Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 74

Lesson 76

Reading Japan

145 lines

Rice crops and planting season · Dialogue 1 of 4

Rice across Japan

Two speakers discuss the crops grown throughout Japan and the season for planting rice.

*日本中いたる所で 作っている物と 言えば、米と麦ですか* means "Speaking of things grown throughout Japan, are they rice and wheat?"

Rice and wheat are the main crops, and sweet potatoes are also grown nationwide.

Planting rice in a paddy

The first step in growing rice is to sow the seeds in a nursery in April.

Farmers prepare the paddy, then move the seedlings into it in May or June. This transplanting is *田植*, "rice transplanting".

*六月中旬から 下旬までです* means "It is from the middle to the end of June."

Kanji: 植, 旬, 種

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

Kanji: 田, 下

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

  1. 1

    “うえ”

    Rice Planting

    “opening quote
    田植”rice planting
  2. 2

    にほんじゅういたるところでつくっているものといえば、こめとむぎですか。

    Speaking of things grown throughout Japan, are they rice and wheat?

  3. 3

    ええ、おもなものではこめとむぎです。さつまいももぜんこくてきです。

    Yes, the main ones are rice and wheat. Sweet potatoes are also grown nationwide.

  4. 4

    うえはなんがつですか。

    What month is rice planting?

  5. 5

    ろくがつちゅうじゅんからげじゅんまでです。

    It is from the middle to the end of June.

  6. 6

    そのときにたねをまくのですか。

    Do they sow the seeds then?

I,

Explanatory Notes, continued.

—-NI YCrPTE

’* depending on----- ”

Following nouns NI YOTTE expresses an idea of

’’depending on —”, or ’’depending upon

Examples:

HI NI YOTTE ATSUI DESU.

’’Depending upon the day, it is hot.”

HITO NI YOTTE HAYAKU NARAIMASU.

’’Depending upon the person, he learns fast.”

MISE NI YOTTE SHINAMONO GA TAKAI DESU.

’’Depending upon the store, goods are expensive.”

TOSHI NI YOTTE. ATSUI TOKI MO ARIMASU.

’’Depending on the year, there are times when it

is hot.”

I.

Explanatory Notes, continued.

Cultural Notes:

while it is 37,700 lbs. in Japan.

TSUYU or Rainy season.

From the early part of June to the early part of

July is known as the rainy season in Japan.

However, this

rainy season comes early in the southern part of Japan

and later in the northern part of Japan.

I.

Explanatory Notes, continued.

Typical weather during this season is a cloudy

sky, high humidity and intermittent rain.

Rain during

this season is very important for rice transplanting and

hydro-electricity.

However, the heavy rain toward the end

of the rainy season may cause floods, mountain slides, and

other disasters.
*

TAUE.

The first step in rice cultivation is the sowing

of rice seeds in a nursery in April.

The farmers then

prepare the rice paddy using a hand tractor or plough

pulled by oxen.

In May or June the seedlings are trans-

planted in the paddy fields.

In most South-East Asian

countries, the rice is sown directly in the paddies.

Because of transplanting, however, the rice yield per unit

area is very high in Japan.

To be more specific, the

average yield of rice per acre is about 15,000 lbs. in

Java, about 13,000 lbs. in Thailand, 11,000 lbs. in the

Philippines
NEKO NO TE DEMO KARITAI.

NEKO NO TE means ’’paws of a cat”, so the ex-

pression NEKO NO TE DEMO KARITAI literally means ’’want to

borrow even paws of a cat.”

