Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 54

Lesson 54

Kanji and everyday Japanese

144 lines

Searching for a Japanese house · Dialogue 1 of 2

A Japanese-style house

One person is searching for a house and another describes one. *日本風の 家を 一けん さがしております* means "I am looking for a Japanese-style house."

*風* follows some nouns and means "style, fashion, type, or kind." *日本風の 家* is "a Japanese style house."

In *日本風の 家を おさがしに なって いらっしゃった のですか*, *おさがしに なって* respectfully describes the other person's searching.

A house that pleases

*気に 入ったのが 中々 見つからない* means "It is not easy to find a house that I like."

*気に 入る* is a set expression meaning "to be pleased with, to be satisfied with, or to like."

In *じつは 私の 友だちの 家 なんですが*, *なんです* emphasizes that it is the speaker's friend's house.

Kanji: 辺, 参, 風, 階

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

Kanji: 和, 間, 家, 入

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

  1. 1

    じつはにほんふうのいえをいっけんさがしておりますので、きょうもこのへんまでまいったのです。

    To tell you the truth, I am looking for a Japanese style house and I came to this vicinity today.

    じつtruth
    はtopic
    日本Japanese style
    風Japanese style
    のof
    家house
    をobject
    一one
    けんhouse counter
    さがしam looking
    てam looking
    おりam looking
    ますam looking
    のfact
    で、because
    今日today
    もalso
    このthis
    辺vicinity
    までas far as
    参っcame
    たcame
    のfact
    です。is
  2. 2

    にほんふうのいえをおさがしになっていらっしゃったのですか。

    So, you were looking for a Japanese style house, right?

  3. 3

    ええ、でもきにいったのがなかなかみつからないので、こまっています。

    Yes, but I am at my wit's end because it is not easy to find a house that I like.

  4. 4

    にほんふうのいえで、ようまのあるいえがございますよ。じつはわたくしのともだちのいえなんですが、にかいやで、にかいによま、したにいま、しょくどう、しょさい、だいどころ、わしつがあり、ふろばもございます。

    I know of a Japanese style house that has Western style rooms. In fact, it is my friend's house. It's a two story house, and it has four rooms upstairs and a parlor, dining room, study, kitchen, and a Japanese room downstairs; it also has a bathroom.

  5. 5

    なかなかよさそうないえですね。にわもありますか。

    It seems like a very nice house. Does it have a garden, too?

  6. 6

    ええ、うらにちいさいにわがあります。おもてにはたかいへいがあって、へいといえのあいだにちいさなにわがあります。

    Yes, it has a small garden in the back. There is a high wall fence in the front and between the wall fence and the house there is a small yard.

Euphonic changes before GOZAIMASU

Before GOZAIMASU and ZONJIMASU (I think), I-adjectives undergo the following euphonic changes.

ai changes into oo

I-adjective | With GOZAIMASU
HAYAI | HAYOO GOZAIMASU
NAGAI | NAGOO GOZAIMASU
TAKAI | TAKOO GOZAIMASU

ii changes into yuu

I-adjective | With GOZAIMASU
OOKII | OOKYUU GOZAIMASU

shii changes into shuu

I-adjective | With GOZAIMASU
OISHII | OISHUU GOZAIMASU
YAKAMASHII | YAKAMASHUU GOZAIMASU
ATARASHII | ATARASHUU GOZAIMASU

ui changes into uu

I-adjective | With GOZAIMASU
FURUI | FURUU GOZAIMASU
SAMUI | SAMUU GOZAIMASU

oi changes into oo

I-adjective | With GOZAIMASU
SHIROI | SHIROO GOZAIMASU
KUROI | KUROO GOZAIMASU
NOROI | NOROO GOZAIMASU

The I-adjective ii 'good' becomes yoo GOZAIMASU instead of yuu GOZAIMASU because it comes from YOI.
Honorific O + Second base of a verb + NI NARU

When speaking of an action of a superior, one may use the honorific form of a verb according to the above construction pattern.

