Japanese Lesson #18

Ki o tsukenakereba narimasen yo (You must take care!)

Nakareba narimasen = must/have to

eg.

Jiko shōkai wa Nihongo de nakereba narimasen. (Your self-introduction must be in Japanese.)

Chichi wa shigoto no tame ni Yōroppa e ikanakareba narimasen. (My father has to go to Europe on business.)

-don't have to, add -nakute mo ii desu

eg.

Kyō owaranakute mo ii desu. (You don't have to finish it today.)

Ashita wa nichiyōbi dakara, konban hayaku nenakute mo ii desu. (Tomorrow is Sunday, so you don't have to go to bed early tonight.)

or nakareba ikemasen/nakareba dame desu = must/have to

eg.

Sono shukudai o jibun de shinakereba ikemasen yo. (You must do your homework by yourself.)

Sore o Ogawa san ni misenakereba dame desu yo. (You must show that to Mr. Ogawa.)

Adverbs =

- for i-adj add -ku

sugoi (incredible) > sugoku (incredibly)

yasui (cheap) > yasuku (cheaply)

hayai (quick, early) > hayaku (quickly, early)

ii/you (good, fine) > yoku (well, often)

isogashii (busy) > isogashiku (busily)

eg.

Kōra o sonna ni hayaku nomanaide kudasai. (Don't drink your cola so quickly.)

- for -na adj add ni

jōzu (skillful) > jōzu ni (skillfully)

shinsetsu (kind) > shinsetsu ni (kindly, gently)

genki (energetic) > genki ni (energetically)

kantan (simple) > kantan ni (simply)

kirei (pretty, neat) > kirei ni (prettily, neatly)

eg.

Kantan ni setsumei shite kudasai. (Please explain it simply.)

Kanji o made kirei ni kaku koto ga dekimasen. (I can't write kanki characters neatly yet.)

-te yokatta = i'm glad that/it's lucky that/it's good that

Katte, yokatta = we bought, and it was good

eg.

Densha no jikan o yoku shirabete, yokatta ne. (It's lucky that we checked up on the train times carefully, isn't it!)

Kasa o wasurenakute, yokatta desu. (I'm glad I didn't forget my umbrella.)

-te, zenzen desu = it's a shame/pity that...

eg.

Shiteiseki o toru koto ga dekinakute, zannen desu ne. (It's a shame we couldn't get reserved seats, isn't it?)

Tanaka san wa issho ni konakute, zannen desu ne. (It's a pity that Ms. Tanaka didn't come with us, isn't it?)

To ieba = if you are talking about

eg.

Hai, sō da to omoimasu. Ikeda san to ieba, saikin atte inai n' desu yo. Genki desu ka. (Yes, I think so. Talking of Mr. Ikeda, I haven't seen him for a long time. Is he well?)

Ten thousand = man

30 000 san-man

37 000 san-man nana-sen

83 500 hachi-man san-zen go hyaku

100 000 jū-man

10 000 000 sen-man

100 000 000 ichi-oku

Toki - the time when

eg.

Ame no toki, kibun ga waruku narimasu. (Whenever it rains, I feel miserable.)

Gakusei no toki, yoku Eigo no benkyō o shimashita. (When I was a student, I studied English a lot.)

-used after the verb

eg.

Densha ga konde iru toki, yoku takushii ni norimasu. (When the trains are crowded, I often take a taxi.)

Kōfun shite iru toki, kao ga akaku narimasu. (When I get excited, my face goes red.)

Phrases of frequency

ik-kai (once)

ni-kai (twice)

san-kai (three times)

ichi-nichi ni yon-kai (four times a day)

ik-kagetsu ni ni-kai (twice a month)

san-kagetsu ni ik-kai (once in three months)

ichi-nen ni san-kai (three times a year)

go-nen ni ik-kai (once in five years)

eg.

Nihongo no kurasu wa is-shūkan ni nan-kai desu ka. (How many times a week is the Japanese class?)

Countings (long, thin things)

ip-pon

ni-pon

san-bon

yon-bon

go-hon

rop-pon

nana-hon

hap-pon

kyū-hon

jup-pon

eg.

Tako wa ashi ga nan-bon arimasu ka. (How many legs does an octopus have?)

Sono akai hana o go-hon kudasai. (Five of those red flowers, please.)

Vocabulary

abunai : dangeroud, look out!

ashi : leg, foot

biiru demo : beer or something

-bun : quantity, share, portion

daigakusei no toki : when I as a university student

gurai : about, approximately

hanbai : sales, selling

-hon : counting long things

ichi-man : ten thousand

ichi-nichi-jū : all day long

ii kagen ni shi nasai : please behave yourselves

ik-kagetsu : one month

ik-kai : once, one time

jibun no : one's own, my own

jibun : self, one self

kōfun shite imasu : is/are excited

-man : unit of ten thousand

motte konakereba narimasen : have to bring

nenekereba narimasen : have to sleep

nimotsu : luggage

noru : to get on/ in transport

oku : hundred million

ongaku : music

ryokō : trip, journey

saikin : recently

shanai : inside the train

shiraberu : investigate, look into

shiteiseki : reserved seat

sōji suru : do the cleaning

sukii-uea : ski-wear

sunde ita toki : when i was living

tako : octopus

tanoshimi ni shite imasu : i'm looking forward to

to ieba : talking of

toshi o totta : old

toshi : age

urusai : noisy

urusaku narimasu : get noisy

yarimashita : did, tried

yōfuku : clothes

yoku dekiru : can do well

yon-hon : four long/thin objects

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Japanese Lesson #17

Sō sureba... = if you do that...

Before = mae ni, after the plain form of verb

eg.

Sono fakkusu o Nagoya shisha ni okuru mae ni, misete kudasai. (Before you send that fax to the Nagoya branch, please show it to me.

Watashi wa neru mae ni, itsumo hon o yomimasu. (Before I go to sleep, I always read a book.

After = -te from with kara

eg.

Kabuki o mite kara, dokoka e nomi ni ikimashō ka. (After we've seen Kabuki, shall we go for a drink somewhere?)

