Comments on: Lesson #9 - Learn Japanese Using Japanese With This Unbelievably Simple Phrase

by: Roberto

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 05:50:37 +0000

Thanks! These lessons have been very useful for me. Props to the first poster by the way. It took me ages to learn those types of conjugations!

by: Amarice

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:29:56 +0000

I think Onegai shimasu is more polite. I also think you use onegaishimasu when you get or want something physical. More like “may I have it” and kudasai ismore like please. I have done some of Pimsleur’s Japanese and they teach very very politeness. Of coarse, this site gives a more detailed description http://japanese.about.com/blqow15.htm

by: alittlepeculiar

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:12:22 +0000

Konnichi wa! Could you please clarify the difference between using “kudasai” and “onegai shimsasu.” Are they equivalent, is one more polite than the other, or are they used in different grammatical ways? I’ve heard them both used when ordering in restaurants and other circumstances.

Arigato gozaimasu!

by: Daniel L

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 14:28:23 +0000

This is great! Now we’ve covered several conjugations of hanasu.

話す - はなす - hanasu - to speak
話します - はなします - hanashimasu - will speak (or do speak)
話せます - はなせます - hanasemasu - can speak
話して - はなして - hanashite - speak

Here are some more:

話しました - はなしました - hanashimashita - spoke
話しません - はなしません - hanashimasen - don’t speak
話しませんでした - はなしませんでした - hanashimasen deshita - didn’t speak
話したい - はなしたい - hanashitai - want to speak
話せません - はなせません - hanasemasen - can’t speak
話せませんでした - はなせませんでした - couldn’t speak

Please feel free to correct me if I made any errors. I am still learning.

Thanks for the excellent lessons. These lessons are helping me put it all together.

Daniel