Examples:

SENSEI WA ITSUMO NIHONGO DE OHANASHI NI NARIMASU. "The teacher always speaks in Japanese."

NANI DE OKAKI NI NARIMASHITA KA. "What did you write with?"

ANO HITO WA MOO OKAERI NI NARIMASHITA. "He has already gone home."

If the verb to be used is a Chinese compound with SURU, such as BENKYOO SURU, SANPO SURU, etc., the following construction pattern is used: GO + Chinese compound + NI NARU.

Examples:

KYOO WA GOSANPO NI NARIMASU KA. "Will you go out for a stroll today?"

ITSU GOSOTSUGYOO NI NARIMASHITA KA. "When did you graduate?"

NANI O GOBENKYOO NI NARIMASU KA. "What are you going to study?"
---NAN DESU

NAN DESU may follow a noun or phrase with a specific meaning of 'to be.' NAN gives emphasis.

Examples:

KORE WA TOMODACHI NO IE NAN DESU. "This is my friend's house."

SENSEI WA DONNA HITO NAN DESHOO KA. "I wonder what kind of man the teacher is."

TASHIKA NI SOO NAN DESU. "It's really so."
OIDE NI NARU

OIDE NI NARU is an honorific expression having the same meaning as IRASSHAIMASU, and depending upon the content of the sentence, it has three different meanings, namely, 'to come,' 'to go,' or 'to be.'
SORE WA SORE WA

This expression is usually used at the head of a statement to intensify one's feeling. It closely resembles the English equivalent of 'indeed' or 'really.'

SORE WA SORE WA, YOKU IRASSHAIMASHITA. "I'm awfully glad you came."

SORE WA SORE WA, OISHII DESHITA YO. "It tasted really good."
--FUU

Following some nouns, FUU expresses the idea of 'style,' 'fashion,' 'type,' or 'kind.'

Examples:

SEIYOOFUU 'western style'

NIHONFUU 'Japanese style'

BEIKOKUFUU NO TATEMONO 'American style building'

KONNAFUU NO MONO 'things of this kind'
KI NI IRU

KI NI IRU is an idiomatic expression meaning 'be pleased with,' 'be satisfied with,' 'to catch one's fancy,' or 'to like.'

WATAKUSHI WA KONO HON GA TOTEMO KI NI IRIMASHITA. "I am very satisfied with this book."

KI NI ITTA IE GA ARIMASEN. "There is no house that I like."
は
leaves
の
See Grammar Notes
家
house, home
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
一
one
けん
numerical counter for houses (See Gram. Notes)
ます
trout
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
今日
today
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ええ、
Yes
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
中々
considerably, very
洋間
Western style room
ある
certain, some
二
two
四
four
居間、
parlor, living room
食堂、
dining hall, dining room
台所、
kitchen
和室
Japanese room
ふろ場
bathroom (for bathing only)
そう
numerical counter for ships
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
にわ
garden, yard
うら
back, reverse side
おもて
front
へい
wall fence
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
小さな
small (See Gram. Notes)

Asking about rooms and rent · Dialogue 2 of 2

Going to the owner's home

The speakers discuss the house's rooms and rent. One plans to visit the owner and ask about the rent.

*明日 その方の お宅へ おいでに なるのですか* means "You are going to his home tomorrow?"

*おいでに なる* is an honorific expression meaning "come, go, or be." Here, the destination and *明日* give it the meaning "go."

Except for the vestibule and matted room, the downstairs rooms are *洋風*, "Western style." *お気に 入る* expresses being pleased with the house.

Kanji: 宅

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

  1. 7

    したにはようまがいくつありますか。

    How many Western style rooms are there downstairs?

  2. 8

    げんかんのまとざしきのほかはみなようふうのへやです。

    Except for a vestibule and a matted room, all are Western style rooms.

  3. 9

    やちんはいくらぐらいでしょうか。

    About how much do you suppose is the rent?

