Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 55

Lesson 55

Kanji and everyday Japanese

171 lines

Living room size and features · Dialogue 1 of 4

Rooms measured by mats

The speakers compare a Western-style living room with an inner Japanese room.

*居間は 十畳ぐらいで 御ざいます* means "the living room is about a 10-mat room". The inner room is *八畳の 間*, "an eight-matted room".

*畳* is a mat. One *畳* is also the unit for the size of a matted room.

The alcove in the formal room

*ざしきには 床の 間が あり* means "the Japanese room has an alcove". The alcove is built into the wall.

Its raised floor may hold a vase, and a scroll may hang inside. The person in the place of honor sits with his back to it.

*畳の しいてあるのは ざしき だけですか* asks whether the Japanese room is the only matted place.

Kanji: 畳, 応, 接, 床

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

  1. 1

    いまのおおきさは。

    What is the size of the living room?

    居間living room
    のof
    大きsize
    さsize
    は。topic
  2. 2

    いまはじゅうじょうぐらいでございますが、ようまですからおうせつしつにもつかえます。おくざしきははちじょうのままでございます。

    The living room is about a 10-mat room, but since it is Western style, it can be used as a reception room. The inner Japanese room is an 8-mat room.

  3. 3

    たたみのしいてあるのはざしきだけですか。

    Is ZASHIKI the only place where it is matted?

  4. 4

    そうです。そしてざしきにはとこのまがあり、そのとなりにちがいだながあります。

    That's right, and it has an alcove and there is a shelf arranged stepwise next to it.

  5. 5

    えんがわがありますか。

    Does it have an open corridor?

---NO WA --- DAKE DESU

The base form of verbs, I-adjectives, NA-adjectives, and suffixes + NO WA --- DAKE DESU expresses the idea of 'such and such (person or thing) is the only thing (one) that ---.'

Examples:

SORE O TABERU NO WA WATAKUSHI DAKE DESU. "I am the only one who eats it."

SAKANA O TABENAI NO WA SUMISU-SAN DAKE DESU. "Mr. Smith is the only one who doesn't eat fish."

NIHONGO O BENKYOO SHITA KOTO GA ARU NO WA PAAKAA-SAN DAKE DESU. "Mr. Parker is the only one who studied Japanese."

AKAI NO WA KORE DAKE DESU. "This is the only thing that is red."

JOOZU NA NO WA HANASU KOTO DAKE DESU. "Speaking is the only thing that I am good at."
---BA ---HODO 'the more ---, the more ---'

A sequence containing the conditional form of a verb or an adjective plus the corresponding base form plus HODO, 'extent,' expresses the idea of 'the more X, the more Y.' For example, 'the bigger the better,' 'the higher, the fewer,' 'the more I see it, the more ---.'

Examples:

ATARASHIKEREBA ATARASHII HODO OISHII. "The fresher, the more delicious."

OOKIKEREBA OOKII HODO II DESU. "The bigger, the better."

NIHON NO HANASHI O KIKEBA KIKU HODO ITTE MITAKU NARIMASU. "The more I hear about Japan, the more I want to try and go."

NIHONGO WA BENKYOO SUREBA SURU HODO MUZUKASHIKU NARU YOO DESU. "It seems the more you study Japanese, the more difficult it becomes."

BENRI DE AREBA ARU HODO TAKAI DESU. "The more convenient it is, the more expensive it is."
WAKE WA NAI (ARIMASEN) 'easy,' 'simple'

The expression WAKE WA NAI can be used as a predicate or adjective to mean 'such-and-such is easy' or 'easy such-and-such.'

Examples:

NARAU NO WA WAKE WA NAI (WAKE WA ARIMASEN). "It is easy to learn" or "Learning is easy."

KORE WA WAKE WA NAI KOTO DESU. "This is an easy matter."
Use of WA

The particle WA occurs at the end of a sentence by itself before YO, NEE, and NE in the speech of women. It regularly follows (non-past and past inflected) words in the informal, plain, and polite style. It is a particle which indicates friendliness and assertiveness and some familiarity. Thus, whereas SOO DA is abrupt and masculine, SOO DA WA is friendly and feminine.

