LESSON 1

PRONUNCIATION OF LETTERS

Japanese is easy to pronounce. It has only five vowels. Japanese nouns do not have gender and
rarely number aspects. With most Japanese nouns, number is not an issue. The same word is used
for one or more than one.
Vowels

The Japanese language has only 5 vowels: a, i, u,e, o. They are terse vowels, pronounced clearly
and sharply. If one pronounces the vowels in the following sentence, one will have their
approximate sounds. Please note the ‘’u’’ is pronounced with no forward movement of the lips.

There are five general (root) sounds to pronounce

sound example meaning

A aru have
I iru It’s here
U ikura How much
E sensei teacher
O ginko bank
Long Vowel Syllables
Each of the long syllable is pronounced by simply extending the short vowel.

sound example meaning

Aa okaasan mother
Ii ii good
Uu kuuki air
Ee eega movie
Oo ooki big
Syllabic consonant “N” is pronpounced as follow:

a) Before the consonant n,t, and d, it is pronounced as in “night”

Ex. mondai (problem)
b) Before the consonants m, p, and b ,n is pronounced as in “moon”
Ex. Enpitsu (pencil)
c) Before the consonants k,g,and ng, it is pronounced as in “sing”
Ex. Ongaku (music)
d) Before the vowels and other consonants not mentioned above “n” is pronounced as a nasal
vowel.
Ex. Sensei (teacher)

Double Consonant pp,tt,ss and kk.

a) pp-It is similar to the “p” sound in the English word “shopping”

Ex. ippun( one minute)
b) tt- it is similar to the “t” sound in the English word cutter
Ex. Kitte (stamp)
c) ss- it is similar to the “s” sound in the English word “dressing”
Ex.massugu( straight)
d) kk- it is similar to the “k” sound in the English word “booking”
Ex. yokka (4th day of the month)

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 LESSON 2
Numbers in Japanese

In Japanese, there are two words for four, seven and and nine , but theyre not interchangeable.
You just have to know which one to use in each case. For instance , when counting, you say shi for
four, but in phone numbers, you say yon.When referring to the month of April,which is said literally
as “4 month’’ , you again use shi as in “shi-gatsu”
For seven , the two words are “ shichi” and “ nana” and for nine, the words are “ku’’and “kyu”

1. The numbers from one to ten are pronounced as follows:

one-ichi six-roku
two-ni seven-shichi
three-san eight-hachi
four-shi nine-kyu
five-go ten-ju

2. Above ten, the numbers are pronounced differently. For example, the number eleven (11) in
Japanese is translated as “ ten plus one” say the ten first as in “ ju” then one as in “ichi”
together as in “ju.ichi”.
Eleven-juichi sixteen- juroku
twelve- juni seventeen-jushichi
thirteen-juson eighteen-juhachi
fourteen-juyon nineteen-jukyu
Fifteen-jugo

3. Upon reaching 20, 30, 40,50,60,70,80, and 90 the numbers are again pronounced in a
slightly different manner, say the first digit first-then 10-then the last digit
Example: if you translate 25 and 36
First digit is 2 =ni first digit is 3=san
then word for 10= ju word for 10=ju
last digit is 5=go last digit 6= roku
25 =nijugo 36=sanjuroku

4. The number 100 is pronounced as “hyaku”.So counting above 100 isa basically just a matter
of adding the word”hyaku in the appropriate place and then following the same general
principle. For example the number 150 is pronounced as “100-5-10”
100 =hyaku
5=go
10=ju

150=hyakugoju
1000=sengyen 10=ichimang

5. Japanese couner for objects, How many ( ikutsu)

1-hitotsu 6-muttsu
2-futatsu 7-Nanatsu
3-mittsu 8-yatsu
4-yottsu 9-kokonotsu

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 5-itsutsu 10-tou
6. Japenese counter for people. Here we use the suffix “nin” but for 1 and 2, these are
exceptions. How many people? (nannin)
1 people-hitori 6 people-rokunin
2 people-tulari 7 people- shichinin
3 people –sannin 8 people-hachinin
4 people-yonin 9 people- kunin
5 people-gonin 10 people- junin

7. Japanese counter for flat things like paper, plates etc, uses the suffix “mai” how many
( nanmai)
1-ichimai 6-rokumai
2-nimai 7-nanamai
3-sanmai 8-hachimai
4-yonmai 9.-kyuhon
5-gomai 10-jumai

