Japanese degrees of politeness are a rather interesting thing... and ambiguous.

This Russian-Japanese phrasebook with pronunciation and transcription includes common words and expressions for everyday communication: standard phrases of greetings, thanks, questions, requests, a set of words for communication in shops, restaurants, hotels, orientation in a new and unfamiliar place and much more.

Typically, English is used for communication in the tourism industry. At the same time, knowing and using common polite phrases that the Japanese phrasebook offers will help establish contact and earn the respect of the local population.

In the Russian-Japanese phrasebook for tourists, pronunciation is given based on transcription. The colon indicates the longitude of the sound. For convenience, you can download the Russian-Japanese phrasebook for free in pdf format.

Greetings

Appeals

Standard phrases

Japanese degrees of politeness are a rather interesting thing... and ambiguous.

Are you confused by all these - kun, - chan and other investments in subtitles? This is called Japanese politeness. They are about the same as Mister, Mister, Pan, Miss, Madam and Sir. However, for the Japanese they tell much more about relationships between people.

Nominal suffixes in Japanese are suffixes that are added to a name (surname, nickname, profession, etc.) when talking to or about a person. Nominal suffixes play an important role in Japanese communication. They indicate the social status of the interlocutors relative to each other, their attitude towards each other, and the degree of their closeness. By using any nominal suffix, you can insult your interlocutor, or vice versa - express your deepest respect to him.

Honorific. Honorative is a “form of politeness.” A grammatical category that conveys the speaker’s attitude towards the person in question. It is characteristic primarily of the “polite” Japanese language.

Honorifics are gender neutral, but some are used for one gender more than the other. Kun, for example, is more used for men, and chan for women. Honorifica are usually required when addressing someone, but sometimes they need to be discarded altogether. It's quite confusing.

Kanji (漢字). Kanji

Honorifica is usually combined with the polite speech suffixes -masa and desu. If a person does not use Honorifics at all, then this is a clear indicator of rudeness. This style may seem awkward or even arrogant, a sign of a familiar, cold and “distant” relationship.

Withholding deference signifies intimacy with the person you are speaking to. This is done with spouses, younger family members, very close friends, or those of lower status in society. They also omit it when talking about a family member to another person. However, this phenomenon is common among schoolchildren, students, and hard workers (in an environment where unceremoniousness is quite acceptable).

Hiragana and Katakana. Japanese syllabary

Is it possible to completely do without all these suffixes and proper selection? It is possible, but very, very, very undesirable.

Now let’s move on to the classic “gentleman’s” set of the most common suffixes:

San (さん) is the most common badge of honor. It is a title of respect between equals. A neutral polite suffix that corresponds quite closely to addressing people by first name and patronymic in Russian. This is the English equivalent of Mr., Miss. It can also be attached to animals and objects, but such use is considered childish. Usagi-san roughly translates to Mr. Rabbit. It can also be used to refer to someone who works in a particular place. honya-san ("bookstore" + san) translates to "bookseller".

However, it should be taken into account that in women’s speech this suffix loses its honorative meaning and is used for almost all names. That is, Japanese women address everyone with “-san,” even the closest people (excluding children). This explains the fact that in Japanese films, as well as in anime, women say “-san” even to their husbands. In this case, the suffix does not mean addressing “you”. However, modern young women and girls are less formal in their speech and use “-san” mainly as a neutral-polite suffix.

Tian (ちゃん) is an approximate analogue of diminutive suffixes in Russian. This suffix shows that the speaker finds the person cute. Using chan with the boss's name is considered rude and condescending. Used mainly by young children, close friends (teenagers), adults in relation to children, older people in relation to younger ones with whom close relationships develop.

It is not used in a purely male society; moreover, a man may regard such an address to himself as an insult (unless his beloved girl calls him that). It can also be attached to animals. Young women can use it to identify themselves in order to appear cute and childish. Among otaku, the suffix -tan is also often used in relation to all sorts of mascots and manifestations of moe anthropomorphism (for example: Wikipe-tan, OS-tan, etc.) as a “warmer” version of the suffix -chan.

7 Different Ways to Say "Father" in Japanese

Kun (くん) is a warmer polite suffix than -san. An approximate analogue of the address “comrade” or “friend”. Used by people of senior status to refer to people of junior status or by someone when referring to male children or teenagers. Women may also use this term to refer to a guy they are emotionally attached to or have known for a long time.

It can be used in relation to girls when the suffix “-chan” is inappropriate for some reason (for example, a male teacher to a female student or a girl to a girl in a somewhat official but humorous manner). Kun is not exclusive to men, but is primarily used to refer to men.

