Making Out in Japanese. Todd Geers

      I’m really busy (with work/university).

      (Shigoto/Daigaku-de) tottemo isogashii.

      (仕事し ごと・大学だい がくで) とっても忙いそがしい。

      I’m (a bit) sick.

      (Chotto) byōki-da.

      (ちょっと)病気びょう きだ。

      I’ve got a cold.

      Chotto kaze(-o) hi’iteru.

      ちょっと風邪か ぜ(を)ひいてる。

      I’m (a bit) depressed.

      (Chotto) ochikonderu.

      (ちょっと) 落おち込こんでる。

      I’m tired.

      Tsukareteru/Tsukareta.

      疲つかれてる/疲つかれた。

      Tsukareteru is used in the general sense, whereas Tsukareta is more commonly used after an event or a hard day’s work.

      I’m sleepy.

      Nemui.

      眠ねむい。

      I’m not sleepy.

      Nemuku-nai.

      眠ねむくない。

      That’s a bummer/tough!

      Taihen-dane!

      大たい変へんだね!

      Taihen-dana! ♂

      大たい変へんだな!

      This is a classic Japanese expression of sympathy, disappointment, frustration. It’s very flexible, and how you voice it adapts it to the situation. An understanding tone conveys sympathy with the other person’s problems, or by adding force you show frustration with your own problems, which you can emphasize by making it Taihendayo! 大変たい へんだよ!

      That can’t be helped/There’s nothing you can do about it.

      Shikata (-ga) nai-ne.

      仕し方かた (が) ないね。

      That’s unfortunate/That's a shame.

      Zan’nen-dane.

      残念ざん ねんだね。

      Along with Taihen, these are more overworked phrases. Shikata nai-ne especially expresses a sense of helplessness—“A decision has been made higher up, and it’s final.” A sympathetic tone shows that you share the other person’s feelings.

      It’ll be okay/It’ll work out.

      Nantoka naru-yo.

      何なんとかなるよ。

      Cheer up!

      Genki dashite!

      元げん気き出だして！

      Genki dase-yo! ♂

      元げん気き出だせよ！

      These sorts of phrases will suffice for most greetings. The Japanese tend not to go into a lot of detail nor openly say what they think, especially in simple conversations, unless they’re really excited or frustrated etc. Take your cues from those around you about how elaborate your explanations should be—as much as you can, fitting in is important!

      What’s on your mind?

      Nani kangaeten-no?

      何なに考かんがえてんの？

      Nothing.

      Betsu-ni.

      別べつに。

      Nan-demo nai-yo.

      何なんでもないよ。

      Nani-mo.

      何なにも。

      Nan-demo nai-yo is a response to “What’s wrong?” or “What’s on your mind?” Nani-mo is a response to many questions, showing that there’s nothing on your mind, that you don’t want to say anything, or there’s nothing happening.

      I was just thinking.

      Kangae-goto shiteta.

      考かんがえ事ごとしてた。

      These answers show that you were thinking, but don’t have anything to say about it.

      Chotto-ne.

      ちょっとね。

      Chotto-ne shows that you were thinking, and invites the other person to ask about it.

      I was just daydreaming.

      Bōtto shiteta.

      ぼーっとしてた。

      Leave me alone!

      Hottoite!

      ほっといて！

      It’s none of your business!

      Kankei nai-desho! ♀

      関かん係けいないでしょ！

      Kankei nai-darō! ♂

      関かん係けいないだろう！

      Yokei-na osewa!

      よけいなお世話せ わ!

      Is Sally okay?

      Sarī genki?

      サリー元気げん き?

      How’s Sally doing?

      Sarī dō shiteru?

      サリーどうしてる？

      The answer to Sarī genki? will usually be “She’s okay.” and the answer to Sarī dō shiteru? will usually be “She’s okay. She has been doing. . .” Genki. . . shiteru 元気げん き. . . してる。 or “She’s okay. She went to...” Genki... ni itta 元気げん き...に行いった。 Dō shiteru? should solicit a longer answer.

      Seen Jeff?

      Jeffu minakatta?

      ジェフ見みなかった？

      I saw/met Kerry.

      Kerii-ni atta.

      ケリーに会あった。

      I want to see you soon.

      Sugu(-ni) aitai.

      すぐ (に) 会あいたい。

      See you later.

      Jā mata-ne.

      じゃあまたね。

      Mata-ne.

      またね。

      Mata.

      また。

      Goodbye.

      Sayōnara.

      さようなら。

      Bai-bai.

      バイバイ。