LER JAP

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Hiragana - ひらがな

The first step is to learn the alphabet. Or, at least, the sounds that exist in the Japanese language. There are absolutely no “tones” like in Chinese, Thai, etc. and there are only 2 exceptions within the alphabet which will be explained later. The characters listed below are called Hiragana. It is the main alphabet for Japanese. The Japanese language also consists of Chinese characters (Kanji), which we will get into later, and another alphabet, Katakana, which is mainly used for foreign words. Katakana will be covered in Lesson 2.

There are 5 vowels in the Japanese language. (a), pronounced “ahh”, (i), pronounced like “e” in “eat”, (u), pronounced like “oo” in “soon”, (e), pronounced like “e” in “elk”, and (o), pronounced “ohh”. All Hiragana characters end with one of these vowels, with the exception of (n). The only “consonant” that does not resemble that of English is the Japanese “r”. It is slightly “rolled” as if it were a combination of a “d”, “r”, and “l”. あ

aい

iう

uえ

eお

o

か

kaき

kiく

kuけ

keこ

ko

が

gaぎ

giぐ

guげ

geご

go

さ

saし

shiす

suせ

seそ

so

ざ

zaじ

jiず

zuぜ

zeぞ

zo

た

taち

chiつ

tsuて

teと

to

だ

daぢ

jiづ

zuで

deど

do

な

naに

niぬ

nuね

neの

no

は

haひ

hiふ

fuへ

heほ

ho

ば

baび

biぶ

buべ

beぼ

bo

ぱ

paぴ

piぷ

puぺ

peぽ

po

ま

maみ

miむ

muめ

meも

mo

や

yaゆ

yuよ

yo

ら

raり

riる

ruれ

reろ

ro

わ

waを

woん

n/m

Combinationsきゃ

kyaきゅ

kyuきょ

kyo

ぎゃ

gyaぎゅ

gyuぎょ

gyo

しゃ

shaしゅ

shuしょ

sho

じゃ

jaじゅ

juじょ

jo

ちゃ

chaちゅ

chuちょ

cho

にゃ

nyaにゅ

nyuにょ

nyo

ひゃ

hyaひゅ

hyuひょ

hyo

びゃ

byaびゅ

byuびょ

byo

ぴゃ

pyaぴゅ

pyuぴょ

pyo

みゃ

myaみゅ

myuみょ

myo

りゃ

ryaりゅ

ryuりょ

ryo

Exceptions:

1. は (ha) is pronounced “wa” when it immediately follows the subject. It is usually only pronounced “ha” when it is part of a word.

2. へ (he) is pronounced “e” when it immediately follows a place or direction. Both of these are very simple to detect.

Click here if you’d like to know why these two exceptions exist.

Note: You probably noticed that there are 2 “zu” and 2 “ji”. づ (zu) and ぢ (ji) are very rarely used. づ (zu) only occurs when there is a つ (tsu) in front of it like in つづく (tsuzuku - to continue) or when a Kanji (Chinese character) that starts with つ (tsu) is paired at the end with another character changing the つ (tsu) to a づ (zu). The same applies for ぢ (ji). Since they are used so rarely I wouldn’t worry about them too much. I will let you know whenever we come upon a word in which they are used.

Katakana - カタカナ

As mentioned in Lesson 1, Katakana is mainly used for foreign words such as names and words that have been borrowed from other languages such as “compyu-ta-” (computer). The Japanese language does not have as many sounds as the English language so, when creating a name in Katakana for instance, the name must be sound out to the closest Japanese equivalent. Katakana, Hiragana, and Furigana (when Hiragana is written small next to a Kanji or Katakana character to show how that character is read) are collectively known as Kana. ア