  4. 10

    ぞんじませんが、あしたそのひとのいえへまいりますから、おたずねしておきましょう。まだだれにもかしていないとおもいます。

    I don't know, but since I am going to his house tomorrow, I'll inquire about it for you. I don't think he has rented it to anyone yet.

  5. 11

    そうですか。あしたそのかたのおたくへおいでになるのですか。それはちょうどよいところへきたものですね。

    Good. You are going to his home tomorrow? I surely came at the right time, didn't I?

  6. 12

    そのいえなら、きっとあなたのおきにいるとおもいます。

    If it's that house, I am sure you will be pleased with it.

げんかん
entrance of the house
ざしき
matted room in a Japanese house
洋風
Western style
へや
room
いくら
how much? how many?
ぐらい
about
でしょう
probably (See Gram. Notes)
明日
tomorrow
人
people
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
ましょう。
let's (See Gram. Notes)
まだ
yet, still
だれ
who?
よい
good (See Gram. Notes)
ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)
もの
things (tangible)
なら、
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
きっと
surely

Formal thanks · Perception drill, Block 1

Formal thanks

*ありがとう 御ざいます* means "Thank you." Its formal sound change appears before *御ざいます*.

Before *GOZAIMASU* and *ZONJIMASU*, an I-adjective changes its final sounds. *HAYAI* becomes *HAYOO GOZAIMASU*, and *TAKAI* becomes *TAKOO GOZAIMASU*.

The other changes are *OOKII* to *OOKYUU GOZAIMASU*, *OISHII* to *OISHUU GOZAIMASU*, *SAMUI* to *SAMUU GOZAIMASU*, and *SHIROI* to *SHIROO GOZAIMASU*.

The I-adjective *ii*, "good," becomes *yoo GOZAIMASU* because it comes from *YOI*.

  1. 13

    ありがとうございます。

    Thank you.

ます。
trout

Respectfully saying someone left · Perception drill, Block 2

The teacher has gone home

*先生は お帰り になりました* means "The teacher has gone home." The honorific form presents the teacher's action respectfully.

Put honorific *お* before the verb's second base and *に なる* after it. Here, *帰り* stands between them.

  1. 14

    せんせいはおかえりになりました。

    The teacher has gone home.

Explaining personal facts · Perception drill, Block 3

An emphasized fact

*これは 私の 友だちの 家 なんです* means "This is my friend's house, you see." *なんです* follows the noun phrase and emphasizes the fact.

*なんです* may follow a noun or descriptive phrase with the meaning "is." *これが 山田さんの お宅 なんです* emphasizes whose home it is.

The form also appears in conjecture. *日本は どんな 所 なんでしょうか* means "I wonder what kind of place Japan is."

  1. 15

    これはわたくしのともだちのいえなんです。

    This is my friend's house, you see.

  2. 16

    あのかたはとてもいいかたなんです。

    That person is a very nice person.

  3. 17

    これがやまださんのおたくなんです。

    This is Mr. Yamada's home.

  4. 18

    うちのこどもはやさいがきらいなんです。

    My children do not like vegetables.

  5. 19

    スミスさんはにほんごがとてもおじょうずなんです。

    Mr. Smith is very good at Japanese.

  6. 20

    たしかにそうなんですか。

    Is that really so?

  7. 21

    にほんはどんなところなんでしょうか。

    I wonder what kind of place Japan is.

とても
very, indeed
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
うち
home, house
やさい
vegetable
きらい
dislike (See Gram. Notes)
上手
skillful, fluent (See Grammar Notes)
どんな
what kind of; what sort of
所
address, place

Formal greetings and descriptions · Pattern 1 1 of 3

A spacious garden

*うちの にわは ひろう 御ざいます* means "Our garden is spacious." The I-adjective has its formal changed ending before *御ざいます*.

The same change appears in *この りんごは とても おいしゅう 御ざいます*, "This apple is very delicious."

The lines also use fixed formal expressions such as *おはよう 御ざいます* and *ありがとう 御ざいます*.

  1. 22

    おはようございます。

    Good morning.

  2. 23

    うちのにわはひろうございます。

    Our garden is spacious.

