TALKING JAPANESE

After staying in Japan for a few months, I have learned some Nihonggo words. Although I am still quite dependent on Ruther, at least I don't get scared when I go to the supermarket or the nearby store. Still, with my very limited vocabulary and even if I get around okay, I'm still not so confident about my speaking skills. So, when I encounter a person who talks to me or wants to talk to me, I just smile and say sorry. What else can I do?

sumimasen (sorry, excuse me, thank you) - This word has a LOT of uses. I practically say it ALL the time: when getting into a crowded train, when calling the attention of a shop employee or waitress, when someone offers me a seat in the train, when i bump into someone or the stroller accidentally hits something or someone, etc. I think I'm quite an expert on saying this... =D

gomen nasai (sorry) - According to my handy Japanese pocket book, this is a less formal "sorry" so usually, this is said to close friends or family. But I encountered some cases when some women say this, especially when they bump into me accidentally.

shitsurei shimasu (excuse me) - I usually say this when I need to get off the train PRONTO. To me, it may be something like, "Move aside, people and let me through!" Well, it IS hard to get off a full train with a stroller, you know...

arigato gozaimasu (thank you very much) - I can always say arigato but I prefer to be thoroughly thankful so I always add the gozaimasu. Besides, the Japanese people have been very kind and very understanding to me and my very limited Nihonggo so why not say thank you the best way I know how?

ohayo gozaimasu (good morning) - It's wonderful when I say this and the person I'm talking to reciprocates with the same greeting and a smile. I wish all sales people at department stores back home are the same...

konnichiwa (hello) - I only say this when people say it to me first. Not because I don't want to, but because I'm scared that people would think I'm a crazy tourist saying hello to everyone I meet. Besides, according to my handy book, I should not just say it to anyone. So, lest I commit a faux pas I wait until someone says this to me before saying hello.

dozo (go ahead) - This is not the literal meaning of the word but I use this when I'm in line at a cashier and want someone to go ahead of me (maybe the shopper has 2-3 items only) so, wanting to be a good person, I say, dozo (with a wave of my hand toward the cashier of course). Sometimes too, i say dozo when I offer a lolo or lola a seat on the train.

wakarimasen (i don't understand) - Some people think I'm fluent in Nihonggo and stike up a conversation with me. I just smile and say wakarimasen and hope with all my heart that they won't feel bad or disappointed that I can't converse with them.

daijobu/daijobu desu (okay/it's okay) - "Do you want dry ice for your ice cream?" "Okay, thank you. (Daijobu, arigato gozaimasu)." This one, I just started to use recently. It's fun to use. Especially when people ask me if I'm okay and I reply, "Daijobu." =D

Nihonggo wakaranai (i don't understand Nihonggo) - After 3 (separate) situations where people came up to me to ask for directions, Ruther told me to say this when a similar instance occurs. Russell said that maybe it's because I'm starting to look like a Japanese these days.

mochi-kairi desu (take out) - My latest lesson. After I ordered a cheeseburger at McDonald's and the woman behind the counter spoke to me lengthily, I just stared at her and said wakarimasen. She then showed me a take-out bag and i got it and said hai. So, I asked Ruther to teach me what to say when I'll have to order another take-out. This time, no more blank stares for the poor order-taker.