Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 23

Lesson 23

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

243 lines

Houses and people in pictures · Dialogue 1 of 4

Three houses on the right

The speakers study a picture with three houses on its right side. *みぎの 方に 家が 三げん あります* means "There are three houses on the right-hand side."

Two are Japanese houses. *もう 一けんは ようかんです* means "the other one is a western-style building."

Counting houses and shops

The counter *けん* counts houses and shops. Its sound changes after some numerals.

In *家が 三げん あります*, *三げん* means "three houses." *二けん* means "two houses," and *一けん* means "one house."

Kanji: 家, 草

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

Kanji: 本

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

  1. 1

    このえをごらんなさい。みぎのほうになにがありますか。

    Please look at this picture. What's there on the right-hand side?

    このthis
    えpicture
    をobject
    ごらんlook
    なさい。please
    みぎright
    のof
    方side
    にon
    何what
    がsubject
    ありexist
    ますpolite
    か。question
  2. 2

    みぎのほうにいえがさんげんあります。

    There are three houses on the right-hand side.

  3. 3

    それはみんなにほんのいえですか。

    Are they all Japanese houses?

  4. 4

    いいえ、にけんはにほんのいえですが、もういっけんはようかんです。

    No, two are Japanese houses, but the other one is a western-style building.

  5. 5

    ようかんのまえにひとがふたりいますね。ふたりともくさのうえにすわっていますか。

    There are two people in front of the western-style building, aren’t there? Are both of them sitting on the grass?

TE IMASU (state of being)

In Lesson 12, we found that the verb IMASU is an existential verb ’to exist, to be, or to stay,’ and it is used normally when the subject is animate or living, e.g.,

TANAKA-SAN WA TŌKYŌ NI IMASU. "Mr. Tanaka is in Tokyo."

YAMADA-SAN WA UCHI NI IMASU. "Mr. Yamada is (at) home."

In Lesson 22, we found that TE + IMASU means ’an action is now taking place,’ e.g.,

WATAKUSHI WA KANJI O KAITE IMASU. "I am writing KANJI."

The TE + IMASU has another meaning. The most usual meaning of this construction is ’the present result of an action that has already taken place.’ That is, this verb phrase expresses ’the present state of either a living being or an inanimate object resulting from an action that has already taken place.’ This meaning is more common among intransitive verbs which do not take a direct object, e.g.,

SUMISU-SAN WA TŌKYŌ NI ITTE IMASU.

(IKU ’to go,’ v.i.)

"Mr. Smith is in Tokyo."

(Lit: Mr. Smith has gone to Tokyo and is now staying there.)

YAMADA-SAN WA UCHI NI KAETTE IMASU.

(KAERU ’to return,’ v.i.)

"Mr. Yamada is home."

(Lit: Mr. Yamada has returned and is now staying at home.)

TAROO WA SOTO NI DETE IMASU.

(DERU ’to go out,’ v.i.)

"Taro is outside."

(Lit: Taro has gone outside and is now staying there.)

ANO KATA WA GAKKOO NI KITE IMASU.

(KURU ’to come,’ v.i.)

"He is in school."

(Lit: He has come to school and is now staying there.)

KOSHIKAKETE IMASU.

"--- is seated."

BOOSHI O KABUTTE IMASU.

"-- has a hat on."

BURAUN-SAN WA NIHONGO O SHITTE IMASU. "Mr. Brown knows the Japanese language."

* The negative of SHITTE IMASU is SHIRIMASEN.
Adjective Clause

We have learned so far four kinds of adjectival modifiers:

I-adjectives

MIJIKAI ENPITSU ’short pencil’

AKAI HON ’red book’

NO-adjectives

CHAIRO NO HAKO ’brown box’

ANATA NO HON ’your book’

NIPPONGO NO SENSEI ’Japanese language teacher’

NA-adjectives

KIREI NA HANA ’pretty flower’

Pre-substantives

KONO HON ’this book’

ARU SEITO ’certain student’

Thus, in Japanese all adjectival modifiers precede the word they modify.

e In this lesson, another kind of adjectival modifier is introduced. These modifiers are called adjectival clauses. In English, adjectival clauses follow the word they modify, but in Japanese all adjectival clauses precede the word they modify, e.g.,

KOSHIKAKETE IRU HITO ’a person who is seated’

TŌKYŌ NI ARU GAKKOO ’school which is in Tokyo’

WATAKUSHI-TACHI GA MAINICHI IKU TOKORO ’the place where we go everyday’

Notice that the adjectival clause may end informally in the basic ending like:

IRU for IMASU

ARU for ARIMASU

IKU for IKIMASU
TE KARA ’after’

The particle KARA after the TE-ending of verbs means ’after.’ So the construction TE-ending of verbs plus KARA means ’after doing such-and-such.’

Examples:

UCHI E KAETTE KARA SHINBUN O YOMIMASU. "I read newspapers after I go home."

ASAHAN O TABETE KARA GAKKOO E IKIMASU. "I go to school after I eat breakfast."

BENKYOO SHITE KARA ASOBIMASU. "I play after I study."
TE-ending at the end of a clause

The TE-ending is used at the end of a clause to mean ’(does) and’ or ’(did) and,’ ’(will do) and’ or (is doing) and.’ In other words, it is used medially in a sentence and its time mode is determined by the inflected forms occurring at the end of the sentence.

Examples:

YAMAMOTO-SAN WA KIMONO O KITE, GETA O HAITE IMASU. "Mr. Yamamoto is wearing a KIMONO and has wooden clogs on."

TANAKA-SAN GA KITE, HONDA-SAN GA KAERIMASHITA. "Mr. Tanaka came and Mr. Honda went home."

