Synopses & Reviews
Japanese is a wonderful language, very different from European languages. It is also the gateway to the rich culture of the exciting and complex island nation of Japan. Some people get intimidated by the prospect of speaking Japanese—worried that it’s just too complex and different—but 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 get off the ground with speaking the language. Author and Professor of Japanese Eriko Sato starts you off with the essentials of grammar and pronunciation, giving you a working sense of the language, before showing you Japanese in action. You’ll then explore vocabulary and expressions through dialogues taking place in situations such as:
- Introductions and greetings
- Eating and drink ing
- Shopping
- Exploring the town
- Talking on the telephone
- Asking directions
- Getting around
- Staying at a hotel
You’ll also discover social customs, formalities, and manners, from how and when to bow to how to unwrap a present. 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. You’ll also find out about:
- How to use karaoke to help you learn Japanese
- Movies that will introduce you to Japanese culture and language
- Learning Japanese the “gourmet” way
- When ignoring “no, thank you” shows good manners
- Proper table manners
- Proper body language
- How to sound fluent
- And much more!
With helpful vocabulary summaries, a mini-dictionary at the end, and an audio CD full of conversations and pronunciations, Japanese For Dummies assumes no prior knowledge of Japanese on your part—providing the perfect guide for a quick-but-thorough, lighthearted-but-not-lightweight introduction to the language.
Synopsis
Learn to speak Japanese—the fast and easy wayJapanese 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 Japanese—worried that it's just too complex and different—but 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 part—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 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.
Synopsis
Speak Japanese – the fun and easy way!
Packed with clear explanations and real-world examples
Your friendly guide to understanding Japanese – quickly and easily!
Whether you’re a student, a traveler, or you just want to pick up basic Japanese, this unintimidating guide will help you start speaking the language in no time. Inside you’ll find a wealth of fascinating cultural facts and handy references – including a Japanese-English mini-dictionary, lists of common expressions and verbs, and much more!
All this on the bonus audio CD
- Pick up Japanese the easy way –through actual conversations
- Features dialogues by native Japanese speakers
- Allows you to hear Japanese as it’s really spoken
- Reinforces lessons from the book
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Synopsis
Japanese For Dummies, 2nd Edition, features 25 percent new and revised content including:
- A revamped, user-friendly format
- Design improvements to pedagogy and organization
- A fully updated and expanded audio CD includeing real-life conversations
This title also includes major updates in addition to all the necessary foundational information the Dummies reader needs in order to start speaking Japanese, including:
- Expanded coverage of grammar, verb conjugations, and pronunciations
- A refreshed and expanded mini-dictionary complete with even more essential vocabulary
- More useful exercises and practice opportunities
Synopsis
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
About the Author
Eriko Sato, PhD, is Professor of Japanese at State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook. Sato is a native Japanese speaker experienced in teaching Japanese and in translation.
Table of Contents
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