# Japanese Basic Course, Lesson 1

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/1. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/1.json.

## Greetings and identifying objects · Dialogue 1 of 2

### A greeting and a question

Two people greet each other and ask what a thing is. The Japanese is spelled with English letters.

Each Japanese line is heard, repeated, and understood word by word. *Konnichi wa* means "Hello."

### What to listen for

*Kore wa nan desu ka* means "What is this?" *wa* stands after *kore*, and *ka* stands at the end.

*Sore wa hon desu* means "That's a book." The noun *hon* with *desu* identifies the thing.

**1** Konnichi wa.  
こんにちわ  
Hello.

**2** Konnichi wa.  
こんにちわ  
Hello.

**3** Ikaga desu ka?  
いかがですか  
How are you?

**4** Genki desu.  
げんきです  
I am fine.

**5** Kore wa nan desu ka?  
これわなんですか  
What is this?

**6** Sore wa hon desu.  
それわほんです  
That's a book.

```
Japanese Nouns

Inflection: Japanese nouns are not inflected.

Number: Japanese nouns do not have any distinction of plural forms like 'pen' or 'pens,' 'foot' and 'feet.' It is generally possible to determine what is meant by context.

Gender: Japanese nouns do not have masculine, feminine, and neuter genders.

Articles: Japanese nouns are not preceded by articles such as 'a,' 'an,' or 'the' as in English.
```

```
Particles

In Japanese there is an important group of words called particles, which resemble English prepositions such as 'in,' 'on,' 'of,' 'at,' 'from,' etc., or conjunctions such as 'because,' 'but,' 'since,' etc., in that they show the relation of one word, phrase, or clause to another or connect different parts of a sentence. They are sometimes called postpositions, always come after words, and are pronounced almost as though they were suffixes. One of the beginner's faults in speaking Japanese is over emphasizing the pronunciation of particles. They should be pronounced with the preceding words without a pause between, but not loudly.

KORE-WA hon desu. "This is a book."

WA is a particle that has no definite English equivalent. In most cases it serves to set off the topic of a phrase, clause, or sentence about which a statement is made. Words, phrases, or clauses followed by the particle WA are placed at the beginning of Japanese sentences. When difficulty is encountered in comprehending sentences, the device of temporarily translating WA as 'as for' helps to clarify their meaning.
```

```
Equational sentence

An equational sentence is used to identify or name things both animate and inanimate. It is essentially made up of two parts: the subject (general topic) and the predicate (a statement of what or whom the subject is).

Equational sentence:

Subject | Predicate
KORE WA | NOUN DESU

Note that the subject is followed by the particle WA, and that the predicate ends with a copula DESU.

The English verb 'to be' (is, are, am, etc.) acts as a copula connecting two parts of a sentence as a kind of equal sign.

This is a book. This = a book.

I am a student. I = a student.

In Japanese DESU serves the same purpose.

The negative of DESU is DEWA ARIMASEN.
```

```
Interrogative Particle KA

A Japanese sentence ending with the interrogative particle KA is a question. Any statement can be made into a question by adding KA.

KORE WA HON DESU. "This is a book."

KORE WA HON DESU KA. "Is this a book?"
```

## Confirming and correcting objects · Dialogue 2 of 2

### A blackboard, a window, and a wall

One person asks about classroom objects. The other confirms a blackboard, rejects a window, and identifies a wall.

*Kore wa kokuban desu ka* means "Is this a blackboard?" *Hai, sore wa kokuban desu* confirms it.

### A rejected identification

*Iie, sore wa mado dewa arimasen* means "No, that's not a window." *dewa arimasen* rejects the identification.

*Dewa, kore wa nan desu ka* then asks what the object is.

**7** Kore wa kokuban desu ka?  
これわこくばんですか  
Is this a blackboard?

**8** Hai, sore wa kokuban desu.  
はいそれわこくばんです  
Yes, that's a blackboard.

**9** Kore wa mado desu ka?  
これわまどですか  
Is this a window?

**10** Iie, sore wa mado dewa arimasen.  
いいえそれわまどでわありません  
No, that's not a window.

**11** Dewa, kore wa nan desu ka?  
でわこれわなんですか  
Then, what's this?

**12** Sore wa kabe desu.  
それわかべです  
That's a wall.

## Pictures, eyes and doors · Perception Drill 1

### Naming a thing with desu

*hai, e desu* means "Yes, it is a picture." The noun *e* names the thing, and *desu* completes the identification.

