Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 22

Lesson 22

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

187 lines

Watching a language class · Dialogue 1 of 3

Inside a language class

A visitor asks, *日本語の きょうしつを 見せてください*, "Please show me a Japanese language classroom." The reply is *はい、 かしこまりました*, "Yes, certainly."

What people are doing

Listen for *しています* in *かれらは 今 かいわの れんしゅうを しています*, "They are now practicing conversation." It describes an action in progress.

The request ends in *見せてください*, "please show me."

Kanji: 今, 生, 徒, 先

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

Kanji: 間

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

  1. 1

    にほんごのきょうしつをみせてください。

    Please show me a Japanese language classroom.

    日本Japanese
    語Japanese
    のof
    きょうしつclassroom
    をobject
    見せshow
    てshow
    ください。please
  2. 2

    はい、かしこまりました。

    Yes, certainly.

  3. 3

    このせいとたちはいまなにをしていますか。

    What are these students doing now?

  4. 4

    かれらはいまかいわのれんしゅうをしています。

    They are now practicing conversation.

  5. 5

    せんせいはなにをしていますか。

    What is the teacher doing?

  6. 6

    せいとたちのそばできいています。そして、まちがいがあると、すぐあとでなおします。

    He is listening to the students. And if there are any mistakes, he corrects them immediately afterward.

TE-ending of verbs

There are three (3) classes of verbs--consonant (regular) verbs, vowel verbs (semi-regular), and irregular verbs--, and they are all inflected and their endings change according to certain uses as was briefly described in Lesson 14.

One of the endings is called TE-ending. The formation of TE-endings differs depending on the classes of verbs. Below are some models showing the formation of TE-endings for each class of verbs:

Consonant verbs (Regular verbs)

The roots of consonant verbs end in one of the following nine (9) consonants: --K, --S, --T, --R, --(W), --B, --M, --N, and --G. Therefore, their basic endings end in one of the following nine (9) different syllables:

| | | | 
--KU く | --SU す | --TSU つ | --RU る | --U う
--BU ぶ | --MU む | --NU ぬ | --GU ぐ |

Notice that the consonant W does not occur in front of U. It occurs only in front of A as in WA. Thus, there are nine (9) different groups of consonant verbs. The following table shows the TE-ending of each group.

Consonant Root | Basic ending | TE-ending | Examples: Basic ending | Examples: TE-ending
- K - | -KU(-く) | - ITE * | KAKU (書く) 'to write' | KAITE (書いて)
- S - | -SU(す) | - ITE | HANASU(はなす) 'to speak' | HANASHITE (はなして)
- T - | -TSU(つ) | - TTE | TATSU(たつ) 'to stand' | TATTE (たって)
- R - | -RU(る)** | -TTE | TORU(とる) 'to take' | TOTTE (とって)
-(W)- | -U(う) | - TTE | NARAU(ならう) 'to learn' | NARATTE(ならって)
- B - | -BU(ぶ) | -NDE | YOBU(よぶ) 'to call' | YONDE(よんで)
- M - | -MU(む) | -NDE | YOMU(読む) 'to read' | YONDE(読んで)
- N - | -NU(ぬ) | -NDE | SHINU(しぬ) 'to die' | SHINDE(しんで)
- G - | -GU(ぐ) | -IDE | KAGU(かぐ) 'to smell' | KAIDE(かいで)

* One exception to this rule is the TE-ending of the verb IKU ( 行く ) 'to go.' The TE-ending of the verb IKU ( 行く ) 'to go' is ITTE ( 行って ).

** Most verbs whose basic endings end in -ERU or -IRU belong to the class of vowel verbs. The -ERU and -IRU

verbs that inflect as consonant verbs are not too many. So, just learn them as they occur.

Vowel verbs (semi-regular verbs)

The basic ending of all vowel verbs ends in either -ERU or -IRU. The following table shows the TE-ending of vowel verbs:

Basic ending | Conjunctive ending | TE-ending | Examples: Basic ending | Examples: TE-ending
-ERU | - E - | - ETE | TABERU (たべる) 'to eat' | TABETE (たべて)
-IRU | - I - | -ITE | MIRU (見る) 'to see' | MITE (見て)

* Notice that the TE-ending of vowel verbs is formed by placing TE after the conjunctive ending.

TE-ending of the irregular verbs KURU 'to come' and SURU 'to do.'

