Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 78

Lesson 80

Reading Japan

125 lines

Shopping for dresses and handbags · Dialogue 1 of 6

A shopping plan

*今日は 買い物に いらっしゃるの*, "Are you going shopping today?" One woman asks about the other woman's plans.

The reply names a dress and a handbag. The women decide to go together to Mitsukoshi in Nihonbashi.

Short forms in conversation

*日本橋の 三越へ 行って見ようと 思ってますの* means "I'm thinking of going to the Mitsukoshi department store in Nihonbashi."

*思ってます* is the spoken short form of *思っています*. The *い* drops, but the meaning does not change.

The final *の* marks the first line as a question. *どちらへ いらっしゃる おつもり* ends without *ですか*.

Kanji: 冗

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

  1. 1

    きょうはかいものにいらっしゃるの。

    Are you going shopping today?

    今日today
    はtopic
    買い物shopping
    にfor
    いらっしゃるare going
    の。question
  2. 2

    ええ、ドレスとハンドバッグがほしいんですの。

    Yes, I want a dress and a handbag.

  3. 3

    どちらへいらっしゃるおつもり。

    Where are you planning to go?

  4. 4

    にほんばしのみつこしへいってみようとおもってますの。

    I’m thinking of going to the Mitsukoshi department store in Nihonbashi.

  5. 5

    おともさせていただけますか。

    May I come with you?

  6. 6

    ねがってもないことですわ。いっしょにきていただけると、あんしんですわ。

    I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’ll feel reassured if you come with me.

Interrogative Particle NO.
OMOTTE MASU (omission of i)
Question without DESU KA
Question ending with TE-form
MAIDO ARIGATOO GOZAIMASU.
Accosting NE (”listen”, ”Say”)
HOOGEN

Explanatory Notes, continued.
今日
today
は
leaves
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
いらっしゃる
to come, go (honorific verb)
の。
See Grammar Notes
ええ、
Yes
ドレス
dress
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
ハンドバッグ
handbag
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
ほしい
want, wish (See Grammar Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
どちら
which of two (See Grammar Notes)
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
三越
Mitsukoshi Department Store
ます
trout
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
わ。
counter for birds (See Gram. Notes)
いただける
can receive

Struggling with rural dialects · Dialogue 2 of 6

Calling for attention

One woman worries that her Japanese is poor. Her friend rejects that concern.

*あのね、この間、米軍の 将校の 奥さんたちを おつれしてね、野田へ 参りましたの* begins her account of a trip to Noda.

*あのね* means "listen" here. It calls for the listener's attention before the speaker continues.

Kanji: 談, 野, 舎

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

  1. 7

    おひとりではなにかごしんぱいですの。

    Is there something you’re worried about if you go alone?

  2. 8

    だってわたくし、まだにほんごがまずいんですもの。

    Well, my Japanese still isn’t very good.

  3. 9

    あら、まだそんなこと。ごじょうだんでしょう。

    Oh, are you still saying that? You must be joking.

  4. 10

    あのね、このあいだ、べいぐんのしょうこうのおくさんたちをおつれしてね、のだへまいりましたの。

    You know, the other day I took some wives of American military officers to Noda.

  5. 11

    それで。

    And then?

  6. 12

    きっこうまんしょうゆのかいしゃをみて、ついでにいなかのほうをさんぽしたときに、のうかのひとびととはなしましたんです。ところが、なんだかちっともわからなくって。

    We toured the Kikkoman Soy Sauce company, and while we were there, we took a walk in the countryside and talked with some farmers. But somehow I couldn’t understand a thing.

一人
one person
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
まだ
yet, still
まずい
poor, tasteless
もの。
things (tangible)
あら、
Oh my!
でしょう。
probably (See Gram. Notes)
ね、
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
米軍
U. S. forces
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
し
city
野田
P. N.
しょうゆ
soy sauce
会社
company, firm
ついで
opportunity
田舎
the country, rural area
時
time
人々
people
ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)
ちっとも
not even a little (See Gram. Notes)

Choosing a flattering dress · Dialogue 3 of 6

Why she understood nothing

*田舎の 人は まだ 方言を 使いますから* means "That's because people in the country still use dialects."