Sama (さま) is much more respectful than san. A suffix that shows the greatest possible respect and deference. An approximate analogue of the address “Mr”, “Honourable”. It is used when addressing a priest to deities, a devoted servant to a master, a girl to a lover, as well as in the text of official messages.

This term is used to refer to people who have a much higher status than yourself, clients, or those you greatly admire. When used to refer to oneself, it can appear highly arrogant or self-deprecating (sarcasm), depending on the context. In colloquial speech it is used quite rarely and only when addressing persons of lower social status to higher ones or very respectful address of younger people to elders.

Aniki (兄贴) - verb. "Noble Elder Brother") . Slang honorific, analogue of the Russian "bro".

Senpai (せんぱい) - lit. "Colleague who started early" . Appeal to an older, more experienced person. Also used for high school classmates. More often used as a separate independent word, rather than as a suffix.

Kōhai (こうはい) - verb. “Colleague who started later” , an appeal to a younger person. So, senpai can attach this to the junior's name. This is not usually used.

Sensei (せんせい) - verb. "an earlier being" . "Teacher". Used to refer to teachers and lecturers themselves, as well as doctors and politicians. This refers to someone who has achieved great mastery in something. Like "senpai", often used as a separate word.

Senshu - “Sportsman.” Used to refer to famous athletes.

Si (し) - used in formal writing (documents, scientific papers) and, sometimes, in very formal speech towards strangers (for example, in the news). When a person is mentioned for the first time in a conversation, his name and the suffix si are indicated. Further in the conversation, instead of the full name, only si is used.

Ue (上) literally means "Elder". Shows great respect. It is rarely used, but appears in some phrases such as chichi-ue and haha-ue. Reverent words for father and mother. Or, as they say about the nameless buyer, ue-sama.

Gumi - “Team, group, party.” "Kenshin-gumi" - "Team Kenshin".

Dono. Used (or rather, used to be used) to address samurai to each other. Used in official documents (for example: letters, diplomas, certificates, criminal cases) after the name of the recipient, in business correspondence when indicating the addressee after the name of the company or name. In the army when addressing an officer.

Sometimes the suffix “-dono” is applied to a person whom you would not like to call “-san” because he is inferior to you and you are going to do something unpleasant to him (for example, fire him). These are not all cases of using “dono”

In addition to nominal suffixes, Japan also uses many different ways to address each other and refer to themselves using personal pronouns. The choice of pronoun is determined by the social laws already mentioned above.

Phew. It is quite difficult to follow all these rules. Japan is a very stratified society. These suffixes help to clearly understand the status and opinions of others. Of course, the water is a little cloudy. The senpai-kohai relationship may vary depending on the context for different clubs or organizations, depending on how long one or the other has been with the organization.

Honorifics may be a clue to how characters are related to each other in the anime.

Bullying of students is rampant in Japanese schools. 16+

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Railway station

Passport control

At customs

Orientation in the city

Transport

Hotel

Greetings for daily use

おはようございます ohayo:gozaimasu Good morning! A formal way to greet someone in the morning. You can use this greeting with colleagues, strangers or superiors. With friends and family, it is most often shortened to the form: おはよう！ (ohai: morning!).

こんにちは！konnitiva hello! (or good afternoon)

This is a fairly formal greeting and not the way you greet friends and family. Used for strangers or in formal situations. But this is also the most common greeting. In written form it may appear as こんにちわ konnitiva. The meaning will not change, but still the first option is more correct.

今晩は！（こんばんは） kombanwa Good evening!

This is a formal greeting used in the evening.

お休みなさい！oyasuminasai Good night! When you wish good night to someone you are close to, you can shorten this saying by saying: おやすみ (oyasumi: night!)

良い天気ですね！iitenki desune! Good weather! いい (ii) means good and 天気 (tenki) means weather. So you can change い い to any other adjective that suits the day. This greeting is familiar to the Japanese.

元気ですか。Genkidesuka How are you? (How are you?) 元気 means “health” in Japanese, so you are asking if someone is healthy.

Greeting your friends and family with this phrase every time you see them is a little strange. And it is awkward to use the expression when addressing strangers (at the same time, strangers often nod and say nothing). This phrase is actually only used when enough time has passed since you have seen the person. This expression can also mean a wish for good luck. You can answer this phrase in different ways. For example, はい、元気です。Hai, genkidesu. 大丈夫です。Daijobudesu, if everything is fine, and vice versa いいえ、ちょっと悪いです。Iie, tottovaruidesu. No, not very good. (I'm sick, etc.)

