Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 20

Lesson 20

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

185 lines

Counting and requesting dictionaries · Dialogue 1 of 4

Counters for objects

*ここに 字しょが 何さつ ありますか* means "How many volumes of dictionaries are there?" The counter *さつ* counts books.

Counters such as *さつ* and *本* count certain kinds of objects. A noun usually names the object being counted.

Requesting a dictionary

*その 字しょを 一さつ ください* means "Please give me one dictionary." The humble word *ください* applies when the speaker receives a tangible object.

Kanji: 少, 本

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

  1. 1

    ここにじしょがなんさつありますか。

    How many volumes of dictionaries are there?

    ここhere
    にat
    字dictionary
    しょdictionary
    がsubject
    何how many
    さつvolumes
    ありbe
    ますpolite
    か。question
  2. 2

    にさつあります。

    There are two.

  3. 3

    じしょのそばにえんぴつがなんぼんありますか。

    How many pencils are there beside the dictionaries?

  4. 4

    さんぼんあります。

    There are three.

  5. 5

    そのじしょをいっさつください。

    Please give me one dictionary.

---KOTO GA DEKIMASU 'is able to,' 'can'

There are several ways in which most Japanese verbs can be made into potential verbs with the meaning of 'is possible to,' 'can,' or 'is able to.' One of these ways, perhaps the simplest way, is to use KOTO GA DEKIMASU immediately after the basic ending of verbs, e.g.,

HANASU KOTO GA DEKIMASU '--can speak'

KIKU KOTO GA DEKIMASU '--can hear'

MIRU KOTO GA DEKIMASU '--can see'

SURU KOTO GA DEKIMASU '--can do'

In Japanese some intransitive verbs that refer to natural action or an act of God are not made potential, e.g.,

FURU 'to fall, to rain, or to snow'

HAERU 'to sprout, to grow'

OCHIRU 'to fall'

Some Japanese verbs have the potential meaning in themselves, and therefore, they are not followed by KOTO GA DEKIMASU, e.g.,

WAKARU (v.i.) 'is understandable'

DEKIRU (v.i.) 'is possible, is able'

MIERU (v.i.) 'is visible, can be seen'

KIKOERU (v.i.) 'is audible, can be heard'

The negative of KOTO GA DEKIRU is KOTO GA DEKIMASEN. The particle GA in front of DEKIMASEN may be replaced with the particle WA to emphasize the negative.
KARA 'because, since, so'

Following the basic ending of verbs, inflected suffixes, I-adjectives, and the copulative DESU, KARA indicates that the clause in which it occurs is the cause or reason for the statement that follows. Accordingly, this particle means 'because' or 'since,' e.g.,

AMMARI TAKUSAN ARIMASU KARA, KAZOERU KOTO GA DEKIMASEN. "Because there are too many, I can't count them."

MUZUKASHII KARA WAKARIMASEN. "Because it's difficult, I can't understand it."

ANO KATA WA NIPPONGO NO SENSEI DESU KARA, NIPPONGO GA YOKU DEKIMASU. "Since he is a teacher of the Japanese language, he can speak Japanese well."

It is sometimes convenient to translate this KARA as 'so,' because the words 'so' or 'therefore' appear in

English syntax at about the same point that KARA does in Japanese syntax. The main difference is that the Japanese pause after KARA, as Americans often pause before 'so' or 'therefore.'
DARE KA 'someone,' 'somebody'

NANI KA 'something'

Following an interrogative pronoun, the particle KA converts into a corresponding indefinite pronoun, e.g.,

DARE KA someone, somebody

DONATA KA someone, somebody

NANI KA something

DOTCHI KA either (one)

DOCHIRA KA either (one)

Here are some expressions with KA:

DARE KA KIMASHITA. "Someone came."

NANI KA TABEMASHITA "I ate something."

Expressions with KA are often used also with other particles, namely with WA, GA, and O. The meaning of WA, GA, or O is determined by its position in the sentence and by the context. In a phrase ending in KA, additional particles normally come after the particle KA, e.g.,

DARE KA NI IIMASHITA. "I told someone."