Sono shukudai o owatte kara, sugu neta hō ga ii to omoimasu. (After you finish your homework, I think you should go

straight to bed.)

Shashin ga dekite kara, misete kudasai ne. (When the photographs are done, please let me see them.)

Sō sureba = if we do so

suru > sureba (if I/you do)

kuru > kureba (if I come)

kaku > kakeba (if I write)

harau > haraeba (if I pay)

okuru > okureba (if I send

aru > areba (if I have)

tsukuru > tsukureba (if I make)

dekiru > dekireba (if I can)

eg.

Moshi dekireba, kotoshi gaikoku e ikitai n'desu. (If I can, I want to go abroad this year)

Ame ga fureba, dekakeru yotei o yamemashō. (If it rains, let's drop the plan to go out.)

-if something doesn't happen

tsukawanai > tsukawanakareba ( if I/you don't use)

ikanai > ikanakareba > if I don't go

wakaranai > wakaranakareba (if I don't understand)

nai > nakareba (if there isn't)

dekakenai > dekakenakereba (if we don't go out)

kawanai > kawanakereba (if I don't buy)

matte inai > matte inakereba (if he isn't waiting)

eg.

Hoka ni shitsumon ga nakereba, kore de owarimashō. (If there aren't any more questions, let's finish here.)

Jikan ga nakereba, shikata ga arimasen. (If you don't have time, it can't be helped.)

-i adj, add kareba

atsui > atsukareba > if it's hot

ii/yoi > yokereba (if it's good)

isogashi > isogashikereba (if you are busy)

hoshi > hoshikereba (if you want)

takai > takakereba (if it's expensive)

samuku nai >samuku nakereba (if it's not cold)

yasuku nai > yasuku nakereba (if it's not cheap)

yoku nai > yoku nakereba (if it's not good)

tōku nai > tōku nakereba (if it's not far)

eg.

Ashita tenki ga yokereba, dokoka e ikimashō ka. (If the weather's nice tomorrow, shall we go somewhere?)

Hazukashikereba, jiko shōkai o Eigo de shite mo ii desu. (If you are shy, it's okay to introduce yourself in English.)

desu > de areba/nara (if it is)/ de nakereba (if it isn't)

eg.

Kirai nara, tabenakute mo ii desu. (If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it.)

Nichiyōbi de nakereba, iku koto ga dekimasen. (If it is not Sunday, I can't go.)

Mazu (First of all)

Sore kara (and then/after that)

soshite (then)

sono ato (after that)

sono tsugi ni (next)

saigo ni (finally/at the end)

eg.

Mazu Igirisu ni itte, sore kara Furansu ni itte, saigo ni Itaria ni ikimashita. Totemo tanoshikatta desu yo. (First we went to Britain, then we went to France, and finally we went to Italy. It was really enjoyable.)

Tame ni = for/in order to

eg.

Kono jisho wa gaijin no tame desu. (This dictionary is for foreigners.)

Kare wa shigoto no tame ni raigetsu Yōroppa ni ikimasu. (He's going to Europe next month on business.)

Kitte o kau tame ni yūbinkyoku e ikimasu. (I'm going to the post office in order to buy some stamps.)

Counting flat things = mai

eg.

Kyōto made ni-mai kudasai. (Two tickets to Kyoto, please.)

Kono hagaki wa, ichi-mai ikura desu ka. (How much is one of these postcards?)

Vocabulary

au mae ni : before meeting

dekakeru : go out

denki-dai : electricity charges

denki : electricity

denwa-dai : telephone charges

Eikaiwa : English conversation

fūtō : envelope

gasu-dai : gas charges

gasu : gas

hagaki : postcard

harau : pay

ikeba : if we go

jisho : dictionary

jūbun : enough, sufficient

kabuki : Japanese classical play

kakikonde : please fill in/out

kippu : ticket

kitte: stamp

kōkūbin : airmail

kozutsumi : parcel

-mai : counter for flat objects

mazu : first of all, to begin with

miseru : show

o-azukari shimasu : receive, be entrusted with

okuru : send

purezento : present

ranchi : lunch

saigo ni : finally, at the end

sono ato : after that

soshite : then

sureba : if I do

tamago : egg

tame ni : for the purpose of, benefit of

-te kara : after ...ing

tsukuru : make

yameru : quit, stop, cease, drop (idea/plan)

yōji : errand, chore, something to do

yon-mai : four (flat objects)

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Japanese Lesson #16

Kamakura e itta koto ga arimasu ka. (Have you ever been to Kamakura?)

-ta koto ga arimasu ka = have you ever...?

eg.

Fuji san ni nobotta koto ga arimasu ka. (Have you ever climbed Mt. Fuji?)

Kamakura no daibutsu o mita koto ga aru kedo, Nara no daibutsu o mita koto wa arimasen. (I've seen the great statue of Buddha at Kamakura, but I haven't seen the one at Nara.)

Sonna koto o kangaeta koto ga nai n'desu yo! (I've never considered such a thing!)

Sashimi o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka. (Have you ever eaten raw fish?)

Hai, arimasu. (Yes, I have)

Hai, tabeta koto ga arimasu. (Yes, I have eaten it.)

Iie, tabeta koto ga arimasen. (No, I haven't eaten it.)

If = add -ra to the plain past tense of the verb

taberu > tabeta > tabetara (if I/you, eat)

iku > itta > ittara (if you go)

kuru > kita > kitara (if you come)

suru > shita > shitara (if you do)

aru > atta > attara (if there is)

naru > natta > nattara (if it becomes)

hanasu > hanashita > hanashitara (if you speak)

nomu > nonda > nondara (if you drink)

da > datta > dattara (if it is)

eg.

Ame ga futtara, uchi ni ite, bideo o mimashō. (If it rains, let's stay home and watch a video.)

O-kanemochi dattara, doko e ikitai to omoimasu ka. (If you were rich, where do you think you'd like to go?)

