9.2. Dialogue 2


In this dialogue, Shô meets two students from overseas. One is a boy from the U.S., and the other is a girl from China.

(si)(small yo)(u) :(ha)(zi)(me)(ma)(si)(te)(period)
Phonemes:hazimema'site
Romanization:Hajimemashite.
Structure:interjection
(nice to meet you)

(continued)(bo)(ku)(ha)  (su)(gi)(ya)(ma)  (si)(small yo)(u)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:bo'kuwasugiyamasyo'udesu
Romanization:BokuwaSugiyamaShôdesu.
Structure:noun
(I)
topic
marker
noun
(Sugiyama,
a surname)
noun
(Shô,
a given name)
copula
(is + polite)

His surname is one of the hundreds of thousands of surnames in Japan. The most popular ones are (su)(zu)(ki) /su zu ki/ "Suzuki", (ta)(ka)(ha)(si) /ta ka' ha si/ "Takahashi", (sa)(to)(u) /sa' to u/ "Satô", and (ta)(na)(ka) /ta na ka/ "Tanaka".

(bi)(ru) :(ha)(zi)(me)(ma)(si)(te)(period)
Phonemes:hazimema'site
Romanization:Hajimemashite.
Structure:interjection
(nice to meet you)

(continued)(wa)(ta)(si)(ha)  (bi)(ru)  (gu)(ri)(long)(n)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:watasiwabi'ruguri'iNdesu
Romanization:WatashiwaBiruGundesu.
Structure:noun
(I)
topic
marker
noun
(Bill,
a given name)
noun
(Green,
a surname)
copula
(is + polite)

Since Japanese syllables have a simple structure, writing pronunciations of foreign languages is sometimes difficult. In this case, Bill becomes (bi)(ru) /bi' ru/ "Biru". The sound of English "l" is changed to Japanese "r", and "u" is added to satisfy the rule that all consonants except for (n) /N/ "n" must be followed by a vowel.

Foreign proper nouns such as names are written with katakana because they are imported words. You don't have to flip your name order when you speak Japanese.

(continued)(sa)(n)(de)(small i)(e)(go)(ka)(ra)  (ki)(ma)(si)(ta)(period)
Phonemes:saNd + i'egokarakima'sita
Romanization:Sandiegokarakimashita.
Structure:noun
(San Diego)
ablative
marker
(from)
verb
(came + polite)

Japanese didn't have a pronunciation of "di", because the Japanese phoneme /di/ is pronounced as "ji". Later the combination of (de) /de/ and (small i) (small (i) /i/) was invented to describe the sound of "di". See the chapter of double kana for imported words.

The ablative case marker (ka)(ra) /ka ra/ "kara" is the postposition for the starting point of a movement. It is the same as the English preposition from, and the sentence above means "I came from San Diego."

On the other hand, the postposition for the ending point of a movement is the dative case marker (ni) /ni/ "ni". It is the same as the English preposition to. I show you two examples (the word for I is omitted) :

Hiragana:(a)(me)(ri)(ka)(ka)(ra)  (ni)(ho)(n)(ni)  (ki)(ta)(period)
Phonemes:amerikakaraniho'Nnikita
Romanization:AmerikakaraNihonnikita.
Structure:noun
(America)
ablative
marker
(from)
noun
(Japan)
dative
marker
(to)
verb
(came)
Meaning:I came to Japan from America.

Hiragana:(ka)(re)(ni)  (te)(ga)(mi)(wo)  (o)(ku)(small tu)(ta)(period)
Phonemes:ka'renitegamiookuQta
Romanization:Karenitegamiookutta.
Structure:noun
(he)
dative
marker
(to)
noun
(letter)
accu-
sative
marker
verb
(sent)
Meaning:I sent a letter to him.

In both of the sentences above, the English preposition to is used for the Japanese postposition (ni) /ni/ "ni". You have learned that the dative marker is also used for existence, and the English verb belong might help you understand why the Japanese dative marker can mean the location or the possessor of an existence, such as "The car belongs to him."

(re)(i)(ka) :(do)(u)(mo)(comma)(wa)(n)  (ri)(long)(ho)(wa)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:do'umowa'Nri'ihowadesu
Romanization:mo,Wanhowadesu.
Structure:interjection
(hello)
noun
(Wáng,
a surname)
noun
(Lìhuá,
a given name)
copula
(is + polite)

You have already learned (do)(u)(mo) /do' u mo/ "dômo" as "Thank you", but in fact you can also use it as "Hello" and "Nice to meet you", so it is a very useful phrase.

