Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 4

Lesson 4

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

128 lines

Asking what objects are · Dialogue 1 of 3

A question about an object

The teacher and class exchange morning greetings. The teacher then asks one person, *xx-san, kore wa nan desu ka*, "What's this, Mr. xx?"

The reply *Sore wa zasshi desu* means "That's a magazine." Another person answers *Shirimasen*, "I don't know."

A title and a held consonant

In *xx-san*, *san* follows the person's name as a respectful title.

Listen for the special tenseness in the double *ss* of *zasshi*, "magazine."

Hiragana: ま to ろ

Each kana is one syllable. Read the kana, then its sound in romaji.

Hiragana: わ to ん

Each kana is one syllable. Read the kana, then its sound in romaji.

  1. 1

    Mina-san, ohayoo gozaimasu.

    みなさんおはよおございます

    Good morning, everyone.

  2. 2

    Sensei, ohayoo gozaimasu.

    せんせいおはよおございます

    Good morning, teacher.

  3. 3

    xx-san, kore wa nan desu ka?

    さんこれわなんですか

    What’s this, Mr. xx?

  4. 4

    Sore wa zasshi desu.

    それわざっしです

    That’s a magazine.

  5. 5

    Kore wa nan desu ka?

    これわなんですか

    What’s this?

  6. 6

    Shirimasen.

    しりません

    I don’t know.

Double consonants

A characteristic of Japanese double consonants--kk, ss (ssh), tt (tch), pp--is the special tenseness with which they are pronounced.

kk--The back of the tongue is raised as in the production of a single k and is held in that position for a full syllable beat before being released. The second k is pronounced without aspiration--that is, without a puff of breath.

ss (ssh)--The articulation of s lasts for a full syllable beat and has the same quality as the s that follows.

tt (tch)--The front of the tongue is pushed against the back of the upper teeth as in the production of a single t and is held in that position for a full syllable beat before being released. The second t or ch is pronounced without aspiration.

pp--The lips are brought together as in the production of a single p and are held in that position for a full syllable beat before being released. The second p is pronounced without aspiration.
--San

--San is added to a family name, a given name, or a family name plus a given name, but it is not added to one's own name or to that of members of one's own family or household when speaking to outsiders. Thus, Mr. Takimoto calls Miss Kajii, Kajii-san, but Miss Kajii identifies herself simply as Kajii.
HAI and IIE in answer to negative questions

Hai usually means "What you just said is right." In answer to affirmative questions, it corresponds to English "yes," but in answer to negative questions that anticipate a negative answer, it usually confirms the negative and corresponds to English "No." Iie, the opposite of Hai, means "What you just said is wrong" and behaves in a parallel way. In answer to affirmative questions, it corresponds to English "No," but in answer to negative questions that anticipate a negative answer, it usually contradicts the negative and corresponds to English "Yes."

SHIRIMASEN KA? "Don't you know?"

HAI, SHIRIMASEN "No, I don't know."

IIE, SHITTE IMASU. "Yes, I know."

Saying who knows · Dialogue 2 of 3

Two answers about knowing

One person asks *xx-san, anata mo shirimasen ka*, "Don't you know it either, Mr. xx?"

The first reply confirms not knowing. The second reply says *Iie, watakushi wa shitte imasu*, "Yes, I know it."

Agreement with a negative question

After the negative question, *Hai, watakushi mo shirimasen* confirms "No, I don't know it either."

*Iie* contradicts that negative question. Here it introduces the statement that the speaker knows.

  1. 7

    xx-san, anata mo shirimasen ka?

    さんあなたもしりませんか

    Don’t you know it either, Mr. xx?

  2. 8

    Hai, watakushi mo shirimasen.

    はいわたくしもしりません

    No, I don’t know it either.

  3. 9

    yy-san, anata mo shirimasen ka?

    っyさんあなたもしりませんか

    Don’t you know it either, Mr. yy?

  4. 10

    Iie, watakushi wa shitte imasu. Sore wa gakkoo desu.