Yukkuri hanashitara, wakaru to omoimasu. (If you speak slowly, I think I'll understand.)

-negative

kuru > konai > konakatta > konakattara (if you don't come)

iku > ikanai > ikanakatta > ikanakattara (if you don't go)

suru > shinai > shinakatta > shinakattara (if you don't do)

nomu > nomanai > nomanakatta > nomanakattara (if you don't drink)

toru > toranai > toranakatta > toranakattara (if you don't take)

aru > nai > nakatta > nakattara (if there isn't)

eg.

Wada san ga sugu konakattara, dō shimasu ka. (If Ms. Wada doesn't come soon, what will we do?)

Jikan ga nakattara, shinakute mo ii desu yo. (If you don't have time, it's all right if you don't do it?)

-Moshi = if

eg.

Moshi mondai ga attara, oshiete kudasai. (If there are any problems, please let me know.)

-tara, add to -i adj

eg.

Takakattara, mochiron kaimasen. (If it's expensive, of course I won't buy it.)

Kibun ga warukattara, konakute mo ii desu yo. (If you are feeling bad, you don't need to come.)

-tara = how about? why don't we?

eg.

Soko de mattara dō desu ka. (Why don't we wait over there?)

Kotoshi no natsu yasumi ni, gaikoku e ittara dō desu ka. (How about going abroad this summer vacation?)

Koko de suwattara? (How about we sit there?)

Saki ni ittara? (How about if you go on ahead?)

dare mo (nobody/ not anyone)

doko mo (nowhere/ not anywhere)

nani mo (nothing/ not anything)

eg.

O-kane ga nakattara, nani mo dekimasen. (If you don't have money, you can't do anything)

Dare mo konakattara, dō shimashō ka. (If no one comes, what shall we do?)

Comparatives

Dotchi (which one)

This one (kotchi/kochira)

That one (sotchi/sochira)

eg.

Takushii to densha to, dochira no hō ga hayai desu ka. (Which is faster, a taxi or the train?)

Konna toki ni, densha no hō ga hayai to omoimasu. (At this time, I think the train is faster.)

O-sake to biiru to, dochira ga suki desu ka. (Which do you like, sake or beer?)

Doyōbi to nichiyōbi to, dotchi ga ii desu ka. (Which is better, Saturday or Sunday?)

naru (become/get)

eg.

Samuku narimashita ne! Mō sugu fuyu desu yo. (It's got cold, hasn't it! It's soon be winter!)

Natsu yasumi ga dandan chikaku natte imasu. (The summer vacationis gradually getting closer.)

Osoku natte, sumimasen. (It's becoming late, and I'm sorry.)

Nihongo ga taihen o-jōzu ni narimashita ne. (You've got really good at Japanese, haven't you!)

Kare wa kitto yūmei ni narimasu yo. (He's definitely going to become famous.)

Dareka = someone

eg.

Gomen kudasai! Dareka imasu ka! (Excuse me! Is there anyone there?)

Nanika tabemashita ka. (Have you eaten anything?)

Itsuka nomi ni ikimashō. (Let's go drinking sometimes.)

The weather

eg.

Dandan samuku natte imasu ne. (It's gradually getting colder, isn't it?)

Kinō, sugoi ame deshita ne. (That was incredible rain yesterday, wasn't it?)

Kyō wa atatakai desu ne. (It's warm today, isn't it?)

Mushiatsukute, iya desu ne. (It's horrible and humid, isn't it?)

Kaze ga tsuyoi desu ne. (The wind is strong, isn't it?)

Vocabulary

ame ga furu : it rains

ame : rain

are : look! listen!

atatakai : warm

byōki : ill

chiizu : cheese

chikai : close, nearby

daibutsu : large statur of Buddha

dandan : gradually

dare mo : no one

dareka : someone

dochira/dotchi : which one?

furu : fall,drop

hiroi : large, spacious

hō : direction, side

hoka ni : other, another, else

Hokkaidō : the northernmost of the four main islands of Japan

kaidan : steps, stairs

Kamakura : city close to Yokohama

kasa : umbrella

kaze : wind

kibun ga ii : feel good

kibun ga warui : feel bad

kitto : definitely

kochira/kotchi : this side, this one

koto ga arimasu ka : have you ever...?

kuraku : dark

mita koto wa arimasen : I have never seen

mochiron : of course

moshi : if

mushiatsui : hot and humid

narande imasu : are lined up

naru : become, get

noboru : climb, go up

o-kanemochi : rich person

okiru : get up, get out of bed

o-tearai : restroom

pikkunikku : picnic

saki ni : in advance, ahead

samuku natte : getting cold

shashin : photograph

shikata ga arimasen : it can't be helped

sochira/sotchi : that side, that one

sono hō ga ii : that would be best

sore dake ja nakute : not only that

sugoi : amazing, incredible

suwattara : if you sit

suzushii : cool

tabetara : if you eat

tattara : if you stand

tatte kudasai : please stand

tōi : far, distance

tsuyoi : strong

yokattara : if it's alright

yoku nakattara : if it's not all right

yuki : snow

Quoted from Berlitz Essential Japanese

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Japanese Lesson #15

Watashi no keiyaku ni tsuite desu ga. (It's about my contract.)

Ni tsuite = regarding or concerning

eg.

Kachō kara no memo ni tsuite shitsumon ga arimasu ka. (I have a question concerning the memo from the section chief.)

Moshi moshi, Sāito san? Ashita no kaigi ni tsuite desu ga. (Hello, Mr. Saito? I'm calling about tomorrow's meeting.)

Yotei = making plans

eg.

Shachō no ashita no yoteri wa nan desu ka. (What's the president's schedule for tomorrow?)

Kotoshi no natsu yasumi ni wa, gaikoku e iku yotei desu. (For my summer vacation this year, my plan is to go abroad.)

Kaigi wa go-ji made ni owaru yotei desu. (The meeting is scheduled to finish at 5:00.)