Irregular Verbs in the Basic Ending | Conjunctive Ending | TE-ending
KURU | KI - | KITE
SURU | SHI - | SHITE
Learning the forms of TE-endings

In order for you to be able to make up the proper TE-ending of a new consonant or vowel verb you hear, you will want to compare it with a verb you already know and make its TE-ending by analogy, using the old verb for a model.
Use of TE-endings

The TE-ending of verbs is used in many different ways. (a) It is used alone at the end of a clause. (b) It is used with certain particles. (c) It is also used in verb phrases with some form of certain verbs. The TE-ending does not indicate the tense of its own, but takes on the mood of the following or final verb. Uses of the TE-ending will be dealt with as they occur in the course.
TE-ending of verbs plus KUDASAI

The TE-ending of verbs is used before KUDASAI, 'please,' to make a polite request, e.g.,

ANATA NO NAMAE O KAITE KUDASAI. "Please write your name."

MADO O AKETE KUDASAI. "Please open the window."

YOKU BENKYOOSHITE KUDASAI. "Please study hard."
TE-ending of verbs plus IMASU

The TE-ending of verbs is used before some form of the verb IMASU to express, among other things, the notion of the progressive tense 'is (do)ing,' e.g.,

ANO KATA WA NIPPONGO O HANASHITE IMASU. "He is speaking Japanese."

WATAKUSHI WA ASAHAN O TABETE IMASHITA. "I was eating breakfast."

NANNIMO SHITE IMASEN. "I am not doing anything."
Quoting particle TO

In Lesson 15 the use of the quoting particle TO before the verb IIMASU to indicate what is said, called, or named was briefly described, e.g.,

KONO PEN WA PAAKAA TO IIMASU. "This pen is called Parker."

In English what somebody says, asks, thinks, believes, writes, etc., can be quoted directly by quoting his exact words or indirectly by giving the gist of what he says, e.g.,

Kelley said, "I am going to town."

Kelley said that he would go to town.

In Japanese both these sentences are treated the

same way:

KERII-SAN WA MACHI E IKU TO IIMASHITA.

Thus, the particle TO indicates that what precedes TO is a quotation, either direct or indirect. Before the quoting particle TO, a plain form is commonly used, but sometimes the polite form is used, especially if the speaker is trying to quote the exact words, e.g.,

KERII-SAN WA MACHI E IKIMASU TO IIMASHITA.

In order not to confuse with the particle TO meaning 'and', or with the particle TO meaning 'if or when', the Japanese often pronounce the quoting particle TO with a special high pitch, pausing slightly before and sometimes after the particle, e.g.,

TSUKUE NO UE NI HON TO ENPITSU GA ARIMASU. "There are books and pencils on the desk."

NI NI SAN O TASU TO, GO NI NARIMASU. "If you add 3 to 2, it becomes 5."

ASAHI TO IU SHINBUN O YONDE IMASU. "I am reading a paper called 'ASAHI'."

TANAKA-SAN WA HAYAKU KAERU TO IIMASHITA. "Mr. Tanaka said that he would go home early."
Conjunctive ending of verbs plus KATA.

There are a large number of compound nouns in Japanese. A compound noun consists of two or more parts. The conjunctive ending may be used as the first member of compound nouns. In this lesson, the noun KATA, 'method, way,' is used as the second member of compound nouns, e.g.,

Class | Basic ending | Conjunctive ending | Compound noun with KATA as the second member | Meaning
Consonant Verbs | IKU | IKI- | IKIKATA | how to go
Consonant Verbs | HANASU | HANASHI- | HANASHIKATA | how to speak
Consonant Verbs | TATSU | TACHI- | TACHIKATA | how to stand
Consonant Verbs | TORU | TORI- | TORIKATA | how to take
Consonant Verbs | NARAU | NARAI- | NARAIKATA | how to learn
Consonant Verbs | YOBU | YOBI- | YOBIKATA | how to call
Consonant Verbs | YOMU | YOMI- | YOMIKATA | how to read
Consonant Verbs | SHINU | SHINI- | SHINIKATA | how to die
Vowel Verbs | OSHIERU | OSHIE- | OSHIEKATA | how to teach
Vowel Verbs | MIRU | MI- | MIKATA | how to see
Irregular Verbs | KURU | KI- | KIKATA | how to come
Irregular Verbs | SURU | SHI- | SHIKATA | how to do
NANJI means 'what time' and NANJIKAN means 'how many hours.'

Point of time | | Duration of time | 
NANJI | 'What time' | NANJIKAN | 'how many hours'
ICHIJI | '1 o'clock' | ICHIJIKAN | '1 hour'
YOJI | '4 o'clock' | YOJIKAN | '4 hours'
JUUJI | '10 o'clock | JUUJIKAN | '10 hours'
GORO and GURAI

As was described in Lesson 21, GORO indicates an approximate point of time. But to indicate an approximate duration of time, the word GURAI is used. Compare the following examples:

GORO | GURAI
NANJI GORO 'about what time' | NANJIKAN GURAI 'about how many hours'
ICHIJI GORO 'about 1 o'clock' | ICHIJIKAN GURAI 'about 1 hour'
SANJI HAN GORO 'about 3:30' | SANJIKAN HAN GURAI 'about 3½ hours'
GOJI JUUGOFUN GORO 'about 5:15' | GOJIKAN TO JUU GOFUN GURAI 'about 5 hours and 15 minutes'
の
See Grammar Notes
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
そば
vicinity
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
間ちがい
mistake, error
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
ある
certain, some
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
すぐ
right away, immediately

Reading, writing and translating · Dialogue 2 of 3

What every student practices

One student reads while others write kanji. *生徒は みんな 読み方と 書き方の けいこを しますか* asks whether everyone practices reading and writing.

