used by the young, perhaps by some older too if between close friends but my parents in their 70/80 would never say that. Perhaps Fordors should have listed "sore dewa mata" instead from which Jaa Mata deprived.
Another example :
This is (my friend, wife, ect) = Kochirawa watashino .... Kochirawa is too polite to use in the given context. For wife, husband, boyfriend, Koré(this) is enough and usual. Kochira is appropriate to introduce e.g. your superior.
You can however make yourself understood with all above so if that's your only goal, fine.
