Download Grammar Goals - Lone Star College

Mango Educator Edition™
Japanese
Unit 2
Course Guide
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Welcome to Our Home!
Chapter 2: Family and Pets
Chapter 3: Work and Pastimes
Chapter 4: Dating 101
Chapter 5: Planning for the Weekend
Chapter 6: Weather and Land
Chapter 7: Cooking and Food Culture
Chapter 8: Shopping
Chapter 9: Bank and Post Office
Chapter 10: At the Hospital
Vocabulary Review
Phrase Review
Cultural Notes
Grammar Notes
2
3
23
38
56
75
93
115
138
160
186
207
247
300
316
Chapter 1: Welcome to Our Home!
いらっしゃい！
Chapter 1: Welcome to Our Home!
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Differentiate the Verbs ある and いる
Understand the Dependent Indefinite
Pronoun の
Use the Disjunctive Subordinate Conjunction
けど
Use the Particle に to Indicate the Place of
Existence
Use ましょうか to Offer a Service ("Shall I
~?")
Ask or Describe What or Who Is in a Certain
Location
Ask or Describe Where Something Is
Describe What Color Something Is
Get Familiar with Japanese Houses and
Visiting Customs
Offer to Do Something for Someone
Conversation
English
Japanese
ごめんください。
Hello.
(gomenkudasai.)
いらっしゃい！さあ、どうぞ。
Welcome! Now, please come in.
(irasshai! saa, doozo.)
おじゃまします。おおきいおうちですね。
Thank you. This is a big house, isn't it!
(ojama shimasu. ookii oochi desu ne.)
ふるいですけど。ちょっとうちのなかをごあんな
いしましょうか。
It's old, though. Shall I show you around the house
a bit?
(furui desu kedo. chotto uchi no naka o goan-nai shimashoo ka.)
ええ、ぜひおねがいします。
Yes, by all means.
(ee, zehi onegai shimasu.)
こちらはざしきです。そのとなりはぶつまです。
This is the drawing room. Next to it is the room
with the family Buddhist altar.
(kochira wa zashiki desu. sono tonari wa
butsuma desu.)
にわにちゃしつがあります。
There is a tea-ceremony room in the garden.
(niwa ni chashitsu ga arimasu.)
わあ、いけのなかにこいがたくさんいますね！
Wow, there are a lot of carp in the pond, aren't
there!
(waa, ike no naka ni koi ga takusan imasu
ne!)
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4
にしきごいです。あかいのやきんいろのやオレン
ジいろのがいますよ。
They are ornamental carp. There are red ones,
gold ones, orange ones and others, you know.
(nishikigoi desu. akai no ya kin-iro no ya
orenji-iro no ga imasu yo.)
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5
Hello (when announcing one's arrival at someone's
house).
ごめんください。
English
Japanese
ごめんください。
1
Hello (when announcing one's arrival at
someone's house).
2
ごめんください is a common greeting used at the entrance of someone's house to announce
one's arrival. It literally means "Please forgive (me)," but it's equivalent to "Hello" in English!
3
Welcome.
4
Did you remember いらっしゃいませ , a polite greeting to welcome customers at a store or
restaurant? We can use the same greeting to welcome visitors at our house. In a less formal
situation, we can simply say いらっしゃい .
5
Oh, Yoko. Welcome!
6
Did you remember that we add さん after a person's name to be polite?
7
Please come in.
8
Do you remember that どうぞ is a versatile polite phrase that can mean "Here you go" or "Please
get in/out/on"? You can use it to usher a visitor into your place!
9
now (when encouraging some course of
action)
10
Welcome! Now, please come in.
11
(gomenkudasai.)
いらっしゃい。
(irasshai.)
ああ、ようこさん。いらっしゃい！
(aa, yooko san. irasshai!)
どうぞ。
(doozo.)
さあ
(saa)
いらっしゃい！さあ、どうぞ。
(irasshai! saa, doozo.)
Thank you for inviting me in.
おじゃまします。
(I'll hinder you.)
(ojama shimasu.)
12
おじゃまします is a common phrase we can use when we enter someone's house in Japan. It
literally means "(I'll) hinder (you by my visit)." There is no exact match in English, but it's
something akin to "Thank you for inviting me in." Like ごめんください or すみません (as "Thank
you"), many Japanese phrases sound apologetic and self-effacing, reflecting the culture of
politeness and modesty.
13
Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me in.
14
こんにちは。おじゃまします。
(konnichiwa. ojama shimasu.)
Thank you for your time and hospitality.
おじゃましました。
(I hindered you.)
(ojama shimashita.)
15
おじゃましました is the past form of おじゃまします . It means something like "I'm sorry for
having hindered you by my visit," but the English equivalent would be "Thank you for your time
and hospitality." It's a common phrase you can use when you are leaving someone's house.
16
Thank you for your time and hospitality. Goodbye.
おじゃましました。さようなら。
(ojama shimashita. sayoonara.)
Continued on next page
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6
English
17
Japanese
A typical Japanese house has a distinct entrance space called げんかん . It's a transition area
between outside and inside, with the "inside" clearly defined with a raised floor. You remove your
shoes here and step directly onto the hallway. Don't stand barefooted on the entrance floor;
that's considered "outside" even though it's indoors. Once up on the hallway, put on the house
slippers provided by the host and follow him or her.
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7
It's old, though. ふ る い で す け ど 。
English
Japanese
ふるいですけど。
1
It's old, though.
2
old
3
We can use ふるい (old) to describe various things including objects (as in an "old house"),
concepts (as in an "old belief"), and relationships (as in "old friends"). We shouldn't, however, use
it to talk about someone's age!
4
It's old.
5
though
6
～けど (though) is a plain version of ～が (..., but ...) and connects two contradictory sentences to
make them into a longer one. Like ～が , ～けど is attached to the end of the first half of the twopart sentence. In conversations, the second half of the sentence is often omitted and only
implied.
7
As you may recall, Japanese people typically try hard not to appear vain or boastful. When they
receive compliments, they would invariably negate them or counter them with self-effacing
phrases. For example, when someone praises their house, they would counter with a negative
comment on it such as ふるいですけど (It's old, though).
8
house
9
うち literally means "the inside," but it can be used to mean a "house," "(one's) home," "(one's
own) family," or more! うち is such a simple word, but it's one of the key terms that helps us
understand the Japanese culture and language.
10
house
11
Did you remember that we can simply attach お to a word to make the expression more polite?
12
big house
13
It's a big house, isn't it!
14
rented house
15
It's a rented house, though.
16
garden/yard
(furui desu kedo.)
ふるい
(furui)
ふるいです。
(furui desu.)
けど
(kedo)
うち
(uchi)
おうち
(ouchi)
おおきいおうち
(ookii ouchi)
おおきいおうちですね！
(ookii ouchi desu ne!)
しゃくや
(shakuya)
しゃくやですけど。
(shakuya desu kedo.)
にわ
(niwa)
Continued on next page
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8
English
Japanese
17
にわ is the outdoor space belonging to a residence. Its equivalent is a "garden" or "yard" in
English. Please note that we cannot use にわ to mean a particular garden plot such as a flower
garden or vegetable garden.
18
garden
19
spacious
20
spacious garden
21
Wow!
22
Wow, it's a spacious garden, isn't it!
23
No, no.
24
いえ is a shortened form of いいえ (no). When you want to lightly deny what has just been said (as
in a compliment), you can say いえいえ (no, no).
25
Not so much.
26
No, no, not so much.
27
With a particular verbal expression comes a gesture that is often unique to the culture. When
Japanese people say いえいえ (no, no) as in the response to a compliment, they often wave one
or both hands before their chest with the palm facing their listener. Try it!
おにわ
(oniwa)
ひろい
(hiroi)
ひろいおにわ
(hiroi oniwa)
わあ！
(waa!)
わあ、ひろいおにわですね！
(waa, hiroi oniwa desu ne!)
いえいえ。
(ie ie.)
それほどでも。
(sore hodo demo.)
いえいえ、それほどでも。
(ie ie, sore hodo demo.)
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9
Shall I show you around the house?
うちのなかをごあんないしましょうか。
English
Japanese
うちのなかをごあんないしましょうか。
1
Shall I show you around the house?
2
to show around
3
So far we have learned verbs in the polite form that ends with ます (as in はなします or "speak")
or ました (as in しました or "did"). Such a verb form is called the "ます -form." In this section, we
are going to start learning another form called the "dictionary form" that is used for dictionary
entries. It will not only help us find words easily in a dictionary, but also enable us to understand
the verb conjugation better!
4
show around
5
inside
6
the inside of the house
7
Do you remember the expression えきのうら (literally, "backside of station"), in which えき
(station) indicates the place that is used as the base, and うら (the backside) is a word that
indicates a specific position? うちのなか (the inside of the house) uses the same pattern, "X の
Y."
8
(uchi no naka o go-an-nai shimashoo ka.)
あんないする
(an-nai suru)
あんないします
(an-nai shimasu)
なか
(naka)
うちのなか
(uchi no naka)
I'll show you around the house.
うちのなかをあんないします。
(I'll show you around the inside of the house.)
(uchi no naka o an-nai shimasu.)
9
Did you add を after うちのなか ? It's the same を we used in the sentence にほんごをはなします
(I speak Japanese). The particle を is used to indicate the direct object of a verb. In うちのなかを
あんないします (I'll show you around the house), を indicates that うちのなか (literally, "the inside
of the house") is what the speaker will show around!
10
Shall I show you around?
11
When we want to offer to do something to our listener, we can replace the verb ending ます with
ましょうか , as in あんないしましょうか (Shall I show you around?).
12
Shall I show you around?
13
Did you remember that we sometimes need to use ご instead of お to make a certain word or
expression more polite? あんないします is one of these words!
14
Japanese people usually do not offer their guests a tour of their house as Americans often do,
unless the guests are staying overnight or the hosts are particularly proud of some features of
their house. Even then, the hosts would show their guests (who are "outsiders") only what is
considered as the "outer" areas of the house. The hostess, for example, might hate to have
people coming into her kitchen since it is considered one of the innermost areas of the house.
15
Shall I show you around the garden?
あんないしましょうか。
(an-nai shimashoo ka.)
ごあんないしましょうか。
(go-an-nai shimashoo ka.)
にわをごあんないしましょうか。
(niwa o go-an-nai shimashoo ka.)
Continued on next page
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10
English
16
to open
17
open
18
Shall I open it?
19
window
20
Shall I open the window?
21
to close
22
close
23
Shall I close the window?
24
It's a little bit cold, isn't it! Shall I close the
window?
25
by all means
26
Yes, by all means, please.
Japanese
あける
(akeru)
あけます
(akemasu)
あけましょうか。
(akemashoo ka.)
まど
(mado)
まどをあけましょうか。
(mado o akemashoo ka.)
しめる
(shimeru)
しめます
(shimemasu)
まどをしめましょうか。
(mado o shimemashoo ka.)
ちょっとさむいですね。まどをしめましょう
か。
(chotto samui desu ne. mado o
shimemashoo ka.)
ぜひ
(zehi)
ええ、ぜひおねがいします。
(ee, zehi onegai shimasu.)
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11
This is the Japanese-style drawing room.
こちらはざしきです。
English
Japanese
こちらはざしきです。
1
This is the Japanese-style drawing room.
2
this place
3
Do you remember こちら (this way), the word indicating a general direction? こちら and its
counterparts そちら (that way) and あちら (that way over there) can also be used as the polite
form for ここ (this place), そこ (that place), and あそこ (that place over there).
4
Japanese-style drawing room
5
ざしき is a Japanese-style drawing room with its floor covered by たたみ --thick, rectangle mats
made of tightly-woven dried stalks of plants called いぐさ (rushes). ざしき usually has sliding
doors. The ones covered with translucent white rice paper are called しょうじ . The ones that are
double-paned with thick paper or cloth and on which pictures are often painted are called ふすま .
6
Before you enter ざしき , take off your house slippers and leave them outside the room. Inside,
there is a low table, and you sit on square cushions called ざぶとん . In a formal situation, you
should sit せいざ -style, with your legs folded underneath your thighs and keeping your back
straight. If your feet are hurting you, you may say すみません to your host and discreetly change
your position. Please be aware, though, that sitting cross-legged will be frowned upon if you are a
woman!
7
bathroom
8
A typical Japanese bathroom is quite different from one in the US. ふろば is literally a "bath
place." It's a room with a bathtub and a shower, and its tiled floor has a drainage hole. You wash
your body outside the bathtub before getting into it to keep the bathwater clean. When you are
done, don't drain the tub! Other members in the household usually share the same bathwater for
the day.
9
This is the bathroom. The restroom is that
way.
10
おてあらい or トイレ in a typical Japanese house is a space separate from ふろば (the bathroom)
or せんめんじょ (the room with a bathroom sink). Japanese people take hygiene very seriously.
Inside おてあらい , you'll find a pair of "toilet" slippers. Put them on, leaving your house slippers
outside the door. When you come out, don't forget to leave the toilet slippers where they belong!
11
room
12
this room
13
What is this room?
14
a room with the family Buddhist altar
(kochira wa zashiki desu.)
こちら
(kochira)
ざしき
(zashiki)
ふろば
(furoba)
こちらはふろばです。おてあらいはそちらで
す。
(kochira wa furoba desu. otearai wa
sochira desu.)
へや
(heya)
このへや
(kono heya)
このへやはなんですか。
(kono heya wa nan desu ka.)
ぶつま
(butsuma)
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12
Continued on next page
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13
English
Japanese
そのへやはぶつまです。
15
That room is the room with the family
Buddhist altar.
16
Many Japanese households have family Buddhist altars called ぶつだん , which hold mortuary
tablets (いはい ) for deceased family members. Contrary to the popular Western perception,
Japanese people do not worship the dead. Instead, they revere and honor their ancestors and try
to console their spirits by offering incense and prayer. In this sense, ぶつだん is a link between
the past and the present. The room with ぶつだん is called ぶつま .
17
next-door
18
kitchen
19
(sono heya wa butsuma desu.)
となり
(tonari)
だいどころ
(daidokoro)
next to the kitchen
だいどころのとなり
(next-door of kitchen)
(daidokoro no tonari)
20
If the context makes it clear that you are talking about the kitchen, だいどころの in the phrase だ
いどころのとなり (next to the kitchen) can be replaced with the "pointing" word その (that). Let's
try to use the shorter version in the next question!
21
next to it
22
そのとなり
(sono tonari)
Japanese-style family room
ちゃのま
(space for tea)
(chanoma)
23
ちゃのま (literally, "space for tea") or おちゃのま originally meant a room where tea was served
for guests, but it has become a Japanese-style family room where family members relax over a
cup of tea and watch TV. Usually, ちゃのま is next to the kitchen and used as the family dining
room as well.
24
This is the kitchen. Next to it is the Japanesestyle family room.
25
If you visit a Japanese home in winter, you may be ushered into a room with こたつ . こたつ is a
low table equipped with an electric space heater. The entire table is covered by a quilt to trap the
warm air in and keep your legs and feet toasty. It's a cozy space to spend time with your friends
and family on a cold day!
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14
こちらはだいどころです。そのとなりはちゃの
まです。
(kochira wa daidokoro desu. sono tonari
wa chanoma desu.)
There is a tea-ceremony room in the garden.
にわにちゃしつがあります。
English
Japanese
にわにちゃしつがあります。
1
There is a tea-ceremony room in the garden.
2
Do you remember the expression ここに ("here" or "at this place")? When we want to indicate the
place where something exists, we add the particle に after the place noun. It's equivalent to "at,"
"on," or "in" in English. Let's try that in the next question!
3
to exist or to be (when referring to things)
4
there is (when referring to things)
5
tea-ceremony room
6
ちゃしつ (literally, "tea room") is a space specifically designed to have a tea ceremony. A typical
ちゃしつ is a small structure built in a Japanese-style garden. It looks like a simple rustic hut, but
the simplicity is a well-calculated one! Guests go through the well-tended garden and enter ちゃ
しつ through a small door called にじりぐち . Inside, they enjoy not only green tea but also the
ambiance and hospitality carefully prepared and presented by the host.
7
There is a tea-ceremony room.
8
Did you add が after ちゃしつ and say ちゃしつがあります (There is a tea-ceremony room)? It's
the same が we learned to use in the sentence ほんやがあります (There is a bookstore). In these
sentences, the particle が is used to mark the subject of a verb.
9
entrance hall
10
the next-door of the entrance hall
11
In the following questions, let's assume that we are talking about the locations where things exist!
12
(niwa ni chashitsu ga arimasu.)
ある
(aru)
あります
(arimasu)
ちゃしつ
(chashitsu)
ちゃしつがあります。
(chashitsu ga arimasu.)
げんかん
(genkan)
げんかんのとなり
(genkan no tonari)
next to the entrance hall
げんかんのとなりに
(at the next-door of the entrance hall)
(genkan no tonari ni)
ひろいざしき
13
spacious Japanese-style drawing room
14
There is a spacious Japanese-style drawing
room next to the entrance hall.
15
The pronunciation of なん (what) changes to なに depending on the word that comes after it. な
ん is used when it is followed by a counter as in なんじ (what time) or by a word that starts with
the "t" sound (such as と ), "d" sound (such as で ), or "n" sound (such as の ). In all other cases,
we use なに .
16
What is there?
(hiroi zashiki)
げんかんのとなりにひろいざしきがあります。
(genkan no tonari ni hiroi zashiki ga
arimasu.)
なにがありますか。
(nani ga arimasu ka.)
Continued on next page
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15
English
Japanese
おしいれ
17
Japanese-style closet
18
A typical おしいれ (Japanese-style closet) is two-tiered with paper-covered sliding doors.
19
the inside of the Japanese-style closet
20
(oshi-ire)
おしいれのなか
(oshi-ire no naka)
in the Japanese-style closet
おしいれのなかに
(at the inside of the Japanese-style closet)
(oshi-ire no naka ni)
おしいれのなかになにがありますか。
21
What is in the Japanese-style closet?
22
Japanese-style bedding
23
Japanese ふとん (futon) is different from the American version. The authentic ふとん is a set of a
thick cotton-filled mattress and a fluffy quilt. It's quite light, mobile, and comfortable!
24
There is Japanese-style bedding in the
Japanese-style closet, you know.
25
ざしき , or any room with たたみ floor, is very versatile. During the day, the room can be used as
a drawing room, with a low table and ざぶとん (square cushions) as the furniture. At night, the
room can be turned into a bedroom with the table and ざぶとん set aside and ふとん spread on
the floor. When the morning comes, ふとん will be folded and put into おしいれ . Voila! The room
becomes a public space again!
(oshi-ire no naka ni nani ga arimasu ka.)
ふとん
(futon)
おしいれのなかにふとんがありますよ。
(oshi-ire no naka ni futon ga arimasu yo.)
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16
There are carp in the pond.
いけのなかにこいがいます。
English
Japanese
いけのなかにこいがいます。
1
There are carp in the pond.
2
to exist or to be (when referring to living
creatures)
3
Both ある and いる mean "to exist" or "to be (present)." While ある is used for things such as a
desk or a house, いる is primarily used to talk about the existence of living creatures including
people and animals.
4
there is (when referring to living creatures)
5
carp
6
There are carp.
7
Did you remember that we can use the same form of verbs and nouns to talk about both singular
and plural objects?
8
pond
9
the inside of the pond
10
Traditional Japanese gardens have gained some popularity in North America as well as Europe.
The basic concept is to recreate natural landscapes so that people can enjoy their beauty
everyday at home throughout the year. The most popular center piece is a pond, often paired
with a miniature mountain adorned with trees, rocks, and stone lanterns. Some gardens
substitute white sand and pebbles for water, creating a simple yet profound world for Zen
meditation.
11
plentifully
12
(ike no naka ni koi ga imasu.)
いる
(iru)
います
(imasu)
こい
(koi)
こいがいます。
(koi ga imasu.)
いけ
(ike)
いけのなか
(ike no naka)
たくさん
(takusan)
There are a lot of carp.
こいがたくさんいます。
(There are carp plentifully.)
(koi ga takusan imasu.)
わあ、いけのなかにこいがたくさんいますね。
13
Wow, there are a lot of carp in the pond, aren't
there!
14
What is there? (when referring to living
creatures)
なにがいますか。
15
What is in the pond? (when referring to living
creatures)
いけのなかになにがいますか。
16
red
(waa, ike no naka ni koi ga takusan
imasu ne.)
(nani ga imasu ka.)
(ike no naka ni nani ga imasu ka.)
あかい
(akai)
Continued on next page
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17
English
Japanese
あかいこい
17
red carp
18
black
19
red carp and black carp
20
Did you remember that we can link two or more nouns or noun phrases with the particle と (and)?
21
There are red carp and black carp in the pond,
you know.
22
こい (carp) are voracious and highly adaptive freshwater fish that have a long history of being
used as food in Asia and Europe. にしきごい (ornamental carp), however, are bred in northern
Japan exclusively for their beautiful colors and patterns. Today, にしきごい are a ubiquitous
presence in water gardens around the globe, entertaining people with their vivid beauty and
feeding frenzies!
(akai koi)
くろい
(kuroi)
あかいこいとくろいこい
(akai koi to kuroi koi)
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18
いけのなかにあかいこいとくろいこいがいます
よ。
(ike no naka ni akai koi to kuroi koi ga
imasu yo.)
There are red ones, white ones, and others. (when
referring to living creatures)
あかいのやしろいのがいます。
English
Japanese
あかいのやしろいのがいます。
1
There are red ones, white ones, and others.
(when referring to living creatures)
2
red one
3
の in あかいの is not a particle but a pronoun that is equivalent to "one" or "ones" in English. We
can use this kind of の only when we can reasonably assume that our listener understands what
we are talking about. When we are talking about carp, for example, あかいの means あかいこい
(red carp).
4
There are red ones. (when referring to living
creatures)
5
white
6
white ones
7
red ones and white ones
8
red ones, white ones, and others
9
や in あかいのやしろいの is a linking word that is used to list two or more nouns or noun phrases.
While と list all the items, や shows a few representative items, implying that there are more. あ
かいのやしろいの is equivalent to "red ones, white ones, and others."
10
color
11
Do you remember that "brown" in Japanese is ちゃいろ (literally, "tea color")? Traditional Japanese
colors are often named after objects that represent the particular colors. For example, pink is も
もいろ (literally, "peach color"), yellowish brown is かきいろ (persimmon color), and sky-blue is そ
らいろ (sky color). Nowadays, however, younger generations prefer to use "borrowed" words such
as ピンク (pink) or ベージュ (beige) !
12
orange color
13
In Japanese, basic colors such as "red" or "white" have both nouns (あか or しろ ) and adjectives
(あかい or しろい ). Others, however, have nouns only. "Orange," for example, is オレンジいろ
(literally, "orange color").
14
(akai no ya shiroi no ga imasu.)
あかいの
(akai no)
あかいのがいます。
(akai no ga imasu.)
しろい
(shiroi)
しろいの
(shiroi no)
あかいのとしろいの
(akai no to shiroi no)
あかいのやしろいの
(akai no ya shiroi no)
いろ
(iro)
オレンジいろ
(orenji iro)
orange-colored carp
オレンジいろのこい
(carp in orange color)
(orenji iro no koi)
15
Did you use the particle の and say オレンジいろのこい (literally, "carp in orange color")? This is
another instance of the "X の Y" pattern, in which the particle の indicates that the first noun X
"modifies" the second noun Y--that is, X is the information about Y.
16
gold color
きんいろ
(kin-iro)
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19
Continued on next page
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20
English
Japanese
きんいろのこい
17
gold-colored carp
18
gold-colored ones
19
Notice that we don't say きんいろのの but simply say きんいろの to mean "gold-colored ones"!
20
ornamental carp
21
にしき in にしきごい (ornamental carp) literally means a Japanese silk brocade known for its
gorgeous colors and intricate patterns. It's an apt name for carp adorned with vivid colors and
markings! The pronunciation of こい changes to ごい when combined with another word.
22
They are ornamental carp. There are red
ones, gold-colored ones, orange-colored
ones, and others.
23
こい (carp) are considered auspicious fish. Chinese legend has it that carp that could climb a big
water fall on the Yellow River would turn into dragons and fly through the sky--a great
achievement for a creature as small and insignificant as a fish! That's why we have こいのぼり -colorful carp-shaped windsocks traditionally flown in May to wish success and good health for male
children in the family.
(kin iro no koi)
きんいろの
(kin-iro no)
にしきごい
(nishikigoi)
にしきごいです。あかいのやきんいろのやオレ
ンジいろのがいます。
(nishikigoi desu. akai no ya kin-iro no ya
orenji-iro no ga imasu.)
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21
The TV is in the living room.
テレビはリビングにあります。
English
1
Japanese
The TV is in the living room.
テレビはリビングにあります。
(As for TV, it exists in the living room.)
(terebi wa ribingu ni arimasu.)
2
このへやにテレビがあります and テレビはこのへやにあります might sound similar, but their
functions are different. このへやにテレビがあります describes what is in a certain location (In this
room, there is a TV). テレビはこのへやにあります , on the other hand, tells where a certain thing
is located (As for the TV, it's in this room). Please note that the former uses the particle が to
mark the subject (テレビ ), while the latter uses the topic marker は to indicate テレビ as the
"topic" of the sentence.
3
Here's one of the basic rules on when to use the particle は or が . We use が if the subject is first
introduced in the conversation and use は if the subject is already introduced or otherwise known
to your listener. For example, when we want to inform our listener that there is a TV in the room,
we say このへやにテレビがあります because テレビ is a new piece of information. Then if we want
to talk about the said TV, we start our sentence with テレビは ... (As for the TV...).
4
living room
5
It is in the living room.
6
リビングにあります (It is in the living room) can be rephrased as リビングです . They mean the
same, though リビングにあります more specifically denotes the existence of the object. In this
chapter, let's use あります to point out where things are. Please note that we need the particle
に to indicate the location when we use the verb あります as well as います .
7
TV
8
desk
9
side
10
the side of the desk
11
リビング
(ribingu)
リビングにあります。
(ribingu ni arimasu.)
テレビ
(terebi)
つくえ
(tsukue)
よこ
(yoko)
つくえのよこ
(tsukue no yoko)
by the desk
つくえのよこに
(at the side of the desk)
(tsukue no yoko ni)
12
bookshelf
13
The bookshelf is by the desk.
14
Where is it?
ほんだな
(hondana)
ほんだなはつくえのよこにあります。
(hondana wa tsukue no yoko ni arimasu.)
どこにありますか。
(doko ni arimasu ka.)
Continued on next page
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22
English
Japanese
15
Did you notice that we need the particle に after the question word どこ (where) since we are
asking about the location of something, using the verb あります ?
16
newspaper
17
Um, where is the newspaper?
18
table
19
topside or upper part
20
the topside of the table
21
しんぶん
(shinbun)
あのう、しんぶんはどこにありますか。
(anoo, shinbun wa doko ni arimasu ka.)
テーブル
(teeburu)
うえ
(ue)
テーブルのうえ
(teeburu no ue)
on the table
テーブルのうえに
(at the topside of the table)
(teeburu no ue ni)
ああ、しんぶんはテーブルのうえにあります
よ。
22
Oh, the newspaper is on the table, you know.
23
cat
24
Where is your cat?
25
Did you remember to use the verb います to talk about a cat--a living creature?
26
bed
27
underneath or lower part
28
the underneath of the bed
29
(aa, shinbun wa teeburu no ue ni arimasu
yo.)
ねこ
(neko)
ねこはどこにいますか。
(neko wa doko ni imasu ka.)
ベッド
(beddo)
した
(shita)
ベッドのした
(beddo no shita)
under the bed
ベッドのしたに
(at the underneath of the bed)
(beddo no shita ni)
ねこはベッドのしたにいますよ。
30
The cat is under the bed, you know.
31
Many modern houses in Japan incorporate Western-style rooms and furniture. Traditional ざしき
and ちゃのま are often replaced by Western-style リビング . Young people in particular prefer
wooden or carpet floor to たたみ , chairs and couches to ざぶとん , and beds to ふとん . Some
newer apartments and condos even have Western-style bathrooms. Though the appearance may
be different, there is one thing that never changes: people still take off their shoes at げんかん
(entrance hall)!
(neko wa beddo no shita ni imasu yo.)
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23
Chapter 2: Family and Pets
家 族 とペット
Chapter 2: Family and Pets
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Address Family Members Using Kinship
Words
Comment on Pets
Inquire about Someone's Family Members
and Pets
Talk about Personal Traits and Physical
Attributes
Form Adjective Sentences
Understand the Prenominal Use of Adjectives
Use the Counters for Age, People, and
Animals
Use the Interrogatives だれ /どなた , なんさ
い /おいくつ , なんにん , なんびき
Conversation
English
Japanese
これはどなたですか。
Who is this?
(kore wa donata desu ka.)
ぼくのそぼです。
That's my grandmother.
(boku no sobo desu.)
おいくつですか。
How old is she?
(oikutsu desu ka.)
９６さいです。でも、まだまだげんきですよ。
She is 96. But, she's still full of energy, you know.
(kyuujuu-roku sai desu. demo, mada mada
genki desu yo.)
それはなによりですね！
That's good to hear, isn't it!
(sore wa naniyori desu ne!)
ペットがいますか。
Do you have pets?
(petto ga imasu ka.)
ええ、いぬがにひきいます。
Yes, we have two dogs.
(ee, inu ga nihiki imasu.)
どんないぬですか。
What kind of dogs are they?
(don-na inu desu ka.)
あきたです。おおきいいぬですが、おとなしいで
す。
They are Akitas. They are big dogs, but gentle.
(akita desu. ookii inu desu ga, otonashii
desu.)
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24
Who is this person? こ の ひ と は ど な た で す か 。
English
Japanese
このひとはどなたですか。
1
Who is this person?
2
who/whom
3
Who is it?
4
person
5
this person
6
Do you remember that Japanese speakers tend to avoid using pronouns such as "you" or "she,"
and either omit them whenever the context makes the meaning clear or substitute real names
for them? Instead of using real names, we can also use generic noun phrases as substitutes.
Common substitutes for "he" or "she," for example, are このひと (this person), そのひと (that
person), and あのひと (that person over there).
7
female (for humans)
8
おんな (female) can also mean a "woman," but it sounds very rude to use the term to refer to
someone. Let's figure out an appropriate way to talk about a woman!
9
(kono hito wa donata desu ka.)
どなた
(donata)
どなたですか。
(donata desu ka.)
ひと
(hito)
このひと
(kono hito)
おんな
(on-na)
woman
おんなのひと
(female person)
(on-na no hito)
10
Did you connect the two nouns おんな (female) and ひと (person) with the noun-linking particle
の , using the now-familiar "X の Y" pattern? おんなのひと (literally, a "female person" or "a person
who is female") is the proper way to refer to a woman in general.
11
this woman
12
male (for humans)
13
(kono on-na no hito)
おとこ
(otoko)
man
おとこのひと
(male person)
(otoko no hito)
14
that man
15
Who is that man?
16
このおんなのひと
そのおとこのひと
(sono otoko no hito)
そのおとこのひとはどなたですか。
(sono otoko no hito wa donata desu ka.)
boy
おとこのこ
(male child)
(otoko no ko)
Continued on next page
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25
English
Japanese
17
We have learned that many traditional Japanese female names end with こ as in ようこ . こ
means a "child," and it's usually used in phrases such as おとこのこ (literally, a "male child") or あ
のこ (that child over there).
18
girl
19
that girl over there
20
who/whom
21
Do you remember that there are two versions for the question word "where" in Japanese--the
polite どちら and the plain どこ ? Likewise, the polite question word どなた (who/whom) has the
plain counterpart だれ . As in the case of どこ , the "plain" label does not mean that it's used only
in casual conversations! As long as we use だれ in a sentence that ends with either です or ます ,
we are still talking in the polite form--only sounding less formal or respectful than when we use ど
なた .
22
Who is that girl over there?
23
photograph
24
this photograph
25
the boy in this photograph
26
Did you use の to connect このしゃしん (this photograph) and おとこのこ (boy)? It's another use
of the "X の Y" pattern, in which このしゃしん is the location where おとこのこ appears.
27
おんなのこ
(on-na no ko)
あのおんなのこ
(ano on-na no ko)
だれ
(dare)
あのおんなのこはだれですか。
(ano on-na no ko wa dare desu ka.)
しゃしん
(shashin)
このしゃしん
(kono shashin)
このしゃしんのおとこのこ
(kono shashin no otoko no ko)
すみません。このしゃしんのおとこのこはだれ
ですか。
Excuse me. Who is the boy in this
photograph?
(sumimasen. kono shashin no otoko no
ko wa dare desu ka.)
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26
This is my grandmother. こ れ は わ た し の そ ぼ で す 。
English
Japanese
これはわたしのそぼです。
1
This is my grandmother.
2
grandmother
3
my grandmother
4
We have so far learned that the "pointing" word これ and its counterparts それ and あれ are used
for things and not for people, right? Exceptions are when we are talking about people in
photographs!
5
grandfather
6
my grandfather and grandmother
7
Oh, those are my grandfather and
grandmother, you know.
8
elder brother
9
younger brother
10
This is my elder brother, and that is my
younger brother.
11
I/me
12
Do you remember that there are different ways of referring to oneself other than わたし (I/me) in
Japanese? ぼく is used by male speakers. It's often used by boys, but adult men also use it
when they are in less formal (but not too casual) settings, such as among family members or
coworkers.
13
elder sister
14
younger sister
15
Um, this is my elder sister. She is not my
younger sister.
(kore wa watashi no sobo desu.)
そぼ
(sobo)
わたしのそぼ
(watashi no sobo)
そふ
(sofu)
わたしのそふとそぼ
(watashi no sofu to sobo)
ああ、それはわたしのそふとそぼですよ。
(aa, sore wa watashi no sofu to sobo
desu yo.)
あに
(ani)
おとうと
(otooto)
これはわたしのあにです。そしてそれはおとう
とです。
(kore wa watashi no ani desu. soshite
sore wa otooto desu.)
ぼく
(boku)
あね
(ane)
いもうと
(imooto)
あのう、これはぼくのあねです。いもうとじゃ
ありません。
(anoo, kore wa boku no ane desu. imooto
ja arimasen.)
Continued on next page
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27
English
16
Japanese
In Japanese schools and workplaces, younger members are expected to pay respect to older
members, calling them せんぱい (akin to "seniors"). In families, youngsters call their older siblings
not by their first names but by their family titles such as おねえさん (the polite form for "elder
sister") or おにいさん (the polite form for "elder brother"). Even parents use these titles when
talking about their older children in front of their younger ones!
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28
How old is your grandmother?
おばあさんはおいくつですか。
English
Japanese
おばあさんはおいくつですか。
1
How old is your grandmother?
2
Did you remember that we can omit personal pronouns such as "you" or "yours" whenever we can
reasonably assume that our listeners understand who we are talking about?
3
how old
4
How old is she?
5
grandmother
6
We have so far learned that the Japanese equivalent to "grandmother" is そぼ . When we want to
refer to someone else's grandmother or directly address our own grandmother, we should use
the polite term おばあさん to show our respect.
7
Asking an adult his or her age is a delicate matter in Japan. The notable exception, however, is
when asking the person's age is considered as a compliment. Traditionally, Japanese respect
elderly members of society, celebrating their longevity on けいろうのひ (Respect-for-the-Aged
Day) in September. Just be aware, though, that in a society with average life expectancy of 83,
the definition of "elderly" is quite different from what you think!
8
grandfather
9
Excuse me. How old is your grandfather?
10
ninety-six years old
11
Do you remember that Japanese uses different counting words to count different things? さい is
the counter for age and is equivalent to "years old" in English!
12
My grandfather is ninety-six years old.
13
Did you use そふ , the "plain" word for "grandfather," to refer to your own?
14
how old
15
なんさい is the "plain" version of おいくつ (how old). It's the combination of the question word な
ん (what) and the age counter さい .
16
How old is she?
17
the girl in that photograph
(obaasan wa oikutsu desu ka.)
おいくつ
(oikutsu)
おいくつですか。
(oikutsu desu ka.)
おばあさん
(obaasan)
おじいさん
(ojiisan)
すみません。おじいさんはおいくつですか。
(sumimasen. ojiisan wa oikutsu desu ka.)
きゅうじゅうろくさい
(kyuujuu roku sai)
そふはきゅうじゅうろくさいです。
(sofu wa kyuujuu roku sai desu.)
なんさい
(nansai)
なんさいですか。
(nansai desu ka.)
そのしゃしんのおんなのこ
(sono shashin no on-na no ko)
Continued on next page
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29
English
Japanese
そのしゃしんのおんなのこはなんさいですか。
18
How old is the girl in that photograph?
19
eight years old
20
eighteen years old
21
Did you notice that the pronunciation for the number eight (はち ) changes when it's combined
with さい ? A similar change happens when the number is "one" (いち ） or "ten" (じゅう ). "One
year old," for example, is いっさい , and "ten years old" is じゅっさい .
22
twenty-one years old
23
My younger sister is eighteen years old. My
younger brother is twenty-one years old.
(sono shashin no on-na no ko wa nansai
desu ka.)
はっさい
(hassai)
じゅうはっさい
(juu hassai)
にじゅういっさい
(nijuu issai)
いもうとはじゅうはっさいです。おとうとはに
じゅういっさいです。
(imooto wa juu hassai desu. otooto wa
nijuu issai desu.)
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30
How many people are in your family?
ごかぞくはなんにんですか。
English
1
Japanese
How many people are in your family?
ごかぞくはなんにんですか。
(As for family, how many people are they?)
(gokazoku wa nan-nin desu ka.)
かぞく
2
family
3
family
4
Notice that we need ご instead of お to politely say "family" in Japanese.
5
how many people
6
にん in the question word なんにん is the counter for people.
7
How many people are they?
8
one person
9
two people
10
Although the counter for people is にん , we say ひとり for "one person" and ふたり for "two
people." These are two special cases that need to be memorized!
11
three people
12
four people
13
To count three or more people, we attach にん to the number, as in さんにん . The exception is
for "four people": the number four is よん , but we say よにん .
14
(kazoku)
ごかぞく
(gokazoku)
なんにん
(nan-nin)
なんにんですか。
(nan-nin desu ka.)
ひとり
(hitori)
ふたり
(futari)
さんにん
(san-nin)
よにん
(yonin)
There are four people in my family.
かぞくはよにんです。
(As for family, they are four people.)
(kazoku wa yonin desu.)
ちち
15
father
16
mother
17
There are four people in my family: my father,
my mother, my elder brother, and me.
18
sibling
(chichi)
はは
(haha)
かぞくはよにんです。ちちとははとあにとわた
しです。
(kazoku wa yonin desu. chichi to haha to
ani to watashi desu.)
きょうだい
(kyoodai)
Continued on next page
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31
English
Japanese
19
Strictly speaking, きょうだい means "brother(s)," but it also means "sibling(s)" in general. If there
are only sisters, we can use the term しまい (sisters).
20
siblings
21
22
ごきょうだい
(gokyoodai)
How many siblings do you have?
ごきょうだいはなんにんですか。
(How many are your siblings?)
(gokyoodai wa nan-nin desu ka.)
There are two siblings in my family.
きょうだいはふたりです。
(As for siblings, they are two.)
(kyoodai wa futari desu.)
23
When we say きょうだいはふたりです in Japanese, it usually includes ourselves. To avoid a
misunderstanding, however, it's a good idea to list all the members!
24
There are three siblings in my family. My elder
brother, my elder sister and me.
25
きょうだいはさんにんです。あにとあねとわた
しです。
(kyoodai wa san-nin desu. ani to ane to
watashi desu.)
only child
ひとりっこ
(one child)
(hitorikko)
26
Do you remember that こ means a "child"? ひとりっこ literally means "one child." Did you notice
that the pronunciation slightly changes when ひとり and こ are combined?
27
I am the only child.
28
The concept of family has been rapidly changing in Japan. Three-generation households were
once common. The eldest son would take care of his parents in their old age, and younger
generations would learn to respect their elders by living with their grandparents. Now nuclear
families with fewer children are the norm, especially in urban society. The average size of family
in 1975 was 3.35. It shrank to 2.65 in 2008.
わたしはひとりっこです。
(watashi wa hitorikko desu.)
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32
Do you have pets? ペ ッ ト が い ま す か 。
English
Japanese
ペットがいますか。
1
Do you have pets?
2
to have (when referring to living creatures)
3
We have so far learned the verb いる as the equivalent of "to exist/to be" when we are talking
about people, animals, and other living creatures. いる can also mean "to have."
4
have (when referring to living creatures)
5
pet
6
I have a pet.
7
Did you notice that we need が after ペット and say ペットがいます (I have a pet)? Some verbs
require us to use が , not を , to mark their objects. It's the same が we used in the question ちず
がありますか (Do you have maps?).
8
As the number of children per household is decreasing in Japan, the number of pets seems to be
going up! It is said that almost half the Japanese households with two or more people have some
kind of pet. The most popular pets are dogs, followed by cats, fish, and birds. Among dogs, the
most popular breeds are Dachshund, Chihuahua, and Poodle--all small breeds, reflecting,
perhaps, the Japanese taste for dainty things and the size of Japanese houses!
9
Now let's figure out a simple way to answer the question, ペットがいますか (Do you have pets?)!
10
Yes, I have them.
11
No, I don't have any.
12
dog
13
Do you have dogs?
14
how many (small animals, fish, or insects)
15
The counter for small animals (such as dogs and cats), fish, and insects is ひき . Please note that
the pronunciation of ひき changes just like ほん (the counter for thin, long objects), depending on
what word or number comes before it. When combined with the question word なん , it becomes び
き as in なんびき .
16
How many dogs do you have?
(petto ga imasu ka.)
いる
(iru)
います
(imasu)
ペット
(petto)
ペットがいます。
(petto ga imasu.)
ええ、います。
(ee, imasu.)
いいえ、いません。
(iie, imasen.)
いぬ
(inu)
いぬがいますか。
(inu ga imasu ka.)
なんびき
(nanbiki)
いぬがなんびきいますか。
(inu ga nanbiki imasu ka.)
Continued on next page
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33
English
Japanese
いぬがいっぴき
17
one dog
18
two dogs
19
three dogs
20
I have three dogs.
21
six cats
22
I have two dogs and six cats.
23
Did you know that animals in Japan speak Japanese? Japanese dogs, for example, don't bark
"bow-wow" but say ワンワン . Cats don't "meow" but say ニャアニャア . Cows bellow モー , sheep
bleat メェー , and crows croak カアカア . Roosters? They will wake you up with a loud コケコッ
コー while you are in Japan!
(inu ga ippiki)
いぬがにひき
(inu ga nihiki)
いぬがさんびき
(inu ga sanbiki)
いぬがさんびきいます。
(inu ga sanbiki imasu.)
ねこがろっぴき
(neko ga roppiki)
いぬがにひきとねこがろっぴきいます。
(inu ga nihiki to neko ga roppiki imasu.)
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34
What kind of dog is it? ど ん な い ぬ で す か 。
English
Japanese
どんないぬですか。
1
What kind of dog is it?
2
what kind of dog
3
When someone asks you どんないぬですか (What kind of dog is it?), he or she may be asking
about your dog's breed or characteristics such as its size, color, or disposition. Let's assume the
latter is the case here.
4
a big dog
5
cute
6
a cute cat
7
Have you noticed that both おおきい (big) and かわいい (cute) end with い ? So does あかい (red)
and しろい (white), right? In fact, the dictionary form of many adjectives in Japanese ends with
い . That's why we call this type of adjective the "い -adjective."
8
Wow, she is a cute cat, isn't she!
9
gentle (as for animals)
10
gentle dog
11
the Akita
12
The Chinese character for いぬ (dog) can be read as けん , and many people in Japan call the Akita
あきたけん . The official name for the breed, however, is あきたいぬ .
(don-na inu desu ka.)
どんないぬ
(don-na inu)
おおきいいぬ
(ookii inu)
かわいい
(kawaii)
かわいいねこ
(kawaii neko)
わあ、かわいいねこですね！
(waa, kawaii neko desu ne!)
おとなしい
(otonashii)
おとなしいいぬ
(otonashii inu)
あきたいぬ
(akita inu)
あきたいぬはおおきいですが、おとなしいいぬ
です。
13
The Akitas are big, but they are gentle dogs.
14
beautiful
15
beautiful dog
16
Did you notice that we say きれいないぬ (beautiful dog) with な added after the adjective きれい ?
Even though きれい ends with い , it's a type of adjective different from い -adjectives such as おお
きい . Since this type of adjective always needs な when used before a noun to modify it, we call it
"な -adjective." There are not many な -adjectives that end with い . So, let's memorize きれい as a
な -adjective and use it accordingly!
(akita inu wa ookii desu ga, otonashii inu
desu.)
きれい
(kiree)
きれいないぬ
(kireena inu)
Continued on next page
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35
English
Japanese
なまえはなんですか。
17
What is her name?
18
She is a beautiful dog, isn't she! What is her
name?
19
Some Japanese dog breeds have gained popularity in North America as well as in Europe. あきた
いぬ (the Akita) is a large dog originally bred for dog fighting in northern Japan that is highly loyal
and intelligent. しばいぬ (the Shiba) is an ancient breed used for hunting in mountains, smaller in
size but brave and patient. ちん (the Japanese Spaniel) is a small dog with a beautiful long coat,
playful yet quiet and affectionate.
(namae wa nan desu ka.)
きれいないぬですね。なまえはなんですか。
(kireena inu desu ne. namae wa nan
desu ka.)
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36
My grandmother is still full of energy.
そぼはまだまだげんきです。
English
Japanese
そぼはまだまだげんきです。
1
My grandmother is still full of energy.
2
full of energy
3
げんき can be either a noun ("good health," "good cheer," or "vitality") or a な -adjective ("healthy,"
"fine," "cheerful," "spry," or "full of energy"). Here we use it as a な -adjective.
4
My grandmother is full of energy.
5
Did you notice that げんき (which is a な -adjective) does not need な when it's used as the
sentence-ending word along with です as in げんきです ? Let's call sentences that end with an
adjective and です "adjective sentences"!
6
quiet
7
My grandfather is quiet.
8
strict
9
My father is a little strict.
10
cheerful
11
My mother is very cheerful.
12
funny
(sobo wa mada mada genki desu.)
げんき
(genki)
そぼはげんきです。
(sobo wa genki desu.)
しずか
(shizuka)
そふはしずかです。
(sofu wa shizuka desu.)
きびしい
(kibishii)
ちちはちょっときびしいです。
(chichi wa chotto kibishii desu.)
あかるい
(akarui)
はははとてもあかるいです。
(haha wa totemo akarui desu.)
おもしろい
(omoshiroi)
13
My mother is very cheerful. And she is funny.
14
a hundred years old
15
My grandmother is a hundred years old. But,
she is still full of energy.
16
most desirable
17
はははとてもあかるいです。そして、おもしろ
いです。
(haha wa totemo akarui desu. soshite,
omoshiroi desu.)
ひゃくさい
(hyaku sai)
そぼはひゃくさいです。でも、まだまだげんき
です。
(sobo wa hyaku sai desu. demo, mada
mada genki desu.)
なにより
(nani yori)
That's good to hear.
それはなによりです。
(That is most desirable.)
(sore wa nani yori desu.)
Continued on next page
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37
English
18
Japanese
Japan is a country of longevity. Based on the government's 2010 estimate, people over 65
consist of 23% of the entire population--the highest rate in the world. Women generally live
longer than men: of 8,220,000 people over 80, about the two-thirds are female. Long life is a
blessing, but with the shrinking birth rate and the erosion of the traditional family arrangement,
how to take care of the aging population has become a serious challenge for society.
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38
Chapter 3: Work and Pastimes
仕 事 と余 暇
Chapter 3: Work and Pastimes
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Learn the Functions of Conjunction から and
the Particle も
Use the "ます -from + ましょう " Pattern for
Invitation
Use the "ます -from + ませんか " Pattern for
Invitation
Use the Particle が for Adjectives Describing
Preference & Ability
Offer or Accept an Invitation
Politely Decline an Invitation
Share Likes and Dislikes
Talk about Careers and Professions
Talk about Pastimes and Celebrations
Conversation
English
Japanese
あした、おはなみをします。
We are going to have a cherry-blossom viewing
picnic tomorrow.
(ashita, ohanami o shimasu.)
いっしょにいきませんか。
Won't you come with us?
(issho ni ikimasen ka.)
そうですね・・・。どんなメンバーですか。
Well..., who's going?
(soo desu ne.... don-na menbaa desu ka.)
かいしゃのひとたちや、スポーツジムのともだち
です。
My coworkers and my gym friends.
(kaisha no hitotachi ya, supootsu jimu no
tomodachi desu.)
ひとりはいしゃです。もうひとりはこうこうの
きょうしです。
One of them is a doctor. The other is a high
school teacher.
(hitori wa isha desu. moo hitori wa kookoo
no kyooshi desu.)
カラオケもありますか。
Are you going to have karaoke too?
(karaoke mo arimasu ka.)
もちろんです！みんなカラオケがすきですから。
Of course! 'Cause we all love karaoke.
(mochiron desu! min-na karaoke ga suki
desu kara.)
わたしはカラオケはちょっと・・・。すみませ
ん。
I don't care for karaoke much.... I'm sorry.
(watashi wa karaoke wa chotto....
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39
sumimasen.)
それはざんねんですね。じゃあ、またこんど。
I'm sorry to hear that. Well, maybe next time.
(sore wa zan-nen desu ne. jaa, mata kondo.)
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40
We are going to have a cherry-blossom viewing
picnic tomorrow.
あ し た 、お は な み を し ま す 。
English
Japanese
あした、おはなみをします。
1
We are going to have a cherry-blossom
viewing picnic tomorrow.
2
to do
3
Do you remember the verb します (do) and its past form しました (did)? する (to do) is its
dictionary form. This verb is very versatile. It takes a wide range of nouns as its object, including
sports, events, games, chores, or other various activities, and it means that the activity is carried
out. The translation, therefore, varies depending on the object.
4
do
5
cherry-blossom viewing picnic
6
As in the case of おちゃ , people often say おはなみ with the polite-word maker お even in a casual
conversation.
7
はなみ or おはなみ (literally, "flower viewing") is a cherry-blossom viewing picnic, a very popular
spring activity in Japan. Contrary to the serene image the word might evoke, real はなみ is often
a quite boisterous outdoor party under bloomed cherry trees, where people eat, drink, and sing
with their coworkers, friends, and family!
(ashita, ohanami o shimasu.)
する
(suru)
します
(shimasu)
おはなみ
(ohanami)
We have a cherry-blossom viewing picnic.
おはなみをします。
(We do a cherry-blossom viewing picnic.)
(ohanami o shimasu.)
9
We are going to have a cherry-blossom
viewing picnic.
おはなみをします。
10
tomorrow
11
Please note that あした (tomorrow) is a noun, but it's often used as an adverb without any
accompanying particle.
12
Japanese people love to get together and enjoy food, drink, and karaoke! There are many
chances for celebration. In January, they celebrate the new year. In March, they hold send-off
parties for coworkers who are going to be transferred. In April, they have cherry-blossom-viewing
picnics as well as welcome parties for employees newly-transferred to their departments. But the
busiest season of all is December when they have a ぼうねんかい (forget-the-old-year party)
almost every night!
13
party
8
14
(ohanami o shimasu.)
あした
(ashita)
パーティー
(paatii)
to have a party
パーティーをする
(to do party)
(paatii o suru)
15
Christmas
16
Christmas party
クリスマス
(kurisumasu)
クリスマスパーティー
(kurisumasu paatii)
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41
Continued on next page
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42
English
Japanese
17
Japanese people have adopted Christmas from the West and celebrate it big time - though not for
religious reasons. Families celebrate it with artificial クリスマスツリー (Christmas trees) and
store-bought クリスマスケーキ (Christmas cakes). Friends celebrate it with boisterous クリスマ
スパーティー (Christmas parties), and couples celebrate it with expensive クリスマスプレゼント
(Christmas presents). And shop keepers? They celebrate it with lucrative クリスマスセール
(Christmas sales)!
18
We'll have a Christmas party tomorrow.
19
What are you going to do?
20
Did you use the question word なに instead of なん because the word that follows it is を , which
starts with neither the "t," "d," nor "n" sound?
21
today
22
Like あした (tomorrow), きょう is a noun that is often used as an adverb.
23
What are you going to do today?
24
birthday
25
Until the early 1900s, Japanese people counted their age not based on their birthdays, but on the
number of New Year's Days they had. Consequently, people did not put much significance on
their birthdays back then. Today, it's a special day for many. Family members and close friends
often celebrate each other's birthday with バースデーケーキ (birthday cake) and gifts.
26
Let's assume that our listener knows that we are talking about our own mother in the following
questions. This means we can safely omit the pronoun わたしの (my).
27
my mother's birthday
28
Today is my mother's birthday.
29
Did you notice that the sentence きょうは、ははのたんじょうびです (Today is my mother's
birthday) has the familiar "X は Y です " pattern, in which X is the topic of the sentence? Since きょ
う (today) is actually a noun, we can use it as the topic.
30
birthday party
31
Today is my mother's birthday. We are going
to have a birthday party!
32
While most birthdays are private affairs, there is one special birthday celebrated nationwide in
Japan. The Emperor's birthday (てんのうたんじょうび ) is on December 23, and it's a national
holiday!
あしたクリスマスパーティーをします。
(ashita kurisumasu paatii o shimasu.)
なにをしますか。
(nani o shimasu ka.)
きょう
(kyoo)
きょうなにをしますか。
(kyoo nani o shimasu ka.)
たんじょうび
(tanjoobi)
ははのたんじょうび
(haha no tanjoobi)
きょうは、ははのたんじょうびです。
(kyoo wa, haha no tanjoobi desu.)
たんじょうびパーティー
(tanjoobi paatii)
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43
きょうは、ははのたんじょうびです。たんじょ
うびパーティーをします！
(kyoo wa, haha no tanjoobi desu.
tanjoobi paatii o shimasu!)
Why don't you come with us?
いっしょにいきませんか。
English
1
Why don't you come with us?
いっしょにいきませんか。
(Won't you go together?)
(issho ni ikimasen ka.)
2
to go
3
go
4
don't go
5
won't go
6
Japanese
いく
(iku)
いきます
(ikimasu)
いきません
(ikimasen)
いきません
(ikimasen)
why don't you go?
いきませんか
(won't you go?)
(ikimasen ka)
7
When you want to politely invite someone to do something, you replace the polite verb ending ま
す with the negative form ません and attach the question marker か . ～ませんか is equivalent to
"Why don't you ~?" or "Why don't we ~?" depending on the context.
8
together
9
いっしょに consists of いっしょ (which means "being together") and the particle に . We can use
いっしょに with regular verbs such as いきます (go) or します (do) to mean "together" or "with
(someone)."
10
When we are going out and want to invite someone to join us, we say in English, "Why don't you
come with us?" When we want to issue the same invitation in Japanese, we need to say いっしょ
にいきませんか ("Why don't you go with us?"). In general, we use いく (to go) to describe the
movement in the direction away from the place where the speaker is as she or he speaks, while
くる (to come) is used to describe the movement toward the speaker.
11
We are going to have a cherry-blossom
viewing picnic tomorrow. Why don't you come
with us?
12
meal
13
to have a meal
14
The generic verb する (to do) sometimes attaches itself directly to a common activity noun such
as しょくじ (a meal) or さんぽ (a walk) without using the particle を . The longer verbs thus
formed (as in しょくじする or さんぽする ) are called "compound verbs." In theory, it's possible
to create an infinite number of compound verbs in this way, but only well-established expressions
are considered grammatically legitimate verbs!
15
いっしょに
(issho ni)
あしたおはなみをします。いっしょにいきませ
んか。
(ashita ohanami o shimasu. issho ni
ikimasen ka.)
しょくじ
(shokuji)
しょくじする
(shokuji suru)
dine
しょくじします
(have a meal)
(shokuji shimasu)
Continued on next page
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44
English
Japanese
しょくじしませんか
16
why don't we dine?
17
tonight
18
こん in こんばん means "this" or "now" (used only as a part of time expression) and ばん means
"evening" or "night." こんばん (tonight), therefore, literally means "this evening." If you are
wondering whether こんばん is related to the greeting こんばんは , which we use when we meet
someone after dark, you are right! The greeting, in fact, is derived from a sentence that begins
with こんばんは or "As for tonight."
19
Why don't we dine together tonight?
20
to watch or to look at
21
watch
22
why don't we watch?
23
movie
24
Why don't we watch a movie?
25
Um, why don't we watch a movie together
tomorrow?
(shokuji shimasen ka)
こんばん
(konban)
こんばんいっしょにしょくじしませんか。
(konban issho ni shokuji shimasen ka.)
みる
(miru)
みます
(mimasu)
みませんか
(mimasen ka)
えいが
(eega)
えいがをみませんか。
(eega o mimasen ka.)
あのう、あしたいっしょにえいがをみません
か。
(anoo, ashita issho ni eega o mimasen
ka.)
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45
Let's go together. い っ し ょ に い き ま し ょ う 。
English
Japanese
いっしょにいきましょう。
1
Let's go together.
2
Let's go.
3
When you want to invite someone to do something with you or accept an invitation with
enthusiasm, we can replace the polite verb ending ます with ましょう , as in いきましょう . It's
equivalent to "Let's ~" in English. Compared with いきませんか (literally, "Won't you go?"), いきま
しょう sounds more positive and direct.
4
Let's go together by all means.
5
good
(issho ni ikimashoo.)
いきましょう。
(ikimashoo.)
ぜひいっしょにいきましょう。
(zehi issho ni ikimashoo.)
いい
(ii)
It sounds good!
いいですね！
(It is good, isn't it!)
(ii desu ne!)
7
It sounds good! Let's go together by all
means.
いいですね！ぜひいっしょにいきましょう。
8
Well....
9
When we don't want to give a straight answer right away or need time to think, we can buy time by
saying そうですね・・・ . It's equivalent to "Well...," "Let's see...," or "Let me think..." in English!
10
Sometimes you have to decline an invitation. Let's learn how to do it politely a la Japanese!
6
11
そうですね・・・。
(soo desu ne....)
Today isn't good for me...
きょうはちょっと・・・。
(Today is a little bit....)
(kyoo wa chotto....)
12
Well..., today isn't good for me...
13
next time
14
(ii desu ne! zehi issho ni ikimashoo.)
そうですね・・・、きょうはちょっと・・・。
(soo desu ne..., kyoo wa chotto....)
こんど
(kondo)
Maybe next time.
またこんど。
(Again next time.)
(mata kondo.)
15
I'm sorry. Tomorrow isn't good for me.... But,
maybe next time!
16
regrettable
17
It's regrettable.
すみません。あしたはちょっと・・・。でも、
またこんど！
(sumimasen. ashita wa chotto.... demo,
mata kondo!)
ざんねん
(zan-nen)
ざんねんです。
(zan-nen desu.)
Continued on next page
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46
English
18
19
20
Japanese
Now, let's learn how to reply graciously when someone has declined your invitation!
I'm sorry to hear that.
それはざんねんですね。
(That is regrettable, isn't it!)
(sore wa zan-nen desu ne.)
ああ、それはざんねんですね。じゃあ、またこ
んど！
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Well then, maybe
next time!
(aa, sore wa zan-nen desu ne. jaa, mata
kondo!)
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47
Who will be there? ど ん な メ ン バ ーで す か 。
English
1
Japanese
Who will be there?
どんなメンバーですか。
(What kind of members are they?)
(don-na menbaa desu ka.)
メンバー
2
member
3
people
4
Do you remember how to say "we" in Japanese? That's right, it's わたしたち . たち in わたしたち
and ひとたち is one of the several "plural markers." In general, we don't need to create the
specific plural form for Japanese nouns. However, personal pronouns (such as "we" or "you") and
"human" nouns (such as "people" or "children") are exceptions!
5
company
6
(menbaa)
ひとたち
(hitotachi)
かいしゃ
(kaisha)
coworkers
かいしゃのひとたち
(people of company)
(kaisha no hitotachi)
スポーツジム
7
gym
8
gym friends
9
They are my coworkers, gym friends, and
others.
10
medical doctor
11
One person is a doctor.
12
teacher
13
There are two words for "teacher" in Japanese: きょうし and せんせい . きょうし is a generic term
for the occupation. Use this word when you are describing your family members, your friends, or
yourself. If you want to show your respect to the person whom you are describing, as in the case
of introducing a teacher to someone else, use せんせい instead.
14
high school
15
high school teacher
16
another person
(supootsu jimu)
スポーツジムのともだち
(supootsu jimu no tomodachi)
かいしゃのひとたちやスポーツジムのともだち
です。
(kaisha no hitotachi ya supootsu jimu no
tomodachi desu.)
いしゃ
(isha)
ひとりはいしゃです。
(hitori wa isha desu.)
きょうし
(kyooshi)
こうこう
(kookoo)
こうこうのきょうし
(kookoo no kyooshi)
もうひとり
(moo hitori)
Continued on next page
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48
English
Japanese
17
We can use もうひとり to mean either "another person" or "the other person," depending on the
context.
18
Another person is a high school teacher.
19
One person is a doctor. Another person is a
high school teacher.
20
company employee
21
いん in かいしゃいん (company employee) means a "(staff) member" in Japanese. かいしゃいん ,
therefore, literally means a "company staff member." Please note that いん is always used with
other words, as in ぎんこういん (bank employee) or えきいん (station worker)!
22
かいしゃいん is a generic term for company employees, regardless of industry or gender. Male
company employees are often called サラリーマン (salary man). Female office workers are called
OL, the acronym for "office lady"!
23
all
24
Oh, they are all company employees, you
know.
25
Among various occupations available in Japan, arguably the least popular among youth, but the
most ubiquitous in the adult world is サラリーマン (literary "salary man"). They are white-collar
salary-earners who work for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, sales, finance,
and construction. Clean-shaven, dark-suit-clad, unhappy-looking men in packed commuter
trains--the term サラリーマン has negative connotations, but they are the backbone of Japan's
economic power!
もうひとりはこうこうのきょうしです。
(moo hitori wa kookoo no kyooshi desu.)
ひとりはいしゃです。もうひとりはこうこうの
きょうしです。
(hitori wa isha desu. moo hitori wa
kookoo no kyooshi desu.)
かいしゃいん
(kaisha-in)
みんな
(min-na)
ああ、みんなかいしゃいんですよ。
(aa, min-na kaisha-in desu yo.)
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49
Are you going to have karaoke, too?
カラオケもありますか。
English
Japanese
カラオケもありますか。
1
Are you going to have karaoke, too?
2
We are going to have karaoke.
3
We are going to have karaoke, too.
4
も in カラオケもあります is equivalent to "too," "also," or "either" in English. Please note that も is
a particle--that is, it usually appears right after a noun or a noun phrase!　5
カラオケ (karaoke) once was a side entertainment for bar customers, but it has evolved into a
national pastime in Japan! Portable karaoke machines allow people to turn any gathering into a
karaoke party. Die-hard enthusiasts can also go to カラオケボックス (Karaoke Box), a place with
small sound-proof rooms where you and your friends can sing your hearts out without worrying
about other people's reactions!
6
of course
7
Of course we have karaoke, too.
8
Karaoke? Of course!
9
tennis
10
(karaoke mo arimasu ka.)
カラオケがあります。
(karaoke ga arimasu.)
カラオケもあります。
(karaoke mo arimasu.)
もちろん
(mochiron)
もちろんカラオケもあります。
(mochiron karaoke mo arimasu.)
カラオケですか。もちろんです！
(karaoke desu ka. mochiron desu!)
テニス
(tenisu)
I'll play tennis.
テニスをします。
(I'll do tennis.)
(tenisu o shimasu.)
ゴルフ
11
golf
12
I'll play golf.
13
I'll play tennis tomorrow. I'll play golf, too.
14
both tennis and golf
15
X も Y も is equivalent to "both X and Y" or "neither X nor Y" in English.
16
I played both tennis and golf yesterday.
17
Japanese pinball
(gorufu)
ゴルフをします。
(gorufu o shimasu.)
あしたテニスをします。ゴルフもします。
(ashita tenisu o shimasu. gorufu mo
shimasu.)
テニスもゴルフも
(tenisu mo gorufu mo)
きのう、テニスもゴルフもしました。
(ki-noo, tenisu mo gorufu mo shimashita.)
パチンコ
(pachinko)
Continued on next page
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50
English
Japanese
18
パチンコ is a noisy pinball-meets-slot-machine game with colorful, mesmerizing designs. It's a
very popular form of entertainment for adults, and you'll see garishly decorated パチンコや
(pachinko parlors) in every town you visit in Japan!
19
mahjong
20
マージャン is a Chinese game usually played with four participants. Though its popularity has
waned in the U.S., マージャン is still popular among Japanese men. Though not as visible as パチ
ンコや , you'll find じゃんそう (mahjong parlors) in most Japanese towns.
21
neither Japanese pinball nor mahjong
22
My father plays neither Japanese pinball nor
mahjong.
23
Did you notice that we use the expression "X も Y も " (neither X nor Y) with the negative form of
verb, but it does not form double-negative? It's similar to the usage of あまり ("not very much" or
"not very well").
