Japanese · Lesson 25
Lesson 25
Sounds, kana, and the first conversations
Months of the year · Dialogue 1 of 4
Twelve months in a year
*一年には 何か月 ありますか* means "How many months are there in one year?" *KAGETSU* is the counter for a number of months.
*十二か月* means "twelve months." Here the numeral comes before *KAGETSU*.
The names of the months
The reply names the calendar months from *一月* through *十二月*. These names use *GATSU*, while *KAGETSU* counts a number of months.
*一年の さいしょの 月は 何と 言いますか* asks what the first month is called. The answer gives *一月* and *しょう月*.
Kanji: 年
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 月
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 1
いちねんにはなんかげつありますか。
How many months are there in one year?
一one year年one yearにinはtopic何how many monthsか月how many monthsありthere areますpoliteか。question - 2
いちねんにはじゅうにかげつあります。
There are twelve months in one year.
一one year年one yearにinはtopic十twelve二twelveか月monthsありthere areます。polite - 3
あなたはそのなまえをしっていますか。
Do you know their names?
あなたyouはtopicそのtheirなnames前namesをobject知っknowてknowいknowますknowか。question - 4
はい。いちがつ、にがつ、さんがつ、しがつ、ごがつ、ろくがつ、しちがつ、はちがつ、くがつ、じゅうがつ、じゅういちがつ、じゅうにがつです。
Yes, they are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.
はい。yes一January月、January二February月、February三March月、March四April月、April五May月、May六June月、June七July月、July八August月、August九September月、September十October月、October十November一November月、November十December二December月Decemberです。are - 5
いちねんのさいしょのつきはなんといいますか。
What is the first month of the year called?
一one year年one yearのofさいしょfirstのof月monthはtopic何whatとquote言いcalledますpoliteか。question - 6
いちがつといいます。またしょうがつともいいます。
It is called ICHIGATSU. It is also called SHOOGATSU.
一January月Januaryとquote言いcalledます。politeまたalsoしょうNew Year月New Yearとquoteもalso言いcalledます。polite
TA ending, informal past
The informal past of any verb is made by changing the final syllable -TE or -DE of its TE-ending to -TA or -DA, respectively. In other words, the TA-ending of any verb is formed by changing the final -E of its TE-ending to -A. Thus:
Basic ending | TE-ending | TA-ending (informal past)
KAKU | KAITE | KAITA
HANASU | HANASHITE | HANASHITA
TATSU | TATTE | TATTA
TORU | TOTTE | TOTTA
NARAU | NARATTE | NARATTA
YOBU | YONDE | YONDA
YOMU | YONDE | YONDA
SHINU (to die) | SHINDE | SHINDA
KAGU | KAIDE | KAIDA
TABERU | TABETE | TABETA
MIRU | MITE | MITA
KURU | KITE | KITA
SURU | SHITE | SHITA
The informal past form of the copula DESU and I-adjectives including -NAI will be introduced later.
The informal past (TA-ending) has the same meaning as the -MASHITA form except that it is plain and less formal.
Examples:
HON O KAITA. (informal, plain) "I wrote a book."
HON O KAKIMASHITA. (formal, polite) "I wrote a book."
HIRUHAN O TABETA. (informal, plain) "I ate lunch."
HIRUHAN O TABEMASHITA. (formal, polite) "I ate lunch."
ARUITE KITA. (informal, plain) "I walked." (Lit: I came on foot.)
ARUITE KIMASHITA. (formal, polite) "I walked." (Lit: I came on foot.)
YOKU BENKYOO-SHITA. (informal, plain) "I studied hard."
YOKU BENKYOO-SHIMASHITA. (formal, polite) "I studied hard."
The informal past may be made softer and less direct by tacking N(O) DESU. This construction is described in the next section.
In informal speech, all inflected forms occur in the informal style. But, even in formal speech, informal forms may occur as non-final inflected forms. The formality level of a sentence is governed by the level of its final inflected form. That is, the formality level of the final inflected form is always as formal or more formal than non-final inflected forms.
Examples:
NIPPONGO GA DEKIRU KARA, NIPPONGO DE HANASHITA. (informal, plain) "I could speak Japanese, so I spoke in Japanese."
NIPPONGO GA DEKIRU KARA, NIPPONGO DE HANASHIMASHITA. (formal, polite) "I can speak Japanese, so I spoke in Japanese."
ASAHAN O OSOKU TABETA KARA, HIRUHAN WA TABENAI. (informal, plain) "I ate breakfast late, so I am not going to eat lunch."
ASAHAN O OSOKU TABETA KARA, HIRUHAN WA TABEMASEN. (formal, polite) "I ate breakfast late, so I am not going to eat lunch."
KINDAICHI SENSEI NO KAITA HON O YONDA. (informal, plain) "I read the book Prof. Kindaichi wrote."
KINDAICHI SENSEI NO KAITA HON O YOMIMASHITA. (formal, polite) "I read the book Prof. Kindaichi wrote."An informal predicate ending plus NO DESU or N DESU.
"It is a matter of ---."
The word NO meaning ’one’ or ’ones’ and indicating possession was introduced in Lesson 12, e.g.,
OOKII NO WA KORE DESU. "The big one is this."
KORE WA WATAKUSHI NO DESU. "This is mine."
The word NO followed by the copula DESU also means literally ’matter,’ ’fact,’ ’case,’ etc., and the expression NO DESU means literally ’it is a matter of ---.’ This is a very common expression in Japanese used more commonly among friends, and it occurs immediately after any informal predicate ending just to make the statement softer and less direct. The copula DESU is in its formal form, and it may also be changed to its informal form DA. The informal form of the copula will be described later. NO is often contracted to N. The uncontracted form NO usually occurs in polite or precise speech.
The expression with N(O) DESU means about the same thing as the one without N(O) DESU. Remember that in Japanese it is the final inflected form of a sequence that determines the formality level of the sequence.
Examples:
CHIISAI. It’s small.
CHIISAI N DESU. It’s small.
CHIISAI DESU. It’s small.
CHIISAKU (WA) NAI. It’s not small.
CHIISAKU (WA) NAIN DESU. It’s not small
CHIISAKU (WA) NAI DESU. It’s not small.
ARUKU I walk.
ARUKU N DESU. I walk.
ARUKIMASU. I walk.
ARUKANAI. I don’t walk.
ARUKANAI N DESU. I don’t walk.
ARUKANAI DESU. I don’t walk.
ARUITA. I walked.
ARUITA N DESU. I walked.
ARUKIMASHITA. I walked.TOKI ’time,’ ’occasion’
The word TOKI is a noun meaning ’time’ or ’occasion.’ Therefore, the constructions in which it occurs are parallel to those in which words like HON, GAKKOO, etc., occur. That is, it may be preceded by all types of modifiers including adjectival clauses and it may be followed by particles like GA, NI, NIWA, WA, KARA, etc.
Examples:
TOKI GA WARUI DESU. "The time is bad."
KODOMO NO TOKI KARA, YOKU BENKYOO-SHIMASHITA. "He has studied hard since his childhood."
CHIISAI TOKI NI, NIHON E IKIMASHITA. "I went to Japan when I was small."
TOMODACHI GA KITA TOKI NI, YUUHAN O TABETE IMASHITA. "I was eating dinner when my friend came."
YUUHAN O TABETE IRU TOKI NI, TOMODACHI GA KIMASHITA. "When I was eating dinner, a friend came."
In Lesson 18, the use of the particle TO meaning ’if,’ ’when,’ or ’whenever’ was introduced. The particle TO occurring only after the non-past and the noun TOKI occurring after the non-past or the past are generally not interchangeable.
Examples:
NI NI SAN O TASU TO, GO NI NARIMASU. (cause or condition and effect) "If you add 3 to 2, it becomes 5."
UCHI NI KAERU TO, TOMODACHI GA KIMASHITA. (specific time) "Just as I came home, a friend came (unexpectedly)."
ASA OKIRU TO, ITSUMO MADO O AKEMASU. (habitual action) "When(ever) I get up in the morning, I always open the window."
