Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 59

Lesson 59

Kanji and everyday Japanese

166 lines

Registering after moving house · Dialogue 1 of 3

The neighborhood section

Two neighbors discuss a recent move, the new address, and alien registration.

*あなたの お宅は 青山二丁目でしたね* confirms the home is in Aoyama Ni-choome. A *丁目* is one of the smallest divisions of a city section.

The lot number

*青山二丁目の 八十二番地です* means "It's house number 82 in Aoyama Ni-choome." A *番地* is a lot number.

Japan numbers land rather than houses, so several houses can share one *番地*. *おちつかれましたか* respectfully asks whether the resident has settled.

Kanji: 地, 区

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

Kanji: 所

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

  1. 1

    あなたのおたくはあおやまにちょうめでしたね。

    Your home is in Aoyama Ni-choome, isn't it?

    あなたyou
    の's
    おhome
    宅home
    はtopic
    青山Aoyama
    二two
    丁目district
    でしis
    たpast
    ね。right?
  2. 2

    ええ、あおやまにちょうめのはちじゅうにばんちです。

    Yes. It's house number 82 in Aoyama Ni-choome.

  3. 3

    もうおちつかれましたか。

    Are you settled already?

  4. 4

    ええ、おかげさまで。ようやくおちつきました。

    Yes. I am, thanks to you. At long last I am settled.

  5. 5

    がいじんとうろくはもうなさいましたか。

    Have you done your alien registration?

  6. 6

    いいえ、まだやっておりません。がいじんとうろくはくやくしょでやるんでしたね。

    No, I haven't done it yet. You do your alien registration at the ward office, don't you?

Honorific RERU, RARERU

The honorific RERU, RARERU is formed in the same manner as the passive RERU, RARERU, introduced in Lesson 46, and potential RERU, RARERU in Lesson 49. Some of the ways to distinguish the passive from the honorific are: (1) The subject of the honorific sentence is always an exalted person whereas in the passive sentence, it may or may not be; (2) In the passive sentence the agent who performs the action is usually named; (3) By the context of the sentence; (4) Only a limited number of verbs are used in passive sentences, but in honorific sentences almost any verb can be used.

Examples:

SENSEI WA IKU TO IWAREMASHITA. "The teacher said that he is going."

ANO KATA WA NIHON E IKAREMASHITA. "He went to Japan."

ANATA WA KINOO HATARAKAREMASHITA KA. "Did you work yesterday?"

KONBAN TAMURA-SAN GA KORAREMASU. "Mr. Tamura is coming tonight."
--KOTO WA NAI

KOTO WA NAI preceded by a sentence (plain negative verbs, plain adjectives in the basic form, and auxiliary verbs like TAI, NAI) means 'it isn't that ---.' The sequence is frequently followed by GA or KEREDOMO.

Examples:

IKANAI KOTO WA ARIMASEN GA, IKU NO WA OSOKU NARU TO OMOIMASU. "It isn't that I am not going, but I think I'll be late."

IKITAI KOTO WA NAIN DESU GA, IKANAKEREBA NARIMASEN. "It isn't that I want to go, but I must go."

DENSHA DE IKENAI KOTO WA NAIN DESU GA, FUBEN DESU. "It isn't that I can't go by streetcar, but it's inconvenient."
NA form of Quasi-adjective (NA-adjective) + NO (N) DESU

When NO (N) DESU follows nouns and quasi-adjectives, they follow the NA-form of it and express an emphatic ending.

Examples:

JIDOOSHA GA NAI TO TOTEMO FUBEN NA NO DESU. "It's very inconvenient if you have no car."

ANO HITO WA GORUFU GA JOOZU NA NO (N) DESU. "He is good at golf."

ANO HITO WA GORUFU GA HETA NA NONI SUKI NA NO(N) DESU. "Although he is poor at golf, he likes it."

ANO HITO WA ISHA NA NO(N) DESU. "He is a doctor."

ANO HITO WA TOSHIYORI NA (N) DESU GA GENKI DESU. "He is old, yet he's healthy."
ARUITA HOO GA HAYAI versus ARUKU HOO GA HAYAI

When comparing two courses of action, the noun HOO 'alternative' is preceded by a sentence consisting of an affirmative or a negative verb (introduced in Lesson 29). A non-past verb before HOO is more often used in general statements, whereas the past tense refers to a situation in which the completed action is assumed, and the result of it expressed in the terminal adjective or verb.

Examples:

KONNA HON O YOMU HOO GA OMOSHIROI. "Reading this kind of book is more interesting."

KONNA HON O YONDA HOO GA OMOSHIROI. "It will be more interesting to read this kind of book."

