Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 110

Lesson 112

Reading Japan

117 lines

Taking the train to Osaka · Dialogue 1 of 5

Osaka during a sightseeing trip

One speaker asks Mr. Sakamoto about Osaka. He has been there about twice.

The traveler says, *京都や 奈良を 見物する ついでに 大阪にも 行きたいと 思うんです*. He hopes to include Osaka while sightseeing in Kyoto and Nara.

The convenient route

The traveler asks for the most convenient way from Kyoto. Mr. Sakamoto recommends the electric train.

He says, *電車でしょうね*. The trains are fast, clean inside and frequent, with one leaving about every five minutes.

Kanji: 京, 神

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 1

    さかもとさん、あなたはおおさかにいかれたことがありますか。

    Say, Mr. Sakamoto, have you ever been to Osaka?

    坂本Sakamoto
    さん、Mr.
    あなたyou
    はtopic
    大阪Osaka
    にto
    行かhave been
    れhave been
    たhave been
    事ever
    がsubject
    ありhave been
    ますhave been
    か。question
  2. 2

    ええ、にどほどあります。

    Yes, I have been there about twice.

  3. 3

    きょうとやならをけんぶつするついでにおおさかにもいきたいとおもうんです。

    I am going sightseeing of Kyoto and Nara and I am hoping to go to Osaka at the same time.

  4. 4

    じかんのよゆうさえあればいったらいいですね。どうせすぐちかくまでいくんですから。

    You should go as long as you have the time to spare, since you are going to go right by it anyway.

  5. 5

    きょうとからなんでいくのがいちばんべんりですか。

    What’s the most convenient way to go from Kyoto?

  6. 6

    でんしゃでしょうね。はやくて、しゃないもきれいだし、ダイヤもひんぱんですから。けいはんしんきゅうこうでんてつ（ふつう、はんきゅうという）ですと、ごふんおきぐらいにでんしゃがでます。

    Probably it’s the electric train because it is fast and the inside of the train is clean, and furthermore, the schedule is very frequent. If it’s by HANKYUU Railway Line, the train leaves about every five minutes.

---YOO NI KIKOERU Following the basic form of verbs and adjectives (both i-adjectives and na-adjectives) and noun plus NO, YOO NI KIKOERU expresses the meaning of ”It sounds like ----,” ”It seems ----.”

Examples:

OSAKA WA OMOSHIROI TOKORO NO YOO NI KIKOEMASU. ”It sounds like Osaka is an interesting place.”

ANO SEITO WA BENKYOO SHINAI YOO NI KIKOEMASU. ”It sounds like that student doesn’t study.”

NIHONGO WA MUZUKASHII YOO NI KIKOEMASU GA,---- ”It sounds like Japanese is difficult, but ----”

TAMURA-SAN WA SHINSETSU NA HITO NO YOO NI KIKOEMASU NE. ”It sounds like Mr. Tamura is a kind person, doesn’t it?”

MIZU NO MIYAKO TO IU TO, NANDAKA ROOMANCHIKKU NA TOKORO NO YOO NI KIKOEMASU. ”If you say ‘the water capital,’ somehow it sounds like a romantic place.”
Osaka Osaka, the industrial metropolis of Japan, is situated at the mouth of the Yodo River, which runs into Osaka Bay and which, with the innumerable canals connected with it, forms the great watercourse of the city. Osaka has often been described as the Venice of Japan owing to the number of its canals and bridges. The modernization of Osaka has proceeded at a pace during the past 50 years notwithstanding the heavy damage suffered during the Pacific War. Today it has an area of 72.4 square miles and a population of three and a half million, making it the second largest city in Japan. With its thousands of factory chimneys and its ever increasing street traffic, it has largely lost its Oriental character.
DOOTOMBORI and SENNICHIMAE DOOTOMBORI and SENNICHIMAE are the pleasure quarters of Osaka. They are crowded with theaters, picture halls, restaurants, cabarets, etc. In sharp contrast to the former use of this section, 85 years ago, SENNICHIMAE was a lonely burial ground for the bodies of executed criminals.
は
leaves
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
ます
trout
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ええ、
Yes
二
two
ほど
to the extent (See Grammar Notes)
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
奈良
P.N.
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
ついで
opportunity
も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
思う
to think
です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
時間
hour, time
の
See Grammar Notes
よゆう
excess; margin; time to spare
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
どうせ
at any rate; anyway
すぐ
right away, immediately
近く
vicinity
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
から。
from (See Gram. Notes)
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
電車
streetcar, electric train
でしょう
probably (See Gram. Notes)
車内
inside a vehicle; inside a train
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
し、
city
ダイヤ
diagram for running trains
ひんぱん
frequent, busy
急行
express train
言う）
to say
五
five
分
minute
ぐらい
about

