umi-9-1.wav
(39KB) Chotto matte.
Wait a minute!
Welcome back to Reiko-chan's Japanese for Anime Lovers. This is the third week's lesson. This week, we will learn some more common expressions you will hear in Anime. But first, let me explain about styles of speech in Japanese.
Styles of Speech
As you have noticed so far in previous lessons, different styles of speech are used by characters depending on who is speaking to whom, where characters' conversation occurs, and the content of the speech. For example, Hikaru is a usual 14 years old girl. When she speaks to her friends, Umi and Fu, she uses a plain and informal style. This informal or casual style reflects her personality, that is very friendly, pure and boyish. However, when she talks to someone older, like Precea and Clef, she uses somewhat formal style. When she needs to speak in a formal place, such as in the Emerode's castle, she also uses formal style. Also, her style changes whether she is very serious or joking, and so on.
On the other hand, Fu and Kurama's (in Yu Yu Hakusho) styles don't change much because they are very polite to everyone and in any situation. It can be said that their style can be used to anyone, in any place, and for any kind of content (that's why you learn so called "polite" speech in classroom.) Also, Yusuke and Kuwabara in Yu Yu Hakusho use very bad style and they never try to be polite because they are delinquents. (This style of speech will never be taught in classroom.)
Other than the polite and plain styles, there is a style called "respect" style. This style is used when a character must be extremely polite and show deep respect to someone. For example, Alcyone, Inova, and other Zagato's subordinates use this respect style when she or he talks to Zagato.
So when you choose a style of your own, you need to know the personality of the Anime character. If you choose Yusuke's style without knowing his personality, you will get into trouble because the style shows what you are It is very important in Japan to show respect, to be humble, and to have correct etiquette in the proper places and time, much more so than in the United States.
Now let's begin today's lesson! Today's expression, "Chotto matte" is directly translated as "a little bit, wait." (The adverb, "Chotto," means "a little bit" and the verb "matte" means "(please) wait.") The dictionary form of "matte" is "matsu," therefore "matte" is one of its conjugated forms (yach!), which is called "te-form." Just change the ending sound "tsu" to "tte," the meaning changes from "to wait" to "please wait." Oh, well, never mind,,, Let's start the lesson by listening to Umi-chan first.
umi-9-1.wav
(39KB)
Chotto matte.
Wait a minute!
Did you catch the words? Very good! Repeat after her and practice
saying, please?
Now, how about this?
hkr-9-1.wav
(70KB) Format Error - Removed Until Someone can get me the sound bite off DVD
A! Hikari, Matte yo!
Ah! Hikari, wait up!
I think you caught the words. Here, she was chasing an animal in
the field that she named Hikari. Yes, of course you can use "matte"
without "chotto."
Well, how about this?
hkr-9-2.wav
(137KB)
Mokona, Matte yo!
Mokona, wait for me!
As I explained in the previous lessons, "yo" is a particle that emphasizes what you say. Do you remember? Here, Hikaru really wanted Mokona to slow down so that she could catch up. So, "Matte yo" means "Wait! I mean it!"
Next sound is Ferio talking to Fu. He sounds dandy and kakko ii here. He said this when he wanted Fu to stay with him for a while in episode 3.
fro-9-1.wav
(37KB)
Matte kure.
Will you wait a minute?
"Kure" after "matte" literally means "give me" and its meaning extends to include to mean "please." This expression is not polite, but it sounds as if Ferio is begging Fu to wait. "Matte" itself is used usually by female or kids, so if you want to sound like a grown up man, use this expression (but not in formal situation or to some one older than you. OK?).
Here is Ferio talking very politely to Ascot.
fro-9-2.wav
(39KB)
Matte kudasai.
Please wait
This is an expression taught in the classroom, and it's very polite. "Kudasai" is a polite way of saying "kure" above.
Ferio can be even politer, like this!
fro-9-3.wav
(60KB)
Omachi kudasai, Asukotto-sama
Please wait for me, Ascot-sama.
The first "O" is so called "honorific o," which is prefixed to words to show respect. "Sama" at the end is also used to show respect. It is placed at the end of someone's name. "Machi" is another conjugated form of "matsu." Don't think about grammatical rules. Just remember the phrase as it is, please? Please repeat after Ferio to learn thses two polite phrases.
Note: There are other suffixes like sama
in Japanese. Here are some of them. Each means, Mr. Mrs. or Ms. depending
on the person.
San: Reiko-san, Sakaguchi-san. (Polite (not
as much as sama) but used frequently)
Kun: Usually
used for men. So, you don't say "Reiko-kun." Ferio-kun is OK.
Chan: Used for someone who is cute, like kids
and me (^_^).
Here is another way of saying "wait a minute."
umi-9-2.wav
(49KB)
Chotto machi nasai yo!
