Asking Someone Out In Japanese

Places To Go, Things To Do
I knew you guys couldn't wait, so I'm making this lesson extra-special. But first, let's go over more boring vocabulary. 

Vocabulary: Places to Go, Things to Do
English Polite Form Plain Form
go to the movies eega ni ikimasu eega ni iku
go to a resturant resturan he ikimasu restoran he iku
go on a date deeto o shimasu deeto o suru
go to a concert konshaato ni ikimasu konshaato ni iku
go to a temple otera he ikimasu otera he iku
go to class kurasu he ikimasu kurasu he iku
go for a walk sanpo o shimasu sanpo o suru
go shopping shoppingu o shimasu shoppingu o suru
go to a party paati he ikimasu paati he iku
go jogging jyogingu o shimasu jyogingu o suru
Note: When pronouncing the copula 'desu' please remember to drop the 'u' at the end. desu=des 

 
Personal Maintenance
Now we're all set for the date, right? Hell no! You have to get ready don't you?? 
 
English Polite Form Plain Form
take a shower showaa o abimasu showaa o abiru
wash the car kuruma o araimasu kuruma o arau
brush teeth ha o migakimasu ha o migaku
comb hair kami o tsuyu
change clothes kigaimasu kigaeru
Aah! Yes now we're ready!  
Dialouge: Places to Go, Things to Do

Now let's let Aiko-chan and Hasekura-senpai show us how its done. 
Hasekura: Aa, Aiko-san. O genki desu ka?
Aiko: Kouichi-san, konnichi wa. Okage sama de.
Hasekura: Hima ga arimasu ka?
Aiko: Hai hima desu ga...
Hasekura: Iishou ni eega o mimasen ka?
Aiko: Hai, ii desu ne. Donna eiga o mimashou ka?
Hasekura: Sutaa Woasu o mimashou ka?
Aiko: Michiru-san wa "Sutaa Woasu wa totemo tsumaranai desu yo." to omoimasu.
Haeskura: Sou desu ka.
 
Translation:
Hasekura: Aa, Aiko-san how are you?
Aiko: Kouichi-san, good afternoon! Thanks to you... (I'm great)
Hasekura: Do you have free time?
Aiko: Yes I'm free, but... (what do you have in mind?)
Hasekura: Yes, Won't you see a movie with me?
Aiko: Yes that sounds good, what movie shall we see?
Hasekura: Shall we see Star Wars?
Aiko: Michiru-san said "Star Wars is so boring."
Hasekura: I see.
Aaah! Isn't that just like women? Heh heh, it was going so well too... ^_* 
This is very polite and it's not too pushy. I say go with this one if you want yes for an answer. The asking part, that is.  


 
Are You Free?
You may want to ask your potential date if he/she has free time before suggesting an outing.

Vocabulary: Free Time
 
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
weekend shumatsu
Are you free this (time)? (time) ni hima desu ka?
Yes I have free time. Hai hima desu ga.
 

Dialouge: Are You Free?
Tamiya asks Urudo if she is free this weekend. 
 
Tamiya: Urudo-san shumatsu ni hima desu ka?
Urudo: Hai, hima desu. Naze desu ka?
 
Traslation:
Tamiya: Urudo, do you have free time this weekend?
Urudo: Yes, I'm free. Why?
Note: This dialouge is quite formal. It is suggested that you speak formally when asking someone on an outing. Of course if you know the person very well, anything goes, as you will se in this next dialouge.

Ranma-kun is reluctantly asking Akane to the movies. 
Ranma: Eega o mitai desu ka?
Akane: Iie. Hottoite yo.
 
Translation:
Ranma: Do you want go to a movie?
Akane: No. Leave me alone.
I know this doesn't sound so terrible in the translation, but believe me kids, you don't want to ask someone out that way. 


 
Turning Down A Date
Here's how to turn down a date, without sounding impolite. 
 
  • Sumimassen ga hima jaa arimassen. I'm sorry but I don't have free time.
  • Sumimassen mata kou no sugi- I'm sorry but let's do it next time.
  • Doomo arigatou gozaimasu. Demo, ima wa chooto... - Thank you very much, but now is a little... (inconvienient)
  • Iie, keeko desu. - No, thank you.
  • Next: Lesson 8: Small Talk