Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 72

Lesson 74

Reading Japan

175 lines

Problems facing Japanese agriculture · Dialogue 1 of 4

Advanced methods on limited land

*まあ、ぎじゅつてきには すすんでいると 言えましょう* means "Well, I suppose you can say that it is advanced technically."

The speakers discuss Japanese agriculture. Its methods are advanced, but its greatest problem is land.

The problem beyond control

*一番大きな 問題で、しかも われわれの どうする事も出来ない事は 土地の 問題です* identifies land as the greatest problem.

Japan is a small country, and the speakers say that they cannot change this limit.

Kanji: : 農

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

Kanji: : 業

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

Kanji: : 必

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

Kanji: : 要

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

Kanji: : 広

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

Kanji: 土

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

  1. 1

    “のうぎょう”(1)

    “Agriculture” (1)

    “opening quote
    農業”agriculture
    (1)part one
  2. 2

    にほんののうぎょうはすすんでいるそうですね。

    (f) I understand Japanese agriculture is advanced, isn’t that right?

  3. 3

    まあ、ぎじゅつてきにはすすんでいるといえましょう。

    Well, I suppose you can say that it is advanced technically,

  4. 4

    にほんののうぎょうにかんするもんだいはなんですか。

    What is the problem concerning Japanese agriculture?

  5. 5

    たくさんありますがね、いちばんおおきなもんだいで、しかもわれわれのどうすることもできないことはとちのもんだいです。

    There are many; but the problem of land is the biggest problem and furthermore, we can’t do anything about it,

  6. 6

    そうでしょうね。なんにしてもにほんはせまいくにですから。

    I suppose so. In any case, japan is a small country, so —,

---NI YORU TO
Nouns and pronouns followed by NI YORU TO indicate the source of the statement that follows. The source may be a person, but more often it is thing, particularly something said or written. Most sentences containing ---NI YORU TO also contain SOO DESU or SOO DA (Les. 31) as a further indication that the information is second-hand.

TANAKA SENSEI NI YORU TO, SUMISU-SAN WA AMMARI BENKYOO SHINAI SOO DESU. “According to Professor TANAKA, Mr. Smith does not study too hard.”

SHIMBUN NI YORU TO, ASHITA WA AME DA SOO DESU. “According to the newspaper, it is going to rain tomorrow.”

RAJIO NI YORU TO, KOMBAN WA SAMUKU NARU SOO DESU. “According to the radio, it is going to be cold tonight.”

YAMADA-SAN NO HANASHI NI YORU TO, GURIIN-SAN NO OKU-SAN WA BYOOKI DA SOO DESU. “According to Mr. Yamada, I understand Mrs. Green is sick.”

SAIKIN NO TOOKEI NI YORU TO, NIPPON NO JINKOO WA ZUIBUN FUETA SOO DESU. “According to the recent statistics, the population of Japan increased very much.”
2 ---NI SOOTOO SURU
Following nouns and pronouns NI SOOTOO SURU expresses an idea of “be equal to”, “be equivalent to”, “correspond to”, etc.

ICHI-DORU WA 360 YEN NI SOOTOO SHIMASU. “A dollar is equivalent to 360 yen.”

SORE NI SOOTOO SURU EIGO WA ARIMASEN. “There is no corresponding expression in English.”

KONO KOTOBA GA CHOODO SORE NI SOOTOO SHIMASU. “This is just the word for it. (This word corresponds exactly to that)”

SANKAGETSU NO GEKKYUU NI SOOTOO SURU BOONASU O MORAIMASHITA. “I got a bonus equal to three month’s salary.”
KO (Numberator)
KO as well as KEN is used for counting houses and shops. Following is the list of number and numerator combinations for KO.

| 
IKKO | 1 house
NIKO | 2 houses
SANKO | 3 houses
YONKO orSHIKO | 4 houses
GOKO | 5 houses
ROKKO | 6 houses
NANAKO orSHICHIKO | 7 houses
HACHIKO or HAKKO | 8 houses
KYUUKO | 9 houses
JIKKO | 10 houses
HYAKKO | 100 houses
CHOO, TAN, SE, TSUBO
These are units of measuring lots and fields. ITCHOO is JITPAN and is approximately 2.5 acres. ITTAN is JISSE, ISSE is SANJUU TSUBO. HITOTSUBO is approximately 36 square feet.
農業”
agriculture
の
See Grammar Notes
は
leaves
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
そう
numerical counter for ships
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
まあ、
Well! Oh, my!
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
ましょう。
let's (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ます
trout
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
大きな
big, large (See Gram. Notes)
しかも
furthermore
土地
land, lot
でしょう
probably (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
せまい
narrow, crowded
国
country, nation
から。
from (See Gram. Notes)

Agricultural land and statistics · Dialogue 2 of 4

What agricultural land includes

*農業用地というのは 何ですか* means "What is meant by agricultural land?"

