Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 21

Lesson 21

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

192 lines

Morning study and breakfast · Dialogue 1 of 4

Morning study

One speaker asks, *あなたは 朝 何時に おきますか*, "What time do you get up in the morning?"

The answer is *まい 朝 六時に おきます*, "I get up at six o'clock every morning."

A time before the action

In *六時に おきます*, the particle *に* marks six as the time of getting up.

The conversation then moves from breakfast and study to study at night.

Kanji: 朝, 時, 夜

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

  1. 1

    あなたはあさなんじにおきますか。

    What time do you get up in the morning?

    あなたyou
    はtopic
    朝morning
    何時what time
    にat
    おきget up
    ますpolite
    か。question
  2. 2

    まいあさろくじにおきます。

    I get up at six o'clock every morning.

  3. 3

    それからすぐあさめしをたべますか。

    After that, do you eat breakfast right away?

  4. 4

    いいえ、しちじすぎまでべんきょうします。あさはんのときにはかないがよびます。

    No, I study until past seven o'clock. My wife calls me for breakfast (at the time of breakfast).

  5. 5

    あなたはよるべんきょうしませんか。

    Don't you study at night?

NI and GORO

The particle NI indicates the point in time at which an action takes place.

GORO means 'approximate point of time,' e.g.,

ROKUJI NI OKIMASU. "I'll get up at 6 o'clock."

ROKUJI GORO OKIMASU. "I'll get up around 6 o'clock."
I-adjectives

Inflections

Like the verbs, the I-adjectives also have inflections and show six (6) different endings.

Name of 'ending' | SHIRO(I) 'white' | AKA(I) 'red' | OOKI(I) 'big' | USU(I) 'thin'
1 Conjectural ending | SHIROKAROO | AKAKAROO | OOKIKAROO | USUKAROO
2 past ending | SHIROKATTA | AKAKATTA | OOKIKATTA | USUKATTA

Name of 'ending' | SHIRO(I) 'white' | AKA(I) 'red' | OOKI(I) 'big' | USU(I) 'thin'
3 Conclusive-attributive ending (Basic-ending) | SHIROI | AKAI | OOKII | USUI
4 Conditional ending | SHIROKEREBA | AKAKEREBA | OOKIKEREBA | USUKEREBA
5 Conjunctive ending | SHIROKU | AKAKU | OOKIKU | USUKU
6 TE-ending | SHIROKUTE | AKAKUTE | OOKIKUTE | USUKUTE

It is customary to refer to I-adjectives by their basic endings, and these are the forms under which I-adjectives are entered in dictionaries.

The underlined parts in the above table are the roots of the I-adjectives.

You have learned the attributive and predicative uses of the basic ending, as in the following examples:

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

KONO HON WA USUI DESU. "This book is thin."

Conjunctive ending

The conjunctive ending of I-adjectives is commonly used as an adverb, e.g.,

HAYAKU OKIMASU "I get up early."

KARUKU TABEMASU "I eat lightly."

YOKU BENKYOO SHIMASU. "I study hard."

WARUKU NARIMASU. "It becomes bad."

YOKU

YOKU is the conjunctive ending of YOI (good, well). It is often used with different meanings in different contexts, e.g.,

ANO SEITO WA YOKU BENKYOO SHIMASU. "That student studies diligently." "That student studies hard." "That student studies thoroughly."

ANO KODOMO WA YOKU HANASHIMASU. "That child talks a lot." "That child talks often." "That child talks skillfully."

ANO KATA WA YOKU KIMASU. "He comes frequently."

ANO KATA WA YOKU TABEMASU. "He eats a lot." "He eats often."
KARA as afterthought reason

These elliptic expressions are very common in daily conversational Japanese.

Compare the following utterances:

ATARASHII JIDOOSHA O KAIMASHITA KA? "Did you buy a new car?"

IIE, AMMARI TAKAI KARA, KAIMASENDESHITA. "No, I didn't buy it because it was too expensive."

ATARASHII JIDOOSHA O KAIMASHITA KA? "Did you buy a new car?"

IIE, KAIMASENDESHITA. AMMARI TAKAI KARA. "No, I didn't buy it, --- because it's too expensive."

The answer in (b) is an elliptic sentence. The reason has been omitted, but added later as an afterthought reason.
WA -- GA ARIMASU

In Lesson 6 the verb ARIMASU, 'to be,' was used as an existential verb with inanimate subjects, e.g.,

KOKO NI HAKO GA ARIMASU. "Here is a box."