Ways and duration

In *まい日 一時間ぐらい 読み方と 書き方の けいこを します*, *読み方* and *書き方* name ways of reading and writing.

*一時間ぐらい* means "about one hour."

Kanji: 方, 書, 々

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

  1. 7

    そっちのきょうしつのせいとたちはなにをしていますか。

    What are the students in that classroom doing?

  2. 8

    ひとりのせいとはほんをゆっくりよんでいますが、ほかのせいとはこくばんにかんじをかいています。

    One of the students is reading the book slowly, and the other students are writing KANJI on the blackboard.

  3. 9

    せいとはみんなよみかたとかきかたのけいこをしますか。

    Do all the students practice how to read and how to write?

  4. 10

    はい、まいにちいちじかんぐらいよみかたとかきかたのけいこをします。

    Yes, they practice how to read and how to write about one hour everyday.

  5. 11

    えいやくもわやくもしますか。

    Do they also do the Japanese into English translation and the English into Japanese translation?

  6. 12

    はい、れんしゅうもんだいがありますから、ときどきやくします。

    Yes, there are drill problems, so they translate sometimes.

そっち
than one
一人
one person
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
ゆっくり
slowly; deliberately; leisurely
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
みんな
all
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
けいこ
practice
まい日
everyday
一
one
ぐらい
about
やく
approximately (See Grammar Notes)
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)

Teacher instructions and difficulties · Dialogue 3 of 3

The teacher's instruction

The teacher addresses the students. *先生は 生徒たちに 「せきへ かえってください」と 言いました* reports the instruction "Please return to your seats."

The marker after reported words

In that line, *と* marks *せきへ かえってください* as the teacher's words before *言いました*, "said."

Kanji: 使

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

  1. 13

    いま、せんせいがせいとになにかいいましたね。

    The teacher said something to the students just now, didn't he?

  2. 14

    せんせいはせいとたちに「せきへかえってください」といいました。

    He told the students, "Please return to your seats.

  3. 15

    あるせいとはせんせいのしつもんにこたえることができませんね。

    Some students cannot answer the teacher's questions, can they?

  4. 16

    はい、そのときには、せんせいはほかのせいとにおなじしつもんをします。

    No, in that case the teacher asks the same question to another student.

  5. 17

    にほんごのかいわでせいとにはなにがいちばんむずかしいですか。

    What is most difficult for the students in the Japanese language conversation?

  6. 18

    じょしとどうしのつかいかたがいちばんむずかしいです。

    Usage of particles and verbs is the most difficult.

か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
「せき
seat
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
ください」
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
こたえる
to answer (v.i.)
時
time
おなじ
the same (See Gram. Notes)
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
むずかしい
difficult
じょし
particle

Making polite classroom requests · Perception drill, Block 1

Forming the TE-ending

*あなたの おなまえを こくばんに 書いてください* means "Please write your name on the blackboard." *書く* becomes the TE-ending *書いて*.

Consonant verbs change by their last syllable. *とる* becomes *とって*. Vowel verbs add *て* to their conjunctive ending.

The irregular verbs *KURU* and *SURU* have *KITE* and *SHITE*.

A polite request

A TE-ending followed by *ください* makes a polite request. *その えんぴつを とってください* means "Please take that pencil."

*まどを あけてください* means "Please open the window." The TE-ending *あけて* comes before *ください*.

  1. 19

    あなたのおなまえをこくばんにかいてください。

    Please write your name on the blackboard.

  2. 20

    はい、かきます。

    Yes, I will.

  3. 21

    そのえんぴつをとってください。それから、それをわたくしのつくえのうえにおいてください。

    Please take that pencil. Then put it on my desk.

  4. 22

    はい、このえんぴつをとります。それから、これをあなたのつくえのうえにおきます。

    Yes, I will take this pencil. Then I will put it on your desk.

  5. 23

    まどをあけてください。

    Please open the window.

  6. 24

    はい、かしこまりました、まどをあけます。

    Yes, certainly. I will open the window.

  7. 25

    ごごさんじにわたくしのところへきてください。

    Please come to see me at three in the afternoon.

