jaftranscript082314 (1)

1

1

Japanese Audio Flashcard Lessons 8-23-14

Lesson 1

Please show the passport. Use the te or de form of

the verb.

Pasupooto o misete kudasai.

(o, sometimes written as wo, is used to show that the preceding term is a direct object)

(some verbs have te forms, and others have de forms;

misete is the te form of the plain speech verb miseru = to show)

(Kudasai = please; kudasai is often preceded by the

te or de form of a verb. Kudasai is the imperative

form of kudasaru, a humble verb meaning to give, used when an outside person gives to you or to

someone in your in-group; so this could also mean

show the passport and give or show the passport, would you?) Yes. In this context, this means OK or here you go. Hai.

Its Michael Webb huh. Maikeru Uebbu san desu ne.

(san is an honorific term used after another

persons name) (ne is translated in these lessons as 'huh' or 'right?')

(desu means it is; its plain speech form is da) Yeah. Its so. Ee. Soo desu.

Is it sightseeing, is it work? In this lesson, use

kankoo to mean sightseeing.

Kankoo desu ka shigoto desu ka.

(ka is used to indicate question mark) (cf. kenbutsu, also = sightseeing; cf. kankoku = S.

Korea) (cf. means compare) (you will find occasional suggested mnemonics in

this transcript, written in italics; heres one for kankoo: sightseers will see canned corn)

It isnt sightseeing. Its work. Use ja. Kankoo ja arimasen. Shigoto desu.

(ja = short form of dewa, used in the phrase dewa

arimasen = ja arimasen = something is not something else; for example, ano hito wa baabarasan ja arimasen = ano hito wa baabarasan

dewa arimsen = 'as for that person over there, it is not

Barbara.') (arimasu = the masu form of the plain

speech verb aru = to exist; the masu form is more

polite than the plain speech form; arimasen is the

negative form of arimasu; by itself, it means

'doesn't exist.' However,when arimasen is combined

with ja or dewa, its meaning changes from 'something

doesn't exist' to 'something isn't something else.')

Please open the suitcase.

Suutsukeesu o akete kudasai. (akete is the te form of

akeru, to open)

Yes, go ahead.

Hai, doozo. (doozo = go ahead, sometimes translated

as please; in this case it means go ahead and look in my suitcase) As for this, what is it?

Kore wa nan desu ka.

(kore = this, sore = that, are = that over there)

(nan = nani = what)

[this sentence illustrates sentence pattern A: it

begins with a noun or pronoun followed by wa

(indicating a topic and translated as as for) and then goes on to ask a question about, or make a

comment on, this topic see the document Ga vs. Wa on the website; in this sentence, kore is the topic, and the subject is the silent pronoun it] Is it medicine?

Kusuri desu ka. (after a cursory exam, the doctor

gave me some medicine)

No, it isnt medicine. Use ja. Iie, kusuri ja arimasen.

Well, what is it?

Ja, nan desu ka. (ja and dewa can also mean well) Its honey. Hachimitsu desu.

Show me please. Me is understood. Misete kudasai.

Thanks. Yes, its good for sure. Use doomo to mean thanks in these lessons.

Doomo. Hai, ii desu yo.

(ii is an i adjective meaning good; i adjectives end in i) (yo, used for emphasis, is translated for sure in these lessons)

Ah, as for that, what is it?

Aa, sore wa, nan desu ka.

Which is it?

Dore desu ka. (dore = which)

Its that. What is it? Please open it. It is understood

Sore desu. Nan desu ka. Akete kudasai.

As for this... Say, as for the truth, its ham. Kore wa... Ano, jitsu wa, hamu desu.

(jitsu = the truth; jitsu wa = to tell the truth, in fact,

really)

Is it ham? As for ham, its bad for sure. Hamu desu ka. Hamu wa, dame desu yo.

As for this, its medicine. Kore wa, kusuri desu.

As for this, is it medicine?

Kore wa, kusuri desu ka.

Yes, its medicine. Hai, kusuri desu.

Yes, its so. Hai, soo desu.

No, it isnt medicine. Use dewa. Iie, kusuri dewa arimasen.

No, it isnt medicine. Use ja. Iie, kusuri ja arimasen. Lesson 1.

2

2

Lesson 1. No, it isnt so. Use dewa. Iie, soo dewa arimasen.

No, it isnt so. Use ja. Iie, soo ja arimasen.

No, its different, meaning the other persons statement is incorrect.

Iie, chigaimasu. (chigaimasu = the masu form of

chigau = to differ)

As for this, what is it?

Kore wa, nan desu ka.

Its medicine. Kusuri desu.

I dont know/understand. Wakarimasen. (wakarimasen = negative form of

wakarimasu = wakaru = to know/understand)

As for this, its a map. Kore wa, chizu desu. (theres cheese on this map) As for that, its a post office. Sore wa, yuubinkyoku desu.

As for that over there, its a hospital. Are wa, byooin desu.

This, please show me.

Kore o misete kudasai.

That, please show me.

Sore o misete kudasai.

That over there, please show me.

Are o misete kudasai.

Which is it?

Dore desu ka.

That.

Sore.

This?

Kore?

As for medicine, which is it?

Kusuri wa, dore desu ka.

Its this. Kore desu.

As for that over there, what is it?

Are wa, nan desu ka.

Which is it?

Dore desu ka.

Its that over there. Are desu.

Ah, as for that over there, its the subway. Aa, are wa, chikatetsu desu.

As for this, what is it?

Kore wa, nan desu ka.

As for that, its a map. Sore wa, chizu desu.

As for the department store, which is it?

Depaato wa, dore desu ka.

As for the department store, its that over there. Depaato wa, are desu.

Please show me that.

Sore o misete kudasai.

Is it this?

Kore desu ka.

No.

Iie.

Is it this?

Kore desu ka.

Well, is it this?

Ja, kore desu ka.

Yeah, its that. Ee, sore desu.

As for this, is it medicine, is it honey?

Kore wa, kusuri desu ka, hachimitsu desu ka.

Its honey Hachimitsu desu.

Is it Barbara? Is it Michael?

Baabarasan desu ka, maikerusan desu ka.

Its Michael. Maikerusan desu.

Is it sightseeing? Is it work?

Kankoo desu ka. Shigoto desu ka.

Its sightseeing. Kankoo desu.

As for this, is it whiskey?

Kore wa, uisukii desu ka.

No, its wine. Iie, wain desu.

Is it a post office? Is it a hospital?

Yuubinkyoku desu ka. Byooin desu ka.

Its a hospital. Byooin desu.

Excuse me. As for that, is it a pen? Is it a pencil?

Sumimasen. Sore wa, pen desu ka, enpitsu desu ka.

Is it this? As for this, its a pencil. Kore desu ka. Kore wa, enpitsu desu.

Is that so? Thanks.

Soo desu ka. Doomo.

Show me the book.

Hon o misete.

Show me the book please.

Hon o misete kudasai.

Wont you show the book and give? Use te to mean and. Use kudasaru, a humble verb meaning to give to

me or someone in my in-group.

Hon o misete kudasaimasen ka.

(the te or de form of a verb can add the meaning

and to the verb)

(kudasaimasu = the masu form of kudasaru; kudasaimasen = the negative form of kudasaimasu)

(wont you ... and give? means wont you do it for me?) Yes.

Hai.

Yeah.

Ee.

Yeah. Use a grunt

Un.

Yeah, its good for sure. Lesson 1.

3

3

Lesson 1. Ee, ii desu yo.

Its good for sure. Yes. Go ahead. Ii desu yo. Hai. Doozo.

Yes, I understood. This implies that I will do it. Hai. Wakarimashita. (wakaru = to know/understand;

wakarimasu = the masu form of wakaru; to make

the past form of a masu verb, change masu to mashita; wakarimashita = the past form of wakarimasu; deshita is the past form of desu; datta

is the past form of da)

No, its bad. Meaning, I cant do it. Iie, dame desu.

No, its irritating. Meaning, I absolutely refuse. Iie, iya desu.

Say, a little bit... Use chotto to mean a little bit.

Meaning, Im refusing politely. Ano, chotto...

Bad, but... Use warui to mean bad. Use kedo to

mean but. Meaning, I really cant. Warui kedo...

Excuse me. In this case, this means Im sorry. I cant do it. Sumimasen.

An excuse doesnt exist, but... Use ga to mean but. Use plain speech. Soften this. This phrase means,

Im sorry, but I cant do it. (ga can also mean but) Mooshiwake nain desu ga... (this also means theres no excuse or Im sorry) (mooshiwake = humble word for excuse; moosu =

mooshimasu = humble form of iimasu = to say; wake = reason; the reason I didnt come was that I was at a wake; cf. iiwake, also means excuse)

(nai = plain speech form of arimasen = does not

exist)

(In order to make your speech more friendly, you can

soften the word nai, as well as i adjectives and plain speech verbs, by adding n or no to them.

If you soften a word by using n, you must follow it with the copula desu or da.) Thanks

Doomo

Thank you.

Arigatoo

Thanks a lot

Doomo arigatoo

Thank you a lot for what you did.

Arigatoo gozaimashita. (gozaimashita is the past

form of gozaimasu = to humbly exist)

No, meaning dont mention it. Iie.

Youre welcome. Doo itashimashite. (doo itashimashite = youre welcome, its nothing or dont mention it) The following is an informal conversation between

friends. Show me for a second. Me is understood.

Chotto misete.

O.K. Use a grunt.

Un.

Thank you.

Arigatoo.

The following is a more formal conversation. Please

show the passport.


Yes, meaning here you go. Hai.

Thanks.

Doomo.

Here is another formal conversation. Excuse me, but

one more time, wont you write the name and give? Use a humble verb meaning to give to me or

someone in my in-group.

Sumimasen ga, moo ichido namae o kaite

kudasaimasenka.

(moo = another, more, again; can also mean

already)

(do = times; ichido = 1 time, nido = 2 times, sando

= 3 times, etc.)

(kaku = to write; the te form is kaite)

Yeah, its good for sure. Ee, ii desu yo.

Thank you very much for what you did.

Doomo arigatoo gozaimashita.

No, youre welcome. Iie, doo itashimashite.

Please wait for a moment.

Chotto matte kudasai. (matsu = to wait)

Please drink the medicine.

Kusuri o nonde kudasai. (nomu = to drink)

Please read the book.

Hon o yonde kudasai. (yomu = to read)

Please read the letter.

Tegami o yonde kudasai.