HAYAKU ITTA HOO GA II. "You had better go early."

HAYAKU NAOSHITA HOO GA II. "You had better fix it quickly."

SORE O TABETA HOO GA II DESU YO. "You had better eat it."
-- TARA (DARA) IIN DESHOO KA

Following the TE-form base of verbs, TARA (DARA) IIN DESHOO KA expresses the idea of '--- should I do?' This expression is usually preceded by such interrogative pronouns as DOKO, DARE, ITSU, DOO, NANI, etc.

Examples:

DOO ITTARA IIN DESHOO KA. "How should I go there?"

DARE NI TANONDARA IIN DESHOO KA. "Whom should I ask?"

DOO ITTARA IIN DESHOO KA. "What (how) should I say?"

KONO HAKO WA DOKO NI MOTTE ITTARA IIN DESHOO KA. "Where should I take this box?"
CHOOME

With the exception of the names of a few main arteries, street names are rarely used in Japan. Addresses are usually given in terms of location within particular sections, and directions are regularly given in terms of landmarks. One of the divisions into which some sections of a city are divided is the CHOOME. While it is one of the smallest divisions, its size is not fixed, and there may be considerable variation among the CHOOME of a given section.

Following are the numerals used with CHOOME.

| 
IT-CHOOME | ROKU-CHOOME
NI-CHOOME | NANA-CHOOME
SAN-CHOOME | HATCHOOME
YON-CHOOME | KYUU-CHOOME
GO-CHOOME | JITCHOOME

Note the irregularity of numerals for "1", "8," and "10."
BANCHI

BANCHI is strictly a lot number. In Japan numbering is done by land instead of by houses. Therefore, you often find several houses of the same BANCHI.

The numbers from 1 to 10 are:

| 
ICHI-BANCHI | ROKU-BANCHI
NI-BANCHI | NANA-BANCHI
SAN-BANCHI | HACHI-BANCHI
YON-BANCHI | KYUU-BANCHI
GO-BANCHI | JUU-BANCHI, etc.

NAN-BANCHI 'lot number what?'
KU

KU is a ward. Tokyo is divided into 23 wards like MINATO-KU, CHUUOO-KU, etc. Each ward has a ward office and takes care of its administrative matters like a city council in the case of a city.
KOKUDEN

KOKUDEN, National Railways Electric Train, is an abbreviation of KOKUTETSU DENSHA, which formerly was called SHOOSEN DENSHA. It is a loop-line, starting from SHINAGAWA through MEGURO, SHINJUKU, IKEBUKURO, YUURAKUCHOO, and so on and ending at SHINAGAWA. The official name of this line is YAMATESEN.
TODEN, SHIDEN

SHIDEN is an abbreviation of SHINAI DENSHA, and means city streetcar. Tokyo was called "Tokyo-shi" up to

July 1, 1943, and after that time it was changed to "Tokyo-to," owing to a change of administration. Since Tokyo is not a "shi" anymore, SHIDEN had to be changed to TODEN. So the term TODEN is used only in reference to the Tokyo Municipal Streetcar Line.
の
See Grammar Notes
は
leaves
二
two
丁目
choome (See Cultural Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
ええ、
Yes
八十
80
番地
lot number, house number (See Cultural Notes)
です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
もう
already (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
で。
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
ようやく
finally, at last
外人
foreigner
とうろく
registration
まだ
yet, still
区
ward (See Cultural Notes)
やる
to do

Directions to the ward office · Dialogue 2 of 3

The ward office

A resident asks a neighbor how to reach the office for alien registration.

*あなたの 所なら、 港区の 区役所ですね* identifies Minato Ward Office. *区* means "ward", and each ward has a *区役所*.

How to get there

*私の 家から どう 行ったら いいんですか* means "How should I get there from my home?"

*どう* asks how, and *行ったら いいんですか* asks what course to take. The answer gives streetcar and walking directions.

Kanji: 図, 東

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

Kanji: 京, 通

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

  1. 7

    ええ、あなたのところなら、みなとくのくやくしょですね。

    Yes, if it's your place, you do it at Minato Ward Office.

  2. 8

    わたくしのいえからどういったらいいんですか。

    How should I get there from my home?

  3. 9

    そうですね。ちょっととうきょうあんないちずをみてみましょう。くやくしょはここですから、そうですね、あおやまいっちょうめのていりゅうじょうでさんじゅうさんばんのでんしゃにのっておなりもんでおりたらいいですね。

    Well, let me see. Let's look at a Tokyo Guide Map just for a minute. The ward office is here, so let me see. You should get on the No. 33 streetcar at Aoyama Itchoome car stop and get off at Onarimon.