Examples:

| Men's Speech | Women's Speech
"I understand" | WAKARU YO. | WAKARU WA YO.
"I understood." | WAKATTA YO. | WAKATTA WA YO.
"Isn't it expensive?" | TAKAI NEE? | TAKAI WA NEE?

| Men's Speech | Women's Speech
"Wasn't it expensive?" | TAKAKATTA NEE? | TAKAKATTA WA NEE?
"That's right, isn't it?" | SOO DA NE? | SOO DESU WA NEE?
"It was strange, wasn't it?" | HEN DATTA NE? | HEN DATTA WA NE?

| Men | Women
"It's expensive." | TAKAI. | TAKAI WA.
"That's right." | SOO DA. | SOO DA WA.
"It's difficult." | MUZUKASHII. | MUZUKASHII WA.
TOKONOMA

The TOKONOMA, an alcove, is built in the wall. It is usually either on the right or left side of the wall from which it is set back, but sometimes it is in the middle of the wall. The floor of the TOKONOMA is about 3 feet wide and 6 feet long, and about 5 inches above the TATAMI level of the room. It is covered either with a mat of fine quality or with boards of good quality. Since the TOKONOMA is the best part of the room, the choicest wood available is invariably used. Often a scroll bearing a calligraphic specimen of some kind, written in black India ink, or a scroll showing a Japanese style painting is hung in it. On the floor is placed a vase with flowers arranged gracefully in it or some other artistic ornament, or both. The occupant of the place of honor sits with his back to the TOKONOMA, so

that to the other guests he is framed by it.
SHOOJI and FUSUMA

The SHOOJI is a paper sliding door, about six feet by three feet in size with white paper pasted on the outer side over the wooden latticework in a wooden frame. The paper used is not transparent, but admits just enough light to give the room a quiet and restful air.

The FUSUMA is about the same size as the SHOOJI. The FUSUMA latticework is pasted over on both sides with thick paper of a fine quality, bearing a painting or an ornamental design. The FUSUMA is usually used to screen off the rooms from each other.
AMADO

One of the architectural features of a Japanese house that distinguishes it from other dwellings is the outer sliding doors called AMADO (rain doors), which are pulled out, one after another, along grooves from the door case in which they are boxed up during the day. Such shutters are used along the veranda or porch or in front of the windows and any other opening facing the garden or the street, and, when closed at night or during a stormy day, shelter the house from wind and rain and keep it secure from marauders.
TATAMI

The TATAMI is a mat covered with a smooth pale green sheet of glossy mat rush. A TATAMI is usually six feet by three feet and about 2.4 inches thick. The sides of the TATAMI are usually bordered with a strip of cotton or hemp cloth, black or brown in color. The unit of size for measuring a matted room is the JOO. A JOO is the size of a TATAMI. Thus, we speak of 6-JOO, 8-JOO, 10-JOO, and 12-JOO rooms, meaning that the rooms have 6, 8, 10, and 12 mats respectively.
居間
parlor, living room
の
See Grammar Notes
は。
leaves
十
ten
畳
straw mat (See Cultural Notes)
ぐらい
about
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
ます
trout
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
洋間
Western style room
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
ざしき
matted room in a Japanese house
八
eight
ある
certain, some
だけ
only, just (See Grammar Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
そう
numerical counter for ships
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
えんがわ
open corridor, veranda

Upstairs rooms and facilities · Dialogue 2 of 4

Paper doors and room screens

The speakers discuss the rooms, doors, bedrooms, and facilities in a house.

*へやは しょうじと ふすまで しきってあります* means "the rooms are partitioned by paper sliding doors and sliding screens".

White paper covers the wooden latticework of a *しょうじ*. Thick paper covers both sides of a *ふすま*, which screens one room from another.

Outer shutters

*雨戸が あり* means "it has storm doors". *雨戸* are outer sliding shutters used along a veranda or an opening.

They stay in a door case during the day. They close at night or during storms to keep out wind and rain.

*たてますのは わけは ない* says that adding a facility is easy.

Kanji: 戸 to 様

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

  1. 6

    はい、まわりえんになっております。あまどがあり、へやはしょうじとふすまでしきってあります。

    Yes, it has an open corridor going around the side of the house. It has storm doors, and the rooms are partitioned by paper sliding doors and sliding screens.

  2. 7

    にかいのへやはみなわしつですか。

    Are the rooms upstairs all Japanese rooms?

  3. 8

    さようでございます。しんしつにつかっておりますが、しんだいははいっていません。

    Yes, they are. They are used as bedrooms, but there are no beds in them.

  4. 9

    にかいにはトイレもふろばもありますか。

    Are there a toilet and a bathroom upstairs?

  5. 10

    いいえ、ございませんが、たてますのはわけはないとかいっていました。

    No, there are not, but they were saying that it is easy to add one to the building.

ます。
trout
雨戸
storm door, shutter ( See Cultural Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
へや
room
は
leaves
しょうじ
paper sliding door (See Cultural Notes)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
ふすま
sliding screen (See Cultural Notes)
二
two
和室
Japanese room
寝室
bedroom
寝台
bed
トイレ
toilet
ふろ場
bathroom (for bathing only)

Comparing houses and kitchens · Dialogue 3 of 4

More houses, more confusion

The speakers discuss viewing a promising house and its storage. One speaker has been looking at houses every day.