TE-endings are also used in series to show a sequence of action.

Examples:

ASA OKITE, ASAHAN O TABETE, GAKKOO NI IKIMASU. "I get up in the morning, eat breakfast, and go to school."

UCHI E KAETTE, SHINBUN O YONDE, YUUHAN O TABEMASHITA. "I went home, read the papers, and ate supper."

The particle KARA may be used after the last medial TE-ending also to show a sequence of action, e.g.,

ASA OKITE, ASAHAN O TABETE KARA, GAKKOO NI IKIMASU. "After I get up in the morning and eat breakfast, I go to school."
Verbs of locomotion and particle O

In this lesson, the particle O is used to indicate that the preceding word is the place ’through’ or ’along’ which the following locomotive action takes place.

Examples:

TORI GA KI NO UE O TONDE IMASU. "Birds are flying over the trees."

YAMADA-SAN WA HIROI MICHI O SANPO SHITE IMASU. "Mr. Yamada is strolling along a wide road."

Other verbs of locomotion introduced thus far are:

ARUKU to walk

KAERU to return

IKU to go

KURU to come
-WA ’bird counter’

The word -WA is a numerical counter to count birds. Note that phonetic changes take place when it is placed after certain numerals:

| 
ICHI-WA | 1 bird
NI-WA | 2 birds
SAN-BA | 3 "
SHI-WA (YON-BA) | 4 "
GO-WA | 5 "
ROKU-WA (ROP-PA) | 6 "
SHICHI-WA | 7 "
HACHI-WA | 8 "
KU-WA (KYUU-WA) | 9 "
JIP-PA | 10 birds
NIJIP-PA | 20 "
HYAP-PA | 100 "
SEN-BA | 1,000 birds
NAN-BA | how many birds?
IKU-WA | how many birds?
-KEN ’counter for houses and shops’

The word -KEN is a counter to count houses and shops. It also undergoes phonetic changes when placed after certain numerals.

Examples:

| 
IK-KEN | 1 house
NI-KEN | 2 houses
SAN-GEN | 3 "
SHI-KEN(YON-KEN) | 4 "
GO-KEN | 5 "
ROK-KEN | 6 "
SHICHI-KEN (NANA-KEN) | 7 "
HACHI-KEN (HAK-KEN) | 8 "
KU-KEN (KYUU-KEN) | 9 "
JIK-KEN | 10 "
HYAK-KEN | 100 "
SEN-GEN | 1,000 "
IKU-KEN | how many houses?
NAN-GEN | how many houses?
-KI ’counter for airplanes’

The word -KI is a counter to count airplanes and helicopters and other flying machines.

| 
IK-KI | 1 plane
NI-KI | 2 planes
SAN-KI | 3 "
YON-KI | 4 "
GO-KI | 5 "
ROK-KI | 6 "
SHICHI-KI (NANA-KI) | 7 "
HACHI-KI (HAK-KI) | 8 "
KU-KI | 9 "
JIK-KI | 10 "
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
みぎ
right
の
See Grammar Notes
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
家
house, home
三
three
みんな
all
二
two
けん
numerical counter for houses (See Gram. Notes)
一
one
ようかん
western-style building
前
before, front
人
people
二人
2 people
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)

Identifying a working family · Dialogue 2 of 4

The working person

The speakers identify a man, his wife, and their children. *はたらいている 人は 女の 人ですか、 男の 人ですか* means "Is the person who is working a woman or man?"

In *はたらいている 人*, the action comes before *人*. *草の上に すわっているのが おくさんです* means "The one seated on the grass is his wife."

Kanji: 供

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

  1. 6

    いいえ、ひとりははたらいています。

    No, one is working.

  2. 7

    はたらいているひとはおんなのひとですか、おとこのひとですか。

    Is the person who is working a woman or man?

  3. 8

    おとこのひとです。

    It is a man.

  4. 9

    そのひとはかぞくがありますか。

    Does he have a family?

  5. 10

    はい、おくさんとこどもがさんにんあります。くさのうえにすわっているのがおくさんです。

    Yes, he has a wife and three children. The one sitting on the grass is his wife.

一人
one person
女
female
か、
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
男
male
家ぞく
family
と
and (See Gram. Notes)

Family walks and after-work routines · Dialogue 3 of 4

After coming home and along the road

The speakers discuss what a man does at home and where his family walks. *うちへ かえってから* means "after he comes home."

In *ひろい 道を 人が あるいています*, *を* marks the road along which people walk. The line means "People are walking on the wide road."

Kanji: 山

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

  1. 11

    そのかたはうちへかえってからなにをしますか。

    What does he do after he comes home?

  2. 12

    たいていべんきょうをします。たまにはそとにでてはたらきます。

    He usually studies. Once in a while he goes outside and works.

  3. 13

    ようかんのまえのひろいみちをひとがあるいていますね。

    People are walking on the wide road in front of the western-style building, aren’t they?

  4. 14

    はい、やまもとさんとそのかぞくがさんぽしています。

    Yes. Mr. Yamamoto and his family are taking a stroll.

  5. 15

    やまもとさんはなにをきていますか。

    What is Mr. Yamamoto wearing?

うち
home, house
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
たまに
rarely, once in a while
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
ひろい
wide
道
road, street
さんぽ
strolling
き
counter for airplanes (See Gram. Notes)

Clothing, birds and airplanes · Dialogue 4 of 4

Clothing and three birds

The speakers describe Mr. Yamamoto, then look at the sky. *山本さんは ようふくを きています* means "Mr. Yamamoto is wearing a suit."

*ぼうしを かぶって います* means "he is wearing a hat." The form describes the state after putting it on.

