Camping by the river
Japanese for camping: words and phrases
You're friends, camping for the weekend by a river in the mountains. The tent is up, and it's time to make dinner. Mei speaks first, in casual Japanese: plain forms, without です and ます, the way friends and family talk. Here is how it can begin, and the phrases and words worth having ready.
casualWith Mei, at the riverside campsite
How Mei opens the conversation
Mei always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:
テント、完成！次はカレー作ろう！もうお腹ペコペコ…
Tento, kansei! Tsugi wa karē tsukurō! Mō onaka pekopeko…
Tent's done! Now let's make curry! I'm already starving…
You could say
いいね！じゃあ、私は野菜を切るね。
Ii ne! Jā, watashi wa yasai o kiru ne.
Sounds good! I'll cut the vegetables, then.
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:
ねえ、火つけるの得意？私、全然だめなんだ。
Nē, hi tsukeru no tokui? Watashi, zenzen dame nan da.
Hey, are you good at starting a fire? I'm hopeless at it.
You could say
任せて！やってみるよ。
Makasete! Yatte miru yo.
Leave it to me! I'll give it a try.
見て、川の水すごく冷たい！
Mite, kawa no mizu sugoku tsumetai!
Look, the river water is super cold!
You could say
ほんとだ、冷たいね！
Honto da, tsumetai ne!
Wow, you're right, it's cold!
実はね、キャンプ来るの二年ぶり！
Jitsu wa ne, kyanpu kuru no ninen buri!
Actually, this is my first time camping in two years!
You could say
そうなんだ、楽しみだね。
Sō nan da, tanoshimi da ne.
Oh really? This'll be fun.
玉ねぎ切るの手伝って！目が痛いよ。
Tamanegi kiru no tetsudatte! Me ga itai yo.
Help me cut the onions! My eyes sting.
You could say
いいよ、代わるね。
Ii yo, kawaru ne.
Sure, I'll take over.
この空気、おいしい！山の匂いするね。
Kono kūki, oishii! Yama no nioi suru ne.
This air tastes so good! It smells like the mountains.
You could say
ほんとだね、気持ちいい。
Honto da ne, kimochi ii.
Yeah, it feels great.
Phrases worth knowing here
Lines for what you do at the riverside campsite, each with when you'd say it.
- 火、つけてみるねHi, tsukete miru neI'll try getting the fire going.Say it when you take charge of lighting the campfire or grill.
- 薪、もっと拾ってくるMaki, motto hirotte kuruI'll go collect more firewood.Use when the fire is running low and you head off to gather wood.
- 野菜、切っとくねYasai, kittoku neI'll get the vegetables chopped.Offering to do the prep work while the other person handles the fire.
- ご飯、うまく炊けるかなGohan, umaku takeru ka naI wonder if the rice will turn out okay.Muttered while cooking rice over the fire, unsure how it'll go.
- 暗くなる前に食べちゃおうKuraku naru mae ni tabechaouLet's eat before it gets dark.Say it to hurry dinner along as the sun drops behind the mountains.
Words you'll hear
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 焚き火 | takibi | campfire |
| 薪 | maki | firewood |
| 飯盒 | hangō | camping mess tin (for cooking rice) |
| カレー | karē | curry |
| 切る | kiru | to cut, chop |
| 煮る | niru | to simmer, boil |
| 野菜 | yasai | vegetables |
| 川 | kawa | river |
| 手伝う | tetsudau | to help out |
| 腹ぺこ | harapeko | starving, famished |
How polite to be
casual Here Mei speaks casual Japanese: plain forms, without です and ます, the way friends and family talk, 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, Mei 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.
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