In this lesson, it is used also with animate subjects and is translated as 'has' or 'have' indicating possession. Note that the notional subjects as denoted by WA in the following examples are animate, and the subjects of the verb

ARIMASU are indicated by GA or WA.

WATAKUSHI WA KODOMO GA ARIMASU. "I have children."

ANO SENSEI WA OKUSAN GA ARIMASEN. "That teacher has no wife."

BURAUN-SAN WA OTOKO-NO-KO GA SANNIN ARIMASU. "Mr. Brown has three boys."
--MO--MO--SHIMASU, --MO--MO--SHIMASEN

When there are two phrases in a row, each ending in MO, the translation is 'both--and--' if the predicate is affirmative, 'neither--nor--' if the predicate is negative.

ANOKATA WA NIPPONGO MO EIGO MO HANASU KOTO GA DEKIMASU. "He can speak both Japanese and English."

HIRAGANA MO KATAKANA MO YOMU KOTO GA DEKIMASEN. "He can read neither HIRAGANA nor KATAKANA."

ŌSAKA E MO KYŌTO E MO IKIMASEN. "I'll go neither to Osaka nor to Kyoto."
朝
morning
何時
what time
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
六
six
時
time
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
すぐ
right away, immediately
朝めし
breakfast
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
七
seven
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
の
See Grammar Notes
かない
wife (self)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
夜
night, evening

Study hours and owning a watch · Dialogue 2 of 4

Study in the morning

The speaker studies at night but prefers the morning. *よく おぼえる ことが できます* means "I can memorize well."

Having a wristwatch

The question *あなたは うでどけいが ありますか* means "Do you have a wristwatch?"

Here *あります* expresses having the wristwatch marked by *が*.

Kanji: 午, 間

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

Kanji: 後, 前

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

  1. 6

    いいえ、よるもべんきょうします。でも、あさのほうがいいですね。あさべんきょうすると、よくおぼえることができます。

    Yes, I study at night, too. However, in the morning it is better. When I study in the morning, I can memorize well.

  2. 7

    がっこうではまいにちなんじかんべんきょうしますか。

    How many hours do you study at school everyday?

  3. 8

    ごぜんにさんじかんとごごにさんじかん、まいにちろくじかんべんきょうします。

    We study six hours everyday, three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon.

  4. 9

    あなたはうでどけいがありますか。

    Do you have a wristwatch?

  5. 10

    はい、あります。

    Yes, I do.

で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
よく
well, skillfully
おぼえる
to memorize, remember (v.t.)
まい日
everyday
午前
a.m., morning
三
three
午後
p.m., afternoon

Asking and telling the time · Dialogue 3 of 4

The time now

The speakers first establish the time. *いま 四時 十分 前です* means "It's ten minutes to four now."

Around four thirty

Then *あなたは 何時頃 うちへ かえりますか* asks around what time the other speaker goes home.

The answer *四時半頃 かえります* means "I go home around four-thirty."

Kanji: 頃

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

  1. 11

    いまなんじですか。

    What time is it now?

  2. 12

    いまよじじゅっぷんまえです。

    It's ten minutes to four now.

  3. 13

    あなたはなんじごろうちへかえりますか。

    When (around what time) do you go home?

  4. 14

    よじはんごろかえります。

    I go home around four-thirty.

  5. 15

    それからすぐべんきょうをはじめますか。

    Do you start studying right away then?

いま
now, just now
四
four
十
ten
分
minute
前
before, front
うち
home, house
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
頃
approximate point of time (See Gram. Notes)

Family time and nightly study · Dialogue 4 of 4

Time with the children

The speaker plays with the children after supper. *朝から ばんまで 子どもを 見ませんから* gives the reason: "because I don't see my children from morning until evening."

Two kinds of study

The question *かん字も ダイアログも べんきょうしますか* asks whether the speaker studies both kanji and a dialogue.

The repeated *も* includes both kinds of study.

  1. 16

    いいえ、しちじすぎまでやすみます。それから、じゅういちじごろまでべんきょうします。

    No, I rest until past seven. Then (after that) I study until about eleven o'clock.

  2. 17

    ゆうはんのあとでこどもさんたちとあそびますか。

    Do you play with your children after supper?

  3. 18

    はい、あそびます。あさからばんまでこどもをみませんから。

    Yes, I do (play) because I don't see my children from morning until evening.