Ikitai = i want to go; to express desire, replace -masu with -tai

iku > ikimasu > ikitai (want to go)

taberu > tabemasu > tabetai (want to eat)

hanasu > hanashimasu > hanashitai (want to talk)

kimeru > kimemasu > kimetai (want to decide)

toru > torimasu > toritai (want to take)

kau > kaimasu > kaitai (want to buy)

uru > urimasu > uritai (want to sell)

suru > shimasu > shitai (want to do)

eg.

Maiku san wa, keiyaku ni tsuite hanashitai to iimashita. (Mike said he wants to talk about the contract.)

Sukoshi dake tabetai n'desu. (I only want to eat a little.)

Wada san wa kotoshi gaikoku e ikitai to itte imasu. (Mr. Wada says that he wants to go abroad this year.)

- negative, -taku arimasen(don't want to do), -takatta desu (what you wanted to do previously)

eg.

Soto koto ni tsuite kenka o shitaku nai n'desu yo. (Hey, I don't want to argue about that!)

Kyō wa ii tenki da kara, benkyō o shitaku nai ne! (It's such nice weather today, I don't want to study!)

You want a thing = hoshii

eg.

Watashi wa atarashii wāpuro ga hoshii desu ga, o-kane ga nai kara, dame desu. (I want a new word processor, but I don't have any money, so it's impossible.)

Kanojo wa, bōifurendo ga hoshii to iimashita. (She said she wants a boyfriend.)

Marking alternatives = ka (or)

Buchō ka kachō ga sore o kimeta hō ga ii to omoimasu. (I think it's best if the department chief or the section chief decides that.)

Doyōbi ka nichiyōbi ni ikimasu. (I'll go on Saturday or Sunday.)

Shinaide kudasai = please don't do something

-nai form, add -de kudasai

eg.

Sō shinaide kudasai. (Please don't do that.)

Uchiawase no jikan o mada kimenaide kudasai. Sono mae ni kachō to sōdan shitai kara. (Please don't set the time of the meeting yet. Before that, I want to consult the chief section head.)

Tsumori = talking about intentions; intend to do, mean to do

eg.

Sore wa mondai desu ne. Dō suru tsumori desu ka. (That's a problem, isn't it? What do you intend to do?)

Sono keikaku ni tsuite Watanabe san to hanasu tsumori datta ga, wasuremashita.(I meant to talk to Mr.Watanabe about the project, but I forgot.)

Donna kuruma o kau tsumori desu ka. (Which car do you intend to buy?)

Arimasu vs motte imasu = having and holding

eg.

Dare no sūtsukēsu o motte imasu ka. (Whose suitcase are you carrying?)

Sono shachō kara no memo o motte imasu ka. (Do you have that memo from the president?)

O-kane o motte imasen! (I don't have any money!)

Denwa ga arimasu ka. (Is there a phone?)(exist)

Denwa o motte imasu ka. (Do you possess a phone?)

Vocabulary

aite imasu : be free

buchō : department head, manager

dashite kudasai : please submit

dekimashita : happened, be completed

gaikoku : foreign country, abroad

hajimete : first time

hoshii : want

ichi-nichi : one day

iinkai : committee

ikitai : want to go

kachō : section head, assistant manager

kanojo : she, her

keikaku : plan, project, scheme

keiyaku : contract

kimemasu : decide

kōchō : principal, head teacher

kotoshi : this year

kūkō : airport

kyō ka ashita : today or tomorrow

kyōiku : education

kyonen : last year

kyūryo : salary, wages

made ni : by

memo : memo

messēji : message

motte imasu : have, hold

mukae ni ikitai : want to go to meet

ni tsuite : concerning, regarding

o-kane : money

onegai shimasu : please

rainen : next year

shachō : president

shinpai shinaide : don't worry

shinpai : worry, anxiety

sōdan suru : consult, confer with, talk over

sono ato : after that

sukejūru : schedule

tada : just, only, simply

tokubetsu no : special, particular

toritai : want to take

tsumori : intention

uchiawase : meeting, consultation

urimasu : sell

yoru : call in, drop by

yōshi : a form, a blank

yotei : plan, program, schedule

Quoted from Berlitz Essential Japanese

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Japanese Lesson #14

Kare to hanasanai hō ga ii desu yo. (It's best not to talk to him!)

Gairaigo (Words from abroad)

tēburu (table)

kāten (curtain)

ranpu (lamp)

kāpetto (carpet)

beddo (bed)

kusshon (cushion)

airon (iron)

taoru (towel)

shii dii (CD)

konpyūtā (computer)

bideo (video

furoppi (floppy disk)

fakkusu (fax)

kopii (photocopy)

monitā (monitor)

kiibōdo (keyboard)

piza (pizza)

hanbāgā (hamburger)

sutēki (steak)

sarada (salad)

kēki (cake)

kōra (cola)

chokorēto (chocolate)

appurupai (apple pie)

wāpur0 (word processor)

terebi (television)

sando (sandwich)

eakon (air conditioner)

famikon (family computer)

apāto (apartment)

Another way of counting

ikutsu (how many?)

hitotsu (one)

futatsu (two)

mittsu (three)

yottsu (four)

itsutsu (five)

muttsu (six)

nanatsu (seven)

yattsu (eight)

kokonotsu (nine)

tō (ten)

eg.

Maiku san no atarashii apāto ni wa, heya ga ikutsu arimasu ka. (In Mike's new apartment, how many rooms are there?)

Sumimasen, kōra o mō futatsu kudasai. (Excuse me, could we have two more colas, please?)

Ōkii mondai wa hitotsu dake arimasu. (There's only one major problem.)

Prepositions

ue (on,on top, above)

shita (below, under)

naka (in,inside)

tonari (next to)

aida (between)

soba (nearby, by the side)

mae (in front of)

ushiro (behind)

soto (outside)

chikaku (near)

eg.

Kissaten wa ginkō to yūbinkyoku no aida ni arimasu. (The coffee shop is between the bank and the post office.)

Eki no mae de aimashō. (Let's meet in front of the station.)

