Are you a HANA fan who wants to learn Japanese with J-Pop stars you love? In Lesson 2, I will translate a real sentence from HANA’s Yuri and break it down step by step. By following this simple method, you will be able to understand Japanese posts from all HANA members and otherJ-Pop idols without a translator.
初ファンミーティングありがとうございました！
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to read and fully understand the Japanese Yuri uses here. This is the perfect opportunity for international HONEYS to learn how Japanese idols politely thank their fans and get one step closer to understanding HANA’s members.
So let’s start learning Japanese with the HANA members!
Learn Japanese with J-Pop Stars #2 (HANA, Yuri)
⏳ Study Time: 5-10 min
How to study Japanese by yourself:
- Read a Japanese sentence aloud
- Break down its words and meanings
- Review and level up your Japanese skills
Step 1) Learn to Read Japanese Sentences and Kanji
日本語
初ファンミーティングありがとうございました！
1.1 漢字 (Kanji)
初 ファン ミーティング
ありがとう ございました！
1.2 カナ (Kana)
- 初 (はつ)
- ファンミーティング
- ありがとうございました
1.3 ローマ字 (Romaji)
- 初 (hatsu)
はつ - ファン (fan)
ミーティング (miitingu) - ありがとう(arigatou)
ございました (gozaimashita)
Step 2) Study Japanese Words and Their Meanings
English Translation
- Our first fan meeting! Thank you!
- Thank you for our first fan meeting!
- Thank you for the first fan meeting!
- Thank you for (joining) our first fan meeting!
- Thank you for (coming to) our first fan meeting!
2.1 初 (はつ, hatsu)
- Word: 初
- Reading: はつ
- Word Type: noun, prefix
- Word Class: common, JLPT N1
- Word Formality: neutral, general use
| 初 |
|---|
| [noun, prefix] first, new, initial |
初 (はつ, hatsu) means “first,” “new,” or “initial.”
The noun is used to indicate something happening for the first time. As a prefix, 初 is often attached in front of another noun, adding the nuance of “first-ever” or “debut.” It shows that it’s the first instance or experience of that thing.
2.2 ファンミーティング (fan miitingu)
- Word: ファンミーティング
- Word Type: noun (compound)
- Word Class: common in pop culture
- Word Formality: entertainment jargon, neutral
| ファンミーティング |
|---|
| ファン + ミーティング |
| [noun] fan meeting, meet and greet, fanmeet, fan event |
ファンミーティング (fan miitingu) means “fan meeting,” “meet and greet,” or “fanmeet.”
It’s a loanword from English that refers to an event where artists, idols, and other stars meet and interact with their fans. These events often include live performances, talk sessions, games, or photo time with members.
In casual speech and especially in the anime, idol, K-pop, and J-pop communities, ファンミーティング is often shortened to ファンミ (fanmi).
The compound can be broken down into the two nouns:
- ファン (fan): fan
- ミーティング (miitingu): meeting
2.3 ありがとうございました (arigatou gozaimashita)
- Word: ありがとうございました
- Word Type: set phrase (past)
- Word Class: common, JLPT N5
- Word Formality: polite, formal language
| ありがとうございました |
|---|
| ありがとうございます → ありがとうございました |
| [set phrase (past tense)] thank you very much, thank you (for what you did), I really appreciate (what you did) |
ありがとうございました (arigatou gozaimashita) means “thank you very much,” “thank you (for what you did),” or “I really appreciate (what you did).”
It is the past tense of ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) and is used when thanking someone for something that has already happened or been completed. It’s often used to express gratitude after an event, service, lesson, or performance has finished.
For ongoing or present actions, ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu) is more natural, while in casual situations, you can simply say ありがとう (arigatou).
初ファンミーティング
ありがとうございました！
So with this sentence, Yuri (HANA) is expressing heartfelt gratitude to fans for attending their first fan meeting. She’s thanking everyone for their support and participation in this special milestone event.
Her sentence conveys warmth, appreciation, and joy, showing how meaningful the experience was to her and the group, and how thankful she feels toward the fans who made all of this possible.