  8. 26

    はい、かしこまりました。いきます。

    Yes, certainly. I will come.

なまえ
name
午後
p.m., afternoon
三
three
ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)

Asking about current activities · Perception drill, Block 2

The TE-ending in a verb phrase

*私は 今 かん字を 書いています* means "I am writing kanji now." The TE-ending *書いて* joins a form of another verb.

A TE-ending has no tense of its own. The verb that follows carries the tense.

An action in progress

A TE-ending followed by a form of *います* describes an action in progress. *しんぶんを 読んでいます* means "He is reading a newspaper."

The question uses the same pattern: *あなたは 何を していますか*, "What are you doing?"

  1. 27

    あなたはなにをしていますか。

    What are you doing?

  2. 28

    わたくしはいまかんじをかいています。

    I am writing kanji now.

  3. 29

    あなたはだれににほんごをおしえていますか。

    Who are you teaching Japanese to?

  4. 30

    べいこくのぐんじんににほんごをおしえています。

    I am teaching Japanese to American military personnel.

  5. 31

    たなかさんはいまべんきょうしていますか。

    Is Mr. Tanaka studying now?

  6. 32

    いいえ、いまやすんでいます。

    No, he is resting now.

  7. 33

    あのかたはあそこでなにをしていますか。

    What is that person doing over there?

  8. 34

    しんぶんをよんでいます。

    He is reading a newspaper.

だれ
who?
あそこ
over there

Reporting what people said · Perception drill, Block 3

What と marks

*ここへ 来なさいと 言いました* means "The teacher said to come here." The particle *と* marks the words before it as reported speech.

The plain form is the form commonly used before *と*. *町へ 行くと 言いました* means "He said he was going into town."

Exact polite words

The polite form is the form used for polite speech. *IKIMASU* sometimes appears before *TO* when the speaker gives the exact words.

  1. 35

    せんせいはなんといいましたか。

    What did the teacher say?

  2. 36

    ここへきなさいといいました。

    The teacher said to come here.

  3. 37

    ブラウンさんはいませんね。

    Mr. Brown is not here, is he?

  4. 38

    ええ、まちへいくといいました。

    No, he said he was going into town.

  5. 39

    スミスさんはがっこうへくるといいましたか。

    Did Mr. Smith say he would come to school?

  6. 40

    はい、くるといいました。

    Yes, he said he would come.

  7. 41

    あなたはにほんへいくといいましたね。

    You said you were going to Japan, didn’t you?

  8. 42

    はい、わたくしはにほんへいくといいました。

    Yes, I said I was going to Japan.

ここ
here
ええ、
Yes
町
town

Ways of doing things · Perception drill, Block 4

Naming how an action is done

*この かん字の 書き方を おしえてください* means "Please show me how to write this kanji." *方* means "method" or "way."

The conjunctive ending of a verb joins *方* to form a compound noun. *読む* gives *読み方*, "how to read," and *書く* gives *書き方*, "how to write."

Several ways of doing

*はなし方も 読み方も 書き方も ならいます* says that students learn how to speak, read, and write.

The same pattern gives *おしえ方*, "way of teaching," and *たべ方*, "way of eating."

  1. 43

    このかんじのかきかたをおしえてください。

    Please show me how to write this kanji.

  2. 44

    はい、それはこうかきます。

    Yes, you write it like this.

  3. 45

    あのせんせいのおしえかたはいいですね。

    That teacher’s way of teaching is good, isn’t it?

  4. 46

    はい、そうです。おしえかたがいいと、よくならうことができます。

    Yes, it is. When the teaching is good, you can learn well.

  5. 47

    ここでがいこくごをべんきょうすると、はなしかたもよみかたもかきかたもならいますね。

    When you study a foreign language here, you learn how to speak, read, and write it, don’t you?

  6. 48

    そうです。みんなならいます。

    That’s right. We learn all of them.

  7. 49

    あのかたのたべかたはわるいですね。

    That person’s table manners are bad, aren’t they?

  8. 50

    そうですね。

    Yes, they are.

いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
よく
well, skillfully
わるい
bad

Polite requests and commands · Pattern 1 1 of 3

Match the last syllable

*これを 使ってください* means "Please use this." To form a new TE-ending, compare its last syllable with a verb from the same pattern.

A verb ending in *ぶ* follows *よぶ*, which becomes *よんで*.

The ending before ください

The TE-ending comes before *ください* in every request. *先生を よんで ください* means "Please call the teacher."

*このかみに なまえを 書いてください* means "Please write your name on this paper."

  1. 51

    もうすこしべんきょうしてください。

    Please study a little more.

  2. 52

    これをつかってください。

    Please use this.

  3. 53

    にほんごではなしてください。

    Please speak in Japanese.

