Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 76

Lesson 78

Reading Japan

174 lines

Reuniting with an old acquaintance · Dialogue 1 of 5

An old acquaintance visits

Maeda welcomes Miller after a long absence. *おお、ミラーさんでは 御ざいませんか。おひさしぶりですね。さあ、どうぞ お上りください* means "Oh, if it isn't Mr. Miller. It has been a long time. Please come in."

After the greetings, Maeda asks why Miller has come. *今日は 又 何か 御用で* means "Do you have personal business today?"

  1. 1

    こんにちは、まえださん。

    Hello, Mr, Maeda,

    今日today
    は、topic
    前田Maeda
    さん。Mr.
  2. 2

    おお、ミラーさんではございませんか。おひさしぶりですね。さあ、どうぞおあがりください。

    Oh, if it isn’t Mr, Miller. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Please come in.

  3. 3

    ながいあいだごぶさたいたしております。

    I haven’t been keeping in touch with you for a long time.

  4. 4

    いいえ、わたくしこそ。みなさんおげんきなようですね。

    No, it’s I, indeed,

  5. 5

    はあ、おかげさまで。

    Yes, thank you.

  6. 6

    こんにちはまたなにかごようで。

    Do you have personal business today?

A1 -—DOKORO KA *'far from’, ’’instead of”, ’’anything but” Following nominals, basic form of i-adjectives and verbs, DOKORO KA expresses an idea of far from being such-and-such, but on the contrary such-and-such and is best translated as ’’far from’, ’Anything but”, ’’instead of”, ’’not only but also”, etc. Examples; NIHONGO DOKORO KA EIGO MO SHIRANAI. ”He knows no English, to say nothing of Japanese.” SUKI DOKORO KA DAIKIRAI DESU. ’’Far from liking it, I dislike it.” HIROI DOKORO KA SEMASUGIMASU. ”It is far from being spacious; it is too small.” NIHONGO GA KAKERU DOKORO KA YOMU KOTO MO DEKIMASEN. ”He can even read, to say nothing of his being able to write.”

A1 ANO HITO WA YOROKOBU DOKORO KA OKOTTE IMASHITA, ’’Far from being glad, he was angry.
A2 TONDE-MO-NAI Preceding nouns TONDE-MO-NAI expresses the meaning of absurd, preposterous, serious, terrible, outrageous, monstrous, unexpected, fantastic”, and so forth. At times TONDE-MO-NAI or its polite form TONDE-MO-ARIMASEN is used as an emphatic rejection of what has been said and its common English equivalents are ’’Ridiculous!”, ’’Far from it ’’Nothing of the kind*”, ’’Don’t be silly’”, etc. Examples: TONDEMONAI NEDAN ’’exorbitant price” TONDEMONAI MACHIGAI ’’fatal mistake”, ’’silly mistake” TONDEMONAI TOKI ’’unexpected time” TONDEMONAI KANGAE ’’fantastic idea” TONDEMONAI HITO ’’absurd person, unexpected person” TONDEMONAI KOTO ’’outrageous thing” TONDEMONAI HANASHI ’’absurd story”
Prefix DAI Prefix DAI precedes Japanese numerals of Chinese origin ICHI, NI, SAN, YON, etc, and expresses the meaning of No, 1, No, 2, No. 3, No. 4, or first, second, third, fourth, etc.
B2 TEN to Indicate a decimal in a series of numbers. For examples: 3.5 is SAN TEN GO, 11.36 is JUU ITTEN SAN ROKU, 8.8 is HACHITEN HACHI, etc.
B3 CHIN, RYOO, DAI CHIN Is a reward for work, or a fee for using or borrowing other people’s things. For example: YACHIN "house rent" JOOSHACHIN "train fare" DENSHACHIN "streetcar fare" KARICHIN "fee for borrowing" UNCHIN "freight fee" etc.

B3 RYOO is a fee for receiving benefit from others or fee for using something. For example: DEMPOORYOO ’’telegram fee” SHIYOORYOO ’’fee for using something* SOOKINRYOO ’’fee for sending money” YUUBINRYOO ’’fee for mailing” etc. DAI is a price for something. For example: SHIMBUNDAI ’’newspaper price” OCHADAI ’’price for drinking tea” HONDAI ’’book price” KIPPUDAI ’’price of ticket” etc.
今日
today
は、
leaves
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
さあ、
well, now, here, come
上り
up train (See Cultural Notes)
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
ます。
trout
こそ。
indeed, certainly (See Grammar Notes)
な
I wish, I hope, huh

Newspaper firms and circulation · Dialogue 2 of 5

Newspapers and their circulation

Miller asks about Japanese newspaper companies and their circulation. The discussion moves from about 120 companies to copies issued each day.