DARE KA KARA KIMASHITA. "It came from someone."
DARE MO--N 'nobody'

NANI MO--N 'nothing'

Immediately after many of the interrogative pronouns, the particle MO usually converts the question words into the corresponding negative indefinite pronouns.

DARE MO -- N nobody

DONATA MO -- N nobody

NANI MO -- N nothing

DOTCHI MO -- N neither

DOCHIRA MO -- N neither

Here are some expressions with this MO:

DARE MO KIMASENDESHITA. "Nobody came."

NANI MO TABEMASENDESHITA. "I ate nothing."

DOTCHI MO TORIMASENDESHITA. "I took neither."

Phrases with MO are often used with additional particles, but, again, the particles WA, GA, and O normally do not occur with them. Just as in the expressions with KA, the meaning of WA, GA, or O is determined by the position of the phrase in the sentence and by the context. For the expressions with MO, the additional particles normally come before the particle MO, e.g.,

DARE NI MO IIMASENDESHITA. "I told nobody."

DARE KARA MO KIMASENDESHITA. "I came from nobody."
KUDASAI and AGEMASU

Both KUDASAI and AGEMASU mean 'give,' but they cannot be used interchangeably. The word KUDASAI is a humble word, and it is normally used when the recipient is the speaker or the first person, 'we,' 'us,' e.g.,

SONO HON O KUDASAI. "Please give me that book."

ANATA NO TOKEI O KUDASAI. "Please give me your watch."

KUDASAI or AGEMASU is used when giving only tangible objects.

the word AGEMASU is an exalted word, and it is used only when the recipient is either the second person 'you' or the third person 'him, her, them, etc.,' e.g.,

KONO HON O ANATA NI AGEMASU. "I'll give you this book" or "I'll give this book to you."

KONO HON O (ANO KATA NI) AGEMASU. "I'll give this book to him."
Note on numerical counters

Numerical counters like MAIRU, JIKAN, and EN that refer to particular units of distance, time, money, and the like usually do not need other nouns to tell what one is counting, but numerical counters like SATSU, HON, and DAI that refer to certain kinds of objects usually accompany other nouns that name the particular objects one is talking about, e.g.,

KOKO NI ENPITSU GA NIHON ARIMASU. "There are two pencils here."

HON O SANSATSU KAIMASHITA. "I bought three books."

JIDOOSHA GA ICHIDAI ARIMASU. "There is one car."

KOKO KARA KAAMERU MADE NI-MAIRU DESU. "It is two miles from here to Carmel."
ここ
here
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
さつ
numerical counter for counting books (See Grammar Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
二
two
の
See Grammar Notes
そば
vicinity
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
三
three
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
一
one
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)

Buying a used dictionary · Dialogue 2 of 4

Giving and buying a used dictionary

One speaker agrees to give the listener an old dictionary, then says where it was bought and how much it cost.

*はい、 あげます* means "Yes, I'll give it to you." The recipient is the listener.

A price in yen

*千円 はらいました* means "I paid one thousand yen." The unit counter *円* names the money without another noun.

Kanji: 円, 古

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

Kanji: 町, 屋, 買

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

  1. 6

    はい、あげます。

    Yes, I'll give it to you.

  2. 7

    このふるいじしょをどこでかいましたか。

    Where did you buy this old dictionary?

  3. 8

    まちのふるほんやでかいました。

    I bought it in a secondhand bookstore in town.

  4. 9

    いくらはらいましたか。

    How much did you pay?

  5. 10

    せんえんはらいました。

    I paid one thousand yen.

古い
old, antique
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
町
town
古本
secondhand book, used book
いくら
how much? how many?
千
1,000
円
yen (unit of money)

Using new books and dictionaries · Dialogue 3 of 4

Books and a dictionary

One speaker asks about buying used books at the school bookshop. The reply says used books cannot be bought there, but new books can.

The conversation then turns to how often an English-Japanese dictionary is used.

An action that is possible

*あたらしい 本は 買うことが できます* means "But, you can buy new books."

In *買うことが できます*, the basic form *買う* names the action. *ことが できます* says that buying is possible.