Go to -

shi ni iku (go to do)

tabe ni iku (go to eat)

nomi ni iku (go to have a drink)

kai ni iku (go to buy)

ai ni iku (go to meet)

mi ni iku (go to see)

eg.

Nomi ni ikimashō. (Let's go for a drink.)

Ashita no asa tomodachi to issho ni tenisu o shi ni ikimasu. (I'm going to play tennis with some friends tomorrow morning.)

Hō ga ii - you'd better

(add hō ga ii to the plain past form, the -ta form)

eg. Kaigi no repōto o wāpuro de kaita hō ga ii to omoimasu. (I think it would be best to write up the report of the meeting on the word processor.)

Tsukareta n'desu ka. Ja, konban hayaku neta hō ga ii desu ne. (You are tired? Well, you'd better go to bed early tonight.)

shouldn't = add hō ga ii to -nai form

eg.

Mada wakai kara, sonna ni takusan nomanai hō ga ii desu yo. (You are still young, so you shouldn't drink so much.)

Konban soto e denai hō ga ii desu yo. Samui kara. (It's best not to go out tonight, because it's cold.)

Vocabulary

aida : between

airon : iron

apāto : apartment

appurupai : apple pie

ara : oh!

aruite iku (walk away)

awanai hō ga ii (best not to meet)

beddo (bed)

chikaku (near, close)

chokorēto : chocolate

chūmon : an order, request

eakon : air conditioner

fakkusu : fax

famikon : family computer

furoppi : floppy disk

futatsu : two

gairaigo : words imported from abroad

hamu : ham

hanasanai hō ga ii : best not to talk

hanbāgā L hamburger

hitotsu : one

hotto(kōhii) : hotto coffee

ikutsu : how many?

Indo ryōri : Indian cuisine

itsutsu : five

kaiwa : conversation

kāpetto : carpet

kare : him, he

kashikomarimashita : certainly

kāten : curtain

kēki : cake

kenka : argument

kiibōdo : keyboard

kitanai : dirty

kokonotsu : nine

kopii : photocopy

kōra : cola

kōshū denwa : public telephone

kusshon : cushion

menyū :menu

mi ni iku : go to see

mise : shop

mittsu : three

monitā : monitor

mukō : the other direction, over there

muttsu : six

naka : inside

nanatsu : seven

o-kyaku sama : guest, customer

o-naka ga suita : I'm hungry

o-naka : stomach

okotte : got angry, and..

piza : pizza

ranpu : lamp

remon tii : lemon tea

sandō :sandwich

sarada : salad

shii dii : CD

shisha : branch office

shita : below, under

soba : near, next to

sore de : do, therefore, and then

supagetti : spaghetti

sutaffu : staff

sutēki : steak

tabeta hō ga ii : had better eat

tēburu : table

tō : ten

tōsuto : toast

tsuna : tuna

ue : above, on top

ushiro : behind, in back of

wāpuro : word processor

yattsu : eight

yonda hō ga ii : best to call

yottsu : four

yūbinkyoku : post office

Quoted from Berlitz Essential Japanese

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Japanese Lesson #13

Ni-jū-ichi-nichi wa yasumi no hi desu. (The twenty-first is a holiday.)

The months

nan-gatsu (What month)

ichi-gatsu (January)

ni-gatsu (February)

san-gatsu (March)

shi-gatsu (April)

go-gatsu (May)

roku-gatsu (June)

shichi-gatsu (July)

hachi-gatsu (August)

ku-gatsu (September)

jū-gatsu (October)

jū-ichi-gatsu (November)

jū-ni-gatsu (December)

eg.

Kodomo no hi wa nan-gatsu ka. Go-gatsu desu ka. (What month is Children's Day? Is it May?)

Shujin no tanjōbi mo watashi no tanjōbi mo jū-ichi-gatsu desu. (My husband's birthday and my birthday are both in November.)

sengetsu (last month)

kongetsu (this month)

raigetsu (next month)

eg.

Jitsu wa, raigetsu kekkon suru n'desu. (The truth is, I'm getting married next month.)

The dates

nan-nichi (what date?)

tsuitachi (1st)

futsuka (2nd)

mikka (3rd)

yokka (4th)

itsuka (5th)

muika (6th)

nanoka (7th)

yōka (8th)

kokonoka (9th)

tōka (10th)

jū-yokka (14th)

hatsuka (20th)

ni-jū-yokka (24th)

san-jū-ichi-nichi (31st)

eg.

Mikka kara tōka made desu. (From the 3rd to the 10th.)

Tsugi no gēmu wa kongetsu no jū-san-nichi desu. (The next game is on the 13th of this month.)

Donna = what kind of?

Konna = this kind of

Sonna = that kind of

anna (that kind of, not connected to either of us.

eg.

Nihon no fuyu wa donna tenki desu ka. (What kind of weather is it in Japan in the winter?)

Sonna shitsumon ni kotaeu koto ga dekimasen. (I can't answer that kind of question.)

=this much, to the extent, followed by ni; used in front of adj

eg.

Kongetsu, sonna ni isogashiku arimasen. (This month, we're not that busy.)

Konna ni atsui hi wa amari nai n'desu ne! (We don't have many days this hot, do we!)

To iimashita (iu) = reported speech; say/speak/report,preceded by the particle to, this signals a quotation.

eg.

Maiku san wa, "Hayaku hashiru koto ga dekimasen," to iimashita ga, jitsu wa totemo hayai desu. (Mike said, "I can't run fast, " but in fact he's very fast.)

Wada san wa, "Kore de shitsurei shimasu," to itte, kaerimashita. (Mr. Wasa said, "Excuse me, " and went home.)

- plain form if you are talking about what someone else said rather than quoting their actual words

eg.

Keiko chan wa kinō atama ga itakatta kara konakatta to iimashita. (Keiko said she didn't come yesterday because she had a headache.)

Fukuda san wa san-ji han ni kuru to iimashita ka. (Sis Ms. Fukuda say she would come at 3:30?)