  4. 19

    あなたはまいばんかんじもダイアログもべんきょうしますか。

    Do you study both KANJI and a dialogue every night?

  5. 20

    はい、どちらもべんきょうします。

    Yes, I study both of them.

から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
一
one
子ども
child, children
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
ばん
evening, night
ダイアログ
dialogue
どちら
which of two (See Grammar Notes)

Approximate times for daily events · Perception drill, Block 1

At what time

*あなたは 何時に がっこうへ 来ますか* means "What time do you come to school?"

The particle *に* marks the point in time at which an action takes place.

Around the hour

*私は 八時頃 来ます* means "I come around eight o'clock."

*頃* marks an approximate point in time and takes the place of *に*.

  1. 21

    あなたはなんじにがっこうへきますか。

    What time do you come to school?

  2. 22

    わたくしははちじごろきます。

    I come around eight o’clock.

  3. 23

    なんじにほんやへいきますか。

    What time do you go to the bookstore?

  4. 24

    じゅうじごろいきます。

    I go around ten o’clock.

  5. 25

    なんじごろうちへかえりますか。

    About what time do you go home?

  6. 26

    ごじごろかえります。

    I go home around five o’clock.

  7. 27

    なんじごろしんぶんがきますか。

    About what time does the newspaper come?

  8. 28

    ろくじごろきます。

    It comes around six o’clock.

八
eight
本屋
bookshop
五
five

Describing change and manner · Perception drill, Block 2

A quality becomes different

*かん字は やさしく なりましたか* means "Have kanji become easier?"

In *やさしく*, an I-adjective's final *い* has become *く*. This is its conjunctive ending.

With *なりました*, *やさしく* expresses a change: becoming easier.

The same form describes manner

*大てい かるく たべます* means "I usually eat lightly."

The *く* form *かるく* describes how the eating happens.

Kanji: 大

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

  1. 29

    かんじはやさしくなりましたか。

    Have kanji become easier?

  2. 30

    いいえ、やさしくなりません。むずかしくなりました。

    No, they haven’t become easier. They have become harder.

  3. 31

    あなたはいつもたくさんたべますか。

    Do you always eat a lot?

  4. 32

    いいえ、たいていかるくたべます。

    No, I usually eat lightly.

  5. 33

    このはなはいろがわるくなりましたね。

    The color of this flower has gotten worse, hasn’t it?

  6. 34

    ええ、すこしふるくなると、いろがわるくなります。

    Yes, when it gets a little old, its color gets worse.

  7. 35

    かみやさんははやくはなしますね。

    Mr. Kamiya speaks quickly, doesn’t he?

  8. 36

    ええ、はやくはなします。

    Yes, he speaks quickly.

たくさん
many
はな
flower
いろ
color
ええ、
Yes
少し
little (quantity)

Reasons placed after statements · Perception drill, Block 3

The statement comes first

*いいえ、 できません。 あまり 遠いから* means "No, I can't, because it is too far."

The main statement is complete before the reason appears.

A reason added afterward

A clause ending in *から* can follow the statement as an afterthought reason.

*買いませんでした。 あまり たかいから* means "I didn't buy one, because it was too expensive."

  1. 37

    このかんじをよむことができますか。

    Can you read this kanji?

  2. 38

    いいえ、できません。そのかんじをまだならいませんから、

    No, I can’t, because I haven’t learned that kanji yet.

  3. 39

    ここからまちまであるくことができますか。

    Can you walk from here to town?

  4. 40

    いいえ、できません。あまりとおいから。

    No, I can’t, because it is too far.

  5. 41

    あなたはじどうしゃでがっこうへきますか。

    Do you come to school by car?

  6. 42

    いいえ、じどうしゃできません。ちかいですから。

    No, I don’t come by car, because it is close.

  7. 43

    あなたはわえいじてんをかいましたか。

    Did you buy a Japanese-English dictionary?

  8. 44

    いいえ、かいませんでした。あまりたかいから。

    No, I didn’t buy one, because it was too expensive.

まだ
yet, still
ここ
here
町
town
遠い
far
近い
near, close
たかい
expensive

Having family members and possessions · Perception drill, Block 4

Having children

*やまださんは お子さんが 三人 あります* means "Mr. Yamada has three children."

With a person as the topic, *あります* can mean "has" or "have."