*多く 見れば 見るほど まよってしまいます* means "the more I see, the more confused I get". The repeated forms link more seeing with more confusion.

  1. 11

    なかなかよさそうないえですね。

    It seems like a very nice house.

  2. 12

    ええ。なんでしたら、あしたいっしょにいってみましょう。

    Yes. If it's all right with you, let's go take a look at it together tomorrow.

  3. 13

    それはどうも。へんなもので、このごろまいにちいえをさがしてあるいているので、おおくみればみるほどまよってしまいます。

    Thank you. It's a strange thing, but since I am looking around for a house everyday, the more I see, the more confused I get.

  4. 14

    さようでございましょうね。このいえにはおしいれ、とだななどもおおきいのがありますし、べんりにできています。

    I suppose so. This house has large closets and cupboards, and it's built very conveniently.

  5. 15

    だいどころは。

    What about the kitchen?

中々
considerably, very
家
house, home
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
ええ。
Yes
明日
tomorrow
ましょう。
let's (See Gram. Notes)
もの
things (tangible)
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
頃
approximate point of time (See Gram. Notes)
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
ほど
to the extent (See Grammar Notes)
おし入れ、
closet
戸だな
cupboard
など
and so forth, etc.
し、
city
台所
kitchen

Kitchen features and viewing plans · Dialogue 4 of 4

A friendly promise

The kitchen has a gas stove, an electric refrigerator, storage, and a stainless steel sink. The listener decides to view the house.

*明日 御案内 いたしますわ* means "I'll take you to see it tomorrow". The final particle *わ* makes the woman's statement friendly and assertive.

In women's speech, *わ* can end a sentence or stand before *YO*, *NEE*, and *NE*. It can follow plain or polite forms.

  1. 16

    おだいどころにはガスこんろやでんきれいぞうこもありますし、たな、とだななどもじゅうぶんあり、ながしもステンレスでございます。

    The kitchen has a gas stove and an electric refrigerator, and furthermore, it has plenty of shelves and cupboards and the sink is stainless steel.

  2. 17

    おはなしをきいただけで、きにいってしまいました。

    I am very pleased with it just by listening to you talk.

  3. 18

    では、あしたごあんないいたしますわ。

    Well, then, I'll take you to see it tomorrow.

  4. 19

    おねがいいたします。かないもつれてまいります。

    Please. I'll take my wife along, too.

  5. 20

    どうぞ。

    Please do.

や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
たな、
shelf
分
minute
ながし
sink
ステンレス
stainless steel
話
story, talk
わ。
counter for birds (See Gram. Notes)

Saying who alone does something · Perception drill, Block 2

The only one who knows

*知っているのは 私 だけです* means "I am the only one who knows". The description comes before *のは*, and the sole person comes before *だけです*.

The only thing described

A verb, I-adjective, NA-adjective, or suffix in its base form can come before *のは*. *だけです* follows the sole person or thing.

*私が 話せるのは 英語 だけです* means "the only language I can speak is English".

*私 だけ 洋服を 着ていました* places *だけ* directly after the person. It means "only I was wearing Western clothes".

  1. 21

    しっているのはわたくしだけです。

    I am the only one who knows." (The one who knows is only I.)

  2. 22

    べんきょうしないのはスミスさんだけです。

    The only one who does not study is Mr. Smith.

  3. 23

    スミスさんだけべんきょうしません。

    Only Mr. Smith does not study.

  4. 24

    いまさいているのはさくらのはなだけです。

    The only flowers blooming now are cherry blossoms.

  5. 25

    いまさくらのはなだけさいています。

    Only the cherry blossoms are blooming now.

  6. 26

    にほんへいったことのあるのはジョンズさんだけです。

    The only one who has been to Japan is Mr. Jones.

  7. 27

    ジョンズさんだけにほんへいったことがあります。

    Only Mr. Jones has been to Japan.

  8. 28

    わたくしがはなせるのはえいごだけです。

    The only language I can speak is English.

  9. 29

    わたくしはえいごだけはなせます。

    I can speak only English.

  10. 30

    ようふくをきていたのはわたくしだけです。

    I was the only one wearing Western clothes.

  11. 31

    わたくしだけようふくをきていました。

    Only I was wearing Western clothes.

です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
さくら
cherry (flower)
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
話せる
to be able to speak

The more, the more · Perception drill, Block 4

More seeing, more interest

*見れば 見るほど おもしろく なります* means "the more you see it, the more interesting it gets".