24
Typical middle-aged Japanese businessmen or サラリーマン spend long hours with their
coworkers and/or clients. After a day's work they go out together to bars to entertain their clients
or each other. Some nights, they might prefer to play mahjong or Japanese pinball games (パチ
ンコ ). On the weekends, they may play golf with their clients on the company tab. When they
finally get home, tired サラリーマン usually take a nap or watch TV to relax!
マージャン
(maajan)
パチンコもマージャンも
(pachinko mo maajan mo)
ちちはパチンコもマージャンもしません。
(chichi wa pachinko mo maajan mo
shimasen.)
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51
I like tennis. わ た し は テ ニ ス が す き で す 。
English
1
Japanese
I like tennis.
わたしはテニスがすきです。
(As for me, I like tennis.)
(watashi wa tenisu ga suki desu.)
すきです
2
like
3
When we want to say "(I) like" in Japanese, we say すきです . Please note that すき is a な -adjective
that is equivalent to "fond" or "favorite" in English.
4
I like tennis.
5
Did you notice that we need to use the particle が to say テニスがすきです (I like tennis)? As in
the case of あります or います (have), すきです use が , not を , to mark the object. Let's
memorize "Xがすきです " (I like X) as a set phrase!
6
baseball
7
For Japanese males over 30, the most popular sport to watch on TV is やきゅう (baseball),
whether it's プロやきゅう (professional baseball) or こうこうやきゅう (high school baseball).
Younger men prefer サッカー (soccer), and women generally prefer フィギュアスケート (figure
skating) and バレーボール (volleyball).
8
love
9
だい in だいすきです literally means "big" or "great." When combined with すきです , it works like
"very much." The English equivalent of "Xがだいすきです ," therefore, is "(I) like X very much" or
"(I) love X"!
10
My husband loves baseball.
11
sports
12
hate
13
きらい is a な -adjective, which can mean "hateful," "disgusting," "offensive," or "detestable"-anything that is the opposite of すき ("fond" or "favorite")! To say "(I) hate," we say きらいです . If
you want to emphasize your negative feelings even more, you can say だいきらいです !
14
My wife hates sports.
15
don't like
16
Do you remember that Japanese people try to avoid strong statements especially when they have
to give a negative answer to a question? When we are asked about our preference, it's probably
better to avoid strong words such as きらい ("hate" or "dislike") even though that might be the
way you actually feel. One way to soften the impact of your statement is to use a negative form
such as すきじゃありません (I don't like).
(suki desu)
テニスがすきです。
(tenisu ga suki desu.)
やきゅう
(yakyuu)
だいすきです
(daisuki desu.)
おっとはやきゅうがだいすきです。
(otto wa yakyuu ga daisuki desu.)
スポーツ
(supootsu)
きらいです
(kirai desu)
つまはスポーツがきらいです。
(tuma wa supootsu ga kirai desu.)
すきじゃありません
(suki ja arimasen)
Continued on next page
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52
English
Japanese
あまりすきじゃありません
17
don't like very much
18
Did you remember that あまり ("not very" or "not much") is only used in a negative sentence, but
it does not make the sentence double-negative?
19
professional wrestling
20
neither my husband nor I
21
Neither my husband nor I like professional
wrestling very much.
22
Now let's use the simple yet discreet way to give a negative answer.
23
24
25
(amari suki ja arimasen)
プロレス
(puroresu)
おっともわたしも
(otto mo watashi mo )
おっともわたしもプロレスがあまりすきじゃあ
りません。
(otto mo watashi mo puroresu ga amari
suki ja arimasen.)
I don't care for professional wrestling much...
プロレスはちょっと・・・。
(Professional wrestling is a little bit....)
(puroresu wa chotto....)
すもう
sumo wrestling
(sumoo)
I like sumo, but
すもうはすきですが
(As for sumo, I like it, but)
(sumoo wa suki desu ga)
26
Did you notice that we used the particle は instead of が in すもうはすきですが (I like sumo,
but...)? In a two-part sentence such as "I like X, but I don't like Y," we use the particle は for both
parts to emphasize that we are contrasting two things.
27
I'm sorry. I like sumo, but I don't care for
professional wrestling much....
28
すもう is a form of wrestling with its roots in ancient Shinto rituals in Japan. In a すもう match,
two wrestlers (りきし ), who are clad only with stiff thongs called まわし , fight in a sandy ring called
どひょう . The one who successfully pushes the other off the ring or lets any part of the
opponent's body (except for his soles) touch the ground wins. The popularity of professional すも
う is said to be waning, but it's still holding up among older generations.
すみません。すもうはすきですが、プロレスは
ちょっと・・・。
(sumimasen. sumoo wa suki desu ga,
puroresu wa chotto....)
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53
Because we all like karaoke.
みんなカラオケがすきですから。
English
Japanese
みんなカラオケがすきですから。
1
Because we all like karaoke.
2
We like karaoke.
3
We all like karaoke.
4
because
5
から connects two sentences together by appearing at the end of the first sentence and indicates
that the first sentence is the cause or reason for the second sentence. It's equivalent to
"because," "since" or "so" in English. In conversations, the second sentence (one that tells the
effect or result) is often omitted and only implied.
6
often
7
I often play mahjong.
8
enjoyable
9
Do you remember that the equivalent of "funny" in Japanese is おもしろい ? おもしろい can also
mean "enjoyable" or "interesting."
(min-na karaoke ga suki desu kara.)
カラオケがすきです。
(karaoke ga suki desu.)
みんなカラオケがすきです。
(min-na karaoke ga suki desu.)
から
(kara)
よく
(yoku)
よくマージャンをします。
(yoku maajan o shimasu.)
おもしろい
(omoshiroi)
10
Because it is enjoyable, I often play mahjong.
11
a practice
12
おもしろいですから、よくマージャンをしま
す。
(omoshiroi desu kara, yoku maajan o
shimasu.)
れんしゅう
(renshuu )
to practice
れんしゅうする
(to do practice)
(renshuu suru)
13
Did you notice that れんしゅうする (to practice) is a compound verb using the noun れんしゅう (a
practice) and the generic verb する (to do)?
14
practice
15
every day
16
I practice every day.
17
れんしゅうします
(renshuu shimasu)
まいにち
(mai-nichi)
まいにちれんしゅうします。
(mai-nichi renshuu shimasu.)
ゴルフがすきですから、まいにちれんしゅうし
ます。
Because I like golf, I practice it every day.
(gorufu ga suki desu kara, mai-nichi
renshuu shimasu.)
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54
Continued on next page
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55
English
Japanese
あしたパーティーをします。
18
We are going to have a party tomorrow.
19
why
20
Why are you going to have a party tomorrow?
21
Because tomorrow is my mother's birthday.
(ashita paatii o shimasu.)
どうして
(dooshite)
どうしてあしたパーティーをしますか。
(dooshite ashita paatii o shimasu ka.)
あしたは、ははのたんじょうびですから。
(ashita wa, haha no tanjoobi desu kara.)
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56
Chapter 4: Dating 101
デー ト入 門
Chapter 4: Dating 101
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Ask or Tell the Time
Inquire about Somebody's Habits
Offer an Explanation
Present Yourself Modestly
Strike Up a Conversation
Add Counters for Time to Numbers
Understand Different Functions of the Particle
と
Use the "な -adjective or Noun + なんです "
Form to Offer an Explanation
Use the Particle で to Indicate the Place of
Action
Conversation
English
Japanese
すみません。ここ、だれかいますか。
Excuse me. Is someone sitting here?
(sumimasen. koko, dareka imasu ka.)
いいえ。どうぞ。
No. Go ahead.
(iie. doozo.)
どうもありがとう。すごいひとですね。
Thanks. It's terribly crowded, isn't it!
(doomo arigatoo. sugoi hito desu ne.)
ええ。おひとりですか。
Yes. Are you by yourself?
(ee. o-hitori desu ka.)
いいえ、ごうコンなんですが、ダンスがにがてな
んです。
No. As a matter of fact, I'm here for a blind date
party, but I'm a poor dancer.
(iie, gookon nandesu ga, dansu ga nigate
nandesu.)
へえ、ぼくもですよ。ぼくはたかしといいます。
おなまえは？
Oh? Same here. My name is Takashi. What's
yours?
(hee, boku mo desu yo. boku wa takashi to
iimasu. o-namae wa?)
ようこです。どうぞよろしく。
I'm Yoko. Nice to meet you.
(yooko desu. doozo yoroshiku.)
ここはうるさいですね。となりのカフェでコー
ヒーでものみませんか。
It's noisy here, isn't it! Why don't we have coffee or
something at the cafe next door?
(koko wa urusai desu ne. tonari no kafe de
koohii demo nomimasen ka.)
いいですね！そうしましょう。
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57
いいですね！そうしましょう。
Sounds good! Let's do so.
(ii desu ne! soo shimashoo.)
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58
Is someone sitting here? こ こ 、だ れ か い ま す か 。
English
1
Japanese
Is someone sitting here?
ここ、だれかいますか。
(Is there someone here?)
(koko, dare ka imasu ka.)
2
In everyday conversation, the particle に in ここに (here) is often omitted. Let's try it!
3
You have learned that Japanese people usually don't greet or talk to total strangers. Don't think,
however, that you'll be lonely while visiting Japan! It all depends on opportunities--where you are
and whom you are with. The easiest way to meet many people and make new friends is to visit
popular nightclubs, local festivals, or outdoor concerts, where various people gather together with
open minds and a common goal: to have fun!
4
someone or anyone
5
There is someone.
6
Do you remember we used the particle が to mark the subject of verbs as in こいがいます (There
are carp)? In everyday conversations, the particle が is often omitted when the subject of the
sentence is だれか (someone) or its counterpart なにか (something).
7
Is there someone?
8
Is there someone here?
9
Um, excuse me. Is someone sitting here?
10
there is not (when referring to living creatures)
11
no one
12
Please note that though だれも means "no one" or "nobody," it must be used with the negative
form of a verb in a sentence.
13
There is no one.
14
Did you notice that we don't need the particle が after だれも ?
15
Go ahead.
16
So far, we have used どうぞ to mean "Here you go," "Please come in," or "Please get on." We can
also use どうぞ to allow someone to take an action. It's equivalent to "Go ahead" or "Please do"!
17
No, there is no one. Go ahead.
だれか
(dareka)
だれかいます。
(dareka imasu.)
だれかいますか。
(dareka imasu ka.)
ここにだれかいますか。
(koko ni dareka imasu ka.)
あのう、すみません。ここ、だれかいますか。
(anoo, sumimasen. koko, dareka imasu
ka.)
いません
(imasen)
だれも
(daremo)
だれもいません。
(daremo imasen.)
どうぞ。
(doozo.)
いいえ、だれもいません。どうぞ。
(iie, daremo imasen. doozo.)
Continued on next page
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59
English
18
Japanese
boyfriend
かれ
(he/him)
(kare)
19
Do you remember that Japanese people usually avoid using pronouns as long as the context
allows it? かれ literally means "he" or "him," but it is often used to mean a very special "he"-(one's) boyfriend!
20
my boyfriend's seat
21
I'm sorry. That is my boyfriend's seat.
22
Did you use the pointing word そこ (that place) instead of それ (that thing) to point to せき (seat),
which is considered as a place rather than an object?
23
In Japanese, terms of endearment such as "Honey" or "Sweetheart" are almost non-existent.
Unmarried couples call each other by their first names or nicknames. Wives may call their
husbands あなた (literally, "You"), which is perhaps the closest thing to "Honey" in English. More
commonly, wives call their husbands おとうさん (Father) or パパ (Papa) while husbands call their
wives おかあさん (Mother) or ママ (Mom)--depending on how their children call them!
かれのせき
(kare no seki)
すみません。そこはかれのせきです。
(sumimasen. soko wa kare no seki desu.)
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60
Are you by yourself? お ひ と り で す か 。
English
Japanese
おひとりですか。
1
Are you by yourself?
2
being by oneself
3
Do you remember that we count people as ひとり (one person), ふたり (two people), さんにん
(three people), and so on? ひとり can also mean "(being) single," "(being) alone," or "(being) by
oneself"!
4
is/am/are by oneself
5
Are you by yourself?
6
being by oneself
7
Yes, I'm by myself.
8
No, I'm not by myself.
9
with my boyfriend
10
So far we have used the particle と as the Japanese equivalent of "and," as in ちちとはは (father
and mother). The same particle has another function: in the phrase かれと , と means "with" in
English!
11
I'm together with my boyfriend.
12
Did you notice that we don't need the particle に when we use the word いっしょ (being together)
along with です , as in かれといっしょです (I'm together with my boyfriend)?
13
girlfriend
14
Like かれ ("[one's] boyfriend"; literally, "he" or "him"), かのじょ is the pronoun for "she" or "her,"
but is often used to mean "(one's) girlfriend"!
15
No, I'm not by myself. I'm together with my
girlfriend, you know.
16
"Love" in Japanese is あい , and the standard translation for "I love you" is あいしています (literally,
"am loving"). This expression, however, sounds rather foreign to native speakers. The more
common and natural-sounding expression for confession of love is すきです (literally, "like").
Established Japanese couples, by the way, don't tell each other "I love you" as often as Americans
do. For most Japanese, true love is something that should be understood without words!
(ohitori desu ka.)
ひとり
(hitori)
ひとりです
(hitori desu)
ひとりですか。
(hitori desu ka.)
おひとり
(ohitori)
ええ、ひとりです。
(ee, hitori desu.)
いいえ、ひとりじゃありません。
(iie, hitori ja arimasen.)
かれと
(kare to)
かれといっしょです。
(kare to issho desu.)
かのじょ
(kanojo)
いいえ、ひとりじゃありません。かのじょと
いっしょですよ。
(iie, hitori ja arimasen. kanojo to issho
desu yo.)
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61
Is this your first time to come to this place of
business?
このみせははじめてですか。
English
1
Japanese
Is this your first time to come to this place of
business?
(As for this place of business, is it for the first
time?)
このみせははじめてですか。
(kono mise wa hajimete desu ka.)
2
You have already learned that most Japanese don't walk up to a total stranger and introduce
themselves. If you want to make new friends in Japan, start with small talk. Commenting on your
surroundings (such as the weather or the size of the crowd) is an age-old icebreaker, and so is
asking about the person's familiarity with the particular place you are both in!
3
for the first time
4
はじめて
(hajimete)
It's my first time.
はじめてです。
(It is for the first time.)
(hajimete desu.)
みせ
5
store or place of business
6
みせ is a generic term for a place of business that is open for customers, including retail stores,
restaurants, and bars. Native speakers often use the term whenever they assume that their
listeners understand which place of business they are talking about. It's one of those words that
is very simple and useful, but it's hard to find an English equivalent! For convenience, let's use a
"place of business" for its English translation even though it may sound a bit strange.
7
this place of business
8
Yes, it's my first time.
9
No, it's not my first time.
10
the second time
11
かいめ in にかいめ (the second time) is the counter indicating the status of the current action in
regard to the frequency. Please note that in order to say "(for) the first time" in Japanese, we
often say はじめて without using the combination of the number and the counter.
12
This is my second time.
13
the third time
14
No, it's not my first time. It's my third time.
15
to come
(mise)
このみせ
(kono mise)
ええ、はじめてです。
(ee, hajimete desu.)
いいえ、はじめてじゃありません。
(iie, hajimete ja arimasen.)
にかいめ
(nikaime )
にかいめです。
(nikaime desu.)
さんかいめ
(sankaime)
いいえ、はじめてじゃありません。さんかいめ
です。
(iie, hajimete ja arimasen. sankaime
desu.)
くる
(kuru)
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63
English
16
come
17
Do you come often?
18
night club
19
Japanese
きます
(kimasu)
よくきますか。
(yoku kimasu ka.)
クラブ
(kurabu)
Do you come to this club often?
このクラブはよくきますか。
(As for this club, do you come often?)
(kono kurabu wa yoku kimasu ka.)
ええ、よくきます。
20
Yes, I come often.
21
あまり ("not very" or "not much") can also mean "not very often." Let's use it in this way in the
next question!
22
No, I don't come very often.
23
sometimes
24
I come sometimes.
25
together with my boyfriend
26
The two expressions "X と " (with X) and "X といっしょに " (together with X) mean the same thing.
We can use them interchangeably to indicate that X is the person with whom you share an action,
such as going to a club or watching a movie.
27
I come sometimes together with my
boyfriend.
28
with whom
29
With whom do you come?
30
my coworkers, my friends, and others
31
I come with my coworkers, my friends, and
others, you know.
32
From the 1970s to the early 1990s, the ディスコ (discotheque) was the rage all over Japan.
Today, the name of ディスコ has become a thing of the past. It's now called a クラブ (nightclub),
and that's the place young crowds gather for dancing. If you are planning to visit one, beware
that there is another kind of クラブ in Japan. These are expensive nightclubs staffed with kimonoclad hostesses, where the bill for a sip of whiskey might bust your entire travel budget!
(ee, yoku kimasu.)
いいえ、あまりきません。
(iie, amari kimasen.)
ときどき
(tokidoki)
ときどききます。
(tokidoki kimasu.)
かれといっしょに
(kare to issho ni)
かれといっしょにときどききます。
(kare to issho ni tokidoki kimasu.)
だれと
(dare to)
だれときますか。
(dare to kimasu ka.)
かいしゃのひとたちやともだち
(kaisha no hitotachi ya tomodachi)
かいしゃのひとたちやともだちときますよ。
(kaisha no hitotachi ya tomodachi to
kimasu yo.)
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64
As a matter of fact, I am a poor dancer.
ダンスがにがてなんです。
English
1
Japanese
As a matter of fact, I am a poor dancer.
ダンスがにがてなんです。
(As a matter of fact, I am poor at dancing.)
(dansu ga nigate nandesu.)
にがて
2
poor at
3
にがて is a な -adjective we can use to describe our weak points. It's equivalent to "poor at" or
"weak in" in English!
4
I am poor at it.
5
As a matter of fact, I am poor at it.
6
When you say にがてです , you are simply stating (or "reporting") that you are not good at
something. When you say にがてなんです , however, you are offering the fact to your listener as
an explanation for your action or your previous remark. The ending なんです , attached to either
nouns, な -adjectives, or adverbs, adds the nuance of "as a matter of fact" or "to tell you the truth"
to the sentence. For the sake of convenience, let's call this mode of speech the "explanation
mode"!
7
dancing
8
I am poor at dancing.
9
Do you remember the expression にほんごがじょうずです (You are good at Japanese) or テニス
がすきです (I like tennis)? As in the case of じょうずです or すきです , we use the particle が to
indicate the object of にがてです --that is, what we are poor at --as in ダンスがにがてです .
10
I hate sports.
11
As a matter of fact, I hate sports.
12
neither tennis nor golf
13
I play neither tennis nor golf. As a matter of
fact, I hate sports.
14
blind-date party
15
コンパ (a slang derived from the English word "company") is a form of a party popular with young
people, particularly college students. They go out to a pub or restaurant with classmates or club
members and enjoy each other's company over food and drinks. When コンパ is organized to
meet new people of the opposite sex, it's called a ごうどうコンパ (literally, "joint コンパ ") or ごう
コン in short. The closest English equivalent would be a "blind-date party"!
(nigate)
にがてです。
(nigate desu.)
にがてなんです。
(nigate nandesu.)
ダンス
(dansu)
ダンスがにがてです。
(dansu ga nigate desu.)
スポーツがきらいです。
(supootsu ga kirai desu.)
スポーツがきらいなんです。
(supootsu ga kirai nandesu.)
テニスもゴルフも
(tenisu mo gorufu mo)
テニスもゴルフもしません。スポーツがきらい
なんです。
(tenisu mo gorufu mo shimasen.
supootsu ga kirai nandesu.)
ごうコン
(gookon)
Continued on next page
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65
English
Japanese
ごうコンです。
16
It's a blind-date party.
17
As a matter of fact, it's a blind-date party.
18
As a matter of fact, it's a blind-date party, but
I am a poor dancer.
19
(gookon desu.)
ごうコンなんです。
(gookon nandesu.)
ごうコンなんですが、ダンスがにがてなんで
す。
(gookon nandesu ga, dansu ga nigate
nandesu.)
Me, too.
わたしもです。
(I am too.)
(watashi mo desu.)
へえ？
20
Oh?
21
へえ？ is a casual way to express your surprise or doubt. It's equivalent to "Indeed?" "Really?" or
"Oh?" in English!
22
Can you answer the next question using the casual "I" for a male speaker?
23
Oh, is that so? Me, too.
24
Once upon a time, みあい or おみあい , chaperoned dates arranged by relatives or family friends
who acted as matchmakers, was the way to find one's better half in Japan. Today, less than 10%
of marriages go through such a traditional method while "love matches" have become the norm.
The concept of おみあい , however, seems to still be thriving. おみあいパーティー , organized
collective dating similar to speed dating in the US, has become a big business all over Japan!
(hee?)
へえ、そうですか。ぼくもです。
(hee, soo desu ka. boku mo desu.)
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66
My name is Takashi. ぼ く は た か し と い い ま す 。
English
1
Japanese
My name is Takashi.
ぼくはたかしといいます。
(As for me, I am called Takashi.)
(boku wa takashi to iimasu.)
2
You have met someone whom you want to be friends with. You approach him or her and strike up
an innocent conversation. After making small talk for some time, you are ready to introduce
yourself and find out the person's name. If you find yourself in such a scenario, it sounds more
natural and polite to tell your name in an indirect manner, using the expression わたしは X といい
ます . It's equivalent to "My name is X," but you are actually saying, "I'm called X"!
3
to say
4
is/am/are called
5
Do you remember the expression 「うに」といいます (We call it "uni")? といいます is a common
expression we use to introduce the name of a thing or a person in somewhat indirect manner. It's
equivalent to "is/am/are called ~" or "we call (something) ~." Let's memorize it as a phrase so
that all we have to do is to insert the name before と !
6
I'm called Takashi.
7
My name is Takashi. What's your name?
8
I'm Yoko. Nice to meet you.
9
Generally speaking, Japanese women prefer to be asked out by men rather than asking men out
themselves. It does not mean, however, that Japanese women are all shy and passive--especially
younger generations! In fact, as more women strive for economic independence, they have also
become more assertive in relationships. More men, on the other hand, are said to have become
gentler and more passive. Such males are sometimes called そうしょくけい --a "herbivorous
kind"!
10
Though we often get by without using any pronouns such as わたし (I or me) or あなた (you) in
Japanese, sometimes we have to be specific to avoid misunderstandings or mix-ups--especially in
relationships! In the following questions, let's clearly state whose boyfriend we are talking about!
11
my boyfriend
12
いう
(yuu)
といいます
(to iimasu)
たかしといいます。
(takashi to iimasu.)
ぼくはたかしといいます。おなまえは？
(boku wa takashi to iimasu. onamae wa?)
ようこです。どうぞよろしく。
(yooko desu. doozo yoroshiku.)
わたしのかれ
(watashi no kare)
My boyfriend's name is Ichiro.
わたしのかれはいちろうといいます。
(As for my boyfriend, he is called Ichiro.)
(watashi no kare)
すてき
13
wonderful
14
すてき is a な -adjective that means "wonderful," "lovely," or "nice."
(suteki)
Continued on next page
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67
English
Japanese
すてきなひと
15
a wonderful person
16
Did you remember to add な and say すてきなひと since すてき is a な -adjective?
17
My boyfriend's name is Ichiro. He is a
wonderful person, you know!
18
In general, Japanese people are modest and try not to sound boastful. People in love, however,
can't help talking proudly about their partners--even in Japan! Such affectionate remarks are
called のろけ or おのろけ and are generally well-tolerated among good friends.
19
While mild のろけ (affectionate boasting about one's partner) is kindly received among friends,
public display of affection by couples is not well-tolerated in Japan. Holding hands is ok, but public
kissing and hugging would compel people around you to avert their eyes quickly or stare at you as
if you are characters from an American TV show. Either way, it's not very pleasant for any of the
parties involved. Let's do in Japan as the Japanese do and be modest in your actions!
(sutekina hito)
わたしのかれはいちろうといいます。すてきな
ひとですよ！
(watashi no kare wa ichiroo to iimasu.
sutekina hito desu yo!)
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68
Why don't we have coffee or something at the cafe
next-door?
と な り の カ フ ェ で コ ーヒ ーで も の み ま せ ん か 。
English
Japanese
1
Why don't we have coffee or something at the
cafe next-door?
2
to drink
3
drink
4
I drink coffee.
5
となりのカフェでコーヒーでものみませんか。
(tonari no kafe de koohii demo
nomimasen ka.)
のむ
(nomu)
のみます
(nomimasu)
コーヒーをのみます。
(koohii o nomimasu.)
Why don't we have coffee?
コーヒーをのみませんか。
(Why don't we drink coffee?)
(koohii o nomimasen ka.)
カフェ
6
cafe
7
The Japanese term for "coffee shop" is きっさてん (literally, "drinking-tea shop"), but the term is
fast becoming obsolete while カフェ (cafe) has become quite popular. Strictly speaking, カフェ
and きっさてん are different: カフェ serves alcohol while きっさてん doesn't. However, even nonalcohol coffee shops often call themselves カフェ or コーヒーハウス (coffee house), hoping to
create more sophisticated images with the use of the "borrowed" words!
8
(kafe)
cafe next-door
となりのカフェ
(cafe at the next-door)
(tonari no kafe)
9
Can you see the difference between となりのカフェ and カフェのとなり ? While となりのカフェ
(literally, "cafe at the next-door") describes the cafe in regard to its location, カフェのとなり
(literally, "the next-door of the cafe") indicates the location of something else in relation to the
cafe.
10
Why don't we have coffee at the cafe nextdoor?
11
Did you notice that we need to use the particle で and say となりのカフェで ? This is the same
particle we learned to use in the sentence ここでおります (I'm getting off at this place). The
particle で attaches itself to a noun denoting a place, just as the particle に does, and works as
"at," "in," or "on" in English. While に indicates the place where something or someone exists, で
indicates the place where some action takes place.
12
coffee or something
13
When we want to give an example while making a suggestion, we use でも , instead of the particle
を , after the noun. For instance, when suggesting that someone join us for refreshments, we can
pick コーヒー (coffee) as an example out of other drinks available and say コーヒーでも , which
means "coffee or something" or "coffee, for example." Please note that this でも is different from
でも that means "but"!
14
Why don't we have coffee or something?
となりのカフェでコーヒーをのみませんか。
(tonari no kafe de koohii o nomimasen
ka.)
コーヒーでも
(koohii demo)
コーヒーでものみませんか。
(koohii demo nomimasen ka.)
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69
15
うるさい
noisy
(urusai)
Continued on next page
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70
English
Japanese
うるさいです。
16
It is noisy.
17
This place is noisy, isn't it!
18
the place of business next-door
19
tea or something
20
This place is noisy, isn't it! Why don't we have
tea or something at the place of business
next-door?
21
When people say おちゃでものみませんか (Why don't we have tea or something?), chances are
that they are not really thinking of a cup of green tea or even black tea. It's an idiomatic
expression native speakers use to mean "Let's have a break." It's also an age-old pick-up line
adopted by guys on the streets! Nowadays, young people often opt for the pseudo-verb おちゃす
る (literally, "to do tea"), saying おちゃしませんか or more casually, おちゃしない？
22
terrible or amazing
23
(urusai desu.)
ここはうるさいですね。
(koko wa urusai desu ne.)
となりのみせ
(tonari no mise)
おちゃでも
(ocha demo)
ここはうるさいですね。となりのみせでおちゃ
でものみませんか。
(koko wa urusai desu ne. tonari no mise
de ocha demo nomimasen ka.)
すごい
(sugoi)
terribly crowded
すごいひと
(amazing person)
(sugoi hito)
24
すごいひと can mean either an "amazing person" or "terribly crowded." Let's use it in the latter
sense here!
25
It's terribly crowded, isn't it!
26
bar
27
すごいひとですね。
(sugoi hito desu ne.)
バー
(baa)
bar across the street
むかいのバー
(bar on the opposite side)
(mukai no baa)
28
むかいのバー can mean either "the bar across the street" or "the bar across the hallway (or
aisle)."
29
cocktail
30
It's terribly crowded, isn't it! Why don't we have
cocktails or something at the bar across the
street?
31
I'll do so.
32
Let's do so.
33
It sounds good! Let's do so.
カクテル
(kakuteru)
すごいひとですね。むかいのバーでカクテルで
ものみませんか。
(sugoi hito desu ne. mukai no baa de
kakuteru demo nomimasen ka.)
そうします。
(soo shimasu.)
そうしましょう。
(soo shimashoo.)
いいですね！そうしましょう。
(ii desu ne! soo shimashoo.)
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71
Continued on next page
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72
English
34
Japanese
Generally speaking, Japanese women prefer paying their own way when they wine and dine with
friends--whether these friends are male or female. However, when asked out by men for the first
time, many women probably expect their dates to pay the whole tab. "Going Dutch" in Japanese
is わりかん . If you want to suggest to split the cost, you can say わりかんにしましょう !
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73
What time is it now? い ま 、な ん じ で す か 。
English
1
2
Japanese
いま、なんじですか。
What time is it now?
(ima, nanji desu ka.)
what time
なんじ
(what o'clock)
(nanji)
3
じ in なんじ is the counter for the hour. It's equivalent to "o'clock" in English!
4
What time is it?
5
now
6
Asking the time is the simplest and most innocent way to strike up a conversation with a
stranger. It can also be a convenient segue for a safe retreat after you have decided that your
new acquaintance is not the right one for you!
7
three o'clock
8
It's three o'clock now.
9
four o'clock
10
Did you notice that the pronunciation of よん (four) changes when it's used to tell the hour?
11
half (referring to time period)
12
half past four
13
afternoon or p.m.
14
half past four in the afternoon
15
seven o'clock
16
Some Japanese numbers have two different pronunciations. For example, we have so far learned
"seven" is なな , but the same number can be read as しち . In general, we can use both
pronunciations interchangeably, but sometimes we have to use a particular one, depending on
the counter that follows it. When we say "seven o'clock," for example, we have to say しちじ . Let's
memorize it and use it as it is!
17
morning or a.m.
なんじですか。
(nanji desu ka.)
いま
(ima)
さんじ
(sanji)
いま、さんじです。
(ima, sanji desu.)
よじ
(yoji)
はん
(han)
よじはん
(yoji han)
ごご
(gogo)
ごごよじはん
(gogo yoji han)
しちじ
(shichiji )
ごぜん
(gozen)
Continued on next page
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74
English
Japanese
いま、ごぜんしちじです。
18
It's seven o'clock in the morning now.
19
nine o'clock
20
Like "seven," "nine" in Japanese has two pronunciations: きゅう and く . When we tell the hour, we
have to say くじ (nine o'clock). Let's memorize this one, too!
21
already
22
It's already half past nine.
23
What!?
24
What!? It's eleven o'clock already?
25
to go home
26
かえる means "to return," but we often use it to mean "to go home."
27
go home
28
I'm sorry, but I'm going home.
29
Good night.
30
What!? It's twelve o'clock already? I'm sorry,
but I'm going home. Good night!
(ima, gozen shichiji desu.)
くじ
(kuji)
もう
(moo)
もうくじはんです。
(moo kuji han desu.)
えっ !?
(e!?)
えっ !? もうじゅういちじですか。
(e!? moo juuichiji desu ka.)
かえる
(kaeru)
かえります
(kaerimasu)
すみませんが、かえります。
(sumimasen ga, kaerimasu.)
おやすみなさい。
(oyasuminasai.)
えっ !? もうじゅうにじですか。すみません
が、かえります。おやすみなさい！
(e!? moo juuniji desu ka. sumimasen ga,
kaerimasu. oyasuminasai!)
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75
Chapter 5: Planning for the Weekend
週 末 の計 画
Chapter 5: Planning for the Weekend
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Form the "ます -form + たいです " Pattern
Recognize the "ます -form/Noun + に + い
く /くる " Pattern
Use the Particle に to Indicate the Point of
Time of Action
Use the Particle へ to Indicate the Direction of
Movement
Discuss Plans for the Weekend
Make Appointments
Name the Days of the Week
Remind Someone to Bring Something
Suggest What to Do or Where to Go
Conversation
English
Japanese
ようこさん、しゅうまつよていがありますか。
Do you have any plans for the weekend, Yoko?
(yooko san, shuumatsu yotee ga arimasu
ka.)
いいえ、とくにありません。
No, nothing in particular.
(iie, toku ni arimasen.)
じゃあ、どようびハイキングにいきませんか。
Well then, why don't we go for a hike on Saturday?
(jaa, do-yoobi haikingu ni ikimasen ka.)
いいですね。どこへいきたいですか。
Sounds good! Where do you want to go?
(ii desu ne. doko e ikitai desu ka.)
たかおさんはどうですか。とてもいいけしきです
よ。
How about Mt. Takao? It offers a very fine view,
you know.
(takaosan wa doo desu ka. totemo ii keshiki
desu yo.)
わかりました。おちゃとおべんとうがいりますね ?
OK. We need tea and box lunch, right?
(wakarimashita. ocha to obentoo ga irimasu
ne?)
ぼうしとカメラもおわすれなく！
Don't forget your hat and camera, either!
(booshi to kamera mo owasurenaku!)
あさ、くじにしんじゅくえきであいましょう。
Let's meet at the Shinjuku Station at nine o'clock
in the morning.
(asa, ku-ji ni shinjuku eki de aimashoo.)
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76
Do you have any plans for the weekend?
しゅうまつよていがありますか。
English
Japanese
しゅうまつよていがありますか。
1
Do you have any plans for the weekend?
2
Until late 1980s, most businesses and schools in Japan were open for half a day on Saturdays.
Today, the しゅうきゅうふつか (two-day weekend) has become the norm, and the concept of a
weekend has expanded to include not only Saturdays and Sundays but also Friday evenings.
Though most Japanese calenders now start with Sundays, many people still think that the first day
of the week is Monday!
3
plan
4
I have plans.
5
weekend
6
I have plans for the weekend.
7
Did you notice that we don't need any particle after しゅうまつ (weekend) to say "for the
weekend"? Most time expressions that do not include specific numbers such as the hour or the
date can be used as they are without particles equivalent to "at," "on," "in," or "for."
8
Monday
9
Japanese terms for the day of the week originate in the ancient Babylonian traditions that had
been transmitted to Japan through China in the ninth century. Each term corresponds to the
Japanese names for the sun, the moon, and five planets (Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and
Saturn). よう in ようび (the day of the week) literally means "to shine"--a reference to shining
stars--while び means "day." げつようび , therefore, literally means the "Moon-shining Day"!
10
Do you have plans for Monday, Yoko?
11
Tuesday
12
か in かようび (Tuesday) means "fire," and it corresponds to the Japanese term for Mars, かせい
(literally, "Fire Star").
13
Wednesday
14
すい in すいようび (Wednesday) means "water," and it corresponds to the Japanese term for
Mercury, すいせい (literally, "Water Star").
15
Thursday
16
もく in もくようび (Thursday) means "wood" or "tree," and it corresponds to the Japanese term
for Jupiter, もくせい (literally, "Wood Star").
17
Friday
(shuumatsu yotee ga arimasu ka.)
よてい
(yotee)
よていがあります。
(yotee ga arimasu.)
しゅうまつ
(shuumatsu)
しゅうまつよていがあります。
(shuumatsu yotee ga arimasu.)
げつようび
(getsu-yoobi)
ようこさん、げつようびよていがありますか。
(yooko san, getsu-yoobi yotee ga
arimasu ka.)
かようび
(ka-yoobi)
すいようび
(sui-yoobi)
もくようび
(moku-yoobi)
きんようび
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77
17
Friday
(kin-yoobi)
Continued on next page
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78
English
Japanese
18
きん in きんようび (Friday) means "metal" or "gold," and it corresponds to the Japanese term for
Venus, きんせい ("Gold Star").
19
Saturday
20
ど in どようび (Saturday) means "earth," "soil" or "dirt," and it corresponds to the Japanese term
for Saturn, どせい (literally, "Dirt Star").
21
Sunday
22
にち in にちようび (Sunday) means "the sun," just like in English! Please note, however, にち
itself cannot be used independently to mean the sun. Neither are the corresponding parts in
other days of the week such as げつ in げつようび or か in かようび , except for きん (gold) in きん
ようび !
23
Here is the simple, yet effective way to memorize all the Japanese terms for the days of the week:
say, "げつ , か (あ ), すい , もく , きん , ど (お ), にち " (the extra vowels are added after か and ど for
the sake of the rhythm). Repeat it, like a mantra, until it gets stuck in your head. Then, all you
need to do is to add ようび after each component. Make sure, though, to remember that this
"week mantra" starts with Monday!
24
things to do
25
I have things to do.
26
Do you have things to do on Sunday?
27
No, I don't have any.
28
in particular
29
(do-yoobi)
にちようび
(nichi-yoobi)
ようじ
(yooji)
ようじがあります。
(yooji ga arimasu.)
にちようびようじがありますか。
(nichi-yoobi yooji ga arimasu ka.)
いいえ、ありません。
(iie, arimasen.)
とくに
(toku ni)
No, nothing in particular.
いいえ、とくにありません。
(No, I don't have in particular.)
(iie, toku ni arimasen.)
30
busy
31
I'm busy.
32
free (when referring to one's schedule)
33
どようび
いそがしい
(isogashii)
いそがしいです。
(isogashii desu.)
ひま
(hima)
I'm free on Friday.
きんようびはひまです。
(As for Friday, I am free.)
(kin-yoobi wa hima desu.)
そうですね・・・。どようびはいそがしいです
が、にちようびはひまです。
34
Well.... I'm busy on Saturday, but free on
Sunday.
35
Did you remember that we use the particle は as in "Xは ・・・ が 、 Yは ・・・ " (X is..., but Y is...)
when we contrast two statements in one sentence?
(soo desu ne.... do-yoobi wa isogashii
desu ga, nichi-yoobi wa hima desu.)
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Continued on next page
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80
English
36
Japanese
In Japan, we officially have Happy Mondays! The ハッピーマンデーせいど (Happy Mondays
system) was introduced in the year 2000, and the government has since changed the dates of
four national holidays to Mondays in order to create three-day weekends. These blessed holidays
are せいじんのひ or "Coming-of-Age Day" in January, うみのひ or "Ocean Day" in July, けいろうの
ひ or "Respect-for-the-Aged Day" in September, and たいいくのひ or "Physical Education Day" in
October.
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81
Why don't we go to a mountain for a hike?
やまへハイキングにいきませんか。
English
Japanese
やまへハイキングにいきませんか。
1
Why don't we go to a mountain for a hike?
2
アウトドアライフ (outdoor life) has become fashionable among city dwellers in Japan.
Unfortunately, there are a very limited number of accessible nature spots close to home.
Whether on hiking trails, camping grounds, or fishing spots, those who try to escape the hubbub
of city life often find themselves trapped among similarly-minded crowds at their destinations and
stuck in traffic jams on the way to and from home!
3
Why don't we go?
4
mountain
5
to a mountain
6
Do you remember the expression とうきょうえきまで (to Tokyo station)? Both まで and へ can
be used to indicate a destination, but while まで emphasizes the end of a movement, like "as far
as" in English, the particle へ puts more emphasis on the direction of movement as in "toward."
In this section, let's use へ as the equivalent of "to" in English!
7
Why don't we go to a mountain?
8
for a hike
9
We have learned to use the particle に to indicate a location where something exists, as in ここに
あります (It exists here). We can also use the particle に to express the purpose of movement
with verbs such as いく (to go), くる (to come), or かえる (to go home). In such a case, the noun
that comes before に is an activity noun like hiking or shopping. Sometimes, an event such as a
concert or a festival can be used before the particle に as well.
10
Why don't we go for a hike?
11
Why don't we go to the park?
12
for a walk
13
Why don't we go to the park for a walk on
Saturday?
14
river
15
I'm going to the river with my friends.
(yama e haikingu ni ikimasen ka.)
いきませんか。
(ikimasen ka.)
やま
(yama)
やまへ
(yama e)
やまへいきませんか。
(yama e ikimasen ka.)
ハイキングに
(haikingu ni)
ハイキングにいきませんか。
(haikingu ni ikimasen ka.)
こうえんへいきませんか。
(kooen e ikimasen ka.)
さんぽに
(sanpo ni)
どようびこうえんへさんぽにいきませんか。
(do-yoobi kooen e sanpo ni ikimasen ka.)
かわ
(kawa)
ともだちとかわへいきます。
(tomodachi to kawa e ikimasu.)
Continued on next page
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82
English
Japanese
つり
16
fishing
17
I'm going to the river with my friends for
fishing.
18
I'm going to the river with my friends for
fishing on Sunday. Why don't you come with
us?
19
If you want to try some fishing in Japan but have no idea where to go, try つりぼり or artificial
fishing ponds! There you can rent different kinds of fishing rods with all the necessary accessories
and catch various fish for an hourly fee. Some つりぼり are catch-and-release only; others allow
you to keep what you catch within a certain limit. Some places even rent barbecue pits where
you can cook the fish you've just caught.
(tsuri)
ともだちとかわへつりにいきます。
(tomodachi to kawa e tsuri ni ikimasu.)
にちようびともだちとかわへつりにいきます。
いっしょにいきませんか。
(nichi-yoobi tomodachi to kawa e tsuri ni
ikimasu. issho ni ikimasen ka.)
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83
Let's go to the beach to swim.
うみへおよぎにいきましょう。
English
Japanese
うみへおよぎにいきましょう。
1
Let's go to the beach to swim.
2
Japan is an island nation, and even the northern parts of the country have beaches open for
swimming in summer. Except for Okinawa, however, the swimming season is usually limited to
July and August. The short season means...crowded beaches! For example, えのしま , arguably
the most famous beach near Tokyo, is said to host more than three million people in one
summer!
3
to swim
4
swim
5
go to swim
6
We have learned that the particle に indicates the purpose of movement. The word that comes
before に can be either an activity noun or a verb! When we use a verb, simply drop ます from
the polite form and add に . For example, to say "I go to swim," we drop ます from およぎます
(swim) and say およぎにいきます .
7
Let's go to swim.
8
ocean or sea
9
うみ means the "ocean" or "sea," but we can also use it to mean the "beach" when we want to say
"Let's go to the beach" or "This beach is clean."
10
(umi e oyogi ni ikimashoo.)
およぐ
(oyogu)
およぎます
(oyogimasu)
およぎにいきます
(oyogi ni ikimasu)
およぎにいきましょう。
(oyogi ni ikimashoo.)
うみ
(umi)
Let's go to the beach.
うみへいきましょう。
(Let's go to the ocean.)
(umi e ikimashoo.)
あそぶ
11
to play or to have fun
12
have fun
13
go to have fun
14
amusement park
15
We'll go to the amusement park to have fun.
16
(asobu)
あそびます
(asobimasu)
あそびにいきます
(asobi ni ikimasu)
ゆうえんち
(yuuenchi)
ゆうえんちへあそびにいきます。
(yuuenchi e asobi ni ikimasu.)
next Sunday
こんどのにちようび
(Sunday of the next time)
(kondo no nichi-yoobi)
Continued on next page
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84
English
Japanese
こんどのにちようび、ゆうえんちへあそびにい
きましょう。
17
Let's go to the amusement park to have fun
next Sunday.
18
Theme parks or テーマパーク are big business in Japan. They attract not only families with
children but also adults who cannot have enough of all the fun rides they offer! The most famous
ones are とうきょうディズニーランド (Tokyo Disneyland) and ディズニーシー (DisneySea) in う
らやす in Chiba Prefecture, which, combined, boast about 25,000,000 visitors a year.
19
to come over for a visit
20
あそびにくる literally means "to come to have fun," but we can use the phrase to mean "to come
over for a visit" when we invite others to our own home. In turn, we can say あそびにいく (literally,
"to go to have fun") when we go to someone's home for a visit!
21
Why don't you come over for a visit?
22
next Saturday
23
Why don't you come over to my house for a
visit next Saturday?
(kondo no nichi-yoobi, yuuenchi e asobi
ni ikimashoo.)
あそびにくる
(asobi ni kuru)
あそびにきませんか。
(asobi ni kimasen ka.)
こんどのどようび
(kondo no do-yoobi)
こんどのどようび、うちへあそびにきません
か。
(kondo no do-yoobi, uchi e asobi ni
kimasen ka.)
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85
Where do you want to go? ど こ へ い き た い で す か 。
English
Japanese
どこへいきたいですか。
1
Where do you want to go?
2
want to go
3
Here is another formula that uses the ます -form of a verb: when we want to express our desire to
do something, we drop ます from the polite form of the verb and add たいです . For example, い
きたいです means "(I) want to go." Please note that we cannot use ～たいです to describe the
desire of the third person. Neither can we use it when we are making offers or issuing invitations
as in "Would you like to have some coffee?"
4
Where do you go?
5
Did you add へ after the question word どこ (where) and say どこへいきますか (Where do you
go)? We need the particle へ to indicate the destination, even when we are asking about it!
6
Where do you want to go on the weekend?
7
Where do you want to go to swim?
8
What do you want to do?
9
evening
10
Friday evening
11
What do you want to do on Friday evening?
12
want to watch
13
What do you want to watch?
14
Now, for the next question, let's pretend that someone has suggested that you go to a movie
together. Can you come up with an enthusiastic response?
15
A movie? It sounds good! What do you want to
watch?
(doko e ikitai desu ka.)
いきたいです
(ikitai desu)
どこへいきますか。
(doko e ikimasu ka.)
しゅうまつどこへいきたいですか。
(shuumatsu doko e ikitai desu ka.)
どこへおよぎにいきたいですか。
(doko e oyogi ni ikitai desu ka.)
なにをしたいですか。
(nani o shitai desu ka.)
ばん
(ban)
きんようびのばん
(kin-yoobi no ban)
きんようびのばん、なにをしたいですか。
(kin-yoobi no ban, nani o shitai desu ka.)
みたいです
(mitai desu)
なにをみたいですか。
(nani o mitai desu ka.)
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86
えいがですか。いいですね！なにをみたいです
か。
(eega desu ka. ii desu ne! nani o mitai
desu ka.)
How about Mt. Takao? た か お さ ん は ど う で す か 。
English
Japanese
たかおさんはどうですか。
1
How about Mt. Takao?
2
Only a one-hour train ride from central Tokyo, たかおさん (Mt. Takao) offers popular day-hike trails
that award hikers with a nice view of ふじさん (Mt. Fuji). たかおさん is only about 2,000 ft. high,
but it's the starting point for the 1,000-mile-long Tokai Nature Trails. Besides well-preserved
forests and great views, points of interest include the tram and lift rides, a monkey park, a beer
garden, and a Buddhist temple with 1,200 years of history!
3
(takaosan wa doo desu ka.)
How about ~?
どうですか。
(How is it?)
(doo desu ka.)
4
We can use どうですか (literally, "How is it?") not only to ask how something is, but also to make a
suggestion, like saying "How about ~?" in English!
5
Mt. Takao
6
Do you remember that the Japanese word for a "mountain" is やま ? The Chinese character for や
ま (山 ) is often read as さん when it's used in the names of mountains, as in たかおさん (Mt.
Takao). It may sound like a person's name, but さん in たかおさん and さん in ようこさん (Ms.
Yoko) are completely different things!
7
たかおさん
(takaosan)
It offers a fine view, you know.
いいけしきですよ。
(It is a fine view, you know.)
(ii keshiki desu yo.)
たかおさんはどうですか。とてもいいけしきで
すよ。
8
How about Mt. Takao? It offers a very fine
view, you know.
9
famous
10
ゆうめい ends with い , but it's a な -adjective that means "famous" or "well-known."
11
beach
12
famous beach
13
Enoshima
14
How about Enoshima? It's a very famous
beach, you know.
15
"Seven Samurai"
(takaosan wa doo desu ka. totemo ii
keshiki desu yo.)
ゆうめい
(yuumee)
ビーチ
(biichi)
ゆうめいなビーチ
(yuumeena biichi)
えのしま
(enoshima)
えのしまはどうですか。とてもゆうめいなビー
チですよ。
(enoshima wa doo desu ka. totemo
yuumeena biichi desu yo.)
「しちにんのさむらい」
("shichi-nin no samurai")
Continued on next page
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87
English
Japanese
16
しちにんのさむらい (Seven Samurai), directed by くろさわあきら and starring みふねとしろう , is
one of the most popular Japanese films inside and outside Japan. Originally released in 1954, the
black-and-white film features the story of seven unemployed samurai warriors, or ろうにん , who
help poor villagers defend their livelihood against bandits. しちにんのさむらい inspired many
other works, including the popular American film, The Magnificent Seven.
17
interesting movie
18
How about "Seven Samurai"? It's a very
interesting movie, you know.
19
くろさわあきら is arguably the most famous and influential Japanese film director, nicknamed せ
かいのくろさわ (Kurosawa of the World). Born in 1910, くろさわ started his long career in 1943
and won numerous awards worldwide with highly acclaimed films such as らしょうもん
(Rashomon), いきる (Ikiru; literally, "To Live"), しちにんのさむらい (Seven Samurai), and らん
(Ran; literally, "War"). He died in 1998 at age 88.
おもしろいえいが
(omoshiroi eega)
「しちにんのさむらい」はどうですか。とても
おもしろいえいがですよ。
("shichi-nin no samurai" wa doo desu ka.
totemo omoshiroi eega desu yo.)
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88
We need tea and a box lunch.
おちゃとおべんとうがいります。
English
Japanese
おちゃとおべんとうがいります。
1
We need tea and a box lunch.
2
Buying おべんとう (box lunch) is not an easy task in Japan: there are too many kinds to choose
from! If you just can't settle on a single kind, try the type called まくのうち (literally, "inside-thecurtains"). Its name originates from the box lunch eaten by theater goers between acts during
the Edo period (1603-1868). A typical まくのうちべんとう has small おにぎり (rice balls) and
variety of savory pieces such as grilled fish, omelet, vegetables, pickles, and more!
3
to need
4
need
5
We need tea.
6
Did you notice that we need to use the particle が , not を , along with the verb いります (I need)?
As you have already learned, some verbs and adjectives need が to mark their objects, as in ペッ
トがいます (I have a pet) or テニスがすきです (I like tennis). Let's remember that いります is one
of them!
7
box lunch
8
べんとう or おべんとう can be a bring-your-own lunch in general, or a meal-in-a box in particular.
If you don't have time to fix your own box lunch in the morning, you can buy one at any
convenience store, supermarket, or Japanese-style deli specialized for おべんとう . As is the case
with おちゃ (tea), many people say おべんとう , adding the polite-word maker お to avoid
sounding rude.
9
tea and a box lunch
10
You can buy various bottled teas in Japan, including りょくちゃ (green tea), こうちゃ (black tea),
and ウーロンちゃ (oolong tea or Chinese tea)!
11
(ocha to obentoo ga irimasu.)
いる
(iru)
いります
(irimasu)
おちゃがいります。
(ocha ga irimasu.)
おべんとう
(obentoo)
おちゃとおべんとう
(ocha to obentoo)
OK.
わかりました。
(I understood.)
(wakarimashita.)
わかりました。おちゃとおべんとうがいります
ね？
12
OK. We need tea and a box lunch, right?
13
Did you remember that the sentence-ending particle ね can be used to seek a confirmation with a
rising intonation? It's equivalent to "..., right?" in English!
14
camera
15
We need a camera and a hat.
16
We need a camera and a hat, too, you know.
(wakarimashita. ocha to obentoo ga
irimasu ne?)
カメラ
(kamera)
カメラとぼうしがいります。
(kamera to booshi ga irimasu.)
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89
カメラとぼうしもいりますよ。
(kamera to booshi mo irimasu yo.)
Continued on next page
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90
English
Japanese
17
Did you replace the particle が with the particle も to add the meaning of "also" or "too"? Also
remember that we can use も in a negative sentence, as in "either" in English!
18
Don't forget!
19
おわすれなく is a polite way to say "Don't forget!" in everyday conversation. It's based on the
negative form of the verb わすれる (to forget).
20
Don't forget a camera and a hat, either!
21
Many Japanese women hate getting suntan (ひやけ ). Besides putting on strong sunscreens (ひや
けどめ ), they wear long sleeves and even gloves in the summer heat. On top of that, many of
them carry black parasols (ひがさ ) to shade themselves. Lately, ひがさ for men are gaining
popularity among older men, who are trying to protect themselves not from suntan but from
heatstroke!
おわすれなく！
(owasurenaku!)
カメラとぼうしもおわすれなく！
(kamera to booshi mo owasurenaku!)
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91
Let's meet at the Shinjuku Station at nine o'clock in
the morning.
あ さ 、く じ に し ん じ ゅ く え き で あ い ま し ょ う 。
English
Japanese
あさ、くじにしんじゅくえきであいましょう。
1
Let's meet at the Shinjuku Station at nine
o'clock in the morning.
2
If you are planning to meet up with your friends at a station in Japan, be forewarned: Japanese
stations in urban areas are extremely crowded during morning and evening rush hours! With so
many people passing in every direction, it's almost impossible to spot someone unless you and
your friends are very specific about the meeting place. Also hard to spot are public phones, which
have become less and less needed in the age of cell phones!
3
to meet
4
meet
5
Let's meet.
6
Shinjuku station
7
Let's meet at the Shinjuku Station.
8
Did you remember to use the particle で to indicate the location where the action takes place?
9
morning
10
Let's meet at the Shinjuku Station in the
morning.
11
at nine o'clock
12
Here is another use for the particle に . When we indicate the point in time that an action takes
place, we need to use に after the time, as in くじに (at nine o'clock).
13
to eat
14
eat
15
Let's eat box lunch.
16
Let's eat box lunch at the park.
(asa, ku-ji ni shinjuku eki de aimashoo.)
あう
(au)
あいます
(aimasu)
あいましょう。
(aimashoo)
しんじゅくえき
(shinjuku eki)
しんじゅくえきであいましょう。
(shinjuku eki de aimashoo.)
あさ
(asa)
あさ、しんじゅくえきであいましょう。
(asa, shinjuku eki de aimashoo.)
くじに
(ku-ji ni)
たべる
(taberu)
たべます
(tabemasu)
おべんとうをたべましょう。
(obentoo o tabemashoo)
こうえんでおべんとうをたべましょう。
(kooen de obentoo o tabemashoo.)
Continued on next page
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92
English
Japanese
じゅうにじはん
17
half past twelve
18
Let's eat box lunch in the park at half past
twelve.
19
We are going to watch a movie on Thursday.
20
What time are you going to watch a movie on
Thursday?
21
Did you remember to add the particle に after the question word なんじ (what time) to find out
the point in time when an action (here going to a movie) takes place?
22
around four o'clock
23
When we mention approximate times, we add ごろ after the time, as in よじごろ . When we use
ごろ , we can omit the particle に that indicates the time of action.
24
We are going around four o'clock.
25
front of Hachiko
26
ハチこう is the name of a legendary dog, famous for his loyalty. The male Akita is said to have
come to the JR Shibuya Station in Tokyo every evening for almost ten years to patiently wait for
his master's return after the master, a university professor, had died at work. The bronze statue
of ハチこう now stands in front of Shibuya Station and is used by many people as a meeting
place. The nearest ticket gate of the station is also named ハチこうぐち (Hachiko Ticket Gate)!
27
We are going around four o'clock. Let's meet
in front of Hachiko.
28
The real ハチこう died in 1935, but his legend has lived on and inspired many people all over
Japan and beyond. A Japanese movie called ハチこうものがたり (The Story of Hachiko) was
released in 1987. The movie was recently remade in Hollywood under the title "Hachiko: A Dog's
Story" starring Richard Gere and three Akitas!
(juuni-ji han)
じゅうにじはんにこうえんでおべんとうをたべ
ましょう。
(juuni-ji han ni kooen de obentoo o
tabemashoo.)
もくようび、えいがをみにいきます。
(moku-yoobi, eega o mi ni ikimasu.)
もくようび、なんじにえいがをみにいきます
か。
(moku-yoobi, nan-ji ni eega o mi ni
ikimasu ka.)
よじごろ
(yo-ji goro)
よじごろいきます。
(yoji goro ikimasu.)
ハチこうのまえ
(hachikoo no mae)
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93
よじごろいきます。ハチこうのまえであいま
しょう。
(yoji goro ikimasu. hachikoo no mae de
aimashoo.)
Chapter 6: Weather and Land
気 候 と地 形
Chapter 6: Weather and Land
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Describe the Land
Describe the Weather, Climate, and Seasons
Discuss Your or Others' Assumption on
Something
Make Small Talk on Excursions
Use Proper Measurement for Temperature
and Distance
Form Comparison Sentences and Questions
Form the Past Tense of Noun and Adjective
Sentences
Use そうです to Express Your Observation
Use でしょう to Express Your Assumption
Conversation
English
Japanese
つかれましたね。ちょっとやすみましょうか。
We are tired, aren't we! Shall we rest a little bit?
(tsukaremashita ne. chotto yasumimashoo
ka.)
ええ。むしあついですね。いま、なんどぐらいで
しょうか。
Sure. It's stifling hot, isn't it! How hot do you think
it is now, approximately?
(ee. mushiatsui desu ne. ima, nando gurai
deshoo ka.)
たぶんさんじゅうどぐらいでしょう。きのうより
すずしいですよ。
It's probably about thirty degrees, I think. It's
cooler than yesterday, you know.
(tabun sanjuu do gurai deshoo. ki-noo yori
suzushii desu yo.)
ええ。きのうははれでしたから、とてもあつかっ
たですね。
Yes. It was very hot yesterday, wasn't it, since it
was sunny.
(ee. ki-noo wa hare deshita kara, totemo
atsukatta desu ne.)
ここからちょうじょうまで、どのくらいですか。
How far is it from here to the summit?
(koko kara choojoo made, donokurai desu
ka.)
そうですね・・・。あといちキロぐらいです。
Well.... We have about one more kilometer to go.
(soo desu ne.... ato ichi kiro gurai desu.)
なんだか、あめがふりそうですね。
It kind of looks like it's going to rain, doesn't it!
(nandaka, ame ga furisoo desu ne.)
ええ、ちょっといそぎましょう！
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94
ええ、ちょっといそぎましょう！
Yes. Let's hurry a little bit!
(ee, chotto isogimashoo!)
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95
Shall we rest a little bit? ち ょ っ と や す み ま し ょ う か 。
English
Japanese
ちょっとやすみましょうか。
1
Shall we rest a little bit?
2
Here are some tips on how to use three similar phrases. We use やすみましょう (Let's rest) to
express our will to involve our listener directly or to enthusiastically support another person's
suggestion. We use やすみましょうか (Shall we rest?) when we want to prompt our listener to
start a mutual action. やすみませんか (Why don't we rest?) is a gentler invitation in the form of a
negative question, showing our respect to our listener's will.
3
to rest
4
rest
5
We'll rest a little bit.
6
Shall we rest?
7
Do you remember the expression タクシーをよびましょうか (Should I call a taxi?). We used the
verb ending ましょうか to offer a service to someone. Now, we can use the same ending when
we want to make a polite suggestion. It's equivalent to "Shall we ~?" in English!
8
to tire oneself
9
tire oneself
10
(chotto yasumimashoo ka.)
やすむ
(yasumu)
やすみます
(yasumimasu)
ちょっとやすみます。
(chotto yasumimasu.)
やすみましょうか。
(yasumimashoo ka.)
つかれる
(tsukareru)
つかれます
(tsukaremasu)
I'm tired.
つかれました。
(I tired myself. )
(tsukaremashita.)
つかれましたね。
11
We are tired, aren't we!
12
As you already know, Japanese people often end their sentences with ね , sharing their feelings or
opinions and seeking agreement or confirmation from their listeners. つかれましたね is another
example. In this expression, the tired speaker assumes that the other person is also tired and
seeks an agreement from him or her. It's a very common way of communicating in Japanese,
though the English equivalent--"We're tired, aren't we?"--may sound a bit strange!
13
We are tired, aren't we! Shall we rest a little
bit?
14
stifling hot
15
With the exception of northern regions, summer in Japan is hot and humid. むしあつい ("muggy"
or "stifling hot") is the very word that describes how you would feel out there! むし in むしあつい
derives from the verb むす ("to steam" or "to be muggy").
(tsukaremashita ne.)
つかれましたね。ちょっとやすみましょうか。
(tsukaremashita ne. chotto
yasumimashoo ka.)
むしあつい
(mushiatsui)
Continued on next page
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96
English
16
It's stifling hot today.
17
shade
18
Shall we rest in the shade?
19
It's stifling hot, isn't it! Shall we rest in the
shade?
Japanese
きょうはむしあついです。
(kyoo wa mushiatsui desu.)
ひかげ
(hikage)
ひかげでやすみましょうか。
(hikage de yasumimashoo ka.)
むしあついですね。ひかげでやすみましょう
か。
(mushiatsui desu ne. hikage de
yasumimashoo ka.)
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97
How hot do you think it is now?
いまなんどでしょうか。
English
1
Japanese
How hot do you think it is now?
いまなんどでしょうか。
(What degree do you think it is now?)
(ima nando deshoo ka.)
2
For temperature, Japanese use the degree Celsius (℃) or せっし while Americans use the degree
Fahrenheit (°F) or かし . 0℃ is 32°F; 10℃ is 50°F; 20℃ is 68°F; and 30℃ is 86°F. In this course,
we'll use the degree Celsius as the Japanese do!
3
what degree
4
The counter for the temperature in Japanese is ど . We can also use ど for the degree of an angle.
5
なんど
(nan-do)
How hot is it?
なんどですか。
(What degree is it?)
(nan-do desu ka.)
6
We can use なんどですか (literally, "What degree is it?") to ask how hot or cold　something is.
7
How hot do you think it is?
8
When we end our sentence with です , we imply that what we are saying is a fact. When we want to
avoid sounding definite and imply that what we are saying is only our assumption, we can end our
sentence with でしょう instead of です . To ask your listener his or her assumption, simply add
the question marker か and end the sentence with でしょうか . It's equivalent to "do you think?"
or "I wonder" in English.
9
It's stifling hot, isn't it! How hot do you think it
is now?
10
thirty degrees
11
around thirty degrees
12
Do you remember that we use ごろ to tell an approximate time as in よじごろ (around four
o'clock)? When we talk about the approximate amount of something (such as temperature, time,
distance, weight, or price), we use ぐらい after the number to mean "about," "around," or
"approximately." For example, さんじゅうどぐらい means "around thirty degrees."
13
It's around thirty degrees, I think.
14
probably
15
Well.... It's probably around thirty-five degrees,
I think.
16
17
なんどでしょうか。
(nan-do deshoo ka.)
むしあついですね。いまなんどでしょうか。
(mushiatsui desu ne. ima nan-do deshoo
ka.)
さんじゅうど
(sanjuu-do)
さんじゅうどぐらい
(sanjuu-do gurai)
さんじゅうどぐらいでしょう。
(sanjuu-do gurai deshoo.)
たぶん
(tabun)
そうですね・・・。たぶんさんじゅうごどぐら
いでしょう。
(soo desu ne.... tabun sanjuu-go-do gurai
deshoo.)
How cold is it, approximately?
なんどぐらいですか。
(About what degree is it?)
(nan-do gurai desu ka.)
It's cold, isn't it! How cold do you think it is
さむいですね。いま、なんどぐらいでしょう
か。
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98
17
now, approximately?
(samui desu ne. ima, nan-do gurai
deshoo ka.)
Continued on next page
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99
English
Japanese
れい
18
zero
19
zero degrees
20
"Zero" in Japanese can be either れい or ゼロ . When talking about the temperature, however, we
must use れい and say れいど (zero degrees).
21
Let me see....
22
When we want to signal our listeners that we are thinking, as in "Let me see..." in English, we can
say えーっと・・・ . It's similar to そうですね・・・ (Well...), but えーっと ・・・ is more casual
and spontaneous!
23
In the next question, let's assume that someone has asked about the outside temperature, and
you are looking at a thermometer to find the information.
24
Let me see.... Wow, it's zero degrees, you
know!
25
Winter in Japan is relatively mild, except for the northern interior regions where the lowest
temperature can be as low as -30℃. The average temperature for January is -4.1℃ in Sapporo,
5.8℃ in Tokyo, and 16.6℃ in Naha, Okinawa. That said, you may feel a lot colder than the
thermometer tells you while visiting Japan in winter months. It may be due to windiness, higher
humidity, or the lack of central heating systems in most private residences!
(ree)
れいど
(ree-do)
えーっと・・・。
(eetto....)
えーっと・・・。わあ、れいどですよ !
(eetto.... waa, ree do desu yo!)
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100
It's cooler today than yesterday.
きょうはきのうよりすずしいです。
English
Japanese
きょうはきのうよりすずしいです。
1
It's cooler today than yesterday.
2
cool
3
Please note that we mainly use すずしい (cool) to describe the temperature of the air or the
climate with a positive connotation. Make sure not to use it as the equivalent of "cool" in
expressions like "He's so cool!"
4
It's cool.
5
more than
6
より is a particle that comes after the word used as the counterpart of a comparison. It's
equivalent to "than" or "more than" in English!
7
more than yesterday
8
(kyoo wa ki-noo yori suzushii desu.)
すずしい
(suzushii)
すずしいです。
(suzushii desu.)
より
(yori)
きのうより
(ki-noo yori)
It's cooler than yesterday.
きのうよりすずしいです。
(It is more cool than yesterday.)
(ki-noo yori suzushii desu.)
