From: Patrick Davin <patrick <at> LYRA <dot> VEGA <dot> OR <dot> JP>
Date: 17 aug 1999
Subject: Re: Japanese phrases

Kevin Delashmit writes:
>Today, three one word messages were sent to me during a game...

In Japanese, there are no spaces between words.

>Yorosiku
>Shosinshadesukedo
>Omatasesimasita

>I believe Yorosiku is equivalent to "hello"  and I know that Arigato or
>Arigatou can mean "I resign" or "Thank you"  or "Thank you (goodbye)"... but
>I have no clue about these other 2 words .

"Yoroshiku" or "yoroshiku onegai-shimasu" is hard to translate but
it's a standard greeting.  By all means, "yoroshiku" before each game.

"Arigatou" ["thank you"] can be a way of resigning, though it's
appropriate after every game, win or lose.

"Makemashita" [(I have) lost] is the least ambiguous way to resign.

A "shoshinsha" is a beginner, so "shoshinsha desu-kedo" means
"I'm a beginner".  This is used by beginners and non-beginners
alike.

"Omatase-shimashita" means "(I'm sorry) I made you wait."

Hope these come in handy,
-Patrick