The person and the possession

The person who has something takes *は*. The family member or possession takes *が*, or sometimes *は*.

In *あなたは ペンが ありますか*, *あなたは* marks the person and *ペンが* marks the possession.

  1. 45

    あなたはおくさんがありますか。

    Do you have a wife?

  2. 46

    はい、かないがあります。

    Yes, I have a wife.

  3. 47

    やまださんはおこさんがありますか。

    Does Mr. Yamada have any children?

  4. 48

    ええ、やまださんはおこさんがさんにんあります。

    Yes, Mr. Yamada has three children.

  5. 49

    あなたはペンがありますか。

    Do you have a pen?

  6. 50

    はい、ペンがあります。

    Yes, I have a pen.

  7. 51

    あなたはかんじのじしょがありますか。

    Do you have a kanji dictionary?

  8. 52

    ええ、あります。

    Yes, I do.

人
people
ペン
pen

Both and neither · Perception drill, Block 5

Both and neither

*かなも かん字も ならいます* means "I learn both KANA and KANJI."

*しんぶんも ざっしも 読みません* means "I read neither newspapers nor magazines."

Affirmative or negative

Two phrases ending in *も* mean "both and" with an affirmative predicate. They mean "neither nor" with a negative predicate.

  1. 53

    かなもかんじもならいます。

    I learn both KANA and KANJI.

  2. 54

    しんぶんもざっしもよみません。

    I read neither newspapers nor magazines.

  3. 55

    あなたはまいにちしんぶんをよみますか。

    Do you read the newspaper every day?

  4. 56

    ええ、にほんのしんぶんもアメリカのしんぶんもよみます。

    Yes, I read both Japanese and American newspapers.

  5. 57

    あなたはきょうしつのまどもドアもしめましたか。

    Did you close both the classroom windows and the door?

  6. 58

    はい、まどもドアもしめました。

    Yes, I closed both the windows and the door.

  7. 59

    あなたはフランスごもドイツごもできますか。

    Can you speak both French and German?

  8. 60

    いいえ、わたくしはフランスごもドイツごもはなしません。

    No, I speak neither French nor German.

  9. 61

    あなたはスミスさんとブラウンさんをみましたか。

    Did you see Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown?

  10. 62

    いいえ、わたくしはスミスさんもブラウンさんもみませんでした。

    No, I saw neither Mr. Smith nor Mr. Brown.

かな
Japanese syllabary
アメリカ
America; U.S.A.

Times in a daily routine · Pattern 1 1 of 2

Breakfast at seven

*七時に 朝めしを たべます* means "I'll eat breakfast at seven o'clock."

The *に* after the hour marks the exact time, as in *六時に おきます*.

Lunch around twelve

*十二時頃 ひるめしを たべます* means "I'll eat lunch around twelve o'clock."

Here *頃* marks the time as approximate.

  1. 63

    しちじにあさめしをたべます。

    I'll eat breakfast at seven o'clock.

  2. 64

    じゅうにじごろひるめしをたべます。

    I'll eat lunch around twelve o'clock.

  3. 65

    あさろくじにおきます。

    I get up at six o’clock in the morning.

  4. 66

    がっこうははちじにはじまります。

    School begins at eight o’clock.

  5. 67

    がっこうはよじにおわります。

    School ends at four o’clock.

  6. 68

    ごじごろうちへかえります。

    I go home around five o’clock.

  7. 69

    ろくじごろゆうはんをたべます。

    I eat dinner around six o’clock.

二
two
ひるめし
lunch, noon meal

Asking when daily events happen · Pattern 1 2 of 2

An exact time

*あなたは 朝 何時に おきますか* means "What time do you get up in the morning?"

The answer *六時半に おきます* gives an exact time.

An approximate time

*何時頃 がっこうに 来ますか* means "About what time do you come to school?"

The answer *七時半頃 来ます* gives an approximate time.

  1. 70

    あなたはあさなんじにおきますか。

    What time do you get up in the morning?

  2. 71

    ろくじはんにおきます。

    I get up at six thirty.

  3. 72

    なんじごろがっこうにきますか。

    About what time do you come to school?

  4. 73

    しちじはんごろきます。

    I come around seven thirty.

  5. 74

    なんじごろひるめしをたべますか。

    About what time do you eat lunch?

  6. 75

    じゅうにじまえにたべます。

    I eat before twelve o’clock.