9
Did you notice that in きのうよりすずしいです (It's cooler than yesterday), the adjective (すずし
い ) itself does not change its form? What tells us that this is a comparison sentence? That's
right! It's the particle より !
10
spring
11
this year
12
13
14
15
はる
(haru)
ことし
(kotoshi)
this spring
ことしのはる
(spring of this year)
(kotoshi no haru)
きょねん
last year
(kyo-nen)
last spring
きょねんのはる
(spring of last year)
(kyo-nen no haru)
あたたかい
warm
(atatakai)
16
This spring is warmer than last spring, isn't it!
17
summer
ことしのはるはきょねんのはるよりあたたかい
ですね。
(kotoshi no haru wa kyo-nen no haru yori
atatakai desu ne.)
なつ
(natsu)
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101
English
Japanese
なつのやま
18
mountains in summer
19
autumn
20
Mountains in autumn are more beautiful than
mountains in summer, you know.
21
While Japanese people love the fragile beauty of さくら (cherry blossoms) in spring, they also love
the colorful displays of autumn leaves that paint the nation vivid red, yellow, and orange! On
sunny weekends, popular nature spots are filled with people enjoying "autumn-leaves viewing" or
もみじがり (literally, "red-leaves hunting") with their friends and family.
22
winter
23
Hokkaido
24
Japan is an arc-shaped island country, consisting of four major "islands" and about 7,000 smaller
ones. These four major "islands" are (from north to south) ほっかいどう , ほんしゅう , しこく , and
きゅうしゅう . ほんしゅう , the largest, is a little bigger than Minnesota, while しこく , the
smallest, is slightly smaller than Vermont. Since they are all fairly large, people who live in them
don't consider themselves as living on islands!
25
winter in Hokkaido
26
Kyushu
27
much more
28
It's much colder.
29
The winter in Hokkaido is much colder than
the winter in Kyushu.
30
Japan has four distinct seasons or しき . はる (spring) is warm and nice, and people enjoy おなはみ
(cherry-blossom viewing picnic) and other outdoor activities. なつ (summer) is hot and humid,
and the deafening chorus of cicadas fill the air. あき (autumn) is cool and crisp, and it's the
season for sports, cultural events, and もみじがり (autumn-leaves viewing). ふゆ (winter) is
relatively mild although the northern parts of Japan receive much snow.
(natsu no yama)
あき
(aki)
あきのやまはなつのやまよりきれいですよ。
(aki no yama wa natsu no yama yori kiree
desu yo.)
ふゆ
(fuyu)
ほっかいどう
(hokkaidoo)
ほっかいどうのふゆ
(hokkaidoo no fuyu)
きゅうしゅう
(kyuushuu)
ずっと
(zutto)
ずっとさむいです。
(zutto samui desu.)
ほっかいどうのふゆはきゅうしゅうのふゆより
ずっとさむいです。
(hokkaidoo no fuyu wa kyuushuu no fuyu
yori zutto samui desu.)
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102
Which do you like better, the ocean or mountains?
う み と や ま と 、ど ち ら が す き で す か 。
English
Japanese
うみとやまと、どちらがすきですか。
1
Which do you like better, the ocean or
mountains?
2
The total area of Japan is slightly smaller than Montana. 73% of its land is mountains, and half of
the population lives in plains (へいや ) that occupy 14% of the land. Rivers (かわ ) are relatively
short, running down mountain sides and pouring into the surrounding seas, which include the にほ
んかい (Japan Sea), ひがしシナかい (East China Sea), オホーツクかい (the Sea of Okhotsk), and
たいへいよう (the Pacific Ocean).
3
which
4
Do you remember that we have so far used どちら as the polite version of どこ (where)? We can
also use どちら as the equivalent of "which" in English in a question asking our listener to
compare two things and choose one of them.
5
(umi to yama to, dochira ga suki desu ka.)
どちら
(dochira)
Which do you like better?
どちらがすきですか。
(Which do you like?)
(dochira ga suki desu ka.)
6
Did you remember that we use the particle が to indicate what we like? We also need to add が
after the question word どちら to say どちらがすきですか (Which do you like?).
7
the ocean or mountains (in a comparison
question)
8
To form a comparison question using the question word どちら , we mention two things by adding
the particle と after each word, as in "X と Y と ." It's the equivalent of "X or Y" in English.
9
I like the ocean better.
10
When we want to pick one over the other in our answer to the comparison question, such as うみ
とやまと、どちらがすきですか (Which do you like better, the ocean or mountains?), we can use
the pattern "X のほうが・・・です ." Let's memorize the pattern and practice using it in a
conversation!
11
Well.... I like mountains better, you know.
12
both or neither
13
We can use どちらも in both affirmative and negative sentences.
14
I like both.
15
I like neither.
16
Did you notice that although どちらも is the equivalent of "neither," we have to use it along with
the negative sentence ending, as in どちらもすきじゃありません ?
うみとやまと
(umi to yama to)
うみのほうがすきです。
(umi no hoo ga suki desu.)
そうですね・・・。やまのほうがすきですよ。
17
(soo desu ne.... yama no hoo ga suki
desu yo.)
どちらも
(dochira mo)
どちらもすきです。
(dochira mo suki desu.)
どちらもすきじゃありません。
(dochira mo suki ja arimasen.)
ほっかいどうときゅうしゅうと、どちらがおお
きいですか。
Which is bigger, Hokkaido or Kyushu?
(hokkaidoo to kyuushuu to, dochira ga
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103
ookii desu ka.)
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104
English
Japanese
ほっかいどうのほうがおおきいです。
18
Hokkaido is bigger.
19
Mt. Aso
20
Japan has many volcanoes or かざん (literally, "fire mountain"), and that's why it also has so many
hot springs and earthquakes! あそさん (Mt. Aso) is an active volcano located in Kumamoto
Prefecture and is well-known for its huge caldera. The highest peak is 1,592 meters high. Visitors
can drive up to the main crater that is filled with turquoise-colored hot water and hike around it
when the wind is blowing the sulfurous gas away from the visitor access area.
21
Mt. Fuji
22
ふじさん (Mt. Fuji) is 3,776 meters or 12,388 feet high and the tallest mountain in Japan. It's
located at the border of Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures and visible from Tokyo on clear
days. Though not as visibly active as あそさん , ふじさん is actually an active volcano, whose last
explosion was in 1707.
23
high or tall
(hokkaidoo no hoo ga ookii desu.)
あそさん
(asosan)
ふじさん
(fujisan)
たかい
(takai)
あそさんとふじさんと、どちらがたかいです
か。
24
Which is taller, Mt. Aso or Mt. Fuji?
25
Mt. Fuji is much taller, you know.
26
ふじさん has long been considered a sacred mountain, and women couldn't climb it until 1800.
Today, anyone can drive half way up the mountain and hike the rest of the way to the summit,
using one of the four well-established routes. The official climbing season is July and August,
during which lodges and kiosks are available on the trails. Many people hike up the mountain at
night in order to watch the sunrise from the top!
(asosan to fujisan to, dochira ga takai
desu ka.)
ふじさんのほうがずっとたかいですよ。
(fujisan no hoo ga zutto takai desu yo.)
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105
Which season do you like best?
き せ つ で 、い つ が い ち ば ん す き で す か 。
English
1
2
3
Japanese
Which season do you like best?
きせつで、いつがいちばんすきですか。
(Among seasons, when do you like best?)
(kisetsu de, itsu ga ichiban suki desu ka.)
The Japanese love of seasonal beauty is reflected in the famous four-season garden described in
the eleventh-century Japanese classic, げんじものがたり or "The Tale of Genji." This fictional
garden consists of four parts, each occupying a corner of the great mansion built by the
handsome (and rich) protagonist. Each part is designed to accentuate the beauty of an individual
season: flowers for spring, water and shade for summer, color-changing leaves for autumn, and
snow-clad pine trees for winter!
best or most
いちばん
(number one)
(ichiban)
4
When we want to compare more than three things and pick one as the highest (or the lowest)
ranking among them, we add いちばん (literally, the "number one") before the adjective. It's
equivalent to "(the) most" or "(the) best" in English.
5
I like it best.
6
when
7
いちばんすきです。
(ichiban suki desu.)
いつ
(itsu)
Which time period do you like best?
いつがいちばんすきですか。
(When do you like best?)
(itsu ga ichiban suki desu ka.)
きせつ
8
season
9
among seasons
10
In order to indicate the range of choices, we use the particle で as in きせつで (among seasons)
or にほんで (in Japan).
11
I like spring best.
12
What do you like best?
13
Japanese flowers
14
What do you like best among Japanese
flowers?
15
cherry blossom
16
(kisetsu)
きせつで
(kisetsu de)
はるがいちばんすきです。
(haru ga ichiban suki desu.)
なにがいちばんすきですか。
(nani ga ichiban suki desu ka.)
にほんのはな
(nihon no hana)
にほんのはなで、なにがいちばんすきですか。
(nihon no hana de, nani ga ichiban suki
desu ka.)
さくら
(sakura)
Japanese flowers? I like cherry blossoms best.
にほんのはなですか。さくらがいちばんすきで
す。
(nihon no hana desu ka. sakura ga
ichiban suki desu.)
Continued on next page
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106
English
17
18
19
Japanese
The Japanese people's fondness for cherry blossoms, or さくら , has a long history, but it was not
always "the flower" of Japan. Poems written in the eighth century praise plum blossoms or うめ
more often than さくら . The popularity of さくら increased around the tenth century, when the
Japanese began establishing their own cultural identity, leaving the Chinese influence behind.
Since then, さくら has come to symbolize spring as well as the Japanese spirit!
coldest
いちばんさむい
(most cold)
(ichiban samui)
Where is the coldest place?
どこがいちばんさむいですか。
(Where is the coldest?)
(doko ga ichiban samui desu ka.)
20
in Japan
21
Where is the coldest place in Japan?
にほんで
(nihon de)
にほんでどこがいちばんさむいですか。
22
(nihon de doko ga ichiban samui desu
ka.)
そうですね・・・。ほっかいどうがいちばんさ
むいでしょう。
Well.... Hokkaido is the coldest, I think.
(soo desu ne.... hokkaidoo ga ichiban
samui deshoo.)
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107
Since yesterday was sunny, it was very hot.
き の う は は れ で し た か ら 、と て も あ つ か っ た で す 。
English
Japanese
きのうははれでしたから、とてもあつかったで
す。
1
Since yesterday was sunny, it was very hot.
2
sunny weather
3
はれ is a noun that describes sunny or clear weather. That's the word you'll be looking for when
you watch the weather forecast on Japanese TV! You can also describe the same nice weather as
いいてんき (fine weather) in everyday conversations.
4
It is sunny today.
5
was or were
6
It was sunny yesterday.
7
It was hot.
8
Did you notice that the past form of あついです is different from the past form of はれです ? It's
because あついです is made of an い -adjective (あつい ) and です , while はれです consists of a
noun (はれ ) and です . If the sentence ends with an い -adjective and です , the past form takes the
same pattern as あつかったです : simply drop いです at the end and replace it with かったです !
9
Now, do you remember から ("because" or "since") that marks the sentence as the cause of the
subsequent sentence? Let's use it in the next question!
10
Since it was sunny yesterday, it was hot.
11
rain or rainy weather
12
It was rainy.
13
Japan receives much rainfall every year. The annual average is 1,718mm, about twice the world
average. Much of it falls during two distinct periods: June to mid-July and September. June to midJuly is the rainy season called つゆ or ばいう (literally, "plum rain"), notorious for mold-yielding
mugginess. September rain is brought on by たいふう (typhoons), which often cause floods and
landslides.
14
It was cool.
15
Since it was rainy yesterday, it was cool,
wasn't it!
(ki-noo wa hare deshita kara, totemo
atsukatta desu.)
はれ
(hare)
きょうははれです。
(kyoo wa hare desu.)
でした
(deshita)
きのうははれでした。
(ki-noo wa hare deshita.)
あつかったです。
(atsukatta desu.)
きのうははれでしたから、あつかったです。
(kinoo wa hare deshita kara, atsukatta
desu.)
あめ
(ame)
あめでした。
(ame deshita.)
すずしかったです。
(suzushikatta desu.)
きのうはあめでしたから、すずしかったです
ね。
(ki-noo wa ame deshita kara,
suzushikatta desu ne.)
むしあつかったです。
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108
16
むしあつかったです。
It was stifling hot.
(mushiatsukatta desu.)
Continued on next page
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109
English
17
cloudy weather
18
It was cloudy.
19
Japanese
くもり
(kumori)
くもりでした。
(kumori deshita.)
It was cloudy in Tokyo.
とうきょうはくもりでした。
(As for Tokyo, it was cloudy.)
(tookyoo wa kumori deshita.)
とうきょうはくもりでしたが、むしあつかった
です。
20
It was cloudy in Tokyo, but it was stifling hot.
21
It was beautiful.
22
Did you notice that the past form of きれいです is different from the past form of あついです ? It's
because きれい is a な -adjective! If the sentence ends with a な -adjective and です , simply
replace です with でした !
23
snow or snowy weather
24
It was snowy in Hokkaido.
25
It was cold.
26
It was snowy in Hokkaido. It was cold, but it
was beautiful, you know!
27
Much of northern Japan receives heavy snowfall every year. The thick layers of snow that cover
these regions easily reach 2 meters (6.6ft) or more, and people struggle to stay ahead of the fast
accumulating snow. The famous Japanese novel ゆきぐに (Snow Country), written by the NobelPrize winner かわばたやすなり , features a snowy mountain village as the backdrop for the
beautiful but sad story of a love triangle.
(tookyoo wa kumori deshita ga,
mushiatsukatta desu.)
きれいでした。
(kiree deshita.)
ゆき
(yuki)
ほっかいどうはゆきでした。
(hokkaidoo wa yuki deshita.)
さむかったです。
(samukatta desu.)
ほっかいどうはゆきでした。さむかったです
が、きれいでしたよ！
(hokkaidoo wa yuki deshita. samukatta
desu ga, kiree deshita yo!)
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110
How far is it from here to the summit?
こ こ か ら ち ょ う じ ょ う ま で 、ど の く ら い で す か 。
English
Japanese
ここからちょうじょうまで、どのくらいです
か。
1
How far is it from here to the summit?
2
Because どのくらい can be used in many situations, you may find that some questions sound
rather vague. ちょうじょうまでどのくらいですか , for example, can be asking about the distance
to the summit or time that it takes to get there. In this section, let's assume that the question is
about the distance!
3
how far
4
どのくらい is a very versatile question word that we can use to ask the amount or degree of
something, including distance, temperature, weight, duration of time, cost, and size. The
translation, therefore, can vary, depending on what measurement we are dealing with. To be
specific, we can use なん (what) plus the counter as in なんど for the temperature.
5
How far is it?
6
from here
7
summit
8
from here to the summit
9
Did you use the particle まで , not へ , as the equivalent of "to" in the phrase "from here to the
summit"? When talking about the distance between two points, we use から (from) to indicate
the starting point and まで ("to" or "as far as") to indicate the end. Let's memorize "X から Y まで "
as a stock phrase! When the starting point is obvious, it's often omitted.
10
meter
11
kilometer
12
one kilometer
13
Japanese people use the metric system for measurement. One kilometer is equal to about 0.6
miles, and 1 meter is about 1.1 yards or 3.3 feet. When it's clear that we are talking about
distance and not weight, we can simply say キロ (kilo), as in いちキロ (one kilo), instead of saying
キロメートル (kilometer).
14
about one kilometer
15
It's about one kilometer from here to the
summit.
(koko kara choojoo made, donokurai
desu ka.)
どのくらい
(donokurai)
どのくらいですか。
(donokurai desu ka.)
ここから
(koko kara)
ちょうじょう
(choojoo)
ここからちょうじょうまで
(koko kara choojoo made)
メートル
(meetoru)
キロメートル
(kiro-meetoru)
いちキロメートル
(ichi kiro-meetoru)
いちキロメートルぐらい
(ichi kiro-meetoru gurai)
ここからちょうじょうまでいちキロメートルぐ
らいです。
(koko kara choojoo made ichi kiromeetoru gurai desu.)
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112
English
Japanese
あといちキロメートル
16
one more kilometer to go
17
あと is a word that points to a place that is behind, a time that comes later, or things that
remain. We can use あと before some numbers (such as distance, time, or quantity) to indicate
the remaining amount. あといちキロメートル , for example, means "one more kilometer to go"!
18
19
(ato ichi kiro-meetoru)
We have one more kilometer to go.
あといちキロメートルです。
(It's one more kilometer to go.)
(ato ichi kiro-meetoru desu.)
Well.... We have about three more kilometers
to go, I think.
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113
そうですね・・・。あとさんキロメートルぐら
いでしょう。
(soo desu ne.... ato san kiro-meetoru
gurai deshoo.)
It seems that it's going to rain. あ め が ふ り そ う で す 。
English
1
Japanese
It seems that it's going to rain.
あめがふりそうです。
(Rain seems to fall. )
(ame ga furisoo desu.)
2
The Japanese are weather-conscious people who watch てんきよほう (weather forecasts)
religiously. It's not only the possibility of rain or shine that they care about. In the nation where
one in every five people suffers hay fever, getting かふんじょうほう (pollen info) is a matter of
survival. Weather forecasters also offer さくらじょうほう (cherry-blossoms info) to the viewers
so that they can plan when and where to have おはなみ (cherry-blossom viewing picnic)!
3
to fall (referring to rain or snow)
4
fall (referring to rain or snow)
5
ふる
(furu)
ふります
(furimasu)
It rains.
あめがふります。
(Rain falls. )
(ame ga furimasu.)
6
When we describe a natural phenomenon, we use the particle が to mark the subject, as in あめが
ふります (literally, "Rain falls"). In this case, we can't replace が with the topic marker は .
7
seems to fall (referring to rain or snow)
8
Do you remember the sentence ending でしょう , which implies that what we are telling is our
assumption? When we want to indicate that what we are telling is our conjecture based on
observation, we end the sentence with そうです instead. It's equivalent to "it seems" or "it looks"
in English. For regular verbs such as ふる (to fall), simply drop ます from the polite form and add
そうです to form the pattern, as in ふりそうです .
9
somewhat
10
なんだか is a phrase we can use in everyday conversations to express the vagueness of our
feelings or judgments. It's equivalent to "I don't know why, but ...," "somewhat," "a little," "kind of,"
or "somehow" in English!
11
It somewhat seems that it's going to rain.
12
to hurry
13
hurry
14
Let's hurry.
15
It somewhat seems that it's going to rain,
doesn't it! Let's hurry a little bit.
ふりそうです
(furisoo desu.)
なんだか
(nandaka)
なんだかあめがふりそうです。
(nandaka ame ga furisoo desu.)
いそぐ
(isogu)
いそぎます
(isogimasu)
いそぎましょう。
(isogimashoo.)
なんだかあめがふりそうですね。ちょっといそ
ぎましょう。
(nandaka ame ga furisoo desu ne. chotto
isogimashoo.)
Continued on next page
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114
English
Japanese
やむ
16
to stop (when referring to rain or snow)
17
stop (when referring to rain or snow)
18
seems to stop (when referring to rain or snow)
19
(yamu)
やみます
(yamimasu)
やみそうです
(yamisoo desu)
It seems that it's going to stop snowing.
ゆきがやみそうです。
(Snow seems to stop.)
(yuki ga yamisoo desu.)
そろそろ
20
by and by
21
Some Japanese adverbs mimetically describe movements with repeated words. そろそろ is one of
them, giving the listener a sense of slowness. The English equivalents include "slowly," "softly,"
"gradually," "(not right now but) soon," or "by and by."
22
(soro soro)
We'd better be going.
そろそろいきましょうか。
(Shall we go by and by?)
(soro soro ikimashoo ka.)
23
そろそろいきましょうか literally means "Shall we go by and by?"ー a suggestion to start in a short
time. However, people sometimes use the same expression to hurry others in a polite way. In
that case, the English equivalent would be "It's about time for us to go" or "We'd better be going!"
24
Oh, it seems that it's going to stop snowing,
doesn't it! We'd better be going.
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115
ああ、ゆきがやみそうですね。そろそろいきま
しょうか。
(aa, yuki ga yamisoo desu ne. soro soro
ikimashoo ka.)
Chapter 7: Cooking and Food Culture
料 理 と食 文 化
Chapter 7: Cooking and Food Culture
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Connect Two or More Verbs Using the て form
Identify Three Types of Verbs and Their
Conjugation Patterns
Use the "て -form + います " Pattern for Action
in Progress and Continuous State
Use the Particle で to Indicate a Method or
Means
Ask or Tell How to Cook Something
Ask or Tell What You or Others Are Doing
Discuss What Is in a Dish or What It Is Made
From
Learn Common Local or Cultural Foods in
Japan
Refer to Food Preparation Processes
Conversation
English
Japanese
もしもし、たかしさんですか。ようこです。い
ま、なにをしていますか。
Hello, is this Takashi? It's Yoko. What are you
doing now?
(moshi moshi, takashi san desu ka. yooko
desu. ima, nani o shite imasu ka.)
チキンカレーをつくっています。
I'm making chicken curry.
(chikin karee o tsukutte imasu.)
へえ。どうやってつくるんですか。
Oh? Tell me, how do you make it?
(hee. doo-yatte tsukurundesu ka.)
まずとりにくとやさいをいためて、みずをいれ
て、２０ぷんぐらいにます。
First, we sauté chicken and vegetables, add water,
and cook for twenty minutes or so.
(mazu tori-niku to yasai o itamete, mizu o
irete, nijuppun gurai nimasu.)
それからカレールーをいれて、しばらくよわびで
にます。
Then, we add the curry roux, and cook for a little
while over low heat.
(sore kara karee ruu o irete, shibaraku
yowabi de nimasu.)
おいしそうですね！
It sounds delicious, doesn't it!
(oishisoo desu ne!)
もうすぐできますよ。たべにきませんか。
It's almost ready, you know. Why don't you come
over for a bite?
(moo sugu dekimasu yo. tabe ni kimasen ka.)
えっ、いいんですか。じゃあ、デザートをもって
いきます。
Oh, are you sure it's OK? Well then, I'll bring
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116
desserts.
(e, iindesu ka. jaa, dezaato o motte
ikimasu.)
いいですね！じゃあ、まっています。
It sounds good! Well, I'll be waiting for you.
(ii desu ne! jaa, matte imasu.)
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117
What are you doing now?
い ま 、な に を し て い ま す か 。
English
Japanese
いま、なにをしていますか。
1
What are you doing now?
2
There are only two basic Group III verbs whose conjugation patterns we have to memorize: する
(to do) and くる (to come). The rest of Group III verbs are "compound" verbs based on these two,
and they conjugate just as the basic verbs do.
3
to do (in the "te"-form)
4
In Japanese, there is a verb form called the て -form, which we can use in various verb phrases. To
create the て -form for a Group III (or irregular) verb, we simply delete ます from its polite form and
add て . The て -form for する (or します ) therefore is して .
5
is/am/are doing
6
When we want to talk about some action or motion in progress, we use the て -form of the verb
followed by います . しています is equivalent to "is/am/are doing" in English!
7
are you doing?
8
What are you doing?
9
hello (for telephone calls)
10
もしもし is an everyday expression we can use when we make a phone call, pick up the phone, or
make sure that the person on the other end of the phone line is still there. This funny sounding
phrase is derived from the verb もうす (humble version of "to say"). The English equivalent is
"Hello," but remember that もしもし is almost exclusively used during phone conversations!
11
In the next questions, let's pretend that you are making a phone call!
12
Hello, is this Takashi? It's Yoko.
(ima, nani o shite imasu ka.)
して
(shite)
しています
(shite imasu)
していますか
(shite imasu ka)
なにをしていますか。
(nani o shite imasu ka.)
もしもし
(moshi moshi)
もしもし、たかしさんですか。ようこです。
(moshi moshi, takashi san desu ka. yooko
desu.)
もしもし、いちろうです。いま、なにをしてい
ますか。
13
Hello, it's Ichiro. What are you doing now?
14
cooking
15
We can use りょうり to mean not only "cooking" but also "a dish" (as in おいしいりょうり or "a
tasty dish") or cuisine (as in にほんりょうり or "Japanese cuisine").
16
17
(moshi moshi, ichiroo desu. ima, nani o
shite imasu ka.)
りょうり
(ryoori)
to cook
りょうりする
(to do cooking)
(ryoori suru)
りょうりします
cook
(ryoori shimasu)
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118
Continued on next page
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119
English
Japanese
りょうりしています
18
is/am/are cooking
19
I am cooking at my house now.
20
is/am/are having a meal
21
I am having a meal at the restaurant with my
friends now.
22
"Eating out" in Japanese is がいしょく (literally, "outside eating") and "cooking at home" is じすい
(literally, "self cooking"). Between these two options lies the thriving category of takeouts and
deliveries, providing the convenience and relative economy for busy Japanese people. The
concept, however, is not at all modern. The quick home delivery service called でまえ has been
around since the eighteenth century for the patrons of そばや (buckwheat noodle shops)!
(ryoori shite imasu)
いま、うちでりょうりしています。
(ima, uchi de ryoori shite imasu.)
しょくじしています
(shokuji shite imasu)
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120
いま、ともだちとレストランでしょくじしてい
ます。
(ima, tomodachi to resutoran de shokuji
shite imasu.)
I am having supper now.
い ま 、ば ん ご は ん を た べ て い ま す 。
English
1
Japanese
I am having supper now.
いま、ばんごはんをたべています。
(I am eating evening meal now.)
(ima, bangohan o tabete imasu.)
2
The Japanese alphabet chart consists of five columns (or lines) and ten rows with the addition of
the single letter ん . The first row is all vowels, あいうえお , each of which heads each line, as in あ line or い -line. Each of the remaining rows is made of the combination of a vowel and a
consonant, in the order of k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, w. The additional chart covers consonants g, z, d,
b, p. In other words, each row uses the same consonant, while each line uses the same vowel.
3
The conjugation pattern for Group II verbs involves a single "line" of the alphabet chart: either い line or え -line. For example, all the conjugated forms of the verb たべる (to eat) contain べ (which
belongs to the え -line), as in たべます and たべて . Because it involves a single line (or いちだん in
Japanese), the conjugation pattern for Group II verbs is called いちだんかつよう (single-line
conjugation).
4
to eat (in the "te"-form)
5
Forming the て -form for Group II verbs is easy! All you have to do is to drop ます from the politeform (or drop る from the dictionary form) and add て instead! So, the て -form for たべる or たべ
ます is たべて !
6
is/am/are eating
7
たべて
(tabete)
たべています
(tabete imasu)
supper
ばんごはん
(evening meal)
(ban gohan)
8
Do you remember that ごはん means "steamed rice" in Japan? Because steamed rice is the
staple food for Japanese people, they also use the same word to mean "meal" in general. ばんご
はん , therefore, literally means "evening meal"--that is, "supper"!
9
to make (a telephone call)
10
make (a telephone call)
11
The dictionary form for "to make (a telephone call)" is かける , and the polite form is かけます .
Can you tell what type of verb this is? That's right! It's Group II. We can easily tell that because
かけ in かけます matches perfectly with かけ in かける . We are now ready to figure out the て form of the verb!
12
to make (a telephone call) (in the "te"-form)
13
is/am/are making (a telephone call)
14
でんわ can mean either a "telephone" as an instrument or a "telephone call." Let's use the word
in the latter meaning in the next question!
15
I am making a telephone call.
かける
(kakeru)
かけます
(kakemasu)
かけて
(kakete)
かけています
(kakete imasu)
でんわをかけています。
(denwa o kakete imasu.)
Continued on next page
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121
English
Japanese
16
I'm sorry. I am making a telephone call now.
17
to watch (in the "te"-form)
18
is/am/are watching
19
I am watching TV now.
20
program (for TV and radio)
21
すみません。いま、でんわをかけています。
(sumimasen. ima, denwa o kakete imasu.)
みて
(mite)
みています
(mite imasu)
いまテレビをみています。
(ima terebi o mite imasu.)
ばんぐみ
(bangumi)
cooking show
りょうりばんぐみ
(cooking program)
(ryoori bangumi)
いまですか。りょうりばんぐみをみています
よ。
22
Now? I am watching a cooking show, you
know.
23
Among numerous cooking shows in Japan, arguably the most popular and influential was りょうり
のてつじん (literally, "Iron Man of Cooking"). The elaborate TV cook-offs ran between 1993 and
1999 and reportedly spent more than ¥840,000,000 (or about eight million dollars) on cooking
ingredients (しょくざい )! It has been shown in the United State under the title "Iron Chef" and
became the model for the American show called "Iron Chef America."
(ima desu ka. ryoori bangumi o mite
imasu yo.)
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122
I am making chicken curry.
チ キ ン カ レ ーを つ く っ て い ま す 。
English
Japanese
チキンカレーをつくっています。
1
I am making chicken curry.
2
Let's have a closer look at the Group I verb つくる . When we compare つくる and つくります , we
see that the first part つく is unchanged. Since the ます ending of つくります is a common
addition to all the polite forms, let's put it aside. Now, what is changed is the dictionary form
ending る , which becomes り in the polite form. り belongs to the い -line of the Japanese alphabet
chart, while る belongs to the う -line. Let's see whether other Group I verbs follow the pattern!
3
to make
4
make
5
Let's figure out which verb group つくる belongs to. Though つくる ends with る , what is left after
dropping ます from つくります does not match what comes before る in the dictionary form,
right? Therefore, this verb belongs not to Group II but to Group I.
6
to make (in the "te"-form)
7
How to make the て -form for Group I verbs is a little more involved than Group II or III: it depends
on the verb ending of the dictionary form. For the Group I verb whose dictionary form ends with
う or つ or る , drop the ending and add って . Since つくる is a Group I verb and ends with る , the
て -form will be つくって !
8
is/am/are making
9
chicken curry
10
to cook (rice)
11
Can you tell what kind of verb たく (to cook [rice]) is? It does not belong to Group III, which
consists of only two verbs, する (to do) and くる (to come). Neither does it belong to Group II,
whose dictionary form always ends with る . Therefore, we can safely conclude that たく is a
Group I verb!
12
cook (rice)
13
Let's compare たく and たきます . For this Group I verb, what is unchanged is た , and what is
changed is the dictionary form ending く , which becomes き in the polite form. き belongs to the
い -line of the Japanese alphabet chart, and く belongs to the う -line. So, we can tell that たく
follows the same basic conjugation pattern as つくる !
14
To make the て -form for the Group I verbs whose dictionary form ends with く , we drop く from
the dictionary form and add いて . Now, let's figure out the て -form for たく !
(chikin karee o tsukutte imasu.)
つくる
(tsukuru)
つくります
(tsukurimasu)
つくって
(tsukutte)
つくっています
(tsukutte imasu)
チキンカレー
(chikin karee)
たく
(taku)
たきます
(takimasu)
Continued on next page
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123
English
15
16
Japanese
たいて
to cook (rice) (in the "te"-form)
(taite)
I am cooking rice now.
いま、ごはんをたいています。
(I am cooking steamed rice now.)
(ima, gohan o taite imasu.)
17
If language is the window into a culture, then the existence of various Japanese verbs that mean
"to boil" or "to cook in liquid" tells us that that's probably been the primary cooking method for
generations in Japan! The verb たく is one of them, and it's almost exclusively used for cooking
rice as in ごはんをたく (to cook rice). Please note that ごはんをたく literally means "to cook
steamed rice," but it doesn't mean that you have to cook rice twice!
18
to boil (water)
19
わかす (to boil) is used as the method for boiling water or some kind of liquid such as tea or soup.
We can't use it to say, for example, "to boil an egg (or potato)"!
20
boil (water)
21
Let's examine one more Group I verb for the conjugation pattern. わかす does not end with る , so
we know that this is a Group I verb. When we compare わかす and わかします , the unchanged
part is わか , and the changed part is the dictionary form ending す , which is changed to し in the
polite form. し belongs to the い -line of the Japanese alphabet chart, while す belongs to the う line. So, わかす also follows the same conjugation pattern as つくる and たく !
22
For those Group I verbs whose dictionary form ends with す , we make the て -form by dropping the
verb ending す from the dictionary form and adding して . Now, what do you think the て -form for
わかす is?
23
to boil (water) (in the "te"-form)
24
hot water
25
The Japanese equivalent to "hot water" is ゆ , but most people say おゆ in everyday conversation!
26
わかす
(wakasu)
わかします
(wakashimasu)
わかして
(wakashite)
おゆ
(oyu)
I am boiling water.
おゆをわかしています。
(I am boiling hot water.)
(oyu o wakashite imasu.)
27
Just like ごはんをたく (to cook rice), おゆをわかす is a commonly used expression. Literally, it
means "to boil hot water," which sounds like a waste of energy, but it actually means "to boil
water"!
28
We have learned from our examination of three Group I verbs that the conjugation pattern for this
verb type involves at least two lines from the Japanese alphabet chart: the い -line and う -line. In
fact, most Group I verbs use all five lines to complete their conjugation pattern. That's why we call
the conjugation pattern for Group I verbs ごだんかつよう (five-line conjugation)!
29
I am boiling water now. Why don't we have tea
or something?
いま、おゆをわかしています。おちゃでものみ
ませんか。
(ima, oyu o wakashite imasu. ocha demo
nomimasen ka.)
Continued on next page
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124
English
30
31
32
33
Japanese
To make a perfect cup of English tea, we have to use boiling water. For most green tea, boiling
water would be too hot to draw out the best aroma and flavor. The rule of thumb is that the more
expensive the tea leaf is, the lower the water temperature and the longer the brewing time should
be. The lower temperature, however, does not mean half-boiled water! You have to boil fresh
water first and then let it cool down to the perfect temperature for your particular kind of tea.
come over to eat
たべにきます
(come to eat)
(tabe ni kimasu)
Did you remember that to tell the purpose of movement (in this case "to come"), we drop ます
from the polite form of verbs and add the particle に , as in たべにきます (come to eat)?
Why don't you come over for a bite?
たべにきませんか。
(Won't you come to eat?)
(tabe ni kimasen ka.)
ラーメン
34
ramen noodle soup
35
I am making ramen noodle soup now. Why
don't you come over for a bite?
36
ラーメン (ramen noodle soup) is originally a Chinese dish, but Japanese people loved it so much
that not only did they adopt it as their own but also created unique regional brands or ごとうち
ラーメン . In Sapporo, for example, you'll enjoy the garlic-flavored さっぽろラーメン with the
miso-based soup. In Fukuoka, you'll find はかたラーメン featuring the milky "pork-bone" soup
garnished with pickled red ginger. They are all yummy, filling, and inexpensive!
(raamen)
いま、ラーメンをつくっています。たべにきま
せんか。
(ima, raamen o tsukutte imasu. tabe ni
kimasen ka.)
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Tell me, how do you make chicken curry?
チ キ ン カ レ ーは ど う や っ て つ く る ん で す か 。
English
1
Japanese
Tell me, how do you make chicken curry?
チキンカレーはどうやってつくるんですか。
(Tell me, as for chicken curry, how do you
make it?)
(chikin karee wa doo-yatte tsukurundesu
ka.)
2
カレーライス (curry and rice), or カレー for short, originally came to Japan as an English dish in
the late nineteenth century. As in the case of ラーメン , Japanese people loved it so much that
they adopted it as their own. Now it's one of the most popular home-cooked dishes in Japan! The
main ingredients are onions, potatoes, carrots, some type of meat, and カレールー --a solid
sauce-mix that contains curry powder, flour, and other spices.
3
how (when asking the method)
4
How do you make it?
5
Tell me, how do you make it?
6
Do you remember the "explanation" mode of speech we used to say ダンスがにがてなんです (As
a matter of fact, I'm a poor dancer)? While using なんです after nouns, な -adjectives and
adverbs, we use んです after い -adjectives and verbs. When asking for an explanation for the
other person's current or future action, simply add んですか after the dictionary form of the verb,
as in つくるんですか . It adds to your question the nuance of "Tell me" or "I'm wondering."
7
to broil
8
The verb やく can mean "to broil," "to roast," "to grill," "to barbecue," "to sear," "to bake," "to
toast," or even "to burn." It's very versatile, isn't it!
9
broil
10
I broil fish.
11
How do you broil fish?
12
どうやって
(doo-yatte)
どうやってつくりますか。
(doo-yatte tsukurimasu ka.)
どうやってつくるんですか。
(doo-yatte tsukurundesu ka.)
やく
(yaku)
やきます
(yakimasu)
さかなをやきます。
(sakana o yakimasu.)
どうやってさかなをやきますか。
(doo-yatte sakana o yakimasu ka.)
Tell me, how do you broil fish?
さかなはどうやってやくんですか。
(Tell me, as for fish, how do you broil it?)
(sakana wa doo-yatte yakundesu ka.)
おいしそうです。
13
It looks tasty.
14
Do you remember that そうです in あめがふりそうです (It seems that it's going to rain) indicates
the speaker's judgment based on his or her observation? We can use the same ending with
adjectives as well to mean "it seems..." or "it looks...." For な -adjectives such as しずか (quiet),
simply add そうです to the dictionary form, as in しずかそうです (It seems quiet). For い adjectives such as おいしい , we drop the word-ending い and add そうです , as in おいしそうです
(It looks tasty).
(oishisoo desu.)
Continued on next page
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126
English
Japanese
15
An observation can be made not only through our eyes, but also our ears or noses. Let's figure
out the next question!
16
It sounds tasty.
17
It sounds tasty, doesn't it! Tell me, how do
you make it?
18
Tell me, how do you eat it?
19
shabu shabu
20
Shabu shabu? It looks tasty, doesn't it! Tell
me, how do you eat it?
21
しゃぶしゃぶ is a simple yet savory one-pot dish, eaten as you cook right on the dining table.
The main ingredients are thinly sliced beef or pork, often accompanied with tofu, mushrooms, and
various vegetables. You lift a piece of meat with your chopsticks, swish it back and forth in the pot
of simmering kelp broth or こんぶだし , and eat the cooked meat after dipping it in the citrusbased sauce called ポンず . The dish is allegedly named after the sound of the meat swishing in
the pot!
おいしそうです。
(oishisoo desu.)
おいしそうですね。どうやってつくるんです
か。
(oishisoo desu ne. doo-yatte
tsukurundesu ka.)
どうやってたべるんですか。
(doo-yatte taberundesu ka.)
しゃぶしゃぶ
(shabu shabu)
しゃぶしゃぶですか。おいしそうですね。どう
やってたべるんですか。
(shabu shabu desu ka. oishisoo desu ne.
doo-yatte taberundesu ka.)
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127
We sauté chicken and vegetables, and add water.
と り に く と や さ い を い た め て 、み ず を い れ ま す 。
English
Japanese
とりにくとやさいをいためて、みずをいれま
す。
1
We sauté chicken and vegetables, and add
water.
2
Did you get it right? Just as we can connect as many nouns as we like using the particle と , we
can, at least theoretically, connect an infinite number of verbs by using the て -form. This "て -form,
て -form" pattern indicates that the action is taking place in the order stated. Please note that the
last verb in the sentence remains in the ます -form.
3
to sauté
4
sauté
5
Can you figure out what type of verb いためる is by comparing it with the polite form, いためます ?
That's right! It's a Group II verb!
6
to sauté (in the "te"-form)
7
(tori-niku to yasai o itamete, mizu o
iremasu.)
いためる
(itameru)
いためます
(itamemasu)
いためて
(itamete)
chicken (as meat)
とりにく
(bird meat)
(tori-niku)
やさい
8
vegetable
9
chicken and vegetable
10
We have so far learned that we can use the particle と (and) to connect two or more nouns or
noun phrases, right? When we want to connect two or more verbs, however, we can't use the
particle と . Instead, we use the て -form of the verb!
11
We sauté chicken and vegetables, and
12
to put in or to add
13
add
14
いれる ("to put in" or "to add") becomes いれます in the polite form. Which verb group does いれ
る belong to? Group II, of course!
15
We add water.
16
two minutes
(yasai)
とりにくとやさい
(tori-niku to yasai)
とりにくとやさいをいためて
(tori-niku to yasai o itamete)
いれる
(ireru)
いれます
(iremasu)
みずをいれます。
(mizu o iremasu.)
にふん
(ni-fun)
Continued on next page
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128
English
Japanese
17
ふん is the counter for minutes. We can use it to talk about the duration of time (as in "for twenty
minutes") or the point of time (as in "3:20"). Please note that the pronunciation of ふん
sometimes changes to ぷん , depending on what number or word comes before it. One to ten
minutes goes like this: いっぷん , にふん , さんぷん , よんぷん （ or よんふん ） , ごふん , ろっぷん , な
なふん , はっぷん , きゅうふん , and じゅっぷん ! The question word is なんぷん (literally, "what
minute").
18
ten minutes
19
about ten minutes
20
to cook (in liquid)
21
So far we have learned two verbs that are the equivalents of "to boil" or "to cook in liquid" in
English: たく for rice and わかす for water. にる also means "to boil" or "cook in liquid." We use に
る when cooking things like vegetables, meat, and fish in broth or any kind of seasoned liquid. For
boiling food in plain water, we have to use either ゆでる or ゆがく .
22
cook (in liquid)
23
We cook for about ten minutes.
24
Do you remember that いれる ("to put in" or "to add") is a Group II verb? Now let's figure out its
て -form!
25
to put in or to add (in the "te"-form)
26
we add water, and
27
about twenty minutes
28
We add water, and cook it for about twenty
minutes.
29
first of all
30
Though the "て -form、 て -form" pattern indicates the order of events, we can throw in some
"signaling" words to help our listeners understand what's going on! まず ("first" or "first of all") is
one of such signaling words, alerting the listeners that a series of events will follow.
31
First, we sauté chicken and vegetables, add
water, and cook it for about twenty minutes.
32
then
33
curry roux
じゅっぷん
(juppun)
じゅっぷんぐらい
(juppun gurai)
にる
(niru)
にます
(nimasu)
じゅっぷんぐらいにます。
(juppun gurai nimasu.)
いれて
(irete)
みずをいれて
(mizu o irete)
にじゅっぷんぐらい
(nijuppun gurai)
みずをいれて、にじゅっぷんぐらいにます。
(mizu o irete, nijuppun gurai nimasu.)
まず
(mazu)
まずとりにくとやさいをいためて、みずをいれ
て、にじゅっぷんぐらいにます。
(mazu tori-niku to yasai o itamete, mizu o
irete, nijuppun gurai nimasu.)
それから
(sore kara)
カレールー
(karee ruu)
Continued on next page
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129
English
Japanese
34
The word カレールー (curry roux) is made up of the English word "curry" and the French word
"roux." It's a solid mixture of curry powder, flour, and other spices neatly packaged in a small
box. There are various brands with different levels of spiciness. You can pick just one or mix
them together to create more complex flavors!
35
Then, we add the curry roux.
36
low heat
37
よわび (low heat; literally, "weak fire") is the word that describes the level of heat for cooking
stoves. Other options include つよび (high heat; literally "strong fire"), ちゅうび (medium heat),
and とろび (slow heat).
38
それからカレールーをいれます。
(sore kara karee ruu o iremasu.)
よわび
(yowabi)
over low heat
よわびで
(by means of low heat)
(yowabi de)
39
The particle で in the phrase よわびで indicates some kind of method or means for actions,
including cooking heat (as in "over low heat"), utensils (as in "with chopsticks"), communication
tools (as in "by phone" or "on TV"), transportation (as in "by bus"), language (as in "in Japanese"),
and so on. Very versatile, isn't it!
40
We cook it over low heat.
41
for a while
42
We cook it over low heat for a while.
43
Then, we add the curry roux and cook over low
heat for a while.
よわびでにます。
(yowabi de nimasu.)
しばらく
(shibaraku)
しばらくよわびでにます。
(shibaraku yowabi de nimasu.)
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130
それからカレールーをいれて、しばらくよわび
でにます。
(sore kara karee ruu o irete, shibaraku
yowabi de nimasu.)
How much water do you add?
どのくらいみずをいれますか。
English
Japanese
どのくらいみずをいれますか。
1
How much water do you add?
2
Do you add water?
3
how much (for quantities)
4
cup
5
The regular Japanese measuring cup (けいりょうカップ or カップ in short) is smaller than its
American counterpart. While the American cup holds 8 onces (or about 237 milliliters) of water,
the Japanese cup holds 200 milliliters. Japanese people also use a special cup for measuring
uncooked rice. The rice measuring cup can hold 180 milliliters or いちごう --the amount of
uncooked rice traditionally considered as one serving!
6
The counter for the measuring cup is the same as the counter for a coffee cup or a glass. Do you
remember what it is?
7
(dono kurai mizu o iremasu ka.)
みずをいれますか。
(mizu o iremasu ka.)
どのくらい
(donokurai)
カップ
(kappu)
one cupful
カップいっぱい
(one cup)
(kappu ippai)
カップにはい
8
two cupfuls
9
three cupfuls
10
First, we add three cupfuls of water.
11
(kappu ni-hai)
カップさんばい
(kappu san-bai)
まず、みずをカップさんばいいれます。
(mazu, mizu o kappu san-bai iremasu.)
tablespoon
おおさじ
(big spoon)
(oosaji)
12
Japanese measuring spoons (けいりょうスプーン ) have two basic types: おおさじ (literally, "big
spoon") and こさじ (small spoon). おおさじ is equivalent to the "tablespoon" in English and holds
15 milliliters of water. こさじ is equivalent to the "teaspoon" and holds 5 milliliters of water. For
both types, we can use the counter はい .
13
four tablespoonfuls
14
next (when referring to the order of events)
15
soy sauce
16
Next, we add four tablespoonfuls of soy
sauce.
おおさじよんはい
(oosaji yon-hai)
つぎに
(tsugi ni)
しょうゆ
(shooyu)
つぎに、しょうゆをおおさじよんはいいれま
す。
(tsugi ni, shooyu o oosaji yon-hai
iremasu.)
Continued on next page
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131
English
17
Japanese
teaspoon
こさじ
(small spoon)
(kosaji)
こさじにはい
18
two teaspoonfuls
19
sugar
20
Then, we add two teaspoonfuls of sugar.
21
salt
22
one pinch
23
We add a pinch of salt.
24
pepper
25
しょうしょう , the polite version of すこし (a little), is often used as a cooking term that is
equivalent to "a dash" in English. Let's try to use it in the next question!
26
We add a dash of pepper.
27
one hour
28
じかん means "time" in general, but we can also use it as the counter for hours. Please don't mix
it up with the counter for the hour, じ . For example, いちじかん means "one hour," and いちじ
means "one o'clock"!
29
We cook it for one hour over low heat.
30
the end or the last
31
We can use the noun さいご ("the end" or "the last") to talk about the end of a time period,
action, event, place, and so on.
32
33
(kosaji ni-hai)
さとう
(satoo)
それから、さとうをこさじにはいいれます。
(sore kara, satoo o kosaji nihai iremasu.)
しお
(shio)
ひとつまみ
(hitotsumami)
しおをひとつまみいれます。
(shio o hitotsumami iremasu.)
こしょう
(koshoo)
こしょうをしょうしょういれます。
(koshoo o shoo shoo iremasu.)
いちじかん
(ichi jikan)
よわびでいちじかんにます。
(yowabi de ichi-jikan nimasu.)
さいご
(saigo )
lastly
さいごに
(at the end)
(saigo ni)
さいごにしおをひとつまみいれて、よわびでい
ちじかんにます。
Lastly, we add a pinch of salt, and cook for
one hour over low heat.
(saigo ni shio o hitotsumami irete,
yowabi de ichi-jikan nimasu.)
Continued on next page
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132
English
34
Japanese
Some Japanese cookbooks use exact measurements in grams and milliliters that require us to
own a scale. Many people, however, get by with less rigid definitions. For example, ひとつまみ (a
pinch) means the amount that our thumb, index finger and middle finger can pinch. しょうしょう
(a dash), on the other hand, means the amount that our thumb and index finger can pinch.
When we forget about measuring altogether and go with our experience (or instinct), it's called め
ぶんりょう --the "amount measured by eyes"!
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133
What is miso paste made from?
みそはなにからできていますか。
English
Japanese
みそはなにからできていますか。
1
What is miso paste made from?
2
to be made
3
The verb できる has several meanings. Here, we use it as the equivalent of "to be made" in
English.
4
is made
5
Can you tell what type of verb できる is? That's right! It's Group II.
6
to be made (in the "te"-form)
7
is being made
8
When we are looking at something and want to ask or describe what it is made from, we use でき
ています instead of できます . できています (literally, "is being made") describes not the action in
progress but the continuing state resulting from what has happened in the past. That is,
someone has made something using certain ingredients, and as the result, the ingredients are
still in it. This is another function of the "て -form + います " pattern!
9
from what
10
We have so far used から (from) to indicate the starting point as in ここから (from here). We can
also use から to indicate materials from which something is made.
11
(miso wa nani kara dekite imasu ka.)
できる
(dekiru)
できます
(dekimasu)
できて
(dekite)
できています
(dekite imasu)
なにから
(nani kara)
What is it made from?
なにからできていますか。
(From what is it being made?)
(nani kara dekite imasu ka.)
みそ
12
miso paste
13
soybeans
14
Miso paste? It is made from soybeans.
15
both miso paste and soy sauce
16
Both miso paste and soy sauce are made
from soybeans, you know.
(miso)
だいず
(daizu)
みそですか。だいずからできています。
(miso desu ka. daizu kara dekite imasu.)
みそもしょうゆも
(miso mo shooyu mo)
みそもしょうゆもだいずからできていますよ。
(miso mo shooyu mo daizu kara dekite
imasu yo.)
Continued on next page
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134
English
Japanese
17
There are several basic Japanese seasonings. みそ is made from soybeans fermented with either
rice, wheat, or soybean itself. しょうゆ is also made from soybeans fermented with wheat. Both
みそ and しょうゆ contain a fairly large amount of しお (salt). す (vinegar), on the other hand, is
made from rice or grains. みりん is Japanese cooking wine made from sweet rice, and it's quite
sweet like さとう (sugar)!
18
ingredient
19
What are the ingredients?
20
"parent-child" rice bowl
21
the ingredients for the "parent-child" rice bowl
22
Um, what are the ingredients for the "parentchild" rice bowl?
23
egg
24
The ingredients for the "parent-child" rice
bowl? They are steamed rice, chicken, and
eggs, you know.
ざいりょう
(zai-ryoo)
ざいりょうはなんですか。
(zai-ryoo wa nan desu ka.)
おやこどんぶり
(oyako donburi)
おやこどんぶりのざいりょう
(oyako donburi no zai-ryoo)
あのう、おやこどんぶりのざいりょうはなんで
すか。
(anoo, oyako donburi no zai-ryoo wa nan
desu ka.)
たまご
(tamago)
おやこどんぶりのざいりょうですか。ごはんと
とりにくとたまごですよ。
(oyako donburi no zai-ryoo desu ka.
gohan to tori-niku to tamago desu yo.)
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135
I'll bring desserts. デ ザ ート を も っ て い き ま す 。
English
1
Japanese
I'll bring desserts.
デザートをもっていきます。
(I'll take desserts.)
(dezaato o motte ikimasu.)
2
Do you remember that we use いく (to go) when we describe the movement in the direction away
from where we are as we speak, while くる (to come) is used to describe the movement toward
us? The same basic rule applies to the verb もっていく and its counterpart もってくる . For
example, when we tell our friends on the phone that we will bring desserts, we say デザートをもっ
ていきます because we are going to their house, moving away from where we are!
3
to take (something with one)
4
もっていく consists of two parts: the て -form of the Group I verb もつ (to hold or have) and the
Group I verb いく (to go). Here, let's use it as a compound verb equivalent to "to take
(something with)."
5
take (something with one)
6
dessert
7
Traditional Japanese sweets or わがし are treats not only for our palate but also for our eyes!
They are so beautiful in shape and color that you almost regret that you have to eat them--until
you put them in your mouth...then all you can think of is their excellent taste! Typical ingredients
are rice flour and sweetened red-bean paste called あんこ . They should be accompanied by a
perfect cup of green tea!
8
to be ready
9
We have so far used できる to mean "to be made" as in みそはだいずからできています (Miso
paste is made from soybeans). We can also use できる to mean "to be ready."
10
will be ready
11
in no time
12
It will be ready in no time.
13
It will be ready in no time, you know. Why don't
you come over for a bite?
14
いい ("good," "fine," or "OK") is a い -adjective. Do you remember how to turn it into the
"explanation" mode?
15
16
もっていく
(motte iku)
もっていきます
(motte ikimasu)
デザート
(dezaato)
できる
(dekiru)
できます
(dekimasu)
もうすぐ
(moo sugu)
もうすぐできます。
(moo sugu dekimasu.)
もうすぐできますよ。たべにきませんか。
(moo sugu dekimasu yo. tabe ni kimasen
ka.)
Are you sure it's OK?
いいんですか。
(Tell me, is it OK?)
(iindesu ka.)
Oh! Are you sure it's OK? Well then, I'll bring
desserts.
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136
えっ！いいんですか。じゃあ、デザートをもっ
ていきます。
(e! iindesu ka. jaa, dezaato o motte
ikimasu.)
Continued on next page
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137
English
Japanese
まつ
17
to wait
18
Can you tell what type of verb まつ (to wait) is? That's right! Since it does not end with る , it's a
Group I verb! Now based on what you have learned about the conjugation pattern for Group I,
can you tell what the polite form for まつ is?
19
wait
20
Now, まつ (to wait) is a Group I verb that ends with つ . Do you remember how to make the て form for Group I verbs whose dictionary form ends with う or つ or る , as in つくる (to make)?
21
to wait (in the "te"-form)
(matsu)
まちます
(machimasu)
まって
(matte)
I'll be waiting for you.
まっています。
(I am waiting.)
(matte imasu.)
23
It sounds good! Well then, I'll be waiting for
you.
いいですね！じゃあ、まっています。
24
When visiting someone's house, Japanese people almost always take small gifts called おみやげ
with them. These gifts are usually some type of sweets or fruits (or drinks if it's a dinner party),
which the host can serve right away. Don't consider it as an obligation, but think of it as a
thoughtful gesture from guests, who naturally want to spare their host the anxiety of being caught
between the arrival of visitors and the bareness of his or her cupboard!
22
(ii desu ne! jaa, matte imasu.)
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138
Chapter 8: Shopping
買 い物
Chapter 8: Shopping
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Communicate Desires Using the "Noun + が
ほしいです " Pattern
Create the "て -form + ください " Pattern to
Make Requests
Form the "い -Adjective + なります " Pattern to
Indicate Changes
Use the "て -form + います " Pattern to
Describe the Continuing State
Communicate Your Shopping Needs
Inquire about Store Hours and Location
Refer to Different Types of Stores
Request Someone to Do Something
Understand Sizing in Japan
Conversation
English
Japanese
あれ、ようこさん、こんにちは。かいものです
か。
Oh, hello Yoko. Are you out shopping?
(are, yooko san, kon-nichiwa. kaimono desu
ka.)
ええ、すずしくなりましたから、ながそでのブラ
ウスとセーターをさがしています。
Yes. Since it's getting cooler, I'm looking for some
long-sleeved blouses and sweaters.
(ee, suzushiku narimashita kara, nagasode
no burausu to seetaa o sagashite imasu.)
でも、ちょうどいいのがありません。
But, I haven't found exactly what I want.
(demo, choodo ii no ga arimasen.)
しぶやのとうきょうプラザはどうですか。いま、
セールちゅうですよ。
How about Tokyo Plaza in Shibuya? They are
having a sale now, you know.
(shibuya no tookyoo puraza wa doo desu ka.
ima, seeruchuu desu yo.)
へえ、なんじまでですか。
Really? What time do they close?
(hee, nanji made desu ka.)
どようびはくじまでです。ばしょをしっています
か。
They are open until 9 o'clock on Saturdays. Do
you know where it is?
(do-yoobi wa ku-ji made desu. basho o shitte
imasu ka.)
いいえ、しりません。おしえてください。
No, I don't. Please tell me where.
(iie, shirimasen. oshiete kudasai.)
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139
ぼくもあたらしいふくがほしいんです。いっしょ
にいきましょう。
As a matter of fact, I want some new clothes, too.
Let's go together.
(boku mo atarashii fuku ga hoshiindesu.
issho ni ikimashoo.)
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140
The price of suits has gone down.
ス ーツ が や す く な り ま し た 。
English
1
Japanese
The price of suits has gone down.
スーツがやすくなりました。
(Suits became inexpensive.)
(suutsu ga yasuku narimashita.)
2
Did you notice that we needed to use the particle が to mark the subject of the sentence? We
can't use the topic marker は here because the whole sentence, スーツがやすくなりました (The
price of suits has gone down), is communicating a new piece of information; that is, the speaker
has "discovered" (or otherwise observed) some fact or phenomenon and is reporting it to the
listener for the first time in the conversation. It's similar to the case of あめがふりそうです (It
seems that it is going to rain).
3
to become
4
become
5
became
6
inexpensive
7
やすい is equivalent to "inexpensive," "cheap," or "low (price)" in English. It doesn't, however,
necessarily carry a negative connotation as "cheap" often does.
8
become inexpensive
9
We can describe how things change by using the "adjective plus なります " pattern. Please note
that if the adjective is an い -adjective such as やすい , we have to drop the ending い and instead
add く before なります as in やすくなります (become inexpensive).
10
(naru)
なります
(narimasu)
なりました
(narimashita)
やすい
(yasui)
やすくなります
(yasuku narimasu)
The price has gone down.
やすくなりました。
(It became inexpensive.)
(yasuku narimashita.)
11
suits
12
discount sale
13
なる
スーツ
(suutsu)
セール
(seeru)
having a sale
セールちゅう
(in the middle of discount sale)
(seeruchuu)
14
ちゅう attaches itself to nouns for events such as セール (a sale) or for activities such as さんぽ
(a walk), indicating that the event or activity is in progress. It's equivalent to "in the middle of" in
English, but it can be translated differently according to the context, as in "on (sale)," "under
(repair)," or "in (conversation)"!
15
They are having a sale now.
いま、セールちゅうです。
(ima, seeruchuu desu.)
Continued on next page
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141
English
Japanese
とうきょうプラザ
16
Tokyo Plaza
17
Tokyo Plaza in Shibuya
18
しぶや is one of the busiest shopping districts in Tokyo and quite popular among young
shoppers. As you may recall, this is the place where the statue of the famous Akita, ハチこう ,
stands. とうきょうプラザ , by the way, is a fictional shopping mall.
(tookyoo puraza)
しぶやのとうきょうプラザ
(shibuya no tookyoo puraza)
しぶやのとうきょうプラザはいまセールちゅう
です。スーツがやすくなりましたよ。
19
Tokyo Plaza in Shibuya is having a sale now.
The price of suits has gone down, you know.
20
セール (discount sale) is another popular "borrowed" word in Japan. Lately, traditional Japanese
terms such as うりだし (literally, "selling out") or やすうり (literally, "cheap selling") are replaced
by セール , バーゲン (bargain), or even "SALE" in the English spelling.
21
won't become inexpensive
22
(shibuya no tookyoo puraza wa ima
seeruchuu desu. suutsu ga yasuku
narimashita yo.)
やすくなりません
(yasuku narimasen)
Can't you lower the price?
やすくなりませんか。
(Won't it become inexpensive?)
(yasuku narimasen ka.)
もうすこし
23
a little more
24
Can't you lower the price a little more?
25
expensive
26
That is expensive, isn't it! Can't you lower the
price a little more?
27
Generally speaking, you don't see many Japanese customers haggling for discounts. You may try,
however, some modest negotiations in open markets or friendly neighborhood stores selling fresh
products. Sometimes, shopkeepers may give you discounts for bulk purchases, or they might
throw in something extra as a おまけ (giveaway) if you are a good customer!
(moo sukoshi)
もうすこしやすくなりませんか。
(moo sukoshi yasuku narimasen ka.)
たかい
(takai)
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142
それはたかいですね。もうすこしやすくなりま
せんか。
(sore wa takai desu ne. moo sukoshi
yasuku narimasen ka.)
I am looking for some long sleeve blouses.
ながそでのブラウスをさがしています。
English
Japanese
ながそでのブラウスをさがしています。
1
I am looking for some long sleeve blouses.
2
to look for
3
look for
4
さがす is a Group I verb that ends with す like わかす (to boil water), right? Do you remember how
to make the て -form for the verb like this?
5
to look for (in the "te"-form)
6
am looking for
7
blouse
8
I am looking for a blouse.
9
sleeve
10
long sleeve
11
The Japanese word for "long" is ながい . ながそで is the shortened form of ながいそで (literally,
"long sleeve"), but it's used as one word!
12
(nagasode no burausu o sagashite
imasu.)
さがす
(sagasu)
さがします
(sagashimasu)
さがして
(sagashite)
さがしています
(sagashite imasu)
ブラウス
(burausu)
ブラウスをさがしています。
(burausu o sagashite imasu.)
そで
(sode)
ながそで
(nagasode)
long sleeve blouse
ながそでのブラウス
(blouse with long sleeves)
(nagasode no burausu)
さがしていますか
13
are you looking for?
14
are you looking for?
15
おさがしですか is the polite form of さがしていますか (Are you looking for?). You'll hear the
phrase a lot in Japanese retail stores!
16
something
17
Are you looking for something?
18
Did you remember that we don't have to use the particle を after なにか (something) or だれか
(someone) in everyday conversation?
19
We have so far used the word はん (half) to talk about time, as in にじはん (half past two). We
can't use はん by itself, but we can combine it not only with time expressions but also with other
nouns. Let's try it in the next question!
(sagashige imasu ka)
おさがしですか
(osagashi desu ka)
なにか
(nanika)
なにかおさがしですか。
(nanika osagashi desu ka.)
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144
English
20
Japanese
short sleeve
はんそで
(half sleeve)
(hansode)
21
short sleeve T-shirt
22
I am looking for some short sleeve T-shirts.
23
thing
はんそでの Tシャツ
(hansode no tiishatsu)
はんそでの Tシャツをさがしています。
24
(hansode no tiishatsu o sagashite
imasu.)
もの
(mono)
summer item
なつもの
(summer thing)
(natsumono)
25
なつもの (literally, "summer thing") means any personal items made for summer including
clothes, shoes, and hats. Please note that we don't need to use the particle の to connect なつ
and もの since なつもの has gained the status of a single word!
26
inexpensive winter item
27
I am looking for some inexpensive winter
items.
28
It has become cool.
29
やすいふゆもの
(yasui fuyumono)
やすいふゆものをさがしています。
(yasui fuyumono o sagashite imasu.)
すずしくなりました。
(suzushiku narimashita.)
すずしくなりましたから、ながそでのブラウス
とセーターをさがしています。
Since it has become cool, I am looking for
some long sleeve blouses and sweaters.
(suzushiku narimashita kara, nagasode
no burausu to seetaa o sagashite
imasu.)
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145
They don't have what I really want.
ちょうどいいのがありません。
English
1
Japanese
They don't have what I really want.
ちょうどいいのがありません。
(They don't have one that is just right.)
(choodo ii no ga arimasen.)
ちょうど
2
just
3
right or suitable
4
So far, we have been using いい as "fine" (as in いいてんき or "fine weather"), "good" (as in いいで
すね or "It sounds good"), or "okay" (as in いいですか or "Is it okay?"). We can also use いい to
mean "right" or "suitable." Let's use the word in this last way here!
5
just right
6
Do you remember that we can have の as a generic substitute for a noun as in あかいの (red
one)? Let's use it like this in the next question.
7
8
9
ちょうどいい
(choodo ii)
ちょうどいいの
(choodo ii no)
サイズ
size
(saizu)
the right size
ちょうどいいサイズ
(just right size)
(choodo ii saizu)
11
It's a little bit small.
14
(ii)
(just right one)
They don't have the right size.
13
いい
one that is just right
10
12
(choodo)
ちょうどいいサイズがありません。
(choodo ii saizu ga arimasen.)
ちょっとちいさいです。
(chotto chiisai desu.)
bigger size
おおきいサイズ
(big size)
(ookii saizu)
おおきいサイズがありますか。
Do you have a bigger size?
(ookii saizu ga arimasu ka.)
a pair of boots
ブーツ
(boots)
(buutsu)
このブーツはちょっとちいさいです。おおきい
サイズがありますか。
15
This pair of boots is a little bit small. Do you
have a bigger size?
16
coat
17
Do you remember that すてき (wonderful) can also be used to mean "nice" or "lovely"?
18
nice coat
(kono buutsu wa chotto chiisai desu.
ookii saizu ga arimasu ka.)
コート
(kooto)
すてきなコート
(sutekina kooto)
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146
English
Japanese
みじかい
19
short
20
The sleeves are short.
21
It's a nice coat, but the sleeves are a little bit
short.
22
shopping
23
(mijikai)
そでがみじかいです。
(sode ga mijikai desu.)
すてきなコートですが、そでがちょっとみじか
いです。
(sutekina kooto desu ga, sode ga chotto
mijikai desu.)
かいもの
(kaimono)
Are you out shopping?
かいものですか。
(Is it shopping?)
(kaimono desu ka.)
あれ !
24
Ah!
25
We can use あれ ! to show our surprise at something or some event that is unexpected. It's
equivalent to "Ah!" or "Oh!" in English.
26
27
28
(are!)
あれ！ようこさん、こんにちは。かいものです
か。
Ah! Hello Yoko. Are you out shopping?
