Title: MiniCore Japanese-EN / Lesson 2
Tags: MinicoreJapanese-EN lesson-02 sentence vocab dialog-line dialog

MinicoreJapanese: Konnichiwa.
Native: こんにちは。
English: Hello. / Good day.
Literal: good day

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen!
Native: すみません！
English: Excuse me! (calling out to get attention)
Literal: excuse-me!

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, onegaishimasu.
Native: はい、お願いします。
English: Yes, please.
Literal: yes, please

MinicoreJapanese: Iie, daijoubu desu.
Native: いいえ、大丈夫です。
English: No, thank you — I'm fine.
Literal: no, I'm-fine

MinicoreJapanese: Mou ichido onegaishimasu.
Native: もう一度お願いします。
English: Once more, please.
Literal: one-more-time, please

MinicoreJapanese: Arigatou gozaimasu.
Native: ありがとうございます。
English: Thank you.
Literal: thank you (full polite form)

MinicoreJapanese: Maiku desu.
Native: マイクです。
English: I'm Mike.
Literal: Mike is
Notes: Your name + desu — a complete self-introduction. (Any name slots in; foreign names come out in Japanese sounds, so Mike becomes Maiku.)

MinicoreJapanese: Tomodachi desu.
Native: 友達です。
English: (He's / she's) a friend.
Literal: friend is
Notes: tomodachi — friend. Gesture at your travel companion and this introduces them.

MinicoreJapanese: Kazoku desu.
Native: 家族です。
English: (They're) family.
Literal: family is
Notes: kazoku — family. Same frame, new word — that's the whole grammar.

MinicoreJapanese: Tanaka-san desu.
Native: 田中さんです。
English: This is Tanaka-san.
Literal: Tanaka-hon. is
Notes: -san attaches to other people's names — Mr./Ms./Mrs. all in one, and the polite default for everyone you meet. One hard rule: never put -san on your own name.

MinicoreJapanese: Tanaka-san desu ka.
Native: 田中さんですか。
English: Is it Tanaka-san? / Are you Tanaka-san?
Literal: Tanaka-hon. is ?
Notes: ka at the end turns any statement into a question — no word-order change, no new melody needed. Statement + ka = question. That's the entire question system.

MinicoreJapanese: Iie, tomodachi desu.
Native: いいえ、友達です。
English: No — (he's) a friend.
Literal: no, friend is
Notes: And the frame snaps straight onto Lesson 1: iie + a corrected answer. You'll answer most ka questions exactly like this — hai or iie, then the frame.

MinicoreJapanese: Namae wa Maiku desu.
Native: 名前はマイクです。
English: My name is Mike.
Literal: name [topic] Mike is
Notes: namae — name. "As for (my) name — Mike." Again no "my": the topic is obviously your own name when you're introducing yourself.

MinicoreJapanese: Kore wa nan desu ka.
Native: これは何ですか。
English: What is this?
Literal: this [topic] what is ?
Notes: kore — this thing near me — and nan — what. Point at anything and ask. (nan is the form of nani used before desu; you'll meet bare nani as its own word.)

MinicoreJapanese: Sore wa nan desu ka.
Native: それは何ですか。
English: What is that (by you)?
Literal: that-by-you [topic] what is ?
Notes: sore — that thing near you — perfect for whatever the shopkeeper is holding.

MinicoreJapanese: Are wa nan desu ka.
Native: あれは何ですか。
English: What is that (over there)?
Literal: that-over-there [topic] what is ?
Notes: are — that thing away from both of you — the one on the top shelf. (And dore asks "which one?")

MinicoreJapanese: Kono hito wa tomodachi desu.
Native: この人は友達です。
English: This person is my friend.
Literal: this person [topic] friend is
Notes: kono + a noun means "this ___" — and hito is person. The same ko-so-a-do system has a second column for use before a noun: kono, sono, ano, dono. So: kore = "this," kono hito = "this person."

MinicoreJapanese: Ano hito wa dare desu ka.
Native: あの人は誰ですか。
English: Who is that person over there?
Literal: that person [topic] who is ?
Notes: dare — who. Ano hito ("that person") is also how you say "he/she" in this course — point with words, not pronouns.

MinicoreJapanese: Ano hito wa Tanaka-san desu.
Native: あの人は田中さんです。
English: That person is Tanaka-san.
Literal: that person [topic] Tanaka-hon. is
Notes: The answer uses the same frame. Ask with a question word, answer by swapping the answer into its slot.

MinicoreJapanese: Tanaka-san no tomodachi desu.
Native: 田中さんの友達です。
English: (He's) Tanaka-san's friend.
Literal: Tanaka-hon. of friend is
Notes: no links two nouns: `X no Y` = "X's Y." And notice this dropped back into the simple `___ desu.` frame — old frames never retire.