*方言* means "dialect". It explains why the earlier conversation with rural people was difficult.

A question ending in the TE-form

The scene moves to a dress. *この ドレス 私に にあって* means "Does this dress suit me?"

The verb ends in its TE-form, *にあって*. Spoken as a question, this ending asks for the listener's opinion.

*とても、すてき* answers that the dress is very lovely.

  1. 13

    いなかのひとはまだほうげんをつかいますから。

    That’s because people in the country still use dialects.

  2. 14

    そうなんですの。それでね、いままで、にほんごができるといばってたので、ともだちにはわらわれるし、ひやかされるし。

    Is that so? You see, I had been boasting that I could speak Japanese, so my friends laughed at me and teased me.

  3. 15

    ほほ---。まあ!そうだったの。

    Oh! So that’s what happened.

  4. 16

    このドレスわたくしににあって。

    Does this dress suit me?

  5. 17

    とても、すてき。

    It’s very lovely.

  6. 18

    いろもスタイルもとてもおにあいとおもいます。

    I think both the color and the style suit you very well.

の
See Grammar Notes
人
people
方言
dialect (See Cult. Notes)
から。
from (See Gram. Notes)
そう
numerical counter for ships
な
I wish, I hope, huh
まで、
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
出来る
to be manufactured; to be produced (v.i.)
れる
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
し、
city
まあ!
Well! Oh, my!
とても、
very, indeed
すてき。
splendid; stunning, terrific
スタイル
style

Buying the dress · Dialogue 4 of 6

Thanks to a customer

The shopper chooses the dress, and the clerk wraps it. The clerk then directs her to the handbags on the first floor.

*毎度 ありがとう 御ざいます。二千五百円の おつり* means "Thank you for your business. Here is your change of 2,500 yen."

A shop clerk says *毎度 ありがとう 御ざいます* to thank a customer for their patronage.

  1. 19

    わたしもこのいろとてもすきなの。これにするわ。

    I like this color very much too. I’ll take this one.

  2. 20

    おつつみいたしましょう。ほかになにか。

    I’ll wrap it for you. Anything else?

  3. 21

    ハンドバッグ。

    A handbag.

  4. 22

    ハンドバッグでしたら、いっかいにございます。あのエスカレーターでおおりになって、みぎのほうへいらっしゃってください。

    The handbags are on the first floor. Please go down on that escalator and then go to the right.

  5. 23

    ありがとう。

    Thank you.

  6. 24

    まいどありがとうございます。にせんごひゃくえんのおつり。どうも、ありがとうございました。

    Thank you for your business. Here is your change of 2,500 yen. Thank you very much.

とても
very, indeed
好き
to like, be fond of (See Grammar Notes)
ましょう。
let's (See Gram. Notes)
ハンドバッグ。
handbag
一
one
ます。
trout
エスカレーター
escalator
ください。
please give me (See Gram. Notes)
二千
2,000
五百
500
円
yen (unit of money)
つり。
fishing

Comparing expensive handbags · Dialogue 5 of 6

A costly handbag

*この わにがわのは いくら* asks "How much is this crocodile-skin one?" The answer is 43,000 yen.

The shopper calls it very expensive. The clerk offers a smaller one for 38,000 yen and invites her to view the other choices.

*考えて見るわ* means "I'll think about it." The shopper postpones her decision.

Kanji: 考

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

Kanji: 覧

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

  1. 25

    このわにがわのはいくら。

    How much is this crocodile-skin one?

  2. 26

    よんまんさんぜんえんでございます。

    It is 43,000 yen.

  3. 27

    ずいぶんたかいのね。

    That’s very expensive, isn’t it?

  4. 28

    ゆにゅうひんのごくじょうとうでございますので、あちらですと、さんまんはっせんえんでございますが、すこしちいそうございます。

    It is a very high-quality imported item. That one over there is 38,000 yen, but it is a little small.

  5. 29

    そうね。かんがえてみるわ。

    I see. I’ll think about it.

  6. 30

    さようでございますか。ほかにもいろいろたくさんございますから、ごゆっくり、ごらんになってくださいませ。

    Very well. We have many others as well, so please take your time looking around.

