Mini Research

We were assigned a mini research about Japanese. My group decided to choose Japanese Lifestyle (Eating Habit). Why? The reason is we love to eat & Japanese also love to eat. ^_^

I will share my part for the mini research.

Meals in Japan

• A traditional meal is served with rice, vegetables and miso (fermented soybean paste) soup and fruit are often eaten as a desert. Miso soup and rice are a dietary base, often eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Breakfast (asa-gohan) is generally eaten between 7:00 am and 7:30 am. A typical breakfast consists of rice, miso soup, spinach and egg. Most people eat breakfast at home. 
• Lunch (hiru-gohan) is generally eaten between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. Many people eat out, grabbing a quick meal or snack such as a bowl of noodles, sandwiches, rice balls or Chinese food.
• Dinner (ban-gohan) is generally eaten between 6:00pm and 8:00pm. It generally an informal meal with meat or fish, rice and miso soup. Main dishes made at home, include thing things like curry rice and pork cutlets.
• Japanese often drink nothing with their meals, Miso soup often serves the purpose of a drink. 

Chopsticks, Servings and Dishes in Japan

• Japanese eat all Japanese-style meals with chopsticks. Even soup is consumed with chopsticks (the ingredients are eaten with chopsticks and the soup is drunk from the bowl). Many Japanese pick up their rice bowl when they are eating and place it under their mouths and use it as a safety net for anything that falls down. When a rice bowl isn't available they place their free hand under their chopsticks for the same purpose. Most food is soft or small enough that it can pick up or cut with chopsticks.
• Japanese prefer disposal wooden chopsticks at restaurants and laminated wooden ones at home. In Japan, when you finish you using your chopsticks you should set your chopsticks in a little chopstick tray or place them horizontally on your plate or bowl in such a way that they are not pointing at anyone.
• Meals often consist of many dishes, which are passed around and carried from the kitchen on trays and placed in the table. Each person serves himself some food from the dishes onto a small plate. Sometimes there are different plates for different foods.
• Leaving chopsticks sticking up in a bowl of rice should be avoided. It is a sign of death.

*I am trying to update the full presentation, but the video was too long. So, I just updated my part. Gomen.

Lesson 10 Life (Part 2: Calendar)

Saying the months is actually easier than English because all you have to do is write the number (either in numerals or kanji) of the month and add 「月」 which is read as 「がつ」. However, you need to pay attention to April （４月）, July （７月）, and September （９月） which are pronounced 「しがつ」、 「しちがつ」、and 「くがつ」 respectively.


Names of the Months
いちがつ (ichigatsu) January
にがつ (nigatsu) February
さんがつ (sangatsu) March
しがつ (shigatsu) April
ごがつ (gogatsu) May
ろくがつ (rokugatsu) June
しちがつ (shichigatsu) July
はちがつ (hachigatsu) August
くがつ (kugatsu) September
じゅうがつ (juugatsu) October
じゅういちがつ (juuichigatsu) November
じゅうにがつ (juunigatsu) December

Weeks
まいしゅう (maishuu) Everyweeks
せんしゅう (senshuu) Last week
こんしゅう (konshuu) This week
らいしゅう (raishuu) Next week

Days of the week
まいにち (mainichi) Everydays

にちようび (nichiyoubi) Sunday 

げつようび (getsuyoubi) Monday

かようび (kayoubi) Tuesday

すいようび (suiyoubi) Wednesday 

もくようび (mokuyoubi) Thursday 

きんようび (kinyoubi) Friday

どようび (doyoubi) Saturday 

きょう (kyou) Today

あした (ashita) Tomorrow

きのう (kinou) Yesterday

おととい (ototoi) The day before yesterday

あさって (asatte) The day after tomorrow (a small "tsu" (っ) makes a double consonant)

けさ (kesa) This morning

こんばん (konban) This evening

いま (ima) Now

Lesson 9 Life (Part 1: Time)

Today, we will learn about time.