    いいえわたくしわしっています それわがっこおです

    Yes, I know it. That’s a school.

  5. 11

    Hai, yoku dekimashita.

    はいよくできました

    Yes, you did well.

  6. 12

    Arigatoo gozaimasu.

    ありがとおございます

    Thank you.

Time to say goodbye · Dialogue 3 of 3

Time to leave

The teacher asks *Mina-san, moo jikan desu ka* whether the time has arrived. The class confirms that it has.

The teacher closes with *Dewa, mata ashita. Sayonara*, "I'll see you tomorrow, then. Goodbye."

  1. 13

    Mina-san, moo jikan desu ka?

    みなさんもおじかんですか

    Is it time already, everyone?

  2. 14

    Hai, moo jikan desu.

    はいもおじかんです

    It is time already.

  3. 15

    Dewa, mata ashita. Sayonara.

    でわまたあしたさよなら

    I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Goodbye.

  4. 16

    Sayoonara.

    さよおなら

    Goodbye.

Magazines, tickets, stamps and matches · Perception Drill 1

A consonant held before release

*zasshi* means "magazine." Its double *ss* has special tension and lasts for a full syllable before the next sound.

The same timing appears in *kippu*, "tickets," *kitte*, "postage stamps," and *matchi*, "matches."

The mouth holds its position

For the *tt* in *kitte*, hold the front of the tongue against the back of the upper teeth before release.

For the *pp* in *kippu*, hold the lips together before release. The second *t* or *p* has no puff of breath.

  1. 17

    zasshi

    ざっし

    magazine

  2. 18

    zasshi desu ka?

    ざっしですか

    Is it a magazine?

  3. 19

    Hai, zasshi desu.

    はいざっしです

    Yes, it is a magazine.

  4. 20

    kippu

    きっぷ

    tickets

  5. 21

    kippu desu ka?

    きっぷですか

    Is it a ticket?

  6. 22

    Hai, kippu desu.

    はいきっぷです

    Yes, it is a ticket.

  7. 23

    kitte

    きって

    postage stamps

  8. 24

    kitte desu ka?

    きってですか

    Is it a stamp?

  9. 25

    Hai, kitte desu.

    はいきってです

    Yes, it is a stamp.

  10. 26

    matchi

    まっち

    matches

Identifying matches, schools and tickets · Perception Drill 2

Objects with held consonants

*gakkoo* means "school." It has a held double consonant, as in *zasshi*.

The question *Kore wa nan desu ka* means "What is this?" Replies identify *zasshi*, "magazine," or *kippu*, "ticket."

  1. 27

    matchi desu ka?

    まっちですか

    Is it a match?

  2. 28

    Hai, matchi desu.

    はいまっちです

    Yes, it is a match.

  3. 29

    gakkoo

    がっこお

    school

  4. 30

    gakkoo desu ka?

    がっこおですか

    Is it a school?

  5. 31

    Hai, gakkoo desu.

    はいがっこおです

    Yes, it is a school.

  6. 32

    Kore wa nan desu ka?

    これわなんですか

    What is this?

  7. 33

    Sore wa zasshi desu.

    それわざっしです

    That is a magazine.

  8. 34

    Kore wa nan desu ka?

    これわなんですか

    What is this?

  9. 35

    Sore wa kippu desu.

    それわきっぷです

    That is a ticket.

  10. 36

    Kore mo kippu desu ka?

    これもきっぷですか

    Is this a ticket too?

Asking who owns objects · Perception Drill 3

An object and its owner

*Kore wa watakushi no matchi desu ka* means "Is this my match?" *Hai, sore wa anata no matchi desu* means "Yes, that is your match."

The same question pattern asks whether *gakkoo*, "school," belongs to the people addressed.

  1. 37

    Iie, sore wa kippu dewa arimasen.

    いいえそれわきっぷでわありません

    No, that is not a ticket.

  2. 38

    Dewa kore wa nan desu ka?

    でわこれわなんですか

    Then what is this?

  3. 39

    Sore wa kitte desu.

