Japanese · Lesson 6
Lesson 6
Sounds, kana, and the first conversations
Asking where objects are · Dialogue 1 of 3
Where the box is
A class begins with two speakers locating a box. One asks *Hako wa doko ni arimasu ka*: "Where is the box?"
The reply is *Hako wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu*: "The box is on top of the desk."
The place before the verb
In *Hako wa doko ni arimasu ka*, *doko ni* asks where the box is. The particle *ni* marks its place.
The answer uses *tsukue no ue ni*, "on top of the desk," before *arimasu*. The word *no* links *tsukue* to *ue*.
Hiragana: きゃ to じょ
Each kana is one syllable. Read the kana, then its sound in romaji.
- 1
Ohayoo gozaimasu.
おはよおございます
Good morning.
- 2
Ohayoo gozaimasu.
おはよおございます
Good morning.
- 3
Saa, hajimemashoo.
さあはじめましょお
Well, let’s begin.
- 4
Hai, hajimemashoo.
はいはじめましょお
Yes, let’s begin.
- 5
Hako wa doko ni arimasu ka?
はこわどこにありますか
Where is the box?
- 6
Hako wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
はこわつくえのうえにあります
The box is on top of the desk.
NI
The particle NI is placed immediately after place nouns in sentences with the existential verbs ARIMASU to indicate the place of existence. Some of the place nouns used in this lesson are:
koko here
soko there
asoko over there
ue top
naka inside
shita underneathLocative phrases to indicate specific places of existence are formed by the pattern:
Noun or pronoun + NO + place noun + NI
HAKO NO UE NI on top of the box
HAKO NO NAKA NI inside of the box
TSUKUE NO SHITA NI underneath the desk
Place noun + NI
KOKO NI here
SOKO NI there
ASOKO NI over there
GAKKOO NI in school
KYOOSHITSU NI in the classroom
Examples:
HON WA TSUKUE NO UE NI ARIMASU. 'The book is on top of the desk.'
TSUKUE WA SOKO NI ARIMASU. 'The desk is there.'
HAKO WA TSUKUE NO SHITA NI ARIMASU. 'The box is under the desk.'
HON WA KOKO NI ARIMASEN. 'The book is not here.'
KABAN WA KYOOSHITSU NI ARIMASEN. 'The briefcase is not in the classroom.'Locating classroom belongings · Dialogue 2 of 3
Inside, under, and nearby
The speakers locate chalk, a briefcase, and a textbook. *Hakuboku wa hako no naka ni arimasu* means "The chalk is inside the box."
The speakers also look for a briefcase. *Hai, soko ni arimasu* means "Yes, it is there," answering the question about the textbook.
- 7
Hakuboku wa doko ni arimasu ka?
はくぼくわどこにありますか
Where is the chalk?
- 8
Hakuboku wa hako no naka ni arimasu.
はくぼくわはこのなかにあります
The chalk is inside the box.
- 9
Watakushi no kaban wa doko ni arimasu ka?
わたくしのかばんわどこにありますか
Where is my briefcase?
- 10
Anata no kaban wa tsukue no shita ni arimasu.
あなたのかばんわつくえのしたにあります
Your briefcase is under the box.
- 11
Watakushi no kyookasho wa koko ni arimasu ka?
わたくしのきょおかしょわここにありますか
Is my textbook here?
- 12
Hai, soko ni arimasu.
はいそこにあります
Yes, it’s there.
Finding a misplaced hat · Dialogue 3 of 3
Not there, but over there
One speaker asks *Watakushi no booshi mo koko ni arimasu ka*: "Is my hat here, too?"
*Iie, anata no booshi wa soko ni arimasen* means "No, your hat is not there."
The correction is *Asoko ni arimasu*: "It's over there."
- 13
Watakushi no booshi mo koko ni arimasu ka?
わたくしのぼおしもここにありますか
Is my hat here, too?
- 14
Iie, anata no booshi wa soko ni arimasen. Asoko ni arimasu.