  1. 11

    このがっこうのほんやでふるほんをかうことができますか。

    Can you buy a used book at the bookshop in this school?

  2. 12

    いいえ、できません。でも、あたらしいほんはかうことができます。

    No, you can't. But, you can buy new books.

  3. 13

    あなたはえいわじてんをつかいますか。

    Do you use an E-J dictionary?

  4. 14

    はい、ときどきつかいます。

    Yes, I use it sometimes.

  5. 15

    なぜいつもつかいませんか。

    Why don't you use it all the time?

本屋
bookshop
買う
to buy
あたらしい
new
ときどき
sometimes, occasionally
なぜ
why?

Cars, someone, and nobody · Dialogue 4 of 4

A reason for not using it

The speaker does not always use a dictionary because its kanji are difficult.

In *かん字が むずかしいから、 いつもは つかいません*, *から* marks the difficult kanji as the reason.

Someone and nobody

*あの あかい じどうしゃの 中に だれか 居ますか* means "Is there someone in that red car?" *だれか* refers to someone unspecified.

*いいえ、 だれも 居ません* means "No, there is nobody." *だれも* combines with the negative *居ません*.

Kanji: 前, 中

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

  1. 16

    かんじがむずかしいから、いつもはつかいません。

    I don't use it all the time because KANJI are difficult.

  2. 17

    このたてもののまえにじどうしゃがなんだいぐらいありますか。

    About how many cars are there in front of this building?

  3. 18

    さあ、わかりません。

    Well, I can't tell.

  4. 19

    あのあかいじどうしゃのなかにだれかいますか。

    Is there someone in that red car?

  5. 20

    いいえ、だれもいません。

    No, there is nobody.

むずかしい
difficult
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
たてもの
building
ぐらい
about
あかい
red
だれ
who?

Saying what you can do · Perception drill, Block 1

An action someone can do

*ここから サンフランシスコ まで、 三じかんで 行くことが できますか* means "Can you get from here to San Francisco in three hours?"

The basic form *行く* names the action. *ことが できます* after it says that the action is possible.

The negative form

Put *ことが できます* immediately after a verb's basic ending to mean "can" or "is able to." The negative is *ことが できません*.

In *フランス語を はなすことは できません*, *は* replaces *が* to emphasize the negative. The line means "I cannot speak French."

  1. 21

    ここからサンフランシスコまで、さんじかんでいくことができますか。

    Can you get from here to San Francisco in three hours?

  2. 22

    はい、さんじかんでいくことができます。

    Yes, I can get there in three hours.

  3. 23

    あなたはフランスごができますか。

    Do you know French?

  4. 24

    いいえ、フランスごをはなすことはできません。

    No, I cannot speak French.

  5. 25

    あなたはまいにちかんじをいくつぐらいならうことができますか。

    About how many kanji can you learn each day?

  6. 26

    まいにちななつぐらいならうことができます。

    I can learn about seven each day.

  7. 27

    あなたはかたかなであなたのなまえをかくことができますか。

    Can you write your name in katakana?

  8. 28

    はい、かたかなでかくことができます。

    Yes, I can write it in katakana.

  9. 29

    とうきょうからよこはままであるくことができます。

    You can walk from Tokyo to Yokohama.

  10. 30

    はい、できますが、じゅうにじかんぐらいかかります。

    Yes, you can, but it takes about twelve hours.

から
from (See Gram. Notes)
サンフランシスコ
San Francisco
まで、
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
じかん
hour, time
まい日
everyday
七
seven
かたかな
KATAKANA syllabary
なまえ
name
十
ten

Giving reasons for inability · Perception drill, Block 2

A reason before the result

*いいえ、 まだ ならいませんから、 読む ことは できません* means "No, I have not learned it yet, so I cannot read it."

The clause before *から* gives the reason. The statement after it gives the result.

Because and so

*から* follows a verb's basic ending, an inflected suffix, an I-adjective, or *DESU*. It marks that clause as the cause or reason.

*まずいから、 たべません* means "I do not eat it because it tastes bad." *から* can mean "because," "since," or "so."

  1. 31

    このかんじをよむことができますか。

    Can you read this kanji?