    それわきってです

    That is a stamp.

  4. 40

    Kore wa nan desu ka?

    これわなんですか

    What is this?

  5. 41

    Sore wa matchi desu.

    それわまっちです

    That is a match.

  6. 42

    Kore wa watakushi no matchi desu ka?

    これわわたくしのまっちですか

    Is this my match?

  7. 43

    Hai, sore wa anata no matchi desu.

    はいそれわあなたのまっちです

    Yes, that is your match.

  8. 44

    Kore wa nan desu ka?

    これわなんですか

    What is this?

  9. 45

    Sore wa gakkoo desu.

    それわがっこおです

    That is a school.

  10. 46

    Kore wa anatagata no gakkoo desu ka?

    これわあなたがたのがっこおですか

    Is this your school?

Names and classroom greetings · Perception Drill 4

A title after a name

*Sumisu-san* means "Mr. Smith." *san* follows another person's family name, given name, or full name.

It corresponds to "Mr.," "Mrs.," or "Miss." *Tanaka-san*, *Takimoto-san*, *Paakaa-san*, and *Miraa-san* follow the same pattern.

Names without the title

A speaker does not add *san* to the speaker's own name.

When speaking to outsiders, a speaker also omits *san* from names of the speaker's family or household.

  1. 47

    Hai, sore wa watakushitachi no gakkoo desu.

    はいそれわわたくしたちのがっこおです

    Yes, that is our school.

  2. 48

    Mina-san

    みなさん

    Everyone

  3. 49

    Sumisu-san

    すみすさん

    Mr. Smith

  4. 50

    Tanaka-san

    たなかさん

    Mr. Tanaka

  5. 51

    Takimoto-san

    たきもとさん

    Mr. Takimoto

  6. 52

    Paakaa-san

    ぱあかあさん

    Mr. Parker

  7. 53

    Miraa-san

    みらあさん

    Mr. Miller

  8. 54

    Mina-san, ohayoo gozaimasu.

    みなさんおはよおございます

    Good morning, everyone.

  9. 55

    Sensei, ohayoo gozaimasu.

    せんせいおはよおございます

    Good morning, teacher.

  10. 56

    Sumisu-san, kore wa nan desu ka?

    すみすさんこれわなんですか

    Mr. Smith, what is this?

Identifying people and possessions · Perception Drill 5

Other names and your own

*Kono-kata wa Miraa-san desu* identifies another person as Mr. Miller, with *san* after the name.

In *Watakushi wa Tanaka desu*, "I am Tanaka," the speaker gives a name without *san*. Another speaker then uses *Tanaka-san*.

  1. 57

    Sore wa zasshi desu.

    それわざっしです

    That is a magazine.

  2. 58

    Paakaa-san, sono-kata wa donata desu ka?

    ぱあかあさんそのかたわどなたですか

    Mr. Parker, who is that person?

  3. 59

    Kono-kata wa Miraa-san desu.

    このかたわみらあさんです

    This person is Mr. Miller.

  4. 60

    Miraa-san, kore wa anata no kippu desu ka?

    みらあさんこれわあなたのきっぷですか

    Mr. Miller, is this your ticket?

  5. 61

    Hai, sore wa watakushi no kippu desu.

    はいそれわわたくしのきっぷです

    Yes, that is my ticket.

  6. 62

    Anata wa donata desu ka?

    あなたわどなたですか

    Who are you?

  7. 63

    Watakushi wa Tanaka desu.

    わたくしわたなかです

    I am Tanaka.

  8. 64

    Tanaka-san, anata wa seito desu ka?

    たなかさんあなたわせいとですか

    Mr. Tanaka, are you a student?

  9. 65

    Hai, watakushi wa seito desu.

    はいわたくしわせいとです

    Yes, I am a student.

  10. 66

    shirimasen

    しりません

    I don’t know.

Knowing and not knowing · Perception Drill 6

Agreement with not knowing

*shirimasen ka* means "Don't you know?" The reply *Hai, shirimasen* means "No, I don't know."