(are! yooko san, kon-nichiwa. kaimono
desu ka.)
winter coat
ふゆのコート
(coat for winter)
(fuyu no kooto)
ええ。ふゆのコートをさがしていますが、ちょ
うどいいのがありません。
Yes. I am looking for a winter coat, but they
don't have what I really want.
(ee. fuyu no kooto o sagashite imasu ga,
choodo ii no ga arimasen.)
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147
What is your shoe size? く つ の サ イ ズ は な ん で す か 。
English
Japanese
くつのサイズはなんですか。
1
What is your shoe size?
2
Japanese shoe sizes are in centimeters or センチ , including half sizes. For women, American
sizes 7, 8, and 9 roughly match Japanese sizes 23.5, 24.5, and 25.5, respectively. For men,
American sizes 8, 9, and 10 are Japanese sizes 26, 27, and 28, respectively. In general, Japanese
(especially women) have smaller feet than Americans. If you wear a women's size 9 or larger, you
may have a difficult time finding a nice-looking pair of Japanese shoes!
3
shoes
4
(kutsu no saizu wa nan desu ka.)
くつ
(kutsu)
shoe size
くつのサイズ
(size of shoes)
(kutsu no saizu)
なんですか。
5
What is it?
6
twenty-three centimeters
7
twenty-six point five centimeters
8
The decimal point in Japanese is read as てん (literally, a "dot" or "point") as in にじゅうろくてんご
(twenty-six point five).
9
When we are talking about our shoe size in Japan, we can often omit the word センチ
(centimeter). Let's try it in the next question.
(nan desu ka.)
にじゅうさんセンチ
(ni-juu-san senchi)
にじゅうろくてんごセンチ
(ni-juu-roku ten go senchi)
くつのサイズですか。にじゅうろくてんごで
す。
10
My shoe size? It's twenty-six point five.
11
clothes
12
ふく is a general term for "clothes." To be more specific, we can say ようふく for Western-style
clothes and わふく or きもの for traditional Japanese-style clothes.
13
What is your size for clothes?
14
(kutsu no saizu desu ka. ni-juu-roku ten
go desu.)
ふく
(fuku)
ふくのサイズはなんですか。
(fuku no saizu wa nan desu ka.)
dress
ワンピース
(one-piece)
(wanpiisu)
15
ワンピース (literally, "one piece") is a one-piece dress with an above-floor hem length. A formal,
or otherwise fancy, long dress is called ドレス (literally, "dress").
16
size nine
きゅうごう
(kyuugoo)
Continued on next page
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148
English
Japanese
17
Japanese sizes for women's clothes are often indicated by odd numbers followed by the counter
for size, ごう . In general, Japanese dress sizes run small. For example, American sizes 6, 8, 10
roughly match Japanese sizes 9, 11, and 13, respectively. Please note that these sizes vary
depending on the manufacturer and design. When you buy clothes in Japan, make sure to try
them on before you buy!
18
size nine dress
19
Do you have a size nine dress?
20
きゅうごうのワンピース
(kyuugoo no wanpiisu)
きゅうごうのワンピースがありますか。
(kyuugoo no wanpiisu ga arimasu ka.)
medium size
エムサイズ
(M-size)
(emu saizu)
21
In addition to numbers, Japanese manufacturers use the letter sizes: XS (extra small), S (small),
M (medium), L (large), and XL or LL (extra large). The sizes bigger than XL are written as 3L,
4L, and so on.
22
swimsuit
23
I am looking for a swimsuit. My size is
medium.
24
Japanese sizes
25
I don't understand Japanese sizes.
26
fitting room
27
Do you have a fitting room?
28
jacket
29
みずぎ
(mizugi)
みずぎをさがしています。サイズは Mです。
(mizugi o sagashite imasu. saizu wa emu
desu.)
にほんのサイズ
(nihon no saizu)
にほんのサイズがわかりません。
(nihon no saizu ga wakarimasen.)
しちゃくしつ
(shichaku-shitsu)
しちゃくしつがありますか。
(shichaku-shitsu ga arimasu ka.)
うわぎ
(uwagi)
It's a nice jacket, but I don't understand
Japanese sizes. Do you have a fitting room?
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149
すてきなうわぎですが、にほんのサイズがわか
りません。しちゃくしつがありますか。
(sutekina uwagi desu ga, nihon no saizu
ga wakarimasen. shichaku-shitsu ga
arimasu ka.)
What time does that store close?
そのみせはなんじまでですか。
English
1
Japanese
What time does that store close?
そのみせはなんじまでですか。
(Until what time is that store?)
(sono mise wa nan-ji made desu ka.)
2
We have so far used まで to indicate a destination as in とうきょうえきまで (to Tokyo Station) or
ちょうじょうまで (to the summit). We can also use まで to indicate the end point in time like
"until" in English!
3
until what time
4
なんじまで
(nan-ji made)
What time does it close?
なんじまでですか。
(Until what time is it?)
(nan-ji made desu ka.)
くつや
5
shoe store
6
Have you noticed that many Japanese terms for stores end with や ? や means a "store," "shop,"
or "place of business" in general. ほんや is a book store, くつや a shoe store, and ラーメンや a
ramen-noodle shop. Some stores and restaurants use や in their business names, as in しろきや
or たまや !
7
(kutsu-ya)
the station-front area
えきまえ
(station front)
(ekimae)
8
The area developed on the main entrance side of a train station is called えきまえ (literally,
"station-front"). It's a prime location for stores, restaurants, and hotels that cater to busy
commuters, business travelers, and tourists. Please note that, as in the case of なつもの
(summer item), we don't have to use the particle の to connect two nouns (えき and まえ )
because えきまえ is used as a single word!
9
the shoe store in the station-front area
10
What time does the shoe store in the stationfront area close?
11
evening (before dark)
12
We have learned that ばん means "evening" and used it in expressions such as こんばんは (Good
evening) or ばんごはん ("evening meal" or "supper"). While we generally use ばん to mean the
time period after dark, we use ゆうがた to point to the time period between around four and
sunset.
13
half past six in the evening
14
We can say ゆうがたろくじはん or ゆうがたのろくじはん . They mean the same--"half past six in
the evening"!
15
16
えきまえのくつや
(ekimae no kutsu-ya)
えきまえのくつやはなんじまでですか。
(ekimae no kutsu-ya wa nan-ji made desu
ka.)
ゆうがた
(yuugata)
ゆうがたろくじはん
(yuugata roku-ji han)
It is open until half past six in the evening.
ゆうがたろくじはんまでです。
(It is until half past six in the evening.)
(yuugata roku-ji han made desu.)
なんじから
from what time
(nan-ji kara)
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150
17
Did you remember that we can use から to indicate the starting point in time as well as in space?
Continued on next page
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151
English
18
Japanese
What are the store hours?
なんじからなんじまでですか。
(From what time until what time is it?)
(nan-ji kara nan-ji made desu ka.)
スーパー
19
supermarket
20
What are the store hours for the supermarket
in the station-front area?
21
Large shopping malls have become ubiquitous sights in Japanese suburbs, catering to weekend
shoppers who arrive in their cars. For many people, however, grocery shopping is still a daily affair
performed on foot, by bicycle or by moped. In the evenings, shoppers crowd スーパー
(supermarkets) on the way home from work, taking advantage of the end-of-the-day discount
hours to find bargains for the dinner table!
22
night
23
よる and ばん are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are certain distinctions. In general,
よる means after dark until sunrise. ばん is the early part of night when people are still awake and
active. The English equivalents would be "night" for よる and "evening (after dark)" for ばん .
24
ten o'clock at night
25
The supermarket in the station-front area is
open from nine o'clock in the morning until
ten o'clock at night.
26
shopping district
27
The shopping district in the station-front area?
It is open until nine o'clock at night on
Saturdays.
28
Shopping at スーパー or デパート is convenient, but not as fun as browsing through the local しょ
うてんがい (shopping district), where many retail stores and fresh produce vendors congregate
along narrow streets. There, you can buy さかな (fish) at さかなや , にく (meat) at にくや , パン
(bread) at パンや , and とうふ (tofu) at とうふや --all fresh and inexpensive. Best of all, you'll be
able to have a little chat with friendly shopkeepers, which is a great way to get to know the
country and the culture better!
(suupaa)
えきまえのスーパーは、なんじからなんじまで
ですか。
(ekimae no suupaa wa, nan-ji kara nan-ji
made desu ka.)
よる
(yoru)
よるじゅうじ
(yoru juu-ji)
えきまえのスーパーは、あさくじからよるじゅ
うじまでです。
(ekimae no suupaa wa, asa ku-ji kara
yoru juu-ji made desu.)
しょうてんがい
(shootengai)
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152
えきまえのしょうてんがいですか。どようびは
よるくじまでです。
(ekimae no shootengai desu ka. do-yoobi
wa yoru ku-ji made desu.)
Do you know the location? ば し ょ を し っ て い ま す か 。
English
Japanese
ばしょをしっていますか。
1
Do you know the location?
2
to know
3
know
4
Can you tell what type of verb しる is? That's right! It's a Group I verb whose dictionary form ends
with る like つくる (to make). Do you remember how to make the て -form for these verbs?
5
to know (in the "te"-form)
6
(basho o shitte imasu ka.)
しる
(shiru)
しります
(shirimasu)
しって
(shitte)
I know.
しっています。
(I am knowing.)
(shitte imasu.)
7
Please note that to say "I know" in Japanese, we have to say しっています . Like できています (it is
made), しっています describes not an action in progress, but a "continuing state" that has
resulted from some action taken in the past. Let's memorize it as a phrase!
8
location
9
the name of that store
10
Do you know the name of that store?
11
Yes, I know.
12
No, I don't know.
13
Did you notice that the negative form of しっています (I know) is しりません (I don't know)? Let's
memorize both the affirmative and negative form of the verb しる as a pair!
14
price
15
the price of this coat
16
The price of this coat? I don't know. How much
is it?
17
cake
ばしょ
(basho)
そのみせのなまえ
(sono mise no namae)
そのみせのなまえをしっていますか。
(sono mise no namae o shitte imasu ka.)
ええ、しっています。
(ee, shitte imasu.)
いいえ、しりません。
(iie, shirimasen.)
ねだん
(nedan)
このコートのねだん
(kono kooto no nedan)
このコートのねだんですか。しりません。いく
らですか。
(kono kooto no nedan desu ka.
shirimasen. ikura desu ka.)
ケーキ
(keeki)
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153
English
Japanese
ケーキや
18
cake shop
19
Japanese people, particularly women and children, often add the honorific title さん after the
names of stores as in ケーキやさん or ほんやさん . It's a friendly way to mention neighborhood
businesses. Let's try this in the next questions.
20
(keeki-ya)
great cake shop
おいしいケーキやさん
(tasty cake shop)
(oishii keeki-ya san)
21
おいしいケーキやさん (literally, "tasty cake shop") may sound as if the cake shop is edible like a
gingerbread house. This, however, is a common way in Japanese to describe a great cake shop
that serves delicious cakes!
22
Do you know any great cake shop?
23
おいしいケーキやさんをしっていますか。
(oishii keeki-ya san o shitte imasu ka.)
Yes, I know. The cake shop in the station-front
area is the best, you know.
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154
ええ、しっています。えきまえのケーキやさん
がいちばんですよ。
(ee, shitte imasu. ekimae no keeki-ya san
ga ichiban desu yo.)
Please tell me the location.
ばしょをおしえてください。
English
Japanese
ばしょをおしえてください。
1
Please tell me the location.
2
to teach or to tell
3
teach or tell
4
to tell (in the "te"-form)
5
Please tell me.
6
Do you remember that we used ください to mean "Please give me" in the sentence such as この
シャツください (Please give me this shirt)? When we want to ask or instruct someone to do
something, we use the "て -form plus ください " pattern as in おしえてください ("Please tell me" or
"Please teach me").
7
Please tell me the location of Tokyo Plaza.
8
Excuse me, but please tell me the name of
that store.
9
to show
10
show
11
to show (in the "te"-form)
12
Please show me.
(basho o oshiete kudasai.)
おしえる
(oshieru)
おしえます
(oshiemasu)
おしえて
(oshiete)
おしえてください。
(oshiete kudasai.)
とうきょうプラザのばしょをおしえてくださ
い。
(tookyoo puraza no basho o oshiete
kudasai.)
すみませんが、そのみせのなまえをおしえてく
ださい。
(sumimasen ga, sono mise no namae o
oshiete kudasai.)
みせる
(miseru)
みせます
(misemasu)
みせて
(misete)
みせてください。
(misete kudasai.)
すみませんが、そのセーターをみせてくださ
い。
13
Excuse me, but please show me that sweater.
14
to wrap
15
wrap
16
What group of verbs does つつむ belong to? That's right! It's a Group I verb. When the dictionary
form for a Group I verb ends with either む or ぶ or ぬ , we drop the last letter and add んで to
make the て -form. Can you figure out the て -form for つつむ ?
(sumimasen ga, sono seetaa o misete
kudasai.)
つつむ
(tsutsumu)
つつみます
(tsutsumimasu)
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155
17
つつんで
to wrap (in the "te"-form)
(tsutsunde)
Continued on next page
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156
English
Japanese
つつんでください。
18
Please wrap them.
19
Excuse me, but please wrap them together.
20
Here's the summary of the て -form formation for Group I verbs. If the dictionary form ends with
う or つ or る , like まつ (to wait), delete the last letter and add って as in まって . If the ending is
む or ぶ or ぬ , like つつむ (to wrap), delete it and add んで as in つつんで . For the す -ending like わ
かす (to boil water), replace it with して ; for the く -ending like たく (to cook rice), use いて ; and for
the ぐ -ending like いそぐ (to hurry), use いで .
21
Here is a little mantra to help you memorize how to form the て -form for Group I verbs, irregular
verbs, and Group II verbs, respectively. You can either repeat the following aloud or make a jingle
out of it ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" fits): うつる 「って」 , むぶぬ 「んで」 , す 「して」 ,
く 「いて」 , ぐ 「いで」 , する 「して」 , くる 「きて」 , みる 「みて」 . Please note that it lists
the whole て -form for the irregular verbs (する and くる ) and Group II verbs (みる is used as an
example), but only the verb endings for Group I verbs and their て -forms.
22
box
23
We have learned that に is a versatile particle. Here's another use: when we use verbs such as
"to put in," "to get in," "to get on," or "to arrive," we use the particle に to indicate the goal. It's
equivalent to "at," "on," or "in" in English. Let's figure out the next question!
24
Please put it in the box.
25
Excuse me, but please put it in the box and
wrap it.
26
Did you remember that we could use the て -form to connect two or more verbs to describe the
chain of events or actions?
27
Gift wrapping is a serious business in Japan. Let's take a box of sweets as an example. Each
sweet would be individually wrapped and placed in a box. The box then would be wrapped with a
pretty wrapping paper. Sometimes, the retail-store clerk wraps the already gift-wrapped box with
a signature wrapping paper of the store. Finally, the neatly wrapped box would be put in a
matching paper or plastic tote bag. Now your gift has as many layers as a Russian nesting doll!
(tsutsunde kudasai.)
すみませんが、いっしょにつつんでください。
(sumimasen ga, issho ni tsutsunde
kudasai.)
はこ
(hako)
はこにいれてください。
(hako ni irete kudasai.)
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157
すみませんが、はこにいれて、つつんでくださ
い。
(sumimasen ga, hako ni irete, tsutsunde
kudasai.)
I want some new clothes too.
わたしもあたらしいふくがほしいです。
English
Japanese
わたしもあたらしいふくがほしいです。
1
I want some new clothes too.
2
Please note that we can only use ほしいです (I want) or したいです (I want to do) to talk about our
own desires or to find out the desires of our listeners in casual conversation. We can't use them
to talk about the desires of the third person. Also, we shouldn't use these expressions when we
want to offer something or issue invitations. For example, if you want to invite your friend to have
some tea with you, you should say おちゃをのみませんか (Why don't we have some tea?) instead.
3
to want
4
ほしい is an い -adjective, but it functions as the equivalent of "to want" in English.
5
want
6
new
7
new clothes
8
I want some new clothes.
9
Do you remember that we sometimes use the particle が , not を , to indicate the "object" of the
verb such as あります (I have) or the adjective such as すきです (I like)? When we use the
expression ほしいです (I want), we also need to use が to indicate what we want, as in あたらしい
ふくがほしいです (I want some new clothes). Let's memorize "Xがほしいです " (I want X) as a set
phrase!
10
new swimsuit
11
(watashi mo atarashii fuku ga hoshii
desu.)
ほしい
(hoshii)
ほしいです
(hoshii desu)
あたらしい
(atarashii)
あたらしいふく
(atarashii fuku )
あたらしいふくがほしいです。
(atarashii fuku ga hoshii desu.)
あたらしいみずぎ
(atarashii mizugi)
a pair of sandals
サンダル
(sandal)
(sandaru)
あたらしいみずぎとサンダルがほしいです。
12
I want a new swimsuit and a pair of sandals.
13
warm coat and a pair of boots
14
I want a warm coat and a pair of boots.
15
It has become cold.
16
Since it has become cold, I want a warm coat
and a pair of boots.
(atarashii mizugi to sandaru ga hoshii
desu.)
あたたかいコートとブーツ
(atatakai kooto to buutsu)
あたたかいコートとブーツがほしいです。
(atatakai kooto to buutsu ga hoshii
desu.)
さむくなりました。
(samuku narimashita.)
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158
さむくなりましたから、あたたかいコートと
ブーツがほしいです。
(samuku narimashita kara, atatakai
kooto to buutsu ga hoshii desu.)
kooto to buutsu ga hoshii desu.)
Continued on next page
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159
English
Japanese
ぼくもほしいんです。
17
As a matter of fact, I want it too.
18
Did you remember that in order to add the nuance of "As a matter of fact..." to our statement, we
add んです after い -adjectives as well as verbs?
19
Let's go together.
20
As a matter of fact, I want some new clothes
too. Let's go together.
(boku mo hoshiindesu.)
いっしょにいきましょう。
(issho ni ikimashoo.)
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160
ぼくもあたらしいふくがほしいんです。いっ
しょにいきましょう。
(boku mo atarashii fuku ga hoshiindesu.
issho ni ikimashoo.)
Chapter 9: Bank and Post Office
銀 行 と郵 便 局
Chapter 9: Bank and Post Office
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Apply the "て -form + もいいです " Pattern to
Grant Permission
Understand Double Particles
Understand the Pattern "て -form + から +
Verb"
Use the "Verb + ましょう " Pattern to Offer
Your Service
Use the Polite Past Negative Form of Verbs
Ask or Grant Permission
Ask or Tell the Date
Count Things Up to Ten Using the Traditional
Counting System
Offer Your Services to Someone
Run Errands at the Bank and the Post Office
Conversation
English
Japanese
にもつがおおいですね。ひとつもちましょう。
You are carrying a lot of packages, aren't you! Let
me carry one for you.
(nimotsu ga ooi desu ne. hitotsu
mochimashoo.)
すみません。ゆうびんきょくまで、おねがいして
もいいですか。
Thank you. May I ask you to carry it to the post
office?
(sumimasen. yuubinkyoku made, onegaishite mo ii desu ka.)
ええ、かまいませんよ。アメリカまでですか。
Sure, I don't mind, you know. Are they for the
U.S.?
(ee, kamaimasen yo. amerika made desu
ka.)
ええ。かぞくやともだちへのクリスマスプレゼン
トなんです。
Yes. As a matter of fact, they are Christmas
presents for my family and friends.
(ee. kazoku ya tomodachi e no kurisumasu
purezento nandesu.)
こうくうびんでいくらぐらいかかるでしょうか。
About how much do you think it will cost to send
them by airmail?
(kookuubin de ikura gurai kakaru deshoo
ka.)
そうですね・・・。たぶんぜんぶでにまんえんち
かくかかるでしょう。
Well.... Probably, it will cost close to twenty
thousand yen in total, I think.
(soo desu ne.... tabun zenbu de niman en
chikaku kakaru deshoo.)
えっ、そんなに？すみませんが、さきにぎんこう
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161
によってもいいですか。
Oh, that much? I'm sorry, but may I stop by at the
bank first?
(e, son-na ni? sumimasen ga, saki ni ginkoo
ni yotte mo ii desu ka.)
りょうがえですか。それなら、ゆうびんきょくで
もできますよ。
To exchange money? If so, you can do it also in
the post office, you know.
(ryoogae desu ka. sore nara, yuubinkyoku
de mo dekimasu yo.)
へえ、しりませんでした。べんりですね。
Oh, I didn't know that. It's convenient, isn't it!
(hee, shirimasen deshita. benri desu ne.)
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162
Let me carry one of the packages for you.
にもつをひとつもちましょう。
English
Japanese
にもつをひとつもちましょう。
1
Let me carry one of the packages for you.
2
ひとつ or ふたつ is the original Japanese way of counting things. The combination of a number
and a counter as in いっぱい (one cup) or にほん (two bottles) is based on the Chinese tradition,
though they are perfectly blended into Japanese as many other Chinese-based vocabularies are!
3
to carry
4
carry
5
package
6
We have so far learned that the word にもつ means "luggage." In fact, にもつ can be used to
mean "luggage," "baggage," "parcel," "pack," or "bag"--anything that has to be carried or sent.
7
I will carry a package.
8
one (item)
9
In Japanese, we use the combination of a number and a specific counter to count something,
right? There is an alternate way to count things up to 10. For example, we can use ひとつ to
count one item such as a key, an apple, a computer, a chair, a house, or even a planet, without
adding any counters. We can also use it to count an abstract thing such as an idea or a story.
Convenient, isn't it!
10
(nimotsu o hitotsu mochimashoo.)
もつ
(motsu)
もちます
(mochimasu)
にもつ
(nimotsu)
にもつをもちます。
(nimotsu o mochimasu.)
ひとつ
(hitotsu)
I will carry one of the packages.
にもつをひとつもちます。
(I carry one package.)
(nimotsu o hitotsu mochimasu.)
もちましょう。
11
Let me carry it for you.
12
We have so far used the "ます -form plus ましょう " pattern to invite someone to do something
with us, as in "Let's ~." We can use the same pattern to offer our service to someone. It's
equivalent to "Let me (do something) for you" in English.
13
many
14
(mochimashoo.)
おおい
(ooi)
You have many packages.
にもつがおおいです。
(Packages are many.)
(nimotsu ga ooi desu.)
15
You have many packages, don't you! Let me
carry one for you.
16
one (item)
にもつがおおいですね。ひとつもちましょう。
(nimotsu ga ooi desu ne. hitotsu
mochimashoo.)
ひとつ
(hitotsu)
Continued on next page
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163
English
Japanese
ふたつ
17
two (items)
18
three (items)
19
four (items)
20
five (items)
21
six (items)
22
seven (items)
23
eight (items)
24
nine (items)
25
ten (items)
26
To continue counting past ten using the Japanese counting system, like ひとつ or ふたつ , simply
use numbers with no counter, as in じゅういち or にじゅう !
27
I have five packages.
28
how many (items)
29
How many do you have?
30
How many packages do you have?
31
You have four packages, don't you! Let me
carry two for you.
(futatsu)
みっつ
(mittsu)
よっつ
(yottsu)
いつつ
(itsutsu)
むっつ
(muttsu)
ななつ
(nanatsu)
やっつ
(yattsu)
ここのつ
(kokonotsu)
とお
(too)
にもつがいつつあります。
(nimotsu ga itsutsu arimasu.)
いくつ
(ikutsu)
いくつありますか。
(ikutsu arimasu ka.)
にもつがいくつありますか。
(nimotsu ga ikutsu arimasu ka.)
にもつがよっつありますね。ふたつもちましょ
う。
(nimotsu ga yottsu arimasu ne. futatsu
mochimashoo.)
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164
May I ask you to carry it to the post office?
ゆ う び ん き ょ く ま で 、お ね が い し て も い い で す か 。
English
1
Japanese
ゆうびんきょくまで、おねがいしてもいいです
か。
May I ask you to carry it to the post office?
(May I request to the post office?)
(yuubinkyoku made, onegai shite mo ii
desu ka.)
2
Now, let's assume that you have to take several packages to the post office. Can you figure out
how to ask someone politely to help you?
3
a request
4
おねがい
(onegai)
to request
おねがいする
(to do a request)
(onegai suru)
5
Do you remember the expression おねがいします which we use to order something in
restaurants, as in コーヒーおねがいします (Coffee, please)? おねがいする ("to request" or "to ask
for") is the dictionary form of おねがいします and consists of the noun おねがい (a "request" or
"wish") and the irregular verb する (to do). It's another compound verb! Can you figure out its て form?
6
to request (in the "te"-form)
7
おねがいして
(onegai shite)
May I ask you?
おねがいしてもいいですか。
(May I request?)
(onegai shite mo ii desu ka.)
8
When we want to ask for permission, we add もいいですか (equivalent to "May I~?" in English) to
the て -form of the verb, as in おねがいしてもいいですか (May I request?) おねがいしてもいいで
すか is a polite expression we can use in various situations. The translation, therefore, will vary
depending on the context.
9
In the next question, let's use the particle that indicates the final destination.
10
to the post office
11
to stop by
12
stop by
13
I will stop by at the bank.
14
Did you remember that we use the particle に to indicate the spot that is the goal or target of an
action?
15
Judging from the way the dictionary form (よる ) changes its shape in the polite form (よります ),
we can tell that よる (to stop by) is a る -ending Group I verb, right? Do you remember how to
make the て -form for it?
16
to stop by (in the "te"-form)
17
May I stop by?
ゆうびんきょくまで
(yuubinkyoku made)
よる
(yoru)
よります
(yorimasu)
ぎんこうによります。
(ginkoo ni yorimasu.)
よって
(yotte)
よってもいいですか。
(yotte mo ii desu ka.)
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166
English
Japanese
さきに
18
first
19
さきに is the expression we can use when we want to do something before doing other things. It's
equivalent to "first" or "before that" in English.
20
May I stop by at the bank first?
21
so much
22
What?! So much? I'm sorry, but may I stop by
at the bank first?
23
Yes, sure. Please go ahead.
24
I don't mind.
25
かまいません is the polite negative form of the verb かまう (to mind). Let's memorize it as a
useful expression that is equivalent to "I don't mind" in English.
(saki ni)
さきにぎんこうによってもいいですか。
(saki ni ginkoo ni yotte mo ii desu ka.)
そんなに
(son-na ni)
27
(e?! son-na ni? sumimasen ga, saki ni
ginkoo ni yotte mo ii desu ka.)
ええ、いいですよ。どうぞ。
(ee, ii desu yo. doozo.)
かまいません。
(kamaimasen.)
No, I don't mind, you know. Let's go together.
26
えっ？！そんなに？すみませんが、さきにぎん
こうによってもいいですか。
(Yes, I don't mind, you know. Let's go
together.)
ええ、かまいませんよ。いっしょにいきましょ
う。
(ee, kamaimasen yo. issho ni ikimashoo.)
Did you notice that we answer a yes/no question differently in Japanese? In English, we say "Yes" if
the answer is affirmative and "No" if the answer is negative, right? In Japanese, we say "Yes" if we
agree to the question and say "No" if we disagree, regardless of whether the question is in the
negative or affirmative form. So, if someone asks your permission and if you don't mind granting
it, then you should say ええ、かまいません (literally, "Yes, I don't mind")!
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As a matter of fact, they are presents for my family.
かぞくへのプレゼントなんです。
English
Japanese
かぞくへのプレゼントなんです。
1
As a matter of fact, they are presents for my
family.
2
Please note that we can use the particle の along with some particles such as へ (to), と (with), で
("at," "on," or "in"), から (from), or まで ("to" or "as far as"), but we can't use it with other particles
such as が , を , or に .
3
a present
4
We can use the particle へ , which indicates the direction of movement, not only with the place
noun (as in とうきょうへ ) but also with a noun that denotes a person (or persons) to whom we
send something. Let's use it in the next question!
5
to my family
6
presents for my family
7
We have been using the particle の to connect two nouns (or pronouns) as in にほんのはな
(Japanese flowers) or わたしのかれ (my boyfriend). The particle の sometimes attaches itself to
another particle, connecting the noun phrase such as かぞくへ (to my family) with a noun such as
プレゼント (presents). In the phrase かぞくへのプレゼント (presents for my family), の indicates
that かぞくへ is the explanation of プレゼント (or in other words, かぞくへ modifies プレゼント ).
For convenience, we can call the structure "double particles"!
8
They are presents for my family.
9
my family, friends, and others
10
Christmas presents for my family, friends, and
others
11
a birthday present for my mother
12
to send
13
send
14
I'll send it to America.
15
Here are some tips on how to use the particles まで , へ , and に that are the equivalents of "to"
when we talk about movement. まで emphasizes the end of the course, implying "as far as" or
"up to." へ , on the other hand, focuses on the direction of the movement, as in "toward" or "in the
direction of." に implies the goal (or target) of action, as in "to arrive at" or "to get into." Though
we can sometimes use these particles interchangeably, idiomatic usage often determines our
choice.
(kazoku e no purezento nandesu.)
プレゼント
(purezento)
かぞくへ
(kazoku e)
かぞくへのプレゼント
(kazoku e no purezento)
かぞくへのプレゼントです。
(kazoku e no purezento desu.)
かぞくやともだち
(kazoku ya tomodachi)
かぞくやともだちへのクリスマスプレゼント
(kazoku ya tomodachi e no kurisumasu
purezento)
ははへのたんじょうびプレゼント
(haha e no tanjoobi purezento)
おくる
(okuru)
おくります
(okurimasu)
アメリカまでおくります。
(amerika made okurimasu)
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169
English
Japanese
ははへのたんじょうびプレゼントをアメリカま
でおくります。
16
I will send a birthday present for my mother to
America.
17
from my girlfriend
18
Did you use the particle から (from)? から indicates the starting point or origin, and the origin can
be a time, a place, or even a person!
19
a present from my girlfriend
20
necktie
21
(haha e no tanjoobi purezento o amerika
made okurimasu.)
かのじょから
(ka-nojo kara)
かのじょからのプレゼント
(ka-nojo kara no purezento)
ネクタイ
(nekutai)
This necktie? It's a present from my girlfriend.
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170
このネクタイですか。かのじょからのプレゼン
トです。
(kono nekutai desu ka. ka-nojo kara no
purezento desu.)
How much does it cost to send it to America by
airmail?
アメリカまでこうくうびんでいくらかかりますか。
English
Japanese
1
How much does it cost to send it to America
by airmail?
2
to cost
3
cost
4
How much does it cost?
5
アメリカまでこうくうびんでいくらかかります
か。
(amerika made kookuubin de ikura
kakarimasu ka.)
かかる
(kakaru)
かかります
(kakarimasu)
いくらかかりますか。
(ikura kakarimasu ka.)
How much does it cost to send it to America?
アメリカまでいくらかかりますか。
(How much does it cost to America?)
(amerika made ikura kakarimasu ka.)
6
Please note that when we are talking about the mailing or traveling cost or time spent delivering
something, we use まで to indicate the final destination.
7
airmail
8
by airmail
9
Did you remember to use the particle で to indicate the method or means of action?
10
sea mail
11
Excuse me. How much does it cost to send it
to Canada by sea mail?
12
Sea mail? It costs two thousand five hundred
yen.
13
letter
14
The answers to いくらかかりますか (How much does it cost?) can be, for example, せんえんかか
ります (It costs one thousand yen) or せんえんです (It's one thousand yen). Both sentences
convey the same meaning. Let's try them both in the next question.
15
こうくうびん
(kookuubin)
こうくうびんで
(kookuubin de)
ふなびん
(funabin)
すみません。カナダまでふなびんでいくらかか
りますか。
(sumimasen. kanada made funabin de
ikura kakarimasu ka.)
ふなびんですか。にせんごひゃくえんかかりま
す。
(funabin desu ka. nisen gohyaku en
kakarimasu.)
てがみ
(tegami)
Airmail? As for the postcard, it is seventy yen.
As for the letter, it costs a hundred ten yen.
こうくうびんですか。はがきはななじゅうえん
です。てがみはひゃくじゅうえんかかります。
(kookuubin desu ka. hagaki wa nanajuu
en desu. tegami wa hyaku juu en
kakarimasu.)
そくたつ
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171
そくたつ
16
special delivery
17
By special delivery, please. How much does it
cost?
(sokutatsu)
そくたつでおねがいします。いくらかかります
か。
(sokutatsu de onegai shimasu. ikura
kakarimasu ka.)
Continued on next page
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172
English
Japanese
いくらかかるでしょうか。
18
How much do you think it will cost?
19
Do you remember the sentence ending でしょう and its question form でしょうか that we can
use to talk about our assumption? So far we used them after a noun or an adjective, as in さん
じゅうどぐらいでしょう (It's about thirty degrees, I think) or どこがいちばんさむいでしょうか
(Where do you think is the coldest?) We can also use them after the dictionary form of verbs, as
in いくらかかるでしょうか (How much do you think it will cost?).
20
about how much
21
About how much do you think it will cost to
send it by airmail?
22
close to twenty thousand yen
23
We have so far used the word ちかく to describe a nearness in geography, as in えきのちかく
(near the station). We can also use ちかく to indicate a proximity in numbers, regardless of
whether they are measuring time or money.
24
in total
25
close to twenty thousand yen in total
26
Well.... Probably, it will cost close to twenty
thousand yen in total, I think.
(ikura kakaru deshoo ka.)
いくらぐらい
(ikura gurai)
こうくうびんで、いくらぐらいかかるでしょう
か。
(kookuubin de, ikura gurai kakaru deshoo
ka.)
にまんえんちかく
(niman en chikaku)
ぜんぶで
(zenbu de)
ぜんぶでにまんえんちかく
(zenbu de niman en chikaku)
そうですね・・・。たぶんぜんぶでにまんえん
ちかくかかるでしょう。
(soo desu ne.... tabun zenbu de niman en
chikaku kakaru deshoo.)
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173
How long does it take to send it by sea mail?
ふなびんでどのくらいかかりますか。
English
Japanese
ふなびんでどのくらいかかりますか。
1
How long does it take to send it by sea mail?
2
Japanese post offices offer four options to send packages overseas. The fastest is EMS (Express
Mail Service), which delivers packages in 2 to 4 days worldwide. The second fastest is こうくうび
ん (airmail) that takes 3 to 6 days. エコノミーこうくうびん (economy airmail) or SALびん
(Surface Air Lifted), which uses the combination of land and air transportation, takes 6 to 13
days. The slowest but least expensive option is ふなびん (sea mail) that delivers packages in 1 to
3 months.
3
to take (when referring to time)
4
We used かかる as the Japanese equivalent of "to cost" in the previous section. We can also use
the same verb to talk about time spent to carry out an action. It's the equivalent of "to take" in
English.
5
take (when referring to time)
6
どのくらい is a versatile question word we can use to ask the amount or degree, as in "how far?"
or "how hot (or cold)?" Let's use it to ask about the period of time in this section.
7
How long does it take?
8
one month
9
かげつ in いっかげつ (one month) is the counter for months when we are talking about a length of
time. Though the basic rule is to add the counter after a number as in にかげつ (two months) or
さんかげつ (three months), the pronunciation of certain numbers changes. いち (one) in いっかげ
つ is one of them!
10
one month or more
11
Sea mail? It takes one month or more, you
know.
12
In addition to いっかげつ (one month), the pronunciation of the numbers "six" (ろく ), "eight" (は
ち ), and "ten" (じゅう ) also changes in a similar manner when combined with かげつ , the counter
for month. Let's see if you can figure them out!
13
six months
14
eight months
15
ten months
(funabin de donokurai kakarimasu ka.)
かかる
(kakaru)
かかります
(kakarimasu)
どのくらいかかりますか。
(donokurai kakarimasu ka.)
いっかげつ
(ikkagetsu)
いっかげついじょう
(ikkagetsu ijoo)
ふなびんですか。いっかげついじょうかかりま
すよ。
(funabin desu ka. ikkagetsu ijoo
kakarimasu yo.)
ろっかげつ
(rokkagetsu)
はっかげつ
(hakkagetsu)
じゅっかげつ
(jukkagetsu)
Continued on next page
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174
English
Japanese
16
In place of the generic question word どのくらい , we can use a more specific one, such as なんど
(literally, "what degrees") or なんメートル (literally, "what meters"). Let's figure out the question
word for "months"!
17
how many months
18
How many months do you think it takes to
send it to America by sea mail?
19
Well.... Probably it takes close to two months, I
think.
20
one week
21
しゅうかん in いっしゅうかん (one week) is the counter for "week" as a duration of time. If we
break down the word further, しゅう means "week," and かん literally means "in-between" or a
"range." (Do you remember the word いちじかん or "one hour"? It's the same かん as いっしゅう
かん !) Please note that the pronunciation of いち (one) is changed when it is combined with しゅ
うかん .
22
The pronunciation of はち (eight) and じゅう (ten) will change when these numbers are combined
with しゅうかん , the counter for "week" as the duration of time. Let's try to figure them out in the
next two questions!
23
eight weeks
24
ten weeks
25
Now, let's figure out the question word for "weeks"!
26
how many weeks
27
How many weeks does it take to send it to
Canada by airmail?
28
if that's the case
29
なんかげつ
(nan kagetsu)
アメリカまでふなびんでなんかげつかかるで
しょうか。
(amerika made funabin de nan kagetsu
kakaru deshoo ka.)
そうですね・・・。たぶんにかげつちかくかか
るでしょう。
(soo desu ne.... tabun nikagetsu chikaku
kakaru deshoo.)
いっしゅうかん
(isshuukan)
はっしゅうかん
(hasshuukan)
じゅっしゅうかん
(jusshuukan)
なんしゅうかん
(nanshuukan)
カナダまでこうくうびんでなんしゅうかんかか
りますか。
(kanada made kookuubin de nanshuukan
kakarimasu ka.)
それなら
(sore nara)
こうくうびんですか。それなら、いっしゅうか
んぐらいです。
Airmail? If that's the case, it's about one
week.
(kookuubin desu ka. sore nara,
isshuukan gurai desu.)
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175
I'd like to exchange some dollars with yen.
ド ル を え ん と り ょ う が え し た い ん で す が ・・・。
English
1
Japanese
ドルをえんとりょうがえしたいんです
が・・・。
I'd like to exchange some dollars with yen.
(doru o en to ryoogae shitaindesu ga....)
2
3
りょうがえ
money exchange
(ryoogae)
to exchange (money)
りょうがえする
(to do money exchange)
(ryoogae suru)
4
exchange (money)
5
I want to exchange money.
りょうがえします
(ryoogae shimasu)
りょうがえしたいです。
(ryoogae shitai desu.)
I'd like to exchange money.
6
りょうがえしたいんですが・・・。
(As a matter of fact, I want to exchange
money, but....)
(ryoogae shitaindesu ga....)
7
We have already learned that in Japanese unfinished sentences are sometimes more polite than
complete sentences, as in おなまえは？ (literally, "As for name?") or どようびはちょっと・・・
(literally, "Saturday is a little bit..."). りょうがえしたいんですが is another example. It literally
means "As a matter of fact, I want to exchange some money, but..." It works, however, as the
equivalent of "I'd like to exchange some money."
8
I'd like to exchange some dollars.
9
with yen
10
ドルをりょうがえしたいんですが・・・。
(doru o ryoogae shitaindes ga....)
えんと
(en to)
the exchange rate
レート
(a rate)
(reeto)
レートはいくらですか。
11
How much is the exchange rate?
12
one thousand dollars
13
I'd like to exchange one thousand dollars. How
much is the exchange rate now?
14
15
16
(reeto wa ikura desu ka.)
せんドル
(sen doru)
せんドルりょうがえしたいんですが・・・。い
まレートはいくらですか。
(sen doru ryoogae shitaindesu ga.... ima
reeto wa ikura desu ka.)
eighty-five yen to the dollar
いちドルはちじゅうごえん
(one dollar eighty-five yen)
(ichi doru hachijuu-go en )
The exchange rate? It's eighty-five yen to the
dollar now.
レートですか。いま、いちドルはちじゅうごえ
んです。
(reeto desu ka. ima, ichi doru hachijuu-go
en desu.)
Where do you recommend?
どこがいいですか。
(Where is good?)
(doko ga ii desu ka.)
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176
Continued on next page
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177
English
Japanese
トラベラーズチェックをりょうがえしたいんで
すが・・・。どこがいいですか。
17
I'd like to exchange some traveler's cheques.
Where do you recommend?
18
to be able to do
19
We have so far used the verb できる to mean "to be ready" as in もうすぐできます (It will be
ready in no time) and "to be made" as in みそはだいずからできています (Miso paste is made of
soybeans). We can also use できる to mean "to be able to do," using the particle が to mark the
object of the verb--that is, what we can do. Let's use it with this meaning here.
20
(toraberaazu chekku o ryoogae
shitaindesu ga.... doko ga ii desu ka.)
できる
(dekiru)
can do
できます
(is/am/are able to do)
(dekimasu)
ゆうびんきょくでできます。
21
You can do it at the post office.
22
You can do it at the post office too.
23
Did you get it right? ゆうびんきょくでも (at the post office too) is another example of the
"double particles" structure--that is, adding a particle to the phrase that ends with a particle so
that the two particles appear back to back, as in かぞくへのプレゼント (presents for my family).
24
Money exchange? If that's the case, you can
do it at the post office too, you know.
25
I didn't know.
26
When we want to talk about actions we didn't perform or events that didn't happen, we can add で
した to the negative verb form ません , as in たべませんでした (I didn't eat) or しりませんでした (I
didn't know).
27
convenient
(yuubinkyoku de dekimasu.)
ゆうびんきょくでもできます。
(yuubinkyoku de mo dekimasu.)
りょうがえですか。それなら、ゆうびんきょく
でもできますよ。
(ryoogae desu ka. sore nara,
yuubinkyoku de mo dekimasu yo.)
しりませんでした。
(shirimasendeshita.)
べんり
(benri)
へえ、しりませんでした。それはべんりです
ね。
28
Oh, I didn't know it. That is convenient, isn't it!
29
to withdraw (money)
30
withdraw (money)
31
money
32
かね means "money," but people almost always say おかね to avoid sounding rude, as in the case
of おちゃ (tea).
33
I'd like to withdraw some money.
(hee, shirimasendeshita. sore wa benri
desu ne.)
おろす
(orosu)
おろします
(oroshimasu)
おかね
(okane)
おかねをおろしたいんですが。
(okane o oroshitaindesu ga.)
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178
34
まどぐち
window or teller
(madoguchi)
Continued on next page
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179
English
Japanese
35
まど in まどぐち means a "window," and ぐち (or its regular form くち ) means a "mouth" or any
kind of opening. So, まどぐち literally means a "window opening." This is the term you will often
hear in banks, post offices, ticket counters, or government offices in Japan. For example, if
someone tells you さんばんまどぐちへどうぞ , the person is saying, "Please proceed to the
number 3 window."
36
Can I do it at this window?
37
Excuse me. I'd like to withdraw some money.
Can I do it at this window?
38
Some large banks in Japan let you withdraw money at their counters with major credit cards and
your passport. However, the most convenient way to withdraw money is probably to use
international ATMs at post offices. Not only do they accept foreign-issued major credit cards, but
they also allow you to conduct business in English! Please be aware, though, these ATMs are not
available 24 hours a day. Also remember to get your PIN number before leaving home.
このまどぐちでできますか。
(kono madoguchi de dekimasu ka.)
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180
すみません。おかねをおろしたいんです
が・・・。このまどぐちでできますか。
(sumimasen. okane o oroshitaindesu
ga.... kono madoguchi de dekimasu ka.)
The money will arrive four days after you remit it.
そ う き ん し て か ら 、よ っ か で と ど き ま す 。
English
1
Japanese
The money will arrive four days after you remit
it.
(After you remit it, it will arrive in four days.)
そうきんしてから、よっかでとどきます。
(sookin shite kara, yokka de
todokimasu.)
とどく
2
to arrive
3
とどく means that something is delivered and arrives at the final destination.
4
arrive
5
four days
6
When we are talking about the duration of time that is spent to do something, we can consider it
as the means used to complete the action. Now, can you figure out the next question?
7
in four days
8
It will arrive in four days.
9
10
(todoku)
とどきます
(todokimasu)
よっか
(yokka)
よっかで
(yokka de)
よっかでとどきます。
(yokka de todokimasu.)
remittance
そうきん
(sending money)
(sookin)
to remit
そうきんする
(to do remittance)
(sookin suru)
そうきんして
11
to remit (in the "te"-form)
12
after you remit it
13
When we want to indicate that an action takes place upon completion of another, the action that
precedes the other one takes the pattern "て -form plus から ," as in そうきんしてから (after you
remit it). から in this case is equivalent to "after" or "since" in English. Please note that we can
use the same "て -form plus から " pattern regardless of when the action takes place.
14
one day
15
にち in いちにち (one day) is the counter for day--for both the point of time (date) and the
duration of time. The basic rule is that we combine a number with にち , as in いちにち or じゅう
いちにち (eleven days). The exceptions are the numbers 2 to 10, 20, and any numbers that end
with 4 or 9. For these numbers, we use the pronunciation based on the original Japanese
numbers. Let's learn these exceptions.
16
two days
(sookin shite)
そうきんしてから
(sookin shite kara)
いちにち
(ichi-nichi)
ふつか
(futsuka)
Continued on next page
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181
English
Japanese
みっか
17
three days
18
four days
19
five days
20
six days
21
seven days
22
eight days
23
nine days
24
ten days
25
The money arrived ten days after I had
remitted it.
26
When we use the "て -form plus から " pattern to indicate the completion of an action, the tense of
the first part of the sentence is not apparent because we use the て -form. We can, however,
determine it by the tense of the last verb that appears in the sentence. For example, in そうきん
してから、とおかでとどきました , the last verb とどきました is in the past form. Therefore, the
English equivalent would be "It arrived ten days after I had remitted it."
27
twelve days
28
fourteen days
29
nineteen days
30
twenty days
31
twenty-one days
32
33
(mikka)
よっか
(yokka)
いつか
(itsuka)
むいか
(muika)
なのか
(nanoka)
ようか
(yooka)
ここのか
(kokonoka)
とおか
(tooka)
そうきんしてから、とおかでとどきました。
(sookin shite kara, tooka de
todokimashita.)
じゅうににち
(juu-ni-nichi)
じゅうよっか
(juu-yokka)
じゅうくにち
(juu-ku-nichi)
はつか
(hatsuka)
にじゅういちにち
(nijuu-ichi-nichi)
two to three days
ふつかからみっか
(two days to three days)
(futsuka kara mikka)
Here is another function for the particle から ! When we want to indicate the range of time, we
can use から as in ふつかからみっか (two to three days) or いちじかんからにじかん (one to two
hours).
Continued on next page
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182
English
Japanese
おくって
34
to send (in the "te"-form)
35
after you send it
36
Special delivery? It will arrive two to four days
after you send it, you know.
(okutte)
おくってから
(okutte kara)
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183
そくたつですか。おくってから、ふつかから
よっかでとどきますよ。
(sokutatsu desu ka. okutte kara, futsuka
kara yokka de todokimasu yo.)
What is today's date? き ょ う の ひ づ け は な ん で す か 。
English
1
What is today's date?
2
date (for calendar)
3
today's date
4
Japanese
きょうのひづけはなんですか。
(kyoo no hizuke wa nan desu ka.)
ひづけ
(hizuke)
きょうのひづけ
(kyoo no hizuke)
January
いちがつ
(the first month)
(ichi-gatsu)
5
The names of the months are easy! They are a combination of a number and がつ (month).
6
the first day of the month
7
In general, we can use the same terms to indicate the date and the number of days. For
example, ふつか can mean both "two days" and "the second day of the month." However, the
first day of the month is an exception! "One day" is いちにち , but "the first day of the month" is
ついたち .
8
January 1st
9
いちがつついたち is しょうがつ or おしょうがつ (New Year's Day). For many people, おしょうが
つやすみ (New Year's Day holidays) starts on December 29th and lasts through January 3rd. They
spend the last few days of the year doing おおそうじ (literally, a "big cleaning") and preparing
tons of special dishes for the new year. When the new year arrives, they celebrate it by visiting
Shinto shrines, having big feasts, and enjoying the company of family and friends!
10
March 3rd
11
さんがつみっか (March 3rd) is ひなまつり (Doll's Festival). Traditionally, it's a day for girls, who
enjoy wearing a kimono and having a tea party in front of a gorgeous doll set created after the
fashion of the ancient court.
12
April
13
Do you remember that the numbers 4, 7, and 9 have two ways of reading in Japanese and that we
sometimes use only one of them for a specific purpose? For example, the number 4 can be read
as よん or し , but we have to use し for "April" and say しがつ !
14
April 4th
15
May 5th
16
ごがついつか (May 5th) is こどものひ (Children's Day). Traditionally, it's a day for boys. Families
with boys celebrate the day by hoisting the colorful carp-shaped streamers and eating ちまき -special rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.
ついたち
(tsuitachi)
いちがつついたち
(ichi-gatsu tsuitachi)
さんがつみっか
(san-gatsu mikka)
しがつ
(shi-gatsu)
しがつよっか
(shi-gatsu yokka)
ごがついつか
(go-gatsu itsuka)
Continued on next page
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184
English
Japanese
しちがつ
17
July
18
Though the number 7 can be read as なな or しち , we have to say しちがつ to mean "July."
19
July 7th
20
しちがつなのか (July 7th) is たなばた , the Star Festival. Legend has it that this is the only day the
"star-crossed" lovers--a weaver and a cowboy who live on the opposite sides of the Milky Way, or
あまのがわ (literally, "river in the sky")--can meet, crossing a legendary bridge formed by
hundreds of magpies!
21
September
22
The number 9 can be read as きゅう or く , but in the case of September, we always have to say
くがつ .
23
September 9th
24
what month
25
what day
26
27
しちがつなのか
(shichi-gatsu nanoka)
くがつ
(ku-gatsu)
くがつここのか
(ku-gatsu kokonoka)
なんがつ
(nan-gatsu)
なんにち
(nan-nichi)
what date
なんがつなんにち
(what month what day)
(nan-gatsu nan-nichi)
なんがつなんにち (literally, "what month what day") is the question word commonly used to ask
the calendar date.
28
Excuse me. What date is it today?
29
Today is November 20th.
30
When is your birthday?
31
My birthday? It's on March 16th, you know.
32
I want to send a present.
33
(shichi-gatsu)
すみません。きょうはなんがつなんにちです
か。
(sumimasen. kyoo wa nan-gatsu nannichi desu ka.)
きょうはじゅういちがつはつかです。
(kyoo wa juu-ichi-gatsu hatsuka desu.)
たんじょうびはいつですか。
(tanjoobi wa itsu desu ka.)
たんじょうびですか。さんがつじゅうろくにち
ですよ。
(tanjoobi desu ka. san-gatsu juu-rokunichi desu yo.)
プレゼントをおくりたいです。
(purezento o okuritai desu.)
My father's birthday is on April 27th. I want to
send a present from Japan.
ちちのたんじょうびはしがつにじゅうしちにち
です。にほんからプレゼントをおくりたいで
す。
(chichi no tanjoobi wa shi-gatsu ni-juushichi-nichi desu. nihon kara purezento o
okuritai desu.)
Besides the everyday terms such as いちがつ or にがつ , Japanese has a traditional term for each
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185
34
month. じゅうがつ (October), for example, is also called かんなづき (literally, "the month without
gods"). This is because October is the month when all the gods in Japan (eight million of them)
are said to travel to the ancient Shinto shrine in いずも (located in Shimane Prefecture) for their
annual conference. For this reason, October in いずも is called かみありづき (the month with
gods)!
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186
Chapter 10: At the Hospital
病 院 にて
Chapter 10: At the Hospital
Conversational Goals
Grammar Goals
Describe Feelings of Pain or Illness
Name Types of Medicine
Respond to Medical Questions
Understand Common Expressions Used in
Medical Clinics
Connect an Adjective Sentence with Another
Sentence
Turn an Adjective into an Adverb
Understand the Order of Events Expressed by
まえから and まえに
Use the "Period + に + Number +かい " to
Indicate Frequency
Use the "て -form + はいけません " Pattern to
Express Prohibition
Conversation
English
Japanese
どうしましたか。
What seems to be the problem?
(doo shimashita ka.)
あたまがいたくて、さむけがします。
I have a headache and the chills.
(atama ga itakute, samuke ga shimasu.)
みっかまえからしょくよくもありません。
I have no appetite, either, since three days ago.
(mikka mae kara shokuyoku mo arimasen.)
ねつが３８どありますね。くちをおおきくあけて
ください。
You have a fever of 38 degrees, I see. Open your
mouth wide, please.
(netsu ga san-juu-hachi do arimasu ne. kuchi
o ookiku akete kudasai.)
のどがあかいですね。ただのかぜでしょう。
Your throat is red, I see. You have a common cold,
I think.
(nodo ga akai desu ne. tada no kaze
deshoo.)
かぜぐすりをだしますから、ねるまえににじょう
のんでください。
I'm going to prescribe cold medicine, so please
take two tablets before going to bed.
(kazegusuri o dashimasu kara, neru mae ni
ni-joo nonde kudasai.)
あのう、こんばん、おふろにはいってもいいです
か。
Um, may I take a bath tonight?
(anoo, konban, ofuro ni haitte mo ii desu
ka.)
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187
いいえ、きょうはいけませんよ。
No, not today.
(iie, kyoo wa ikemasen yo.)
きょうはくすりをのんで、はやくねてください。
おだいじに。
Take your medicine and go to bed early today,
please. Take care.
(kyoo wa kusuri o nonde, hayaku nete
kudasai. odaiji ni.)
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188
I have had no appetite since three days ago.
み っ か ま え か ら 、し ょ く よ く が あ り ま せ ん 。
English
1
Japanese
I have had no appetite since three days ago.
(I don't have appetite since three days ago.)
みっかまえから、しょくよくがありません。
(mikka mae kara, shokuyoku ga
arimasen.)
しょくよく
2
appetite
3
しょく in both しょくよく (appetite) and しょくじ (meal) means "eating." しょくよく literally
means an "eating desire," while しょくじ literally means an "eating affair"!
4
I don't have an appetite.
5
since three days ago
6
The expression みっかまえから indicates that some action or state has begun three days ago,
has continued since, and is still happening as we speak. It is equivalent to "since three days ago"
or "for three days now." Please note that the word まえ is a noun, though its meaning in this
phrase is equivalent to "before" or "ago" in English.
7
(shokuyoku)
しょくよくがありません。
(shokuyoku ga arimasen.)
みっかまえから
(mikka mae kara)
What seems to be the problem?
どうしましたか。
(How did you do?)
(doo shimashita ka.)
かぜ
8
a cold
9
to catch a cold
10
When we want to say "to catch a cold," we say かぜをひく in Japanese. The idiom is said to
originate in the ancient Chinese belief that people get sick when they "pull" (ひく ) the "evil spirit in
the wind" (かぜ ) into their body. Let's memorize this phrase as a whole unit.
11
I have caught a cold.
12
to catch a cold (in the "te"-form)
13
Do you remember that the "て -form plus います " pattern can be used to describe not only an
action in progress but also a "continuing state"--a state that has been continuing as the result of
some past action? In the next question, let's use this pattern to tell someone you have a cold!
14
I have a cold.
15
condition
16
the condition of stomach
(kaze)
かぜをひく
(kaze o hiku)
かぜをひきました。
(kaze o hikimashita.)
かぜをひいて
(kaze o hiite)
かぜをひいています。
(kaze o hiite imasu.)
ちょうし
(chooshi)
おなかのちょうし
(onaka no chooshi)
Continued on next page
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189
English
17
Japanese
I have an upset stomach.
おなかのちょうしがわるいです。
(The condition of stomach is bad.)
(onaka no chooshi ga warui desu.)
18
おなかのちょうしがわるいです (literally, "The condition of stomach is bad") is a euphemism for
"I'm having diarrhea." In this case, おなか means the lower abdomen. If you specifically want to
mean the stomach (or the upper abdomen), use the Japanese term い and say いのちょうしがわ
るいです .
19
I have had an upset stomach since a week
ago.
20
いっしゅうかんまえから、おなかのちょうしが
わるいです。
(isshuukan mae kara, onaka no chooshi
ga warui desu.)
My stomach hurts.
おなかがいたいです。
(Stomach is painful.)
(onaka ga itai desu.)
いつから
21
since when
22
Since when has your stomach been hurting?
23
It has been hurting since five hours ago.
24
To answer the question いつからおなかがいたいですか (Since when has your stomach been
hurting?), we can also say, ごじかんまえからです (It has since five hours ago).
25
Do you think I am all right?
26
As a matter of fact, my stomach has been
hurting since three days ago. Do you think I
am all right?
27
The best thing about the Japanese health care system is that all the citizens are covered by
health insurance! There are two types: しゃかいほけん (Social Insurance) for those whose
employers participate in the program and こくみんけんこうほけん (National Health Insurance) for
the rest of the population. Foreigners can join the program as long as they are registered as
legal alien residents and are allowed to stay in Japan for more than one year.
(itsu kara)
いつからおなかがいたいですか。
(itsu kara onaka ga itai desu ka.)
ごじかんまえからいたいです。
(go jikan mae kara itai desu.)
だいじょうぶでしょうか。
(daijoobu deshoo ka.)
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190
みっかまえからおなかがいたいんです。だい
じょうぶでしょうか。
(mikka mae kara onaka ga itaindesu.
daijoobu deshoo ka.)
I have a headache and chills.
あ た ま が い た く て 、さ む け が し ま す 。
English
1
Japanese
I have a headache and chills.
あたまがいたくて、さむけがします。
(My head is painful, and I feel a chill.)
(atama ga itakute, samuke ga shimasu.)
する
2
to feel, smell, or hear
3
So far, we have been using the verb する to mean "to do." We can also use する to express what
we experience through our different senses (except for the faculty of sight). The English
equivalent would be "to feel," "to smell," or "to hear." In this usage, what is felt, smelled, or heard
is marked by the particle が .
4
a chill
5
Do you remember that the Japanese word for "cold" is さむい ? け in さむけ (a chill) means
"feeling," so the word literally means a "cold feeling."
6
7
8
(suru)
さむけ
(samuke)
to have chills
さむけがする
(to feel a chill)
(samuke ga suru)
さむけがします。
I have chills.
(samuke ga shimasu.)
I have a headache.
あたまがいたいです。
(My head is painful. )
(atama ga itai desu.)
いたくて
9
painful and
10
When we want to connect a sentence that ends with an い -adjective and です (as in いたいです or
"It's painful") with another sentence, we drop です and replace the adjective ending い with くて ,
as in いたくて . It's the equivalent of "It's painful, and ...."
11
(itakute)
I have a headache, and
あたまがいたくて
(My head is painful, and)
(atama ga itakute)
12
Many of the expressions used to describe medical conditions are established as idioms. Let's try
to memorize them as a whole, including the particles.
13
nausea
14
はき in はきけ (nausea) is derived from the verb はく (to throw up). はきけ , therefore, literally
means a "throwing-up feeling."
15
16
17
はきけ
(hakike)
I feel nauseous.
はきけがします。
(I feel nausea.)
(hakike ga shimasu.)
My stomach hurts, and I feel nauseous.
おなかがいたくて、はきけがします。
(My stomach is painful, and I feel nausea.)
(onaka ga itakute, hakike ga shimasu.)
めまい
dizziness
(memai)
Continued on next page
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191
English
18
Japanese
I feel dizzy.
めまいがします。
(I feel dizziness.)
(memai ga shimasu.)
くるしい
19
distressing
20
While the word いたい describes direct pain such as a muscle pain or a headache, くるしい is
used to describe the strong sense of discomfort felt in the chest or the abdomen.
21
chest
22
(kurushii)
むね
(mune)
I feel a pain in my chest.
むねがくるしいです。
(Chest is distressing.)
(mune ga kurushii desu.)
むねがくるしくて、めまいがします。
23
I feel a pain in my chest, and I feel dizzy.
24
to come out
25
come out
26
27
28
29
30
31
(mune ga kurushikute, memai ga
shimasu.)
でる
(deru)
でます
(demasu)
nasal drip
はなみず
(nose water)
(hanamizu)
If you are wondering why Japanese people call nasal drips "flower water," please note that はな
(flower) and はな (nose) are completely different words even though they sound identical!
I have a runny nose.
はなみずがでます。
(Nasal drips come out.)
(hanamizu ga demasu.)
せき
cough
(seki)
I have a cough.
せきがでます。
(A cough comes out.)
(seki ga demasu.)
My throat hurts.
のどがいたいです。
(My throat is painful.)
(nodo ga itai desu.)
のどがいたくて、せきとはなみずがでます。
しょくよくもありません。
32
My throat hurts, and I have a cough and a
runny nose. I don't have an appetite, either.
33
In general, Japanese hospitals (びょういん ) and smaller private practices (generally called いいん )
adopt the "first-come, first-serve" system except for emergencies. Arrive early, otherwise you
end up sitting in the waiting room for long hours! For most private practices, you go straight to
specialists; no referrals are needed. For example, if you have pink eye, you go to がんか (eye
clinic). If you have the flu or suffer from a general malaise, try ないか (internal medicine clinic).
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192
(nodo ga itakute, seki to hanamizu ga
demasu. shokuyoku mo arimasen.)
What kind of pain is it? ど ん な い た み で す か 。
English
Japanese
どんないたみですか。
1
What kind of pain is it?
2
pain
3
what kind of pain
4
Do you remember that many expressions in Japanese are made of a pair of identical "words" that
mimic a sound or a motion, such as そろそろ (by and by)? Let's learn some of them in this
section so that you will be able to describe your pain more accurately in Japan.
5
to throb with pain
6
It throbs with pain.
7
a wound
8
a wound on my hand
9
The wound on my hand throbs with pain.
10
to suffer from a splitting headache
11
(don-na itami desu ka.)
いたみ
(itami)
どんないたみ
(don-na itami)
ずきずきする
(zuki zuki suru)
ずきずきします。
(zuki zuki shimasu.)
きず
(kizu)
てのきず
(te no kizu)
てのきずがずきずきします。
(te no kizu ga zuki zuki shimasu.)
がんがんする
(gan gan suru)
I have a splitting headache.
あたまががんがんします。
(My head suffers from a splitting headache.)
(atama ga gan gan shimasu.)
いたむ
12
to hurt
13
It hurts.
14
to have persistent dull pain
15
I have persistent dull pain in my stomach.
16
to have excruciating pain
17
I have excruciating pain in my stomach.
(itamu)
いたみます。
(itamimasu.)
しくしくいたむ
(shiku shiku itamu)
おなかがしくしくいたみます。
(onaka ga shiku shiku itamimasu.)
きりきりいたむ
(kiri kiri itamu)
おなかがきりきりいたみます。
(onaka ga kiri kiri itamimasu.)
Continued on next page
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193
English
18
Japanese
I burnt myself.
やけどをしました。
(I did a burn.)
(yakedo o shimashita.)
19
We learned the expressions やけどをしました and けがをしました in the previous unit. In these
cases, the verb する works like "suffer" in English. They are very commonly used expressions.
Let's memorize them as idioms.
20
I burnt my hand.
21
Did you remember that we use the particle に to indicate the part of the body that suffers the
injury, burn, or any other affliction?
22
to burn (when referring to a pain)
23
ひりひり is a painful sensation you feel on your skin when you get a bad sunburn or put medicine
on raw skin. Also, you feel it on your tongue after licking a hot pepper! The English equivalent of
the verb ひりひりする can be "to burn," "to feel irritated," or "to be tingling."
24
still or yet
25
It still burns.
てにやけどをしました。
(te ni yakedo o shimashita.)
ひりひりする
(hiri hiri suru)
まだ
(mada)
まだ、ひりひりします。
(mada, hiri hiri shimasu.)
きのう、てにやけどをしました。まだひりひり
します。
26
I burnt my hand yesterday. It still burns.
27
Japanese people are known to visit doctors for the slightest symptoms, but some people still try
natural remedies using what is available around their house or yard. アロエ (aloe) works for a
burn; so do the green leaves of びわ (Japanese medlar). こんにゃく (konjak jelly) is said to work
for kidneys, when eaten, and for muscle pains as a hot compress. And at the first sign of a cold?
Have some hot みそしる (miso soup) with chopped green onion and go to bed early!
(ki-noo, te ni yakedo o shimashita. mada
hiri hiri shimasu.)
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194
You have a fever of thirty-eight degrees, I see.
ねつがさんじゅうはちどありますね。
English
Japanese
ねつがさんじゅうはちどありますね。
1
You have a fever of thirty-eight degrees, I see.
2
So far we have been using the sentence-ending particle ね to solicit an agreement from the
listener (as in "It's cold, isn't it!") or to request a confirmation from the listener (as in "Tempura
Special, right?"). We can also use it simply to air our observation in a matter-of-a-fact tone. In
this case, ね is equivalent to "...., I see" in English. Let's try it in the next question.
3
You have a fever.
4
thirty-eight degrees
5
Please note the temperature here is in せっし or Celsius. 38℃ is equivalent to 100.4°F.
6
You have a fever of thirty-eight degrees.
7
to go up
8
go up
9
The fever has gone up, I see.
10
to go down or to come down
11
come down
12
thirty-seven point five degrees
13
When we talk about the body temperature, we often use ぶ to indicate decimal numbers. For
example, many people read 37.5 degrees as さんじゅうななどごぶ in Japanese. We can also say
さんじゅうななてんごど .