8. Japanese counter for long slender things like pencils, sticks etc, uses the suffix
“pon/hon/bon” how many (nanbon)
1- Ippon 6-roppon
2- Nihon 7-ronahon
3- sanbon 8- hapon
4- yohon 9-kyuhon
5- Gohon 10-jyuppon

9. Japanese counter for books uses suffix satsu , How many ( natsu)
1-issatsu 6-rokusatsu
2-hisatsu 7-nanasatsu
3-sansatsu 8-hassatsu
4- yonsatsu 9 –kyusatsu
5-gosatsu 10-jissatsu

10. More words relate to number

Nin-for person
Wa- birds
Hiki- for animals
Hon- for long or cylindrical things
Hai- for cupfuls
Mai- for flat things
Dai- for vehicles
Ken- for blouses,building
Choo- for things with handles
Soku- for things worn on the teeth
Soo- for ships or boats
Tsu- for pair
Kai-for storeys of floors
Do- for numbers of times
Ko- for bundles, parcels

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 LESSON 3
Days of the week

Nichiyoobi Sunday
Getsuyobi Monday
Kayoobi Tuesday
Suiyoobi Wednesday
Mokuyoobi Thursday
Kingyoobi Friday
Doyoobi Saturday

More words to study

1. Hi or Nichi –Day
2. Ban-Night or Evening
3. Shuukan- Week
4. Kyoo, kon-nichi- Today
5. Ima- now
6. Ashita, Asu –Tomorrow
7. Kinoo- Yesterday
8. Asatte- Day after tomorrow
9. Ototoi - Day after yesterday
10. Yokojitsu- Next day
11. Hiru- Day time
12. Yoru – Night time
13. Komban – Tonight
14. Ashita no ban- Tomorrow
15. Kinoo no ban- Yesterday night
16. Maiban –Every night , nightly
17. Raishuu- Next week
18. Konshuu- This week
19. Senshuu- Last week
20. Mainichi- Everyday

LESSON 4

Telling Time

In telling time, use the suffix “ji” for hours and “un/hun” for minutes.

Example:

1:00----- ichiji

2:35----nijisanjugohun

3:10----sanjijupon

12:j-----juniji

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 LESSON 5
Months of the year

1. Ichigatsu ----------------- January

2. Nigatsu------------------- February
3. Sangatsu----------------- March
4. Shigatsu------------------ April
5. Gogatsu------------------ May
6. Rokugatsu--------------- June
7. Shichigatsu-------------- July
8. Hachigatsu--------------- August
9. Kugatsu------------------ September
10. Juugatsu----------------- October
11. Juuichigatsu------------ November
12. Juunigatsu--------------- December

More about the Months of the Year

1. Kongetsu--------- This month

2. Raigetsu---------- Next month
3. Sengetsu --------- Last month
4. Nangatsu -------- What month
5. Nankagetsu------- How many months
6. Ikkagetsu---------- One month
7. Kotoshi------------ This year
8. Rainen------------- Next year
9. Nannen------------ What year
10. Ikunen------------ How many years
11. Ichinen------------ One year
12. Toshi--------------- Age / Year

LESSON 6
Parts of the Body
I. UPPER PARTS
Noo- brain hoho-cheecks
Ke-hair mimi-ears
Atama-head kuchi-mouth
Kao-face kuchibiri-mouth
Hitai-forehead shita- tongue
Mayuge-eyebrow ha-teeth
Me-eyes iki-breath
Hana-rose ago-chin
Kubi-neck

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II. MIDDLE PARTS

Karada-body senaka-back
Hifu-skin mune- chest
Kata- shoulder shinzoo- heart
Ude- arms chichi- breast
Wakinoshita-armpit hara- stomach
Te- hands chi- blood
Tekubi- wrist hai- lung
Yubi- finger hone –bone
Tsume- fingernails koshi- hips

III. LOWER PARTS

Ashi-legs
Hiza-knees
Asi-foot
Kakato-heels

LESSON 7
Directions and Nature

I. Principal Direction
Kita—North
Itigashi—Easth
Minami—South
Nishi—West

II. Intermediate Directions

Hokutoo—Northeast
Hokusei—Northwest
Toonan—Southeast
Seinan—Southwest

III. Minerals
Kin—Gold
Gin—Silver
DO—Iron
Tetsu—Iron
Hagane—Steel
Namari—Lead
Sekitan—Coal
Abura—0il
Garasu—Glass
Gasu—Gas