TO in each of the above examples cannot be replaced by TOKI NI.
However, TOKI NI may be used if the preceding non-past inflected word is changed to its corresponding past form. But the meaning of this new construction is not exactly identical with that of the TO construction. TOKI NI simply indicates the time when the action in the succeeding statement takes or took place. Thus:
NI NI SAN O TASHITA TOKI NI, GO NI NARIMASU. "When you add 3 to 2, it becomes 5."
UCHI NI KAETTA TOKI NI, TOMODACHI GA KIMASHITA. "When I came home, a friend came."
ASA OKITA TOKI NI, MADO O AKEMASU. "When I get up in the morning, I’ll open the window."TE-ending of I-adjectives
The inflection of I-adjectives was briefly discussed in Lesson 21.
The conjunctive ending of I-adjectives is formed by dropping the final -I of the (non-past) basic ending and adding -KU.
The TE-ending of I-adjectives is formed by adding -TE to the conjunctive ending. Thus:
Basic ending (non-past) | Conjunctive ending (adverbial) | TE-ending
SHIROI | SHIROKU | SHIROKUTE
AKAI | AKAKU | AKAKUTE
OOKII | OOKIKU | OOKIKUTE
USUI | USUKU | USUKUTE
Occurring at the end of a non-final clause, the TE-ending of I-adjectives coordinates with what follows.
Examples:
HARU WA ATTAKAKUTE, NATSU WA ATSUI DESU. "Spring is warm and summer is hot."
AMERIKA WA OOKIKUTE, NIHON WA CHIISAI DESU. "America is big and Japan is small."
A noun may be described by more than one modifier, each of which normally retains its original form.
Examples:
WATAKUSHI NO ENPITSU ’my pencil’
CHAIRO NO ENPITSU ’a brown pencil’
WATAKUSHI NO CHAIRO NO ENPITSU ’my brown pencil’
ANATA NO JIDOOSHA ’your car’
CHIISAI JIDOOSHA ’a small car’
ANATA NO CHIISAI JIDOOSHA ’your small car’
KINOO KATTA HON ’the book I bought yesterday’
NIPPONGO NO HON ’a Japanese book’
KINOO KATTA NIPPONGO NO HON ’the Japanese book I bought yesterday’
OOKII UCHI ’a large house’
KIREI NA UCHI ’a clean house’
OOKII KIREI NA UCHI ’a large, clean house’
OOKII UCHI ’a large house’
SHIROI UCHI ’a white house’
OOKII SHIROI UCHI ’a large, white house’
However, when an I-adjective occurs as a non-final modifier as in examples (4) and (5) above, it may occur in its TE-ending instead of its basic ending. Thus:
OOKIKUTE KIREI NA UCHI ’a large (and) clean house’
OOKIKUTE SHIROI UCHI ’a large (and) white house’
Other uses of the TE-ending of I-adjectives will be introduced later.-GATSU ’calendar months’
-GATSU is a counter used to name the calendar months. It is combined with the Chinese series of numerals.
|
ICHI-GATSU | January
NI-GATSU | February
SAN-GATSU | March
SHI-GATSU | April
GO-GATSU | May
ROKU-GATSU | June
SHICHI-GATSU | July
HACHI-GATSU | August
KU-GATSU | September
JUU-GATSU | October
JUUICHI-GATSU | November
JUUNI-GATSU | December
NAN-GATSU | what month?
Thus:-KAGETSU ’month(s)’
-KAGETSU is a counter to count months. It is combined with the Chinese series of numerals, but it may also be combined with some Japanese numerals. Note also in the following list that some numerals change to assimilated forms: *
|
* IK-KAGETSU | 1 month
NI-KAGETSU | 2 months
SAN-KAGETSU | 3 months
YON-KAGETSU | 4 months
GO-KAGETSU | 5 months
* ROK-KAGETSU | 6 months
SHICHI-KAGETSU | 7 months
or |
NANA-KAGETSU | 7 months
HACHI-KAGETSU | 8 months
or |
* HAK-KAGETSU | 8 months
KU-KAGETSU | 9 months
or |
KYUU-KAGETSU | 9 months
|
* JIK-KAGETSU | 10 months
or |
* JUK-KAGETSU | 10 months
* JUUIK-KAGETSU | 11 months
JUUNI-KAGETSU | 12 months
NAN-KAGETSU | how many months-NEN ’year’
-NEN is a counter to count years and to name the year. It is combined with the Chinese series of numerals, but it, too, may be combined with some Japanese numerals. Thus:
|
ICHI-NEN | 1 year
GAN-NEN | the year 1
NI-NEN | 2 years or the year 2
SAN-NEN | 3 years or year 3
YO-NEN | 4 years or the year 4
GO-NEN | 5 years or the year 5
ROKU-NEN | 6 years or the year 6
SHICHI-NEN | 7 years or the year 7
or |
NANA-NEN | 7 years or the year 7
HACHI-NEN | 8 years or the year 8
KU-NEN | 9 years or the year 9
or |
|
KYUU-NEN | 9 years or the year 9
JUU-NEN | 10 years or the year 10
HYAKU-NEN | 100 years or the year 100
NAN-NEN | how many years? or what year?-KANEN
-KANEN is a counter to count years. It is sometimes used in place of the counter -NEN. Thus:
|
IK-KANEN | 1 year
NI-KANEN | 2 years
SAN-KANEN | 3 years
YON-KANEN | 4 years
GO-KANEN | 5 years
ROK-KANEN | 6 years
SHICHI-KANEN | 7 years
or |
NANA-KANEN | 7 years
HACHI-KANEN | 8 years
or |
HAK-KANEN | 8 years
KU-KANEN | 9 years
or |
KYUU-KANEN | 9 years
|
JIK-KANEN | 10 years
NAN-KANEN | how many years- 一
- one
- 年
- year (See Grammar Notes)
- に
- on (See Gram. Notes)
- か。
- either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
- 十
- ten
- 二
- two
- 前
- before, front
- を
- particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
- 月、
- moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
- 三
- three
- 四
- four
- 五
- five
- 六
- six
- 七
- seven
- 八
- eight
- 九
- nine
- の
- See Grammar Notes
- さいしょ
- first
- と
- and (See Gram. Notes)
This and last month · Dialogue 2 of 4
This month and last month
*今月は 何月ですか* means "What month is this month?" The reply *今月は 四月です* identifies it as April.
*先月は 何月でしたか* asks about last month. *先月は 三月でした* gives the answer in the past.
Kanji: 今
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 7
いちねんのさいごのつきはなんがつですか。
What is the last month of the year?
一one year年one yearのofさい後lastのof月monthはtopic何what month月what monthですisか。question - 8
じゅうにがつです。
It is December.
十December二December月Decemberです。is - 9
こんげつはなんがつですか。
What month is this month?
今月this monthはtopic何what month月what monthですisか。question - 10
こんげつはしがつです。
This month is April.
今月this monthはtopic四April月Aprilです。is - 11
せんげつはなんがつでしたか。
What month was last month?
先月last monthはtopic何what month月what monthでしisたpastか。question - 12
せんげつはさんがつでした。
Last month was March.
先月last monthはtopic三March月Marchでしisた。past
- さい後
- last
- 月
- moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
- 今月
- this month
- 先月
- last month
Spring and arriving at school · Dialogue 3 of 4
Spring and its flowers
*春は あたたかくて、 はなが たくさん さきます* means "Spring is warm and many flowers bloom." The ending *くて* links the first description to what follows.
The month of arrival
*あなたが この 学校に 来たのは 何月でしたか* asks which month the listener came to the school.
*来た* presents the arrival as completed. The reply identifies the month with *一月でした*.
Kanji: 春
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 学, 校, 来
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 13
はるはなんがつからなんがつまでですか。
Spring is from what month to what month?
春springはtopic何what month月what monthからfrom何what month月what monthまでtoですisか。question - 14
はるはさんがつ、しがつ、ごがつです。
Spring is March, April, and May.
