Last lesson, I said that there were more syllables. The _i syllable (ki, shi, etc.) can be combined with the y_ syllables (ya, yu, yo) to form new syllables. Character-wise, this is done by making a small y_ syllable next to the _i syllable. In terms of pronunciation, you must say these as _ONE_SINGLE_SYLLABLE_. So, it's not "tohhh-kee-ohhh," but "tohhh-kyohh." One way to do it is to take it's elongated form (ex: kee-oh) and just say it as one syllable. (note: not necessary for shi, ji, & chi)

ki: kya kyu kyo
gi: gya gyu gyo
shi: sha shu sho
ji: ja ju jo
chi: cha chu cho
ni: nya nyu nyo
hi: hya hyu hyo
bi: bya byu byo
pi: pya pyu pyo
ri: rya ryu ryo

Extra guidelines:
There are double consonants. Character-wise, double consanants are made by having a smaller "tsu" character between two syllables (exception: "n") The first consonant is tacked on to the previous syllable. ex: kissaten = ("kees-sah-tehn") (means coffee house, btw).

vocab:
nan/nani = "What[?]" ("nani" usually precedes a particle, "nan" is used more often)
tomodachi = "friend"
daigaku = "college"
koukou = "high school"
senmon/senkou = "major"
bijinesu = (___-nehs) "business"
konpyuutaa = "computer"

Expressions:
douzo yoroshiku = (___-shkoo) "Nice to meet you"
sou desu = "That's right."
Douitashimashite = (___-mah-shteh) "You're welcome." (casually, you can say "iie" which is like "no problem")
ohayou gozaimasu = (___-mas) "good morning" ("gozaimasu" makes it polite)
konnichiwa = "Good Afternoon."
konbanwa = "Good evening."
oyasuminasai = "Good night."

Making sentences part 2:
In Japanese, if the subject is understood, the sentences will often drop the subject entirely.
So, if someone asked your major: "senmon wa nan desu ka" (here, even "your" is assumed) you could simply say: "bijinesu desu" since it is understood that you will be talking about your major.

The particle "no."
Last time, "wa" was shown as a particle to indicate the subject. "No" is a particle that connects two nouns, typically to indicate possession or a specific fact.

In terms of the structure "X no Y," Y is the main object, X is the extra description.
Ex: watashi no tomodachi = "my friend"
A full sentence:
watashi no tomodachi wa daigaku no gakusei desu ("my friend is a college student")

Ending particles, part 1:
"ka"
In order to make a sentence into a question, the particle "ka" is added to the very end of the sentence. (this isn't the only way to make a sentence question, however)
ex: Nan desu ka ("What is [it]?")

We can also get the expression "sou desu ka." Which translates to: "is that so?" or "I see."

>>Go to Lesson 3 - Counting and Telling Time in Japanese