Kawaii! -
Cute! Exclaiming Kawaii ne? is a national past
time. Last week a 6 year
old girl with no front teeth told me I was kawaii. If a kid
asks what you think of
them, or a friend, this is a good response.
Kowaii -
Scary. I only mention it because its pretty close to
kawaii. Don't
get them confused.
Kakko ii -
Cool appearance wise. This is roughly the same in
usage as Kawaii,
not as common, I hear it used more for guys.
Sugoi!/Sugei! - Cool as in Wow! that's cool!.
Saiko! - Superlatively
wonderful. When I started, I had a first year student
who'd yell, Saiko! every time I said something. Its sounds just like
psycho.
Wakarimasen / wakaranai - I don't understand.
Wakkanai / wakkane! -
Colloquial form of wakarimasen. Frequently
shouted
out after directions are given or a question is asked.
Iya - No
Iyada! Ya da! -
That sucks! there's no way! This comes after kids
are asked
to move, speak, think or do anything related to English.
Yatta! - I did it! Exclamation made after a successful communication attempt.
Muri - Impossible
Nandakke? - Said
when one is unsure and trying really hard to think of what
to say or do.
Gaijin Da! - A really rude way to say, Oh, a foreigner! (literally, outsider).
Yappari - As
expected. Once when I was taking photos at the shrine, I heard
these words flutter past, 'Yappari, hitori de..." Oh
yeah! well, 'Yappari,
nihonjin wa 5nin de..!'
Dekai! - Huge, giantarific. The correct response is Ah! Mijikai/ chichai!
Ashi (wa) nagai!! - Long
legs. All foreigners have long legs. and big boobs.
Regardless of reality.
Hana (ga) takai! - We
also all have high noses. Although, foreigners of Asian
descent probably don't have to put up with this. Well, you might, if
they know
your from the West. The response is, 'hana ga mijikai/hikui naa.'
Umai - Excellent.
as in, Umai! Hashi! (Your use of Chopsticks is excellent!)
The correct response when occasion permits is, 'Fork ga umai yo!'
Joozu - Well.
as in 'Nihongo wa joozu'. Any Japanese utterance will earn
this praise. Sometimes interchangeable with umai.
Mou kekkou desu. - The
most efficient way of refusing food or drink. If your
glass is empty though, nothing will work.
Onegaishimasu - Please.
The best way to ask for more food or drink.
Beeru Onegaishimasu!
Atsui ne? - Hot
isn't it? A must know for everyone going to Japan. This will
start 90% of all conversations up until winter, when it becomes...
Samui ne? - Cold isn't it?
(note: there is no 'warm,
isn't it?' or 'cool, isn't it?' (mushi atsui is humid).
I think they must be an extremely uncomfortable people, always hot or cold.)