Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 60

Lesson 60

Kanji and everyday Japanese

163 lines

Dialogue

From Edo to Tokyo

*ええ、1868年七月に東京と言う名をつけたのです* means "They named it Tokyo in July 1868." Until then, the city was called Edo.

Tokyo became Japan's capital that October. In 1943, Tokyo City and Tokyo Prefecture ended, and Tokyo Metropolis was created.

Four kinds of prefecture

Japan has 46 prefectures. They are administrative divisions similar to states in the United States.

There is one *DOO*, one *TO*, two *FU*, and 42 *KEN*. Tokyo is the one *TO*.

Kanji: 都 to 府

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

  1. 1

    とうきょうというのはひかくてきあたらしいめいしょうだそうですね。

    As I understand it, Tokyo is a comparatively new name, isn't that right?

    東京Tokyo
    とquote
    言うcalled
    のone
    はtopic
    ひかくcomparatively
    てきcomparatively
    新しいnew
    名name
    しょうname
    だis
    そうreportedly
    ですpolite
    ね。right?
  2. 2

    ええ、せんはっぴゃくろくじゅうはちねんしちがつにとうきょうというなをつけたのです。それまでは「えど」といっていました。

    Yes, it is. They named it Tokyo in July 1868. Up until then, it was called Edo.

  3. 3

    いまのきゅうじょうはとくがわのおしろだったそうですね。

    As I understand it, the present Imperial Palace was the Tokugawa castle, isn't that right?

  4. 4

    ええ、そして、せんはっぴゃくろくじゅうはちねんじゅうがつにそのしろをこうきょときめたのです。そのときからとうきょうはにほんのしゅふになりました。それまでは、こうきょはごしょといってきょうとにありました。

    Yes, and in October 1868 they decided to make that castle the Imperial Palace. From that time on, Tokyo became the capital of Japan. Up until then the Imperial Palace was called GOSHO and was located in Kyoto.

  5. 5

    とうきょうというのはいったいなんですか。

    What is so-called Tokyo, anyhow?

  6. 6

    それがちょっとあいまいなのです。せんきゅうひゃくよんじゅうさんねんにとうきょうしととうきょうふがなくなって、とうきょうとというのができたのです。

    It's slightly ambiguous. In 1943, they did away with the name City of Tokyo and the prefecture of Tokyo and came out with TOKYO-TO.

--KA--KA WAKARANAI can't tell whether --- or ---

Alternate questions "A ka and B ka " occur in the informal style and precede inflected words like WAKARIMASEN, 'don't understand' or 'isn't clear' or SHIRANAI, 'don't know' or WASUREMASHITA, 'forgot,' etc. In the above pattern A and B can be substituted with nouns, basic form of I-adjectives (both past and non-past), basic form of verbs (either affirmative or negative), or clauses.

Examples:

IKU KA IKANAI KA SHIRIMASEN. I don't know whether he will go or won't go.

YASASHII KA MUZUKASHII KA SHIRIMASEN. I don't know whether it is easy or difficult.

AME DATTA KA YUKI DATTA KA OBOETE IMASEN. I don't remember whether it was rain or snow.

ANO HITO NO JIDOOSHA WA FOODO KA KYADERAKKU KA OBOETE IMASEN. I don't remember whether his car is a Ford or a Cadillac.
--SUGIRU

Following the second base (the MASU form minus MASU) of verbs, basic form minus final -i of I-adjectives, and the nominal form of NA-adjectives, the terminal verb SUGIRU indicates excessive degree.

Examples:

TABESUGIRU overeat

NOMISUGIRU drink too much

TSUKAISUGIRU overuse

TAKASUGIRU be too expensive

ATSUSUGIRU be too hot

OOSUGIRU be too many

GENKISUGIRU be too peppy

JOOZUSUGIRU be too good
--MITAI

Following nouns, MITAI NA means 'like ---,' 'sort of,' 'similar to,' and MITAI NI means 'like.'

Also following the basic form of verbs and I-adjectives, MITAI expresses the idea of 'seem,' 'look,' 'sort of,' and 'kind of.'

Examples:

ANO HITO WA KODOMO MITAI NA KOTO O IIMASU. He says things like a child.

ANO HITO WA ONNA MITAI NI HANASHIMASU. He talks like a woman.