Please write the name.

Namae o kaite kudasai. (kaku = to write)

Please open the suitcase.

Sutsukeesu o akete kudasai. (akeru = to open)

Please show the passport.


Please pick up the honey. This could also mean,

please pass the honey.

Hachimitsu o totte kudasai. (toru = to take, to pass;

also = to take a picture)

Please lend me the pen. Me is understood.

Pen o kashite kudasai. (kasu = to lend)

Please lend me some money.

Okane o kashite kudasai.

Please eat the sushi.

Sushi o tabete kudasai. (taberu = to eat)

Lesson 2

Say, Its a discourtesy, but is it Webb, Lesson 2.

4

4

Lesson 2. meaning are you Webb? Anoo, shitsurei desu ga, Uebbu-san desu ka.

(shitsurei = discourtesy)

Yes, its so. Who is it? Use a polite word for who.

Hai, soo desu. Donata desu ka.

(donata and dare both mean who; donata is more polite)

Its Abe Industries Tsuchida. Abe sangyoo no tsuchida desu. (Tsuchida would not

use san after his own name)

(no is used to show possession or belonging)

Ah, is it Abe Industries Tsuchida? Aa, abe sangyoo no tsuchida san desu ka.

How do you do? Go ahead be good to me. Use a 2-

word version of the second sentence.

Hajimemashite. Doozo yoroshiku.

(hajimeru = hajimemasu = to start; hajimemashite is

the te form which in this case means how do you do?; since the te form of a verb can add the meaning and, hajimemashite could also be understood to mean I will start and ..., but its best to memorize this word as meaning simply how do you do?) (yoroshiku is an adverb derived from the polite adjective yoroshii = good, so doozo yoroshiku

can be understood as go ahead, in a good way, or please be good to me; it is often translated as pleased to meet you) The pleasures all mine. Please be good to me. Use a 2-word version of the second sentence. As for this

way, is it the honorable wife?

Kochira koso. Doozo yoroshiku. Kochira wa,

okusan desu ka. (kochira koso = the pleasure is

mine) (the kochira in the 3rd sentence means this

way, sochira = that way, achira = that way over

there) (okusan = someone elses wife; kanai or tsuma = my wife) (kochira wa, okusan desu ka illustrates sentence pattern A)

Yes, its the wifes Barbara. (meaning, my wife Barbara)

Hai. Kanai no Baabara desu.

How do you do? Im Barbara. Please be good to me. Use the 4-word version of please be good to me. Hajimemashite, Baabara desu. Doozo yoroshiku

onegai shimasu. (This 4-word version of please be good to me is more polite and is used more by women.) (negau = to beg or pray; suru = shimasu =

to do. To form a humble verb construction, referring

to actions that you perform, put o in front of the verb

stem, and follow the verb stem with suru or shimasu.

Onegai shimasu = I will do humble begging,

usually translated as please or if you please or I beg) Tsuchida, as for a bank, at where does it exist?

Tsuchida san, ginkoo wa, doko ni arimasu ka.

(doko = where)

(use wa rather than ga because bank is the topic; the subject is the silent pronoun it; this sentence illustrates sentence pattern A)

Its a bank, huh. Ginkoo desu ne.

Uh, at this roads far end, theres a bookstore. Use toori. End is understood. Meaning, its down the road.

Eeto, kono toori no mukoo ni, honya ga arimasu.

(kono = this, sono = that, ano = that over there;

these terms are always followed by a noun, unlike

the equivalent kore, sore and are) (toori = street)

(mukoo ni = at farther away; the muck is on the far

side of the river) (use ya after a product to indicate

a store selling that product, e.g., hon = book, honya

= bookstore) (arimasu = aru = exist, used for

inanimate objects including plants; when you say

that something exists in a particular place, follow

the place description with the particle ni)

(Use ga rather than wa in this sentence because 1)

youre talking about a particular bookstore, 2) youre introducing the idea of the bookstore, and 3) youre using arimasu to say that something exists.)

As for the bank, its that bookstores neighbor. Ginkoo wa sono honya no tonari desu. (use wa

because bank is the topic of the sentence; the silent pronoun it is the subject; sentence pattern A ) Its the bookstores neighbor, huh. Honya no tonari desu ne.

As for that bookstore, is it big?

Sono honya wa, ookii desu ka.

No, it isnt big, but you will soon know/understand it, for sure. It is understood. Iie, ookiku arimasen ga, sugu wakarimasu yo.

(ookii is an i adjective; to make the negative form

of an i adjective, remove the final i and add ku;

then add arimasen or nai) (sugu = soon)

Is that so? Thanks a lot.

Soo desu ka. Doomo arigatoo.

Well, I will go and come. Use te to mean and.

Ja, itte kimasu. (iku = ikimasu = to go; kuru =

kimasu = to come)

(itte kimasu is a standard expression that you

use when you leave a place and intend to come

back)

Im sorry to have kept you waiting. Hey, my wife doesnt exist, huh. Where is she? Omatase shimashita. Are! Kanai ga imasen ne.

Doko desu ka.

(omatase shimashita is a standard polite phrase used

when one is late; o is a polite prefix which can mean either honorable or humble; mataseru = to make someone wait = the causative tense of matsu

= to wait; matase is the stem, or the pre-masu form,

of mataseru; the stem of a verb, preceded by o and followed by shimasu, is often Lesson 2.

5

5

Lesson 2. used in making humble expressions

see lesson 21) (shimashita is the past tense of shimasu = suru = to do, so this phrase means, I humbly made you wait) (use ga rather than wa

because youre introducing the wife into the conversation, and youre using imasu) (imasen = negative form of imasu = iru = to exist, used for

animate objects like people and animals, but not

plants and trees)

Barbara exists in that place over theres jewelry store, for sure.

Baabara san wa, asoko no hoosekiya ni imasu yo.

(use wa because Barbara has already been introduced

as a topic into the conversation)

(koko = here, soko = there; asoko = over there)

(hooseki = precious, jewel)

Eh! As for that, terrible. Which store is it?

E! sore wa taihen! Dono mise desu ka.

(dono = which, and its always followed by a noun; dore also = which, but its used by itself, without a noun)

Is it that over there places small store? Asoko no chiisai mise desu ka.

(chiisai = small, an i adjective)

No, its not that small store over there. That over there is a restaurant. From now on, use ja rather than

dewa in these lessons, unless otherwise stated.

Iie, ano chiisai mise ja arimasen. Are wa resutoran

desu. (use wa because the topic that over there has already been introduced)

Its the that fronts pretty store, meaning the pretty store in front of that.

Sono mae no, kirei na mise desu.

(mae = front)

(kirei = pretty = a na adjective; when you use it to

modify a noun, follow it with na)

Well, soon I will call and come. Use de to mean and.

Ja, sugu yonde kimasu. (yobu = call, invite, send for;

call to say that the yogurt burned)

As for today, the weather is good.

Kyoo wa, tenki ga ii desu. (use ga because youre introducing the weather topic) (there are ten keys to

predicting the weather)

As for the bank, it exists at over there.

Ginkoo wa, asoko ni arimasu. (use wa because the

speaker assumes that the bank has already been

introduced into conversation; sentence pattern A)

(contrast this with ginkoo ga asoko ni arimasu = the bank exists over there, or there is a bank over there;

in this case the speaker assumes that the listener

doesnt know about the bank and is introducing the subject)

As for my wife, its Barbara. Use watashi no. Watashi no kanai wa, baabara desu. (use wa because

youre assuming that your listeners already know you have a wife; if you wanted to introduce the concept

that you have a wife, you could say kanai ga imasu) As for that person over there, the eyes are big.

Ano hito wa, me ga ookii desu. (this illustrates

sentence pattern B, in which a topic is followed by

wa, and then a subject is followed by ga)

As for the bookstore, where is it?

Honya wa, doko desu ka. (sentence pattern A) (doko

ni arimasu ka, also OK)

Its over there. Asoko desu. (asoko ni arimasu, also OK)

As for that, whose suitcase is it?

Sore wa, dare no suutsukeesu desu ka. (sentence

pattern A)

Its my suitcase. Watashi no suutsukeesu desu.

Which is Michaels passport? Dore ga maikerusan no pasupooto desu ka. (use ga

because youre asking a question using an interrogative pronoun, i.e. dore, as the subject)

(interrogative pronouns include dore = which?,

nani = what?, doko = where?, dare = who?,

dooshite = why?, doo = how?, ikutsu = how many?,

ikura = how much?, itsu = when?)

This is Michaels passport. Kore ga maikerusan no pasupooto desu. (use ga

because youre answering a question formed with an interrogative pronoun, i.e., dore, as the subject)

As for Michaels passport, which is it? Maikerusan no pasupooto wa, dore desu ka.

(sentence pattern A)

Which person is Barbara?

Dono hito ga baabarasan desu ka. (use ga because

youre asking a question using dono hito which functions like the interrogative pronoun dare)

(baabarasan wa, dono hito desu ka, also OK)

That person over there is Barbara.

Ano hito ga baabarasan desu. (use ga because youre answering a question formed with an interrogative

pronoun)

As for Barbara, its that person over there. Baabarasan wa, ano hito desu. (sentence pattern A)

That person over there is not Barbara.

Ano hito wa baabarasan ja arimasen. (pattern A)

The banks neighbor is not a restaurant. Ginkoo no tonari wa resutoran ja arimasen. (sentence

pattern A)

That store over there is small.

Ano mise wa chiisai desu.

That store over there is small. Plain speech.

Ano mise wa chiisai. (dont use da after i adjectives) This store is not small.

Kono mise wa chiisaku arimasen.

(the ku form of ii adjectives is used before

negative words like nai and arimasen; to convert

an i adjective into the ku form, remove the final i and

add ku) Lesson 2.

6

6

Lesson 2. This store is not small. Plain speech.

Use desu.

Kono mise wa chiisaku nai desu.

(nai is the plain speech form of arimasen)

(the word desu makes the expression more polite, but

desu is omitted after i adjectives when using plain

speech)

This store is not small. Plain speech. Dont use desu. Kono mise wa chiisakunai.

As for that over there, its a small store. Are wa, chiisai mise desu.

That store over there is quiet.

Ano mise wa shizuka desu.

(shizuka = quiet, a na adjective)

To make the negative form of a na adjective, like

shizuka, follow the adjective with ja arimasen,

dewa arimasen, ja nai or dewa nai. Ja is the plain speech form of dewa. This store is not quiet. Use ja

arimasen.

