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Introducing Someone Else by Molly Hakes

Since you are the one studying this book, you may want to act as the spokesperson for your fellow travelers. Or, if you are alone, you may have pictures of family members or other special people that you want to share with your newfound friends. The following introduction samples are appropriate in either situation.

Family Members

In Japanese, the words for older and younger siblings are different. In addition, when talking about your own family, you use words that are different than when referring to someone else's family members. Also, the humbleness ingrained in Japanese culture requires that you refer to anything related to yourself as less than equal to the person with whom you are talking. This goes for family members, especially.

<tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <thead> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>Words for Family Members and Relatives</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>In Reference to Your Own Family</B></p></td> <td><para/></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>haha-oya</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>mother, mommy, mama</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>chichi-oya</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>father, dad, papa</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kanai, tsuma</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>wife</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>otto</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>husband</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>musume</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>daughter</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>musuko</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>son</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>ani</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>older brother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>ane</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>older sister</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>otooto</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>younger brother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>imooto</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>younger sister</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>oba</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>aunt</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>oji</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>uncle</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>sobo</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>grandmother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>sofu</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>grandfather</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>mago</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>grandchild</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>oi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>nephew</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>mei</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>niece</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>In Reference to Someone Else's Family</B></p></td> <td><para/></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>o-kaa-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>mother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>o-too-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>father</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>oku-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>wife</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>go-shujin, danna-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>husband</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>musume-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>daughter</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>musuko-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>son</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>o-ko-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>child</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>o-nii-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>older brother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>o-nee-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>older sister</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>otooto-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>younger brother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>imooto-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>younger sister</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>oba-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>aunt</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>oji-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>uncle</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>o-baa-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>grandmother</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>o-jii-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>grandfather</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>omago-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>grandchild</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>oi-go-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>nephew</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>mei-go-san</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>niece</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <div class="npmo"> <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/japanese/cd.jpg"> <div class="npcp"><p><B>35</B></p></div> </div> <div class="npsb"> <p><emphasis>Kore ga kanai/otto desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my wife/husband.</p> <p><emphasis>Kore ga musume/musuko desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my daughter/son.</p> <p><emphasis>Kore ga haha-oya desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my mother.</p> <p><emphasis>Kore ga chichi-oya desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my father.</p> <p><emphasis>Kore ga uchi de katteiru inu desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my pet dog.</p> <p><emphasis>Kore ga otooto/ani desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my younger/older brother.</p> <p><emphasis>Kore ga imooto/ane desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my younger/older sister.</p> </div> <h2>One Big Happy Family</h2> <p>The names for different family members can also be used as terms of endearment. When talking with someone who is slightly older than you, it is perfectly acceptable to refer to her as <emphasis>oba-san</emphasis>. Similarly, you can call an elderly woman <emphasis>o-baa-san</emphasis>.</p> <p>Mistakes can be the source of both amusement and embarrassment. The elderly woman across the street would probably be flattered if you called her <emphasis>oba-san</emphasis>, but your friend's older sister probably wouldn't appreciate being called <emphasis>o-baa-san</emphasis>. You can use other family terms to refer to people of approximately the same age as your own family members. <emphasis>O-nee-san</emphasis>, for example, is used to refer to young women in general. This policy is a lifesaver when you accidentally forget someone's name.</p> <h2>Friends and Other Special People</h2> <p>Here are a few more examples for describing friendships and romantic relationships.</p> <div class="npmo"> <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/japanese/cd.jpg"> <div class="npcp"><p><B>36</B></p></div> </div> <div class="npsb"> <p><emphasis>Kochira wa watashi no tomodachi desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my friend.</p> <p><emphasis>Kono hito wa watashi no booifurendo desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my boyfriend</p> <p><emphasis>Soko ni watashi no kareshi ga imasu</emphasis>.</p> <p>My boyfriend is right there.</p> <p><emphasis>Kono hito wa boku no gaarufurendo desu</emphasis>.</p> <p>This is my girlfriend.</p> <p><emphasis>Koko ni boku no kanojo ga imasu</emphasis>.</p> <p>My girlfriend is here.</p> </div> <p>Note that the second and fourth examples use <emphasis>katakana</emphasis> English versions of the words “boyfriend” and “girlfriend.” The third and fifth examples use the traditional Japanese words for “he” and “she,” which can also be construed as a romantic relationship.</p> <div class="npsb"> <h2></h2> <p><emphasis>Boku</emphasis> is another way of referring to yourself. Until recently, this word was mostly used by males. Lately, elementary school girls have adopted it in reference to themselves as well. It is definitely more casual than <emphasis>watashi</emphasis>.</p> </div> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-introductions/introducing-yourself.htm" title="Introducing Yourself">Introducing Yourself</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-introductions/honorific-adjustments.htm" title="Honorific Adjustments">Honorific Adjustments</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-introductions/introducing-someone-else.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Introducing Someone Else - Japanese </a></li> <li><a href="http://japanese.about.com/od/namikosbloglessons/a/lesson48.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Happy New Year - Akemashite Omedetou </a></li> <li><a href="http://japanese.about.com/od/namikosbloglessons/a/lesson89.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Chinese New Year </a></li> <li><a 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href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-introductions/the-hometown.htm">The Hometown</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-introductions/quizzes-and-exercises-6.htm">Quizzes and Exercises</a></li> </ul></ul></div> </div> <script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script> </div> <div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script> <div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/japanese/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">THE EVERYTHING CONVERSATIONAL JAPANESE BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">By Molly 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