  4. 10

    くやくしょはそこですか。

    Is the ward office there?

  5. 11

    いいえ、そこからしばこうえんのほうへあるいていって、さんばんめのとおりでひだりにおれて、つきあたると、そのつきあたりがくやくしょです。

    No, from there you walk toward Shiba Park and turn left at the third street and when you come to the dead end, that end is the ward office.

  6. 12

    なかなかめんどうなんですね。のりかえがありますか。

    It surely is complicated, isn't it? Is there a transfer?

所
address, place
なら、
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
港
port, harbor
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
家
house, home
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
そう
numerical counter for ships
ちょっと
a little
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
ましょう。
let's (See Gram. Notes)
ここ
here
一
one
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
三十
30
三
three
電車
streetcar, electric train
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
門
gate
そこ
there
こうえん
park
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
通り
street
つきあたる
to come to the end, bump against
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
つきあたり
dead end
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
中々
considerably, very
ます
trout

Choosing streetcar over subway · Dialogue 3 of 3

Two routes to the ward office

The speakers compare subway and streetcar routes to the ward office.

*地下鉄で 行けない事は ないのですが、 芝こうえんへ 行くのには 不便です* says the subway is possible but inconvenient for Shiba Park.

The Tokyo streetcar

*それでは と電で 行きましょう* means "I'll go by streetcar, then." *と電* names the Tokyo Municipal Streetcar Line.

In *行けない事は ないのですが*, the speaker rejects complete impossibility before giving the subway route's disadvantage.

Kanji: 不, 下

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

  1. 13

    いいえ、のりかえはありません。

    No, there is no transfer.

  2. 14

    そこへはちかてつではいけないのですか。

    Can't you go there by subway?

  3. 15

    ちかてつでいけないことはないのですが、しばこうえんへいくのにはふべんです。

    It isn't that you can't go by subway, but it's inconvenient to go to Shiba Park.

  4. 16

    そうですか。それではとでんでいきましょう。どうもありがとうございました。

    Is that right? I'll go by streetcar, then. Thank you very much.

のりかえ
transfer
鉄
steel, iron
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
不便
inconvenient
と
and (See Gram. Notes)

Respectful questions about past events · Perception drill, Block 1

A respectful question

*いつ、 こちらへ ひっこされましたか* means "When did you move here?" The verb respectfully describes the other person's action.

Honorific verb forms

*どこで 日本語を 習われましたか* means "Where did you study Japanese?" *習われました* is an honorific form made with *RERU* or *RARERU*.

These forms match passive and potential forms. The respected subject and the context identify the honorific meaning.

  1. 17

    もうおちつかれましたか。

    Are you settled already?

  2. 18

    いつ、こちらへひっこされましたか。

    When did you move here?

  3. 19

    さくねんのさんがつにひっこしてきました。

    I moved here in March of last year.

  4. 20

    どこでにほんごをならわれましたか。

    Where did you study Japanese?

  5. 21

    にほんごがっこうでならいました。

    I studied it at a Japanese language school.

  6. 22

    いつにほんからかえられましたか。

    When did you return from Japan?

  7. 23

    いっしゅうかんまえにかえりました。

    I returned a week ago.

  8. 24

    さくばんえいがをみにいかれましたか。

    Did you go to see a movie last night?

  9. 25

    いいえ、ともだちがたずねてきたので、いかれませんでした。

    No, I couldn't go because a friend came to visit me.

  10. 26

    おくさんがかぜをひかれたそうですが、いかがですか。

    I hear your wife caught a cold. How is she?

  11. 27

    すこしのどがいたいだけですから、すぐなおるでしょう。

    She only has a slight sore throat, so she will probably get well soon.

いつ、
when?
こちら
this, here (See Gram. Notes)
月
moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
ひっこし
moving, change of address
前
before, front
映画
movie
かぜ
wind
少し
little (quantity)
のど
throat
いたい
painful
だけ
only, just (See Grammar Notes)
すぐ
right away, immediately
なおる
to get well, to be repaired
でしょう。
probably (See Gram. Notes)

Asking how to do things · Perception drill, Block 2

How one should go

*そこへ どう行ったらいいんですか* means "How should I go there?" *どう* asks how to travel.

Asking what one should do

A verb changes the *TE* or *DE* of its TE-form to *TARA* or *DARA*. A form of *いいんですか* follows.

*どうしたらいいんですか* means "What should I do?" A question word such as *どう* usually comes before the verb.

  1. 28

    そこへどういったらいいんですか。

    How should I go there?

  2. 29

    このかんじはどうよんだらいいんですか。

    How should I read this kanji?