いくら。
how much? how many?
四
four
三千
3,000
ずい分
very much
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
ごく
very
上等
superior class; superior quality
あちら
that over there, over there
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
三
three
八千
8,000
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
少し
little (quantity)
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
ゆっくり、
slowly; deliberately; leisurely
ください
please give me (See Gram. Notes)

Deciding to keep looking · Dialogue 6 of 6

Accepting the suggestion

The clerk has invited the shopper to take her time and view the other handbags.

*そうするわ* means "I'll do that." It states the shopper's decision to follow that suggestion.

  1. 31

    そうするわ。

    I’ll do that.

Informal questions in conversation · Perception drill

A question ending in の

*今日は 買い物に いらっしゃる の* means "Are you going shopping today?"

The particle *の* at the end makes the sentence a question. It can follow a verb, including the past form in *もう 夕飯を お食べになった の*.

After a NA-adjective, *な* comes before *の*. *今晩 おひま な の* means "Are you free tonight?"

A question without ですか

*何をしてるの* means "What are you doing?" This informal question ends without *ですか*.

*友だちに 手紙を 書いてるの* means "I'm writing a letter to a friend." The same ending occurs in this statement.

  1. 32

    きょうはかいものにいらっしゃるの。

    Are you going shopping today?

  2. 33

    もうゆうはんをおたべになったの。

    Have you had supper already?

  3. 34

    こんばんおひまなの。

    Are you free tonight?

  4. 35

    なぜですの。

    Why is it?

  5. 36

    なにをしてるの。

    What are you doing?

  6. 37

    ともだちにてがみをかいてるの。

    I’m writing a letter to a friend.

  7. 38

    いつにほんからおかえりになったの。

    When did you return from Japan?

  8. 39

    きのうかえったばかりよ。

    I just got back yesterday.

  9. 40

    おじょうさんもおげんきなの。

    Is your daughter well too?

  10. 41

    ええ、おかげさまで、げんきでまいにちがっこうにいっています。

    Yes, thank you, she is well and goes to school every day.

  11. 42

    ごしゅじんのびょうきはどうなの。

    How is your husband’s illness?

  12. 43

    おかげさまで、まえよりずっとよくなってきましたわ。

    Thank you for asking; he has gotten much better than before.

  13. 44

    ごしゅじんにいわないででていってもいいの。

    Is it all right to go out without telling your husband?

  14. 45

    しゅじんはもうしっているから、いいのよ。

    It’s all right, because my husband already knows.

もう
already (See Gram. Notes)
ひま
leisure time, free
なぜ
why?
てる
to shine (v.i.)
手紙
letter (correspondence)
いつ
when?
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
帰り
return trip (See notes)
ばかり
about
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
毎日
Mainichi Newspaper Co.
前
before, front
より
than (See Gram. Notes)
ずっと
by far; very much
よく
well, skillfully
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)

Asking informal everyday questions · Pattern 1 1 of 3

Informal questions about actions

*今晩 映画を 見にいらっしゃる の* means "Are you going to see a movie tonight?"

The sentence-final *の* marks this question about an action. *いつ お帰りになった の* asks "When did you return?"

Informal questions after adjectives

*あなた 魚が お好きな の* means "Do you like fish?"

The NA-adjective *お好き* takes *な* before the question particle *の*. The pattern is *お好きな の*.

  1. 46

    こんばんえいがをみにいらっしゃるの。

    Are you going to see a movie tonight?

  2. 47

    なぜですの。

    Why is it?

  3. 48

    いつおかえりになったの。

    When did you return?

  4. 49

    あなたさかながおすきなの。

    Do you like fish?

  5. 50

    いつにほんへいらっしゃるの。

    When are you coming to Japan?

  6. 51

    いつとうきょうへいてんなさるの。

    When are you moving to Tokyo?

  7. 52

    なによんでるの。

    What are you reading?

  8. 53

    ながいあいだおまちになったの。

    Did you wait a long time?

  9. 54

    もうゆうはんをおあがりになったの。

    Have you had supper already?