MinicoreJapanese: Watashi no tomodachi desu.
Native: 私の友達です。
English: (She's) my friend.
Literal: me of friend is
Notes: watashi — I/me. Watashi no = "my." (As a subject, watashi is mostly left unsaid — see "The move" below.)

MinicoreJapanese: Kore o kudasai.
Native: これをください。
English: This one, please. / I'll take this.
Literal: this [obj] please-give
Notes: The single most useful shopping sentence in the course. Point + kore o kudasai — done. (Prices join in Lesson 3.)

MinicoreJapanese: Sore o kudasai.
Native: それをください。
English: That one (by you), please.
Literal: that-by-you [obj] please-give
Notes: sore — the one near the shopkeeper: the one they're holding up, the one behind the counter.

MinicoreJapanese: Are o kudasai.
Native: あれをください。
English: That one (over there), please.
Literal: that-over-there [obj] please-give
Notes: are — the one on the high shelf neither of you can reach without a stepladder.

MinicoreJapanese: Kore, onegaishimasu.
Native: これ、お願いします。
English: This, please. (pointing)
Literal: this, please
Notes: And the Lesson 1 way still works: a pointing word + onegaishimasu. In a shop, kudasai and onegaishimasu are interchangeable — use whichever comes out first.

MinicoreJapanese: Tomodachi desu ka.
Native: 友達ですか。
English: Is (he) a friend?
Literal: friend is ?
Notes: No "he" anywhere — the person you're both looking at is the subject. Adding a pronoun here would sound strange, not careful.

MinicoreJapanese: Watashi wa Maiku desu.
Native: 私はマイクです。
English: (As for me,) I'm Mike.
Literal: me [topic] Mike is
Notes: Watashi wa comes out only for contrast — "him? no no, I'm Mike." If there's no contrast, plain Maiku desu is better Japanese.

MinicoreJapanese: Watashi-tachi wa kazoku desu.
Native: 私たちは家族です。
English: We're family.
Literal: me-group [topic] family is
Notes: -tachi turns a person into that person's group: watashi-tachi = we. Useful at restaurant doors and ticket counters when you sweep a hand at your companions.

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Kore, onegaishimasu.
Native: すみません。これ、お願いします。
English: Excuse me — this one, please.
Literal: excuse-me. this, please
Notes: The Lesson 1 opener + a pointing word: attention, then request. The full shop interaction in four words.

MinicoreJapanese: Are, onegaishimasu.
Native: あれ、お願いします。
English: That one over there, please.
Literal: that-over-there, please
Notes: are + onegaishimasu — pointing past the counter.

MinicoreJapanese: Kore, douzo.
Native: これ、どうぞ。
English: Here, take this. (handing something over)
Literal: this, go-ahead
Notes: douzo with a named object — offering something specific instead of just gesturing.

MinicoreJapanese: Kore wa daijoubu desu.
Native: これは大丈夫です。
English: This one's fine (as is). / No need for this one.
Literal: this [topic] fine is
Notes: The polite decline, now aimed at a specific thing: "this one, I'm fine without."

MinicoreJapanese: Watashi wa daijoubu desu.
Native: 私は大丈夫です。
English: I'm fine, thanks. (declining for yourself)
Literal: me [topic] fine is
Notes: watashi wa earning its keep — contrast: "(my friend will have one, but) I'm fine."

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, kore desu.
Native: はい、これです。
English: Yes — it's this one.
Literal: yes, this is
Notes: hai + the naming frame: confirming which one you meant.

MinicoreJapanese: Kore wa nihongo de nan desu ka.
Native: これは日本語で何ですか。
English: What is this in Japanese?
Literal: this [topic] Japanese in what is ?
Notes: The harvester. Point at anything, deploy this, and Japan itself teaches you the word — which you can then use in every frame you own, immediately. nihongo — the Japanese language. Memorize the sentence whole; don't pick it apart (that little de gets explained properly in Lesson 6). When you hear the answer, echo it back with ka — "Sensu desu ka." — to lock it in and confirm you caught it.

MinicoreJapanese: desu
Native: です
English: is / am / are
Notes: ends nearly every sentence; sounds like "dess"

MinicoreJapanese: kudasai
Native: ください
English: please give me
Notes: concrete requests: `___ o kudasai`

MinicoreJapanese: kore
Native: これ
English: this (near me)
Notes: standalone

MinicoreJapanese: sore
Native: それ
English: that (near you)
Notes: standalone

MinicoreJapanese: are
Native: あれ
English: that (over there)
Notes: standalone

MinicoreJapanese: dore
Native: どれ
English: which one?
Notes: standalone

MinicoreJapanese: kono
Native: この
English: this ___
Notes: always before a noun: *kono hito*

MinicoreJapanese: sono
Native: その
English: that ___ (near you)
Notes: always before a noun

