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ОглавлениеChapter 2 The Neighborhood
2.01 Calling on the Neighbors
2.02 Buying Sweet Potatoes
2.03 Asking About Restaurants
2.04 Ordering a Restaurant Delivery
2.05 Admiring a Neighbor’s Garden
2.06 Warning Neighbors About a Party
2.07 Complaining About Noise
2.08 Asking Someone to Move a Car
2.09 Apologizing to a Neighbor
2.10 Reporting a Robbery
2.11 Going on Vacation
2.12 Words and Expressions
Chapter2
The Neighborhood
Traditionally, one’s neighbors were the three houses across the street and the houses on each side. This close-knit unit operated like one big family with neighbors exchanging food, helping at funerals, and sharing gifts. With increased mobility and the rise in single households this neighborhood network has disintegrated, sometimes with tragic consequences, and efforts are being made by the government, local government agencies, individuals and self-help groups to find new ways for neighbors to look out for each other.
But some of the traditions live on. When you move to a new neighborhood or apartment you should introduce yourself to your immediate neighbors. At other times giving a few homemade cookies or sharing something from your country will be interpreted as a gesture of friendship. You will certainly receive something in return.
Addresses refer to blocks, not to streets: three numbers separated by a dash. The first is the local neighborhood block, the chōme. Within this are perhaps ten to twenty sub-blocks called banchi. If you look at a map, you’ll see these do follow some sort of order, but if you’re walking along a street the numbers are not in sequence. The last number in the address is the number of the house, again not in sequence along a street. Signs on lamp-posts indicate the name of the chōme and the numbers of the chōme and the banchi but Japanese addresses are notoriously difficult to find. Give good directions and send a good map if you invite someone to your home.
Living in a Japanese community entails certain responsibilities. Dues may have to be paid to the town association. Trash is to be put out only on certain days, and in some areas people take turns cleaning the collection point after the garbage truck has left. Neighbors may not look kindly on those who do not abide by these communal rules.
If you want to play an active part in your community, the town association (chōnaikai) will be only too happy to have your help. These bodies, linked both with the city or ward office and with the police and fire departments, are responsible primarily for disseminating information on health, sanitation and the environment. They also organize outings, local festivals and other community activities. You can join the Sunday morning weeding group or the pest-control squad, help supervise baseball practice for children, or participate in planning (and celebrating) the local festival.
You might find that your Japanese neighbors are more tolerant than you are. The prevailing attitude is one of give-and-take (otagai-sama). You put up with their noisy dog and they tolerate your noisy children; your guests can park in front of their gate if their guests can park in front of yours. If you will be the source of disturbance, you can smooth relations with a prior warning or, failing that, an explanation afterward.
If you are new to the area, ask your neighbors about nearby stores, schools, doctors and so forth. The police in the neighborhood police box (kōban) may be able to make recommendations. The Yakult lady who delivers sweet yogurt-type drinks by bicycle, the parcel delivery people, and others who pass through regularly know the entire area and are mines of information. Don’t be afraid to try local markets and family-run shops. You’ll be surprised how much even a little Japanese will make your day-to-day living in Japan more enjoyable.
2.01 Calling on the Neighbors
Your neighbors will probably be the group of five to ten houses around which notices are circulated; if you live in an apartment, they might be the tenants on your floor and perhaps those who share the same staircase. In Japan, a new arrival visits the neighbors, often distributing small gifts.
LIN:
Gomen kudasai. Tonari ni hikkoshimashita Rin desu. Dōzo yoroshiku.
ご免ください。隣に引っ越しました林です。どうぞよろしく。
Hello. My name is Lin and I’ve just moved in next door. Pleased to meet you.
WOMAN:
Kochira koso. Wazawaza arigato gozaimashita. Nihon wa nagai desu ka?
こちらこそ。わざわざありがどうございました。日本は長い ですか。
The pleasure’s mine. Thank you. Have you been in Japan long?
LIN:
Sangatsu kara desu.
三月からです。
Since March.
WOMAN:
Nihongo wa o-jōzu desu ne. Komatta koto ga attara, osshatte kudasai ne.
日本語はお上手ですね。困ったこどがあったら、 おっしゃってくださいね。
Your Japanese is very good. If you’re having trouble with anything, please ask.
LIN:
Arigatō gozaimasu. De wa, sassoku desu ga, gomi wa itsu daseba ii desu ka?