The topic is what a sentence makes a statement about. In this line, *e desu* is the statement that identifies it.

### A question at the end

*e desu ka* means "Is it a picture?" The same identification becomes a question when *ka* stands at the end.

A particle shows how one part of a sentence relates to another. Here *ka* marks the question.

**13** e  
え  
picture, drawing

**14** e desu ka?  
えですか  
Is it a picture?

**15** hai, e desu  
はいえです  
Yes, it is a picture.

**16** me  
め  
eye

**17** me desu ka?  
めですか  
Is it an eye?

**18** hai, me desu  
はいめです  
Yes, it is an eye.

**19** to  
と  
door

**20** to desu ka?  
とですか  
Is it a door?

**21** hai, to desu  
はいとです  
Yes, it is a door.

**22** te  
て  
hand

## Hands, chairs, ears and windows · Perception Drill 2

### A question and an answer

*isu desu ka* means "Is it a chair?" The sentence-final particle *ka* marks the question.

*hai, isu desu* means "Yes, it is a chair." The noun with *desu* supplies the identification.

**23** te desu ka?  
てですか  
Is it a hand?

**24** hai, te desu  
はいてです  
Yes, it is a hand.

**25** isu  
いす  
chair

**26** isu desu ka?  
いすですか  
Is it a chair?

**27** hai, isu desu  
はいいすです  
Yes, it is a chair.

**28** mimi  
みみ  
ear

**29** mimi desu ka?  
みみですか  
Is it an ear?

**30** hai, mimi desu  
はいみみです  
Yes, it is an ear.

**31** mado  
まど  
window

**32** mado desu ka?  
まどですか  
Is it a window?

## Noses, walls and mouths · Perception Drill 3

### Noses, walls, and mouths

*kabe desu ka* means "Is it a wall?" The particle *ka* marks the question at the end.

*hai, kabe desu* means "Yes, it is a wall." The answer omits *ka* and ends with *desu*.

**33** hai, mado desu  
はいまどです  
Yes, it is a window.

**34** hana  
はな  
nose

**35** hana desu ka?  
はなですか  
Is it a nose?

**36** hai, hana desu  
はいはなです  
Yes, it is a nose.

**37** kabe  
かべ  
wall

**38** kabe desu ka?  
かべですか  
Is it a wall?

**39** hai, kabe desu  
はいかべです  
Yes, it is a wall.

**40** kuchi  
くち  
mouth

**41** kuchi desu ka?  
くちですか  
Is it a mouth?

**42** hai, kuchi desu  
はいくちです  
Yes, it is a mouth.

## Feet, paper, maps and books · Perception Drill 4

### Feet, paper, and maps

*ashi desu ka* means "Is it a foot?" The sentence ends with the question particle *ka*.

*hai, ashi desu* means "Yes, it is a foot." The noun *ashi* with *desu* identifies it.

**43** ashi  
あし  
leg, feet

**44** ashi desu ka?  
あしですか  
Is it a foot?

**45** hai, ashi desu  
はいあしです  
Yes, it is a foot.

**46** kami  
かみ  
paper

**47** kami desu ka?  
かみですか  
Is it paper?

**48** hai, kami desu  
はいかみです  
Yes, it is paper.

**49** chizu  
ちず  
map

**50** chizu desu ka?  
ちずですか  
Is it a map?

**51** hai, chizu desu  
はいちずです  
Yes, it is a map.

**52** hon  
ほん  
book

## Books, blackboards, floors and desks · Perception Drill 5

### Objects in the classroom

*kokuban desu ka* means "Is it a blackboard?" The particle *ka* turns the identification into a question.

*hai, kokuban desu* means "Yes, it is a blackboard." The answer ends with *desu*.