久しぶり hisashiburi Long time no see! If you haven't seen someone for a week or more, you will hear the following phrase: 久しぶり! And it is logical to continue this statement with the question: 元気ですか。 じゃあ、また！ Jia:, mata See you later! If, for example, you are about to leave work and say goodbye to your superiors, then use the word: さようなら sayo:nara. If you are in an informal setting, for example, about to say goodbye to friends, then じゃあ、また is a great way to say “see you later!” You can also use では、また deva, mata, which is a little more polite. じゃあ ね jia:ne - see you and じゃ、また明日 ね jia, mata asitane - see you tomorrow, these are also short friendly phrases for parting. ただいまtadaima I'm home! When someone returns home, this person says this phrase. And in response he hears: おかえりなさい！okaerinasai, which means: welcome back! You may also hear these phrases from colleagues at work.

行ってきますittekimasu I'm gone! This phrase is said to family, friends or colleagues when they say that

are about to leave. And in response they hear: いってらっしゃい itterassy Be careful! (Literally translated: go away and come back).

Emergencies

Dates and times

Purchases

In the shop

Restaurant

Numbers and numbers

We hope that the Japanese phrasebook posted on the site will be useful during your trip to Japan - in solving household, transport and other common issues.

Numerous Japanese media reported a collision between Russian and Japanese ships in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk early in the morning of May 26 at about 08.20 local time.

The Japanese state broadcaster NHK was one of the first to report the incident. This was followed by reports in Tokyo Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Hokkaido Shimbun, Yahoo News Japan, Kyodo and Jiji news agencies.

According to NHK, the Russian transport vessel "Amur" (home port of Nevelsk, displacement 662 tons) collided with the fishing vessel "Dai-hachi-Hokko-maru" (catching hairy crab, displacement 9.7 tons, home port of the Japanese city of Mombetsu, Hokkaido ) 23 kilometers off the coast of Hokkaido. The exact area of ​​responsibility of the collision point has not yet been established.

The Cupid hit the Japanese crab fisher in the side, causing it to capsize. According to NHK, Russian sailors pulled all five crew members of the Japanese crab fisher out of the sea. Two of them are alive, including the captain. Three Japanese fishermen drowned in the water. They were taken by a Japanese coast guard vessel to a hospital in Mombetsu, where they were pronounced dead.

Yahoo News Japan 09/24/2020 Newsweek 03/10/2021 Shukan Gendai 02/27/2021

The ship "Amur" and 23 members of its crew are also in Mombetsu, where the circumstances of the incident are being established. No one from the Amur team was injured.

According to the maritime services of Russia and Japan, on the morning of May 26 in the indicated water area there was moderate sea roughness and quite heavy fog. It is possible that weather conditions could have caused the accident.

According to the Marin Traffic website, the Amur vessel left the port of Nevelsk at 01.00 on May 26 and was heading south, heading to the island of Hokkaido. It is also used for transporting seafood.

The incident was announced in a purely factual manner by the Secretary General of the Japanese Cabinet, Matsunobu Kato, during a regular press conference on May 26. He did not give any assessments.

The maritime incident caused a lot of response in the Japanese press. They are different, but in some from the very beginning there is an accusatory bias against Russia. Although other Japanese readers have noticed that illegal business is booming around crab in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in Japan. And we still need to see who is right and who is wrong here.

Comments from Japanese readers

ma_

Conduct a thorough investigation! If the Russians are to blame, then arrest everyone!

wor

23 kilometers from the coast. Almost on the border of our territorial waters. What was the Russian ship doing there?

uyouyo

Our powerless Prime Minister will do nothing. It will all end in incomprehensible muttering.

I feel sorry for the dead fishermen.

toto

We are waiting for the testimony of the ship captains. If Russia is to blame, then the Japanese government cannot escape with “regrets” and “condolences.” The people won't understand this.

Our government should do what it's supposed to do and not shirk its responsibility.

s00

As soon as we hear about Russia, we immediately suspect it of something. And the port of Mombetsu is full of Russian ships that openly trade crabs here with shady businessmen, and our authorities are not at all embarrassed by this!

sar

Hit from the side and “run over” a small boat?! Either way, it's very cruel!

vew

Probably, our government will limit itself to expressing yet another regret.

typ

Don't expect our current government to notice that the Russians are smuggling crab here. After all, Japanese business will also suffer!

vra

Nothing has been written about the captain of the Russian ship. What about him? Arrested?

qqw

Or maybe this crab catcher was simply reloading the crab onto the Amur to transport it illegally to Mombetsu. It happens!

asb

23 kilometers from Mombetsu... Whose territorial waters are these?

you

Japanese fishermen are still young. Probably there are families too? We sympathize.

mue

So why didn’t the Russians save the three?

InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.