Learn Japanese easily! When you visit Japan for the first time, people will probably ask you if you’ve been there before. You want to tell them, “This is my first visit to Japan.” You’ll also want to be able to ask others if they’ve visited Japan before. Once you get past this step, it’s critical that you know whether to use formal or informal Japanese. And, you have to use both correctly. This Japanese for beginners article teaches you how to use hajimete (“for the first time”) and other important words that you will use when talking about your first trip to Japan. You’ll also find an indispensable review of formal and informal Japanese speech and an explanation of when to use each. Check out the amazing chart and practice sentences in this Japanese for beginners article!

Vocabulary: In this article, you will learn the following words and phrases:

moo – “already” (adverb)

tsuku – “to reach, reach” (verb 1)

okiru – “wake up, get up” (verb 2)

yoku – “very good”

tsukareru – “get tired” (verb 2)

lady – (pol) “Mr.” or “Mrs.”

aruku – “walk” (verb 1)

hajimete – “for the first time”

nikki – “Japanese Ancestry”

burajiru – “Brazil”

umareru – “born” (verb 2)

sodatsu – “to be resurrected” (verb 1)

Wizard – “grandchild”

Jitsu-wa – “the truth is, actually”

Grammar: In this article, you will learn the following words and phrases:

Vocabulary and useful phrases

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yoku

“right”

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yoku is the adverbial form of the adjective Yoi Prayed me (“well”), and means “well, very well, adequately” or “frequently”.

*For more information on the adverbial form, see Nihongo Doojoo: Beginner Series Season 4 Item 5

For example:

1. yoku dekimashita. “Well done!”
   Literal translation: “I could do well.”
2. yōku tabemashita. “(I ate a lot.”
   Literal translation: “They are fine.”

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nikki

“japanese ancestry”

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The first Chinese character means “sun, day” or “Japan”. The second Chinese character means “lineage, system” or “group”. When it follows the name of a country, it refers to the offspring. however it is nikki describing Japanese ancestry, not nihon kei.

1. Correct: Nikkei Burajiru-jin
2. Incorrect: Nihonkei Burajiru-jin

For example:

1. Nikkei peru-jin
   “japanese peruvian”
2. Mekishiko kei amerika-jin
   “Mexican American”
3. Furansu kei kanada-jin
   “French Canadian”

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umareru – “born”

sodatsu – “to be raised, to grow up”

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the particle of follows the place where one was born or raised. Check the usage in the examples.

For example:

1. “I was born in Mexico.” (watashi wa) Mekishiko of Umaremashita.
2. “I grew up in France.” (watashi wa) sodachimashita furansu.
3. “I was born and raised in Japan.” (watashi wa) Nihon de umarete, nihon de sodachimashita. (watashi wa) Nihon de umarete, sodachimashita.

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hajimete

“for the first time, first time”

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hajimete is an adverb, so we usually use it with a verb. However, to mention that it is the first time one experiences something, we use the sentence structure “[ noun ] wa hajimete desu.”

For example:

1. (watashiwa) hajimete nihon ni kimashita.
   “I came to Japan for the first time.”
2. Nihon wa hajimete desu.
   “It’s my first time in Japan.”
3. Nihon wa hajimete desu ka.
   “Is this your first time in Japan?”

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Grammar review

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In this article, we are going to learn more about formal and informal speech by reviewing the past tense of a verb.

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“I’m tired.”

Formal: Tsukaremashita.

informal: Tsukareta.

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How to create the formal past form of a verb:

1. Change the verb to its corresponding –masu form.
2. Release –masu and add –mashita.

For more information, see article 23 of Nihongo Doojoo: Newbie Series Style You and Beyond.

For example:

Dictionary form / –masu Formal Form / Past Form

aruku / arukimasu / arukimashita

neru / nemasu / nemashita

How to create the informal past form of a verb

1. Change the verb to its corresponding –your form.
2. Release –your and add –its.

For more information, see Nihongo Doojoo: Beginner Series, Item 24

For example:

Dictionary form / -your Form / Informal Form of the Past (-its form)

aruku / aruite / aruita

sodatsu / soda / sodatta

okiru / ok / okita

neru / Do not do / net

umareru / umarate / umaret

Of course / shit / shit

kuru / kitesurfing / Kita

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Check:

Rewrite the awards informally.

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1. Watashi wa Burajiru by Umaremashita.
   ____________________________________________________________________
2. Watashi wa Burajiru by sodachimashita.
   ____________________________________________________________________
3. Kyoo wa yoku arukimashita yo.
   ____________________________________________________________________
4. Nihon ni hajimete kimashita.
   ____________________________________________________________________

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Rewrite awards in formal form.

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1. Kamakura ni itta.
   _______________________________________________________
2. Yoku, net. _______________________________________________________
3. Kinoo nani shit?
   _______________________________________________________