The counter *WA* counts birds, and its sound changes after some numerals. In *とりが 三ば*, *三ば* means "three birds."

One aircraft in the sky

The counter *き* counts airplanes, helicopters, and other flying machines.

In *ひこうきが 一き とんでいます*, *一き* means "one airplane." The line says that three birds and one airplane are flying.

Kanji: 木

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

  1. 16

    やまもとさんはようふくをきています。そして、ぼうしをかぶっています。

    Mr. Yamamoto is wearing a suit. And he is wearing a hat.

  2. 17

    そらをなにがとんでいますか。

    What is flying in the sky?

  3. 18

    とりがさんばとひこうきがいっきとんでいます。

    Three birds and an airplane are flying.

  4. 19

    とりはどこをとんでいますか。

    Where are birds flying?

  5. 20

    とりはみちばたのきのうえをとんでいます。

    The birds are flying above the trees by the road.

ようふく
suit, western-style clothes
そら
sky
道ばた
by the road, roadside
木
tree, wood

States after completed actions · Perception drill, Block 1

A present state after an action

*私は たっています* means "I am standing." The TE-ending plus *います* can name a present state caused by an earlier action.

*はい、 おぼえています* means "Yes, I remember it." The remembering remains as the present result.

Holding and remaining

The same form describes what someone now holds or where someone remains. *えんぴつを もっています* means "I am holding a pencil."

*二人 のこっています* means "two of them are still here." Each line describes the state at the time of speaking.

  1. 21

    あなたはたっていますか、こしかけていますか。

    Are you standing or sitting?

  2. 22

    わたくしはたっています。

    I am standing.

  3. 23

    あなたはあのかたのなまえをおぼえていますか。

    Do you remember that person's name?

  4. 24

    はい、おぼえています。

    Yes, I remember it.

  5. 25

    あなたはいまてになにをもっていますか。

    What are you holding in your hand now?

  6. 26

    えんぴつをもっています。

    I am holding a pencil.

  7. 27

    となりのきょうしつのせいとはみんなまちへいきませんでしたか。

    Didn't all the students in the next classroom go into town?

  8. 28

    はい、ふたりのこっています。

    Yes, two of them are still here.

なまえ
name
町
town

Identifying people by actions · Perception drill, Block 2

The action comes before the person

*そこで 本を 読んでいる人* means "the person reading a book over there." The clause ending in *読んでいる* comes before *人*.

A clause used this way identifies a noun by an action or location. Its verb uses the plain form.

A location before a noun

*あの つくえの 上に ある 本* refers to an item on that desk. The location clause ends in *ある* and precedes *本*.

The plain form *ある* ends the clause. The clause and noun form one identifying phrase.

  1. 29

    そこでほんをよんでいるひとはだれですか。

    Who is the person reading a book over there?

  2. 30

    そこでほんをよんでいるひとはブラウンさんです。

    The person reading a book over there is Mr. Brown.

  3. 31

    そこでじをかいているひとはだれですか。

    Who is the person writing over there?

  4. 32

    そこでじをかいているひとはニューマンさんです。

    The person writing over there is Mr. Newman.

  5. 33

    あなたのまえにたっているひとはだれですか。

    Who is the person standing in front of you?

  6. 34

    わたくしのまえにたっているひとはせんせいです。

    The person standing in front of me is the teacher.

  7. 35

    あのつくえのうえにあるほんはどなたのですか。

    Whose is the book on that desk?

  8. 36

    あのつくえのうえにあるほんはあなたのです。

    The book on that desk is yours.

そこ
there
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
だれ
who?
ある
certain, some

Before and after daily activities · Perception drill, Block 3

The earlier action before から

*うちへ かえってから、 日本語を べんきょうします* means "After I get home, I study Japanese."

The particle *から* after a verb's TE-ending means "after." The verb before *から* names the action that happens first.

Dinner before rest

*ゆうはんを たべてから、 少し やすみます* means "after I eat dinner, I rest for a little while."

The TE-ending plus *から* places eating before resting.

  1. 37

    あなたはうちへかえってから、なにをしますか。

    What do you do after you get home?

  2. 38

    うちへかえってから、にほんごをべんきょうします。

    After I get home, I study Japanese.

  3. 39

    あなたはゆうはんをたべてから、すぐべんきょうをはじめますか。

    Do you begin studying right after you eat dinner?

  4. 40

    いいえ、ゆうはんをたべてから、すこしやすみます。

    No, after I eat dinner, I rest for a little while.

  5. 41

    がっこうがおわってから、あなたはうちへかえりますか。

    Do you go home after school is over?

  6. 42

    がっこうがおわってから、あなたはすぐうちへかえりますか。

    Do you go straight home after school is over?

  7. 43

    たいてい、すぐかえりますが、ときどきまちであそんでからかえります。

    I usually go straight home, but sometimes I have some fun in town before going home.

  8. 44

    あなたはあさめしをたべてから、しんぶんをよみますか。

    Do you read the newspaper after eating breakfast?

  9. 45

    いいえ、わたくしはあさめしのまえにしんぶんをよみます。

    No, I read the newspaper before breakfast.

から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
すぐ
right away, immediately
少し
little (quantity)
朝めし
breakfast

Routes, travel time and walkers · Perception drill, Block 5

Movement along a road

*だれか あの 道を あるいています* means "Someone is walking along that road." Here *を* marks the route of movement.

After a place, *を* can mark the route through or along which someone walks, returns, goes, or comes.

The route home

*私は この 道を かえります* means "I go home by this road." *この 道を* names the route used to return.

The same pattern appears in *そこを さんぽしている*, where *そこを* marks the place of the stroll.