This expression is used when

you are so busy and short-handed that you want to borrow

even the paws of a cat which are considered to be very

useless.
田植”
rice transplanting (See Cult Notes)
所
address, place
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
麦
wheat, barley, oats (See Cult. Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
ええ、
Yes
は
leaves
月
moon, month (See Grammar Notes)
六
six
中旬
middle 10 days of a month
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
下旬
last 10 days of a month
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
時
time
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
まく
to spread, scatter, sow seeds
の
See Grammar Notes

Transplanting rice seedlings · Dialogue 2 of 4

From nursery to paddy

*田植というのは 大抵 なわしろに そだった いねの なえを 水田に 植えかえる事です* means "Rice planting usually means transplanting rice seedlings grown in a nursery bed into a rice paddy."

*四月の 下旬から 五月上旬に かけてです* means "From late April through early May." Farmers sow the seed rice during this period.

Rice planting begins as soon as the barley and wheat harvest ends.

  1. 7

    いいえ、そうじゃありません。うえというのはたいていなわしろにそだったいねのなえをすいでんにうえかえることです。

    No, that isn't so. Rice planting usually means transplanting rice seedlings grown in a nursery bed into a rice paddy.

  2. 8

    そうですか。それではなわしろにたねもみをまくのは。

    I see. Then when do they sow the seed rice in the nursery bed?

  3. 9

    しがつのげじゅんからごがつじょうじゅんにかけてです。

    From late April through early May.

  4. 10

    そのころにはまだおおむぎやこむぎはかってありませんね。

    By that time, the barley and wheat have not been harvested yet, have they?

  5. 11

    そうです。そのしゅうかくがごがつのちゅうじゅんにはじまります。しゅうかくがおわるやいなやうえがはじまるのです。

    That's right. Their harvest begins in the middle of May. As soon as the harvest is over, rice planting begins.

  6. 12

    では、おひゃくしょうさんはそのころはたいへんいそがしいですね。

    Then farmers are very busy around that time, aren't they?

そう
numerical counter for ships
田植
rice transplanting (See Cult Notes)
いね
rice plant
なえ
seedling, young shoot, sapling
水田
rice field, paddy
植えかえる
transplant
です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
種もみ
seed rice
四
four
五
five
上旬
first 10 days of a month
まだ
yet, still
大麦
barley
や
and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
小麦
wheat
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
しゅうかく
harvest (harvest v.t.)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
ます。
trout
いそがしい
busy

Planting rice in rainy weather · Dialogue 3 of 4

Work in the rainy season

The speakers describe rice planting as demanding work during the rainy season.

*そう。だから、どろまみれになる上に びしょぬれに ぬれるんです* means "Yes. So, besides getting covered in mud, they get soaking wet."

Some workers now wear rubber boots instead of working barefoot.

A cat's paw

*「ねこの 手でも かりたい」というほど いそがしい 時きです* describes a time when farmers are very busy and short-handed.

*ねこの手でも かりたい* means "want to borrow even the paws of a cat" word for word.

The fixed saying describes someone so busy and short-handed that even a cat's useless paws would help.

Kanji: 活

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

  1. 13

    「ねこのてでもかりたい」というほどいそがしいときです。

    It is such a busy time that they say they would even like to borrow a cat's paw.

  2. 14

    わたくしはまだうえをするところをみたことがありませんが、うえるひとはみなはだしですか。

    I have never seen rice being planted, but are all the people who plant it barefoot?

  3. 15

    いまでもくつやぞうりをぬいでやるひともありますが、ゴムのながぐつをはいてうえをするひとがおおくなりました。せいかつがらくになったんですね。

    Even now, some people take off their shoes or sandals to do it, but more people have begun wearing rubber boots to plant rice. Life has become easier, hasn't it?

  4. 16

    そのころはちょうどつゆですね。

    That time is right in the rainy season, isn't it?

  5. 17

    そう。だから、どろまみれになるうえにびしょぬれにぬれるんです。

    Yes. So, besides getting covered in mud, they get soaking wet.

  6. 18

    では、うえがおわるとあんしんですね。

    Then it is a relief when the rice planting is over, isn't it?