The decimal point

*三・五人に 対して 一部ぐらいの わりあいです* means "It is the ratio of about one copy per 3.5 persons."

*三・五人* is spoken as *三てん五人*, "3.5 persons." *てん* marks the decimal point between the whole number and the digit after it.

Kanji: 数

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

  1. 7

    じつはにほんのしんぶんについて、すこしおうかがいいたしたいとおもいまして。

    As a matter of fact, I hoped to ask you about the Japanese newspaper a little bit.

  2. 8

    さようでございますか。なんでもできることでしたら、おこたえしましょう。

    Is that so? If It’s anything that I can answer. I’ll be glad to answer.

  3. 9

    にほんにはしんぶんしゃがおおいですね。

    There are many newspaper firms in japan, right?

  4. 10

    まったくおおいです。ひゃくにじゅうしゃぐらいありますね。えいじしもありますよ。

    There are truly many. There are about 120 firms. There are .also English papers.

  5. 11

    はっこうぶすうはどのくらいですか。

    What is the number of circulation?

  6. 12

    さん・ごにんにたいしていちぶぐらいのわりあいです。まいにちにせんろっぴゃくまんぶぐらいでています。

    It is the ratio of about one copy per three and a half persons. They circulate about twenty six million copies every day.

は
leaves
の
See Grammar Notes
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
少し
little (quantity)
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
ます
trout
出来る
to be manufactured; to be produced (v.i.)
し
city
ましょう。
let's (See Gram. Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
まったく
truly, entirely
百
100
二十
20
ぐらい
about
どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
くらい
dark
三・
three
五
five
人
people
一部
a copy
毎日
Mainichi Newspaper Co.
二千
2,000
六百
600

Major newspapers and neutrality · Dialogue 3 of 5

The first difference

Miller asks how Japanese and American newspapers differ. *第一は、日本の 新聞は 政治的に 中立で、どの政とうにも ぞくしていない 事です* gives the first difference: political neutrality.

Numbers in an order

*第一* means "No. 1" or "the first". *第* comes before a numeral of Chinese origin and makes the number a place in order.

Kanji: 第, 政, 治

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

Kanji: 的, 朝, 読

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

  1. 13

    おおきなしんぶんというとどれですか。

    What are the big newspaper firms?

  2. 14

    あさひ、まいにち、よみうり、さんぎょうけいざいしんぶん(ふつうさんけいといいます)などです。あさひがいちばんおおきくて、まいにちろっぴゃくまんぶぐらいでています。

    They are Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, SangyooKeizai newspaper (ordinarily called Sankei) and others. Asahi is the largest and it circulates six million copies everyday.

  3. 15

    にほんのしんぶんとべいこくのしんぶんをくらべて、ちがうところはどこでしょうか。

    Comparing Japanese newspapers and American newspapers^what are the different points?

  4. 16

    だいいちは、にほんのしんぶんはせいじてきにちゅうりつで、どのせいとうにもぞくしていないことです。

    In the first place, Japanese newspapers are politically independent and they don’t belong to any certain political party.

  5. 17

    せいじしょくがないのですか。

    Don’t they have political color?

  6. 18

    そうです。いつもちゅうりつのたちばにあります。

    No, they don’t. They always take a neutral attitude.

大きな
big, large (See Gram. Notes)
言う
to say
どれ
which (of three or more) (See Grammar Notes)
朝日、
Asahi Newspaper Co.
毎日、
Mainichi Newspaper Co.
読売、
Yomiuri Newspaper Co.
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
ます)
trout
など
and so forth, etc.
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)
でしょう
probably (See Gram. Notes)
一
one
中立
neutral
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
そう
numerical counter for ships
いつ
when?
立場
position, standpoint, attitude

Editions, deliveries and prices · Dialogue 4 of 5

Two editions and one monthly fee

Each newspaper issues a morning and an evening edition. When Miller asks the price, *こう 読料ですか。一か月 四百五十円です* means "You mean the subscription fee? It is 450 yen per month."

Three kinds of payment

*RYOO* names a fee for receiving a benefit or using something, as in *こう 読料*. *CHIN* names a reward for work or a fee for use or borrowing.

*DAI* names a price for something. *新聞代* means "newspaper price".

Kanji: 刊

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

  1. 19

    それはしりませんでした。

    I didn’t know that,

  2. 20

    だいには、かくしんぶんがちょうかんとゆうかんをだすことです。ですからしないではいちにちにはいたつがにどあります。

    In the second place, each newspaper puts out a morning edition and an evening edition. Consequently, within a city there are two deliveries a day.

  3. 21

    べいこくでもちょうかんとゆうかんがありますが、かいしゃがちがうか、しんぶんのながちがいます。

    In America, too, we have a morning edition and an evening edition; but in that case, either the firm names are different or the names of the newspaper are different.