いいえあなたのぼおしわそこにありませんあそこにあります
No, your hat is not there. It’s over there.
- 15
Hai, yoku dekimashita.
はいよくできました
Yes, well done.
- 16
Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu.
どおもありがとおございます
Thank you very much.
- 17
Doo itashimashite.
どおいたしまして
Not at all.
Boxes, chalk and briefcases · Perception Drill 1
Three classroom objects
*hako* means "box," *hakuboku* means "chalk," and *kaban* means "briefcase."
*Kore wa nan desu ka* asks "What is this?" One answer is *Sore wa hako desu*: "That is a box."
- 18
hako
はこ
box
- 19
hakuboku
はくぼく
chalk
- 20
kaban
かばん
briefcase
- 21
Saa, hajimemashoo.
さあはじめましょお
Well, let's begin.
- 22
Hai, hajimemashoo.
はいはじめましょお
Yes, let's begin.
- 23
Saa, hajimemashoo.
さあはじめましょお
Well, let's begin.
- 24
Hai, hajimemashoo.
はいはじめましょお
Yes, let's begin.
- 25
Kore wa nan desu ka?
これわなんですか
What is this?
- 26
Sore wa hako desu.
それわはこです
That is a box.
- 27
Kore wa nan desu ka?
これわなんですか
What is this?
Position words around a box · Perception Drill 2
Places and positions
*koko*, *soko*, and *asoko* mean "here," "there," and "over there." *doko* asks "where?"
*naka* means "inside," as in *hako no naka*. *hako no ue* means "the top of the box." *hako no shita* means "under the box."
- 28
Sore wa hakuboku desu.
それわはくぼくです
That is chalk.
- 29
Kore wa nan desu ka?
これわなんですか
What is this?
- 30
Sore wa kaban desu.
それわかばんです
That is a briefcase.
- 31
koko
ここ
here
- 32
soko
そこ
there
- 33
asoko
あそこ
over there
- 34
doko?
どこ
where?
- 35
naka -- hako no naka
なかはこのなか
inside—the inside of the box
- 36
ue -- hako no ue
うえはこのうえ
on top—the top of the box
- 37
shita -- hako no shita
したはこのした
underneath—under the box
Here, there and inside · Perception Drill 3
A place before the verb
*koko ni* means "here." The particle *ni* follows the place word *koko*.
In *koko ni arimasu*, *ni* marks the place where something is. The same pattern gives *soko ni arimasu*, "It is there."
A place made from two nouns
*hako no naka ni* means "inside the box." The noun *hako* comes first, followed by *no*, *naka*, and *ni*.
The same pattern gives *hako no ue ni*, "on top of the box," and *hako no shita ni*, "underneath the box."
- 38
koko ni
ここに
here
- 39
soko ni
そこに
there
- 40
asoko ni
あそこに
over there
- 41
doko ni?
どこに
Where?
- 42
hako no naka ni
はこのなかに
inside the box
- 43
hako no ue ni
はこのうえに
on top of the box
- 44
hako no shita ni
はこのしたに
underneath the box
- 45
Doko ni arimasu ka?
どこにありますか
Where is it?
- 46
koko ni arimasu
ここにあります
It is here.
- 47
soko ni arimasu
そこにあります
It is there.
Locating desks, chairs and windows · Perception Drill 4
Where classroom objects are
*Tsukue wa doko ni arimasu ka* means "Where is the desk?" The reply *Tsukue wa koko ni arimasu* means "The desk is here."
The particle *ni* after a place, as in *koko ni*, also gives *soko ni* for the chair and *asoko ni* for the window.
- 48
asoko ni arimasu
あそこにあります
It is over there.
- 49
naka ni arimasu
なかにあります
It is inside.
- 50
ue ni arimasu
うえにあります
It is on top.
- 51
shita ni arimasu
したにあります
It is underneath.
- 52
Tsukue wa doko ni arimasu ka?
つくえわどこにありますか
Where is the desk?
- 53
Tsukue wa koko ni arimasu.