Osaka past and present · Dialogue 2 of 5

The water capital and the smoke capital

The speakers compare Osaka's former and present character.

*昔は 水の 都、今日では けむりの 都* contrasts the former water capital with today's smoke capital.

*水の 都と 言うと、何だか ヴェニスの 様な ローマンチックな 所の 様に 聞こえますね* says the name sounds like a romantic place such as Venice.

Waterways and industry

The name *水の 都* reflects Osaka's many canals and bridges near the mouth of the Yodo River.

The modern city is Japan's industrial metropolis. Its factory chimneys and increasing street traffic changed its former character.

Kanji: 商

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 7

    でんしゃでどのくらいかかりますか。

    How long does it take by an electric train?

  2. 8

    とっきゅうでよんじゅっぷんそこそこ、きゅうこうならごじゅっぷん、ふつうれっしゃならいちじかんちょっとです。

    It only takes about 40 minutes by a special express, 50 minutes if it’s by express and a little over one hour if it’s an ordinary train.

  3. 9

    おおさかはどんなしですか。

    What kind of a city is Osaka?

  4. 10

    むかしはみずのみやこ、きょうではけむりのみやこ、こうぎょうとし、しょうぎょうとし、にほんのだいどころなどと、いろいろななまえでよばれています。

    In the olden days it was called by the name of ”water capital,” and now it is called by the name of ”smoke capital,” ”a city of manufacturing industry,” ”a commercial city,” ”the Japan’s kitchen,” and so forth.

  5. 11

    みずのみやこというと、なんだかヴェニスのようなローマンチックなところのようにきこえますね。

    When you say ”water capital,” somehow it sounds like a romantic place like Venice, doesn’t it?

  6. 12

    むかしはそうだったんですが、いまではちがいます。べいこくのピッツバーグみたいですよ。

    It was like that in the olden days, but now it is different. It’s like Pittsburgh in the United States.

どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
くらい
dark
特急
special express (train)
四十
40
そこそこ、
only about
なら
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
五十
50
一
one
ちょっと
a little
どんな
what kind of; what sort of
水
water
都、
capital
今日
today
けむり
smoke
工業
manufacturing industry
都市、
city
台所
kitchen
など
and so forth, etc.
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
な
I wish, I hope, huh
い
stomach
言う
to say
ヴェニス
Venice (Italy)
所
address, place
そう
numerical counter for ships
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
ピッツバーグ
Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Osaka streets and entertainment districts · Dialogue 3 of 5

Industry and city streets

The speakers describe modern Osaka through its industry, polluted sky and streets.

*御堂筋は 広い なみ木路* describes Mido-suji as a wide, tree-lined street. Shinsaibashi-suji has narrow streets that admit no vehicles.

The entertainment districts

*どうとんぼり、千日前 あたりは 歓楽街です* identifies Dotonbori and Sennichimae as Osaka's entertainment districts.

The districts contain many theaters, picture halls, restaurants and cabarets.

Kanji: 相, 歓, 楽, 街

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 13

    にほんだいにのだいとかいで、しょうぎょうやこうぎょうがさかんだそうですね。

    I understand it is the second largest city in Japan and commerce and manufacturing industry flourish, isn’t that so?

  2. 14

    そうです。そのためひどいばいえんでそらはいちにちじゅうくもっているようです。せんたくものをほすと、しろいものがくろくなるくらいです。

    Yes, you are right. Because of that it has terrible soot and smoke and the sky seems cloudy all day long. It is such that if you dry laundry, white things become black.

  3. 15

    おおさかでいちばんにぎやかなのはみどうすじですか。

    Is the most bustling place in Osaka, MIDOO-SUJI?

