Comments on: Survival Phrases #6 - Getting Out of a Jam http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/ Learn Japanese with Daily Podcasts from Tokyo Whether you are Japan-bound or a seasoned speaker, our lessons offer something for everyone. We incorporate culture and current issues into each episode to give the most informative, both linguistically and culturally, podcasts possible. For those of you with just the plane ride to prepare, check our survival phrase series at Japanesepod101.com. One of these phrases just might turn your trip into the best one ever! Yoroshiku O-negai Shimasu! Thu, 17 May 2012 00:51:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: Kat http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-620252 Thu, 10 May 2012 01:37:33 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-620252 Brandy-san, Thank you so much for the comments and for listening! Please do think about getting a subscription. :smile: Ah, the myth of the English-speaking Japanese population! :wink: The thing is, most Japanese people can read and/or write English to a fairly high degree. However, those same people mostly cannot speak it, as you've found out. It's largely due to their English teaching system, which focuses so much on reading and writing taught by Japanese natives who have studied English as a second language at college. Also, in my experience many Japanese people are scared to make mistakes in English and embarrass themselves, so they won't speak unless they're sure it's perfect. You've made the best decision to learn Japanese! It will enrich your experience of the country so much! がんばってくださいね！:grin: Brandy-san,

Thank you so much for the comments and for listening! Please do think about getting a subscription. :smile:

Ah, the myth of the English-speaking Japanese population! :wink: The thing is, most Japanese people can read and/or write English to a fairly high degree. However, those same people mostly cannot speak it, as you’ve found out. It’s largely due to their English teaching system, which focuses so much on reading and writing taught by Japanese natives who have studied English as a second language at college. Also, in my experience many Japanese people are scared to make mistakes in English and embarrass themselves, so they won’t speak unless they’re sure it’s perfect.

You’ve made the best decision to learn Japanese! It will enrich your experience of the country so much! がんばってくださいね！ :grin:

]]> by: Brandy http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-620132 Sun, 06 May 2012 08:33:46 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-620132 Thanks so much for the survival phrase lessons Peter! I'm new to this website and so the first few phrases were a bit too easy for me so far. I've studied Japanese for two years in college and now I've been living in Japan for 2 months. I know I'll learn some useful things if I stick around though. I'm thinking about getting a subscription here. But frankly, why does everyone keep insisting that you can usually be helped out in English? Every time I tell my boss I have a problem he says "All japanese people know English to some degree." Not so! I've been here for 2 months now and no one has been able to hel English besides my English students. I've asked several people if they can speak even a tinsy bit of English and they still tell me no. Even if the people here have taken English for 6 years, the people seem to have forgotten most of what they studied. I took 2 years of spanish in highschool and I can only say 'hello' and count to 12. So, just because you studied it doesn't mean you know it! 100% of the time I've had to solve all of my problems in broken Japanese. As long as you know basic Japanese though, and a good amount of vocabulary to back it up with, then you can usually solve simple problems like ordering packages and asking for directions. I'm so glad I took 2 years in college before coming here though, it's really saved me! I look forward to seeing what the rest of this website has to offer though. C : Thanks so much for the survival phrase lessons Peter! I’m new to this website and so the first few phrases were a bit too easy for me so far. I’ve studied Japanese for two years in college and now I’ve been living in Japan for 2 months. I know I’ll learn some useful things if I stick around though. I’m thinking about getting a subscription here.

But frankly, why does everyone keep insisting that you can usually be helped out in English? Every time I tell my boss I have a problem he says “All japanese people know English to some degree.” Not so! I’ve been here for 2 months now and no one has been able to hel English besides my English students. I’ve asked several people if they can speak even a tinsy bit of English and they still tell me no.

Even if the people here have taken English for 6 years, the people seem to have forgotten most of what they studied. I took 2 years of spanish in highschool and I can only say ‘hello’ and count to 12. So, just because you studied it doesn’t mean you know it!

100% of the time I’ve had to solve all of my problems in broken Japanese. As long as you know basic Japanese though, and a good amount of vocabulary to back it up with, then you can usually solve simple problems like ordering packages and asking for directions. I’m so glad I took 2 years in college before coming here though, it’s really saved me!