(continued)(ni)(ho)(n)(go)(no)  (ha)(tu)(o)(n)(ha)
Phonemes:nihoNgonohatuoNwa
Romanization:Nihongonohatsuonwa
Structure:noun
(the Japanese language)
genitive
marker
(of)
noun
(pronunciation)
topic
marker

(continued)(o)(u)  (re)(i)(ka)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:o'ure'ikadesu
Romanization:ÔReikadesu.
Structure:noun
(Ô,
a surname)
noun
(Reika,
a given name)
copula
(is + polite)

This sentence means "The Japanese pronunciation (of my name) is Ô Reika." Chinese and Japanese share kanji, but pronunciations are quite different. But kanji carry meanings, so they often allow themselves to be called in different pronunciation, using the same kanji. In this case, the character of her family name, which means king, is pronounced "wáng" in Mandarin and "ô" in Japanese. The first character of her given name, which means elegant, is "lì" in Mandarin and "rei" in Japanese. The second one, which means flower, is "huá" in Mandarin and "ka" in Japanese. My name "Takasugi Shinji" is pronounced "Ga¯osha¯n Qi¯nzhi¯" in Mandarin.

Also notice that katakana are used for the Chinese pronunciation of her name and hiragana are used for the Japanese pronunciation.

The suffix (go) /go/ "go" means language, and it's easy to derive the language name from its spoken area. The only exception is English, which is called (e)(i)(go) /e i go/ "eigo". Its origin is explained later.

CountryLanguage
Hiragana:(ni)(ho)(n)
Phonemes:niho'N
Romanization:Nihon
Meaning:Japan
(ni)(ho)(n)(go)
nihoNgo
Nihongo
Japanese
Hiragana:(a)(me)(ri)(ka)
Phonemes:amerika
Romanization:Amerika
Meaning:the United States
(e)(i)(go)
eigo
Eigo
English
Hiragana:(i)(gi)(ri)(su)
Phonemes:igirisu
Romanization:Igirisu
Meaning:the United Kingdom
Hiragana:(ka)(na)(da)
Phonemes:ka'nada
Romanization:Kanada
Meaning:Canada
Hiragana:(ka)(n)(ko)(ku)
Phonemes:ka'Nkoku
Romanization:Kankoku
Meaning:South Korea
(ka)(n)(ko)(ku)(go)
kaNkokugo
Kankokugo
Korean
Hiragana:(ta)(i)
Phonemes:ta'i
Romanization:Tai
Meaning:Thailand
(ta)(i)(go)
taigo
Taigo
Thai
Hiragana:(ti)(small yu)(u)(go)(ku)
Phonemes:tyu'ugoku
Romanization:Chûgoku
Meaning:China
(ti)(small yu)(u)(go)(ku)(go)
tyuugokugo
Chûgokugo
Chinese
Hiragana:(do)(i)(tu)
Phonemes:do'itu
Romanization:Doitsu
Meaning:Germany
(do)(i)(tu)(go)
doitugo
Doitsugo
German
Hiragana:(hu)(ra)(n)(su)
Phonemes:huraNsu
Romanization:Furansu
Meaning:France
(hu)(ra)(n)(su)(go)
huraNsugo
Furansugo
French
Hiragana:(ro)(si)(a)
Phonemes:ro'sia
Romanization:Roshia
Meaning:Russia
(ro)(si)(a)(go)
rosiago
Roshiago
Russian

Note: Not all country names are from their original pronunciations. For example, the Japanese word for the United Kingdom came from Dutch.

(continued)(si)(small yu)(small tu)(si)(n)(ha)  (si)(small ya)(n)(ha)(i)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:syuQsiNwasya'Nhaidesu
Romanization:ShusshinwaShanhaidesu.
Structure:noun
(native place, hometown)
topic
marker
noun
(Shànghâi)
copula
(is + polite)

You don't have to say words that are clear from context in Japanese. In this sentence, the phrase (wa)(ta)(si)(no) /wa ta si no/ "watashino" (I + genitive marker = my) before the noun (si)(small yu)(small tu)(si)(n) /syu Q si N/ "shusshin" (native place) is omitted, because it is clear she talks about her hometown.

