5min/day【Japanese lesson on medium】Introductory 1:greeting chapter 1 and chapter2

Unlike in the past, there are now many free textbooks available for learning Japanese. However, studying Japanese on your own can be very difficult.

So from now on, this blog will explain the free textbooks.

This blog uses a free textbook called ‘Irodori’. It starts at the introductory level.

Download the textbook and listening comprehension audio for Lesson 1 below.

https://www.irodori.jpf.go.jp/assets/data/starter/pdf/X_L01.pdf

https://www.irodori.jpf.go.jp/starter/audio/lesson01.html

Now, let’s get started learning!

Lesson1: greeting

Chapter1: こんにちは

Morning(about 6:00~12:00)

おはよう/おはようございます

ohayoo/ohayoogozaimasu

“ohayoogozaimasu” is a more polite way of saying good morning. “ohayoogozaimasu” is more appropriate when greeting people at work or neighbours in the morning.

“ohayoo” is used to greet friends and others in the morning. The initial ‘o’ and the final ‘o” of “ohayoo” are sometimes dropped.

おはよ

ohayo

The final “o” is dropped.

はよう

hayoo

The initial “o” is dropped.

はよ

hayo

The initial “o” and the final “o” are dropped.

The more sounds are dropped,the more casual the other person is going to feel.

However, the final ‘o’ is easily dropped by Japanese learners.

Dropping it incorrectly can give an inappropriately casual impression, so be aware that the final ‘o’ should be pronounced a little longer.

afternoon/daytime (about 12:00–18:00)

こんにちは

konnichiwa

“konnichiwa” can be used either casually or politely.

Japanese learners often tend to drop the ‘n’ sound and pronounce it ‘konichiwa’.

First of all, slowly practise the rhythm of the mora.

When you are able to pronounce the words accurately in a slower rhythm, increase the speed.

こんばんは

kombanwa

“kombanwa” is a greeting used at sunset. It is a greeting that can be used both casually and politely.

Many people drop the ‘n’ sound in ‘kombanwa’, so you need to practise your pronunciation.

Practise the mora rhythm in the same way as “konnichiea”. Practise at a slower speed at first.

When you are able to pronounce the words accurately in a slower rhythm, increase the speed.

Chapter2:おさきにしつれいします

Saying goodbye to someone

When you say goodbye in a casual way, for example when you say goodbye to a friend, use “jaane”or “jaa,mata”.

‘Bye-bye’ is also often used between friends.

When addressing a supervisor or in other polite ways, use “Shitsureeshimasu”or “shitsuree itashimasu”.

In particular, when you leave the office, say “Osaki ni shitsureeshimasu”.

When you arrive at work, you can also say “otsukaresamadesu”.

Textbooks include ‘Oyasumi ’ as a greeting, but it is not often used as an evening greeting. “Oyasumi’ is used as a bedtime greeting.

In this article we have studied greetings. Next time we will study Chapter 3: Saying thank you and apologising, and Chapter 4: Using message stamps.

Feel free to come and learn Japanese with me on this blog!