  4. 16

    いいえ、みどうすじはひろいなみきじで、いんきなおおさかにみどりをそえてうつくしいですよ。

    No, MIDOO-SUJI is a wide street bordered with trees and it is beautiful adding green to a gloomy Osaka.

  5. 17

    では、とうきょうのぎんざにそうとうするのはどこですか。

    Then, where is the place that corresponds to the Ginza in Tokyo?

  6. 18

    そうですね。しんさいばしすじでしょうね。それから、どうとんぼり、せんにちまえあたりはかんらくがいです。ぎんざとちがうところはしんさいばしすじのようなさかりばはとおりがせまくて、のりものはいっさいとおさないことです。

    Well, probably SHINSAIBASHI-SUJI, DOOTOMBORI, and SENNICHIMAE areas are the pleasure quarters of Osaka. They are different from the Ginza because the streets are narrow and no vehicles whatsoever are allowed to pass in a flourishing district like SHINSAIBASHI-SUJI.

都会
city; metropolis
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
ほす
dry (v.t.)
にぎやか
merry; crowded; flourishing; gay
橋
bridge
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
千日前
P.N.; a gay district in Osaka
あたり
vicinity, neighborhood
ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)
さかり場
gay, flourishing district
通り
street

Wholesalers and satellite cities · Dialogue 4 of 5

Wholesalers and satellite cities

The speakers name two features of Osaka as a commercial city.

*卸売商が 全商店の 二十四パーセントを しめている 事です* says wholesalers account for 24 percent of all merchants.

Osaka also built satellite cities around itself. Their residents spend money in Osaka.

Kanji: 卸

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 19

    つうこうにんはみな、とほですか。

    Do all the passers-by walk?

  2. 20

    そうです。

    That’s right.

  3. 21

    しょうぎょうとしとしてのとくちょうは。

    What are the characteristics of it (Osaka) as a commercial city?

  4. 22

    おろしうりしょうがぜんしょうてんのにじゅうよんパーセントをしめていることです。

    It is a fact that the wholesalers account for 24% of all the merchants.

  5. 23

    それはめずらしいですね。

    That’s very unusual, isn’t it?

  6. 24

    もうひとつのとくちょうはおおさかしのまわりにいわゆるえいせいとしをつくって、それらにすんでいるひとたちのおかねをおおさかにおとさせるようにしていることです。

    Another characteristic is that they built so-called satellite cities around the city of Osaka and have the people who live in these cities spend their money in Osaka.

人
people
徒歩
walking; on foot
都市
city
し
city
特ちょう
characteristics; special feature
商店
merchant; store
二十
20
四
four
パーセント
percent
もう
already (See Gram. Notes)
まわり
circumference; environment
いわゆる
so called
えいせい
sanitation, health
金
gold

Terminal stores and business districts · Dialogue 5 of 5

Business around the terminals

The discussion ends with another result of Osaka's commercial character.

*大阪には ターミナル・デパートと 言うのが あって* introduces its terminal department stores. The areas around them developed as business districts.

  1. 25

    なるほど。

    I see.

  2. 26

    それですから、おおさかにはターミナル・デパートというのがあって、そのあたりがしょうぎょうくいきとしてはったつしているのです。

    For that reason, there are so-called terminal department stores in Osaka and that section has developed as a business district.

なるほど。
I see, indeed, to be sure
区
ward (See Cultural Notes)

The water capital sounds romantic · Perception drill, Block 1

It sounds like

*水の 都と 言うと、ローマンチックな 所の 様に 聞こえます* means "If you say the water capital, it sounds like a romantic place."

*様に 聞こえます* means "it sounds like" or "it seems." It follows a basic-form verb or adjective, or a noun plus *の*.

Here, *ローマンチックな 所の* is the noun description before *様に 聞こえます*.

  1. 27

    みずのみやこというと、ローマンチックなところのようにきこえます。

    If you say ”the water capital”, it sounds like a romantic place.

都
capital
ます。
trout

How statements create impressions · Perception drill, Block 2

Impressions from what someone says

*あの 生徒は 勉強しない 様に 聞こえます* means "It sounds as if that student does not study."

The description before *様に 聞こえます* can concern an action, a quality, a person or a situation.

*君の 話では、田中先生は とても 親切な 人の 様に 聞こえるね* reports an impression of Professor Tanaka from what someone says.

