Japanese Phrases?

[Average Joe]

I've quite a few people use words like "chii" and "kwaii" and the like and was wondering what they meant?:?:

[ShiroiHikari]

"kawaii" = cute ^^

[Ashley]

kawaii= cute, loveable, adorable (usually in reference to chibi)
chibi= super small character
ecchi/hentai= anime porn
yaoi/yuri= gay/lesbian content
hai= yes
Iie=no
Tenshi= angel
sempai= ma'am!
konnichiwa=hello
ja ne= bye
doumo/doumo arigatoo= thanks/thanks a lot!
doitashimashite=you're welcome
o genki desu ka= how're you?
Genki desu=I'm fine
Ohayoo-good morning
kon bon wa- good evening
Oyasumi/Oyasuminasai= good night
Sumimasen= sorry
Chotto matte kudasai=hold on a sec
Yoku dekimashita= well done!
Kirei=pretty
Utsuukushi= beautiful

[uc pseudonym]

Ashley pretty much handled the vocabulary, so I might as well cover the suffixes:

-kun: male your age or younger
-chan: female your age or younger
-san: term of general respect (like Mr.)
-sama: term of greater respect (you can use this one like Mr. too, but only if you're being extra polite)
-sensei: a teacher

[Average Joe]

Thanks for clearing that up for me ya'll

[Rashiir]

i thought ko me no sai was sorry

[Ashley]

there might be more than one way to say it *Shrugs* Like I know gomen nasai means sorry too.

[uc pseudonym]

I'm pretty sure you're both right. Often something we translate as "sorry" is actually a few more words that are simplified to that. For example, I know gomen, by itself, does mean sorry. But gomen nasai has a slightly different phrasing, if not meaning. I'd bet ko me no sai probably does too.

[Technomancer]

gomen nasai more or less translates as "I beg your pardon". Gomen is a slightly less formal way of saying it (same difference between doumo arigato and arigato). I think Rashiir's just transliterating the same word, but based on how he hears it.

Another common apology is "shitsure shimasu" (I have committed a rudeness)

[ShiroiHikari]

*edit* Sorry...I posted kinda late .___. Technomancer, you posted while I was busy writing this ^^;;; Hehe. *end edit*

I've never heard "ko me no sai" before...o_o You can also say "gomen ne" and mean "sorry". And "sumimasen" can also mean "excuse me". I'm not exactly sure what "nasai" literally translates to but they use it at the end of a lot of things...I think it's a politeness thing. There are some differences between polite speech and casual speech...like, "chotto matte kudasai"/"hold on a sec"-- the "kudasai" means "please", if I remember right.

Also, with the suffixes, never ever use them in reference to yourself. It's considered impolite O_O

Here are some pronouns

Watashi, atashi, watakushi, boku-- I, me. Hehe. "Atashi" and "watakushi" are more likely to be used by a female, "boku" by a male.

Anata, kimi-- you. "Kimi" is usually used by a male in reference to a female. Or at least that's what I understood...

Hmm...I can't think of anything else. So uh, I'll go do something else now >_> .....^^;;;

[Rashiir]

Yah, you guys are probably right...I just probably heard it wrong.

[Ashley]

Quite a few bookstores sell teach yourself tapes/books. Like I know Barnes and Noble has a nice large collection of Japanese, as well as Russian, Italian, Latin...all kinds of exotic languages. (hmm, can you tell where I linger in that store?)

[Ashley]

If you'd prefer, I have a much longer list that includes months and numbers and animals...a friend of mine took Japanese in school (she lived in Virginia) so she would keep me updated on it. At your request I can email it; it's a word doc.

[uc pseudonym]

Where's your avatar from? I'm a bit curious.

[majanthehun]

i would love to have some japanese phrases.. i've got the alphabet, but that doesn't help me speak it... could you email it to me ashley?

ty!

[Ashley]

http://www.polykarbon.com also has some basic Japanese lessons, including Hirigama, Katakana, and some other things. You guys might find that useful too.