Untitled Quiz

Introduction to Japanese

• Japan has a rich culture including traditional arts like tea ceremonies and calligraphy, and modern pop culture like anime, manga, and video games.
• Learning Japanese opens job opportunities in fields like technology, business, and tourism.
• Japanese proficiency enhances travel experiences in Japan, allowing for deeper interactions with locals and a better understanding of the culture.

Greetings in Japanese

• Konnichiwa (こんにちは): Hello (used during the day)
• Ohayou gozaimasu (おはようございます): Good morning
• Konbanwa (こんばんは): Good evening
• Sayonara (さようなら): Goodbye
• Oyasuminasai (おやすみなさい): Good night
• Hajimemashite (はじめまして): Nice to meet you
• Doumo (どうも): Thank you / Hello (informal)
• Genki desu ka? (元気ですか?): How are you? (informal)
• O-genki desu ka? (お元気ですか?): How are you? (formal)
• Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (よろしくお願いします): Pleased to meet you / Nice to meet you

Politeness and Context

• Japanese culture emphasizes politeness and context.
• Use informal greetings with friends and peers, and formal expressions in professional or unfamiliar settings.
• Bowing is often appropriate to show respect.

Holidays and Special Events

New Year (Shogatsu)

• Celebrated for the first three days or week of January.
• People visit shrines or temples (hatsumode) for good fortune.
• New Year's decorations include kadomatsu (pine and bamboo), shimekazari (straw festoon), and kagamimochi (rice cakes).
• New Year's cards (nengajyo) are exchanged, and children receive otoshidama (New Year's money).

Coming-of-Age Day (Seijin-no-hi)

• Observed on the second Monday of January.
• Ceremonies celebrate those who have turned 20 years old.
• Many women wear kimonos.
• At age 20, people gain voting rights, and smoking and drinking become legal.

The Eve of the First Day of Spring (Setsubun)

• Observed on February 3, the day before spring begins.
• People throw soybeans while yelling "Out with the devil! In with happiness!"
• Eating ehomame (soybeans) is a custom for good health.

Doll's Festival (Hina-matsuri)

• Celebrated on March 3.
• Families with daughters display dolls and other items to wish for their happiness and growth.

Vernal Equinox Day (Shunbun-no-hi)

• Occurs on March 21, when day and night are equal.
• Spring Equinoctial Week (Haru-no-Higan) encompasses the Vernal Equinox Day and three days before and after.

Equinoctial Week (Higan)

• Higan occurs twice a year around the Vernal and Autumn Equinox Days.
• Many visit graves to comfort ancestors.

Children's Day (Kodomo-no-hi)

• Celebrated on May 5.
• Families with boys display dolls and fly carp streamers (koi-nobori).
• Traditional foods include chimaki (dumplings) and kashiwa-mochi (rice cakes).

The Star Festival (Tanabata)

• Observed on July 7.
• People write wishes on strips of paper and hang them on bamboo leaves.
• Large-scale Tanabata festivals are held in cities like Sendai and Hiratsuka.

Moon Viewing (Tsukimi)

• Celebrated on August 15 of the lunar calendar.
• People enjoy the full moon with tsukimi dango (moon-viewing dumplings), pampas grass, and seasonal fruits.

Autumn Equinox Day (Shubun-no-hi)

• Celebrated on September 23.
• Seven-day higan, with Autumn Equinox Day in the middle.

Health and Sports Day (Sports-no-hi)

• Observed on the second Monday of October.
• Commemorates the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
• Promotes physical and mental health and encourages sports participation.

Seven-Five-Three (Shichi-go-san)

• Celebrated on November 15.
• Parents and children visit temples to pray for the growth of children.
• Boys aged three and five and girls aged three and seven are usually celebrated.

New Year's Eve (Omisoka)

• The last day of the year.
• People clean their homes and gather for special meals.
• Watch-night bells (jyoya-no-kane) ring out at temples at midnight.

Cultural Aspects

• Bonsai: Miniature trees cultivated with meticulous care.
• Japanese calligraphy: Art of beautiful writing using brushes and ink.
• Geisha: Traditional entertainers skilled in music, dance, and conversation.
• Kimono: Traditional Japanese garment worn for special occasions.

Japanese Syllabary

• Hiragana: Syllabary with 46 characters, representing basic pronunciations.
• Katakana: Syllabary with 46 characters, representing sounds in foreign words and onomatopoeia.
• Kanji: Logographic characters, representing words or concepts, borrowed from Chinese.

Numbers

• Nihongo no Bango: Japanese number system.
• Counting Numbers: Hitotsu (one), Futatsu (two), Mittsu (three), Yottsu (four), Itsutsu (five), Mutsu (six), Nanatsu (seven), Yattsu (eight), Kokonotsu (nine), To (ten), etc.
• Telling Time: Uses 12-hour clock with AM/PM distinction.

Days and Months

• Days of the Week: Nichiyōbi (Sunday), Getsuyōbi (Monday), Kayōbi (Tuesday), Suiyōbi (Wednesday), Mokuyoubi (Thursday), Kin'yōbi (Friday), Doyōbi (Saturday)
• Months of the Year (Gatsu): Ichigatsu (January), Nigatsu (February), Sangatsu (March), Shigatsu (April), Gogatsu (May), Rokugatsu (June), Shichigatsu (July), Hachigatsu (August), Kugatsu (September), Jugatsu (October), Juichigatsu (November), Juni gatsu (December)