Visiting a Japanese home

[tarokun]

Can we have a crash course on what to say when visiting someone's home?

For example, what are things to say when
* Entering someone's home,
* Introducing yourself to the host,
* Giving/Receiving gifts,
* Expressing gratitude for being invited,
* Receiving food and complimenting the food,
* Small talks (like what is considered appropriate and what is not?),
* Complimenting the host in general,
* Asking for the bathroom,
* Asking for a loan (Hey, I'm a poor graduate student),
* Leaving their home,
* and other Japanese cultural stuff about home visits that we should be aware of?

Probably enough materials for a few 15-minutes lessons?

I know some of these stuff have already been covered in some ways in previous lessons, but I just like to see how all of these things are put together into a one typical conversation on a visit to someone's home. Repetition is how you learn anything anyway.

Basically, I like to be able to appear well-manner and acceptable. Hmm, come to think of it, maybe I should just nod and say "hai" the entire time. lol.

Thanks.

[Jason]

* Asking for a loan

I like how you think.

[Bueller_007]

I agree that this is a good lesson idea. Until then, you can try these relatively polite phrases:


* Entering someone's home
お邪魔します。
o-jama shimasu. (Sorry to get in your way.)

* Introducing yourself to the host
初めまして。タロクンです。よろしくお願いします。
hajimemashite. tarokun desu. yoroshiku onegai shimasu. (Hello. I'm Tarokun. Nice to meet you.)

* Giving/Receiving gifts
Giving:
つまらないものですが...
tsumaranai mono desu ga... (It's not much, but...)

Receiving:
ありがとうございます。開けてもいいですか。
arigatou gozaimasu. akete mo ii desu ka. (Thank you. May I open it?)

* Expressing gratitude for being invited
I think the phrases you use when you enter and leave cover this.

* Receiving food and complimenting the food
いただきます。
itadakimasu. (Bon appetit!)
おいしそうです。
oishisou desu. (It looks delicious.)
田中さん、お料理がとてもお上手ですよね。
tanaka-san, o-ryouri wa totemo o-jouzu desu yo ne. (Mrs. Tanaka, you are an excellent cook.)
塩を取っていただけますか。
shio wo totte itadakemasu ka. (Could you pass the salt?)
ごちそうさまでした。
go-chisou-sama deshita. (That was quite a meal. Thanks a lot.)

* Small talks (like what is considered appropriate and what is not?)
Serious cultural, family or political problems = NO
Anything else should be okay. The weather is an easy one.

* Complimenting the host in general,
美しいお宅ですね。
utsukushii o-taku desu ne. (You have a beautiful home.)

* Asking for the bathroom,
お手洗いはどこですか。
o-tearai wa doko desu ka. (Where is the washroom?)

* Asking for a loan (Hey, I'm a poor graduate student)
Don't.

* Leaving their home,
お世話になりまして、どうもありがとうございました。
o-sewa ni narimashite, doumo arigatou gozaimashita. (Thank you so much for taking care of me while I was here.)

* and other Japanese cultural stuff about home visits that we should be aware of?
Take off your shoes in the genkan.