映画
movie
なさる
to do (honorific verb) (See Notes)
でる
to go out (v.i.)
上り
up train (See Cultural Notes)

Asking about needs and plans · Pattern 1 2 of 3

What someone needs or knows

*こんな物(が)必要なの* means "Do you need something like this?"

The final *の* asks about a condition. *奥さんは スミスさんを 御ぞんじなの* means "Do you know Mr. Smith?"

How long someone plans to stay

*何日ぐらい 箱根に 御とうりゅうなさる おつもりなの* asks "How many days are you planning to stay in Hakone?"

The reply is *三日ぐらい とうりゅうしようと 思ってるの*, "I'm thinking of staying for about three days." The informal *の* occurs in both lines.

  1. 55

    あたまがいたいの。

    Does your head hurt?

  2. 56

    こんなもの(が)ひつようなの。

    Do you need something like this?

  3. 57

    あなたやさいがきらいなの。

    Do you dislike vegetables?

  4. 58

    いつごろおおさかにおひっこしになるの。

    About when are you moving to Osaka?

  5. 59

    らいげつのはじめよ。

    At the beginning of next month.

  6. 60

    おくさんはスミスさんをごぞんじなの。

    Do you know Mr. Smith?

  7. 61

    ええ、もうにさんねんまえからぞんじていますのよ。

    Yes, I’ve known him for two or three years now.

  8. 62

    なんにちぐらいはこねにごとうりゅうなさるおつもりなの。

    How many days are you planning to stay in Hakone?

  9. 63

    みっかぐらいとうりゅうしようとおもってるの。

    I’m thinking of staying for about three days.

頭
head, mind
やさい
vegetable
きらい
dislike (See Gram. Notes)
ひっこし
moving, change of address
来月
next month
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
ぐらい
about

Contrasting informal and polite questions · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Informal and polite question endings

*どこで 日本語を お習いになったの* means "Where did you learn Japanese?" The final *の* marks an informal question.

*いつごろ 日本へ いらっしゃいますか* means "About when are you coming to Japan?" The polite question ends in *ですか* or *ますか*.

The choice of ending changes the level of formality, not the question being asked.

  1. 64

    まだごしゅじんをむかえにいかなくてもいいの。

    Don’t you have to go pick up your husband yet?

  2. 65

    いくのですが、まださんじゅっぷんあるから、いそがなくてもいいのよ。

    I’m going, but there are still thirty minutes, so you don’t have to hurry.

  3. 66

    どこでにほんごをおならいになったの。

    Where did you learn Japanese?

  4. 67

    べいこくのがっこうでならいましたの。

    I learned it at a school in the United States.

  5. 68

    いつごろにほんへいらっしゃいますか。

    About when are you coming to Japan?

  6. 69

    おこさんはおげんきですか。

    Is your child well?

  7. 70

    さかながすきですか。

    Do you like fish?

  8. 71

    なぜいきませんでしたか。

    Why didn’t you go?

  9. 72

    いつごろにほんをたつおつもりですか。

    About when do you plan to leave Japan?

三十
30
分
minute
ある
certain, some
いらっしゃい
please come; please go (See Cult. notes)
たつ
to pass (time), elapse

Asking what someone bought · Reading Selection

The understood item

*どんなのを 買いましたか* means "What kind did you buy?"

The noun for the purchased item is understood. *どんなの* asks what kind of item it was.

  1. 73

    どんなのをかいましたか。

    What kind did you buy?

どんな
what kind of; what sort of

Retelling the shopping trip · Questions 1 of 2

Why the shopping trip mattered

The account explains why Mrs. Miller wanted company while shopping. A failed conversation with rural speakers had damaged her confidence in Japanese.

*なぜ 自信がなくなりましたか* asks "Why did she lose her confidence?" An answer gives the failed conversation and her friends' reactions.