ANO HITO WA TSUKARETEIRU MITAI DESU. He looks tired.

ANO HITO WA URESHII MITAI DESU. He seems glad.

ANO HITO WA OKOTTEIRU MITAI DA NE. He seems angry, doesn't he? / Looks like he is angry, doesn't it?
--- NO YOO NA

NO YOO NA precedes nouns and means 'nouns that seem,' 'nouns like ---.'

Examples:

GINZA NO YOO NA TOKORO. A place like Ginza.

TANAKA-SAN NO YOO NA TOMODACHI WA SUKUNAI DESU. Friends like Mr. Tanaka are rare.

The adverbial form of YOO NA is YOO NI and it precedes verbs and adjectives and means 'do --- like ---,' '--- is --- like ---.' The predicate form of YOO NA is YOO DESU.

Examples:

ANO HITO WA NIHONJIN NO YOO NI NIHONGO O HANASHIMASU. He speaks Japanese like a Japanese.

KYOO WA HARU NO YOO DESU. It's like spring today.
DOO, TO, FU, KEN

Japan is divided into 46 prefectures, namely one DOO (Hokkaidoo), one TO (Tokyo-To), 2 FU (Osaka-FU and Kyoto-FU), and 42 KEN. These prefectures are similar to the states of the United States from an administrative standpoint.
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
言う
to say
の
See Grammar Notes
は
leaves
名
name
しょう
award, reward
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
そう
numerical counter for ships
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
ええ、
Yes
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
七
seven
月
moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
「えど」
former name of Tokyo
宮城
Imperial Palace in Tokyo
十
ten
時
time
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
首府
capital (city)
御所
an Imperial Palace
一
one
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
ちょっと
a little
あいまい
vague, ambiguous
都
capital

Tokyo wards and commuter crowds · Dialogue 2 of 3

Wards and daytime crowds

Tokyo City no longer exists. *今 それを区部と言って、二十三区 あります* means "They now call it the ward section, and there are 23 wards."

About 600,000 people enter Tokyo for work during the day. Most gather in places such as Marunouchi and Ginza.

A place like Ginza

*銀ざの様な所* means "places like Ginza." A noun followed by *の様な* describes the next noun as being like the first.

In *区部の事か、都の事か わからない*, *か* marks two alternatives whose answer is unclear.

*多すぎるみたい* means "it seems there are too many." *すぎる* marks excess, and *みたい* presents it as an appearance.

Kanji: 県

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

  1. 7

    とうきょうしというのはもうないのですね。

    The so-called city of Tokyo doesn't exist any more, isn't that right?

  2. 8

    そうです。いまそれをくぶといって、にじゅうさんくあります。

    That's right. They now call it the ward section, and there are 23 wards.

  3. 9

    それでとうきょうといえばくぶのことか、とのことかわからないのですね。

    Then, if you say Tokyo, you can't tell whether you mean KU or TO, isn't that right?

  4. 10

    そうなんです。

    That's right.

  5. 11

    それにしても、とうきょうはひとがおおすぎるみたいですね。

    Nevertheless, it seems that there are too many people in Tokyo, doesn't it?

  6. 12

    ええ、ひるまちかくのけんからとうきょうにしごとにはいってくるひとだけでもろくじゅうまんぐらいで、そのおおくはまるのうちやぎんざのようなところにあつまりますからね。

    Yes, even just the people who come in to Tokyo from nearby prefectures for work during the daytime alone number about 600 thousand, and most of them gather in places like Marunouchi and Ginza, you see.

もう
already (See Gram. Notes)
区部
the ward sections of Tokyo
二十
20
三
three
区
ward (See Cultural Notes)
ます。
trout
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
か、
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
人
people
昼間
daytime
近く
vicinity
県
prefecture (See Cultural Notes)
だけ
only, just (See Grammar Notes)
六十
60
ぐらい
about
多く
many of them
うち
home, house
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
所
address, place

Tokyo population and rush hour · Dialogue 3 of 3

Crowds and population

*東京に 人が あつまりすぎて 困っているのです* means "People over-concentrate in Tokyo, so they are troubled."

*ことに ラッシュの時などは 大変ですね* means "It's terrible, especially during rush hours, isn't it?"

Tokyo Metropolis has about eleven and a half million people. Its ward section has more than nine million.

