Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 19

Lesson 19

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

160 lines

Locating cities on a map · Dialogue 1 of 4

Tokyo and Yokohama on a map

*ここは どこですか* means "What place is this?" The reply identifies Tokyo.

*よこはまは とうきょうの 下の ほうに あります* places Yokohama lower than Tokyo on the map.

Kanji: 下

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

  1. 1

    ここにちずがありますね。どこのちずですか。

    There is a map here, isn't there? What is this a map of?

    ここhere
    にat
    ちずmap
    がsubject
    ありthere is
    ますthere is
    ね。right?
    どこwhere
    のof
    ちずmap
    ですis
    か。question
  2. 2

    にほんのちずです。

    It is a map of Japan.

  3. 3

    ここはどこですか。

    What place is this?

  4. 4

    そこはとうきょうです。

    That's Tokyo.

  5. 5

    よこはまはどこにありますか。

    Where is Yokohama?

  6. 6

    よこはまはとうきょうのしたのほうにあります。

    Yokohama is below Tokyo.

ICHIBAN: 'number one,' 'most or least of all'

In comparing three or more objects or persons, the Japanese usually use the word ICHIBAN in front of adjectives and certain nouns. The word ICHIBAN literally means 'number one,' but it is used also as an adverb to mean 'most or least of all.' Thus, they are:

KANJI TO HIRAGANA TO KATAKANA DEWA, KANJI GA ICHIBAN MUZUKASHII DESU. "Among KANJI, HIRAGANA, AND KATAKANA, KANJI is the most difficult."

WATAKUSHI WA ICHIBAN OOKII NO O TABEMASHITA. "I ate the biggest one."

ICHIBAN KIREI NA HANA WA KORE DESU. "The prettiest flower is this one."
DORE: 'which of the three or more things'

If three or more things are to be compared, the question is asked first by listing the things to be compared and then by using the word DORE 'which of the three or more things' and is always followed by the particle GA and the word ICHIBAN in front of adjectives and certain nouns, e.g.,

(A) TO (B) TO (C) DEWA, DORE GA ICHIBAN OOKII DESU KA? "Of (A), (B), and (C), which is the largest?"

If three or more people, the interrogative word DARE, 'who,' is used. If there are three or more places to be compared, the question word DOKO, 'which,' may be used in place of DORE.
DONO: 'which'

Like KONO, SONO, and ANO, DONO is a pre-substantive placed immediately before nouns to modify them, and it completes a set of KO, SO, A, and DO pre-substantives.

| 
KONO HON | 'this book'
SONO HON | 'that book'
ANO HON | 'that book over there'
DONO HON | 'which of three or more books'
DE: 'in,' 'within'

a. The particle DE is placed after the word of place to indicate limits within which the description of the thing named holds true.

TOKYO WA NIPPON DE ICHIBAN OOKII SHI DESU. "Tokyo is the largest city in Japan."

b. Review of other uses of DE.

KORE WA ENPITSU DE, KORE WA PEN DESU. "This is a pencil and this is a pen." (Lesson 10, Vol II)

WATAKUSHITACHI WA ASHI DE ARUKIMASU. "We walk with our feet." (Lesson 14, Vol II)

WATAKUSHI WA GAKKOO DE NIPPONGO O NARAIMASU. "I learn Japanese at school." (Lesson 15, Vol II)

KANA TO KANJI DEWA, KANJI NO HOO GA MUZUKASHII DESU. "Between KANA and KANJI, KANJI is more difficult." (Lesson 16, Vol II)
KAKARU: 'to take,' 'to cost'

The verb KAKARU, 'to take,' 'to require,' or 'to cost,' is used intransitively with reference to time and money.

JIDOOSHA DE ICHIJIKAN KAKARIMASU. "It takes one hour by car."

Notice that the subject JIKAN GA, 'time,' is understood, and ICHIJIKAN is used as a quantitative adverb.
YAKU and GURAI:

a. GURAI

The word GURAI is a modifying particle, and it is always placed after numerals and numerators to mean 'about,' e.g.,

KOKO NI SEITO GA HACHININ GURAI IMASU. "There are about eight students here."

