Favorite player

Location: Sendagaya, Japan

Is there any player you like?

気に入った選手はいますか。

ki ni itta senshu ha imasu ka.

How to say in Japanese: Player

プレヤー pureya- mostly give the impression of a device like DVD player, tape recorder, Blu-ray player, etc.

選手 senshu would refer to sportsman/sportswoman.

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Sold

Location: Sendagaya, Japan

 

There are exhibition area and merchandises for sale.

展示会があって、商品も売られている。

tenji kai ga atte, shouhin mo urareteiru

How to say in Japanese: Sell

Let`s explore the different way the same word can be used for different meaning.

商品を売る shouhin wo uru = I am selling goods.

商品は売られている shouhin ha urareteiru = Goods are sold

商品は売れている shouhin ha ureteiru = Goods are selling.

Can you see the difference?

First one is an active verb. 

Second is a passive verb. 

Third is an adjective.

Note: 

売られている urareteiru and　売れている ureteiru sounds similar but it is not the same.

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Gymnasium

Location: Sendagaya, Japan

The match is held inside this gymnasium

試合はこの体育館の中で行われました。

shiai ha kono taiikukan no naka de okonowaremashita.

How to say in Japanese: Gymnasium

My impression of gymnasium, or gym ジム　(jimu) in short, is full of treadmills, cycling machines, and tonnes of weights.
But in Japan, gymnasium 体育館 (taiikukan)　is often refered as an indoor sports center where sports activities are conducted.
You see, same word, two different places, different meanings.

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Yonex Open Japan 2011

Location: Sendagaya, Japan

 This is my first time I watched a live match of professional badminton.

 初めてプロバドミントンの試合を見ました。

How to say in Japanese: Match

There is a saying:

試合 shiai is number two, sportsmanship is number one.

I watched Real Steel (video) yesterday, although Atom lost in the 試合 shiai , Atom actually won in sportsmanship. Never giving up. Persist and persevere. 

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Ticket

Location: Sendagaya, Japan

I bought a ticket to watch a badminton match.

バドミントンの試合のチケットを買いました。

badominton no shiai no chiketto wo kaimashita.

It is the ticket to the finals.

決勝のチケットです。

kesshou no chiketto desu

How to say in Japanese: Ticket

Some say education is a チケット chiketto (ticket) to a good life.
I say education is a チケットchiketto to change the world.
What do you say?

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Frisk Girls

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

 Who wants some sweets?

お菓子を食べたい人？

okashi wo tabetai hito?

How to say in Japanese: Sweets

Do you know that Denmark people eat the most お菓子 okashi sweets?

お菓子 okashi means snacks that includes candies, chocolate, potato chips, etc.

Candy is also called sweets, depending on countries.
Learn more about how they call candy here.

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Taking Pictures

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

 You can take pictures together with these beautiful girls for free.

美女たちと一緒に写真を撮ることができます。

bijotachi to issho ni shashin wo toru koto ga dekimasu .

Would you like to take a picture with me?

一緒に写真を撮ってもいいですか。

issho ni shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka

How to say in Japanese: Take pictures

It is a very common confusion between

写真を撮ってもらいますか。

shashin wo totte moraimasu ka

Can you take a picture for me?

写真を撮ってもいいですか。

shashin wo totte mo ii desu ka .

Can I take a picture (of you)?

The difference is who is holding the camera.

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Gundam

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Gundam is the best robot anime ever.

ガンダムは最高のロボートのアニメです。

gandamu ha saikou no robo^to no anime desu .

How to say in Japanese: Gundam

Do you know that ガンダム (gandamu) Gundam have been around for more than 30years.

The development is very complicated with many generations, series, sequels and prequels. Learn more about　ガンダム (gandamu) Gundam development.

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Monument

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

It`s dangerous, get down!!!

危ないよ。降りなさい！

abunai yo. orinasai ! 

How to say in Japanese: Get down

Get down from the stairs.
階段を下る
kaidan wo kudaru

Get down from the bus.　
バスを降りる
basu wo oriru

Get down here (from a higher position).
ここに降りなさい。
koko ni orinasai


Depending on where you get down from, different word is used.


Title: Tokyo Hotels
URL: http://www.gojapango.com/tokyo/
Description: Tokyo Hotels - Guaranteed Lowest Rates on Tokyo Hotels with instant confirmation. Save up to 70% with our secure booking service.

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Umbrella girls (2)

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

 The umbrella looks nice.

傘はすてきなですね。

kasa ha suteki desu ne

How to say in Japanese: Umbrella

Do you know that 傘 kasa (umbrella ) is also called the portable roof?