I look forward to seeing what the rest of this website has to offer though. C :

]]> by: Mehdi http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-528568 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:22:21 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-528568 Hi I'm a postgraduate student in dental school of Tohoku university in Japan, I have experienced being here for 1 year,the only thing which I can tell about the english speaking of Jaopanese postgraduate students is this: it will take about 5 s for them even to tell Good!!!!!!!! so think about the other problems which I have..... Hi
I’m a postgraduate student in dental school of Tohoku university in Japan, I have experienced being here for 1 year,the only thing which I can tell about the english speaking of Jaopanese postgraduate students is this: it will take about 5 s for them even to tell Good!!!!!!!!
so think about the other problems which I have…..

]]> by: Salivia Baker http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-526720 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:51:17 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-526720 "Eigo de daijoubu desu ka" or "Eigo o hanasemasu ka" which is better to use? “Eigo de daijoubu desu ka” or “Eigo o hanasemasu ka” which is better to use?

]]> by: Ron http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-524306 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:37:23 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-524306 I am so grateful for all of you and the vast amount of information that you have made available to all of us. I work with a Japanese Auto Maker and last year had the wonderful opportunity to visit Japan for 5 weeks. I only knew a little Japanese then and I am preparing for another trip in the next 3 weeks. I will be there for a month and also back again in November and next summer. This is such a great tool. I am loading up my IPOD with as much of Japanesepod101.com I am so grateful for all of you and the vast amount of information that you have made available to all of us. I work with a Japanese Auto Maker and last year had the wonderful opportunity to visit Japan for 5 weeks. I only knew a little Japanese then and I am preparing for another trip in the next 3 weeks. I will be there for a month and also back again in November and next summer. This is such a great tool. I am loading up my IPOD with as much of Japanesepod101.com

]]> by: Maria http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-474993 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:59:38 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-474993 Jessi-san, Thank you so much for your answer! I'll definitely remember that. :wink: Jessi-san,
Thank you so much for your answer! I’ll definitely remember that. :wink:

]]> by: Jessi http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-472571 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:42:43 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-472571 Mariaさん＞ Glad to hear you're enjoying the Survival Phrases lessons! And good question, too. Actually, it would be okay to answer with "arigato gozaimasu", since you're thanking them for giving you that information. If you're on the right platform but just on the wrong train, then a simple thanks would be fine as you wait for the next one, but if you are on the wrong platform all together, you could ask for the correct platform it leaves from with something like: "(place) yuki no densha wa nanbansen desu ka?" Nanbansen is how you ask for the platform number :wink: Mariaさん＞
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Survival Phrases lessons!
And good question, too. Actually, it would be okay to answer with “arigato gozaimasu”, since you’re thanking them for giving you that information. If you’re on the right platform but just on the wrong train, then a simple thanks would be fine as you wait for the next one, but if you are on the wrong platform all together, you could ask for the correct platform it leaves from with something like: “(place) yuki no densha wa nanbansen desu ka?” Nanbansen is how you ask for the platform number :wink:

]]> by: Maria http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-472320 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:46:35 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-472320 Peter-san, Sakura-san, thank you for teahing us all these usefull things! I'm almost through the first 10 Survival Phrases, and I'm very exited about being able to move up to the main courses so soon! When I heard this podcast yeaterday, I thought about this: if you ask someone "PLACE yuki desu ka?" and the person you ask answers "iie, chigaimasu", what should you reply? In my head it sounds funny to reply with "domo arigato" (or one of the variations) when the person tells you that you were wrong, and just hurrying off the train to find the right one wouldn't be so polite!! I hope you can give me an answer! I learn a lot from you. Domo arigato gozaimasu. :dogeza: //Maria Peter-san, Sakura-san, thank you for teahing us all these usefull things! I’m almost through the first 10 Survival Phrases, and I’m very exited about being able to move up to the main courses so soon!

When I heard this podcast yeaterday, I thought about this: if you ask someone “PLACE yuki desu ka?” and the person you ask answers “iie, chigaimasu”, what should you reply? In my head it sounds funny to reply with “domo arigato” (or one of the variations) when the person tells you that you were wrong, and just hurrying off the train to find the right one wouldn’t be so polite!!