  1. 13

    ことにラッシュのときなどはたいへんですね。

    It's terrible, especially during rush hours, isn't it?

  2. 14

    そうですよ。とうきょうにひとがあつまりすぎてこまっているのです。

    That's right. People over-concentrate in Tokyo, so they are troubled.

  3. 15

    でとうきょうとのじんこうは。

    And what is the population of Tokyo-TO?

  4. 16

    いっせんひゃくごじゅうまんぐらいです。くぶのじんこうはきゅうひゃくまんいじょうです。

    It's about eleven million, five hundred thousand. The population of the ward section is over 9 million.

ラッシュ
rush hour
など
and so forth, etc.
すぎ
past, after
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
人口
population
百
100
五十
50
九百
900
いじょう
more than

Expressing uncertainty between alternatives · Perception drill, Block 1

Two uncertain alternatives

*区の事か、都の事か わからない* means "I cannot tell whether it means KU or TO." The two *か* phrases give the alternatives.

What comes after the alternatives

The alternatives use informal forms. They can be nouns, verbs, I-adjectives, or clauses in affirmative or negative forms.

*私は日本へ行くか、行かないか わかりません* means "I do not know whether I will go to Japan or not."

Expressions such as *わかりません*, *知りません*, and *おぼえていません* state uncertainty, lack of information, or lack of memory.

  1. 17

    くのことか、とのことかわからない。

    I can't tell whether it means 'KU' or 'TO'.

  2. 18

    あのひとはにほんじんかアメリカじんかわかりません。

    I do not know whether that person is Japanese or American.

  3. 19

    うしろからみると、あのひとはおとこかおんなかわかりません。

    Seen from behind, I cannot tell whether that person is a man or a woman.

  4. 20

    わたくしはにほんへいくか、いかないかわかりません。

    I do not know whether I will go to Japan or not.

  5. 21

    たなかさんはこんばんくるかこないかしりません。

    I do not know whether Mr. Tanaka will come tonight or not.

  6. 22

    げっきゅうびはよっかだったかいつかだったかおぼえていません。

    I do not remember whether payday was the fourth or the fifth.

  7. 23

    あそこのすきやきはおいしいかまずいかしりません。

    I do not know whether the sukiyaki there is good or bad.

アメリカ
America; U.S.A.
うしろ
back, behind, rear
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
男
male
女
female
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
月給
monthly wage
四
four
五
five
あそこ
over there
すきやき
SUKIYAKI
おいしい
tasty, delicious
まずい
poor, tasteless

Saying something is excessive · Perception drill, Block 2

An action done too much

*私は今朝 少し食べすぎました* means "I overate a little this morning." *すぎる* adds the meaning of excess.

Forms that express excess

For a verb, remove *ます* from its polite form before *すぎる*. *話します* becomes *話しすぎる*, "speak too much."

An I-adjective loses its final *い*. *大きい* becomes *大きすぎる*, "too big."

A NA-adjective loses *な* before *すぎる*. *上手な* becomes *上手すぎる*, "too skillful."

  1. 24

    わたくしはけさすこしたべすぎました。

    I overate a little this morning.

  2. 25

    きょうはすこしあつすぎます。

    It's a little too hot today.

  3. 26

    はなす——はなします——はなしすぎる

    to speak — speak — speak too much

  4. 27

    つかう——つかいます——つかいすぎる

    to use — use — use too much

  5. 28

    あそぶ——あそびます——あそびすぎる

    to play — play — play too much

  6. 29

    できる——できます——できすぎる

    can do — can do — can do too much

  7. 30

    べんきょうする——べんきょうします——べんきょうしすぎる

    to study — study — study too much

  8. 31

    おおきい——おおきすぎる

    big — too big

  9. 32

    ちいさい——ちいさすぎる

    small — too small

  10. 33

    ながい——ながすぎる

    long — too long

  11. 34

    むずかしい——むずかしすぎる

    difficult — too difficult

  12. 35

    じょうずな——じょうずすぎる

    skillful — too skillful

  13. 36

    げんきな——げんきすぎる

    healthy — too healthy

  14. 37

    あまりふとりすぎるとからだにわるい。

    Getting too fat is bad for your health.

  15. 38

    さくばんすこしのみすぎた。

    I drank a little too much last night.