What Time?
1:00 いちじ ichi-ji
2:00 にじ ni-ji
3:00 さんじ san-ji
4:00 よじ yo-ji
5:00 ごじ go-ji
6:00 ろくじ roku-ji
7:00 しちじ shichi-ji
8:00 はちじ hachi-ji
9:00 くじ ku-ji
10:00 じゅうじ juu-ji
11:00 じゅういちじ juu-ichi-ji
12:00 じゅうにじ juu-ni-ji
_:30 はん han

あさ (Asa) Morning
ひる (Hiru) Daytime/Noon
よる (Yoru) Evening/Night

Adjectives 
はやい (hayai) Early/Fast
おそい (osoi)  Late/Slow

いそがしい (isogashii) To be busy
ひま(hima) To have free time

Example:

しん：まいにち なんじに おきますか。
Shin ：Mainichi nan-ji ni okimasuka。

ザヒダ：あさ ごじ に おきます。
Zahida：Asa go-ji ni okimasu。

しん：はやいですね。
Shin ：Hayai desu ne。

しん：なんじに ねますか。
Shin ：Nan-jin nemasu ka?。

ザヒダ：あさ いちじ に ねます。
Zahida ：Asa ichi-ji ni nemasu。

しん：おそいですね。
Shin ：Osoi desu ne。

Vocabulary
おきま（okimasu）Wake up
ねます（nemasu）Sleep

Lesson 8 Position

For this topic, I will share the activities that have done in the class. I forgot to take the picture that we used, but I will upload the one that in the book. It was very simple but also important.

The formula:

Object wa place no position.

Position:

うえ (Ue) : Above
なか (Naka) : Inside
した (Shita) : Under
よこ (Yoko) : Beside

Particle:
は (Wa) / の (No)

Example:

ぬんぎょうは はこの なか に おねがいします。
Ningyou wa hako no naka ni onegaishimasu.

ほんは テーブルの したです。
Hon wa teeburu no shita desu.

とけいは たなの うえ ですね。
Tokei wa tana no ue desu ne.

しゃしん、とけいの よこ に おねがいします。
Shashin, tokei no yoko ni onegaishimasu.

カップは テーブルの うえ に おねがいします。
Kappu wa teeburu no ue ni onegaishimasu.


Vocabulary
うえ (Ue) : Above
なか (Naka) : Inside
した (Shita) : Under
よこ (Yoko) : Beside
たな (Tana) : Shelf
はこ (Hako) : Box
カップ (Kappu) : Cup
しゃしん (Shashin) : Photo
にんぎょう(Ningyou) : Doll
テーブル (Teeburu) : Table
ほん (Hon) : Book
とけい (Tokei) : Clock

Lesson 7 House Types

There are many types of house in Japan, and I have learned three types of house.
1)アパート (Apaato)
2)マンション (Manshon)
3)いえ (いっこだて) Ie (Ikkodate)


From: nzahidamokhtar@gmail.com

To: usimnihongo@gmail.com

Kana:

ゾライダ せんせい

わたしの いえは いっこだてです。

わたしの いえは おおきいと あたらしいです。

近くに 水田と 山 の ジェライが あります。

休みに 遊びに きて ください。

ザヒダ

Romaji: 

Zoraida sensei 

Watashi no ie wa ikko datedesu. 
Watashi no ie wa ōkīto atarashīdesu.
Chikaku ni suiden to yama no jerai ga arimasu. 
Yasumi ni asobini kite kudasai. 

Zahida

Vocabulary

せまい (Semai) : Narrow

あかるい (Akarui) : Bright

ひろい (Hiroi) : Wide

くらい (Kurai) : Dark

あたらしい (Atarashii) : New

ふるい (Furui) : Old

ちいさい (Chiisai) : Small

おおきい (Ookii) : Large

How to count things?

ひとつ （１つ）Hitotsu

ふたつ（２つ）Futatsu

みっつ（３つ）Mittsu

よっつ（４つ）Yottsu

いつつ（５つ）Itsutsu

むっつ（６つ）Muttsu

ななつ（７つ）Nanatsu

やつ（８つ）Yatsu

ここのつ（９つ）Kokonotsu

とお（１０）Too

わたしの　いえにわ。

Watashi no ie niwa。

へやが　よっつ　あります。

Heya ga yottsu arimasu。

べッド　も　よっつ　あります。

Beddo mo yottsu arimasu。

エアコンが　ふたつ　あります。

Eakon ga futatsu arimasu。

テレビ　も　ふたつ　あります。

Terebi mo futatsu arimasu。

ラジオ は　ありません。

Rajio wa arimasen。

Lesson 6 Dinning Places

If you're headed out to grab a bite to eat in Japan but aren't exactly sure what you should, or shouldn't, be saying, you can follow this sample dialogues. I have learned some of the words in the class. Might be useful.

1) When you enter the restaurant you will always be greeted with “いらっしゃいませ” (Irasshai mase). This is a typical greeting that can also be heard in stores, coffee shops, etc.

The first question they will ask is “何名様ですか?” (Nan mei sama desu ka?) How many people?. To reply, simply say “三人です” (San nin desu) for three people, etc., or with a sheepish smile, you can say “一人です” (Hitori desu), which means just one person.

