Lesson 1: Good morning!

Basic greetings and everyday expressions for introductions and polite interactions.

This lesson focuses on essential Japanese greetings, polite expressions, and basic communication phrases for everyday situations including introductions, thanking, apologizing, and farewells.

Key topics:

・Basic greetings (Good morning, afternoon, evening)
・Thanking and responding to thanks
・Apologizing and polite excuses
・Common expressions and interjections
・Saying goodbye and farewell expressions
・Offering and receiving items politely
・Basic conversational responses

Vocabulary

おとしましたよ

otoshimashita yo

落としましたよ

You dropped this. (polite)

Example

すみません、おとしましたよ。

Sumimasen, otoshimashita yo.

Excuse me, you dropped this.

あめ

ame

candy

Example

これはあめです。

Kore wa ame desu.

This is candy.

これ

kore

this

Example

これはなんですか？

Kore wa nan desu ka?

What is this?

ぷれぜんと

purezento

present

Example

ぷれぜんとをどうもありがとう。

Purezento o doumo arigatou.

Thank you for the present.

ありがとうございます

arigatou gozaimasu

Thank you.

Example

ぷれぜんと、ありがとうございます。

Purezento, arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you for the present.

いいえ

iie

You're welcome. / No.

Example

ありがとうございます。 - いいえ。

Arigatou gozaimasu. - Iie.

Thank you. - You're welcome.

いた

itai

痛い

Ouch!

Example

いた！あしがいたいです。

Itai! Ashi ga itai desu.

Ouch! My foot hurts.

おはよう

ohayou

Morning. (casual)

Example

おはよう、げんき？

Ohayou, genki?

Morning, how are you?

おはようございます

ohayou gozaimasu

Good morning. (polite)

Example

おはようございます。きょうはいてんきですね。

Ohayou gozaimasu. Kyou wa ii tenki desu ne.

Good morning. The weather is nice today, isn't it?

おやすみ

oyasumi

Good night. (casual)

Example

おやすみ、あしたまたね。

Oyasumi, ashita mata ne.

Good night, see you tomorrow.

おやすみなさい

oyasumi nasai

Have a good night. (polite)

Example

おやすみなさい、よくやすんで下さい。

Oyasumi nasai, yoku yasunde kudasai.

Good night, please rest well.

ごめん

gomen

Sorry. (casual)

Example

ごめん、おくれた。

Gomen, okureta.

Sorry, I'm late.

こんにちは

konnichiwa

Good afternoon.

Example

こんにちは、げんきですか？

Konnichiwa, genki desu ka?

Good afternoon, how are you?

こんばんは

konbanwa

Good evening.

Example

こんばんは、きょうはあつかったですね。

Konbanwa, kyou wa atsukatta desu ne.

Good evening, it was hot today, wasn't it?

じゃあ、また

jaa, mata

See you later.

Example

じゃあ、またあした。

Jaa, mata ashita.

See you tomorrow then.

すみません

sumimasen

Excuse me. / I'm sorry. / Thank you. (in some contexts)

Example

すみません、これはだれのかさですか？

Sumimasen, kore wa dare no kasa desu ka?

Excuse me, whose umbrella is this?

どうぞ

douzo

Here you go. / Please go ahead.

Example

どうぞ、おすわり下さい。

Douzo, o suwari kudasai.

Please, have a seat.

どうも

doumo

Thanks. / Hello. (casual, versatile)

Example

どうも、たすかりました。

Doumo, tasukarimashita.

Thanks, you saved me.

どうもありがとう

doumo arigatou

Many thanks.

Example

ぷれぜんと、どうもありがとう。

Purezento, doumo arigatou.

Thank you very much for the present.

わあ

waa

Oh! / Wow!

Example

わあ、きれい！

Waa, kirei!

Wow, beautiful!

Conversation

はじめまして。

Hajimemashite.

Nice to meet you. (first meeting)

Example Usage

はじめまして。たなかです。よろしくおねがいします。

Hajimemashite. Tanaka desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Nice to meet you. I'm Tanaka. Pleased to meet you.

ありがとうございます。

Arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you.

Example Usage

ぷれぜんと、ありがとうございます。 - いいえ、どういたしまして。

Purezento, Arigatou gozaimasu. - Iie, dou itashimashite.

Thank you for the present. - You're welcome.

すみません。

Sumimasen.

Excuse me. / I'm sorry.

Example Usage

すみません、これはあなたのかさですか？

Sumimasen, kore wa anata no kasa desu ka?

Excuse me, is this your umbrella?

どうぞ。

Douzo.

Here you go. / Please.

Example Usage

どうぞ、おめしあがり下さい。

Douzo, o meshiagari kudasai.

Please, help yourself.

じゃあ、また。

Jaa, mata.

See you later.

Example Usage

じゃあ、またあしたがっこうで。

Jaa, mata ashita gakkou de.

Well then, see you at school tomorrow.

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: です (Desu) - The Copula

Structure: Noun + です

です is used to end sentences in polite speech. It functions similar to 'is/am/are' in English but is more like a polite sentence-ending particle.

Example

これはぷれぜんとです。

Kore wa purezento desu.

→ This is a present.

Rule 2: Greeting with はじめまして

Structure: はじめまして。

Used when meeting someone for the first time. Literally means 'it's the first time (we meet).' Usually followed by your name and よろしくおねがいします.

Example

はじめまして。たなかです。よろしくおねがいします。

Hajimemashite. Tanaka desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

→ Nice to meet you. I'm Tanaka. Pleased to meet you.

Rule 3: Thanking expressions

Structure: ありがとうございます / どうも

ありがとうございます is the polite form of thank you. どうも is a casual 'thanks.' Different levels of politeness are used depending on the situation.

Example

どうもありがとうございます。

Doumo arigatou gozaimasu.

→ Thank you very much.

Rule 4: Apologizing with すみません

Structure: すみません

すみません is used both for 'excuse me' and 'I'm sorry.' It's a versatile expression for getting attention, apologizing, or showing gratitude in some contexts.

Example

すみません。おそくなりました。

Sumimasen. Osoku narimashita.

→ I'm sorry. I'm late.

Lesson 1: Good morning!

Basic greetings and everyday expressions for introductions and polite interactions.

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: です (Desu) - The Copula

Rule 2: Greeting with はじめまして

Rule 3: Thanking expressions

Rule 4: Apologizing with すみません

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20