  16. 39

    きょうのしけんはすこしむずかしすぎた。

    Today's test was a little too difficult.

  17. 40

    あのひとははなすのがすこしはやすぎる。

    That person speaks a little too fast.

  18. 41

    あのせいとはすこしのんきすぎる。

    That student is a little too carefree.

今朝
this morning
少し
little (quantity)
今日
today
使う——
to use, employ
あそぶ——
to play (v.i.)
出来る——
to be manufactured; to be produced (v.i.)
むずかしい——
difficult
上手
skillful, fluent (See Grammar Notes)
体
body, health

Saying what something seems like · Perception drill, Block 3

What something seems to be

*東京には 人が 多すぎる みたいです* means "It seems there are too many people in Tokyo." After a verb or I-adjective, *みたい* expresses seeming.

After a noun, *みたいです* expresses resemblance. *あの人は 日本人 みたいです* means "He looks like a Japanese."

Before a verb or noun

*あの人は 日本人みたいに 話します* means "He talks like a Japanese." *みたいに* comes before the verb.

*アメリカ みたいな 所は ありません* means "There is no place like America." *みたいな* comes before the noun.

  1. 42

    とうきょうにはひとがおおすぎるみたいです。

    It seems there are too many people in Tokyo.

  2. 43

    あのひとはにほんじんみたいです。

    He looks like a Japanese.

  3. 44

    これはとてもおいしいみたいです。

    This looks very delicious.

  4. 45

    あのひとはにほんじんみたいにはなします。

    He talks like a Japanese.

  5. 46

    アメリカみたいなところはありません。

    There is no place like America.

  6. 47

    たなかさんはつかれているみたいです。

    Mr. Tanaka seems to be tired.

  7. 48

    けさのきりはあめみたいです。

    The fog this morning looks like rain.

  8. 49

    あのひとはみみがとおいみたいです。

    That person seems to be hard of hearing.

  9. 50

    けさあめがふったみたいです。

    It seems to have rained this morning.

  10. 51

    ジョンズさんはおんなみたいにはなします。

    Mr. Jones talks like a woman.

  11. 52

    きょうははるみたいなひです。

    Today is a springlike day.

です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
とても
very, indeed
きり
fog
雨
rain
遠い
far
春
spring

Not knowing between alternatives · Pattern 1 1 of 2

Different kinds of alternatives

*この自動車が よいか 悪いか 私には わかりません* means "I do not know whether this car is good or bad." The two *か* phrases contain I-adjectives.

*明日 働くか 働かないか まだ わかりません* means "I still do not know whether I will work tomorrow or not." Affirmative and negative verbs form the pair.

  1. 53

    あのひとはおとこかおんなかわかりません。

    I can't tell whether that person is a man or a woman.

  2. 54

    いく(の)か、いかない(の)かまだわかりません。

    I can't tell whether I go or not.

  3. 55

    これはあめかきりかわかりません。

    I do not know whether this is rain or fog.

  4. 56

    それをかうのかかわないのかわかりません。

    I do not know whether I will buy it or not.

  5. 57

    あしたはたらくかはたらかないかまだわかりません。

    I still do not know whether I will work tomorrow or not.

  6. 58

    このじどうしゃがよいかわるいかわたくしにはわかりません。

    I do not know whether this car is good or bad.

  7. 59

    たむらさんがきたかこなかったかおぼえていません。

    I do not remember whether Mr. Tamura came or not.

か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
(の)
See Grammar Notes
まだ
yet, still
買う
to buy
明日
tomorrow
車
vehicle, car
よい
good (See Gram. Notes)

Uncertainty about past events · Pattern 1 2 of 2

Uncertain past events

*降ったか 降らなかったか 知りませんね* means "I do not know whether it rained or not." Both alternatives use past forms.

*二日だったか、三日だったか おぼえていません* means "I do not remember whether it was the second or the third."

  1. 60

    スミスさんがゴルフがじょうずかへたかわたくしはしりません。

    I do not know whether Mr. Smith is good or bad at golf.

  2. 61

    さくばんあめがふったのでしょうか。

    Do you suppose it rained last night?

  3. 62

    さあ、ふったかふらなかったかしりませんね。

    Well, I do not know whether it rained or not.

  4. 63

    かきはおいしいですか。

    Are persimmons good?

