As basic phrases have been brought up, I thought it would be useful to create a list/reference of helpful phrases. If you know of any and would like to contribute, please feel free to add to this thread. If you find any phrases posted to be incorrect then please post what you believe to be correct. Here's a few to start: Ohayou (Gozaimasu) - Good morning konban wa - Good evening (said when meeting someone) oyasumi (nasai) - Good night (said when departing) hajimemashite - I'm please to meet you, how do you do? (doumo) arigato (gozaimasu) - Thank you (add words in () to increase politeness) dou itashimashite - You're welcome, don't mention it (o)genki (desu ka)? - How are you? (lit. are you well?) Just to clarify, by 'basic phrases' we mean day to day life and general. Martial Arts phrases are fine but specific dojo terminology should probably have it's own thread.
Was the romanji spelling you were aiming for "kawayui"? There are, as you'd expect, a number of expressions for "pretty girl/woman", with varying levels of politeness. There's hanawoazamukubijin ... no, it's not just a jumble of letters :lol:. It means roughly "A woman as pretty as a flower". I'm not sure of it's useage but it has the feel of a traditional compliment. A coarser word is beppin - it's considered a bit vulgar or common as far as I can tell (maybe like calling someone 'hot totty' or similar?). My favourite is joudama which I think is a reasonably polite way to say a woman is beautiful (I hope so anyhow as I tend to use that one to my missus a lot ).
Biiru hitotsu onegai shimasu. - One beer please. Ossu! - untranslatable slang greeting, similar to "Yo!"
No idea! I've never seen it written down. It's just a phrase which a Japanese girl told me, once upon a time.
Haha, that has to be THE most useful phrase! One that could be very useful: eigo no dekiru oisha san ga imasu ka - I need a doctor who can speak English. These made make me giggle! For 'at the doctors'. Nodo ni tsukaeta sakana no hone ga toremasen - I can't remove the fishbone stuck in my throat. Sakadachi ****eite koronde kara desu - I was doing a handstand and then fell over. Geppu ga takusan demasu - I belch a lot. Watashi wa yakedo shimashita - I have a bum. Watashi wa kayui desu - I have an itch.
Funny, I was wondering the same about you. I've been training MT and Jujutsu under Shihan Jiro Shiroma for about a year and he often gives impromptu language lessons. He's quite a character.