  3. 30

    このかんじはどうかいたらいいんですか。

    How should I write this kanji?

  4. 31

    どうしたらいいんですか。

    What should I do?

  5. 32

    このぶんしょうはどうやくしたらいいんですか。

    How should I translate this passage?

  6. 33

    このしゃしんはどうみたらいいんですか。

    How should I look at this photograph?

し
city
文章
sentence

Emphasising reasons and identities · Perception drill, Block 3

An emphatic preference

*ええ、 さかなは きらいなんです* means "Yes, I don't like fish." The ending emphasizes the dislike.

After nouns and NA-adjectives

*のです* and its short form *んです* make an emphatic ending. A noun or NA-adjective takes *な* before this ending.

*あれが 私の 日本語の 先生なんですよ* means "That person is my Japanese teacher." The noun *先生* takes *な* before *んです*.

  1. 34

    のりかえなくてもよいから、べんりなん(なの)です。

    You don't have to transfer, so it is convenient.

  2. 35

    あなたはゴルフがすきらしいですね。

    It seems that you like golf.

  3. 36

    ええ、へたなのにすきなんですよ。

    Yes, I like it even though I'm not good at it.

  4. 37

    あなたはさかなをたべませんが、きらいなんですか。

    You don't eat fish. Is it because you dislike it?

  5. 38

    ええ、さかなはきらいなんです。

    Yes, I don't like fish.

  6. 39

    あのかたはどなたですか。

    Who is that person?

  7. 40

    あれがわたくしのにほんごのせんせいなんですよ。

    That person is my Japanese teacher.

  8. 41

    あなたはにほんごがおじょうずですね。

    You're good at Japanese.

  9. 42

    いいえ、へたなんですよ。

    No, I'm not good at it.

よい
good (See Gram. Notes)
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
の)
See Grammar Notes
ゴルフ
golf
好き
to like, be fond of (See Grammar Notes)
下手
unskilled, poor in doing things
さかな
fish
きらい
dislike (See Gram. Notes)
上手
skillful, fluent (See Grammar Notes)

Saying it is not that · Perception drill, Block 4

Ability with a qualification

*出来ない事は ないのですが、 そんなに 勉強したくないのです* means "It's not that I can't, but I don't want to study that much."

It is not that

*KOTO WA NAI* follows a plain negative verb, an I-adjective, *TAI*, or *NAI*. It means "it isn't that".

*GA* or *KEREDOMO* often follows, then a second statement qualifies the first. *読めない事は ないのですが、 時間が かかります* adds that reading takes time.

  1. 43

    いけないことはない。

    It isn't that I can't go.

  2. 44

    まいばんよじかんべんきょうできますか。

    Can you study for four hours every evening?

  3. 45

    できないことはないのですが、そんなにべんきょうしたくないのです。

    It's not that I can't, but I don't want to study that much.

  4. 46

    ほうれんそうをたべないのですか。

    Don't you eat spinach?

  5. 47

    たべないことはないのですが、あまりすきではないのです。

    It's not that I don't eat it, but I don't like it very much.

  6. 48

    おこさんをつれていらっしゃらないのですか。

    Aren't you taking your child with you?

  7. 49

    つれていきたくないことはないのですが、こんどはつれていきません。

    It's not that I don't want to take my child with me, but I won't this time.

  8. 50

    あなたはにほんのしんぶんがよめますか。

    Can you read Japanese newspapers?

  9. 51

    よめないことはないのですが、じかんがかかります。

    It's not that I can't read them, but it takes time.

  10. 52

    ビールをのまないのですか。

    Don't you drink beer?

  11. 53

    のまないことはないのですが、あまりすきではないのです。

    It's not that I don't drink it, but I don't like it very much.

四
four
時間
hour, time
今度
this time, next time
ビール
beer

Respectfully describing others' actions · Pattern 1 1 of 2

Completed respectful actions

*あの人は 日本へ 行かれました* means "He went to Japan." The honorific *行かれました* respectfully reports his completed action.

The same form appears in *この 本は 山田さんが 書かれました*, "Mr. Yamada wrote this book." Context identifies Mr. Yamada's respected action.

  1. 54

    あのひとはにほんへいかれました。

    He went to Japan.

  2. 55

    ながいあいだまたれましたか。

    Did you wait a long time?

  3. 56

    スミスさんはもういえへかえられました。

    Mr. Smith has already gone home.

  4. 57

    このほんはやまださんがかかれました。

    Mr. Yamada wrote this book.

  5. 58

    おくさんはたいへんよろこばれました。

    Your wife was very pleased.

  6. 59

    あなたはけさはやくおきられましたね。

    You got up early this morning, did you not?

