LESSON NOTES

Learn Japanese Grammar Video Absolute Beginner S1 #1

Introducing Yourself in Japanese

CONTENTS
2
2
2
2
2
3
3

Kanji
Kana
Romanization
English
Vocabulary
Sample Sentences
Grammar

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KANJI
1.

2.

KANA
1.

2.

ROMANIZATION
1.

Hajimemashite.

2.

Watashi wa Kaori desu.

ENGLISH
1.

Nice to meet you.

2.

I'm Kaori.

VOCABULARY
Kanji

Kana

R omaji

English

wa

topic marking particle

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LEARN JAPANESE GRAMMAR VIDEO - ABSOLUTE BEGINNER S1 #1 - INTRODUCING YOURSELF IN JAPANESE

Hajimemashite.

Nice to meet you.

desu

roughly means 'to be'

SAMPLE SENTENCES

Ky wa Kurisumasu desu.

Kon'nichiwa. Hajimemashite.

Today is Christmas.

Hello. Nice to meet you.

Watashi wa Jon Sumisu desu.

I am John Smith.

GRAMMAR
T he f ocus of t his le sson is Int roducing Yourse lf in Japane se
T he phrase hajime mashit e

Hajimemashite means "nice to meet you," and you can use it with anyone you are meeting
for the first time.
Japane se

Romaji

"English"

Hajimemashite .

"Nice to meet you!"

For Example :
1.

A: Hajimemashite, Maki desu.

A:
A: "Nice to meet you! I'm Maki."
B: Hajimemashite, Merissa desu.
B:
B: "Nice to meet you! I'm Melissa."

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LEARN JAPANESE GRAMMAR VIDEO - ABSOLUTE BEGINNER S1 #1 - INTRODUCING YOURSELF IN JAPANESE

Saying What Some t hing Is ("A is B")

Let's take a look at the sentence pattern for saying what something is:
Se nt e nce Pat t e rn:
[A] wa [B] de su /"[A] is [B]"
In this pattern,
A = the item being talked about ("me," "you," "he," "the dog," "an apple," etc.)
B = what you are identifying it as ("Jennifer," "Raul," "a souvenir," "water," etc.)
Now, let's make some sentences using this pattern:
A / wa / B / de su / "English"
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Watashi ("I") wa Jenif desu.

"I'm Jennifer."
Boku ("I") wa Rauru desu.
"I'm Raul."
Watashi wa pairotto ("pilot") desu.
"I'm a pilot."
Boku wa shefu ("chef") desu.
"I'm a chef."
Kore ("this") wa omiyage ("souvenir") desu.
"This is a souvenir."
Kore wa mizu ("water)" desu.
"This is water."

See how the wa and desu never change? To use this pattern, simply change parts A and
B!
For Example :
1.

2.

Kore wa sushi desu.

"This is sushi."
Watashi wa T masu Ejison desu.

"I'm Thomas Edison."

JAPANESEPOD101.COM

LEARN JAPANESE GRAMMAR VIDEO - ABSOLUTE BEGINNER S1 #1 - INTRODUCING YOURSELF IN JAPANESE