  1. 46

    だれかあのみちをあるいていますね。だれですか。

    Someone is walking along that road, isn't he? Who is it?

  2. 47

    あれはわたくしたちのせんせいです。

    That is our teacher.

  3. 48

    ここからまちまでなんぷんぐらいかかりますか。

    About how many minutes does it take from here to town?

  4. 49

    わたくしはこのみちをかえりますから、にじゅっぷんぐらいかかります。

    Since I go home by this road, it takes about twenty minutes.

  5. 50

    そこをさんぽしているのはだれですか。

    Who is taking a walk there?

  6. 51

    あれはスミスさんです。

    That is Mr. Smith.

か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ここ
here
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
分
minute
ぐらい
about
二十
20

Joining actions in sequence · Perception drill, Block 6

Two actions joined by て

*えんぴつを とって、 かみに なまえを 書きました* means "He picked up a pencil and wrote his name on paper."

A TE-ending at the end of a clause joins that action to the next one. The final verb sets the tense.

Present states joined together

*先生は たって、 生徒は こしかけています* means "the teacher is standing, and the students are seated."

The medial *たって* joins the teacher's position to the final present form *こしかけています*.

  1. 52

    あのひとはいまなにをしましたか。

    What did that person just do?

  2. 53

    えんぴつをとって、かみになまえをかきました。

    He picked up a pencil and wrote his name on a piece of paper.

  3. 54

    みなさんはこのじかんにはなにをしますか。

    What do you all do during this period?

  4. 55

    かいわのれんしゅうをして、すこしよみかたのけいこをします。

    We practice conversation and do a little reading practice.

  5. 56

    あなたはまちへいって、なにをしましたか。

    What did you go into town and do?

  6. 57

    まちへいって、ほんやでふるほんをいっさつかいました。

    I went into town and bought a used book at a bookstore.

  7. 58

    せんせいもせいともこしかけていますか。

    Are both the teacher and the students sitting?

  8. 59

    いいえ、せんせいはたって、せいとはこしかけています。

    No, the teacher is standing, and the students are sitting.

わ
counter for birds (See Gram. Notes)
けいこ
practice
本屋
bookshop
古本
secondhand book, used book
さつ
numerical counter for counting books (See Grammar Notes)

Resulting states and remembered facts · Pattern 1 1 of 3

Gone and now there

*なかおさんは 日本に 行っています* means "Mr. Nakao has gone to Japan." The going is complete, and the resulting state continues.

*私は こしかけて います* means "I am seated." Both lines describe a present state after a completed action.

Knowledge that remains

*あなたは それを 知っていますか* means "Do you know that?" The form describes knowledge held now.

*半分ぐらい おぼえています* means "I remember about half of them." Remembering is also a present result.

Kanji: 知

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

  1. 60

    わたくしはこしかけています。

    I am sitting.

  2. 61

    あのひとはあさろくじにはおきています。

    That person is up by six in the morning.

  3. 62

    なかおさんはにほんにいっています。

    Mr. Nakao has gone to Japan.

  4. 63

    せいとはみんながっこうにきています。

    All the students have come to school.

  5. 64

    あなたはそれをしっていますか。

    Do you know that?

  6. 65

    せいとがさんにんきょうしつにのこっています。

    Three students are still in the classroom.

  7. 66

    あなたはかんじをみんなおぼえていますか。

    Do you remember all the kanji?

  8. 67

    いいえ、はんぶんぐらいおぼえています。

    No, I remember about half of them.

朝
morning
六
six
時
time
半分
half

Where people have gone · Pattern 1 2 of 3

Gone and still away

*今 日本に 行っています* means "He is in Japan now." The earlier going produces the person's present location.

The resulting-state form describes where the person is, not an action in progress.

From going out to being outside

*そとに でました* means "He went outside." *そとに でています* means "He is outside."

The first line reports the completed change. The second reports the state produced by that change.

  1. 68

    あなたのおともだちはいまどこにいますか。

    Where is your friend now?

  2. 69

    いまにほんにいっています。

    He is in Japan now.

  3. 70

    せいとはみんなきょうしつのなかでぼうしをかぶっていますか。

    Are all the students wearing hats in the classroom?

  4. 71

    いいえ、きょうしつのなかではぼうしをかぶっていません。

    No, they are not wearing hats in the classroom.

  5. 72

    そとにでました──→そとにでています。

    He went outside. ──→ He is outside.

  6. 73

    うちにかえりました。

    I went home.

  7. 74

    せんせいになりました。

    I became a teacher.

  8. 75

    いすのうえにたちました。

    I stood on a chair.

ともだち
friend

States after dressing and resting · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Changes with a present result

*朝七時に おきました* means "I got up at seven in the morning." Its resulting state is being up now.

*がっこうに のこりました* means "I stayed at school." Its resulting state is remaining at school now.

Clothes put on and still worn

*げたを はきました* means "I put on geta." The corresponding resulting state describes having them on now.

*ぼうしを かぶりました* means "I put on a hat." Its resulting state describes wearing the hat now.

  1. 76

    あさしちじにおきました。

    I got up at seven in the morning.

  2. 77

    がっこうにのこりました。

    I stayed at school.

  3. 78

    やすみました。

    I rested.

  4. 79

    よくわかりました。

    I understood it well.

  5. 80

    げたをはきました。

    I put on geta.

  6. 81

    きもののをきました。

    I put on a kimono.

  7. 82

    ぼうしをかぶりました。

    I put on a hat.

七
seven
よく
well, skillfully
げた
wooden clogs
きもの
KIMONO

Action clauses describing people · Pattern 2 1 of 3

A clause before 人

*本を 読んでいる 人は 私の 先生です* means "The person reading a book is my teacher."