  1. 28

    あのせいとはべんきょうしないようにきこえます。

    It sounds as if that student doesn’t study.

  2. 29

    あなたのはなしでは、にほんごはとてもむずかしいようにきこえますね。

    According to you, Japanese sounds very difficult.

  3. 30

    ええ、しんぶんがよめるようになろうとおもえばとてもむずかしいですよ。

    Yes, if you wish to become able to read newspapers, it is very difficult.

  4. 31

    じどうしゃをもっているといえばかねもちのようにきこえますが、ほんとうはそうではないのですね。

    If you say you have a car, it sounds like you are rich, but the fact is that you are not, are you?

  5. 32

    そうです。べいこくではじどうしゃをもっていないひとはほとんどないくらいですから。

    You are right, because there is hardly anyone who doesn’t have a car in America.

  6. 33

    あなたのいえからがっこうまでにじゅっぷんしかかからないというとちかいようにきこえますね。

    If you say it only takes twenty minutes from your home to school, it sounds like it’s very close, doesn’t it?

  7. 34

    ええ、さんじゅうにキロぐらいありますから、べいこくだったらちかいのですが、にほんでしたらとおいようにきこえますね。

    Yes, it is about 32 kilometers, so it’s close if it’s in America, but it sounds very far if it’s in Japan.

  8. 35

    きみのはなしでは、たなかせんせいはとてもしんせつなひとのようにきこえるね。

    According to you, it sounds like Professor Tanaka is a very kind person.

  9. 36

    うん、とてもしんせつだよ。

    Yes, he is very kind.

  10. 37

    いしゃのはなしでは、たなかさんはよくなるみこみはないようにきこえますね。

    According to the doctor, it sounds like Mr. Tanaka has no hope of getting well, does it?

  11. 38

    ええ、はいのがんらしいですからね。だめでしょうよ。

    No, it seems he has lung cancer, so there probably is no hope.

話
story, talk
とても
very, indeed
むずかしい
difficult
車
vehicle, car
ほとんど
almost (See Gram. Notes)
家
house, home
しか
deer
近い
near, close
三十
30
キロ
kilometer
遠い
far
君
suffix to a name, Mr. (See cult. notes)
先生
refers to doctors, educators, etc. (See Cult. Notes)
聞こえる
to be audible, can hear (v.i.)
うん、
Yes, all right.
医者
medical doctor
よく
well, skillfully
がん
cancer (See Cult. Notes)
だめ
no good, useless, hopeless

How people and places sound · Pattern 1 1 of 3

Descriptions before an impression

*大村さんは 親切な人の 様に 聞こえます* means "Mr. Omura sounds like a kind person." The noun description ends in *の*.

A verb description uses its plain form. *スミスさんは 家では あまり 勉強しない 様に 聞こえます* means "It sounds as though Mr. Smith does not study much at home."

  1. 39

    こうぎょうとしというときたないところのようにきこえます。

    When you say it is an industrial city, it sounds like a dirty place.

  2. 40

    せんせいのはなしでは、にほんごはやさしいようにきこえます。

    From what the teacher says, Japanese sounds easy.

  3. 41

    ベトナムというとぶっそうなところのようにきこえます。

    When you say Vietnam, it sounds like a dangerous place.

  4. 42

    おおむらさんはしんせつなひとのようにきこえます。

    Mr. Omura sounds like a kind person.

  5. 43

    たなかせんせいのはなしではかんじはあまりたいせつでないようにきこえました。

    From what Mr. Tanaka said, kanji did not sound very important.

  6. 44

    あなたのはなしではモンテレーはとてもよいところのようにきこえますね。

    From what you say, Monterey sounds like a very nice place.

  7. 45

    スミスさんはいえではあまりべんきょうしないようにきこえます。

    It sounds as though Mr. Smith does not study much at home.

  8. 46

    はまださんはかんしんしなかったようにきこえます。

    It sounds as though Mr. Hamada was not impressed.

  9. 47

    せいとはこのほんでまんぞくしているようにきこえます。

    It sounds as though the students are satisfied with this book.

