Sunday, January 23, 2005

Some simple Japanese phrases

Why? = Doushite (formal) Naze (informal)?
So? or therefore, so = Dakara
Right? = Sou Deshou?
See? = Wakaru Deshou?

Agreements
Sure = Mochiron
Great! = Sugoi!
Exactly! = Sono touri desu
Maybe = Tabun
So..so = Maa maa
Okay = ii yo
Nothing = Betsuni

Disagreements
Bad = Dame desu (formal) dame yo, dame da (informal)
Impossible! = Muri desu (formal) muri yo, muri da (informal)
Wrong = Chigaimasu (formal) chigau yo (informal)
Stop! = Yamete!
Strange = Okashii na
Please! = Onegai
Listen = Kiite
Relax! = Ochitsuite
Hush! = Shi
Wait! = Matte
Come! = Kinasai!
Go! = Ikinasai (formal) ike (informal)!
Quiet! = Shizukani

Unfavourable responses
Terrible! = Hidoi
Miserable = Mijime da
Cool = Kakkoi

Useful expressions
And... = Soshite
Anytime = Itsudemo
Anything = Nandemo

How
How far? = Dono kurai tooku
How long? = Dono kurai kakaru no
How small? = Dono kurai chiisai no
How big? = Dono kurai ookii no
How late? = Dono kurai okureru no
How soon? = Dono kurai suguni
How fast? = Dono kurai hayai no







Saturday, January 22, 2005

Unlikely source

The joy of being a kid. Relentless expressions of sorrow, joy, anger, confusion, inability, hopelessness and so on. When we grow up, we increasingly hide our feelings for all sorts of reasons. We regulate these expressions, carefully selecting the suitable situation to let go of these emotions which are waiting to get out. Some don't spit it out at all and prefer to keep it by themselves. This often leads to a deterioration of mental health. But is this feature integral to what defines an adult? Is it common to consider this 'restrictive' trait as part of adulthood or is it just how we are brought up, to think as such? I think so, for better or worse.

Sunday, January 16, 2005

Mizuho no uta

kenkyujo ni naremasu youni.
Doyatte soko ni iku ka wakarimasen.
Doyatte anata ni denwa o kakeru ka wakarimasen.
Nani o tabetara ii ka wakarimasen.
Doyatte sake o nomu ka wakarimasen.
Doyatte mizuho no uta o hiku ka wakarimasen.
Kurisumasu no toki kaze o hikimashita.
Matsu Takako CD o motte kitte kudasai.
Motte ikimasu.