  5. 64

    さあ、わたくしはかきをたべたことはありませんから、おいしいかまずいかしりません。

    Well, I have never eaten a persimmon, so I do not know whether they are good or bad.

  6. 65

    せんしゅうのどようびはふつかでしたかみっかでしたか。

    Was last Saturday the second or the third?

  7. 66

    さあ、ふつかだったか、みっかだったかおぼえていません。

    Well, I do not remember whether it was the second or the third.

ゴルフ
golf
下手
unskilled, poor in doing things
でしょう
probably (See Gram. Notes)
さあ、
well, now, here, come
かき
persimmon
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
先週
last week
二
two

Describing excessive actions and qualities · Pattern 2 1 of 2

Excess and its result

*あんまり 働きすぎると、つかれます* means "If you work too much, you get tired." The *すぎる* form describes the excessive action.

The same form describes an excessive quality. *このくつは 私には 少し大きすぎる* means "These shoes are a little too big for me."

  1. 67

    わたくしはさくばんさけをのみすぎた。

    I drank too much sake last night.

  2. 68

    きょうはすこしさむすぎます。

    It's a little too cold today.

  3. 69

    あんまりはたらきすぎると、つかれます。

    If you work too much, you get tired.

  4. 70

    あんまりべんきょうしすぎるとからだにわるい。

    Studying too much is bad for your health.

  5. 71

    このくつはわたくしにはすこしおおきすぎる。

    These shoes are a little too big for me.

  6. 72

    あるいていくのにはすこしとおすぎる。

    It is a little too far to walk there.

  7. 73

    このへやはくらすぎるから、むこうのへやにいきましょう。

    This room is too dark, so let us go to the room over there.

くつ
shoes
へや
room
むこう
destination, yonder
ましょう。
let's (See Gram. Notes)

Consequences of doing too much · Pattern 2 2 of 2

What excess causes

*お昼に あまり 食べすぎて、まだ おなかが すいていないのです* means "I ate too much at lunch, and I am still not hungry."

The TE-form of *食べすぎて* connects the excess to the present condition. *勉強しすぎて、病気に なった* connects excessive study to becoming ill.

  1. 74

    こんばんはあまりたべないのですね。

    You are not eating very much tonight, are you?

  2. 75

    ええ、おひるにあまりたべすぎて、まだおなかがすいていないのです。

    No, I ate too much at lunch, and I am still not hungry.

  3. 76

    このいえはあなたのごかぞくにはすこしせますぎるでしょうね。

    This house is a little too small for your family, isn’t it?

  4. 77

    ええ、ごにんかぞくですから、どうしてもしんしつがみっついりますね。

    Yes, since we are a family of five, we really need three bedrooms.

  5. 78

    スミスさんはがっこうをやすんでいるが、びょうきですか。

    Mr. Smith is absent from school; is he sick?

  6. 79

    ええ、あんまりべんきょうしすぎて、びょうきになったそうです。

    Yes, I hear he studied too much and became ill.

おなか
stomach
家
house, home
寝室
bedroom
ます
trout

Saying what things seem like · Pattern 3 1 of 2

Seeming and resemblance

*日本には 人が 多すぎる みたいです* means "It seems there are too many people in Japan." Here *みたいです* states an apparent fact.

*ここの けしきは 日本のけしきみたいです* means "The scenery here looks like Japanese scenery." Here *みたいです* states resemblance.

*あの人は 日本人みたいに 話します* means "He talks like a Japanese." *みたいに* comes before the verb.

*今日は 春みたいな天気です* means "The weather today is like spring." *みたいな* comes before the noun.

  1. 80

    ここのけしきはにほんのけしきみたいです。

    The scenery here looks like Japanese scenery.

  2. 81

    にほんにはひとがおおすぎるみたいです。

    It seems there are too many people in Japan.

  3. 82

    これはとてもおいしいみたいです。

    This looks very delicious.

  4. 83

    あのひとはにほんじんみたいにはなします。

    He talks like a Japanese.

  5. 84

    あのひとみたいなひとはいません。

    There is no person like him.

  6. 85

    あのかたはえいがのじょゆうみたいです。

    That lady looks like a movie actress.

  7. 86

    あのひとはにほんじんみたいです。

    That person looks Japanese.

  8. 87

    けさはしもがふっているみたいです。

    It looks as though there is frost this morning.