  4. 54

    まちがいをなおしてください。

    Please correct the mistake.

  5. 55

    せんせいをよんでください。

    Please call the teacher.

  6. 56

    これをよんでください。

    Please read this.

  7. 57

    そのまどをしめてください。

    Please close that window.

  8. 58

    ブラウンさん、たってください。

    Mr. Brown, please stand up.

  9. 59

    このかみになまえをかいてください。

    Please write your name on this paper.

少し
little (quantity)

Accepting and carrying out requests · Pattern 1 2 of 3

Request and response

*はやく かえって ください* means "Please go home early." The response *はい、 はやく かえります* means "Yes, I will go home early."

*かしこまりました* also accepts a request with "certainly." The response states the action in its polite form.

  1. 60

    はい、かしこまりました。

    Yes, certainly.

  2. 61

    はやくかえってください。

    Please go home early.

  3. 62

    はい、はやくかえります。

    Yes, I will go home early.

  4. 63

    まどをすこしあけてください。

    Please open the window a little.

  5. 64

    はい、まどをすこしあけます。

    Yes, I will open the window a little.

  6. 65

    ならう

    to learn

  7. 66

    じしゅうする

    to study on one’s own

  8. 67

    とる

    to take

  9. 68

    いく

    to go

じ
character, word
しゅう
state
とる
to take (v.t.)

Action verbs for requests · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Verbs for classroom requests

These verbs supply actions for requests. *見せる* means "to show," *なおす* means "to correct," and *おぼえる* means "to memorize."

Their different endings provide material for the TE-ending patterns, including *来る*, "to come," and *やすむ*, "to rest."

  1. 69

    くる

    to come

  2. 70

    あそぶ

    to play

  3. 71

    なおす

    to correct

  4. 72

    みせる

    to show

  5. 73

    きく

    to listen

  6. 74

    おく

    to put

  7. 75

    おぼえる

    to memorize

  8. 76

    やすむ

    to rest

あそぶ
to play (v.i.)
なおす
to correct, mend, repair (v.t.)
見せる
to show (v.t.)
きく
chrysanthemum
おぼえる
to memorize, remember (v.t.)
やすむ
to rest, to retire (v.i.)

Describing ongoing activities · Pattern 2 1 of 3

Activities in progress

*生徒は べんきょうして います* means "Students are studying." The TE-ending and *います* describe an action in progress.

The pattern works with different TE-endings. *子どもたちは へやの 中で あそんでいます* means "The children are playing in the room."

  1. 77

    せいとはべんきょうしています。

    Students are studying.

  2. 78

    わたくしたちはにほんごをならっています。

    We are learning Japanese.

  3. 79

    たくさんのひとがあるいています。

    Many people are walking.

  4. 80

    こどもたちはへやのなかであそんでいます。

    The children are playing in the room.

  5. 81

    せいとはほんをよんでいます。

    The student is reading a book.

  6. 82

    スミスさんはひるめしをたべています。

    Mr. Smith is eating lunch.

  7. 83

    せいとたちはいまじしゅうしています。

    The students are studying on their own now.

  8. 84

    せんせいはいませいとににほんごをおしえています。

    The teacher is teaching Japanese to the students now.

たくさん
many
人
people
子ども
child, children
へや
room
ひるめし
lunch, noon meal

Asking what is happening · Pattern 2 2 of 3

Ask what is happening

*あなたは 今 何を していますか* asks "What are you doing now?" The answer names the action with its TE-ending and *います*.

*私は 今 日本の ざっしを 読んでいます* answers "I am reading a Japanese magazine now."

  1. 85

    あなたはいまなにをたべていますか。

    What are you eating now?

  2. 86

    ひるめしをたべています。

    I am eating lunch.

  3. 87

    なにをかっていますか。

    What are you buying?

  4. 88

    にほんごのきょうかしょをかっています。

    I am buying a Japanese textbook.

  5. 89

    あなたはいまなにをしていますか。

    What are you doing now?

  6. 90

    わたくしはいまにほんのざっしをよんでいます。

    I am reading a Japanese magazine now.

  7. 91

    かんじをかきます――→かんじをかいています。

    Write kanji → be writing kanji.

  8. 92

    かたかなをふくしゅうします。

    I review katakana.

かたかな
KATAKANA syllabary

Changing actions to ongoing forms · Pattern 2 3 of 3

From an action to an ongoing action

*先生は 日本語の しんぶんを 読みます* says that the teacher reads a Japanese newspaper.

*読みます* changes to its TE-ending plus a form of *IMASU* to describe the action in progress.

The same change applies to *あそびます* and *見ます*.

  1. 93

    こどもたちはよくあそびます。

    The children play a lot.