Wait a minute!
Here, she is ordering Hikaru to wait. She feels that Hikaru is her younger sister, so she speaks as if she is Hikaru's guardian, thus she orders Hikaru like mothers do to kids. This feeling is expressed by "nasai ."
Here is another way to order someone to wait.
clef-9-1.wav
(53KB)
Mate, Arusio~ne!
Wait! Alcyone!
As you know, Clef was Alcyone's teacher (thus, superior), therefore he can order her to wait. If you remember from lesson 6, "iku" changed to "ike" to mean "GO!,". The same rule is applied here for "matsu" to "mate." (notice the final vowel changes from "u" to "e.")
"Chotto" can be used alone, too. The meaning of "chotto" changes depending on the context.
umi-9-3.wav
(39KB)
Chotto!
Hey, what are you taking about!?
"Chotto" is used to interrupt someone's speech or action. If it were spoken when someone was doing something wrong, it would mean "Hey, stop! What do you think you are doing?". Adding chotto to sumimasen means "sorry to interrupt you, (but tell me the way to the station)". It all depends on how you say it and what you say with it.
That's all for today's lesson. I hope you enjoyed it.
rei-9-1.wav
(66KB)
Jaa mata, Ashita.
Then, see you tomorrow!
In Anime, characters encouter dangers all the time. So, we are going to learn expressions such as "watch out," "run," and "help!"
First, let's memorize "abunai." This is an i-adjective (one of the two kinds of Japanese adjectives, that end with "i" sound.), which literally means "dangerous." When "abunai" is screamed out, it means "watch out (the enemy is behind you and the danger is near you)."
fuu10-1.wav
(55KB)
Hikaru-san, Abunai!
Hikaru, watch out!
Hikaru was confronting Alcyone here, and Fu screamed to Hikaru to
let Hikaru know the danger when Alcyone started attacking. Also note that
polite Fu uses "san."
Since "abunai" is an adjective,
it can be used like following phrase.
umi10-6.wav
(87KB)
Hikaru hitori ja, Abunai wa
It is dangerous for Hikaru (to fight against
Alcyone) alone.
"Wa" is a particle we have already learned. (You remember? It is the one that makes your speech feminine.) "Hitori" means "alone," and "ja" means "in the case of" in this context (though pronounced the same as "ja" to mean "see you.". Actually, those two are the same word.). Therefore, "Hikaru Hitori Ja" can be directly translated as "In case that Hikaru is alone, it is dangerous." Next, "help me!" in Japanese is "tasukete."
umi10-1.wav
(71KB)
Tasukete!
HELP!
Notice this verb ends with "te" sound, which means this is a te-form like "matte." The dictionary form of this verb is "tasukeru" but don't worry about grammar now, just practice as it is so that you can pronounce it correctly.
Next, how about this?
hkr10-1.wav
(32KB)
Hayaku!
Quick!
"Hayaku" is an adverb that means (do something) quickly. As long as the context is understood by the two people speaking, "do something" part is omitted. Yeah, we love to omit anything unnecessary in Japanese. So, this phrase may mean "help me quickly," "escape quickly,", etc. It all depends on the context. The next sound features another verb you hear often in Anime.
hkr10-2.wav
(72KB)
Puresea Nigero!
Precea, run!
"Nigeru" is a verb that literally means "to escape." By changing the ending sound from "u" to "o," the verb's meaning changes to "(I order you to) escape." Now, try this.
umi10-3.wav
(63KB)
Chotto, anata, hayaku nige
nasai.
Hey! You 've gotta run, now!
The only new word is only "anata." (You remember "nasai"?) "Anata" means "you." And, "nasai" is put after a verb to order softly someone to do something. Here, Umi is kinda ordering Hikaru to escape. Let me introduce one more verb to you.
fro10-1.wav
(64KB)
Kuruna, nigero!
Don't come to me! Run!
Here, Ferio is ordering Fu not to come closer to him but to escape because it is too dangerous. "Kuru" is a verb that means "to come." "Na" functions like "don't" in English, therefore, "Kuru na" means "don't come." For example:
"iku" + "na" = "ikuna"
(don't go!)
"Nigeru" + "na" = "nigeru
na" (don't escape from me!)
"Tasukeru" + "na" = "tasukeru
na" (don't help (him)!
Ok, this is the last one for today. Another verb "yameru."
hkr10-3.wav
(92KB)
Ya, me, ro!
Stop!
Faster?
hkr10-4.wav
(64KB)
Yamero!
Stop!
"Yameru" is a verb that means "to stop." or "to quit.". If you change the ending sound from "u" to "o," the meaning changes to "(I order you to) stop" like "nigero" (<- Nigeru).
hkr10-5.wav
(87KB)
Hikari, Yamete, onegai da.
Hikari, please stop, I beg you!