Kono mise wa shizuka ja arimasen.

This store is not quiet. Use dewa arimasen.

Kono mise wa shizuka dewa arimasen.

This store is not quiet. Use plain speech. Use desu.

Kono mise wa shizuka ja nai desu.

This store is not quiet. Use plain speech. Dont use desu.

Kono mise wa shizuka ja nai.

That over there is a quiet store.

Are wa shizuka na mise desu.

Here are some i adjectives. Small

Chiisai

Big

Ookii

Cheap

Yasui

Expensive

Takai

Low

Hikui (hicks are low on the social scale)

High or tall

Takai

New

Atarashii

Old

Furui

Difficult

Muzukashii

Easy

Yasashii

Wide or spacious

Hiroi (the hero lives in a spacious apartment)

Narrow or small

Semai (its narrow in the semi truck where I live) Good

Ii

Bad

Warui

Delicious

Oishii

Unappetizing

Mazui

Near or close

Chikai

Far

Tooi

Here are some na adjectives. Convenient

Benri

Inconvenient

Fuben

Quiet

Shizuka

Noisy

Urusai (some na adjectives look like i adjectives, but

they arent; you will gradually learn which adjectives fall in each category)

Clean or pretty

Kirei

Dirty

Kitanai

This personal computer is very convenient.

Kono pasokon wa totemo benri desu. (totemo = very)

As for today, are the circumstances good, meaning is

it convenient for you? Use the expression tsugoo ga

ii.

Kyoo wa tsugoo ga ii desu ka. (tsugoo ga ii is an

expression used to say that a persons circumstances are good, meaning that there is

time available)

This book is new.

Kono hon wa atarashii desu.

As for this, its a new book. Kore wa, atarashii hon desu.

This book isn't old.

Kono hon wa furuku arimasen

Is this apple delicious?

Kono ringo wa oishii desu ka. (Ringo eats apples)

Yes, its delicious. Hai, oishii desu.

No, it isnt delicious. Iie, oishiku arimasen.

No, it isnt delicious. Plain speech, dont use desu. Iie, oishikunai.

Are those shoes expensive?

Sono kutsu wa takai desu ka.

No, they arent expensive. Iie, takaku arimasen.

No, they arent expensive. Use plain speech to say not expensive. Use desu. Iie, takakunai desu.

Is this river clean?

Kono kawa wa kirei desu ka. (kirei = clean or pretty)

No, it isnt clean. Lesson 2.

7

7

Lesson 2. Iie, kirei ja arimasen. (kirei is a na

adjective)

No, it isnt clean. Plain speech. Dont use desu. Iie, kirei ja nai.

As for the test, is it difficult? Use tesuto.

Tesuto wa, muzukashii desu ka.

No, it isnt difficult. Iie, muzukashiku arimasen.

No, it isnt difficult. Use plain speech to say not difficult. Use desu. Iie, muzukashikunai desu.

Which are Michaels shoes? Dore ga maikerusan no kutsu desu ka.

Its these new shoes. Kono atarashii kutsu desu.

As for the Tokyo subway, is it inconvenient?

Tookyoo no chikatetsu wa, fuben desu ka.

No, it isnt inconvenient. Its convenient, for sure. Iie, fuben ja arimasen. Benri desu yo.

Is your room spacious?

Anata no heya wa hiroi desu ka. (not OK to use

ookii when referring to the size of a room)

Yeah, its spacious. Ee, hiroi desu.

No, it isnt spacious. Iie, hiroku arimasen.

No, it isnt spacious. Plain speech. Dont use desu. Iie, hirokunai.

Is your room quiet?

Anata no heya wa shizuka desu ka.

No, it isnt quiet. Iie, shizuka ja arimasen.

Yes, its quiet. Hai, shizuka desu.

As for the Japanese language, is it easy?

Nihongo wa yasashii desu ka.

No, it isnt easy. Iie, yasashiku arimasen.

No, it isnt easy. Plain speech. Use desu. Iie, yasashikunai desu.

Yes, its easy. Hai, yasashii desu.

Are Japanese prices cheap? Use bukka.

Nihon no bukka wa yasui desu ka

No, they arent cheap. Plain speech. Dont use desu. Iie, yasukunai.

Are kanji difficult?

Kanji wa, muzukashii desu ka.

No, they arent difficult. Iie, muzukashiku arimasen.

No, they arent difficult. Use plain speech with desu. Iie, muzukashikunai desu.

Is your Japanese language book new?

Anata no nihongo no hon wa atarashii desu ka.

Yeah, its new. Ee, atarashii desu.

No, it isnt new. Iie, atarashiku arimasen.

No, it isnt new. Plain speech. Dont use desu. Iie, atarashikunai.

As for this room, how is it?

Kono heya wa, doo desu ka.

Thats so, huh. In this case, this means let me see. Soo desu ne.

It's a little small or tight, huh. (referring to a room)

Use chotto.

Chotto semai desu ne. (cannot use chiisai to describe

a room; must use semai)

Is that so?

Soo desu ka.

Well, as for this one, how is it?

Ja, kore wa, doo desu ka.

This one isn't small or tight, for sure.

Kore wa semaku arimasen yo (ga, not OK here)

Thats so huh. Its spacious but its a little expensive, for sure. Use chotto.

Soo desu ne. Hiroi desu ga, chotto takai desu yo.

As for the bank, where does it exist?

Ginkoo wa, doko ni arimasu ka.

It exists at the bookstores neighbor, meaning next to the bookstore.

Honya no tonari ni arimasu.

As for the Japanese language book, where does it

exist?

Nihongo no hon wa, doko ni arimasu ka.

It exists on that places desks top, meaning on top of that desk.

Soko no tsukue no ue ni arimasu. (ue = above or top,

shita = below or bottom)

As for the pen, does it exist here?

Pen wa, koko ni arimasu ka.

No, the pen doesnt exist here. Iie, pen wa koko ni arimasen.

It exists in that place over theres desks inside. Asoko no tsukue no naka ni arimasu. (naka =

inside; soto = outside)

As for Michael, now, where does he exist?

Maikerusan wa, ima, doko ni imasu ka.

Does he exist at school?

Gakkoo ni imasu ka.

No, he exists at the airport.

Iie, kuukoo ni imasu. (I wore my cool coat at the

airport)

Where is the bank? Use desu.

Ginkoo wa, doko desu ka.

Its there. Soko desu.

Where is Barbara? Use desu.

Baabarasan wa doko desu ka.

As for Barbara, its the jewelry store, meaning shes in the jewelry store.

Baabarasan wa hoosekiya desu. Lesson 2.

8

8

Lesson 2. On the far side of the post office, a

hospital exists. Side is understood.

Yuubinkyoku no mukoo ni byooin ga arimasu. (OK

to substitute mukoogawa for mukoo; gawa = side)

At the schools neighbors bank, Michael exists. Gakkoo no tonari no ginkoo ni, maikerusan ga imasu.

At the desks top, Barbaras pen exists. Tsukue no ue ni, baabarasan no pen ga arimasu.

As for Tsuchida, where does he exist?

Tsuchida san wa, doko ni imasu ka.

As for Barbaras bag, where does it exist? Use baggu. Baabarasan no baggu wa, doko ni arimasu ka.

In front of the desk

Tsukue no mae

Behind the desk

Tsukue no ushiro

Above the desk or on top of the desk

Tsukue no ue

Under the desk

Tsukue no shita

Around the desk

Tsukue no mawari

Close to the desk. Use soba.

Tsukue no soba

Near the desk (literally, the desks closely) Tsukue no chikaku. (chikaku is the adverbial form of

chikai = near or close, but chikaku is also used as a

locative expression meaning close to; another example of a locative expression is mae = front)

It exists on the far side of the desk. Side is understood.

Tsukue no mukoo ni arimasu. (mukoogawa = far

side, also OK)

As for the telephone, its beside the desk. Use yoko. Denwa wa tsukue no yoko desu.

The desks right side. Side is understood. Tsukue no migi. (migi = right; hidari = left)

(migigawa = right side, also OK)

The desks left side. Side is understood. Tsukue no hidari. (hidarigawa = left side, also OK)

The bookstores neighbor, meaning next to or next door.

Honya no tonari

The boxs inside. Hako no naka

The boxs middle Hako no mannaka.

As for the phone, where does it exist?

Denwa wa, doko ni arimasu ka.

Is it the phone?

Denwa desu ka.

As for the phone, it exists beside the desk. Use yoko.

Denwa wa, tsukue no yoko ni arimasu.

As for the cat, it exists below the desk.

Neko wa, tsukue no shita ni imasu.

As for the dog, it exists at the boxs inside.

Inu wa, hako no naka ni imasu.

As for the eye glasses, they exist on the TVs top. Megane wa, terebi no ue ni arimasu.

As for the hospital, it exists at the post offices rear. Byooin wa, yuubinkyoku no ushiro ni arimasu.

As for the benches, they exist at the fountains around, meaning around the fountain.

Benchi wa, funsui no mawari ni arimasu. (mawari =

around; this comes from mawaru = to turn or spin)

(funsui = fountain; we have fun in the sun in the

fountain)

At the flower shops left, what exists? Hanaya no hidari ni, nani ga arimasu ka.

At the hospitals closely, what exists? Byooin no chikaku ni, nani ga arimasu ka.

At Barbaras proximity, what exists? Use soba. This thing is animate.

Baabara san no soba ni, nani ga imasu ka.

A dog exists.

Inu ga imasu.

As for here, its a park. Koko wa, kooen desu. (kore wa, kooen desu, if you

mean this is a park, is not OK in Japanese) Around the park, big buildings, a lot, exist. Use

tatemono.

Kooen no mawari ni ookii tatemono ga takusan

arimasu.

As for the parks inside, its quiet. Kooen no naka wa shizuka desu

In the middle of the park, a fountain exists.

Kooen no mannaka ni funsui ga arimasu

Around the fountain, benches exist.

Funsui no mawari ni benchi ga arimasu.

At the benches rear, big trees exist. Benchi no ushiro ni, ookii ki ga arimasu.

On the big trees underneath bench, Barbara exists. Ookii ki no shita no benchi ni, Barbara-san ga imasu.

Lesson 3

Now, its 3:00, huh. Ima, sanji desu ne.

Well, lets go. Ja, ikimashoo. (the shoo ending replaces the su

ending on a masu verb like ikimasu when you

want to say lets do something or when you want

to say I shall do something; the shoo ending is also used to convert the word desu to the word deshoo = it probably is) Yeah, from here, as far as the hotel, about how long

will it take?

