Help With Japanese! I need some random phrases?

Question

I need to know how to say "Do you want to go to the mall?"
We have Japanese exchange students over at our house (they just arrived yesterday) and they don't know much english at all. If you have any other useful phrases, that would be really great.
(things like dinner is ready, good night, etc...)

I don't know japanese characters, either, so if you can post the phonetic translations, that would be great.

Answer 1

There are a lot of good answers here. Most of these phrases are correct, but I hesitate to recommend using them.

I agree strongly with people who said that they should be the ones trying to speak English. Many schools require kids to learn basic English phrases from 4th or 5th grade.

As I suspect your exchange students are at least 10 years old, I ask you not to underestimate them. They are simply overwhelmed at being in a whole new country. One exchange student my family hosted did not speak to us for almost the whole time he was here, and we were afraid that he was mute. But two days before he left, the ice broke and we were all able to have fun.

Good luck!

Answer 2

There were a couple of good answers here...but most of the ones were probably americans or whoever who learned japanese as a second language....

do you want to go to the mall?
Shopping centa ni ikitai desuka?
are you hungry?
Onoka suitemasu ka?
are you sleepy?
Nemutai desuka?
what do you want to do?
Nani o shitain desuka?

all in all japanese(nihonjin) people have to take a foreign language which is generally English(eigo) from 7th thru 12th grade unless they pick a specialized path in highschool(ko-ko-sei)...japanese highschool by the way is 10th thru 12th....

mostly just speak to them in english like you would say a five or six year old using easy words and gestures...if they dont understand something which you probably wont know unless u read their expressions because japanese people are shy that way...so be patient with them...they;ll learn eventually...
good luck

Answer 3

mooru ni iku? Is the most casual way to say it, or you can say,Mooru ni ikitain desu ka? but it's not that colloquial.

Dinner is Yuu shoku, or ban gohan
but you can just say, "gohan desu yo!"
or "gohan tabeyou"

good night is, "oyasumi nasai" or just "oyasumiiiiiiiii", said in a cute lil voice, LOL
Or if you're leaving work before someone else you can say, "Osaki ni" and they'll probablly say, "Hai, otsukare sama desu!" or " Otsukareee..."
Good morning is "Ohayoo", or "Ohaa" for a joke

Here are some others that you may find useful

Ashita nanika tokubetsuna shitai koto ga aru? (Is there anything special you wanna do tomorrow?)

Nanika kiraina tabemono ga arimasuka? (Is there anything you don't like to eat?)

Ah..genkan de, kutsu o nugu hitsuyo wa nai desu yo!
(You don't need to take your shoes off at the entrance!)

Nanika hoshii mono ga areba oshiete ne!
(Let me know if there's anything you want, okay?)

But, I think you should speak to them in English as much as possible. That's why they're there..

P.S If you want to sound like an idiot in Japanese, use the phrases supplied by ronin!! He obviously doesn't speak the language!!

Answer 4

HI,
I have been a host for Japanese students and I know how much you are so excited about it..as some answerers have helped you so far for the starting conversation, I would suggest to let them feel at home and they know they are in a foreign land and your gestures and English would be very helpful for them, as they pay to study and learn English.
The students that stayed to us was not a first time travelers, they stayed free of charge in everything in our house, they had experienced visiting and stayed in school trips before but so far, the most they would remember was that they had learned English for the short period of time, and they do their own traveling now. .. they don't like staying with groups of students doing the same thing like speaking the same native language from their home. Sometimes it confuse the students using their own language when they are at foreign land and practicing English at the same time.. but if it is English, they would do their very best to reply in English the best they can.
They are shy but they are always curious about things around them and want to learn from your country. Those kids are well discipline and very quick to learn things and catch up English words.
I agree with Mac and Spooky about the English use in your house. Hope you enjoy the very best spending time with them. Use short and simple English terms first with gestures and a little bit of sense of humour would make them feel at home.
If you really need to use simple Nippongo phrases, search online about daily conversation in Japanese.
Good luck!

Answer 5

Hi.
I am a Japanese and used to be an ESL students.
Try this..
"Shopping Centre (mall) ni ikitai desuka?

I think they appreciate to learn some English from the regular communication because that they paid for. Everybody in Japan understands "Dinner" and Good night", as well as basic grammar, however listening what you say is very difficult. Too fast to chatch! If their English is beginner-level, it would be good idea to choose simple words and speak with short sentences, eliminating unnecessary adverbs and adjectives. ex, (Don't) I am wondering if you're..... (Do) Do you want to...

Hope you have fun with them.

Answer 6

The pronunciation of mall is little different from Japanese. How about this?

"Let's go for shopping?"
-- Kaimono ni ikimasyo.

"dinner is ready"
-- Gohan desu yo.

"Good night"
--Oyasumi nasai

They maybe shy. Please have short English class in your home.(30 min -1 hr is enough).

Answer 7

Do you want to go to the mall?
"Shoppingu ni ikitai desuka?"

Dinner is ready.
"Gohan desu yo"

Good night
"Oyasumi nasai"

Are you hungry?
"Onaka suita?"

They pronouce the vowels like Spanish "A, E, I,O, U".
P.S: Mr.Ronin's answer is not correct. Please do not use those frases. He must be an American learning Japanese. I'm Japanese with language teaching experience.

Answer 8

Mall: Mooru ni ikitai desu ka?

Dinner: Gohan
Breakfast: Asagohan
Lunch: Hirugohan

Good night: Oyasumi nasai.
Good morning: Ohayou gozaimasu

Are you hungry?: Onaka ga suita desu ka?
What food do you want to eat?: Tabemono ga tabetai desu ka?
Are you thirsty?: Nodo ga kawaita desu ka?
What do you want to drink? Nomimono ga nomitai desu ka?

Can you say that in English please?: Eigo de kore wa hanashite kudasai.

What would you like to do?: Nani o shitai desu ka?
Do you understand?: Wakarimashita ka?
I'm sorry, but I don't understand...: Gomen nasai. Wakarimasen deshita...
Is it good? ii desu ka?

But I agree, do try to use English as well. They've studied so hard and practicing it will help give them confidence.

Answer 9

This one is truthfully a tongue tornado my sensei taught me. hyoko pyoko pyoko myo pyoko pyoko awasete pyoko pyoko mu pyoko pyoko It is a tongue tornado that describes the best way a youngster chick walks. .. . well success!

Answer 10

mawru ni ikitainda? (like mall-ru, mawru)
bangohan is dinner, just say that (ban=evening gohan = meal)

oyasuminasai is good night, not sure how appropriate it is for what you mean, I might be more like good evening. You better try it and see if they laugh.

Other useful phrases
yes, we have no bananas = hai, banana jia arimasen yo

that big red building over there = asoko ni aru okute akai tatemono da yo.

and the eternal
I love you = anato o aite imasu.