  2. 32

    いいえ、まだならいませんから、よむことはできません。

    No, I have not learned it yet, so I cannot read it.

  3. 33

    あなたはこのえいわじてんをつかうことができますか。

    Can you use this English-Japanese dictionary?

  4. 34

    いいえ、かんじがたくさんありますから、つかうことはできません。

    No, there are many kanji in it, so I cannot use it.

  5. 35

    なぜおおきいじしょをかいませんでしたか。

    Why did you not buy a large dictionary?

  6. 36

    あまりたかいから、かいませんでした。

    I did not buy one because it was too expensive.

  7. 37

    ナイフはどこにありますか。

    Where is the knife?

  8. 38

    あそこにありますから、おっかいなさい。

    It is over there, so please use it.

  9. 39

    なぜそれをたべませんか。

    Why do you not eat that?

  10. 40

    まずいから、たべません。

    I do not eat it because it tastes bad.

まだ
yet, still
つかう
to use, employ (v.t.)
たくさん
many
たかい
expensive
ナイフ
knife
あそこ
over there
まずい
poor, tasteless

Someone and something · Perception drill, Block 3

Someone unspecified

*だれか 来ましたか* means "Did anyone come?" The question asks whether an unspecified person came.

The answer can then identify that person, as in *スミスさんが 来ました*.

A question word with ka

The particle *か* after an interrogative pronoun makes a corresponding indefinite pronoun. *だれか* means "someone," and *何か* means "something."

*そのはこの 中に 何か ありますか* means "Is there anything in that box?"

  1. 41

    だれかきましたか。

    Did anyone come?

  2. 42

    はい、スミスさんがきました。

    Yes, Mr. Smith came.

  3. 43

    あのきょうしつのなかにだれかいますか。

    Is anyone in that classroom?

  4. 44

    はい、せいとがいます。

    Yes, there is a student there.

  5. 45

    そのはこのなかになにかありますか。

    Is there anything in that box?

  6. 46

    はい、なにかちいさいものがあります。

    Yes, there is something small in it.

  7. 47

    わたくしはいまなにかとりました。なにをとりましたか。

    I just picked something up. What did I pick up?

  8. 48

    ペンをとりました。

    You picked up a pen.

  9. 49

    そのかみになにかおかきなさい。

    Please write something on that paper.

  10. 50

    はい、なにかかきます。

    Yes, I will write something.

  11. 51

    なにをかきましたか。

    What did you write?

  12. 52

    わたくしのなまえをかきました。

    I wrote my name.

か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
もの
things (tangible)
いま
now, just now
ペン
pen

Nobody and nothing · Perception drill, Block 4

Nobody with a negative

*いいえ、 だれも 居ません* means "No, no one is there." *だれも* works with the negative verb *居ません*.

The *だれか* questions ask whether someone is present. The *だれも* answers deny that anyone is present.

Nothing with a negative

The particle *も* after many interrogative pronouns makes a negative indefinite when the predicate is negative. *だれも* means "nobody," and *何も* means "nothing."

*いいえ、 何も ありません* means "No, there is nothing there."

  1. 53

    そのきょうしつにだれかいますか。

    Is anyone in that classroom?

  2. 54

    いいえ、だれもいません。

    No, no one is there.

  3. 55

    だれかここへきましたか。

    Did anyone come here?

  4. 56

    いいえ、だれもきませんでした。

    No, no one came.

  5. 57

    だれかサンフランシスコへいきますか。

    Is anyone going to San Francisco?

  6. 58

    いいえ、だれもいきません。

    No, no one is going.

  7. 59

    あなたのうしろにだれかいますか。

    Is anyone behind you?

  8. 60

    いいえ、だれもいません。

    No, no one is there.

  9. 61

    あなたのいすのしたになにかありますか。

    Is there anything under your chair?

  10. 62

    いいえ、なにもありません。

    No, there is nothing there.

へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
うしろ
back, behind, rear

Abilities with languages and books · Pattern 1 1 of 3

Abilities with languages

*私は 日本語の本を 読むことが できます* means "I can read books in Japanese."

The ability pattern follows the basic form *読む*. The same pattern states abilities to speak, teach, and learn.