The action clause *本を 読んでいる* comes before *人* and identifies the person.

の in place of the person

*本を 読んでいる のは 私の 先生です* means "The one who is reading a book is my teacher."

Here *の* stands in place of *人*. The action clause still comes first.

  1. 83

    わたくしのともだちはにほんごをおしえています。

    My friend teaches Japanese.

  2. 84

    ほんをよんでいるひとはわたくしのせんせいです。

    The person who is reading a book is my teacher.

  3. 85

    ほんをよんでいるのはわたくしのせんせいです。

    The one who is reading a book is my teacher.

  4. 86

    あかいぼうしをかぶっているひとはおんなのひとです。

    The person wearing a red hat is a woman.

  5. 87

    きのしたでやすんでいるのはやまもとさんのおくさんです。

    The person resting under the tree is Mr. Yamamoto’s wife.

  6. 88

    つくえのうえにあるのはなんですか。

    What is on the desk?

  7. 89

    きものをきているひとはやまださんです。

    The person wearing a kimono is Mr. Yamada.

  8. 90

    いまこくばんにかんじをかいているせいとはだれですか。

    Who is the student writing kanji on the blackboard now?

あかい
red

Identifying teachers and students · Pattern 2 2 of 3

Clothing identifies the person

*ちゃいろの ようふくを きているの* means "the person wearing brown clothes." The action clause identifies the person represented by *の*.

The answer *あたらしい 先生です* identifies that person as the new teacher.

A habitual action before 生徒

*よく べんきょうする 生徒* means "students who study hard." The plain form *べんきょうする* ends the clause before *生徒*.

An action clause can describe a habit as well as an action in progress.

  1. 91

    ブラウンぐんそうです。

    It is Sergeant Brown.

  2. 92

    ちゃいろのようふくをきているのはどなたですか。

    Who is the person wearing brown clothes?

  3. 93

    あたらしいせんせいです。

    It is the new teacher.

  4. 94

    よくべんきょうするせいとはよくできますね。

    Students who study hard do well, don’t they?

  5. 95

    はい、そうです。

    Yes, that’s right.

  6. 96

    にほんごをおしえているのはわたくしのともだちです。

    The person teaching Japanese is my friend.

  7. 97

    おんなのひとがあるいています。

    A woman is walking.

  8. 98

    おとこのこがあそんでいます。

    A boy is playing.

ちゃいろ
brown
あたらしい
new
男の子
boy

People and their daily actions · Pattern 2 3 of 3

Present and habitual actions

*先生は 日本しんぶんを 読んでいます* describes the teacher reading now. *あの生徒は よく べんきょうします* describes a student's habit.

Either kind of action can identify a person when its clause comes before a noun.

Movement past a place

In *がっこうの 前を あるいています*, the particle *を* marks the place passed during movement.

The full line means "Mr. Yamamoto's wife is walking past the school."

  1. 99

    せんせいはにほんしんぶんをよんでいます。

    The teacher is reading a Japanese newspaper.

  2. 100

    やまもとせんせいはいつもよじはんにかえります。

    Mr. Yamamoto always goes home at four thirty.

  3. 101

    やまもとさんのおくさんはがっこうのまえをあるいています。

    Mr. Yamamoto’s wife is walking past the school.

  4. 102

    あのせいとはよくべんきょうします。

    That student studies hard.

  5. 103

    スミスさんはたっています。

    Mr. Smith is standing.

  6. 104

    ジョンズさんはわたくしをよんでいます。

    Mr. Jones is calling me.

  7. 105

    おんなのせんせいはまいにちきものをきます。

    The woman teacher wears a kimono every day.

  8. 106

    はまむらさんはまいにちさかなをたべます。

    Mr. Hamamura eats fish every day.

四
four
まい日
everyday

Sequencing morning and school activities · Pattern 3 1 of 3

One action before the next

*私は うちへ かえって から 少し やすみます* means "I rest for a while after I return home." Returning home comes before resting.

*かん字を ならってから 本を 読みます* means "After learning kanji, I read a book."

Breakfast before school

*朝めしを たべてから がっこうに 来ます* means "After eating breakfast, I come to school."

The action before *から* occurs first. The final verb names the later action.

  1. 107

    わたくしはうちへかえってからすこしやすみます。

    I rest for a while after I return home.

  2. 108

    かんじをならってからほんをよみます。

    After learning kanji, I read a book.

  3. 109

    にほんへいってからもうすこしにほんごをべんきょうします。

    After I go to Japan, I will study a little more Japanese.

  4. 110

    すこしあそんでからゆうはんをたべます。

    After playing for a while, I eat dinner.

  5. 111

    すこしさんぽしてからあさめしをたべます。

    After taking a short walk, I eat breakfast.

  6. 112

    あさめしをたべてからがっこうにきます。

    After eating breakfast, I come to school.

  7. 113

    あなたはあさおきてからなにをしますか。

    What do you do after you get up in the morning?

  8. 114

    わたくしはあさおきてからすぐようふくをきます。

    After I get up in the morning, I put on my clothes right away.

  9. 115

    がっこうにきてからなにをしますか。

    What do you do after you come to school?

  10. 116

    かいわのけいこをします。

    I practice conversation.

Eating after getting dressed · Pattern 3 2 of 3

Getting dressed before breakfast

*ようふくを きてから 朝めしを たべます* means "I eat breakfast after I get dressed."

The first verb takes its TE-ending before *から*. The second verb completes the sentence.

Getting up before eating

*朝 おきてから 朝はんを たべます* combines *朝 おきます* and *朝はんを たべます*.

The combined line places getting up before eating breakfast.