ほど
to the extent (See Grammar Notes)
き
counter for airplanes (See Gram. Notes)
ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)
人
people
はだし
bare feet
くつ
shoes
ぞうり
sandal, slipper
やる
to do
ます
trout
ゴム
rubber
長ぐつ
boots
多く
many of them
つゆ
rainy season (See Cult. Notes)
そう。
numerical counter for ships
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
どろ
mud
びしょぬれ
soaking wet
ぬれる
get wet; become wet (vi)

Celebrating the rice planting · Dialogue 4 of 4

Rest and a good harvest

The speakers discuss celebrations held after rice planting in some places.

*そうです。それと ほうさくを いのるのと 両方ですよ* means "That's right. It is both that and a prayer for a good harvest."

The celebration gives farm families a rest and includes a prayer for a good harvest.

Differences from place to place

*所によって ちがいます* means "It differs from place to place."

Here, the noun *所* before *によって* identifies the place according to which the custom differs.

Kanji: 祝

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

  1. 19

    そう。ところによってちがいますが、うえがおわるとおいわいをするところもあります。

    Yes. It differs from place to place, but in some places they hold a celebration when the rice planting is over.

  2. 20

    のうかにとってはいきぬきのいわいですね。

    For farm families, it is a celebration and a chance to take a break, isn't it?

  3. 21

    そうです。それとほうさくをいのるのとりょうほうですよ。

    That's right. It is both that and a prayer for a good harvest.

が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
祝い
celebration, congratulation
さく
to bloom (v.i.)
いのる
pray (vt)
両方
both

Immediate everyday actions · Perception drill

As soon as one event happens

*私は それを 聞く やいなや すぐ来た* means "As soon as I heard that, I came right away."

A plain verb followed by *やいなや* presents the next event as happening as soon as the first event occurs.

Depending on the noun

*いいえ、年によって 大変 あつい事も あります* means "No, in some years it is very hot."

A noun followed by *によって* means "depending on that noun". The noun identifies what the condition varies by.

In *生徒によって 勉強の仕方が 皆 違います*, the students are the source of variation in how they study.

  1. 22

    わたくしはそれをきくやいなやすぐきた。

    As soon as I heard that, I came right away.

  2. 23

    さくばんはやくねたんですね。

    You went to bed early last night, didn't you?

  3. 24

    ええ、つかれていましたので、いちじごろとこにはいるやいなやねてしまいました。

    Yes, because I was tired, I fell asleep as soon as I went to bed around one o'clock.

  4. 25

    おこさんはいえにはいないのですね。

    Your child isn't at home, is he?

  5. 26

    ええ、がっこうからかえるやいなやあそびにでていきます。

    No. As soon as he comes home from school, he goes out to play.

  6. 27

    あなたはさかなつりがすきらしいですね。

    It seems that you like fishing.

  7. 28

    ええ、まいばんしごとからかえるやいなやゆうはんもたべないでさかなつりにでていきます。

    Yes, every evening, as soon as I get home from work, I go fishing without even eating dinner.

  8. 29

    あなたはけさおきるのがおそかったらしいですね。

    It seems that you got up late this morning.

  9. 30

    ええ、おきるやいなやしたくをしてあさめしもたべずにしごとにいきました。

    Yes, as soon as I got up, I got ready and went to work without even eating breakfast.

  10. 31

    あなたはいつびょうきになったのですか。

    When did you get sick?

  11. 32

    にほんからかえってくるやいなやびょうきになりました。

    I got sick as soon as I came back from Japan.

  12. 33

    ところによってちがいます。

    It differs from place to place.

  13. 34

    モントレーではまいねんなつはすずしいのですか。

    Is the summer cool every year in Monterey?

  14. 35

    いいえ、ねんによってたいへんあついこともあります。

    No, in some years it is very hot.

  15. 36

    かんじはみなこんなにむずかしいのですか。

    Are all Chinese characters this difficult?

  16. 37

    いいえ、かんじによってやさしいのもあります。

    No, some Chinese characters are easy.