  7. 60

    たなかさんはこんばんこられません。

    Mr. Tanaka will not come this evening.

人
people
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
今朝
this morning

Respectfully asking about others · Pattern 1 2 of 2

Respectful questions and answers

*山田さんは どこに 住んでおられますか* means "Where does Mr. Yamada live?" The honorific form respectfully asks about his present residence.

*この ざぶとんは どこで 買われましたか* means "Where did you buy this cushion?" Here the honorific form asks about a completed action.

  1. 61

    あなたのおぢさんがにほんからこられたそうですね。

    I hear your uncle has come from Japan.

  2. 62

    ええ、さんかげつほどべいこくにいるそうです。

    Yes, I hear he will be in the United States for about three months.

  3. 63

    やまださんはどこにすんでおられますか。

    Where does Mr. Yamada live?

  4. 64

    よこはまにすんでおられます。

    He lives in Yokohama.

  5. 65

    このざぶとんはどこでかわれましたか。

    Where did you buy this cushion?

  6. 66

    まつざかやデパートでかいました。

    I bought it at the Matsuzakaya department store.

ほど
to the extent (See Grammar Notes)

Asking what, where and when · Pattern 2 1 of 2

The question word changes

*どこへ 行ったらいいんですか* means "Where should I go?" The *TARA* and *いいんですか* pattern asks for a suitable action.

The opening word selects the missing information. *いつ 来たら いいんですか* asks when, and *だれに 聞いたら いいんですか* asks whom.

  1. 67

    どういったらいいんですか。

    How should I go?

  2. 68

    どうかいたらいいんですか。

    How should I write it?

  3. 69

    どうこたえたらいいんですか。

    How should I answer?

  4. 70

    どこへいったらいいんですか。

    Where should I go?

  5. 71

    いつきたらいいんですか。

    When should I come?

  6. 72

    だれにきいたらいいんですか。

    Whom should I ask?

  7. 73

    なにをたべたらいいんですか。

    What should I eat?

いつ
when?
だれ
who?

Asking where to do things · Pattern 2 2 of 2

Where an action happens

*このつくえは どこに 置いたら いいんですか* means "Where should I put this desk?" *どこに* marks the destination for the desk.

*この 手紙は どこで 出したら いいんですか* means "Where should I mail this letter?" *どこで* marks where the activity occurs.

  1. 74

    このつくえはどこにおいたらいいんですか。

    Where should I put this desk?

  2. 75

    このへやにおいてください。

    Please put it in this room.

  3. 76

    このてがみはどこでだしたらいいんですか。

    Where should I mail this letter?

  4. 77

    このたてもののなかにポストがあるから、そこでだしなさい。

    There is a mailbox inside this building, so mail it there.

  5. 78

    すきやきをたべたいのですが、どこでたべたらいいですか。

    I would like to eat sukiyaki. Where should I eat it?

  6. 79

    きんときでたべてごらんなさい。

    Try eating it at Kintoki.

へや
room
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
手紙
letter (correspondence)
ポスト
mailbox
ある
certain, some
すきやき
SUKIYAKI

Emphasising qualities and preferences · Pattern 3 1 of 2

Emphasizing a quality

*私は やさいは きらいなんです* means "I don't like vegetables." The NA-adjective *きらい* takes *な* before the emphatic ending.

*あの アメリカ人は 日本語が とても 上手なんです* means "That American is very good at Japanese." The same form emphasizes this quality.

  1. 80

    バスでいくのはふべんなん(なの)です。

    It is inconvenient to go by bus.

  2. 81

    わたくしはやさいはきらいなんです。

    I don't like vegetables.

  3. 82

    わたくしはくだものがとてもすきなんです。

    I like fruit very much.

  4. 83

    あのひとはうんどうするから、からだがじょうぶなんです。

    That person exercises, so he is strong and healthy.

  5. 84

    あのアメリカじんはにほんごがとてもじょうずなんです。

    That American is very good at Japanese.

  6. 85

    わたくしはえいごのかいわはだめなんです。

    I am no good at English conversation.

  7. 86

    せいとはいましけんべんきょうでいっしょうけんめいなんです。

    The students are working very hard on their exam studies now.

バス
bus
やさい
vegetable
果物
fruit
とても
very, indeed
体
body, health
アメリカ
America; U.S.A.
だめ
no good, useless, hopeless

Explaining absences and identities · Pattern 3 2 of 2

Conditions and identities

*ジョンズさんは 今日 学校を 休んでいますが、 病気なんですか* asks whether sickness explains Mr. Jones's absence.

A noun takes the same *な* before *んです*. *私の むすこなんですよ* means "He is my son" and emphasizes the identification.