If you change the ending sound from "ru" to "te," (like tasukete (<- tasukeru), matte (<- matsu) and so on) you can ask someone to stop. Here is another example.
umi10-4.wav
(74KB)
Papa, mama, Yamete.
Dad, mom, please stop (attacking me)!
How did you do today? Though I introduced some grammatical rules for people who may want to know those things, please don't worry about them right now. The important thing is that you know the usage of the words I introduce to you. By memorizing these phrases as they are not the rules, you will be able to understand the grammatical rules easily when I introduce them in later lessons. See, no child learns grammatical rules when they acquire a language. They acquire their native language just by listening to what people say over and over again and understanding the system unconsciously. Oh, well,,, see you tomorrow.
You might remember "Yatta!" (I did it!) from a previous lesson. To tell you the truth, "Yatta" is the past tense of the verb "yaru" (to do) which is different from English verb "to do," this "yaru" also means "to undertake," "to perform" and so on. (Another Japanese verb "suru" may be similar to English "to do.") "Yaru" is often used when you carry out some difficult or dangerous task. Now, let's listen to Hikaru.
hkr11-1.wav
(36KB)
Watashi, yaru yo!
I will do it!
This is the phrase she said in the first episode after she decided to become a Magic Knight. She knew that it was a difficult task but she firmly determined to carry out the task. If it were spoken by Umi, it would sound like this.
rei11-1.wav
(72KB)
Watashi yaru wa.
I will do it!
Notice "wa" is a particle that makes your speech feminine. If you are a man, don't say it like me, but say it like my husband.
tyl11-1.wav
(44KB)
Ore, yaru ze.
"Ze" is a new particle, which makes your speech more masculine. It is the opposite of "wa" but it is used alone (you don't want to say "ze yo" at the end of sentence. It sounds like dialect.) and it cannot be used in interrogative sentences. (sentences that end in "ka" or "ne.".) Also, notice that instead of neutral (I mean used by both sexes) "watashi," "ore" is used.
Next phrase is heard in Anime quite often, "ganbatte!" We say this when we want to encourage a person who is performing a certain task which is very hard to accomplish, such as competing in an Olympic game. This phrase means all the following depending on the context: "hold on," "do your best," "you can do it!" "try your best," "good luck" and any other encouragements. Therefore, this is very hard to translate. You can say this after some one says "Watashi Yaruyo!"
hkr11-2.wav
(75KB)
Puresea ganbatte!
Precea, hold on!
Or you can say like me to mean "I will do it no matter what."
rei11-2.wav
(68KB)
Watashi, ganbaru!
I will do my best no matter what happens.
If you want to sound more feminine, say it like this.
rei11-3.wav
(37KB)
Ganbatte ne!
Good luck!
If you are a man, say it like my husband.
tyl11-2.wav
(32KB)
Ganbare yo!
If it were spoken by Fu, it would sound like this.
rei11-4.wav
(54KB)
Ganbatte kudasai ne.
Here "kudasai" means "please" or "I beg you." (as in "Omachi kudasai" in lesson 10) It is very polite, so you can say this even to someone older than you. (Note: "Ganbaru" is the dictionary form. "Ganbatte" is the te-form, which means "please do your best," and so on.)
Omake
From your feedback, I understand that many of you have problems with Japanese "r" sound. So, I have put twosound files here to help you in learning how to pronounce the Japanese "r". According to my favorite textbook:
Japanese "r" is nothing like the "r" in American Ensligh. It is made by lightly tapping the tip of the tongue just behind the teeth, in approximately the same position you place your tongue to say "l". In the case of "l," the tongue is held in place momentarily while air is pushed out at the sides of the tongue. With Japanese "r," the tapping movement is so quick that air pressure has no time to build up, and is much like the technique of tonguing in brass and woodwind instrument. (Japanese for everyone, by Susumu Nagara, pp12)
message4.wav
(264KB)
ra ri ru re ro
Now practice these sound too.
rei11-6.wav
(99KB)
rya ryu ryo
Well, that's all for today's lesson. I hope you liked Tylor's voice ^_^. Tomorrow, we take a break from verbs and learn some frequently used nouns.
tyl11-3.wav
(57KB)
Soreja, matana!
Then, see you again!
Today, I will introduce some very important nouns you hear in Anime. These days, most of the Anime shows put importance on friendship, believing in love, strong mind and magic. Therefore, it is important to know some words related to these things. Before we begin, let me tell you some good news. In Japanese, you don't need to worry about the plural form (basically). We don't care the quantity of things. Also, you don't need to worry about definite (the) and indifinite (a) articles. There is no such thing in Japanese. Isn't that great? All right, now, "iku yo!"