14
The fever has come down to thirty-seven
point five degrees, I see.
15
(netsu ga san-juu-hachi do arimasu ne.)
ねつがあります。
(netsu ga arimasu.)
さんじゅうはちど
(san-juu-hachi do)
ねつがさんじゅうはちどあります。
(netsu ga san-juu-hachi do arimasu.)
あがる
(agaru)
あがります
(agarimasu)
ねつがあがりましたね。
(netsu ga agarimashita ne.)
さがる
(sagaru)
さがります
(sagarimasu)
さんじゅうななどごぶ
(san-juu-nana do go bu)
ねつがさんじゅうななどごぶまでさがりました
ね。
(netsu ga san-juu-nana do go bu made
sagarimashita ne.)
Let me take a peek at your throat.
ちょっとのどをみせてください。
(Please show me your throat a little bit.)
(chotto nodo o misete kudasai.)
のどがあかいですね。
16
Your throat is red, I see.
17
Your throat is red, and you also have a fever, I
see.
(nodo ga akai desu ne.)
のどがあかくて、ねつもありますね。
(nodo ga akakute, netsu mo arimasu ne.)
Continued on next page
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195
English
Japanese
ただの
18
common
19
a common cold
20
It is a common cold, I think.
21
a worry
22
しんぱい can be a noun (worry, anxiety, or care) or a な -adjective (worrisome).
23
don't need
24
(tadano)
ただのかぜ
(tada no kaze)
ただのかぜでしょう。
(tada no kaze deshoo.)
しんぱい
(shinpai)
いりません
(irimasen)
There is no need to worry.
しんぱいはいりません。
(As for a worry, you don't need it.)
(shinpai wa irimasen.)
25
We have learned to use the particle が along with the verb いる (to need) as in みずがいります
(We need water), right? However, to say "Don't worry," we always use the particle は and say しん
ぱいはいりません (literally, "As for worry, you don't need it"). Let's learn it as an idiom. In
everyday conversations, you can omit the particle は and say しんぱいいりません .
26
It is a common cold, I think. There is no need
to worry, you know.
27
Now, let's use しんぱい as a な -adjective in the next question.
28
It is a little bit worrisome.
29
test or inspection
30
We can use けんさ to mean either a medical test such as a blood test, or an inspection such as a
baggage check.
31
ただのかぜでしょう。しんぱいはいりません
よ。
(tada no kaze deshoo. shinpai wa
irimasen yo.)
ちょっとしんぱいです。
(chotto shinpai desu.)
けんさ
(kensa)
to have a test
けんさする
(to do a test)
(kensa suru)
けんさしましょう。
32
Let's have some tests.
33
hmmm
34
うーん can be a groan or a sound the speaker makes when he or she is considering some weighty
matter. It's like "Hmmm" in English. Please don't mix it up with うん , which is a casual way to say
"yes" in Japanese!
35
Hmmm, this is a little bit worrisome, I see.
Let's have some tests.
(kensa shimashoo.)
うーん
(uun)
うーん、これはちょっとしんぱいですね。けん
さしましょう。
(uun, kore wa chotto shinpai desu ne.
kensa shimashoo.)
Continued on next page
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196
English
36
Japanese
Until recently, most Japanese doctors would avoid giving bad news to their patients in person.
They would instead tell the truth to the patients' family, who in turn might decide not to relay the
news to the patients. Today, the idea of "informed consent" has become more prevalent, but still
many doctors try to soften the impact of blunt truth by choosing roundabout expressions in their
explanation.
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197
Open your mouth wide, please.
くちをおおきくあけてください。
English
1
Japanese
Open your mouth wide, please.
くちをおおきくあけてください。
(Please open mouth widely.)
(kuchi o ookiku akete kudasai.)
2
Here are some sound effects you'll be making when you are sick in Japan! If you have a dry
cough, you go コンコン ; if it's a wet cough, the sound changes to ゴホゴホ . When you have
congestion, your breath sounds like ゼーゼー , and your sneeze will come out as ハクション !
Speaking of sneezing, don't expect to receive a "Bless you!" while in Japan. The most likely
reaction you'll get from people around you upon sneezing is the discreet shifting of their position
away from you!
3
to open (in the "te"-form)
4
Please open.
5
mouth
6
Please open your mouth.
7
widely
8
When we want to turn an い -adjective such as おおきい (big) into an adverb, we can drop the last
い and add く instead, as in おおきく .　おおきく can be translated as "widely," "deeply," "loudly,"
and so on depending on the context.
9
to inhale
10
a breath
11
(akete)
あけてください。
(akete kudasai.)
くち
(kuchi)
くちをあけてください。
(kuchi o akete kudasai.)
おおきく
(ookiku)
すう
(suu)
いき
(iki)
You take a breath.
いきをすいます。
(You inhale a breath.)
(iki o suimasu.)
12
to inhale (in the "te"-form)
13
Please take a breath.
14
あけて
すって
(sutte)
いきをすってください。
(iki o sutte kudasai.)
Please take a deep breath.
いきをおおきくすってください。
(Please inhale a breath deeply.)
(iki o ookiku sutte kudasai.)
15
to sleep or to go to bed
16
sleep or go to bed
ねる
(neru)
ねます
(nemasu)
Continued on next page
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198
English
Japanese
ねて
17
to go to bed (in the "te"-form)
18
Please go to bed.
19
fast or early (adjective)
20
Please go to bed early.
21
Since you have a fever, please go to bed early
today.
22
gargling
23
(nete)
ねてください。
(nete kudasai.)
はやい
(hayai)
はやくねてください。
(hayaku nete kudasai.)
ねつがありますから、きょうははやくねてくだ
さい。
(netsu ga arimasu kara, kyoo wa hayaku
nete kudasai.)
うがい
(ugai )
to gargle
うがいする
(to do gargling)
(ugai suru)
よくうがいしてください。
24
Please gargle well.
25
Do you remember that うち can mean not only a "house," but also "(one's own) home"? Let's
use it in the next question!
26
Your throat is red, I see. Please gargle well at
home.
27
Many Japanese firmly believe that うがい (gargling) is one of the most fundamental preventive
practices against common cold and flu. There are many うがいぐすり (literally, "gargling
medicine") on the shelves of drugstores, and parents diligently teach their children to do ガラガラ
ペッ！ ("Gargle, gargle, ptui!") as soon as they come home after being outside!
(yoku ugai shite kudasai.)
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199
のどがあかいですね。うちでよくうがいしてく
ださい。
(nodo ga akai desu ne. uchi de yoku ugai
shite kudasai.)
Please take this medicine three times a day.
このくすりをいちにちにさんかいのんでください。
English
Japanese
このくすりをいちにちにさんかいのんでくださ
い。
1
Please take this medicine three times a day.
2
にほんじんのくすりずき (Japanese love of medicine) is a well-known fact. Serious about their
health, many people take multiple prescribed drugs even for a simple cold. In addition, they
spend a small fortune on alternative medicines, such as かんぽうやく (Chinese herbal medicine),
and various health supplements, such as あおじる (green-leaf juice), らんゆ (egg oil), and すっぽ
んエキス (the extract of Chinese soft-shelled turtle)!
3
to take (medicine)
4
We have so far used the verb のむ to mean "to drink." We can also use it to mean "to take
(medicine)."
5
take (medicine)
6
to take (medicine) (in the "te"-form)
7
please take (medicine)
8
medicine
9
Please take this medicine.
10
three times
11
かい in さんかい (three times) is the counter for occurrence.
12
three times a day
13
When we want to describe how often we do something or how often something happens, we can
use the "(time period) に X かい " pattern. For example, to say "three times a day," we can say い
ちにちにさんかい in Japanese.
14
once a day
15
Did you notice that the pronunciation of いち (one) changes in いっかい (once)?
16
twice a day
17
one tablet
18
じょう is the counter for tablets of medicine.
(kono kusuri o ichi-nichi ni sankai nonde
kudasai.)
のむ
(nomu)
のみます
(nomimasu)
のんで
(nonde)
のんでください
(nonde kudasai)
くすり
(kusuri)
このくすりをのんでください。
(kono kusuri o nonde kudasai.)
さんかい
(sankai)
いちにちにさんかい
(ichi-nichi ni sankai)
いちにちにいっかい
(ichi-nichi ni ikkai)
いちにちににかい
(ichi-nichi ni nikai)
いちじょう
(ichi-joo)
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200
Continued on next page
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201
English
Japanese
にじょう
19
two tablets
20
two tablets at a time
21
Please take this medicine twice a day, two
tablets at a time.
22
before a meal
23
まえに ("before" or "ago") is one of the expressions that indicate the order of events. When まえ
に (before) follows a noun, we need the particle の to connect the noun and まえに . Please note
that the nouns that come before まえに are those that either denote actions or events (such as a
walk or a concert) or imply actions (such as a bath or a meal).
24
Please take one tablet of this medicine before
a meal.
25
two hours ago
26
Please note that we don't need the particle の when まえに comes right after a time period as in
にじかんまえに (two hours ago).
27
I took one tablet of the medicine two hours
ago.
28
thirty minutes before a meal
29
As for this red medicine, please take it thirty
minutes before a meal.
30
Here are some terminologies and their meanings regarding when to take medicine. If the
instruction says しょくぜん (before meals), you take it within thirty minutes before a meal; if it
says しょくご , you take it within thirty minutes after a meal. しょっかん (between meals) means
about two to three hours after your last meal, and ねるまえ (before going to bed) means thirty
minutes to one hour before your bedtime. If the instruction says とんぷく , you take it when the
symptom appears.
(ni-joo)
にじょうずつ
(ni-joo zutsu)
このくすりを、いちにちににかい、にじょうず
つのんでください。
(kono kusuri o, ichi-nichi ni nikai, ni-joo
zutsu nonde kudasai.)
しょくじのまえに
(shokuji no mae ni)
しょくじのまえに、このくすりをいちじょうの
んでください。
(shokuji no mae ni, kono kusuri o ichi-joo
nonde kudasai.)
にじかんまえに
(ni-jikan mae ni)
にじかんまえにくすりをいちじょうのみまし
た。
(ni-jikan mae ni kusuri o ichi-joo
nomimashita.)
しょくじのさんじゅっぷんまえに
(shokuji no sanjuppun mae ni)
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202
このあかいくすりは、しょくじのさんじゅっぷ
んまえにのんでください。
(kono akai kusuri wa, shokuji no
sanjuppun mae ni nonde kudasai.)
Please take this cough medicine before going to
bed.
ね る ま え に 、こ の せ き ど め を の ん で く だ さ い 。
English
Japanese
ねるまえに、このせきどめをのんでください。
1
Please take this cough medicine before going
to bed.
2
cough medicine
3
どめ in せきどめ (cough medicine) derives from the verb とめる (to stop). せきどめ , therefore, is
literally a "cough stopper"!
4
Please take this cough medicine.
5
before going to bed
6
When we want to say that some action or event happens before another action or event, we use
the dictionary form of a verb before まえに , as in ねるまえに (before going to bed).
7
before eating
8
a rich meal
9
ごちそう means a "feast," "banquet," "treat," or "rich meal." Do you remember that Japanese say
ごちそうさまでした after every meal? It literally means something like "I appreciated the feast"!
10
before eating a rich meal
11
digestive medicine
12
Before eating the rich meal, I took a digestive
medicine.
13
Please note that you can use the "dictionary form of the verb plus まえに " pattern regardless of
the tense of the sentence that follows the phrase. For example, when we want to say, "I took the
medicine before I ate," we can say, たべるまえにくすりをのみました .
14
apply (medicine)
15
ぬる can mean "to paint" or "to apply (medicine, paint, or cosmetics)."
16
before applying (medicine)
17
ointment
18
before applying the ointment
(neru mae ni, kono sekidome o nonde
kudasai.)
せきどめ
(sekidome)
このせきどめをのんでください。
(kono sekidome o nonde kudasai.)
ねるまえに
(neru mae ni)
たべるまえに
(taberu mae ni)
ごちそう
(gochisoo)
ごちそうをたべるまえに
(gochisoo o taberu mae ni)
いぐすり
(igusuri)
ごちそうをたべるまえに、いぐすりをのみまし
た。
(gochisoo o taberu mae ni, igusuri o
nomimashita.)
ぬる
(nuru)
ぬるまえに
(nuru mae ni)
なんこう
(nankoo)
なんこうをぬるまえに
(nankoo o nuru mae ni)
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203
Continued on next page
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204
English
Japanese
あらう
19
to wash
20
wash
21
to wash (in the "te"-form)
22
Please wash your hands.
23
Before applying the ointment, please wash
your hands.
24
to serve
25
だす is a common verb with many meanings, but here we use it to mean "to serve" or "offer"
something, including tea, food, medicine, or prescriptions. The translation will vary depending on
the object.
26
serve
27
prescription
28
29
30
(arau)
あらいます
(araimasu)
あらって
(aratte)
てをあらってください。
(te o aratte kudasai.)
なんこうをぬるまえに、てをあらってくださ
い。
(nankoo o nuru mae ni, te o aratte
kudasai.)
だす
(dasu)
だします
(dashimasu)
しょほうせん
(sho-hoosen)
I will write a prescription.
しょほうせんをだします。
(I will serve a prescription.)
(sho-hoosen o dashimasu.)
かぜぐすり
cold medicine
(kazegusuri)
I will dispense a cold medicine.
かぜぐすりをだします。
(I will serve a cold medicine.)
(kazegusuri o dashimasu.)
31
Traditionally, Japanese doctors dispensed medicines directly to their patients, but since WWII the
government has promoted the division of labor between doctors and pharmacists. Today, it is
reported that more than 50% of doctors in Japan write "out-of-the-clinic" prescriptions (いんがい
しょほうせん ) so that their patients can take the prescriptions to pharmacies to get their
medicines. The rest of the doctors, however, still keep their own dispensaries.
32
The particle から that indicates the cause or the reason is often used even in cases where the
cause-effect relation between two sentences is not very clear. In such a case, the English
equivalent would be "X, so Y." Let's try this usage in the next question.
33
I'll dispense a cold medicine, so please take
two tablets before going to bed.
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205
かぜぐすりをだしますから、ねるまえににじょ
うのんでください。
(kazegusuri o dashimasu kara, neru mae
ni ni-joo nonde kudasai.)
You must not drink alcoholic beverages.
おさけをのんではいけません。
English
Japanese
おさけをのんではいけません。
1
You must not drink alcoholic beverages.
2
In general, drinking alcohol or いんしゅ is not only well-accepted in society, but even encouraged
at social gatherings in Japan. Many people believe that drinking together promotes good
relationships, and it's common for businessmen to make a deal with their clients at bars and
restaurants. In such occasions, you may say, "No, thank you," but well-wishers would likely keep
nagging you to empty your glass. A good excuse, then, is to invoke ドクターストップ or your
doctor's order to stop drinking!
3
You must not drink.
4
We can use the "て -form plus はいけません " pattern to prohibit someone from doing something.
It's equivalent to "(You) must not...." Please note that this is a polite yet rather strong expression,
and you will probably hear it used by some authority figures, such as parents, teachers, and
doctors.
5
alcoholic beverage
6
おさけ (or さけ ) can mean either "rice wine" or "alcoholic beverages" in general. Please note that
many people say おさけ even in casual conversations, as in the case of おちゃ (tea).
7
cigarette
8
のんではいけません。
(nonde wa ikemasen.)
おさけ
(osake)
たばこ
(tabako)
I smoke cigarettes.
たばこをすいます。
(I inhale cigarettes.)
(tabako o suimasu.)
9
You must not smoke cigarettes.
10
terrible
11
(osake o nonde wa ikemasen.)
たばこをすってはいけません。
(tabako o sutte wa ikemasen.)
ひどい
(hidoi)
You have a terrible cough.
せきがひどいです。
(Cough is terrible.)
(seki ga hidoi desu.)
せきがひどいですね。しばらくたばこをすって
はいけませんよ。
12
You have a terrible cough, I see. You must not
smoke cigarettes for a while, you know.
13
Quitting smoking, or きんえん , has lately become a social trend in Japan. While Western antismoking campaigns seem to focus on the health of smokers themselves, Japanese campaigns
tend to emphasize how one's smoking affects other people. For those who refuse to quit
smoking, the long list of たばこのマナー (cigarette-smoking etiquette) has been widely
propagated, offering detailed instructions on how to smoke without troubling others around them!
14
to get in
(seki ga hidoi desu ne. shibaraku tabako
o sutte wa ikemasen yo.)
はいる
(hairu)
Continued on next page
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206
English
15
16
Japanese
はいります
get in
(hairimasu)
I take a bath.
おふろにはいります。
(I get into a bath.)
(ofuro ni hairimasu.)
17
Did you remember that of the three particles (まで , へ , and に ） that function as the equivalent of
"to" in English, に emphasizes the "point of contact"? Let's memorize ～にはいる (to get into ~)
as an idiom.
18
to get in (in the "te"-form)
19
May I take a bath?
はいって
(haitte)
おふろにはいってもいいですか。
(ofuro ni haitte mo ii desu ka.)
あのう、こんばんおふろにはいってもいいです
か。
20
Um, may I take a bath tonight?
21
To take a bath or not to take a bath...that is an important question when you get sick in Japan.
Because most Japanese people have no central heating system at home, they are afraid of ゆざ
め --getting a chill after a bath--during cold winter days. Also, they are afraid that putting a sick
person into a hot tub would exacerbate the illness by wearing him or her out.
22
Let's figure out short answers to the question おふろにはいってもいいですか (May I take a bath?).
23
Yes, you may, you know.
24
You must not.
25
Instead of using the whole structure of the "て -form plus はいけません " pattern, we can use the
short version いけません to tell others not to do something. It's equivalent to "You must not" in
English.
26
(anoo, konban ofuro ni haitte mo ii desu
ka.)
ええ、いいですよ。
(ee, ii desu yo.)
いけません。
(ikemasen.)
No, not today, you know.
いいえ、きょうはいけませんよ。
(No, as for today, you must not, you know.)
(iie, kyoo wa ikemasen yo.)
きょうは、くすりをのんで、はやくねてくださ
い。おだいじに。
27
Please take the medicine and go to bed early
today. Take good care of yourself.
28
The Japanese love of medicines might originate in the old saying, かぜはまんびょうのもと (A cold
is the father of ten thousand illness). Yet, they also know that やまいはきから (Our illness mirrors
our mental state). They try to stay healthy by following the old advice, はらはちぶめにいしゃいら
ず (Eat less and you'll need no doctor), or はやねはやおきいしゃしらず (If you go to bed early and
get up early, you'll never see a doctor).　Once they get sick, they may try ずかんそくねつ (Keep
your head cold and your feet warm) to get well soon!
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207
(kyoo wa, kusuri o nonde, hayaku nete
kudasai. odaiji ni.)
Vocabulary Review
English
Japanese
「しちにんのさむらい」
"Seven Samurai"
("shichi-nin no samurai")
おやこどんぶり
"parent-child" rice bowl
(oyako donburi)
あれ !
Ah!
(are!)
しがつ
April
(shi-gatsu)
にがてなんです。
As a matter of fact, I am poor at it.
(nigate nandesu.)
クリスマス
Christmas
(kurisumasu)
おわすれなく！
Don't forget!
(owasurenaku!)
えのしま
Enoshima
(enoshima)
きんようび
Friday
(kin-yoobi)
どうぞ。
Go ahead.
(doozo.)
おやすみなさい。
Good night.
(oyasuminasai.)
ごめんください。
Hello (when announcing one's arrival at
someone's house).
(gomenkudasai.)
ほっかいどう
Hokkaido
(hokkaidoo)
なんどでしょうか。
How hot do you think it is?
(nan-do deshoo ka.)
いくらかかるでしょうか。
How much do you think it will cost?
(ikura kakaru deshoo ka.)
Continued on next page
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208
English
Japanese
しりませんでした。
I didn't know.
(shirimasendeshita.)
かまいません。
I don't mind.
(kamaimasen.)
うみのほうがすきです。
I like the ocean better.
(umi no hoo ga suki desu.)
I'd like to exchange money.
りょうがえしたいんですが・・・。
(As a matter of fact, I want to exchange money,
but....)
(ryoogae shitaindesu ga....)
そうします。
I'll do so.
(soo shimasu.)
I'm tired.
つかれました。
(I tired myself. )
(tsukaremashita.)
ぼく
I/me
(boku)
いたみます。
It hurts.
(itamimasu.)
あつかったです。
It was hot.
(atsukatta desu.)
January
いちがつ
(the first month)
(ichi-gatsu)
パチンコ
Japanese pinball
(pachinko)
ふとん
Japanese-style bedding
(futon)
おしいれ
Japanese-style closet
(oshi-ire)
ざしき
Japanese-style drawing room
(zashiki)
Japanese-style family room
ちゃのま
(space for tea)
(chanoma)
しちがつ
July
(shichi-gatsu)
Continued on next page
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209
English
Japanese
きゅうしゅう
Kyushu
(kyuushuu)
もちましょう。
Let me carry it for you.
(mochimashoo.)
えーっと・・・。
Let me see....
(eetto....)
いきましょう。
Let's go.
(ikimashoo.)
いそぎましょう。
Let's hurry.
(isogimashoo.)
あいましょう。
Let's meet.
(aimashoo)
May I ask you?
おねがいしてもいいですか。
(May I request?)
(onegai shite mo ii desu ka.)
げつようび
Monday
(getsu-yoobi)
あそさん
Mt. Aso
(asosan)
ふじさん
Mt. Fuji
(fujisan)
たかおさん
Mt. Takao
(takaosan)
いえいえ。
No, no.
(ie ie.)
それほどでも。
Not so much.
(sore hodo demo.)
OK.
わかりました。
(I understood.)
(wakarimashita.)
へえ？
Oh?
(hee?)
どうぞ。
Please come in.
(doozo.)
Continued on next page
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210
English
Japanese
おしえてください。
Please tell me.
(oshiete kudasai.)
どようび
Saturday
(do-yoobi)
くがつ
September
(ku-gatsu)
あんないしましょうか。
Shall I show you around?
(an-nai shimashoo ka.)
やすみましょうか。
Shall we rest?
(yasumimashoo ka.)
にちようび
Sunday
(nichi-yoobi)
テレビ
TV
(terebi)
どうやってつくるんですか。
Tell me, how do you make it?
(doo-yatte tsukurundesu ka.)
Thank you for inviting me in.
おじゃまします。
(I'll hinder you.)
(ojama shimasu.)
Thank you for your time and hospitality.
おじゃましました。
(I hindered you.)
(ojama shimashita.)
もくようび
Thursday
(moku-yoobi)
とうきょうプラザ
Tokyo Plaza
(tookyoo puraza)
かようび
Tuesday
(ka-yoobi)
カラオケもあります。
We are going to have karaoke, too.
(karaoke mo arimasu.)
すいようび
Wednesday
(sui-yoobi)
いらっしゃい。
Welcome.
(irasshai.)
Continued on next page
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211
English
Japanese
そうですね・・・。
Well....
(soo desu ne....)
えっ !?
What!?
(e!?)
わあ！
Wow!
(waa!)
のんではいけません。
You must not drink.
(nonde wa ikemasen.)
いけません。
You must not.
(ikemasen.)
いき
a breath
(iki)
さむけ
a chill
(samuke)
かぜ
a cold
(kaze)
もうすこし
a little more
(moo sukoshi)
a pair of boots
ブーツ
(boots)
(buutsu)
a pair of sandals
サンダル
(sandal)
(sandaru)
れんしゅう
a practice
(renshuu )
プレゼント
a present
(purezento)
おねがい
a request
(onegai)
ごちそう
a rich meal
(gochisoo)
ぶつま
a room with the family Buddhist altar
(butsuma)
Continued on next page
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212
English
Japanese
しんぱい
a worry
(shinpai)
きず
a wound
(kizu)
いれます
add
(iremasu)
そうきんしてから
after you remit it
(sookin shite kara)
ごご
afternoon or p.m.
(gogo)
こうくうびん
airmail
(kookuubin)
おさけ
alcoholic beverage
(osake)
みんな
all
(min-na)
もう
already
(moo)
きせつで
among seasons
(kisetsu de)
ゆうえんち
amusement park
(yuuenchi)
もうひとり
another person
(moo hitori)
しょくよく
appetite
(shokuyoku)
ぬる
apply (medicine)
(nuru)
おさがしですか
are you looking for?
(osagashi desu ka)
よじごろ
around four o'clock
(yo-ji goro)
Continued on next page
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213
English
Japanese
さんじゅうどぐらい
around thirty degrees
(sanjuu-do gurai)
とどきます
arrive
(todokimasu)
くじに
at nine o'clock
(ku-ji ni)
あき
autumn
(aki)
バー
bar
(baa)
やきゅう
baseball
(yakyuu)
ふろば
bathroom
(furoba)
ビーチ
beach
(biichi)
きれい
beautiful
(kiree)
なりました
became
(narimashita)
から
because
(kara)
なります
become
(narimasu)
やすくなります
become inexpensive
(yasuku narimasu)
ベッド
bed
(beddo)
しょくじのまえに
before a meal
(shokuji no mae ni)
ねるまえに
before going to bed
(neru mae ni)
Continued on next page
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214
English
Japanese
ひとり
being by oneself
(hitori)
おひとり
being by oneself
(ohitori)
best or most
いちばん
(number one)
(ichiban)
たんじょうび
birthday
(tanjoobi)
くろい
black
(kuroi)
ごうコン
blind-date party
(gookon)
ブラウス
blouse
(burausu)
わかします
boil (water)
(wakashimasu)
ほんだな
bookshelf
(hondana)
どちらも
both or neither
(dochira mo)
テニスもゴルフも
both tennis and golf
(tenisu mo gorufu mo)
はこ
box
(hako)
おべんとう
box lunch
(obentoo)
boy
おとこのこ
(male child)
(otoko no ko)
boyfriend
かれ
(he/him)
(kare)
やきます
broil
(yakimasu)
Continued on next page
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215
English
Japanese
いそがしい
busy
(isogashii)
ぜひ
by all means
(zehi)
そろそろ
by and by
(soro soro)
カフェ
cafe
(kafe)
ケーキ
cake
(keeki)
ケーキや
cake shop
(keeki-ya)
カメラ
camera
(kamera)
can do
できます
(is/am/are able to do)
(dekimasu)
こい
carp
(koi)
もちます
carry
(mochimasu)
ねこ
cat
(neko)
あかるい
cheerful
(akarui)
さくら
cherry blossom
(sakura)
おはなみ
cherry-blossom viewing picnic
(ohanami)
むね
chest
(mune)
chicken (as meat)
とりにく
(bird meat)
(tori-niku)
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216
English
Japanese
チキンカレー
chicken curry
(chikin karee)
たばこ
cigarette
(tabako)
しめます
close
(shimemasu)
にまんえんちかく
close to twenty thousand yen
(niman en chikaku)
ふく
clothes
(fuku)
くもり
cloudy weather
(kumori)
コート
coat
(kooto)
カクテル
cocktail
(kakuteru)
コーヒーでも
coffee or something
(koohii demo)
かぜぐすり
cold medicine
(kazegusuri)
いろ
color
(iro)
きます
come
(kimasu)
さがります
come down
(sagarimasu)
でます
come out
(demasu)
ただの
common
(tadano)
かいしゃ
company
(kaisha)
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217
English
Japanese
かいしゃいん
company employee
(kaisha-in)
ちょうし
condition
(chooshi)
べんり
convenient
(benri)
にます
cook (in liquid)
(nimasu)
たきます
cook (rice)
(takimasu)
りょうり
cooking
(ryoori)
すずしい
cool
(suzushii)
かかります
cost
(kakarimasu)
せき
cough
(seki)
せきどめ
cough medicine
(sekidome)
カップ
cup
(kappu)
カレールー
curry roux
(karee ruu)
かわいい
cute
(kawaii)
ダンス
dancing
(dansu)
ひづけ
date (for calendar)
(hizuke)
つくえ
desk
(tsukue)
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218
English
Japanese
デザート
dessert
(dezaato)
いぐすり
digestive medicine
(igusuri)
セール
discount sale
(seeru)
くるしい
distressing
(kurushii)
めまい
dizziness
(memai)
します
do
(shimasu)
いぬ
dog
(inu)
いきません
don't go
(ikimasen)
すきじゃありません
don't like
(suki ja arimasen)
いりません
don't need
(irimasen)
dress
ワンピース
(one-piece)
(wanpiisu)
のみます
drink
(nomimasu)
たべます
eat
(tabemasu)
たまご
egg
(tamago)
やっつ
eight (items)
(yattsu)
ようか
eight days
(yooka)
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219
English
Japanese
はっかげつ
eight months
(hakkagetsu)
はっしゅうかん
eight weeks
(hasshuukan)
はっさい
eight years old
(hassai)
じゅうはっさい
eighteen years old
(juu hassai)
あに
elder brother
(ani)
あね
elder sister
(ane)
おもしろい
enjoyable
(omoshiroi)
げんかん
entrance hall
(genkan)
ばん
evening
(ban)
ゆうがた
evening (before dark)
(yuugata)
まいにち
every day
(mai-nichi)
たかい
expensive
(takai)
ふります
fall (referring to rain or snow)
(furimasu)
かぞく
family
(kazoku)
ごかぞく
family
(gokazoku)
ゆうめい
famous
(yuumee)
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220
English
Japanese
はやい
fast or early (adjective)
(hayai)
ちち
father
(chichi)
おんな
female (for humans)
(on-na)
さきに
first
(saki ni)
まず
first of all
(mazu)
つり
fishing
(tsuri)
しちゃくしつ
fitting room
(shichaku-shitsu)
いつつ
five (items)
(itsutsu)
いつか
five days
(itsuka)
ハイキングに
for a hike
(haikingu ni)
しばらく
for a while
(shibaraku)
はじめて
for the first time
(hajimete)
よっつ
four (items)
(yottsu)
よっか
four days
(yokka)
よっか
four days
(yokka)
よじ
four o'clock
(yoji)
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221
English
Japanese
よにん
four people
(yonin)
じゅうよっか
fourteen days
(juu-yokka)
ひま
free (when referring to one's schedule)
(hima)
げんき
full of energy
(genki)
おもしろい
funny
(omoshiroi)
おにわ
garden
(oniwa)
にわ
garden/yard
(niwa)
うがい
gargling
(ugai )
おとなしい
gentle (as for animals)
(otonashii)
はいります
get in
(hairimasu)
かのじょ
girlfriend
(kanojo)
いきます
go
(ikimasu)
かえります
go home
(kaerimasu)
およぎにいきます
go to swim
(oyogi ni ikimasu)
あがります
go up
(agarimasu)
きんいろ
gold color
(kin-iro)
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222
English
Japanese
ゴルフ
golf
(gorufu)
いい
good
(ii)
そふ
grandfather
(sofu)
おじいさん
grandfather
(ojiisan)
おばあさん
grandmother
(obaasan)
そぼ
grandmother
(sobo)
スポーツジム
gym
(supootsu jimu)
はん
half (referring to time period)
(han)
きらいです
hate
(kirai desu)
います
have (when referring to living creatures)
(imasu)
あそびます
have fun
(asobimasu)
having a sale
セールちゅう
(in the middle of discount sale)
(seeruchuu)
もしもし
hello (for telephone calls)
(moshi moshi)
たかい
high or tall
(takai)
こうこう
high school
(kookoo)
うーん
hmmm
(uun)
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223
English
Japanese
おゆ
hot water
(oyu)
おうち
house
(ouchi)
うち
house
(uchi)
どうやって
how (when asking the method)
(doo-yatte)
どのくらい
how far
(donokurai)
いくつ
how many (items)
(ikutsu)
なんびき
how many (small animals, fish, or insects)
(nanbiki)
なんかげつ
how many months
(nan kagetsu)
なんにん
how many people
(nan-nin)
なんしゅうかん
how many weeks
(nanshuukan)
どのくらい
how much (for quantities)
(donokurai)
なんさい
how old
(nansai)
おいくつ
how old
(oikutsu)
いそぎます
hurry
(isogimasu)
それなら
if that's the case
(sore nara)
もうすぐ
in no time
(moo sugu)
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224
English
Japanese
とくに
in particular
(toku ni)
ぜんぶで
in total
(zenbu de)
やすい
inexpensive
(yasui)
ざいりょう
ingredient
(zai-ryoo)
なか
inside
(naka)
できます
is made
(dekimasu)
といいます
is/am/are called
(to iimasu)
しています
is/am/are doing
(shite imasu)
うわぎ
jacket
(uwagi)
ちょうど
just
(choodo)
キロメートル
kilometer
(kiro-meetoru)
だいどころ
kitchen
(daidokoro)
しります
know
(shirimasu)
きょねん
last year
(kyo-nen)
てがみ
letter
(tegami)
すきです
like
(suki desu)
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225
English
Japanese
リビング
living room
(ribingu)
ばしょ
location
(basho)
ながそで
long sleeve
(nagasode)
さがします
look for
(sagashimasu)
だいすきです
love
(daisuki desu.)
よわび
low heat
(yowabi)
マージャン
mahjong
(maajan)
つくります
make
(tsukurimasu)
かけます
make (a telephone call)
(kakemasu)
おとこ
male (for humans)
(otoko)
おおい
many
(ooi)
しょくじ
meal
(shokuji)
いしゃ
medical doctor
(isha)
くすり
medicine
(kusuri)
あいます
meet
(aimasu)
メンバー
member
(menbaa)
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226
English
Japanese
メートル
meter
(meetoru)
みそ
miso paste
(miso)
おかね
money
(okane)
りょうがえ
money exchange
(ryoogae)
より
more than
(yori)
あさ
morning
(asa)
ごぜん
morning or a.m.
(gozen)
なにより
most desirable
(nani yori)
はは
mother
(haha)
やま
mountain
(yama)
くち
mouth
(kuchi)
えいが
movie
(eega)
ずっと
much more
(zutto)
nasal drip
はなみず
(nose water)
(hanamizu)
はきけ
nausea
(hakike)
ネクタイ
necktie
(nekutai)
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227
English
Japanese
いります
need
(irimasu)
あたらしい
new
(atarashii)
しんぶん
newspaper
(shinbun)
つぎに
next (when referring to the order of events)
(tsugi ni)
こんど
next time
(kondo)
となり
next-door
(tonari)
よる
night
(yoru)
クラブ
night club
(kurabu)
ここのつ
nine (items)
(kokonotsu)
ここのか
nine days
(kokonoka)
くじ
nine o'clock
(kuji)
じゅうくにち
nineteen days
(juu-ku-nichi)
きゅうじゅうろくさい
ninety-six years old
(kyuujuu roku sai)
だれも
no one
(daremo)
うるさい
noisy
(urusai)
いま
now
(ima)
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228
English
Japanese
さあ
now (when encouraging some course of action)
(saa)
うみ
ocean or sea
(umi)
もちろん
of course
(mochiron)
よく
often
(yoku)
なんこう
ointment
(nankoo)
ふるい
old
(furui)
ひとつ
one (item)
(hitotsu)
ひとつ
one (item)
(hitotsu)
いちにち
one day
(ichi-nichi)
いちじかん
one hour
(ichi jikan)
いっかげつ
one month
(ikkagetsu)
いっかげついじょう
one month or more
(ikkagetsu ijoo)
あといちキロメートル
one more kilometer to go
(ato ichi kiro-meetoru)
ひとり
one person
(hitori)
ひとつまみ
one pinch
(hitotsumami)
いちじょう
one tablet
(ichi-joo)
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229
English
Japanese
いっしゅうかん
one week
(isshuukan)
only child
ひとりっこ
(one child)
(hitorikko)
あけます
open
(akemasu)
オレンジいろ
orange color
(orenji iro)
にしきごい
ornamental carp
(nishikigoi)
over low heat
よわびで
(by means of low heat)
(yowabi de)
にもつ
package
(nimotsu)
いたみ
pain
(itami)
いたくて
painful and
(itakute)
パーティー
party
(paatii)
ひとたち
people
(hitotachi)
こしょう
pepper
(koshoo)
ひと
person
(hito)
ペット
pet
(petto)
しゃしん
photograph
(shashin)
よてい
plan
(yotee)
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230
English
Japanese
たくさん
plentifully
(takusan)
いけ
pond
(ike)
にがて
poor at
(nigate)
しょほうせん
prescription
(sho-hoosen)
かぞくへのプレゼント
presents for my family
(kazoku e no purezento)
ねだん
price
(nedan)
たぶん
probably
(tabun)
プロレス
professional wrestling
(puroresu)
ばんぐみ
program (for TV and radio)
(bangumi)
しずか
quiet
(shizuka)
あめ
rain or rainy weather
(ame)
ラーメン
ramen noodle soup
(raamen)
あかい
red
(akai)
あかいの
red one
(akai no)
あかいのやしろいの
red ones, white ones, and others
(akai no ya shiroi no)
ざんねん
regrettable
(zan-nen)
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231
English
Japanese
remittance
そうきん
(sending money)
(sookin)
しゃくや
rented house
(shakuya)
やすみます
rest
(yasumimasu)
いい
right or suitable
(ii)
かわ
river
(kawa)
へや
room
(heya)
しお
salt
(shio)
いためます
sauté
(itamemasu)
ふなびん
sea mail
(funabin)
きせつ
season
(kisetsu)
ふりそうです
seems to fall (referring to rain or snow)
(furisoo desu.)
おくります
send
(okurimasu)
だします
serve
(dashimasu)
ななつ
seven (items)
(nanatsu)
なのか
seven days
(nanoka)
しちじ
seven o'clock
(shichiji )
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232
English
Japanese
しゃぶしゃぶ
shabu shabu
(shabu shabu)
ひかげ
shade
(hikage)
くつや
shoe store
(kutsu-ya)
くつ
shoes
(kutsu)
かいもの
shopping
(kaimono)
しょうてんがい
shopping district
(shootengai)
みじかい
short
(mijikai)
みせます
show
(misemasu)
あんないします
show around
(an-nai shimasu)
きょうだい
sibling
(kyoodai)
ごきょうだい
siblings
(gokyoodai)
よこ
side
(yoko)
みっかまえから
since three days ago
(mikka mae kara)
むっつ
six (items)
(muttsu)
むいか
six days
(muika)
ろっかげつ
six months
(rokkagetsu)
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233
English
Japanese
サイズ
size
(saizu)
きゅうごう
size nine
(kyuugoo)
ねます
sleep or go to bed
(nemasu)
そで
sleeve
(sode)
ゆき
snow or snowy weather
(yuki)
そんなに
so much
(son-na ni)
だれか
someone or anyone
(dareka)
なにか
something
(nanika)
ときどき
sometimes
(tokidoki)
なんだか
somewhat
(nandaka)
しょうゆ
soy sauce
(shooyu)
だいず
soybeans
(daizu)
ひろい
spacious
(hiroi)
そくたつ
special delivery
(sokutatsu)
スポーツ
sports
(supootsu)
はる
spring
(haru)
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English
Japanese
むしあつい
stifling hot
(mushiatsui)
まだ
still or yet
(mada)
やみます
stop (when referring to rain or snow)
(yamimasu)
よります
stop by
(yorimasu)
みせ
store or place of business
(mise)
きびしい
strict
(kibishii)
さとう
sugar
(satoo)
スーツ
suits
(suutsu)
なつ
summer
(natsu)
ちょうじょう
summit
(choojoo)
すもう
sumo wrestling
(sumoo)
はれ
sunny weather
(hare)
スーパー
supermarket
(suupaa)
supper
ばんごはん
(evening meal)
(ban gohan)
およぎます
swim
(oyogimasu)
みずぎ
swimsuit
(mizugi)
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235
English
Japanese
テーブル
table
(teeburu)
tablespoon
おおさじ
(big spoon)
(oosaji)
のみます
take (medicine)
(nomimasu)
かかります
take (when referring to time)
(kakarimasu)
ちゃしつ
tea-ceremony room
(chashitsu)
おしえます
teach or tell
(oshiemasu)
きょうし
teacher
(kyooshi)
teaspoon
こさじ
(small spoon)
(kosaji)
とお
ten (items)
(too)
とおか
ten days
(tooka)
じゅっぷん
ten minutes
(juppun)
じゅっかげつ
ten months
(jukkagetsu)
じゅっしゅうかん
ten weeks
(jusshuukan)
テニス
tennis
(tenisu)
ひどい
terrible
(hidoi)
すごい
terrible or amazing
(sugoi)
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English
Japanese
けんさ
test or inspection
(kensa)
あきたいぬ
the Akita
(akita inu)
さいご
the end or the last
(saigo )
the exchange rate
レート
(a rate)
(reeto)
ついたち
the first day of the month
(tsuitachi)
うみとやまと
the ocean or mountains (in a comparison
question)
(umi to yama to)
にかいめ
the second time
(nikaime )
the station-front area
えきまえ
(station front)
(ekimae)
それから
then
(sore kara)
います
there is (when referring to living creatures)
(imasu)
あります
there is (when referring to things)
(arimasu)
いません
there is not (when referring to living creatures)
(imasen)
もの
thing
(mono)
ようじ
things to do
(yooji)
さんじゅうななどごぶ
thirty-seven point five degrees
(san-juu-nana do go bu)
こちら
this place
(kochira)
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English
Japanese
ことし
this year
(kotoshi)
けど
though
(kedo)
みっつ
three (items)
(mittsu)
みっか
three days
(mikka)
さんにん
three people
(san-nin)
さんかい
three times
(sankai)
いちにちにさんかい
three times a day
(ichi-nichi ni sankai)
つかれます
tire oneself
(tsukaremasu)
やまへ
to a mountain
(yama e)
とどく
to arrive
(todoku)
できる
to be able to do
(dekiru)
できる
to be made
(dekiru)
できて
to be made (in the "te"-form)
(dekite)
できる
to be ready
(dekiru)
なる
to become
(naru)
わかす
to boil (water)
(wakasu)
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English
Japanese
わかして
to boil (water) (in the "te"-form)
(wakashite)
やく
to broil
(yaku)
ひりひりする
to burn (when referring to a pain)
(hiri hiri suru)
もつ
to carry
(motsu)
かぜをひく
to catch a cold
(kaze o hiku)
しめる
to close
(shimeru)
くる
to come
(kuru)
でる
to come out
(deru)
あそびにくる
to come over for a visit
(asobi ni kuru)
にる
to cook (in liquid)
(niru)
たく
to cook (rice)
(taku)
たいて
to cook (rice) (in the "te"-form)
(taite)
かかる
to cost
(kakaru)
する
to do
(suru)
して
to do (in the "te"-form)
(shite)
のむ
to drink
(nomu)
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English
Japanese
たべる
to eat
(taberu)
たべて
to eat (in the "te"-form)
(tabete)
いる
to exist or to be (when referring to living
creatures)
(iru)
ある
to exist or to be (when referring to things)
(aru)
ふる
to fall (referring to rain or snow)
(furu)
する
to feel, smell, or hear
(suru)
はいる
to get in
(hairu)
はいって
to get in (in the "te"-form)
(haitte)
いく
to go
(iku)
さがる
to go down or to come down
(sagaru)
かえる
to go home
(kaeru)
ねて
to go to bed (in the "te"-form)
(nete)
あがる
to go up
(agaru)
いる
to have (when referring to living creatures)
(iru)
しょくじする
to have a meal
(shokuji suru)
きりきりいたむ
to have excruciating pain
(kiri kiri itamu)
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English
Japanese
しくしくいたむ
to have persistent dull pain
(shiku shiku itamu)
いそぐ
to hurry
(isogu)
いたむ
to hurt
(itamu)
すう
to inhale
(suu)
すって
to inhale (in the "te"-form)
(sutte)
しる
to know
(shiru)
しって
to know (in the "te"-form)
(shitte)
さがす
to look for
(sagasu)
さがして
to look for (in the "te"-form)
(sagashite)
つくる
to make
(tsukuru)
かける
to make (a telephone call)
(kakeru)
かけて
to make (a telephone call) (in the "te"-form)
(kakete)
つくって
to make (in the "te"-form)
(tsukutte)
あう
to meet
(au)
いる
to need
(iru)
あける
to open
(akeru)
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241
English
Japanese
あけて
to open (in the "te"-form)
(akete)
あそぶ
to play or to have fun
(asobu)
いれる
to put in or to add
(ireru)
いれて
to put in or to add (in the "te"-form)
(irete)
やすむ
to rest
(yasumu)
いためる
to sauté
(itameru)
いためて
to sauté (in the "te"-form)
(itamete)
いう
to say
(yuu)
おくる
to send
(okuru)
おくって
to send (in the "te"-form)
(okutte)
だす
to serve
(dasu)
みせる
to show
(miseru)
みせて
to show (in the "te"-form)
(misete)
あんないする
to show around
(an-nai suru)
ねる
to sleep or to go to bed
(neru)
やむ
to stop (when referring to rain or snow)
(yamu)
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242
English
Japanese
よる
to stop by
(yoru)
よって
to stop by (in the "te"-form)
(yotte)
がんがんする
to suffer from a splitting headache
(gan gan suru)
およぐ
to swim
(oyogu)
のむ
to take (medicine)
(nomu)
のんで
to take (medicine) (in the "te"-form)
(nonde)
もっていく
to take (something with one)
(motte iku)
かかる
to take (when referring to time)
(kakaru)
おしえる
to teach or to tell
(oshieru)
おしえて
to tell (in the "te"-form)
(oshiete)
ずきずきする
to throb with pain
(zuki zuki suru)
つかれる
to tire oneself
(tsukareru)
まつ
to wait
(matsu)
まって
to wait (in the "te"-form)
(matte)
ほしい
to want
(hoshii)
あらう
to wash
(arau)
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243
English
Japanese
あらって
to wash (in the "te"-form)
(aratte)
みて
to watch (in the "te"-form)
(mite)
みる
to watch or to look at
(miru)
おろす
to withdraw (money)
(orosu)
つつむ
to wrap
(tsutsumu)
つつんで
to wrap (in the "te"-form)
(tsutsunde)
きょう
today
(kyoo)
いっしょに
together
(issho ni)
あした
tomorrow
(ashita)
こんばん
tonight
(konban)
うえ
topside or upper part
(ue)
はつか
twenty days
(hatsuka)
にじゅうろくてんごセンチ
twenty-six point five centimeters
(ni-juu-roku ten go senchi)
ふたつ
two (items)
(futatsu)
ふつか
two days
(futsuka)
にじかんまえに
two hours ago
(ni-jikan mae ni)
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244
English
Japanese
にふん
two minutes
(ni-fun)
ふたり
two people
(futari)
にじょう
two tablets
(ni-joo)
にじょうずつ
two tablets at a time
(ni-joo zutsu)
two to three days
ふつかからみっか
(two days to three days)
(futsuka kara mikka)
した
underneath or lower part
(shita)
やさい
vegetable
(yasai)
まちます
wait
(machimasu)
いきたいです
want to go
(ikitai desu)
あたたかい
warm
(atatakai)
でした
was or were
(deshita)
あらいます
wash
(araimasu)
みます
watch
(mimasu)
しゅうまつ
weekend
(shuumatsu)
なんにち
what day
(nan-nichi)
なんど
what degree
(nan-do)
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245
English
Japanese
なんがつ
what month
(nan-gatsu)
what time
なんじ
(what o'clock)
(nanji)
いつ
when
(itsu)
どちら
which
(dochira)
しろい
white
(shiroi)
だれ
who/whom
(dare)
どなた
who/whom
(donata)
どうして
why
(dooshite)
おおきく
widely
(ookiku)
できます
will be ready
(dekimasu)
まど
window
(mado)
まどぐち
window or teller
(madoguchi)
ふゆ
winter
(fuyu)
かれと
with my boyfriend
(kare to)
おろします
withdraw (money)
(oroshimasu)
いきません
won't go
(ikimasen)
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English
Japanese
すてき
wonderful
(suteki)
つつみます
wrap
(tsutsumimasu)
おとうと
younger brother
(otooto)
いもうと
younger sister
(imooto)
れい
zero
(ree)
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247
Phrase Review
English
Japanese
ごめんください。
Hello.
(gomenkudasai.)
いらっしゃい！さあ、どうぞ。
Welcome! Now, please come in.
(irasshai! saa, doozo.)
おじゃまします。おおきいおうちですね。
Thank you. This is a big house, isn't it!
(ojama shimasu. ookii oochi desu ne.)
ふるいですけど。ちょっとうちのなかをごあんな
いしましょうか。
It's old, though. Shall I show you around the house
a bit?
(furui desu kedo. chotto uchi no naka o goan-nai shimashoo ka.)
ええ、ぜひおねがいします。
Yes, by all means.
(ee, zehi onegai shimasu.)
こちらはざしきです。そのとなりはぶつまです。
This is the drawing room. Next to it is the room
with the family Buddhist altar.
(kochira wa zashiki desu. sono tonari wa
butsuma desu.)
にわにちゃしつがあります。
There is a tea-ceremony room in the garden.
(niwa ni chashitsu ga arimasu.)
わあ、いけのなかにこいがたくさんいますね！
Wow, there are a lot of carp in the pond, aren't
there!
(waa, ike no naka ni koi ga takusan imasu
ne!)
にしきごいです。あかいのやきんいろのやオレン
ジいろのがいますよ。
They are ornamental carp. There are red ones,
gold ones, orange ones and others, you know.
(nishikigoi desu. akai no ya kin-iro no ya
orenji-iro no ga imasu yo.)
ああ、ようこさん。いらっしゃい！
Oh, Yoko. Welcome!
(aa, yooko san. irasshai!)
ふるいですけど。
It's old, though.
(furui desu kedo.)
おおきいおうちですね！
It's a big house, isn't it!
(ookii ouchi desu ne!)
しゃくやですけど。
It's a rented house, though.
(shakuya desu kedo.)
わあ、ひろいおにわですね！
Wow, it's a spacious garden, isn't it!
(waa, hiroi oniwa desu ne!)
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248
English
Japanese
いえいえ、それほどでも。
No, no, not so much.
(ie ie, sore hodo demo.)
うちのなかをごあんないしましょうか。
Shall I show you around the house?
(uchi no naka o go-an-nai shimashoo ka.)
うちのなか
the inside of the house
(uchi no naka)
I'll show you around the house.
うちのなかをあんないします。
(I'll show you around the inside of the house.)
(uchi no naka o an-nai shimasu.)
にわをごあんないしましょうか。
Shall I show you around the garden?
(niwa o go-an-nai shimashoo ka.)
まどをあけましょうか。
Shall I open the window?
(mado o akemashoo ka.)
まどをしめましょうか。
Shall I close the window?
(mado o shimemashoo ka.)
ちょっとさむいですね。まどをしめましょうか。
It's a little bit cold, isn't it! Shall I close the
window?
(chotto samui desu ne. mado o
shimemashoo ka.)
こちらはざしきです。
This is the Japanese-style drawing room.
(kochira wa zashiki desu.)
こちらはふろばです。おてあらいはそちらです。
This is the bathroom. The restroom is that way.
(kochira wa furoba desu. otearai wa sochira
desu.)
このへやはなんですか。
What is this room?
(kono heya wa nan desu ka.)
That room is the room with the family Buddhist
altar.
そのへやはぶつまです。
next to the kitchen
だいどころのとなり
(next-door of kitchen)
(daidokoro no tonari)
(sono heya wa butsuma desu.)
こちらはだいどころです。そのとなりはちゃのま
です。
This is the kitchen. Next to it is the Japanese-style
family room.
(kochira wa daidokoro desu. sono tonari wa
chanoma desu.)
ちゃしつがあります。
There is a tea-ceremony room.
(chashitsu ga arimasu.)
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249
English
Japanese
げんかんのとなり
the next-door of the entrance hall
(genkan no tonari)
next to the entrance hall
げんかんのとなりに
(at the next-door of the entrance hall)
(genkan no tonari ni)
げんかんのとなりにひろいざしきがあります。
There is a spacious Japanese-style drawing room
next to the entrance hall.
(genkan no tonari ni hiroi zashiki ga
arimasu.)
なにがありますか。
What is there?
(nani ga arimasu ka.)
おしいれのなか
the inside of the Japanese-style closet
(oshi-ire no naka)
in the Japanese-style closet
おしいれのなかに
(at the inside of the Japanese-style closet)
(oshi-ire no naka ni)
おしいれのなかになにがありますか。
What is in the Japanese-style closet?
(oshi-ire no naka ni nani ga arimasu ka.)
おしいれのなかにふとんがありますよ。
There is Japanese-style bedding in the Japanesestyle closet, you know.
(oshi-ire no naka ni futon ga arimasu yo.)
いけのなかにこいがいます。
There are carp in the pond.
(ike no naka ni koi ga imasu.)
こいがいます。
There are carp.
(koi ga imasu.)
いけのなか
the inside of the pond
(ike no naka)
There are a lot of carp.
こいがたくさんいます。
(There are carp plentifully.)
(koi ga takusan imasu.)
わあ、いけのなかにこいがたくさんいますね。
Wow, there are a lot of carp in the pond, aren't
there!
(waa, ike no naka ni koi ga takusan imasu
ne.)
なにがいますか。
What is there? (when referring to living creatures)
(nani ga imasu ka.)
いけのなかになにがいますか。
What is in the pond? (when referring to living
creatures)
(ike no naka ni nani ga imasu ka.)
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English
Japanese
あかいこいとくろいこい
red carp and black carp
(akai koi to kuroi koi)
いけのなかにあかいこいとくろいこいがいます
よ。
There are red carp and black carp in the pond,
you know.
(ike no naka ni akai koi to kuroi koi ga imasu
yo.)
There are red ones, white ones, and others. (when
referring to living creatures)
あかいのやしろいのがいます。
There are red ones. (when referring to living
creatures)
あかいのがいます。
(akai no ya shiroi no ga imasu.)
(akai no ga imasu.)
あかいのとしろいの
red ones and white ones
(akai no to shiroi no)
orange-colored carp
オレンジいろのこい
(carp in orange color)
(orenji iro no koi)
きんいろのこい
gold-colored carp
(kin iro no koi)
にしきごいです。あかいのやきんいろのやオレン
ジいろのがいます。
They are ornamental carp. There are red ones,
gold-colored ones, orange-colored ones, and
others.
(nishikigoi desu. akai no ya kin-iro no ya
orenji-iro no ga imasu.)
The TV is in the living room.
テレビはリビングにあります。
(As for TV, it exists in the living room.)
(terebi wa ribingu ni arimasu.)
リビングにあります。
It is in the living room.
(ribingu ni arimasu.)
つくえのよこ
the side of the desk
(tsukue no yoko)
by the desk
つくえのよこに
(at the side of the desk)
(tsukue no yoko ni)
ほんだなはつくえのよこにあります。
The bookshelf is by the desk.
(hondana wa tsukue no yoko ni arimasu.)
どこにありますか。
Where is it?
(doko ni arimasu ka.)
あのう、しんぶんはどこにありますか。
Um, where is the newspaper?
(anoo, shinbun wa doko ni arimasu ka.)
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251
English
Japanese
テーブルのうえ
the topside of the table
(teeburu no ue)
on the table
テーブルのうえに
(at the topside of the table)
(teeburu no ue ni)
ああ、しんぶんはテーブルのうえにありますよ。
Oh, the newspaper is on the table, you know.
(aa, shinbun wa teeburu no ue ni arimasu
yo.)
ねこはどこにいますか。
Where is your cat?
(neko wa doko ni imasu ka.)
ベッドのした
the underneath of the bed
(beddo no shita)
under the bed
ベッドのしたに
(at the underneath of the bed)
(beddo no shita ni)
ねこはベッドのしたにいますよ。
The cat is under the bed, you know.
(neko wa beddo no shita ni imasu yo.)
これはどなたですか。
Who is this?
(kore wa donata desu ka.)
ぼくのそぼです。
That's my grandmother.
(boku no sobo desu.)
おいくつですか。
How old is she?
(oikutsu desu ka.)
９６さいです。でも、まだまだげんきですよ。
She is 96. But, she's still full of energy, you know.
(kyuujuu-roku sai desu. demo, mada mada
genki desu yo.)
それはなによりですね！
That's good to hear, isn't it!
(sore wa naniyori desu ne!)
ペットがいますか。
Do you have pets?
(petto ga imasu ka.)
ええ、いぬがにひきいます。
Yes, we have two dogs.
(ee, inu ga nihiki imasu.)
どんないぬですか。
What kind of dogs are they?
(don-na inu desu ka.)
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English
Japanese
あきたです。おおきいいぬですが、おとなしいで
す。
They are Akitas. They are big dogs, but gentle.
(akita desu. ookii inu desu ga, otonashii
desu.)
このひとはどなたですか。
Who is this person?
(kono hito wa donata desu ka.)
どなたですか。
Who is it?
(donata desu ka.)
woman
おんなのひと
(female person)
(on-na no hito)
このおんなのひと
this woman
(kono on-na no hito)
man
おとこのひと
(male person)
(otoko no hito)
そのおとこのひとはどなたですか。
Who is that man?
(sono otoko no hito wa donata desu ka.)
おんなのこ
girl
(on-na no ko)
あのおんなのこ
that girl over there
(ano on-na no ko)
あのおんなのこはだれですか。
Who is that girl over there?
(ano on-na no ko wa dare desu ka.)
このしゃしんのおとこのこ
the boy in this photograph
(kono shashin no otoko no ko)
すみません。このしゃしんのおとこのこはだれで
すか。
Excuse me. Who is the boy in this photograph?
(sumimasen. kono shashin no otoko no ko
wa dare desu ka.)
これはわたしのそぼです。
This is my grandmother.
(kore wa watashi no sobo desu.)
わたしのそぼ
my grandmother
(watashi no sobo)
わたしのそふとそぼ
my grandfather and grandmother
(watashi no sofu to sobo)
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English
Japanese
ああ、それはわたしのそふとそぼですよ。
Oh, those are my grandfather and grandmother,
you know.
(aa, sore wa watashi no sofu to sobo desu
yo.)
これはわたしのあにです。そしてそれはおとうと
です。
This is my elder brother, and that is my younger
brother.
(kore wa watashi no ani desu. soshite sore
wa otooto desu.)
あのう、これはぼくのあねです。いもうとじゃあ
りません。
Um, this is my elder sister. She is not my younger
sister.
(anoo, kore wa boku no ane desu. imooto ja
arimasen.)
おばあさんはおいくつですか。
How old is your grandmother?
(obaasan wa oikutsu desu ka.)
すみません。おじいさんはおいくつですか。
Excuse me. How old is your grandfather?
(sumimasen. ojiisan wa oikutsu desu ka.)
そふはきゅうじゅうろくさいです。
My grandfather is ninety-six years old.
(sofu wa kyuujuu roku sai desu.)
なんさいですか。
How old is she?
(nansai desu ka.)
そのしゃしんのおんなのこ
the girl in that photograph
(sono shashin no on-na no ko)
そのしゃしんのおんなのこはなんさいですか。
How old is the girl in that photograph?
(sono shashin no on-na no ko wa nansai
desu ka.)
いもうとはじゅうはっさいです。おとうとはに
じゅういっさいです。
My younger sister is eighteen years old. My
younger brother is twenty-one years old.
(imooto wa juu hassai desu. otooto wa nijuu
issai desu.)
How many people are in your family?
ごかぞくはなんにんですか。
(As for family, how many people are they?)
(gokazoku wa nan-nin desu ka.)
なんにんですか。
How many people are they?
(nan-nin desu ka.)
There are four people in my family.
かぞくはよにんです。
(As for family, they are four people.)
(kazoku wa yonin desu.)
かぞくはよにんです。ちちとははとあにとわたし
です。
There are four people in my family: my father, my
mother, my elder brother, and me.
(kazoku wa yonin desu. chichi to haha to ani
to watashi desu.)
How many siblings do you have?
ごきょうだいはなんにんですか。
(How many are your siblings?)
(gokyoodai wa nan-nin desu ka.)
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English
Japanese
There are two siblings in my family.
きょうだいはふたりです。
(As for siblings, they are two.)
(kyoodai wa futari desu.)
きょうだいはさんにんです。あにとあねとわたし
です。
There are three siblings in my family. My elder
brother, my elder sister and me.
(kyoodai wa san-nin desu. ani to ane to
watashi desu.)
わたしはひとりっこです。
I am the only child.
(watashi wa hitorikko desu.)
ペットがいます。
I have a pet.
(petto ga imasu.)
いぬがいますか。
Do you have dogs?
(inu ga imasu ka.)
いぬがなんびきいますか。
How many dogs do you have?
(inu ga nanbiki imasu ka.)
いぬがいっぴき
one dog
(inu ga ippiki)
いぬがにひき
two dogs
(inu ga nihiki)
いぬがさんびき
three dogs
(inu ga sanbiki)
いぬがさんびきいます。
I have three dogs.
(inu ga sanbiki imasu.)
ねこがろっぴき
six cats
(neko ga roppiki)
いぬがにひきとねこがろっぴきいます。
I have two dogs and six cats.
(inu ga nihiki to neko ga roppiki imasu.)
わあ、かわいいねこですね！
Wow, she is a cute cat, isn't she!
(waa, kawaii neko desu ne!)
あきたいぬはおおきいですが、おとなしいいぬで
す。
The Akitas are big, but they are gentle dogs.
(akita inu wa ookii desu ga, otonashii inu
desu.)
なまえはなんですか。
What is her name?
(namae wa nan desu ka.)
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English
Japanese
きれいないぬですね。なまえはなんですか。
She is a beautiful dog, isn't she! What is her
name?
(kireena inu desu ne. namae wa nan desu
ka.)
そぼはまだまだげんきです。
My grandmother is still full of energy.
(sobo wa mada mada genki desu.)
そぼはげんきです。
My grandmother is full of energy.
(sobo wa genki desu.)
そふはしずかです。
My grandfather is quiet.
(sofu wa shizuka desu.)
ちちはちょっときびしいです。
My father is a little strict.
(chichi wa chotto kibishii desu.)
はははとてもあかるいです。
My mother is very cheerful.
(haha wa totemo akarui desu.)
はははとてもあかるいです。そして、おもしろい
です。
My mother is very cheerful. And she is funny.
(haha wa totemo akarui desu. soshite,
omoshiroi desu.)
そぼはひゃくさいです。でも、まだまだげんきで
す。
My grandmother is a hundred years old. But, she
is still full of energy.
(sobo wa hyaku sai desu. demo, mada mada
genki desu.)
That's good to hear.
それはなによりです。
(That is most desirable.)
(sore wa nani yori desu.)
We are going to have a cherry-blossom viewing
picnic tomorrow.
あした、おはなみをします。
(ashita, ohanami o shimasu.)
いっしょにいきませんか。
Won't you come with us?
(issho ni ikimasen ka.)
そうですね・・・。どんなメンバーですか。
Well..., who's going?
(soo desu ne.... don-na menbaa desu ka.)
かいしゃのひとたちや、スポーツジムのともだち
です。
My coworkers and my gym friends.
(kaisha no hitotachi ya, supootsu jimu no
tomodachi desu.)
ひとりはいしゃです。もうひとりはこうこうの
きょうしです。
One of them is a doctor. The other is a high
school teacher.
(hitori wa isha desu. moo hitori wa kookoo
no kyooshi desu.)
カラオケもありますか。
Are you going to have karaoke too?
(karaoke mo arimasu ka.)
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English
Japanese
もちろんです！みんなカラオケがすきですから。
Of course! 'Cause we all love karaoke.
(mochiron desu! min-na karaoke ga suki
desu kara.)
わたしはカラオケはちょっと・・・。すみませ
ん。
I don't care for karaoke much.... I'm sorry.
(watashi wa karaoke wa chotto....
sumimasen.)
それはざんねんですね。じゃあ、またこんど。
I'm sorry to hear that. Well, maybe next time.
(sore wa zan-nen desu ne. jaa, mata kondo.)
We have a cherry-blossom viewing picnic.
おはなみをします。
(We do a cherry-blossom viewing picnic.)
(ohanami o shimasu.)
to have a party
パーティーをする
(to do party)
(paatii o suru)
あしたクリスマスパーティーをします。
We'll have a Christmas party tomorrow.
(ashita kurisumasu paatii o shimasu.)
なにをしますか。
What are you going to do?
(nani o shimasu ka.)
きょうなにをしますか。
What are you going to do today?
(kyoo nani o shimasu ka.)
ははのたんじょうび
my mother's birthday
(haha no tanjoobi)
きょうは、ははのたんじょうびです。
Today is my mother's birthday.
(kyoo wa, haha no tanjoobi desu.)
きょうは、ははのたんじょうびです。たんじょう
びパーティーをします！
Today is my mother's birthday. We are going to
have a birthday party!
(kyoo wa, haha no tanjoobi desu. tanjoobi
paatii o shimasu!)
あしたおはなみをします。いっしょにいきません
か。
We are going to have a cherry-blossom viewing
picnic tomorrow. Why don't you come with us?
(ashita ohanami o shimasu. issho ni
ikimasen ka.)
しょくじしませんか
why don't we dine?
(shokuji shimasen ka)
こんばんいっしょにしょくじしませんか。
Why don't we dine together tonight?
(konban issho ni shokuji shimasen ka.)
えいがをみませんか。
Why don't we watch a movie?
(eega o mimasen ka.)
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257
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Japanese
あのう、あしたいっしょにえいがをみませんか。
Um, why don't we watch a movie together
tomorrow?