  2. 94

    せんせいはにほんごのしんぶんをよみます。

    The teacher reads a Japanese newspaper.

  3. 95

    あのかたははやくあるきます。

    That person walks quickly.

  4. 96

    ダイアログをれんしゅうします。

    I practice the dialogue.

  5. 97

    あのかたはえをみます。

    That person looks at a picture.

  6. 98

    わたくしはまどをしめます。

    I close the window.

ダイアログ
dialogue

Quoting statements and instructions · Pattern 3 1 of 2

Quoted content before a speech verb

*本を 読んでくださいと 言いました* means "He said, Please read a book." The particle *と* marks the request as quoted content.

Quoted content can precede another speech verb. *日本語の はつおんは やさしいと ききました* means "I heard that Japanese pronunciation is easy."

  1. 99

    ほんをよんでくださいといいました。

    He said, 'Please read a book'.

  2. 100

    せんせいはそれをやくしてくださいといいました。

    The teacher said, “Please translate it.”

  3. 101

    たなかさんはまちへいくといいました。

    Mr. Tanaka said that he would go into town.

  4. 102

    せんせいがもっとべんきょうしてくださいといいました。

    The teacher said, “Please study more.”

  5. 103

    にほんごのはつおんはやさしいとききました。

    I heard that Japanese pronunciation is easy.

  6. 104

    かんじはむずかしいとききました。

    I heard that kanji is difficult.

  7. 105

    せんせいはなんといいましたか。

    What did the teacher say?

  8. 106

    あさはやくがっこうへきなさいといいました。

    The teacher said, “Come to school early in the morning.”

ください
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
もっと
more (See Gram. Notes)
やさしい
easy
朝
morning

Reporting plans and invitations · Pattern 3 2 of 2

A reported plan

*七時に 来ると 言いました* means "He said he would come at seven o'clock." The plain form *来る* gives the reported plan before *と 言いました*.

A reported invitation

A quoted invitation keeps its polite request. *ともだちに P.X.へ 来てくださいと 言いました* means "He told his friend, Please come to the P.X."

  1. 107

    パーカーさんもはやくきますか。

    Will Mr. Parker come early too?

  2. 108

    はい、しちじにくるといいました。

    Yes, he said he would come at seven o’clock.

  3. 109

    スミスさんはどこでひるめしをたべるといいましたか。

    Where did Mr. Smith say he would eat lunch?

  4. 110

    ピーエックスでたべるといいました。

    He said he would eat at the P.X.

  5. 111

    やまださんはなんといいましたか。

    What did Mr. Yamada say?

  6. 112

    ピーエックスでじゅうにじにひるはんをたべるといいました。

    He said he would eat lunch at the P.X. at twelve o’clock.

  7. 113

    それからなんといいましたか。

    What did he say after that?

  8. 114

    それから、ともだちにピーエックスへきてくださいといいました。

    After that, he told his friend, “Please come to the P.X.”

七
seven
十
ten
二
two
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
ともだち
friend

Asking how things are done · Pattern 4 1 of 2

A way of doing something

*かん字の 書き方 を おしえてください* means "Please teach me how to write this KANJI." The verb's conjunctive ending combines with *方*.

The same pattern forms *使い方*, "how to use," and *し方*, "way of doing."

  1. 115

    かんじのかきかたをおしえてください。

    Please teach me how to write this KANJI.

  2. 116

    もうすこしよみかたをべんきょうしてください。

    Please study reading a little more.

  3. 117

    かんじのじしょのつかいかたはむずかしいです。

    It is difficult to use a kanji dictionary.

  4. 118

    あのかたはべんきょうのしかたがよくありません。

    That person’s way of studying is not good.

  5. 119

    おしえかたがわるいと、せいとはならいません。

    If the teaching method is poor, the students will not learn.

  6. 120

    わたくしはこのかんじのかきかたがわかりません。

    I do not know how to write this kanji.

  7. 121

    このがっこうでは、あさからばんまではなしかたのれんしゅうをしますか。

    At this school, do you practice speaking from morning until evening?

ばん
evening, night
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)

Study methods and duration · Pattern 4 2 of 2

Clock time and duration

*あなたは 読み方や 書き方を まい日 何時間ぐらい べんきょうしますか* asks how many hours each day the person studies reading and writing.

*NANJI* asks "what time." *NANJIKAN* asks "how many hours." *ICHIJI* is "1 o'clock," while *一時間* is "1 hour."

About how long

*ぐらい* marks an approximate duration. *一時間ぐらい* means "about one hour."

*GORO* marks an approximate point of time. *ICHIJI GORO* means "about 1 o'clock."

  1. 122

    いいえ、よみかたもかきかたもならいます。

    No, we learn both reading and writing.

