Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 25

Lesson 25

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

247 lines

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. 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. 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.

  3. 3

    あなたはそのなまえをしっていますか。

    Do you know their names?

  4. 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.

  5. 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?

  6. 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.

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.

  1. 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?

  2. 8

    じゅうにがつです。

    It is December.

  3. 9

    こんげつはなんがつですか。

    What month is this month?

  4. 10

    こんげつはしがつです。

    This month is April.

  5. 11

    せんげつはなんがつでしたか。

    What month was last month?

  6. 12

    せんげつはさんがつでした。

    Last month was March.

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.

  1. 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?

  2. 14

    はるはさんがつ、しがつ、ごがつです。

    Spring is March, April, and May.

  3. 15

    はるはあたたかいですか。

    Is spring warm?

  4. 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.

  5. 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?

  6. 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.

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.

  1. 19

    そのときひとりできたんですか。

    Did you come alone then?

  2. 20

    いいえ、かぞくをつれてきました。

    No, I brought my family.

  3. 21

    あなたはどこからきましたか。

    Where did you come from?

  4. 22

    シカゴからきました。

    I came from Chicago.

  5. 23

    ここはシカゴぐらいさむいですか。

    Is this place as cold as Chicago?

  6. 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.

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*.

  1. 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?

  2. 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.

  3. 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?

  4. 28

    ろくじはんにたべるんです。

    I eat at six thirty.

  5. 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?

  6. 30

    はちじにはじまるのです。

    It starts at eight o’clock.

  7. 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?

  8. 32

    ごごよじにおわります。

    It finishes at four in the afternoon.

  9. 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?

  10. 34

    いいえ、あさもべんきょうします。

    Yes, I study in the morning too.

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.

  1. 35

    がっこうへきた。

    I came to school.

  2. 36

    がっこうへきたんです。

    I came to school.

  3. 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?

  4. 38

    さあ、わたくしはしりません。

    Well, I don’t know.

  5. 39

    だれがこのまどをしめたんですか。

    Who closed this window?

  6. 40

    スミスさんがしめたんです。

    Mr. Smith closed it.

  7. 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?

  8. 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?

  9. 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?

  10. 44

    ええ、きのうかったのです。

    Yes, I bought one yesterday.

  11. 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?

  12. 46

    いちがつでした。

    It was January.

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 49

    このえんぴつはどんなですか。

    What are these pencils like?

  4. 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.

  5. 51

    このえんぴつはどんないろですか。

    What colors are these pencils?

  6. 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.

  7. 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?

  8. 54

    はい、そうです。

    Yes, that’s right.

  9. 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?

  10. 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.

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.

  1. 57

    このかみはあおいですか。

    Is this paper blue?

  2. 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.

  3. 59

    サリナスはちかいですか。

    Is Salinas close?

  4. 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.

  5. 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?

  6. 62

    ええ、でも、やさしくもないです。

    No, but it isn’t easy either.

  7. 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?

  8. 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.

  9. 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?

  10. 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.

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*.

  1. 67

    わたくしはあさはんをたべるん(の)です。

    I eat breakfast.

  2. 68

    わたくしはあさはんをたべないん(の)です。

    I don't eat breakfast.

  3. 69

    これはあたらしいん(の)です。

    This is new.

  4. 70

    わたくしはまいばんふくしゅうするんです。

    I review every evening.

  5. 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?

  6. 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.

  7. 73

    わたくしはいかないんです。

    I’m not going.

  8. 74

    カーメルはモンテレーからちかいんです。

    Carmel is close to Monterey.

(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.

  1. 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?

  2. 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.

  3. 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?

  4. 78

    しちじすぎにたべます。

    I eat a little after seven.

  5. 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?

  6. 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.

  7. 81

    まいあさはやくおきます。

    I get up early every morning.

  8. 82

    あのかたをしっています。

    I know that person.

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."

  1. 83

    にほんごができます。

    I can speak Japanese.

  2. 84

    よくわかります。

    I understand it well.

  3. 85

    はちじにはじまります。

    It starts at eight o’clock.

  4. 86

    なにもしりません。

    I don’t know anything.

  5. 87

    にほんはちいさい。

    Japan is small.

  6. 88

    これはたいへんいい。

    This is very good.

  7. 89

    なにもありません。

    There isn’t anything.

  8. 90

    これはたいへんむずかしい。

    This is very 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."

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 96

    そのまどをあけたひとはどなたですか。

    Who opened that window?

  7. 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.

  8. 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?

  9. 99

    はい、かぞくをつれてきました。

    Yes, I brought my family with me.

  10. 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?

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*.

  1. 101

    はい、さんねんいました。

    Yes, I was there for three years.

  2. 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?

  3. 103

    いいえ、アメリカでならったんです。

    No, I learned it in America.

  4. 104

    さく

    to bloom

  5. 105

    はなす

    to speak

  6. 106

    あそぶ

    to play

  7. 107

    はじまる

    to begin

  8. 108

    おもう

    to think

  9. 109

    できる

    to be able to

  10. 110

    かぐ

    to 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.

  1. 111

    もつ

    to hold

  2. 112

    こたえる

    to answer

  3. 113

    べんきょうする

    to study

  4. 114

    もってくる

    to bring

  5. 115

    よむ

    to read

  6. 116

    はたらく

    to work

  7. 117

    つれていく

    to take along

  8. 118

    はらう

    to 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 121

    あきはすずしくて、ふゆはさむいです。

    Fall is cool, and winter is cold.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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?

  8. 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.

  9. 127

    そのはなはどちらもしろいですか。

    Are both of those flowers white?

  10. 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.

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.

  1. 129

    モンテレーはどんなところですか。

    What kind of place is Monterey?