An emphasized negative

*あしで ものを もつことはできません* means "You cannot hold things with your feet."

The *は* in *ことはできません* emphasizes what cannot be done.

  1. 63

    このじしょをつかうことができます。

    I can use this dictionary.

  2. 64

    わたくしはにほんごのほんをよむことができます。

    I can read books in Japanese.

  3. 65

    わたくしはフランスごではなすことができます。

    I can speak in French.

  4. 66

    わたくしはえいごをおしえることができます。

    I can teach English.

  5. 67

    わたくしはまいにちかんじをじゅうぐらいならうことができます。

    I can learn about ten kanji each day.

  6. 68

    あしでものをもつことはできません。

    You cannot hold things with your feet.

  7. 69

    あなたはフランスごがよくできますが、おしえることもできますか。

    You know French well, but can you also teach it?

  8. 70

    はい、できます。

    Yes, I can.

よく
well, skillfully

Writing, adding, and using things · Pattern 1 2 of 3

Writing is possible

*あなたは かん字を 二十ぐらい かくことが できますか* means "Can you write about twenty kanji?"

The basic form of the action comes before the ability pattern. Here the action is writing kanji.

Using chopsticks is not possible

*いいえ、 はしを つかうことは できません* means "No, I cannot use chopsticks."

  1. 71

    あなたはかんじをにじゅうぐらいかくことができますか。

    Can you write about twenty kanji?

  2. 72

    はい、にじゅうぐらいかくことができます。

    Yes, I can write about twenty.

  3. 73

    あなたははしをつかうことができますか。

    Can you use chopsticks?

  4. 74

    いいえ、はしをつかうことはできません。

    No, I cannot use chopsticks.

  5. 75

    たします

    to add

  6. 76

    ならいます

    to learn

  7. 77

    つかいます

    to use

  8. 78

    おしえます

    to teach

二十
20

Everyday action verbs · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Everyday actions

*見ます* means "to see," *たべます* means "to eat," and *ききます* means "to listen."

*もちます* means "carry," *はなします* means "speak," and *かきます* means "write."

  1. 79

    みます

    to see

  2. 80

    たべます

    to eat

  3. 81

    ききます

    to listen

  4. 82

    もちます

    carry

  5. 83

    はなします

    speak

  6. 84

    かきます

    write

Explaining why things cannot happen · Pattern 2 1 of 2

A reason for inability

*あんまり たくさん ありますから、 かぞえる ことは できません* means "I can't count because there are too many."

The reason ends in *から*. The negative ability pattern states the result.

A reason for another action

*私が 行きますから、 あなたは ここに 居なさい* means "I will go, so you stay here."

The clause before *から* gives the reason for the action in the next clause.

  1. 85

    あんまりたくさんありますから、かぞえることはできません。

    I can't count because there are too many.

  2. 86

    かんじがむずかしいから、よむことはできません。

    I can't read it because KANJI are too difficult.

  3. 87

    そのかんじをならいませんでしたから、かくことはできません。

    I did not learn that kanji, so I cannot write it.

  4. 88

    このこどもはみっつですから、まだじをかくことはできません。

    This child is three years old, so he cannot write yet.

  5. 89

    わたくしがいきますから、あなたはここにいなさい。

    I will go, so you stay here.

  6. 90

    このほんはあんまりむずかしいから、わかりません。

    This book is too difficult, so I do not understand it.

子ども
child, children

Asking and giving reasons · Pattern 2 2 of 2

A question and its reason

*なぜ じどうしゃで がっこうへ 行きますか* means "Why do you go to school by car?" *なぜ* asks for a reason.

*がっこうが 遠いから、 じどうしゃで 行きます* means "The school is far away, so I go by car." *から* marks the reason.

  1. 91

    なぜじどうしゃでがっこうへいきますか。

    Why do you go to school by car?

  2. 92

    がっこうがとおいから、じどうしゃでいきます。

    The school is far away, so I go by car.

  3. 93

    なぜそのほんをかいませんか。

    Why do you not buy that book?

  4. 94

    あまりたかいから、かいません。

    It is too expensive, so I will not buy it.