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 IV. NATURE
Taiyo—sun ki—tree
Tsuki—moon tori—bird
Hoshi—star hana—flower
Chikyu—earth ike—pond
Yuki—snow kuuki—air
Ame—rain kawa—river
Koori—ice mizu-water
Asa—morning oomizu—flood
Kase -–wind arashi—storm
Ban—night kumo—clouds
Gogo—afternoon nikawa-awe—shower
Jishin—earthquake inabikari—lightning
Kaminasi—thunder hideri—drought
Yama—mountain mori—forest
Haru—spring natsu—summer
Aki—autum fuyu—winter
Niwatori—chicken kogawa—brook
Sabaku—desert sekai—world
Kudamono—fruits hito—man/woman
Doabutsu—animals yasai—vegetables

LESSON 8—Study of Family Members

Other than one’s own One’s own family

. family member family member

Family Gokazuko Kazuko

Parents Goryooshin Ryooshin
Grandfather Ojiisan safu
Grandmother Obaasan Sobo
Father Otoosan Chi-chi
Mother Okaasan Haha
Uncle Ojisan Oji
Aunt Obasan Oba
Son Musukosan Musuko
daughter Ojoosan/musumesan Musume
Elder brother Oniisar Ani
Elder sister Oneesan Ane
Younger brother Otootosan Otooto
Younger sister Imootosan Imooto
Nephew Oigosan Oi
Niece Mugosan Mei
Cousin Itokosan Itoko
Husband Goshijin Shijin
Wife Okusan Kanai

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child kodomoson Kodomo
Brothers/sisters Gokyodai Kyoodai
LESSON 9

Suffixes for Japanese counters

I. Suffix for objects

‘’hon” –long, cylindrical object, trees, pen
“mai” –flat, thin objects, paper, stamps, dishes
“Ko” –broad category of small and compact objects
“hai”-liquid in cups, glasses, bowls
“sartsu”-bound objects, books, magazines
“dai”-vehicles, machines
“kai”-floor of building
“ken”-houses, buildings
“soku”-pairs of footwear, socks , shoes
“tsuu”-Letters

II. Suffix for duration

“jikan”-hour as in “nijikan” (2 hours)
“fun”-minute as in “gofun” (5 minutes)
“byoo”-second as in “sanju-byoo” (3 seconds)
“shuukan”-week as in “sanshukan”(3 weeks
“kagetsu”-month as in “nikagetsu” (2 months)
“nenkan”- year as in “junenkan” (10 years)

III. Suffix for animals

“hiki”- insects, fish, small animals, cats, dogs
“tou”- large animals, horses, bears
“wa”- birds

IV. Suffix for frequency

“kai”- times , as in “ni-kai”(twice)
“do”- time, as in “ichi-do” (once)

V. Suffix for order

“ban”- ordinal numbers as in “ichi-ban” (1 st place or number one)
“tou”- class, grade as in “san-tou” (3rd place)

VI. Suffix for people

“nin”-as in “go nin” (5 person)
“mei”-more formal than “nin”
Exceptions: “hitori” use for 1 person and
“futari” use for 2 persons
VII. Other suffix
“sai”-age as in “go-sai”(5 years old)
Note: When using a suffix counter , pay attention to the word order. It is different from
English order.
A typical order is like this:

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 “noun+particle+quantity+quantity+verb”

Example:

1. Hon o ni-satsu kaimshita

I bought two books.
2. Koohi o ni-hai kudasai
Please give me two cups of coffee.

LESSON 10
Japanese Sentences

Japanese sentences are constructed differently, from English sentences. Always remember
that the plural form is expressed by the singular form.

The order of the sentence follow this sequence

1. Subject
2. Adverb, modifier or phrase
3. Verb
Example:
1. Kodomo wa gakko ni ikimasu
1 2 3
The children are going to the school.