春springはtopic三March月、March四April月、April五May月Mayです。is - 15
はるはあたたかいですか。
Is spring warm?
春springはtopicあたたかいwarmですisか。question - 16
はい、はるはあたたかくて、はながたくさんさきます。
Yes, spring is warm and many flowers bloom.
はい、yes春springはtopicあたたかくwarmて、andはなflowersがsubjectたくさんmanyさきbloomます。polite - 17
あなたがこのがっこうにきたのはなんがつでしたか。
What month was it that you came to this school?
あなたyouがsubjectこのthis学校schoolにto来comeたpastのthatはtopic何what month月what monthでしisたpastか。question - 18
わたくしがこのがっこうにきたのはいちがつでした。
The month I came to this school was January.
私Iがsubjectこのthis学校schoolにto来comeたpastのthatはtopic一January月Januaryでしisた。past
- 春
- spring
- から
- from (See Gram. Notes)
- まで
- as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
- あたたかい
- warm
- はな
- flower
- が
- but (See Gram. Notes)
- たくさん
- many
Family arrival and climate comparisons · Dialogue 4 of 4
An earlier arrival
One person asks how the other arrived, where they came from, and whether they brought family.
*その時 一人で 来たんですか* means "Did you come alone then?" Here *時* follows *その* to name that occasion.
A softer question
In *その時 一人で 来たんですか*, *来たんですか* asks about the completed arrival.
*N DESU* makes the question softer and less direct.
- 19
そのときひとりできたんですか。
Did you come alone then?
そのthat時time一人aloneでby来comeたpastんthe factですisか。question - 20
いいえ、かぞくをつれてきました。
No, I brought my family.
いいえ、no家ぞくfamilyをobjectつれbringてbring来bringましpoliteた。past - 21
あなたはどこからきましたか。
Where did you come from?
あなたyouはtopicどこwhereからfrom来comeましpoliteたpastか。question - 22
シカゴからきました。
I came from Chicago.
シカゴChicagoからfrom来comeましpoliteた。past - 23
ここはシカゴぐらいさむいですか。
Is this place as cold as Chicago?
ここhereはtopicシカゴChicagoぐらいasさむいcoldですisか。question - 24
いいえ、ここはシカゴほどさむくはないです。
No, this place is not so cold as Chicago.
いいえ、noここhereはtopicシカゴChicagoほどasさむくcoldはtopicないnotです。is
- 時
- time
- 一人
- one person
- で
- --is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
- 家ぞく
- family
- ここ
- here
- ぐらい
- about
- さむい
- cold
- ほど
- to the extent (See Grammar Notes)
Asking about daily schedules · Perception drill, Block 1
A softer explanation
*大てい 三時間ぐらい べんきょうするんです* means "I usually study for about three hours." *N DESU* makes the statement softer and less direct.
*NO DESU* follows an informal predicate. *NO* often contracts to *N*, while precise or polite speech commonly keeps *NO*.
Softened questions
*あなたは 朝 べんきょうしないんですか* asks whether the listener studies in the morning. The negative *べんきょうしない* comes before *N DESU*.
The final *DESU* sets the formality of the full expression. Its basic meaning stays about the same without *N DESU*.
- 25
あなたはまいばんなんじかんぐらいべんきょうするのですか。
About how many hours do you study every evening?
あなたyouはtopicまいばんevery evening何how many時間hoursぐらいaboutべんきょうstudyするdoのthe factですisか。question - 26
たいていさんじかんぐらいべんきょうするんです。
I usually study for about three hours.
大ていusually三three時間hoursぐらいaboutべんきょうstudyするdoんthe factです。is - 27
あなたはなんじにあさめしをたべるんですか。
What time do you eat breakfast?
あなたyouはtopic何what time時what timeにat朝めしbreakfastをobjectたべるeatんthe factですisか。question - 28
ろくじはんにたべるんです。
I eat at six thirty.
六six時o'clock半half pastにatたべるeatんthe factです。is - 29
このがっこうはなんじにはじまるのですか。
What time does this school start?
このthis学校schoolはtopic何what time時what timeにatはじまるstartのthe factですisか。question - 30
はちじにはじまるのです。
It starts at eight o’clock.
八eight時o'clockにatはじまるstartのthe factです。is - 31
このがっこうはなんじにおわるのですか。
What time does this school finish?
このthis学校schoolはtopic何what time時what timeにatおわるfinishのthe factですisか。question - 32
ごごよじにおわります。
It finishes at four in the afternoon.
午後afternoon四four時o'clockにatおわりfinishます。polite - 33
あなたはあさべんきょうしないんですか。
Don’t you study in the morning?
あなたyouはtopic朝morningべんきょうstudyしdoないnotんthe factですisか。question - 34
いいえ、あさもべんきょうします。
Yes, I study in the morning too.
いいえ、yes朝morningもtooべんきょうstudyしdoます。polite
- 時間
- hour, time
- 朝めし
- breakfast
- はじまる
- begins, starts (v.i.)
- おわる
- ends (v.i.)
- 午後
- p.m., afternoon
- 朝
- morning
- し
- city
Explaining completed actions · Perception drill, Block 2
The informal past
*学校へ 来た* means "I came to school." The TA-ending is the informal past of a verb.
Change final *TE* to *TA*, or final *DE* to *DA*. Thus *KITE* becomes *来た*, and *YONDE* becomes *YONDA*.
A softened past explanation
*あなたは もう この本を 読んだんですか* asks whether the listener has read it. *読んだ* is the informal past before *N DESU*.
*スミスさんが しめたんです* uses the same pattern to explain who closed the window.
- 35
がっこうへきた。
I came to school.
学校schoolへtoward来comeた。past - 36
がっこうへきたんです。
I came to school.
学校schoolへtoward来comeたpastんthe factです。is - 37
だれがこのかみにじをかいたんですか。
Who wrote the characters on this paper?
だれwhoがsubjectこのthisかみpaperにon字charactersをobject書いwriteたpastんthe factですisか。question - 38
さあ、わたくしはしりません。
Well, I don’t know.
さあ、well私Iはtopic知りknowませpoliteん。not - 39
だれがこのまどをしめたんですか。
Who closed this window?
だれwhoがsubjectこのthisまどwindowをobjectしめcloseたpastんthe factですisか。question - 40
スミスさんがしめたんです。
Mr. Smith closed it.
スミスSmithさんMr.がsubjectしめcloseたpastんthe factです。is - 41
あなたはもうこのほんをよんだんですか。
Have you read this book already?
あなたyouはtopicもうalreadyこのthis本bookをobject読んreadだpastんthe factですisか。question - 42
ええ、もうよんだんですが、むずかしいですね。
Yes, I’ve already read it, but it’s difficult, isn’t it?
ええ、yesもうalready読んreadだpastんthe factですisが、butむずかしいdifficultですisね。isn't it? - 43
あなたはわえいじてんをかったんですか。
Did you buy a Japanese-English dictionary?
あなたyouはtopicわJapanese-English dictionaryえJapanese-English dictionaryいJapanese-English dictionary字Japanese-English dictionaryてんJapanese-English dictionaryをobject買っbuyたpastんthe factですisか。question - 44
ええ、きのうかったのです。
Yes, I bought one yesterday.
ええ、yes昨日yesterday買っbuyたpastのthe factです。is - 45
あなたがこのがっこうへきたのはなんがつでしたか。
What month was it when you came to this school?
あなたyouがsubjectこのthis学校schoolへtoward来comeたpastのthe timeはtopic何what month月what monthでしisたpastか。question - 46
いちがつでした。
It was January.
一January月Januaryでしisた。past
- へ
- to (See Gram. Notes)
- だれ
- who?
- もう
- already (See Gram. Notes)
- 本
- numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
- ええ、
- Yes
- むずかしい
- difficult
- ね。
- isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
- わ
- counter for birds (See Gram. Notes)
- 昨日
- yesterday
Comparing size, length and colour · Perception drill, Block 3
Linking two descriptions
*字しょは あつくて、 きょうかしょは うすいです* means "The dictionary is thick, and the textbook is thin."