(si)(small yo)(u) :(ni)(ho)(n)(ni)  (ki)(ta)  (mo)(ku)(te)(ki)(ha)
Phonemes:niho'Nniki'tamokutekiwa
Romanization:Nihonnikitamokutekiwa
Structure:noun
(Japan)
dative
marker
(to)
verb
(came)
noun
(purpose)
topic
marker

(continued)(na)(n)(de)(su)(ka)(period)
Phonemes:na'Ndesuka
Romanization:nandesuka.
Structure:noun
(what)
copula
(is + polite)
question
marker

The subject, (ni)(ho)(n)(ni) (ki)(ta) (mo)(ku)(te)(ki), is a relative clause that means "the purpose you came to Japan for".

(bi)(ru) :(wa)(ta)(si)(ha)  (sa)(do)(u)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:watasiwasa'doudesu
Romanization:Watashiwasadesu.
Structure:noun
(I)
topic
marker
noun
(sadô,
Japanese
traditional art of tea)
copula
(is + polite)

Do not translate this sentence to "I am sadô". Actually it means "I came to Japan for sadô". Many words are omitted in Japanese if they are clear from context, and in this case "came to Japan for" is clear, so you don't have to say it again. But as I have explained, a predicate (either a verb, the copula, or an adjective) is necessary to make a Japanese sentence gramatically correct, so the copula is added just to make the sentence gramatical. In addition, it is polite because the polite copula is used. You cannot use the polite mode unless you use a predicate. This structure is very common in Japanese, and you have to understand what predicate is omitted.

The topic, (wa)(ta)(si) /wa ta si/ "watashi", cannot be omitted here because it is a selected topic. Shô asked their purpose to come to Japan, and Bill answers only his purpose. If the topic was omitted, it would mean he answered their purpose.

(re)(i)(ka) :(wa)(ta)(si)(ha)  (ni)(ho)(n)(ri)(small yo)(u)(ri)(to)
Phonemes:watasiwanihoNryo'urito
Romanization:Watashiwanihonryôrito
Structure:noun
(I)
topic
marker
noun
(Japan + cuisine)
group
marker
(and)

(continued)(ma)(n)(ga)(wo)  (ma)(na)(bu)  (tu)(mo)(ri)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:maNgaomanabutumoride'su
Romanization:mangaomanabutsumoridesu.
Structure:noun
(manga,
Japanese comic)
accu-
sative
marker
verb
(learn)
noun
(to have a plan
to do ...)
copula
(is + polite)

This sentence means "I have a plan to learn Japanese cuisines and manga". The phrase (tu)(mo)(ri)(de)(su) /tu mo ri de' su/ "tsumoridesu" is commonly used to mean you have a plan to do something. Its structure is not important because it is simply added after a sentence.

The group marker (to) /to/ "to" is the same as the English word and. Even if there are more than two things in a group, all nouns are often followed by the marker like this:

Hiragana:(ni)(wa)(to)(ri)(to)  (ko)(to)(ri)(to)  (wa)(ni)
Phonemes:niwatoritokotoritowa'ni
Romanization:niwatoritokotoritowani
Structure:noun
(chicken)
group
marker
(and)
noun
(small bird)
group
marker
(and)
noun
(crocodile)
Meaning:Chickens, small birds, and crocodiles

Just for your interest: The phrase above is a palindrome. Japanese palindromes are based on kana, not on alphabets. It's much easier to make palindromes in Japanese than in English.

(bi)(ru) :(ni)(ho)(n)(ni)(ha)  (ge)(n)(da)(i)(bu)(n)(ka)(to)
Phonemes:niho'NniwageNdaibu'Nkato
Romanization:Nihonniwagendaibunkato
Structure:noun
(Japan)
dative
marker
(to)
topic
marker
noun
(modern + culture)
group
marker
(and)

(continued)(de)(n)(to)(u)(no)  (ri)(small yo)(u)(ho)(u)(ga)
Phonemes:deNtounoryouho'uga
Romanization:dennoryôga
Structure:noun
(tradition)
genitive
marker
(of)
noun
(both)
nomi-
native
marker

(continued)(a)(ri)(ma)(su)(ne)(period)
Phonemes:arima'sune
Romanization:arimasune.
Structure:verb
(exist + polite)
agreement-
asking
marker

Meaning: Japan has both modern culture and tradition, doesn't it?

(re)(i)(ka) :(e)(e)(comma)(so)(re)(ga)  (o)(mo)(si)(ro)(i)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:e'esoregaomosiro'idesu
Romanization:Ê,soregaomoshiroidesu.
Structure:noun
(yes)
demon-
strative
(that)
nomi-
native
marker
adjective
(interesting + polite)

The subject is not followed by the topic marker, so it is a focus. The translation is "That is the interesting point of Japan", not just "That is interesting".