aイ

iウ

uエ

eオ

o

カ

kaキ

kiク

kuケ

keコ

ko

ガ

gaギ

giグ

guゲ

geゴ

go

サ

saシ

shiス

suセ

seソ

so

ザ

zaジ

jiズ

zuゼ

zeゾ

zo

タ

taチ

chiツ

tsuテ

teト

to

ダ

daヂ

jiヅ

zuデ

deド

do

ナ

naニ

niヌ

nuネ

neノ

no

ハ

haヒ

hiフ

fuヘ

heホ

ho

バ

baビ

biブ

buベ

beボ

bo

パ

paピ

piプ

puペ

peポ

po

マ

maミ

miム

muメ

meモ

mo

ヤ

yaユ

yuヨ

yo

ラ

raリ

riル

ruレ

reロ

ro

ワ

waヲ

woン

n/m

Combinationsキャ

kyaキュ

kyuキョ

kyo

ギャ

gyaギュ

gyuギョ

gyo

シャ

shaシュ

shuショ

sho

ジャ

jaジュ

juジョ

jo

チャ

chaチュ

chuチョ

cho

ニャ

nyaニュ

nyuニョ

nyo

ヒャ

hyaヒュ

hyuヒョ

hyo

ビャ

byaビュ

byuビョ

byo

ピャ

pyaピュ

pyuピョ

pyo

ミャ

myaミュ

myuミョ

myo

リャ

ryaリュ

ryuリョ

ryo

Vocabulary - 単語

Now that you’ve got the Japanese alphabets down, let’s learn some vocabulary words and simple phrases. I will list the Kanji, Hiragana, Romaji (the word sounded out using English letters), and the English meaning for each word or phrase. Most words have Kanji for them but I will only include the Kanji if the word is regularly written that way.

Keep in mind that the Japanese language has different levels of politeness that change based on who you are talking to. I will refer to these as “ultra-formal”, “formal” (or “polite form”), “normal” (or “plain form”), “informal”, and “rude” (we won’t be covering too much of the rude form, however). 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

私わたしwatashiI (formal for males, normal for females)

僕ぼくbokuI (normal for males)

彼かれkarehe

彼女かのじょkanojoshe

あなたあなたanatayou (singular/normal)

これこれkorethis (object)

ここここkokohere

このこのkonothis (ex. this pen)

それそれsorethat (object)

そこそこsokothere

そのそのsonothat (ex. that pen)

人ひとhitoperson

犬いぬinudog

猫ねこnekocat

家いえiehouse

ありがとうありがとうarigatouThank you. (normal)

ありがとう

ございますありがとう

ございますarigatou gozaimasuThank you. (formal)

どういたしましてどういたしましてdouitashimashiteYou’re welcome. (normal)

おはようおはようohayou

(sounds like Ohio)Good morning. (informal)

おはようございますおはようございますohayou gozaimasuGood morning.

(normal and formal)

こんにちはこんにちはkonnichi waHello. (normal)

こんばんはこんばんはkonban waGood evening. (normal)

さよならさよならsayonaraGoodbye. (normal)

Grammar - 文法

Japanese grammar is quite simple and straight forward but very different from English grammar so most English speakers find it rather confusing. For instance, the verb always comes at the end. The best thing you can do when learning Japanese grammar is to learn it from the bottom up and not compare it to English grammar.

Japanese grammar uses what we will refer to as particles to mark the various parts of the sentence. The main particles are: (These particles will be described in more detail below) はwa

(as mentioned in lesson 1, the Hiragana “ha” is pronounced “wa” when it immediately follows the topic)topic marker

がgasubject marker

をwo

(pronounced “o”)direct object marker

にnidirection/time marker, indirect object marker

へe

(as mentioned in lesson 1, the Hiragana “he” is pronounced “e” when it immediately follows a place or direction)direction marker

The particles “wa” (は) and “ga” (が): The particle “wa” marks the topic of the sentence and the particle “ga” marks the subject of the sentence. In the example, “I know where you live” (watashi wa anata ga doko ni sunde iru ka shitte iru), “I” would be the topic while “you” would be the subject.

Not all sentences have both a topic and subject and, in many cases, the topic is implied in Japanese (for example, the “I” (watashi wa) would be left out of this sentence because it is implied that since I am talking I am the one that knows where you live). Many Japanese books and teachers teach that “wa” and “ga” are the same thing and it doesn’t matter which you use when. This is not the case but I wouldn’t worry too much about keeping them straight at first.

The particle “wo” (を): The particle “wo” (or “o”) marks the direct object of the sentence. In the example, “I’m going to take her home” (watashi wa kanojo wo ie ni okuru), “her” would be the direct object.

The particle “ni” (に): The particle “ni” can be used to mark the direction, time, or the indirect object of a sentence.

An example of a direction marker can be seen in the previous example “I’m going to take her home” (watashi wa kanojo wo ie ni okuru). In this case, the “ni” acts like a “to” - “I’m going to take her ‘to’ home”. The particle “e” (へ) can be used in this way as well but usually implies more of a general direction as opposed to a specific places.

The particle “ni” is also used to mark time in a sentence. For example, “I’m leaving at 3 o’clock” (watashi wa sanji ni hanareru).

The final use for the particle “ni” is that of indirect object marker. In the example, “I was taken home by him” (watashi wa kare ni ie made okurareta), “him” is the indirect object.

Note: The “watashi wa” in all of the example sentenced used above would normally be left out as it is implied.

