Gordonmac Dot Com

I don’t know whether or not many of the people who visit my website will be interested in reading this, but I thought I’d compile some notes for using Japanese online, starting with some Japanese web terminology and then moving on to an example of an introductory message/email in Japanese.

Let’s begin with some simple words.

Simple Words

These are words are the ones very commonly used in Japanese sentences. Don’t go anywhere without them.

Countries

Part of any introduction with people from a different country will almost always make reference to nationality, so here’s a small list.

Knowing the country name also easily allows you to say which language you speak by adding “語” (“go”) to the end of the Japanese text for the country. For example:

French = “furansugo” => フランス語.

Unfortunately it’s not so simple for English, which is “eigo” => 英語.

OK, with the simple words out of the way let’s move on to some Japanese for internet terminology.

Internet Words

These are words we all use online every day, and this is how Japanese people say and write them.

Ok, now that we have some vocabulary let’s string some of it together into something that could be used as a random e-mail to a Japanese person…

An E-mail in Japanese

This is a simple introduction e-mail which isn’t too formal and at the same time, not informal either.

Here goes…

初めまして。

“Hajimemashite”

=> Pleased to meet you.

突然のメッセージ失礼いたします。

“totsuzen no messeeji shitsurei itashimasu”

=> Sorry for the random/sudden message.

日本語がすこしわかります。私は日本語を書くと必ず少し間違える、ごめん。

“nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu. watashi ha nihongo o kaku to kanarazu sukoshi machigaeru, gomen.”

=> I understand a little Japanese. If I use Japanese I am bound to make some mistakes, sorry.

私の名前は[INSERT YOUR NAME]です。私は[INSERT YOUR COUNTRY]人です。

“watashi no namae ha (name) desu. watashi ha (country) jin desu”

=> My name is (name). I am (nationality).

職業は[INSERT JOB TITLE]です。[INSERT SOMETHING YOU LIKE 1]と[INSERT SOMETHING ELSE YOU LIKE]が大好き！

“shokugyou ha (job title) desu. (something I like) to (something else I like) ga daisuki!”

=> I work as a (job title/occupation). I love (something) and (something else) a lot.

あなたの[デザイン] [写真] [イメージズ] [ウェブサイト]はすごいですね！

“anata no [ dezain ] [ shashin ] [ imeejizu ] [ webusaito ] (choose one, or place “と” between two things for ”and“)ha sugoi desu ne!”

=> Your (design) (photos) (images) (website) is/are cool!

私のウェブサイトは[INSERT YOUR WEBSITE URL]です。かったら私のウェブサイトにもときどき遊びにいらしてくださいね。

“watashi no webusaito ha (link to your website) desu. kattara watashi no webusaito ni mo tokidoki asobi ni ira shi te kudasai ne.”

=> My web site is (link). Come and have a look around if you like.

私は[INSERT YOUR COUNTRY]人なんですが、よかったら仲良くしてください。

“watashi ha (country) jin nan desu ga, yokattara nakayokushite kudasai.”

=> Although I am a foreigner from (country), let’s make friends.

たのしい話題を楽しみにしているわ。

“tanoshii wadai o tanoshimi ni shiteiru wa.”

=> I look forward to interesting conversations.

よろしくお願いいたします。

“yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.”

=> Thank you for your consideration

And that’s all there is to it!

Now go and find some Japanese people and be friends :)