How to invite someone for an outing

For last week’s Friday class, we learnt how to invite someone for an outing in order to spend time with them. We went through a conversation that demonstrated how it is normally done by the Japanese people.

I shall write down the conversation in bits translating and explaining to you in order for you to understand better.

さとうさん: ミラーさん

ミラーさん：なんですか

Miss.Satou approaches Mr. Miraa and says his name in order to probably catch his attention. He responds by saying nan desuka? (なんですか) This can be translated into English to mean “what is it?” only that in Japanese it is not considered rude to respond like this.

さとうさん:あしたともだちとおはなみをします。ミラーさんもいっしょにいきません。

ミラーさん:いいですね.どこへいきますか。

さとうさん：おおさかじょこうえんです。

Miss.Satou then goes ahead and asks him to go out with her and her friends for flower viewing. 

She tells him that the following day she is going with her friends for flower viewing and asks Mr.Miraa if he could come with them. Note that she says ikimasen（いきません）which means “not to go”. To ask in the negative tense is considered polite in the Japanese culture as one does not want to seem as if they are forcing the other party to go out with them but politely asking them if they could join. It leaves the other party with the option of agreeing or disagreeing.

Mr,Miraa asks them where they are going for the flower viewing. She responds by telling him that they are going to the Oosaka gardens.

ミラーさん: なんじですか

さとうさん: 10じです。おおさかじょうえんえきであいましょう。

Mr.Miraa proceeds to ask Miss.Satou what time they should meet.

She tells him 10 o’clock and that they should meet at the Oosaka garden’s train station.

さとうさん：じゃまたあした。

ミラーさん：わかりました。

The conversation ends with Miss.Satou telling Mr.Miraa, “See you tomorrow” and Mr.Miraa responds by saying wakarimasen (わかりません) which means “I’m not sure”. 

New Vocabulary

ともだち( Tomodachi)- Friends

おはなみ (Ohanami)- Flower  viewing

おはなみをします(Ohanami wo shimasu)- To go flower viewing

じょこう(Jokou)- Garden

えき (Eki)- Train Station

あいましょう(Aimashou)- To meet