ありがとうございます。では、さっそくですが、ゴミはいつ出 せばいいですか。
Thank you. Well, for starters I was wondering when to put the trash out.
WOMAN:
Moeru-gomi wa getsu, kin. Petto bottoru, purasuchikku no risaikuru wa kayōbi desu. Karendā o sashiagmashō. Asa hachi-ji made ni kanrinin-shitsu no ura ni daseba ii desu.
燃えるゴミは月、金。ペットボットル、プラスチックのリサイ クルは火曜日です。カレンダーを差し上げましょう。朝八時 までに管理人室の裏に出せばいいです。
Burnable refuse is picked up on Mondays and Fridays. PET bottles and plastics for recycling are picked up on Tuesdays. You have to put it behind the caretaker’s apartment by 8:00 a.m.
LIN:
Arigatō gozaimasu. Ja, yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.
ありがとうございます。じゃ、よろしくお願します。
Thank you. Well, I look forward to seeing you again.
2.02 Buying Sweet Potatoes
On cold winter evenings, the potato seller drives around the neighborhood tempting customers with the melodic, plaintive song i-shi-ya-ki imo 石焼きいも (stone-baked potatoes). Why not try one?
KIM:
Konban wa. O-negai shimasu. Ikura desu ka?
こんばんは。お願、いします。いくらですか。
Good evening. Can I have one please? How much are they?
POTATO SELLER:
Sanbyaku-en to yonhyaku en.
300円ど400円。
Three hundred yen and four hundred yen.
KIM:
Sanbyaku-en no mono, ikko kudasai. Sen-en shika nai desu kedo.
300円のもの、一個ください。1,000円しかないですけど。
One at three hundred yen, please. I only have a thousand yen (note).
POTATO SELLER:
Hai. O-tsuri. Dōmo.
はい。おつり。どうも。
Here’s your change. Thanks.
2.03 Asking About Restaurants
In this dialogue, Max asks a neighbor to recommend a congenial watering hole.
MAX:
Konnichi wa.
しんにちは。
Hello.
NEIGHBOR:
Konnichi wa.
こんにちは。
Hello.
MAX:
Mainichi atsui desu ne.
毎曰暑いですね。
It’s been so hot every day, hasn’t it?
NEIGHBOR:
Hontō ne.
本当ね。
It certainly has been.
MAX:
Tokoro de, konaida mukō no yakitoriya e itte mitara, oishiku mo nai shi, omomuki mo nai shi, yoku nakatta desu yo. Motto Nihon-rashii tokoro, wakarimsen ka?
どころで、こないだ、向こうの焼き鳥屋へ行ってみたら、お いしくもないし、趣もないし、よくなかったですよ。もっと日 本らしいどころ、分かりませんか？
By the way, the other day I went to the yakitori restaurant across the way but it wasn’t good: the food wasn’t good and it had no atmosphere. Do you know somewhere more typically Japanese?
NEIGHBOR:
Nihon-rashii tokoro nē. Eki no higashi-guchi atari ni mukashi kara no izakaya ga nangen arimasu kedo ne.
日本らしいどころねえ。駅の東口辺りに昔からの居酒屋が 何軒ありますけどね。
Typically Japanese, eh? On the east side of the station there are several bars that have been there for a long time.
MAX:
Sō desu ka. Eki no higashi-guchi. Sono uchi, itte mimasu yo. Arigatō gozaimasu.
そうですか。I尺の東口。その内、行ってみますよ。ありがどう ございます。
I see. The east exit of the station. I’ll go and check them out some time. Thank you very much.
2.04 Ordering a Restaurant Delivery
You can order pizzas for home delivery and if you’re lucky your local noodle shop may still deliver. Rinse any empty dishes and leave them outside your door. They will be picked up later.
KATE:
Demae, o-negai dekimasu ka?
出前、お願いできますか。
Do you deliver?
RESTAURANT STAFF:
Hai dōzo.
はい、どうぞ。
Yes, go ahead.
KATE:
Shōyu rāmen, mittsu o-negai ne.
しょうゆラーメン三つ、お願いね。
Three bowls of soy sauce noodles, please.
RESTAURANT STAFF:
Hai, dochira-sama deshō ka?
はい、どちら才«でしよう力、。
OK. Who’s speaking, please?
KATE:
Pāku Manshon sanbyaku ni gōshitsu no Buraun desu. Narubeku hayaku o-negai shimasu.