(anoo, ashita issho ni eega o mimasen ka.)
いっしょにいきましょう。
Let's go together.
(issho ni ikimashoo.)
ぜひいっしょにいきましょう。
Let's go together by all means.
(zehi issho ni ikimashoo.)
It sounds good!
いいですね！
(It is good, isn't it!)
(ii desu ne!)
いいですね！ぜひいっしょにいきましょう。
It sounds good! Let's go together by all means.
(ii desu ne! zehi issho ni ikimashoo.)
Today isn't good for me...
きょうはちょっと・・・。
(Today is a little bit....)
(kyoo wa chotto....)
そうですね・・・、きょうはちょっと・・・。
Well..., today isn't good for me...
(soo desu ne..., kyoo wa chotto....)
すみません。あしたはちょっと・・・。でも、ま
たこんど！
I'm sorry. Tomorrow isn't good for me.... But,
maybe next time!
(sumimasen. ashita wa chotto.... demo,
mata kondo!)
I'm sorry to hear that.
それはざんねんですね。
(That is regrettable, isn't it!)
(sore wa zan-nen desu ne.)
ああ、それはざんねんですね。じゃあ、またこん
ど！
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Well then, maybe next
time!
(aa, sore wa zan-nen desu ne. jaa, mata
kondo!)
Who will be there?
どんなメンバーですか。
(What kind of members are they?)
(don-na menbaa desu ka.)
coworkers
かいしゃのひとたち
(people of company)
(kaisha no hitotachi)
スポーツジムのともだち
gym friends
(supootsu jimu no tomodachi)
かいしゃのひとたちやスポーツジムのともだちで
す。
They are my coworkers, gym friends, and others.
(kaisha no hitotachi ya supootsu jimu no
tomodachi desu.)
ひとりはいしゃです。
One person is a doctor.
(hitori wa isha desu.)
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258
English
Japanese
こうこうのきょうし
high school teacher
(kookoo no kyooshi)
もうひとりはこうこうのきょうしです。
Another person is a high school teacher.
(moo hitori wa kookoo no kyooshi desu.)
ああ、みんなかいしゃいんですよ。
Oh, they are all company employees, you know.
(aa, min-na kaisha-in desu yo.)
カラオケがあります。
We are going to have karaoke.
(karaoke ga arimasu.)
もちろんカラオケもあります。
Of course we have karaoke, too.
(mochiron karaoke mo arimasu.)
カラオケですか。もちろんです！
Karaoke? Of course!
(karaoke desu ka. mochiron desu!)
I'll play tennis.
テニスをします。
(I'll do tennis.)
(tenisu o shimasu.)
ゴルフをします。
I'll play golf.
(gorufu o shimasu.)
あしたテニスをします。ゴルフもします。
I'll play tennis tomorrow. I'll play golf, too.
(ashita tenisu o shimasu. gorufu mo
shimasu.)
きのう、テニスもゴルフもしました。
I played both tennis and golf yesterday.
(ki-noo, tenisu mo gorufu mo shimashita.)
パチンコもマージャンも
neither Japanese pinball nor mahjong
(pachinko mo maajan mo)
ちちはパチンコもマージャンもしません。
My father plays neither Japanese pinball nor
mahjong.
(chichi wa pachinko mo maajan mo
shimasen.)
I like tennis.
わたしはテニスがすきです。
(As for me, I like tennis.)
(watashi wa tenisu ga suki desu.)
テニスがすきです。
I like tennis.
(tenisu ga suki desu.)
おっとはやきゅうがだいすきです。
My husband loves baseball.
(otto wa yakyuu ga daisuki desu.)
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259
English
Japanese
つまはスポーツがきらいです。
My wife hates sports.
(tuma wa supootsu ga kirai desu.)
おっともわたしも
neither my husband nor I
(otto mo watashi mo )
おっともわたしもプロレスがあまりすきじゃあり
ません。
Neither my husband nor I like professional
wrestling very much.
(otto mo watashi mo puroresu ga amari suki
ja arimasen.)
I don't care for professional wrestling much...
プロレスはちょっと・・・。
(Professional wrestling is a little bit....)
(puroresu wa chotto....)
I like sumo, but
すもうはすきですが
(As for sumo, I like it, but)
(sumoo wa suki desu ga)
すみません。すもうはすきですが、プロレスは
ちょっと・・・。
I'm sorry. I like sumo, but I don't care for
professional wrestling much....
(sumimasen. sumoo wa suki desu ga,
puroresu wa chotto....)
みんなカラオケがすきですから。
Because we all like karaoke.
(min-na karaoke ga suki desu kara.)
カラオケがすきです。
We like karaoke.
(karaoke ga suki desu.)
みんなカラオケがすきです。
We all like karaoke.
(min-na karaoke ga suki desu.)
よくマージャンをします。
I often play mahjong.
(yoku maajan o shimasu.)
おもしろいですから、よくマージャンをします。
Because it is enjoyable, I often play mahjong.
(omoshiroi desu kara, yoku maajan o
shimasu.)
まいにちれんしゅうします。
I practice every day.
(mai-nichi renshuu shimasu.)
ゴルフがすきですから、まいにちれんしゅうしま
す。
Because I like golf, I practice it every day.
(gorufu ga suki desu kara, mai-nichi renshuu
shimasu.)
あしたパーティーをします。
We are going to have a party tomorrow.
(ashita paatii o shimasu.)
どうしてあしたパーティーをしますか。
Why are you going to have a party tomorrow?
(dooshite ashita paatii o shimasu ka.)
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260
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Japanese
あしたは、ははのたんじょうびですから。
Because tomorrow is my mother's birthday.
(ashita wa, haha no tanjoobi desu kara.)
すみません。ここ、だれかいますか。
Excuse me. Is someone sitting here?
(sumimasen. koko, dareka imasu ka.)
いいえ。どうぞ。
No. Go ahead.
(iie. doozo.)
どうもありがとう。すごいひとですね。
Thanks. It's terribly crowded, isn't it!
(doomo arigatoo. sugoi hito desu ne.)
ええ。おひとりですか。
Yes. Are you by yourself?
(ee. o-hitori desu ka.)
いいえ、ごうコンなんですが、ダンスがにがてな
んです。
No. As a matter of fact, I'm here for a blind date
party, but I'm a poor dancer.
(iie, gookon nandesu ga, dansu ga nigate
nandesu.)
へえ、ぼくもですよ。ぼくはたかしといいます。
おなまえは？
Oh? Same here. My name is Takashi. What's
yours?
(hee, boku mo desu yo. boku wa takashi to
iimasu. o-namae wa?)
ようこです。どうぞよろしく。
I'm Yoko. Nice to meet you.
(yooko desu. doozo yoroshiku.)
ここはうるさいですね。となりのカフェでコー
ヒーでものみませんか。
It's noisy here, isn't it! Why don't we have coffee or
something at the cafe next door?
(koko wa urusai desu ne. tonari no kafe de
koohii demo nomimasen ka.)
いいですね！そうしましょう。
Sounds good! Let's do so.
(ii desu ne! soo shimashoo.)
Is someone sitting here?
ここ、だれかいますか。
(Is there someone here?)
(koko, dare ka imasu ka.)
だれかいますか。
Is there someone?
(dareka imasu ka.)
ここにだれかいますか。
Is there someone here?
(koko ni dareka imasu ka.)
あのう、すみません。ここ、だれかいますか。
Um, excuse me. Is someone sitting here?
(anoo, sumimasen. koko, dareka imasu ka.)
いいえ、だれもいません。どうぞ。
No, there is no one. Go ahead.
(iie, daremo imasen. doozo.)
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261
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Japanese
かれのせき
my boyfriend's seat
(kare no seki)
すみません。そこはかれのせきです。
I'm sorry. That is my boyfriend's seat.
(sumimasen. soko wa kare no seki desu.)
おひとりですか。
Are you by yourself?
(ohitori desu ka.)
ひとりですか。
Are you by yourself?
(hitori desu ka.)
ええ、ひとりです。
Yes, I'm by myself.
(ee, hitori desu.)
いいえ、ひとりじゃありません。
No, I'm not by myself.
(iie, hitori ja arimasen.)
かれといっしょです。
I'm together with my boyfriend.
(kare to issho desu.)
いいえ、ひとりじゃありません。かのじょといっ
しょですよ。
No, I'm not by myself. I'm together with my
girlfriend, you know.
(iie, hitori ja arimasen. kanojo to issho desu
yo.)
Is this your first time to come to this place of
business?
このみせははじめてですか。
(As for this place of business, is it for the first
time?)
(kono mise wa hajimete desu ka.)
ええ、はじめてです。
Yes, it's my first time.
(ee, hajimete desu.)
いいえ、はじめてじゃありません。
No, it's not my first time.
(iie, hajimete ja arimasen.)
にかいめです。
This is my second time.
(nikaime desu.)
さんかいめ
the third time
(sankaime)
いいえ、はじめてじゃありません。さんかいめで
す。
No, it's not my first time. It's my third time.
(iie, hajimete ja arimasen. sankaime desu.)
よくきますか。
Do you come often?
(yoku kimasu ka.)
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Japanese
Do you come to this club often?
このクラブはよくきますか。
(As for this club, do you come often?)
(kono kurabu wa yoku kimasu ka.)
ええ、よくきます。
Yes, I come often.
(ee, yoku kimasu.)
いいえ、あまりきません。
No, I don't come very often.
(iie, amari kimasen.)
かれといっしょに
together with my boyfriend
(kare to issho ni)
かれといっしょにときどききます。
I come sometimes together with my boyfriend.
(kare to issho ni tokidoki kimasu.)
だれときますか。
With whom do you come?
(dare to kimasu ka.)
かいしゃのひとたちやともだち
my coworkers, my friends, and others
(kaisha no hitotachi ya tomodachi)
かいしゃのひとたちやともだちときますよ。
I come with my coworkers, my friends, and others,
you know.
(kaisha no hitotachi ya tomodachi to kimasu
yo.)
As a matter of fact, I am a poor dancer.
ダンスがにがてなんです。
(As a matter of fact, I am poor at dancing.)
(dansu ga nigate nandesu.)
ダンスがにがてです。
I am poor at dancing.
(dansu ga nigate desu.)
スポーツがきらいです。
I hate sports.
(supootsu ga kirai desu.)
スポーツがきらいなんです。
As a matter of fact, I hate sports.
(supootsu ga kirai nandesu.)
テニスもゴルフも
neither tennis nor golf
(tenisu mo gorufu mo)
テニスもゴルフもしません。スポーツがきらいな
んです。
I play neither tennis nor golf. As a matter of fact, I
hate sports.
(tenisu mo gorufu mo shimasen. supootsu
ga kirai nandesu.)
ごうコンです。
It's a blind-date party.
(gookon desu.)
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ごうコンなんですが、ダンスがにがてなんです。
As a matter of fact, it's a blind-date party, but I
am a poor dancer.
(gookon nandesu ga, dansu ga nigate
nandesu.)
Me, too.
わたしもです。
(I am too.)
(watashi mo desu.)
へえ、そうですか。ぼくもです。
Oh, is that so? Me, too.
(hee, soo desu ka. boku mo desu.)
My name is Takashi.
ぼくはたかしといいます。
(As for me, I am called Takashi.)
(boku wa takashi to iimasu.)
たかしといいます。
I'm called Takashi.
(takashi to iimasu.)
ぼくはたかしといいます。おなまえは？
My name is Takashi. What's your name?
(boku wa takashi to iimasu. onamae wa?)
わたしのかれ
my boyfriend
(watashi no kare)
My boyfriend's name is Ichiro.
わたしのかれはいちろうといいます。
(As for my boyfriend, he is called Ichiro.)
(watashi no kare)
わたしのかれはいちろうといいます。すてきなひ
とですよ！
My boyfriend's name is Ichiro. He is a wonderful
person, you know!
(watashi no kare wa ichiroo to iimasu.
sutekina hito desu yo!)
となりのカフェでコーヒーでものみませんか。
Why don't we have coffee or something at the
cafe next-door?
(tonari no kafe de koohii demo nomimasen
ka.)
コーヒーをのみます。
I drink coffee.
(koohii o nomimasu.)
Why don't we have coffee?
コーヒーをのみませんか。
(Why don't we drink coffee?)
(koohii o nomimasen ka.)
cafe next-door
となりのカフェ
(cafe at the next-door)
(tonari no kafe)
となりのカフェでコーヒーをのみませんか。
Why don't we have coffee at the cafe next-door?
(tonari no kafe de koohii o nomimasen ka.)
コーヒーでものみませんか。
Why don't we have coffee or something?
(koohii demo nomimasen ka.)
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Japanese
ここはうるさいですね。
This place is noisy, isn't it!
(koko wa urusai desu ne.)
となりのみせ
the place of business next-door
(tonari no mise)
ここはうるさいですね。となりのみせでおちゃで
ものみませんか。
This place is noisy, isn't it! Why don't we have tea
or something at the place of business next-door?
(koko wa urusai desu ne. tonari no mise de
ocha demo nomimasen ka.)
すごいひとですね。
It's terribly crowded, isn't it!
(sugoi hito desu ne.)
bar across the street
むかいのバー
(bar on the opposite side)
(mukai no baa)
すごいひとですね。むかいのバーでカクテルでも
のみませんか。
It's terribly crowded, isn't it! Why don't we have
cocktails or something at the bar across the
street?
(sugoi hito desu ne. mukai no baa de
kakuteru demo nomimasen ka.)
いま、なんじですか。
What time is it now?
(ima, nanji desu ka.)
なんじですか。
What time is it?
(nanji desu ka.)
いま、さんじです。
It's three o'clock now.
(ima, sanji desu.)
ごごよじはん
half past four in the afternoon
(gogo yoji han)
いま、ごぜんしちじです。
It's seven o'clock in the morning now.
(ima, gozen shichiji desu.)
もうくじはんです。
It's already half past nine.
(moo kuji han desu.)
えっ !? もうじゅういちじですか。
What!? It's eleven o'clock already?
(e!? moo juuichiji desu ka.)
すみませんが、かえります。
I'm sorry, but I'm going home.
(sumimasen ga, kaerimasu.)
えっ !? もうじゅうにじですか。すみませんが、か
えります。おやすみなさい！
What!? It's twelve o'clock already? I'm sorry, but
I'm going home. Good night!
(e!? moo juuniji desu ka. sumimasen ga,
kaerimasu. oyasuminasai!)
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ようこさん、しゅうまつよていがありますか。
Do you have any plans for the weekend, Yoko?
(yooko san, shuumatsu yotee ga arimasu
ka.)
いいえ、とくにありません。
No, nothing in particular.
(iie, toku ni arimasen.)
じゃあ、どようびハイキングにいきませんか。
Well then, why don't we go for a hike on Saturday?
(jaa, do-yoobi haikingu ni ikimasen ka.)
いいですね。どこへいきたいですか。
Sounds good! Where do you want to go?
(ii desu ne. doko e ikitai desu ka.)
たかおさんはどうですか。とてもいいけしきです
よ。
How about Mt. Takao? It offers a very fine view,
you know.
(takaosan wa doo desu ka. totemo ii keshiki
desu yo.)
わかりました。おちゃとおべんとうがいりますね ?
OK. We need tea and box lunch, right?
(wakarimashita. ocha to obentoo ga irimasu
ne?)
ぼうしとカメラもおわすれなく！
Don't forget your hat and camera, either!
(booshi to kamera mo owasurenaku!)
あさ、くじにしんじゅくえきであいましょう。
Let's meet at the Shinjuku Station at nine o'clock
in the morning.
(asa, ku-ji ni shinjuku eki de aimashoo.)
しゅうまつよていがありますか。
Do you have any plans for the weekend?
(shuumatsu yotee ga arimasu ka.)
よていがあります。
I have plans.
(yotee ga arimasu.)
しゅうまつよていがあります。
I have plans for the weekend.
(shuumatsu yotee ga arimasu.)
ようこさん、げつようびよていがありますか。
Do you have plans for Monday, Yoko?
(yooko san, getsu-yoobi yotee ga arimasu
ka.)
ようじがあります。
I have things to do.
(yooji ga arimasu.)
にちようびようじがありますか。
Do you have things to do on Sunday?
(nichi-yoobi yooji ga arimasu ka.)
I'm free on Friday.
きんようびはひまです。
(As for Friday, I am free.)
(kin-yoobi wa hima desu.)
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そうですね・・・。どようびはいそがしいです
が、にちようびはひまです。
Well.... I'm busy on Saturday, but free on Sunday.
(soo desu ne.... do-yoobi wa isogashii desu
ga, nichi-yoobi wa hima desu.)
やまへハイキングにいきませんか。
Why don't we go to a mountain for a hike?
(yama e haikingu ni ikimasen ka.)
やまへいきませんか。
Why don't we go to a mountain?
(yama e ikimasen ka.)
ハイキングにいきませんか。
Why don't we go for a hike?
(haikingu ni ikimasen ka.)
こうえんへいきませんか。
Why don't we go to the park?
(kooen e ikimasen ka.)
どようびこうえんへさんぽにいきませんか。
Why don't we go to the park for a walk on
Saturday?
(do-yoobi kooen e sanpo ni ikimasen ka.)
ともだちとかわへいきます。
I'm going to the river with my friends.
(tomodachi to kawa e ikimasu.)
ともだちとかわへつりにいきます。
I'm going to the river with my friends for fishing.
(tomodachi to kawa e tsuri ni ikimasu.)
にちようびともだちとかわへつりにいきます。
いっしょにいきませんか。
I'm going to the river with my friends for fishing on
Sunday. Why don't you come with us?
(nichi-yoobi tomodachi to kawa e tsuri ni
ikimasu. issho ni ikimasen ka.)
うみへおよぎにいきましょう。
Let's go to the beach to swim.
(umi e oyogi ni ikimashoo.)
およぎにいきましょう。
Let's go to swim.
(oyogi ni ikimashoo.)
Let's go to the beach.
うみへいきましょう。
(Let's go to the ocean.)
(umi e ikimashoo.)
あそびにいきます
go to have fun
(asobi ni ikimasu)
ゆうえんちへあそびにいきます。
We'll go to the amusement park to have fun.
(yuuenchi e asobi ni ikimasu.)
next Sunday
こんどのにちようび
(Sunday of the next time)
(kondo no nichi-yoobi)
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こんどのにちようび、ゆうえんちへあそびにいき
ましょう。
Let's go to the amusement park to have fun next
Sunday.
(kondo no nichi-yoobi, yuuenchi e asobi ni
ikimashoo.)
あそびにきませんか。
Why don't you come over for a visit?
(asobi ni kimasen ka.)
こんどのどようび
next Saturday
(kondo no do-yoobi)
こんどのどようび、うちへあそびにきませんか。
Why don't you come over to my house for a visit
next Saturday?
(kondo no do-yoobi, uchi e asobi ni kimasen
ka.)
どこへいきたいですか。
Where do you want to go?
(doko e ikitai desu ka.)
どこへいきますか。
Where do you go?
(doko e ikimasu ka.)
しゅうまつどこへいきたいですか。
Where do you want to go on the weekend?
(shuumatsu doko e ikitai desu ka.)
どこへおよぎにいきたいですか。
Where do you want to go to swim?
(doko e oyogi ni ikitai desu ka.)
なにをしたいですか。
What do you want to do?
(nani o shitai desu ka.)
きんようびのばん
Friday evening
(kin-yoobi no ban)
きんようびのばん、なにをしたいですか。
What do you want to do on Friday evening?
(kin-yoobi no ban, nani o shitai desu ka.)
なにをみたいですか。
What do you want to watch?
(nani o mitai desu ka.)
えいがですか。いいですね！なにをみたいです
か。
A movie? It sounds good! What do you want to
watch?
(eega desu ka. ii desu ne! nani o mitai desu
ka.)
たかおさんはどうですか。
How about Mt. Takao?
(takaosan wa doo desu ka.)
How about ~?
どうですか。
(How is it?)
(doo desu ka.)
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268
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Japanese
It offers a fine view, you know.
いいけしきですよ。
(It is a fine view, you know.)
(ii keshiki desu yo.)
えのしまはどうですか。とてもゆうめいなビーチ
ですよ。
How about Enoshima? It's a very famous beach,
you know.
(enoshima wa doo desu ka. totemo
yuumeena biichi desu yo.)
「しちにんのさむらい」はどうですか。とてもお
もしろいえいがですよ。
How about "Seven Samurai"? It's a very
interesting movie, you know.
("shichi-nin no samurai" wa doo desu ka.
totemo omoshiroi eega desu yo.)
おちゃとおべんとうがいります。
We need tea and a box lunch.
(ocha to obentoo ga irimasu.)
おちゃがいります。
We need tea.
(ocha ga irimasu.)
おちゃとおべんとう
tea and a box lunch
(ocha to obentoo)
わかりました。おちゃとおべんとうがいります
ね？
OK. We need tea and a box lunch, right?
(wakarimashita. ocha to obentoo ga irimasu
ne?)
カメラとぼうしがいります。
We need a camera and a hat.
(kamera to booshi ga irimasu.)
カメラとぼうしもいりますよ。
We need a camera and a hat, too, you know.
(kamera to booshi mo irimasu yo.)
カメラとぼうしもおわすれなく！
Don't forget a camera and a hat, either!
(kamera to booshi mo owasurenaku!)
しんじゅくえきであいましょう。
Let's meet at the Shinjuku Station.
(shinjuku eki de aimashoo.)
あさ、しんじゅくえきであいましょう。
Let's meet at the Shinjuku Station in the morning.
(asa, shinjuku eki de aimashoo.)
おべんとうをたべましょう。
Let's eat box lunch.
(obentoo o tabemashoo)
こうえんでおべんとうをたべましょう。
Let's eat box lunch at the park.
(kooen de obentoo o tabemashoo.)
じゅうにじはんにこうえんでおべんとうをたべま
しょう。
Let's eat box lunch in the park at half past twelve.
(juuni-ji han ni kooen de obentoo o
tabemashoo.)
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269
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Japanese
もくようび、えいがをみにいきます。
We are going to watch a movie on Thursday.
(moku-yoobi, eega o mi ni ikimasu.)
もくようび、なんじにえいがをみにいきますか。
What time are you going to watch a movie on
Thursday?
(moku-yoobi, nan-ji ni eega o mi ni ikimasu
ka.)
よじごろいきます。
We are going around four o'clock.
(yoji goro ikimasu.)
ハチこうのまえ
front of Hachiko
(hachikoo no mae)
よじごろいきます。ハチこうのまえであいましょ
う。
We are going around four o'clock. Let's meet in
front of Hachiko.
(yoji goro ikimasu. hachikoo no mae de
aimashoo.)
つかれましたね。ちょっとやすみましょうか。
We are tired, aren't we! Shall we rest a little bit?
(tsukaremashita ne. chotto yasumimashoo
ka.)
ええ。むしあついですね。いま、なんどぐらいで
しょうか。
Sure. It's stifling hot, isn't it! How hot do you think
it is now, approximately?
(ee. mushiatsui desu ne. ima, nando gurai
deshoo ka.)
たぶんさんじゅうどぐらいでしょう。きのうより
すずしいですよ。
It's probably about thirty degrees, I think. It's
cooler than yesterday, you know.
(tabun sanjuu do gurai deshoo. ki-noo yori
suzushii desu yo.)
ええ。きのうははれでしたから、とてもあつかっ
たですね。
Yes. It was very hot yesterday, wasn't it, since it
was sunny.
(ee. ki-noo wa hare deshita kara, totemo
atsukatta desu ne.)
ここからちょうじょうまで、どのくらいですか。
How far is it from here to the summit?
(koko kara choojoo made, donokurai desu
ka.)
そうですね・・・。あといちキロぐらいです。
Well.... We have about one more kilometer to go.
(soo desu ne.... ato ichi kiro gurai desu.)
なんだか、あめがふりそうですね。
It kind of looks like it's going to rain, doesn't it!
(nandaka, ame ga furisoo desu ne.)
ええ、ちょっといそぎましょう！
Yes. Let's hurry a little bit!
(ee, chotto isogimashoo!)
ちょっとやすみましょうか。
Shall we rest a little bit?
(chotto yasumimashoo ka.)
きょうはむしあついです。
It's stifling hot today.
(kyoo wa mushiatsui desu.)
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270
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Japanese
ひかげでやすみましょうか。
Shall we rest in the shade?
(hikage de yasumimashoo ka.)
むしあついですね。ひかげでやすみましょうか。
It's stifling hot, isn't it! Shall we rest in the shade?
(mushiatsui desu ne. hikage de
yasumimashoo ka.)
How hot do you think it is now?
いまなんどでしょうか。
(What degree do you think it is now?)
(ima nando deshoo ka.)
How hot is it?
なんどですか。
(What degree is it?)
(nan-do desu ka.)
It's stifling hot, isn't it! How hot do you think it is
now?
むしあついですね。いまなんどでしょうか。
(mushiatsui desu ne. ima nan-do deshoo ka.)
さんじゅうどぐらいでしょう。
It's around thirty degrees, I think.
(sanjuu-do gurai deshoo.)
そうですね・・・。たぶんさんじゅうごどぐらい
でしょう。
Well.... It's probably around thirty-five degrees, I
think.
(soo desu ne.... tabun sanjuu-go-do gurai
deshoo.)
How cold is it, approximately?
なんどぐらいですか。
(About what degree is it?)
(nan-do gurai desu ka.)
さむいですね。いま、なんどぐらいでしょうか。
It's cold, isn't it! How cold do you think it is now,
approximately?
(samui desu ne. ima, nan-do gurai deshoo
ka.)
えーっと・・・。わあ、れいどですよ !
Let me see.... Wow, it's zero degrees, you know!
(eetto.... waa, ree do desu yo!)
きょうはきのうよりすずしいです。
It's cooler today than yesterday.
(kyoo wa ki-noo yori suzushii desu.)
It's cooler than yesterday.
きのうよりすずしいです。
(It is more cool than yesterday.)
(ki-noo yori suzushii desu.)
this spring
ことしのはる
(spring of this year)
(kotoshi no haru)
last spring
きょねんのはる
(spring of last year)
(kyo-nen no haru)
ことしのはるはきょねんのはるよりあたたかいで
すね。
This spring is warmer than last spring, isn't it!
(kotoshi no haru wa kyo-nen no haru yori
atatakai desu ne.)
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なつのやま
mountains in summer
(natsu no yama)
あきのやまはなつのやまよりきれいですよ。
Mountains in autumn are more beautiful than
mountains in summer, you know.
(aki no yama wa natsu no yama yori kiree
desu yo.)
ほっかいどうのふゆ
winter in Hokkaido
(hokkaidoo no fuyu)
ずっとさむいです。
It's much colder.
(zutto samui desu.)
ほっかいどうのふゆはきゅうしゅうのふゆより
ずっとさむいです。
The winter in Hokkaido is much colder than the
winter in Kyushu.
(hokkaidoo no fuyu wa kyuushuu no fuyu
yori zutto samui desu.)
うみとやまと、どちらがすきですか。
Which do you like better, the ocean or mountains?
(umi to yama to, dochira ga suki desu ka.)
Which do you like better?
どちらがすきですか。
(Which do you like?)
(dochira ga suki desu ka.)
そうですね・・・。やまのほうがすきですよ。
Well.... I like mountains better, you know.
(soo desu ne.... yama no hoo ga suki desu
yo.)
どちらもすきです。
I like both.
(dochira mo suki desu.)
どちらもすきじゃありません。
I like neither.
(dochira mo suki ja arimasen.)
ほっかいどうときゅうしゅうと、どちらがおおき
いですか。
Which is bigger, Hokkaido or Kyushu?
(hokkaidoo to kyuushuu to, dochira ga ookii
desu ka.)
ほっかいどうのほうがおおきいです。
Hokkaido is bigger.
(hokkaidoo no hoo ga ookii desu.)
あそさんとふじさんと、どちらがたかいですか。
Which is taller, Mt. Aso or Mt. Fuji?
(asosan to fujisan to, dochira ga takai desu
ka.)
ふじさんのほうがずっとたかいですよ。
Mt. Fuji is much taller, you know.
(fujisan no hoo ga zutto takai desu yo.)
Which season do you like best?
きせつで、いつがいちばんすきですか。
(Among seasons, when do you like best?)
(kisetsu de, itsu ga ichiban suki desu ka.)
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272
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いちばんすきです。
I like it best.
(ichiban suki desu.)
Which time period do you like best?
いつがいちばんすきですか。
(When do you like best?)
(itsu ga ichiban suki desu ka.)
はるがいちばんすきです。
I like spring best.
(haru ga ichiban suki desu.)
なにがいちばんすきですか。
What do you like best?
(nani ga ichiban suki desu ka.)
にほんのはな
Japanese flowers
(nihon no hana)
にほんのはなで、なにがいちばんすきですか。
What do you like best among Japanese flowers?
(nihon no hana de, nani ga ichiban suki desu
ka.)
にほんのはなですか。さくらがいちばんすきで
す。
Japanese flowers? I like cherry blossoms best.
(nihon no hana desu ka. sakura ga ichiban
suki desu.)
Where is the coldest place?
どこがいちばんさむいですか。
(Where is the coldest?)
(doko ga ichiban samui desu ka.)
にほんでどこがいちばんさむいですか。
Where is the coldest place in Japan?
(nihon de doko ga ichiban samui desu ka.)
そうですね・・・。ほっかいどうがいちばんさむ
いでしょう。
Well.... Hokkaido is the coldest, I think.
(soo desu ne.... hokkaidoo ga ichiban samui
deshoo.)
きのうははれでしたから、とてもあつかったで
す。
Since yesterday was sunny, it was very hot.
(ki-noo wa hare deshita kara, totemo
atsukatta desu.)
きょうははれです。
It is sunny today.
(kyoo wa hare desu.)
きのうははれでした。
It was sunny yesterday.
(ki-noo wa hare deshita.)
きのうははれでしたから、あつかったです。
Since it was sunny yesterday, it was hot.
(kinoo wa hare deshita kara, atsukatta
desu.)
きのうはあめでしたから、すずしかったですね。
Since it was rainy yesterday, it was cool, wasn't it!
(ki-noo wa ame deshita kara, suzushikatta
desu ne.)
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273
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Japanese
It was cloudy in Tokyo.
とうきょうはくもりでした。
(As for Tokyo, it was cloudy.)
(tookyoo wa kumori deshita.)
とうきょうはくもりでしたが、むしあつかったで
す。
It was cloudy in Tokyo, but it was stifling hot.
(tookyoo wa kumori deshita ga,
mushiatsukatta desu.)
ほっかいどうはゆきでした。
It was snowy in Hokkaido.
(hokkaidoo wa yuki deshita.)
ほっかいどうはゆきでした。さむかったですが、
きれいでしたよ！
It was snowy in Hokkaido. It was cold, but it was
beautiful, you know!
(hokkaidoo wa yuki deshita. samukatta desu
ga, kiree deshita yo!)
どのくらいですか。
How far is it?
(donokurai desu ka.)
ここからちょうじょうまで
from here to the summit
(koko kara choojoo made)
いちキロメートルぐらい
about one kilometer
(ichi kiro-meetoru gurai)
ここからちょうじょうまでいちキロメートルぐら
いです。
It's about one kilometer from here to the summit.
(koko kara choojoo made ichi kiro-meetoru
gurai desu.)
We have one more kilometer to go.
あといちキロメートルです。
(It's one more kilometer to go.)
(ato ichi kiro-meetoru desu.)
そうですね・・・。あとさんキロメートルぐらい
でしょう。
Well.... We have about three more kilometers to
go, I think.
(soo desu ne.... ato san kiro-meetoru gurai
deshoo.)
It seems that it's going to rain.
あめがふりそうです。
(Rain seems to fall. )
(ame ga furisoo desu.)
It rains.
あめがふります。
(Rain falls. )
(ame ga furimasu.)
なんだかあめがふりそうです。
It somewhat seems that it's going to rain.
(nandaka ame ga furisoo desu.)
なんだかあめがふりそうですね。ちょっといそぎ
ましょう。
It somewhat seems that it's going to rain, doesn't
it! Let's hurry a little bit.
(nandaka ame ga furisoo desu ne. chotto
isogimashoo.)
It seems that it's going to stop snowing.
ゆきがやみそうです。
(Snow seems to stop.)
(yuki ga yamisoo desu.)
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We'd better be going.
そろそろいきましょうか。
(Shall we go by and by?)
(soro soro ikimashoo ka.)
ああ、ゆきがやみそうですね。そろそろいきま
しょうか。
Oh, it seems that it's going to stop snowing,
doesn't it! We'd better be going.
(aa, yuki ga yamisoo desu ne. soro soro
ikimashoo ka.)
もしもし、たかしさんですか。ようこです。い
ま、なにをしていますか。
Hello, is this Takashi? It's Yoko. What are you
doing now?
(moshi moshi, takashi san desu ka. yooko
desu. ima, nani o shite imasu ka.)
チキンカレーをつくっています。
I'm making chicken curry.
(chikin karee o tsukutte imasu.)
へえ。どうやってつくるんですか。
Oh? Tell me, how do you make it?
(hee. doo-yatte tsukurundesu ka.)
まずとりにくとやさいをいためて、みずをいれ
て、２０ぷんぐらいにます。
First, we sauté chicken and vegetables, add water,
and cook for twenty minutes or so.
(mazu tori-niku to yasai o itamete, mizu o
irete, nijuppun gurai nimasu.)
それからカレールーをいれて、しばらくよわびで
にます。
Then, we add the curry roux, and cook for a little
while over low heat.
(sore kara karee ruu o irete, shibaraku
yowabi de nimasu.)
おいしそうですね！
It sounds delicious, doesn't it!
(oishisoo desu ne!)
もうすぐできますよ。たべにきませんか。
It's almost ready, you know. Why don't you come
over for a bite?
(moo sugu dekimasu yo. tabe ni kimasen ka.)
えっ、いいんですか。じゃあ、デザートをもって
いきます。
Oh, are you sure it's OK? Well then, I'll bring
desserts.
(e, iindesu ka. jaa, dezaato o motte
ikimasu.)
いいですね！じゃあ、まっています。
It sounds good! Well, I'll be waiting for you.
(ii desu ne! jaa, matte imasu.)
いま、なにをしていますか。
What are you doing now?
(ima, nani o shite imasu ka.)
していますか
are you doing?
(shite imasu ka)
なにをしていますか。
What are you doing?
(nani o shite imasu ka.)
もしもし、たかしさんですか。ようこです。
Hello, is this Takashi? It's Yoko.
(moshi moshi, takashi san desu ka. yooko
desu.)
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もしもし、いちろうです。いま、なにをしていま
すか。
Hello, it's Ichiro. What are you doing now?
(moshi moshi, ichiroo desu. ima, nani o shite
imasu ka.)
りょうりしています
is/am/are cooking
(ryoori shite imasu)
いま、うちでりょうりしています。
I am cooking at my house now.
(ima, uchi de ryoori shite imasu.)
しょくじしています
is/am/are having a meal
(shokuji shite imasu)
いま、ともだちとレストランでしょくじしていま
す。
I am having a meal at the restaurant with my
friends now.
(ima, tomodachi to resutoran de shokuji
shite imasu.)
I am having supper now.
いま、ばんごはんをたべています。
(I am eating evening meal now.)
(ima, bangohan o tabete imasu.)
でんわをかけています。
I am making a telephone call.
(denwa o kakete imasu.)
すみません。いま、でんわをかけています。
I'm sorry. I am making a telephone call now.
(sumimasen. ima, denwa o kakete imasu.)
いまテレビをみています。
I am watching TV now.
(ima terebi o mite imasu.)
いまですか。りょうりばんぐみをみていますよ。
Now? I am watching a cooking show, you know.
(ima desu ka. ryoori bangumi o mite imasu
yo.)
I am cooking rice now.
いま、ごはんをたいています。
(I am cooking steamed rice now.)
(ima, gohan o taite imasu.)
I am boiling water.
おゆをわかしています。
(I am boiling hot water.)
(oyu o wakashite imasu.)
いま、おゆをわかしています。おちゃでものみま
せんか。
I am boiling water now. Why don't we have tea or
something?
(ima, oyu o wakashite imasu. ocha demo
nomimasen ka.)
come over to eat
たべにきます
(come to eat)
(tabe ni kimasu)
Why don't you come over for a bite?
たべにきませんか。
(Won't you come to eat?)
(tabe ni kimasen ka.)
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Japanese
いま、ラーメンをつくっています。たべにきませ
んか。
I am making ramen noodle soup now. Why don't
you come over for a bite?
(ima, raamen o tsukutte imasu. tabe ni
kimasen ka.)
チキンカレーはどうやってつくるんですか。
Tell me, how do you make chicken curry?
(chikin karee wa doo-yatte tsukurundesu
ka.)
(Tell me, as for chicken curry, how do you make it?)
どうやってつくりますか。
How do you make it?
(doo-yatte tsukurimasu ka.)
さかなをやきます。
I broil fish.
(sakana o yakimasu.)
どうやってさかなをやきますか。
How do you broil fish?
(doo-yatte sakana o yakimasu ka.)
Tell me, how do you broil fish?
さかなはどうやってやくんですか。
(Tell me, as for fish, how do you broil it?)
(sakana wa doo-yatte yakundesu ka.)
おいしそうですね。どうやってつくるんですか。
It sounds tasty, doesn't it! Tell me, how do you
make it?
(oishisoo desu ne. doo-yatte tsukurundesu
ka.)
どうやってたべるんですか。
Tell me, how do you eat it?
(doo-yatte taberundesu ka.)
しゃぶしゃぶですか。おいしそうですね。どう
やってたべるんですか。
Shabu shabu? It looks tasty, doesn't it! Tell me,
how do you eat it?
(shabu shabu desu ka. oishisoo desu ne.
doo-yatte taberundesu ka.)
とりにくとやさいをいためて、みずをいれます。
We sauté chicken and vegetables, and add water.
(tori-niku to yasai o itamete, mizu o
iremasu.)
とりにくとやさい
chicken and vegetable
(tori-niku to yasai)
とりにくとやさいをいためて
We sauté chicken and vegetables, and
(tori-niku to yasai o itamete)
みずをいれます。
We add water.
(mizu o iremasu.)
じゅっぷんぐらいにます。
We cook for about ten minutes.
(juppun gurai nimasu.)
みずをいれて
we add water, and
(mizu o irete)
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みずをいれて、にじゅっぷんぐらいにます。
We add water, and cook it for about twenty
minutes.
(mizu o irete, nijuppun gurai nimasu.)
まずとりにくとやさいをいためて、みずをいれ
て、にじゅっぷんぐらいにます。
First, we sauté chicken and vegetables, add water,
and cook it for about twenty minutes.
(mazu tori-niku to yasai o itamete, mizu o
irete, nijuppun gurai nimasu.)
それからカレールーをいれます。
Then, we add the curry roux.
(sore kara karee ruu o iremasu.)
よわびでにます。
We cook it over low heat.
(yowabi de nimasu.)
しばらくよわびでにます。
We cook it over low heat for a while.
(shibaraku yowabi de nimasu.)
どのくらいみずをいれますか。
How much water do you add?
(dono kurai mizu o iremasu ka.)
みずをいれますか。
Do you add water?
(mizu o iremasu ka.)
まず、みずをカップさんばいいれます。
First, we add three cupfuls of water.
(mazu, mizu o kappu san-bai iremasu.)
つぎに、しょうゆをおおさじよんはいいれます。
Next, we add four tablespoonfuls of soy sauce.
(tsugi ni, shooyu o oosaji yon-hai iremasu.)
それから、さとうをこさじにはいいれます。
Then, we add two teaspoonfuls of sugar.
(sore kara, satoo o kosaji nihai iremasu.)
しおをひとつまみいれます。
We add a pinch of salt.
(shio o hitotsumami iremasu.)
こしょうをしょうしょういれます。
We add a dash of pepper.
(koshoo o shoo shoo iremasu.)
よわびでいちじかんにます。
We cook it for one hour over low heat.
(yowabi de ichi-jikan nimasu.)
さいごにしおをひとつまみいれて、よわびでいち
じかんにます。
Lastly, we add a pinch of salt, and cook for one
hour over low heat.
(saigo ni shio o hitotsumami irete, yowabi de
ichi-jikan nimasu.)
みそはなにからできていますか。
What is miso paste made from?
(miso wa nani kara dekite imasu ka.)
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278
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Japanese
What is it made from?
なにからできていますか。
(From what is it being made?)
(nani kara dekite imasu ka.)
みそですか。だいずからできています。
Miso paste? It is made from soybeans.
(miso desu ka. daizu kara dekite imasu.)
みそもしょうゆも
both miso paste and soy sauce
(miso mo shooyu mo)
みそもしょうゆもだいずからできていますよ。
Both miso paste and soy sauce are made from
soybeans, you know.
(miso mo shooyu mo daizu kara dekite imasu
yo.)
ざいりょうはなんですか。
What are the ingredients?
(zai-ryoo wa nan desu ka.)
おやこどんぶりのざいりょう
the ingredients for the "parent-child" rice bowl
(oyako donburi no zai-ryoo)
あのう、おやこどんぶりのざいりょうはなんです
か。
Um, what are the ingredients for the "parentchild" rice bowl?
(anoo, oyako donburi no zai-ryoo wa nan
desu ka.)
おやこどんぶりのざいりょうですか。ごはんとと
りにくとたまごですよ。
The ingredients for the "parent-child" rice bowl?
They are steamed rice, chicken, and eggs, you
know.
(oyako donburi no zai-ryoo desu ka. gohan
to tori-niku to tamago desu yo.)
I'll bring desserts.
デザートをもっていきます。
(I'll take desserts.)
(dezaato o motte ikimasu.)
えっ！いいんですか。じゃあ、デザートをもって
いきます。
Oh! Are you sure it's OK? Well then, I'll bring
desserts.
(e! iindesu ka. jaa, dezaato o motte
ikimasu.)
あれ、ようこさん、こんにちは。かいものです
か。
Oh, hello Yoko. Are you out shopping?
(are, yooko san, kon-nichiwa. kaimono desu
ka.)
ええ、すずしくなりましたから、ながそでのブラ
ウスとセーターをさがしています。
Yes. Since it's getting cooler, I'm looking for some
long-sleeved blouses and sweaters.
(ee, suzushiku narimashita kara, nagasode
no burausu to seetaa o sagashite imasu.)
でも、ちょうどいいのがありません。
But, I haven't found exactly what I want.
(demo, choodo ii no ga arimasen.)
しぶやのとうきょうプラザはどうですか。いま、
セールちゅうですよ。
How about Tokyo Plaza in Shibuya? They are
having a sale now, you know.
(shibuya no tookyoo puraza wa doo desu ka.
ima, seeruchuu desu yo.)
へえ、なんじまでですか。
Really? What time do they close?
(hee, nanji made desu ka.)
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279
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Japanese
どようびはくじまでです。ばしょをしっています
か。
They are open until 9 o'clock on Saturdays. Do
you know where it is?
(do-yoobi wa ku-ji made desu. basho o shitte
imasu ka.)
いいえ、しりません。おしえてください。
No, I don't. Please tell me where.
(iie, shirimasen. oshiete kudasai.)
ぼくもあたらしいふくがほしいんです。いっしょ
にいきましょう。
As a matter of fact, I want some new clothes, too.
Let's go together.
(boku mo atarashii fuku ga hoshiindesu.
issho ni ikimashoo.)
The price of suits has gone down.
スーツがやすくなりました。
(Suits became inexpensive.)
(suutsu ga yasuku narimashita.)
いま、セールちゅうです。
They are having a sale now.
(ima, seeruchuu desu.)
しぶやのとうきょうプラザ
Tokyo Plaza in Shibuya
(shibuya no tookyoo puraza)
しぶやのとうきょうプラザはいまセールちゅうで
す。スーツがやすくなりましたよ。
Tokyo Plaza in Shibuya is having a sale now. The
price of suits has gone down, you know.
(shibuya no tookyoo puraza wa ima
seeruchuu desu. suutsu ga yasuku
narimashita yo.)
Can't you lower the price?
やすくなりませんか。
(Won't it become inexpensive?)
(yasuku narimasen ka.)
もうすこしやすくなりませんか。
Can't you lower the price a little more?
(moo sukoshi yasuku narimasen ka.)
それはたかいですね。もうすこしやすくなりませ
んか。
That is expensive, isn't it! Can't you lower the
price a little more?
(sore wa takai desu ne. moo sukoshi yasuku
narimasen ka.)
ながそでのブラウスをさがしています。
I am looking for some long sleeve blouses.
(nagasode no burausu o sagashite imasu.)
ブラウスをさがしています。
I am looking for a blouse.
(burausu o sagashite imasu.)
long sleeve blouse
ながそでのブラウス
(blouse with long sleeves)
(nagasode no burausu)
さがしていますか
are you looking for?
(sagashige imasu ka)
なにかおさがしですか。
Are you looking for something?
(nanika osagashi desu ka.)
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280
English
Japanese
はんそでの Tシャツ
short sleeve T-shirt
(hansode no tiishatsu)
はんそでの Tシャツをさがしています。
I am looking for some short sleeve T-shirts.
(hansode no tiishatsu o sagashite imasu.)
やすいふゆものをさがしています。
I am looking for some inexpensive winter items.
(yasui fuyumono o sagashite imasu.)
すずしくなりましたから、ながそでのブラウスと
セーターをさがしています。
Since it has become cool, I am looking for some
long sleeve blouses and sweaters.
(suzushiku narimashita kara, nagasode no
burausu to seetaa o sagashite imasu.)
They don't have what I really want.
ちょうどいいのがありません。
(They don't have one that is just right.)
(choodo ii no ga arimasen.)
one that is just right
ちょうどいいの
(just right one)
(choodo ii no)
the right size
ちょうどいいサイズ
(just right size)
(choodo ii saizu)
ちょうどいいサイズがありません。
They don't have the right size.
(choodo ii saizu ga arimasen.)
ちょっとちいさいです。
It's a little bit small.
(chotto chiisai desu.)
おおきいサイズがありますか。
Do you have a bigger size?
(ookii saizu ga arimasu ka.)
このブーツはちょっとちいさいです。おおきいサ
イズがありますか。
This pair of boots is a little bit small. Do you have
a bigger size?
(kono buutsu wa chotto chiisai desu. ookii
saizu ga arimasu ka.)
そでがみじかいです。
The sleeves are short.
(sode ga mijikai desu.)
すてきなコートですが、そでがちょっとみじかい
です。
It's a nice coat, but the sleeves are a little bit
short.
(sutekina kooto desu ga, sode ga chotto
mijikai desu.)
Are you out shopping?
かいものですか。
(Is it shopping?)
(kaimono desu ka.)
あれ！ようこさん、こんにちは。かいものです
か。
Ah! Hello Yoko. Are you out shopping?
(are! yooko san, kon-nichiwa. kaimono desu
ka.)
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281
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Japanese
winter coat
ふゆのコート
(coat for winter)
(fuyu no kooto)
ええ。ふゆのコートをさがしていますが、ちょう
どいいのがありません。
Yes. I am looking for a winter coat, but they don't
have what I really want.
(ee. fuyu no kooto o sagashite imasu ga,
choodo ii no ga arimasen.)
くつのサイズはなんですか。
What is your shoe size?
(kutsu no saizu wa nan desu ka.)
shoe size
くつのサイズ
(size of shoes)
(kutsu no saizu)
なんですか。
What is it?
(nan desu ka.)
にじゅうさんセンチ
twenty-three centimeters
(ni-juu-san senchi)
くつのサイズですか。にじゅうろくてんごです。
My shoe size? It's twenty-six point five.
(kutsu no saizu desu ka. ni-juu-roku ten go
desu.)
ふくのサイズはなんですか。
What is your size for clothes?
(fuku no saizu wa nan desu ka.)
きゅうごうのワンピース
size nine dress
(kyuugoo no wanpiisu)
きゅうごうのワンピースがありますか。
Do you have a size nine dress?
(kyuugoo no wanpiisu ga arimasu ka.)
みずぎをさがしています。サイズは Mです。
I am looking for a swimsuit. My size is medium.
(mizugi o sagashite imasu. saizu wa emu
desu.)
にほんのサイズ
Japanese sizes
(nihon no saizu)
にほんのサイズがわかりません。
I don't understand Japanese sizes.
(nihon no saizu ga wakarimasen.)
しちゃくしつがありますか。
Do you have a fitting room?
(shichaku-shitsu ga arimasu ka.)
すてきなうわぎですが、にほんのサイズがわかり
ません。しちゃくしつがありますか。
It's a nice jacket, but I don't understand Japanese
sizes. Do you have a fitting room?
(sutekina uwagi desu ga, nihon no saizu ga
wakarimasen. shichaku-shitsu ga arimasu
ka.)
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282
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Japanese
What time does that store close?
そのみせはなんじまでですか。
(Until what time is that store?)
(sono mise wa nan-ji made desu ka.)
What time does it close?
なんじまでですか。
(Until what time is it?)
(nan-ji made desu ka.)
えきまえのくつや
the shoe store in the station-front area
(ekimae no kutsu-ya)
えきまえのくつやはなんじまでですか。
What time does the shoe store in the station-front
area close?
(ekimae no kutsu-ya wa nan-ji made desu
ka.)
ゆうがたろくじはん
half past six in the evening
(yuugata roku-ji han)
It is open until half past six in the evening.
ゆうがたろくじはんまでです。
(It is until half past six in the evening.)
(yuugata roku-ji han made desu.)
What are the store hours?
なんじからなんじまでですか。
(From what time until what time is it?)
(nan-ji kara nan-ji made desu ka.)
えきまえのスーパーは、なんじからなんじまでで
すか。
What are the store hours for the supermarket in
the station-front area?
(ekimae no suupaa wa, nan-ji kara nan-ji
made desu ka.)
えきまえのスーパーは、あさくじからよるじゅう
じまでです。
The supermarket in the station-front area is open
from nine o'clock in the morning until ten o'clock
at night.
(ekimae no suupaa wa, asa ku-ji kara yoru
juu-ji made desu.)
えきまえのしょうてんがいですか。どようびはよ
るくじまでです。
The shopping district in the station-front area? It is
open until nine o'clock at night on Saturdays.
(ekimae no shootengai desu ka. do-yoobi wa
yoru ku-ji made desu.)
ばしょをしっていますか。
Do you know the location?
(basho o shitte imasu ka.)
そのみせのなまえ
the name of that store
(sono mise no namae)
そのみせのなまえをしっていますか。
Do you know the name of that store?
(sono mise no namae o shitte imasu ka.)
ええ、しっています。
Yes, I know.
(ee, shitte imasu.)
このコートのねだん
the price of this coat
(kono kooto no nedan)
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283
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Japanese
このコートのねだんですか。しりません。いくら
ですか。
The price of this coat? I don't know. How much is
it?
(kono kooto no nedan desu ka. shirimasen.
ikura desu ka.)
great cake shop
おいしいケーキやさん
(tasty cake shop)
(oishii keeki-ya san)
おいしいケーキやさんをしっていますか。
Do you know any great cake shop?
(oishii keeki-ya san o shitte imasu ka.)
ええ、しっています。えきまえのケーキやさんが
いちばんですよ。
Yes, I know. The cake shop in the station-front
area is the best, you know.
(ee, shitte imasu. ekimae no keeki-ya san ga
ichiban desu yo.)
ばしょをおしえてください。
Please tell me the location.
(basho o oshiete kudasai.)
とうきょうプラザのばしょをおしえてください。
Please tell me the location of Tokyo Plaza.
(tookyoo puraza no basho o oshiete
kudasai.)
すみませんが、そのみせのなまえをおしえてくだ
さい。
Excuse me, but please tell me the name of that
store.
(sumimasen ga, sono mise no namae o
oshiete kudasai.)
すみませんが、そのセーターをみせてください。
Excuse me, but please show me that sweater.
(sumimasen ga, sono seetaa o misete
kudasai.)
すみませんが、いっしょにつつんでください。
Excuse me, but please wrap them together.
(sumimasen ga, issho ni tsutsunde kudasai.)
はこにいれてください。
Please put it in the box.
(hako ni irete kudasai.)
すみませんが、はこにいれて、つつんでくださ
い。
Excuse me, but please put it in the box and wrap
it.
(sumimasen ga, hako ni irete, tsutsunde
kudasai.)
わたしもあたらしいふくがほしいです。
I want some new clothes too.
(watashi mo atarashii fuku ga hoshii desu.)
あたらしいふくがほしいです。
I want some new clothes.
(atarashii fuku ga hoshii desu.)
あたらしいみずぎとサンダルがほしいです。
I want a new swimsuit and a pair of sandals.
(atarashii mizugi to sandaru ga hoshii desu.)
あたたかいコートとブーツ
warm coat and a pair of boots
(atatakai kooto to buutsu)
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Japanese
あたたかいコートとブーツがほしいです。
I want a warm coat and a pair of boots.
(atatakai kooto to buutsu ga hoshii desu.)
さむくなりましたから、あたたかいコートとブー
ツがほしいです。
Since it has become cold, I want a warm coat and
a pair of boots.
(samuku narimashita kara, atatakai kooto to
buutsu ga hoshii desu.)
ぼくもほしいんです。
As a matter of fact, I want it too.
(boku mo hoshiindesu.)
にもつがおおいですね。ひとつもちましょう。
You are carrying a lot of packages, aren't you! Let
me carry one for you.
(nimotsu ga ooi desu ne. hitotsu
mochimashoo.)
すみません。ゆうびんきょくまで、おねがいして
もいいですか。
Thank you. May I ask you to carry it to the post
office?
(sumimasen. yuubinkyoku made, onegaishite mo ii desu ka.)
ええ、かまいませんよ。アメリカまでですか。
Sure, I don't mind, you know. Are they for the
U.S.?
(ee, kamaimasen yo. amerika made desu
ka.)
ええ。かぞくやともだちへのクリスマスプレゼン
トなんです。
Yes. As a matter of fact, they are Christmas
presents for my family and friends.
(ee. kazoku ya tomodachi e no kurisumasu
purezento nandesu.)
こうくうびんでいくらぐらいかかるでしょうか。
About how much do you think it will cost to send
them by airmail?
(kookuubin de ikura gurai kakaru deshoo
ka.)
そうですね・・・。たぶんぜんぶでにまんえんち
かくかかるでしょう。
Well.... Probably, it will cost close to twenty
thousand yen in total, I think.
(soo desu ne.... tabun zenbu de niman en
chikaku kakaru deshoo.)
えっ、そんなに？すみませんが、さきにぎんこう
によってもいいですか。
Oh, that much? I'm sorry, but may I stop by at the
bank first?
(e, son-na ni? sumimasen ga, saki ni ginkoo
ni yotte mo ii desu ka.)
りょうがえですか。それなら、ゆうびんきょくで
もできますよ。
To exchange money? If so, you can do it also in
the post office, you know.
(ryoogae desu ka. sore nara, yuubinkyoku
de mo dekimasu yo.)
へえ、しりませんでした。べんりですね。
Oh, I didn't know that. It's convenient, isn't it!
(hee, shirimasen deshita. benri desu ne.)
にもつをひとつもちましょう。
Let me carry one of the packages for you.
(nimotsu o hitotsu mochimashoo.)
にもつをもちます。
I will carry a package.
(nimotsu o mochimasu.)
I will carry one of the packages.
にもつをひとつもちます。
(I carry one package.)
(nimotsu o hitotsu mochimasu.)
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Japanese
You have many packages.
にもつがおおいです。
(Packages are many.)
(nimotsu ga ooi desu.)
にもつがいつつあります。
I have five packages.
(nimotsu ga itsutsu arimasu.)
いくつありますか。
How many do you have?
(ikutsu arimasu ka.)
にもつがいくつありますか。
How many packages do you have?
(nimotsu ga ikutsu arimasu ka.)
にもつがよっつありますね。ふたつもちましょ
う。
You have four packages, don't you! Let me carry
two for you.
(nimotsu ga yottsu arimasu ne. futatsu
mochimashoo.)
ゆうびんきょくまで、おねがいしてもいいです
か。
May I ask you to carry it to the post office?
(May I request to the post office?)
(yuubinkyoku made, onegai shite mo ii desu
ka.)
ぎんこうによります。
I will stop by at the bank.
(ginkoo ni yorimasu.)
よってもいいですか。
May I stop by?
(yotte mo ii desu ka.)
さきにぎんこうによってもいいですか。
May I stop by at the bank first?
(saki ni ginkoo ni yotte mo ii desu ka.)
えっ？！そんなに？すみませんが、さきにぎんこ
うによってもいいですか。
What?! So much? I'm sorry, but may I stop by at
the bank first?
(e?! son-na ni? sumimasen ga, saki ni ginkoo
ni yotte mo ii desu ka.)
ええ、いいですよ。どうぞ。
Yes, sure. Please go ahead.
(ee, ii desu yo. doozo.)
ええ、かまいませんよ。いっしょにいきましょ
う。
No, I don't mind, you know. Let's go together.
(Yes, I don't mind, you know. Let's go together.)
(ee, kamaimasen yo. issho ni ikimashoo.)
かぞくへのプレゼントなんです。
As a matter of fact, they are presents for my
family.
(kazoku e no purezento nandesu.)
かぞくへのプレゼントです。
They are presents for my family.
(kazoku e no purezento desu.)
かぞくやともだち
my family, friends, and others
(kazoku ya tomodachi)
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Japanese
かぞくやともだちへのクリスマスプレゼント
Christmas presents for my family, friends, and
others
(kazoku ya tomodachi e no kurisumasu
purezento)
ははへのたんじょうびプレゼント
a birthday present for my mother
(haha e no tanjoobi purezento)
アメリカまでおくります。
I'll send it to America.
(amerika made okurimasu)
ははへのたんじょうびプレゼントをアメリカまで
おくります。
I will send a birthday present for my mother to
America.
(haha e no tanjoobi purezento o amerika
made okurimasu.)
かのじょからのプレゼント
a present from my girlfriend
(ka-nojo kara no purezento)
このネクタイですか。かのじょからのプレゼント
です。
This necktie? It's a present from my girlfriend.
(kono nekutai desu ka. ka-nojo kara no
purezento desu.)
アメリカまでこうくうびんでいくらかかります
か。
How much does it cost to send it to America by
airmail?
(amerika made kookuubin de ikura
kakarimasu ka.)
いくらかかりますか。
How much does it cost?
(ikura kakarimasu ka.)
How much does it cost to send it to America?
アメリカまでいくらかかりますか。
(How much does it cost to America?)
(amerika made ikura kakarimasu ka.)
すみません。カナダまでふなびんでいくらかかり
ますか。
Excuse me. How much does it cost to send it to
Canada by sea mail?
(sumimasen. kanada made funabin de ikura
kakarimasu ka.)
ふなびんですか。にせんごひゃくえんかかりま
す。
Sea mail? It costs two thousand five hundred yen.
(funabin desu ka. nisen gohyaku en
kakarimasu.)
こうくうびんですか。はがきはななじゅうえんで
す。てがみはひゃくじゅうえんかかります。
Airmail? As for the postcard, it is seventy yen. As
for the letter, it costs a hundred ten yen.
(kookuubin desu ka. hagaki wa nanajuu en
desu. tegami wa hyaku juu en kakarimasu.)
そくたつでおねがいします。いくらかかります
か。
By special delivery, please. How much does it
cost?
(sokutatsu de onegai shimasu. ikura
kakarimasu ka.)
こうくうびんで、いくらぐらいかかるでしょう
か。
About how much do you think it will cost to send it
by airmail?
(kookuubin de, ikura gurai kakaru deshoo
ka.)
ぜんぶでにまんえんちかく
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ぜんぶでにまんえんちかく
close to twenty thousand yen in total
(zenbu de niman en chikaku)
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Japanese
ふなびんでどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take to send it by sea mail?
(funabin de donokurai kakarimasu ka.)
どのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take?
(donokurai kakarimasu ka.)
ふなびんですか。いっかげついじょうかかります
よ。
Sea mail? It takes one month or more, you know.
(funabin desu ka. ikkagetsu ijoo kakarimasu
yo.)
アメリカまでふなびんでなんかげつかかるでしょ
うか。
How many months do you think it takes to send it
to America by sea mail?
(amerika made funabin de nan kagetsu
kakaru deshoo ka.)
そうですね・・・。たぶんにかげつちかくかかる
でしょう。
Well.... Probably it takes close to two months, I
think.
(soo desu ne.... tabun nikagetsu chikaku
kakaru deshoo.)
カナダまでこうくうびんでなんしゅうかんかかり
ますか。
How many weeks does it take to send it to
Canada by airmail?
(kanada made kookuubin de nanshuukan
kakarimasu ka.)
こうくうびんですか。それなら、いっしゅうかん
ぐらいです。
Airmail? If that's the case, it's about one week.
(kookuubin desu ka. sore nara, isshuukan
gurai desu.)
ドルをえんとりょうがえしたいんですが・・・。
I'd like to exchange some dollars with yen.
(doru o en to ryoogae shitaindesu ga....)
りょうがえしたいです。
I want to exchange money.
(ryoogae shitai desu.)
ドルをりょうがえしたいんですが・・・。
I'd like to exchange some dollars.
(doru o ryoogae shitaindes ga....)
レートはいくらですか。
How much is the exchange rate?
(reeto wa ikura desu ka.)
せんドルりょうがえしたいんですが・・・。いま
レートはいくらですか。
I'd like to exchange one thousand dollars. How
much is the exchange rate now?
(sen doru ryoogae shitaindesu ga.... ima
reeto wa ikura desu ka.)
eighty-five yen to the dollar
いちドルはちじゅうごえん
(one dollar eighty-five yen)
(ichi doru hachijuu-go en )
レートですか。いま、いちドルはちじゅうごえん
です。
The exchange rate? It's eighty-five yen to the
dollar now.
(reeto desu ka. ima, ichi doru hachijuu-go en
desu.)
Where do you recommend?
どこがいいですか。
(Where is good?)
(doko ga ii desu ka.)
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291
English
Japanese
トラベラーズチェックをりょうがえしたいんです
が・・・。どこがいいですか。
I'd like to exchange some traveler's cheques.
Where do you recommend?
(toraberaazu chekku o ryoogae shitaindesu
ga.... doko ga ii desu ka.)
ゆうびんきょくでできます。
You can do it at the post office.
(yuubinkyoku de dekimasu.)
ゆうびんきょくでもできます。
You can do it at the post office too.
(yuubinkyoku de mo dekimasu.)
へえ、しりませんでした。それはべんりですね。
Oh, I didn't know it. That is convenient, isn't it!
(hee, shirimasendeshita. sore wa benri desu
ne.)
おかねをおろしたいんですが。
I'd like to withdraw some money.
(okane o oroshitaindesu ga.)
このまどぐちでできますか。
Can I do it at this window?
(kono madoguchi de dekimasu ka.)
すみません。おかねをおろしたいんです
が・・・。このまどぐちでできますか。
Excuse me. I'd like to withdraw some money. Can I
do it at this window?
(sumimasen. okane o oroshitaindesu ga....
kono madoguchi de dekimasu ka.)
The money will arrive four days after you remit it.
そうきんしてから、よっかでとどきます。
(After you remit it, it will arrive in four days.)
(sookin shite kara, yokka de todokimasu.)
よっかでとどきます。
It will arrive in four days.
(yokka de todokimasu.)
そうきんしてから、とおかでとどきました。
The money arrived ten days after I had remitted
it.
(sookin shite kara, tooka de todokimashita.)
そくたつですか。おくってから、ふつかからよっ
かでとどきますよ。
Special delivery? It will arrive two to four days after
you send it, you know.
(sokutatsu desu ka. okutte kara, futsuka
kara yokka de todokimasu yo.)
きょうのひづけはなんですか。
What is today's date?
(kyoo no hizuke wa nan desu ka.)
きょうのひづけ
today's date
(kyoo no hizuke)
すみません。きょうはなんがつなんにちですか。
Excuse me. What date is it today?
(sumimasen. kyoo wa nan-gatsu nan-nichi
desu ka.)
きょうはじゅういちがつはつかです。
Today is November 20th.
(kyoo wa juu-ichi-gatsu hatsuka desu.)
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292
English
Japanese
たんじょうびはいつですか。
When is your birthday?
(tanjoobi wa itsu desu ka.)
たんじょうびですか。さんがつじゅうろくにちで
すよ。
My birthday? It's on March 16th, you know.
(tanjoobi desu ka. san-gatsu juu-roku-nichi
desu yo.)
プレゼントをおくりたいです。
I want to send a present.
(purezento o okuritai desu.)
ちちのたんじょうびはしがつにじゅうしちにちで
す。にほんからプレゼントをおくりたいです。
My father's birthday is on April 27th. I want to
send a present from Japan.
(chichi no tanjoobi wa shi-gatsu ni-juushichi-nichi desu. nihon kara purezento o
okuritai desu.)
どうしましたか。
What seems to be the problem?
(doo shimashita ka.)
あたまがいたくて、さむけがします。
I have a headache and the chills.
(atama ga itakute, samuke ga shimasu.)
みっかまえからしょくよくもありません。
I have no appetite, either, since three days ago.
(mikka mae kara shokuyoku mo arimasen.)
ねつが３８どありますね。くちをおおきくあけて
ください。
You have a fever of 38 degrees, I see. Open your
mouth wide, please.
(netsu ga san-juu-hachi do arimasu ne. kuchi
o ookiku akete kudasai.)