MinicoreJapanese: ano
Native: あの
English: that ___ (over there)
Notes: always before a noun: *ano hito*

MinicoreJapanese: dono
Native: どの
English: which ___?
Notes: always before a noun

MinicoreJapanese: nani
Native: なに
English: what
Notes: *nan* before *desu*: *nan desu ka*

MinicoreJapanese: dare
Native: だれ
English: who
Notes: *Ano hito wa dare desu ka.*

MinicoreJapanese: watashi
Native: わたし
English: I / me
Notes: as subject: contrast only; *watashi no* = my

MinicoreJapanese: -san
Native: さん
English: Mr. / Ms. (honorific)
Notes: on others' names — **never your own**

MinicoreJapanese: -tachi
Native: たち
English: (person) group
Notes: *watashi-tachi* = we

MinicoreJapanese: namae
Native: 名前
English: name
Notes: *Namae wa ___ desu.*

MinicoreJapanese: hito
Native: ひと
English: person
Notes: *kono hito* = this person; *ano hito* = he/she over there

MinicoreJapanese: tomodachi
Native: 友達
English: friend

MinicoreJapanese: kazoku
Native: 家族
English: family

MinicoreJapanese: nihongo
Native: 日本語
English: Japanese (language)
Notes: lives inside the harvester sentence

MinicoreJapanese: Souvenir shopping
Notes: Traveler: Konnichiwa.
Hello.
[good day]
Shopkeeper: Konnichiwa.
Hello.
[good day]
Traveler: Sumimasen. Kore wa nihongo de nan desu ka.
Excuse me — what is this in Japanese? (pointing)
[excuse-me. this [topic] Japanese in what is ?]
Shopkeeper: Sensu desu.
It's a sensu (folding fan).
[folding-fan is]
Traveler: Sensu desu ka.
A sensu? (echoing to confirm)
[folding-fan is ?]
Shopkeeper: Hai, sensu desu.
Yes — a sensu.
[yes, folding-fan is]
Traveler: Kore o kudasai.
I'll take this one, please.
[this [obj] please-give]
Shopkeeper: Hai. Arigatou gozaimasu.
Certainly. Thank you.
[yes. thank you]
Shopkeeper: Douzo.
Here you are. (handing it over, wrapped)
[here-you-are]
Traveler: Doumo. Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thanks — thank you very much.
[thanks. thank you (full polite form)]

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Kore wa nihongo de nan desu ka.
Native: すみません。これは日本語で何ですか。
English: Excuse me — what is this in Japanese? (pointing)
Literal: excuse-me. this [topic] Japanese in what is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Sensu desu.
Native: 扇子です。
English: It's a sensu (folding fan).
Literal: folding-fan is

MinicoreJapanese: Sensu desu ka.
Native: 扇子ですか。
English: A sensu? (echoing to confirm)
Literal: folding-fan is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, sensu desu.
Native: はい、扇子です。
English: Yes — a sensu.
Literal: yes, folding-fan is

MinicoreJapanese: Hai. Arigatou gozaimasu.
Native: はい。ありがとうございます。
English: Certainly. Thank you.
Literal: yes. thank you

MinicoreJapanese: Douzo.
Native: どうぞ。
English: Here you are. (handing it over, wrapped)
Literal: here-you-are

MinicoreJapanese: Doumo. Arigatou gozaimasu.
Native: どうも。ありがとうございます。
English: Thanks — thank you very much.
Literal: thanks. thank you (full polite form)

MinicoreJapanese: Too fast at the taiyaki stand
Notes: Traveler: Sumimasen. Kore wa nan desu ka.
Excuse me — what is this?
[excuse-me. this [topic] what is ?]
Vendor: Kore wa azuki-an-iri no taiyaki to iu wagashi desu yo. Atatakai desu yo.
It's a fish-shaped cake filled with sweet red-bean paste — still warm!
[(too fast — that's the point)]
Traveler: Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Slowly, please.
[slowly, please]
Vendor: Taiyaki desu.
It's tai-ya-ki. (slow and clear this time)
[taiyaki is]

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Kore wa nan desu ka.
Native: すみません。これは何ですか。
English: Excuse me — what is this?
Literal: excuse-me. this [topic] what is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Kore wa azuki-an-iri no taiyaki to iu wagashi desu yo. Atatakai desu yo.
Native: これは小豆あん入りの鯛焼きという和菓子ですよ。温かいですよ。
English: It's a fish-shaped cake filled with sweet red-bean paste — still warm!
Literal: (too fast — that's the point)

MinicoreJapanese: Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Native: ゆっくりお願いします。
English: Slowly, please.
Literal: slowly, please

MinicoreJapanese: Taiyaki desu.
Native: たいやき、です。
English: It's tai-ya-ki. (slow and clear this time)
Literal: taiyaki is