  1. 117

    あなたはあさようふくをきてからあさめしをたべますか。

    Do you eat breakfast after you get dressed in the morning?

  2. 118

    はい、ようふくをきてからあさめしをたべます。

    Yes, I eat breakfast after I get dressed.

  3. 119

    あさおきます。

    I get up in the morning.

  4. 120

    あさはんをたべます。

    I eat breakfast.

  5. 121

    あさおきてからあさはんをたべます。

    After I get up in the morning, I eat breakfast.

  6. 122

    ゆうはんをたべます。

    I eat dinner.

  7. 123

    にほんごをべんきょうします。

    I study Japanese.

  8. 124

    しんぶんをよみます。

    I read the newspaper.

  9. 125

    まちへいきます。

    I go into town.

  10. 126

    ドアをしめます。

    I close the door.

Ordering everyday actions · Pattern 3 3 of 3

The earlier action changes form

The lines provide action pairs such as *やすみます* and *うちへ かえります*. The earlier action takes its TE-ending followed by the word for "after."

The later action remains the final verb and sets the sentence form.

Clothing before another action

*ようふくを きます* means "I put on my clothes." *くつを はきます* means "I put on my shoes."

Either can become the earlier action before the word for "after." The other completes the ordered sequence.

  1. 127

    やすみます。

    I rest.

  2. 128

    うちへかえります。

    I go home.

  3. 129

    さんじかんぐらいべんきょうします。

    I study for about three hours.

  4. 130

    ようふくをきます。

    I put on my clothes.

  5. 131

    くつをはきます。

    I put on my shoes.

  6. 132

    ともだちがきます。

    A friend comes.

  7. 133

    ゆうはんをたべます。

    I eat dinner.

  8. 134

    にほんへいきます。

    I go to Japan.

  9. 135

    きものをかいます。

    I buy a kimono.

くつ
shoes

Movement through places · Pattern 4 1 of 2

Walking through a place

The route-marking *を* from *人が 道を あるいています* also follows other places.

*きょうしつの そとを 生徒が あるいています* means "A student is walking outside the classroom."

Flying over a tree

*とりが 二わ 木の 上を とんでいます* means "Two birds are flying over the tree."

The counter form *二わ* counts the birds. *木の 上を* marks the space through which they fly.

  1. 136

    ひとがみちをあるいています。

    A man is walking on the road.

  2. 137

    きょうしつのそとをせいとがあるいています。

    A student is walking outside the classroom.

  3. 138

    やまもとさんがようかんのまえをさんぽしています。

    Mr. Yamamoto is taking a walk in front of the western-style building.

  4. 139

    とりがにわきのうえをとんでいます。

    Two birds are flying over the tree.

  5. 140

    おんなのひとがにわをあるいています。

    A woman is walking through the garden.

  6. 141

    なにかそらをとんでいますね。なんですか。

    Something is flying in the sky, isn’t it? What is it?

Distinguishing birds and airplanes · Pattern 4 2 of 2

The thing flying there

*あすこを とんでいるの* means "the thing flying over there." The action clause identifies the object represented by *の*.

*あすこを* marks the space through which it flies. The answer identifies it as *ひこうき*, "airplane."

A stroll outside

*今 そとを さんぽしています* means "I am taking a walk outside now."

The particle *を* after *そと* marks the place of the stroll.

  1. 142

    おおきいとりです。

    It is a large bird.

  2. 143

    あすこをとんでいるのもとりですか。

    Is the thing flying over there a bird too?

  3. 144

    いいえ、あすこをとんでいるのはひこうきです。

    No, the thing flying over there is an airplane.

  4. 145

    たむらさんはどこにいますか。

    Where is Mr. Tamura?

  5. 146

    いまそとをさんぽしています。

    I am taking a walk outside now.

あすこ
over there

Joining everyday actions · Pattern 5 1 of 2

One action followed by another

The medial TE-ending from *私は 朝 おきて、 朝めしを たべます* joins getting up and eating breakfast.

*私は ゆうはんを たべて、 しんぶんを 読みます* joins eating dinner and reading the newspaper.

Two items being worn

*あの方は きものを きて、 ぼうしを かぶっています* means "That person is wearing a kimono and a hat."

The final *かぶっています* sets the present time for both coordinated states.

  1. 147

    わたくしはあさおきて、あさめしをたべます。

    I get up in the morning and eat breakfast.

  2. 148

    わたくしはゆうはんをたべて、しんぶんをよみます。

    I eat dinner and read the newspaper.

  3. 149

    さんじかんべんきょうして、じゅういちじごろやすみます。

    I study for three hours and go to bed around eleven o’clock.

  4. 150

    あのかたはきものをきて、ぼうしをかぶっています。

    That person is wearing a kimono and a hat.

  5. 151

    あのかたはきものをきて、げたをはきます。

    That person wears a kimono and wooden clogs.

  6. 152

    わたくしはあさおきて、すこしべんきょうします。

    I get up in the morning and study a little.

十
ten

Sequencing schoolday actions · Pattern 5 2 of 2

A sequence with several TE-endings

*朝おきて、 朝はんを たべて、 がっこうに 行きます* means "I get up, eat breakfast, and go to school."

Each medial TE-ending links an action to the next. The final *行きます* determines the time of the sequence.

Different people in joined clauses

*先生は おしえて、 生徒は ならいます* means "The teachers teach, and the students learn."

The TE-ending can join clauses with different subjects.

  1. 153

    あなたがたはかんじをならって、よみかたのけいこをしますか。

    Do you learn kanji and practice reading?

  2. 154

    いいえ、わたくしたちはよみかたのけいこをして、かんじをならいます。

    No, we practice reading and learn kanji.