  5. 95

    なぜこのさかなをたべませんか。

    Why do you not eat this fish?

  6. 96

    においがわるいから、たべません。

    It smells bad, so I will not eat it.

遠い
far
におい
smell, scent
わるい
bad

Someone and something in statements · Pattern 3 1 of 2

An unspecified person

*だれか 私の本を とりました* means "Somebody took my book." *だれか* names a person without identifying that person.

In *だれか ドイツ語が できますか*, the same form asks whether anyone can speak German.

An unspecified thing

*つくえの 上に 何か ありますね* means "There is something on the desk, isn't there?"

*何か* refers to a thing without identifying it.

Kanji: 上

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

  1. 97

    だれかわたくしのほんをとりました。

    Somebody took my book.

  2. 98

    このかみににほんごでなにかおかきなさい。

    Please write something on this paper in Japanese.

  3. 99

    だれかドイツごができますか。

    Can anyone speak German?

  4. 100

    きょうしつにだれかいますか。

    Is anyone in the classroom?

  5. 101

    だれかにほんへいきましたか。

    Did anyone go to Japan?

  6. 102

    つくえのうえになにかありますね。

    There is something on the desk, isn’t there?

  7. 103

    あなたはそのかみになにかかきましたね。

    You wrote something on that paper, didn’t you?

ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)

Asking about people and objects · Pattern 3 2 of 2

From anyone to one person

*だれか スミスさんのところへ 行きましたか* means "Did anyone go to Mr. Smith's place?"

*はい、 パーカーさんが 行きました* identifies Mr. Parker as the person who went.

From anything to one object

*そのはこの 中に 何か ありますか* means "Is there anything in that box?"

*はい、 このはこの 中に とけいが あります* identifies a watch as the object in the box.

  1. 104

    だれかスミスさんのところへいきましたか。

    Did anyone go to Mr. Smith’s place?

  2. 105

    はい、パーカーさんがいきました。

    Yes, Mr. Parker went.

  3. 106

    そのはこのなかになにかありますか。

    Is there anything in that box?

  4. 107

    はい、このはこのなかにとけいがあります。

    Yes, there is a watch in this box.

  5. 108

    だれかそのとけいをみましたか。

    Did anyone see that watch?

  6. 109

    はい、ジョンズさんがみました。

    Yes, Mr. Jones saw it.

ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)

Negative statements about anyone and anything · Pattern 4 1 of 2

No person acts

*そこには だれも 居ません* means "There is nobody there." The negative predicate completes the meaning of *だれも*.

*だれも それを たべませんでした* means "No one ate it."

No thing is involved

*何も たべることは できません* means "I cannot eat anything." *何も* works with the negative ability pattern.

The *だれか* and *何か* questions ask about an unspecified person or thing. Negative answers use *だれも* or *何も*.

  1. 110

    そこにはだれもいません。

    There is nobody there.

  2. 111

    そこにはなにもありません。

    There is nothing there.

  3. 112

    だれもそれをたべませんでした。

    No one ate it.

  4. 113

    だれもわたくしたちにそれをおしえませんでした。

    No one taught it to us.

  5. 114

    なにもたべることはできません。

    I cannot eat anything.

  6. 115

    こどもはなにもわかりません。

    The child does not understand anything.

  7. 116

    だれもそのおとをききませんでした。

    No one heard that sound.

  8. 117

    わたくしのうしろにだれかいますか。

    Is anyone behind me?

  9. 118

    いいえ、あなたのうしろにだれもいません。

    No, no one is behind you.

  10. 119

    あなたのつくえのそばになにかありますか。

    Is there anything beside your desk?

そこ
there
おと
sound

Saying nobody or nothing is there · Pattern 4 2 of 2

Nothing is there

*いいえ、 何も ありません* means "No, there is nothing." The negative predicate *ありません* completes *何も*.

Nobody is there

*私の みぎに だれも 居ません* means "No one is to my right." The negative predicate *居ません* completes *だれも*.

Other negative verbs can complete the same pattern for actions such as eating, hearing, coming, and knowing.