Ee. Koko kara, hoteru made, dono kurai kakarimasu

ka. (gurai, also OK) (kurai = about, approximately,

almost, something like; often softened to gurai)

(kakarimasu = kakaru = take when referring to time, or cost when referring to money) Thats so, huh. Meaning, let me see. Lesson 3.

9

9

Lesson 3. Soo desu ne.

By car, it will take about 2 hours.

Kuruma de, nijikan gurai kakarimasu. (kurai, not

OK; it sounds too harsh with nijikan) (jikan = time,

hours; ichijikan = 1 hour, nijikan = 2 hours, etc.)

To a great degree, its far, huh. Zuibun, tooi desu ne. (zuibun = extremely, to a great

degree)

As for a train, does it exist?

Densha wa, arimasu ka.

A train also exists, but it isnt very convenient. Densha mo arimasu ga, amari benri ja arimasen.

(mo = also; it replaces wa and ga when used after

a subject or topic)

(amari = not very, in negative constructions; very

much or excessively, in positive constructions)

As for today, lets go by taxi. Kyoo wa, takushii de ikimashoo. (de = by means of)

Thats so huh. Lets do so. Soo desu ne. Soo shimashoo.

The street is being uncrowded, huh.

Michi ga suite imasu ne. (suku = to be uncrowded)

(the te or de form of a verb can carry the meaning

ing when combined with iru or imasu; such

verbs can be used with both animate and inanimate objects)

Yeah, it isnt being very crowded, huh. Use amari. Ee, amari konde imasen ne. (konde is the de form of

komu = to get crowded)

Ah! Is that over there visible, meaning can you see

it?

A! Are ga miemasu ka. (ga is always used with

mieru = something can be seen)

Which is it?

Dore desu ka.

Is it that big building over there?

Ano ookii tatemono desu ka.

No, it isnt that building over there. Iie, ano tatemono ja arimasen.

It's that neighbor, meaning its next to that. Use tonari.

Sono tonari desu.

What is it?

Nan desu ka.

Its Disneyland for sure. Dizuniirando desu yo.

Ah, is that over thereTokyo Disneyland?

Aa, are ga tookyoo Dizuniirando desu ka. (ga is used

for emphasis)

Its big, huh. Ookii desu ne.

Yeah, its very big for sure. Ee, totemo ookii desu yo.

Barbara, sometime together lets go. Baabarasan, itsuka issho ni ikimashoo. (itsu = when;

itsuka = sometime, dokoka = somewhere, dareka =

someone; nanika = something) (issho ni = together)

Its interesting for sure. Omoshiroi desu yo. (omoshiroi = interesting, fun,

funny)

Yeah, lets do so. Ee, soo shimashoo.

From Narita airport, as for as far as Tokyo, is it

close?

Narita kuukoo kara tookyoo made wa, chikai desu ka.

As for today, are the streets being crowded?

Kyoo wa, michi ga konde imasu ka.

As for Narita, its a new airport, but it's a bit inconvenient. Use sukoshi.

Narita wa atarashii kuukoo desu ga, sukoshi fuben

desu.

A bus also exists, but it takes time.

Basu mo arimasu ga, jikan ga kakarimasu. (use ga

with kakaru, e.g., okane ga kakaru = it costs money) As for Tokyo, its interesting, but the prices are high. Use bukka.

Tookyoo wa, omoshiroi desu ga, bukka ga takai desu.

(even though prices are plural in English, use ga because youre referring to the specific prices in effect now)

As for Tokyo, its interesting, but ... This hanging but implies that theres also something not so good about Tokyo.

Tookyoo wa omoshiroi desu ga ...

Sushi is good, but its expensive. Sushi wa oishii desu ga, takai desu.

Japan is tight or narrow, but people a lot exist.

Nihon wa semai desu ga, hito ga takusan imasu.

The Japanese language is difficult, but its interesting. Nihongo wa muzukashii desu ga, omoshiroi desu.

This magazine is old, but that magazine over there is

new.

Kono zasshi wa furui desu ga, ano zasshi wa atarashii

desu. (use wa twice, because youre comparing 2 contrasting topics)

Taxis are convenient, but they are expensive.

Takushii wa benri desu ga, takai desu.

Here is quiet, but over there is noisy.

Koko wa shizuka desu ga, asoko wa urusai desu.

(not OK to substitute kore wa or kore ga for koko wa)

Today the circumstances are good, but tomorrow

theyre bad. Use dame. Kyoo wa tsugoo ga ii desu ga, ashita wa dame desu.

This restaurant is expensive, but that restaurant over

there is cheap.

Kono resutoran wa takai desu ga, ano resutoran wa

yasui desu.

Is the work interesting?

Shigoto wa omoshiroi desu ka.

Yeah, its interesting, but its very busy. Ee, omoshiroi desu ga, totemo isogashii desu.

Is a personal computer convenient? Lesson 3.

10

10

Lesson 3. Pasokon wa benri desu ka.

Yeah, its convenient, but its difficult. Ee, benri desu ga, muzukashii desu.

To say very or extremely, in positive constructions, you may use either totemo or

zuibun. As for that person over there, she is a very

pretty person. Use totemo.

Ano hito wa, totemo kirei na hito desu.

As for that person over there, she is a very pretty

person. Use zuibun.

Ano hito wa, zuibun kirei na hito desu.

As for today, cars are very numerous. Use totemo.

Kyoo wa, kuruma ga totemo ooi desu. (ooi =

numerous, an ii adjective)

As for today, cars are very numerous. Use zuibun.

Kyoo wa, kuruma ga zuibun ooi desu.

Amari, when used in negative constructions,

means not very. As for the weather, it isnt very good. Use yoku arimasen.

Tenki wa, amari yoku arimasen. (ii = good = an i

adjective; to make the adverbial ku form of this

adjective, dont say iku; instead use the similar word yoi = good, and convert this to yoku) As for this TV, it isnt very expensive. Kono terebi wa, amari takaku arimasen.

No, it isnt very interesting. Iie, amari omoshiroku arimasen.

The Japanese language book isnt very new. Nihongo no hon wa amari atarashiku arimasen.

Hiragana isnt very difficult. Hiragana wa amari muzukashiku arimasen.

Tokyos streets are not very clean. Tookyoo no michi wa amari kirei ja arimasen. (this

can also mean, not very pretty)(kirei is a na adjective)

From my house, as far as school, is not very far.

Watashi no ie kara, gakkoo made, amari tooku

arimasen.

I drink, or I will drink. In this section, use the masu

form of verbs.

Nomimasu. (from nomu)

I dont drink, or I wont drink. Nomimasen.

I wake up, or I will wake up

Okimasu. (from okiru) (this can also mean I get up or I will get up) I dont wake up, or I wont wake up. Okimasen.

I read, or I will read.

Yomimasu. (from yomu)

I dont read, or I wont read. Yomimasen.

I write, or I will write.

Kakimasu. (from kaku)

I dont write, or I wont write. Kakimasen.

I buy, or I will buy.

Kaimasu. (from kau)

I dont buy, or I wont buy. Kaimasen.

I wait, or I will wait.

Machimasu. (from matsu)

I dont wait, or I wont wait. Machimasen.

I return, or I will return.

Kaerimasu. (from kaeru)

I dont return, or I wont return. Kaerimasen.

I go, or I will go.

Ikimasu. (from iku)

I dont go, or I wont go. Ikimasen.

I open, or I will open.

Akemasu. (from akeru)

I dont open, or I wont open. Akemasen.

I eat, or I will eat.

Tabemasu. (from taberu)

I dont sleep, or I wont sleep. Tabemasen.

I sleep, or I will sleep.

Nemasu. (from neru)

I dont sleep, or I wont sleep. Nemasen.

I see or watch, or I will see or watch.

Mimasu. (from miru)

I dont see or watch, or I wont see or watch. Mimasen.

I show, or I will show.

Misemasu. (from miseru)

I dont show, or I wont show. Misemasen.

I do, or I will do.

Shimasu. (from suru)

I dont do, or I wont do. Shimasen.

Every day, I go to Tokyo.

Mainichi, tookyoo ni ikimasu. (tookyoo e ikimasu, also OK; you may use either ni or e to mean to; e means toward and refers to the direction of movement, while ni means to and refers to the destination itself, but you may consider the words

interchangeable when using them for this meaning)

Tomorrow, I will go to Tokyo.

Ashita, tookyoo ni ikimasu.

Tomorrow, I will not go to Tokyo.

Ashita, tyookyoo ni ikimasen.

I always read books.

Itsumo hon o yomimasu. (itsu = when; itsuka =

sometime; itsumo = always in positive constructions, never in negative constructions; itsudemo = anytime)

I write my name, or I will write Lesson 3.

11

11

Lesson 3. my name. My is understood. Namae o kakimasu.

I take medicine, or I will take medicine.

Kusuri o nomimasu. (nomimasu also = to drink)

Every day, I go to the park, but, as for today, I will

not go. Use e to mean to. Mainichi kooen e ikimasu ga, kyoo wa ikimasen.

From Tokyo station, as far as Nikko, by train, it takes

about 2 hours.

Tookyoo eki kara nikkoo made densha de nijikan

gurai kakarimasu.

The airport is being crowded, but the streets are being

uncrowded.

Kuukoo wa konde imasu ga, michi wa suite imasu.

(use wa twice to contrast 2 competing topics)

At under the desk, what exists? Refer to an animate

object.

Tsukue no shita ni, nani ga imasu ka. (use ga

because youre using an interrogative pronoun, nani, as the subject)

A cat exists.

Neko ga imasu.

The taxi will go to Michaels house. Takushii ga maikerusan no ie e ikimasu. (ie ni, also

OK)

Zero. 2 responses.

Zero. Rei.

One

Ichi

Two

Ni

Three

San

Four. 2 responses.

Yon. Shi.

Five

Go

Six

Roku

Seven. 2 responses.

Nana. Shichi.

Eight.

Hachi.

Nine. 2 responses.

Ku. Kyuu.

Ten.

Juu.

Eleven.

Juu-ichi.

Twelve.

Juu-ni.

Nineteen. 2 responses.

Juu-ku. Juu-kyuu.

Twenty

Ni-juu

Thirty

San-juu

Forty

Yon-juu

Fifty

Go-juu

Sixty

Roku-juu

Seventy. 2 responses.