  4. 22

    そうですか。にほんではサービスがよいというわけですね。

    Is that right? It means that in Japan the service is better, doesn’t it?

  5. 23

    それでねだんは。

    And what about the price?

  6. 24

    こうどくりょうですか。いっかげつよんひゃくごじゅうえんです。

    You mean subscription fee? It’s 450 yen per month.

二
two
かく
each (prefix)
朝刊
morning edition
夕刊
evening edition
出す
to mail, send, take out
です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
一日
first day of the month (See Grammar Notes)
会社
company, firm
か、
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
名
name
サービス
service
よい
good (See Gram. Notes)
ねだん
price
四百
400
五十
50
円
yen (unit of money)

Advertising, subscriptions and magazines · Dialogue 5 of 5

Far from cheap

Miller calls the newspaper price cheap. The reply begins *飛んでもない*, a strong rejection meaning "Nothing of the kind."

*日本人に とっては 安い どころか 高すぎる ぐらいです* replaces "cheap" with the contrary judgment: "For Japanese it is far from cheap. It is too expensive."

The discussion continues with advertising and subscription income, then ends with Japanese newspaper companies publishing many magazines.

  1. 25

    しんぶんだいはやすいですね。

    The newspaper price is cheap, isn’t it?

  2. 26

    とんでもない。にほんじんにとってはやすいどころかたかすぎるぐらいです。とくにのうかにとってはね。

    Nothing of the kind. For Japanese it’s far from cheap, it is rather too expensive. Especially for farmers.

  3. 27

    しんぶんはこうこくでもうけるのだから、こうどくりょうはやすくできるとおもいますが。

    Since newspapers make money on advertisement, I should think that the subscription fee could be made cheaper.

  4. 28

    にほんのしんぶんでは、さいきんこうこくりょうのしゅうにゅうがましてきて、こうどくりょうからのしゅうにゅうとはんはんぐらいになりました。それでとうぶんはこうどくりょうはこれいじょうはあがりますまい。

    As for Japanese newspapers, income from advertisement fees has increased recently and the income from subscription and from advertisement became about half and half. So, the subscription fee will probably not go up for some time.

  5. 29

    ほかにちがうところがありますか。

    Is there any other difference?

  6. 30

    にほんのしんぶんしゃはざっしをたくさんはっこうしています。このてんべいこくのしんぶんしゃとちがいます。

    Japanese newspaper firms publish a lot of magazines. In this respect they are different from those of the United States.

か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
もうける
make profit (y, t.)
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
が。
but (See Gram. Notes)
しゅう
state
半々
half and half
とう分
for the time being

Let alone books · Perception drill, Block 1

Not even the lesser thing

*本 どころか 紙も 買えません* means "I cannot even buy papers, to say nothing of books." The speaker cannot afford the lesser item, paper.

*どころか* follows the first noun and rejects that possibility. The second part gives a contrary fact or denies something still more basic.

  1. 31

    ほんどころかかみもかえません。

    I can’t even buy papers, say nothing of books.

本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)

Far from cheap · Perception drill, Block 2

The opposite quality

*安い どころか 高すぎる ぐらいです* means "It is far from cheap. It is rather too expensive."

The *どころか* contrast rejects *安い* and replaces it with the opposite extreme, *高すぎる*.

  1. 32

    やすいどころかたかすぎるぐらいです。

    It is far from cheap; it is rather too expensive.

Far from expected conditions · Perception drill, Block 3

Expectation and reality

*いいえ、かん字 どころか、ひらがなさえ 読めないんですよ* means "No, he cannot even read hiragana, to say nothing of kanji."

*どころか* follows a noun or the basic form of an I-adjective or verb.

A change in the other direction

*いいえ、やせる どころか、ふとる 一方です* means "No, she is far from getting thin. She keeps getting fat."

The expected change is rejected. The rest of the line states the contrary change.

  1. 33

    よろこぶどころかおこっていました。

    Far from being glad, he was mad.

  2. 34

    あなたはあたらしいじどうしゃをかうのではないのですか。

    Aren’t you going to buy a new car?

  3. 35

    あたらしいじどうしゃどころかふるいじどうしゃもかえませんよ。

    I can’t even buy an old car let alone a new car.

  4. 36

    スミスさんはかんじがよめるのですか。

    Can Mr, Smith read Kanji?

  5. 37

    いいえ、かんじどころか、ひらがなさえよめないんですよ。

    No, he can’t even read Hiragana, say nothing of Kanji.

  6. 38

    このへやはすこしあつすぎませんか。

    Isn’t this room too hot?

  7. 39

    あつすぎるどころか、さむいくらいです。

    It is far from too hot; it is rather cool.

  8. 40

    おくさんはおからだがじょうぶですね。

    Your wife is healthy, isn’t she?

