I'm Going To Japan

SubaruWRX wrote:

Good idea I will call this place first..

http://www.newkoyo.jp/index.html

i remember calling to make reservations for '03 japan trip, that was funny, cause i would be trying to call them, getting out my phrase book and asking eigo ga wakimasuka(spelling?), basically asking if they understood english, a few didn't, a few did. If you are calling a westernized or bigger known hotel, chances are they speak some english or can transfer you right away to someone who does speak eng.
if you are calling a smaller place, perhaps a bus. hotel, maybe not, good luck, and notice if they put you on hold for a moment, the weird music that plays on the phone... :hehe:

lol what do you mean by werid music?

I just tryed to test call the fax machine there, I got a fast busy so it must be on my end.

it's going to be so sweet, I can be in japan and still have my number people can call me on.

wireless or eathernet, i'm using my voip server in which i'm really testing it out to see if I like this service or go to another one, so far it's not that bad.

can't beat 2.7 cents a min.. Vs like some 60 Cents a Min for my cell phone.

I happen one night to rewatch the japan dvd I picked up and got bored and dialed the Hotel Spa in the northen part of japan.. I thought the Opterator would say my call was rejected..

However I got a werid rining tone, not like the U.S. phone ring, and someone picked up.. lol I was so shocked I just hung up.

qilver wrote:
i remember calling to make reservations for '03 japan trip, that was funny, cause i would be trying to call them, getting out my phrase book and asking eigo ga wakimasuka(spelling?), basically asking if they understood english, a few didn't, a few did. If you are calling a westernized or bigger known hotel, chances are they speak some english or can transfer you right away to someone who does speak eng.
if you are calling a smaller place, perhaps a bus. hotel, maybe not, good luck, and notice if they put you on hold for a moment, the weird music that plays on the phone... :hehe:

omg on my desktop I have a link to this hotel, if it's as nice in person as it looks on the site what a deal the hotel is.. Only problem is they don't have bathrooms, and if you want a room with one you pay extra :-(

SubaruWRX wrote:
However I got a werid rining tone, not like the U.S. phone ring, and someone picked up.. lol I was so shocked I just hung up.

Hmm, that sounds like it would be the Japanese ringing.

dochira wrote:
Hmm, that sounds like it would be the Japanese ringing.

heh yeah, just did not know what to call it :P

and I know why i got a fast busy tone, I can't call fax machines lol, qilver did you say you called this hotel before?

Did they speak enough english? lol my Japanese is poor :-/

SubaruWRX wrote:
heh yeah, just did not know what to call it :P

I hear the sound in my head, but, like you, I can't describe it.

SubaruWRX wrote:Did they speak enough english? lol my Japanese is poor :-/

qilver mentioned the phrase to use to ask if they knew English.

dochira wrote:
qilver mentioned the phrase to use to ask if they knew English.

thats right I forgot :(

dochira wrote:
qilver mentioned the phrase to use to ask if they knew English.

yeah, i constantly used that phrase a lot, approaching various j-people when i had questions where the location of some place, or if i got lost, which was often, my friend would just tag along and i would do the talking in japanese, well, i tried to atleast...

i would say, eigo ga wakimasuka? they would reply either with a "nod", reply back with a "chotto"= a little. or say "no" or shake their head. I would also commonly say doko desu ka ..........??
or if i was looking for a particular product, did this somewhat in Akihabara when i was shopping for anime goods, .......... arimasu ka? i think it means do you have .........(this item) in or available? something like that.

and one more that i picked up, ok a few more, Chotto matte = wait a moment and kore o kudasai, which i think means "i'll take this one", when shopping for an item at the store, i used some of those words along with Sumimasen, and Gomen Nasai, Arigato.

lol yeah but how do I say these phrases?