The answer includes land, roads, building lots, waterways, and ponds needed for agriculture.

*ごく さい近の とう計によると* identifies recent statistics as the source of the figures that follow.

Units for measuring land

*町というのは どのぐらいの 広さですか* asks how large a *町* is.

*CHOO*, *TAN*, *SE*, and *TSUBO* measure lots and fields. *ITCHOO* is *JITPAN* and approximately 2.5 acres.

*ITTAN* is *JISSE*. *ISSE* is *SANJUU TSUBO*. *HITOTSUBO* is approximately 36 square feet.

  1. 7

    のうぎょうようちはにほんのそうめんせきのじゅうしちパーセントほどですから、スイスよりわるいです。

    Since the land utilized for agriculture is about 17 percent of the total area of Japan, it is worse than Switzerland,

  2. 8

    のうぎょうようちというのはなんですか。

    What is meant by agrieultural land?

  3. 9

    それはのうぎょうにひつようなとち、どうろ、たくち、すいろ、いけ、などもいれたものです。

    That is the area that includes lands, roads, building lots, waterways, ponds that are necessary for agriculture.

  4. 10

    それでは、じっさいにしようしているとちはせまいのですね。

    Then, the land that is actually utilized is small, isn’t it?

  5. 11

    そうです。ごくさいきんのとうけいによると、こうちはじゅうよんパーセントぐらいだそうで、ろっぴゃくまんちょうそこそこだそうです。

    That’s right, according to the latest statistics, the land under cultivation is about 14 percent. As 1 understand it, it’s only about 6 million CHOO,

  6. 12

    ちょうというのはどのぐらいのひろさですか。

    How big is a so-called CHOO?

農業
agriculture
めんせき
area, dimension
十
ten
七
seven
パーセント
percent
ほど
to the extent (See Grammar Notes)
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
スイス
Switzerland
より
than (See Gram. Notes)
な
I wish, I hope, huh
土地、
land, lot
道路、
road
宅地、
building lot
水路、
waterway, channel
いけ、
pond, dam, reservoir
など
and so forth, etc.
もの
things (tangible)
実さい
truth, actuality
ごく
very
四
four
ぐらい
about
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
六百
600
町
town
そこそこ
only about
どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)

Farmland units and acreage · Dialogue 3 of 4

One measure in acres

*一町は 十たんで、エーカーにすれば 二エーカー半ぐらいに そうとうします* means "One cho is ten tan and equals about two and a half acres."

Here *に そうとうします* says that one land measure is equivalent to another.

Counting farm households

*農家 一戸の へいきんこう地は どのぐらいですか* asks about the average cultivated land per farm household.

Here *戸* counts a farm household. *KO* also counts houses and shops.

The number and *KO* join into one word, as in *IKKO*, "one house."

Kanji: 田

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

Kanji: 戸

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

  1. 13

    いっちょうはじゅったんで、エーカーにすればにエーカーはんぐらいにそうとうします。

    One CHOO is 10 TAN, and if you convert it into acres, it is equivalent to about two acres and a half.

  2. 14

    そのなか、たはどのぐらいですか。

    Out of it, how much is rice field?

  3. 15

    すいでんがさんびゃくごじゅうまんちょうぐらいで、はたけがにひゃくごじゅうまんちょうほどです。

    The rice field covers about three and a half million CHOO and the dry field about two million and a half CHOO.

  4. 16

    のうかいっこのへいきんこうちはどのぐらいですか。

    How big is the average land under cultivation per one farm house?

  5. 17

    いっちょうにたりんちいさいものです。

    It is small being less than one CHOO.

  6. 18

    それはちいさいですね。

    That’s small, isn’t it?

一
one
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
二
two
ます。
trout
田
paddy field
水田
rice field, paddy
三百
300
五十
50
はたけ
field
二百
200
戸
classifier of counting families and/or houses

Poor soil and farm income · Dialogue 4 of 4

A second problem

*土地が やせている事でしょう* means "It probably is the fact that the land is sterile."

The speakers compare this poor soil with the limited amount of land.

Little income for hard work

*日本の 百しょうは くろうのわりに しゅう入が 少いのです* says that Japanese farmers have little income considering their hard work.

The land is both limited and poor.

  1. 19

    べいこくみたいなおおきなのうぎょうこくとくらべると、はなしにならんほどちいさいでしょう。

    If you compare it with a big agricultural country like the United States, it probably is small beyond comparison.

  2. 20

    にばんめのもんだいは。

    What is the second problem?

  3. 21

    とちがやせていることでしょう。

    It probably is the fact that the land is sterile.

  4. 22

    そうですか。

    Is that right?

  5. 23

    とちはせまいし、やせてはいるし、にほんのひゃくしょうはくろうのわりにしゅうにゅうがすくないのです。

    As for Japanese farmers, the income is small considering their hard work because the land is small and sterile.