Example:

ウェイトレス:	いらっしゃいませ。何名さまですか。(Irasshaimase. Nanmei sama desu ka.) Welcome! How many people?
ザヒダ：	二人です。(Futari desu) Two people.

2) Next, you will be led to a table, and then with a hand gesture and a polite “こちらへどうぞ” (Kochira e douzo) Please sit here, the waiter or waitress will show you your table. After you sit down you will be given a menu, sometimes accompanied by the spoken words “メニューになります” (Menyuu ni narimasu) Here is the menu.

Example:

ウェイトレス:

こちらへどうぞ (Kochira e douzo) Please sit here。

ザヒダ：	すみません。(Sumimasen) Excuse me.
ウェイトレス:	はい。(Hai). Yes.
ザヒダ:	メニューお願いします。(Menyuu onegaishimasu) Can I have a menu?
ウェイトレス:	はい、少々お待ちください。(Hai, shou shou omachi kudasai) Yes, please wait a moment.

3) Ordering your meal

After serving your drinks, or after giving you some time, they will ask you “ご注文はお決まりですか?” (Gochuumon wa okimari desu ka?) Have you decided what you want to order?

If you aren’t ready yet, then you can ask for more time by saying “もう少し時間を頂けますか?” (Mou sukoshi jikan wo itadakemasu ka?) Can I have a little more time?.

This is a simple three-part sentence structure for ordering: food item, number and please. 

For example, “… を一つお願いします” (… wo hitotsu onegai shimasu) Can I have one of … please?
Once you order, your server will say “はい、少々お待ち下さい” (Hai, shoushou omachi kudasai) Okay, please wait. 

Congratulations! You have successfully ordered your food! ^_^

Lesson 5 Talking About Food

Today we will learn three ways to describe how food tastes! Make sure to memorise the words. ^_^

1) おいしい (Oishii) means yummy, or delicious.
★ You can use oishii as an exclamation by itself, or in a longer sentence.

Example: 

このパンはおいしいですね！

Kono pan wa oishii desu ne!

This bread is yummy!

★ A more casual way to say it is うまい (Umai)  means ''good" or "delicious".

2) まあまあ (Maa Maa) means “so-so.” This is used when talking about food that is not good or bad.
★A similar expression that you can use when talking about food that is not particularly good or bad is ふつう (Futsū) means "normal".

3) まずい！(Mazui) means yuck or bad.
★ If the food tastes bad, you can also say おいしくない (Oishikunai). This is the negative form of oishii, so it means “not yummy” or “not good.”

Vocabulary
★たべもの (tabe mono) Food
★にほんりょうり (nihon ryouri) Japanese Cooking / Japanese Dish / Japanese Food
★ちょうしょく (chou shoku) / さごはん (asa gohan) Breakfast
★ちゅうしょく (chuu shoku)  / ひるごはん (hiru gohan) Lunch
★ゆうしょく (yuu shoku) / ばんごはん (ban gohan) Dinner
★ べんとう (bentou) Lunch Box

Bonus words!

おいしそう (oishisō) looks/seems delicious

うまそう (umasō) looks/seems good (casual)

まずそう (mazusō) looks/seems yucky

Lesson 4 自己紹介 (Jikoshoukai) Self-introduction (Part 2: Introducing Your Family)

わたしの かぞく

Watashi no kazoku

わたしの かぞくは ろくにんです。ちちと ははと あねと あにと わたしと おとうとです。ちちは たいしょくしゃです。ろくじゅうつ さい です。ちちと ははと おとうとは ケダ に すんでます。ははは かいしゃいんです。ごじゅうつ さい です。あねは エンジニアです。さんじゅうつ さん さい です。あねと かぞくは クアラ ルンプル に すんでます。あに も かいしゃいんです。さんじゅうついつ さい です。あにと かおくは ケダ い すんでます。わたしわ だいがくせいです。はたちです。ネグリ センビラン に すんでます。おとうとは こうこうせいです。じゅつなな さい です。

Romaji:

Watashi no kazoku wa roku-nin desu. Chichi to Haha to Ane to Ani to Watashi to Otouto desu. Chichi wa taishokusha desu. Roku-juus-sai desu. Chichi to Haha to Otouto wa Keda ni sundemasu. Haha wa kaishain desu. Go-juus-sai desu. Ane wa enjinia desu. San-juus-san-sai desu. Ane to kazoku wa Kuara Runpuru ni sundemasu. Ani mo kaishain desu. San-juus-is-sai desu. Ani to kazoku Keda ni sundemasu. Watashi wa daigakusei desu. Hatachi desu. Neguri Senbiran ni sundemasu. Otouto wa koukousei desu. Juus-nana sai desu.