For an I-adjective, replace final *I* with *KU*, then add *TE*. The resulting TE-ending links its clause to what follows.
A comparison in one sentence
*べいこくの 方が 大きくて、 日本の 方が 小さいです* means "The United States is larger, and Japan is smaller."
*大きくて* ends the first description. The final adjective carries the polite ending for the complete sentence.
- 47
じしょときょうかしょをくらべてごらんなさい。
Compare the dictionary and the textbook.
字dictionaryしょdictionaryとandきょうかtextbookしょtextbookをobjectくらべcompareてandごらんtryなさい。please - 48
はい、じしょはあつくて、きょうかしょはうすいです。
Yes, the dictionary is thick, and the textbook is thin.
はい、yes字dictionaryしょdictionaryはtopicあつくthickて、andきょうかtextbookしょtextbookはtopicうすいthinです。is - 49
このえんぴつはどんなですか。
What are these pencils like?
このtheseえんぴつpencilsはtopicどんなwhat kindですisか。question - 50
いっぽんはながくて、もういっぽんはみじかいです。
One is long, and the other is short.
一one本oneはtopic長くlongて、andもうanother一one本oneはtopic短いshortです。is - 51
このえんぴつはどんないろですか。
What colors are these pencils?
このtheseえんぴつpencilsはtopicどんなwhat kindいろcolorですisか。question - 52
いっぽんはあおくて、もういっぽんはきいろいです。
One is blue, and the other is yellow.
一one本oneはtopicあおくblueて、andもうanother一one本oneはtopicきいろいyellowです。is - 53
ここにいとがにほんあります。いっぽんはみじかくて、もういっぽんはながいですね。
There are two pieces of string here; one is short, and the other is long, isn’t it?
ここhereにatいとstringがsubject二two pieces本two piecesありexistます。polite一one本oneはtopic短くshortて、andもうanother一one本oneはtopic長いlongですisね。isn't it? - 54
はい、そうです。
Yes, that’s right.
はい、yesそうthat's rightです。is - 55
にほんとべいこくをくらべてごらんなさい。どっちのほうがおおきくて、どっちのほうがちいさいですか。
Compare Japan and the United States; which is larger, and which is smaller?
日本JapanとandべいUnited StatesこくUnited Statesをobjectくらべcompareてandごらんtryなさい。pleaseどっちwhichのof方oneがsubject大きくlargeて、andどっちwhichのof方oneがsubject小さいsmallですisか。question - 56
べいこくのほうがおおきくて、にほんのほうがちいさいです。
The United States is larger, and Japan is smaller.
べいUnited StatesこくUnited Statesのof方oneがsubject大きくlargeて、and日本Japanのof方oneがsubject小さいsmallです。is
- どんな
- what kind of; what sort of
- いろ
- color
- きいろい
- yellow
- いと
- thread, string
- どっち
- which of two (See Grammar Notes)
Qualified negative descriptions · Perception drill, Block 4
A qualified negative
*その かみは あおくは ないです* means "That paper is not blue." The I-adjective has its *く* form before *は ないです*.
*あんまり 近くは ないです* uses the same form to mean "It is not very close."
Not easy either
*やさしくも ないです* means "It is not easy either." Here *も* follows the *く* form before *ないです*.
The line follows *あまり むずかしくないですね*, so the second negative rejects the opposite description too.
- 57
このかみはあおいですか。
Is this paper blue?
このthisかみpaperはtopicあおいblueですisか。question - 58
いいえ、そのかみはあおくはないです。くろいです。
No, that paper isn’t blue; it’s black.
いいえ、noそのthatかみpaperはtopicあおくblueはtopicないnotです。isくろいblackです。is - 59
サリナスはちかいですか。
Is Salinas close?
サリナスSalinasはtopic近いcloseですisか。question - 60
いいえ、あんまりちかくはないです。にじゅうマイルぐらいあります。
No, it isn’t very close; it’s about twenty miles away.
いいえ、noあんまりvery近くcloseはtopicないnotです。is二十twentyマイルmilesぐらいaboutありawayます。polite - 61
このかんじはあまりむずかしくないですね。
This kanji isn’t very difficult, is it?
このthisかん字kanjiはtopicあまりveryむずかしくdifficultないnotですisね。is it? - 62
ええ、でも、やさしくもないです。
No, but it isn’t easy either.
ええ、that's rightでbutも、butやさしくeasyもeitherないnotです。is - 63
あなたはにほんごのほんをはやくよむことができますか。
Can you read Japanese books quickly?
あなたyouはtopic日本Japanese language語Japanese languageのof本booksをobjectはやくquickly読むreadことdoing soがsubjectできcanますpoliteか。question - 64
あまりむずかしくないと、かなりはやくよむことができます。
If they aren’t too difficult, I can read them fairly quickly.
あまりtooむずかしくdifficultないnotと、ifかなりfairlyはやくquickly読むreadことdoing soがsubjectできcanます。polite - 65
そのちいさいじどうしゃはあまりたかくないとおもいましたが、いくらぐらいですか。
I thought that small car wasn’t very expensive, but about how much is it?
そのthat小さいsmallじどうcarしゃcarはtopicあまりveryたかくexpensiveないnotとthat思いthinkましpoliteたpastが、butいくらhow muchぐらいaboutですisか。question - 66
このじどうしゃはたかいです。ろくせんドルぐらいです。
This car is expensive; it costs about six thousand dollars.
このthisじどうcarしゃcarはtopicたかいexpensiveです。is六千six thousandドルdollarsぐらいaboutです。is
- あおい
- blue
- くろい
- black
- サリナス
- Salinas
- 近い
- near, close
- 二十
- 20
- マイル
- mile
- と、
- and (See Gram. Notes)
- かなり
- fairly
- いくら
- how much? how many?
- たかい
- expensive
- 六千
- 6,000
- ドル
- dollar
Softening everyday statements · Pattern 1 1 of 3
The verb before the soft ending
*私は まいばん ふくしゅう するんです* means "I review every evening." The informal non-past verb comes before *N DESU*.
*私は 行かないんです* means "I am not going." The negative verb keeps the same soft ending.
A description before the ending
*カーメルは モンテレーから 近いんです* means "Carmel is close to Monterey." An I-adjective can also come before *N DESU*.
- 67
わたくしはあさはんをたべるん(の)です。
I eat breakfast.
私Iはtopic朝breakfastはんbreakfastをobjectたべるeatんthe fact(の)the factです。is - 68
わたくしはあさはんをたべないん(の)です。
I don't eat breakfast.
私Iはtopic朝breakfastはんbreakfastをobjectたべeatないnotんthe fact(の)the factです。is - 69
これはあたらしいん(の)です。
This is new.
これthisはtopicあたらしいnewんthe fact(の)the factです。is - 70
わたくしはまいばんふくしゅうするんです。
I review every evening.
私Iはtopicまいばんevery eveningふくしゅうreviewするdoんthe factです。is - 71
あなたはひるはんをたべるんですか、たべないんですか。
Do you eat lunch, or don’t you?
あなたyouはtopicひるlunchはんlunchをobjectたべるeatんthe factですisか、questionたべeatないnotんthe factですisか。question - 72
わたくしはあたらしいじどうしゃをかうんです。
I’m going to buy a new car.
私Iはtopicあたらしいnewじどうcarしゃcarをobject買うbuyんthe factです。is - 73
わたくしはいかないんです。
I’m not going.
私Iはtopic行かgoないnotんthe factです。is - 74
カーメルはモンテレーからちかいんです。
Carmel is close to Monterey.
カーメルCarmelはtopicモンテレーMontereyからfrom近いcloseんthe fact isです。is, polite
- (の)
- See Grammar Notes
- あたらしい
- new
- ふくしゅう
- review
- か、
- either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
- 買う
- to buy
- カーメル
- Carmel
- モンテレー
- Monterey
Asking approximate times · Pattern 1 2 of 3
About which month
*そのはなは 何月頃 さくんですか* means "About what month does that flower bloom?" *GATSU* is the counter that names calendar months.
