![[ Lacroix ]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/6a/09/d91535d34096a_flip.png?t=1332781731_6.00_10)
The first image above is takoyaki, one of Miss L's favorite Japanese foods. The second image is a kaiten, a Japanese sushi bar with a rotating conveyor belt carrying plates of sushi.
Both of these together are the opening images for LESSON 2! OISHII! Food, or tabemono, plays an important role in Japanese life because, well, you can't live without it! ^o^
Regardless, most Westerners aren't used to the textures and tastes (trust me, they are stange!) and can take some time getting used to. Some can't stand it, and others can't get enough (like Sensei! Haha!), and even if you don't like it, it is a beautiful thing to behold.
Now, if you decide to visit Japan, you're going to want to eat. Here are some useful phrases that will help you get that desired sushi roll:
"_____ wa totemo oishii desu."- "_____ was very delicious!"
Too many words? Don't worry, this is where we break it down.
"_____" is obviously a blank. Whatever you wish (that will make sense) goes here, such as 'takoyaki' or 'sushi' or 'raumen'. Also, you could say 'Kore wa totemo oishii desu', which means that was very delicious.
Let's backtrack a bit. "____ wa _____ desu" is a very basic Japanese sentence structure, and is very common. This is a lot like avatars. You start off with nothing, but then you add different clothing, or in the sentence's case, subjects, until you have a finished product. Almost anything can be put in these blanks.
Generally speaking, the first blank is used for the main subject such as "i" (watashi), "you" (anata), "this(referring to an object)" (kore), and "this(referring to a person)" (kochira) are put there. The second blank is used to describe the first subject (for example, "totemo oishii" which means very delicious, which was describing "_____".). You can plug any of your favorite foods in here.
The 'wa' (generally) means 'is' or 'are'. So "_____ is _____". 'Desu' pretty much just designates the ending of the sentence. You could think of it as "_____ is _____, and it is so." That settles that!
So what could we possibly be talking about that is so delicious?
Takoyaki- a piece of octopus covered in batter and vegatables.
Sushi- Vinegar rice and fish wrapped in "nori", or seaweed paper. Served with wasabi, soy sauce, and ginger.
Raumen- a Chinese dish that was brough to Japan in the 19th century. More commonly known as 'ramen'.
Onigiri- Salted rice wrapped in a piece of nori (although, it isn't always wrapped), and stuffed with either fish or "umeboshi".
Natto- fermented soy bean paste.
So once you've picked out your food (or, if you want, you can look up another dish!) you can plug it into the first blank.
I'm going to use takoyaki as an example. ^_^
"Takoyaki wa totemo oishii desu."
Takoyaki is very delicious.
Now for some more phrases.
"Nodo ga kawaite imasu."- I'm thirsty
"Onaka ga sukimashita."- I'm hungry.
"Onaka ga suite imasu."- I'm hungry.
Either of these phrases will work, so just pick your preference. ^_^
"Onaka ga ippai desu."- I am full.
When ordering from a resturant, you would say:
"____ o kudasai." The blank would be were the food is listed. ^_^ Pretty simple.
NOW FOR THE CULTURAL PORTION!
Obviously, in every country, there are certain things said before and after eating a meal. Japan is no different. ^_^
Just like many Americans say a prayer before they eat, Japanese clap their hands twice and say, "Itadakimasu," or, "I recieve." Then, when the food is finished, they bow and say, "Gochiso sama deshita." "That was delicious."
I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THIS LESSON! GAMBATTE KUDASAI!
-Sensei
------
Sensei's Super Awesome Extra Corner! (^o^)
I wanted to teach everyone a couple of things just to be sure that they wouldn't be asking so much in English. :] If you're practicing on your own and want to know a word, don't ask me in English from this point on.
_____ wa Nihongo de nan desu ka?- "What is _____ in Japanese?"
Also, introducing yourself. This, of course, is a very important skill you'd need to talk to someone! (because it's very rude NOT to introduce yourself!)
To just say who you are, it would be:
"Watashi wa _____ desu." "I am _____."
That is the informal way to say it.
The formal way would be:
"Watashi no namae wa ____ desu." "My name is ______."
The very, very informal way would be:
"_____ desu." "_____."
Vocabulary!
takoyaki- "tah-ko-yah-key" a popular food, octopus covered in batter and vegatables
sushi- "su-she" a popular food, vinegar rice and fish wrapped in nori.
tabemono- "tah-beh-moh-no" food
kaiten- "ka-ee-ten" a sushi bar with a conveyor belt carrying plates of sushi.
oishii- "oh-ee-she-ee" delicious
totemo- "tah-teh-mo" very
raumen- "rah-oo-men" ramen, or a type noodle soup
kore- "ko-ray" this (refers to an object)
kochira- "ko-chee-ra" this (refers to a person)
____ wa _____ desu.- "wa" "de-ss" sentence base "___ is ____."
nori- "no-ree" seawed paper
onigiri- "oh-knee-ge-ree" rice ball
umeboshi- "ooh-may-bow-she" a pickled plum. very sour.
natto- "nat-toe" fermented soy beans. illegal in the states because of its level of bacterial content.
Nodo ga kawaite imasu.- "no-do-gah-kah-wa-ee-te-ee-ma-ss" "I am full."
Onaka ga sukimashita.- "oh-nah-ka-ga-su-ki-ma-she-ta" "I am full."
Onaka ga suite imasu.- "oh-nah-ka-ga-su-ee-teh-ee-ma-ss" "I am hungry."
Onaka ga ippai desu.- "oh-nah-ka-ga-eep-pah-ee-de-ss" "I am thirsty."
____ o kudasai.- "oh-ku-dah-sah-ee" how to politely order something. literally "____, please."
Itadakimasu- "ee-tah-da-key-ma-ss" "i recieve." said before eating.
Gochiso sama deshita.- "go-chi-so-sah-ma-day-she-tah" "That was delicious!" said after eating.
Homework:
I would like everyone to make a thread together and practice discussing Japanese foods and what they like and if they are hungry. For American foods, just use the name (e.g. "Pizza wa oishii desu!"). Also, introduce yourselves to each other. If you have any questions on this or the last lesson, please don't hesitate to message me! <3