The conditional and base forms of *見る* stand together before *ほど*. The result states the corresponding change.

The repeated form

A conditional verb or adjective is followed by its matching base form and *ほど*. This sequence means "the more X, the more Y".

*新しければ 新しいほど おいしいです* means "the fresher it is, the more delicious it is". An I-adjective uses the same pattern.

  1. 32

    みればみるほどおもしろくなります。

    The more you see it, the more interesting it gets.

  2. 33

    かんじはかけばかくほどじょうずになります。

    The more you write kanji, the better you become at it.

  3. 34

    たべればたべるほどおおきくなります。

    The more you eat, the bigger you become.

  4. 35

    えいがはみればみるほどみたくなります。

    The more movies I see, the more I want to see them.

  5. 36

    あたらしければあたらしいほどおいしいです。

    The fresher it is, the more delicious it is.

  6. 37

    かんがえればかんがえるほどむずかしくなります。

    The more I think about it, the more difficult it becomes.

  7. 38

    にほんごははなせばはなすほどじょうずになります。

    The more you speak Japanese, the better you become at it.

上手
skillful, fluent (See Grammar Notes)
映画
movie
おいしい
tasty, delicious
かんがえる
to think

Saying something is easy · Perception drill, Block 6

An easy action

*ひらがなを 習うのは わけは ありません* means "learning hiragana is easy". The action comes before *のは*, followed by the polite expression for ease.

An easy matter

*わけは ない* and *わけは ありません* can serve as the predicate meaning "easy".

*それを なおすのは わけは ない 事です* means "fixing it is an easy matter". Before *事*, *わけは ない* describes the matter.

  1. 39

    それはわけはありません。

    That is easy.

  2. 40

    ひらがなをならうのはわけはありません。

    Learning hiragana is easy.

  3. 41

    すきやきをりょうりするのはわけはありません。

    Cooking sukiyaki is easy.

  4. 42

    それをなおすのはわけはないことです。

    Fixing it is an easy matter.

  5. 43

    かんじをよむのはわけはないが、かくのはむずかしい。

    Reading kanji is easy, but writing it is difficult.

  6. 44

    わたくしにはたばこをやめるのはわけはない。

    For me, quitting smoking is easy.

  7. 45

    にほんごをえいごにやくすのはわけはありませんが、えいごをにほんごにやくすのはむずかしいです。

    Translating Japanese into English is easy, but translating English into Japanese is difficult.

ひらがな
HIRAGANA syllabary
すきやき
SUKIYAKI
なおす
to correct, mend, repair (v.t.)
むずかしい。
difficult
たばこ
tobacco, cigarette
やめる
to quit
やくす
to translate (v.t.)

Identifying the only one · Pattern 1 1 of 2

The only place

*畳の しいてあるのは ざしき だけです* means "the Japanese room is the only place where it is matted".

This uses the *のは* and *だけです* pattern from *知っているのは 私 だけです*.

The only red one

*赤いのは これ だけです* means "this is the only red one".

*さかなを 食べないのは スミスさん だけです* means "the only one who does not eat fish is Mr. Smith".

  1. 46

    たたみのしいてあるのはざしきだけです。

    ZASHIKI is the only place where it is matted.

  2. 47

    いえのなかにたたみをしくのはにほんだけです。

    Japan is the only country where tatami mats are laid inside the house.

  3. 48

    さかなをたべないのはスミスさんだけです。

    The only one who does not eat fish is Mr. Smith.

  4. 49

    ジョンズさんをしっているのはわたくしだけです。

    I am the only one who knows Mr. Jones.

  5. 50

    はやくかえったのはあのひとだけです。

    That person was the only one who went home early.

  6. 51

    あかいのはこれだけです。

    This is the only red one.

  7. 52

    わたくしがきらいなのはにんじんだけです。

    The only thing I dislike is carrots.

しく
to lay, spread
さかな
fish
人
people
きらい
dislike (See Gram. Notes)

Asking who alone qualifies · Pattern 1 2 of 2

Is he the only one

*今日 学校を 休んでいるのは ジョンズさん だけですか* means "is Mr. Jones the only one absent from school today?"

*スミスさんも 休んでいますよ* rejects that limit: "Mr. Smith is absent too".

Only one in the answer

*ふとっているのは 長男 だけです* means "only my eldest son is stout".

Here the answer names one son as the only person with the stated quality.

  1. 53

    しろいくつがありますか。

    Do you have any white shoes?

  2. 54

    しろいのはこれだけです。みなうりきれました。

    This is the only white pair. All the others have sold out.

  3. 55

    きょうがっこうをやすんでいるのはジョンズさんだけですか。

    Is Mr. Jones the only one absent from school today?