  3. 24

    このりんごはとてもおいしゅうございます。

    This apple is very delicious.

  4. 25

    おめでとうございます。

    Congratulations.

  5. 26

    にづくりでいそがしゅうございましょう。

    You must be busy packing.

  6. 27

    これでよろしゅうございますか

    Is this all right?

  7. 28

    ありがとうございます。

    Thank you.

りんご
apple
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)

Permission, congratulations and weather · Pattern 1 2 of 3

Permission and cold weather

*先生、 試験を すませたら、 外へ 出ても よろしゅう 御ざいますか* asks permission to go outside after finishing the examination.

*よろしゅう* is the formal changed form before *御ざいます*. It appears here in a request for permission.

*この頃 朝晩 ずい分 さむう 御ざいますね* means "It's quite cold in the mornings and evenings these days, isn't it?" *さむう* uses the same construction.

  1. 29

    せんせい、しけんをすませたら、そとへでてもよろしゅうございますか。

    Teacher, may I go outside when I have finished the examination?

  2. 30

    すませたらでてもいい。

    You may go out when you have finished.

  3. 31

    おじょうさんがけっこんなさったそうで、おめでとうございます。

    I hear your daughter got married; congratulations.

  4. 32

    ありがとうございます。

    Thank you.

  5. 33

    このごろあさばんずいぶんさむうございますね

    It's quite cold in the mornings and evenings these days, isn't it?

  6. 34

    ええ、もうじゅうがつですからね。

    Yes, it is already October, you know.

  7. 35

    しろい

    White.

いい。
good (See Gram. Notes)
頃
approximate point of time (See Gram. Notes)
朝晩
morning and evening
ずい分
very much
ね
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
もう
already (See Gram. Notes)
十
ten
月
moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
から
from (See Gram. Notes)

Size, colour and qualities · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Adjectives for size and quality

These I-adjectives supply new bases for the formal pattern. *大きい* means "large," and *きいろい* means "yellow."

The list also includes *明るい*, "bright," *あぶない*, "dangerous," and *せまい*, "narrow."

*むずかしい* means "difficult," and *よろしい* means "good." Their final sounds change in the formal construction.

  1. 36

    おおきい

    Large.

  2. 37

    きいろい

    Yellow.

  3. 38

    あかるい

    Bright.

  4. 39

    あぶない

    Dangerous.

  5. 40

    せまい

    Narrow.

  6. 41

    むずかしい

    Difficult.

  7. 42

    よろしい

    Good.

きいろい
yellow
明るい
light
あぶない
dangerous (I-adj.)
せまい
narrow, crowded
むずかしい
difficult
よろしい
good!

Respectfully describing people's actions · Pattern 2 1 of 3

Respectful actions

*家を お さがし に なっています* means "He is looking for a house." Honorific *お* and *に なっています* surround the verb base.

The ending on *なる* carries tense and aspect. *田中さんが この えを お書きに なりました* means "Mr. Tanaka painted this picture."

The pattern also forms questions. *田中さんは もう お休みに なりましたか* asks whether Mr. Tanaka has gone to bed.

  1. 43

    いえをおさがしになっています。

    He is looking for a house.

  2. 44

    クラークさんはきのうにほんへおたちになりました。

    Mr. Clark left for Japan yesterday.

  3. 45

    たなかさんがこのえをおかきになりました。

    Mr. Tanaka painted this picture.

  4. 46

    スミスさんはかみをみじかくおかりになりました。

    Mr. Smith had his hair cut short.

  5. 47

    おおきさんはぎんこうのしごとをおやめになりました。

    Mr. Oki left his job at the bank.

  6. 48

    たなかさんはもうおやすみになりましたか。

    Has Mr. Tanaka gone to bed already?

  7. 49

    おわかりになりましたか。

    Did you understand?

昨日
yesterday
かみ
hair
銀行
bank

Asking about past experiences · Pattern 2 2 of 3

Respectful questions

*今朝の 新聞を お読みに なりましたか* means "Have you read this morning's newspaper?" The honorific pattern presents the other person's reading respectfully.

