Beginning Japanese for Professionals: Book 1

6 D. Apologizing A: A, sumimasen. あ、すみません ！ Oh, sorry! B: Ie, ie. いえ、いえ 。 No, no. 14. sumimasen すみません thank you, I’m sorry 15. ie, iie (formal), iya (casual ) いいえ／いえ／いや no, that’s wrong 16. +sumimasen deshita すみませんでした thank you, I’m sorry for what’s done 17. +gomen ごめん sorry, excuse me (casual) 18. +gomen nasai ごめんなさい sorry, excuse me (casual, gentle) 19. +dou itashimashite どういたしまして you’re welcome, not at all Sumimasen expresses apology or gratitude when you are about to trouble or have troubled someone. Sumimasen deshita expresses apology or gratitude when you have troubled someone. E. Starting and Ending Eating/Drinking A: Douzo . どうぞ 。 Please (have some.) B: Jaa, itadakimasu . じゃあ、いただきます 。 Well, then I’ll have some. Gochisou sama deshita. ごちそうさまでした 。 Thank you (That was delicious). 20. jaa, ja じゃあ／じゃ well then, if so 21. itadakimasu いただきます ritual expression before eating 22. gochisou-sama ごちそうさま ritual expression after eating 23. gochisou-sama deshita ごちそうさまでした formal version of gochisou- sama Ja is used to follow up on what has been said, to switch topic, etc. Itadakimasu literally means ‘I’ll humbly accept it’ and is used before eating or receiving a gift. Gochisousama (deshita) shows gratitude for the food or drink one has been offered. Even when alone Japanese people tend to whisper itadakimasu and gochisousama to start and end eating. F. Requesting Ａ： Sumimasen. すみません 。 Excuse me. ねが One gaishimasu . お願いします 。 Can you give that to me. Ｂ： Hai, douzo . はい、どうぞ 。 Sure, here you go.