eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.
How to Speak Basic Japanese
How to Say Where You are From in Japanese
How to Use Subjects in Japanese
How to Use Adjectives in Japanese
How to Talk About Yourself in Japanese
How to Talk About Objects in Japanese
How to Use Third Person Subjects in Japanese
How to Ask & Tell Your Age in Japanese
Learn How to Answer Questions in Japanese
How to Count to Ten in Japanese
How to Say "I'm Hungry" or "I'm Thirsty" in Japanese
How to Talk About your Occupation in Japanese
How to Ask Questions in Conversational Japanese
More Ways to Have Conversations in Japanese
Summary: Find out how to talk about yourself in Japanese. Learn practical Japanese in this free video series on questions and telling about yourself.
Born and raised in Japan, Yuu Asakura moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Tokyo University for Foreign Study where she acquired B.A. in linguistics and area studies. She has...read more
"YUU ASAKURA: We have been talking about yourself. So let's talk about the person you're speaking to. In Japanese, you is anata. Or you can use the word kimi, which is not as popular as anata. Anata is very polite and it's very gentle, so you can use it anytime. Kimi has a little bit authority in it. So when I speak to, let's say my students or my employees, I might use the word kimi. But you may hear this word, so just for your information, you can use this, too. And basically, it's the same structure. So you can use anata wa something, something desu. Let's say anata--let's say you are an American. Anata wa America-jin desu. That's correct. So when you meet someone in Japan, someone beautiful or handsome, you can say - somebody's pretty - you say: Anata wa kawai desu or Anata wa kirai desu. Kirai is beautiful. Or somebody is so handsome, you can say: Anata wa kakoi desu. Kakoi means handsome, cool."
eHow Article: How to Talk About Yourself in Japanese
Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.
Comments
mekichan said
on 11/9/2008 Anata wa kawaii desu, hounto
sunstreak said
on 8/2/2008 Sensei,
Please excuse me for writing this here but being new I could not find a way to send you a message privately. In your Video Transcript section it uses the word "kirai" for pretty but I know you mean "kirei" as you said in the video. I know you definitely don't want your students telling people they dislike or hate someone when they mean the opposite LOL. Hope you see this soon. Thank you for all of your videos. I lived in Japan for 5 years but returning to America with no one to practice with, I've forgotten lots. I'm trying to re-light the fire :)
sunstreak said
on 8/2/2008 Sensei,
Please excuse me for writing this here but being new I could not find a way to send you a message privately. In your Video Transcript section it uses the word "kirai" for pretty but I know you mean "kirei" as you said in the video. I know you definitely don't want your students telling people they dislike or hate someone when they mean the opposite LOL. Hope you see this soon. Thank you for all of your videos. I lived in Japan for 5 years but returning to America with no one to practice with, I've forgotten lots. I'm trying to re-light the fire :)