パークマンションの三百二号室のブラウンです。なるべく早 くお願いします。
Brown. Apartment 302, Park Mansion. As quick as you can please.
RESTAURANT STAFF:
Hai, tadaima.
はい、ただいま。
Fine. We’ll be right over.
2.05 Admiring a Neighbor’s Garden
Small, potted azaleas are a mass of flowers in May and June, and most enthusiasts will be delighted to show you their collection. (Note: the ending ka shira is only used by women.)
KIM:
li tenki desu ne. Niwa-shigoto desu ka?
いい天気ですね。庭仕事ですか。
Beautiful day, isn’t it? I see you’re doing some gardening.
NEIGHBOR:
Ē, chotto.
ええ、ちょっと。
Yes, a few odd jobs.
KIM:
Mā, migoto na tsutsuji desu ne! Chotto mite ii ka shira?
まあ、見事なつつじですね。ちょっと見ていいかしら？
Those really are splendid azaleas! May I take a look?
NEIGHBOR:
Dōzo, dōzo. Naka ni haitte mite kudasai.
どうぞ、どうぞ。中に入って見て下さい。
Please do. Come inside and have a look.
KIM:
Kore wa nensū ga tatte iru deshō ne.
これは年数がたっているでしょうね。
This one must be very old.
NEIGHBOR:
Hyaku-nijū-nen mae no mono desu yo.
百二十年前のものですよ。
It’s 120 years old.
KIM:
Kanroku ga arimasu ne. Tenji-kai ni dasun’ desu ka?
力、んろくがありますね。展示会に出すんですか。
It’s very impressive. Will you enter them in an exhibition?
NEIGHBOR:
Ē. Ima sono junbi ni kakatte irun’ desu yo.
ええ。今その準備にかかっているんですよ。
Yes. I’m getting them ready for one right now.
KIM:
Subarashii desu. Arigatō gozaimashita.
すばらしいです。ありがどうございました。
Wonderful. Thank you very much.
NEIGHBOR:
lie. Mata dōzo.
いいえ、またどうぞ。
Not at all. Come again.
2.06 Warning Neighbors About a Party
Your neighbors will appreciate being warned that you plan to have a party and that it may be noisy.
MAX:
Konban wa.
しルばルは。
Good evening.
NEIGHBOR:
Dōzo, dōzo.
どうぞ、どうぞ。
Do come in. (lit. Please, please.)
MAX:
Iya, genkan-saki de shitsurei shimasu. Anō, ashita no ban, tomodachi no sayōnara pātei o uchi de suru koto ni natchaimashite, sukoshi urusai ka mo shiremasen ga yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
いや、玄関先で失礼します。あのう、明日の晩、友連のさよ うならパーテイを家でするこどになっちゃいまして、少しう るさいかも知れませんが、よろしくお願い します。
No, I’m fine here at the door. I’ve just come to tell you that I’ll be giving a farewell party for a friend tomorrow evening. It may turn out to be rather noisy but I hope we don’t disturb you.
NEIGHBOR:
lie. O-tagai-sama desu kara. Waza-waza dōmo.
いいえ、お互い様ですから。わざわざどうも。
That’s all right. Next time it’ll probably be us. Thanks for telling us.
MAX:
Dōzo yoroshiku.
どうぞよろしく。
Thank you.
2.07 Complaining About Noise
When you have to say something tactfully try to speak hesitantly, waiting for a nod or word of agreement from the other before continuing. In this dialogue, Lin politely asks the neighbors to do something about a noisy dryer.
LIN:
Itsumo o-sewa ni natte imasu.
いつもお世話になっています。
Thank you for always being so good to me.
NEIGHBOR:
lie.
いいえ。
Not at all.
LIN:
Jitsu wa hijō ni ii-nikui no desu ga, otaku no kansōki no oto ga gata-gata to uchi ni hibikimashite, yoku nerarenain’ desu.
実は、非常に言いにくいのですが、お宅の乾燥機の音がガ 夕ガ夕ど家に響きまして、よく寝られないんです。
I don’t know how to say this, but even from my apartment, I can hear your dryer clattering so much that I haven’t been able to sleep.
NEIGHBOR:
A, sō desu ka?
あ、そうですか。
Oh, I didn’t realize.
LIN:
Osoku made kakimono o suru toki mo arimasu shi, yabun wa narubeku oto ga morenai yō ni o-negai dekinai deshō ka?
