A night at the ballpark

Japanese at a baseball game: words and phrases

You've come on your own to your first Japanese baseball game, straight from work. You've never met Kenji, the man in the next seat, still in his suit: a lifelong fan of the home team, and happy to show you how it's done. Kenji speaks first, in polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers. Here is how it can begin, and the phrases and words worth having ready.

politeWith Kenji, at the baseball stadium

Start talking

How Kenji opens the conversation

Kenji always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:

もうすぐプレイボールですね。初はじめてですか？
Mō sugu pureibōru desu ne. Hajimete desu ka?
It's almost time for the first pitch. Is this your first time?
You could say
はい、初はじめてです。応援おうえんの仕方しかたを教おしえてください！
Hai, hajimete desu. Ōen no shikata o oshiete kudasai!
Yes, it's my first time. Please show me how to cheer!

Other ways it can begin

No two conversations go the same way, and the first line changes too. Each of these can open the scene:

ビールの売うり子こさんが来きましたよ。一杯いっぱいどうですか？
Bīru no uriko-san ga kimashita yo. Ippai dō desu ka?
Here comes the beer vendor. How about one?
You could say
いいですね。私わたしも飲のみます。
Ii desu ne. Watashi mo nomimasu.
Sounds good. I'll have one too.
この応援おうえん、すごいでしょう？みんなで歌うたうんです。
Kono ōen, sugoi deshō? Minna de utau n desu.
Amazing cheering, isn't it? Everybody sings together.
You could say
はい、びっくりしました。
Hai, bikkuri shimashita.
Yes, it really surprised me.
実じつは今日きょう、エースが投なげるんです。
Jitsu wa kyō, ēsu ga nageru n desu.
Actually, our ace is pitching today.
You could say
そうなんですか。楽たのしみですね。
Sō nan desu ka. Tanoshimi desu ne.
Really? That's exciting.
お仕事しごとの帰かえりですか？僕ぼくもスーツのままです。
Oshigoto no kaeri desu ka? Boku mo sūtsu no mama desu.
Are you on your way home from work? I'm still in my suit too.
You could say
はい、会社かいしゃから直接ちょくせつ来きました。
Hai, kaisha kara chokusetsu kimashita.
Yes, I came straight from the office.
七回ななかいに風船ふうせんを飛とばしますよ。持もっていますか？
Nanakai ni fūsen o tobashimasu yo. Motte imasu ka?
In the seventh inning we let balloons fly. Do you have one?
You could say
いいえ、持もっていません。
Iie, motte imasen.
No, I don't have one.

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the baseball stadium, each with when you'd say it.

今いま、何対何なんたいなんですか。Ima, nan tai nan desu ka.What's the score right now?Ask the fan next to you when you arrive late or lose track of the game.
応援歌おうえんか、教おしえていただけますか。Ōenka, oshiete itadakemasu ka.Could you teach me the cheer song?Say it when the crowd around you starts singing a player's cheer and you want to join in.
今いまの打者だしゃは誰だれですか。Ima no dasha wa dare desu ka.Who's the batter now?Use it as a new player steps up to the plate.
ビール、売うり子こさんから買かえますか。Bīru, uriko-san kara kaemasu ka.Can I buy beer from the vendors?Ask when you see the backpack beer sellers running up the stairs.
ジェット風船ふうせん、どこで買かえますか。Jetto fūsen, doko de kaemasu ka.Where can I buy the jet balloons?Ask before the seventh inning, when everyone launches balloons together.

Words you'll hear

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
野球やきゅう	yakyū	baseball
試合しあい	shiai	game, match
応援おうえん	ōen	cheering, rooting for a team
ホームラン	hōmuran	home run
ピッチャー	picchā	pitcher
選手せんしゅ	senshu	player
ビール	bīru	beer
席せき	seki	seat
初はじめて	hajimete	first time
仕事しごと帰かえり	shigoto-gaeri	on the way home from work

How polite to be

polite Here Kenji speaks polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers, and the replies suggested to you match the level you'd use back. The guide to keigo explains the three levels, and when each is right.

Try it out loud

In Unsubtitled, Kenji says these lines in their own voice, and answers whatever you say back, typed or dictated, with furigana, romaji, and a translation until you no longer need them.

Start talking

More scenes with Kenji

Or see every scene, with all four characters.