I use to buy 傘 kasa at the 百円ショップ hyaku en shoppu (hundred yen shop), which sells umbrella for just 100yen (excluding tax).

Related articles

• Extraordinary Japanese Culture: Super Convenient Words (picturelearning.org)
• Extraordinary Japanese Culture: Useful Words (picturelearning.org)
• Extraordinary Japanese Culture: Japanese Greetings (picturelearning.org)

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Umbrella girls (1)

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

It is a sunny day, huh?

晴れているね。

hareteiru ne

How to say in Japanese: Sunny

When the sky is clear and blue, it is a 晴れの日 hare no hi sunny day.

When you have problem, it will 晴れる hareru clear up.

When you feel bad, 　気分を晴れる kibun wo hareru make yourself feel better.

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Girls in White

 Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Lets have a drink together.

飲みに行きましょう。

nomi ni ikimashou

How to say in Japanese: To drink

If your Japanese ask you, "飲みに行きましょうか。nomi ni ikimashou ka"
And you say yes, please be prepared for a few glasses of beers.

In Malaysia, if your friend ask you to go for a drink, they mean teh tarik (English tea with milk)
But in Japan, if your friend ask you to go for a drink, they mean お酒　osake (alcohol).

Be careful before saying yes.

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Devil Girl

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Why aren`t you looking at me? Are you mad at me?

なんで私に見ていないの？私に怒っているの？

nande watashi ni miteinai no?  watashi ni okotteiru no?

I am so glad you are not mad at me.

怒っていなくてよかったね。

okotteiinakute yokatta ne

How to say in Japanese: Mad at somebody

My advise when 誰かに怒っている　dareka ni okotteiru you are angry at someone - don`t say anything and take a walk.
More oftenly, we hurt someone more when we say something we don`t mean when we are 怒っている okotteiru angry.

Mad at someone = angry at someone = （人）に怒っている

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Today is a Present

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

My present from filling up the questionnaire.
アンケートをきにゅうしてからもらったプレゼントです。
anke^to wo kinyuu shite kara moratta purezento desu



How to say in Japanese: Present

Do you know that present in English have 2 meanings?
Present means 今 ima、現在 genzai (now)
Present means プレゼントpurezento、贈り物 okurimono(gift)

And I always like the following phrases that link up the 2 meanings beautifullly.

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is mystery
Today is a gift....that is why it is called present.
現在は贈り物である。。。だからプレゼントと呼ばれている。
genzai ha okurimono de aru ... dakara purezento to yobareteiru

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Lucky Draw

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

After filling up the questionnaire, I get a chance for lucky draw.

アンケートを記入したら、くじを引くチャンスがあります。

anke^to wo kinyuu shitara , kuji wo hiku chansu ｇa arimasu .

How to say in Japanese: Lucky Draw

When you　くじを引く kujiwo hiku (draw a ticket), there only be 2 outcome. It is either くじに当たる kuji ni ataru (strike) or くじに外れる kuji ni hazureru (lose).

If you strike a 宝くじ takarakuji (lottery) please don`t forget about me...hehehe.

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Questionnaire

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

I like to fill in questionnaire as I can get free gift.
私はアンケートを記入するのが好きです。プレゼントがもらえるからです。
watashi ha anke^to wo kinyuu suru no ga suki desu. purezento ga moraeru kara desu .

How to say in Japanese: Questionnaire

Do you know that アンケート anke^to which means questionnaire is adopted from the word enquête?
 
Do you also know that in Japan, sometimes people get free gifts filling up questionnaire as a token of appreciation? Nothing expensive, thus far, I have gotten pens, notepads, calendars, and for once I even got a せんべい senbei (Japanese biscuit).

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Square Enix

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Square Enix`s Special Final Fantasy XI “11-11-11” Sale Today。

スクウェア・エニックスのスペシャルファイナルファンタジーXIは１１－１１－１１（１１月11日２０１１年）に販売されます。

sukuuea . enikkusu no supesharu fainarufantaji^ XI ha 11-11-11(11 gatsu 11 nichi 2011 nen ) ni hanbai saremasu .

How to say in Japanese: Special 

For those final fantasy fans out there, don`t miss out the 特別な tokubetsu na Final Fantasy XI.  Doesn`t that sounds weird? Sometimes, the katakana form スペシャル supesharu is used instead of 特別な tokubetsu na when you pair it up with katakana noun. 

Of course, if you use hiragana noun, then 特別 would seem like a better choice.

For example: 

スペシャル　ゲスト supesharu gesuto　＝　特別出演者 tokubetsu shutsuen sha

Some may be wondering about 特別な tokubetsu na vs 特別の tokubetsu no which one is correct?

Both is correct. I use it interchangably.