  9. 41

    じょうぶどころか、かぜばかりひいています。

    Far from healthy, she is always catching cold.

  10. 42

    おくさんはこのごろすこしやせてきましたね。

    Your wife has gotten a little thinner these days, hasn’t she?

  11. 43

    いいえ、やせるどころか、ふとるいっぽうです。

    No, she is far from getting skinny; she keeps on getting fat.

よろこぶ
to rejoice, be delighted
車
vehicle, car
買う
to buy
古い
old, antique
ひらがな
HIRAGANA syllabary
へや
room
すぎ
past, after
さむい
cold
体
body, health
かぜ
wind
ばかり
about
やせる
to lose weight (v.i.)
ふとる
to become stout (v.i.)

An outrageous mistake · Perception drill, Block 4

A gross mistake

*私は 飛んでもない 間違を しました* means "I made a gross mistake." *飛んでもない* comes before the noun *間違*.

Before a noun, *飛んでもない* gives a strong judgment such as "absurd", "outrageous", "terrible", or "unexpected".

  1. 44

    わたくしはとんでもないまちがいをしました。

    I made a gross mistake.

Unexpected people and situations · Perception drill, Block 5

A rejection by itself

*いいえ、飛んでもない。友だちのを 借りたのです* means "No, do not be silly. I borrowed my friend's."

Here *飛んでもない* stands alone and firmly rejects the suggestion that the Cadillac belongs to the speaker.

A strong judgment before a noun

*いいえ、飛んでもない ねだんを 言っていたから、買いませんでした* means "No, they quoted outrageous prices, so I did not buy it."

Before *ねだん*, *飛んでもない* describes the prices as outrageous. It can also describe an unexpected time or person.

  1. 45

    いいえ、とんでもない。

    No, it»s nothing of the kind.

  2. 46

    このキャデラックはあなたのですか。

    Is this Cadillac yours?

  3. 47

    いいえ、とんでもない。ともだちのをかりたのです。

    No, don’t be silly, i borrowed my friend’s.

  4. 48

    さくばんおそくまでおきていましたね。

    You were up late last night, weren’t you?

  5. 49

    ええ、さくばんとんでもないときにともだちがあそびにきて、おそくまではなしていたのです。

    Yes, my friend came visiting at an unexpected time and we were talking until late hours.

  6. 50

    きのうカラーテレビをみていましたが、かいましたか。

    You were watching color television yesterday, but did you buy it?

  7. 51

    いいえ、とんでもないねだんをいっていたから、かいませんでした。

    No, they were quoting outrageous prices, so I didn’t buy it.

  8. 52

    わたくしはきのうくうこうでとんでもないひとにあいましたよ。

    I met an unexpected person at the airport yesterday.

  9. 53

    だれでしたか。

    Who was it?

  10. 54

    ミラーさんですよ。

    It was Mr. Miller.

  11. 55

    ミラーさんはにほんにいたとおもいましたが。

    I thought Mr. Miller was in Japan.

  12. 56

    にしゅうかんのきゅうをもらってかえってきたそうです。

    I understand he came back with two-week’s vacation.

  13. 57

    スミスくん、きみはきのうのしけんにとんでもないまちがいをしていたね。

    Mr. Smith, you made a gross mistake in yesterday’s examination.

  14. 58

    どんなまちがいですか。

    What kind of mistake was it?

  15. 59

    “てんじょう”をelectriclightとやくしていたよ。

    You translated ’’TENJOO” as ’’electric light.

おそく
late (adverbial form of OSOI, be late, be slow)
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
ええ、
Yes
時
time
昨日
yesterday
テレビ
television
空港
airport
だれ
who?
君、
suffix to a name, Mr. (See cult. notes)
どんな
what kind of; what sort of

Far from one extreme · Pattern 1 1 of 3

Not even a simpler object

*まんねんひつ どころか えんぴつも ありません* means "Far from having a fountain pen, I do not even have a pencil."

The first object is rejected because the more basic object is also absent.

Qualities and actions also contrast

*ひらがなが 書ける どころか 読めもしません* means "Far from being able to write hiragana, I cannot even read it."

The same *どころか* contrast follows a quality or an action and supplies the opposite or a more basic failure.

  1. 60

    まんねんひつどころかえんぴつもありません。

    Far from having a fountain pen, I do not even have a pencil.

  2. 61

    やさしいどころかむずかしすぎます。

    Far from being easy, it is too difficult.

  3. 62

    ひらがながかけるどころかよめもしません。

    Far from being able to write hiragana, I cannot even read it.

  4. 63

    フランスごどころかえいごもできません。

    Far from knowing French, I do not even know English.

  5. 64

    じどうしゃどころかテレビもかえない。

    Far from being able to buy a car, I cannot even buy a television.