遲くまで書き物をする時もありますし、夜分はなるべく音が 漏れないようにお願いできないでしょうか。
Sometimes I stay up late writing so I really would appreciate it if you would try not to make so much noise at night.
NEIGHBOR:
Hai, wakarimashita. Mōshi-wake arimasen deshita.
はい、分かりました。申し訳ありませんでした。
I see. I’m very sorry.
LIN:
Yoroshiku o-negai itashimasu.
よろしくお願いいたします。
Thank you very much.
2.08 Asking Someone to Move a Car
If you need to have a neighbor move a car, a quick conversation through the interphone should suffice.
MICHAEL:
Sumimasen. Tonari no Tērā desu ga, kuruma o ugokashite kudasaimasen ka?
すみません。隣のテーラーです力\車を勳かしてくださいま せんか。
Excuse me. This is Taylor from next door. Would you mind moving your car?
NEIGHBOR:
Sumimasen. Sugu ikimasu.
すみません。すぐ行きます。
I’m sorry. I’ll be right there.
2.09 Apologizing to a Neighbor
Apologies should be spoken in a quiet voice and accompanied with bows. In this dialogue, Kate apologizes for a broken window.
KATE:
Dōmo mōshiwake arimasen. Kodomo ga mado-garasu o watte shimatte, taihen go-meiwaku o kakemashita. O-kega wa arimasen deshita ka?
どうも、申し訳ありません。子供が窓ガラスを割ってしまっ て、たいへんご迷惑を掛けました。お怪我はありませんで したか。
We’re terribly sorry for all the trouble our child caused when he broke your window. Was anyone hurt?
NEIGHBOR:
Kega wa arimasen deshita yo.
怪我はありませんでしたよ。
No, no one was hurt.
KATE:
Aa, sore wa yokatta. Harawasete itadakimasu no de, seikyūsho o o-mawashi kudasai. Hontō ni mōshiwake arimasen deshita.
あ々、それはよかった。払わせていただきますので、請求書 をお回しください。本当に申し訳ありませんでした。
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that. We’ll pay (lit. We will let you make us pay) so please send the bill to us. I really do apologize.
2.10 Reporting a Robbery
A house break-in is reported to the policeman on duty at the neighborhood police box.
MICHAEL:
Sumimasen. Yūbe dorobō ni hairarete, genkin o nusu mare-mashita. Dō sureba ii desu ka?
すみません。夕べどろぼうに入られて、現金を盗まれまし た。どうすればいいですか。
Excuse me. Last night our house was broken into and some money was stolen. What should we do?
POLICEMAN:
O-namae to jūsho o oshiete kudasai.
お名前ど住所を教えてください。
Tell me your name and address.
MICHAEL:
Namae wa Tērā. Jūsho wa Nakano san-chōme jū-roku-banchi no yon-gō desu.
名前はテーラー。住所は、中野三丁目十六番地の四号です。
My name is Taylor. My address is Nakano 3-16-4.
POLICEMAN:
Dewa, chotto matte kudasai. Issho ni ikimasu kara.
では、ちょっと待ってください。一緒に行きますから。
Well, just a moment. I’ll go with you (to the house).
2.11 Going on Vacation
If you go on vacation, you might want to ask one of your neighbors to keep an eye on the house. Emily begins by explaining why she has come to see her neighbor.
EMILY:
Jitsu wa, o-negai ga atte mairimashita. Ashita kara Amerika e kaeru no de, ikkagetsu rusu ni suru koto ni narimashita. Shujin no kaisha no denwa bangō ga koko ni kaite okimashita no de, nanika arimashitara, go-renraku itadakemasen ka?
実は、お願いがあってまいりました。明日からアメリカへ帰 るので、一ヶ月留守にすることになりました。主人の会社の 電話番号がここに書いておきましたので、何かありました ら、ご連絡いただけませんか。
Actually, I want to ask you a favor. We’re leaving for the United States tomorrow and the house will be vacant for a month. I’ve written down the telephone number of my husband’s office. Would you get in touch (with the office) if anything happens?
NEIGHBOR:
Hai, wakarimashita. li desu ne. Yukkuri tanoshinde kite kudasai.
はい、分かりました。いいですね。ゆっくり楽しんできてくだ さい。
Yes, I certainly will. And I hope you have a nice, relaxing time.
EMILY:
Arigatō gozaimasu. Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.
ありがとうございます。よろしくお願いします。
Thank you. And thanks for keeping an eye on the house.
2.12 Words and Expressions