のどがあかいですね。ただのかぜでしょう。
Your throat is red, I see. You have a common cold,
I think.
(nodo ga akai desu ne. tada no kaze
deshoo.)
かぜぐすりをだしますから、ねるまえににじょう
のんでください。
I'm going to prescribe cold medicine, so please
take two tablets before going to bed.
(kazegusuri o dashimasu kara, neru mae ni
ni-joo nonde kudasai.)
あのう、こんばん、おふろにはいってもいいです
か。
Um, may I take a bath tonight?
(anoo, konban, ofuro ni haitte mo ii desu
ka.)
いいえ、きょうはいけませんよ。
No, not today.
(iie, kyoo wa ikemasen yo.)
きょうはくすりをのんで、はやくねてください。
おだいじに。
Take your medicine and go to bed early today,
please. Take care.
(kyoo wa kusuri o nonde, hayaku nete
kudasai. odaiji ni.)
I have had no appetite since three days ago.
みっかまえから、しょくよくがありません。
(I don't have appetite since three days ago.)
(mikka mae kara, shokuyoku ga arimasen.)
しょくよくがありません。
I don't have an appetite.
(shokuyoku ga arimasen.)
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294
English
Japanese
かぜをひきました。
I have caught a cold.
(kaze o hikimashita.)
かぜをひいて
to catch a cold (in the "te"-form)
(kaze o hiite)
かぜをひいています。
I have a cold.
(kaze o hiite imasu.)
おなかのちょうし
the condition of stomach
(onaka no chooshi)
I have an upset stomach.
おなかのちょうしがわるいです。
(The condition of stomach is bad.)
(onaka no chooshi ga warui desu.)
いっしゅうかんまえから、おなかのちょうしがわ
るいです。
I have had an upset stomach since a week ago.
(isshuukan mae kara, onaka no chooshi ga
warui desu.)
My stomach hurts.
おなかがいたいです。
(Stomach is painful.)
(onaka ga itai desu.)
いつからおなかがいたいですか。
Since when has your stomach been hurting?
(itsu kara onaka ga itai desu ka.)
ごじかんまえからいたいです。
It has been hurting since five hours ago.
(go jikan mae kara itai desu.)
だいじょうぶでしょうか。
Do you think I am all right?
(daijoobu deshoo ka.)
みっかまえからおなかがいたいんです。だいじょ
うぶでしょうか。
As a matter of fact, my stomach has been hurting
since three days ago. Do you think I am all right?
(mikka mae kara onaka ga itaindesu.
daijoobu deshoo ka.)
to have chills
さむけがする
(to feel a chill)
(samuke ga suru)
さむけがします。
I have chills.
(samuke ga shimasu.)
I have a headache.
あたまがいたいです。
(My head is painful. )
(atama ga itai desu.)
I have a headache, and
あたまがいたくて
(My head is painful, and)
(atama ga itakute)
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295
English
Japanese
I feel nauseous.
はきけがします。
(I feel nausea.)
(hakike ga shimasu.)
My stomach hurts, and I feel nauseous.
おなかがいたくて、はきけがします。
(My stomach is painful, and I feel nausea.)
(onaka ga itakute, hakike ga shimasu.)
I feel dizzy.
めまいがします。
(I feel dizziness.)
(memai ga shimasu.)
I feel a pain in my chest.
むねがくるしいです。
(Chest is distressing.)
(mune ga kurushii desu.)
むねがくるしくて、めまいがします。
I feel a pain in my chest, and I feel dizzy.
(mune ga kurushikute, memai ga shimasu.)
I have a runny nose.
はなみずがでます。
(Nasal drips come out.)
(hanamizu ga demasu.)
I have a cough.
せきがでます。
(A cough comes out.)
(seki ga demasu.)
My throat hurts.
のどがいたいです。
(My throat is painful.)
(nodo ga itai desu.)
のどがいたくて、せきとはなみずがでます。しょ
くよくもありません。
My throat hurts, and I have a cough and a runny
nose. I don't have an appetite, either.
(nodo ga itakute, seki to hanamizu ga
demasu. shokuyoku mo arimasen.)
どんないたみですか。
What kind of pain is it?
(don-na itami desu ka.)
てのきず
a wound on my hand
(te no kizu)
てのきずがずきずきします。
The wound on my hand throbs with pain.
(te no kizu ga zuki zuki shimasu.)
I have a splitting headache.
あたまががんがんします。
(My head suffers from a splitting headache.)
(atama ga gan gan shimasu.)
おなかがしくしくいたみます。
I have persistent dull pain in my stomach.
(onaka ga shiku shiku itamimasu.)
おなかがきりきりいたみます。
I have excruciating pain in my stomach.
(onaka ga kiri kiri itamimasu.)
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296
English
Japanese
I burnt myself.
やけどをしました。
(I did a burn.)
(yakedo o shimashita.)
てにやけどをしました。
I burnt my hand.
(te ni yakedo o shimashita.)
まだ、ひりひりします。
It still burns.
(mada, hiri hiri shimasu.)
きのう、てにやけどをしました。まだひりひりし
ます。
I burnt my hand yesterday. It still burns.
(ki-noo, te ni yakedo o shimashita. mada hiri
hiri shimasu.)
ねつがさんじゅうはちどありますね。
You have a fever of thirty-eight degrees, I see.
(netsu ga san-juu-hachi do arimasu ne.)
ねつがあります。
You have a fever.
(netsu ga arimasu.)
さんじゅうはちど
thirty-eight degrees
(san-juu-hachi do)
ねつがさんじゅうはちどあります。
You have a fever of thirty-eight degrees.
(netsu ga san-juu-hachi do arimasu.)
ねつがあがりましたね。
The fever has gone up, I see.
(netsu ga agarimashita ne.)
ねつがさんじゅうななどごぶまでさがりました
ね。
The fever has come down to thirty-seven point
five degrees, I see.
(netsu ga san-juu-nana do go bu made
sagarimashita ne.)
Let me take a peek at your throat.
ちょっとのどをみせてください。
(Please show me your throat a little bit.)
(chotto nodo o misete kudasai.)
のどがあかいですね。
Your throat is red, I see.
(nodo ga akai desu ne.)
のどがあかくて、ねつもありますね。
Your throat is red, and you also have a fever, I
see.
(nodo ga akakute, netsu mo arimasu ne.)
ただのかぜ
a common cold
(tada no kaze)
ただのかぜでしょう。
It is a common cold, I think.
(tada no kaze deshoo.)
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297
English
Japanese
There is no need to worry.
しんぱいはいりません。
(As for a worry, you don't need it.)
(shinpai wa irimasen.)
ただのかぜでしょう。しんぱいはいりませんよ。
It is a common cold, I think. There is no need to
worry, you know.
(tada no kaze deshoo. shinpai wa irimasen
yo.)
ちょっとしんぱいです。
It is a little bit worrisome.
(chotto shinpai desu.)
うーん、これはちょっとしんぱいですね。けんさ
しましょう。
Hmmm, this is a little bit worrisome, I see. Let's
have some tests.
(uun, kore wa chotto shinpai desu ne. kensa
shimashoo.)
Open your mouth wide, please.
くちをおおきくあけてください。
(Please open mouth widely.)
(kuchi o ookiku akete kudasai.)
くちをあけてください。
Please open your mouth.
(kuchi o akete kudasai.)
You take a breath.
いきをすいます。
(You inhale a breath.)
(iki o suimasu.)
いきをすってください。
Please take a breath.
(iki o sutte kudasai.)
Please take a deep breath.
いきをおおきくすってください。
(Please inhale a breath deeply.)
(iki o ookiku sutte kudasai.)
はやくねてください。
Please go to bed early.
(hayaku nete kudasai.)
ねつがありますから、きょうははやくねてくださ
い。
Since you have a fever, please go to bed early
today.
(netsu ga arimasu kara, kyoo wa hayaku
nete kudasai.)
よくうがいしてください。
Please gargle well.
(yoku ugai shite kudasai.)
のどがあかいですね。うちでよくうがいしてくだ
さい。
Your throat is red, I see. Please gargle well at
home.
(nodo ga akai desu ne. uchi de yoku ugai
shite kudasai.)
このくすりをいちにちにさんかいのんでくださ
い。
Please take this medicine three times a day.
(kono kusuri o ichi-nichi ni sankai nonde
kudasai.)
このくすりをのんでください。
Please take this medicine.
(kono kusuri o nonde kudasai.)
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298
English
Japanese
いちにちにいっかい
once a day
(ichi-nichi ni ikkai)
いちにちににかい
twice a day
(ichi-nichi ni nikai)
このくすりを、いちにちににかい、にじょうずつ
のんでください。
Please take this medicine twice a day, two tablets
at a time.
(kono kusuri o, ichi-nichi ni nikai, ni-joo zutsu
nonde kudasai.)
しょくじのまえに、このくすりをいちじょうのん
でください。
Please take one tablet of this medicine before a
meal.
(shokuji no mae ni, kono kusuri o ichi-joo
nonde kudasai.)
にじかんまえにくすりをいちじょうのみました。
I took one tablet of the medicine two hours ago.
(ni-jikan mae ni kusuri o ichi-joo
nomimashita.)
しょくじのさんじゅっぷんまえに
thirty minutes before a meal
(shokuji no sanjuppun mae ni)
このあかいくすりは、しょくじのさんじゅっぷん
まえにのんでください。
As for this red medicine, please take it thirty
minutes before a meal.
(kono akai kusuri wa, shokuji no sanjuppun
mae ni nonde kudasai.)
ねるまえに、このせきどめをのんでください。
Please take this cough medicine before going to
bed.
(neru mae ni, kono sekidome o nonde
kudasai.)
このせきどめをのんでください。
Please take this cough medicine.
(kono sekidome o nonde kudasai.)
たべるまえに
before eating
(taberu mae ni)
ごちそうをたべるまえに
before eating a rich meal
(gochisoo o taberu mae ni)
ごちそうをたべるまえに、いぐすりをのみまし
た。
Before eating the rich meal, I took a digestive
medicine.
(gochisoo o taberu mae ni, igusuri o
nomimashita.)
ぬるまえに
before applying (medicine)
(nuru mae ni)
なんこうをぬるまえに
before applying the ointment
(nankoo o nuru mae ni)
てをあらってください。
Please wash your hands.
(te o aratte kudasai.)
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English
Japanese
Before applying the ointment, please wash your
hands.
なんこうをぬるまえに、てをあらってください。
I will write a prescription.
しょほうせんをだします。
(I will serve a prescription.)
(sho-hoosen o dashimasu.)
I will dispense a cold medicine.
かぜぐすりをだします。
(I will serve a cold medicine.)
(kazegusuri o dashimasu.)
(nankoo o nuru mae ni, te o aratte kudasai.)
おさけをのんではいけません。
You must not drink alcoholic beverages.
(osake o nonde wa ikemasen.)
I smoke cigarettes.
たばこをすいます。
(I inhale cigarettes.)
(tabako o suimasu.)
たばこをすってはいけません。
You must not smoke cigarettes.
(tabako o sutte wa ikemasen.)
You have a terrible cough.
せきがひどいです。
(Cough is terrible.)
(seki ga hidoi desu.)
せきがひどいですね。しばらくたばこをすっては
いけませんよ。
You have a terrible cough, I see. You must not
smoke cigarettes for a while, you know.
(seki ga hidoi desu ne. shibaraku tabako o
sutte wa ikemasen yo.)
I take a bath.
おふろにはいります。
(I get into a bath.)
(ofuro ni hairimasu.)
おふろにはいってもいいですか。
May I take a bath?
(ofuro ni haitte mo ii desu ka.)
あのう、こんばんおふろにはいってもいいです
か。
Um, may I take a bath tonight?
(anoo, konban ofuro ni haitte mo ii desu ka.)
ええ、いいですよ。
Yes, you may, you know.
(ee, ii desu yo.)
きょうは、くすりをのんで、はやくねてくださ
い。おだいじに。
Please take the medicine and go to bed early
today. Take good care of yourself.
(kyoo wa, kusuri o nonde, hayaku nete
kudasai. odaiji ni.)
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300
Cultural Notes
ごめんください is a common greeting used at the entrance of someone's house to announce one's
arrival. It literally means "Please forgive (me)," but it's equivalent to "Hello" in English!
Did you remember いらっしゃいませ , a polite greeting to welcome customers at a store or restaurant?
We can use the same greeting to welcome visitors at our house. In a less formal situation, we can simply
say いらっしゃい .
おじゃまします is a common phrase we can use when we enter someone's house in Japan. It literally
means "(I'll) hinder (you by my visit)." There is no exact match in English, but it's something akin to
"Thank you for inviting me in." Like ごめんください or すみません (as "Thank you"), many Japanese
phrases sound apologetic and self-effacing, reflecting the culture of politeness and modesty.
おじゃましました is the past form of おじゃまします . It means something like "I'm sorry for having
hindered you by my visit," but the English equivalent would be "Thank you for your time and hospitality."
It's a common phrase you can use when you are leaving someone's house.
A typical Japanese house has a distinct entrance space called げんかん . It's a transition area between
outside and inside, with the "inside" clearly defined with a raised floor. You remove your shoes here and
step directly onto the hallway. Don't stand barefooted on the entrance floor; that's considered "outside"
even though it's indoors. Once up on the hallway, put on the house slippers provided by the host and
follow him or her.
As you may recall, Japanese people typically try hard not to appear vain or boastful. When they receive
compliments, they would invariably negate them or counter them with self-effacing phrases. For
example, when someone praises their house, they would counter with a negative comment on it such as
ふるいですけど (It's old, though).
うち literally means "the inside," but it can be used to mean a "house," "(one's) home," "(one's own)
family," or more! うち is such a simple word, but it's one of the key terms that helps us understand the
Japanese culture and language.
With a particular verbal expression comes a gesture that is often unique to the culture. When Japanese
people say いえいえ (no, no) as in the response to a compliment, they often wave one or both hands
before their chest with the palm facing their listener. Try it!
Japanese people usually do not offer their guests a tour of their house as Americans often do, unless the
guests are staying overnight or the hosts are particularly proud of some features of their house. Even
then, the hosts would show their guests (who are "outsiders") only what is considered as the "outer"
areas of the house. The hostess, for example, might hate to have people coming into her kitchen since it
is considered one of the innermost areas of the house.
ざしき is a Japanese-style drawing room with its floor covered by たたみ --thick, rectangle mats made of
tightly-woven dried stalks of plants called いぐさ (rushes). ざしき usually has sliding doors. The ones
covered with translucent white rice paper are called しょうじ . The ones that are double-paned with thick
paper or cloth and on which pictures are often painted are called ふすま .
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Before you enter ざしき , take off your house slippers and leave them outside the room. Inside, there is a
low table, and you sit on square cushions called ざぶとん . In a formal situation, you should sit せいざ style, with your legs folded underneath your thighs and keeping your back straight. If your feet are
hurting you, you may say すみません to your host and discreetly change your position. Please be aware,
though, that sitting cross-legged will be frowned upon if you are a woman!
A typical Japanese bathroom is quite different from one in the US. ふろば is literally a "bath place." It's a
room with a bathtub and a shower, and its tiled floor has a drainage hole. You wash your body outside
the bathtub before getting into it to keep the bathwater clean. When you are done, don't drain the tub!
Other members in the household usually share the same bathwater for the day.
おてあらい or トイレ in a typical Japanese house is a space separate from ふろば (the bathroom) or せん
めんじょ (the room with a bathroom sink). Japanese people take hygiene very seriously. Inside おてあら
い , you'll find a pair of "toilet" slippers. Put them on, leaving your house slippers outside the door. When
you come out, don't forget to leave the toilet slippers where they belong!
Many Japanese households have family Buddhist altars called ぶつだん , which hold mortuary tablets (いは
い ) for deceased family members. Contrary to the popular Western perception, Japanese people do not
worship the dead. Instead, they revere and honor their ancestors and try to console their spirits by
offering incense and prayer. In this sense, ぶつだん is a link between the past and the present. The
room with ぶつだん is called ぶつま .
ちゃのま (literally, "space for tea") or おちゃのま originally meant a room where tea was served for
guests, but it has become a Japanese-style family room where family members relax over a cup of tea
and watch TV. Usually, ちゃのま is next to the kitchen and used as the family dining room as well.
If you visit a Japanese home in winter, you may be ushered into a room with こたつ . こたつ is a low table
equipped with an electric space heater. The entire table is covered by a quilt to trap the warm air in and
keep your legs and feet toasty. It's a cozy space to spend time with your friends and family on a cold
day!
ちゃしつ (literally, "tea room") is a space specifically designed to have a tea ceremony. A typical ちゃし
つ is a small structure built in a Japanese-style garden. It looks like a simple rustic hut, but the simplicity
is a well-calculated one! Guests go through the well-tended garden and enter ちゃしつ through a small
door called にじりぐち . Inside, they enjoy not only green tea but also the ambiance and hospitality
carefully prepared and presented by the host.
A typical おしいれ (Japanese-style closet) is two-tiered with paper-covered sliding doors.
Japanese ふとん (futon) is different from the American version. The authentic ふとん is a set of a thick
cotton-filled mattress and a fluffy quilt. It's quite light, mobile, and comfortable!
ざしき , or any room with たたみ floor, is very versatile. During the day, the room can be used as a
drawing room, with a low table and ざぶとん (square cushions) as the furniture. At night, the room can
be turned into a bedroom with the table and ざぶとん set aside and ふとん spread on the floor. When
the morning comes, ふとん will be folded and put into おしいれ . Voila! The room becomes a public space
again!
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Traditional Japanese gardens have gained some popularity in North America as well as Europe. The basic
concept is to recreate natural landscapes so that people can enjoy their beauty everyday at home
throughout the year. The most popular center piece is a pond, often paired with a miniature mountain
adorned with trees, rocks, and stone lanterns. Some gardens substitute white sand and pebbles for
water, creating a simple yet profound world for Zen meditation.
こい (carp) are voracious and highly adaptive freshwater fish that have a long history of being used as
food in Asia and Europe. にしきごい (ornamental carp), however, are bred in northern Japan exclusively
for their beautiful colors and patterns. Today, にしきごい are a ubiquitous presence in water gardens
around the globe, entertaining people with their vivid beauty and feeding frenzies!
Do you remember that "brown" in Japanese is ちゃいろ (literally, "tea color")? Traditional Japanese colors
are often named after objects that represent the particular colors. For example, pink is ももいろ
(literally, "peach color"), yellowish brown is かきいろ (persimmon color), and sky-blue is そらいろ (sky
color). Nowadays, however, younger generations prefer to use "borrowed" words such as ピンク (pink) or
ベージュ (beige) !
にしき in にしきごい (ornamental carp) literally means a Japanese silk brocade known for its gorgeous
colors and intricate patterns. It's an apt name for carp adorned with vivid colors and markings! The
pronunciation of こい changes to ごい when combined with another word.
こい (carp) are considered auspicious fish. Chinese legend has it that carp that could climb a big water
fall on the Yellow River would turn into dragons and fly through the sky--a great achievement for a
creature as small and insignificant as a fish! That's why we have こいのぼり --colorful carp-shaped
windsocks traditionally flown in May to wish success and good health for male children in the family.
Many modern houses in Japan incorporate Western-style rooms and furniture. Traditional ざしき and ちゃ
のま are often replaced by Western-style リビング . Young people in particular prefer wooden or carpet
floor to たたみ , chairs and couches to ざぶとん , and beds to ふとん . Some newer apartments and
condos even have Western-style bathrooms. Though the appearance may be different, there is one thing
that never changes: people still take off their shoes at げんかん (entrance hall)!
Do you remember that there are different ways of referring to oneself other than わたし (I/me) in
Japanese? ぼく is used by male speakers. It's often used by boys, but adult men also use it when they
are in less formal (but not too casual) settings, such as among family members or coworkers.
In Japanese schools and workplaces, younger members are expected to pay respect to older members,
calling them せんぱい (akin to "seniors"). In families, youngsters call their older siblings not by their first
names but by their family titles such as おねえさん (the polite form for "elder sister") or おにいさん (the
polite form for "elder brother"). Even parents use these titles when talking about their older children in
front of their younger ones!
Asking an adult his or her age is a delicate matter in Japan. The notable exception, however, is when
asking the person's age is considered as a compliment. Traditionally, Japanese respect elderly members
of society, celebrating their longevity on けいろうのひ (Respect-for-the-Aged Day) in September. Just be
aware, though, that in a society with average life expectancy of 83, the definition of "elderly" is quite
different from what you think!
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The concept of family has been rapidly changing in Japan. Three-generation households were once
common. The eldest son would take care of his parents in their old age, and younger generations would
learn to respect their elders by living with their grandparents. Now nuclear families with fewer children are
the norm, especially in urban society. The average size of family in 1975 was 3.35. It shrank to 2.65 in
2008.
As the number of children per household is decreasing in Japan, the number of pets seems to be going
up! It is said that almost half the Japanese households with two or more people have some kind of pet.
The most popular pets are dogs, followed by cats, fish, and birds. Among dogs, the most popular breeds
are Dachshund, Chihuahua, and Poodle--all small breeds, reflecting, perhaps, the Japanese taste for
dainty things and the size of Japanese houses!
Did you know that animals in Japan speak Japanese? Japanese dogs, for example, don't bark "bow-wow"
but say ワンワン . Cats don't "meow" but say ニャアニャア . Cows bellow モー , sheep bleat メェー , and
crows croak カアカア . Roosters? They will wake you up with a loud コケコッコー while you are in Japan!
The Chinese character for いぬ (dog) can be read as けん , and many people in Japan call the Akita あきた
けん . The official name for the breed, however, is あきたいぬ .
Some Japanese dog breeds have gained popularity in North America as well as in Europe. あきたいぬ
(the Akita) is a large dog originally bred for dog fighting in northern Japan that is highly loyal and
intelligent. しばいぬ (the Shiba) is an ancient breed used for hunting in mountains, smaller in size but
brave and patient. ちん (the Japanese Spaniel) is a small dog with a beautiful long coat, playful yet quiet
and affectionate.
Japan is a country of longevity. Based on the government's 2010 estimate, people over 65 consist of
23% of the entire population--the highest rate in the world. Women generally live longer than men: of
8,220,000 people over 80, about the two-thirds are female. Long life is a blessing, but with the shrinking
birth rate and the erosion of the traditional family arrangement, how to take care of the aging population
has become a serious challenge for society.
はなみ or おはなみ (literally, "flower viewing") is a cherry-blossom viewing picnic, a very popular spring
activity in Japan. Contrary to the serene image the word might evoke, real はなみ is often a quite
boisterous outdoor party under bloomed cherry trees, where people eat, drink, and sing with their
coworkers, friends, and family!
Japanese people love to get together and enjoy food, drink, and karaoke! There are many chances for
celebration. In January, they celebrate the new year. In March, they hold send-off parties for coworkers
who are going to be transferred. In April, they have cherry-blossom-viewing picnics as well as welcome
parties for employees newly-transferred to their departments. But the busiest season of all is December
when they have a ぼうねんかい (forget-the-old-year party) almost every night!
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Japanese people have adopted Christmas from the West and celebrate it big time - though not for
religious reasons. Families celebrate it with artificial クリスマスツリー (Christmas trees) and storebought クリスマスケーキ (Christmas cakes). Friends celebrate it with boisterous クリスマスパーティー
(Christmas parties), and couples celebrate it with expensive クリスマスプレゼント (Christmas presents).
And shop keepers? They celebrate it with lucrative クリスマスセール (Christmas sales)!
Until the early 1900s, Japanese people counted their age not based on their birthdays, but on the
number of New Year's Days they had. Consequently, people did not put much significance on their
birthdays back then. Today, it's a special day for many. Family members and close friends often
celebrate each other's birthday with バースデーケーキ (birthday cake) and gifts.
While most birthdays are private affairs, there is one special birthday celebrated nationwide in Japan. The
Emperor's birthday (てんのうたんじょうび ) is on December 23, and it's a national holiday!
かいしゃいん is a generic term for company employees, regardless of industry or gender. Male company
employees are often called サラリーマン (salary man). Female office workers are called OL, the
acronym for "office lady"!
Among various occupations available in Japan, arguably the least popular among youth, but the most
ubiquitous in the adult world is サラリーマン (literary "salary man"). They are white-collar salary-earners
who work for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, sales, finance, and construction. Cleanshaven, dark-suit-clad, unhappy-looking men in packed commuter trains--the term サラリーマン has
negative connotations, but they are the backbone of Japan's economic power!
カラオケ (karaoke) once was a side entertainment for bar customers, but it has evolved into a national
pastime in Japan! Portable karaoke machines allow people to turn any gathering into a karaoke party.
Die-hard enthusiasts can also go to カラオケボックス (Karaoke Box), a place with small sound-proof
rooms where you and your friends can sing your hearts out without worrying about other people's
reactions!
パチンコ is a noisy pinball-meets-slot-machine game with colorful, mesmerizing designs. It's a very
popular form of entertainment for adults, and you'll see garishly decorated パチンコや (pachinko parlors)
in every town you visit in Japan!
マージャン is a Chinese game usually played with four participants. Though its popularity has waned in
the U.S., マージャン is still popular among Japanese men. Though not as visible as パチンコや , you'll find
じゃんそう (mahjong parlors) in most Japanese towns.
Typical middle-aged Japanese businessmen or サラリーマン spend long hours with their coworkers and/or
clients. After a day's work they go out together to bars to entertain their clients or each other. Some
nights, they might prefer to play mahjong or Japanese pinball games (パチンコ ). On the weekends, they
may play golf with their clients on the company tab. When they finally get home, tired サラリーマ
ン usually take a nap or watch TV to relax!
For Japanese males over 30, the most popular sport to watch on TV is やきゅう (baseball), whether it's プ
ロやきゅう (professional baseball) or こうこうやきゅう (high school baseball). Younger men prefer サッ
カー (soccer), and women generally prefer フィギュアスケート (figure skating) and バレーボール
(volleyball).
Do you remember that Japanese people try to avoid strong statements especially when they have to give
a negative answer to a question? When we are asked about our preference, it's probably better to avoid
strong words such as きらい ("hate" or "dislike") even though that might be the way you actually feel.
One way to soften the impact of your statement is to use a negative form such as すきじゃありません (I
don't like).
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すもう is a form of wrestling with its roots in ancient Shinto rituals in Japan. In a すもう match, two
wrestlers (りきし ), who are clad only with stiff thongs called まわし , fight in a sandy ring called どひょう .
The one who successfully pushes the other off the ring or lets any part of the opponent's body (except for
his soles) touch the ground wins. The popularity of professional すもう is said to be waning, but it's still
holding up among older generations.
You have learned that Japanese people usually don't greet or talk to total strangers. Don't think,
however, that you'll be lonely while visiting Japan! It all depends on opportunities--where you are and
whom you are with. The easiest way to meet many people and make new friends is to visit popular
nightclubs, local festivals, or outdoor concerts, where various people gather together with open minds
and a common goal: to have fun!
In Japanese, terms of endearment such as "Honey" or "Sweetheart" are almost non-existent. Unmarried
couples call each other by their first names or nicknames. Wives may call their husbands あなた (literally,
"You"), which is perhaps the closest thing to "Honey" in English. More commonly, wives call their
husbands おとうさん (Father) or パパ (Papa) while husbands call their wives おかあさん (Mother) or ママ
(Mom)--depending on how their children call them!
"Love" in Japanese is あい , and the standard translation for "I love you" is あいしています (literally, "am
loving"). This expression, however, sounds rather foreign to native speakers. The more common and
natural-sounding expression for confession of love is すきです (literally, "like"). Established Japanese
couples, by the way, don't tell each other "I love you" as often as Americans do. For most Japanese, true
love is something that should be understood without words!
You have already learned that most Japanese don't walk up to a total stranger and introduce
themselves. If you want to make new friends in Japan, start with small talk. Commenting on your
surroundings (such as the weather or the size of the crowd) is an age-old icebreaker, and so is asking
about the person's familiarity with the particular place you are both in!
From the 1970s to the early 1990s, the ディスコ (discotheque) was the rage all over Japan. Today, the
name of ディスコ has become a thing of the past. It's now called a クラブ (nightclub), and that's the
place young crowds gather for dancing. If you are planning to visit one, beware that there is another kind
of クラブ in Japan. These are expensive nightclubs staffed with kimono-clad hostesses, where the bill for
a sip of whiskey might bust your entire travel budget!
コンパ (a slang derived from the English word "company") is a form of a party popular with young people,
particularly college students. They go out to a pub or restaurant with classmates or club members and
enjoy each other's company over food and drinks. When コンパ is organized to meet new people of the
opposite sex, it's called a ごうどうコンパ (literally, "joint コンパ ") or ごうコン in short. The closest English
equivalent would be a "blind-date party"!
Once upon a time, みあい or おみあい , chaperoned dates arranged by relatives or family friends who
acted as matchmakers, was the way to find one's better half in Japan. Today, less than 10% of marriages
go through such a traditional method while "love matches" have become the norm. The concept of おみ
あい , however, seems to still be thriving. おみあいパーティー , organized collective dating similar to speed
dating in the US, has become a big business all over Japan!
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You have met someone whom you want to be friends with. You approach him or her and strike up an
innocent conversation. After making small talk for some time, you are ready to introduce yourself and
find out the person's name. If you find yourself in such a scenario, it sounds more natural and polite to
tell your name in an indirect manner, using the expression わたしは X といいます . It's equivalent to "My
name is X," but you are actually saying, "I'm called X"!
Generally speaking, Japanese women prefer to be asked out by men rather than asking men out
themselves. It does not mean, however, that Japanese women are all shy and passive--especially
younger generations! In fact, as more women strive for economic independence, they have also become
more assertive in relationships. More men, on the other hand, are said to have become gentler and
more passive. Such males are sometimes called そうしょくけい --a "herbivorous kind"!
In general, Japanese people are modest and try not to sound boastful. People in love, however, can't
help talking proudly about their partners--even in Japan! Such affectionate remarks are called のろけ or
おのろけ and are generally well-tolerated among good friends.
While mild のろけ (affectionate boasting about one's partner) is kindly received among friends, public
display of affection by couples is not well-tolerated in Japan. Holding hands is ok, but public kissing and
hugging would compel people around you to avert their eyes quickly or stare at you as if you are
characters from an American TV show. Either way, it's not very pleasant for any of the parties involved.
Let's do in Japan as the Japanese do and be modest in your actions!
The Japanese term for "coffee shop" is きっさてん (literally, "drinking-tea shop"), but the term is fast
becoming obsolete while カフェ (cafe) has become quite popular. Strictly speaking, カフェ and きっさて
ん are different: カフェ serves alcohol while きっさてん doesn't. However, even non-alcohol coffee shops
often call themselves カフェ or コーヒーハウス (coffee house), hoping to create more sophisticated
images with the use of the "borrowed" words!
When people say おちゃでものみませんか (Why don't we have tea or something?), chances are that they
are not really thinking of a cup of green tea or even black tea. It's an idiomatic expression native
speakers use to mean "Let's have a break." It's also an age-old pick-up line adopted by guys on the
streets! Nowadays, young people often opt for the pseudo-verb おちゃする (literally, "to do tea"), saying
おちゃしませんか or more casually, おちゃしない？
Asking the time is the simplest and most innocent way to strike up a conversation with a stranger. It can
also be a convenient segue for a safe retreat after you have decided that your new acquaintance is not
the right one for you!
Until late 1980s, most businesses and schools in Japan were open for half a day on Saturdays. Today, the
しゅうきゅうふつか (two-day weekend) has become the norm, and the concept of a weekend has
expanded to include not only Saturdays and Sundays but also Friday evenings. Though most Japanese
calenders now start with Sundays, many people still think that the first day of the week is Monday!
Japanese terms for the day of the week originate in the ancient Babylonian traditions that had been
transmitted to Japan through China in the ninth century. Each term corresponds to the Japanese names
for the sun, the moon, and five planets (Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn). よう in ようび (the
day of the week) literally means "to shine"--a reference to shining stars--while び means "day." げつよう
び , therefore, literally means the "Moon-shining Day"!
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In Japan, we officially have Happy Mondays! The ハッピーマンデーせいど (Happy Mondays system) was
introduced in the year 2000, and the government has since changed the dates of four national holidays
to Mondays in order to create three-day weekends. These blessed holidays are せいじんのひ or
"Coming-of-Age Day" in January, うみのひ or "Ocean Day" in July, けいろうのひ or "Respect-for-the-Aged
Day" in September, and たいいくのひ or "Physical Education Day" in October.
アウトドアライフ (outdoor life) has become fashionable among city dwellers in Japan. Unfortunately,
there are a very limited number of accessible nature spots close to home. Whether on hiking trails,
camping grounds, or fishing spots, those who try to escape the hubbub of city life often find themselves
trapped among similarly-minded crowds at their destinations and stuck in traffic jams on the way to and
from home!
If you want to try some fishing in Japan but have no idea where to go, try つりぼり or artificial fishing
ponds! There you can rent different kinds of fishing rods with all the necessary accessories and catch
various fish for an hourly fee. Some つりぼり are catch-and-release only; others allow you to keep what
you catch within a certain limit. Some places even rent barbecue pits where you can cook the fish you've
just caught.
Japan is an island nation, and even the northern parts of the country have beaches open for swimming in
summer. Except for Okinawa, however, the swimming season is usually limited to July and August. The
short season means...crowded beaches! For example, えのしま , arguably the most famous beach near
Tokyo, is said to host more than three million people in one summer!
Theme parks or テーマパーク are big business in Japan. They attract not only families with children but
also adults who cannot have enough of all the fun rides they offer! The most famous ones are とうきょ
うディズニーランド (Tokyo Disneyland) and ディズニーシー (DisneySea) in うらやす in Chiba Prefecture,
which, combined, boast about 25,000,000 visitors a year.
Only a one-hour train ride from central Tokyo, たかおさん (Mt. Takao) offers popular day-hike trails that
award hikers with a nice view of ふじさん (Mt. Fuji). たかおさん is only about 2,000 ft. high, but it's the
starting point for the 1,000-mile-long Tokai Nature Trails. Besides well-preserved forests and great views,
points of interest include the tram and lift rides, a monkey park, a beer garden, and a Buddhist temple
with 1,200 years of history!
しちにんのさむらい (Seven Samurai), directed by くろさわあきら and starring みふねとしろう , is one of
the most popular Japanese films inside and outside Japan. Originally released in 1954, the black-andwhite film features the story of seven unemployed samurai warriors, or ろうにん , who help poor villagers
defend their livelihood against bandits. しちにんのさむらい inspired many other works, including the
popular American film, The Magnificent Seven.
くろさわあきら is arguably the most famous and influential Japanese film director, nicknamed せかいのく
ろさわ (Kurosawa of the World). Born in 1910, くろさわ started his long career in 1943 and won
numerous awards worldwide with highly acclaimed films such as らしょうもん (Rashomon), いきる (Ikiru;
literally, "To Live"), しちにんのさむらい (Seven Samurai), and らん (Ran; literally, "War"). He died in 1998
at age 88.
Buying おべんとう (box lunch) is not an easy task in Japan: there are too many kinds to choose from! If
you just can't settle on a single kind, try the type called まくのうち (literally, "inside-the-curtains"). Its
name originates from the box lunch eaten by theater goers between acts during the Edo period (16031868). A typical まくのうちべんとう has small おにぎり (rice balls) and variety of savory pieces such as
grilled fish, omelet, vegetables, pickles, and more!
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べんとう or おべんとう can be a bring-your-own lunch in general, or a meal-in-a box in particular. If you
don't have time to fix your own box lunch in the morning, you can buy one at any convenience store,
supermarket, or Japanese-style deli specialized for おべんとう . As is the case with おちゃ (tea), many
people say おべんとう , adding the polite-word maker お to avoid sounding rude.
You can buy various bottled teas in Japan, including りょくちゃ (green tea), こうちゃ (black tea), and
ウーロンちゃ (oolong tea or Chinese tea)!
Many Japanese women hate getting suntan (ひやけ ). Besides putting on strong sunscreens (ひやけどめ ),
they wear long sleeves and even gloves in the summer heat. On top of that, many of them carry black
parasols (ひがさ ) to shade themselves. Lately, ひがさ for men are gaining popularity among older men,
who are trying to protect themselves not from suntan but from heatstroke!
If you are planning to meet up with your friends at a station in Japan, be forewarned: Japanese stations in
urban areas are extremely crowded during morning and evening rush hours! With so many people
passing in every direction, it's almost impossible to spot someone unless you and your friends are very
specific about the meeting place. Also hard to spot are public phones, which have become less and less
needed in the age of cell phones!
ハチこう is the name of a legendary dog, famous for his loyalty. The male Akita is said to have come to
the JR Shibuya Station in Tokyo every evening for almost ten years to patiently wait for his master's
return after the master, a university professor, had died at work. The bronze statue of ハチこう now
stands in front of Shibuya Station and is used by many people as a meeting place. The nearest ticket
gate of the station is also named ハチこうぐち (Hachiko Ticket Gate)!
The real ハチこう died in 1935, but his legend has lived on and inspired many people all over Japan and
beyond. A Japanese movie called ハチこうものがたり (The Story of Hachiko) was released in 1987. The
movie was recently remade in Hollywood under the title "Hachiko: A Dog's Story" starring Richard Gere
and three Akitas!
With the exception of northern regions, summer in Japan is hot and humid. むしあつい ("muggy" or
"stifling hot") is the very word that describes how you would feel out there! むし in むしあつい derives
from the verb むす ("to steam" or "to be muggy").
For temperature, Japanese use the degree Celsius (℃) or せっし while Americans use the degree
Fahrenheit (°F) or かし . 0℃ is 32°F; 10℃ is 50°F; 20℃ is 68°F; and 30℃ is 86°F. In this course, we'll
use the degree Celsius as the Japanese do!
Winter in Japan is relatively mild, except for the northern interior regions where the lowest temperature
can be as low as -30℃. The average temperature for January is -4.1℃ in Sapporo, 5.8℃ in Tokyo, and
16.6℃ in Naha, Okinawa. That said, you may feel a lot colder than the thermometer tells you while
visiting Japan in winter months. It may be due to windiness, higher humidity, or the lack of central heating
systems in most private residences!
While Japanese people love the fragile beauty of さくら (cherry blossoms) in spring, they also love the
colorful displays of autumn leaves that paint the nation vivid red, yellow, and orange! On sunny
weekends, popular nature spots are filled with people enjoying "autumn-leaves viewing" or もみじがり
(literally, "red-leaves hunting") with their friends and family.
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Japan is an arc-shaped island country, consisting of four major "islands" and about 7,000 smaller ones.
These four major "islands" are (from north to south) ほっかいどう , ほんしゅう , しこく , and きゅうしゅ
う . ほんしゅう , the largest, is a little bigger than Minnesota, while しこく , the smallest, is slightly smaller
than Vermont. Since they are all fairly large, people who live in them don't consider themselves as living
on islands!
Japan has four distinct seasons or しき . はる (spring) is warm and nice, and people enjoy おなはみ
(cherry-blossom viewing picnic) and other outdoor activities. なつ (summer) is hot and humid, and the
deafening chorus of cicadas fill the air. あき (autumn) is cool and crisp, and it's the season for sports,
cultural events, and もみじがり (autumn-leaves viewing). ふゆ (winter) is relatively mild although the
northern parts of Japan receive much snow.
The total area of Japan is slightly smaller than Montana. 73% of its land is mountains, and half of the
population lives in plains (へいや ) that occupy 14% of the land. Rivers (かわ ) are relatively short, running
down mountain sides and pouring into the surrounding seas, which include the にほんかい (Japan Sea), ひ
がしシナかい (East China Sea), オホーツクかい (the Sea of Okhotsk), and たいへいよう (the Pacific
Ocean).
Japan has many volcanoes or かざん (literally, "fire mountain"), and that's why it also has so many hot
springs and earthquakes! あそさん (Mt. Aso) is an active volcano located in Kumamoto Prefecture and is
well-known for its huge caldera. The highest peak is 1,592 meters high. Visitors can drive up to the main
crater that is filled with turquoise-colored hot water and hike around it when the wind is blowing the
sulfurous gas away from the visitor access area.
ふじさん (Mt. Fuji) is 3,776 meters or 12,388 feet high and the tallest mountain in Japan. It's located at
the border of Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures and visible from Tokyo on clear days. Though not as
visibly active as あそさん , ふじさん is actually an active volcano, whose last explosion was in 1707.
ふじさん has long been considered a sacred mountain, and women couldn't climb it until 1800. Today,
anyone can drive half way up the mountain and hike the rest of the way to the summit, using one of the
four well-established routes. The official climbing season is July and August, during which lodges and
kiosks are available on the trails. Many people hike up the mountain at night in order to watch the
sunrise from the top!
The Japanese love of seasonal beauty is reflected in the famous four-season garden described in the
eleventh-century Japanese classic, げんじものがたり or "The Tale of Genji." This fictional garden consists
of four parts, each occupying a corner of the great mansion built by the handsome (and rich)
protagonist. Each part is designed to accentuate the beauty of an individual season: flowers for spring,
water and shade for summer, color-changing leaves for autumn, and snow-clad pine trees for winter!
The Japanese people's fondness for cherry blossoms, or さくら , has a long history, but it was not always
"the flower" of Japan. Poems written in the eighth century praise plum blossoms or うめ more often than
さくら . The popularity of さくら increased around the tenth century, when the Japanese began
establishing their own cultural identity, leaving the Chinese influence behind. Since then, さくら has
come to symbolize spring as well as the Japanese spirit!
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Japan receives much rainfall every year. The annual average is 1,718mm, about twice the world
average. Much of it falls during two distinct periods: June to mid-July and September. June to mid-July is
the rainy season called つゆ or ばいう (literally, "plum rain"), notorious for mold-yielding mugginess.
September rain is brought on by たいふう (typhoons), which often cause floods and landslides.
Much of northern Japan receives heavy snowfall every year. The thick layers of snow that cover these
regions easily reach 2 meters (6.6ft) or more, and people struggle to stay ahead of the fast accumulating
snow. The famous Japanese novel ゆきぐに (Snow Country), written by the Nobel-Prize winner かわばたや
すなり , features a snowy mountain village as the backdrop for the beautiful but sad story of a love
triangle.
Japanese people use the metric system for measurement. One kilometer is equal to about 0.6 miles,
and 1 meter is about 1.1 yards or 3.3 feet. When it's clear that we are talking about distance and not
weight, we can simply say キロ (kilo), as in いちキロ (one kilo), instead of saying キロメートル
(kilometer).
The Japanese are weather-conscious people who watch てんきよほう (weather forecasts) religiously. It's
not only the possibility of rain or shine that they care about. In the nation where one in every five people
suffers hay fever, getting かふんじょうほう (pollen info) is a matter of survival. Weather forecasters also
offer さくらじょうほう (cherry-blossoms info) to the viewers so that they can plan when and where to
have おはなみ (cherry-blossom viewing picnic)!
"Eating out" in Japanese is がいしょく (literally, "outside eating") and "cooking at home" is じすい
(literally, "self cooking"). Between these two options lies the thriving category of takeouts and deliveries,
providing the convenience and relative economy for busy Japanese people. The concept, however, is not
at all modern. The quick home delivery service called でまえ has been around since the eighteenth
century for the patrons of そばや (buckwheat noodle shops)!
Do you remember that ごはん means "steamed rice" in Japan? Because steamed rice is the staple food
for Japanese people, they also use the same word to mean "meal" in general. ばんごはん , therefore,
literally means "evening meal"--that is, "supper"!
Among numerous cooking shows in Japan, arguably the most popular and influential was りょうりのてつ
じん (literally, "Iron Man of Cooking"). The elaborate TV cook-offs ran between 1993 and 1999 and
reportedly spent more than ¥840,000,000 (or about eight million dollars) on cooking ingredients (しょく
ざい )! It has been shown in the United State under the title "Iron Chef" and became the model for the
American show called "Iron Chef America."
If language is the window into a culture, then the existence of various Japanese verbs that mean "to boil"
or "to cook in liquid" tells us that that's probably been the primary cooking method for generations in
Japan! The verb たく is one of them, and it's almost exclusively used for cooking rice as in ごはんをたく
(to cook rice). Please note that ごはんをたく literally means "to cook steamed rice," but it doesn't mean
that you have to cook rice twice!
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To make a perfect cup of English tea, we have to use boiling water. For most green tea, boiling water
would be too hot to draw out the best aroma and flavor. The rule of thumb is that the more expensive
the tea leaf is, the lower the water temperature and the longer the brewing time should be. The lower
temperature, however, does not mean half-boiled water! You have to boil fresh water first and then let it
cool down to the perfect temperature for your particular kind of tea.
ラーメン (ramen noodle soup) is originally a Chinese dish, but Japanese people loved it so much that not
only did they adopt it as their own but also created unique regional brands or ごとうちラーメン . In
Sapporo, for example, you'll enjoy the garlic-flavored さっぽろラーメン with the miso-based soup. In
Fukuoka, you'll find はかたラーメン featuring the milky "pork-bone" soup garnished with pickled red
ginger. They are all yummy, filling, and inexpensive!
カレーライス (curry and rice), or カレー for short, originally came to Japan as an English dish in the late
nineteenth century. As in the case of ラーメン , Japanese people loved it so much that they adopted it as
their own. Now it's one of the most popular home-cooked dishes in Japan! The main ingredients are
onions, potatoes, carrots, some type of meat, and カレールー --a solid sauce-mix that contains curry
powder, flour, and other spices.
しゃぶしゃぶ is a simple yet savory one-pot dish, eaten as you cook right on the dining table. The main
ingredients are thinly sliced beef or pork, often accompanied with tofu, mushrooms, and various
vegetables. You lift a piece of meat with your chopsticks, swish it back and forth in the pot of simmering
kelp broth or こんぶだし , and eat the cooked meat after dipping it in the citrus-based sauce called ポン
ず . The dish is allegedly named after the sound of the meat swishing in the pot!
So far we have learned two verbs that are the equivalents of "to boil" or "to cook in liquid" in English: たく
for rice and わかす for water. にる also means "to boil" or "cook in liquid." We use にる when cooking
things like vegetables, meat, and fish in broth or any kind of seasoned liquid. For boiling food in plain
water, we have to use either ゆでる or ゆがく .
The word カレールー (curry roux) is made up of the English word "curry" and the French word "roux." It's a
solid mixture of curry powder, flour, and other spices neatly packaged in a small box. There are various
brands with different levels of spiciness. You can pick just one or mix them together to create more
complex flavors!
よわび (low heat; literally, "weak fire") is the word that describes the level of heat for cooking stoves.
Other options include つよび (high heat; literally "strong fire"), ちゅうび (medium heat), and とろび (slow
heat).
The regular Japanese measuring cup (けいりょうカップ or カップ in short) is smaller than its American
counterpart. While the American cup holds 8 onces (or about 237 milliliters) of water, the Japanese cup
holds 200 milliliters. Japanese people also use a special cup for measuring uncooked rice. The rice
measuring cup can hold 180 milliliters or いちごう --the amount of uncooked rice traditionally considered
as one serving!
Japanese measuring spoons (けいりょうスプーン ) have two basic types: おおさじ (literally, "big spoon")
and こさじ (small spoon). おおさじ is equivalent to the "tablespoon" in English and holds 15 milliliters of
water. こさじ is equivalent to the "teaspoon" and holds 5 milliliters of water. For both types, we can use
the counter はい .
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Some Japanese cookbooks use exact measurements in grams and milliliters that require us to own a
scale. Many people, however, get by with less rigid definitions. For example, ひとつまみ (a pinch) means
the amount that our thumb, index finger and middle finger can pinch. しょうしょう (a dash), on the
other hand, means the amount that our thumb and index finger can pinch. When we forget about
measuring altogether and go with our experience (or instinct), it's called めぶんりょう --the "amount
measured by eyes"!
There are several basic Japanese seasonings. みそ is made from soybeans fermented with either rice,
wheat, or soybean itself. しょうゆ is also made from soybeans fermented with wheat. Both みそ and
しょうゆ contain a fairly large amount of しお (salt). す (vinegar), on the other hand, is made from rice or
grains. みりん is Japanese cooking wine made from sweet rice, and it's quite sweet like さとう (sugar)!
Traditional Japanese sweets or わがし are treats not only for our palate but also for our eyes! They are so
beautiful in shape and color that you almost regret that you have to eat them--until you put them in your
mouth...then all you can think of is their excellent taste! Typical ingredients are rice flour and sweetened
red-bean paste called あんこ . They should be accompanied by a perfect cup of green tea!
When visiting someone's house, Japanese people almost always take small gifts called おみやげ with
them. These gifts are usually some type of sweets or fruits (or drinks if it's a dinner party), which the host
can serve right away. Don't consider it as an obligation, but think of it as a thoughtful gesture from
guests, who naturally want to spare their host the anxiety of being caught between the arrival of visitors
and the bareness of his or her cupboard!
しぶや is one of the busiest shopping districts in Tokyo and quite popular among young shoppers. As you
may recall, this is the place where the statue of the famous Akita, ハチこう , stands. とうきょうプラザ ,
by the way, is a fictional shopping mall.
セール (discount sale) is another popular "borrowed" word in Japan. Lately, traditional Japanese terms
such as うりだし (literally, "selling out") or やすうり (literally, "cheap selling") are replaced by セール , バー
ゲン (bargain), or even "SALE" in the English spelling.
Generally speaking, you don't see many Japanese customers haggling for discounts. You may try,
however, some modest negotiations in open markets or friendly neighborhood stores selling fresh
products. Sometimes, shopkeepers may give you discounts for bulk purchases, or they might throw in
something extra as a おまけ (giveaway) if you are a good customer!
なつもの (literally, "summer thing") means any personal items made for summer including clothes,
shoes, and hats. Please note that we don't need to use the particle の to connect なつ and もの since な
つもの has gained the status of a single word!
Japanese shoe sizes are in centimeters or センチ , including half sizes. For women, American sizes 7, 8,
and 9 roughly match Japanese sizes 23.5, 24.5, and 25.5, respectively. For men, American sizes 8, 9,
and 10 are Japanese sizes 26, 27, and 28, respectively. In general, Japanese (especially women) have
smaller feet than Americans. If you wear a women's size 9 or larger, you may have a difficult time finding
a nice-looking pair of Japanese shoes!
ふく is a general term for "clothes." To be more specific, we can say ようふく for Western-style clothes
and わふく or きもの for traditional Japanese-style clothes.
ワンピース (literally, "one piece") is a one-piece dress with an above-floor hem length. A formal, or
otherwise fancy, long dress is called ドレス (literally, "dress").
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Japanese sizes for women's clothes are often indicated by odd numbers followed by the counter for size,
ごう . In general, Japanese dress sizes run small. For example, American sizes 6, 8, 10 roughly match
Japanese sizes 9, 11, and 13, respectively. Please note that these sizes vary depending on the
manufacturer and design. When you buy clothes in Japan, make sure to try them on before you buy!
Have you noticed that many Japanese terms for stores end with や ? や means a "store," "shop," or
"place of business" in general. ほんや is a book store, くつや a shoe store, and ラーメンや a ramennoodle shop. Some stores and restaurants use や in their business names, as in しろきや or たまや !
The area developed on the main entrance side of a train station is called えきまえ (literally, "stationfront"). It's a prime location for stores, restaurants, and hotels that cater to busy commuters, business
travelers, and tourists. Please note that, as in the case of なつもの (summer item), we don't have to use
the particle の to connect two nouns (えき and まえ ) because えきまえ is used as a single word!
Large shopping malls have become ubiquitous sights in Japanese suburbs, catering to weekend shoppers
who arrive in their cars. For many people, however, grocery shopping is still a daily affair performed on
foot, by bicycle or by moped. In the evenings, shoppers crowd スーパー (supermarkets) on the way
home from work, taking advantage of the end-of-the-day discount hours to find bargains for the dinner
table!
Shopping at スーパー or デパート is convenient, but not as fun as browsing through the local しょうてん
がい (shopping district), where many retail stores and fresh produce vendors congregate along narrow
streets. There, you can buy さかな (fish) at さかなや , にく (meat) at にくや , パン (bread) at パンや , and
とうふ (tofu) at とうふや --all fresh and inexpensive. Best of all, you'll be able to have a little chat with
friendly shopkeepers, which is a great way to get to know the country and the culture better!
Gift wrapping is a serious business in Japan. Let's take a box of sweets as an example. Each sweet would
be individually wrapped and placed in a box. The box then would be wrapped with a pretty wrapping
paper. Sometimes, the retail-store clerk wraps the already gift-wrapped box with a signature wrapping
paper of the store. Finally, the neatly wrapped box would be put in a matching paper or plastic tote bag.
Now your gift has as many layers as a Russian nesting doll!
Japanese post offices offer four options to send packages overseas. The fastest is EMS (Express Mail
Service), which delivers packages in 2 to 4 days worldwide. The second fastest is こうくうびん (airmail)
that takes 3 to 6 days. エコノミーこうくうびん (economy airmail) or SALびん (Surface Air Lifted), which
uses the combination of land and air transportation, takes 6 to 13 days. The slowest but least expensive
option is ふなびん (sea mail) that delivers packages in 1 to 3 months.
Some large banks in Japan let you withdraw money at their counters with major credit cards and your
passport. However, the most convenient way to withdraw money is probably to use international ATMs at
post offices. Not only do they accept foreign-issued major credit cards, but they also allow you to
conduct business in English! Please be aware, though, these ATMs are not available 24 hours a day.
Also remember to get your PIN number before leaving home.
しちがつなのか (July 7th) is たなばた , the Star Festival. Legend has it that this is the only day the "starcrossed" lovers--a weaver and a cowboy who live on the opposite sides of the Milky Way, or あまのがわ
(literally, "river in the sky")--can meet, crossing a legendary bridge formed by hundreds of magpies!
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Besides the everyday terms such as いちがつ or にがつ , Japanese has a traditional term for each month.
じゅうがつ (October), for example, is also called かんなづき (literally, "the month without gods"). This is
because October is the month when all the gods in Japan (eight million of them) are said to travel to the
ancient Shinto shrine in いずも (located in Shimane Prefecture) for their annual conference. For this
reason, October in いずも is called かみありづき (the month with gods)!
The best thing about the Japanese health care system is that all the citizens are covered by health
insurance! There are two types: しゃかいほけん (Social Insurance) for those whose employers participate
in the program and こくみんけんこうほけん (National Health Insurance) for the rest of the population.
Foreigners can join the program as long as they are registered as legal alien residents and are allowed to
stay in Japan for more than one year.
In general, Japanese hospitals (びょういん ) and smaller private practices (generally called いいん ) adopt
the "first-come, first-serve" system except for emergencies. Arrive early, otherwise you end up sitting in
the waiting room for long hours! For most private practices, you go straight to specialists; no referrals
are needed. For example, if you have pink eye, you go to がんか (eye clinic). If you have the flu or suffer
from a general malaise, try ないか (internal medicine clinic).
Japanese people are known to visit doctors for the slightest symptoms, but some people still try natural
remedies using what is available around their house or yard. アロエ (aloe) works for a burn; so do the
green leaves of びわ (Japanese medlar). こんにゃく (konjak jelly) is said to work for kidneys, when eaten,
and for muscle pains as a hot compress. And at the first sign of a cold? Have some hot みそしる (miso
soup) with chopped green onion and go to bed early!
Until recently, most Japanese doctors would avoid giving bad news to their patients in person. They would
instead tell the truth to the patients' family, who in turn might decide not to relay the news to the
patients. Today, the idea of "informed consent" has become more prevalent, but still many doctors try to
soften the impact of blunt truth by choosing roundabout expressions in their explanation.
Here are some sound effects you'll be making when you are sick in Japan! If you have a dry cough, you
go コンコン ; if it's a wet cough, the sound changes to ゴホゴホ . When you have congestion, your breath
sounds like ゼーゼー , and your sneeze will come out as ハクション ! Speaking of sneezing, don't expect
to receive a "Bless you!" while in Japan. The most likely reaction you'll get from people around you upon
sneezing is the discreet shifting of their position away from you!
Many Japanese firmly believe that うがい (gargling) is one of the most fundamental preventive practices
against common cold and flu. There are many うがいぐすり (literally, "gargling medicine") on the shelves
of drugstores, and parents diligently teach their children to do ガラガラペッ！ ("Gargle, gargle, ptui!") as
soon as they come home after being outside!
にほんじんのくすりずき (Japanese love of medicine) is a well-known fact. Serious about their health,
many people take multiple prescribed drugs even for a simple cold. In addition, they spend a small
fortune on alternative medicines, such as かんぽうやく (Chinese herbal medicine), and various health
supplements, such as あおじる (green-leaf juice), らんゆ (egg oil), and すっぽんエキス (the extract of
Chinese soft-shelled turtle)!
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Here are some terminologies and their meanings regarding when to take medicine. If the instruction
says しょくぜん (before meals), you take it within thirty minutes before a meal; if it says しょくご , you
take it within thirty minutes after a meal. しょっかん (between meals) means about two to three hours
after your last meal, and ねるまえ (before going to bed) means thirty minutes to one hour before your
bedtime. If the instruction says とんぷく , you take it when the symptom appears.
Traditionally, Japanese doctors dispensed medicines directly to their patients, but since WWII the
government has promoted the division of labor between doctors and pharmacists. Today, it is reported
that more than 50% of doctors in Japan write "out-of-the-clinic" prescriptions (いんがいしょほうせん ) so
that their patients can take the prescriptions to pharmacies to get their medicines. The rest of the
doctors, however, still keep their own dispensaries.
In general, drinking alcohol or いんしゅ is not only well-accepted in society, but even encouraged at social
gatherings in Japan. Many people believe that drinking together promotes good relationships, and it's
common for businessmen to make a deal with their clients at bars and restaurants. In such occasions,
you may say, "No, thank you," but well-wishers would likely keep nagging you to empty your glass. A
good excuse, then, is to invoke ドクターストップ or your doctor's order to stop drinking!
Quitting smoking, or きんえん , has lately become a social trend in Japan. While Western anti-smoking
campaigns seem to focus on the health of smokers themselves, Japanese campaigns tend to emphasize
how one's smoking affects other people. For those who refuse to quit smoking, the long list of たばこのマ
ナー (cigarette-smoking etiquette) has been widely propagated, offering detailed instructions on how to
smoke without troubling others around them!
To take a bath or not to take a bath...that is an important question when you get sick in Japan. Because
most Japanese people have no central heating system at home, they are afraid of ゆざめ --getting a chill
after a bath--during cold winter days. Also, they are afraid that putting a sick person into a hot tub would
exacerbate the illness by wearing him or her out.
The Japanese love of medicines might originate in the old saying, かぜはまんびょうのもと (A cold is the
father of ten thousand illness). Yet, they also know that やまいはきから (Our illness mirrors our mental
state). They try to stay healthy by following the old advice, はらはちぶめにいしゃいらず (Eat less and
you'll need no doctor), or はやねはやおきいしゃしらず (If you go to bed early and get up early, you'll
never see a doctor).　Once they get sick, they may try ずかんそくねつ (Keep your head cold and your
feet warm) to get well soon!
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Grammar Notes
Did you remember that we add さん after a person's name to be polite?
Do you remember that どうぞ is a versatile polite phrase that can mean "Here you go" or "Please get
in/out/on"? You can use it to usher a visitor into your place!
We can use ふるい (old) to describe various things including objects (as in an "old house"), concepts (as
in an "old belief"), and relationships (as in "old friends"). We shouldn't, however, use it to talk about
someone's age!
～けど (though) is a plain version of ～が (..., but ...) and connects two contradictory sentences to make
them into a longer one. Like ～が , ～けど is attached to the end of the first half of the two-part
sentence. In conversations, the second half of the sentence is often omitted and only implied.
Did you remember that we can simply attach お to a word to make the expression more polite?
にわ is the outdoor space belonging to a residence. Its equivalent is a "garden" or "yard" in English.
Please note that we cannot use にわ to mean a particular garden plot such as a flower garden or
vegetable garden.
いえ is a shortened form of いいえ (no). When you want to lightly deny what has just been said (as in a
compliment), you can say いえいえ (no, no).
So far we have learned verbs in the polite form that ends with ます (as in はなします or "speak") or まし
た (as in しました or "did"). Such a verb form is called the "ます -form." In this section, we are going to
start learning another form called the "dictionary form" that is used for dictionary entries. It will not only
help us find words easily in a dictionary, but also enable us to understand the verb conjugation better!
Do you remember the expression えきのうら (literally, "backside of station"), in which えき (station)
indicates the place that is used as the base, and うら (the backside) is a word that indicates a specific
position? うちのなか (the inside of the house) uses the same pattern, "X の Y."
Did you add を after うちのなか ? It's the same を we used in the sentence にほんごをはなします (I
speak Japanese). The particle を is used to indicate the direct object of a verb. In うちのなかをあんない
します (I'll show you around the house), を indicates that うちのなか (literally, "the inside of the house") is
what the speaker will show around!
When we want to offer to do something to our listener, we can replace the verb ending ます with ましょう
か , as in あんないしましょうか (Shall I show you around?).
Did you remember that we sometimes need to use ご instead of お to make a certain word or expression
more polite? あんないします is one of these words!
Do you remember こちら (this way), the word indicating a general direction? こちら and its counterparts
そちら (that way) and あちら (that way over there) can also be used as the polite form for ここ (this
place), そこ (that place), and あそこ (that place over there).
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If the context makes it clear that you are talking about the kitchen, だいどころの in the phrase だいどこ
ろのとなり (next to the kitchen) can be replaced with the "pointing" word その (that). Let's try to use the
shorter version in the next question!
Do you remember the expression ここに ("here" or "at this place")? When we want to indicate the place
where something exists, we add the particle に after the place noun. It's equivalent to "at," "on," or "in" in
English. Let's try that in the next question!
Did you add が after ちゃしつ and say ちゃしつがあります (There is a tea-ceremony room)? It's the
same が we learned to use in the sentence ほんやがあります (There is a bookstore). In these sentences,
the particle が is used to mark the subject of a verb.
In the following questions, let's assume that we are talking about the locations where things exist!
The pronunciation of なん (what) changes to なに depending on the word that comes after it. なん is
used when it is followed by a counter as in なんじ (what time) or by a word that starts with the "t" sound
(such as と ), "d" sound (such as で ), or "n" sound (such as の ). In all other cases, we use なに .
Both ある and いる mean "to exist" or "to be (present)." While ある is used for things such as a desk or a
house, いる is primarily used to talk about the existence of living creatures including people and animals.
Did you remember that we can use the same form of verbs and nouns to talk about both singular and
plural objects?
Did you remember that we can link two or more nouns or noun phrases with the particle と (and)?
の in あかいの is not a particle but a pronoun that is equivalent to "one" or "ones" in English. We can use
this kind of の only when we can reasonably assume that our listener understands what we are talking
about. When we are talking about carp, for example, あかいの means あかいこい (red carp).
や in あかいのやしろいの is a linking word that is used to list two or more nouns or noun phrases. While
と list all the items, や shows a few representative items, implying that there are more. あかいのやしろ
いの is equivalent to "red ones, white ones, and others."
In Japanese, basic colors such as "red" or "white" have both nouns (あか or しろ ) and adjectives (あかい
or しろい ). Others, however, have nouns only. "Orange," for example, is オレンジいろ (literally, "orange
color").
Did you use the particle の and say オレンジいろのこい (literally, "carp in orange color")? This is another
instance of the "X の Y" pattern, in which the particle の indicates that the first noun X "modifies" the
second noun Y--that is, X is the information about Y.
Notice that we don't say きんいろのの but simply say きんいろの to mean "gold-colored ones"!
このへやにテレビがあります and テレビはこのへやにあります might sound similar, but their functions
are different. このへやにテレビがあります describes what is in a certain location (In this room, there is a
TV). テレビはこのへやにあります , on the other hand, tells where a certain thing is located (As for the TV,
it's in this room). Please note that the former uses the particle が to mark the subject (テレビ ), while the
latter uses the topic marker は to indicate テレビ as the "topic" of the sentence.
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Here's one of the basic rules on when to use the particle は or が . We use が if the subject is first
introduced in the conversation and use は if the subject is already introduced or otherwise known to your
listener. For example, when we want to inform our listener that there is a TV in the room, we say このへ
やにテレビがあります because テレビ is a new piece of information. Then if we want to talk about the
said TV, we start our sentence with テレビは ... (As for the TV...).
リビングにあります (It is in the living room) can be rephrased as リビングです . They mean the same,
though リビングにあります more specifically denotes the existence of the object. In this chapter, let's
use あります to point out where things are. Please note that we need the particle に to indicate the
location when we use the verb あります as well as います .
Did you notice that we need the particle に after the question word どこ (where) since we are asking
about the location of something, using the verb あります ?
Did you remember to use the verb います to talk about a cat--a living creature?
Do you remember that Japanese speakers tend to avoid using pronouns such as "you" or "she," and
either omit them whenever the context makes the meaning clear or substitute real names for them?
Instead of using real names, we can also use generic noun phrases as substitutes. Common substitutes
for "he" or "she," for example, are このひと (this person), そのひと (that person), and あのひと (that
person over there).
おんな (female) can also mean a "woman," but it sounds very rude to use the term to refer to someone.
Let's figure out an appropriate way to talk about a woman!
