Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 8

Lesson 8

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

97 lines

Identifying teachers and students · Dialogue 1 of 4

A teacher and a student

One speaker says *わたくしは せんせいですね*, "I am a teacher, am I not?" The other confirms the identity.

They then identify a teacher's field. *あなたは にっぽんごの せんせいです* means "You are a Japanese language teacher."

Agreement and a field

The particle *ね* ends *あなたは せいとですね*, "You are a student, aren't you?" The speaker expects agreement.

In *にっぽんごの せんせい*, the particle *の* places the field before the occupation.

Katakana: サ to ゾ

Each kana is one syllable. Read the kana, then its sound in romaji.

Katakana: タ to ド

Each kana is one syllable. Read the kana, then its sound in romaji.

  1. 1

    わたくしはせんせいですね。

    I am a teacher, am I not?

    わたくしI
    はtopic
    せんせいteacher
    ですam
    ね。right?
  2. 2

    はい、あなたはせんせいです。

    Yes, you are a teacher.

  3. 3

    わたくしはなんのせんせいですか。

    I am a teacher of what?

  4. 4

    あなたはにっぽんごのせんせいです。

    You are a Japanese language teacher.

  5. 5

    あなたはせいとですね。

    You are a student, aren't you?

Particle NE

The particle NE is used at the end of a sentence when the speaker wants to express his feeling politely that the person spoken to is of the same opinion. Therefore, the speaker normally expects HAI (Yes, I agree with what you said) from the person spoken to.

ANATA WA SEITO DESU NE. "You are a student, aren't you?"

HAI, WATAKUSHI WA SEITO DESU. "Yes, I am a student."
Particle NO to form NO-adjectives

The particle NO has many different functions, placed between two nouns, it usually makes the first noun the modifier of the second noun. The particle NO is usually placed after a concrete noun or a personal noun to modify the noun that follows it. In Pattern 2A, NIPPONGO is used to modify the noun SENSEI, and the particle NO is placed between two nouns to add the meaning of 'of.' And in Pattern 2b, the noun RIKUGUN modifies the noun GUNJIN, and the particle NO adds the sense of 'in.' The combination

of a noun and NO is called the NO-adjective.
Particle TO

The particle TO also has many functions, one of them is to indicate that the substantive (noun or pronoun) to which it is attached is in a series of substantives, all named 'and.' It may or may not be attached to the last substantive, e.g.,

ANATA TO WATAKUSHI (TO) you and I

PEN TO INKI (TO) pen and ink

SENSEI TO SEITO (TO) a teacher and student

Thus, the particle TO is used to join only nouns and pronouns in a sentence and not other words, such as verbs and adjectives.
Particle GA

The particle GA has several uses. Coming between two independent clauses of a compound sentence, it functions as a conjunction to connect two clauses and means 'but' or 'and.' It means 'but' when the clauses express two opposing or contrasting ideas. But when the opposition or contrast between the two clauses is very weak, it may be translated

'and.'

Examples:

WATAKUSHI WA SHOOKOO DESU GA ANOKATA WA KASHIKAN DESU. "I am an officer and he is a NCO."

KORE WA AKAI DESU GA ARE WA AOI DESU. "This is red, but that over there is blue."
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
の
See Grammar Notes
と
and (See Gram. Notes)

Students and military personnel · Dialogue 2 of 4

Students and service members

The speakers identify people by affiliation. *わたくしは にっぽんごの せいとです* means "I am a Japanese language student."

*あのかたは かいぐんの ぐんじんです* means "That person is a Navy man." The affiliation comes before the role.

  1. 6

    はい、わたくしはせいとです。

    Yes, I am a student.

  2. 7

    あなたはにっぽんごのせいとですか。

    Are you a Japanese language student?

  3. 8

    はい、そうです。わたくしはにっぽんごのせいとです。

    Yes, that's right. I am a Japanese language student.

  4. 9

    あのかたはかいぐんのぐんじんですか。

    Is that person (he) a Navy man?

  5. 10

    はい、あのかたはかいぐんのぐんじんです。

    Yes, that person (he) is a Navy man.

Army and Navy personnel · Dialogue 3 of 4

Army or Navy

One speaker asks *あなたも かいぐんの ぐんじんですか*, "Are you a Navy man, too?" The answer is negative.

The next question names the Army. *わたくしは りくぐんの ぐんじんです* answers, "I am an Army man."

  1. 11

    あなたもかいぐんのぐんじんですか。

    Are you a Navy man, too?

  2. 12

    いいえ、そうではありません。

    No, it isn't so.

  3. 13

    では、あなたはりくぐんのぐんじんですか。

    Then, are you an Army man?