  1. 120

    いいえ、なにもありません。

    No, there is nothing.

  2. 121

    あなたのみぎにだれがいますか。

    Who is to your right?

  3. 122

    わたくしのみぎにだれもいません。

    No one is to my right.

  4. 123

    このきょうしつには、

    In this classroom,

  5. 124

    たべませんでした。

    did not eat.

  6. 125

    ききませんでした。

    did not hear.

  7. 126

    じどうしゃのなかには、

    Inside the car,

  8. 127

    きませんでした。

    did not come.

  9. 128

    わたくしのひだりには、

    To my left,

  10. 129

    しりません。

    do not know.

みぎ
right
ひだり
left

Driving to school and buying dictionaries · Reading Selection 1 of 2

Cars at the school

The passage describes a school with about fifty cars in front of its building.

*せいとたちは 遠いところから 来ますから、 たいてい じどうしゃで 来ます* means "The students come from far away, so they usually come by car." *から* marks the reason.

Two dictionaries

The narrator goes from the school to a bookshop and buys two kinds of dictionary.

In *一さつずつ*, the counter *さつ* counts one dictionary of each kind.

  1. 130

    ここはがっこうです。

    This is a school.

  2. 131

    がっこうのたてもののまえに、じどうしゃがごじゅうだいぐらいあります。

    There are about fifty cars in front of the school building.

  3. 132

    せいとたちはとおいところからきますから、たいていじどうしゃできます。

    The students come from far away, so they usually come by car.

  4. 133

    わたくしはがっこうからまちのほんやへいきました。

    I went from the school to a bookstore in town.

  5. 134

    そこでふるいわえいじてんとえいわじてんをいっさつずつかいました。

    There I bought one old Japanese-English dictionary and one English-Japanese dictionary.

に、
on (See Gram. Notes)
五十
50
たいてい
usually
ずつ
each (See Gram. Notes)

Buying pencils and difficult dictionaries · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Pencils available to use

The narrator buys no pencils. About three are always in the teacher's desk.

*三本ぐらい ありますから* gives the reason for *それを つかうことが できます*, "I can use them."

Dictionaries nobody can use

*この 字しょには かん字が たくさん ありますから、 まだ だれも つかうことは できません* means "There are many kanji in these dictionaries, so no one can use them yet."

The negative *ことは できません* completes *だれも*. The passage then says the dictionaries were bought because they were inexpensive.

  1. 135

    えんぴつはいっぽんもかいませんでした。

    I did not buy even one pencil.

  2. 136

    えんぴつはせんせいのつくえのなかにいつもさんぼんぐらいありますから、それをつかうことができます。

    There are always about three pencils in the teacher’s desk, so I can use them.

  3. 137

    このじしょにはかんじがたくさんありますから、まだだれもつかうことはできません。

    There are many kanji in these dictionaries, so no one can use them yet.

  4. 138

    でも、やすいから、かいました。

    But I bought them because they were inexpensive.

  5. 139

    わたくしはほんやへいくと、いつもなにかかいます。

    Whenever I go to a bookstore, I always buy something.

やすい
cheap
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)

Asking about cars and books · Questions 1 of 2

Cars, travel, and books

The questions ask where the cars and bookshop are, how many cars there are, and how many dictionaries the narrator bought.

*なぜ せいとたちは じどうしゃで がっこうへ 来ますか* means "Why do the students come to school by car?" An answer gives the reason with *から*.

  1. 140

    じどうしゃはどこにありますか。

    Where are the cars?

  2. 141

    なんだいぐらいありますか。

    About how many cars are there?

  3. 142

    なぜせいとたちはじどうしゃでがっこうへきますか。

    Why do the students come to school by car?

  4. 143

    わたくしはがっこうからどこへいきましたか。

    Where did I go from the school?

  5. 144

    ほんやはどこにありますか。

    Where is the bookstore?

  6. 145

    じしょをなんさつかいましたか。

    How many dictionaries did I buy?

Asking why purchases were made · Questions 2 of 2

Purchases and ability

The questions ask whether pencils and a new dictionary were bought, then ask for the reasons.