  17. 38

    モントレーはいつもあさこんなにきりがあるのですか。

    Is it always this foggy in Monterey in the morning?

  18. 39

    いいえ、いつもではありません。ひによってちがいます。ときどききりのないひもあります。

    No, not always. It differs from day to day. Sometimes there are days without fog.

  19. 40

    べいこくのなつはいつもこんなにすずしいのですか。

    Are summers in the United States always this cool?

  20. 41

    べいこくはおおきいくにですから、ところによってちがいます。あるところはたいへんあついです。またあるところはたいへんすずしいです。

    The United States is a large country, so it differs from place to place. Some places are very hot. Other places are very cool.

  21. 42

    このがっこうのせいとはみなおなじようにべんきょうするのですか。

    Do all the students at this school study in the same way?

  22. 43

    いいえ、せいとによってべんきょうのしかたがみなちがいます。

    No, every student has a different way of studying.

すぐ
right away, immediately
ね
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
とこ
bed
家
house, home
好き
to like, be fond of (See Grammar Notes)
したく
preparation
し
city
いつ
when?
毎年
every year (See Grammar Notes)
夏
summer
すずしい
cool
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
あつい
hot
むずかしい
difficult
やさしい
easy
朝
morning
きり
fog
ある
certain, some
時々
sometimes, occasionally
国
country, nation

One event following another · Pattern 1 1 of 3

The next event begins at once

*麦の しゅうかくが 終る やいなや 田植が 始まります* means "As soon as the wheat harvest is over, rice planting begins."

The plain verb *終る* comes before *やいなや*. The next clause states the event that begins immediately.

*家を 出るやいなや 雨が 降り出しました* uses the same pattern when rain begins as soon as someone leaves home.

  1. 44

    むぎのしゅうかくがおわるやいなやたうえがはじまります。

    As soon as the wheat harvest is over, rice planting begins.

  2. 45

    じどうしゃをなおすやいなやまたこわしました。

    As soon as I repaired the car, I broke it again.

  3. 46

    あのひとはだいがくをでるやいなやあるかいしゃにやとわれました。

    As soon as he graduated from college, he was hired by a company.

  4. 47

    えきにつくやいなやきしゃがでていきました。

    As soon as I arrived at the station, the train left.

  5. 48

    わたくしをみるやいなやあのひとはでていきました。

    As soon as he saw me, that person left.

  6. 49

    いえをでるやいなやあめがふりだしました。

    As soon as I left the house, it began to rain.

  7. 50

    にほんからかえるやいなやびょうきになりました。

    I got sick as soon as I returned from Japan.

  8. 51

    あたらしいとけいをかうやいなやこわしました。

    As soon as I bought a new watch, I broke it.

  9. 52

    けさおきるやいなやせきがではじめました。

    As soon as I got up this morning, I began to cough.

車
vehicle, car
なおす
to correct, mend, repair (v.t.)
出る
come out to the phone, go out, come out (vi)
会社
company, firm
駅
railroad station
雨
rain
買う
to buy
せき
seat

Immediate actions in conversation · Pattern 1 2 of 3

Immediate results in conversation

*ええ、ずい分 つかれていたので、夕飯を 食べるやいなや とこにはいりました* means "Yes, because I was very tired, I went to bed as soon as I ate dinner."

The plain verb *食べる* before *やいなや* gives the first event. Going to bed follows immediately.

The conversations use the same pattern for an action or result that follows a completed event at once.

  1. 53

    いつびょうきになったのですか。

    When did you get sick?

  2. 54

    にほんへつくやいなやびょうきになっていっしゅうかんばかりねていました。

    As soon as I arrived in Japan, I became ill and was in bed for about a week.

  3. 55

    あなたがにゅういんしていらっしゃるということをきくやいなややってきたのですが、ごびょうきはいかがですか。

    I came as soon as I heard that you were in the hospital. How are you feeling?

