Contents

	Introduction
Chapter 1	The Fundamentals
	Greeting People
	Follow-up Expressions
	Commenting on the Weather
	Being Introduced
	Saying Goodbye
	Expressing Gratitude
	A Few Notes on Respect Language
	Apologizing
	Asking Permission
	Making Requests
	Leading up to a Request
	Refusing Requests
Chapter 2	The Neighborhood
	Calling on the Neighbors
	Buying Sweet Potatoes
	Asking About Restaurants
	Ordering a Restaurant Delivery
	Admiring a Neighbor’s Garden
	Warning Neighbors About a Party
	Complaining About Noise
	Asking Someone to Move a Car
	Apologizing to a Neighbor
	Reporting a Robbery
	Going on Vacation
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 3	The Telephone
	Answering the Telephone
	Asking for Someone
	Starting a Conversation
	Taking a Call for Someone Else
	Leaving a Message
	Using Your Cell Phone
	Buying a Phone
	Asking for Directions
	Calling in Sick
	Making an Appointment
	Changing an Appointment
	Calling Directory Assistance
	Phoning Emergency Services
	Some Phone Numbers
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 4	Traveling
	Riding Subways and Trains
	Buying Express Train Tickets
	Canceling a Train Reservation
	Missing a Train
	On the Train
	Renting a Car
	Asking for Road Directions
	Calling for Help
	Planning a Trip
	Confirming a Room Reservation
	Asking the Way
	Asking Where to Go
	Using the In-house Telephone
	The Hot Spring
	Public Holidays in Japan
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 5	Shopping
	At a Convenience Store
	At the Pharmacy
	More Ailments
	Going to a Dry Cleaner
	Trying on a Garment
	Shopping for Shoes
	Discount Terms
	Internet Shopping
	Bargaining
	Getting Gas
	Returning a Product
	Complaining About Defects
	Describing Breakdowns
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 6	Banks and Delivery Services
	Changing Money
	At the Bank
	Opening an Account
	At the Post Office
	Mailing Money
	Wiring Money Abroad
	Delivery Services
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 7	Business
	Visiting a Client’s Office
	Introducing People
	Meeting with a Client
	Starting a Conversation
	Year-end Courtesy Call (1)
	Year-end Courtesy Call (2)
	New Year Courtesy Call
	Introducing a Successor
	Seniority in a Company
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 8	Entertaining
	Inviting People
	Confirming an Invitation
	Declining an Invitation
	Receiving Guests at Home
	Visiting Someone’s Home
	Having Friends to Dinner
	Taking Clients Out to Dinner
	Taking Friends Out to Dinner
	Special Diets
	Taking your Leave
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 9	Children
	Child’s Play
	Admiring a Baby
	Asking About a Kindergarten
	Introducing Yourself
	Telephoning the School
	Writing an Absence Note
	Inviting Children to a Party
	Visiting the Pediatrician
	Describing Ailments
	Asking About Swimming Lessons
	Meeting Your Child’s Teacher
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 10	Officialdom
	Extending Your Visa
	Forgetting to Renew Your Visa
	Obtaining a Re-entry Permit
	Losing Your Registration Card
	Getting Stopped for Speeding
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 11	Gifts
	Having Something Gift-wrapped
	Offering a Gift
	Opening a Gift
	Expressing Thanks for a Gift
	Gift Suggestions
	Telephoning to Say Thank You
	Gift Papers and Money Envelopes
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 12	Weddings
	Replying to an Invitation
	Arriving at the Reception
	Leaving the Reception
	Wedding Speeches
	Giving a Formal Speech
	Giving an Informal Speech (1)
	Giving an Informal Speech (2)
	Proposing the Toast
	Taboo Words
	Sending a Telegram
	Epigrams
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 13	Funerals
	Being Informed of a Death
	Visiting the Home
	Offering Incense
	Expressing Your Condolences
	Sending a Telegram
	Offering Branches of Sakaki
	Writing a Letter of Sympathy
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 14	Speeches
	Introducing Yourself
	Beginning a Speech
	Ending a Speech
	Giving a Thank-you Speech
	Giving a Welcome Speech
	Proposing a Toast
	Words and Expressions
Chapter 15	E-mails and Letters
	Internal E-mail Messages
	External E-mail Communication
	More E-mail Language
	A Notice by E-mail
	Christmas Cards
	Family Newsletter
	New Year Cards
	Formal Postcards
	Addressing Postcards
	Formal Letters
	A thank you Letters
	A letter to a Friend
	Addressing Envelopes
	Words and Expressions
Appendix 1	Table of JapaneseVerbs (Respect language)
Appendix 2	Calendar (Western calendar and Japanese era names, 1910 – 2014)