*なぜ えんぴつを 買いませんでしたか* means "Why did I not buy pencils?" An answer supplies the reason.

The final answer states whether all students can use dictionaries with *ことが できます* or its negative.

  1. 146

    えんぴつもかいましたか。

    Did I buy pencils too?

  2. 147

    なぜえんぴつをかいませんでしたか。

    Why did I not buy pencils?

  3. 148

    あたらしいじしょをかいましたか。

    Did you buy a new dictionary?

  4. 149

    なぜそのじしょをかいましたか。

    Why did you buy that dictionary?

  5. 150

    せいとたちはみんなじしょをつかうことができますか。

    Can all the students use dictionaries?

みんな
all

Words for books and shops · Word list 1 of 3

Books, shops, and counters

The words cover books, shops, money, buildings, and counters.

Three counters separate object types. *さつ* counts books, *本* counts long slender objects, and *だい* counts vehicles and machinery.

  1. 151

    まち

    town

  2. 152

    ふるほん

    secondhand book, used book

  3. 153

    ほんや

    bookshop

  4. 154

    ふるほんや

    secondhand (used) bookshop

  5. 155

    たてもの

    building

  6. 156

    さつ

    numerical counter for counting books (See Grammar Notes)

  7. 157

    なんさつ

    how many (volumes)?

  8. 158

    ほん

    numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)

  9. 159

    なんぼん

    how many (long objects)?

  10. 160

    ドル

    dollar

  11. 161

    えん

    yen (unit of money)

  12. 162

    だい

    counter for counting vehicles and machineries (See Notes)

古本屋
secondhand (used) bookshop
何さつ
how many (volumes)?
何本
how many (long objects)?
ドル
dollar
だい
counter for counting vehicles and machineries (See Notes)

Words for buying and giving · Word list 2 of 3

Buying, paying, and giving

The words cover buying, paying, giving, prices, descriptions, and frequency.

*ください* means "please give me." The speaker receives the object. *あげます* means "I'll give you or him."

*いくら* asks how much.

  1. 163

    なんだい

    how many(vehicles, machineries)?

  2. 164

    はらう

    to pay

  3. 165

    はらいます

    I'll pay.

  4. 166

    かう

    to buy

  5. 167

    かいます

    I'll buy.

  6. 168

    ください

    please give me (See Gram. Notes)

  7. 169

    あげます

    I'll give you or him (See Gram. Notes)

  8. 170

    ふるい

    old, antique

  9. 171

    あたらしい

    new

  10. 172

    いくら

    how much? how many?

  11. 173

    ときどき

    sometimes, occasionally

  12. 174

    なぜ

    why?

何だい
how many(vehicles, machineries)?
はらう
to pay
はらいます
I'll pay.
買います
I'll buy.
ください
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
あげます
I'll give you or him (See Gram. Notes)

Ability, reasons, and indefinite pronouns · Word list 3 of 3

Ability, reasons, and indefinites

The words cover ability, reasons, and indefinite people or things.

*ことが できます* means "can," and *から* means "because."

*いいえ、 何も ありません* means "No, there is nothing."

  1. 175

    いつも

    always, at all times

  2. 176

    から

    because (See Gram. Notes)

  3. 177

    だれか

    somebody, someone

  4. 178

    なにか

    something (See Gram. Notes)

  5. 179

    だれも---せん

    nobody (See Gram. Notes)

  6. 180

    なにも---せん

    nothing (See Gram. Notes)

  7. 181

    ことができます

    can, is able to (See Gram. Notes)

  8. 182

    けれども

    however

  9. 183

    いくらはらいましたか。

    How much did you pay?

  10. 184

    なにかありますか。

    Is there something?

  11. 185

    いいえ、なにもありません。

    No, there is nothing.

いつも
always, at all times
だれか
somebody, someone
何か
something (See Gram. Notes)
だれも---せん
nobody (See Gram. Notes)
何も---せん
nothing (See Gram. Notes)
ことができます
can, is able to (See Gram. Notes)
けれども
however
いくらはらいましたか。
"How much did you pay?"
何かありますか。
"Is there something?"
いいえ、何もありません。
"No, there is nothing."

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.