*NAN-GATSU* asks which month. The line adds *頃* to ask for an approximate month.
From November to about December
*十一月から 十二月頃まで さきます* means "It blooms from November until about December."
*十一月* is November and *十二月* is December. *頃* makes December approximate, while *から* and *まで* mark the range.
- 75
あなたはまいあさごじにおきて、べんきょうするんですか。
Do you get up at five every morning and study?
あなたyouはtopicまevery morningいevery morning朝every morning五five o’clock時five o’clockにatおきget upて、andべんきょうstudyするdoんthe fact isですis, politeか。question - 76
はい、ごじにおきて、しちじまでべんきょうします。
Yes, I get up at five and study until seven.
はい、yes五five o’clock時five o’clockにatおきget upて、and七seven o’clock時seven o’clockまでuntilべんきょうstudyしdoます。polite - 77
あなたはあさはんをなんじごろたべるんですか。
About what time do you eat breakfast?
あなたyouはtopic朝breakfastはんbreakfastをobject何時頃about what timeたべるeatんthe fact isですis, politeか。question - 78
しちじすぎにたべます。
I eat a little after seven.
七seven o’clock時seven o’clockすぎa little afterにatたべeatます。polite - 79
そのはなはなんがつごろさくんですか。
About what month does that flower bloom?
そのthatはなflowerはtopic何what month月what month頃aboutさくbloomんthe fact isですis, politeか。question - 80
じゅういちがつからじゅうにがつごろまでさきます。
It blooms from November until about December.
十November一November月Novemberからfrom十December二December月December頃aboutまでuntilさきbloomます。polite - 81
まいあさはやくおきます。
I get up early every morning.
まevery morningいevery morning朝every morningはやくearlyおきget upます。polite - 82
あのかたをしっています。
I know that person.
あのthat方personをobject知っknowてknowいknowます。know
- すぎ
- past, after
- 頃
- approximate point of time (See Gram. Notes)
- さく
- to bloom (v.i.)
Softening abilities and descriptions · Pattern 1 3 of 3
Direct statements
*日本語が できます* means "I can speak Japanese." *よく わかります* means "I understand it well."
*日本は 小さい* means "Japan is small." *これは 大へん むずかしい* means "This is very difficult."
- 83
にほんごができます。
I can speak Japanese.
日本Japanese語Japaneseがsubjectできcan speakます。polite - 84
よくわかります。
I understand it well.
よくwellわかりunderstandます。polite - 85
はちじにはじまります。
It starts at eight o’clock.
八eight o’clock時eight o’clockにatはじまりstartます。polite - 86
なにもしりません。
I don’t know anything.
何anythingもat all知りknowませnot, politeん。not, polite - 87
にほんはちいさい。
Japan is small.
日本Japanはtopic小さい。small - 88
これはたいへんいい。
This is very good.
これthisはtopic大へんveryいい。good - 89
なにもありません。
There isn’t anything.
何anythingもat allありexistませnot, politeん。not, polite - 90
これはたいへんむずかしい。
This is very difficult.
これthisはtopic大へんveryむずかしい。difficult
- よく
- well, skillfully
- 大へん
- very
- いい。
- good (See Gram. Notes)
- むずかしい。
- difficult
Describing completed actions · Pattern 2 1 of 3
A past explanation
*私は 二月に この学校に 来たんです* means "I came to this school in February." The informal past *来た* comes before *N DESU*.
A past verb before a noun
*これは やまださんが 書いた本です* means "This is a book that Mr. Yamada wrote."
*書いた* is the informal past of the verb and directly modifies *本*. *昨日 来た人* similarly means "the person who came yesterday."
- 91
わたくしはにがつにこのがっこうにきたんです。
I came to this school in February.
私Iはtopic二February月Februaryにinこのthis学校schoolにto来comeたpastんthe fact isです。is, polite - 92
きのうきたひとはわたくしのともだちです。
The person who came yesterday is my friend.
昨日yesterday来comeたpast人personはtopic私Iの'sともだちfriendです。is, polite - 93
がっこうへこどもをつれていったんです。
I took my child to school.
学校schoolへtoward子供childをobjectつれtake alongてtake along行っtake alongたpastんthe fact isです。is, polite - 94
そのかんじはまえにならったんですが、いまおぼえていません。
I learned that kanji before, but I do not remember it now.
そのthatかん字kanjiはtopic前beforeにatならっlearnたpastんthe fact isですis, politeが、but今nowおぼえdo not rememberてdo not rememberいdo not rememberませdo not rememberん。do not remember - 95
わたくしがにほんへいったのはしがつでした。
It was in April that I went to Japan.
私Iがsubject日本Japanへtoward行っgoたpastのthe timeはtopic四April月Aprilでしwasた。was - 96
そのまどをあけたひとはどなたですか。
Who opened that window?
そのthatまどwindowをobjectあけopenたpast人personはtopicどなたwhoですis, politeか。question - 97
これはやまださんがかいたほんです。
This is a book that Mr. Yamada wrote.
これthisはtopicやまだYamadaさんMr.がsubject書いwriteたpast本bookです。is, polite - 98
あなたはここへかぞくをつれてきたんですか。
Did you bring your family here?
あなたyouはtopicここhereへtoward家ぞくfamilyをobjectつれbringてbring来bringたpastんthe fact isですis, politeか。question - 99
はい、かぞくをつれてきました。
Yes, I brought my family with me.
はい、yes家ぞくfamilyをobjectつれbringてbring来bringましdid, politeた。did, polite - 100
あなたはにほんごがすこしできますが、にほんにいたんですか。
You speak a little Japanese; were you in Japan?
あなたyouはtopic日本Japanese語Japaneseがsubject少しa littleできcan speakますpoliteが、but日本Japanにin居be thereたpastんthe fact isですis, politeか。question
- 人
- people
- ともだち
- friend
- が、
- but (See Gram. Notes)
- 少し
- little (quantity)
Past locations and action verbs · Pattern 2 2 of 3
Counting and naming years
*はい、 三年 居ました* means "Yes, I was there for three years." *NEN* counts years and also names a year.
*SAN-NEN* is "three years or year three." *NAN-NEN* asks "how many years or what year."
Another counter for years
*はい、 三年 居ました* counts the duration with *NEN*. The same duration can use *SAN-KANEN*.
*KANEN* counts years and sometimes replaces *NEN*. *NAN-KANEN* asks "how many years."
A completed action
*あなたは 日本で 日本語を ならったんですか* means "Did you learn Japanese in Japan?"
*ならった* is the informal past before *N DESU*. The reply changes the location to *アメリカで*.
- 101
はい、さんねんいました。
Yes, I was there for three years.
はい、yes三three years年three years居be thereましdid, politeた。did, polite - 102
あなたはにほんでにほんごをならったんですか。
Did you learn Japanese in Japan?
あなたyouはtopic日本Japanでin日本Japanese語Japaneseをobjectならっlearnたpastんthe fact isですis, politeか。question - 103
いいえ、アメリカでならったんです。
No, I learned it in America.
いいえ、noアメリカAmericaでinならっlearnたpastんthe fact isです。is, polite - 104
さく
to bloom
さくbloom - 105
はなす
to speak
はなすspeak - 106
あそぶ
to play
あそぶplay - 107
はじまる
to begin
はじまるbegin - 108
おもう
to think
思うthink - 109
できる
to be able to
できるbe able to - 110
かぐ
to smell
かぐsmell
- アメリカ
- America; U.S.A.
- あそぶ
- to play (v.i.)
- 思う
- to think
Holding, reading, working and paying · Pattern 2 3 of 3
Actions with different endings
*もつ* means "to hold," *読む* means "to read," and *はたらく* means "to work."
The list also includes *こたえる*, *べんきょうする*, and *もって来る*. Their different endings provide varied informal past forms.