きたない
dirty; filthy
は、
leaves
やさしい
easy
モンテレー
Monterey
よい
good (See Gram. Notes)
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)

Comparing impressions with reality · Pattern 1 2 of 3

An impression and the facts

*田中さんの 話では あの 人の 家まで ずい分 近い 様に 聞こえますが、実は かなり 遠いですね* contrasts an impression of closeness with the actual distance.

The clause before *が* states how something sounds. The clause after *が* can give the actual situation.

A price of one thousand yen sounds expensive, but its value of about three dollars changes that impression.

  1. 48

    たなかさんのはなしではあのひとのいえまでずいぶんちかいようにきこえますが、じつはかなりとおいですね。

    From what Mr. Tanaka says, it sounds quite close to that person's house, but it is actually fairly far away.

  2. 49

    わたくしはことしごじゅうになるのですが、ごじゅうというとずいぶんとしよりのようにきこえますね。

    I am turning fifty this year, but when you say fifty, it sounds quite old.

  3. 50

    このごろではごじゅうといえばまだわかいですよ。

    These days, fifty is still young.

  4. 51

    ビフテキがいっせんえんというと、ずいぶんたかいですね。

    When you say a steak is one thousand yen, it sounds very expensive.

  5. 52

    いっせんえんというとたかいようにきこえますが、ドルにすればさんドルぐらいですから、たかくないですよ。

    One thousand yen sounds expensive, but that is only about three dollars, so it is not expensive.

  6. 53

    やまもとせんせいのはなしでは、かんじはたいへんたいせつなようにきこえますが、ほんとうにたいせつですか。

    From what Mr. Yamamoto says, kanji sounds very important, but is it really important?

  7. 54

    たいせつですね。

    Yes, it is important.

  8. 55

    べいこくじんのおとこのひとはずいぶんおんなにしんせつなようにきこえますが、ほんとうですか。

    It sounds as though American men are very kind to women, but is that true?

  9. 56

    まあ、あるていどまではほんとうですね。

    Well, it is true to some extent.

ずい分
very much
かなり
fairly
今年
this year
まだ
yet, still
ビフテキ
beef steak
円
yen (unit of money)
ドル
dollar
三
three
男
male
女
female
まあ、
Well! Oh, my!
ある
certain, some
程度
degree, standard

How actions and qualities sound · Pattern 1 3 of 3

What a statement makes sound true

*あなたの 話では 日本語を 教えるのは 訳は ない 様に 聞こえますね* means "From what you say, teaching Japanese sounds easy."

The description before *様に 聞こえます* can be an action such as *酒を 沢山 飲む* or a quality such as *若い*.

A noun such as *なまけ者* takes *の* before the impression pattern.

  1. 57

    あなたのはなしではにほんごをおしえるのはわけはないようにきこえますね。

    From what you say, teaching Japanese sounds easy.

  2. 58

    ええ、そうですよ。もちろん、わたくしたちはもうながいあいだおしえていますからね。

    Yes, it is; of course, we have been teaching it for a long time.

  3. 59

    やさしい

    Easy.

  4. 60

    さけをたくさんのむ

    Drink a lot of sake.

  5. 61

    じょうぶな

    Strong and healthy.

  6. 62

    なまけもの

    A lazy person.

  7. 63

    わかい

    Young.

  8. 64

    しんせつな

    Kind.

もちろん、
of course, to be sure
間
between
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
酒
Sake, rice wine

Osaka commerce and transport · Questions 1 of 2

Facts about Osaka

The questions ask for facts about Osaka's population, industry, transport and names.

*大阪は 昔は 何と 呼ばれていましたか* means "What was Osaka called in the past?" An answer gives its former name, the water capital.

Other answers give a number, travel time, name or commercial feature from the description.

  1. 65

    おおさかでいちばんにぎやかなところはしんさいばしすじで、とうきょうのぎんざにそうとうするところです。それからどうとんぼり、せんにちまえあたりはかんらくがいで、えいがかん、キャバレー、りょうりやなどがたくさんあります。ひとつおもしろいことはしんさいばしすじのようなさかりばではとおりがせまくて、のりものはいっさいとおさないことです。しょうぎょうとしとしてのおおさかのとくちょうは、まずだいいちにおろしうりしょうがぜんしょうてんのにじゅうよんパーセントをしめていることです。もうひとつのとくちょうはおおさかしのまわりにいわゆるえいせいとしをつくって、それらにすんでいるひとたちのおかねを