  4. 56

    いいえ、スミスさんもやすんでいますよ。

    No, Mr. Smith is absent too.

  5. 57

    おたくのおこさんはみなふとっているのですか。

    Are all your children stout?

  6. 58

    いいえ、ふとっているのはちょうなんだけです。

    No, only my eldest son is stout.

くつ
shoes
今日
today
長男
eldest son

Increasing change through repetition · Pattern 2 1 of 3

Action and result increase together

*歩けば 歩くほど 足が つよく なります* means "the more you walk, the stronger your legs become".

This is the increasing comparison used in *かん字は 書けば 書くほど 上手に なります*.

Increasing qualities

*ダイアログが 短かければ 短かいほど 生徒は よろこびます* means "the shorter the dialogue is, the happier the students are".

*ゆうびん切手は 古ければ 古いほど 高いです* compares greater age with greater price.

  1. 59

    かんじはかけばかくほどじょうずになります。

    The more you write kanji, the better you get.

  2. 60

    あるけばあるくほどあしがつよくなります。

    The more you walk, the stronger your legs become.

  3. 61

    ゴルフはれんしゅうすればするほどじょうずになります。

    The more you practice golf, the better you become at it.

  4. 62

    くつはみがけばみがくほどひかります。

    The more you polish shoes, the more they shine.

  5. 63

    ダイアログがみじかければみじかいほどせいとはよろこびます。

    The shorter the dialogue is, the happier the students are.

  6. 64

    ゆうびんきってはふるければふるいほどたかいです。

    The older a postage stamp is, the more expensive it is.

  7. 65

    こづつみはかるければかるいほどりょうきんがやすいです。

    The lighter a parcel is, the lower the postage is.

つよく
strong
ゴルフ
golf
みがく
to polish, brush
ダイアログ
dialogue
ゆうびん
postal service
切手
postage stamp
古い
old, antique
小包
parcel, small package
かるい
light
料金
fee, charge

Comparing repeated actions · Pattern 2 2 of 3

A reply with increasing change

*言葉は 使えば 使うほど よく おぼえるのです* means "the more you use a language, the better you remember it".

This is the increasing comparison used again in *みがけば みがくほど きれいに なります*.

More polishing and listening

*みがけば みがくほど きれいに なります* means "the more you polish it, the more beautiful it becomes".

*聞けば 聞くほど おもしろく なります* means "the more you listen to him, the more interesting it becomes".

  1. 66

    ことばはいつもつかわないと、わすれてしまいますね。

    If you do not use a language all the time, you forget it, don’t you?

  2. 67

    ええ、ことばはつかえばつかうほどよくおぼえるのです。

    Yes, the more you use a language, the better you remember it.

  3. 68

    このテーブルはきれいにみがいてありますね。

    This table has been polished beautifully, hasn’t it?

  4. 69

    ええ、みがけばみがくほどきれいになります。

    Yes, the more you polish it, the more beautiful it becomes.

  5. 70

    たなかさんははなしがじょうずですね。

    Mr. Tanaka is a good speaker, isn’t he?

  6. 71

    ほんとうにじょうずですね。きけばきくほどおもしろくなります。

    He really is. The more you listen to him, the more interesting it becomes.

  7. 72

    かく

    To write.

いつ
when?
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
ええ、
Yes
使う
to use, employ
よく
well, skillfully
おぼえる
to memorize, remember (v.t.)
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)

Verbs and adjectives for comparisons · Pattern 2 3 of 3

Predicates for increasing comparisons

*れん習する* means "to practice", and *食べる* means "to eat". These verbs can supply the repeated predicate in an increasing comparison.

*安い*, "inexpensive", and *新しい*, "new", supply I-adjectives for the same comparison.

  1. 73

    れんしゅうする

    To practice.

  2. 74

    たべる

    To eat.

  3. 75

    みる

    To see.

  4. 76

    ならう

    To learn.

  5. 77

    よむ

    To read.

  6. 78

    やすい

    Inexpensive.

  7. 79

    あたらしい

    New.

Calling tasks easy · Pattern 3 1 of 2

An easy task

*お金を かりるのは わけは ありません* means "borrowing money is easy".

It uses the expression for ease in *これは わけは ありません*.

An easy matter

*これを 明日までに すませるのは わけは ない 事です* means "finishing this by tomorrow is an easy matter".

*この自動車を なおすのは わけは ない* means "fixing this automobile is easy".

  1. 80

    これはわけはありません。

    This is easy.

  2. 81

    おかねをかりるのはわけはありません。

    Borrowing money is easy.