JIDOOSHA DE ICHIJIKAN GURAI KAKARIMASU. "It takes about one hour by car."

b. YAKU

The word YAKU is an adverb, and it is always placed before numerals and numerators to mean 'about,' or 'approximately.'

KOKO NI SEITO GA YAKU JUUNIN IMASU. "There are about 10 students here."

BASU DE YAKU SANJIPPUN KAKARIMASU. "It takes about half an hour by bus."

c. Both YAKU and GURAI may be used in the same sentence:

KOKO NI SEITO GA YAKU JUUNIN GURAI IMASU. "There are about 10 students here."

JIDOOSHA DE YAKU DONO GURAI KAKARIMASU KA. "About how long does it take by car?"
Cultural Notes:

Seven cities with the population of over one million

According to the 1965 national census, the following are the seven largest cities in Japan arranged in order of their size:

| | Population
1. | TOKYO | 8,900,000
2. | OSAKA | 3,156,222
3. | NAGOYA | 1,935,430
* 4. | YOKOHAMA | 1,788,915
5. | KYOTO | 1,365,000
6. | KOBE | 1,216,666
7. | KITA-KYUSHU | 1,042,388

* In March 1968 YOKOHAMA went over 2 million in population and became the third largest city in Japan ahead of NAGOYA.
ここ
here
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
の
See Grammar Notes
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
そこ
there

Comparing Japanese cities · Dialogue 2 of 4

Which city is largest

*きょうとと よこはまと こうべでは、どれが 一番大きいですか* means "Among Kyoto, Yokohama, and Kobe, which is the largest?"

Here *どれ* asks which of three cities. *一番* marks the greatest size, and the reply names Yokohama.

The largest cities in Japan

The 1965 national census counted seven Japanese cities with over one million people.

In order of size, they were Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Yokohama, Kyoto, Kobe, and Kita-Kyushu.

In March 1968, Yokohama exceeded two million people and became the third largest city, ahead of Nagoya.

Kanji: 遠, 近, 番

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

  1. 7

    とうきょうとよこはまでは、どっちのほうがおおきいですか。

    Between Tokyo and Yokohama, which is larger?

  2. 8

    とうきょうのほうがずっとおおきいです。

    Tokyo is much larger.

  3. 9

    きょうととよこはまとこうべでは、どれがいちばんおおきいですか。

    Among Kyoto, Yokohama, and Kobe, which is the largest?

  4. 10

    よこはまがいちばんおおきいです。

    Yokohama is the largest.

  5. 11

    よこはまはとうきょうからとおいですか。

    Is Yokohama far from Tokyo?

  6. 12

    いいえ、あまりとおくはありません。ちかいです。

    No, it's not too far. It's near.

と
and (See Gram. Notes)
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
どっち
which of two (See Grammar Notes)
ずっと
by far; very much
どれ
which (of three or more) (See Grammar Notes)
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
遠い
far
近い
near, close

Distances and unit conversions · Dialogue 3 of 4

Tokyo, Yokohama, and distance

*とうきょうは 日本で 一番大きい しですか* means "Is Tokyo the largest city in Japan?" The answer confirms it.

The speakers then give the distance from Tokyo to Yokohama in miles and kilometers.

Two ways to say about

*やく 十六マイル あります* means "It is about 16 miles." Here *やく* comes before the quantity.

*二十六キロ ぐらいです* means "It is about 26 kilometers." Here *ぐらい* follows the quantity.

  1. 13

    とうきょうはにほんでいちばんおおきいしですか。

    Is Tokyo the largest city in Japan?

  2. 14

    はい、そうです。

    Yes, that's right.

  3. 15

    とうきょうからよこはままで、なんマイルぐらいありますか。

    About how many miles is it from Tokyo to Yokohama?

  4. 16

    やくじゅうろくマイルあります。

    It's about 16 miles.

  5. 17

    じゅうろくマイルはキロでどのぐらいですか。

    How much is 16 miles in kilometers?

  6. 18

    にじゅうろくキロぐらいです。

    It's about 26 kilometers.

し
city
まで、
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
マイル
mile
ぐらい
about
やく
approximately (See Grammar Notes)
十
ten
六
six
キロ
kilometer
どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
二十
20

Travel times by transport · Dialogue 4 of 4

Travel time to Yokohama

*とうきょうから よこはま まで、じどうしゃで どのぐらい かかりますか* means "How long does it take from Tokyo to Yokohama by car?"