Shichi-juu, nana-juu

Eighty

Hachi-juu

Ninety

Kyuu-juu

100

Hyaku

101

Hyaku-ichi

111

Hyaku-juu-ichi

200

Ni-hyaku

300

San-byaku

400

Yon-hyaku

500

Go-hyaku

600

Rop-pyaku

700

Nana-hyaku

800

Hap-pyaku

900

Kyuu-hyaku

1000

Sen

1001

Sen-ichi

1111

Sen-hyaku-juu-ichi

2000

Ni-sen

2222

Ni-sen-ni-hyaku-ni-juu-ni

3000

San-zen

4000

Yon-sen

5000

Go-sen

6000

Roku-sen

7000

Nana-sen

8000 Lesson 3.

12

12

Lesson 3. Hassen

9000

Kyuu-sen

10,000

Ichi-man

20,000

Ni-man

33,333

San-man san-zen san-byaku sanjuu san

100,000

Juu-man

444,444

Yonjuu-yon-man yon-sen yon-hyaku yon-juu yon

1,000,000

Hyaku-man

10,000,000

Sen-man

100,000,000

Ichi-oku

1 billion

Juu-oku

10 billion

Hyaku-oku

1:00

Ichi-ji

2:00

Ni-ji

3:00

San-ji

4:00

Yo-ji

5:00

Go-ji

6:00

Roku-ji

7:00

Shichiji (nanaji, not OK)

8:00

Hachi-ji

9:00

Ku-ji (kyuu-ji, not OK)

10:00

Juu-ji

11:00

Juuichi-ji

12:00

Juuni-ji

One minute

Ippun

2 minutes

Nifun

3 minutes

Sanpun

4 minutes

Yonpun (yonfun, also OK)

5 minutes

Gofun

6 minutes

Roppun

7 minutes

Nanafun (shichifun, not OK)

8 minutes

Happun

9 minutes

Kyuufun

10 minutes. 2 responses

Jippun. Juppun.

30 minutes. 2 responses.

Sanjippun. Sanjuppun

One hour

Ichijikan (kan = duration)

2 hours

Nijikan

3 hours

Sanjikan

4 hours

Yojikan (yonjikan, not OK)

5 hours

Gojikan

6 hours

Rokujikan

7 hours. 2 responses.

Shichijikan. Nanajikan.

8 hours

Hachijikan

9 hours

Ku-jikan (kyuu-jikan, not OK)

10 hours

Juujikan

30 hours

Sanjuujikan

Now, what time is it?

Ima, nanji desu ka.

Its 10:42 Juuji yonjuu nifun desu.

About 3:00, I will go to Narita airport.

Sanji goro, narita kuukoo e ikimasu. (Goro means

approximately but is only used with time of day, time of year, etc. Kurai, or gurai, can be used

after nouns in general to mean approximately.) (kuukoo ni ikimasu, also OK)

At tomorrows 4:00 p.m., I will meet Michael. Ashita no gogo yoji ni, maikerusan ni aimasu.

Exactly 1:00

Choodo ichiji

3:15

Sanji juugofun

15 minutes following 3:00

Sanji juugofun tsugi

5:27 a.m.

Gozen goji nijuunanafun

8:30 Lesson 3.

13

13

Lesson 3. Hachiji sanjuppun (sanjippun, also

OK)

Half past 8:00

Hachiji han

Here are 3 ways to say 3:45 p.m. First, 15:45

Juugoji yonjuu gofun

3:45 p.m.

Gogo sanji yonjuu gofun

15 minutes before 4:00 p.m.

Gogo yoji juugofun mae

At 3:00, I will meet Barbara.

Sanji ni, baabarasan ni aimasu. (ni is used to mean

at a particular time; ni is also used before the verb au = to meet, to indicate the person who is

met)

From Tokyo station as far as Disneyland, about how

much does it take?

Tookyoo eki kara dizuniirando made, dono kurai

kakarimasu ka. (kakarimasu = kakaru = take

when referring to time, or cost when referring to money) (dono gurai, also OK)

By bus, it takes 35 minutes.

Basu de, sanjuu gofun kakarimasu.

Every day, how many hours work do you do?

Mainichi, nanjikan shigoto o shimasu ka. (kan =

duration, e.g. ichijikan = 1 hour duration,

ichinenkan = 1 year duration, etc.; jikan also = time)

I do 8 hours work.

Hachijikan shigoto o shimasu. (shigoto o hachijikan

shimasu, also OK)

From Tokyo until Shizuoka, by bullet train, about

how much is it? (meaning, how much time does it

take?)

Tookyoo kara, shizuoka made, shinkansen de, dono

kurai desu ka. (dono gurai, also OK)

Its about 1 hours Ichijikan han gurai desu. (kurai, not OK, in this case)

Sigh. I dont know/understand exactly. Saa. Chotto wakarimasen. (cf. choodo ichiji =

exactly 1:00) (not OK to substitute choodo here)

As for time (literally hour duration), about how much

does it take?

Jikan wa, dono kurai kakarimasu ka. (gurai, also OK)

As for money, about how much does it cost? Use

dono.

Okane wa, dono kurai kakarimasu ka. (dono gurai,

also OK; ikura gurai, also OK)

As for Tanaka, every day, at what time does he sleep,

meaning go to bed?

Tanaka san wa, mainichi, nanji ni nemasu ka.

As for Tanaka, every day, at what time does he get

up?

Tanaka san wa, mainichi, nanji ni okimasu ka.

As for Tanaka, every day, how many hours does he

sleep.

Tanaka san wa, mainichi, nanjikan nemasu ka.


do work?

Tanaka san wa, mainichi, nanjikan shigoto o shimasu

ka.

As for the lunch rest, meaning lunch break, from

what time until what time is it?

Hiruyasumi wa, nanji kara nanji made desu ka.

As for the lunch break, how many hours is it?

Hiruyasumi wa, nanjikan desu ka.

As for Tanaka, at what time does he leave the home?

Tanaka san wa, nanji ni uchi o demasu ka.

As for Tanaka, at what time does he return to the

home?

Tanaka san wa, nanji ni uchi ni kaerimasu ka.


watch TV?

Tanaka san wa, mainichi, nanjikan terebi o mimasu

ka.


do Englishs study? Tanaka san wa, mainichi, nanjikan eigo no benkyoo o

shimasu ka.

From Tanakas home as far as the company, about how long does it take?

Tanaka san no uchi kara kaisha made, dono kurai

kakarimasu ka.

As for Tanaka, about what time does he eat

breakfast?

Tanaka san wa, nanji goro asagohan o tabemasu ka.

From Narita, until the hotel, by car, about how long

does it take?

Narita kara hoteru made kuruma de dono kurai

kakarimasu ka.

At what time, will you return to the home (meaning,

your home)?

Nanji ni uchi ni kaerimasu ka.

To Tanaka I sent a letter.

Tanaka san ni tegami o dashimashita. (from dasu)

Where does Barbara exist?

Baabarasan wa doko ni imasu ka.

At 9:00 I will meet Michael.

Kuji ni maikerusan ni aimasu.

Excuse me. From Tokyo until Shin-osaka, by bullet

train, about how long does it take?

Sumimasen. Tookyoo kara shin oosaka made

shinkansen de dono kurai kakarimasu ka. (gurai, also

OK)

Its about 3 hours. Sanjikan gurai desu. (kurai, not OK)

Shall we go by train, shall we go by taxi?

Densha de ikimashoo ka takushii de ikimashoo ka.

The train is a little inconvenient. Use chotto.

Densha wa chotto fuben desu.

Lets go by taxi. Takushii de ikimashoo.

Well, lets do so. Lesson 3.

14

14

Lesson 3. Jaa, so shimashoo.

Shall we drink beer?

Biiru o nomimashoo ka.

Yeah, its good huh. Ee, ii desu ne.

Its good, huh. But a little bit, as for now. Ii desu ne. Demo chotto, ima wa. (this is a soft

refusal)

Will we not drink beer?

Biiru o nomimasen ka.

Yeah, lets drink. Ee, nomimashoo.

Will we not do tennis?

Tenisu o shimasen ka.

Yeah, lets do. Ee, shimashoo.

Its too bad, but a little, a job exists and ... Use te to mean and.

Zannen desu ga, chotto, yo ga atte... (zannen =

disappointing, regrettable) (yoo = job, yooji = errand;

yooi = preparations)

Its 5:00. Shall we return to the home? Goji desu. Uchi e kaerimashoo ka.

Yeah, lets return. Ee, kaerimashoo.

Yeah, but, a little bit ...

Ee, demo chotto ... (this is a soft refusal)

Its 12:00. Shall we eat lunch? Juuniji desu. Hirugohan o tabemashoo ka.

Its difficult. Muzukashii desu.

Shall we ask the teacher?

Sensei ni kikimashoo ka. (from kiku = to ask; kiku

also = to listen)

It will rain.

Ame ga furimasu.

Shall we go by taxi?

Takushii de ikimashoo ka.

Its Tanakas birthday. Tanaka san no tanjoobi desu.

Shall we do a party?

Paatii o shimashoo ka.

As for tomorrow, a test exists. Use tesuto.

Ashita wa tesuto ga arimasu.

Shall we study together?

Issho ni benkyoo shimashoo ka.

As for at Tokyos closely, Naritaairport exists. Tookyoo no chikaku ni wa, narita kuukoo ga arimasu.

Haneda airport also exists.

Haneda kuukoo mo arimasu.

Haneda Airport is a domestic airlines' airport.

Haneda kuukoo wa kokunai sen no kuukoo desu.

(kokunai = domestic; domestic is no country, i.e., not

a foreign country; koku = country) (sen =

transportation line or track; also = line)

Narita Airport is an international airlines' airport.

Narita kuukoo wa kokusai sen no kuukoo desu.

(kokusai = international; she sighed to learn that she

would be visiting an international country)

Haneda exists south of Tokyo.

Haneda wa tookyoo no minami ni arimasu. (tookyoo

no minami desu, also OK) (kita = north, minami =

south, higashi = east, nishi = west)

From Tokyo, by monorail, it takes about 30 minutes.

Tookyoo kara, monoreeru de, sanjippun gurai

kakarimasu.

Its very close. Totemo chikai desu.

Its convenient. Benri desu.

Narita Airport exists east of Tokyo.

Narita kuukoo wa tookyoo no higashi ni arimasu.

Its a very big airport, but its a little far. Use sukoshi. Totemo ookii kuukoo desu ga, sukoshi tooi desu.