  4. 14

    はい、そうです。わたくしはりくぐんのぐんじんです。

    Yes, that's right. I am an Army man.

  5. 15

    あなたはりくぐんのしょうこうですか。

    Are you an Army officer?

Ranks, officers and enlisted personnel · Dialogue 4 of 4

Rank and role

The speakers ask about rank and whether two people are officers. *あなたの かいきゅうは なんですか* means "What is your rank?"

*わたくしは ちゅういです* answers, "I am a First Lieutenant."

Two people, different roles

In *そのかたと あなた*, the particle *と* joins "that person and you."

*わたくしは しょうこうですが、 このかたは しょうこうでは ありません* uses the particle *が* to mean "but" and contrast the two roles.

  1. 16

    はい、わたくしはりくぐんのしょうこうです。

    Yes, I am an Army officer.

  2. 17

    あなたのかいきゅうはなんですか。

    What is your rank?

  3. 18

    わたくしはちゅういです。

    I am a First Lieutenant.

  4. 19

    そのかたとあなたはりくぐんのしょうこうですか。

    Are that person (he) and you Army officers?

  5. 20

    いいえ、わたくしはしょうこうですが、このかたはしょうこうではありません。かしかんです。

    No, I am an officer, but this person (he) is not an officer. He is a NCO.

ちゅうい
first lieutenant
が、
but (See Gram. Notes)

Seeking agreement about identities · Pattern 1 1 of 2

An identity offered for agreement

*あなたは せいとですね* means "You are a student, aren't you?" The ending presents the identity and seeks agreement.

Agreement with ね

The particle *ね* at the end of a sentence politely shows that the speaker expects the listener to agree.

*あのかたは しょうこうですね* means "That person over there is an officer, isn't he?" A usual agreeing answer begins with *はい*.

  1. 21

    あなたはせいとですね。

    You are a student, aren't you?

  2. 22

    あなたはぐんじんですね。

    You are a military man, aren't you?

  3. 23

    あのかたはしょうこうですね。

    That person over there is an officer, isn't he?

  4. 24

    わたくしはせんせいですね。

    I am a teacher, am I not?

  5. 25

    あなたはせいとですね。

    You are a student, aren't you?

  6. 26

    これはきょうかしょですね。

    This is a textbook, isn't it?

  7. 27

    あのかたはたなかさんですね。

    He is Mr. Tanaka, isn't he?

Confirming roles and occupations · Pattern 1 2 of 2

A statement and confirmation

*あのかたは せんせいですね* means "That person over there is a teacher, isn't he?" Sentence-final *ね* seeks agreement.

*はい、 あのかたは せんせいです* confirms it: "Yes, he is a teacher." The answer matches the statement without *ね*.

  1. 28

    あのかたはかしかんですね。

    He is a NCO, isn't he?

  2. 29

    あなたはせいとですね。

    You are a student, aren't you?

  3. 30

    はい、わたくしはせいとです。

    Yes, I am a student.

  4. 31

    あのかたはせんせいですね。

    That person over there is a teacher, isn't he?

  5. 32

    はい、あのかたはせんせいです。

    Yes, he is a teacher.

  6. 33

    あなたはしょうこうですね。

    You are an officer, aren't you?

  7. 34

    はい、わたくしはしょうこうです。

    Yes, I am an officer.

Linking organizations and occupations · Pattern 2 1 of 2

The field before the occupation

*わたくしは にっぽんごの せんせいです* means "I am a teacher of the Japanese language."

In *にっぽんごの せんせい*, "Japanese language" describes "teacher." The particle *の* stands between the two nouns.

Linking two nouns with の

The particle *の* between two nouns usually makes the first noun modify the second. A noun followed by *の* is called a NO-adjective.

*あのかたは りくぐんの ぐんじんです* means "That person over there is a member of the Army." Here *の* adds the sense "in."

  1. 35

    わたくしはにっぽんごのせんせいです。

    I am a teacher of the Japanese language.

  2. 36

    そのかたはかいぐんのしょうこうです。

    That person is a Navy officer.

  3. 37

    わたくしはにっぽんごのせいとです。

    I am a student of the Japanese language.

  4. 38

    あのかたはりくぐんのぐんじんです。

    That person over there is a member of the Army.

  5. 39

    あのかたはがっこうのせんせいです。

    That person over there is a school teacher.

  6. 40

    あのかたはかいへいたいのしょうこうです。

    That person over there is a Marine Corps officer.

  7. 41

    そのかたはくうぐんのかしかんです。

    That person is an Air Force NCO.

