School & Education

1. ちかさる がっこー・だいがくや まーかい やいびーが?

   Chi-ka-sa-ru gak-koo / dai-ga-ku-ya maa-kai ya-i-bii-ga

   Where is the nearest school / university?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the location of a nearby school or university

   Grammar Note

   The question word for place is maa, as in maakai ichuga "where are you going?"; maakai means "where to". School is gakkoo (gaQkoo)

2. くとぅばぬ コースんかい もーしこみ しーぶさいびーん。

   Ku-tu-ba-nu koo-su-n-kai moo-shi-ko-mi shii-bu-sai-bii-n

   I'd like to enroll in a language course.

   Usage

   Expressing desire to enroll in a language course

   Grammar Note

   "Language, words" is kutuba. The polite "I would like to…" is shiibusaibiin: the stem sii of sjuN "to do" plus the desiderative -busjaN. Mooshikomi "application" is a modern word

3. がっこー・キャンパスぬ んーじゅる くとぅ なやびーみ?

   Gak-koo / kyan-pa-su-nu n-ju-ru ku-tu na-ya-bii-mi

   Can I visit the school / campus?

   Usage

   Asking for permission to visit a school or campus

   Grammar Note

   "To see" is njun ('NNzuN), whose attributive form is njuru. Ability is expressed as …kutu nayabiimi "is it possible to…?"

4. くまんかい ちゃーる かもくが ならーちょーいびーが?

   Ku-man-kai chaa-ru ka-mo-ku-ga na-raa-choo-i-bii-ga

   What subjects are taught here?

   Usage

   Asking about the subjects taught at a school

   Grammar Note

   "What kind of" is chaaru, as in chaaru wakiga "for what reason?". "To teach" is naraashun (naraa=sjuN); its polite progressive question is naraachooibiiga. Kamoku "subject" is a modern word

5. がっこーぬ じゅぎょーりょーや ちゃっさ やいびーが?

   Gak-koo-nu ju-gyoo-ryoo-ya chas-sa ya-i-bii-ga

   How much is the tuition fee?

   Usage

   Asking about the cost of tuition

   Grammar Note

   "How much" is chassa (caQsa; chahwi is the alternative) — do not use the Japanese ikura. A question containing a question word takes the polite ending yaibiiga

6. こじんぬ しーしょー とぅめーとーいびーん。

   Ko-jin-nu shii-shoo tu-mee-too-i-bii-n

   I'm looking for a private tutor.

   Usage

   Saying you are looking for a private tutor

   Grammar Note

   "Teacher" is shiishoo (sisjoo; the honorific is ushiishoo). "To look for" is tumeeyun (tumee=juN), whose polite progressive is tumeetooibiin — the same verb as tumeetoon

7. としょかんや まーかい やいびーが?

   To-sho-kan-ya maa-kai ya-i-bii-ga

   Where is the library?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of the library

   Grammar Note

   Toshokan "library" is a modern word, so the Japanese form is kept. The question about a location is maakai yaibiiga

8. オンラインぬ コースや あいびーみ?

   On-rain-nu koo-su-ya a-i-bii-mi

   Do you offer online courses?

   Usage

   Asking whether online courses are available

   Grammar Note

   "There is" is an (?aN); aibiimi is its polite yes-or-no question form. Loanwords such as onrain and koosu keep their katakana spelling

9. わーしかくぬ にんてーぬ いりゆー やいびーん。

   Waa-shi-ka-ku-nu nin-tee-nu i-ri-yuu ya-i-bii-n

   I need to get my qualifications recognized.

   Usage

   Used when seeking official recognition of foreign qualifications

   Grammar Note

   Waa- is the possessive prefix "my" ('waa-, as in waamun "my thing"). "Necessary" is iriyuu (?irijuu). Shikaku "qualification" and nintee "recognition" are modern words and stay Japanese — note that the Okinawan word sikaku means "square", so shikaku works here only as a modern loan

10. がくしょーわりびきや あいびーみ?

    Ga-ku-shoo-wa-ri-bi-ki-ya a-i-bii-mi

    Is there a student discount available?

    Usage

    Asking if a student discount is available

    Grammar Note

    "Student" is gakusjoo "student, pupil", i.e. gakushoo. Gakusee is merely the Japanese gakusei with a lengthened final vowel. Waribiki "discount" is a modern term and is left as is

Browse all TravelPhrases languages