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Soldier boy

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Go straight ahead!!

真っすぐに進んで！！

massugu ni susunde

How to say in Japanese: Straight Ahead

You are lost and you are asking for direction. 

The man tells you　真っすぐにいってください massugu ni itte kudasai.

Then you should just go straight.

Usually it follows by に ni, which indicates direction.

But if you want to say, look straight ahead, you add 前 mae.

It become 真っすぐ前を見る massugu mae wo miru.

Notice the を wo is used. That`s because 真っすぐ前 massugu mae becomes a noun.

If you are confused with all the particles, just drop it. 

真っすぐいって massugu itte

真っすぐ前見る massugu mae miru

People will understand you too, and dont worry, it wont sound weird either. 

It is normal even among Japanese to drop particles.

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Groove it

 Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

 Everybody is so hyped up in the concert.

皆は盛り上がっていますね！！

minna ha moriagatteimasu ne

How to say HYPE in Japanese

You are in the middle of the party. The bass and the groove are pumping blood up your head with every beat. The place is very happening. You want to tell your friend that you are hyped up and having the time of your life, you say　盛りあががっているよ moriagatteiru yo！

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So Hungry!

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan
 

I am hungry. Lets go and eat in the canteen.

もうおなかがすいた。食堂に食べに行きましょう。

mou onaka ga suita. shokudou ni tabe ni ikimashou .

How to say HUNGRY in Japanese

Your stomach is growling and and hungers for food, you say おなかがすいた　to your Japanese friend, and he will probably bring you to a canteen, and you can savour all you can.

There are various ways to say HUNGRY in Japanese

おなかがすいた onaka ga suita (common)

おなかがへた onaka ga heta (mostly used by guys)

おなかがぺこぺこ onaka ga peko peko (sounds cute)

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Soldier girl (3)

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Please support us!

応援してください！

ouen shite kudasai !

How to say SUPPORT in Japanese

One girl is calling for reinforcements, while the other girl is looking for support.
Both of them are looking for 応援 ouen .
応援 ouen can mean reinforcement, such as those in the war movies.
応援 ouen can also mean support such as encouragement, backup, cheering, and help.

If someone tells you about their big ambition, and you want to encourage them.
You can say, 応援します ouen shimasu, which means I will support you.

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Soldier Girl (2)

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Freeze!!!

動くな！！！

ugoku na

How to say Freeze!!! in Japanese

Freeze is an expression in English that means to stay very still like a piece of ice.

Police use it oftenly when they are chasing after the robbers and thief. 

Strangely, the more they shout at them, the faster they run.

When you translate it literally, perhaps you will come out with results such as 凍る kooru.

That is completely different from what you it actually means which is to order a person not to move.

In Japanese, the actual translation would be 動くな　ugoku na！！！

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Soldier Girl (1)

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Yes sir!

了解です！

ryoukai desu !

How to say YES in Japanease

了解 ryoukai is mostly used to answer usually when you are ordered to do something by your boss, captain, leader, etc.
了解 ryoukai translates as affirmative in English. In normal conversation, it is just weird to say affirmative, don`t you think?

When you are talking with friends and family, a simple
分かりました wakarimashita 
分かった wakatta
will suffice.

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Girl Guide

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Can you show me around?

案内してもらえますか。

annai shite moraemasu ka .

How to say show me around in Japanese

While 案内する annai suru means to guide, it is usually used to show people around.

For example, if you are visiting Tokyo and your friend is kind to show you around. He will say 東京を案内します。toukyou wo annai shimasu.

Also often used in the supermarket, when asked the sales attendant the location of something you want to buy, they will show you the way to the place by saying ご案内いたします。Goannai itashimasu

ご案内いたします Goannai itashimasu is extremely polite.
Sometimes just ご案内します Goannai shimasu will suffice.

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Mobage Girl

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Would you like me to give you a ride?
乗せてあげましょうか。
nosete agemashou ka

How to offer a ride to someone in Japanese
When you see a pretty girl and you would like to offer her a ride home, you say
乗せてあげましょうか。 nosete agemashou ka .
or
送りましょうか。okurimashou ka .

You can be more specific like giving a ride to where.
You add,
家まで乗せてあげましょうか。 ie made nosete agemashou ka .
家まで送りましょうか。 ie made okurimashou ka .

Revise on previous lesson about how to say give a ride in Japanese.

Note: Mobage is a social gaming network apps for android phones.

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Ninja Gaiden

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

 The Ninja Gaiden series started as early as 1988.

忍者外伝のシリーズは1988年から始まりました。

ninja gaiden no shiri^zu ha 1988 nen kara hajimarimashita

How to say start in Japanese

We will discuss two words 始める　hajimaru and 始まる hajimeru, both means start.