  6. 65

    かんじどころかひらがなもよめません。

    Far from being able to read kanji, I cannot even read hiragana.

  7. 66

    はやいどころかもうおわってしまいました。

    Far from being early, it is already over.

  8. 67

    さむいどころかあつすぎます。

    Far from being cold, it is too hot.

  9. 68

    やさしくなるどころかまいにちむずかしくなっていきます。

    Far from becoming easier, it is getting more difficult every day.

やさしい
easy
もう
already (See Gram. Notes)

Contrasting reality with expectations · Pattern 1 2 of 3

The proposed situation is not true

The question asks whether money is saved each month. *貯金 どころか 毎日の 生活にも 困っています* answers, "Far from saving money, I have trouble even meeting daily living expenses."

The contrary reality follows

*しかし、雨が 降る どころか 日が てっていますよ* means "But far from raining, the sun is shining."

A *どころか* answer rejects the proposed situation and gives a stronger contrary fact.

  1. 69

    にほんごがわかるどころかひらがなもよめません。

    Far from understanding Japanese, I cannot even read hiragana.

  2. 70

    えいがをみにいくどころかいそがしくてひまがありません。

    Far from going to see a movie, I am so busy that I have no free time.

  3. 71

    あなたはまいつきちょきんしていますか。

    Do you save money every month?

  4. 72

    ちょきんどころかまいにちのせいかつにもこまっています。

    Far from saving money, I am having trouble even meeting my daily living expenses.

  5. 73

    パーカーさんはフランスごがはなせますか。

    Can Mr. Parker speak French?

  6. 74

    フランスごどころかえいごもあまりはなせないのです。

    Far from speaking French, he cannot even speak English very well.

  7. 75

    ラジオによると、きょうはあめがふるそうですね。

    According to the radio, it is supposed to rain today, isn’t it?

  8. 76

    そうですか。しかし、あめがふるどころかひがてっていますよ。

    Is that so? But far from raining, the sun is shining.

  9. 77

    おくさんのごびょうきはすこしよくなりましたか。

    Has your wife’s illness gotten a little better?

映画
movie
ひま
leisure time, free
ラジオ
radio
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
雨
rain
降る
to fall (rain) (v.i.)
しかし、
however, but
よく
well, skillfully

Answering with strong contrasts · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Two levels of rejection

*飛んでも ない。広い どころか 私たちには せますぎますよ* means "Not at all. Far from being large, it is too small for the residents."

*飛んでも ない* rejects the question emphatically. The *どころか* clause then replaces "large" with the contrary fact.

  1. 78

    いいえ、よくなるどころかわるくなるいっぽうです。

    No, far from getting better, she is only getting worse.

  2. 79

    あなたのかりているいえはひろいですか。

    Is the house you are renting large?

  3. 80

    とんでもない。ひろいどころかわたくしたちにはせますぎますよ。

    Not at all. Far from being large, it is too small for us.

  4. 81

    にほんごはやさしいですか。

    Is Japanese easy?

  5. 82

    このへやはひろいですか。

    Is this room large?

  6. 83

    あなたはまいつきちょきんしますか。

    Do you save money every month?

  7. 84

    あたらしいじどうしゃをかいますか。

    Will you buy a new car?

  8. 85

    にほんごはだんだんやさしくなりますか。

    Is Japanese gradually becoming easier?

いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
家
house, home
だんだん
gradually, step by step

Outrageous things and events · Pattern 2 1 of 3

Outrageous things and events

*きのうの 試験に 飛んでもない 問題が 出ていました* means "There was an outrageous question on yesterday's examination."

Before a noun, *飛んでもない* describes the thing as outrageous, terrible, absurd, or unexpected.

The noun supplies the context

*飛んでもない ひ用が かかりました* means "It cost an outrageous amount of money."

The judgment can apply to a problem, mistake, story, time, person, question, or expense.

  1. 86

    わたくしはとんでもないことをしました。

    I did something outrageous.

  2. 87

    いいえ、とんでもない。

    No, not at all.

  3. 88

    きのうのしけんにとんでもないもんだいがでていました。

    There was an outrageous question on yesterday’s examination.

  4. 89

    とんでもないまちがいをして、しかられました。

    I made a terrible mistake and was scolded.

  5. 90

    とんでもないはなしをききました。

    I heard an outrageous story.

  6. 91

    たなかさんはときどきとんでもないことをいいます。

    Mr. Tanaka sometimes says outrageous things.

  7. 92

    とんでもないときにともだちがあそびにきました。

    A friend came to visit at a terrible time.

  8. 93

    きのうとんでもないひとにあいました。

    Yesterday I met an outrageous person.

  9. 94

    ときどきこどもにとんでもないしつもんをします。

    Sometimes I ask children outrageous questions.