- 111
もつ
to hold
もつhold - 112
こたえる
to answer
こたえるanswer - 113
べんきょうする
to study
べんきょうstudyするdo - 114
もってくる
to bring
もっbringてbring来るbring - 115
よむ
to read
読むread - 116
はたらく
to work
はたらくwork - 117
つれていく
to take along
つれtake alongてtake along行くtake along - 118
はらう
to pay
はらうpay
- こたえる
- to answer (v.i.)
- はたらく
- to work (v.i.)
- はらう
- to pay
Linking contrasting descriptions · Pattern 3 1 of 2
One description linked to another
*アメリカは 大きくて、 日本は 小さいです* means "America is large, and Japan is small."
*大きくて* is the I-adjective TE-ending. It links the first description to the contrasting description that follows.
Seasons and colours
*秋は すずしくて、 冬は さむいです* means "Fall is cool, and winter is cold."
*一つは しろくて、 もう一つは むらさきです* means "One is white, and the other is purple."
Kanji: 夏, 秋, 冬
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 119
はるはあったかくて、はながたくさんさきます。
Spring is warm and many flowers bloom.
春springはtopicあったかくwarmて、andはなflowersがsubjectたくさんmanyさきbloomます。polite - 120
アメリカはおおきくて、にほんはちいさいです。
America is large, and Japan is small.
アメリカAmericaはtopic大きくlargeて、and日本Japanはtopic小さいsmallです。is, polite - 121
あきはすずしくて、ふゆはさむいです。
Fall is cool, and winter is cold.
秋fallはtopicすずしくcoolて、and冬winterはtopicさむいcoldです。is, polite - 122
はるはあったかくて、なつはあついです。
Spring is warm, and summer is hot.
春springはtopicあったかくwarmて、and夏summerはtopicあついhotです。is, polite - 123
そとはさむくて、いえのなかはあついです。
It is cold outside, and it is hot inside the house.
そとoutsideはtopicさむくcoldて、and家houseの's中insideはtopicあついhotです。is, polite - 124
しがつはあたたかくて、しちがつはあついです。
April is warm, and July is hot.
四April月Aprilはtopicあたたかくwarmて、and七July月Julyはtopicあついhotです。is - 125
そこにえんぴつがにほんありますね。どちらもながいですか。
There are two pencils there, aren’t there? Are they both long?
そこthereにatえんぴつpencilがsubject二two本twoありexistますpoliteね。right?どちらwhichもalso長いlongですisか。question - 126
いいえ、あかいのはながくて、きいろいのはみじかいです。
No, the red one is long, and the yellow one is short.
いいえ、noあかいredのoneはtopic長くlongて、andきいろいyellowのoneはtopic短いshortです。is - 127
そのはなはどちらもしろいですか。
Are both of those flowers white?
そのthoseはなflowersはtopicどちらwhichもalsoしろいwhiteですisか。question - 128
いいえ、ひとつはしろくて、もうひとつはむらさきです。
No, one is white, and the other is purple.
いいえ、no一oneつoneはtopicしろくwhiteて、andもうother一oneつoneはtopicむらさきpurpleです。is
- 秋
- autumn, fall
- 冬
- winter
- 夏
- summer
- あつい
- hot
- そと
- outside
- 家
- house, home
- そこ
- there
- どちら
- which of two (See Grammar Notes)
- あかい
- red
- しろい
- white
Describing people, cars and seasons · Pattern 3 2 of 2
Two seasons in one place
*モンテレーは 夏は すずしくて、 冬は あったかいです* means "Monterey is cool in summer and warm in winter."
*すずしくて* links the summer description to the winter description.
Descriptions before and after nouns
*男の子は 大きいです* describes the boy with an I-adjective at the end.
*大てい 大きい じどうしゃは たかいです* places *大きい* before the noun and *たかいです* at the end.
- 129
モンテレーはどんなところですか。
What kind of place is Monterey?
モンテレーMontereyはtopicどんなwhat kind ofところplaceですisか。question - 130
モンテレーはなつはすずしくて、ふゆはあったかいです。
Monterey is cool in summer and warm in winter.
モンテレーMontereyはtopic夏summerはtopicすずしくcoolて、and冬winterはtopicあったかいwarmです。is - 131
おとこのこはおおきいです。
The boy is big.
男の子boyはtopic大きいbigです。is - 132
おんなのこはちいさいです。
The girl is small.
女の子girlはtopic小さいsmallです。is - 133
あのこはいいです。
That child is good.
あのthat子childはtopicいいgoodです。is - 134
わたくしのこはわるいです。
My child is bad.
私Iの's子childはtopicわるいbadです。is - 135
たいていおおきいじどうしゃはたかいです。
Large cars are usually expensive.
大ていusually大きいlargeじどうcarしゃcarはtopicたかいexpensiveです。is - 136
ちいさいじどうしゃはやすいです。
Small cars are inexpensive.
小さいsmallじどうcarしゃcarはtopicやすいinexpensiveです。is - 137
はるはあったかいです。
Spring is warm.
春springはtopicあったかいwarmです。is - 138
あきはすずしいです。
Fall is cool.
秋fallはtopicすずしいcoolです。is
- ところ
- place (See Gram. Notes)
- あったかい
- warm
- 男の子
- boy
- 女の子
- girl
- いい
- good (See Gram. Notes)
- わるい
- bad
- やすい
- cheap
- すずしい
- cool
Emphasising adjective negatives · Pattern 4 1 of 3
An emphasized negative
*カーメルは 遠くはないんです* means "Carmel is not far." The I-adjective takes its *く* form before *はない*.
*は* emphasizes the negative quality. *N DESU* then makes the explanation softer and less direct.
A reason after contrast
*あまり よくは ないんですが、 やすいから 買ったんです* means the car is not very good, but its low price explains the purchase.
The first *N DESU* ends in *が* for contrast. The second presents the purchase as a softened explanation.
- 139
カーメルはとおくはないんです。
Carmel is not far.
カーメルCarmelはtopic遠くfarはemphasisないnotんyou seeです。is - 140
あまりたかくないほん
The book which is not too expensive.
あまりtooたかくexpensiveないnot本book - 141
このはなはあかくはないんです。
This flower is not red.
このthisはなflowerはtopicあかくredはemphasisないnotんyou seeです。is - 142
あのとりはおおきくはないんです。
That bird is not big.
あのthatとりbirdはtopic大きくbigはemphasisないnotんyou seeです。is - 143
このれんしゅうもんだいはやさしくはないんです。
This exercise is not easy.
このthisれんしゅうexerciseもんだいproblemはtopicやさしくeasyはemphasisないnotんyou seeです。is - 144
わたくしのたべないものはないんです。
There is nothing I do not eat.
私Iのsubjectたべeatないnotものthingはtopicないnotんyou seeです。is - 145
あなたのじどうしゃはいいですね。
Your car is nice, isn’t it?
あなたyouの'sじどうcarしゃcarはtopicいいniceですisね。right? - 146
あまりよくはないんですが、やすいからかったんです。
It is not very good, but I bought it because it was inexpensive.
あまりveryよくgoodはemphasisないnotんyou seeですisが、butやすいinexpensiveからbecause買っbuyたpastんyou seeです。is
- れんしゅう
- practice, drill
- もの
- things (tangible)
Giving reasons with negatives · Pattern 4 2 of 3
A negative reason
*サリナスは あまり 遠くないから、 まいしゅう 土曜日に 行きます* means Salinas is not very far, so the speaker goes every Saturday.
The negative *遠くない* comes before *から* and gives the reason for the action.
A negative before a noun
*あまり むずかしくない もんだいが たくさん ありましたから* means "Because there were many problems that were not very difficult."
*むずかしくない* directly modifies *もんだい*. The final *から* marks the whole statement as the reason.
- 147
あなたはサリナスへいきますか。
Do you go to Salinas?
あなたyouはtopicサリナスSalinasへtoward行きgoますpoliteか。question - 148
はい、サリナスはあまりとおくないから、まいしゅうどようびにいきます。
Yes, Salinas is not very far, so I go there every Saturday.