  9. 88

    きょうははるみたいなてんきです。

    The weather today is like spring.

ここ
here
けしき
scenery
映画
movie
しも
frost
天気
weather

Comparing people by appearance · Pattern 3 2 of 2

Appearance and resemblance

*田中さんは 今日 かお色が 少し 悪いみたい* means "Mr. Tanaka looks a little pale today." Here *みたい* states an apparent condition.

*あの子供は 大人みたいな事を 言いますね* means "That child talks like an adult." *大人みたいな* describes the things the child says.

  1. 89

    そんなことをするのはきまりがわるいみたいです。

    It seems embarrassing to do such a thing.

  2. 90

    あのせいとみたいによくべんきょうするせいとはいません。

    There is no other student who studies as hard as that student.

  3. 91

    たなかさんはきょうかおいろがすこしわるいみたいですが、びょうきでしょうか。

    Mr. Tanaka looks a little pale today; do you suppose he is sick?

  4. 92

    ええ、かぜをひいたらしいです。

    Yes, it seems he has caught a cold.

  5. 93

    あのおんなのひとはきれいですね。

    That woman is pretty, isn’t she?

  6. 94

    ほんとうに。えいがのじょゆうみたいですね。

    She really does look like a movie actress, doesn’t she?

  7. 95

    あのこどもはおとなみたいなことをいいますね。

    That child talks like an adult, doesn’t he?

  8. 96

    ええ、いうことだけはおとなみたいですが、することはまだこどもですよ。

    Yes, what he says is adult-like, but what he does is still childish.

よく
well, skillfully
かぜ
wind
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)

Reading Selection

From Edo to Tokyo Metropolis

*「えど」が東京にかわったのは千八百六十八年の七月でした* says that Edo changed to Tokyo in July 1868. Tokyo became the capital that October.

Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace. In 1943, Tokyo City and Tokyo Prefecture ended, and Tokyo Metropolis was created.

  1. 97

    とうきょうはむかしは「えど」とよばれていました。

    Tokyo used to be called Edo.

  2. 98

    「えど」がとうきょうにかわったのはせんはっぴゃくろくじゅうはちねんのしちがつでした。

    It was in July 1868 that Edo was changed to Tokyo.

  3. 99

    ですから、とうきょうはひかくてきあたらしいめいしょうです。

    Therefore, Tokyo is a comparatively new name.

  4. 100

    そしておなじとしのじゅうがつにしゅふをとうきょうにうつしました。

    Then, in October of the same year, the capital was moved to Tokyo.

  5. 101

    それまでは、しゅふはみやこといって、きょうとにありました。

    Until then, the capital was called Miyako and was located in Kyoto.

  6. 102

    それから、ながいあいだとくがわのおしろだったえどじょうをきゅうじょうとしました。

    Then Edo Castle, which had long been the Tokugawa castle, was made the Imperial Palace.

  7. 103

    このえどじょうはせんよんひゃくごじゅうしちねんにたてられたものです。

    This Edo Castle was built in 1457.

  8. 104

    せんきゅうひゃくよんじゅうさんねんにとうきょうしととうきょうふがなくなって、とうきょうとができました。

    In 1943, Tokyo City and Tokyo Prefecture ceased to exist, and Tokyo Metropolis was created.

むかし
ancient, old
千
1,000
八百
800
八
eight
四百
400
もの
things (tangible)
四十
40

Tokyo wards and overcrowding · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Two meanings of Tokyo

*東京と言えば、東京都の事か、東京の区部の事かわかりません* means that Tokyo can mean the metropolis or its ward section. The ward section has 23 wards.

The metropolis has about eleven and a half million people. The ward section has more than nine million.

Places like Ginza

*その多くは銀ざのような所にあつまるのです* means "Many of them gather in places like Ginza." The *のような* phrase describes the kind of place.

About 600,000 people enter Tokyo for work during the day. Ginza and Marunouchi have so many people that they seem overcrowded.

  1. 105

    ですから、いまではとうきょうし

    Therefore, nowadays, Tokyo City

  2. 106

    というものはないのです。

    does not exist.

  3. 107

    むかしのとうきょうしはいまではくぶといって、こんにちではくがにじゅうさんあります。

    The former Tokyo City is now called the ward section, and today there are twenty-three wards.