From Tokyo, as far as Narita, by car, it takes about 2

hours.

Tookyoo kara narita made kuruma de nijikan gurai

kakarimasu.

There is also a train, but it's a little inconvenient. Use

sukoshi.

Densha mo arimasu ga, sukoshi fuben desu

I'll say once again.

Moo ichido iimasu. (from iu = to say)

Lesson 4

Sigh, we arrived.

Saa, tsukimashita. (from tsuku = to arrive)

As for here, its Tokyo International Hotel. Koko wa, tookyoo intaanashonaru hoteru desu. (kore

wa, generally not OK to use for a location like a hotel,

unless you are pointing at the hotel and explaining

something about it)

Tsuchida, as for me, I got a little tired. Use chotto.

Tsuchida san, watashi wa, chotto tsukaremashita.

(from tsukareru = to get tired)

It would be better to rest a bit, huh. Use sukoshi.

Sukoshi yasunda hoo ga ii desu ne.

(the idea it would be better to do such and such

is expressed by using the plain past tense of a verb

followed by hoo ga ii) (from yasumu = to rest; polite past tense =

yasumimashita; plain past tense = yasunda)

Webb also?

Uebbu san mo.

As for me, its OK. Watashi wa, daijoobu desu.

Inside the plane, I slept well.

Hikooki no naka de yoku nemashita. (neru = to sleep)

[use de with active verbs; with inactive verbs, like neru = sleep, use ni to mean at & de to mean in; you can say koki ni nete kudasai = please sleep at here; other inactive verbs: mattsu Lesson 4.

15

15

Lesson 4. = wait, dekiru = be able to, suteru =

throw away, ochiru = fall, tomaru = stop

(intransitive), tomeru = stop (transitive), tatsu =

stand; nokoru = stay behind, only used with ni]

Michael sleeps well anywhere.

Maikeru wa dokodemo yoku nemasu. (Barbara

doesnt use san after her husbands name when discussing him with a 3

rd party) (use wa because

Michael has already been introduced into the

conversation) (doko = where; dokodemo =

anywhere; dokoka = somewhere; dokomo =

everywhere in positive constructions, nowhere in

negative constructions)

As for the other day he was sleeping in front of

honorable guests, for sure. Use kono aida.

Kono aida wa, okyaku san no mae de nete imashita

yo. (aida = interval; kono aida = the other day) (mae

ni, not OK; use de with neru)

Really? As for that, its super, huh. Use hee.

Hee, sore wa sugoi desu ne.

Wouldn't it be better to do check in soon? Soften the

word good. Use plain speech to say wouldnt. Sugu chiekkuin o shita hoo ga iin ja nai desu ka

Yeah, I shall do so.

Ee, soo shimashoo.

As for me, I'll be waiting here.

Watashi wa koko de matte imasu. (koko ni also OK,

if referring to someone else, e.g., Maikerusan wa

koko ni matte imasu)

Sorry to have kept you waiting.

Omatase shimashita.

As for Barbara, she is taking a shower, but she will

come soon.

Baabara wa shawaa o abite imasu ga, sugu kimasu.

(from abiru = to take shower or bath; drink a beer in

the shower)

Is that so? Well, let's wait at the bar.

Soo desu ka. Ja, baa de machimashoo. (from matsu

= to wait)

By the way, what was the airplanes meal? Tokoro de, hikooki no shokuji wa nan deshita ka.

(tokoro de = by the way)

Was it meat, was it fish?

Niku deshita ka sakana deshita ka.

It wasnt fish. Sakana ja arimasen deshita.

It was meat and vegetables.

Niku to yasai deshita. (to = and; it can also mean

with) In that case, as for dinner, fish is good, right? Use

sore jaa. Use yuushoku.

Sore jaa, yuushoku wa sakana ga ii desu ne. (sore jaa

= sore dewa = in that case) (cf. chuushoku = lunch,

chooshoku = breakfast) (cf. bangohan also = dinner)

(this sentence is an example of sentence pattern B)

As for Michael, is honorable sushi liked, meaning do

you like it?

Maikerusan wa, osushi ga suki desu ka. (its common and polite to address people in this way, as

though they were not present)

(suki desu = it is liked; the item being liked is

usually followed by ga)

Yeah, it is liked, meaning I like it.

Ee, suki desu.

As for Barbara?

Baabarasan wa.

The wife also likes it.

Kanai mo suki desu.

As for before, she didnt like it very much, but as for now, she eats anything.

Mae wa amari suki ja arimasen deshita ga, ima wa

nandemo tabemasu. (nandemo = anything, nanika

= something, nanimo = nothing in negative

constructions; minna, mina or subete =

everything)

Is that so?

Soo desu ka.

Well, shall we go to a sushi store?

Jaa, sushiya ni ikimashoo ka.

Its good huh. Ii desu ne.

Who got tired?

Dare ga tsukuremashita ka.

Barbara got tired.

Baabarasan ga tuskuremashita.

Who slept inside the plane?

Dare ga hikooki no naka de nemashita ka.

Its Michael. Maikerusan desu.

As for Barbara, what is she doing?

Baabarasan wa, nani o shite imasu ka.

She is taking a shower.

Shawaa o abite imasu.

As for Tsuchida and Michael, at where are they

waiting for Barbara?

Tsuchida san to maikeru san wa, doko de baabarasan

o matte imasu ka.

They are waiting at a bar.

Baa de matte imasu.

As for the planes meal,what was it? Hikooki no shokuji wa, nan deshita ka.

It was meat and vegetables.

Niku to yasai deshita.

As for dinner, what will they eat? Use yuushoku.

Yuushoku wa, nani o tabemasu ka.

As for Michael, does he like sushi?

Maikerusan wa, sushi ga suki desu ka.

As for here, its a hotel. Koko wa, hoteru desu.

As for here, it isnt a hotel. 2 responses, using polite speech and plain speech. Use ja for Lesson 4.

16

16

Lesson 4. both responses.

Koko wa hoteru ja arimasen.

Koko wa hoteru ja nai.

As for here, its quiet. Koko wa, shizuka desu.

As for here, it isnt quiet. 2 responses, both using ja. Koko wa, shizuka ja arimasen. Koko wa shizuka ja

nai.

As for here, its tight or narrow. Koko wa, semai desu.

As for here, it isnt tight or narrow. 2 responses, one using polite speech and one plain speech with desu.

Koko wa semaku arimasen. Koko wa semaku nai

desu. (OK to omit desu)

As for here, it was a hotel.

Koko wa, hoteru deshita.

As for here, it wasnt a hotel. Koko wa, hoteru ja arimasen deshita.

As for here, it was quiet.

Koko wa, shizuka deshita.

As for here, it wasnt quiet. Koko wa shizuka ja arimasen deshita.

As for here, it was not tight or narrow.

Koko wa, semaku arimasen deshita. (semakunai

deshita, not OK)

Nai, meaning does not exist, is the plain speech form of arimasen. In some cases, nai can be

translated as not. To form the past form of nai, drop the final i and add katta, making nakatta.

As for here, it was not tight or narrow. Plain speech.

Use desu.

Koko wa, semaku nakatta desu. (semakunai deshita,

not OK; semaku arimasen deshita, OK)

In the same way that you make the past form of nai,

to form the past plain speech form of an i

adjective, drop the final i and add katta; this is

often followed by desu, but, in plain speech, desu

is omitted. It was expensive. Plain speech.

Takakatta. (takakunai deshita, not OK; takaku

arimasen deshita, OK, if using polite speech)

It was big. Plain speech.

Ookikatta. (ookikunai deshita, not OK)

It was difficult. Plain speech.

Muzukashikatta. (muzukashii deshita, not OK)

The airplanes meal was meat. Hikooki no shokuji wa niku deshita.

It was not fish.

Sakana ja arimasen deshita.

Now I'm an employee of Abe Industries.

Ima abe sangyoo no shain desu

As for before, I was an employee of Tanaka

Industries.

Mae wa tanaka sangyoo no shain deshita.

As for here, as for before, it was a park.

Koko wa, mae wa, kooen deshita.

It was very quiet.

Totemo shizuka deshita.

It wasn't noisy like this.

Konna ni urusaku arimasen deshita. (konna = like

this, sonna = like that, anna = like that over there,

donna = what kind of; when you add ni to any of

these adjectives, they become adverbs, modifying

a verb or another adjective)

As for yesterdays party, it was very pleasant. Kinoo no paati wa totemo tanoshikatta desu.

(tanoshii = pleasant, an i adjective; tanoshii deshita,

not OK)

Before it was big, but now it isn't big.

Mae wa ookikatta desu ga, ima wa ookiku arimasen.

(use wa twice because youre contrasting 2 competing topics) (not OK to substitute ookii deshita

for ookikatta)

Its small. Chiisai desu.

As for yesterday, it was Sunday.

Kinoo wa, nichiyoobi deshita.

As for yesterday, was it busy?

Kinoo wa, isogashikatta desu ka. (isogashii deshita,

not OK)

As for yesterday, was it good weather?

Kinoo wa, ii tenki deshita ka.

As for yesterday, was it rain?

Kinoo wa, ame deshita ka.

Was last night's TV interesting?

Yuube no terebi wa omoshirokatta desu ka

(omoshiroi deshita, not OK)

Was last night cold?

Yuube wa samukatta desu ka (samui deshita, not OK)

As for me, every day, I study.

Watashi wa, mainichi benkyoo shimasu.

As for me, always, inside the train, I read a book.

Watashi wa, itsumo, densha no naka de, hon o

yomimasu.

As for me, tomorrow, I will do tennis.

Watashi wa, ashita, tenisu o shimasu.

As for me, this morning, I ate bread.

Watashi wa, kesa, pan o tabemashita.

As for me, yesterday, I saw a movie.

Watashi wa, kinoo, eiga o mimashita.

As for Michael, he sleeps often, but as for in the

taxis inside, he did not sleep. Maikerusan wa yoku nemasu ga, takushii no naka de

wa nemasen deshita.

As for me, I got a little tired. Use chotto.

Watashi wa, chotto tsukaremashita.

Sigh, we arrived.

Saa, tsukimashita.

The train arrived for sure.

Densha ga tsukimashita yo.

As for today, what shall we do?

Kyoo wa, nani o shimashoo ka.

Lets do tennis. Lesson 4.

17

17

Lesson 4. Tenisu o shimashoo.

Is it tennis?

