Cultural Expressions

As many countries do Japan has some cultural expressions. Cultural expressions are terms or words that were made or by their ancestors and have adapted into modern day language in a country. Most of them are said at certain times or when doing certain things, some don't even have direct translations. Some of Japan's main cultural expressions can be found below.

 English:                                                       Japanese:                                      Said when:

 I'll go and come back                                 Ittekimasu                                     Leaving

Go and come back safe                              Itterasshai                                     To person leaving                 

 I'm back                                                       Tadaima                                         When getting back

Welcome back                                            Okaerinasai                                    When the person gets back

 Thanks for the meal                                   Itadakimasu                                   Before a meal

That was delicious                                     Gochisosamadeshita                     After a meal

I'm here to annoy you                                Ojamashimasu                               When entering someones house

Sorry for disturbing you                            Ojamashimashita                           When leaving someones house

Please come in                                             Oagari Kudasai                              When a guest arrives

Thanks                                                           Domo                                              Showing gratitude

Thank you                                                     Arigato                                            Showing gratitude

Thank you very much                                  Domo Arigato                                Showing gratitude

Thank you very much (respectfully)          Domo Arigato Gozaimasu            Showing gratitude

There is one trick that I found really helps when learning these words and that tip is to break the words down. This can help a lot because it makes words seem shorter here is an example of breaking words down.

       Ittekimasu= Ittek Imasu 

Okaerinasai= Okaeri Nasai

Ojamashimasu= Ojama Shimasu

Finding words that are similar to the words your learning also helps for example one that helped me learn Ojamashimasu and Ojamashimashia was thinking ojama sounds like Obama and the beginning of itadakimasu sounds like eat a.