Adverbs and changing qualities · Pattern 2 1 of 2

Walking fast

*私は はやく あるきます* means "I'll walk fast."

The *く* ending in *はやく* describes how the walking happens.

Becoming bigger

*子どもは 大きく なりました* means "The child has grown bigger."

The I-adjective in its *く* form combines with *なりました* to express change.

  1. 76

    わたくしははやくあるきます。

    I'll walk fast.

  2. 77

    ここへはやくきなさい。

    Come here early.

  3. 78

    こどもはおおきくなりました。

    The child has grown bigger.

  4. 79

    わたくしはよるおそくやすみます。

    I go to bed late at night.

  5. 80

    わたくしはあさはやくおきます。

    I get up early in the morning.

  6. 81

    こくばんはしろくなりました。

    The blackboard has become white.

おそく
late (adverbial form of OSOI, be late, be slow)

Reasons for daily habits · Pattern 2 2 of 2

Faster action

*もっと はやく おあるきなさい* means "Please walk faster."

The *く* form *はやく*, with *もっと*, describes faster walking.

A harder subject

*いいえ、 むずかしく なりました* means "No, it has become harder."

The *く* form with *なりました* expresses a change in the quality.

  1. 82

    もっとはやくおあるきなさい。

    Please walk faster.

  2. 83

    はい、はやくあるきます。

    Yes, I’ll walk faster.

  3. 84

    にほんごはすこしやさしくなりましたか。

    Has Japanese become a little easier?

  4. 85

    いいえ、むずかしくなりました。

    No, it has become harder.

  5. 86

    あなたはなぜあさはやくおきますか。

    Why do you get up early in the morning?

  6. 87

    あさおそくおきると、べんきょうすることができませんから、はやくおきます。

    I get up early because if I get up late in the morning, I can't study.

もっと
more (See Gram. Notes)
なぜ
why?
おきる
to rise, get up (v.i.)

Explaining actions with reasons · Pattern 3 1 of 2

The purchase first

*それを 買いませんでした。 あまり たかいから* means "I didn't buy it, because it was too expensive."

The statement comes first. The separate clause ending in *から* supplies its reason.

The same order with travel

*私は がっこうに じどうしゃで 来ます。 うちから 遠いから* means "I come to school by car because it is far from my house."

The travel statement also comes before its reason.

  1. 88

    それをかいませんでした。あまりたかいから。

    I didn't buy it, because it was too expensive.

  2. 89

    ダイアログをみんなおぼえることはできませんでした。あんまりたくさんありましたから。

    I couldn't memorize all the dialogs because there were too many.

  3. 90

    ひるめしをたべませんでした。あさはんをおそくたべましたから。

    I did not eat lunch because I ate breakfast late.

  4. 91

    わたくしはがっこうにじどうしゃできます。うちからとおいから。

    I come to school by car because it is far from my house.

  5. 92

    このかんじをよむことはできません。まだならいませんから。

    I can't read this kanji because I haven't learned it yet.

  6. 93

    あなたはあたらしいじどうしゃをかいましたか。

    Did you buy a new car?

から。
from (See Gram. Notes)
みんな
all
あたらしい
new

Reasons for buying, travel, and absence · Pattern 3 2 of 2

A reason after the result

*二時間半ぐらい かかります。 かなり 遠いから* means "It takes about two and a half hours because it is quite far."

The clause ending in *から* explains the preceding result.

A reason by itself

*なぜ 来ませんでしたか* asks "Why didn't you come?"

The answer *あまり おそく おきましたから* gives only the reason: "Because I got up very late."

  1. 94

    はい、かいました。やすいでしたから。

    Yes, I did, because it was inexpensive.

  2. 95

    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?

  3. 96

    にじかんはんぐらいかかります。かなりとおいから。

    It takes about two and a half hours because it is quite far.

  4. 97

    なぜきませんでしたか。

    Why didn't you come?

  5. 98

    あまりおそくおきましたから。

    Because I got up very late.

やすい
cheap
サンフランシスコ
San Francisco
ぐらい
about
かなり
fairly

Saying what people have · Pattern 4 1 of 2

Three children

*やまださんは お子さんが 三人 あります* means "Mr. Yamada has three children."

In this line, *やまださんは* marks the person. *お子さんが* marks the family members.

Two cars

*私は じどうしゃが 二だい あります* means "I have two cars."

The same pattern states a possession and its number.

  1. 99

    あなたはうでどけいがありますか。

    Do you have a wristwatch?