はい、yesサリナスSalinasはtopicあまりvery遠くfarないnotから、becauseまいevery weekしゅうevery week土曜Saturday日Saturdayにon行きgoます。polite - 149
あなたははやくべんきょうをおわりましたね。
You finished studying early, didn’t you?
あなたyouはtopicはやくearlyべんきょうstudyingをobjectおわりfinishましdid, politeたpastね。right? - 150
はい、あまりむずかしくないもんだいがたくさんありましたから。
Yes, because there were many problems that were not very difficult.
はい、yesあまりveryむずかしくdifficultないnotもんだいproblemsがsubjectたくさんmanyありexistましdid, politeたpastから。because - 151
あたたかい
warm
あたたかいwarm - 152
すずしい
cool
すずしいcool - 153
さむい
cold
さむいcold - 154
あつい
hot
あついhot
- から、
- from (See Gram. Notes)
- しゅう
- state
Adjectives for qualities and speed · Pattern 4 3 of 3
Qualities for description
*ひろい* is "wide," *たかい* is "high," and *やさしい* is "easy."
*かるい* is "light," *はやい* is "fast," and *あたらしい* is "new." These words cover weight, speed, and newness.
- 155
ひろい
wide
ひろいwide - 156
やさしい
easy
やさしいeasy - 157
たかい
high
たかいhigh - 158
かるい
light
かるいlight - 159
はやい
fast
はやいfast - 160
あたらしい
new
あたらしいnew
- ひろい
- wide
- やさしい
- easy
- かるい
- light
- はやい
- fast, quick, early
Months and winter into spring · Reading Selection 1 of 3
Twelve named months
*一年には 十二か月 あります* says that one year has twelve months. The counter *KAGETSU* counts their number.
*一月で、 しょう月とも 言います* identifies the first month as January and gives its other name.
Winter and spring
*十二月、 一月、 二月は 冬で* groups December, January, and February as winter.
*三月、 四月、 五月は 春です* groups March, April, and May as spring. These month names use the *GATSU* counter.
- 161
いちねんにはじゅうにかげつあります。
There are twelve months in one year.
一one year年one yearにinはtopic十twelve二twelveか月monthsありexistます。polite - 162
さいしょのつきは
The first month is
さいしょfirstのof月monthはtopic - 163
いちがつで、しょうがつともいいます。
January, which is also called SHŌGATSU.
一January月Januaryで、isしょうNew Year月New Yearとquoteもalso言いcallます。polite - 164
さいごのつきはじゅうにがつ
The last month is December
さい後lastのof月monthはtopic十December二December月December - 165
です。
It is.
です。is - 166
じゅうにがつ、いちがつ、にがつはふゆで、あるところはたいへん
December, January, and February are winter, and in some places it is very
十December二December月、December一January月、January二February月Februaryはtopic冬winterで、isあるsomeところplacesはtopic大へんvery - 167
さむいです。
cold.
さむいcoldです。is - 168
さんがつ、しがつ、ごがつははるです。
March, April, and May are spring.
三March月、March四April月、April五May月Mayはtopic春springです。is
- で、
- --is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
- ある
- certain, some
Seasons and upcoming Japan travel · Reading Selection 2 of 3
Spring through autumn
*三月は まだ 少し さむくて、 はなが さくのは 大てい 四月です* links March cold with flowers usually blooming in April.
The passage then groups *六月、 七月、 八月* as summer and *九月、 十月、 十一月* as autumn.
Travel next month
*私は 来月 家ぞくを つれて 日本へ 行くのです* means "I am going to Japan with my family next month."
The informal *行く* comes before *NO DESU*, which presents the plan as a softened explanation.
- 169
はるは
Spring
春springはtopic - 170
あったかいですが、さんがつはまだすこしさむくて、はなが
is warm, but March is still a little cold, and the flowers
あったかいwarmですisが、but三March月Marchはtopicまだstill少しa littleさむくcoldて、andはなflowersがsubject - 171
さくのはたいていしがつです。
usually bloom in April.
さくbloomのthatはtopic大ていusually四April月Aprilです。is - 172
ろくがつ、しちがつ、はちがつはなつです。
June, July, and August are summer.
六June月、June七July月、July八August月Augustはtopic夏summerです。is - 173
なつになると、あついです。
When summer comes, it is hot.
夏summerにintoなるbecomesと、whenあついhotです。is - 174
くがつ、じゅうがつ、じゅういちがつはあきです。
September, October, and November are fall.
九September月、September十October月、October十November一November月Novemberはtopic秋fallです。is - 175
わたくしはらいげつかぞくをつれてにほんへいくのです。
I am going to Japan with my family next month.
私Iはtopic来月next month家ぞくfamilyをobjectつれtake alongてand日本Japanへtoward行くgoのthe factです。is - 176
サンフランシスコからひこうきでいくとじゅうよじかんぐらい
It takes about fourteen hours to go by plane from San Francisco,
サンフランシスコSan Franciscoからfromひairplaneこうきairplaneでby行くgoとwhen十fourteen四fourteen時間hoursぐらいabout
- まだ
- yet, still
- 来月
- next month
- サンフランシスコ
- San Francisco
Distance and family travel · Reading Selection 3 of 3
Japan is not close
*日本は 近くは ないのです* means "Japan is not close." The I-adjective takes its *く* form before *は ない*.
*五千マイル ぐらい 遠いところです* gives the approximate distance as five thousand miles.
The time of an earlier trip
*私は 前に 日本に 行った時には* means "When I went to Japan before."
*行った* is the informal past before *時*. The following line explains that a baby was the reason the family did not go.
- 177
かかりますが、にほんはちかくはないのです。
but Japan is not close.
かかりtakeますpoliteが、but日本Japanはtopic近くcloseはtopicないnotのthe factです。is - 178
ごせんマイル
Five thousand miles
五千five thousandマイルmiles - 179
ぐらいとおいところです。
is about how far away it is.
ぐらいabout遠いfarところdistanceです。is - 180
わたくしはまえににほんにいったときには、
When I went to Japan before,
私Iはtopic前beforeにat日本Japanにto行っgoたpast時timeにatは、topic - 181
あかんぼうがあったからかぞくをつれていきませんでした。
I did not take my family because we had a baby.
あかんぼうbabyがsubjectあっhaveたpastからbecause家ぞくfamilyをobjectつれtake alongてand行きgoませnot, politeんnot, politeでしwas, politeた。past - 182
こんどはかないはにほんにいって、にほんごをべんきょうすると
This time, my wife says she will go to Japan and study Japanese
こんどthis timeはtopic家wifeないwifeはtopic日本Japanにto行っgoて、and日本Japanese語Japaneseをobjectべんきょうstudyするdoとquote
- 五千
- 5,000
- 遠い
- far
- あかんぼう
- baby
Asking about months and seasons · Questions 1 of 2
Months within the seasons
The questions ask for the number and names of months within a year and its seasons.
*一年には 何か月 ありますか* means "How many months are there in one year?" An answer gives a number with *KAGETSU*.
*夏は 何月から 何月までですか* asks for the first and last month of summer. An answer gives month names with *GATSU*.
- 183
あきはすずしいです。
Fall is cool.
秋fallはtopicすずしいcoolです。is - 184
いっています。
She says so.
言っsays soてsays soいsays soます。says so - 185
いちねんにはなんかげつありますか。
How many months are there in one year?
一one year年one yearにinはtopic何how many monthsか月how many monthsありexistますpoliteか。question - 186
いちがつはしょうがつともいいますか。
Is January also called SHŌGATSU?
一January月JanuaryはtopicしょうNew Year月New Yearとquoteもalso言いcallますpoliteか。question - 187
ふゆはいつですか。
When is winter?
冬winterはtopicいつwhenですisか。question - 188
いつさむいですか。
When is it cold?
いつwhenさむいcoldですisか。question - 189
さんがつ、しがつ、ごがつはなんといいますか。
What are March, April, and May called?
三March月、March四April月、April五May月Mayはtopic何whatとquote言いcallますpoliteか。question - 190
なつはなんがつからなんがつまでですか。
From what month to what month is summer?