  10. 95

    とんでもないひようがかかりました。

    It cost an outrageous amount of money.

話
story, talk
時々
sometimes, occasionally

Unexpected questions, people and costs · Pattern 2 2 of 3

Outrageous or unexpected

*子供は 時々 飛んでもない しつ問を しますね* means "Children sometimes ask outrageous questions." Here the judgment is "outrageous."

*時々 飛んでもない 所で、飛んでもない人に あうものですね* means "Sometimes you meet the most unexpected people in the most unexpected places."

The noun and its situation determine whether *飛んでもない* means "outrageous" or "unexpected."

  1. 96

    このごろあたらしいいえをたてようとおもうととんでもないひようがかかりますね。

    These days, if you want to build a new house, it costs an outrageous amount of money, doesn’t it?

  2. 97

    ええ、なんでもたかくなりましたからね。

    Yes, because everything has become expensive.

  3. 98

    こどもはときどきとんでもないしつもんをしますね。

    Children sometimes ask outrageous questions, don’t they?

  4. 99

    ええ、わたくしもうちのこどもにときどきへんなしつもんをされてこまることがあるんですよ。

    Yes, sometimes my children ask me strange questions and I do not know what to do.

  5. 100

    ジョンズさんはときどききょうしつでとんでもないことをいってせんせいにしかられるそうですね。

    I hear that Mr. Jones sometimes says outrageous things in class and gets scolded by the teacher.

  6. 101

    ええ、あのせいとはちょっとへんですよ。

    Yes, that student is a little strange.

  7. 102

    ときどきとんでもないところで、とんでもないひとにあうものですね。

    Sometimes you meet the most unexpected people in the most unexpected places, don’t you?

  8. 103

    なぜですか。

    Why?

  9. 104

    さくばんぎんざでパーカーさんにあいましたよ。

    I met Mr. Parker in Ginza last night.

  10. 105

    きのうたなかさんからとんでもないはなしをききましたよ。

    Yesterday I heard an outrageous story from Mr. Tanaka.

思う
to think
うち
home, house
ある
certain, some
れる
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
ちょっと
a little
所
address, place
もの
things (tangible)
なぜ
why?

Things described as outrageous · Pattern 2 3 of 3

Nouns after a strong judgment

*問題* means "question", and *ねだん* means "price". The other lines supply a place, mistake, story, thing, and person.

Each noun can follow *TONDE-MO-NAI*. The completed phrase gives a judgment such as "outrageous", "terrible", or "unexpected."

  1. 106

    どんなはなしですか。

    What kind of story?

  2. 107

    たなかさんのおくさんがにゅういんしているということをききました。

    I heard that Mr. Tanaka’s wife is in the hospital.

  3. 108

    もんだい

    Question.

  4. 109

    ところ

    Place.

  5. 110

    まちがい

    Mistake.

  6. 111

    はなし

    Story.

  7. 112

    こと

    Thing.

  8. 113

    ひと

    Person.

  9. 114

    ねだん

    Price.

Japanese newspapers compared · Questions 1 of 2

Companies, circulation, and differences

The questions ask for the number of companies, the major newspapers, daily circulation, and numbered differences from American newspapers.

*それは 何人に 対して 一部の わり合ですか* means "That is a ratio of one copy for how many people?" The answer gives three and a half people.

*日本の 新聞は 米国の 新聞とくらべて、先づ 第一に どう違いますか* asks for the first difference. The answer gives political neutrality.

  1. 115

    にほんにはしんぶんしゃのかずがおおく、ひゃくにじゅうしゃぐらいあります。そのなかでおおきなしんぶんしゃはあさひ、まいにち、よみうり、さんけいなどです。はっこうぶすうはまいにちにせんろっぴゃくまんぶぐらいで、さんにんはんにたいしていちぶぐらいのわりあいです。はっこうぶすうのいちばんおおいのは、あさひで、まいにちろっぴゃくまんぶぐらいです。にほんのしんぶんをべいこくのとくらべると、まずだいいちににほんのしんぶんはせいじてきにちゅうりつで、どのせいとうにもぞくしていません。つまりせいじしょくがないのです。だいにに、にほんではかくしんぶんがちょうかんとゆうかんをだします。ですから、しないでは

    Japan has many newspaper companies, about 120 of them. Among them, the major newspaper companies include the Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, and Sankei. About 26 million copies are issued each day, which is about one copy for every three and a half people. The Asahi has the largest circulation, about six million copies a day. If we compare Japanese newspapers with those of the United States, first, Japanese newspapers are politically neutral and do not belong to any political party. In other words, they have no political coloring. Second, in Japan each newspaper publishes a morning and an evening edition. Therefore, in the cities...