  4. 56

    ありがとうございます。おいしゃさんのはなしによると、あまりわるくはないそうです。

    Thank you. According to the doctor, it is apparently not very serious.

  5. 57

    あなたはさくばんはやくねたらしいですね。

    It seems that you went to bed early last night.

  6. 58

    ええ、ずいぶんつかれていたので、ゆうはんをたべるやいなやとこにはいりました。

    Yes, because I was very tired, I went to bed as soon as I ate dinner.

  7. 59

    たなかさんのむすこさんはだいがくをでるやいなやけっこんしたそうですね。

    I hear that Mr. Tanaka's son got married as soon as he graduated from college.

  8. 60

    ええ、そうらしいです。そして、これからしごとをさがすのだそうです。

    Yes, it seems so. And I hear that he is going to look for a job now.

  9. 61

    あなたのむすめさんはしごとをしていらっしゃるそうですが、すこしぐらいちょきんができますか。

    I hear that your daughter is working; is she able to save even a little money?

へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
一
one
ばかり
about
いらっしゃる
to come, go (honorific verb)
言う
to say
医者
medical doctor
話
story, talk
ずい分
very much
さがす
to search, look for
少し
little (quantity)
ぐらい
about

Immediate action cues · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Everyday events as the first action

*いいえ、月給を もらうやいなや 使ってしまうのです* means "No, as soon as she gets her salary, she spends it all."

The first event remains in the plain form before *やいなや*.

The remaining lines give plain-form events such as *家へ 帰る*, "go home", and *朝 起きる*, "get up in the morning".

  1. 62

    いいえ、げっきゅうをもらうやいなやつかってしまうのです。

    No, as soon as she gets her salary, she spends it all.

  2. 63

    いえへかえる

    go home

  3. 64

    あさおきる

    get up in the morning

  4. 65

    いえをでる

    leave home

  5. 66

    がっこうをそつぎょうする

    graduate from school

  6. 67

    わたくしをみる

    see me

  7. 68

    にほんからかえる

    return from Japan

月給
monthly wage
もらう
to receive (tangible things)
しまう
to put away

Differences by place and person · Pattern 2 1 of 3

What a difference depends on

*気候は 所によって 違います* means "The climate differs from place to place."

The noun before *によって* identifies what the difference depends on.

*人によって 話し方が 違います* makes the person the basis of the difference and means "The way people speak differs from person to person."

  1. 69

    きこうはところによってちがいます。

    The climate differs from place to place.

  2. 70

    モンテレーのてんきはひによってちがいます。

    The weather in Monterey varies from day to day.

  3. 71

    しゅうかんはくにによってちがいます。

    Customs differ from country to country.

  4. 72

    ねんによってあんまりあめがふらないことがあります。

    In some years, it does not rain very much.

  5. 73

    ひとによってはなしかたがちがいます。

    The way people speak differs from person to person.

  6. 74

    せいとによってべんきょうのしかたがちがいます。

    The way students study differs from student to student.

  7. 75

    ぎんこうによってりりつがちがいます。

    Interest rates differ from bank to bank.

  8. 76

    がっこうによっておしえかたがちがいます。

    Teaching methods differ from school to school.

  9. 77

    モンテレーではひによってふゆでもあついことがあります。

    In Monterey, on some days it is hot even in winter.

モンテレー
Monterey
天気
weather
銀行
bank
冬
winter

Saying what things depend on · Pattern 2 2 of 3

A general question with a varied answer

*かん字によって 違います* means "It depends on the kanji." The noun before *によって* narrows the answer to each item.

The questions ask whether a broad statement applies in every case.

*生徒によって 違います* gives the same kind of answer when Japanese varies in difficulty by student.

  1. 78

    べいこくのなつはどうですか。

    What are summers like in the United States?