*飛行機に おのりに なった 事が ありますか* means "Have you ever ridden in an airplane?" The past form appears before the expression for experience.

The same construction describes ability in *クラークさんは 日本語が よく お出来に なりますね*.

  1. 50

    クラークさんはにほんごがよくおできになりますね。

    Mr. Clark is very good at Japanese, isn’t he?

  2. 51

    ええ、にほんでさんねんにほんごをべんきょうなさったのですから。

    Yes, because he studied Japanese in Japan for three years.

  3. 52

    けさのしんぶんをおよみになりましたか。

    Have you read this morning's newspaper?

  4. 53

    いいえ、まだよんでおりません。

    No, I have not read it yet.

  5. 54

    ひこうきにおのりになったことがありますか。

    Have you ever ridden in an airplane?

  6. 55

    いいえ、まだひこうきにのったことはないのです。

    No, I have never ridden in an airplane yet.

  7. 56

    ならう

    To learn.

よく
well, skillfully
三
three
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
から。
from (See Gram. Notes)
今朝
this morning

Action and reaction verbs · Pattern 2 3 of 3

More actions and reactions

These dictionary forms provide more verbs for the honorific action pattern. *おどろく* means "to be surprised," and *いそぐ* means "to hurry."

The set includes *飲む*, "to drink," *通る*, "to pass through," and *あつめる*, "to collect."

*よろこぶ* means "to be delighted," while *聞く* means "to listen."

  1. 57

    おどろく

    To be surprised.

  2. 58

    いそぐ

    To hurry.

  3. 59

    よろこぶ

    To be delighted.

  4. 60

    のむ

    To drink.

  5. 61

    とおる

    To pass through.

  6. 62

    あつめる

    To collect.

  7. 63

    きく

    To listen.

おどろく
to be surprised
よろこぶ
to rejoice, be delighted
通る
to pass
あつめる
to collect, gather (v.t.)

Explaining identities and preferences · Pattern 3 1 of 2

Identity and preference

*あの方が 私の 日本語の 先生なんです* means "That person is my Japanese teacher." *なんです* emphasizes the identity.

The same form follows a stated preference in *私は さかなが とても 好きなんです*, "I like fish very much."

It also presents a circumstance as an explanation. *今晩は ひまなんですから、 あそびに いらっしゃい* gives being free as the reason for the invitation.

  1. 64

    これがわたくしのいえなんです。

    This is my home.

  2. 65

    あのかたがわたくしのにほんごのせんせいなんです。

    That person is my Japanese teacher.

  3. 66

    ほんをかくのはとてもむずかしいことなんです。

    Writing a book is very difficult.

  4. 67

    わたくしはさかながとてもすきなんです。

    I like fish very much.

  5. 68

    わたくしはえをかくのはへたなんです。

    I am poor at painting pictures.

  6. 69

    こんばんはひまなんですから、あそびにいらっしゃい。

    I am free this evening, so come visit me.

  7. 70

    これがわたくしのむすこなんです。

    This is my son.

本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
さかな
fish
好き
to like, be fond of (See Grammar Notes)
下手
unskilled, poor in doing things
ひま
leisure time, free

Explaining illness, dislikes and plans · Pattern 3 2 of 2

Conjecture and explanation

*田村さんは 二三日 仕事を 休んでいますが、 病気なんでしょうか* wonders whether illness explains Mr. Tamura's absence.

*なんでしょう* presents a conjecture. *多分 そうなんでしょう* means "That is probably so."

*ええ、 やさいが きらい なんです* means "No, I do not like vegetables." Here, *なんです* gives the explanation.

*今日は 月給日なんだから、 どこかへ 食べに 行きませんか* gives payday as the reason for suggesting a meal.

  1. 71

    たむらさんはにさんにちしごとをやすんでいますが、びょうきなんでしょうか。

    Mr. Tamura has been absent from work for two or three days; I wonder if he is ill.