  2. 100

    たなかさんはおくさんがあります。

    Mr. Tanaka has a wife.

  3. 101

    やまださんはおこさんがさんにんあります。

    Mr. Yamada has three children.

  4. 102

    わたくしはじどうしゃがにだいあります。

    I have two cars.

  5. 103

    スミスさんはおんなのこがひとりあります。

    Mr. Smith has one daughter.

  6. 104

    わたくしはおとこのこはありません。

    I don't have any sons.

だい
counter for counting vehicles and machineries (See Notes)
女の子
girl
一人
one person
男の子
boy

Asking what people have · Pattern 4 2 of 2

Asking about children

*やまださんは お子さんが ありますか* means "Does Mr. Yamada have any children?"

The answer *男の子が 三人 あります* gives the family members and their number.

Asking about friends

*あなたは 日本人の おともだちが ありますか* means "Do you have any Japanese friends?"

The answer keeps the possession with *が*: *日本人の ともだちが たくさん あります*

  1. 105

    ブラウンさんはおくさんがありますか。

    Does Mr. Brown have a wife?

  2. 106

    いいえ、ブラウンさんはおくさんはありません。

    No, Mr. Brown doesn't have a wife.

  3. 107

    やまださんはおこさんがありますか。

    Does Mr. Yamada have any children?

  4. 108

    ええ、おとこのこがさんにんあります。

    Yes, he has three sons.

  5. 109

    あなたはにほんじんのおともだちがありますか。

    Do you have any Japanese friends?

  6. 110

    はい、にほんじんのともだちがたくさんあります。

    Yes, I have many Japanese friends.

ともだち
friend

Both and neither with things · Pattern 5 1 of 2

Two kinds of writing

*かたかなも ひらがなも ならいました* means "I learned both KATAKANA and HIRAGANA."

The affirmative verb makes the two phrases with *も* mean "both and."

Two languages

*フランス語も ドイツ語も ならいませんでした* means "I learned neither French nor German."

The negative verb makes the pair mean "neither nor."

  1. 111

    かたかなもひらがなもならいました。

    I learned both KATAKANA and HIRAGANA.

  2. 112

    フランスごもドイツごもならいませんでした。

    I learned neither French (language) nor German (language).

  3. 113

    あのかたはにほんごもえいごもできます。

    That person can speak both Japanese and English.

  4. 114

    わたくしはわえいじてんもえいわじてんもかいました。

    I bought both a Japanese-English dictionary and an English-Japanese dictionary.

  5. 115

    くらたさんはあさめしもえるめしもたべません。

    Mr. Kurata eats neither breakfast nor lunch.

  6. 116

    ここにはえんぴつもはくぼくもあります。

    There are both pencils and chalk here.

  7. 117

    つくえのうえにはほんもざっしもありません。

    There are neither books nor magazines on the desk.

かたかな
KATAKANA syllabary
ひらがな
HIRAGANA syllabary
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)

Both and neither with people · Pattern 5 2 of 2

Both day and night

*私は 夜も ひるも べんきょうします* means "I study both day and night."

The affirmative verb includes both times marked by *も*.

Neither wife nor children

*かないも 子どもも 日本語を はなしません* means "Neither my wife nor my children speak Japanese."

The negative verb excludes both people marked by *も*.

  1. 118

    あなたはスミスさんもブラウンさんもよびましたか。

    Did you call both Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown?

  2. 119

    スミスさんをよびましたが、ブラウンさんはよびませんでした。

    I called Mr. Smith, but I didn't call Mr. Brown.

  3. 120

    あなたはよるもひるもべんきょうしますか。

    Do you study both day and night?

  4. 121

    はい、わたくしはよるもひるもべんきょうします。

    Yes, I study both day and night.

  5. 122

    あなたのおくさんもおこさんもにほんごをはなしますか。

    Do both your wife and your children speak Japanese?

  6. 123

    いいえ、かないもこどももにほんごをはなしません。

    No, neither my wife nor my children speak Japanese.

が、
but (See Gram. Notes)

Morning study and school start · Reading Selection 1 of 2

Study before breakfast

The passage begins with waking before six and studying until after seven.

*そうすると、 よく おぼえることが できます* means "When I do that, I can memorize well."

School at eight

*がっこうは 午前 八時に はじまります* means "School starts at eight o'clock in the morning."

The *に* after the hour marks the exact starting time.