  3. 82

    そのしつもんにこたえるのはわけはありません。

    Answering that question is easy.

  4. 83

    これをあしたまでにすませるのはわけはないことです。

    Finishing this by tomorrow is an easy matter.

  5. 84

    このじどうしゃをなおすのはわけはない。

    Fixing this automobile is easy.

  6. 85

    べいこくからにほんまでひこうきでいけばわけはない。

    It is easy if you go by plane from the United States to Japan.

  7. 86

    きょうのしゅくだいはわけはない。

    Today's homework is easy.

かりる
to borrow, rent
しつもん
question
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
車
vehicle, car
宿題
homework

Answering whether tasks are easy · Pattern 3 2 of 2

Easy under a condition

*自動車で 行けば わけは ありません* means "if you go by car, it is no trouble".

The answer uses the expression for ease in *自動車で 行けば わけは ありません*.

An easy thing to do

*それは わけは ない 事です* means "that is an easy thing to do".

The same answer follows the requests to learn ten kanji each day and finish work by Saturday.

  1. 87

    たなかさんのいえまでとおいですか。

    Is it far to Mr. Tanaka's house?

  2. 88

    かなりとおいですが、じどうしゃでいけばわけはありません。

    It is quite far, but if you go by car, it is no trouble.

  3. 89

    あなたはまいにちかんじがじゅうならえますか。

    Can you learn ten kanji every day?

  4. 90

    ええ、それはわけはないことです。

    Yes, that is an easy thing to do.

  5. 91

    これをどようびまでにすませてくださいませんか。

    Could you finish this by Saturday?

  6. 92

    ええ、それはわけはないことです。

    Yes, that is an easy thing to do.

遠い
far
かなり
fairly
ください
please give me (See Gram. Notes)

Traditional rooms and alcoves · Reading Selection 1 of 2

Rooms divided by screens

The passage describes the rooms of a Japanese house. *和室は 大抵 ふすまで、 二間 又は 三間に しきられます* means "Japanese-style rooms are usually divided by sliding screens into two or three rooms".

*ふすま* are the sliding screens that divide the rooms.

The room with the alcove

*床の 間のある へやは 日本風の 家では 一番 いい へやです* means "in a Japanese-style house, the room with the alcove is the best room".

*床の 間* is the alcove. A stepped shelf stands beside it.

  1. 93

    にほんのいえにはたいていげんかんがあります。

    Japanese houses usually have an entryway.

  2. 94

    げんかんからざしきにあがるのです。

    You step up from the entryway into the Japanese-style room.

  3. 95

    わしつはたいていふすまで、ふたままたはみまにしきられます。

    Japanese-style rooms are usually divided by sliding screens into two or three rooms.

  4. 96

    ひとまはいまにつかわれます。

    One room is used as a living room.

  5. 97

    あるいえではいまはようふうです。

    In some houses, the living room is Western style.

  6. 98

    わしつにはとこのまがあり、そのそばにちがいだながあります。

    A Japanese-style room has an alcove, with a shelf arranged stepwise beside it.

  7. 99

    とこのまのあるへやはにほんふうのいえではいちばんいいへやです。

    In a Japanese-style house, the room with the alcove is the best room.

げんかん
entrance of the house
上る
to eat, drink, come
三
three
一
one
洋風
Western style
そば
vicinity
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)

Mats, bedrooms and modern kitchens · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Sliding doors and room size

*えんがわと ざしきは しょうじで しきられています* means "the corridor and the Japanese-style room are separated by paper sliding doors".

*へやの 大きさは 畳の かずで わかるのです* says that the number of mats gives a room's size.

Bedrooms and modern kitchens

Almost any Japanese-style room can serve as a bedroom, but it usually has no bed.

*ガスこんろ、 電気れいぞうこ* are "a gas stove and an electric refrigerator". Modern kitchens can also have an electric washing machine and ample storage.

  1. 100

    いえのまわりにはえんがわがあって、えんがわとざしきはしょうじでしきられています。

    There is an open corridor around the house, and the corridor and the Japanese-style room are separated by paper sliding doors.

  2. 101

    わしつはほとんどどのへやでもしんしつにつかうことができますが、しんだいはたいていはいっていません。

    Almost any Japanese-style room can be used as a bedroom, but there is usually no bed in it.

  3. 102

    わしつには

    As for Japanese-style rooms...

  4. 103

    たたみがしいてあって、ろくじょうのま、はちじょうのまというように、へやのおおきさはたたみのかずでわかるのです。

    Tatami mats are laid in them, and a room's size is known by the number of mats, as in a six-mat room or an eight-mat room.