  3. 155

    あなたはあさおきてなにをしますか。

    What do you do after you get up in the morning?

  4. 156

    あさおきて、あさはんをたべて、がっこうにいきます。

    I get up in the morning, eat breakfast, and go to school.

  5. 157

    がっこうでせんせいやせいとはなにをしますか。

    What do the teachers and students do at school?

  6. 158

    せんせいはおしえて、せいとはならいます。

    The teachers teach, and the students learn.

や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)

A family stroll near town · Reading Selection 1 of 3

A family on a wide road

The passage describes Mr. Yamamoto and his family near town. *ソノ家ゾクガ ヒロイ道ヲ サンポシテイマス* means "his family are taking a walk along a wide road."

The route-marking *ヲ* follows *ヒロイ道*.

Two descriptions joined

*山本サンハ ヨウフクヲ キテ、 ボウシヲ カブッテイマス* means "Mr. Yamamoto is wearing Western-style clothes and a hat."

The medial TE-ending joins the two descriptions of what he wears.

Kanji: 思

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

  1. 159

    ココハまちカラアマリとおクハアリマセン。

    This place is not very far from town.

  2. 160

    タクサンノひとガココニきマス。

    Many people come here.

  3. 161

    いまやまもとサント

    Now Mr. Yamamoto and

  4. 162

    ソノかぞくガヒロイみちヲサンポシテイマス。

    his family are taking a walk along a wide road.

  5. 163

    やまもとサンハヨウフクヲキテ、ボウシヲカブッテイマス。

    Mr. Yamamoto is wearing Western-style clothes and a hat.

  6. 164

    オクサンハキモノヲキテ、ゲタカゾウリヲ

    His wife is wearing a kimono, and either wooden clogs or sandals

  7. 165

    ハイテイルトおもイマス。

    on her feet, I think.

  8. 166

    ヨクワカリマセン。

    I’m not sure.

People outside a western house · Reading Selection 2 of 3

Two people outside the house

The passage places two Americans in front of a western-style building. *人ガ二人 居マス* means "there are two people."

*男ノ人ハ ハタライテイマス* means "The man is working." *草ノ上ニ スワッテイマス* completes the statement that his wife is seated on the grass.

  1. 167

    ミギノほうニヨウカンガアリマス。

    There is a Western-style building on the right-hand side.

  2. 168

    ソノまえニ

    In front of it

  3. 169

    ひとガふたりいマス。

    there are two people.

  4. 170

    ソノひとタチハベイコクじんデス。

    Those people are Americans.

  5. 171

    おとこノひとハハタライテイマス。

    The man is working.

  6. 172

    ソノひとノオクサンハ

    The man’s wife

  7. 173

    くさノうえニスワッテイマス。

    is sitting on the grass.

  8. 174

    コノベイコクじんハベイコクノ

    This American is an American

A serviceman and flying objects · Reading Selection 3 of 3

A serviceman studying in Japan

The passage describes a serviceman and his wife. *今 日本ニ 来テ、 日本語ヲ ベンキョウ シテ イマス* says that he has come to Japan and is studying Japanese.

Birds and an airplane overhead

*ソノ木ノ上ヲ トリガ 三バ トンデイマス* means "Three birds are flying over those trees." *三バ* counts the birds.

*ソラヲ ヒコウキガ 一キ トンデイマス* means "an airplane is flying in the sky." *一キ* counts the airplane.

  1. 175

    グンじんデ、いまにほんニきテ、にほんごヲベンキョウシテ

    serviceman, and he has now come to Japan and is studying Japanese.

  2. 176

    イマス。

    He is.

  3. 177

    オクサンモすこシにほんごガデキマス。

    His wife can also speak a little Japanese.

  4. 178

    みちバタニハタカイきガさんぼんアリマス。

    There are three tall trees by the roadside.

  5. 179

    ソノきノうえヲトリガさんバトンデイマス。

    Three birds are flying over those trees.

  6. 180

    ミギノほうノ

    In the sky on the right-hand side

  7. 181

    ソラヲヒコウキガいっキトンデイマス。

    an airplane is flying.

Questions about walkers and clothing · Questions 1 of 2

Who walks and what they wear

The questions check the family scene, including the walkers and their clothing. *だれが さんぽしていますか* means "Who is taking a walk?"

An answer names the person or people. Questions with *何を きて* and *何を はいて* require the clothing worn on the body and feet.

  1. 182

    ここはまちからとおいですか、ちかいですか。

    Is this place far from town or close to it?

  2. 183

    たくさんのひとはどこからきますか。

    Where do the many people come from?

  3. 184

    だれがさんぽしていますか。

    Who is taking a walk?

  4. 185

    やまもとさんはひとりさんぽしていますか。

    Is Mr. Yamamoto taking a walk by himself?

  5. 186

    やまもとさんはなにをきて、なにをはいています。

    What is Mr. Yamamoto wearing, and what does he have on his feet?

  6. 187

    おくさんはくつをはいていますか。

    Is his wife wearing shoes?

  7. 188

    おくさんはようふくをきていますか。

    Is his wife wearing Western-style clothes?

  8. 189

    みぎのほうになにがありますか。

    What is there on the right-hand side?

遠い
far
近い
near, close
たくさん
many

Questions about people and aircraft · Questions 2 of 2

People and flying objects

The questions ask about the people and what flies above the trees. *草の上に すわっているのは だれですか* asks who is seated on the grass.

*とりは 何ば とんでいますか* asks how many birds are flying. An answer uses the bird counter.

  1. 190

    ようかんのまえにひとがなんにんいますか。

    How many people are there in front of the Western-style building?

  2. 191

    そのひとたちはにほんじんですか。

    Are those people Japanese?