Numbers, Time, and Days of the Week

Before we get too much further into grammar and verb conjugation, I thought it would be a good idea to teach numbers, time, days of the week, etc. 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

一いちichione

二にnitwo

三さんsanthree

四し、よんshi (yon after 10)four

五ごgofive

六ろくrokusix

七しち、ななshichi (nana after 10)seven

八はちhachieight

九きゅうkyuunine

十じゅうjuuten

百ひゃくhyakuhundred

Numbers after 10 are a piece of cake once you know 1 through 10. 11 is simply ten with a one after it, 十一 (じゅういち, juuichi), 12 - juuni, 13 - juusan, 14 - juuyon, etc. 20 is simply 二十 (にじゅう, nijuu), 21 - nijuuichi, and so forth.

Put these numbers in front of the character for time 時 and you’ve got the time of the day. 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

一時いちじichijione o’clock

二時にじnijitwo o’clock

二時半にじはんnijihantwo thirty (半 means half)

二時四十五分にじよんじゅうごふんnijiyonjuugofun2:45 (分 means minute)

…etc.

Now just put the character for moon 月 after a number and you’ve got a month. 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

一月いちがつichigatsuJanuary

二月にがつnigatsuFebruary

三月さんがつsangatsuMarch

四月しがつshigatsuApril

…etc.

Days of the week don’t follow such an easy pattern but here they are anyway along with some other time-related words. 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

日曜日にちようびnichiyoubiSunday (日 - sun/day)

月曜日げつようびgetsuyoubiMonday (月 - moon)

火曜日かようびkayoubiTuesday (火 - fire)

水曜日すいようびsuiyoubiWednesday (水 - water)

木曜日もくようびmokuyoubiThursday (木 - tree/wood)

金曜日きんようびkinyoubiFriday (金 - gold)

土曜日どようびdoyoubiSaturday (土 - dirt)

今日きょうkyouToday

明日あしたashitaTomorrow

昨日きのうkinouYesterday

一昨日おとといototoithe day before yesterday

明後日あさってasattethe day after tomorrow (a small “tsu” (っ) makes a double consenant)

今朝けさkesathis morning

今晩こんばんkonbanthis evening

今いまimanow

Godan Verbs - 五段動詞

Now, before you can start making up sentences of your own, you need to learn how to conjugate verbs. Verbs are the most important part of the Japanese sentence. Often times Japanese people will leave out everything but the verb.

They are very big on leaving out the obvious and sometimes not so obvious which can get confusing at times. There are only 3 types of verbs in the Japanese language and they each follow a pattern that is very simple and very rarely has any exceptions. Most Japanese verbs fall into the first group, the Godan (五段) verbs. These verbs always conjugate the same way with only one exception. These verbs have five changes that follow the order of the Japanese vowels, hence the name Godan (meaning 5 levels or steps), and then the “te” and “ta” forms that are common to all verbs. Here’s an example: 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)Verb Base

話すはなすhanasu (to speak)

話さはなさhanasaBase 1

話しはなしhanashiBase 2

話すはなすhanasuBase 3

話せはなせhanaseBase 4

話そうはなそうhanasouBase 5

話してはなしてhanashiteBase “te”

話したはなしたhanashitaBase “ta”

Base 1: Base 1 can not be used by itself but becomes the plain form negative simply by adding -nai. (ex. hanasanai - I won’t say anything.) If the verb ends in う (u) then the end for Base 1 becomes わ (wa). (ex. au (Base 1) -> awa)

(Plain form is what people use when talking to a friend. It would not be proper to use in a business environment. We will go over the polite form in lesson 8.)

Base 2: Base 2 is, in most cases, a noun when used by itself but is primarily used with the formal form of the verb.

Base 3: Base 3 is the main form (the one that would be found in the dictionary) and is also the plain form present/future tense.

Base 4: Base 4 is most often used as “if verb” by adding -ba. (ex. hanaseba - If he’d just say something.) It can also be used by itself as a command form but it is extremely rude and I recommend not using it at all.

Base 5: Base 5 is used by itself as the “let’s” form. (ex. hanasou - Let’s talk.) We will get into other ways it’s used in later lessons.

Base “te”: Base “te” can be used by itself as a plain form command. It is not rude but should only be used with close friends and children. By adding kudasai it becomes the polite form command. Base “te” can also be used in other ways that we will get into in later lessons.

Base “ta”: Base “ta” is merely Base “te” with an “a” sound on the end instead of an “e” sound. It is mainly used by itself as the plain form past tense. (ex. hanashita - I talked.) We will get into other ways it’s used in later lessons.