(bi)(ru) :(wa)(ta)(si)(mo)  (i)(ro)(i)(ro)  (ma)(na)(bu)
Phonemes:watasimoiroiromanabu
Romanization:Watashimoiroiromanabu
Structure:noun
(I)
addition
marker
(also)
adverb
(variously)
verb
(learn)

(continued)(tu)(mo)(ri)(de)(su)(period)
Phonemes:tumoride'su
Romanization:tsumoridesu.
Structure:noun
(to have a plan
to do ...)
copula
(is + polite)

Meaning: (Not only Reika but also) I am planning to learn various things.

(si)(small yo)(u) :(bo)(ku)(mo)  (de)(ki)(ru)(da)(ke)
Phonemes:bo'kumodekirudake
Romanization:Bokumodekirudake
Structure:noun
(I)
addition
marker
(also)
adverb
(as much as possible)

(continued)(ki)(small yo)(u)(ri)(small yo)(ku)(si)(ma)(su)(period)
Phonemes:kyouryokusima'su
Romanization:kyôryokushimasu.
Structure:verb
(cooperate, help + polite)

Meaning: (Other people will help you study and) I also help you as much as possible.

The verb (ki)(small yo)(u)(ri)(small yo)(ku)(su)(ru) /kyo u ryo ku su ru/ "kyôryokusuru" (cooperate) is the combination of the noun (ki)(small yo)(u)(ri)(small yo)(ku) /kyo u ryo ku/ "kyôryoku" (cooperation) and the verb (su)(ru) /su ru/ "suru" (do).

In Japanese, present tense can mean future, so the present form is sometimes called non-past.

(bi)(ru)(to) (re)(i)(ka) :(a)(ri)(ga)(to)(u)  (go)(za)(i)(ma)(su)(period)
Phonemes:ari'gatougozaimasu
Romanization:Arigagozaimasu.
Structure:interjection
(thank you very much)

The second dialogue is now over. The all sentences are shown below again.

(si)(small yo)(u) :(ha)(zi)(me)(ma)(si)(te)(period)(bo)(ku)(ha)   (su)(gi)(ya)(ma)   (si)(small yo)(u)(de)(su)(period)
(bi)(ru) :(ha)(zi)(me)(ma)(si)(te)(period)(wa)(ta)(si)(ha)   (bi)(ru)   (gu)(ri)(long)(n)(de)(su)(period)
(sa)(n)(de)(small i)(e)(go)(ka)(ra)   (ki)(ma)(si)(ta)(period)
(re)(i)(ka) :(do)(u)(mo)(comma)(wa)(n)   (ri)(long)(ho)(wa)(de)(su)(period)
(ni)(ho)(n)(go)(no)   (ha)(tu)(o)(n)(ha)   (o)(u)   (re)(i)(ka)(de)(su)(period)
(si)(small yu)(small tu)(si)(n)(ha)   (si)(small ya)(n)(ha)(i)(de)(su)(period)
(si)(small yo)(u) :(ni)(ho)(n)(ni)   (ki)(ta)   (mo)(ku)(te)(ki)(ha)   (na)(n)(de)(su)(ka)(period)
(bi)(ru) :(wa)(ta)(si)(ha)   (sa)(do)(u)(de)(su)(period)
(re)(i)(ka) :(wa)(ta)(si)(ha)   (ni)(ho)(n)(ri)(small yo)(u)(ri)(to)   (ma)(n)(ga)(wo)   (ma)(na)(bu)   (tu)(mo)(ri)(de)(su)(period)
(bi)(ru) :(ni)(ho)(n)(ni)(ha)   (ge)(n)(da)(i)(bu)(n)(ka)(to)   (de)(n)(to)(u)(no)
(ri)(small yo)(u)(ho)(u)(ga)   (a)(ri)(ma)(su)(ne)(period)
(re)(i)(ka) :(e)(e)(comma)(so)(re)(ga)   (o)(mo)(si)(ro)(i)(de)(su)(period)
(bi)(ru) :(wa)(ta)(si)(mo)   (i)(ro)(i)(ro)   (ma)(na)(bu)   (tu)(mo)(ri)(de)(su)(period)
(si)(small yo)(u) :(bo)(ku)(mo)   (de)(ki)(ru)(da)(ke)   (ki)(small yo)(u)(ri)(small yo)(ku)(si)(ma)(su)(period)
(bi)(ru)(to)   (re)(i)(ka) :(a)(ri)(ga)(to)(u)   (go)(za)(i)(ma)(su)(period)


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