  1. 87

    ジョンズさんはきょうがっこうをやすんでいますが、びょうきなんですか。

    Mr. Jones is absent from school today; is he sick?

  2. 88

    いいえ、びょうきではないんです。ようじがあってサンフランシスコへいったんです。

    No, he is not sick. He had some business to attend to and went to San Francisco.

  3. 89

    あのかたはどなたですか。

    Who is that person?

  4. 90

    わたくしのむすこなんですよ。

    He is my son.

  5. 91

    これはあなたのきょうかしょなんですね。

    This is your textbook, isn’t it?

  6. 92

    ええ、そうです。

    Yes, that’s right.

今日
today
用事
personal business
サンフランシスコ
San Francisco

Contrasting ability with willingness · Pattern 4 1 of 2

Ability is not willingness

*行けない事はないが、 行きたくないのです* means "It isn't that I can't go, but that I don't want to go."

*習えない事は ないのですが、 習いたくないのです* makes the same contrast between ability and willingness.

  1. 93

    いけないことはないが、いきたくないのです。

    It isn't that I can't go, but that I don't want to go.

  2. 94

    きょうははたらきたいことはないのですが、たのまれたからしかたがありません。

    It is not that I want to work today, but since I was asked, it cannot be helped.

  3. 95

    さけをのまないことはないのですが、あまりすきではないのです。

    It is not that I never drink sake, but I do not like it very much.

  4. 96

    てんにんしたいことはないのですが、しかたがありません。

    It is not that I want to be transferred, but it cannot be helped.

  5. 97

    ならえないことはないのですが、ならいたくないのです。

    It is not that I cannot learn it, but I do not want to.

  6. 98

    はなせないことはないのですが、はなしたくないのです。

    It is not that I cannot speak, but I do not want to.

Correcting assumptions about ability · Pattern 4 2 of 2

The actual reason

*やめられない事は ないのですが、 やめたくないのです* means "It is not that I cannot give it up, but I do not want to."

*話せない事は ないのですが、 きまりが 悪いのでしょう* rejects complete inability. It then gives embarrassment as the probable reason.

  1. 99

    あなたはたばこがやめられないのですか。

    Can’t you give up smoking?

  2. 100

    やめられないことはないのですが、やめたくないのです。

    It is not that I cannot give it up, but I do not want to.

  3. 101

    やまもとさんはこんばんこられないのですか。

    Can’t Mr. Yamamoto come this evening?

  4. 102

    こられないことはないのですが、こんばんはすこしおそくなるそうです。

    It is not that he cannot come, but I hear he will be a little late this evening.

  5. 103

    スミスさんはにほんごをはなしませんが、はなせないのですか。

    Mr. Smith does not speak Japanese; is it because he cannot speak it?

  6. 104

    はなせないことはないのですが、きまりがわるいのでしょう。

    It is not that he cannot speak it, but he is probably embarrassed.

たばこ
tobacco, cigarette
おそく
late (adverbial form of OSOI, be late, be slow)

Streetcar route to registration · Reading Selection 1 of 2

From the address to the ward office

Mr. Clark settles at *港区青山二丁目八十二番地*. The address gives Minato Ward, the second choome of Aoyama, and lot number 82.

He must register, but he does not know the ward office's location. A friend explains the route.

*三十三番の電車にのって行けばよいのです* says he should take streetcar number 33. The honorific *おちつかれました* respectfully describes his settling.

  1. 105

    クラークさんはみなとくあおやまにちょうめはちじゅうにばんちにひっこして、きょうようやくおちつかれました。

    Mr. Clark moved to house number 82 in Aoyama Ni-choome, Minato Ward, and finally got settled today.

  2. 106

    がいこくじんですからがいじんとうろくもしなければならないのですが、くやくしょがどこにあるかもしらないのでまだやっておられません。

    Since he is a foreigner, he must also register as an alien, but he does not even know where the ward office is, so he has not done it yet.

  3. 107

    それでともだちのやまださんにたのんで、くやくしょへいくみちをおしえてもらいました。

    So he asked his friend Mr. Yamada to tell him the way to the ward office.

  4. 108

    みなとくのくやくしょはしばにありますから、クラークさんのいえからそこへいくのにはあおやまいっちょうめのていりゅうじょうから、さんじゅうさんばんのでんしゃにのっていけばよいのです。

    Since the Minato Ward Office is in Shiba, to get there from Mr. Clark’s house, he should take streetcar number 33 from the Aoyama It-choome stop.

  5. 109

    おなりもんででんしゃをおりて、しばこうえんのほうへあるいていくのですが、おなりもんから

    He gets off the streetcar at Onarimon and walks toward Shiba Park, beginning at Onarimon.