  1. 74

    ミラーふじんはドレスとハンドバッグがほしいので、にほんばしのみつこしへかいものにいこうとおもっていました。はやかわふじんもおともをすることにしました。ひとりでいくのはしんぱいなので、はやかわふじんにおともをしてもらうことはミラーふじんにとってはねがってもないことでした。じつは、ミラーふじんはにほんごにはかなりじしん(confidence)があったのですが、このあいだべいぐんのしょうこうのおくさんたちをつれて、のだのきっこうまんしょうゆのかいしゃをたずねていったとき、いなかのひとびととはなしたところが、なんだかちっともわからなかったそうです。

    Mrs. Miller wanted a dress and a handbag, so she was thinking of going shopping at Mitsukoshi in Nihonbashi. Mrs. Hayakawa decided to go along too. Since Mrs. Miller was worried about going alone, having Mrs. Hayakawa accompany her was more than she could have hoped for. Actually, Mrs. Miller had been fairly confident in her Japanese, but the other day, when she took the wives of some U.S. military officers to visit the Kikkoman Soy Sauce company in Noda and spoke with the local people, she apparently could not understand a thing for some reason.

  2. 75

    それで、いままではにほんごができるといばっていたのに、ともだちにはわらわれるし、ひやかされるし、すっかりじしんをなくしてしまったそうです。ミラーふじんとはやかわふじんはデパートについて、さんがいにのぼり、いろいろのドレスをみてあるきました。ひとつきにいったドレスがありました。それはいろもスタイルもミラーふじんにとてもよくにあうとおんなてんいんもいっていたので、それをかうことにしました。それから、ハンドバッグをかいにエスカレーターでいっかいにおりていきました。ひとつわにがわのいいのがありましたが、それはよんまんさんぜんえんで、

    Although she had been boasting until then that she could speak Japanese, her friends laughed at her and teased her, and she apparently lost all her confidence. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Hayakawa arrived at the department store, went up to the third floor, and walked around looking at various dresses. There was one dress that she liked. The saleswoman also said that both its color and style suited Mrs. Miller very well, so she decided to buy it. Then they took the escalator down to the first floor to buy a handbag. There was a nice crocodile-skin one, but it was forty-three thousand yen, and

  3. 76

    すこしたかすぎましたから、ほかのすこしやすいのをかってかえりました。

    since it was a little too expensive, she bought another, slightly cheaper one and went home.

  4. 77

    ミラーふじんはなにがほしいでしたか。

    What did Mrs. Miller want?

  5. 78

    どこへかいものにいこうとおもっていましたか。

    Where was she thinking of going shopping?

  6. 79

    だれがおともをしたいといっていましたか。

    Who said that she wanted to accompany her?

  7. 80

    なぜはやかわふじんにおともをしてもらうことはミラーふじんにとってはねがってもないことでしたか。

    Why was having Mrs. Hayakawa accompany her more than Mrs. Miller could have hoped for?

  8. 81

    ミラーふじんはにほんごにはかなりじしんがありましたか。

    Was Mrs. Miller fairly confident in her Japanese?

  9. 82

    なぜじしんがなくなりましたか。

    Why did she lose her confidence?

  10. 83

    きっこうまんしょうゆのかいしゃはどこにありますか。

    Where is the Kikkoman Soy Sauce company?

もらう
to receive (tangible things)
かなり
fairly
自信
confidence
時、
time
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
上り、
up train (See Cultural Notes)
女
female
買う
to buy
すぎ
past, after
だれ
who?

Details of the handbag purchase · Questions 2 of 2

Locations, choices, and price

The questions ask where the items were, what Mrs. Miller chose, and why she rejected one handbag.

*わにがわの ハンドバッグは いくらでしたか* asks "How much was the crocodile-skin handbag?" An answer gives its price.

*なぜ 買いませんでしたか* asks for the reason she did not buy it.

  1. 84

    ドレスはみつこしデパートのなんがいにありますか。

    What floor of the Mitsukoshi department store are the dresses on?

  2. 85

    きにいったドレスがありましたか。

    Was there a dress that she liked?

  3. 86

    そのドレスはミラーふじんによくにあいましたか。

    Did that dress suit Mrs. Miller well?

  4. 87

    そのドレスをかうことにしましたか。

    Did she decide to buy that dress?

  5. 88

    ハンドバッグはどこにありましたか。

    Where were the handbags?

  6. 89

    いっかいまでなんでおりましたか。

    How did they go down to the first floor?