Rules to follow in Japanese Sentences:

1. Nouns or pronouns used as in direct objects are followed by “ni”

Ex. Mariasan ni kono hana o agemasu .
I will give these flowers to Maria.
2. The indirect object precedes the direct object .
Ex. sensie ni hon o agemasu.
I will give some books to the teacher.
3. Preposition always follows the word to which it refers to.
Ex. a. heyani --in the room
b. ichiba e – to market
c. autobus—by autobus
d. katsudo kara—from the show
e. otoko no gakkoo –school for boys
4. Modifiers precede the words they modify

Ex. a. kodomo no hon—children’s books

b. armai ringo—sweet apples

c. atarashii hana—fresh flowers

d. atsui mizu—hot water

e. yoi kodomo—good children

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5. Imperative sentences are formed by using “nasai” and “kudasai”
a. “nasai” is use when commanding
Ex. Dozo, tabe nasai
Please eat.
b. “ kudasai” is use when requesting
Ex. Shibun o kashite kudasai
Please lend me the newspaper.
Oide kudasai
Please come here .
6. Negative imperative is formed by using ‘Naide kudasai” meaning don’t or do not
Ex. a. wasurenai de kudasai
Do not forget please.
B. Ano hito no namae o wasurenai de kudasai
Please do not forget his/her name

LESSON 11
PRONOUNS

I. Personal Pronoun
A. Singular form
-watakushi or watashi ( I )
-anata (you)
-kare (he)
-konojo (she)
-kore, sore (it)
B. Plural form
-watakashitachi or watashitachi (we)
-anatatachi or anatagata (You)
-karera, konojora (they)
-sorera, arera (they)

Note: use “NO” to show possession after the personal pronouns

Example;

1. Watashi no- my, mime ,myself

2. Anata no- your, yours
3. Kare no-his
4. Kareni/kareo- him, himself
5. Kanujono-her, hers
6. Ware ware no- our, ours
7. Anataga no- your , yours
8. Karera no- their, theirs
9. Kareo/kareni –him

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 II. Interrogative Pronouns
a. Dare- who d. nani-what
b. Doko-where e. itsu-when
c. Dooshite –why f. naze-why

Interrogative pronouns are used in asking questions the same way they are used in the
English language .

1. Dare desuka.
Who are you?
2. Anata do ko kara desuka.
Where have you been?
3. Nani namae wa.
What is your name?
4. Anata no tanjoubi itsu desuka.
When is your birthday?
5. Dooshite kimasu ka.
Why are you going?
6. Naze!
Why?
“Naze” is used when there is no word following the word why?

Note : The (5) W’s , who, where, what, when, and why used in asking questions are using the same
principles applied in English language but “ka” is added in place of a question mark , as what you
have noticed from the previous examples.

Some useful terms related to pronouns

1. Dare, donate—who
2. Dareno,donate no—whose
3. Dare o, dare ni—who
4. Dore—which
5. Nani, as pronoun—what
6. Nanno,as adjective—what
7. Konna—as this or such as that
8. Sonna—like this or like that
9. Anna—this kind of or that kind of
10. Donna—what sort of

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Excercises: Underline the pronoun on the following sentences.

1. Watakushi no tamenishite kudasai.

Please do it for me.

2. Anata no mizu wa nominasai.

You drink your water.

3. Kare wa doko desuuka.

Where is he?

4. Ware ware no apaato ookii desu.

Our apartment is big.

5. Konojone koibito iiyotoko desu.

Her boyfriend is handsome

6. Kanojora yasashii desu

They are kind.

7. Kore wa enpitsu desu ka.

Is it a pencil?

8. Sore wa kareo kata desu.

He himself bought that.

9. Konejo wa kawaii desu.

She is beautiful.

10. Ashitawa watashitachi kaimono iku desu

Tomorrow we will go shopping.

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 LESSON 12

NOUNS

The Japanese nouns are non-inflecting have no gender, and take no articles.

In respectful speech, the prefix “o” is often used as in examples below:

ENGLISH PLAIN RESPECTFUL

money kane o-kane
body karada o-karada
water mizu o-mizu
fish Sakana 0-sakana
apple ringo o-ringo
umbrella kasa o-kasa
salt shio o-shio
sugar satoo 0-satoo
orange mikan o-mikan
basket kago o-kago
paper kami o-kami
shoes kutsu o-kutsu
chair isu o-isu
teacher sensei o-sensei
ice koori o-koori
room keya o-keya
house uchi o-uchi
book hon o-hon
flower hana o-hana
school gakkoo o-gakkoo
picture sashin o-sashin

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