*hai* usually confirms what the other person said. After this negative question, it confirms not knowing.

Agreement with knowing

The affirmative question *shitte imasu ka* means "Do you know?" Here *Hai, shitte imasu* means "Yes, I know."

After a negative question, *iie* contradicts the negative. *Iie, shitte imasu* therefore means "Yes, I know."

  1. 67

    shirimasen ka?

    しりませんか

    Don’t you know?

  2. 68

    Hai, shirimasen

    はいしりません

    No, I don’t know.

  3. 69

    shitte imasu

    しっています

    I know.

  4. 70

    shitte imasu ka?

    しっていますか

    Do you know?

  5. 71

    Hai, shitte imasu

    はいしっています

    Yes, I know.

  6. 72

    Kore wa nan desu ka?

    これわなんですか

    What is this?

  7. 73

    Shirimasen.

    しりません

    I don’t know.

  8. 74

    Anata mo shirimasen ka?

    あなたもしりませんか

    Don't you know either?

  9. 75

    Hai, watakushi mo shirimasen.

    はいわたくしもしりません

    That's right, I don't know either.

  10. 76

    Sumisu-san, anata mo shirimasen ka?

    すみすさんあなたもしりませんか

    Mr. Smith, don't you know either?

Asking others who knows · Perception Drill 7

Two replies to the same question

*Sumisu-san, anata mo shirimasen ka* asks "Mr. Smith, don't you know either?" *Hai, watakushi mo shirimasen* confirms that he does not.

*Iie, watakushi wa shitte imasu* contradicts the negative question. The speaker then says *Sore wa kitte desu*, "That is a stamp."

  1. 77

    Iie, watakushi wa shitte imasu. Sore wa zasshi desu.

    いいえわたくしわしっています それわざっしです

    No, I know. That is a magazine.

  2. 78

    Paakaa-san, kore wa nan desu ka?

    ぱあかあさんこれわなんですか

    Mr. Parker, what is this?

  3. 79

    Shirimasen.

    しりません

    I don’t know.

  4. 80

    Sumisu-san, anata mo shirimasen ka?

    すみすさんあなたもしりませんか

    Mr. Smith, don't you know either?

  5. 81

    Hai, watakushi mo shirimasen.

    はいわたくしもしりません

    That's right, I don't know either.

  6. 82

    Tanaka-san, anata mo shirimasen ka?

    たなかさんあなたもしりませんか

    Mr. Tanaka, don't you know either?

  7. 83

    Iie, watakushi wa shitte imasu. Sore wa kitte desu.

    いいえわたくしわしっています それわきってです

    No, I know. That is a stamp.

  8. 84

    Kore wa nan desu ka?

    これわなんですか

    What is this?

  9. 85

    Shirimasen.

    しりません

    I don’t know.

  10. 86

    Anata mo shirimasen ka?

    あなたもしりませんか

    Don't you know either?

Knowledge, time and goodbyes · Perception Drill 8

Contradicting not knowing

After *Anata mo shirimasen ka*, the reply *Iie, watakushi wa shitte imasu* contradicts not knowing.

The speaker then identifies the object as *gakkoo*, "school."

Time and goodbye

In *moo jikan desu*, *moo* marks that the time has arrived.

*Sayonara* and *Sayoonara* both mean "Goodbye."

  1. 87

    Iie, watakushi wa shitte imasu. Sore wa kippu desu.

    いいえわたくしわしっています それわきっぷです

    No, I know. That is a ticket.

  2. 88

    Kore wa nan desu ka?

    これわなんですか

    What is this?

  3. 89

    Shirimasen.

    しりません

    I don’t know.

  4. 90

    Anata mo shirimasen ka?

    あなたもしりませんか

    Don't you know either?

  5. 91

    Iie, watakushi wa shitte imasu. Sore wa gakkoo desu.

    いいえわたくしわしっています それわがっこおです

    No, I know. That is a school.