The reply gives about one hour by car. A train takes about thirty minutes.

The verb for time required

*一じかんぐらい かかります* means "It takes about one hour." Here *かかります* states the time required.

  1. 19

    とうきょうからよこはままで、じどうしゃでどのぐらいかかりますか。

    How long does it take from Tokyo to Yokohama by car?

  2. 20

    いちじかんぐらいかかります。

    It takes about one hour.

  3. 21

    でんしゃでどのぐらいかかりますか。

    How long does it take by electric trains?

  4. 22

    さんじゅっぷんぐらいかかります。でんしゃはじどうしゃやバスよりはやいです。

    It takes about thirty minutes. Electric trains are faster than automobiles and buses.

一
one
じかん
hour, time
でんしゃ
electric train, streetcar
三十
30
分
minute
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
バス
bus
より
than (See Gram. Notes)
はやい
fast, quick, early

Confirming extremes among groups · Perception drill, Block 1

The largest of three numbers

*百と千と一万では、一万が一番大きいですか* means "Of one hundred, one thousand, and ten thousand, is ten thousand the largest?"

For three or more things, *一番* before an adjective means "most" or "least of all." It literally means "number one."

Before the adjective

*その 一番長い えんぴつは どんな いろですか* means "What color is that longest pencil?"

*一番* stands directly before *長い*. The phrase identifies the longest pencil.

  1. 23

    ひゃくとせんといちまんでは、いちまんがいちばんおおきいですか。

    Of one hundred, one thousand, and ten thousand, is ten thousand the largest?

  2. 24

    はい、ひゃくとせんといちまんでは、いちまんがいちばんおおきいです。

    Yes, of one hundred, one thousand, and ten thousand, ten thousand is the largest.

  3. 25

    じゅうとひゃくとせんでは、じゅうがいちばんちいさいですか。

    Of ten, one hundred, and one thousand, is ten the smallest?

  4. 26

    はい、じゅうがいちばんちいさいです。

    Yes, ten is the smallest.

  5. 27

    にほんとアメリカとフランスでは、アメリカがいちばんおおきいですね。

    Of Japan, America, and France, America is the largest, isn’t it?

  6. 28

    はい、にほんとアメリカとフランスでは、アメリカがいちばんおおきいです。

    Yes, of Japan, America, and France, America is the largest.

  7. 29

    そのいちばんながいえんぴつはどんないろですか。

    What color is that longest pencil?

  8. 30

    このいちばんながいえんぴつはきいろいです。

    This longest pencil is yellow.

百
100
千
1,000
アメリカ
America; U.S.A.
どんな
what kind of; what sort of
いろ
color
きいろい
yellow

Asking which is most · Perception drill, Block 2

Which of three or more

*百と千と一万では、どれが 一番大きいですか* means "Of one hundred, one thousand, and ten thousand, which is the largest?"

*どれ* means "which of three or more things." In this pattern, *どれ* is followed by *が* and *一番*.

Which before a noun

*テキサスと カリフォルニアと アラスカでは、どの しゅうが 一番大きい ですか* means "Of Texas, California, and Alaska, which state is the largest?"

*どの* means "which" and stands immediately before a noun. Here it stands before *しゅう*, "state."

  1. 31

    ひゃくとせんといちまんでは、どれがいちばんおおきいですか。

    Of one hundred, one thousand, and ten thousand, which is the largest?

  2. 32

    いちまんがいちばんおおきいです。

    Ten thousand is the largest.

  3. 33

    にほんごとフランスごとえいごでは、どれがいちばんむずかしいですか。

    Of Japanese, French, and English, which is the most difficult?

  4. 34

    にほんごがいちばんむずかしいです。

    Japanese is the most difficult.

  5. 35

    テキサスとカリフォルニアとアラスカでは、どのしゅうがいちばんおおきいですか。

    Of Texas, California, and Alaska, which state is the largest?

  6. 36

    アラスカしゅうがいちばんおおきいです。

    Alaska is the largest state.

  7. 37

    ここにひとがさんにんいます。どのひとがいちばんわかいですか。

    There are three people here. Which person is the youngest?