わたしの かぞく。

Vocabulary

にん	nin	person/people (used when counting)
なんにん	nannin	how many people
だれ	dare	who
そふ	sofu	(my) grandfather
そぼ	sobo	(my) grandmother
ちち	chichi	(my) father
はは	haha	(my) mother
おっと	otto	(my) husband
つま	tsuma	(my) wife
あね	ane	(my) elder sister
いもうと	imouto	(my) younger sister
あに	ani	(my) elder brother
おとうと	otouto	(my) younger brother
かぞく	kazoku	family
むすこ	musuko	(my) son
むすめ	musume	(my) daughter

Lesson 3 自己紹介 (Jikoshoukai) Self-introduction

Jikoshoukai 自己紹介じこしょうかい is the Japanese word for "self-introduction." In theory, this is similar to how you would introduce yourself in your own culture. 

Say hello, say your name, tell a little about yourself. But in practice, there are cultural differences and set procedures you should stick to. You only get one first impression, so it's important to learn how to do it right.

Example:

はじめまして(Hajimemashite)。ザヒダです (Zahida desu)。マレーシアから きました (Mareeshia kara kimashita)。どうぞ よろしく おねがい します (Douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu)。

When meeting someone for the first time, the standard introduction has two parts.

First, each person says:

はじめまして。

Hajimemashite.

exp. "It's our first time meeting."

Next, one person gives their name, using one of two patterns.

[Name]です。	[Name] desu.	(I'm) [Name].
[Name]と もうします。	[Name] to moushimasu.	(I) call myself [Name].

"[Name] desu" is pattern to remember. It's short for:

わたしは [Name]です。

Watashi wa [Name] desu.

As for me, (I'm) [Name].

"[Name] to moushimasu" is much more polite as it uses a humble verb, and is typically used when introducing yourself to someone of a higher rank. 

After giving their name, the speaker ends with one of the following expressions.

どうぞ よろしく おねがいします。	Douzo yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.	exp. "Please treat me kindly."
よろしく おねがいします。	Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.	exp. "Please treat me kindly."
どうぞ よろしく。	Douzo yoroshiku.	exp. "Please treat me kindly."

*The phrases:

どうぞ よろしく おねがい します。 (Douzo yoroshiku onegai shimasu)

よろしく おねがい します。 (Yoroshiku onegai shimasu)

よろしく。 (Yoroshiku) Very casual, be careful not to use it to older/higher status than you or a person who you first met.

*The lower it goes the less formal it is.

Jikoshoukai Etiquette

1) First Name & Family Name
-Japanese people usually called each other by their family name. Except if the person ask you to call his/her own name.

2) Occupation

3)Don't talk about yourself too much

-Japanese people usually keep their strengths on the down low. So try not to show off too much. Revealing one or two of your strengths is fine, but listing all your amazing abilities will annoy others and make you seem over-confident.

4) Bowing VS Handshake

-In Japan, don't move in for the handshake, especially if your status is the same or lower than the person you're meeting. 

-The meaning of handshakes in Japan are for equals, so if you try to shake hands with the Emperor, it would be considered rude. Bow instead, and do so at the beginning and end of your jikoshoukai.

5) Holding your hands behind your back

-In Japan, holding your hands behind your back signals importance, so it may make you look full of yourself. 

-Put your hands in front of you (the left hand on top of the right), or put your hands beside you.

6) Don't bow while talking

-Do your bow after giving your self-introduction. Make sure to finish saying "yoroshiku onegaishimasu" and then bow.

Asking for Names

Asking for someone's name is a simple task.

おなまえは？

O-namae wa?

(What is your) name?

"Namae" means "name". "O-namae wa?" is short for the question:

おなまえは なんですか。

O-namae wa nan desu ka?

What is (your) name?

Name Suffixes

When actually using someone's name, you would generally include a name suffix as well. Name suffixes are another example of Japanese honorifics. No suffix at all is a very intimate way to address someone and is usually not appropriate. On the other hand, you should never use a suffix with your own name.

さん	san	General purpose, gender neutral, equivalent to Mr./Mrs./Ms.
くん	kun	Often with male students, and with male friends (children and young adults). Occasionally used for both males and females of lower rank.
ちゃん	chan	A diminutive, used with young children and with close female friends. Also sometimes used with pets and other cute animals.
さま	sama	Very similar to "san", but more polite. Used for those with a much higher rank.
せんせい	sensei	Literally "one who has gone before", used with teachers, professors, doctors, and masters of any trade. Often simply used in place of the person name when addressing them directly, or when it's obvious which teacher you're referring to.