  2. 116

    そうです。しんぶんはこうこくでもうけるのだから、こうどくりょうはやすくできるはずですが、まだやすくはなりません。しかし、さいきんこうこくりょうのしゅうにゅうがましてきて、こうどくりょうからのしゅうにゅうとはんはんぐらいになりましたから、とうぶんはこうどくりょうはこれいじょうはあがらないでしょう。

    That is right. Since newspapers make money from advertising, subscription rates ought to be low, but they have not become low yet. Recently, however, income from advertising fees has increased and has come to make up about half the revenue, alongside income from subscription fees, so subscription rates probably will not rise any further for the time being.

  3. 117

    にほんにはしんぶんしゃのかずがいくつぐらいありますか。

    About how many newspaper companies are there in Japan?

  4. 118

    そのなかでおおきなしんぶんしゃは?

    Which are the major newspaper companies among them?

  5. 119

    はっこうぶすうはまいにちどのくらいありますか。

    How many copies are issued each day?

  6. 120

    それはなんにんにたいしていちぶのわりあいですか。

    That is a ratio of one copy for how many people?

  7. 121

    はっこうぶすうのいちばんおおいのはどのしんぶんですか。はっこうぶすうはどのくらいありますか。

    Which newspaper has the largest circulation? About how large is its circulation?

  8. 122

    にほんのしんぶんはべいこくのしんぶんとくらべて、まずだいいちにどうちがいますか。

    First of all, how do Japanese newspapers differ from American newspapers?

  9. 123

    だいににどうちがいますか。

    How do they differ in the second place?

  10. 124

    さいごにどうちがいますか。

    Finally, how do they differ?

多く、
many of them
三
three
つまり
in short, in another word
まだ
yet, still
でしょう。
probably (See Gram. Notes)
さい後
last

Deliveries, prices and advertising · Questions 2 of 2

Service, prices, and revenue

The questions ask about deliveries, editions, the monthly subscription, and advertising income.

*日本人に とっては どうですか* means "How is it for Japanese people?" The answer says the subscription is far from cheap and almost too expensive.

  1. 125

    しないでははいたつがなんどありますか。

    How many deliveries are there within the city?

  2. 126

    べいこくでもちょうかんとゆうかんがありますか。

    Are there morning and evening editions in the United States too?

  3. 127

    にほんではしんぶんのこうどくりょうはどのくらいですか。

    How much is a newspaper subscription in Japan?

  4. 128

    よんひゃくごじゅうえんのこうどくりょうはべいこくじんにとってはやすいですか。

    Is a subscription fee of 450 yen inexpensive for Americans?

  5. 129

    にほんじんにとってはどうですか。

    How is it for Japanese people?

  6. 130

    しんぶんはなんでもうけますか。

    How do newspapers make money?

  7. 131

    こうどくりょうからのしゅうにゅうとこうこくのしゅうにゅうはどうですか。

    How do income from subscriptions and income from advertising compare?

  8. 132

    はいたつがにどもあります。べいこくでもあさかんとゆうかんがあることはありますが、かいしゃがちがうか、しんぶんのながちがいます。つまりにほんではサービスがよいということになります。それから、さいごににほんのしんぶんしゃはざっしをたくさんはっこうしています。このてんべいこくのしんぶんしゃとちがいます。にほんではしんぶんのこうどくりょうはいっかげつよんひゃくごじゅうえんです。よんひゃくごじゅうえんといえば、べいこくのおかねになおせばいちドルにじゅうごセントですから、べいこくじんにとってはやすいほうです。しかし、にほんじんにとってはそれはやすいどころかたかすぎるくらいです。とくにのうかにとっては

    There are even two deliveries. There are morning and evening editions in the United States too, but either the companies are different or the names of the newspapers are different. In other words, this means that service is good in Japan. Then, finally, Japanese newspaper companies publish many magazines. In this respect they differ from American newspaper companies. In Japan, a newspaper subscription is 450 yen a month. Speaking of 450 yen, that is one dollar and twenty-five cents when converted into American money, so it is relatively inexpensive for Americans. However, for Japanese people, far from being inexpensive, it is almost too expensive. This is especially true for farm families.

  9. 133

    そうです。しんぶんはこうこくでもうけるのだから、こうどくりょうはやすくできるはずですが、まだやすくはなりません。しかし、さいきんこうこくりょうのしゅうにゅうがましてきて、こうどくりょうからのしゅうにゅうとはんはんぐらいになりましたから、とうぶんはこうどくりょうはこれいじょうはあがらないでしょう。

    That is right. Since newspapers make money from advertising, subscription fees should be able to be kept low, but they have not come down yet. Recently, however, income from advertising has increased and become about equal to income from subscriptions, so subscription fees will probably not go any higher for the time being.