Notice: There is one thing that you’ll need to learn in order to conjugate the “te” and “ta” forms correctly. Basically, for all Godan verbs ending in う (u), つ (tsu), or る (ru); the う (u), つ (tsu), or る (ru) becomes って (tte) in the “te” form and った (tta) in the “ta” form. (ex. katsu (to win) -> katte (Win!), katta (We won!))

For all Godan verbs ending in ぶ (bu), む (mu), or ぬ (nu); the ぶ (bu), む (mu), or ぬ (nu) becomes んで (nde) in the “te” form and んだ (nda) in the “ta” form. (ex. yomu (to read -> yonde (Read it.), yonda (I read it.))

For all Godan verbs ending in く (ku), the く (ku) becomes いて (ite) in the “te” form and いた (ita) in the “ta” form. (ex. aruku (to walk) -> aruite (Walk!), aruita (I walked here.)) The only exception to this rule is for the verb iku (to go) which becomes いって, いった (itte/itta).

For all Godan verbs ending in ぐ (gu), the ぐ (gu) becomes いで (ide) in the “te” form and いだ (ida) in the “ta” form. (ex. oyogu (to swim) -> oyoide (Swim!), oyoida (I swam.))

For all Godan verbs ending in す (su), the す (su) becomes して (shite) in the “te” form and した (shita) in the “ta” form. (ex. hanasu (to talk) -> hanashite (Say something!), hanashita (I talked (to him).))

Here are some Godan verbs. Try conjugating them on a piece of paper using what you have just learned. Click here for the answers. 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

会うあうauto meet

勝つかつkatsuto win

売るうるuruto sell

遊ぶあそぶasobuto play

飲むのむnomuto drink

死ぬしぬshinuto die

歩くあるくarukuto walk

泳ぐおよぐoyoguto swim

消すけすkesuto erase, turn off

行くいくikuto go

(Remember the exception for Bases “te”and “ta”)

Ichidan Verbs - 一段動詞

The second group of verbs are called Ichidan (一段) verbs. It is usually an Ichidan verb if it ends with the sound “iru” or “eru”. Some well used verbs which appear to be Ichidan but are really Godan are listed here. Ichidan verbs also follow a simple conjugation pattern that is somewhat similar to that of the Godan verbs. Here’s an example: 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)Verb Base

食べるたべるtaberu (to eat)

食べたべtabeBase 1

食べたべtabeBase 2

食べるたべるtaberuBase 3

食べれたべれtabereBase 4

食べようたべようtabeyouBase 5

食べてたべてtabeteBase “te”

食べたたべたtabetaBase “ta”

Base 1 and Base 2: As you can see, Base 1 and 2 are the same. Just like with the Godan verbs, a negative can be made by adding -nai (ex. tabenai - I will not eat.) and this base, or root form, is also used for the formal form of the verb.

Base 3: Base 3 is the same as with Godan verbs.

Base 4: Base 4, however, can not be used by itself like with Godan verbs. It is only used for “if verb” by adding -ba. (ex. tabereba - If I eat it…) It is not the low command form for Ichidan verbs. The low command form for Ichidan verbs is Base 1 + ろ (ro).

Base 5: Base 5 is the same as with Godan verbs.

Base “te” and Base “ta”: The Base “te” and “ta” forms for Ichidan verbs are a lot easier than with Godan verbs. Simply take off the “ru” and add a “te” for Base “te” and a “ta” for Base “ta”. These have the same functions as with Godan verbs.

Here are some Ichidan verbs. Try conjugating them on a piece of paper using what you have just learned. Click here for the answers. 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

いるいるiruto exist (animate), to be somewhere

見るみるmiruto see

寝るねるneruto sleep

着るきるkiruto wear, put on

出来るできるdekirucan do

覚えるおぼえるoboeruto remember

Irregular Verbs

The last type of verbs are the Irregular verbs but there are only 2 of them in the entire language so just memorize their charts below. The first one is suru (to do something). Many nouns can be used as a verb simply by putting “suru” right after them. It is probably the most used of all Japanese verbs. The second Irregular verb is kuru (to come). 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)Verb Base

するするsuru (to do)

ししshiBase 1

ししshiBase 2

するするsuruBase 3

すれすれsureBase 4

しようしようshiyouBase 5

してしてshiteBase “te”

したしたshitaBase “ta”

The functions for these bases are the same as for the Godan verbs except that Base 4 can only be used as the “if verb”.

The rude command form is “Shiro”. 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)Verb Base

来るくるkuru (to come)

来こkoBase 1

来きkiBase 2

来るくるkuruBase 3

来れくれkureBase 4

来ようこようkoyouBase 5

来てきてkiteBase “te”

来たきたkitaBase “ta”

The functions for these bases are the same as for the Godan verbs except that Base 4 can only be used as the “if verb”.