つくえわここにあります
The desk is here.
- 54
Isu wa doko ni arimasu ka?
いすわどこにありますか
Where is the chair?
- 55
Isu wa soko ni arimasu.
いすわそこにあります
The chair is there.
- 56
Mado wa doko ni arimasu ka?
まどわどこにありますか
Where is the window?
- 57
Mado wa asoko ni arimasu.
まどわあそこにあります
The window is over there.
Objects on, in and under · Perception Drill 5
Objects in specific places
*Kyookasho wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu* means "The textbook is on the desk."
Its location is *tsukue no ue ni*, like *hako no naka ni* for the pencil and *tsukue no shita ni* for the briefcase.
*arimasen* denies *soko ni* before *Asoko ni arimasu* gives the correct place.
- 58
Kokuban wa koko ni arimasu ka?
こくばんわここにありますか
Is the blackboard here?
- 59
Iie, kokuban wa soko ni arimasen. Asoko ni arimasu.
いいえこくばんわそこにありませんあそこにあります
No, the blackboard is not there. It is over there.
- 60
Kyookasho wa doko ni arimasu ka?
きょおかしょわどこにありますか
Where is the textbook?
- 61
Kyookasho wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
きょおかしょわつくえのうえにあります
The textbook is on the desk.
- 62
Enpitsu wa doko ni arimasu ka?
えんぴつわどこにありますか
Where is the pencil?
- 63
Enpitsu wa hako no naka ni arimasu.
えんぴつわはこのなかにあります
The pencil is in the box.
- 64
Kaban wa doko ni arimasu ka?
かばんわどこにありますか
Where is the briefcase?
- 65
Kaban wa tsukue no shita ni arimasu.
かばんわつくえのしたにあります
The briefcase is under the desk.
Classroom objects and locations · Word list 1 of 12
Objects and their locations
The objects include *hako*, "box," *hakuboku*, "chalk," and *kaban*, "briefcase."
The place words range from *koko*, "here," to *asoko*, "over there." The positions include *naka*, "inside," *ue*, "top," and *shita*, "underneath."
Box positions and possession words · Word list 2 of 12
Positions and possession
The box phrases are *hako no naka ni*, "inside the box," and *hako no ue ni*, "on top of the box."
*anata* means "you," while *anata no* means "your, yours." *ano-kata* means "that person over there."
The two entries spelled *-ame* mean "rain" and "candy."
- 78
hajimemashoo
はじめましょお
let’s begin
- 79
hako no naka ni
はこのなかに
inside the box
- 80
hako no ue ni
はこのうえに
on top of the box
- 81
hako no shita ni
はこのしたに
underneath the box
- 82
-ame
あめ
rain
- 83
-ame
あめ
candy
- 84
anata
あなた
you
- 85
anata-gata
あなたがた
you
- 86
anata-gata no
あなたがたの
your, yours
- 87
anata no
あなたの
your, yours
- 88
ano
あの
that
- 89
ano-kata
あのかた
that person over there
Descriptions, body and health words · Word list 3 of 12
Descriptions and existence
This group covers descriptions, health, the body, a hat, a map, and a light. *byooki* means "sick," while *ashi* means "feet, leg."
The same word *atsui* means either "hot" or "thick." *arimasu* means "is, are," and *arimasen* means "is not, are not."
Questions, thanks and stationery · Word list 4 of 12
Where, whose, and thanks
This group covers question words, thanks, stationery, school, and payday. *doko* means "where?" and *donata no* means "whose?"
*Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu* means "Thank you very much." The stationery includes *enpitsu*, "pencil."
- 102
dewa
でわ
then
- 103
dewa arimasen
でわありません
is not, are not
- 104
dewa mata ashita
でわまたあした
I’ll see you tomorrow, then.
- 105
doko
どこ
where?
- 106
donata
どなた
who?
- 107
donata no
どなたの
whose?
- 108
doo itashimashite
どおいたしまして
Don’t mention it.