  2. 72

    たぶんそうなんでしょう。

    That is probably so.

  3. 73

    あなたはやさいをたべないんですね。

    You do not eat vegetables, do you?

  4. 74

    ええ、やさいがきらいなんです。

    No, I do not like vegetables.

  5. 75

    きょうはげっきゅうびなんだから、どこかへたべにいきませんか。

    Today is payday, so why don’t we go somewhere to eat?

  6. 76

    ええ、けっこうですね。いきましょう。

    Yes, that sounds good. Let’s go.

が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
月給
monthly wage
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
けっこう
splendid, fine

Finding a house to live in · Reading Selection 1 of 2

The search for a house

Colonel Clark has recently arrived in Japan and needs a place to live. He visits Mr. Yamamoto while searching near his home.

*日本風の 家を 一けん さがしているのですが、 気に 入った 家が 中々 見つからないので、 困っていました* says he cannot easily find a Japanese-style house he likes.

*日本風* gives the house's style, while *気に 入った* describes a house that pleased him. Mrs. Yamamoto knows one with Western-style rooms.

  1. 77

    クラークたいさはあるひやまもとさんをほうもんしました。

    One day Colonel Clark visited Mr. Yamamoto.

  2. 78

    にほんについたばかりですから、すむところをさがしています。

    Since he had just arrived in Japan, he was looking for a place to live.

  3. 79

    にほんふうのいえをいっけんさがしているのですが、きにいったいえがなかなかみつからないので、こまっていました。

    He was looking for a Japanese-style house, but he was having trouble because he could not easily find a house he liked.

  4. 80

    じつはきょうもいえさがしにやまもとさんのいえのちかくまできたのです。

    To tell you the truth, today I came near Mr. Yamamoto's house again while looking for a house.

  5. 81

    やまもとふじんはにほんふうのいえで、ようまのあるいえをいっけんしっていました。

    Mrs. Yamamoto knew of a Japanese-style house with Western-style rooms.

  6. 82

    そのいえはやまもとさんのともだちのいえです。

    That house belongs to a friend of Mr. Yamamoto's.

住む
to live, reside
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
家さがし
house hunting
近く
vicinity

Describing rooms, gardens and rent · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Rooms, gardens, and rent

The house has four upstairs rooms and several rooms downstairs. Gardens stand behind the house and between the front wall and the house.

*クラーク大佐は その家が 大へん 気に 入ったようで* says Colonel Clark seemed to like the house very much.

He asks about the rent. Mrs. Yamamoto does not know, so she will visit the owner's home the next day and ask.

  1. 83

    にかいやで、にかいによま、したにはいま、しょくどう、しょさい、だいどころ、ふろばがあり、わしつもあります。

    It is a two-story house, with four rooms upstairs and a living room, dining room, study, kitchen, and bathroom downstairs, as well as a Japanese-style room.

  2. 84

    うらにはにわがあります。

    There is a garden in the back.

  3. 85

    おもてにはたかいへいがあって、へいといえのあいだにちいさな

    In front there is a high wall, with a small garden between the wall and the house.

  4. 86

    にわがあります。

    There is a garden.

  5. 87

    クラークたいさはそのいえがたいへんきにいったようで、いえちんはいくらぐらいかとききましたが、やまもとふじんもしらないので、よくじつそのひとのいえへいってたずねてもらうことにしました。

    Colonel Clark seemed to like the house very much and asked about how much the rent was, but Mrs. Yamamoto did not know either, so he arranged for her to go to the owner's house the next day and ask.

大へん
very
もらう
to receive (tangible things)

Asking about the house search · Questions 1 of 2

The house search

The questions ask where Colonel Clark went, why he needs a home, and what kind he wants.

*どんな 家を さがしていますか* means "What kind of house is he looking for?" An answer identifies a Japanese-style house.

Other answers state whether he found a house he liked and describe the house Mrs. Yamamoto knew.

  1. 88

    クラークたいさはあるひどこへいきましたか。

    Where did Colonel Clark go one day?

