By: Loreto O. Bagio, BS Electronics and Communications Engineer, bagoven20@yahoo.com.hk

Essential Classroom Commands in Japanese:

1. Kekko (desu) - (It is) Good.

2. Dame (desu) - No (don't do that). Note: 'Dame' isn't very polite.

3. Suwaru (Shimasu) - Sit.

4. Koko Kimasu - Come here.

5. Dandan - Slowly.

6. Hayyakku - Go faster.

7. Abunai - (It is) Dangerous or transferably ‘be careful’.

8. Hajimeru - Start. Hajimemasho - Let us start.

9. Iku - Go. Ikimasho: Let us go. Example: Tsugi no peeji ni ikimasho - "Let's go to the next page".

10. Owari or Owatta - (It is) finished.

11. Chotto Matte Kudasai - Just a minute please.

12. Konnichiwa - the standard Japanese Greeting which means “Good Day”. Actually it starts from 10AM. At around 6PM, we greet each other “Kombangwa” or ‘good evening’. At daybreak and up to ten o'clock, the greeting is “Ohayo (Gozaimasu)” or ‘Good Morning’.

13. Soji Suru or Soji Shimasu - Make it clean.

14. Kerei na - It is beautiful or pretty.

15. Jozu - Good or Nice.

16. Koko - (It is) Here. Soko - (It is) There. Asoko - (It is) Over there.

17. Ima - Now.

18. Sugi - Next.

19. Chigau - Wrong.

20. Wakaranai - I do not understand.

21. Wasuretta or Wasuremashita - I forgot.

22. Iru or Imasu - ‘there is’ as to refer to animate objects like people or animals.

23. Aru or Arimasu - ‘there is’ as to refer to inanimate objects.

24. O genki desu ka - ‘Are you good/allright?’ A greeting in which it is often replied ‘(Watashi wa) Genki (desu)’.

25. Shinpai naku - Don’t worry.

26. Taihen desu - It is great.

27. Minna - All.

28. Ohairu nasai - Please come in.

29. Gomen nasai - I am sorry.

30. Kudasai - Please. An expression when requesting something like “O mizu Kudasai” or ‘water, please’.

31. Dozo - Please. Expression used to invite someone to drink or eat.

32. Hai - Yes . Iie is ‘No’.

33. Arigato (gozaimasu) - Thank you.

ADDENDUM by Marty Mette of Marty Eikaiwa http://www.martyeikaiwa.com/, English Conversation School in Mino, Osaka (Sept. 2004):

34. Ogenki desuka? - "How are you?"; Genki desu - "I'm good"; Yokatta desu ne - "That's good."

35. Yoku dekimashita - Good job (Note: Good expression to praise students).

36. Chotto matte ne - "Just a sec" (more casual).

37. Koko? (rising intonation) - "(Is it) here?"; Koko desuka? - polite form.

38. Chigaimasu - "It's not correct" (polite form); chigau - "It's wrong".

39. Wakatta? (rising intonation) - "Do you understand?

40. Daijoubu? - "(Is that) ok?

41. Wasuretta - "I forgot"; wasuremashita - "I forgot" (polite form).

42. Shinpai shinaide - "Don't worry"; Shinpai naku - "Don't worry" (old fashioned). Shinpai shinaide Tomoko. Daijoubu. - "Don't worry Tomoko. It's ok."

43. Kiotsukete "Take care" can be used when saying goodbye and to be careful.