  3. 192

    おとこのひとはいまなにをしていますか。

    What is the man doing now?

  4. 193

    くさのうえにすわっているのはだれですか。

    Who is sitting on the grass?

  5. 194

    そのひともおくさんもにほんごができますか。

    Can both the man and his wife speak Japanese?

  6. 195

    みちばたのきのうえをなにがとんでいますか。

    What is flying over the trees by the roadside?

  7. 196

    とりはなんばとんでいますか。

    How many birds are flying?

  8. 197

    そのほかなにがとんでいますか。

    What else is flying?

Homes, clothing and aircraft · Word list 1 of 4

Homes, clothes, and the sky

These words cover homes, family, clothing, roadsides, trees, and the sky. *家* means "house" or "home," and *ようかん* means "western-style building."

*ひこうき* means "airplane."

  1. 198

    いえ

    house, home

  2. 199

    ようかん

    western-style building

  3. 200

    かぞく

    family

  4. 201

    きもの

    KIMONO

  5. 202

    ようふく

    suit, western-style clothes

  6. 203

    くつ

    shoes

  7. 204

    げた

    wooden clogs

  8. 205

    ぞうり

    sandal, slipper

  9. 206

    そら

    sky

  10. 207

    ひこうき

    airplane

  11. 208

    みちばた

    by the road, roadside

  12. 209

    き

    tree, wood

ぞうり
sandal, slipper
ひこうき
airplane

Walking, working and wearing · Word list 2 of 4

Actions and ways to wear clothing

These words name working, being seated, knowing, moving, wearing, and thinking. *はたらく* means "to work."

*かぶる* means "to wear on the head." *はく* means "to wear on the feet or legs."

  1. 210

    やま

    mountain

  2. 211

    さんぽ

    strolling

  3. 212

    はたらく

    to work (v.i.)

  4. 213

    すわる

    to sit with legs crossed or folded

  5. 214

    しる

    to know (v.t.)

  6. 215

    しっています

    know (See Gram. Notes)

  7. 216

    でる

    to go out (v.i.)

  8. 217

    さんぽする

    to stroll (v.i.)

  9. 218

    きる

    to wear (v.t.)

  10. 219

    かぶる

    to wear (on head)

  11. 220

    はく

    to wear (on feet or legs)

  12. 221

    おもう

    to think

山
mountain
はたらく
to work (v.i.)
すわる
to sit with legs crossed or folded
知る
to know (v.t.)
知っています
know (See Gram. Notes)
でる
to go out (v.i.)
さんぽする
to stroll (v.i.)
きる
to wear (v.t.)
かぶる
to wear (on head)
はく
to wear (on feet or legs)
思う
to think

Counting homes, birds and aircraft · Word list 3 of 4

Counters and particles

These words include counters for houses, birds, and aircraft, with particles for routes and later actions.

*三げん* means "three houses," *三ば* means "three birds," and *一き* means "one plane." Each kind uses a separate counter.

  1. 222

    とぶ

    to fly (v.i.)

  2. 223

    ひろい

    wide

  3. 224

    さんげん

    three houses

  4. 225

    けん

    numerical counter for houses (See Gram. Notes)

  5. 226

    わ

    counter for birds (See Gram. Notes)

  6. 227

    さんば

    three birds

  7. 228

    き

    counter for airplanes (See Gram. Notes)

  8. 229

    いっき

    one plane

  9. 230

    を

    particle indicating the place of locomotive action (See Gram. Notes)

  10. 231

    から

    after (See Gram. Notes)

  11. 232

    たまに

    rarely, once in a while

  12. 233

    やまもとさんはようふくをきています。

    -- is wearing a suit.

とぶ
to fly (v.i.)
三げん
three houses
三ば
three birds
一き
one plane
山本さんはようふくをきています。
"-- is wearing a suit."

Wearing clothes and knowing people · Word list 4 of 4

Wearing clothes and knowing people

These expressions cover clothing and knowledge. *山本さんは ぼうしを かぶっています* means "Mr. Yamamoto has a hat on."

*私は 山本さんを 知っています* means "I know Mr. Yamamoto." *私は たなかさんを 知りません* means "I don't know Mr. Tanaka."

  1. 234

    おくさんはきものをきています。

    -- is wearing a KIMONO.

  2. 235

    やまもとさんはぼうしをかぶっています。

    --has a hat on.

  3. 236

    こどもたちはぼうしをかぶっていません。

    --has no hat on.

  4. 237

    やまもとさんはくつをはいています。

    -- has shoes on.

  5. 238

    おくさんはげたをはいています。

    -- has wooden clogs on.

  6. 239

    おくさんはぞうりをはいています。

    -- has slippers on.

  7. 240

    あなたはやまもとさんをしっていますか。

    Do you know --?

  8. 241

    はい、わたくしはやまもとさんをしっています。

    I know --.

  9. 242

    あなたはたなかさんをしっていますか。

    Do you know --?

  10. 243

    いいえ、わたくしはたなかさんをしりません。

    I don't know.

おくさんはきものをきています。
"-- is wearing a KIMONO."
山本さんはぼうしをかぶっています。
"--has a hat on."
子供たちはぼうしをかぶっていません。
"--has no hat on."
山本さんはくつをはいています。
"-- has shoes on."
おくさんはげたをはいています。
"-- has wooden clogs on."
おくさんはぞうりをはいています。
"-- has slippers on."
あなたは山本さんを知っていますか。
"Do you know --?"
はい、私は山本さんを知っています。
"I know --."
あなたはたなかさんを知っていますか。
"Do you know --?"
いいえ、私はたなかさんを知りません。
"I don't know."

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.