  7. 90

    わにがわのハンドバッグはいくらでしたか。

    How much was the crocodile-skin handbag?

  8. 91

    それをかうことにしましたか。

    Did she decide to buy it?

  9. 92

    なぜかいませんでしたか。

    Why didn’t she buy it?

いくら
how much? how many?

Shopping expressions and question forms · Word list 1 of 3

Planning and speaking informally

These words cover shopping and informal conversation. *ハンドバッグ* means "handbag".

*---てます* is the short form of *TE IMASU*. *あのね* calls for attention before a speaker continues.

  1. 93

    ---の

    interrogative particle (See Gram. Notes)

  2. 94

    ハンドバッグ

    handbag

  3. 95

    どちら

    where, which way

  4. 96

    みつこし

    Mitsukoshi Department Store

  5. 97

    ねがってもないこと

    Couldn’t ask for anything better.

  6. 98

    おつもり

    do you intend to --- (See Cult. Notes)

  7. 99

    だって

    but

  8. 100

    ---てます

    abbreviation of TE IMASU (See Cult. Notes)

  9. 101

    あら

    Oh my!

  10. 102

    あのね

    well, why, listen,look

  11. 103

    べいぐん

    U. S. forces

---の
interrogative particle (See Gram. Notes)
願ってもない事
Couldn’t ask for anything better.
おつもり
do you intend to --- (See Cult. Notes)
だって
but
---てます
abbreviation of TE IMASU (See Cult. Notes)
あら
Oh my!
あのね
well, why, listen,look

Dialects, boasting and teasing · Word list 2 of 3

Speech and reactions

These words describe the rural conversation and its social result. *方言* means "dialect".

*いばる* means "boast" or "brag". *ひやかす* means "to tease" or "make fun of".

  1. 104

    のだ

    P. N.

  2. 105

    きっこうまんしょうゆ

    Kikkoman Soy Sauce

  3. 106

    いなか

    the country, rural area

  4. 107

    わからなくって

    colloquial of wakaranakute

  5. 108

    ほうげん

    dialect (See Cult. Notes)

  6. 109

    いばってた

    was boasting

  7. 110

    わらう

    to laugh

  8. 111

    いばる

    boast, brag (v.t.)

  9. 112

    ほほ---

    ho, ho, ho -- (laugh)

  10. 113

    ひやかす

    to tease; make fun of

  11. 114

    (に)にあう

    be becoming

きっこうまんしょうゆ
Kikkoman Soy Sauce
わからなくって
colloquial of wakaranakute
いばってた
was boasting
笑う
to laugh
いばる
boast, brag (v.t.)
ほほ---
ho, ho, ho -- (laugh)
ひやかす
to tease; make fun of
(に)にあう
be becoming

Sales, style and quality · Word list 3 of 3

Inside the department store

These words cover store staff, customer service, and goods. *女店員* means "salesgirl".

*毎度ありがとう御ざいます* thanks a customer for their patronage. *上等* means "superior quality".

  1. 115

    すてき

    splendid; stunning, terrific

  2. 116

    おんなてんいん

    salesgirl

  3. 117

    スタイル

    style

  4. 118

    いっかい

    first floor

  5. 119

    エスカレーター

    escalator

  6. 120

    まいどありがとうございます

    thank you for your patronage (See Cult. Notes)

  7. 121

    おつり

    change

  8. 122

    わにがわ

    alligator leather

  9. 123

    じょうとう

    superior class; superior quality

  10. 124

    じしん

    confidence

  11. 125

    なくする

    to lose

Guide for Free Conversation

Guide for Free Conversation.
Homework

1 Study the Dialogue so that you can converse in masculine form.

2 Memorise the vocabulary.

3 Study the Grammar Perception Drill.

4 Study Pattern Practice and do the exercise following each pattern.

5 Learn to read and write new Kanji.

6 Read the Explanatory Notes.

7 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercise.
すてき
splendid; stunning, terrific
女店員
salesgirl
一階
first floor
毎度ありがとう御ざいます
thank you for your patronage (See Cult. Notes)
おつり
change
わにがわ
alligator leather
なくする
to lose

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.