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A mystic, beautiful country and an ambiguous language with many dialects. The language has a complex system of honorifics and three different types of writing; hiragana, katakana and kanji.
To visit Japan or to live in Japan are two different situations and the language what you should used will differ from one to other.
For visiting, you will need to learn the basic phrases but if you decide to live in Japan you will need to really learn the language upon your preferences.
The language has difficulty levels, which are required for different usage. For example, the JLPT have four levels, from four to one. Level one is required for study in the Japanese universities; the level two is required for find employment in a Japanese company.
For survive you should have the minimum level two but will not be enough for you for public institutes or legal maters.
The Japanese language has an extensive system to express formality and politeness.
The differences between social position, age, experience or job will determine the type of speaking.
For example: you must use さん（san）which means” Mr.” ”Mrs.” or ”Miss.” in normal situations, but with a superior or a customer you must use 様 －さまー(sama)-the most polite form.尊敬語(sonnkeigo).
For self introduction you must use ですー(desu) with an interlocutor situated in the same social position or a friend but with a superior or in special situations you must use ともします. My name is Smith.
私の名前はスミスです。(Watashi no namae wa Smith desu.)
スミス ともします。(Sumisu tomosimasu)
Below are the basic Japanese phrases
Greetings:
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おはよう,おはようございます.
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Good morning.(polite)
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Ohayou.ohayou gozaimasu..
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こんにちは
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Hello
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konnichiwa.
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こんばんは （今晩は）
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Good evening
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konbanwa.
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おやすみなさい (お休みなさい。)
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Good night
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O yasumi nasai.
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はじめまして
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Nice to meet you.
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Hajimemashite.
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バイバイ
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Bye!
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Baibai
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じゃまたね！
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See you!
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Ja mata ne!
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また会いましょう！
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See you again!
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Mata aimashou
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Politeness/Basics
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ごめんなさい
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I am (really) sorry
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Gomen nasai
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すみません
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Excuse me/Pardon
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sumimasen.
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おげんきですか （お元気ですか）
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How are you? (polite)
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O genki desu ka.
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元気です！
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I am fine
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Genki desu
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はい
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Yes
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Hai
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いいえ
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No
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iie
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ありがとう
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Thank you
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Arigatou
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ありがとうございます
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Thank you very much(polite)
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Arigatou
Arigatou gozaimasu.
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どういたしまして
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You're welcome/Not at all.
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Dou itashimashite
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ちょっと待ってください
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Wait a moment, please
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Chotto Matte kudasai
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Useful phrases:
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ちょっとお願いしたいのですが。
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Could you do me a favor?
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Chotto onegai shitai no desuga.
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駅どこですか？
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Where is the station?
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Eki wa doko desu ka?
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どちらからいらっしゃったのですか？
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Where are you from?
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Dochira kara irashatta no desu ka?
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私はアメリカから来ました。
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I am from America.
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Watashi ha America kara kimashita.
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一番大きいショピングセンターどこにありますか？
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Where is the biggest shopping center?
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Ichibann ookiii shopingu sennta doko ni arimasuka?
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おいくらですか？
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How much ?
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O ikura desuka?
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If you are planning to visit Japan, you should become familiar with the language and not only.
In these days, the access to information is wild so it will be easy to expand your knowledge.
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