- 109
Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu
どおもありがとおございます
Thank you very much.
- 110
e
え
picture
- 111
enpitsu
えんぴつ
pencil
- 112
gakkoo
がっこお
school
- 113
gekkyuubi
げっきゅうび
payday
Soldiers, weapons and common nouns · Word list 5 of 12
People, weapons, and objects
This group covers soldiers, weapons, classroom objects, and common nouns. *gun jin* means "soldier," while *heiki* means "weapon."
The objects include *hako*, "box." The two entries spelled *hi* mean "fire" and "sun."
Books, furniture and question words · Word list 6 of 12
Books, furniture, and questions
This group covers books, furniture, people, classroom objects, and questions. *hon* means "book," and *isu* means "chair."
The particle *ka* marks a question. *Ikaga desu ka* means "How are you?"
Tickets, people and pointing words · Word list 7 of 12
Pointing to things and people
This group covers tickets, pointing words, people, and classroom objects. *kippu* means "ticket," while *kokuban* means "blackboard."
*kono* and *kore* both mean "this." *kono-kata* means "this person, he, she."
Body, dimensions and location words · Word list 8 of 12
Body, size, and location
This group covers body parts, dimensions, and location words. *me* means "eye," while *mimi* means "ear."
The descriptions are *mijikai*, "short," and *nagai*, "long." *naka ni* means "in."
Position, greetings and descriptions · Word list 9 of 12
Positions, greetings, and descriptions
This group covers position phrases, greetings, and descriptions. *ue ni* means "on," while *shita ni* means "under."
*Ohayoo gozaimasu* means "Good morning." The two entries spelled *sake* mean "salmon" and "Japanese rice wine."
- 162
ue ni
うえに
on
- 163
shita ni
したに
under
- 164
nippongo
にっぽんご
Japanese language
- 165
Ogenki desu ka?
おげんきですか
Are you fine?
- 166
Ohayoo gozaimasu.
おはよおございます
Good morning.
- 167
Okagesama de.
おかげさまで
Thanks to you.
- 168
okusan
おくさん
madam, Mrs. (others)
- 169
ookii
おおきい
large
- 170
saa
さあ
well
- 171
samui
さむい
cold
- 172
sake
さけ
salmon
- 173
sake
さけ
Japanese rice wine
People, farewells and military words · Word list 10 of 12
People, farewells, and military words
This group covers people, farewells, military terms, and location words. *seito* means "student," while *sensei* means "teacher."
*Sayonara* and *Sayoonara* both mean "Goodbye." The military words include *shoojuu*, "rifle," and *shookoo*, "officer."
People, furniture and body words · Word list 11 of 12
People, furniture, and objects
This group covers people, furniture, body words, and common objects. *sono-kata* means "that person," and *te* means "hand."
Furniture and room words include *teeburu*, "table," and *tenjoo*, "ceiling." *tsuchi* means "hammer."
Possession, furniture and position words · Word list 12 of 12
Possession and nearby objects
This group covers possession, furniture, positions, descriptions, and common objects. *tsukue* means "desk," while *ue* means "top, above."
*watakushi* means "I," and *watakushi no* means "my, mine." Other entries include *yuka*, "floor," and *zasshi*, "magazine."
- 198
tsuchi
つち
earth, dirt
- 199
tsukue
つくえ
desk
- 200
ue
うえ
top, above
- 201
usui
うすい
thin
- 202
watakushi
わたくし
I
- 203
watakushi no
わたくしの
my, mine
- 204
watakushi-tachi
わたくしたち
we
- 205
watakushi-tachi no
わたくしたちの
our, ours
- 206
Yoku dekimashita.
よくできました
You did well.
- 207
yuka
ゆか
floor
- 208
zasshi
ざっし
magazine
Homework Assignment
1 Memorize the Dialogue.
2 Memorize the vocabulary.
3 Listen to the tape and practice pronunciation.
4 Read the Explanatory Notes.
5 Practice reading and writing of contracted sounds in Hiragana.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