SubaruWRX wrote:lol yeah but how do I say these phrases?

well, the important ones are,

sumi - ma- sen = excuse me

ari-gato = thanks

go-men na-sai = sorry

do-ko des(u)-ka ...... please note that the "u" is silent, and the .... is where you fill in the blank for where you want to know where something is like Toilet, (toi-re)

and the funny music i was referring to was when they put you on hold, the music is like chiming bell music or something, i heard it at various times when they put me on hold, yeah the phone rings funny there, faster ring tone. also try to use a pay phone once your there and figure out how to you a phone card, i finally figured it out, at 1000 yen, it will get you about 30 min of talk time, but i think you will have your cell phone already when you are going there, right. Now that is convenient, just keep in mind the time difference. :bonk:

Isn't toilet benjo?

bmwracer wrote:Isn't toilet benjo?

hmmm, let me get the phrase book and check on it.......
toire = bathroom, restroom, toilet.

i didn't see a word for benjo in the japanese-eng. dictionary.
:bonk:

bmwracer wrote:Isn't toilet benjo?

it's kinda a crude way of saying the toilet. i'd equate it with "dude, i gotta take a dump".

qilver wrote:
hmmm, let me get the phrase book and check on it.......
toire = bathroom, restroom, toilet.

i didn't see a word for benjo in the japanese-eng. dictionary.
:bonk:

niko2x wrote:
it's kinda a crude way of saying the toilet. i'd equate it with "dude, i gotta take a dump".

(i never heard of benjo, but) in addition to niko's explanation: usually they say 'toire' as mentioned, a more traditional way would be 'o-te-arai' which is litterally the place to wash your hands... translatable as 'bathroom/restroom/lavatory'

btw, i remember my teacher teaching us something about what the japanese way is of saying "doing a big thing" (pooping) and "doing a small thing" (peeing). Honestly I don't know good appropriate english expressions for this as well, but I checked it in the dictionary, cause I forgot the japanese too:

shouben (¬•Ö) = small 'convenience' = pee
daiben (‘å•Ö = big 'convenience' = poop

-> benjo (•ÖŠ) = the place of 'convenience' :hehe:

I think that Niko2x's comparison fits pretty well if you realise that 'ben' (convenience) can be asociated with 'pissing' and 'shitting'.

supermidget wrote:

(i never heard of benjo, but) in addition to niko's explanation: usually they say 'toire' as mentioned, a more traditional way would be 'o-te-arai' which is litterally the place to wash your hands... translatable as 'bathroom/restroom/lavatory'

btw, i remember my teacher teaching us something about what the japanese way is of saying "doing a big thing" (pooping) and "doing a small thing" (peeing). Honestly I don't know good appropriate english expressions for this as well, but I checked it in the dictionary, cause I forgot the japanese too:

shouben (¬•Ö) = small 'convenience' = pee
daiben (‘å•Ö = big 'convenience' = poop

-> benjo (•ÖŠ) = the place of 'convenience' :hehe:

I think that Niko2x's comparison fits pretty well if you realise that 'ben' (convenience) can be asociated with 'pissing' and 'shitting'.

interesting information... :bonk: :lol:

I'm saying how do you say the word as in speak it.

qilver wrote:
well, the important ones are,

sumi - ma- sen = excuse me

ari-gato = thanks

go-men na-sai = sorry

do-ko des(u)-ka ...... please note that the "u" is silent, and the .... is where you fill in the blank for where you want to know where something is like Toilet, (toi-re)

and the funny music i was referring to was when they put you on hold, the music is like chiming bell music or something, i heard it at various times when they put me on hold, yeah the phone rings funny there, faster ring tone. also try to use a pay phone once your there and figure out how to you a phone card, i finally figured it out, at 1000 yen, it will get you about 30 min of talk time, but i think you will have your cell phone already when you are going there, right. Now that is convenient, just keep in mind the time difference. :bonk:

yeah they are like 12 hours ahead?

at the time of this posting it's 3:24AM

I figured out the dial tone is a beep beep beep sound :P
The ringing sounds more like a warble.

I thought my phone was acting up again.

Did I say this too fast?

and did I say it right ? lol

http://s48.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3ETSUOVRS8W4J3EGLMSYGL7UTR

SubaruWRX wrote:Did I say this too fast?

and did I say it right ? lol

http://s48.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3ETSUOVRS8W4J3EGLMSYGL7UTR

whahaha lol, :rofl: your pronounciation is very good, but it's too freaking fast. Even rappers don't rap that fast hehe. Remember that in general each syllable should have the same length (except for sounds that are ommited, like the "u" in gozaimas{u}). If you say each syllable in "arigatou" at about the same speed as you did in "gozaimasu", it's very good :)

A-RI-GA-TO-O --- GO-ZA-I-MA-S{U}

oh PS: try a japanese "slapping R", if you have trouble with it, just say an L (even if you think it sounds weird) > japanese don't hear the difference anyway :)

haha yeah i figure it was too fast :P

I will work on this tonight.