However, usage is different depending on the meaning.

始める hajimeru is an action of someone to start something.

始まる hajimaru have no info of who started it, but only emphasize that it started.

Take below conversation:

Tanaka is late for a meeting. He doesn`t know who started the meeting, so he asked his colleague.

同僚：遅いですね。会議は始まりましたよ。
douryou : osoi desune . kaigi ha hajimari mashitayo .

田中：すみません、電車は遅れるものですから。でも、会議は12時の始まる予定じゃないですか。誰が早く始めましたか。
tanaka : sumimasen , densha ha okure rumonodesukara . demo , kaigi ha 12 tokino hajima ru yotei janaidesuka . darega hayaku hajime mashitaka .

同僚：中村部長が始めましたよ。だから、しょうがいないね。
douryou : nakamura buchou ga hajime mashitayo . dakara , shougainaine .

Colleague:  You are late. The meeting has started.

Tanaka: Sorry, the train was late. But I thought the meeting was supposed to start at 12 o`clock. Who started it early?

Colleague: It is Mr Nakamura, the Division Manager. There is nothing we can do about it.

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Edia Girl

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

They look so similar.

よく 似ていますね。

yoku niteimasu ne .

They look the same.

同じに見える。
ni mie ru .

How to differentiate between similar and same in Japanese

Similar means two or more things look alike. But different in certain aspects.
Same means two or more things that look exactly and it is same in every aspects.
The phrase "similar but not the same" is oftenly used to emphasize its uniqueness despite the resemblance.

In Japanese,
similar is 似ている。niteiru
same is 同じ。onaji

Thus,
Similar but not the same = 似ているけど同じではない。niteiru kedo onaji de ha nai


Note:
Edia is an apps that provide weather forecasts and fortune-telling with the voice of some famous actress.

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SEGA hot girls

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

 Binary Domain, the hottest game from SEGA.

バイナリードメインはＳＥＧAの一番人気のあるゲームです。
bainari^domein ha SEGA no ichiban ninki no aru ge^mu desu

Not as hot as these girls, though.

 少女たちほどではないけど。
shoujotachi hodo dehanai kedo .

Hot game + hot girl = Super hot!!!

 人気のあるゲームと人気のある少女＝大人気！！！
ninki noaru ge^mu to ninki noaru shoujo = daininki !!! 

How to say hot in Japanese

I don`t mean the hot that got to do with the taste　辛い karai　and temperature　暑い atsui.
But the various other meanings that hot can mean. For example, hot can also mean cool, attractive, trendy, sexy, etc.

In the above case, I put it as 人気のある。ninki no aru
You may change it to 最新 saishin 、有名 yuumei 、魅力的 miryokuteki 、セクシー sekushi^,etc as you preferred depending on the context.

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I-robot

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

Did you noticed a character that looks familiar?

おなじみの人物を気付いた？
 onajimi no jinbutsu wo kiduita? 

 

Don`t they resemble?

似ていない？
nite inai ?

How to say familiar in Japanese

You have seen/heard/feel/sense it somewhere before, and you see it again, like deja vu, that is when you could use the word おなじみ onajimi
Can be used on famous things. For example, there is someone famous, where you have seen the face so often, you can say おなじみの顔です。onajimi no kao desu

Say,
（お）なじみ onajimi＋の no＋(noun)

 Note: お o can be omitted. Add it to sound more polite.

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Sega

Location: Kaihin Makuhari, Japan

 This is the SEGA booth.

これはＳＥＧＡのブースです。
kore ha SEGA no bu^su desu .

 Did you notice the image on the screen have changed?

スクーリンの画面が変わったのを気付いていますか。

suku^rin no gamen ga kawatta no wo kiduiteimasu ka .

How to connect two verbs in Japanese

I don`t mean connecting two verbs in sequential order like 

スパーに行って、果物を買って、家に帰りました。
supa^ ni itte , kudamono wo katte , ie ni kaerimashita . 

I went to the supermarket, bought some fruits, and went home.

How do you say, I forgot to buy fruits? I noticed he went home early today?

Did you notice the verb "forgot" and "buy" in the same phrase? Same  goes for "notice" and "change"?

In this case, you connect them by のを no wo or ことを koto wo, whichever is fine.

Say 

(verb) + のを no wo + (verb)

Quoting the above examples:

I forgot to buy fruits.
果物を買うのを忘れました。
kudamono wo kau no wo wasuremashita

I noticed he went home early today.
今日は彼が早く帰ったのを気付きました。
konnichiha kare ga hayaku kaetta nowo kiduki mashita .

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