Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Daily-Activities-and-Hobbies
As a beginner in Japanese, introducing yourself and talking about your daily activities and hobbies is a great starting point for conversation. In this lesson, we will learn how to talk about our daily routine and hobbies in Japanese. You will learn some new vocabulary, grammatical structures, and cultural expressions.
Daily Activities and Routine
Talking about your daily routine is a basic way to start a conversation in Japanese. Below are some useful Japanese words and phrases to describe your daily routine:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
朝ごはん | asa gohan | breakfast |
昼ごはん | hiru gohan | lunch |
晩ご飯 | ban gohan | dinner |
寝る | neru | sleep |
起きる | okiru | wake up |
学校へ行く | gakkou e iku | go to school |
仕事へ行く | shigoto e iku | go to work |
勉強する | benkyou suru | study |
Here are some example sentences:
- 私は朝ごはんにトーストを食べます。 (Watashi wa asa gohan ni toast wo tabemasu.) - I eat toast for breakfast.
- 彼女は毎朝6時に起きます。 (Kanojo wa maiasa roku-ji ni okimasu.) - She wakes up at 6 a.m. every morning.
- 私は仕事へ行く前に、コーヒーを飲みます。 (Watashi wa shigoto e iku mae ni, coffee wo nomimasu.) - I drink coffee before going to work.
Note that in Japanese, the verb usually comes at the end of the sentence, and the subject is usually omitted if it is clear from context.
Another important aspect of Japanese culture is being punctual. It is common to hear the phrase "chotto matte kudasai" (ちょっと待ってください) which means "please wait a moment". This is often used when someone is running late or needs to finish up something before meeting you.
Hobbies
Talking about your hobbies is a great way to make conversation in Japanese. Here are some useful vocabulary words to describe your hobbies:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
スポーツ | supootsu | sports |
音楽 | ongaku | music |
映画 | eiga | movies |
ゲーム | geemu | games |
料理 | ryouri | cooking |
読書 | dokusho | reading |
Here are some example sentences:
- 私の趣味は音楽を聴くことです。 (Watashi no shumi wa ongaku wo kiku koto desu.) - My hobby is listening to music.
- 彼は映画が大好きです。 (Kare wa eiga ga daisuki desu.) - He loves movies.
- 私は週末に友達と料理をするのが好きです。 (Watashi wa shuumatsu ni tomodachi to ryouri wo suru no ga suki desu.) - I like to cook with my friends on weekends.
Expressions to Use in Conversations
In addition to the vocabulary above, here are some useful expressions to use when talking with others in Japanese:
- こんにちは (konnichiwa) - Hello (used during daytime)
- こんばんは (konbanwa) - Good evening (used in the evening)
- さようなら (sayounara) - Goodbye
- お元気ですか? (ogenki desu ka?) - How are you? (literally: are you healthy?)
- はじめまして (hajimemashite) - Nice to meet you (used when meeting someone for the first time)
Remember that Japanese is a very polite language, and it is customary to use honorifics when addressing people older or of higher status than you. Adding "-san" after someone's name is a polite way to addressthem, and "-chan" is sometimes used for younger people or children. Also, it is customary to bow your head slightly when greeting someone or saying goodbye.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to help you improve your Japanese:
- Practice your pronunciation regularly by listening to native speakers.
- Join a language exchange group or find a Japanese-speaking partner to practice speaking.
- Watch Japanese TV shows, movies, or anime to improve your listening skills and learn new vocabulary.
- Use flashcards or a vocabulary app to practice learning new words and phrases.
- Practice writing Japanese characters regularly to improve your handwriting and reading skills.
By learning these basic greetings and introductions in Japanese, you will be able to communicate with Japanese people more easily, and show them that you are interested in their culture. Ganbatte kudasai! (頑張ってください) - Good luck!
Sources
Videos
110 Japanese Words For Daily Life Conversations - YouTube