  8. 38

    あのかたがいちばんわかいです。

    That person is the youngest.

むずかしい
difficult
アラスカ
Alaska
しゅう
state
人
people
三
three
わかい
young

Extremes within places · Perception drill, Block 3

The largest city in Japan

*日本で 一番大きい しは どこですか* means "What is the largest city in Japan?"

The particle *で* follows a place and sets the limits within which a description is true. Here *日本で* means "in Japan."

Within a classroom

*この きょうしつで 一番わかい 人は だれですか* means "Who is the youngest person in this classroom?"

Here *この きょうしつで* sets the classroom as the limit of the comparison.

  1. 39

    にほんでいちばんおおきいしはどこですか。

    What is the largest city in Japan?

  2. 40

    にほんでいちばんおおきいしはとうきょうです。

    The largest city in Japan is Tokyo.

  3. 41

    アメリカでいちばんおおきいしゅうはテキサスですか。

    Is Texas the largest state in America?

  4. 42

    いいえ、アメリカでいちばんおおきいしゅうはアラスカです。

    No, the largest state in America is Alaska.

  5. 43

    このきょうしつでいちばんわかいひとはだれですか。

    Who is the youngest person in this classroom?

  6. 44

    このきょうしつでいちばんわかいひとはスミスさんです。

    The youngest person in this classroom is Mr. Smith.

  7. 45

    このきょうしつでいちばんおおきいひとはだれですか。

    Who is the biggest person in this classroom?

  8. 46

    このきょうしつでいちばんおおきいひとはシュレックさんです。

    The biggest person in this classroom is Mr. Schreck.

だれ
who?

Approximate distances and quantities · Perception drill, Block 4

About after a quantity

*モンテレーから サリナスまで 何マイル ぐらい ありますか* means "About how many miles is it from Monterey to Salinas?"

*ぐらい* means "about" and always follows a number or other quantity.

About before a quantity

*モンテレーから サンフランシスコ まで やく 何 マイル ですか* means "Approximately how many miles is it from Monterey to San Francisco?"

*やく* means "about" or "approximately" and always precedes a number or other quantity.

  1. 47

    いちマイルはなんキロぐらいですか。

    About how many kilometers are in one mile?

  2. 48

    いちマイルはいちキロはんぐらいです。

    One mile is about one and a half kilometers.

  3. 49

    モンテレーからサリナスまでなんマイルぐらいありますか。

    About how many miles is it from Monterey to Salinas?

  4. 50

    モンテレーからサリナスまでにじゅうマイルぐらいあります。

    It is about twenty miles from Monterey to Salinas.

  5. 51

    モンテレーからサンフランシスコまでやくなんマイルですか。

    Approximately how many miles is it from Monterey to San Francisco?

  6. 52

    やくひゃくにじゅうごマイルです。

    It is approximately one hundred twenty-five miles.

  7. 53

    かんじをいくつぐらいならいましたか。

    About how many kanji did you learn?

  8. 54

    かんじをよんじゅうぐらいならいました。

    I learned about forty kanji.

モンテレー
Monterey
サリナス
Salinas
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
サンフランシスコ
San Francisco
五
five
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
四十
40

Asking how long travel takes · Perception drill, Block 5

How long a journey takes

*ここから サンフランシスコ まで じどうしゃで 何じかん ぐらい かかりますか* means "About how many hours does it take to get from here to San Francisco by car?"

Here *かかります* states the amount of time required.

The amount before the verb

*バスで 十五分 ぐらい かかります* means "It takes about fifteen minutes by bus."

The subject *JIKAN GA*, "time," is understood. The amount of time stands before *かかります*.

  1. 55

    ここからサンフランシスコまでじどうしゃでなんじかんぐらいかかりますか。

    About how many hours does it take to get from here to San Francisco by car?

  2. 56

    にじかんはんぐらいかかります。

    It takes about two and a half hours.

  3. 57

    モンテレーからカーメルまでバスでなんぷんぐらいかかりますか。

    About how many minutes does it take to get from Monterey to Carmel by bus?

  4. 58

    バスでじゅうごふんぐらいかかります。

    It takes about fifteen minutes by bus.

