PG011

22 Greetings & Civilities

How do you do. hajimemashite dózo yoroshiku

How do you do. (reply) hajimemashite kochira koso yoroshiku Pleased to meet you. yoroshiku onegaishimasu

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Japanese has a greeting that is the equivalent of ‘how are you?’, but it is used far less freąuently than in English. As a generał rule, you should only ask someone if you have not seen them for several days:

How are you? ogenki desu ka?

How are you? (formal) gokigen wa ikaga desu ka ?

Fine, and you?

okagesamade.........

(name) san wa?

Goodbyes

Goodbye.

sayónara    $ cfc O # *3

See you later/again.

ja mata    iS^P^tZ

Goodnight.

oyasumi nasai    jo (>K & & $ V'

If you have to break off a conversation or take your leave from company, the polite thing to say is:

Excuse me. (literally,

‘I’m going to be rude’) shitsurei shimasu    ^<^1 L i f

I have to go.

oitomashimasu    ^ Ł £ L ^ "1“

Thanking People

Japanese has a number of ways of expressing gratitude, the simplest of which being dómo (thanks). Morę polite is the expression arigató gozaimasu. You will often here the two expressions piled on top of each other, dómo arigató gozaimasu.

Gifts

It is common for Japanese people to give gifts as an expression of gratitude for favours or when parting with friends. In formal situations the receiver often unwraps the gift when the giver has left.

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Please accept this gift. tsumaranai mono desu ga, dózo

It’s nothing special. taishita mono dewa arimasen

Thankyou very much. dómo arigató gozaimasu

Other Civilities

Fm happy to meet you. hajimemashite