  2. 89

    クラークたいさはいまなにをさがしていますか。

    What is Colonel Clark looking for now?

  3. 90

    なぜですか。

    Why?

  4. 91

    どんないえをさがしていますか。

    What kind of house is he looking for?

  5. 92

    きにいったいえがみつかりましたか。

    Did he find a house he liked?

  6. 93

    やまもとふじんはどんないえをいっけんしっていましたか。

    What kind of house did Mrs. Yamamoto know of?

  7. 94

    そのいえはにかいにいくまありますか。

    How many rooms does that house have upstairs?

なぜ
why?

Rooms, rent and surroundings · Questions 2 of 2

Inside and outside the house

The questions ask about the downstairs rooms, the front and back of the house, and the space between its wall and the house.

*下には どんな へやが ありますか* means "What kinds of rooms are there downstairs?" An answer names the rooms from the description.

The remaining answers state whether Colonel Clark liked the house and whether Mr. Yamamoto knew the rent.

  1. 95

    したにはどんなへやがありますか。

    What kinds of rooms are there downstairs?

  2. 96

    いえのうらにはなにがありますか。

    What is behind the house?

  3. 97

    いえのおもてにはなにがありますか。

    What is in front of the house?

  4. 98

    へいといえのあいだになにがありますか。

    What is between the wall and the house?

  5. 99

    クラークたいさはそのいえがきにいりましたか。

    Did Colonel Clark like the house?

  6. 100

    いえちんはどのくらいか、やまもとさんはしっていましたか。

    Did Mr. Yamamoto know how much the rent was?

どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
くらい
dark

House hunting terms · Word list 1 of 4

House hunting and house styles

The words cover searching for a home and describing it. *家さがし* means "house hunting," and *日本風* means "Japanese style."

The forms include honorific *お---になる* and emphatic *---なんです*. *気に入る* means "to be pleased with, like."

*見つかる* means "to be found," while *二階家* means "two-story house."

  1. 101

    いえさがし

    house hunting

  2. 102

    にほんふう

    Japanese style

  3. 103

    じつは

    the fact is, to tell the truth

  4. 104

    お---になる

    to do -- (honorific pattern) (See Grammar Notes)

  5. 105

    きにいる

    to be pleased with, like

  6. 106

    みつかる

    to be found

  7. 107

    ようま

    Western style room

  8. 108

    ---なんです

    it is (emphasis) (See Grammar Notes)

  9. 109

    にかいや

    two-story house

  10. 110

    にかい

    second floor

  11. 111

    よま

    four rooms

日本風
Japanese style
じつは
the fact is, to tell the truth
お---になる
to do -- (honorific pattern) (See Grammar Notes)
気に入る
to be pleased with, like
見つかる
to be found
---なんです
it is (emphasis) (See Grammar Notes)
二階家
two-story house
二階
second floor
四間
four rooms

Rooms and house surroundings · Word list 2 of 4

Rooms and surroundings

The words name rooms and areas around a house. *居間* means "parlor, living room," and *台所* means "kitchen."

*和室* is a "Japanese room," while *ふろ場* is a "bathroom for bathing only."

Outside, *うら* names the back and *おもて* names the front. *へい* means "wall fence."

  1. 112

    --ま

    counter for rooms

  2. 113

    いま

    parlor, living room

  3. 114

    しょさい

    study

  4. 115

    だいどころ

    kitchen

  5. 116

    わしつ

    Japanese room

  6. 117

    ふろば

    bathroom (for bathing only)

  7. 118

    よさそうな

    appears good, seemingly good

  8. 119

    うら

    backyard, back side

  9. 120

    おもて

    front, front side

  10. 121

    へい

    wall fence

  11. 122

    げんかんのま

    vestibule

--間
counter for rooms
居間
parlor, living room
書さい
study
台所
kitchen
よさそうな
appears good, seemingly good
げんかんの間
vestibule

Renting and visiting homes · Word list 3 of 4

Strong feeling at the start

The words cover renting and visiting homes. *家ちん* means "house rent," and *たちよる* means "to drop in for a visit."