  5. 104

    たたみがはちまいしいてあれば、それははちじょうのまです。

    If eight tatami mats are laid in a room, it is an eight-mat room.

  6. 105

    このごろのにほんのいえはだいどころがたいへんモダンになって、ガスこんろ、でんきれいぞうこなどがあり、またあるいえでは、でんきせんたくきがあります。

    Nowadays, kitchens in Japanese houses have become very modern, with gas stoves, electric refrigerators, and, in some houses, electric washing machines.

  7. 106

    たな、とだななどもじゅうぶんあるし、ながしもたいていステンレスです。

    There are also plenty of shelves and cupboards, and the sinks are usually stainless steel.

ほとんど
almost (See Gram. Notes)
どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
六
six
言う
to say
かず
number
この頃
these days, nowadays
大へん
very
モダン
modern

Room divisions and sleeping spaces · Questions 1 of 2

How the rooms are arranged

The questions ask about entryways, room divisions, the alcove, the corridor, and bedrooms.

*日本の ざしきは 大抵 何で しきられていますか* means "what are Japanese-style rooms usually partitioned by?" An answer names the sliding screens.

*床の 間は どこに ありますか* asks for the alcove's location. The answer places it in a Japanese-style room.

  1. 107

    にほんのざしきはたいていなんでしきられていますか

    What are Japanese-style rooms usually partitioned by?

  2. 108

    にほんのいえはどこからざしきにあがりますか。

    From where do you step up into the Japanese-style rooms in a Japanese house?

  3. 109

    とこのまはどこにありますか。

    Where is the alcove?

  4. 110

    いえのまわりにはなにがありますか。

    What is there around the house?

  5. 111

    えんがわとざしきはなんでしきられていますか。

    What separates the open corridor from the Japanese-style room?

  6. 112

    わしつはどのへやでもしんしつにつかうことができますか。

    Can any Japanese-style room be used as a bedroom?

  7. 113

    にほんのいえではたいていしんだいをつかいますか。

    Do people usually use beds in Japanese houses?

か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)

Room size and kitchen equipment · Questions 2 of 2

Mats and kitchen equipment

The questions ask what covers a Japanese-style room, how mats give its size, and what a modern kitchen contains.

*六畳の 間には 畳が 何枚 しいてありますか* means "how many tatami mats are laid in a six-mat room?" The answer gives six mats.

*モダンな 台所には、 どんな 電気きぐが ありますか* asks for the electrical appliances in a modern kitchen.

  1. 114

    わしつにはなにがしいてありますか。

    What is laid in Japanese-style rooms?

  2. 115

    わしつのおおきさはなんでわかりますか。

    How can you tell the size of a Japanese-style room?

  3. 116

    ろくじょうのまにはたたみがなんまいしいてありますか。

    How many tatami mats are laid in a six-mat room?

  4. 117

    このごろのにほんのいえはだいどころがモダンになりましたか。

    Have the kitchens in Japanese houses become modern nowadays?

  5. 118

    モダンなだいどころには、どんなでんききぐがありますか。

    What kinds of electrical appliances are there in a modern kitchen?

  6. 119

    たな、とだななどがじゅうぶんありますか。

    Are there plenty of shelves, cupboards, and so on?

どんな
what kind of; what sort of

Room size and alcove words · Word list 1 of 5

Room size and the alcove

These words cover matted rooms and their formal features. *十畳* is "ten mats", and *八畳の間* is "an eight-matted room".

*床の間* is "an alcove". The entries connect a room's mat count with its size and features.

  1. 120

    じゅうじょう

    ten mats

  2. 121

    はちじょうのま

    eight-matted room

  3. 122

    ---じょう

    counter for counting mats

  4. 123

    おおきさ

    size

  5. 124

    おうせつしつ

    reception room, drawing room

  6. 125

    おくざしき

    inner room

  7. 126

    たたみ

    straw mat (See Cultural Notes)

  8. 127

    しく

    to lay, spread

  9. 128

    --のは--だけです

    --is the only one that -- (See Grammar Notes)

  10. 129

    とこのま

    alcove (See Cultural Notes)

  11. 130

    ちがいだな

    shelf arranged stepwise

十畳
ten mats
八畳の間
eight-matted room
---畳
counter for counting mats
大きさ
size
応接室
reception room, drawing room
奥ざしき
inner room
--のは--だけです
--is the only one that -- (See Grammar Notes)
床の間
alcove (See Cultural Notes)
ちがいだな
shelf arranged stepwise

Doors, corridors and facilities · Word list 2 of 5

Doors and facilities

These words cover a house's openings, divisions, and facilities. *雨戸* is "a storm door or shutter", and *しょうじ* is "a paper sliding door".