The rude command form is “Koi” and really should only be used on animals.

Using Verb Bases

Now that you know about 30 verbs and can conjugate them, I’ll show you what you can do with those bases. You may want to regularly refer to Lesson 6 and Lesson 7 while learning these. The following chart applies to all verbs unless otherwise noted. ひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

Base 1 + ないBase 1 + naiplain form negative (will not verb)

Base 1 + なかったBase 1 + nakattaplain form past negative (did not verb)

Base 2 + ますBase 2 + masupolite form present/future tense

Base 2 + ましたBase 2 + mashitapolite form past tense

Base 2 + ませんBase 2 + masenpolite form negative (will not verb)

Base 2 + ませんでしたBase 2 + masen deshitapolite form past negative (did not verb)

Base 2 + たいBase 2 + taiwant to verb (add です (desu) to make it polite)

Base 3Base 3plain form present/future tense

Base 4 + ばBase 4 + baif verb

Base 4 + るBase 4 + ruplain form can verb (Godan verbs only)

(verb now becomes an Ichidan verb)

Base 4 + ますBase 4 + masupolite form can verb (can be changed like above)

Base 5 + とするBase 5 + to surutry to verb

(this suru is the same verb learned in lesson 7 (to do something))

Base “te” + 欲しいBase “te” + hoshiiwant someone else to verb

(hoshii is an adjective which will covered in the next lesson)

Base “te”Base “te”plain form command

Base “te” + 下さいBase “te” + kudasaipolite form command

Base “te” + いるBase “te” + iruplain form presently verbing

(this iru is the same verb learned in lesson 7 (to exist (animate))

Base “te” + いますBase “te” + imasupolite form presently verbing (can be changed like above)

Base “ta”Base “ta”plain form past tense

Base “ta” + らBase “ta” + raif and when I verb (similar to Base 4 + ba)

Base “ta” + りするBase “ta” + ri surudo such things as…

(this suru is also the same verb learned in lesson 7 (to do something))

Adjectives and Adverbs

There are two different types of words that can be used to modify nouns and verbs. One group is much like what we would call an adjective but they can also modify verbs as well. We will refer to these as “dv”. The other group can, in most cases, stand alone like a noun but can also be used to modify nouns and verbs. We will refer to these as “dn”. All words in the “dv” group always end with い (i). No exceptions. This is placed in front of a noun in order to modify it. For example: 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

赤い車あかいくるまakai kurumared car

These words can be conjugated to form different tenses, modify verbs, etc. Here is how that is done: ひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

drop the い and add くdrop the “i” and add “ku”modifies a verb (akaku natta -> became red)

(naru is the verb “to become”)

drop the い and add くないdrop the “i” and add “kunai”present tense negative (akakunai -> is not red)

drop the い and add かったdrop the “i” and add “katta”past tense (akakatta -> was red)

drop the い and add くなかったdrop the “i” and add “kunakatta”past tense negative (akakunakatta -> was not red)

(This one might take a little practice saying.)

It’s not as easy to recognize a “dn” but I will tell you that’s what they are in the vocabulary lists. Sometimes you’ll even find a “dn” that ends in い (i) (ex. kirei - pretty). As mentioned before, these words can, in most cases, be used by themselves like a noun (ex. shizen - nature). By adding a な (na) to the end of these words they can be used to modify a noun (ex. shizen na kankyou -> a natural envionment). And by adding a に (ni) to the end of these words they can be used to modify a verb as an adverb (ex. shizen ni aruku -> to walk naturally).

Here’s a list of some commonly used “dv” and “dn”: 漢字 - Kanjiひらがな - HiraganaRomaji

(English Letters)English Meaning

赤いあかいakai (dv)red

黄色いきいろいkiiroi (dv)yellow

青いあおいaoi (dv)blue

黒いくろいkuroi (dv)black

白いしろいshiroi (dv)white

面白いおもしろいomoshiroi (dv)interesting, funny

暑いあついatsui (dv)hot

寒いさむいsamui (dv)cold

大きいおおきいookii (dv)big

小さいちいさいchiisai (dv)small

自然しぜんshizen (dn)nature

綺麗きれいkirei (dn)pretty, clean

失礼しつれいshitsurei (dn)rude

静かしずかshizuka (dn)quiet

特別とくべつtokubetsu (dn)special

元気げんきgenki (dn)in good spirits

変へんhen (dn)weird, strange

上手じょうずjouzu (dn)skillful

親切しんせつshinsetsu (dn)kind

素敵すてきsuteki (dn)”cool”, good looking