()
To ask for, wish or encourage something in Japanese, the following phrases will help you.
1. Atatakai nomimono wo kudasai. (Give me something warm to drink, please.) “wo kudasai” = “give me … , please.” You can use this expression in other phrases, too, such as:
- Atsukan wo kudasai. (Give me hot sake, please.) - Sashimi wo kudasai. (Give me raw fish, please.) - Cohee wo kudasai. (Give me coffee, please.) - Oyasumi wo kudasai. (Give me a day off, please.)
2. Atatakai tokoro ni iki-tai desu. (I want to go somewhere warm.) “-tai desu” = “I want to ...”
- Onsen ni hairi-tai desu. (I want to bathe in a hot spring.) - Ramen ga tabe-tai desu. (I want to eat ramen.) - Ski ga shi-tai desu. (I want to ski.) - Eiga ga mi-tai desu. (I want to see a movie.) - Byouin ni iki-tai desu. (I want to go to a hospital.)
3. Oshiruko wa ikaga desuka? (How would you like some sweet bean soup?) “wa ikaga desuka?” = “How would you like … ?” (In addition to offering or recommending something, you can also use this phrase to inquire about someone.)
- Cohee wa ikaga desuka? (How would you like a coffee?) - Okawari wa ikaga desuka? (How would you like a refill?) - Gokazoku wa ikaga desuka? (How is your family?) - Gakko wa ikaga desuka? (How are you doing at school?) - Oshigoto wa ikaga desuka? (How is work going?)
Takahiro Takiguchi, Stripes Japan
Pronunciation key: “A” is short (like “ah”); “E” is short (like “get”); “I” is short (like “it”); “O” is long (like “old”); “U” is long (like “tube”); and “AI” is a long “I” (like “hike”). Most words are pronounced with equal emphasis on each syllable, but “OU” is a long “O” with emphasis on that syllable.