なら
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
道
road, street

Commuting by streetcar and subway · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Two routes for two destinations

*そこへ地下鉄で行けない事はないのですが地下鉄で行くのは不便です* says subway travel to the ward office is possible but inconvenient.

Mr. Clark does use the subway for work. *青山一丁目で地下鉄にのって行かれます* respectfully states that he boards it at Aoyama It-choome.

He gets off at Toranomon and walks to the American Embassy.

  1. 110

    みぎのほうへあるいていって、さんばんめのとおりでひだりにおれ、つきあたると、そのつきあたりがくやくしょです。

    He walks to the right, turns left at the third street, and when he reaches the end, the ward office is there.

  2. 111

    そこへちかてつでいけないことはないのですがちかてつでいくのはふべんです。

    It is not that he cannot get there by subway, but going by subway is inconvenient.

  3. 112

    クラークさんはべいたいしかんにつとめておられるのですから、しごとにいくときには、あおやまいっちょうめでちかてつにのっていかれます。

    Since Mr. Clark works at the American Embassy, when he goes to work, he takes the subway at Aoyama It-choome.

  4. 113

    とらのもんでおりて、そこからべいたいしかんまで、あるいていかれます。

    He gets off at Toranomon and walks from there to the American Embassy.

大使
ambassador
れる
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
時
time
ます。
trout
まで、
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)

Questions about registration directions · Questions 1 of 2

Registration and directions

The questions ask for Mr. Clark's address, his registration duty, the ward office, and his route there.

*クラークさんの 家から 区役所へ どう 行ったら よいのですか* means "How should Mr. Clark get to the ward office from his house?"

An answer gives the streetcar stop, route number, destination stop, and final walking directions.

  1. 114

    クラークさんはどこにひっこされましたか。

    Where did Mr. Clark move?

  2. 115

    クラークさんはがいじんとうろくをしなければなりませんか。

    Does Mr. Clark have to register as an alien?

  3. 116

    がいじんとうろくはどこでやらなければなりませんか。

    Where must alien registration be done?

  4. 117

    クラークさんはなぜがいじんとうろくをまだやっておられませんか。

    Why has Mr. Clark not done his alien registration yet?

  5. 118

    みなとくのくやくしょはどこにありますか。

    Where is the Minato Ward Office?

  6. 119

    クラークさんのいえからくやくしょへどういったらよいのですか。

    How should Mr. Clark get to the ward office from his house?

なぜ
why?

Questions about commuting routes · Questions 2 of 2

The route determines the answer

These questions separate the ward-office streetcar route from Mr. Clark's subway commute.

*クラークさんは 地下鉄で 仕事に 行かれる 時には どう 行かれますか* means "When Mr. Clark goes to work by subway, how does he get there?"

An answer names where he boards, where he gets off, and the walk to the American Embassy.

  1. 120

    どこででんしゃをおりますか。

    Where does he get off the streetcar?

  2. 121

    でんしゃをおりてから、どういきますか。

    After he gets off the streetcar, how does he get there?

  3. 122

    くやくしょへちかてつでいけませんか。

    Can’t he get to the ward office by subway?

  4. 123

    クラークさんはちかてつでしごとにいかれるときにはどういかれますか。

    When Mr. Clark goes to work by subway, how does he get there?

  5. 124

    どこでおりられますか。

    Where does he get off?

  6. 125

    そこからべいたいしかんまであるいていかれますか。

    Does he walk from there to the American Embassy?

まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)

Addresses, registration and transport · Word list 1 of 4

Address and registration words

These words cover transport, addresses, settling in, and registration.

*丁目* is "choome", *番地* is "lot number", and *区* is "ward". The three terms identify divisions used in an address.

Kanji: 交

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

  1. 126

    こうつう

    traffic, transportation

  2. 127

    ちょうめ

    choome (See Cultural Notes)

  3. 128

    ばんち

    lot number, house number (See Cultural Notes)

  4. 129

    おちつく

    to settle

  5. 130

    おちつかれました

    he has settled (See Grammar Notes)

  6. 131

    ようやく

    finally, at last

  7. 132

    がいじん

    foreigner

  8. 133

    とうろく

    registration

  9. 134

    くやくしょ

    ward office

  10. 135

    どういったらいいんですか

    How should I go there? (See Grammar Notes)

  11. 136

    く

    ward (See Cultural Notes)

交通
traffic, transportation
おちつく
to settle
おちつかれました
he has settled (See Grammar Notes)
区役所
ward office
どう行ったらいいんですか
How should I go there? (See Grammar Notes)

Maps, turns and transfers · Word list 2 of 4

Following a city route

These words cover maps, turns, dead ends, transfers, and transport.