Did you connect the two nouns おんな (female) and ひと (person) with the noun-linking particle の , using
the now-familiar "X の Y" pattern? おんなのひと (literally, a "female person" or "a person who is female")
is the proper way to refer to a woman in general.
We have learned that many traditional Japanese female names end with こ as in ようこ . こ means a
"child," and it's usually used in phrases such as おとこのこ (literally, a "male child") or あのこ (that child
over there).
Do you remember that there are two versions for the question word "where" in Japanese--the polite どち
ら and the plain どこ ? Likewise, the polite question word どなた (who/whom) has the plain counterpart だ
れ . As in the case of どこ , the "plain" label does not mean that it's used only in casual conversations! As
long as we use だれ in a sentence that ends with either です or ます , we are still talking in the polite form-only sounding less formal or respectful than when we use どなた .
Did you use の to connect このしゃしん (this photograph) and おとこのこ (boy)? It's another use of the
"X の Y" pattern, in which このしゃしん is the location where おとこのこ appears.
We have so far learned that the "pointing" word これ and its counterparts それ and あれ are used for
things and not for people, right? Exceptions are when we are talking about people in photographs!
Did you remember that we can omit personal pronouns such as "you" or "yours" whenever we can
reasonably assume that our listeners understand who we are talking about?
We have so far learned that the Japanese equivalent to "grandmother" is そぼ . When we want to refer to
someone else's grandmother or directly address our own grandmother, we should use the polite term お
ばあさん to show our respect.
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Do you remember that Japanese uses different counting words to count different things? さい is the
counter for age and is equivalent to "years old" in English!
Did you use そふ , the "plain" word for "grandfather," to refer to your own?
なんさい is the "plain" version of おいくつ (how old). It's the combination of the question word なん (what)
and the age counter さい .
Did you notice that the pronunciation for the number eight (はち ) changes when it's combined with さい ?
A similar change happens when the number is "one" (いち ） or "ten" (じゅう ). "One year old," for
example, is いっさい , and "ten years old" is じゅっさい .
Notice that we need ご instead of お to politely say "family" in Japanese.
にん in the question word なんにん is the counter for people.
Although the counter for people is にん , we say ひとり for "one person" and ふたり for "two people."
These are two special cases that need to be memorized!
To count three or more people, we attach にん to the number, as in さんにん . The exception is for "four
people": the number four is よん , but we say よにん .
Strictly speaking, きょうだい means "brother(s)," but it also means "sibling(s)" in general. If there are
only sisters, we can use the term しまい (sisters).
When we say きょうだいはふたりです in Japanese, it usually includes ourselves. To avoid a
misunderstanding, however, it's a good idea to list all the members!
Do you remember that こ means a "child"? ひとりっこ literally means "one child." Did you notice that
the pronunciation slightly changes when ひとり and こ are combined?
We have so far learned the verb いる as the equivalent of "to exist/to be" when we are talking about
people, animals, and other living creatures. いる can also mean "to have."
Did you notice that we need が after ペット and say ペットがいます (I have a pet)? Some verbs require
us to use が , not を , to mark their objects. It's the same が we used in the question ちずがありますか
(Do you have maps?).
Now let's figure out a simple way to answer the question, ペットがいますか (Do you have pets?)!
The counter for small animals (such as dogs and cats), fish, and insects is ひき . Please note that the
pronunciation of ひき changes just like ほん (the counter for thin, long objects), depending on what word
or number comes before it. When combined with the question word なん , it becomes びき as in なんびき .
When someone asks you どんないぬですか (What kind of dog is it?), he or she may be asking about your
dog's breed or characteristics such as its size, color, or disposition. Let's assume the latter is the case
here.
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Have you noticed that both おおきい (big) and かわいい (cute) end with い ? So does あかい (red) and し
ろい (white), right? In fact, the dictionary form of many adjectives in Japanese ends with い . That's why
we call this type of adjective the "い -adjective."
Did you notice that we say きれいないぬ (beautiful dog) with な added after the adjective きれい ? Even
though きれい ends with い , it's a type of adjective different from い -adjectives such as おおきい . Since
this type of adjective always needs な when used before a noun to modify it, we call it "な -adjective."
There are not many な -adjectives that end with い . So, let's memorize きれい as a な -adjective and use it
accordingly!
げんき can be either a noun ("good health," "good cheer," or "vitality") or a な -adjective ("healthy," "fine,"
"cheerful," "spry," or "full of energy"). Here we use it as a な -adjective.
Did you notice that げんき (which is a な -adjective) does not need な when it's used as the sentenceending word along with です as in げんきです ? Let's call sentences that end with an adjective and です
"adjective sentences"!
Do you remember the verb します (do) and its past form しました (did)? する (to do) is its dictionary
form. This verb is very versatile. It takes a wide range of nouns as its object, including sports, events,
games, chores, or other various activities, and it means that the activity is carried out. The translation,
therefore, varies depending on the object.
As in the case of おちゃ , people often say おはなみ with the polite-word maker お even in a casual
conversation.
Please note that あした (tomorrow) is a noun, but it's often used as an adverb without any accompanying
particle.
Did you use the question word なに instead of なん because the word that follows it is を , which starts
with neither the "t," "d," nor "n" sound?
Like あした (tomorrow), きょう is a noun that is often used as an adverb.
Let's assume that our listener knows that we are talking about our own mother in the following
questions. This means we can safely omit the pronoun わたしの (my).
Did you notice that the sentence きょうは、ははのたんじょうびです (Today is my mother's birthday) has
the familiar "X は Y です " pattern, in which X is the topic of the sentence? Since きょう (today) is actually
a noun, we can use it as the topic.
When you want to politely invite someone to do something, you replace the polite verb ending ます with
the negative form ません and attach the question marker か . ～ませんか is equivalent to "Why don't you
~?" or "Why don't we ~?" depending on the context.
いっしょに consists of いっしょ (which means "being together") and the particle に . We can use いっしょ
に with regular verbs such as いきます (go) or します (do) to mean "together" or "with (someone)."
When we are going out and want to invite someone to join us, we say in English, "Why don't you come
with us?" When we want to issue the same invitation in Japanese, we need to say いっしょにいきません
か ("Why don't you go with us?"). In general, we use いく (to go) to describe the movement in the
direction away from the place where the speaker is as she or he speaks, while くる (to come) is used to
describe the movement toward the speaker.
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The generic verb する (to do) sometimes attaches itself directly to a common activity noun such as しょ
くじ (a meal) or さんぽ (a walk) without using the particle を . The longer verbs thus formed (as in しょく
じする or さんぽする ) are called "compound verbs." In theory, it's possible to create an infinite number
of compound verbs in this way, but only well-established expressions are considered grammatically
legitimate verbs!
こん in こんばん means "this" or "now" (used only as a part of time expression) and ばん means
"evening" or "night." こんばん (tonight), therefore, literally means "this evening." If you are wondering
whether こんばん is related to the greeting こんばんは , which we use when we meet someone after dark,
you are right! The greeting, in fact, is derived from a sentence that begins with こんばんは or "As for
tonight."
When you want to invite someone to do something with you or accept an invitation with enthusiasm, we
can replace the polite verb ending ます with ましょう , as in いきましょう . It's equivalent to "Let's ~" in
English. Compared with いきませんか (literally, "Won't you go?"), いきましょう sounds more positive and
direct.
When we don't want to give a straight answer right away or need time to think, we can buy time by saying
そうですね・・・ . It's equivalent to "Well...," "Let's see...," or "Let me think..." in English!
Sometimes you have to decline an invitation. Let's learn how to do it politely a la Japanese!
Now, let's learn how to reply graciously when someone has declined your invitation!
Do you remember how to say "we" in Japanese? That's right, it's わたしたち . たち in わたしたち and ひと
たち is one of the several "plural markers." In general, we don't need to create the specific plural form for
Japanese nouns. However, personal pronouns (such as "we" or "you") and "human" nouns (such as
"people" or "children") are exceptions!
There are two words for "teacher" in Japanese: きょうし and せんせい . きょうし is a generic term for the
occupation. Use this word when you are describing your family members, your friends, or yourself. If you
want to show your respect to the person whom you are describing, as in the case of introducing a teacher
to someone else, use せんせい instead.
We can use もうひとり to mean either "another person" or "the other person," depending on the context.
いん in かいしゃいん (company employee) means a "(staff) member" in Japanese. かいしゃいん ,
therefore, literally means a "company staff member." Please note that いん is always used with other
words, as in ぎんこういん (bank employee) or えきいん (station worker)!
も in カラオケもあります is equivalent to "too," "also," or "either" in English. Please note that も is a
particle--that is, it usually appears right after a noun or a noun phrase!　X も Y も is equivalent to "both X and Y" or "neither X nor Y" in English.
Did you notice that we use the expression "X も Y も " (neither X nor Y) with the negative form of verb, but
it does not form double-negative? It's similar to the usage of あまり ("not very much" or "not very well").
When we want to say "(I) like" in Japanese, we say すきです . Please note that すき is a な -adjective that is
equivalent to "fond" or "favorite" in English.
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Did you notice that we need to use the particle が to say テニスがすきです (I like tennis)? As in the case
of あります or います (have), すきです use が , not を , to mark the object. Let's memorize "Xがすきです "
(I like X) as a set phrase!
だい in だいすきです literally means "big" or "great." When combined with すきです , it works like "very
much." The English equivalent of "Xがだいすきです ," therefore, is "(I) like X very much" or "(I) love X"!
きらい is a な -adjective, which can mean "hateful," "disgusting," "offensive," or "detestable"--anything that
is the opposite of すき ("fond" or "favorite")! To say "(I) hate," we say きらいです . If you want to
emphasize your negative feelings even more, you can say だいきらいです !
Did you remember that あまり ("not very" or "not much") is only used in a negative sentence, but it does
not make the sentence double-negative?
Now let's use the simple yet discreet way to give a negative answer.
Did you notice that we used the particle は instead of が in すもうはすきですが (I like sumo, but...)? In a
two-part sentence such as "I like X, but I don't like Y," we use the particle は for both parts to emphasize
that we are contrasting two things.
から connects two sentences together by appearing at the end of the first sentence and indicates that
the first sentence is the cause or reason for the second sentence. It's equivalent to "because," "since" or
"so" in English. In conversations, the second sentence (one that tells the effect or result) is often omitted
and only implied.
Do you remember that the equivalent of "funny" in Japanese is おもしろい ? おもしろい can also mean
"enjoyable" or "interesting."
Did you notice that れんしゅうする (to practice) is a compound verb using the noun れんしゅう (a
practice) and the generic verb する (to do)?
In everyday conversation, the particle に in ここに (here) is often omitted. Let's try it!
Do you remember we used the particle が to mark the subject of verbs as in こいがいます (There are
carp)? In everyday conversations, the particle が is often omitted when the subject of the sentence is だ
れか (someone) or its counterpart なにか (something).
Please note that though だれも means "no one" or "nobody," it must be used with the negative form of a
verb in a sentence.
Did you notice that we don't need the particle が after だれも ?
So far, we have used どうぞ to mean "Here you go," "Please come in," or "Please get on." We can also
use どうぞ to allow someone to take an action. It's equivalent to "Go ahead" or "Please do"!
Do you remember that Japanese people usually avoid using pronouns as long as the context allows it? か
れ literally means "he" or "him," but it is often used to mean a very special "he"--(one's) boyfriend!
Did you use the pointing word そこ (that place) instead of それ (that thing) to point to せき (seat), which
is considered as a place rather than an object?
Do you remember that we count people as ひとり (one person), ふたり (two people), さんにん (three
people), and so on? ひとり can also mean "(being) single," "(being) alone," or "(being) by oneself"!
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So far we have used the particle と as the Japanese equivalent of "and," as in ちちとはは (father and
mother). The same particle has another function: in the phrase かれと , と means "with" in English!
Did you notice that we don't need the particle に when we use the word いっしょ (being together) along
with です , as in かれといっしょです (I'm together with my boyfriend)?
Like かれ ("[one's] boyfriend"; literally, "he" or "him"), かのじょ is the pronoun for "she" or "her," but is
often used to mean "(one's) girlfriend"!
みせ is a generic term for a place of business that is open for customers, including retail stores,
restaurants, and bars. Native speakers often use the term whenever they assume that their listeners
understand which place of business they are talking about. It's one of those words that is very simple
and useful, but it's hard to find an English equivalent! For convenience, let's use a "place of business" for
its English translation even though it may sound a bit strange.
かいめ in にかいめ (the second time) is the counter indicating the status of the current action in regard to
the frequency. Please note that in order to say "(for) the first time" in Japanese, we often say はじめて
without using the combination of the number and the counter.
あまり ("not very" or "not much") can also mean "not very often." Let's use it in this way in the next
question!
The two expressions "X と " (with X) and "X といっしょに " (together with X) mean the same thing. We can
use them interchangeably to indicate that X is the person with whom you share an action, such as going
to a club or watching a movie.
にがて is a な -adjective we can use to describe our weak points. It's equivalent to "poor at" or "weak in" in
English!
When you say にがてです , you are simply stating (or "reporting") that you are not good at something.
When you say にがてなんです , however, you are offering the fact to your listener as an explanation for
your action or your previous remark. The ending なんです , attached to either nouns, な -adjectives, or
adverbs, adds the nuance of "as a matter of fact" or "to tell you the truth" to the sentence. For the sake
of convenience, let's call this mode of speech the "explanation mode"!
Do you remember the expression にほんごがじょうずです (You are good at Japanese) or テニスがすきで
す (I like tennis)? As in the case of じょうずです or すきです , we use the particle が to indicate the object
of にがてです --that is, what we are poor at --as in ダンスがにがてです .
へえ？ is a casual way to express your surprise or doubt. It's equivalent to "Indeed?" "Really?" or "Oh?" in
English!
Can you answer the next question using the casual "I" for a male speaker?
Do you remember the expression 「うに」といいます (We call it "uni")? といいます is a common
expression we use to introduce the name of a thing or a person in somewhat indirect manner. It's
equivalent to "is/am/are called ~" or "we call (something) ~." Let's memorize it as a phrase so that all we
have to do is to insert the name before と !
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Though we often get by without using any pronouns such as わたし (I or me) or あなた (you) in Japanese,
sometimes we have to be specific to avoid misunderstandings or mix-ups--especially in relationships! In
the following questions, let's clearly state whose boyfriend we are talking about!
すてき is a な -adjective that means "wonderful," "lovely," or "nice."
Did you remember to add な and say すてきなひと since すてき is a な -adjective?
Can you see the difference between となりのカフェ and カフェのとなり ? While となりのカフェ (literally,
"cafe at the next-door") describes the cafe in regard to its location, カフェのとなり (literally, "the nextdoor of the cafe") indicates the location of something else in relation to the cafe.
Did you notice that we need to use the particle で and say となりのカフェで ? This is the same particle we
learned to use in the sentence ここでおります (I'm getting off at this place). The particle で attaches
itself to a noun denoting a place, just as the particle に does, and works as "at," "in," or "on" in English.
While に indicates the place where something or someone exists, で indicates the place where some
action takes place.
When we want to give an example while making a suggestion, we use でも , instead of the particle を ,
after the noun. For instance, when suggesting that someone join us for refreshments, we can pick コー
ヒー (coffee) as an example out of other drinks available and say コーヒーでも , which means "coffee or
something" or "coffee, for example." Please note that this でも is different from でも that means "but"!
すごいひと can mean either an "amazing person" or "terribly crowded." Let's use it in the latter sense
here!
むかいのバー can mean either "the bar across the street" or "the bar across the hallway (or aisle)."
Generally speaking, Japanese women prefer paying their own way when they wine and dine with friends-whether these friends are male or female. However, when asked out by men for the first time, many
women probably expect their dates to pay the whole tab. "Going Dutch" in Japanese is わりかん . If you
want to suggest to split the cost, you can say わりかんにしましょう !
じ in なんじ is the counter for the hour. It's equivalent to "o'clock" in English!
Did you notice that the pronunciation of よん (four) changes when it's used to tell the hour?
Some Japanese numbers have two different pronunciations. For example, we have so far learned "seven"
is なな , but the same number can be read as しち . In general, we can use both pronunciations
interchangeably, but sometimes we have to use a particular one, depending on the counter that follows
it. When we say "seven o'clock," for example, we have to say しちじ . Let's memorize it and use it as it is!
Like "seven," "nine" in Japanese has two pronunciations: きゅう and く . When we tell the hour, we have to
say くじ (nine o'clock). Let's memorize this one, too!
かえる means "to return," but we often use it to mean "to go home."
Did you notice that we don't need any particle after しゅうまつ (weekend) to say "for the weekend"?
Most time expressions that do not include specific numbers such as the hour or the date can be used as
they are without particles equivalent to "at," "on," "in," or "for."
か in かようび (Tuesday) means "fire," and it corresponds to the Japanese term for Mars, かせい (literally,
"Fire Star").
すい in すいようび (Wednesday) means "water," and it corresponds to the Japanese term for Mercury, す
いせい (literally, "Water Star").
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もく in もくようび (Thursday) means "wood" or "tree," and it corresponds to the Japanese term for
Jupiter, もくせい (literally, "Wood Star").
きん in きんようび (Friday) means "metal" or "gold," and it corresponds to the Japanese term for Venus,
きんせい ("Gold Star").
ど in どようび (Saturday) means "earth," "soil" or "dirt," and it corresponds to the Japanese term for
Saturn, どせい (literally, "Dirt Star").
にち in にちようび (Sunday) means "the sun," just like in English! Please note, however, にち itself
cannot be used independently to mean the sun. Neither are the corresponding parts in other days of the
week such as げつ in げつようび or か in かようび , except for きん (gold) in きんようび !
Here is the simple, yet effective way to memorize all the Japanese terms for the days of the week: say,
"げつ , か (あ ), すい , もく , きん , ど (お ), にち " (the extra vowels are added after か and ど for the sake of
the rhythm). Repeat it, like a mantra, until it gets stuck in your head. Then, all you need to do is to add
ようび after each component. Make sure, though, to remember that this "week mantra" starts with
Monday!
Did you remember that we use the particle は as in "Xは ・・・ が 、 Yは ・・・ " (X is..., but Y is...) when we
contrast two statements in one sentence?
Do you remember the expression とうきょうえきまで (to Tokyo station)? Both まで and へ can be used
to indicate a destination, but while まで emphasizes the end of a movement, like "as far as" in English,
the particle へ puts more emphasis on the direction of movement as in "toward." In this section, let's use
へ as the equivalent of "to" in English!
We have learned to use the particle に to indicate a location where something exists, as in ここにありま
す (It exists here). We can also use the particle に to express the purpose of movement with verbs such
as いく (to go), くる (to come), or かえる (to go home). In such a case, the noun that comes before に
is an activity noun like hiking or shopping. Sometimes, an event such as a concert or a festival can be
used before the particle に as well.
We have learned that the particle に indicates the purpose of movement. The word that comes before に
can be either an activity noun or a verb! When we use a verb, simply drop ます from the polite form and
add に . For example, to say "I go to swim," we drop ます from およぎます (swim) and say およぎにいきま
す.
うみ means the "ocean" or "sea," but we can also use it to mean the "beach" when we want to say "Let's
go to the beach" or "This beach is clean."
あそびにくる literally means "to come to have fun," but we can use the phrase to mean "to come over
for a visit" when we invite others to our own home. In turn, we can say あそびにいく (literally, "to go to
have fun") when we go to someone's home for a visit!
Here is another formula that uses the ます -form of a verb: when we want to express our desire to do
something, we drop ます from the polite form of the verb and add たいです . For example, いきたいです
means "(I) want to go." Please note that we cannot use ～たいです to describe the desire of the third
person. Neither can we use it when we are making offers or issuing invitations as in "Would you like to
have some coffee?"
Did you add へ after the question word どこ (where) and say どこへいきますか (Where do you go)? We
need the particle へ to indicate the destination, even when we are asking about it!
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Did you remember to use the question word なに along with the object marker を ?
Now, for the next question, let's pretend that someone has suggested that you go to a movie together.
Can you come up with an enthusiastic response?
We can use どうですか (literally, "How is it?") not only to ask how something is, but also to make a
suggestion, like saying "How about ~?" in English!
Do you remember that the Japanese word for a "mountain" is やま ? The Chinese character for やま (山 )
is often read as さん when it's used in the names of mountains, as in たかおさん (Mt. Takao). It may
sound like a person's name, but さん in たかおさん and さん in ようこさん (Ms. Yoko) are completely
different things!
ゆうめい ends with い , but it's a な -adjective that means "famous" or "well-known."
Did you notice that we need to use the particle が , not を , along with the verb いります (I need)? As you
have already learned, some verbs and adjectives need が to mark their objects, as in ペットがいます (I
have a pet) or テニスがすきです (I like tennis). Let's remember that いります is one of them!
Did you remember that the sentence-ending particle ね can be used to seek a confirmation with a rising
intonation? It's equivalent to "..., right?" in English!
Did you replace the particle が with the particle も to add the meaning of "also" or "too"? Also remember
that we can use も in a negative sentence, as in "either" in English!
おわすれなく is a polite way to say "Don't forget!" in everyday conversation. It's based on the negative
form of the verb わすれる (to forget).
Did you remember to use the particle で to indicate the location where the action takes place?
Here is another use for the particle に . When we indicate the point in time that an action takes place, we
need to use に after the time, as in くじに (at nine o'clock).
Did you remember to add the particle に after the question word なんじ (what time) to find out the point
in time when an action (here going to a movie) takes place?
When we mention approximate times, we add ごろ after the time, as in よじごろ . When we use ごろ , we
can omit the particle に that indicates the time of action.
Here are some tips on how to use three similar phrases. We use やすみましょう (Let's rest) to express
our will to involve our listener directly or to enthusiastically support another person's suggestion. We use
やすみましょうか (Shall we rest?) when we want to prompt our listener to start a mutual action. やすみま
せんか (Why don't we rest?) is a gentler invitation in the form of a negative question, showing our respect
to our listener's will.
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Do you remember the expression タクシーをよびましょうか (Should I call a taxi?). We used the verb
ending ましょうか to offer a service to someone. Now, we can use the same ending when we want to
make a polite suggestion. It's equivalent to "Shall we ~?" in English!
As you already know, Japanese people often end their sentences with ね , sharing their feelings or opinions
and seeking agreement or confirmation from their listeners. つかれましたね is another example. In this
expression, the tired speaker assumes that the other person is also tired and seeks an agreement from
him or her. It's a very common way of communicating in Japanese, though the English equivalent--"We're
tired, aren't we?"--may sound a bit strange!
The counter for the temperature in Japanese is ど . We can also use ど for the degree of an angle.
We can use なんどですか (literally, "What degree is it?") to ask how hot or cold　something is.
When we end our sentence with です , we imply that what we are saying is a fact. When we want to avoid
sounding definite and imply that what we are saying is only our assumption, we can end our sentence
with でしょう instead of です . To ask your listener his or her assumption, simply add the question
marker か and end the sentence with でしょうか . It's equivalent to "do you think?" or "I wonder" in
English.
Do you remember that we use ごろ to tell an approximate time as in よじごろ (around four o'clock)?
When we talk about the approximate amount of something (such as temperature, time, distance, weight,
or price), we use ぐらい after the number to mean "about," "around," or "approximately." For example,
さんじゅうどぐらい means "around thirty degrees."
"Zero" in Japanese can be either れい or ゼロ . When talking about the temperature, however, we must
use れい and say れいど (zero degrees).
When we want to signal our listeners that we are thinking, as in "Let me see..." in English, we can say
えーっと・・・ . It's similar to そうですね・・・ (Well...), but えーっと ・・・ is more casual and
spontaneous!
In the next question, let's assume that someone has asked about the outside temperature, and you are
looking at a thermometer to find the information.
Please note that we mainly use すずしい (cool) to describe the temperature of the air or the climate with
a positive connotation. Make sure not to use it as the equivalent of "cool" in expressions like "He's so
cool!"
より is a particle that comes after the word used as the counterpart of a comparison. It's equivalent to
"than" or "more than" in English!
Did you notice that in きのうよりすずしいです (It's cooler than yesterday), the adjective (すずしい ) itself
does not change its form? What tells us that this is a comparison sentence? That's right! It's the
particle より !
Do you remember that we have so far used どちら as the polite version of どこ (where)? We can also
use どちら as the equivalent of "which" in English in a question asking our listener to compare two things
and choose one of them.
Did you remember that we use the particle が to indicate what we like? We also need to add が after the
question word どちら to say どちらがすきですか (Which do you like?).
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To form a comparison question using the question word どちら , we mention two things by adding the
particle と after each word, as in "X と Y と ." It's the equivalent of "X or Y" in English.
When we want to pick one over the other in our answer to the comparison question, such as うみとやま
と、どちらがすきですか (Which do you like better, the ocean or mountains?), we can use the pattern "X
のほうが・・・です ." Let's memorize the pattern and practice using it in a conversation!
We can use どちらも in both affirmative and negative sentences.
Did you notice that although どちらも is the equivalent of "neither," we have to use it along with the
negative sentence ending, as in どちらもすきじゃありません ?
When we want to compare more than three things and pick one as the highest (or the lowest) ranking
among them, we add いちばん (literally, the "number one") before the adjective. It's equivalent to "(the)
most" or "(the) best" in English.
In order to indicate the range of choices, we use the particle で as in きせつで (among seasons) or にほん
で (in Japan).
はれ is a noun that describes sunny or clear weather. That's the word you'll be looking for when you
watch the weather forecast on Japanese TV! You can also describe the same nice weather as いいてんき
(fine weather) in everyday conversations.
Did you notice that the past form of あついです is different from the past form of はれです ? It's because
あついです is made of an い -adjective (あつい ) and です , while はれです consists of a noun (はれ ) and で
す . If the sentence ends with an い -adjective and です , the past form takes the same pattern as あつ
かったです : simply drop いです at the end and replace it with かったです !
Now, do you remember から ("because" or "since") that marks the sentence as the cause of the
subsequent sentence? Let's use it in the next question!
Did you notice that the past form of きれいです is different from the past form of あついです ? It's
because きれい is a な -adjective! If the sentence ends with a な -adjective and です , simply replace です
with でした !
Because どのくらい can be used in many situations, you may find that some questions sound rather
vague. ちょうじょうまでどのくらいですか , for example, can be asking about the distance to the summit
or time that it takes to get there. In this section, let's assume that the question is about the distance!
どのくらい is a very versatile question word that we can use to ask the amount or degree of something,
including distance, temperature, weight, duration of time, cost, and size. The translation, therefore, can
vary, depending on what measurement we are dealing with. To be specific, we can use なん (what) plus
the counter as in なんど for the temperature.
Did you use the particle まで , not へ , as the equivalent of "to" in the phrase "from here to the summit"?
When talking about the distance between two points, we use から (from) to indicate the starting point and
まで ("to" or "as far as") to indicate the end. Let's memorize "X から Y まで " as a stock phrase! When the
starting point is obvious, it's often omitted.
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あと is a word that points to a place that is behind, a time that comes later, or things that remain. We
can use あと before some numbers (such as distance, time, or quantity) to indicate the remaining
amount. あといちキロメートル , for example, means "one more kilometer to go"!
When we describe a natural phenomenon, we use the particle が to mark the subject, as in あめがふりま
す (literally, "Rain falls"). In this case, we can't replace が with the topic marker は .
Do you remember the sentence ending でしょう , which implies that what we are telling is our
assumption? When we want to indicate that what we are telling is our conjecture based on observation,
we end the sentence with そうです instead. It's equivalent to "it seems" or "it looks" in English. For
regular verbs such as ふる (to fall), simply drop ます from the polite form and add そうです to form the
pattern, as in ふりそうです .
なんだか is a phrase we can use in everyday conversations to express the vagueness of our feelings or
judgments. It's equivalent to "I don't know why, but ...," "somewhat," "a little," "kind of," or "somehow" in
English!
Some Japanese adverbs mimetically describe movements with repeated words. そろそろ is one of them,
giving the listener a sense of slowness. The English equivalents include "slowly," "softly," "gradually," "(not
right now but) soon," or "by and by."
そろそろいきましょうか literally means "Shall we go by and by?"ー a suggestion to start in a short time.
However, people sometimes use the same expression to hurry others in a polite way. In that case, the
English equivalent would be "It's about time for us to go" or "We'd better be going!"
There are only two basic Group III verbs whose conjugation patterns we have to memorize: する (to do)
and くる (to come). The rest of Group III verbs are "compound" verbs based on these two, and they
conjugate just as the basic verbs do.
So far, we have been learning two forms of verbs, the dictionary form and the ます -form (that is, the
polite form). Let's start paying close attention to how these two forms are related so that we'll be able to
identify the three types of Japanese verbs: Group I, Group II, and Group III.
する (to do) belongs to Group III, or "irregular," verbs. It's called "irregular" because the way this verb
conjugates (that is, how it changes form according to the different usage, as in する becoming します in
the polite form) has no pattern that matches with the conjugation pattern of other verbs. We just have to
memorize how this verb conjugates!
In Japanese, there is a verb form called the て -form, which we can use in various verb phrases. To create
the て -form for a Group III (or irregular) verb, we simply delete ます from its polite form and add て . The
て -form for する (or します ) therefore is して .
When we want to talk about some action or motion in progress, we use the て -form of the verb followed
by います . しています is equivalent to "is/am/are doing" in English!
もしもし is an everyday expression we can use when we make a phone call, pick up the phone, or make
sure that the person on the other end of the phone line is still there. This funny sounding phrase is
derived from the verb もうす (humble version of "to say"). The English equivalent is "Hello," but
remember that もしもし is almost exclusively used during phone conversations!
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In the next questions, let's pretend that you are making a phone call!
We can use りょうり to mean not only "cooking" but also "a dish" (as in おいしいりょうり or "a tasty
dish") or cuisine (as in にほんりょうり or "Japanese cuisine").
The Japanese alphabet chart consists of five columns (or lines) and ten rows with the addition of the
single letter ん . The first row is all vowels, あいうえお , each of which heads each line, as in あ -line or い line. Each of the remaining rows is made of the combination of a vowel and a consonant, in the order of
k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, w. The additional chart covers consonants g, z, d, b, p. In other words, each row uses
the same consonant, while each line uses the same vowel.
The conjugation pattern for Group II verbs involves a single "line" of the alphabet chart: either い -line or
え -line. For example, all the conjugated forms of the verb たべる (to eat) contain べ (which belongs to
the え -line), as in たべます and たべて . Because it involves a single line (or いちだん in Japanese), the
conjugation pattern for Group II verbs is called いちだんかつよう (single-line conjugation).
たべる (to eat) is a Group II verb. Group II verbs are sometimes called "る -verbs" because the dictionary
form of all Group II verbs ends with る . The problem is that the dictionary form of some Group I verbs
also ends with る ! It's important to determine whether the verb belongs to Group I or II because these
two groups conjugate differently. Let's learn how to identify verb types, using たべる as our example.
A quick and sure way to determine whether a verb belongs to Group II is to compare the dictionary form
and the polite-form. First, drop ます from the polite form. If what is left matches what comes before る in
the dictionary form, then the verb is a Group II verb. For example, たべ in たべます and たべ in たべる
match perfectly, right? Therefore, we can conclude that たべる is a Group II verb!
Forming the て -form for Group II verbs is easy! All you have to do is to drop ます from the polite-form (or
drop る from the dictionary form) and add て instead! So, the て -form for たべる or たべます is たべて !
The dictionary form for "to make (a telephone call)" is かける , and the polite form is かけます . Can you
tell what type of verb this is? That's right! It's Group II. We can easily tell that because かけ in かけます
matches perfectly with かけ in かける . We are now ready to figure out the て -form of the verb!
でんわ can mean either a "telephone" as an instrument or a "telephone call." Let's use the word in the
latter meaning in the next question!
Let's figure out the verb type of みる (to watch). What is left after dropping ます from みます is み , and
it's identical to what comes before る in みる , right? So, we can tell that this verb also belongs to Group
II!
Let's have a closer look at the Group I verb つくる . When we compare つくる and つくります , we see
that the first part つく is unchanged. Since the ます ending of つくります is a common addition to all the
polite forms, let's put it aside. Now, what is changed is the dictionary form ending る , which becomes り
in the polite form. り belongs to the い -line of the Japanese alphabet chart, while る belongs to the う line. Let's see whether other Group I verbs follow the pattern!
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Let's figure out which verb group つくる belongs to. Though つくる ends with る , what is left after
dropping ます from つくります does not match what comes before る in the dictionary form, right?
Therefore, this verb belongs not to Group II but to Group I.
How to make the て -form for Group I verbs is a little more involved than Group II or III: it depends on the
verb ending of the dictionary form. For the Group I verb whose dictionary form ends with う or つ or る ,
drop the ending and add って . Since つくる is a Group I verb and ends with る , the て -form will be つくっ
て!
Can you tell what kind of verb たく (to cook [rice]) is? It does not belong to Group III, which consists of
only two verbs, する (to do) and くる (to come). Neither does it belong to Group II, whose dictionary form
always ends with る . Therefore, we can safely conclude that たく is a Group I verb!
Let's compare たく and たきます . For this Group I verb, what is unchanged is た , and what is changed is
the dictionary form ending く , which becomes き in the polite form. き belongs to the い -line of the
Japanese alphabet chart, and く belongs to the う -line. So, we can tell that たく follows the same basic
conjugation pattern as つくる !
To make the て -form for the Group I verbs whose dictionary form ends with く , we drop く from the
dictionary form and add いて . Now, let's figure out the て -form for たく !
わかす (to boil) is used as the method for boiling water or some kind of liquid such as tea or soup. We
can't use it to say, for example, "to boil an egg (or potato)"!
Let's examine one more Group I verb for the conjugation pattern. わかす does not end with る , so we
know that this is a Group I verb. When we compare わかす and わかします , the unchanged part is わか ,
and the changed part is the dictionary form ending す , which is changed to し in the polite form. し
belongs to the い -line of the Japanese alphabet chart, while す belongs to the う -line. So, わかす also
follows the same conjugation pattern as つくる and たく !
For those Group I verbs whose dictionary form ends with す , we make the て -form by dropping the verb
ending す from the dictionary form and adding して . Now, what do you think the て -form for わかす is?
The Japanese equivalent to "hot water" is ゆ , but most people say おゆ in everyday conversation!
Just like ごはんをたく (to cook rice), おゆをわかす is a commonly used expression. Literally, it means "to
boil hot water," which sounds like a waste of energy, but it actually means "to boil water"!
We have learned from our examination of three Group I verbs that the conjugation pattern for this verb
type involves at least two lines from the Japanese alphabet chart: the い -line and う -line. In fact, most
Group I verbs use all five lines to complete their conjugation pattern. That's why we call the conjugation
pattern for Group I verbs ごだんかつよう (five-line conjugation)!
Did you remember that to tell the purpose of movement (in this case "to come"), we drop ます from the
polite form of verbs and add the particle に , as in たべにきます (come to eat)?
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Do you remember the "explanation" mode of speech we used to say ダンスがにがてなんです (As a
matter of fact, I'm a poor dancer)? While using なんです after nouns, な -adjectives and adverbs, we use
んです after い -adjectives and verbs. When asking for an explanation for the other person's current or
future action, simply add んですか after the dictionary form of the verb, as in つくるんですか . It adds to
your question the nuance of "Tell me" or "I'm wondering."
The verb やく can mean "to broil," "to roast," "to grill," "to barbecue," "to sear," "to bake," "to toast," or
even "to burn." It's very versatile, isn't it!
Do you remember that そうです in あめがふりそうです (It seems that it's going to rain) indicates the
speaker's judgment based on his or her observation? We can use the same ending with adjectives as
well to mean "it seems..." or "it looks...." For な -adjectives such as しずか (quiet), simply add そうです to
the dictionary form, as in しずかそうです (It seems quiet). For い -adjectives such as おいしい , we drop
the word-ending い and add そうです , as in おいしそうです (It looks tasty).
An observation can be made not only through our eyes, but also our ears or noses. Let's figure out the
next question!
Did you get it right? Just as we can connect as many nouns as we like using the particle と , we can, at
least theoretically, connect an infinite number of verbs by using the て -form. This "て -form, て -form"
pattern indicates that the action is taking place in the order stated. Please note that the last verb in the
sentence remains in the ます -form.
Can you figure out what type of verb いためる is by comparing it with the polite form, いためます ? That's
right! It's a Group II verb!
We have so far learned that we can use the particle と (and) to connect two or more nouns or noun
phrases, right? When we want to connect two or more verbs, however, we can't use the particle と .
Instead, we use the て -form of the verb!
いれる ("to put in" or "to add") becomes いれます in the polite form. Which verb group does いれる
belong to? Group II, of course!
ふん is the counter for minutes. We can use it to talk about the duration of time (as in "for twenty
minutes") or the point of time (as in "3:20"). Please note that the pronunciation of ふん sometimes
changes to ぷん , depending on what number or word comes before it. One to ten minutes goes like this:
いっぷん , にふん , さんぷん , よんぷん （ or よんふん ） , ごふん , ろっぷん , ななふん , はっぷん , きゅうふん ,
and じゅっぷん ! The question word is なんぷん (literally, "what minute").
Do you remember that いれる ("to put in" or "to add") is a Group II verb? Now let's figure out its て -form!
Though the "て -form、 て -form" pattern indicates the order of events, we can throw in some "signaling"
words to help our listeners understand what's going on! まず ("first" or "first of all") is one of such
signaling words, alerting the listeners that a series of events will follow.
The particle で in the phrase よわびで indicates some kind of method or means for actions, including
cooking heat (as in "over low heat"), utensils (as in "with chopsticks"), communication tools (as in "by
phone" or "on TV"), transportation (as in "by bus"), language (as in "in Japanese"), and so on. Very
versatile, isn't it!
The counter for the measuring cup is the same as the counter for a coffee cup or a glass. Do you
remember what it is?
しょうしょう , the polite version of すこし (a little), is often used as a cooking term that is equivalent to
"a dash" in English. Let's try to use it in the next question!
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じかん means "time" in general, but we can also use it as the counter for hours. Please don't mix it up
with the counter for the hour, じ . For example, いちじかん means "one hour," and いちじ means "one
o'clock"!
We can use the noun さいご ("the end" or "the last") to talk about the end of a time period, action, event,
place, and so on.
The verb できる has several meanings. Here, we use it as the equivalent of "to be made" in English.
Can you tell what type of verb できる is? That's right! It's Group II.
When we are looking at something and want to ask or describe what it is made from, we use できていま
す instead of できます . できています (literally, "is being made") describes not the action in progress but
the continuing state resulting from what has happened in the past. That is, someone has made
something using certain ingredients, and as the result, the ingredients are still in it. This is another
function of the "て -form + います " pattern!
We have so far used から (from) to indicate the starting point as in ここから (from here). We can also
use から to indicate materials from which something is made.
Do you remember that we use いく (to go) when we describe the movement in the direction away from
where we are as we speak, while くる (to come) is used to describe the movement toward us? The same
basic rule applies to the verb もっていく and its counterpart もってくる . For example, when we tell our
friends on the phone that we will bring desserts, we say デザートをもっていきます because we are going
to their house, moving away from where we are!
もっていく consists of two parts: the て -form of the Group I verb もつ (to hold or have) and the Group I
verb いく (to go). Here, let's use it as a compound verb equivalent to "to take (something with)."
We have so far used できる to mean "to be made" as in みそはだいずからできています (Miso paste is
made from soybeans). We can also use できる to mean "to be ready."
いい ("good," "fine," or "OK") is a い -adjective. Do you remember how to turn it into the "explanation"
mode?
Can you tell what type of verb まつ (to wait) is? That's right! Since it does not end with る , it's a Group I
verb! Now based on what you have learned about the conjugation pattern for Group I, can you tell what
the polite form for まつ is?
Now, まつ (to wait) is a Group I verb that ends with つ . Do you remember how to make the て -form for
Group I verbs whose dictionary form ends with う or つ or る , as in つくる (to make)?
Did you notice that we needed to use the particle が to mark the subject of the sentence? We can't use
the topic marker は here because the whole sentence, スーツがやすくなりました (The price of suits has
gone down), is communicating a new piece of information; that is, the speaker has "discovered" (or
otherwise observed) some fact or phenomenon and is reporting it to the listener for the first time in the
conversation. It's similar to the case of あめがふりそうです (It seems that it is going to rain).
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やすい is equivalent to "inexpensive," "cheap," or "low (price)" in English. It doesn't, however, necessarily
carry a negative connotation as "cheap" often does.
We can describe how things change by using the "adjective plus なります " pattern. Please note that if
the adjective is an い -adjective such as やすい , we have to drop the ending い and instead add く before
なります as in やすくなります (become inexpensive).
ちゅう attaches itself to nouns for events such as セール (a sale) or for activities such as さんぽ (a walk),
indicating that the event or activity is in progress. It's equivalent to "in the middle of" in English, but it can
be translated differently according to the context, as in "on (sale)," "under (repair)," or "in (conversation)"!
さがす is a Group I verb that ends with す like わかす (to boil water), right? Do you remember how to
make the て -form for the verb like this?
The Japanese word for "long" is ながい . ながそで is the shortened form of ながいそで (literally, "long
sleeve"), but it's used as one word!
おさがしですか is the polite form of さがしていますか (Are you looking for?). You'll hear the phrase a lot
in Japanese retail stores!
Did you remember that we don't have to use the particle を after なにか (something) or だれか
(someone) in everyday conversation?
We have so far used the word はん (half) to talk about time, as in にじはん (half past two). We can't use
はん by itself, but we can combine it not only with time expressions but also with other nouns. Let's try it
in the next question!
So far, we have been using いい as "fine" (as in いいてんき or "fine weather"), "good" (as in いいですね or
"It sounds good"), or "okay" (as in いいですか or "Is it okay?"). We can also use いい to mean "right" or
"suitable." Let's use the word in this last way here!
Do you remember that we can have の as a generic substitute for a noun as in あかいの (red one)? Let's
use it like this in the next question.
Do you remember that すてき (wonderful) can also be used to mean "nice" or "lovely"?
We can use あれ ! to show our surprise at something or some event that is unexpected. It's equivalent to
"Ah!" or "Oh!" in English.
The decimal point in Japanese is read as てん (literally, a "dot" or "point") as in にじゅうろくてんご
(twenty-six point five).
When we are talking about our shoe size in Japan, we can often omit the word センチ (centimeter). Let's
try it in the next question.
In addition to numbers, Japanese manufacturers use the letter sizes: XS (extra small), S (small), M
(medium), L (large), and XL or LL (extra large). The sizes bigger than XL are written as 3L, 4L, and so
on.
We have so far used まで to indicate a destination as in とうきょうえきまで (to Tokyo Station) or ちょう
じょうまで (to the summit). We can also use まで to indicate the end point in time like "until" in English!
We have learned that ばん means "evening" and used it in expressions such as こんばんは (Good
evening) or ばんごはん ("evening meal" or "supper"). While we generally use ばん to mean the time
period after dark, we use ゆうがた to point to the time period between around four and sunset.
We can say ゆうがたろくじはん or ゆうがたのろくじはん . They mean the same--"half past six in the
evening"!
Did you remember that we can use から to indicate the starting point in time as well as in space?
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よる and ばん are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are certain distinctions. In general, よる
means after dark until sunrise. ばん is the early part of night when people are still awake and active. The
English equivalents would be "night" for よる and "evening (after dark)" for ばん .
Can you tell what type of verb しる is? That's right! It's a Group I verb whose dictionary form ends with る
like つくる (to make). Do you remember how to make the て -form for these verbs?
Please note that to say "I know" in Japanese, we have to say しっています . Like できています (it is
made), しっています describes not an action in progress, but a "continuing state" that has resulted from
some action taken in the past. Let's memorize it as a phrase!
Did you notice that the negative form of しっています (I know) is しりません (I don't know)? Let's
memorize both the affirmative and negative form of the verb しる as a pair!
Japanese people, particularly women and children, often add the honorific title さん after the names of
stores as in ケーキやさん or ほんやさん . It's a friendly way to mention neighborhood businesses. Let's
try this in the next questions.
おいしいケーキやさん (literally, "tasty cake shop") may sound as if the cake shop is edible like a
gingerbread house. This, however, is a common way in Japanese to describe a great cake shop that
serves delicious cakes!
Do you remember that we used ください to mean "Please give me" in the sentence such as このシャツ
ください (Please give me this shirt)? When we want to ask or instruct someone to do something, we use
the "て -form plus ください " pattern as in おしえてください ("Please tell me" or "Please teach me").
What group of verbs does つつむ belong to? That's right! It's a Group I verb. When the dictionary form
for a Group I verb ends with either む or ぶ or ぬ , we drop the last letter and add んで to make the て form. Can you figure out the て -form for つつむ ?
Here's the summary of the て -form formation for Group I verbs. If the dictionary form ends with う or つ
or る , like まつ (to wait), delete the last letter and add って as in まって . If the ending is む or ぶ or ぬ , like
つつむ (to wrap), delete it and add んで as in つつんで . For the す -ending like わかす (to boil water),
replace it with して ; for the く -ending like たく (to cook rice), use いて ; and for the ぐ -ending like いそぐ
(to hurry), use いで .
Here is a little mantra to help you memorize how to form the て -form for Group I verbs, irregular verbs,
and Group II verbs, respectively. You can either repeat the following aloud or make a jingle out of it
("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" fits): うつる 「って」 , むぶぬ 「んで」 , す 「して」 , く 「いて」 , ぐ
「いで」 , する 「して」 , くる 「きて」 , みる 「みて」 . Please note that it lists the whole て -form for
the irregular verbs (する and くる ) and Group II verbs (みる is used as an example), but only the verb
endings for Group I verbs and their て -forms.
We have learned that に is a versatile particle. Here's another use: when we use verbs such as "to put
in," "to get in," "to get on," or "to arrive," we use the particle に to indicate the goal. It's equivalent to "at,"
"on," or "in" in English. Let's figure out the next question!
Did you remember that we could use the て -form to connect two or more verbs to describe the chain of
events or actions?
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Please note that we can only use ほしいです (I want) or したいです (I want to do) to talk about our own
desires or to find out the desires of our listeners in casual conversation. We can't use them to talk about
the desires of the third person. Also, we shouldn't use these expressions when we want to offer
something or issue invitations. For example, if you want to invite your friend to have some tea with you,
you should say おちゃをのみませんか (Why don't we have some tea?) instead.
ほしい is an い -adjective, but it functions as the equivalent of "to want" in English.
Do you remember that we sometimes use the particle が , not を , to indicate the "object" of the verb such
as あります (I have) or the adjective such as すきです (I like)? When we use the expression ほしいです (I
want), we also need to use が to indicate what we want, as in あたらしいふくがほしいです (I want some
new clothes). Let's memorize "Xがほしいです " (I want X) as a set phrase!
Did you remember that in order to add the nuance of "As a matter of fact..." to our statement, we add ん
です after い -adjectives as well as verbs?
ひとつ or ふたつ is the original Japanese way of counting things. The combination of a number and a
counter as in いっぱい (one cup) or にほん (two bottles) is based on the Chinese tradition, though they
are perfectly blended into Japanese as many other Chinese-based vocabularies are!
We have so far learned that the word にもつ means "luggage." In fact, にもつ can be used to mean
"luggage," "baggage," "parcel," "pack," or "bag"--anything that has to be carried or sent.
In Japanese, we use the combination of a number and a specific counter to count something, right?
There is an alternate way to count things up to 10. For example, we can use ひとつ to count one item
such as a key, an apple, a computer, a chair, a house, or even a planet, without adding any counters. We
can also use it to count an abstract thing such as an idea or a story. Convenient, isn't it!
We have so far used the "ます -form plus ましょう " pattern to invite someone to do something with us, as
in "Let's ~." We can use the same pattern to offer our service to someone. It's equivalent to "Let me (do
something) for you" in English.
To continue counting past ten using the Japanese counting system, like ひとつ or ふたつ , simply use
numbers with no counter, as in じゅういち or にじゅう !
Now, let's assume that you have to take several packages to the post office. Can you figure out how to
ask someone politely to help you?
Do you remember the expression おねがいします which we use to order something in restaurants, as in
コーヒーおねがいします (Coffee, please)? おねがいする ("to request" or "to ask for") is the dictionary
form of おねがいします and consists of the noun おねがい (a "request" or "wish") and the irregular verb す
る (to do). It's another compound verb! Can you figure out its て -form?
When we want to ask for permission, we add もいいですか (equivalent to "May I~?" in English) to the て form of the verb, as in おねがいしてもいいですか (May I request?) おねがいしてもいいですか is a polite
expression we can use in various situations. The translation, therefore, will vary depending on the
context.
In the next question, let's use the particle that indicates the final destination.
Did you remember that we use the particle に to indicate the spot that is the goal or target of an action?
Judging from the way the dictionary form (よる ) changes its shape in the polite form (よります ), we can
tell that よる (to stop by) is a る -ending Group I verb, right? Do you remember how to make the て -form
for it?
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さきに is the expression we can use when we want to do something before doing other things. It's
equivalent to "first" or "before that" in English.
かまいません is the polite negative form of the verb かまう (to mind). Let's memorize it as a useful
expression that is equivalent to "I don't mind" in English.
Did you notice that we answer a yes/no question differently in Japanese? In English, we say "Yes" if the
answer is affirmative and "No" if the answer is negative, right? In Japanese, we say "Yes" if we agree to
the question and say "No" if we disagree, regardless of whether the question is in the negative or
affirmative form. So, if someone asks your permission and if you don't mind granting it, then you should
say ええ、かまいません (literally, "Yes, I don't mind")!
Please note that we can use the particle の along with some particles such as へ (to), と (with), で ("at,"
"on," or "in"), から (from), or まで ("to" or "as far as"), but we can't use it with other particles such as が ,
を , or に .
We can use the particle へ , which indicates the direction of movement, not only with the place noun (as in
とうきょうへ ) but also with a noun that denotes a person (or persons) to whom we send something.
Let's use it in the next question!
We have been using the particle の to connect two nouns (or pronouns) as in にほんのはな (Japanese
flowers) or わたしのかれ (my boyfriend). The particle の sometimes attaches itself to another particle,
connecting the noun phrase such as かぞくへ (to my family) with a noun such as プレゼント (presents).
In the phrase かぞくへのプレゼント (presents for my family), の indicates that かぞくへ is the
explanation of プレゼント (or in other words, かぞくへ modifies プレゼント ). For convenience, we can
call the structure "double particles"!
Here are some tips on how to use the particles まで , へ , and に that are the equivalents of "to" when we
talk about movement. まで emphasizes the end of the course, implying "as far as" or "up to." へ , on the
other hand, focuses on the direction of the movement, as in "toward" or "in the direction of." に implies
the goal (or target) of action, as in "to arrive at" or "to get into." Though we can sometimes use these
particles interchangeably, idiomatic usage often determines our choice.
Did you use the particle から (from)? から indicates the starting point or origin, and the origin can be a
time, a place, or even a person!
Please note that when we are talking about the mailing or traveling cost or time spent delivering
something, we use まで to indicate the final destination.
Did you remember to use the particle で to indicate the method or means of action?
The answers to いくらかかりますか (How much does it cost?) can be, for example, せんえんかかります
(It costs one thousand yen) or せんえんです (It's one thousand yen). Both sentences convey the same
meaning. Let's try them both in the next question.
Do you remember the sentence ending でしょう and its question form でしょうか that we can use to
talk about our assumption? So far we used them after a noun or an adjective, as in さんじゅうどぐらい
でしょう (It's about thirty degrees, I think) or どこがいちばんさむいでしょうか (Where do you think is the
coldest?) We can also use them after the dictionary form of verbs, as in いくらかかるでしょうか (How
much do you think it will cost?).
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We have so far used the word ちかく to describe a nearness in geography, as in えきのちかく (near the
station). We can also use ちかく to indicate a proximity in numbers, regardless of whether they are
measuring time or money.
We used かかる as the Japanese equivalent of "to cost" in the previous section. We can also use the
same verb to talk about time spent to carry out an action. It's the equivalent of "to take" in English.
どのくらい is a versatile question word we can use to ask the amount or degree, as in "how far?" or "how
hot (or cold)?" Let's use it to ask about the period of time in this section.
かげつ in いっかげつ (one month) is the counter for months when we are talking about a length of time.
Though the basic rule is to add the counter after a number as in にかげつ (two months) or さんかげつ
(three months), the pronunciation of certain numbers changes. いち (one) in いっかげつ is one of them!
In addition to いっかげつ (one month), the pronunciation of the numbers "six" (ろく ), "eight" (はち ), and
"ten" (じゅう ) also changes in a similar manner when combined with かげつ , the counter for month. Let's
see if you can figure them out!
In place of the generic question word どのくらい , we can use a more specific one, such as なんど
(literally, "what degrees") or なんメートル (literally, "what meters"). Let's figure out the question word for
"months"!
しゅうかん in いっしゅうかん (one week) is the counter for "week" as a duration of time. If we break
down the word further, しゅう means "week," and かん literally means "in-between" or a "range." (Do you
remember the word いちじかん or "one hour"? It's the same かん as いっしゅうかん !) Please note that
the pronunciation of いち (one) is changed when it is combined with しゅうかん .
The pronunciation of はち (eight) and じゅう (ten) will change when these numbers are combined with
しゅうかん , the counter for "week" as the duration of time. Let's try to figure them out in the next two
questions!
Now, let's figure out the question word for "weeks"!
We have already learned that in Japanese unfinished sentences are sometimes more polite than
complete sentences, as in おなまえは？ (literally, "As for name?") or どようびはちょっと・・・ (literally,
"Saturday is a little bit..."). りょうがえしたいんですが is another example. It literally means "As a matter
of fact, I want to exchange some money, but..." It works, however, as the equivalent of "I'd like to
exchange some money."
We have so far used the verb できる to mean "to be ready" as in もうすぐできます (It will be ready in no
time) and "to be made" as in みそはだいずからできています (Miso paste is made of soybeans). We can
also use できる to mean "to be able to do," using the particle が to mark the object of the verb--that is,
what we can do. Let's use it with this meaning here.
Did you get it right? ゆうびんきょくでも (at the post office too) is another example of the "double
particles" structure--that is, adding a particle to the phrase that ends with a particle so that the two
particles appear back to back, as in かぞくへのプレゼント (presents for my family).
When we want to talk about actions we didn't perform or events that didn't happen, we can add でした to
the negative verb form ません , as in たべませんでした (I didn't eat) or しりませんでした (I didn't know).
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かね means "money," but people almost always say おかね to avoid sounding rude, as in the case of お
ちゃ (tea).
まど in まどぐち means a "window," and ぐち (or its regular form くち ) means a "mouth" or any kind of
opening. So, まどぐち literally means a "window opening." This is the term you will often hear in banks,
post offices, ticket counters, or government offices in Japan. For example, if someone tells you さんばん
まどぐちへどうぞ , the person is saying, "Please proceed to the number 3 window."
とどく means that something is delivered and arrives at the final destination.
When we are talking about the duration of time that is spent to do something, we can consider it as the
means used to complete the action. Now, can you figure out the next question?
When we want to indicate that an action takes place upon completion of another, the action that
precedes the other one takes the pattern "て -form plus から ," as in そうきんしてから (after you remit it).
から in this case is equivalent to "after" or "since" in English. Please note that we can use the same "て form plus から " pattern regardless of when the action takes place.
にち in いちにち (one day) is the counter for day--for both the point of time (date) and the duration of
time. The basic rule is that we combine a number with にち , as in いちにち or じゅういちにち (eleven
days). The exceptions are the numbers 2 to 10, 20, and any numbers that end with 4 or 9. For these
numbers, we use the pronunciation based on the original Japanese numbers. Let's learn these
exceptions.
When we use the "て -form plus から " pattern to indicate the completion of an action, the tense of the first
part of the sentence is not apparent because we use the て -form. We can, however, determine it by the
tense of the last verb that appears in the sentence. For example, in そうきんしてから、とおかでとどき
ました , the last verb とどきました is in the past form. Therefore, the English equivalent would be "It
arrived ten days after I had remitted it."
Here is another function for the particle から ! When we want to indicate the range of time, we can use か
ら as in ふつかからみっか (two to three days) or いちじかんからにじかん (one to two hours).
The names of the months are easy! They are a combination of a number and がつ (month).
In general, we can use the same terms to indicate the date and the number of days. For example, ふつ
か can mean both "two days" and "the second day of the month." However, the first day of the month is
an exception! "One day" is いちにち , but "the first day of the month" is ついたち .
いちがつついたち is しょうがつ or おしょうがつ (New Year's Day). For many people, おしょうがつやすみ
(New Year's Day holidays) starts on December 29th and lasts through January 3rd. They spend the last
few days of the year doing おおそうじ (literally, a "big cleaning") and preparing tons of special dishes for
the new year. When the new year arrives, they celebrate it by visiting Shinto shrines, having big feasts,
and enjoying the company of family and friends!
さんがつみっか (March 3rd) is ひなまつり (Doll's Festival). Traditionally, it's a day for girls, who enjoy
wearing a kimono and having a tea party in front of a gorgeous doll set created after the fashion of the
ancient court.
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Do you remember that the numbers 4, 7, and 9 have two ways of reading in Japanese and that we
sometimes use only one of them for a specific purpose? For example, the number 4 can be read as よん
or し , but we have to use し for "April" and say しがつ !
ごがついつか (May 5th) is こどものひ (Children's Day). Traditionally, it's a day for boys. Families with
boys celebrate the day by hoisting the colorful carp-shaped streamers and eating ちまき --special rice
dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Though the number 7 can be read as なな or しち , we have to say しちがつ to mean "July."
The number 9 can be read as きゅう or く , but in the case of September, we always have to say くがつ .
なんがつなんにち (literally, "what month what day") is the question word commonly used to ask the
calendar date.
しょく in both しょくよく (appetite) and しょくじ (meal) means "eating." しょくよく literally means an
"eating desire," while しょくじ literally means an "eating affair"!
The expression みっかまえから indicates that some action or state has begun three days ago, has
continued since, and is still happening as we speak. It is equivalent to "since three days ago" or "for three
days now." Please note that the word まえ is a noun, though its meaning in this phrase is equivalent to
"before" or "ago" in English.
When we want to say "to catch a cold," we say かぜをひく in Japanese. The idiom is said to originate in
the ancient Chinese belief that people get sick when they "pull" (ひく ) the "evil spirit in the wind" (かぜ )
into their body. Let's memorize this phrase as a whole unit.
Do you remember that the "て -form plus います " pattern can be used to describe not only an action in
progress but also a "continuing state"--a state that has been continuing as the result of some past
action? In the next question, let's use this pattern to tell someone you have a cold!
おなかのちょうしがわるいです (literally, "The condition of stomach is bad") is a euphemism for "I'm
having diarrhea." In this case, おなか means the lower abdomen. If you specifically want to mean the
stomach (or the upper abdomen), use the Japanese term い and say いのちょうしがわるいです .
To answer the question いつからおなかがいたいですか (Since when has your stomach been hurting?), we
can also say, ごじかんまえからです (It has since five hours ago).
So far, we have been using the verb する to mean "to do." We can also use する to express what we
experience through our different senses (except for the faculty of sight). The English equivalent would be
"to feel," "to smell," or "to hear." In this usage, what is felt, smelled, or heard is marked by the particle が .
Do you remember that the Japanese word for "cold" is さむい ? け in さむけ (a chill) means "feeling," so
the word literally means a "cold feeling."
When we want to connect a sentence that ends with an い -adjective and です (as in いたいです or "It's
painful") with another sentence, we drop です and replace the adjective ending い with くて , as in いたく
て . It's the equivalent of "It's painful, and ...."
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Many of the expressions used to describe medical conditions are established as idioms. Let's try to
memorize them as a whole, including the particles.
はき in はきけ (nausea) is derived from the verb はく (to throw up). はきけ , therefore, literally means a
"throwing-up feeling."
While the word いたい describes direct pain such as a muscle pain or a headache, くるしい is used to
describe the strong sense of discomfort felt in the chest or the abdomen.
If you are wondering why Japanese people call nasal drips "flower water," please note that はな (flower)
and はな (nose) are completely different words even though they sound identical!
Do you remember that many expressions in Japanese are made of a pair of identical "words" that mimic
a sound or a motion, such as そろそろ (by and by)? Let's learn some of them in this section so that you
will be able to describe your pain more accurately in Japan.
We learned the expressions やけどをしました and けがをしました in the previous unit. In these cases,
the verb する works like "suffer" in English. They are very commonly used expressions. Let's memorize
them as idioms.
Did you remember that we use the particle に to indicate the part of the body that suffers the injury,
burn, or any other affliction?
ひりひり is a painful sensation you feel on your skin when you get a bad sunburn or put medicine on raw
skin. Also, you feel it on your tongue after licking a hot pepper! The English equivalent of the verb ひりひ
りする can be "to burn," "to feel irritated," or "to be tingling."
So far we have been using the sentence-ending particle ね to solicit an agreement from the listener (as
in "It's cold, isn't it!") or to request a confirmation from the listener (as in "Tempura Special, right?"). We
can also use it simply to air our observation in a matter-of-a-fact tone. In this case, ね is equivalent to
"...., I see" in English. Let's try it in the next question.
Please note the temperature here is in せっし or Celsius. 38℃ is equivalent to 100.4°F.
When we talk about the body temperature, we often use ぶ to indicate decimal numbers. For example,
many people read 37.5 degrees as さんじゅうななどごぶ in Japanese. We can also say さんじゅうなな
てんごど .
しんぱい can be a noun (worry, anxiety, or care) or a な -adjective (worrisome).
We have learned to use the particle が along with the verb いる (to need) as in みずがいります (We need
water), right? However, to say "Don't worry," we always use the particle は and say しんぱいはいりません
(literally, "As for worry, you don't need it"). Let's learn it as an idiom. In everyday conversations, you can
omit the particle は and say しんぱいいりません .
Now, let's use しんぱい as a な -adjective in the next question.
We can use けんさ to mean either a medical test such as a blood test, or an inspection such as a
baggage check.
うーん can be a groan or a sound the speaker makes when he or she is considering some weighty
matter. It's like "Hmmm" in English. Please don't mix it up with うん , which is a casual way to say "yes" in
Japanese!
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When we want to turn an い -adjective such as おおきい (big) into an adverb, we can drop the last い and
add く instead, as in おおきく .　おおきく can be translated as "widely," "deeply," "loudly," and so on
depending on the context.
Do you remember that うち can mean not only a "house," but also "(one's own) home"? Let's use it in
the next question!
We have so far used the verb のむ to mean "to drink." We can also use it to mean "to take (medicine)."
かい in さんかい (three times) is the counter for occurrence.
When we want to describe how often we do something or how often something happens, we can use the
"(time period) に X かい " pattern. For example, to say "three times a day," we can say いちにちにさんか
い in Japanese.
Did you notice that the pronunciation of いち (one) changes in いっかい (once)?
じょう is the counter for tablets of medicine.
まえに ("before" or "ago") is one of the expressions that indicate the order of events. When まえに
(before) follows a noun, we need the particle の to connect the noun and まえに . Please note that the
nouns that come before まえに are those that either denote actions or events (such as a walk or a
concert) or imply actions (such as a bath or a meal).
Please note that we don't need the particle の when まえに comes right after a time period as in にじかん
まえに (two hours ago).
どめ in せきどめ (cough medicine) derives from the verb とめる (to stop). せきどめ , therefore, is literally
a "cough stopper"!
When we want to say that some action or event happens before another action or event, we use the
dictionary form of a verb before まえに , as in ねるまえに (before going to bed).
ごちそう means a "feast," "banquet," "treat," or "rich meal." Do you remember that Japanese say ごちそ
うさまでした after every meal? It literally means something like "I appreciated the feast"!
Please note that you can use the "dictionary form of the verb plus まえに " pattern regardless of the tense
of the sentence that follows the phrase. For example, when we want to say, "I took the medicine before I
ate," we can say, たべるまえにくすりをのみました .
ぬる can mean "to paint" or "to apply (medicine, paint, or cosmetics)."
だす is a common verb with many meanings, but here we use it to mean "to serve" or "offer" something,
including tea, food, medicine, or prescriptions. The translation will vary depending on the object.
The particle から that indicates the cause or the reason is often used even in cases where the causeeffect relation between two sentences is not very clear. In such a case, the English equivalent would be
"X, so Y." Let's try this usage in the next question.
We can use the "て -form plus はいけません " pattern to prohibit someone from doing something. It's
equivalent to "(You) must not...." Please note that this is a polite yet rather strong expression, and you
will probably hear it used by some authority figures, such as parents, teachers, and doctors.
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おさけ (or さけ ) can mean either "rice wine" or "alcoholic beverages" in general. Please note that many
people say おさけ even in casual conversations, as in the case of おちゃ (tea).
すう can mean "to breathe," "to inhale," or "to smoke." Please note that when we use すう as the
equivalent of "to smoke," we need to specify what is smoked, as in cigarettes or cigars.
Did you remember that of the three particles (まで , へ , and に ） that function as the equivalent of "to" in
English, に emphasizes the "point of contact"? Let's memorize ～にはいる (to get into ~) as an idiom.
Let's figure out short answers to the question おふろにはいってもいいですか (May I take a bath?).
Instead of using the whole structure of the "て -form plus はいけません " pattern, we can use the short
version いけません to tell others not to do something. It's equivalent to "You must not" in English.
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