  2. 79

    べいこくはひろいくにですから、ところによってちがいます。あるところはなつあついですが、あるところはすずしいです。

    The United States is a large country, so it differs from place to place. Some places are hot in summer, while others are cool.

  3. 80

    かんじはむずかしいですか。

    Are kanji difficult?

  4. 81

    かんじによってちがいます。あるかんじはたいへんやさしいです。

    It depends on the kanji. Some kanji are very easy.

  5. 82

    にほんではつゆにはいつもあめがたくさんふりますか。

    Does it always rain a lot during the rainy season in Japan?

  6. 83

    ねんによってあんまりふらないこともあります。

    In some years, it does not rain very much.

  7. 84

    にほんごはやさしいですか。

    Is Japanese easy?

  8. 85

    せいとによってちがいます。あるせいとはむずかしいというし、またあるせいとはやさしいといいます。

    It depends on the student. Some students say it is difficult, while others say it is easy.

  9. 86

    このがっこうのせいとはみなおなじようにべんきょうするのですか。

    Do all the students at this school study in the same way?

し、
city

How conditions vary · Pattern 2 3 of 3

Conditions that are not uniform

*いいえ、生徒によって 勉強のし方が 違います* means "No, the way they study differs from student to student."

The questions ask whether people, weather, seasons, or climate are the same in every case.

An answer with *によって* names the source of the difference, such as the student, year, or place.

  1. 87

    いいえ、せいとによってべんきょうのしかたがちがいます。

    No, the way they study differs from student to student.

  2. 88

    ひとびとはみなおなじようにはなしますか。

    Does everyone speak in the same way?

  3. 89

    にほんではつゆにはいつもあめがたくさんふりますか。

    Does it always rain a lot during the rainy season in Japan?

  4. 90

    せいとはみなおなじようにべんきょうしますか。

    Do all the students study in the same way?

  5. 91

    モンテレーではまいねんなつはすずしいですか。

    Are summers in Monterey cool every year?

  6. 92

    べいこくのふゆはみなおなじですか。

    Are winters the same everywhere in the United States?

  7. 93

    きこうはどこでもおなじですか。

    Is the climate the same everywhere?

人々
people

Growing and planting rice · Questions 1 of 2

From seed rice to planting

The passage follows rice cultivation from sowing seed rice in a nursery to transplanting seedlings in June.

It also describes farmers as very busy during rainy-season planting.

*米を 作るのには まず何を しますか* means "What do they do first to grow rice?" An answer names sowing seed rice in a nursery.

  1. 94

    にほんじゅういたるところでつくっているものといえばこめ、むぎ、さつまいもなどです。そのなかでにほんじんにとっていちばんたいせつなものはこめです。こめをつくるのには、まず、たねもみをなわしろにまくのです。たねもみをまくのはしがつのげじゅんからごがつのじょうじゅんにかけてです。このなわしろにそだったいねのなえをこんどはすいでんにうえかえるのです。これをたうえといって、たいていろくがつちゅうじゅんからげじゅんにかけてやります。おおむぎやこむぎのしゅうかくがごがつのちゅうじゅんにはじまりますから、このしゅうかくがおわるやいなやたうえがはじまるのです。ですから、ひゃくしょうに

    Among the things grown everywhere in Japan are rice, barley, wheat, and sweet potatoes. Of these, rice is the most important to the Japanese. To grow rice, the seed rice is first sown in a nursery bed. The seed rice is sown from late April through early May. The rice seedlings grown in this nursery bed are then transplanted to a paddy field. This is called rice planting and is usually done from the middle to the end of June. The harvest of barley and wheat begins in the middle of May, and as soon as this harvest is over, rice planting begins. Therefore, for farmers,