Asking about military affiliations · Pattern 2 2 of 2

A specific affiliation

*あなたは このがっこうの せんせいですか* asks, "Are you a teacher of this school?" The NO-adjective *このがっこうの* describes the teacher's affiliation.

*わたくしは このがっこうの にっぽんごの せんせいです* confirms both the school and the field: "I am a Japanese teacher of this school."

  1. 42

    あのかたはかいぐんのしょうこうですか。

    Is that person over there a Navy officer?

  2. 43

    いいえ、あのかたはかいぐんのしょうこうではありません。かいへいたいのしょうこうです。

    No, that person over there is not a Navy officer. He is a Marine Corps officer.

  3. 44

    あなたはこのがっこうのせんせいですか。

    Are you a teacher of this school?

  4. 45

    はい、わたくしはこのがっこうのにっぽんごのせんせいです。

    Yes, I am a Japanese teacher of this school.

  5. 46

    あのかたはりくぐんのかしかんですか。

    Is that person over there an Army NCO?

  6. 47

    いいえ、そうではありません。くうぐんのかしかんです。

    No, that isn't so. He is an Air Force NCO.

Joining people and things · Pattern 3 1 of 2

Two people in one statement

*スミスさんと わたくしは かいぐんの しょうこうです* means "Mr. Smith and I are Navy officers."

The particle *と* joins *スミスさん* and *わたくし* as the two people described.

Joining nouns with と

The particle *と* means "and" and joins nouns or pronouns. It does not join verbs or adjectives.

*かべ と てんじょうは しろいです* means "The wall and ceiling are white." The joined nouns share one description.

  1. 48

    スミスさんとわたくしはかいぐんのしょうこうです。

    Mr. Smith and I are Navy officers.

  2. 49

    スミスさんとわたくしはぐんじんです。

    Mr. Smith and I are servicemen.

  3. 50

    やまもとさんとつちやさんはせんせいです。

    Mr. Yamamoto and Mr. Tsuchiya are teachers.

  4. 51

    かべとてんじょうはしろいです。

    The wall and ceiling are white.

  5. 52

    スミスさんとやまださんはぐんそうです。

    Mr. Smith and Mr. Yamada are sergeants.

  6. 53

    えんぴつとはこはつくえのうえにあります。

    Pencils and boxes are on the desk.

しろい
white

Asking about groups of people · Pattern 3 2 of 2

Several people, one role

*ブラウンさん と スミスさん と グリーンさんは せいとです* means "Mr. Brown, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Green are students." The particle *と* joins the three people.

*スミスさん と グリーンさんは りくぐんの しょうこうですか* asks whether two people share the description "Army officers."

  1. 54

    ブラウンさんとスミスさんとグリーンさんはせいとです。

    Mr. Brown, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Green are students.

  2. 55

    スミスさんとグリーンさんはりくぐんのしょうこうですか。

    Are Mr. Smith and Mr. Green Army officers?

  3. 56

    はい、スミスさんとグリーンさんはりくぐんのしょうこうです。

    Yes, Mr. Smith and Mr. Green are Army officers.

  4. 57

    はまむらさんとさかいさんはこのがっこうのせいとですか。

    Are Mr. Hamamura and Mr. Sakai students of this school?

  5. 58

    いいえ、はまむらさんとさかいさんはこのがっこうのせんせいです。

    No, Mr. Hamamura and Mr. Sakai are teachers of this school.

Contrasting people and objects · Pattern 4 1 of 2

Two opposing descriptions

*スミスさんは しょうこうですが、 ブラウンさんは しょうこうでは ありません* means "Mr. Smith is an officer, but Mr. Brown is not an officer."

The first clause is affirmative. The second clause gives the opposing negative description.

Connecting clauses with が

The particle *が* connects two independent clauses. It means "but" when their ideas oppose or contrast.

*これは あかいですが、 それは あおいです* means "This is red, but that is blue." A weak contrast can give *が* the meaning "and."

  1. 59

    スミスさんはしょうこうですが、ブラウンさんはしょうこうではありません。

    Mr. Smith is an officer, but Mr. Brown is not an officer.

  2. 60

    これはにっぽんごのほんですが、それはにっぽんごのほんではありません。

    This is a Japanese book, but that is not a Japanese book.

  3. 61

    これはあかいですが、それはあおいです。

    This is red, but that is blue.

  4. 62

    このかたはぐんじんですが、あのかたはぐんじんではありません。

    This person is a soldier, but that person over there is not a soldier.

  5. 63

    たなかさんはせいとですが、やまもとさんはせんせいです。

    Mr. Tanaka is a student, but Mr. Yamamoto is a teacher.