夏summerはtopic何what month月what monthからfrom何what month月what monthまでtoですisか。question - 191
あたたかいのはいつですか。
When is it warm?
あたたかいwarmのthe timeはtopicいつwhenですisか。question
- いつ
- when?
Asking about seasons and Japan · Questions 2 of 2
Seasons and travel details
The questions ask when flowers bloom, where the family travels, how long the trip takes, and why an earlier trip differed.
*さくらの はなが さくのは 大てい 何月ですか* means "What month do the cherry blossoms usually bloom?" An answer names a calendar month.
*前に 私の 家ないは なぜ 日本へ 行きませんでしたか* asks for a reason. An answer states why the wife did not go.
- 192
なつのつぎにくるのはあきですか、ふゆですか。
Does fall or winter come after summer?
夏summerの'sつぎnextにat来るcomeのthe oneはtopic秋fallですisか、or冬winterですisか。question - 193
さんがつにはあたたかくなりますか。
Does it get warm in March?
三March月Marchにinはtopicあたたかくwarmなりbecomeますpoliteか。question - 194
さくらのはながさくのはたいていなんがつですか。
What month do the cherry blossoms usually bloom?
さくらcherryの'sはなblossomsがsubjectさくbloomのthe timeはtopic大ていusually何what month月what monthですisか。question - 195
わたくしはらいげつどこへいきますか。
Where am I going next month?
私Iはtopic来月next monthどこwhereへtoward行きgoますpoliteか。question - 196
ひこうきでいくと、にほんまでなんじかんぐらいかかりますか。
If you go by plane, about how many hours does it take to get to Japan?
ひこairplaneうきでairplane行くgoと、if日本Japanまでto何how many時間hoursぐらいaboutかかりtakeますpoliteか。question - 197
サンフランシスコからにほんまでなんマイルぐらいありますか。
About how many miles is it from San Francisco to Japan?
サンフランシスコSan Franciscoからfrom日本Japanまでto何how manyマイルmilesぐらいaboutありthere areますpoliteか。question - 198
まえにわたくしのかないはなぜにほんへいきませんでしたか。
Why did my wife not go to Japan before?
前beforeにat私Iの's家wifeないwifeはtopicなぜwhy日本Japanへtoward行きgoませnot, politeんnot, politeでしwas, politeたpastか。question - 199
かないはにほんへいってなにをしますか。
What will my wife do when she goes to Japan?
家wifeないwifeはtopic日本Japanへtoward行っgoてand何whatをobjectしdoますpoliteか。question
- つぎ
- next
- さくら
- cherry (flower)
- なぜ
- why?
Months January through September · Word list 1 of 4
The first eleven calendar months
The entries begin with *年*, "year," then name calendar months from *一月*, "January," through *十一月*, "November."
Each month name combines a numeral with the *GATSU* counter. The readings include *四月* for April and *九月* for September.
- 200
ねん
year (See Grammar Notes)
年year - 201
いちがつ
January
一月January - 202
にがつ
February
二月February - 203
さんがつ
March
三月March - 204
しがつ
April
四月April - 205
ごがつ
May
五月May - 206
ろくがつ
June
六月June - 207
しちがつ
July
七月July - 208
はちがつ
August
八月August - 209
くがつ
September
九月September - 210
じゅうがつ
October
十月October - 211
じゅういちがつ
November
十一月November
- 一月
- January
- 二月
- February
- 三月
- March
- 四月
- April
- 五月
- May
- 六月
- June
- 七月
- July
- 八月
- August
- 九月
- September
- 十月
- October
- 十一月
- November
Relative months and seasons · Word list 2 of 4
Relative months and seasons
*今月* is "this month," *来月* is "next month," and *先月* is "last month." The other entries extend this sequence in both directions.
The same group includes *十二月*, "December," and the four seasons from *春*, "spring," through *冬*, "winter."
- 212
じゅうにがつ
December
十二月December - 213
つき
moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
月moon; month - 214
しょうがつ
January, New Year’s Day
しょう月New Year's Day - 215
こんげつ
this month
今月this month - 216
らいげつ
next month
来月next month - 217
さらいげつ
the month after next
さ来月month after next - 218
せんげつ
last month
先月last month - 219
せんせんげつ
the month before last
先々月month before last - 220
はる
spring
春spring - 221
なつ
summer
夏summer - 222
あき
autumn, fall
秋fall - 223
ふゆ
winter
冬winter
- 十二月
- December
- しょう月
- January, New Year’s Day
- さ来月
- the month after next
- 先々月
- the month before last
Weather and travel expressions · Word list 3 of 4
Weather, travel, and months
*あたたかい* and *あったかい* both mean "warm." The other weather words mean "hot," "cool," and "cold."
*つれて来る* means "to bring" and applies to animate beings. *何か月* asks "how many months."
- 224
つぎ
next
つぎnext - 225
さく
to bloom (v.i.)
さくbloom - 226
つれてくる
to bring (animate beings only)
つれて来るbring someone - 227
つれていく
to take along (animate beings only)
つれて行くtake someone along - 228
あたたかい
warm
あたたかいwarm - 229
あったかい
warm
あったかいwarm - 230
あつい
hot
あついhot - 231
すずしい
cool
すずしいcool - 232
さむい
cold
さむいcold - 233
たいへん
very
大へんvery - 234
なんかげつ
How many months? (See Grammar Notes)
何か月how many months - 235
なんがつ
what month?
何月what month
- つれて来る
- to bring (animate beings only)
- つれて行く
- to take along (animate beings only)
- 何か月
- How many months? (See Grammar Notes)
- 何月
- what month?
Months, seasons and temperatures · Word list 4 of 4
Relative months and seasons
*今月は 四月です* means "This month is April." *先月は 三月でした* means "Last month was March."
*夏は 六月、 七月、 八月で、 大へん あついです* groups the summer months and describes them as very hot.
*冬には 大へん さむいです* means "In winter, it is very cold."
- 236
--んです
it’s --- (See Grammar Notes)
--んですit is - 237
さむく(は)ない
not cold (See Grammar Notes)
さむく(は)ないnot cold - 238
こんげつはしがつです。
This month is April.
今月は四月です。This month is April - 239
らいげつはごがつです。
Next month is May.
来月は五月です。Next month is May - 240
さらいげつはろくがつです。
The month after next is June.
さ来月は六月です。Month after next: June - 241
せんげつはさんがつでした。
Last month was March.
先月は三月でした。Last month was March - 242
せんせんげつはにがつでした。
The month before last was February.
先々月は二月でした。Month before last: February - 243
なつはろくがつ、しちがつ、はちがつで、たいへんあついです。
Summer is June, July, August and it's very hot.
夏は六月、七月、八月で、大へんあついです。Summer is very hot - 244
あきになると、すずしくなります。
It gets cool when it becomes autumn.
秋になると、すずしくなります。Autumn becomes cool - 245
ふゆにはたいへんさむいです。
In winter, it's very cold.
冬には大へんさむいです。Winter is very cold - 246
あきはふゆのまえにきます。
Autumn comes before winter.
秋は冬の前に来ます。Autumn comes before winter - 247
ふゆはあきのつぎにきます。
Winter comes after autumn.
冬は秋のつぎに来ます。Winter comes after autumn
- --んです
- it’s --- (See Grammar Notes)
- さむく(は)ない
- not cold (See Grammar Notes)
- 今月は四月です。
- "This month is April."
- 来月は五月です。
- "Next month is May."
- さ来月は六月です。
- "The month after next is June."
- 先月は三月でした。
- "Last month was March."
- 先々月は二月でした。
- "The month before last was February."
- 夏は六月、七月、八月で、大へんあついです。
- "Summer is June, July, August and it's very hot."
- 秋になると、すずしくなります。
- "It gets cool when it becomes autumn."
- 冬には大へんさむいです。
- "In winter, it's very cold."
- 秋は冬の前に来ます。
- "Autumn comes before winter."
- 冬は秋のつぎに来ます。
- "Winter comes after autumn."
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