Tenisu desu ka.

Yesterday we did it for sure.

Kinoo shimashita yo.

As for today, lets go for the purpose of a movie. Kyoo wa, eiga ni ikimashoo. (use ni after an

activity to indicate doing something for a purpose,

e.g. kaimono ni ikimasu = to go for shopping)

I drive. Use doraibu.

Doraibu o shimasu.

I swim in the pool.

Puuru de oyogimasu. (from oyogu = to swim)

As for me, I was born in a New Jerseys small town. Watashi wa, nyuujaajii no chiisai machi de

umaremashita. (from umareru = to be born)

Until 10-years-old I existed there.

Juusai made soko ni imashita. (sai = counter for

years of age) (jissai made, also OK)

11-year-olds time, I went to New York. Juuissai no toki, nyuuyooku e

ikimashita. (toki = time at which something occurs)

And then, I went to a New Yorks school. Use soshite.

Soshite, nyuuyooku no gakkoo e ikimashita.

As for me, I liked school a lot. Use totemo.

Watashi wa, gakkoo ga totemo suki deshita.

Friends, a lot, existed.

Tomodachi ga takusan imashita.

At university, I studied economics and the Japanese

language.

Daigaku de, keizai to nihongo o benkyoo shimashita.

Im reading a book. Hon o yonde imasu.

Im not reading a book. Hon o yonde imasen.

I was reading a book.

Hon on yonde imashita.

I wasnt reading a book. Hon o yonde imasen deshita.

As for Barbara, she is taking a shower in the room,

but she will soon come.

Baabara san wa, heya de shawaa o abite imasu ga,

sugu kimasu.

Lets be waiting at the bar. Baa de matte imashoo.

As for Michael, at the planes inside, he was not reading a book.

Maikerusan wa, hikooki no naka de, hon o yonde

imasen deshita.

He was sleeping.

Nete imashita.

In ordinary speech, te imasu is often shortened to

temasu, and de imasu is shortened to demasu. He

is reading a book. Shortened for speech.

Hon o yondemasu.

He is not reading a book. Shortened for speech.

Hon o yondemasen.

Hello (use the hello used when starting to speak on

the phone, or when trying to get someones attention). Its me. Moshimoshi. Watashi desu.

Ah, Nakamura. Hello. (use the usual expression for

hello)

Aa, nakamurasan. Konnichi wa. (this hello is the greeting used in everyday speech, in late morning

through late afternoon)

I beg Yamada, meaning Id like to speak to her). Yamada san o onegai shimasu.

As for Yamada, now, she is typing. Use utsu.

Yamada san wa, ima, taipu o utte imasu. (from utsu

= to strike; I utilized a submarine to strike him)

Is that so?

Soo desu ka.

Well, again, of later, I will do a phone call.

Ja, mata, ato de, denwa shimasu. (denwa o shimasu,

also OK)

As for this, its my pen. Kore wa, watashi no pen desu.

That also is my pen.

Sore mo watashi no pen desu.

That over there also is my pen.

Are mo watashi no pen desu.

All are my pens. Use zenbu.

Zenbu watashi no pen desu. (zenbu ga, also OK, but

it sounds strange here)

As for me, Im an American. Watashi wa amerikajin desu.

I also am an American.

Watashi mo amerikajin desu.

As for me, I understand English also, Spanish also,

Japanese also.

Watashi wa eigo mo, supeingo mo, nihongo mo

wakarimasu.

As for me, I will go to Kyoto.

Watashi wa, kyooto e ikimasu.

I will go to Osaka also.

Oosaka e mo ikimasu.

As for flower shops, also at there, also at over there

they exist.

Hanaya wa soko ni mo asoko ni mo arimasu.

As for the telephone, it exists in front of the tobacco

shop.

Denwa wa, tabakoya no mae ni arimasu.

And then, in front of the bank also it exists. Use sore

kara.

Sore kara, ginkoo no mae ni mo arimasu.

This is a Japanese languages dictionary. Kore wa nihongo no jisho desu. (people jeered the

show that was based on dictionary words)

A woman exists next to the phone. Use yoko.

Onna no hito ga denwa no yoko ni Lesson 4.

18

18

Lesson 4. imasu. (onna = female, otoko = male;

onna no hito = woman; otoko no hito = man)

As for flowers, they exist on top of the desk.

Hana wa, tsukue no ue ni arimasu.

As for yesterday, I ate sukiyaki.

Kinoo wa, sukiyaki o tabemashita.

At below the desk, what exists?

Tsukue no shita ni, nani ga arimasu ka.

A box and a bag exist. Use baggu.

Hako to baggu ga arimasu.

On top of the desk, what exists?

Tsukue no ue ni, nani ga arimasu ka.

A book, and a notebook and a pen and a pencil exist.

Hon to nooto to pen to enpitsu ga arimasu.

As for Tsuchida, to whom did he call on the phone?

Tsuchida san wa, dare ni denwa o kakemashita ka.

(from kakeru = kakemasu = to make a phone call; cf.

denwa [o] shimasu = to do a phone call; both

expressions have the same meaning but are translated

differently in these lessons)

Wheres wine is delicious, meaning which countrys wine?

Doko no wain ga oishii desu ka.

As for me, I like sushi.

Watashi wa, sushi ga suki desu.

As for Maria, she dislikes sushi.

Mariasan wa, sushi ga kirai desu.

As for Maria, she doesnt like sushi. Mariasan wa, sushi ga suki ja arimasen.

As for me, I like tennis, but I dont like long-distance running.

Watashi wa, tenisu wa suki desu ga, marason wa suki

ja arimasen. (use wa for contrasting expressions)

Michael, as for tempura, do you like it?

Maikerusan, tenpura wa suki desu ka.

Well, I dont dislike it, but ... Use maa to mean well. Maa, kirai ja arimasen ga ...

You had better for sure.

Hoo ga ii desu yo.

It would probably be better to ...

Hoo ga ii deshoo.

Wouldnt be better to? Soften the word good. Hoo ga iin ja arimasen ka.

Its so, huh. Meaning OK. Soo desu ne. (this signifies agreement)

Yeah, Ill do so. Ee. Soo shimasu.

Its so, huh. But ... Use demo. Soo desu ne. demo ... (a soft refusal)

Yeah, but. A little bit. Use chotto.

Ee, demo, chotto ... (a soft refusal)

Wouldn't it be better to open the window? Soften the

word good.

Mado o aketa hoo ga iin ja arimasen ka. (from akeru

= to open)

Thats so, huh.

Soo desu ne.

What's wrong; literally, how did it happen?

Doo shimashita ka

A little, the stomach ... Use chotto. Stomach is the

subject.

Chotto, onaka ga ...

Well, you'd better go to the hospital. Use yo,

meaning for sure, after all the you had better phrases in this section.

Ja, byooin ni itta hoo ga ii desu yo

Yeah, Ill do so. Ee, soo shimasu

Wouldn't it be better if you waited about an hour?

Soften the word good. Ichi jikan gurai matta hoo ga iin ja arimasen ka.

Yeah, but I'll go now.

Ee, demo ima ikimasu.

I forgot a book.

Hon o wasuremashita. (from wasureru = to forget; I

was sure that I would forget, and I did)

You'd better borrow from a friend. Use ni rather than

kara.

Tomodachi ni karita hoo ga ii desu yo. (from kariru

= to borrow)

I don't understand the street. In this case, this means

I dont understand the way. Michi ga wakarimasen. (michi here means the way) You'd better look at a map.

Chizu o mita hoo ga ii desu yo.

The stomach hurts.

Onaka ga itai desu. (itai desu = to hurt)

You'd better go to the hospital.

Byooin ni itta hoo ga ii desu yo.

I lost money.

Okane o nakushimashita. (nakusu = to lose, naked ku

klux klansman lost his sheet; nokosu = to leave

behind; nokoru = to stay behind)

You'd better go to the police.

Keisatsu e itta hoo ga ii desu yo. (keisatsu = police;

keisatsukan = omawarisan = policeman)

I don't understand the Japanese language.

Nihongo ga wakarimasen.

You'd better study at a school.

Gakkoo de benkyoo shita hoo ga ii desu yo.

The wife is sick.

Kanai ga byooki desu. (tsuma considered bookish)

(kanai wa is also OK)

You'd better go to the hospital.

Byooin ni itta hoo ga ii desu yo.

I got a little tired. Use chotto.

Chotto tsukaremashita. (I got tired carrying the

moon on the carrera; tsuki = moon; carrera = road in

Spanish) (from tsukareru; cf. tsukuru = to make or

produce, to prepare food)

It would be better to return home early. Lesson 4.

19

19

Lesson 4. Hayaku uchi e kaetta hoo ga ii desu yo.

(hayai = early, fast, an i adjective; osoi = late, slow)

It would be better to leave home early.

Hayaku uchi o deta hoo ga ii desu yo. (from deru =

to leave)

It would be better to rest a while. Use sukoshi.

Sukoshi yasunda hoo ga ii desu yo.

It would be better to sleep early.

Hayaku neta hoo ga ii desu yo.

The streets are crowded.

Michi ga konde imasu.

It would be better to go by train.

Densha de itta hoo ga ii desu yo.

I caught a cold.

Kaze o hikimashita. (from hiku = to pull or to catch a

cold)

It would be better to take medicine.

Kusuri o nonda hoo ga ii desu yo.

Tomorrow a test exists. Use tesuto.

Ashita tesuto ga arimasu.

It would be better to study soon.

Sugu benkyoo shita hoo ga ii desu yo.

As for sushi, do you like it?

Sushi wa, suki desu ka.

Yes, I like it.

Hai, suki desu.

No, I dont like it. Iie, suki ja arimasen.

In Japanese, yes and no are used differently in

response to negative questions, compared to the way

they are used in English. As for sushi, dont you like it?

Sushi wa, suki ja arimasen ka.

Yes, I dont like it. Hai, suki ja arimasen.

No, I like it.

Iie, suki desu.

Michael, as for Sundays, always, what do you do?

Maikerusan, nichiyoobi wa, itsumo, nani o shimasu

ka.

As for sports, do you not do them?

Supootsu wa, shimasen ka.

I sleep leisurely.

Yukkuri nemasu. (yukkuri = slowly, taking time)

What kind of programs, meaning TV programs, do

you like? Use donna.

Donna bangumi ga suki desu ka. (donna = what kind

of) (in Singapore, the TV program is about banning

gum) (OK to substitute nan no for donna)

It's news. I watch CNNs news often. Nyuusu desu. CNN no nyuusu o yoku mimasu.