  6. 64

    あかいえんぴつはながいですが、くろいえんぴつはみじかいです。

    The red pencil is long, but the black pencil is short.

  7. 65

    あれはおおきいまどですが、これはちいさいまどです。

    That over there is a big window, but this is a small window.

あかい
red
あおい
blue
くろい
black

Correcting contrasts between people · Pattern 4 2 of 2

A group separated by contrast

*スミスさんと ブラウンさんは りくぐんの しょうこうですか* means "Are Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown Army officers?" The particle *と* groups them.

*スミスさんは りくぐんの しょうこうですが、 ブラウンさんは くうぐんの しょうこうです* means "Mr. Smith is an Army officer, but Mr. Brown is an Air Force officer." The particle *が* separates the descriptions.

  1. 66

    スミスさんとブラウンさんはりくぐんのしょうこうですか。

    Are Mr. Smith and Mr. Brown Army officers?

  2. 67

    いいえ、スミスさんはりくぐんのしょうこうですが、ブラウンさんはくうぐんのしょうこうです。

    No, Mr. Smith is an Army officer, but Mr. Brown is an Air Force officer.

  3. 68

    これとそれはにっぽんごのきょうかしょですか。

    Are this and that Japanese textbooks?

  4. 69

    いいえ、それはにっぽんごのきょうかしょですが、これはにっぽんごのきょうかしょではありません。

    No, that is a Japanese textbook, but this is not a Japanese textbook.

  5. 70

    たなかさんとたきもとさんはせんせいですか。

    Are Mr. Tanaka and Mr. Takimoto teachers?

  6. 71

    いいえ、たきもとさんはせんせいですが、たなかさんはせいとです。

    No, Mr. Takimoto is a teacher, but Mr. Tanaka is a student.

Armed services and junior ranks · Word list 1 of 3

Services and junior ranks

These words cover the armed services and military rank. *りくぐん* means "Army," and *かいぐん* means "Navy."

They also name junior enlisted ranks, including *ごちょう*, "corporal."

  1. 72

    りくぐん

    Army

  2. 73

    かいぐん

    Navy

  3. 74

    くうぐん

    Air Force

  4. 75

    かいへいたい

    Marine Corps

  5. 76

    かいきゅう

    rank

  6. 77

    にとうへい

    private 1

  7. 78

    いっとうへい

    private 2

  8. 79

    じょうとうへい

    private 1st class

  9. 80

    ごちょう

    corporal

りくぐん
Army
かいぐん
Navy
くうぐん
Air Force
かいへいたい
Marine Corps
かいきゅう
rank
にとうへい
private 1
いっとうへい
private 2
じょうとうへい
private 1st class
ごちょう
corporal

Noncommissioned and junior officer ranks · Word list 2 of 3

Noncommissioned and officer ranks

These words cover noncommissioned and junior officer ranks. *ぐんそう* means "sergeant," and *しょうい* means "second lieutenant."

The list continues through *たいい*, "captain."

  1. 81

    ぐんそう

    sergeant

  2. 82

    にとうぐんそう

    staff sergeant

  3. 83

    いっとうぐんそう

    sergeant 1st class

  4. 84

    そうちょう

    master sergeant

  5. 85

    とくむそうちょう

    sergeant major

  6. 86

    じゅんい

    warrant officer

  7. 87

    しょうい

    second lieutenant

  8. 88

    ちゅうい

    first lieutenant

  9. 89

    たいい

    captain

ぐんそう
sergeant
にとうぐんそう
staff sergeant
いっとうぐんそう
sergeant 1st class
そうちょう
master sergeant
とくむそうちょう
sergeant major
じゅんい
warrant officer
しょうい
second lieutenant
たいい
captain

Senior ranks and connectors · Word list 3 of 3

Ranks and connections

These words cover senior officer ranks, particles, and agreement. *しょうさ* means "major," and *たいさ* means "colonel."

The list also contains particles and *そうです*, "that's right" or "it is so."

  1. 90

    しょうさ

    major

  2. 91

    ちゅうさ

    lt. colonel

  3. 92

    たいさ

    colonel

  4. 93

    ね

    isn't it (See Grammar Notes)

  5. 94

    の

    See Grammar Notes

  6. 95

    が

    but (See Gram. Notes)

  7. 96

    と

    and (See Gram. Notes)

  8. 97

    そうです

    that's right; it is so

Homework Assignment

1 Listen to the tape and practice pronunciation.

2 Memorize the Dialogue.

3 Read the Grammar Notes.

4 Practice reading and writing of KATAKANA.
しょうさ
major
ちゅうさ
lt. colonel
たいさ
colonel
ね
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
そうです
that's right; it is so

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.