でしょう。
probably (See Gram. Notes)
は。
leaves
し、
city
しゅう
state

Citing recent statistics · Perception drill, Block 1

A teacher as the source

*先生の 話によると ----- そうです* frames a reported statement as information from a teacher.

*先生の 話によると* means "according to the teacher."

The source comes first

*によると* follows a noun or pronoun and identifies the source of the statement that follows. The source is often something said or written.

The statement usually ends in *そうです*, which marks the information as second-hand.

  1. 24

    せんせいのはなしによると-----そうです。

    According to the recent statistics, population of Japan has increased greatly.

話
story, talk
と-----
and (See Gram. Notes)
です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)

Citing a teacher · Perception drill, Block 2

A newspaper as the source

*新聞によると ----- そうです* names a newspaper as the source of a second-hand report.

*新聞によると* means "according to the newspaper." The report ends in *そうです*.

  1. 25

    しんぶんによると-----そうです。

    According to what teacher says —.

Citing a newspaper · Perception drill, Block 3

The radio as the source

*ラジオによると ----- そうです* names the radio as the source of a second-hand report.

*ラジオによると* means "according to the radio." The report ends in *そうです*.

  1. 26

    ラジオによると-----そうです。

    According to the newspaper ——.

ラジオ
radio

Citing the radio · Perception drill, Block 4

A person as the source

*田中さんによると ----- そうです* names Mr. Tanaka as the source of a second-hand report.

*田中さんによると* means "according to Mr. Tanaka." The report ends in *そうです*.

  1. 27

    たなかさんによると-----そうです。

    According to the radio —.

Reporting information from sources · Perception drill, Block 5

A forecast from the radio

*けさの ラジオによると、 二三日は 雨は 降らない そうですよ* reports no rain for the next two or three days.

*けさの ラジオによると* identifies the morning radio report as the source. *そうですよ* marks the forecast as second-hand.

One amount equals another

*一ドルは 三百六十円に そうとうします* means "One dollar is equivalent to 360 yen."

*に そうとうする* follows a noun or pronoun. It means "be equal to," "be equivalent to," or "correspond to."

The same form compares amounts, units, and things.

  1. 28

    このざっしによると-----

    According to Mr. Tanaka —.

  2. 29

    そらがくもってきましたが、あめになるのではないでしょうか。

    According to this magazine ———.

  3. 30

    いいえ、けさのラジオによると、にさんにちはあめはふらないそうですよ。

    The sky has become cloudy, but don’t you suppose it’s going to rain?

  4. 31

    たなかさんのはなしによると、パーカーさんのおくさんはにゅういんなさっているそうですね。

    No, according to the radio this morning, it’s not going to rain for the next two or three days.

  5. 32

    そうですか。ちっともしりませんでした。

    According to what Mr. Tanaka says, I understand Mrs. Parker is in the hospital.

  6. 33

    やまださんのはなしによると、さくばんのえいがはずいぶんよかったそうですね。

    Is that right? I didn’t know it at all.

  7. 34

    そうですか。わたくしもいくはずでしたが、ようじがあっていけなかったのです。

    According to what Mr. Yamada says, I understand last night’s movie was very good.

  8. 35

    さくばんのしんぶんによると、あさってごろからあつくなるそうですよ。

    Is that right? I, too, was supposed to go, but I had personal business to attend to and I couldn’t go.

  9. 36

    そうですか。しかし、これいじょうあつくなってはこまりますね。

    According to last night’s paper, it’s going to be hot from around day after tomorrow.

  10. 37

    あるほんによると、ほっかいどうのきこうはちょうどべいこくのミネソタしゅうのようだそうですね。

    Is that right? But if it gets hotter than this, I’ll be troubled.

  11. 38

    そうでしょう。わたくしはまだミネソタしゅうへいったことがないのでしりませんが、

    According to some book, the climate of Hokkaidoo is just like the climate of the state of Minnesota, U.S.A.

  12. 39

    いちドルはなんえんにそうとうしますか。

    I don’t know because I have never been to the state of Minnesota, but I suppose so.

  13. 40

    いちドルはさんびゃくろくじゅうえんにそうとうします。

    one Choo is equivalent to about two and a half acres.

  14. 41

    にほんでは、このごろはみなメートルをつかっていますが、わたくしはまだメートルのつかいかたになれていませんのです。いちキロは

    How many yen is one dollar equivalent to?

  15. 42

    どのぐらいですか。

    One dollar is equivalent to 360 yen.

  16. 43

    いちキロはいちマイルのよんぶんのさんぐらいにそうとうします。

    In Japan, they all use meters these days, and I haven’t yet become accustomed to the usage of meters. About how long is one kilometer?

  17. 44

    にほんのかいしゃではいちねんににどボーナスをもらうそうですね。

    one kilometer is equal to about three quarters of a mile.