**53** hon desu ka?  
ほんですか  
Is it a book?

**54** hai, hon desu  
はいほんです  
Yes, it is a book.

**55** kokuban  
こくばん  
blackboard

**56** kokuban desu ka?  
こくばんですか  
Is it a blackboard?

**57** hai, kokuban desu  
はいこくばんです  
Yes, it is a blackboard.

**58** yuka  
ゆか  
floor

**59** yuka desu ka?  
ゆかですか  
Is it the floor?

**60** hai, yuka desu  
はいゆかです  
Yes, it is the floor.

**61** tsukue  
つくえ  
desk

**62** tsukue desu ka?  
つくえですか  
Is it a desk?

## Asking what things are · Perception Drill 6

### Asking what it is

*nan desu ka* means "What is it?" *nan* asks for the noun that identifies the thing.

*kami desu* means "It is paper." The noun *kami* with *desu* supplies the identification.

**63** hai, tsukue desu  
はいつくえです  
Yes, it is a desk.

**64** enpitsu  
えんぴつ  
pencil

**65** enpitsu desu ka?  
えんぴつですか  
Is it a pencil?

**66** hai, enpitsu desu  
はいえんぴつです  
Yes, it is a pencil.

**67** nan desu ka?  
なんですか  
What is it?

**68** nan desu ka?  
なんですか  
What is it?

**69** kami desu.  
かみです  
It is paper.

**70** nan desu ka?  
なんですか  
What is it?

**71** hon desu.  
ほんです  
It is a book.

**72** nan desu ka?  
なんですか  
What is it?

## Naming classroom objects · Perception Drill 7

### The topic comes first

*kore-wa hon desu* means "This is a book." The particle *wa* follows *kore* and marks it as the topic.

Word by word, the line is "this, as for, book, is." The topic comes first, before the statement about it.

In *kore-wa hon desu*, say *wa* with *kore*. There is no pause, and *wa* is not louder than the other words.

**73** mado desu.  
まどです  
It is a window.

**74** nan desu ka?  
なんですか  
What is it?

**75** kokuban desu.  
こくばんです  
It is a blackboard.

**76** nan desu ka?  
なんですか  
What is it?

**77** kabe desu.  
かべです  
It is a wall.

**78** nan desu ka?  
なんですか  
What is it?

**79** isu desu.  
いすです  
It is a chair.

**80** nan desu ka?  
なんですか  
What is it?

**81** mimi desu.  
みみです  
It is an ear.

**82** kore-wa hon desu.  
これわほんです  
This is a book.

## This, that and over there · Perception Drill 8

### Three distances

*kore-wa kami desu* means "This is paper." *kore* indicates a thing near the speaker.

*sore-wa enpitsu desu* means "That is a pencil." *sore* indicates a thing near the person spoken to.

*are-wa chizu desu* means "That over there is a map." *are* indicates a thing away from both people.

In these lines, each pointing word takes the topic particle *wa* before the identification.

**83** kore-wa kami desu.  
これわかみです  
This is paper.

**84** sore-wa enpitsu desu.  
それわえんぴつです  
That is a pencil.

**85** sore-wa isu desu.  
それわいすです  
That is a chair.

**86** are-wa chizu desu.  
あれわちずです  
That over there is a map.

**87** are-wa mado desu.  
あれわまどです  
That over there is a window.

**88** kore-wa hon desu ka?  
これわほんですか  
Is this a book?

**89** hai, sore-wa hon desu.  
はいそれわほんです  
Yes, that is a book.

**90** kore-wa enpitsu desu ka?  
これわえんぴつですか  
Is this a pencil?

**91** hai, sore-wa enpitsu desu.  
はいそれわえんぴつです  
Yes, that is a pencil.

**92** sore-wa mado desu ka?  
それわまどですか  
Is that a window?

## Questions about near and far objects · Perception Drill 9

### The same distance in the answer

*are-wa kokuban desu ka* means "Is that over there a blackboard?" *are* indicates something away from both people.

*hai, are-wa kokuban desu* confirms the same distant object. The topic particle *wa* remains after *are*.