*つきあたり* is "dead end", *地下鉄* is "subway", and *と電* is "Tokyo streetcar".

  1. 137

    とうきょうあんないちず

    Tokyo Guide Map

  2. 138

    おれる

    to turn a corner, break

  3. 139

    つきあたる

    to come to the end, bump against

  4. 140

    つきあたり

    dead end

  5. 141

    めんどうな

    complicated

  6. 142

    --なん(なの)です

    emphatic ending (See Grammar Notes)

  7. 143

    のりかえ

    transfer

  8. 144

    ちかてつ

    subway

  9. 145

    いけないことはない

    It isn't that you can't go (See Grammar Notes)

  10. 146

    ふべん

    inconvenient

  11. 147

    とでん

    Tokyo streetcar (See Cultural Notes)

東京案内地図
Tokyo Guide Map
おれる
to turn a corner, break
めんどうな
complicated
--なん(なの)です
emphatic ending (See Grammar Notes)
地下鉄
subway
行けない事はない
It isn't that you can't go (See Grammar Notes)
と電
Tokyo streetcar (See Cultural Notes)

Addresses and public transport · Word list 3 of 4

Two public transport names

*国電* means "National Railway Electric Train". It abbreviates *KOKUTETSU DENSHA*.

*市電* means "city streetcar". The two entries name different forms of public transport.

  1. 148

    にのはちに

    2 Choome 82 Banchi (See Cultural Notes)

  2. 149

    りゃくす

    to abbreviate

  3. 150

    かたち

    form, shape

  4. 151

    はじめて

    for the first time

  5. 152

    しょっちゅう

    all the time

  6. 153

    とちゅう

    on one's way

  7. 154

    のりかえる

    to transfer

  8. 155

    こくでん

    National Railway Electric Train (See Cultural Notes)

  9. 156

    しでん

    city streetcar (See Cultural Notes)

  10. 157

    のりば

    a car stop

  11. 158

    かんたんな

    simple

二の八二
2 Choome 82 Banchi (See Cultural Notes)
りゃくす
to abbreviate
かたち
form, shape
始めて
for the first time
しょっちゅう
all the time
と中
on one's way
のりかえる
to transfer
国電
National Railway Electric Train (See Cultural Notes)
市電
city streetcar (See Cultural Notes)
のり場
a car stop
かんたんな
simple

Abbreviated addresses and rail travel · Word list 4 of 4

Short addresses and transport names

*二の八二と言うのは、 二丁目八十二番地を りゃくした かたちです* means that "2 of 82" abbreviates "Ni-choome, lot number 82."

*国電* means "National Railways Electric Train", while *市電* means "city streetcar".

  1. 159

    にのはちにというのは、にちょうめはちじゅうにばんちをりゃくしたかたちです。

    So-called 2 of 82 is an abbreviated form of house No. 82 in Ni-choome.

  2. 160

    わたくしははじめてそんなことをききました。

    It's the first time I heard such a thing.

  3. 161

    わたくしはそんなことをしょっちゅうききます。

    I hear such things all the time.

  4. 162

    ちかてつならとちゅうでのりかえなくてもいいのです。

    If it's by subway, you don't have to transfer on the way.

  5. 163

    こくでん

    National Railways Electric Train (See Cultural Notes)

  6. 164

    しでん

    City streetcar (See Cultural Notes)

  7. 165

    のりば

    a car stop

  8. 166

    かんたんな

    simple

Guide for Free Conversation

1. Look at the map on page 75 and give directions to go from:

a. Mr. Clark's house to the American Embassy.

b. Aoyama Itchoome to the ward office in Minato-ku.

c. Mr. Clark's house to Ginza Yon-choome.

d. Aoyama Roku-choome to the American Embassy.

e. Shinbashi to Yotsuya.

2. Look at the map on page 75 and ask how to get to a certain place.
Homework

1. Memorize the Dialogue and study the vocabulary.

2. Study the Pattern Drills.

3. Learn to read and write the new kanji.

4. Read the Explanatory Notes.

5. Use the guide given for practice in free conversation.
二の八二と言うのは、二丁目八十二番地をりゃくしたかたちです。
"So-called 2 of 82 is an abbreviated form of house No. 82 in Ni-choome."
私は始めてそんな事を聞きました。
"It's the first time I heard such a thing."
私はそんな事をしょっちゅう聞きます。
"I hear such things all the time."
地下鉄ならと中でのりかえなくてもいいのです。
"If it's by subway, you don't have to transfer on the way."

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.