Learn Japanese: Your First Trip to Japan

Learn Japanese easily! When you visit Japan for the first time, people will probably ask you if you have been there before. You want to tell them, “This is my first visit to Japan.” You will also want to be able to ask others if they have visited Japan before. Once you get through this step, it is critical that you know whether to use formal or informal Japanese. And you have to use them correctly. This Japanese beginner article teaches you how to use hajimete (“for the first time”) and other important words you will use when talking about your first trip to Japan. You’ll also find an essential review of formal and informal Japanese speech and an explanation of when to use each. Don’t miss the amazing chart and practice sentences in this article for beginners in Japanese!

Vocabulary: In this article, you will learn the following words and phrases:

moo – “ya” (adverb)

tsuku – “to reach, to reach” (verb 1)

okiru – “wake up, get up” (verb 2)

yoku – “very good”

tsukareru – “get tired” (verb 2)

sama – (pol) “Mr.” or “Mrs.”

aruku – “walk” (verb 1)

hajimete – “for the first time”

nikkei – “Japanese ancestry”

Burajiru – “Brazil”

umareru – “born” (verb 2)

sodatsu – “resuscitate” (verb 1)

Wizard – “grandchild”

Jitsu wa – “the truth is, in fact”

Grammar: In this article, you will learn the following words and phrases:

Useful phrases and vocabulary

————————————————– ————————

yoku

“well”

————————————————– ————————

Yoku is the adverbial form of the adjective yoi gold ii (“good”) and means “well, well, correctly” or “often”.

* For more information on the adverbial form, see Nihongo Doojoo Article 5: Beginner Series Season 4

For example:

1. Yoku dekimashita. “Well done!”
   Literal translation: “I could do well.”
2. Yoku tabemashita. “(I ate a lot.”
   Literal translation: “I ate well.”

————————————————– ————————

nikkei

“Japanese ancestry”

————————————————– ————————

The first Chinese character means “sun, day” or “Japan”. The second Chinese character means “lineage, system” or “group”. When you follow the name of a country, you are referring to ancestry. However it is nikkei describing Japanese ancestry, not nihon-kei.

1. Correct: nikkei Burajiru-jin
2. Incorrect: nihonkei Burajiru-jin

For example:

1. Nikkei peruu-jin
   “Peruvian Japanese”
2. Mekishiko kei amerika-jin
   “Mexican American”
3. Furansu kei kanada-jin
   “French Canadian”

————————————————– ————————

umareru – “born”

sodatsu – “be raised, grow up”

————————————————– ————————

Particle from it follows the place where one was born or raised. Check the usage in the examples.

For example:

1. “I was born in Mexico.” (Watashi wa) Mekishiko by umaremashita.
2. “I grew up in France.” (Watashi wa) Sodachimashita furansu.
3. “I was born and raised in Japan.” (Watashi wa) Nihon de umarete, nihon de sodachimashita. (Watashi wa) Nihon de umarete, sodachimashita.

————————————————– ————————

hajimete

“for the first time, first time”

————————————————– ————————

Hajimete is an adverb, so we generally use it with a verb. However, to mention that it is the first time that one experiences something, we use the sentence structure “[ noun ] wa hajimete desu. ”

For example:

1. (Watashi wa) hajimete nihon ni kimashita.
   “I came to Japan for the first time.”
2. Nihon wa hajimete desu.
   “It’s my first time in Japan.”
3. Nihon wa hajimete desu ka.
   “Is it your first time in Japan?”

————————————————– ————————

Grammar review

————————————————– ————————

In this article, we will learn more about formal and informal speech by reviewing the past tense of a verb.

————————————————– ————————

“I’m tired.”

Formal: Tsukaremashita.

Informal: Tsukareta.

————————————————– ————————

How to create the formal past form of a verb:

1. Change the verb to its corresponding –masu form.
2. Release –masu and add –mashita.

For more information, see Nihongo Doojoo: Newbie Series Style You and Beyond Article 23

For example:

Dictionary form / –masu Form / Past Form Formal

aruku / arukimasu / arukimashita

neru / nemasu / nemashita

How to create the informal past form of a verb

1. Change the verb to its corresponding –you form.
2. Release –you and add –you.

For more information, see Nihongo Doojoo Article 24: Beginner Series.

For example:

Dictionary form / -you Form / Informal Past Form (-you form)

aruku / aruite / aruita

sodatsu / sodate / sodatta

okiru / okite / okita

neru / not to do / net

umareru / umarete / umareta

suru / shit / shita

kuru / Kite / kita

————————————————– ————————

Check:

Rewrite the sentences informally.

————————————————– ————————

1. Watashi wa Burajiru by umaremashita.
   ___________________________________________________________________
2. Watashi wa Burajiru by sodachimashita.
   ___________________________________________________________________
3. Kyoo wa yoku arukimashita me.
   ___________________________________________________________________
4. Nihon ni hajimete kimashita.
   ___________________________________________________________________

————————————————– ————————

Rewrite the sentences formally.

————————————————– ————————

1. Kamakura ni itta.
   ____________________________________________________________________
2. Yoku, net. ____________________________________________________________________
3. Kinoo nani shita?
   ____________________________________________________________________