  18. 45

    そうです。クリスマスにはたいていにかげつからさんかげつぐらいのきゅうりょうにそうとうするボーナスをもらうそうです。

    I understand they receive a bonus twice a year in the Japanese firm, is that right?

  19. 46

    せいようりょうりにはにほんの「おすし」にそうとうするたべものがありますか。

    That’s right. I understand they usually receive a bonus equivalent to two to three months wages during Christmas.

  20. 47

    そうですね。せいようりょうりにはごはんをつかいませんから、そんなものはないでしょう。

    In western cooking, is there a food that corresponds to Japanese ’’Osushi”?

  21. 48

    べいこくのおかねのごセントはなんえんにそうとうしますか。

    Well, let me see. Since they don’t use rice in western cooking, I don’t suppose there is such a thing.

  22. 49

    いちドルがさんびゃくろくじゅうえんですから、ごセントはじゅうはちえんにそうとうします。

    Five cents in U. S. money is equivalent to how many yen?

雨
rain
ちっとも
not even a little (See Gram. Notes)
映画
movie
ずい分
very much
用事
personal business
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
しかし、
however, but
ある
certain, some
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
まだ
yet, still
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
ドル
dollar
円
yen (unit of money)
六十
60
メートル
meter
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
キロ
kilometer
マイル
mile
分
minute
三
three
会社
company, firm
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
もらう
to receive (tangible things)
給料
wage, salary
西洋
occident, the West
食べ物
food
五
five
八
eight

Converting dollars to yen · Perception drill, Block 6

Statistics as the source

*さい近の とうけいによると、 日本の人口は ずい分ふえた そうです* reports that Japan's population increased greatly.

*さい近の とうけいによると* names recent statistics as the source. *そうです* marks the information as second-hand.

  1. 50

    さいきんのとうけいによると、にほんのじんこうはずいぶんふえたそうです。

    Since one dollar is 360 yen, five cents is equivalent to 18 yen.

人口
population

Converting land measurements · Perception drill, Block 7

One land measure in acres

*一町は 二エーカー半ぐらいに そうとうします* means "One cho is equivalent to about two and a half acres."

*二エーカー半ぐらい* means "about two and a half acres." Here *に そうとうします* links the two measurements.

  1. 51

    いっちょうはにエーカーはんぐらいにそうとうします。

    One chō is equivalent to about two and a half acres.

Reporting facts from sources · Pattern 1 1 of 3

A source and a reported fact

*新聞によると、明日は 雨だ そうです* means "According to the newspaper, it is supposed to rain tomorrow."

The source stands before *によると*. The reported fact ends in *そうです*.

People and statistics as sources

*さい近の とう計によると、東京都の 自動車の かずが ずい分 ふえているそうです* reports a considerable increase in Tokyo automobiles.

A person, an explanation, or statistics can replace the newspaper as the source.

  1. 52

    しんぶんによると、あしたはあめだそうです。

    According to the newspaper, it is supposed to rain tomorrow.

  2. 53

    ラジオによると、あしたもてんきだそうです。

    According to the radio, the weather is supposed to be fine tomorrow too.

  3. 54

    しんぶんによると、あさってごろからあつくなるそうです。

    According to the newspaper, it is supposed to get hot around the day after tomorrow.

  4. 55

    たなかさんのはなしによると、スミスさんはけっこんするそうです。

    According to Mr. Tanaka, Mr. Smith is going to get married.

  5. 56

    やまもとさんのはなしによると、ミラーさんはおおさかにてんえきしたそうです。

    According to Mr. Yamamoto, Mr. Miller has been transferred to Osaka.

  6. 57

    せんせいのせつめいによると、このことばはこのごろはつかわないそうです。

    According to the teacher’s explanation, this word is not used nowadays.

  7. 58

    せんせいによると、これはちがっているそうです。

    According to the teacher, this is wrong.

  8. 59

    さいきんのとうけいによると、とうきょうとのじどうしゃのかずがずいぶんふえているそうです。

    According to recent statistics, the number of automobiles in Tokyo has increased considerably.

  9. 60

    おおきさんのはなしによると、パーカーさんはあまりべんきょうしないそうです。

    According to Mr. Ōki, Mr. Parker does not study very much.

  10. 61

    ゆうじんのはなしではあなたのおじょうさんがけっこんなさるそうですが、ほんとうですか。

    I heard from a friend that your daughter is getting married; is that true?

と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
明日
tomorrow
天気
weather
説明
explanation
都
capital
車
vehicle, car
かず
number
友人
friend
なさる
to do (honorific verb) (See Notes)

Relaying news and forecasts · Pattern 1 2 of 3

A forecast from the radio

*ラジオによると 降らないそうですから、そんな心配は いりません* means "According to the radio, it is not supposed to rain, so there is no need to worry."

The source report supplies the reason for the conclusion.

News from a newspaper

*新聞によると、東京は オリンピックの じゅんびの ために ずい分いそがしいそうですね* reports that Tokyo is very busy preparing for the Olympics.