    Osaka's busiest place is Shinsaibashi-suji, which corresponds to the Ginza in Tokyo; the Dotonbori and Sennichimae areas are entertainment districts with many movie theaters, cabarets, restaurants, and the like; one interesting thing is that in busy shopping areas like Shinsaibashi-suji, the streets are narrow and no vehicles are allowed at all; Osaka's first distinguishing feature as a commercial city is that wholesalers account for twenty-four percent of all its stores; another feature is that so-called satellite cities have been built around Osaka City so that the money of the people living in them is

  2. 66

    おおさかにおとさせるようにしていることです。それですから、おおさかにはターミナル・デパートというのがあって、そのあたりがしょうぎょうくいきとしてはったつしているのです。

    spent in Osaka; for this reason, Osaka has what are called terminal department stores, and the areas around them have developed into commercial districts.

  3. 67

    おおさかのじんこうはどのくらいですか。

    What is the population of Osaka?

  4. 68

    おおさかはなんのちゅうしんちですか。

    What is Osaka a center of?

  5. 69

    きょうとからとっきゅうでどのくらいかかりますか。

    How long does it take from Kyoto by special express?

  6. 70

    おおさかはむかしはなんとよばれていましたか。

    What was Osaka called in the past?

  7. 71

    こんにちではなんとよばれていますか。

    What is it called today?

映画
movie
まず
first, first of all
人口
population

Osaka districts and commercial features · Questions 2 of 2

Districts and commercial features

The questions ask about Osaka's sky, busiest place, entertainment districts and commercial features.

*歓楽街は どこですか* means "Where are the entertainment districts?" An answer names Dotonbori and Sennichimae.

The commercial answers identify the large share of wholesalers and the satellite cities around Osaka.

  1. 72

    おおさかのそらはどんなですか。

    What is the sky over Osaka like?

  2. 73

    おおさかでいちばんにぎやかなところはどこですか。

    Where is the busiest place in Osaka?

  3. 74

    かんらくがいはどこですか。

    Where are the entertainment districts?

  4. 75

    ここにはどんなものがたくさんありますか。

    What kinds of things are there many of here?

  5. 76

    しんさいばしすじなどがぎんざとちがっているところはどんなことですか。

    How is Shinsaibashi-suji and similar places different from the Ginza?

  6. 77

    しょうぎょうとしとしてのおおさかのとくちょうは、まずだいいちになんですか。

    What is Osaka's first distinguishing feature as a commercial city?

  7. 78

    もうひとつのとくちょうはなんですか。

    What is the other distinguishing feature?

ここ
here

Railways and names for Osaka · Word list 1 of 4

Rail travel and names for Osaka

These words cover rail travel and names that describe Osaka.

*京阪神急行電鉄* is a private interurban railway line in Osaka. *一時間 ちょっと* means "a little over one hour."

*水の 都* means "the water capital," while *けむりの 都* means "the smoke capital."

  1. 79

    よゆう

    excess; margin; time to spare

  2. 80

    すぐちかくまで

    -- to right by it

  3. 81

    しゃない

    inside a vehicle; inside a train

  4. 82

    けいはんしんきゅうこうでんてつ

    P.N.; a private interurban railway line in Osaka

  5. 83

    いちじかんちょっと

    a little over one hour

  6. 84

    けむりのみやこ

    the smoke capital

  7. 85

    みずのみやこ

    the water capital

  8. 86

    こうぎょうとし

    a city of manufacturing industry

  9. 87

    しょうぎょうとし

    a commercial city

  10. 88

    にほんのだいどころ

    Japan’s kitchen

すぐ近くまで
-- to right by it
京阪神急行電鉄
P.N.; a private interurban railway line in Osaka
一時間ちょっと
a little over one hour
けむりの都
the smoke capital
水の都
the water capital
工業都市
a city of manufacturing industry
商業都市
a commercial city
日本の台所
Japan’s kitchen

Industry, streets and city atmosphere · Word list 2 of 4

Industry, atmosphere and streets

These words describe Osaka through comparisons, industry, laundry and streets.

*ヴェニス* is Venice, while *ピッツバーグ* is Pittsburgh. The dialogue uses them to contrast Osaka's romantic past with its industrial present.