Step 3) Review and Improve Your Japanese
How to learn Japanese fast:
- Review sentences and words regularly
- Listen, read, speak, and write in Japanese
- Continue to the next sentence and repeat
3.1 Review & Remember Japanese With Flashcards
Create Sentence Flashcard for:
- 初ファンミーティングありがとうございました！
Create Word Flashcards for:
- 初
- ファンミーティング
- ありがとうございました
Examples
Front: Japanese sentence/word written in kanji
Back: Kana, translations, any other information
| My Sentence Flashcard |
|---|
| Front: 初ファンミーティングありがとうございました！ |
| Back: 初 (はつ) ファンミーティング ありがとうございました！ Thank you for our first fan meeting! Thank you for (joining) our first fan meeting! |
| My Word Flashcard |
|---|
| Front: 初 |
| Back: 初（はつ） first, new, initial |
3.2 Practice & Level Up Your Japanese Skills
How to improve your Japanese skills fast:
- Reading: Read Japanese for 5-10 min
- Writing: Write in Japanese for 5-10 min
- Speaking: Speak Japanese for 5-10 min
- Listening: Listen to Japanese for 5-10 min
A) Listening Practice
Listen to this song.
Can you catch the Japanese we learned today?
Source: 湯木慧 〜 ありがとうございました
Note: In the song, ございました (gozaimashita) is sung slowly as “go-za-i-mash-ta,” with each syllable clearly separated. In everyday speech, however, people pronounce it more smoothly as “go-zai-mash-ta,” blending za + i together.
B) Reading Practice
Read the following sentences.
Can you spot the Japanese we learned today?
- 初ライブありがとうございました！
- 初の東京 (とうきょう) ドームステージ
- 初のテレビパフォーマンスいかがでしたか？
- 私 (わたし) たちの初ファンミーティングツアー
- HANA with HONEYsありがとうございました！！
You can also try to read Yuri‘s IG post.
C) Speaking Practice
Say the following sentences.
Can you repeat them aloud without looking?
- 初 ファンミーティング でした。
- HANAちゃん の 初 の TOKYO DOME✨😭
- 昨日 (きのう) は ありがとうございました！
- ユリさん、どうも ありがとうございました。
- ファンミーティング の 日 (ひ) が 来ました！
- 初 チカ の サイン✍️ ありがとうございます😭😭
- みんな、本当に (ほんとうに) ありがとうございました！
D) Writing Practice
Type (or write down) the words and sentences in Japanese.
3.3 Continue Studying Japanese
You’ve completed Learn Japanese with J-Pop Stars #2 🎉
You’re one step closer to understanding Yuri and the other HANA members in Japanese!
- Japanese Words +3
- Japanese Sentences +1
Well done ♪٩(⌒‐⌒)۶♪
| Our First Goal |
|---|
| Japanese Sentences 2 / 10 |
| Japanese Words 5 / 10 |
| Our Ultimate Goal |
|---|
| Japanese Sentences 2 / 10,000 |
| Japanese Words 5 / 25,000 |
To reach native fluency, our goal is to master 10,000 sentences and 25,000 words.
So let’s keep studying and continue our journey to Japanese fluency!
➡️ Next Lesson: Learn Japanese with J-Pop Stars #3
⬅️ Need a quick review? Revisit the previous lesson!
… or keep learning Japanese with one of my other free lessons!
- 📺 Learn Japanese with Anime
Understand anime dialogue without subtitles - 📖 Learn Japanese with Manga
Read your favourite manga written in kanji and kana - 🎵 Learn Japanese with Songs
Understand the meaning behind your favourite lyrics
🎤 Learn Japanese with J-Pop Stars
Learn real Japanese from your favourite stars and idols - 🎮 Learn Japanese with Video Games
Understand game dialogue and the characters you love - 💬 Learn Japanese with Real Sentences
See how my friends actually use Japanese in everyday life
For more information about the artists, please visit HANA’s Official Homepage or YouTube Channel.