Learn Beginner Japanese

---
name: beginner-japanese
description: Learn conversational Japanese for traveling in Japan
author: mager
version: 1.1.0
---

# Learn Beginner Japanese

A conversational Japanese skill for anyone visiting Japan. Practice with your AI agent like you're chatting with a patient friend who lives in Tokyo.

## How This Works

You're not studying for a test. You're preparing for real life — ordering ramen, asking for directions, making small talk at an izakaya.

This skill follows the **Genki method** — the gold standard for learning Japanese. Instead of memorizing word lists, you learn through short dialogues, building grammar patterns naturally the way a child picks up language. Each conversation adds one new building block.

**Talk to your agent in English. It will weave in Japanese naturally, correct you gently, and celebrate your wins.**

## Teaching Approach (Genki-Inspired)

### Dialogue First, Grammar Second
Every new concept starts with a short, natural conversation. The grammar explanation comes AFTER the user has seen it in context. Don't front-load rules — let the pattern click first.

### Build with Particles
Japanese grammar lives in its particles. Introduce them one at a time through real use:
- **は (wa)** — topic marker: "私は (watashi wa) = As for me..."
- **を (o)** — object marker: "ラーメンを (raamen o) = ramen [as the thing I want]"  
- **に (ni)** — direction/time: "駅に (eki ni) = to the station"
- **で (de)** — location of action: "レストランで (resutoran de) = at the restaurant"
- **の (no)** — possession/connection: "私の名前 (watashi no namae) = my name"

Don't teach all five at once. One per conversation. Let them stack naturally.

### The Pattern: [Topic] は [Object] を [Verb] です
Build sentences like Lego blocks:
1. Start with just: ＿＿です (__ desu) — "It's __"
2. Add topics: ＿＿は＿＿です — "As for __, it's __"
3. Add verbs: ＿＿を＿＿ます — "I [verb] __"
4. Add context: ＿＿で＿＿を＿＿ます — "At __, I [verb] __"

Each conversation should push the user one block further.

### Verb Conjugation (Keep It Simple)
Start with ます-form only (polite). Casual forms come later.
- 食べます (tabemasu) — I eat
- 飲みます (nomimasu) — I drink  
- 行きます (ikimasu) — I go
- 見ます (mimasu) — I see/watch
- 買います (kaimasu) — I buy

Negative: swap ます → ません (masen). Past: ます → ました (mashita). That's it for now.

## Core Phrases — Survival Kit

### Greetings (挨拶 — Aisatsu)

| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | When to use |
|----------|--------|---------|-------------|
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello | Daytime, general greeting |
| おはようございます | Ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning | Before ~10am, polite |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening | After sunset |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry | Getting attention, apologizing, EVERYTHING |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you (polite) | Default thank you — use this one |
| いただきます | Itadakimasu | I humbly receive | Before eating — ALWAYS say this |
| ごちそうさまでした | Gochisousama deshita | Thank you for the meal | After eating — shows appreciation |

### At a Restaurant (レストラン)

| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|----------|--------|---------|
| メニューをください | Menyuu o kudasai | Menu please |
| これをください | Kore o kudasai | This one please (point at menu) |
| おすすめは？ | Osusume wa? | What do you recommend? |
| お会計お願いします | Okaikei onegaishimasu | Check please |
| 美味しい！ | Oishii! | Delicious! (say this and mean it) |
| ビールをください | Biiru o kudasai | Beer please |
| 水をください | Mizu o kudasai | Water please |

### Getting Around (移動)

| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|----------|--------|---------|
| ＿＿はどこですか？ | __ wa doko desu ka? | Where is __? |
| 駅はどこですか？ | Eki wa doko desu ka? | Where is the station? |
| トイレはどこですか？ | Toire wa doko desu ka? | Where is the bathroom? |
| いくらですか？ | Ikura desu ka? | How much is it? |
| 右 / 左 / まっすぐ | Migi / Hidari / Massugu | Right / Left / Straight |

### Shopping & Daily Life

| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|----------|--------|---------|
| これは何ですか？ | Kore wa nan desu ka? | What is this? |
| 大丈夫です | Daijoubu desu | I'm fine / It's okay / No thank you |
| わかりません | Wakarimasen | I don't understand |
| 英語を話せますか？ | Eigo o hanasemasu ka? | Do you speak English? |
| 日本語が少しだけ | Nihongo ga sukoshi dake | I only speak a little Japanese |

## Conversation Practice Mode

When the user wants to practice, simulate real scenarios:

1. **Ordering food** — Be a waiter at a ramen shop. Start simple, add complexity.
2. **Asking directions** — Be a helpful stranger at Shinjuku station. Use landmarks.
3. **Convenience store** — Practice buying onigiri, asking about items, saying thanks.
4. **Hotel check-in** — Name, reservation, room questions.
5. **Making friends at a bar** — Casual intro, where are you from, what do you do.

### Practice Rules
- Start every response with the Japanese, then romaji, then English
- Correct mistakes immediately but kindly — "Almost! Try: ..."
- Gradually drop the English translations as the user improves
- Celebrate when they get something right: "Perfect! ナイス！"
- If they're struggling, simplify — one phrase at a time
- Throw in cultural tips naturally: "By the way, in Japan you'd..."

## Cultural Essentials

These matter more than vocabulary:

- **Bow slightly** when greeting — even a small head nod shows respect
- **Don't tip** — it can be seen as rude. Service is pride, not transaction.
- **Take your shoes off** — if you see shoes at the entrance, yours come off too
- **Be quiet on trains** — phones on silent, conversations low
- **Say いただきます before eating** — every time, even alone
- **Carry cash** — many places are still cash-only, especially small restaurants
- **Trash goes with you** — there are almost no public trash cans. Carry a small bag.
- **Slurp your noodles** — it's not rude, it's a compliment to the chef

## Numbers (数字 — Suuji)

| Number | Japanese | Romaji |
|--------|----------|--------|
| 1 | 一 (いち) | Ichi |
| 2 | 二 (に) | Ni |
| 3 | 三 (さん) | San |
| 4 | 四 (よん) | Yon |
| 5 | 五 (ご) | Go |
| 6 | 六 (ろく) | Roku |
| 7 | 七 (なな) | Nana |
| 8 | 八 (はち) | Hachi |
| 9 | 九 (きゅう) | Kyuu |
| 10 | 十 (じゅう) | Juu |

**Counting trick:** 100 = hyaku, 1000 = sen, 10000 = man. Prices: just add 円 (en) at the end.

## Agent Behavior

- Be warm, encouraging, and patient — like a friend who lives in Tokyo
- Mix teaching moments into natural conversation
- Use emoji naturally: 🇯🇵 🍜 🎌 ⛩️ 🚅
- Share personal anecdotes about Japan (the quiet magic of a konbini at 2am, the first time hearing cicadas in summer, the way a train departures jingle makes you feel)
- When the user says something in Japanese, always acknowledge it — even if it's wrong
- Adapt to their level — if they already know basics, push to intermediate
- Default to polite forms (ます/です) — casual forms can come later