The *によると* and *そうです* pair also relays news rather than a forecast.

  1. 62

    ええ、らいげつのおわりにけっこんすることになっています。

    Yes, she is to be married at the end of next month.

  2. 63

    くもってきましたが、あしたのピクニックにあめがふるのではないでしょうか。

    It has become cloudy; don’t you think it may rain on tomorrow’s picnic?

  3. 64

    ラジオによるとふらないそうですから、そんなしんぱいはいりません。

    According to the radio, it is not supposed to rain, so there is no need to worry about that.

  4. 65

    しんぶんによると、らいげつからこづつみりょうがあがるそうですね。

    According to the newspaper, parcel-post rates are going up next month, aren’t they?

  5. 66

    そうですか。わたくしはそんなことはちっともしりませんでしたね。

    Is that so? I did not know anything about that at all.

  6. 67

    おおきさんのはなしによると、ミラーさんはとうきょうへいてんなさるそうですね。

    According to Mr. Ōki, Mr. Miller is moving to Tokyo, isn’t he?

  7. 68

    ええ、そうらしいです。らいげつのはじめごろにほんへしゅっぱつされるらしいです。

    Yes, apparently so. It seems he will leave for Japan around the beginning of next month.

  8. 69

    しんぶんによると、とうきょうはオリンピックのじゅんびのためにずいぶんいそがしいそうですね。

    According to the newspaper, Tokyo is very busy preparing for the Olympics, isn’t it?

  9. 70

    ええ、あたらしいどうろもどんどんできているそうです。

    Yes, I hear that new roads are being built one after another too.

  10. 71

    やまださんのはなしによると、とてもおもしろいそうです。

    According to Mr. Yamada, it is very interesting.

ええ、
Yes
来月
next month
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
降る
to fall (rain) (v.i.)
小包
parcel, small package
上る
to eat, drink, come
れる
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
じゅんび
preparation
いそがしい
busy
道路
road
どんどん
rapidly
とても
very, indeed
おもしろい
interesting, to be fun

Naming information sources · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Sources with identifying details

*知り合いからの 手紙* is "a letter from an acquaintance." *けさの 新聞* is "this morning's newspaper."

Details identify when a source was received, bought, heard, or read. *きのう 読んだ本* is "a book read yesterday."

Sources for uncertain facts

*明日 雨が 降るでしょうか* means "Will it rain tomorrow?"

The possible sources support answers about weather, health, difficulty, and future plans.

  1. 72

    しりあいからのてがみ

    A letter from an acquaintance.

  2. 73

    けさのしんぶん

    This morning’s newspaper.

  3. 74

    さくばんかったざっし

    A magazine bought last night.

  4. 75

    こんばんきいたラジオのニュース

    The radio news heard this evening.

  5. 76

    きのうよんだほん

    A book read yesterday.

  6. 77

    あしたあめがふるでしょうか。

    Will it rain tomorrow?

  7. 78

    きょうのごごあつくなるでしょうか。

    Will it get hot this afternoon?

  8. 79

    たむらさんのおくさんはびょうきですか。

    Is Mrs. Tamura ill?

  9. 80

    にほんごはむずかしいでしょうか。

    Is Japanese difficult?

  10. 81

    スミスさんはいてんするでしょうか。

    Will Mr. Smith move?

手紙
letter (correspondence)
今日
today
午後
p.m., afternoon
むずかしい
difficult

Expressing exact equivalents · Pattern 2 1 of 3

An exact currency equivalent

*一ドルは 三百六十円に そうとうします* means "One dollar is equivalent to 360 yen."

The value before *に そうとうします* is the corresponding amount.

More than measurements

*一佐は 大佐に そうとうする 階きゅうです* means "Issa is a rank equivalent to colonel."

The same form compares currencies, units, times, ranks, words, and cultural things. *約* marks an approximate figure.

  1. 82

    いちドルはさんびゃくろくじゅうえんにそうとうします。

    One dollar is equivalent to 360 yen.

  2. 83

    このにほんごにそうとうするえいごはありません。

    There is no English equivalent of this Japanese expression.

  3. 84

    いちリは、よんキロにそうとうします。

    One ri is equivalent to four kilometers.

  4. 85

    いちリはやくにマイルはんにそうとうします。

    One ri is equivalent to about two and a half miles.

  5. 86

    にほんごのあるPARTICLESはえいごのPREPOSITIONにそうとうします。

    Some Japanese particles correspond to English prepositions.

  6. 87

    いっさはたいさにそうとうするかいきゅうです。

    Issa is a rank equivalent to colonel.

  7. 88

    サンフランシスコのごぜんはちじはニューヨークのごぜんじゅういちじにそうとうします。

    Eight a.m. in San Francisco corresponds to eleven a.m. in New York.