  4. 108

    それで、とうきょうといえば、とうきょうとのことか、とうきょうのくぶのことかわかりません。

    Therefore, when someone says Tokyo, it is not clear whether they mean Tokyo Metropolis or the ward section of Tokyo.

  5. 109

    とうきょうとのじんこうはいっせんひゃくごじゅうまんぐらいで、くぶのじんこうはきゅうひゃくまんいじょうあります。

    Tokyo Metropolis has a population of about 11.5 million, and the ward section has a population of more than nine million.

  6. 110

    ことにぎんざやまるのうちのほうはひとがおおすぎるくらいです。

    There are especially so many people in places like Ginza and Marunouchi that they seem overcrowded.

  7. 111

    ひるまとうきょうへしごとにはいってくるひとたちだけでもろくじゅうまんぐらいで、そのおおくはぎんざのようなところにあつまるのです。

    About 600,000 people come into Tokyo to work during the day, and many of them gather in places like Ginza.

  8. 112

    にほんへあそびにいくがいこくじんがにほんについていちばんはじめにかんじることは、ひとがおおいことだそうです。

    The first thing foreigners visiting Japan for pleasure notice when they arrive is how many people there are.

くらい
dark
あつまる
to gather
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
かんじる
to feel

Tokyo's names and early history · Questions 1 of 2

Tokyo's early history

The questions ask for names, dates, locations, and buildings. *東京は むかしは 何と よばれていましたか* means "What was Tokyo called in the old days?"

An answer supplies the requested name, date, place, or owner.

  1. 113

    とうきょうはむかしはなんとよばれていましたか。

    What was Tokyo called in the old days?

  2. 114

    えどがとうきょうにかわったのはいつでしたか。

    When was Edo changed to Tokyo?

  3. 115

    それまではしゅふはなんといっていましたか。

    Until then, what was the capital called?

  4. 116

    みやこはどこにありましたか。

    Where was Miyako located?

  5. 117

    しゅふがとうきょうにうつったのはいつですか。

    When was the capital moved to Tokyo?

  6. 118

    きゅうじょうはだれのおしろでしたか。

    Whose castle was the Imperial Palace?

  7. 119

    えどじょうはいつできたものですか。

    When was Edo Castle built?

えど
former name of Tokyo
いつ
when?
だれ
who?

Tokyo's wards and population · Questions 2 of 2

Tokyo Metropolis and its wards

The questions ask when Tokyo Metropolis began, what its ward section is called, and how many people each area has.

*昼間 東京へ 仕事に 来る 人のかずは、どのぐらいですか* asks "About how many people come to Tokyo to work during the day?"

An answer supplies a date, a name, a population, or the reported daytime number.

  1. 120

    とうきょうとができたのはいつですか。

    When was Tokyo Metropolis created?

  2. 121

    むかしのとうきょうしはいまではなんといいますか。

    What is the former Tokyo City called now?

  3. 122

    こんにち、とうきょうといえば、とうきょうとのことですか、とうきょうのくぶのことですか。

    Today, when someone says Tokyo, do they mean Tokyo Metropolis or the ward section of Tokyo?

  4. 123

    とうきょうとのじんこうはどのぐらいですか。

    What is the population of Tokyo Metropolis?

  5. 124

    とうきょうのくぶのじんこうはどのぐらいですか。

    What is the population of the ward section of Tokyo?

  6. 125

    ひるまとうきょうへしごとにくるひとのかずは、どのぐらいですか。

    About how many people come to Tokyo to work during the day?

  7. 126

    にほんへあそびにくるがいこくじんがにほんについていちばんはじめにかんじることはなんですか。

    What is the first thing foreigners visiting Japan for pleasure notice when they arrive in Japan?

今日、
today
どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
かず
number

Words for capitals and palaces · Word list 1 of 4

Names, castles, and capitals

These words cover Tokyo's names, castles, palaces, and capitals.

*宮城* is the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. *こうきょ* means "Imperial residence" or "Palace," and *首府* means "capital city."