  2. 95

    とっては、このごろは「ねこのてでもかりたい」ほどいそがしいとききです。たうえをするときにはなえをうえるひとはくつやぞうりをぬいでやるのですが、このごろではせいかつがらくになったとみえて、ゴムのながぐつをはいてたうえをするひとがおおくなりました。このごろはちょうどつゆどきですから、たうえをするひとはどろまみれになるうえにびしょぬれになってしごとをしなければなりません。たうえがおわるとひゃくしょうはあんしんです。ところによってちがいますが、たうえがおわると、たいていおいわいをします。このおいわいはいきぬきのいわいとほうさくをいのるのとりょうほうのためです。

    this is the time of year when they are so busy that they could use even a cat's help. When planting rice, the people who plant the seedlings take off their shoes or sandals, but nowadays, perhaps because life has become easier, more people plant rice wearing tall rubber boots. Since this is right in the rainy season, the people planting rice must work while not only covered in mud but also soaking wet. When the rice planting is over, the farmers feel relieved. It differs from place to place, but when the rice planting is over, they usually hold a celebration. This celebration is both a chance to relax and a prayer for a good harvest.

  3. 96

    にほんじゅういたるところでつくっているものといえばなんですか。

    What things are grown everywhere in Japan?

  4. 97

    そのなかでにほんじんにとっていちばんたいせつなものはなんですか。

    Of these, what is the most important thing to the Japanese?

  5. 98

    こめをつくるのにはまずなにをしますか。

    What do they do first to grow rice?

  6. 99

    たねもみをまくのはいつごろですか。

    About when is the seed rice sown?

  7. 100

    なわしろにそだったいねをどうしますか。

    What do they do with the rice plants grown in the nursery bed?

  8. 101

    たうえはなんがつごろですか。

    About what month is rice planting done?

麦、
wheat, barley, oats (See Cult. Notes)
など
and so forth, etc.
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
な
I wish, I hope, huh
作る
to raise, to make
まず、
first, first of all
今度
this time, next time

Harvests, rain and celebrations · Questions 2 of 2

After the harvest and planting

The questions cover the barley and wheat harvest, rainy-season planting, and celebrations after the work.

*この お祝いは 何のためですか* means "What is this celebration for?"

An answer names its two purposes: a rest for farm families and a prayer for a good harvest.

  1. 102

    おおむぎやこむぎのしゅうかくはいつごろはじまりますか。

    About when does the harvest of barley and wheat begin?

  2. 103

    このしゅうかくがおわるやいなやなにがはじまりますか。

    What begins as soon as this harvest is over?

  3. 104

    たうえをするときにはなえをうえるひとはくつやぞうりをはいてやりますか。

    When planting rice, do the people who plant the seedlings wear shoes or sandals?

  4. 105

    このごろではどうですか。

    How is it nowadays?

  5. 106

    にほんのつゆはいつごろですか。

    About when is the rainy season in Japan?

  6. 107

    たうえがおわるとひゃくしょうはどうしますか。

    What do the farmers do when the rice planting is over?

  7. 108

    このおいわいはなんのためですか。

    What is this celebration for?

Rice plants, seedlings and paddies · Word list 1 of 4

Rice from nursery to paddy

These words cover the places, plants, and dates involved in rice transplanting.

*なわしろ* is "a bed for growing rice sprouts", *なえ* is "seedling", and *水田* is "paddy".

Together they name the movement of a young rice plant from its nursery bed into the paddy.

  1. 109

    たうえ

    rice transplanting (See Cult Notes)

  2. 110

    いたるところ

    all over, wherever one goes

  3. 111

    ぜんこくてき

    country wide, all over a country

  4. 112

    ちゅうじゅん

    middle 10 days of a month

  5. 113

    げじゅん

    last 10 days of a month

  6. 114

    なわしろ

    a bed for growing rice sprouts

  7. 115

    そだつ

    grow, be brought up (vi)

  8. 116

    いね

    rice plant

  9. 117

    なえ

    seedling, young shoot, sapling

  10. 118

    すいでん

    paddy

いたる所
all over, wherever one goes
全国てき
country wide, all over a country
なわしろ
a bed for growing rice sprouts
そだつ
grow, be brought up (vi)

Harvests, timing and fieldwork · Word list 2 of 4

Harvest and fieldwork

These words cover transplanting, seed rice, harvest time, and work in the fields.