  8. 89

    せいようりょうりにはすきやきにそうとうするりょうりはありません。

    There is no dish in Western cuisine equivalent to sukiyaki.

一佐
Colonel, Captain (Navy) (Japanese rank)
サンフランシスコ
San Francisco
午前
a.m., morning
時
time
ニューヨーク
New York
すきやき
SUKIYAKI

Comparing equivalent units · Pattern 2 2 of 3

Asking for a corresponding thing

*しな語 には ひらがな や かたかなに そうとうするものが ありますか* asks whether Chinese has anything equivalent to hiragana and katakana.

The corresponding item stands before *に そうとうする*.

Explaining equivalent measurements

*四キロが 二マイル半に そうとうするのです* means "Four kilometers is equivalent to two and a half miles."

The same form supports questions and explanations about currencies, distances, times, and climates.

  1. 90

    ほっかいどうのふゆのきこうはミネソタのふゆのきこうにそうとうするそうです。

    The winter climate of Hokkaido is said to be comparable to the winter climate of Minnesota.

  2. 91

    しなご(CHINESE)にはひらがなやかたかなにそうとうするものがありますか。

    Does Chinese have anything equivalent to hiragana and katakana?

  3. 92

    いいえ、しなごにはかんじしかありません。

    No, Chinese has only Chinese characters.

  4. 93

    じゅうドルはにほんのおかねのなんえんですか。

    How many Japanese yen is ten dollars?

  5. 94

    いちドルがさんびゃくろくじゅうえんにそうとうするのですから、じゅうドルはさんぜんろっぴゃくえんです。

    Since one dollar is equivalent to 360 yen, ten dollars is 3,600 yen.

  6. 95

    にほんではキロをつかっていますが、キロはなんマイルにそうとうしますか。

    Japan uses kilometers, but how many miles is a kilometer equivalent to?

  7. 96

    よんキロがにマイルはんにそうとうするのです。

    Four kilometers is equivalent to two and a half miles.

  8. 97

    いまモントレーはごぜんはちじはんですが、ニューヨークのなんじにそうとうしますか。

    It is now eight-thirty a.m. in Monterey; what time does that correspond to in New York?

冬
winter
ひらがな
HIRAGANA syllabary
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
かたかな
KATAKANA syllabary
三千
3,000

Asking about equivalents · Pattern 2 3 of 3

A matching time

*ニューヨークは モントレーより三時間早いから 午前十一時半に そうとうします* gives the corresponding time as 11:30 a.m.

The reason comes first, followed by the matching time before *に そうとうします*.

Direct questions about matches

*西洋風の 家には、日本の 家の床の間に そうとうするものが ありますか* asks about a Western equivalent to the Japanese tokonoma.

Direct questions can ask the matching number, time, rank, or feature without *そうとうする*.

  1. 98

    ニューヨークはモントレーよりさんじかんはやいからごぜんじゅういちじはんにそうとうします。

    New York is three hours ahead of Monterey, so it corresponds to eleven-thirty a.m.

  2. 99

    せいようふうのいえには、にほんのいえのとこのまにそうとうするものがありますか。

    Is there anything in a Western-style house equivalent to the tokonoma in a Japanese house?

  3. 100

    いいえ、せいようふうのいえにはそんなものはありませんね。

    No, a Western-style house has nothing like that.

  4. 101

    いちリはなんマイルぐらいですか。

    About how many miles is one ri?

  5. 102

    いちドルはなんえんですか。

    How many yen is one dollar?

  6. 103

    ニューヨークのごぜんはちじはモントレーのなんじですか。

    What time is eight a.m. in New York in Monterey?

  7. 104

    いっさはたいさですか。

    Is an issa a colonel?

  8. 105

    しなごにはひらがなやかたかながありますか。

    Does Chinese have hiragana and katakana?

時間
hour, time
家
house, home
床の間
alcove (See Cultural Notes)
何時
what time

Limits on agricultural land · Reading Selection 1 of 2

Limited agricultural land

The passage describes advanced agricultural methods constrained by the size of Japan.

*農業用地は 日本の そうめんせきの 十七パーセントぐらいしかないのです* says agricultural land is only about 17 percent of Japan's total area.

Less land is cultivated

Agricultural land includes roads, building lots, waterways, ponds, and land needed for agriculture.

*ですから、実さいに 使用している 土地は せまいのです* says that the land actually used is therefore limited.

  1. 106

    にほんののうぎょうはぎじゅつてきにはかなりすすんでいるといえます。

    It can be said that Japanese agriculture is fairly advanced technically.

  2. 107

    しかし、にほんののうぎょうにかんしてはいろいろのもんだいがあります。

    However, there are various problems concerning Japanese agriculture.

  3. 108

    いちばんおおきなもんだいはとちのもんだいで、これはわれわれのどうすることもできないことです。

    The biggest problem is the problem of land, and there is nothing we can do about it.