  1. 127

    ひかくてき

    comparatively, relatively

  2. 128

    めいしょう

    name, designation

  3. 129

    なをつける

    to name

  4. 130

    えど

    former name of Tokyo

  5. 131

    きゅうじょう

    Imperial Palace in Tokyo

  6. 132

    (お)しろ

    castle

  7. 133

    こうきょ

    Imperial residence, Palace

  8. 134

    --ときめる

    to choose as, decided upon as

  9. 135

    しゅふ

    capital (city)

  10. 136

    ごしょ

    an Imperial Palace

ひかくてき
comparatively, relatively
名しょう
name, designation
名をつける
to name
(お)城
castle
こうきょ
Imperial residence, Palace
--ときめる
to choose as, decided upon as

Words for uncertainty and appearance · Word list 2 of 4

Administration, excess, and appearance

These words cover Tokyo administration and expressions for uncertainty, excess, and appearance.

*東京都* means "Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture." *多すぎる* means "too many" or "too much," and *--みたい* means "looks like," "seems," or "appears."

  1. 137

    みやこ

    capital

  2. 138

    いったい

    anyway, -- on earth

  3. 139

    あいまい

    vague, ambiguous

  4. 140

    くぶ

    the ward sections of Tokyo

  5. 141

    とうきょうふ

    Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture

  6. 142

    とうきょうと

    Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture (See Cultural Notes)

  7. 143

    --か--かわからない

    can't tell whether -- or -- (See Grammar Notes)

  8. 144

    おおすぎる

    too many, too much

  9. 145

    --すぎる

    suffix meaning excess (See Grammar Notes)

  10. 146

    --みたい

    looks like, seems, appears (See Grammar Notes)

一たい
anyway, -- on earth
東京府
Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture
東京都
Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture (See Cultural Notes)
--か--かわからない
can't tell whether -- or -- (See Grammar Notes)
多すぎる
too many, too much
--すぎる
suffix meaning excess (See Grammar Notes)
--みたい
looks like, seems, appears (See Grammar Notes)

Population and prefecture words · Word list 3 of 4

Population and crowded places

These words cover prefectures, population, gathering, and likeness.

*県* means "prefecture." *人口* means "population," and *--のような* means "like" or "such" before a noun.

  1. 147

    ひるま

    daytime

  2. 148

    けん

    prefecture (See Cultural Notes)

  3. 149

    おおく

    many of them

  4. 150

    --のような

    like, such (See Grammar Notes)

  5. 151

    それにしても

    even then, at any rate

  6. 152

    あつまる

    to gather

  7. 153

    ラッシュ

    rush hour

  8. 154

    じんこう

    population

  9. 155

    いじょう

    more than

  10. 156

    たてる

    to build

--のような
like, such (See Grammar Notes)
それにしても
even then, at any rate
たてる
to build

Cities, buildings and quantities · Word list 4 of 4

Cities, size, and quantity

These words cover cities, buildings, quantities, and enlargement. *京都府* means "Kyoto urban prefecture."

*---たらず* means "slightly short of" or "less than." *日本語を 習っている 生徒は 百人たらずです* means "Students who are learning Japanese are less than a hundred."

Kanji: 問

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

  1. 157

    ---たらず

    slightly short of, not quite, less than

  2. 158

    おおきくする

    to enlarge

  3. 159

    きょうとふ

    Kyoto urban prefecture

  4. 160

    おおきなしではこうつうのことがいつももんだいになります。

    In a big city the matter of transportation is always a problem.

  5. 161

    えどじょうはせんよんひゃくごじゅうしちねんにたてられました。

    Edo castle was built in 1457.

  6. 162

    にほんごをならっているせいとはひゃくにんたらずです。

    Students who are learning Japanese are less than a hundred.

  7. 163

    わたくしはいえをおおきくしました。

    I enlarged my house.

Guide for Free Conversation

1 Look at the map of Tokyo area on page 75 and talk about it.

2 Look at the detailed map of Tokyo on page 75 and talk about it.

3 Talk about the following:

a Visiting Tokyo--carry on a question and answer session with your fellow students.

b Brief history of Tokyo.

c History of the Imperial Palace.

d Population, etc.
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.
---たらず
slightly short of, not quite, less than
大きくする
to enlarge
京都府
Kyoto urban prefecture
大きな市では交通の事がいつも問題になります。
"In a big city the matter of transportation is always a problem."
えど城は1457年にたてられました。
"Edo castle was built in 1457."
日本語を習っている生徒は百人たらずです。
Students who are learning Japanese are less than a hundred.
私は家を大きくしました。
I enlarged my house.

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.