Maiku san wa, ashita yakyū o suru to iimashita. (Mike said he's playing baseball tomorrow.)

to = used with other words

kiku (ask,hear)

omou (think)

kaku (write)

kotaeru (reply)

eg.

Haha wa, Ohaio wa ima totemo atsui, to tegami ni kakimashita. (My mother wrote in her letter that it's very hot in Ohio now.)

Kyō wa jū-san-nichi ka to kikimashita ka. (He asked if it was the 13th today?)

-te iru form when you are talking about someone else says in the present tense

eg.

Takahashi san wan tsukareta to itte imasu. (Ms. Takahashi says she's tired.)

Sūzan san wa itsumo wakaranai to itte imasu. (Susan is always saying she doesn't understand.)

Eigo de nan to iimasu ka. (What do you say in English?)

Akii to iimasu. (it's "aki".)

"Tegami" o Eigo de "letter" to iimasu ka. (For "tegami," do you say "letter" in English?)

Asking permission = add mo ii desu ka to the -te form = -ing, is it alright?

Answer = hai, ii desu/hai, -te mo ii desu.

eg.

Nihongo de setsumei shite mo ii desu ka. (Is it okay to explain it in Japanese?)

Kyō hayaku kaette mo ii desu ka. (Is it all right to go home early today?)

Shitsumon o kiite mo ii desu ka. (May I ask a question?)

-ask if it's alright not to do something, fine -nai form, change it to -nakute, then add -mo ii desu.

eg.

Kore o zenbu tabenakute mo ii desu ka. (Is it alright if I don't eat all of this?)

Hai, ii desu yo. (Yes, it's all right)

Namae to jūsho o kakanakute mo ii desu. (It's all right not to write your name and address.)

Refusing permission = -te form, add wa ikemasen; mustn't, forbidden, bad

eg.

Sono heya ni haitte wa ikemasen yo. (hey, you mustn't go into that room.)

Nihongo no jūgyō de wa, Eigo de hanashite wa ikemasen. (In the Japanese class, you mustn't speak in English.)

Shunbun no hi -holidays

January 1 - Ganjitsu (New Year's Day)

January 15 - Seijin no hi (Coming-of-Age Day)

February 11 - Kenkoko kinenbi (National Foundation Day)

March 21 or 21 - Shunbun no hi (Spring Equinox Day)

April 29 - Midori no hi (Greenery Day)

May 3 - Kenpō kinenbi (Constitution Day)

May 5 - Kodomo no hi (Children's Day)

September 15 - Keirō no hi (Respect for the Aged Day)

September 23 or 24 - Shūbun no hi (Autumnal Equinox Day)

October 10 - Taiiku no hi (Sports Health Day)

November 3 - Bunka no hi (Culture Day)

November 23 - Kinro kansha no hi (Labor Thanksgiving Day)

December 23 - Tennō tanjōbi (Emperor's Birthday)

Vocabulary

aki : fall/autumn

anna : that kind of

bunka no hi : Culture Day

denai : doesn't attend

deru : go out, appear, attend

donna : what kind of

fuyu : winter

ganjitsu : New Year's Day

go-gatsu : May

gomen nasai : excuse me, I beg your pardon

hachi-gatsu : August

haru : spring

heya : room

hi : day

hiruma : daytime

ichi - gatsu : January

iimasu : say

iroiro arigatō gozaimashita : thank you for everything

isogashii : busy

jū-gatsu : October

jū-hachi-nichi : 18th

jū-ichi-gatsu : November

jū-ni-gatsu : December

kaigi ni deru : attend a meeting

keirō no hi : Respect of the Aged Day

kenpō kinenbi : Constitution Day

kinro kansha no hi : Labor Thanksgiving Day

kochira koso : the pleasure's mine

kodomo no hi : Children's Day

konna : this kind of

kōsu : course

kotaeru : answer, respond

kotoba : word

ku-gatsu : September

mata dōzo : please come again

midori no hi : Greenery Day

moshi yokattara : if it's all right

nan-gatsu : what month?

nan-nichi : what date?

natsu -yasumi : summer vacation

natsu : summer

neru jikan : time to sleep

-nichi

ni-gatsu : February

ni-jū-ichi-nichi : 21st

nonde mo ii : is it all right to drink

okite mo ii : all right to stay up

onaji : same

osoku made : until late

raigetsu : next month

roku-gatsu : June

san-gatsu : March

seijin no hi : Coming of Aged Day

sengetsu : last month

shi-gatsu :April

shichi-gatsu : July

shūbun no hi : Autumnal Equinox Day

shunbun no hi : Spring Equinox Day

shutchō : business trip

sō iimashita : said so

sonna : that kind of

sorosoro : slowly, gradually, soon

sukii ni ikimasu : go skiiing

sukii-jō : ski resort

sukii : skiingtsiiku no hi : Sports Health Day

tegami : letter

tennō tanjōbi : Emperor's Birthday

toki : time, period

yasumi no hi : vacation, holiday

yasumi : vacation, rest, pause

Yōroppa : Europe

Quoted from Berlitz Essential Japanese

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Japanese Lesson #12

Mada o-hitori desu ka (Are you still single?)

Nan-sai desu ka./O-ikutsu desu ka. (How old are you?)

Kuni wa dochira desu ka. (What country are you from?)

Nihon o dō omoimasu ka. (What do you think of Japan?)

Itsu Nihon e kimashita ka. (When did you come to Japan?)

Itsu made Nihon ni imasu ka. (When are you in Japan until?)

Nihon no jōsei/dansei o dō omoimasu ka. (What do you think of Japanese women/men?)

O-hashi wa daijōbu desu ka. (Are you okay with chopsticks?)

Sashimi o taberu koto ga dekimasu ka. (Can you eat raw fish?)

Kekkon shite imasu ka./O-hitori desu ka.(Are you married?/Are you single?)

Describe how something looks, add -sō to the appropriate adj = it looks..., seems...

eg.

Hashi wa muzukashi-sō da kedo, jitsu wa muzukashiku arimasen. (Chopsticks look difficult, but in fact they are not difficult.)