I hope you can give me an answer!
I learn a lot from you. Domo arigato gozaimasu. :dogeza:
//Maria

]]> by: Hiroko http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-342032 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:02:05 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-342032 David san> You can also use that phrase for Bus too! :wink: Or if you want to check if the bus/train actually gets you to where you want to go, you could say "Place ni ikimasuka?" ex. Tokyo ni ikimasu ka? David san> You can also use that phrase for Bus too! :wink:
Or if you want to check if the bus/train actually gets you to where you want to go, you could say “Place ni ikimasuka?” ex. Tokyo ni ikimasu ka?

]]> by: David http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-342000 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:34:07 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-342000 Thanks for a great podcast, it's helping me ALOT! In this episode we learned "tokyo yuki desuka" but what if i am going with a bus and not a train? Thanks, /D.S. Thanks for a great podcast, it’s helping me ALOT!
In this episode we learned “tokyo yuki desuka” but what if i am going with a bus and not a train?
Thanks,
/D.S.

]]> by: monisha http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-303146 Wed, 21 May 2008 01:08:13 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-303146 Dear peter and Sakura, Its a pleasure following your podcasts! I dont feel like a dodo on the streets of Tokyo anymore!You couldnt have decoded the jumble any better!Great effoort to be great teachers!:smile: Dear peter and Sakura,
Its a pleasure following your podcasts! I dont feel like a dodo on the streets of Tokyo anymore!You couldnt have decoded the jumble any better!Great effoort to be great teachers! :smile:

]]> by: Jacqueline (ジャケリン） http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-296052 Wed, 07 May 2008 00:46:15 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-296052 ありがとう for this interesting lesson! ありがとう for this interesting lesson!

]]> by: andrea http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-261134 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:17:34 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-261134 Domou arigatou gozaimasu for the sugoi podcasts. :dogeza: I really want to learn Nihongo and it's great I've come across this website. I'm having fun while learning. Nice voice, Peter and Sakura. :wink: More power! Domou arigatou gozaimasu for the sugoi podcasts. :dogeza: I really want to learn Nihongo and it’s great I’ve come across this website. I’m having fun while learning. Nice voice, Peter and Sakura. :wink: More power!

]]> by: Keith http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-1466 Thu, 02 Mar 2006 19:00:32 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-1466 I was trying to take a train to Miyanoshita during vacation once and had a lot of trouble finding the right one. With some help, I finally got on what I thought was the right train. There was only one other person in the car with me but I did my best and asked if I was on the right train. He responded with one word that sounded like "よろせ." I had never heard that phrase before, but I took it for an affirmative since it sounded like 宜しい. The train did indeed go to Miyanoshita after all, so it worked out great! So, what does よろせ mean? Was it slang? I was trying to take a train to Miyanoshita during vacation once and had a lot of trouble finding the right one. With some help, I finally got on what I thought was the right train. There was only one other person in the car with me but I did my best and asked if I was on the right train. He responded with one word that sounded like “よろせ.” I had never heard that phrase before, but I took it for an affirmative since it sounded like 宜しい. The train did indeed go to Miyanoshita after all, so it worked out great!

So, what does よろせ mean? Was it slang?

]]> by: Sakura http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-182 Thu, 26 Jan 2006 17:27:21 +0000 http://www.japanesepod101.com/2006/01/23/survival-phrases-6-getting-out-of-a-jam/#comment-182 iYensLoveit-san, thank you for the posts. Korekaramo douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu!:razz: Dominic-san, very interesting point. Nowadays 朝飯前 is used as a general term, but as you say, the term seems to have been very frequently used by 江戸っ子 when being asked to do something. So, there is a brisk air to it. また何か気づいたことがありましたら、是非コメントしてくださいね！:razz: iYensLoveit-san, thank you for the posts. Korekaramo douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu! :razz:
Dominic-san, very interesting point. Nowadays 朝飯前 is used as a general term, but as you say, the term seems to have been very frequently used by 江戸っ子 when being asked to do something. So, there is a brisk air to it. また何か気づいたことがありましたら、是非コメントしてくださいね！ :razz:

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