  4. 109

    なんにしても、にほんはせまいくにです。

    In any case, Japan is a small country.

  5. 110

    のうぎょうようちはにほんのそうめんせきのじゅうしちパーセントぐらいしかないのです。

    Agricultural land makes up only about 17 percent of Japan's total area.

  6. 111

    こののうぎょうようちというのはのうぎょうにひつようなとち、どうろ、たくち、すいろ、いけなどもいれたものです。

    This agricultural land includes land, roads, building lots, waterways, ponds, and other things necessary for agriculture.

  7. 112

    ですから、じっさいにしようしているとちはせまいのです。

    Therefore, the land actually in use is limited.

  8. 113

    ごくさいきんの

    These are the most recent figures.

かなり
fairly
いけ
pond, dam, reservoir

Farmland size and poor soil · Reading Selection 2 of 2

Cultivated land in two measures

*とう計によると、こう地は 十四パーセントぐらいで、六百万町そこそこだそうです* reports about 14 percent, or only about six million chō.

*一町* is ten *たん* and corresponds to about two and a half acres.

Small farms and poor soil

The average cultivated land per farm household is less than one chō. The soil is also poor.

*日本の 百しょうは くろうの わりに しゅう入は 少いのです* says Japanese farmers have little income considering their hard work.

  1. 114

    とうけいによると、こうちはじゅうよんパーセントぐらいで、ろっぴゃくまんちょうそこそこだそうです。

    According to statistics, cultivated land accounts for about 14 percent, or just about six million cho.

  2. 115

    いっちょうはじゅったんで、エーカーにすればにエーカーはんぐらいにそうとうします。

    One cho is ten tan and is equivalent to about two and a half acres.

  3. 116

    そのなか、すいでんはさんびゃくごじゅうまんちょうぐらいで、はたけがにひゃくごじゅうまんちょうほどです。

    Of that, about three and a half million cho are rice paddies, and about two and a half million cho are fields.

  4. 117

    それでのうかいっこのへいきんこうちはいっちょうにたりんぐらいちいさいものです。

    Thus, the average cultivated area per farm household is so small that it is less than one cho.

  5. 118

    べいこくみたいなおおきなのうぎょうこくとくらべるとはなしにならないほどちいさいものです。

    Compared with a large agricultural country like the United States, it is too small to even compare.

  6. 119

    にほんののうぎょうにかんするもうひとつのもんだいはとちがやせていることです。

    Another problem concerning Japanese agriculture is that the soil is poor.

  7. 120

    とちはせまいし、やせてはいるし、にほんのひゃくしょうはくろうのわりにしゅうにゅうはすくないのです。

    The land is limited and the soil is poor, so Japanese farmers earn little for all their hard work.

たりん
not sufficfent, short of
なら
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
もう
already (See Gram. Notes)

Asking about farm statistics · Questions 1 of 2

Answers from the farm statistics

*実さいに 使用している こう地は どのぐらいですか* means "How much cultivated land is actually in use?"

The questions ask for cultivated acreage, rice-field acreage, field acreage, household averages, and farm income.

An answer gives the relevant amount or explains the limit on land or income.

  1. 121

    とちのもんだいはわれわれがどうすることもできないことですか。

    Is the land problem something we cannot do anything about?

  2. 122

    じっさいにしようしているこうちはどのぐらいですか。

    How much cultivated land is actually in use?

  3. 123

    いっちょうはどのぐらいですか(なんエーカーにそうとうしますか)。

    How much is one cho (how many acres is it equivalent to)?

  4. 124

    じっさいにしようしているこうちのなか、すいでんはどのぐらいですか。

    Of the cultivated land actually in use, how much is rice paddies?

  5. 125

    はたけは?

    How much is fields?

  6. 126

    のうかいっこのへいきんこうちはどのぐらいですか。

    What is the average cultivated area per farm household?

  7. 127

    にほんのひゃくしょうのしゅうにゅうはどうですか。

    How much do Japanese farmers earn?

Explaining agricultural constraints · Questions 2 of 2

Answers about agricultural limits

The questions ask about Japanese agriculture, its land, its largest problem, and its second problem.

*日本の 農業に かんして 一番大きな問題は 何ですか* means "What is the biggest problem concerning Japanese agriculture?"

An answer identifies limited land. Other answers describe poor soil and the resulting low income.

  1. 128

    なぜしゅうにゅうがすくないのですか。

    Why do they earn so little?

  2. 129

    にほんののうぎょうはどうですか。

    What is Japanese agriculture like?

  3. 130

    にほんののうぎょうにかんしていちばんおおきなもんだいはなんですか。

    What is the biggest problem concerning Japanese agriculture?

  4. 131

    にほんののうぎょうようちはどのぐらいありますか。

    How much agricultural land does Japan have?

  5. 132

    のうぎょうようちというのはなんですか。

    What is meant by agricultural land?

