JAPAN

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Hey, if you’re out and about in the land of Lego, here’s some lingo to help you fit in.

“Nichiyobi ni Legoland ni ikimasu.” = We are going to Legoland next Sunday. (“nichiyobi ni” = on Sunday, “ni ikimasu” = will go to)

“Lego de nani wo tsukutteiru no desuka?” = What are you making with those legos? (“nani” = what, “tsukutteiru” = are making)

“Ouchi wo tsukutte imasu.” = I am making a house. (“ouchi” = house, “tsukutte imasu” = are making)

“Oshiro wo tsukutte imasu.” = I am making a castle. (“oshiro” = castle, “kuruma” = car, “sunuupii” = Snoopy, “urutoraman” = ultra-man)

“Moosukoshi de dekiagari masu.” = It will be completed with just a little more work. (“moosukoshi de” = with a little more)

“kono burokku wo aka ni shita hoogaii desu yo.” = I think this block should be replaced with a red one. (“kono” = this, “burokku” = block, “wo.. shitahooga ii” = had better)

“kono oshiro ni ikutsu burokku wo tsukaimashita ka?” = How many blocks did you use for this castle? (“ikutsu” = how many, “tsukaimashita” = used)

“Kuzusanaide!” = Don’t break it!

“Sekkaku tsukutta n desu.” = I have made my best effort to make it. (“sekkaku” = have made best effort to, “tsukutta n desu” = have made it)

“Honmonono Efferu too ni miemasu.” = It looks like the real Eifel Tower. (“honmonono” = real, “too” = tower, “miemasu” = looks like)

“Kodomo no tanjobi purezento ni Lego wo kaimasu.” = I will buy Legos for my kid’s birthday. (“kodomo” = child/children, “tanjobi purezento” = birthday gift, “kai masu” = will buy)

“Omochaya-san ni ikimasho.” = Let’s go to a toy shop. (“omochaya-san” = toy shop, “ni ikimashoo” = let’s go to)

“Chiisai kodomo muke ni motto ookii Lego wa arimasu ka?” = Do you have bigger blocks for smaller children? (“chiisai” = small, “muke ni” = for, “motto ookii” = (much) bigger, “arimasu ka” = do you have?)

When on OKINAWA, you can also say it in “Uchinaanguchi” (island dialect) like this:

“LEGO Ippe Shichi” = I like Legos very much

“Kunu LEGO ya Taa ga Tsukuyabitaga.”= Who made this Lego?

“Kuree Wan LEGO Yaibiin.”=This is my Lego.

“Kunu LEGO Chassa Yaibiiga.”= How much do these Legos cost?

“kunu LEGO Chaa sshi Chukuyun ga.” =How do you make this with Legos?

kudaka.shoji@stripes.com takiguchi.takahiro@stripes.com

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