**93** hai, kore-wa mado desu.  
はいこれわまどです  
Yes, this is a window.

**94** sore-wa chizu desu ka?  
それわちずですか  
Is that a map?

**95** hai, kore-wa chizu desu.  
はいこれわちずです  
Yes, this is a map.

**96** are-wa kokuban desu ka?  
あれわこくばんですか  
Is that over there a blackboard?

**97** hai, are-wa kokuban desu.  
はいあれわこくばんです  
Yes, that over there is a blackboard.

**98** are-wa to desu ka?  
あれわとですか  
Is that over there a door?

**99** hai, are-wa to desu.  
はいあれわとです  
Yes, that over there is a door.

**100** kore-wa nan desu ka?  
これわなんですか  
What is this?

**101** sore-wa nan desu ka?  
それわなんですか  
What is that?

**102** are-wa nan desu ka?  
あれわなんですか  
What is that over there?

## Identifying near and far objects · Perception Drill 10

### What is this

*kore-wa nan desu ka* means "What is this?" *kore* is the topic, and *nan* asks for its identification.

*sore-wa mimi desu* means "That is an ear." The answer uses *sore* for the thing near the other person.

**103** kore-wa nan desu ka?  
これわなんですか  
What is this?

**104** sore wa me desu.  
それわめです  
That is an eye.

**105** kore-wa nan desu ka?  
これわなんですか  
What is this?

**106** sore-wa mimi desu.  
それわみみです  
That is an ear.

**107** sore-wa nan desu ka?  
それわなんですか  
What is that?

**108** kore-wa isu desu.  
これわいすです  
This is a chair.

**109** sore-wa nan desu ka?  
それわなんですか  
What is that?

**110** kore-wa mado desu.  
これわまどです  
This is a window.

**111** are-wa nan desu ka?  
あれわなんですか  
What is that over there?

**112** are-wa chizu desu.  
あれわちずです  
That over there is a map.

## Saying what things are not · Perception Drill 11

### Saying what a thing is not

*kore-wa hon dewa arimasen* means "This is not a book." *dewa arimasen* is the negative of *desu*.

The topic particle *wa* follows *kore*, and *dewa arimasen* follows the noun *hon*.

**113** are-wa nan desu ka?  
あれわなんですか  
What is that over there?

**114** are-wa to desu.  
あれわとです  
That over there is a door.

**115** kore-wa hon dewa arimasen.  
これわほんでわありません  
This is not a book.

**116** sore-wa isu dewa arimasen.  
それわいすでわありません  
That is not a chair.

**117** are-wa mado dewa arimasen.  
あれわまどでわありません  
That over there is not a window.

**118** kore-wa kokuban desu ka?  
これわこくばんですか  
Is this a blackboard?

**119** Iie, sore-wa kokuban dewa arimasen.  
いいえそれわこくばんでわありません  
No, that is not a blackboard.

**120** kore-wa yuka desu ka?  
これわゆかですか  
Is this the floor?

**121** Iie, sore-wa yuka dewa arimasen.  
いいえそれわゆかでわありません  
No, that is not the floor.

**122** sore-wa kabe desu ka?  
それわかべですか  
Is that a wall?

## Rejecting object identifications · Perception Drill 12

### A negative answer

*are-wa e desu ka* means "Is that over there a picture?" The question asks about the distant topic.

*Iie, are-wa e dewa arimasen* means "No, that over there is not a picture." *iie* gives the negative answer. *dewa arimasen* rejects the identification.

**123** Iie, kore-wa kabe dewa arimasen.  
いいえこれわかべでわありません  
No, this is not a wall.

**124** sore-wa kami desu ka?  
それわかみですか  
Is that paper?

**125** Iie, kore-wa kami dewa arimasen.  
いいえこれわかみでわありません  
No, this is not paper.

**126** are-wa e desu ka?  
あれわえですか  
Is that over there a picture?

**127** Iie, are-wa e dewa arimasen.  
いいえあれわえでわありません  
No, that over there is not a picture.

**128** are-wa to desu ka?  
あれわとですか  
Is that over there a door?

**129** Iie, are-wa to dewa arimasen.  
いいえあれわとでわありません  
No, that over there is not a door.

## Counting syllables in words · Pronunciation drill 1

### One, two, and three syllables

The drill groups words by syllable count and vowel sound. *ka* has one syllable, while *haha* has two.

*ishi* has two syllables, while *ishii* has three. The added *i* forms an additional syllable.