二
two
カーメル
Carmel

Comparing three things · Pattern 1

Three choices and one extreme

*一と二と三では、三が 一番大きい* means "Of one, two, and three, three is the largest."

The choices take *と*. The chosen member takes *が*, followed by *一番* and the adjective.

The same pattern with writing systems

*かん字と かたかなと ひらがなでは、 かん字が 一番 むずかしいです* means "Of kanji, katakana, and hiragana, kanji is the most difficult."

The three choices come first. The statement then identifies the greatest member.

  1. 59

    いちとにとさんでは、さんがいちばんおおきい(です)。

    Of one, two, and three, three is the largest.

  2. 60

    きょうかしょとざっしとじしょでは、じしょがいちばんあついです。

    Of the textbook, the magazine, and the dictionary, the dictionary is the thickest.

  3. 61

    カリフォルニアとアラスカとハワイでは、ハワイがいちばんちいさいです。

    Of California, Alaska, and Hawaii, Hawaii is the smallest.

  4. 62

    かんじとかたかなとひらがなでは、かんじがいちばんむずかしいです。

    Of kanji, katakana, and hiragana, kanji is the most difficult.

  5. 63

    アメリカとイギリスとにほんでは、アメリカがいちばんおおきいです。

    Of America, Britain, and Japan, America is the largest.

  6. 64

    じどうしゃときしゃとバスでは、バスがいちばんはやいですか。

    Of a car, a train, and a bus, is the bus the fastest?

  7. 65

    いいえ、きしゃがいちばんはやいです。

    No, the train is the fastest.

  8. 66

    えんぴつとまんねんひつとはくぼくでは、まんねんひつがいちばんたかいですか。

    Of a pencil, a fountain pen, and chalk, is the fountain pen the most expensive?

  9. 67

    はい、まんねんひつがいちばんたかいです。

    Yes, the fountain pen is the most expensive.

か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ひらがな
HIRAGANA syllabary
イギリス
Great Britain
きしゃ
train
たかい
expensive

Asking which is greatest · Pattern 2 1 of 2

Things, places, and people

*カーメルと サリナスと サンタクルーズでは、 どこが モントレーから 一番 遠いですか* means "Of Carmel, Salinas, and Santa Cruz, which is farthest from Monterey?"

Use *どれ* for things, *どこ* for places, and *だれ* for people. Each takes *が* in this pattern.

Which before a noun

*べいこくでは どの じどうしゃが 一番 たかいですか* means "Which car is the most expensive in the United States?"

Use *どの* immediately before the noun when the question names the kind of member.

  1. 68

    いちとにとさんでは、どれがいちばんおおきいですか。

    Among 1, 2, and 3, which is the largest.

  2. 69

    どのしゅうがいちばんおおきいですか。

    Which state is the largest?

  3. 70

    じゅうとひゃくとせんでは、どれがいちばんおおきいですか。

    Of ten, one hundred, and one thousand, which is the largest?

  4. 71

    カーメルとサリナスとサンタクルーズでは、どこがモントレーからいちばんとおいですか。

    Of Carmel, Salinas, and Santa Cruz, which is farthest from Monterey?

  5. 72

    あなたとわたくしとスミスさんでは、だれがいちばんわかいですか。

    Of you, me, and Mr. Smith, who is the youngest?

  6. 73

    べいこくではどのじどうしゃがいちばんたかいですか。

    Which car is the most expensive in the United States?

  7. 74

    どのがいこくごがいちばんむずかしいですか。

    Which foreign language is the most difficult?

サンタクルーズ
Santa Cruz

Choosing among ranks and pencils · Pattern 2 2 of 2

Which rank

*そうちょうと しょういと しょうさでは、 どれが 一番 うえの かいきゅうですか* means "Of sergeant major, second lieutenant, and major, which is the highest rank?"

*どれ* selects one member from the three named ranks.

Which one among many

*ここに えんぴつが たくさん ありますが、あなたのは どれですか* means "There are many pencils here, but which one is yours?"

Here *どれ* selects one pencil without repeating the noun. The reply is *私のは これです*, "Mine is this one."

  1. 75

    そうちょうとしょういとしょうさでは、どれがいちばんうえのかいきゅうですか。

    Of sergeant major, second lieutenant, and major, which is the highest rank?