  1. 124

    わたくしはまいあさろくじまえにおきます。

    I get up before six o’clock every morning.

  2. 125

    それから、しちじすぎまでダイアログやかんじをべんきょうします。

    After that, I study dialogs and kanji until after seven o’clock.

  3. 126

    そうすると、よくおぼえることができます。

    When I do that, I can memorize well.

  4. 127

    あさはんのときには、かないがよびますから、すぐにたべます。

    My wife calls me for breakfast, so I eat right away.

  5. 128

    あさはんのあとで、しんぶんをよみます。

    After breakfast, I read the newspaper.

  6. 129

    がっこうはごぜんはちじにはじまります。

    School starts at eight o’clock in the morning.

や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)

Evening routine and bedtime · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Supper around five

School ends at four, and the speaker returns home. *ゆうはんは 五時頃 たべます* means "I eat supper around five o'clock."

In the supper line, *頃* marks five as approximate.

Late every night

The speaker studies until around eleven. *まいばん おそく やすみます* means "I go to bed late every night."

In the bedtime line, *おそく* means "late."

  1. 130

    そして、ごごよじにおわります。

    And it ends at four o’clock in the afternoon.

  2. 131

    たいてい、それからすぐうちへかえります。

    I usually go home right after that.

  3. 132

    ゆうはんはごじごろたべます。

    I eat supper around five o’clock.

  4. 133

    あとでこどもたちとしちじすぎまであそびます。

    Afterward, I play with the children until after seven o’clock.

  5. 134

    それからじゅういちじごろまでべんきょうしますから、まいばんおそくやすみます。

    Then I study until around eleven o’clock, so I go to bed late every night.

Morning routine questions · Questions 1 of 2

Morning times and reasons

The questions ask for exact times, approximate times, actions, and reasons in the morning routine.

*私は まい朝 何時に おきますか* means "What time do I get up every morning?" An answer gives the waking time.

  1. 135

    わたくしはまいあさなんじにおきますか。

    What time do I get up every morning?

  2. 136

    あさはんをなんじごろたべますか。

    Around what time do I eat breakfast?

  3. 137

    あさはんのまえになにをしますか。

    What do I do before breakfast?

  4. 138

    なぜあさめしのまえにべんきょうしますか。

    Why do I study before breakfast?

  5. 139

    あさめしのあとでなにをしますか。

    What do I do after breakfast?

  6. 140

    がっこうはなんじにはじまりますか。

    What time does school start?

School and evening routine · Questions 2 of 2

School, supper, and bedtime

The questions ask about time at school, supper, evening activity, study, and the reason for a late bedtime.

*夜 何時頃まで べんきょうしますか* means "Until about what time do I study at night?" An answer gives an approximate finishing time.

  1. 141

    まいにちなんじかんがっこうにいますか。

    How many hours am I at school every day?

  2. 142

    ゆうはんははやくたべますか。

    Do I eat supper early?

  3. 143

    がっこうはなんじにおわりますか。

    What time does school end?

  4. 144

    ゆうはんのあとでなにをしますか。

    What do I do after supper?

  5. 145

    よるなんじごろまでべんきょうしますか。

    Until about what time do I study at night?

  6. 146

    なぜおそくやすみますか。

    Why do I go to bed late?

Meals and times of day · Word list 1 of 4

Meals and times of day

These words name meals and the main divisions of the day.

*朝めし* and *朝はん* both mean "breakfast." *午後* means "p.m., afternoon."

  1. 147

    あさ

    morning

  2. 148

    まいあさ

    every morning

  3. 149

    あさめし

    breakfast

  4. 150

    あさはん

    breakfast

  5. 151

    よる

    night, evening

  6. 152

    ばん

    evening, night

  7. 153

    ひるめし

    lunch, noon meal

  8. 154

    ひるはん

    lunch, noon meal

  9. 155

    ゆうはん

    supper, evening meal

  10. 156

    ごぜん

    a.m., morning

  11. 157

    ごご

    p.m., afternoon

  12. 158

    まえ

    before, front

まい朝
every morning
朝はん
breakfast
ひるはん
lunch, noon meal
ゆうはん
supper, evening meal

Home, study and school verbs · Word list 2 of 4

Home, family, and study

These words cover home, family, study, and school actions.

*おぼえる* means "to memorize, remember." With *はじまる*, something starts. With *はじめる*, someone starts something.