(yoku = well; it also = often)

I danced for about an hour and a half.

Ichiji kan han gurai odorimashita. (from odoru)

In that case, you got a little tired, huh. Use sore ja.

Use sukoshi.

Sore ja, sukoshi tsukaremashita ne

It's Italian cooking.

Itaria ryoori desu. (Leo really likes my cooking)

But it was very pleasant.

Demo totemo tanoshikatta desu.

Lesson 5

As for drinks, what is good?

Nomimono wa nani ga ii desu ka

As for today, since its warm, I want to drink beer, huh.

Kyoo wa atatakai kara, biiru ga nomitai desu ne.

(kara can mean because or since) (Use tai after a

verb stem to mean desire. Often the resulting

verb is followed by desu.) (biiru o, also OK)

I also, beer is good, meaning Ill also have beer. Watashi mo, biiru ga ii desu.

As for sushi, what would you like to eat?

Sushi wa nani o tabetai desu ka. (nani ga, also OK)

Thats so huh, meaning let me see. Soo desu ne.

As for me, fatty tuna.

Watashi wa, toro.

Well, as for me, shrimp is good. Plain speech. Use a

womans word for emphasis. Jaa, watashi wa ebi ga ii wa. (wa is used by women

for emphasis)

Excuse me. Beer, 3 bottles.

Sumimasen. Biiru o sanbon. (use o after beer because youre asking for it, so its an object; hon is a counter for long thin objects like bottles, e.g.,

ippon, nihon, sanbon etc.)

And then, fatty tuna two and shrimp one I beg. Use

sore kara. Use Japanese counting numbers.

Sore kara, toro o futatsu to ebi o hitotsu onegai

shimasu. (Japanese numbers are used for counting

objects up to 10, e.g., hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu etc.)

It was a feast.

Gochisoo sama deshita. (this is a standard expression

said at the end of a meal)

No. Youre welcome. Iie. Doo itashimashite.

How is it, as for Tokyo sushi?

Doo desu ka, tookyoo no sushi wa.

Yeah, it was very delicious. Use a womans word for emphasis. Dont use desu. Ee, totemo oishikatta wa.

Extremely, people are numerous, huh. Use hito. Use

ooi.

Zuibun hito ga ooi desu ne. (oozei means a crowd of

people; oozei is a noun, not an adjective; OK to

substitute oozei for ooi here)

Why is it?

Dooshite desu ka.

Its because today is the Friday after payday for sure. Use dakara. Lesson 5.

20

20

Lesson 5. Kyoo wa kyuuryoobi no ato no kinyoobi

dakara desu yo. (dakara = desu kara; after an i

adjective, you may not use da, and you may not

use dakara after an i adjective either) (kyuuryoo =

salary; I use my salary to buy curios)

Shall we walk a little? Use sukoshi.

Sukoshi arukimashoo ka. (from aruku = to walk)

Its good, huh. Ii desu ne.

By the way, now, what time is it?

Tokoro de, ima nanji desu ka.

Er ... Ah, its 10:10 for sure. Eeto. Aa, juuji jippun desu yo. (juppun, also OK)

Is that so? As for New York, now, its morning huh. Soo desu ka. Nyuuyooku wa, ima, asa desu ne.

Yeah. Its mornings about 8:00, huh. Ee. Asa no hachiji goro desu ne.

In that case, because the parents are worried, for a

moment, I'd like to do a phone call at the hotel,

but ... Use sore ja. Use plain speech to say are worried. Soften the last verb. Sore ja, ryoshin ga shinpai shite iru kara, chotto

hoteru de denwa o shitain desu ga. (must use ga after

ryoshin because its in a subordinate clause) (shinpai suru = to get worried; a shiny pie is a worry

pie)

Well, let's return to the hotel soon.

Ja, sugu hoteru ni kaerimashoo

As for you, where did you come from?

Anata wa doko kara kimashita ka.

As for me, its Tokyo. Watashi wa tookyoo desu.

As for sushi what will you eat?

Sushi wa nani o tabemasu ka

As for me, its shrimp. Watashi wa ebi desu.

As for me, fatty tuna.

Watashi wa toro.

As for the phone number, what number is it?

Denwa bango wa nanban desu ka. (ban = number,

turn)

03-3251-0479

Zero san no san ni go ichi no zero yon nana kyuu.

Please tell me.

Oshiete kudasai. (from oshieru = to teach, show or

tell)

Say, please tell me your home phone number.

Anoo, anata no uchi no denwa bango o oshiete

kudasai.

One bottle

Ippon (hon is used to count long slender objects)

Two bottles

Nihon

3 bottles

Sanbon

4 bottles

Yonhon

5 bottles

Gohon

6 bottles

Roppon

7 bottles. 2 responses

Shichihon, nanahon


Happon, hachihon

9 bottles

Kyuuhon


Juppon, jippon

How many bottles?

Nanbon

One object.

Hitotsu

2 objects

Futatsu

3 objects

Mittsu (cf. muttsu = 6)

4 objects

Yottsu

5 objects

Itsutsu

6 objects

Muttsu (cf. mittsu = 3)

7 objects

Nanatsu

8 objects

Yattsu

9 objects

Kokonotsu

10 objects

Too

How many objects?

Ikutsu

Yesterday, beer, how many bottles did you drink?

Kinoo biiru o nanbon nomimashita ka.

I drank 3 bottles.

Sanbon nomimashita.

Yesterday, sushi, how many did you eat?

Kinoo sushi o ikutsu tabemashita ka.

I ate 3 fatty tuna and 5 shrimp.

Toro o mittsu to ebi o itsutsu tabemashita. (ikutsu =

how many, how old; itsuka = 5th

of the month;

itsutsu = five)

As for Barbara, she ate about 10.

Barbara wa too gurai tabemashita.

(You dont need to use the particles wo or ga after objects if you follow them with numbers.)

Beer 3 bottles, please.

Biiru sanbon kudasai. (biiru o, also OK)

Beer 3 bottles exist.

Biiru sanbon arimasu. (biiru ga, also OK)

1990 Lesson 5.

21

21

Lesson 5. Sen kyuu hyaku kyuu juu nen.

1990 (the 2nd

year of the Heisei era)

Heisei ni nen.

January

Ichigatsu

February

Nigatsu

March

Sangatsu

April

Shigatsu

May

Gogatsu

June

Rokugatsu

July

Shichigatsu

August

Hachigatsu

September

Kugatsu

October

Juugatsu

November

Juuichigatsu

December

Juunigatsu

What year?

Nan nen

What month?

Nan gatsu

What day?

Nan nichi

First of the month

Tsuitachi

Second of the month

Futsuka

Third of the month

Mikka

Fourth of the month

Yokka (cf. yooka = 8th

of the month)

Fifth of the month

Itsuka

Sixth of the month

Muika

Seventh of the month

Nanoka

Eighth of the month

Yooka (cf. yokka = 4th

of the month)

Ninth of the month

Kokonoka

Tenth of the month

Tooka

Eleventh of the month

Juu ichi nichi

Twelfth of the month

Juu ni nichi

Fourteenth of the month

Juu yokka (after the 12th

, the 14th

, the 20th

& the 24th

are the only exceptions, e.g. 13th

= juu san nichi; 15th

= juu go nichi, 19th

= juu ku nichi)

Twentieth of the month

Hatsuka

Twenty-fourth of the month

Nijuu yokka

When is your birthday?

Anata no tanjoobi wa itsu desu ka.

Its August 6th. Hachi gatsu muika desu.

Sunday

Nichiyoobi

Monday

Getsuyoobi

Tuesday

Kayoobi

Wednesday

Suiyoobi

Thursday

Mokuyoobi

Friday

Kinyoobi

Saturday

Doyoobi

What day of the week?

Nanyoobi

What day of the week is March 10th

?

San gatsu tooka wa nan yoobi desu ka.

Its Saturday. Doyoobi desu.

The day before yesterday

Ototoi

Yesterday

Kinoo

Today

Kyoo

Tomorrow

Ashita

The day after tomorrow

Asatte

Last week

Senshuu

This week

Konshuu

Next week

Raishuu

The week after next.

Saraishuu

Last month

Sengetsu

This month

Kongetsu

Next month Lesson 5.

22

22

Lesson 5. Raigetsu

The month after next

Saraigetsu

The year before last

Ototoshi

Last year

Kyonen

This year

Kotoshi

Next year

Rainen

The year after next

Sarainen

We went to a sushi bar the day before yesterday.

Ototoi sushiya ni ikimashita.

We are going again this coming Saturday as well.

Kondo no doyoobi mo mata ikimasu.

We went to Disneyland last Sunday.

Kono mae no nichiyoobi ni dizuniilando ni

ikimashita.

We are going to go again on the 14th

of next month.

Raigetsu no juuyokka ni mata ikimasu.

What month, day and day of the week is it today?

Kyoo wa nan gatsu nan nichi nan yoobi desu ka.

What day of the week was the Girl's (or Doll's)

Festival?

Hinamatsuri wa nan yoobi deshita ka. (hina = a type

of Japanese doll; matsuri = festival)

What will you do on next Sunday?

Kondo no nichiyoobi ni nani o shimasu ka.

Is it this Saturday?

Kondo no doyoobi desu ka.

What day (of the month) is Saturday of next week?

Raishuu no doyoobi wa nan nichi desu ka.

As for this years Christmas, what day of the week is it?

Kotoshi no kurisumasu wa nan yoobi desu ka.

I write. Plain speech.

Kaku

I want to write. Plain speech.

Kakitai

I dont want to write. Plain speech. Kakitakunai. (tai is inflected like an i adjective)

I wanted to write. Plain speech.

Kakitakatta. (the past form of tai is inflected like an i

adjective)

I want to eat sushi (2 different responses).

Sushi o tabetai desu. Sushi ga tabetai desu.

As for me, as for beer, I don't want to drink it.

Watashi wa biiru wa nomitaku arimasen

I want to drink juice (2 different responses).

Juusu o nomitai desu. Juusu ga nomitai desu.

Tomorrow, Id like to rest, but (soften this). Meaning, Id like to be off. Ashita yasumitain desu ga.

Hiroko, do you want to go to the mountains?

Hiroko san, yama ni ikitai desu ka.

No, I dont want to go. Iie, ikitaku arimasen.

Hiroko, wont you go to

Documents

jaftranscript082314 (1)