Maiku san wa yakyū ga jōzu-sō desu ne! (Mike looks good at baseball, doesn't he?)

Kono kissaten wa yosa-sō desu yo. (This coffee shop looks good.)

Fumiko chan wa tomodachi ga takusan iru kedo, itsumo sabishi-sō desu ne. (Fumiko has lots of friends, but she always looks lonely, doesn't she?)

Ends in no desu/n'desu = speaker is explaining something, or asking for an explanation,emphasis

eg.

Iroiro-na mondai ga arimasu ne. Dō suru n'desu ka. (There are all sort of problems, aren't there? What are you going to do?)

Nani o shite iru n'desu ka. (What are you doing?)

Totemo takai n'desu yo. Dakara kawanai n'desu. (It's really expensive! That's why I'm not buying it.)

Superlatives - Ichiban = most

eg.

Nihon de ichiban takai yama wa Fuji-san desu. (The highest mountain in Japan is Mount Fuji.)

Tempura wa ichiban oishii to omoimasu. (I think tempura tastes the best.)

Kurasu no naka de, dare ga ichiban wakai desu ka. (Who's the youngest in the class?)

Plain form of past tense verbs

iku > itte > itta (went)

kuru > kite > kita (came)

suru > shite > shita (did)

tsukau > tsukatte > tsukatta (used)

aru > atte > atta > (there was/were)

iru > ite > ita (was/were)

omou > omotte > omotta (thought)

wakaru > wakatte > wakatta (understood)

au > atte > atta (met)

eg.

Dō shita n'deshō? (I wonder what happened?)

Sensei wa doko ni itta n'desu ka. (Where has the teacher gone?)

Kyō wa kinyōbi da to omotta kedo, chigaimasu ne! (I thought it was Friday today, but it isn't, is it!)

-negative past

iku > ikanai > ikanakatta (didn't go)

kuru > konai > konakatta (didn't come)

wakaru > wakaranai > wakaranakatta (didn't understand)

tsukau > tsukawanai > tsukawanakatta (didn't use)

suru > shinai > shinakatta (didn't do)

aru > nai > nakatta (there wasn't)

iru > inai > inakatta (wasn't in)

yomu > yomanai > yomanakatta (didn't read)

kaku > kakanai > kakanakatta (didn't write)

taberu > tabenai > tabenakatta (didn't eat)

eg.

Takahashi san wa dō shite kinō no ban konakatta n'deshō ka. (I wonder why Ms. Takahashi didn't come yesterday evening.)

Dō shite Shinkansen de ikanakatta n'desu ka. (Why didn't you go by Shinkansen (Bullet train)?)

desu > datta (was/were) > ja nakatta (wasn't/weren't)

Plain form + kara = because

(comes at the end of the first part if the sentence before the comma, first part giving the reason, second part giving the results)

eg.

Shinkansen de itta kara, jikan ga amari kakarimasen deshita. (We went by Shinkansen, so it didn't take very long.)

Kono purintā wa amari tsukawanakatta kara, mada atarashi-sō desu. (Because we didn't use the printer much, it still looks new.

Talking about period of time - te imasu form = has/have been -ing

eg.

Ni-nen-kan Nihongo o benkyō o shite imasu. (I've been studying Japanese for two years)

Chōdo ichi-nen-kan kono uchi ni sunde imasu. (I've been living in this house for just a year.)

Vocabulary

Amerika de mo : in the US too

ban : evening

boku : I (informal)

chōdo : exactly, precisely

Chūka ryōri : Chinese cuisine

dansei : males, men

dochira : where? (formal)

Fuji san : Mount Fuji

gārufurendo : girlfriend

go-enryo naku : without standing on ceremony

hansamu : handsome

ichiban suki : like the most

ichiban : the first, number one, most

iroiro : all kinds of, various

jitsu wa : in fact

jōsei : females, women

kara : because

kekkon shite ita : was married

kinō no ban : yesterday evening

kita : came

kodomotachi : children

mō ichido : once more

ni-nen mae ni : two years ago

ni-nen-kan : a two year period

no naka de : among, within

o-hitori : single, unmarried

o-ikutsu : how old?

ōi : many, abundant, a lot of

oishi-sō : looks tasty

rikon : divorce

sabishii : lonely

-sai : years old

san-jū-roku-sai : thirty-six years old

setsumei : explanation

Shinkansen : Bullet train

shita : did

shitsumon : question

tenpura : tempura

tsukaimasu : use

tsukau n'desu ka : do you use?

ureshii : happy

yoku aru : frequently occurring

Quoted from Berlitz Essential Japanese

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Japanese Lesson #11

Nihon no koto, dō omoimasu ka. (What do you think of Japan?)

Jiko shōkai = Introducing yourself

[your name] to mōshimasu. (I'm called [name].)

[company or university name] no [your name] desu. (I'm [name] from [company or university].)

[country or city name] kara kimashita. (I'm from [country or city].)

Ima [place-name] ni sunde imasu. (I now live in [placename].)

[name] daigaku de [subject] o benkyō shite imasu. (I'm studying [subject] at [name] university.)

[company name] ni tsutomete imasu. (I work at [company name].)

...ga jōzu desu = is good at...

heta = poor at

person use wa; thing you are good at or bad at use ga

eg.

Ogawa san wa Eigo ga jōzu desu ne. (Ms. Ogawa is good at English, isn't she?)

Watashi wa ryōri ga amari jōzu desu ne. (I'm not very good at cooking.)

Joining -i adjectives with -kute

eg.

Omoshiroi eiga deshita. + Ii eiga deshita = Omoshirokute, ii eiga deshita. (It was a good, interesting movie.)

Sūgaku wa muzukashikute, suki ja arimasen. (Mathematics is difficult, and I don't like it.)

Atama ga itakute, ku-ji han ni nemashita. (I had a headache, and I went to bed at 9.30.)

Hazukashikute, dame deshita. (I was embarrassed, and it was no good.)

Tenki ga warukute, zannen deshita. (The weather was bad, and it was a pity.)

The plain forms of verbs

eg.