*それはそれは* usually stands at the start of a statement and intensifies the speaker's feeling. It is close to "indeed" or "really".

*SORE WA SORE WA, OISHII DESHITA YO* means "It tasted really good."

The list also includes honorific *おいでになる*, which can mean "come, go, or be."

  1. 123

    げんかん

    entrance of the house

  2. 124

    ざしき

    matted room in a Japanese house

  3. 125

    ようふう

    Western style

  4. 126

    いえちん

    house rent

  5. 127

    たずねる

    to ask

  6. 128

    かす

    to rent, loan

  7. 129

    おたずねしておきましょう

    I shall inquire for you.

  8. 130

    おいでになる

    to come, go, be (honorific pattern) (See Grammar Notes)

  9. 131

    おや

    Oh dear, O my

  10. 132

    たちよる

    to drop in for a visit

  11. 133

    それはそれは

    indeed, very much (See Explanatory Notes)

家ちん
house rent
たずねる
to ask
かす
to rent, loan
おたずねしておきましょう
I shall inquire for you.
おいでになる
to come, go, be (honorific pattern) (See Grammar Notes)
おや
Oh dear, O my
たちよる
to drop in for a visit
それはそれは
indeed, very much (See Explanatory Notes)

Greetings for a home visit · Word list 4 of 4

A home visit

These expressions form a short home visit. *今日は。 御めん ください* means "Hello, is anyone in?"

The visitor explains the visit, and the host replies with *それはそれは。 よく いらっしゃいました。 さあ、 どうぞ お上り ください*, welcoming the visitor with strong feeling.

*米国から いらっしゃったばかりで、 おいそがしゅう 御ざいましょう* means "You recently came from the United States and must be very busy."

*おいそがしゅう* carries the formal adjective sound change before *御ざいましょう*.

  1. 134

    おいそがしゅうございましょう

    You must be busy (See Grammar Notes)

  2. 135

    あさばん

    morning and evening

  3. 136

    よくじつ

    the following day, next day

  4. 137

    こんにちは。ごめんください。

    Hello, is anyone in?

  5. 138

    こんにちは。おや、クラークさん、よくいらっしゃいました。

    Hello! Oh, Mr. Clark, I am glad you came.

  6. 139

    ちょっとこのへんまでまいりましたので、たちよりました。

    I dropped in for a visit because I came to this vicinity.

  7. 140

    それはそれは。よくいらっしゃいました。さあ、どうぞおあがりください。

    I am awfully glad you came. Please come in.

  8. 141

    ありがとうございます。ではごめんください。

    Thank you. Pardon me.

  9. 142

    べいこくからいらっしゃったばかりで、おいそがしゅうございましょう。

    You have just come from the United States and you must be very busy.

  10. 143

    ごしゅじんはおたくですか。

    Is your husband at home?

  11. 144

    はい、おります。

    Yes, he is in.

Guide for Free Conversation

1 Look at the sketch of the house on page 112 in this lesson and describe it.

2 Describe your own home in detail.

3 Compare the Japanese style house with the Western style house.
おいそがしゅう御ざいましょう
You must be busy (See Grammar Notes)
よく日
the following day, next day
今日は。御めんください。
"Hello, is anyone in?"
今日は。おや、クラークさん、よくいらっしゃいました。
"Hello! Oh, Mr. Clark, I am glad you came."
ちょっとこの辺まで参りましたので、たちよりました。
"I dropped in for a visit because I came to this vicinity."
それはそれは。よくいらっしゃいました。さあ、どうぞお上りください。
"I am awfully glad you came. Please come in."
ありがとう御ざいます。では御めんください。
"Thank you. Pardon me."
米国からいらっしゃったばかりで、おいそがしゅう御ざいましょう。
"You have just come from the United States and you must be very busy."
御主人はお宅ですか。
"Is your husband at home?"
はい、おります。
"Yes, he is in."

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.