After you listen to each word, repeat after the character to practice the saying, please? First let's listen to Ascot.
asct12-1.wav
(29KB)
Boku no tomodachi
My friend
Tomadachi is the word I want you to know. It means friend. "No" is a particle that functions like 's in English. Boku means I (used primarily by kids). This, "Boku no" means "my." If this were spoken by Hikaru, it would be "watashi no tomodachi," if it were Fu, it would be "watakushi no tomodachi" and if it were Ferio, it would be "Ore no tomodachi."
hkr12-1.wav
(75KB)
Watashi-tachi wa nakama da.
We are friends!
"-tachi" is a plural maker here. (one of the few plurals in Japanese) Since "watashi" means "I," "watashi-tachi" means "we." In a similar way, anata-tachi means plural "you." (If you remember, "da" is the plain form of Japanese polite be-verb "desu.") Make sense? The word I want you to know, "Nakama," is directly translated as "comrade." Here, it means people who work together for the same purpose. In this example, Hikaru, Umi and Fu have same purpose: to become Magic Knights and save Cefiro.
fuu12-1.wav
(51KB)
Watakushi no kokoro
My heart,,,
"Kokoro" is the word I want you to know. It means "mind" "heart" "spirit" or "soul." As you learned already, "watakushi" is a politer way of saying "watashi." And "watakushi no" means "my," thus "watakushi no kokoro" means "my heart."
hkr12-2.wav
(44KB)
Shinjiru Kokoro
Firm belief
"Shinjiru" means "to believe" therefore, "shinjiru kokoro" can be directly translated as "mind capable of believing" but I translated this phrase as firm belief. This is very important in Magic Knight RayEarth, because,,,
fuu12-2.wav
(132KB)
Shinjiru kokoro ga chikara ni
naru.
Firm belief will become the power (in Cefiro).
"Chikara" is the word I want you to know. It means "power" "strength" "energy" "force" and so on. (Note: "ga" is a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, therefore "shinjiru kokoro" is the subject of this sentence. "Ni" is a particle used with a verb "naru" for some reason (never mind ^_^;), and "naru" is a verb that means "to become")
clef12-1.wav
(87KB)
So~ da. Sore ga omae no Maho~
da.
That's right. That's your magic.
"Maho~" is the word I want you to know. It means "magic." Though we use "majikku" for "magic," this traditional form is also used frequently. (Note: "Omae" also means "you" but it is only used to refer to someone younger than you (or your girlfriend or wife).)
umi12-1.wav
(41KB)
Mata mamono yo!
Monster (appeared) again!
"Mamono" means "demon" "devil" or "evil spirit" and is somewhat related to "maho~" (see, both have"ma" sound at the beginning.) In Magic Knight RayEarth, "mamono" look like monsters, so I translated this way. "Mata," as you may know, means "again."
emrd12-1.wav
(107KB)
Densetsu no Majikku naito tachi
yo!
Legendary Magic Knights!
"Densetsu" is the important word here. It means "legend" and if you add "no" ('s in English) it means "legendary."
zgt12-1.wav
(39KB)
Emero~do Hime
Princess Emeraude
"Hime" which means princess is the word I want you to know. Notice "Hime" is a suffix here, like "sama" "chan" and so on.
hkr12-3.wav
(42KB)
Okane, Okane
Money, money
I just thought it is important. (Note: "O" is the honorific "O" I explained before.)
Omake
hkr12-4.wav
(95KB)
Hono~ no ya
Arrow of flame!
This is one of Hikaru's magic. "Ya" is "arrow," and "hono~" is "flame." By putting the now famous particle "no" between them, this phrase becomes "Flame's arrow" = "Arrow of flame"
umi12-2.wav
(131KB)
Mizu no ryu~!
Dragon of water!
This is one of Umi's magic. The same rule for translating "hono~ no ya" is applied here. "Mizu" is water and "ryu~" is dragon. Be careful when you practice "ryu~" because this should be the sound hardest to pronounce for you.
fuu12-3.wav
(73KB)
Iyashi no kaze
Healing wind
This is one of Fu's magic. "Kaze" means wind and "Iyashi" means healing.
alco12-1.wav
(129KB)
Anokata wo aishite iru kara.
Because I love him (Zagato).
"Anokata" is a very polite way of saying "that person." (not important here at all) The important part is "aishite iru," which means "I love (someone)." ("ai" means "love" and "ai" plus "suru (<- shite (to do))" means "to love") Also note that "kara" at the end means "because." which is put at the end in Japanese. When you want to say "I love someone," omit "kara" and just replace "anokata" with the name of a person you love. If you are a man, how about saying "Omae wo aishite iru." That would be kakko ii. If you want to be polite, say "Anata wo aishite imasu.)
That's all for this week! I hope you enjoyed my lessons. How are you doing? Too easy or too difficult? Let me know. Well, take your time and study on your pace. See you next week!