  2. 76

    しょうさがいちばんうえのかいきゅうです。

    Major is the highest rank.

  3. 77

    そのみっつのかいきゅうのなかで、どれがいちばんしたですか。

    Of those three ranks, which is the lowest?

  4. 78

    そうちょうがいちばんしたです。

    Sergeant major is the lowest.

  5. 79

    ここにえんぴつがたくさんありますが、あなたのはどれですか。

    There are many pencils here, but which one is yours?

  6. 80

    わたくしのはこれです。

    Mine is this one.

そうちょう
master sergeant
しょうい
second lieutenant
たくさん
many

Largest places and people · Pattern 3 1 of 2

The largest city in Japan

*とうきょうは 日本で 一番 大きいしです* means "Tokyo is the largest city in Japan."

The *で* after *日本* sets the area. *一番* marks Tokyo as greatest by size within it.

Within a classroom

*この きょうしつで 一番 大きい せいとは シュレックさんです* means "The biggest student in this classroom is Mr. Schreck."

The same pattern uses a classroom as the group for comparison.

  1. 81

    とうきょうはにほんでいちばんおおきいしです

    Tokyo is the largest city in Japan.

  2. 82

    にほんでいちばんおおきいしはとうきょうです。

    The largest city in Japan is Tokyo.

  3. 83

    べいこくでいちばんおおきいしはニューヨークです。

    The largest city in the United States is New York.

  4. 84

    アラスカはアメリカでいちばんおおきいしゅうです。

    Alaska is the largest state in America.

  5. 85

    このきょうしつでいちばんおおきいせいとはシュレックさんです。

    The biggest student in this classroom is Mr. Schreck.

  6. 86

    カリフォルニアでいちばんおおきいしはロスアンゼルスしです。

    The largest city in California is Los Angeles.

ニューヨーク
New York

Asking about the largest · Pattern 3 2 of 2

Confirm the largest member

*アメリカで 一番 大きい しゅうは テキサスですか* means "Is Texas the largest state in the United States?"

A yes-or-no question can propose one member as the greatest within the stated place.

Ask for the greatest member

*べいこくで 一番 たかい じどうしゃは 何ですか* means "What is the most expensive car in the United States?"

*何* asks for the item that has the greatest price within the stated place.

  1. 87

    アメリカでいちばんおおきいしゅうはテキサスですか。

    Is Texas the largest state in the United States?

  2. 88

    いいえ、アラスカがいちばんおおきいしゅうです。

    No, Alaska is the largest state.

  3. 89

    にほんでいちばんおおきいしはどこですか。

    What is the largest city in Japan?

  4. 90

    にほんでいちばんおおきいしはとうきょうです。

    The largest city in Japan is Tokyo.

  5. 91

    べいこくでいちばんたかいじどうしゃはなんですか。

    What is the most expensive car in the United States?

  6. 92

    キャドラックです。

    It is a Cadillac.

Approximate times, counts, and distances · Pattern 4 1 of 2

Approximate time

*モンテレーから サンフランシスコまで、やく 二じかん かかります* means "It takes about two hours from Monterey to San Francisco."

The *やく* before *二じかん* marks the travel time as approximate.

Approximate counts

*男の せんせいが 三百五十人 ぐらい 居ます* means "There are about three hundred and fifty male teachers."

The *ぐらい* after *三百五十人* marks the number of teachers as approximate.

  1. 93

    モンテレーからサンフランシスコまで、やくにじかんかかります。

    It takes about two hours from Monterey to San Francisco.

  2. 94

    モンテレーからサンフランシスコまで、にじかんぐらいかかります。

    It takes about two hours from Monterey to San Francisco.

  3. 95

    このがっこうにせんせいがやくよんひゃくにんいます。

    There are about four hundred teachers at this school.

  4. 96

    おとこのせんせいがさんびゃくごじゅうにんぐらいいます。

    There are about three hundred and fifty male teachers.

  5. 97

    ここにいすがじゅうぐらいあります。

    There are about ten chairs here.

  6. 98

    ここからサリナスまでやくにじゅうマイルあります。

    It is about twenty miles from here to Salinas.

