Tuttle Japanese Business Dictionary Revised Edition. Boye Lafayette De Mente
dess kah?)
Let’s get something to eat!
何か食べましょう!
Nanika tabemasho!
(nah-nee-kah tah-bay-mah-show!)
What do you want to eat?
何が食べたいですか。
Nani ga tabetai désu ka?
(nah-nee gah tah-bay-tie dess kah?)
How about the famous breaded pork cutlets?
その有名なとんかつはどうですか。
Sono yūmei na tonkatsu wa dō désu ka?
(soh-no yuuu-may-e nah tone-kot-sue wah dohhh dess kah?)
Here is a ritualized expression said before starting to eat or drink, especially when someone else is the host:
いただきます
Itadakimasu
(ee-tah-dah-kee-mahss)
The literal meaning of itadakimasu is “I will accept” or I will take.” In this case it is a humble, formal and polite way of announcing that you are going to start eating.
Here is a ritualized expression that is said to the host after the meal is finished and everyone starts leaving (if there is no host, it is a common and polite gesture for diners to address the expression to the cook, to the waiter or waitress, and even to the cashier):
ごちそうさまでした
Gochisōsama deshita
(go-chee-sohh-sah-mah desh-tah)
Gochisō literally means a “treat” or “entertainment,” but when used in this expression it means “Thank you very much for the delicious meal,” as well as “I enjoyed the meal very much. Thank you.”
I’m thirsty.
のどが乾いています。
Nodo ga kawaite imasu.
(no-doh gah kah-wie-tay ee-mahss.)
How about a beer?
ビールはどうですか。
Biiru wa dō désu ka?
(bee-rue wah dohhh dess kah?)
I prefer regular green tea.
日本茶のほうがいいです。
Nihoncha no hō ga ii désu.
(Nee-hone-cha no hohhh gah ee dess.)
Don’t you drink beer?
ビールを飲みませんか。
Biiru wo nomimasen ka?
(bee-rue oh no-me-mah-sin kah?)
Yes, I drink it but not before breakfast!
飲むけど朝ご飯の前は飲みません。
Nomu kedo asa-gohan no mae wa nomimasen!
(no-muu, kay-doh ah-sah-go-hahn no my-nee wah no-me-mah-sin!)
The food was delicious!
食事はおいしかったです。
Shokuji wa oishikatta désu.
(show-kuu-jee wah oh-ee-shee-kaht-tah dess.)
Getting Acquainted
What is your name?
お名前はなんですか。
O’namae wa nan désu ka?
(oh-nah-my wah nahn dess kah?)
My name is _________.
私の名前は ______ です。
Watakushi no namae wa __________ désu.
(wah-tock-she no nah-my wah _________ dess.)
Where do you live / Where is your home?
お住まいはどちらですか。
O’sumai wa dochira désu ka?
(oh-suu-my wah doh-chee-rah dess kah?)
Where were you born?
どこで生まれましたか。
Doko de umaremashita ka?
(doe-koe day uu-mah-ray-mahssh-tah kah?)
Do you have children?
お子さんはいますか。
Okosan wa imasu ka?
(oh-koe-sahn wah ee-mahss kah?)
Have you been to the United States?
アメリカに行ったことがありますか。
Amerika ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?
(ah-may-ree-kah nee eet-tah koe-toe gah ah-ree-mahss kah?)
How about Europe?
ヨーロッパは。
Yōroppá wa?
(yohh-rope-pahh wah?)
I didn’t sleep at all last night!
ゆうべ全然寝ませんでした。
Yūbe zenzen nemasen déshita!
(yuu-bay zen-zen nay-mah-sen deh-sshtah!)
I’m going to take a short rest.
しばらく休みます。
Shibáraku yasumimasu.
(she-bah-rah-kuu yah-sue-me-mahss.)
Making a Business Appointment
I would like to make an appointment for 10 a.m. tomorrow.
明日午前の十時に約束をしたいです。
Ashita gozen no jūji ni yakusoku wo shitai désu.
(ah-ssh-tah go-zane no juu-jee ne yack-so-kuu oh she-tie dess.)
I am staying at the Tokyo Miyako Hotel.
東京都ホテルに泊まっています。
Tokyo Miyako hoteru ni tomatte imasu.
(tokyo me-yah-ko hoh-tay-rue nee toe-mot-tay ee-mahss.)
My room number is 1178.
ルームナンバーは1178です。
Rūmu nanbā wa ichi-ichi-nana-hachi désu.
(rue-muu nahm-bah wah e-chee e-chee nah-nah hah-chee dess.)
My telephone number is 4567-6622.
電話番号は4567-6622です。
Denwa bangō wa yon-go-roku-nana-roku-roku-ni-ni désu.
(dane-wah bahn-go wah yon go roe-kuu nah-nah roe-kuu roe-kuu nee nee dess.)
Please telephone me in the morning at 7 o’clock.
明日の朝、七時に電話を下さい。
Ashita no asa, shichi-ji ni denwa wo kudasai.
(ahssh-tah no ah-sah no she-chee-jee nee dane-wah oh kuu-dah-sie.)
I will meet you in the lobby at 8 o’clock.
ロビーで八時に会います。