  1. 159

    うち

    home, house

  2. 160

    ダイアログ

    dialogue

  3. 161

    とき

    time

  4. 162

    うでどけい

    wristwatch

  5. 163

    おこさん

    child, children

  6. 164

    おきる

    to rise, get up (v.i.)

  7. 165

    べんきょうする

    to study (v.t.)

  8. 166

    よぶ

    to call (v.t.)

  9. 167

    おぼえる

    to memorize, remember (v.t.)

  10. 168

    はじまる

    begins, starts (v.i.)

  11. 169

    おわる

    ends (v.i.)

  12. 170

    はじめる

    to begin, to start (v.t)

うでどけい
wristwatch
お子さん
child, children
べんきょうする
to study (v.t.)
よぶ
to call (v.t.)
はじまる
begins, starts (v.i.)
おわる
ends (v.i.)
はじめる
to begin, to start (v.t)

Time and sequence words · Word list 3 of 4

Time, sequence, and both or neither

These words cover sequence, exact and approximate time, manner, and doing both or neither.

*に* means "at." The pair *---も---も します* and *---も---も しません* contrasts doing both with doing neither.

  1. 171

    やすむ

    to rest, to retire (v.i.)

  2. 172

    あそぶ

    to play (v.i.)

  3. 173

    に

    at (See Grammar Notes)

  4. 174

    よく

    well, thoroughly, often (adverbial form of YOI) (See Grammar Notes)

  5. 175

    おそく

    late (adverbial form of OSOI, be late, be slow)

  6. 176

    ---すぎ

    past, after

  7. 177

    しちじすぎ

    past seven o'clock

  8. 178

    なんじ

    what time

  9. 179

    ごろ

    approximate point of time (See Gram. Notes)

  10. 180

    あとで

    after, afterwards

  11. 181

    ---も---もします

    do both --- and (See Grammar Notes

  12. 182

    ---も---もしません

    do neither -- nor (See Grammar Notes)

やすむ
to rest, to retire (v.i.)
あそぶ
to play (v.i.)
---すぎ
past, after
七時すぎ
past seven o'clock
後で
after, afterwards
---も---もします
do both --- and (See Grammar Notes
---も---もしません
do neither -- nor (See Grammar Notes)

Daily schedule and reading habits · Word list 4 of 4

Schedules and reading habits

These model expressions join time phrases to daily actions and reading habits.

*私は 十二時頃 ひるめしを たべます* means "I eat lunch at around twelve o'clock."

*私は 朝 はやく おきます* means "I get up early in the morning."

*私は 夜 しんぶんも ざっしも 読みません* means "I read neither newspapers nor magazines at night."

  1. 183

    すぐ

    right away, immediately

  2. 184

    がっこうはごぜんはちじにはじまります。

    The school starts at eight a.m.

  3. 185

    がっこうはごごよじにおわります。

    The school ends at four p.m.

  4. 186

    わたくしはじゅうにじごろひるめしをたべます。

    I eat lunch at around twelve o'clock.

  5. 187

    わたくしはあさはやくおきます。

    I get up early in the morning.

  6. 188

    わたくしはよるおそくやすみます。

    I retire late at night.

  7. 189

    わたくしはべんきょうのあとですぐやすみます。

    I retire right after studying.

  8. 190

    かんじやダイアログをおぼえると、じかんがかかります。

    When I memorize Kanji and a dialogue, it takes time.

  9. 191

    ダイアログをおぼえると、よるかなりおそくなります。

    When I memorize a dialogue, it gets fairly late at night.

  10. 192

    わたくしはよるしんぶんもざっしもよみません。

    I read neither newspapers nor magazines at night.

がっこうは午前八時にはじまります。
"The school starts at eight a.m."
がっこうは午後四時におわります。
"The school ends at four p.m."
私は十二時頃ひるめしをたべます。
"I eat lunch at around twelve o'clock."
私は朝はやくおきます。
"I get up early in the morning."
私は夜おそくやすみます。
"I retire late at night."
私はべんきょうの後ですぐやすみます。
"I retire right after studying."
かん字やダイアログをおぼえると、時間がかかります。
"When I memorize Kanji and a dialogue, it takes time."
ダイアログをおぼえると、夜かなりおそくなります。
"When I memorize a dialogue, it gets fairly late at night."
私は夜しんぶんもざっしも読みません。
"I read neither newspapers nor magazines at night."

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.