  2. 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.

  3. 131

    おとこのこはおおきいです。

    The boy is big.

  4. 132

    おんなのこはちいさいです。

    The girl is small.

  5. 133

    あのこはいいです。

    That child is good.

  6. 134

    わたくしのこはわるいです。

    My child is bad.

  7. 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.

  8. 136

    ちいさいじどうしゃはやすいです。

    Small cars are inexpensive.

  9. 137

    はるはあったかいです。

    Spring is warm.

  10. 138

    あきはすずしいです。

    Fall is cool.

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.

  1. 139

    カーメルはとおくはないんです。

    Carmel is not far.

  2. 140

    あまりたかくないほん

    The book which is not too expensive.

  3. 141

    このはなはあかくはないんです。

    This flower is not red.

  4. 142

    あのとりはおおきくはないんです。

    That bird is not big.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 145

    あなたのじどうしゃはいいですね。

    Your car is nice, isn’t it?

  8. 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.

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.

  1. 147

    あなたはサリナスへいきますか。

    Do you go to Salinas?

  2. 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.

  3. 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?

  4. 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.

  5. 151

    あたたかい

    warm

  6. 152

    すずしい

    cool

  7. 153

    さむい

    cold

  8. 154

    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.

  1. 155

    ひろい

    wide

  2. 156

    やさしい

    easy

  3. 157

    たかい

    high

  4. 158

    かるい

    light

  5. 159

    はやい

    fast

  6. 160

    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.

  1. 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.

  2. 162

    さいしょのつきは

    The first month is

  3. 163

    いちがつで、しょうがつともいいます。

    January, which is also called SHŌGATSU.

  4. 164

    さいごのつきはじゅうにがつ

    The last month is December

  5. 165

    です。

    It is.

  6. 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

  7. 167

    さむいです。

    cold.

  8. 168

    さんがつ、しがつ、ごがつははるです。

    March, April, and May are spring.

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.

  1. 169

    はるは

    Spring

  2. 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

  3. 171

    さくのはたいていしがつです。

    usually bloom in April.

  4. 172

    ろくがつ、しちがつ、はちがつはなつです。

    June, July, and August are summer.

  5. 173

    なつになると、あついです。

    When summer comes, it is hot.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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,

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 178

    ごせんマイル

    Five thousand miles

  3. 179

    ぐらいとおいところです。

    is about how far away it is.

  4. 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,

  5. 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.

  6. 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

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*.

  1. 183

    あきはすずしいです。

    Fall is cool.

  2. 184

    いっています。

    She says so.

  3. 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?

  4. 186

    いちがつはしょうがつともいいますか。

    Is January also called SHŌGATSU?

  5. 187

    ふゆはいつですか。

    When is winter?

  6. 188

    いつさむいですか。

    When is it cold?

  7. 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?

  8. 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?

  9. 191

    あたたかいのはいつですか。

    When is it warm?

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.

  1. 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?

  2. 193

    さんがつにはあたたかくなりますか。

    Does it get warm in March?

  3. 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?

  4. 195

    わたくしはらいげつどこへいきますか。

    Where am I going next month?

  5. 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?

  6. 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?

  7. 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?

  8. 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?

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.

  1. 200

    ねん

    year (See Grammar Notes)

  2. 201

    いちがつ

    January

  3. 202

    にがつ

    February

  4. 203

    さんがつ

    March

  5. 204

    しがつ

    April

  6. 205

    ごがつ

    May

  7. 206

    ろくがつ

    June

  8. 207

    しちがつ

    July

  9. 208

    はちがつ

    August

  10. 209

    くがつ

    September

  11. 210

    じゅうがつ

    October

  12. 211

    じゅういちがつ

    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."

  1. 212

    じゅうにがつ

    December

  2. 213

    つき

    moon, month (See Grammar Notes)

  3. 214

    しょうがつ

    January, New Year’s Day

  4. 215

    こんげつ

    this month

  5. 216

    らいげつ

    next month

  6. 217

    さらいげつ

    the month after next

  7. 218

    せんげつ

    last month

  8. 219

    せんせんげつ

    the month before last

  9. 220

    はる

    spring

  10. 221

    なつ

    summer

  11. 222

    あき

    autumn, fall

  12. 223

    ふゆ

    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."

  1. 224

    つぎ

    next

  2. 225

    さく

    to bloom (v.i.)

  3. 226

    つれてくる

    to bring (animate beings only)

  4. 227

    つれていく

    to take along (animate beings only)

  5. 228

    あたたかい

    warm

  6. 229

    あったかい

    warm

  7. 230

    あつい

    hot

  8. 231

    すずしい

    cool

  9. 232

    さむい

    cold

  10. 233

    たいへん

    very

  11. 234

    なんかげつ

    How many months? (See Grammar Notes)

  12. 235

    なんがつ

    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."

  1. 236

    --んです

    it’s --- (See Grammar Notes)

  2. 237

    さむく(は)ない

    not cold (See Grammar Notes)

  3. 238

    こんげつはしがつです。

    This month is April.

  4. 239

    らいげつはごがつです。

    Next month is May.

  5. 240

    さらいげつはろくがつです。

    The month after next is June.

  6. 241

    せんげつはさんがつでした。

    Last month was March.

  7. 242

    せんせんげつはにがつでした。

    The month before last was February.

  8. 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.

  9. 244

    あきになると、すずしくなります。

    It gets cool when it becomes autumn.

  10. 245

    ふゆにはたいへんさむいです。

    In winter, it's very cold.

  11. 246

    あきはふゆのまえにきます。

    Autumn comes before winter.

  12. 247

    ふゆはあきのつぎにきます。

    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
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.