四百
400
男
male
三百
300
五十
50

Approximate conversions and travel time · Pattern 4 2 of 2

An approximate conversion

*四キロは やく 二マイル半です* means "Four kilometers is about two and a half miles."

The estimate places *やく* before the converted quantity.

Approximate travel time

*ここから サリナスまで、じどうしゃで どのぐらい かかりますか* means "How long does it take by car from here to Salinas?"

The reply places *ぐらい* after *二十五分* and before *かかります*.

  1. 99

    よんキロはやくにマイルはんです。

    Four kilometers is about two and a half miles.

  2. 100

    ここからサリナスまで、じどうしゃでどのぐらいかかりますか。

    How long does it take by car from here to Salinas?

  3. 101

    にじゅうごふんぐらいかかります。

    It takes about twenty-five minutes.

  4. 102

    あなたはかんじをいくつぐらいしっていますか。

    About how many kanji do you know?

  5. 103

    よんじゅうぐらいしっています。

    I know about forty.

四
four

Tokyo and Yokohama travel · Reading Selection 1 of 2

Tokyo and Yokohama

*よこはまは とうきょうから 近いです* means "Yokohama is near Tokyo."

The passage gives the distance as about twenty-six kilometers, or approximately sixteen miles.

Distance and transport

*二十六キロは やく 十六マイルです* means "Twenty-six kilometers is about sixteen miles."

People travel from Yokohama to Tokyo by train, bus, or car. The *で* after *じどうしゃ* marks the vehicles as means of travel.

  1. 104

    ここにちずがあります。

    There is a map here.

  2. 105

    これはにほんのちずです。

    This is a map of Japan.

  3. 106

    ここはとうきょうで、ここはよこはまです。

    This is Tokyo, and this is Yokohama.

  4. 107

    よこはまはとうきょうからちかいです。

    Yokohama is near Tokyo.

  5. 108

    にじゅうろくキロぐらいあります。

    It is about twenty-six kilometers.

  6. 109

    にじゅうろくキロはやくじゅうろくマイルです。

    Twenty-six kilometers is about sixteen miles.

  7. 110

    たくさんのひとはでんしゃやバスやじどうしゃでよこはまからとうきょうへいきます。

    Many people go from Yokohama to Tokyo by train, bus, or car.

で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)

Comparing trains and cities · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Train and bus travel times

*でんしゃで 行くと、 三十分 ぐらい かかり ますが、 バスで 行くと、 一じかん ぐらい かかります* means "It takes about thirty minutes by train, but about an hour by bus."

The train is much faster than the bus.

The smallest of three cities

*よこはまと きょうとと こうべでは、 こうべが 一番 小さいです* means "Of Yokohama, Kyoto, and Kobe, Kobe is the smallest."

The three cities take *と*. Kobe takes *が* before *一番 小さいです*.

Kanji: 道

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

  1. 111

    でんしゃでいくと、さんじゅっぷんぐらいかかりますが、バスでいくと、いちじかんぐらいかかります。

    It takes about thirty minutes by train, but about an hour by bus.

  2. 112

    でんしゃのほうがバスよりずっとはやいです。

    The train is much faster than the bus.

  3. 113

    きょうとはよこはまよりすこしちいさいしです。

    Kyoto is a slightly smaller city than Yokohama.

  4. 114

    ここはこうべです。

    This is Kobe.

  5. 115

    こうべはきょうとからあまりとおくはありません。

    Kobe is not very far from Kyoto.

  6. 116

    みちはいいです。

    The road is good.

  7. 117

    よこはまときょうととこうべでは、こうべがいちばんちいさいです。

    Of Yokohama, Kyoto, and Kobe, Kobe is the smallest.

と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
少し
little (quantity)
道
road, street
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)

Identifying cities on a map · Questions 1 of 2

Cities on the map

The questions identify seven major Japanese cities by numbered positions on a map.

*これは どこの ちずですか* means "What is this a map of?" An answer identifies it as a map of Japan.

*よこはまは とうきょうから 遠いですか、 近いですか* asks whether Yokohama is far from Tokyo or near it.

  1. 118

    いち、とうきょう

    One, Tokyo.

  2. 119

    に、おおさか

    Two, Osaka.

  3. 120

    さん、よこはま

    Three, Yokohama.

  4. 121

    し、なごや

    Four, Nagoya.