*わけはない* means "easy". The other entries name corridors, screens, bedrooms, beds, and a toilet.

  1. 131

    えんがわ

    open corridor, veranda

  2. 132

    まわりえん

    open corridor going around the side of a house

  3. 133

    あまど

    storm door, shutter ( See Cultural Notes)

  4. 134

    しょうじ

    paper sliding door (See Cultural Notes)

  5. 135

    ふすま

    sliding screen (See Cultural Notes)

  6. 136

    しきる

    to partition, divide

  7. 137

    しんしつ

    bedroom

  8. 138

    しんだい

    bed

  9. 139

    べんじょ

    toilet

  10. 140

    たてます

    to add on to a building

  11. 141

    わけはない

    easy, nothing to it (See Grammar Notes)

まわりえん
open corridor going around the side of a house
しきる
to partition, divide
便所
toilet
たてます
to add on to a building
わけはない
easy, nothing to it (See Grammar Notes)

House hunting and kitchen words · Word list 3 of 5

House hunting and the kitchen

These words cover comparing houses and checking their kitchens. *見れば見るほど* means "the more you see, the more", and *まよう* means "to get confused".

*電気れいぞうこ* is "an electric refrigerator". The remaining entries name storage and other kitchen fittings.

  1. 142

    なんでしたら

    if it's all right with you

  2. 143

    へんなもので

    it's strange that ---

  3. 144

    みればみるほど

    the more you see, the more --- (See Grammar Notes)

  4. 145

    まよう

    to get lost, get confused

  5. 146

    おしいれ

    closet

  6. 147

    とだな

    cupboard

  7. 148

    じゅうぶん

    sufficient

  8. 149

    ガスこんろ

    gas stove, gas range

  9. 150

    でんきれいぞうこ

    electric refrigerator

  10. 151

    たな

    shelf

  11. 152

    ながし

    sink

何でしたら
if it's all right with you
へんなもので
it's strange that ---
見れば見るほど
the more you see, the more --- (See Grammar Notes)
まよう
to get lost, get confused
おし入れ
closet
じゅう分
sufficient
ガスこんろ
gas stove, gas range
電気れいぞうこ
electric refrigerator
たな
shelf

Windows, terraces and room words · Word list 4 of 5

Windows, rooms, and a terminal particle

These words cover parts and features of a modern house. *高まど* is "a high window", and *まるまど* is "a round window".

*---は* is a terminal particle used by women for a friendly assertion. The other entries name rooms, facilities, and household features.

  1. 153

    ステンレス

    stainless steel

  2. 154

    ---は

    terminal particle (See Cultural Notes)

  3. 155

    たかまど

    high window

  4. 156

    まるまど

    round window

  5. 157

    げたばこ

    clog cabinet, clog box

  6. 158

    トイレ

    toilet

  7. 159

    テラス

    terrace

  8. 160

    こどもべや

    children's room

  9. 161

    たしか

    I am sure, certainly

  10. 162

    ひかる

    shine, glitter

  11. 163

    モダン

    modern

---は
terminal particle (See Cultural Notes)
高まど
high window
まるまど
round window
げた箱
clog cabinet, clog box
テラス
terrace
子供べや
children's room
たしか
I am sure, certainly
ひかる
shine, glitter

Appliances, windows and room size · Word list 5 of 5

House features and room size

These words review household appliances, windows, and rooms. *電気せんたく機* is "an electric washing machine", and *げた箱* is "a clog box".

*このざしきの 大きさは たしか 八畳だと 思います* means "I am sure the size of this Japanese room is an eight mat room". The mat count gives the room's size.

  1. 164

    でんきせんたくき

    electric washing machine

  2. 165

    たかまど

    high window

  3. 166

    まるまど

    round window

  4. 167

    げたばこ

    clog box, clog cabinet

  5. 168

    べんじょ

    toilet

  6. 169

    テラス

    terrace

  7. 170

    こどもべや

    children's room

  8. 171

    このざしきのおおきさはたしかはちじょうだとおもいます。

    I am sure the size of this Japanese room is an eight mat room.

Guide for Free Conversation

1 Look at the sketches on pages 140-143 and describe them.

2 Describe your house.

3 Describe a Japanese house.

4 Describe your friend's house.
Homework

1. Memorize the Dialogue and know the vocabulary.

2. Study the Pattern Drill and do the exercises following each Pattern Drill.

3. Learn to read and write the new kanji.

4. Read the Explanatory Notes.

5. Use the guide given for practice in free conversation.
電気せんたく機
electric washing machine
このざしきの大きさはたしか八畳だと思います。
"I am sure the size of this Japanese room is an eight mat room."

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.