  2. 123

    あなたのがっこうではべんきょうのしかたもおしえますか。

    At your school, do they also teach you how to study?

  3. 124

    はい、おしえます。べんきょうのしかたがわるいと、せいとはなにもならいませんから。

    Yes, they do, because if the students’ way of studying is poor, they will not learn anything.

  4. 125

    あなたはよみかたやかきかたをまいにちなんじかんぐらいべんきょうしますか。

    About how many hours a day do you study reading and writing?

  5. 126

    うちでいちじかん、がっこうでいちじかんべんきょうします。

    I study for one hour at home and one hour at school.

  6. 127

    このかんじのかきかたをおしえてください。

    Please show me how to write this kanji.

から。
from (See Gram. Notes)
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
うち
home, house

A busy language classroom · Reading Selection 1 of 2

A language class at work

The passage describes students in a school. *コノ生徒タチハ 今 カイワノ レンシュウヲ シテイマス* means "These students are practicing conversation now."

The TE-ending with *イマス* marks that ongoing practice.

The most difficult skill

*読ミ方モ 書キ方モ ナライマスガ、 カイワガ 一番 ムズカシイデス* says they learn reading and writing, but conversation is the most difficult.

*読ミ方* and *書キ方* use the pattern for naming ways of doing an action.

  1. 128

    ココハガッコウデス。

    This is a school.

  2. 129

    コノガッコウデハ、イロイロノガイコクごヲオシエテイマス。

    Various foreign languages are taught at this school.

  3. 130

    コノせいとタチハいまカイワノレンシュウヲシテイマス。

    These students are practicing conversation now.

  4. 131

    よミかたモかキかたモナライマスガ、カイワガいちばんムズカシイデス。

    They learn both reading and writing, but conversation is the most difficult.

  5. 132

    カイワノときニハ、ミンナハヤクハナシマスカラ、まチガイガタクサンアリマス。

    During conversation practice, everyone speaks quickly, so there are many mistakes.

  6. 133

    せんせいハせいとノまチガイヲキクト、ソレヲナオシマス。

    When the teacher hears a student’s mistake, he corrects it.

  7. 134

    ときどきせんせいハせいとニシツモンヲシマス。

    Sometimes the teacher asks the students questions.

Translation and self-study · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Translation and difficult usage

The students do translation in both directions. *日本語デハ ジョシト ドウシノ 使イ方ガ ムズカシイデス* says that using particles and verbs is difficult in Japanese.

*使イ方* names the way of using something.

Practice during self-study

*レンシュウモンダイハ 大テイ ジシュウノ 時ニ シマス* means "They usually do the practice exercises during self-study." They also do them at home.

  1. 135

    ソノホカ、せいとハワヤクヤ

    In addition, the students do Japanese translations.

  2. 136

    エイヤクモシマス。

    They also do English translations.

  3. 137

    ワヤクハムズカシイデス。

    Japanese translation is difficult.

  4. 138

    にほんごデハジョシトドウシノつかイかたガムズカシイデス。

    In Japanese, the use of particles and verbs is difficult.

  5. 139

    マタイロイロノレンシュウモンダイガアリマス。

    There are also various practice exercises.

  6. 140

    レンシュウモンダイハたいていジシュウノときニシマス。

    They usually do the practice exercises during self-study.

  7. 141

    ウチデモシマス。

    They also do them at home.

Questions about language study · Questions

What an answer names

The questions ask what the school teaches, what the students practice, and what they find difficult.

*コノ 生徒タチハ 今 何ノ ケイコヲ シテイマスカ* asks "What are these students practicing now?" An answer names the activity with *シテイマス*.

  1. 142

    コノガッコウデハなにヲオシエテイマスカ。

    What do they teach at this school?

  2. 143

    コノキョウシツノせいとタチハなにごヲナラッテイマスカ。

    What language are the students in this classroom learning?

  3. 144

    コノせいとタチハいまなんノケイコヲシテイマスカ。

    What are these students practicing now?

  4. 145

    ソノホカなにヲナライマスカ。

    What else do they learn?

  5. 146

    カイワノじかんニハ、せんせいハなにヲシマスカ。

    What does the teacher do during conversation class?

  6. 147

    ソノホカせんせいハときどきなにヲシマスカ。

    What else does the teacher sometimes do?

  7. 148

    せいとハワヤクモエイヤクモナライマスカ。

    Do the students learn both translation into Japanese and translation into English?

  8. 149

    にほんごデハなにガムズカシイデスカ。

    What is difficult about Japanese?

  9. 150

    ドンナレンシュウモンダイガアリマスカ。

    What kinds of practice exercises are there?

  10. 151

    ワヤクトエイヤクデハ、ドッチノホウガムズカシイデスカ。

    Which is more difficult, translating into Japanese or translating into English?