  5. 122

    ご、きょうと

    Five, Kyoto.

  6. 123

    ろく、こうべ

    Six, Kobe.

  7. 124

    しち、きたきゅうしゅう

    Seven, Kitakyushu.

  8. 125

    これはどこのちずですか。

    What is this a map of?

  9. 126

    よこはまはとうきょうからとおいですか、ちかいですか。

    Is Yokohama far from Tokyo or near it?

一、
one
二、
two
三、
three
四、
four
五、
five
六、
six
七、
seven

Distances, travel times, and sizes · Questions 2 of 2

Distance, time, and size

The questions ask for approximate distance, a unit conversion, travel time, and comparisons among cities.

*とうきょうから よこはま まで、 でんしゃで どの ぐらい かかりますか* means "How long does it take by train from Tokyo to Yokohama?"

An answer gives a duration with *ぐらい* and *かかります*. Other answers name the larger or smallest city.

  1. 127

    とうきょうからよこはままで、どのぐらいありますか。

    How far is it from Tokyo to Yokohama?

  2. 128

    にじゅうろくキロはやくなんマイルですか。

    About how many miles is twenty-six kilometers?

  3. 129

    とうきょうからよこはままで、でんしゃでどのぐらいかかりますか。

    How long does it take by train from Tokyo to Yokohama?

  4. 130

    でんしゃとバスでは、どっちのほうがはやいですか。

    Which is faster, the train or the bus?

  5. 131

    よこはまときょうとでは、どっちのほうがおおきいですか。

    Which is larger, Yokohama or Kyoto?

  6. 132

    よこはまとこうべときょうとでは、どれがいちばんちいさいですか。

    Of Yokohama, Kobe, and Kyoto, which is the smallest?

  7. 133

    きょうとからこうべまでみちはいいですか。

    Is the road from Kyoto to Kobe good?

  8. 134

    こうべときょうととおおさかでは、どこがいちばんおおきいですか。

    Of Kobe, Kyoto, and Osaka, which is the largest?

Words for distance and transport · Word list 1 of 3

Distance and transport

The words cover distance units, means of transport, roads, and time.

*マイル* means "mile," *じどうしゃ* means "car" or "automobile," and *じかん* means "hour" or "time."

  1. 135

    マイル

    mile

  2. 136

    キロ

    kilometer

  3. 137

    メートル

    meter

  4. 138

    じどうしゃ

    car, automobile

  5. 139

    きしゃ

    train

  6. 140

    バス

    bus

  7. 141

    でんしゃ

    electric train, streetcar

  8. 142

    みち

    road, street

  9. 143

    じかん

    hour, time

メートル
meter
じどうしゃ
car, automobile

Places, time, and proximity · Word list 2 of 3

Places and distance

The words cover minutes, place names, distance, speed, and limits.

*分* means "minute," *遠い* means "far," and *で* means "in" or "within."

  1. 144

    ふん

    minute

  2. 145

    アラスカ

    Alaska

  3. 146

    ニューヨーク

    New York

  4. 147

    カーメル

    Carmel

  5. 148

    サンタクルーズ

    Santa Cruz

  6. 149

    とおい

    far

  7. 150

    ちかい

    near, close

  8. 151

    はやい

    fast, quick, early

  9. 152

    で

    in, within

Words for estimates and comparisons · Word list 3 of 3

Estimates and comparisons

The words cover estimates, choices among three or more, required time, and extremes.

*ぐらい* means "about," *やく* means "approximately," and *かかります* means "to take" or "to cost."

  1. 153

    ぐらい

    about

  2. 154

    どれ

    which (of three or more) (See Grammar Notes)

  3. 155

    どの

    which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)

  4. 156

    かかります

    polite form of KAKARU (v.i.), to take, to cost

  5. 157

    つかう

    to use, employ (v.t.)

  6. 158

    いちばん

    number one (See Grammar Notes)

  7. 159

    やく

    approximately (See Grammar Notes)

  8. 160

    どのぐらい

    how much, how far, how many (See Grammar Notes)

かかります
polite form of KAKARU (v.i.), to take, to cost
つかう
to use, employ (v.t.)
どのぐらい
how much, how far, how many (See Grammar Notes)

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.