*種もみ* is "seed rice", while *しゅうかく* is "harvest".

*ねこの手でも かりたい* means "very busy and short handed".

  1. 119

    うえかえる

    transplant

  2. 120

    たねもみ

    seed rice

  3. 121

    じょうじゅん

    first 10 days of a month

  4. 122

    しゅうかく

    harvest (harvest v.t.)

  5. 123

    ねこのてでもかりたい

    very busy and short handed (See Cult. Notes)

  6. 124

    --やいなや

    -- no sooner than (See Gram. Notes)

  7. 125

    ときき

    time, season

  8. 126

    はだし

    bare feet

  9. 127

    ぞうり

    straw sandal, thong

  10. 128

    ぬぐ

    take off, undress, uncover

ねこの手でもかりたい
very busy and short handed (See Cult. Notes)
--やいなや
-- no sooner than (See Gram. Notes)
時き
season, time
ぬぐ
take off, undress, uncover

Rain, mud and wet weather · Word list 3 of 4

Mud and rain

These words describe fieldwork during the rainy season and the relief that follows it.

*長ぐつ* is "boots", *どろまみれ* is "covered with mud", and *びしょぬれ* is "soaking wet".

  1. 129

    ゴム

    rubber

  2. 130

    ながぐつ

    boots

  3. 131

    せいかつ(する)

    livelihood, (live (v.i.))

  4. 132

    つゆ

    rainy season (See Cult. Notes)

  5. 133

    どろまみれ

    covered with mud (See Cult. Notes)

  6. 134

    どろ

    mud

  7. 135

    びしょぬれ

    soaking wet

  8. 136

    ぬれる

    get wet; become wet (vi)

  9. 137

    あんしん(する)

    ease of mind; tranquility of mind (feel at ease (vi) )

  10. 138

    ところによって

    depending on place (See Gram. Notes)

生活(する)
livelihood, (live (v.i.))
どろまみれ
covered with mud (See Cult. Notes)
安心(する)
ease of mind; tranquility of mind (feel at ease (vi) )
所によって
depending on place (See Gram. Notes)

Celebrations, rest and good harvests · Word list 4 of 4

A celebration after planting

These words name a celebration after rice planting and its two purposes.

*いきぬき* is "breather, rest", while *ほうさく* is "bumper crop" and *いのる* is "pray".

*両方* means "both", linking a rest and a prayer for a bumper crop.

  1. 139

    おいわい(する)

    celebration, (celebrate (vi))

  2. 140

    いきぬき

    breather, rest

  3. 141

    ほうさく

    bumper crop

  4. 142

    いのる

    pray (vt)

  5. 143

    いわい

    celebration, congratulation

  6. 144

    りょうほう

    both

  7. 145

    おおむぎ

    barley

Guide for Free Conversation

F.

1.

Guide for Free Conversation.

Visual Cues.

a.

Look at the picture on Pages 198

to 204

and

talk about how the rice fields are prepared, rice

transplanting, harvesting, etc.

2.

Topic Titles.

a.

Talk about the work involved before rice trans-

planting.

b.

Talk about rice transplanting.

c.

Compare rice transplanting of Japan and that of

other countries.

Talk about the rainy season.
Homework

J,

Homev/ork.

1.

Memorize the Dialogue and the vocabulary.

2.

Study Grammar Perception Drill,

3.

Study Pattern Practice and do the exercise at the

end of each pattern.

4.

Learn to read and write new Kanji.

5.

Read the Explanatory Notes.

6.

Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the

exercises following the instructions given.

-A i

"

I '.O'
お祝い(する)
celebration, (celebrate (vi))
いきぬき
breather, rest
ほうさく
bumper crop

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.