ドル
dollar

Circulation and newspaper company words · Word list 1 of 4

Companies and circulation

This set covers newspaper companies, circulation, and decimal quantities. *新聞社* means "newspaper company", and *発行部数* means "number of circulation".

*三てん五人* means "3.5 persons". The *てん* between the whole number and the final digit marks the decimal point.

  1. 134

    ごよう

    personal business

  2. 135

    しんぶんしゃ

    newspaper company

  3. 136

    まったく

    truly, entirely

  4. 137

    ひゃくにじゅうしゃ

    120 firms

  5. 138

    えいじし

    English paper

  6. 139

    はっこうぶすう

    number of circulation

  7. 140

    さんてんごにん

    3.5 persons

  8. 141

    いちぶ

    a copy

  9. 142

    あさひ

    Asahi Newspaper Co.

  10. 143

    まいにち

    Mainichi Newspaper Co.

  11. 144

    よみうり

    Yomiuri Newspaper Co.

御用
personal business
新聞社
newspaper company
全く
truly, entirely
百二十社
120 firms
英字紙
English paper
発行部数
number of circulation
三てん五人
3.5 persons
朝日
Asahi Newspaper Co.
読売
Yomiuri Newspaper Co.

Politics, attitudes and proportions · Word list 2 of 4

Politics and proportions

This set covers political neutrality, numbered order, and proportions. *中立* means "neutral", and *わり合* means "ratio, rate, proportion".

*第一* means "the number one" or "the first".

  1. 145

    さんぎょうけいざいしんぶん

    Sangyoo Keizai Newspaper Co.

  2. 146

    だいいち

    the number one, the first(See Cult. Notes)

  3. 147

    せいじてきに

    politically

  4. 148

    ちゅうりつ

    neutral

  5. 149

    せいとう

    political party

  6. 150

    ぞくする

    belong (vi)

  7. 151

    せいじしょく

    political color

  8. 152

    たちば

    position, standpoint, attitude

  9. 153

    たいして

    per, to, against

  10. 154

    わりあい

    ratio; rate; proportion

  11. 155

    かく

    each (prefix)

産業経済新聞
Sangyoo Keizai Newspaper Co.
第一
the number one, the first(See Cult. Notes)
政治的に
politically
政とう
political party
ぞくする
belong (vi)
政治色
political color
対して
per, to, against
わり合
ratio; rate; proportion

Editions, subscriptions and advertising · Word list 3 of 4

Editions, prices, and contrasts

This set covers newspaper editions, prices, fees, advertising, and strong contrasts. *朝刊* means "morning edition".

*新聞代* means "newspaper price". *安いどころか 高すぎる* means "Cheap? On the contrary, it is too expensive."

  1. 156

    あさかん

    morning edition

  2. 157

    ゆうかん

    evening edition

  3. 158

    しない

    within a city

  4. 159

    だす

    produce, put out, print (v.t.)

  5. 160

    ねだん

    price

  6. 161

    こうどくりょう

    subscription (charge)

  7. 162

    しんぶんだい

    newspaper price (See Cult, Notes)

  8. 163

    とんでもない

    absurd, preposterous (See Cult, Notes)

  9. 164

    やすいどころかたかすぎる

    cheap? On the contrary it is too expensive (See Gram, Notes)

  10. 165

    こうこく

    advertisement

  11. 166

    もうける

    make profit (y, t.)

市内
within a city
こう読料
subscription (charge)
新聞代
newspaper price (See Cult, Notes)
飛んでもない
absurd, preposterous (See Cult, Notes)
安いどころか高すぎる
cheap? On the contrary it is too expensive (See Gram, Notes)
こうこく
advertisement

Publishing and television words · Word list 4 of 4

Publishing and television

This set covers advertising fees, publishing, proportions, points, and television. *こうこく料* means "advertisement charge".

*カラー テレビ* and *カラー、テレビ* both mean "color television".

  1. 167

    こうこくりょう

    advertisement charge

  2. 168

    はんはん

    half and half

  3. 169

    とうぶん

    for the time being

  4. 170

    はっこうする

    to publish

  5. 171

    てん

    point (See Cult, Notes)

  6. 172

    カラーテレビ

    color television

  7. 173

    カラー、テレビ

    color television

  8. 174

    つまり

    in short, in another word

Guide for Free Conversation

1a Name some of the big newspaper firms in Japan.

1b Compare Japanese newspaper and American newspaper.

1c Talk about number of subscription, subscription fee, etc.

2a Look at the pictures on Pages 284 to 288 and talk about some of the advertisements.
Homework

1 Memorize the Dialogue and the vocabulary.

2 Study Grammar Perception Drill.

3 Study Pattern Practice and do the exercise following 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 given.
こうこく料
advertisement charge
発行する
to publish
てん
point (See Cult, Notes)
カラーテレビ
color television

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.