何語
what language

Conversation and language skills · Word list 1 of 3

Language work and skills

The words cover language study. *かいわ* means "conversation," *間ちがい* means "mistake" or "error," and *けいこ* means "practice."

The pair *えいやく* and *わやく* distinguishes translation into English from translation into Japanese.

  1. 152

    かいわ

    conversation

  2. 153

    まちがい

    mistake, error

  3. 154

    はつおん

    pronunciation

  4. 155

    じょし

    particle

  5. 156

    どうし

    verbs

  6. 157

    よみかた

    reading, how to read, method of reading (See Grammar Notes)

  7. 158

    かきかた

    writing, how to write; method of writing (See Grammar Notes)

  8. 159

    つかいかた

    usage, how to use, method of using

  9. 160

    けいこ

    practice

  10. 161

    えいやく

    translation into English

  11. 162

    わやく

    translation into Japanese

  12. 163

    れんしゅうもんだい

    drill problems (See Grammar Notes)

かいわ
conversation
はつおん
pronunciation
どうし
verbs
読み方
reading, how to read, method of reading (See Grammar Notes)
書き方
writing, how to write; method of writing (See Grammar Notes)
使い方
usage, how to use, method of using
えいやく
translation into English
わやく
translation into Japanese
れんしゅうもんだい
drill problems (See Grammar Notes)

Study and correction words · Word list 2 of 3

Kinds of study and classroom action

The study words distinguish preparation, self-study, and review.

Other entries name classroom actions. *見せる* means "to show," *なおす* means "to correct," and *こたえる* means "to answer."

  1. 164

    れんしゅう(する)

    practice (to practice)

  2. 165

    よしゅう(する)

    preparation, study in advance (to prepare)

  3. 166

    じしゅう(する)

    self-study (to study by oneself)

  4. 167

    ふくしゅう(する)

    review study (to review)

  5. 168

    もんどう

    question and answer, dialogue

  6. 169

    しつもん(する)

    question (to ask a question)

  7. 170

    みせる

    to show (v.t.)

  8. 171

    なおす

    to correct, mend, repair (v.t.)

  9. 172

    たる

    to suffice (v.i.) to be sufficient

  10. 173

    たります

    polite form of TARU

  11. 174

    やくす

    to translate (v.t.)

  12. 175

    こたえる

    to answer (v.i.)

れんしゅう(する)
practice (to practice)
よしゅう(する)
preparation, study in advance (to prepare)
じしゅう(する)
self-study (to study by oneself)
ふくしゅう(する)
review study (to review)
もんどう
question and answer, dialogue
しつもん(する)
question (to ask a question)
たる
to suffice (v.i.) to be sufficient
たります
polite form of TARU
やくす
to translate (v.t.)

Classroom phrases and study habits · Word list 3 of 3

Classroom phrases in use

The phrases combine the lesson's requests, current actions, and study words. *見せてください* means "please show me," while *しています* means "is doing."

*生徒は 前の ばんに よしゅうを します* describes preparation the previous night. *生徒は うちで ふくしゅうします* describes review at home.

  1. 176

    みせてください

    please show me (See Grammar Notes)

  2. 177

    しています。

    is doing (See Grammar Notes)

  3. 178

    そっち

    than one

  4. 179

    ある

    certain, some

  5. 180

    ほかの

    other

  6. 181

    にほんごのはつおんはやさしいです。

    The pronunciation of the Japanese language is easy.

  7. 182

    せいとはまえのばんによしゅうをします。

    Students preview the lesson the previous night.

  8. 183

    せんせいはにほんごでせいとにしつもんします。

    The teacher questions students in Japanese.

  9. 184

    せんせいとせいとはにほんごでもんどうします。

    The teacher and students carry out conversation in Japanese.

  10. 185

    いまからせいとはじしゅうします。

    Students prepare the lessons from now on.

  11. 186

    せいとはうちでふくしゅうします。

    Students review the lesson at home.

  12. 187

    あるせいとはれんしゅうがたりません。

    A certain student lacks preparation.

見せてください
please show me (See Grammar Notes)
しています。
is doing (See Grammar Notes)
ほかの
other
日本語のはつおんはやさしいです。
"The pronunciation of the Japanese language is easy."
生徒は前のばんによしゅうをします。
"Students preview the lesson the previous night."
先生は日本語で生徒にしつもんします。
"The teacher questions students in Japanese."
先生と生徒は日本語でもんどうします。
"The teacher and students carry out conversation in Japanese."
今から生徒はじしゅうします。
"Students prepare the lessons from now on."
生徒はうちでふくしゅうします。
"Students review the lesson at home."
ある生徒はれんしゅうがたりません。
"A certain student lacks preparation."

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.