*洗たく物* means "laundry," and *ほす* means "dry." *なみ木路* is an avenue bordered with trees.

  1. 89

    ヴェニス

    Venice (Italy)

  2. 90

    ローマンチックな

    romantic

  3. 91

    ピッツバーグ

    Pittsburgh (Pa.)

  4. 92

    にほんだいに

    the second in Japan

  5. 93

    こうぎょう

    manufacturing industry

  6. 94

    せんたくもの

    washing; laundry (thing)

  7. 95

    ほす

    dry (v.t.)

  8. 96

    みどうすじ

    P.N.; a street in Osaka

  9. 97

    なみきじ

    avenue (a street bordered with trees)

  10. 98

    いんきな

    gloomy (copula noun)

ローマンチックな
romantic
日本第二
the second in Japan
洗たく物
washing; laundry (thing)
御堂筋
P.N.; a street in Osaka
なみ木路
avenue (a street bordered with trees)
いんきな
gloomy (copula noun)

Entertainment districts and pedestrians · Word list 3 of 4

Entertainment districts and street traffic

These words cover Osaka's entertainment districts, busy streets, vehicles and pedestrians.

*どうとんぼり* and *千日前* name entertainment districts. *さかり場* means "a flourishing district."

*乗り物* means "vehicles," while *通行人* means "passer-by." *徒歩* means "walking" or "on foot."

  1. 99

    そえる

    add; append; attach (v.t.)

  2. 100

    しんさいばしすじ

    P.N.; a street in Osaka

  3. 101

    どうとんぼり

    P.N.; a gay district in Osaka

  4. 102

    せんにちまえ

    P.N.; a gay district in Osaka

  5. 103

    さかりば

    gay, flourishing district

  6. 104

    のりもの

    vehicles

  7. 105

    いっさい

    altogether; all

  8. 106

    とおす

    let pass; allow to pass (v.t.)

  9. 107

    つうこうにん

    passer-by

  10. 108

    とほ

    walking; on foot

そえる
add; append; attach (v.t.)
心さい橋筋
P.N.; a street in Osaka
どうとんぼり
P.N.; a gay district in Osaka
乗り物
vehicles
一さい
everything, the whole
通す
let pass; allow to pass (v.t.)
通行人
passer-by

Wholesalers, stores and business areas · Word list 4 of 4

Stores and business areas

These words cover wholesalers, stores, satellite cities and business districts.

*卸売り商* means "wholesaler," and *全商店* means "all merchants." *しめる* can mean "to account for."

*えいせい都市* means "satellite city." *ターミナル・デパート* means "terminal department store." *商業 区いき* means "business district."

  1. 109

    とくちょう

    characteristics; special feature

  2. 110

    おろしうりしょう

    wholesaler

  3. 111

    しめる

    to account for; occupy; hold; take up

  4. 112

    しょうてん

    merchant; store

  5. 113

    ぜんしょうてん

    all merchants

  6. 114

    ぜん---

    prefix meaning “all

  7. 115

    えいせいとし

    satellite city

  8. 116

    ターミナル・デパート

    terminal department store

  9. 117

    しょうぎょうくいき

    business district

Guide for Free Conversation

1 Topic titles:

a You want to make a trip to Osaka from Kyoto, so ask your friend:

(1) How to get there?

(2) What kind of a city is Osaka?

(3) Points of interest?

(4) Gay districts of Osaka?

(5) How SHINSAIBASHI-SUJI differs from Ginza?

(6) Characteristics of Osaka as a commercial city?

2 Visual Cues:

a Look at the pictures on page 56 to 58 and describe them.
Homework

1 Memorize the Dialogue and the vocabulary.

2 Study the Grammar Perception Drill.

3 Study the Pattern Practice and do the exercise given.

4 Learn to read and write new Kanji.

5 Read the Explanatory Notes.

6 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercise given.
卸売り商
wholesaler
しめる
to account for; occupy; hold; take up
全商店
all merchants
全---
prefix meaning “all”
えいせい都市
satellite city
ターミナル・デパート
terminal department store
商業区いき
business district

The particulars

The course
Defense Language Institute, Japanese Basic Course, 1967 to 1971. Public domain. The teaching pages and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Botchan, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.