Japanese For Dummies

Learn to speak Japanese--the fast and easy way Japanese is the gateway to the rich culture of the exciting andcomplex island nation of Japan. Some people get intimidated by theprospect of speaking Japanese--worried that it's just toocomplex and different--but these fears are unfounded. Whileyou can devote a lifetime to the study of this or any language,picking up the basics of Japanese doesn't require any more than aninterest and a willingness to try something new. Japanese For Dummies has everything you need to startspeaking the language. Author and Professor of Japanese Eriko Satointroduces the essentials of grammar and pronunciation, giving youa working sense of the language, before showing you Japanese inaction. You'll also discover social customs, formalities, andmanners, from how and when to bow to how to unwrap a present. Includes vocabulary summaries, a mini-dictionary, and an audioCD full of conversations and pronunciations Assumes no prior knowledge of Japanese on yourpart--providing the perfect guide for a quick-but-thorough,lighthearted-but-not-lightweight introduction to the language * CD lets you hear Japanese as it's really spoken and reinforceslessons from the book Whether you simply want to introduce yourself to the Japaneselanguage, say a few words to a neighbor or coworker, or you'replanning a major trip or study abroad in Japan, Japanese ForDummies will enable you to get the basics fast and work towardsyour own goal at your own pace. CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included aspart of the e-book file, but are available for download afterpurchase.

Auteur

Eriko Sato, PhD, is Director of the Teacher Certification Program for Japanese and the Pre-College Japanese Language Program at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Texte du rabat

The fast and easy way to learn to speak Japanese

Want to feel comfortable with conversational Japanese? Then this hands-on, friendly guide is the book for you. It's filled with the essential grammar, vocabulary, verb conjugations, and pronunciations you need to know to start speaking like a native.

• Japanese 101 learn to recite the alphabet; pronounce words and phrases; and meet, greet, and exchange pleasantries with other Japanese speakers
• It's as easy as ichi, ni, san (1, 2, 3) hone your small-talk skills and discover how to ask for directions, order food, and more
• Happy trails take your Japanese on the road and find out how to plan a trip, make arrangements for a place to stay, discuss transportation, and handle emergencies while you're away
• Take care of business grasp the essential Japanese language skills you need to talk on the phone and perform everyday tasks at the office
  Audio CD Includes

35 real-life conversations that reinforce lessons from the book

Japanese pronunciation, pitch, and intonation guide

Please see CD appendix for details.

Open the book and find:

• How to pronounce Japanese sounds
• Common words and phrases in Japanese scripts
• Japanese grammar basics
• A guide to addressing others respectfully
• Information on numbers, time, and measurements
• Pointers for describing everyday activities in Japanese
• Fun exercises to help you practice your Japanese skills

• Expanded Japanese-English and English-Japanese dictionaries
  Learn to:

• Speak conversational Japanese with ease
• Master basic grammar, verb conjugations, vocabulary, and pronunciations
• Identify kana and kanji
  CD includes real-life conversations by native speakers

Résumé
Learn to speak Japanesethe fast and easy way Japanese is the gateway to the rich culture of the exciting and complex island nation of Japan. Some people get intimidated by the prospect of speaking Japaneseworried that it's just too complex and differentbut these fears are unfounded. While you can devote a lifetime to the study of this or any language, picking up the basics of Japanese doesn't require any more than an interest and a willingness to try something new.

Japanese For Dummies has everything you need to start speaking the language. Author and Professor of Japanese Eriko Sato introduces the essentials of grammar and pronunciation, giving you a working sense of the language, before showing you Japanese in action. You'll also discover social customs, formalities, and manners, from how and when to bow to how to unwrap a present.

• Includes vocabulary summaries, a mini-dictionary, and an audio CD full of conversations and pronunciations
• Assumes no prior knowledge of Japanese on your partproviding the perfect guide for a quick-but-thorough, lighthearted-but-not-lightweight introduction to the language
• CD lets you hear Japanese as it's really spoken and reinforces lessons from the book
  Whether you simply want to introduce yourself to the Japanese language, say a few words to a neighbor or coworker, or you're planning a major trip or study abroad in Japan, Japanese For Dummies will enable you to get the basics fast and work towards your own goal at your own pace.

CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

Contenu
Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started 7

Chapter 1: Japanese in a Nutshell 9

Chapter 2: Checking Out the Japanese Sounds and Scripts 17

Chapter 3: Warming Up with Japanese Grammar Basics 33

Chapter 4: Starting with Simple Expressions 61

Chapter 5: Getting Your Numbers, Times, and Measurements Straight 77

Chapter 6: Speaking Japanese at Home 99

Part II: Japanese in Action 117

Chapter 7: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk 119

Chapter 8: Asking for Directions 131

Chapter 9: Dining Out and Going to the Market147

Chapter 10: Shopping Made Easy 163

Chapter 11: Going Out on the Town 183

Chapter 12: Taking Care of Business and Telecommunications 199

Chapter 13: Recreation and the Great Outdoors 219

Part III: Japanese on the Go 233

Chapter 14: Planning a Trip 235

Chapter 15: Dealing with Money in a Foreign Land 245

Chapter 16: Making Your Way Around: Planes, Trains, Taxis, and More 257

Chapter 17: Finding a Place to Stay 275

Chapter 18: Handling Emergencies 291

Part IV: The Part of Tens 309

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Pick Up Japanese Quickly 311

Chapter 20: Ten Things Never to Say in Japanese 315

Chapter 21: Ten Favorite Japanese Expressions 319

Chapter 22: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Japanese 323

Part V: Appendixes 327

Appendix A: Mini-Dictionary 329

Appendix B: Verb Tables 349

Appendix C: On the CD 359

Appendix D: Answer Key 363

Index 365