  6. 133

    べいこくみたいなおおきなのうぎょうこくとくらべるとどうですか。

    How does it compare with a large agricultural country like the United States?

  7. 134

    にほんののうぎょうにかんするもうひとつのもんだいはなんですか。

    What is another problem concerning Japanese agriculture?

なぜ
why?

Agriculture and land words · Word list 1 of 4

Agriculture and its land

The entries distinguish agriculture from the land used for it.

*農業* means "agriculture." *土地* means "land" or "lot."

*農業用地* means "land utilized for agriculture."

  1. 135

    のうぎょう

    agriculture

  2. 136

    ぎじゅつてき

    technical

  3. 137

    しかも

    furthermore

  4. 138

    われわれ(の)

    we, (our)

  5. 139

    どうすることもできない

    we can't do anything about

  6. 140

    とち

    land, lot

  7. 141

    ようち

    land utilized for

  8. 142

    のうぎょうようち

    land utilized for agriculture

  9. 143

    めんせき

    area, dimension

  10. 144

    スイス

    Switzerland

  11. 145

    ひつような

    necessary, needed, important

ぎじゅつてき
technical
われわれ(の)
we, (our)
どうすることも出来ない
we can't do anything about
用地
land utilized for
農業用地
land utilized for agriculture
必要な
necessary, needed, important

Land use and statistics words · Word list 2 of 4

Land use and cultivation

The entries distinguish parts of agricultural land from land under cultivation.

*宅地* means "building lot," and *水路* means "waterway" or "channel."

*こう地* means "land under cultivation."

  1. 146

    たくち

    building lot

  2. 147

    すいろ

    waterway, channel

  3. 148

    いけ

    pond, dam, reservoir

  4. 149

    いれる

    include, insert

  5. 150

    そこそこ

    only about

  6. 151

    じっさい

    truth, actuality

  7. 152

    そうめんせき

    total area

  8. 153

    しよう(する)

    utilization, ^e (vt)) [OCR as printed in txt]

  9. 154

    こうち

    land under cultivation

  10. 155

    とうけい

    statistics

  11. 156

    ちょう

    measure of land (See cult. notes)

宅地
building lot
水路
waterway, channel
いれる
include, insert
そうめんせき
total area
使用(する)
utilization, ^e (vt)) [OCR as printed in txt]
こう地
land under cultivation
とう計
statistics

Farm measurements and households · Word list 3 of 4

Fields and farm households

The entries distinguish two kinds of field and one farm household.

*水田* means "rice field" or "paddy," while *はたけ* means "field."

*一戸* means "one family" or "one house."

  1. 157

    ごく

    very

  2. 158

    --によると

    according to ---- (See Gram. Notes)

  3. 159

    ひろさ

    area, dimension

  4. 160

    --にそうとうする

    be equivalent to (See Gram. Notes)

  5. 161

    たん

    measure of land (See Cult. Notes)

  6. 162

    --にすれば

    if you convert it into

  7. 163

    すいでん

    rice field, paddy

  8. 164

    はたけ

    field

  9. 165

    いっこ

    one family, one house

  10. 166

    こ

    classifier of counting families and/or houses

  11. 167

    へいきん

    average

--によると
according to ---- (See Gram. Notes)
広さ
area, dimension
--にそうとうする
be equivalent to (See Gram. Notes)
たん
measure of land (See Cult. Notes)
--にすれば
if you convert it into
一戸
one family, one house
へいきん
average

Farming comparisons and income · Word list 4 of 4

Shortage, comparison, and income

The entries describe a shortage, a comparison, and the income at issue.

*たりん* means "not sufficient" or "short of." *話しにならん* means "beyond comparison."

*しゅう入* means "income."

  1. 168

    たりん

    not sufficfent, short of

  2. 169

    たりる

    be sufficient (vi)

  3. 170

    みたいな

    such

  4. 171

    はなしにならん

    beyond comparison, can't even mention

  5. 172

    しゅうにゅう

    income

  6. 173

    しなご

    Chinese

  7. 174

    のうぎょうこく

    agricultural country

  8. 175

    ---のわりに

    considering ----; despite -----

Guide for Free Conversation

a Talk about the problems concerning Japanese agriculture.

b Talk about agriculture in the United States,

c Compare agriculture in Japan and that of the United States.

d Talk about the land under cultivation in Japan.

a Look at the pictures on Pages 125 and 126 and describe them.
Homework

1 Memorize the Dialogue and the vocabulary,

2 Study Grammar Perception Drill.

3 Study Pattern Practice and do the exercises following each pattern,

4 Learn to read and write Kanji and do the exercises,

5 Read the Explanatory Notes.

6 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and practice exercises.
たりる
be sufficient (vi)
みたいな
such
話しにならん
beyond comparison, can't even mention
しゅう入
income
しな語
Chinese
農業国
agricultural country
---のわりに
considering ----; despite -----

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.