Article image Japanese alphabet: Hiragana: Vocabulary of places

2.19. Japanese alphabet: Hiragana: Vocabulary of places

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Japanese is a complex and multifaceted language, and one of the first things students should learn is the Hiragana alphabet. This is one of the three writing systems used in the Japanese language, along with Katakana and Kanji. Hiragana is often the first writing system taught to Japanese learners and is used to write native Japanese words as well as grammatical particles.

An important aspect of learning Hiragana is developing a good vocabulary. In this section, we will focus on the vocabulary of places. This is an essential topic as it allows students to communicate effectively and navigate the world around them. Let's start with some basic examples.

For starters, "Ie" (家) means home, "Gakkou" (学校) means school, and "Honya" (本屋) means bookstore. "Byouin" (病院) translates to hospital, while "Eki" (駅) means station. "Kouen" (公園) is the term for park and "Suupaa" (スーパー) is how you would say supermarket. "Hoteru" (ホテル) is a hotel and "Resutoran" (レストラン) is a restaurant.

Also, learning how to say different types of stores and business establishments in Japanese can also be helpful. For example, "Yakkyoku" (薬局) is a pharmacy, "Kissaten" (喫茶店) is a coffee shop, "Pan'ya" (パン屋) is a bakery, and "Izakaya" (居酒屋) is a type of Japanese bar or pub .

Also, it is important to learn to say different types of public facilities and landmarks. "Tooshokan" (図書館) means library, "Hakubutsukan" (博物館) is a museum, "Oomiyageya" (お土産屋) is a souvenir shop, "Kyuukeijo" (休憩所) is a rest area, and "Kankou annaijo" (観光案内所) is a tourist information center.

Finally, learning to say directions and locations is also crucial. "Migi" (右) means right, "Hidari" (左) means left, "Mae" (前) means front, "Ushiro" (後ろ) means back, "Naka" (中) means inside, and "Soto" (外) means out.

Understanding and correctly using these words and phrases can greatly help you communicate effectively in Japanese. However, remember that practice is the key to vocabulary mastery. Try using these words in everyday sentences and conversation to help solidify your knowledge.

Also, keep in mind that Hiragana is only one of the three writing systems in Japanese. While it's a good starting point, you'll also need to learn Katakana and Kanji to become truly proficient in the Japanese language. Keep studying and practicing, and you'll soon be on your way to becoming a fluent Japanese speaker!

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