Piano ga dekiru kedo, amari jōzu ja arimasen. (I can play the piano, but I'm not very good.)

Takahashi san wa Eigo ga wakaru deshō ka. (I wonder if Ms. Takahashi understands English.)

-negative of plain form ends in -nai

-ru > -nai

taberu > tabemasen > tabenai (don't eat)

kangaeru > kangaemasen > kangaenai (doesn't think of)

miru > mimasen > minai (doesn't see)

tsukareru > tsukaremasen > tsukarenai (doesn't tire)

wasureru > wasuremasen > wasurenai ( doesn't forget)

oshieru > oshiemasen > oshienai (doesn't teach)

iru > imasen > inai (isn't in)

eg.

Saitō san wa sakana o tabenai deshō. (Ms. Saito doesn't eat fish, am I right?)

Terebi wa amari minai deshō. (You don't usually watch TV, do you?)

-u > -anai/-wanai

nomu > nomimasen > nomanai (doesn't drink)

hanasu > hanashimasen > hanasanai (doesn't speak)

omou > omoimasen > omowanai (doesn't think)

hashiru > hashirimasen > hashiranai (doesn't run)

kau > kaimasen > kawanai (doesn't buy)

matsu > machimasen > matanai (doesn't wait)

iku > ikimasen > ikanai (doesn't go)

kaku > kakimasen > kakanai (doesn't write)

wakaru > wakarimasen > wakaranai (doesn't understand)

kuru > kimasen > konai (doesn't come)

suru > shimasen > shinai (doesn't do)

aru > arimasen > nai (there isn't)

eg.

Ani wa ikanai kedo, watashi wa ikimasu. (My elder brother isn't going, but I am.)

Itō san wa kōhii o nomanai deshō. (Mr. Itō doesn't drink coffee, does he?)

Kotae wa bau deshō. (There isn't an answer, is there?)

plain form of desu = da(positive) and dewa nai or ja nai (negative)

eg.

Sō ja nai deshō.(That's probably not so.)

Mada atte inai = not yet

(when something hasn't yet happened, use -te imasen/ -te inai form)

eg.

Hiru-gohan wa mada tabete imasen. (I haven't eaten lunch yet.)

Rekishi no shukudai wa mada kaite inai deshō. (You haven't written your history homework yet, right?)

To omoimasu = I think

eg.

Sore wa zannen desu. (That's a pity.)

Sore wa zannen da to omoimasu. (I think that's a pity)

Takahashi san wa kimasen. (Ms. Takahashi isn't coming.)

Takahashi san wa konai to omoimasu. (I don't think Ms. Takahashi is coming.)

Are wa uso da to omoimasu. (I think that's untrue.)

Nihon de no seikatsu wa muzukashii to omoimasu ka. (Do you think living in Japan is difficult?)

Someone is thinking, use omotte imasu

eg.

Maiku san wa Nihon no terebi wa amari omoshiroku nai to omotte imasu. (Mike thinks that Japanease television isn't very interesting.)

Takahashi san mo sō omotte imasu. (Ms. Takahashi thinks so too.)

kangaeru = to consider/think about

eg.

Nani o kangaete imasu ka. (What are you thinking about?)

Chiimu no koto o kangaete imashita. (I was thinking about the team.)

Sashimi ya sushi ya = sashimi and sushi, etc

eg.

Sono gakkō de Eigo ya Furansugo ya Doitsugo (nado) o oshiete imasu. (At that school they teach English, French, German and the like.)

Kyōto ya Nara (nado) e ikimashita. (I went to Kyoto, Nara, etc.)

...koto ga dekimasu = can/be able to

(to the plain form of word)

eg.

Maiku san wa kanji o kaku koto ga dekimasu ka. (Mike, can you write kanji characters?)

Soko e wa, basu de iku koto ga dekimasen. (You can't get there by bus.)

Kore o zenbu taberu koto ga dekinai to omoimasu. (I think I can't eat all this.)

Nihongo ga dekimasu ka. (Can you (speak) Japanese?)

Tenisu ga dekimasu ka. (Can you (play) tennis)

Invitations using a negative verb = -imasen ka

eg.

Raishū no doyōbi wa tanjōbi no pātii o shimasu ga, Maiku san mo kimasen ka. (I'm having a birthday party next Saturday, would you like to come, Mike?)

Mō hiru-gohan o jikan desu ne. Issho ni tabemasen ka. (It's already lunch time, isn't it? Would you like to eat with us?)

Vocabulary

aru : there is/are

atama ga yokute : is clever

atte inai : haven't met

basu : bus

basukettobōru : basketball

bōifurendo : boyfriend

chiimu : team

da : is/are

dekimashita : were able to

dō omoimasu ka : what do you think?

Doitsugo : German Language

ganbarimasu : I'll do my best

gēmu : game

hashiru : run

hayaku : quickly

hazukashikute : embarrassed and...

jiko shōkai : self-introduction

jūgyō : lesson, class

kagaku : science

kangaete imasu : think about

kao : face

kotae : answer, response

koto ga dekimasu : can, be possible

koto : thing, event, fact

kuni: country

mada mada dame desu : I'm still no good (at...)

made ni : by, by the time

mae ni : before, previously

manejā : manager

nado : and so on, et cetera

nagai : long

nai : there isn't/aren't

Nihon no koto : about Japan

Ohaio-shu : the state of Ohio

omoshirokute : interesting and

owaru : finish, end

piano : piano

rekishi : history

ryōri : cooking, cuisine

soba : noodles

san-shūkan : three weeks

seikatsu : life, living

shōkai shimashō : let me introduce you

-shūkan : -weeks

shumi : interest, hobby

sūgaku : mathematics

supōtsu : sport

sushi : raw fish with rice

tabemono : food

taiiku : physical education, training

to mōshimasu : am called

to omoimasu : I think

tsutomete imasu : be employed

uso : untruth, story, lie

ya : and

yoku dekimashita : you did well

yoku : well

zenbu : all

Quoted from Berlitz Essential Japanese

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