**130** ka, ta, na, ha  
かたなは  
one-syllable words:

**131** haha, kasa, hana, yama  
ははかさはなやま  
two-syllable words:

**132** yamaha, sakana, takara  
やまはさかなたから  
three-syllable words:

**133** i, ki, hi, chi, shi  
いきひちし  
one-syllable words:

**134** michi, shichi, ishi, ichi, imi  
みちしちいしいちいみ  
two-syllable words:

**135** ishii, ibiki, hibiki  
いしいいびきひびき  
three-syllable words:

**136** u, bu, ku, su, zu  
うぶくすず  
one-syllable words:

## Syllable lengths across vowel sounds · Pronunciation drill 2

### Syllables with u, e, and o

The drill groups words with three vowel sounds by syllable count. *kutsu* has two syllables, while *sukumu* has three.

*o* has one syllable, *koko* has two, and *otoko* has three.

**137** kutsu, sumu, umu, kuru  
くつすむうむくる  
two-syllable words:

**138** sukumu, fukumu, yurumu, yurusu  
すくむふくむゆるむゆるす  
three-syllable words:

**139** e, ke, te, ne, me  
えけてねめ  
one-syllable words:

**140** ete  
えて  
two-syllable words:

**141** o, to, ho  
おとほ  
one-syllable words:

**142** koko, oto, soko, kono, sono, momo  
ここおとそここのそのもも  
two-syllable words:

**143** otoko, otoso, koromo, tokoro, kodomo  
おとこおとそころもところこども  
three-syllable words:

## Objects and body words · Word list 1 of 3

### Nouns that do not change

The words name objects and body parts. *e* means "picture" or "drawing", and *ashi* means "leg" or "feet."

Japanese nouns are not inflected. They have no plural forms or grammatical gender. Articles such as "a", "an", and "the" do not precede them.

Context determines whether a noun such as *hon*, "book", refers to one or more.

**144** e  
え  
picture, drawing

**145** to  
と  
door

**146** te  
て  
hand

**147** me  
め  
eye

**148** isu  
いす  
chair

**149** mado  
まど  
window

**150** kabe  
かべ  
wall

**151** kami  
かみ  
paper

**152** ashi  
あし  
leg, feet

**153** yuka  
ゆか  
floor

**154** hon  
ほん  
book

## Classroom objects and pointing words · Word list 2 of 3

### Objects and pointing words

The words include classroom objects and body parts. *chizu* means "map", and *mimi* means "ear."

The pointing words distinguish distance. *kore* means "this" near the speaker, *sore* means "that" near the other person, and *are* means "that" away from both.

*nan* means "what" in a question.

**155** chizu  
ちず  
map

**156** mimi  
みみ  
ear

**157** hana  
はな  
nose

**158** kuchi  
くち  
mouth

**159** kokuban  
こくばん  
blackboard

**160** tsukue  
つくえ  
desk

**161** enpitsu  
えんぴつ  
pencil

**162** kore  
これ  
this (thing), (near the speaker)

**163** sore  
それ  
that (thing), (near the person spoken to)

**164** are  
あれ  
that (thing), (away from both the speaker and the person spoken to)

**165** nan  
なん  
what (for a question)

## Questions, negatives and greetings · Word list 3 of 3

### Greeting, asking, and answering

The words cover greetings, questions, and answers. *Konnichi wa* means "Hello." *Ikaga desu ka* means "How are you?"

*hai* means "yes", and *iie* means "no." The question particle *ka* stands at the end of a sentence.

*desu* means "is." Its negative *dewa arimasen* means "is not."

**166** desu  
です  
copula (is)

**167** ka?  
か  
(comes at the end of a sentence and indicates a question)

**168** dewa arimasen  
でわありません  
--- is not

**169** dewa  
でわ  
then

**170** hai  
はい  
yes

**171** iie  
いいえ  
no

**172** Konnichi wa  
こんにちわ  
Hello. Good day.

**173** Ikaga desu ka?  
いかがですか  
How are you?

**174** Genki desu.  
げんきです  
I am fine.

```
Homework Assignment

1 Memorize the dialogue.

2 Listen to the tape and practice pronunciation.

3 Read the explanatory notes.

4 Memorize the vocabulary.

5 Practice reading and writing of HIRAGANA, a to go.
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