  6. 92

    Sayonara

    さよなら

    Goodbye

  7. 93

    Sayoonara

    さよおなら

    Goodbye

  8. 94

    moo

    もお

    already

  9. 95

    jikan desu

    じかんです

    It's time.

  10. 96

    moo jikan desu

    もおじかんです

    It’s time already.

Saying goodbye until tomorrow · Perception Drill 9

Until tomorrow

*Moo jikan desu ka* asks whether the time has arrived. The reply confirms that it has.

*Dewa mata ashita* means "I'll see you tomorrow." *Sayoonara* then closes the meeting with "Goodbye."

  1. 97

    dewa

    でわ

    then

  2. 98

    mata

    また

    again

  3. 99

    ashita

    あした

    tomorrow

  4. 100

    Dewa mata ashita.

    でわまたあした

    I’ll see you tomorrow.

  5. 101

    Sayonara

    さよなら

    Goodbye

  6. 102

    Sayoonara

    さよおなら

    Goodbye

  7. 103

    Moo jikan desu ka?

    もおじかんですか

    Is it time already?

  8. 104

    Hai, moo jikan desu.

    はいもおじかんです

    Yes, it's time already.

  9. 105

    Dewa mata ashita.

    でわまたあした

    I’ll see you tomorrow.

  10. 106

    Sayoonara.

    さよおなら

    Goodbye

Knowing, time and farewells · Pronunciation drill

Knowing with a held consonant

*Shirimasen* means "I don't know." *Shitte imasu* means "I know."

The *tt* in *Shitte imasu* is held for a full syllable before release.

*Moo jikan desu* says that the time has arrived. *Dewa mata ashita* means "I'll see you tomorrow."

  1. 107

    Sayonara

    さよなら

    Goodbye

  2. 108

    Sayoonara

    さよおなら

    Goodbye

  3. 109

    Shirimasen

    しりません

    I don’t know.

  4. 110

    Shitte imasu

    しっています

    I know.

  5. 111

    Moo jikan desu

    もおじかんです

    It’s time already.

  6. 112

    Dewa mata ashita

    でわまたあした

    I’ll see you tomorrow.

School and everyday object words · Word list 1 of 2

School and everyday objects

Most entries name school-related and everyday objects. *shinbun* means "newspaper," and *tokei* means "clock, watch."

Several entries use held double consonants, as in *zasshi*, "magazine," and *gakkoo*, "school."

  1. 113

    zasshi

    ざっし

    magazine

  2. 114

    kippu

    きっぷ

    tickets

  3. 115

    kitte

    きって

    postage stamps

  4. 116

    matchi

    まっち

    matches

  5. 117

    gakkoo

    がっこお

    school

  6. 118

    shinbun

    しんぶん

    newspaper

  7. 119

    tokei

    とけい

    clock, watch

  8. 120

    Sayonara

    さよなら

    Goodbye

Titles, knowledge and farewells · Word list 2 of 2

Knowledge and farewells

These expressions cover titles and knowledge. *--san* means "Mr., Mrs., Miss," while *Shirimasen* means "I don't know."

The remaining expressions cover time and farewells. *Moo jikan desu* says that the time has arrived. *Dewa mata ashita* means "I'll see you tomorrow."

  1. 121

    Sayoonara

    さよおなら

    Goodbye

  2. 122

    Shirimasen

    しりません

    I don’t know.

  3. 123

    --san

    さん

    Mr., Mrs., Miss

  4. 124

    Shirimasen ka?

    しりませんか

    Don’t you know?

  5. 125

    Hai, shirimasen.

    はいしりません

    No, I don’t know.

  6. 126

    Iie, shitte imasu.

    いいえしっています

    Yes, I know.

  7. 127

    Moo jikan desu.

    もおじかんです

    It’s time already.

  8. 128

    Dewa mata ashita.

    でわまたあした

    I’ll see you tomorrow.

Homework Assignment

1 Memorize the Dialogue.

2 Memorize the vocabulary.

3 Listen to the tape and practice pronunciation.

4 Read the Explanatory Notes.

5 Practice reading and writing of Hiragana, ma to n.

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.