Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 9

Lesson 9

Sounds, kana, and the first conversations

102 lines

Identifying a language school · Dialogue 1 of 5

A school and its field

One speaker asks whether this is a school, what kind it is, and which institution operates it.

*これは なんの がっこうですか* asks, "What school is this?" *それは がいこくごの がっこうです* means "That is a school for foreign languages."

*いいえ、 それは こくぼうしょうの がいごがっこうです* identifies the Defense Department's foreign language school.

Katakana: ナ to ホ

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

Katakana: バ to ポ

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

  1. 1

    これはがっこうですか。

    Is this a school?

    これthis
    はtopic
    がっこうschool
    ですis
    か。question
  2. 2

    はい、それはがっこうです。

    Yes, that is a school.

  3. 3

    これはなんのがっこうですか。

    What school is this?

  4. 4

    それはがいこくごのがっこうです。

    That is a school for foreign languages.

  5. 5

    これはりくぐんのがいごがっこうですか。

    Is this the Army's foreign language school?

  6. 6

    いいえ、それはこくぼうしょうのがいごがっこうです。

    No, that is the Defense Department's foreign language school.

Humble and Honorific Words

In Japanese certain words are honorific in themselves and certain other words are humble in themselves, but most words can be made either honorific or humble. Nouns are made honorific in several ways, one way is to use o in front of them. The prefix o, therefore, is called the 'honorific O.' The nouns thus made honorific generally refer to persons or things that are connected with second and third persons and not with the first person or speaker himself.

Thus, in Pattern 1A, the speaker uses the word ONAMAE 'your name,' because he wishes to be polite to the person to whom he speaks, and in Pattern 1B, the honorific O is not used in front of the word NAMAE because it is poor social form for the speaker to be honorific of anything connected with himself. Similarly, the word OTOMODACHI, 'your, his, her, or their friend,' is used by the speaker to refer to a person or persons who are connected to the second or third persons and not with the speaker himself.

KONO-OKATA is politer than the word KONO-KATA. The

word KANAI refers to one's own wife, whereas the word OKUSAN is used by the speaker to refer to the wife of the second or the third person. The word DONATA is politer than the word DARE.
Conjunctive form of DESU

The ways in which two sentences are combined into a compound sentence differ depending upon the first sentence. When the first sentence ends in a noun or a pronoun plus DESU, the DESU is changed to DE which not only retains the original meaning of the copula DESU, but also has the additional notion of 'and.'

Examples:

KORE WA ENPITSU DESU (1) "This is a pencil." KORE WA PEN DESU (2) "This is a pen."

When you combine these two sentences (1) and (2), they will become: KORE WA ENPITSU DE KORE WA PEN DESU. "This is a pencil and this is a pen."

KORE WA ENPITSU DESU (1) "This is a pencil."

IRO WA AKAI DESU (2) "The color is red."

When you combine (1) and (2), they will become: KORE WA ENPITSU DE, IRO WA AKAI DESU. "This is a pencil and the color is red."
MO--MO--DESU

When used after each of two substantives (nouns and pronouns) which are the subjects of a sentence ending with an affirmative predicate, the MO expresses 'both --- and.' In the following examples, if you combine sentences (1) and (2), they will become sentence (3).

Examples:

KORE WA HON DESU. "This is a book."

SORE MO HON DESU. "That is a book, too."

KORE MO SORE MO HON DESU. "Both this and that are books."

KONO HON WA AKAI DESU. "This book is red."

SONO HON MO AKAI DESU. "That book is also red."

KONO HON MO SONO HON MO AKAI DESU. "Both this book and that book are red."
MO--MO--DEWA ARIMASEN

When used after each of two substantives (nouns and pronouns) which are the subjects of a sentence ending with a negative predicate, the MO expresses 'neither--nor--.' In the following examples, if you combine sentences (1) and (2), (3) will be the result.

Examples:

KORE WA HON DEWA ARIMASEN. "This is not a book."

SORE WA HON DEWA ARIMASEN. "That is not a book."

KORE MO SORE MO HON DEWA ARIMASEN. "Neither this nor that is a book."

KONO HON WA AKAKU WA ARIMASEN. "This book is not red."

SONO HON MO AKAKU WA ARIMASEN. "That book is not red either."

KONO HON MO SONO HON MO AKAKU WA ARIMASEN. "Neither this book nor that book is red."
の
See Grammar Notes
が
but (See Gram. Notes)

Naming a school and studies · Dialogue 2 of 5

The school and its students

One speaker asks for the school's name and whether the other speakers study there.

*この がっこうの なまえは なんですか* asks, "What is the name of this school?" *その がっこうの なまえは こくぼうしょうごがっこうです* gives the name.

*わたくしたちは にっぽんごの せいとです* means "We are students of the Japanese language."

  1. 7

    このがっこうのなまえはなんですか。

    What is the name of this school?

  2. 8

    そのがっこうのなまえはこくぼうしょうごがっこうです。

    The name of that school is the Defense Language Institute.

  3. 9

    あなたがたはこのがっこうのせいとですか。

    Are you students of this school?

  4. 10

    はい、わたくしたちはそのがっこうのせいとです。

    Yes, we are students of that school.

  5. 11

    あなたがたはなにごのせいとですか。

    What are you students of?

  6. 12

    わたくしたちはにっぽんごのせいとです。

    We are students of the Japanese language.

なまえ
name
と
and (See Gram. Notes)

Names, spouses and friends · Dialogue 3 of 5

Names and relationships

Two speakers ask about a name, a wife, and a friend.

*あなたの おなまえは なんですか* asks, "What is your name?" *わたくしの なまえは たなかです* means "My name is Tanaka."

Respect for another person

*おなまえ* appears in *あなたの おなまえは なんですか* for another person's name. The reply uses *なまえ* for the speaker's name.

*おくさん* appears in *あなたの おくさんも せいとですか* for another person's wife. The reply uses *かない* for the speaker's wife.

*おともだち* asks about another person's friend. *ともだち* in *わたくしの ともだちです* refers to the speaker's friend.

  1. 13

    あなたのおなまえはなんですか。

    What is your name?

  2. 14

    わたくしのなまえはたなかです。

    My name is Tanaka.

  3. 15

    たなかさん、あなたのおくさんもせいとですか。

    Mr. Tanaka, is your wife a student, too?

  4. 16

    いいえ、かないはせいとではありません。

    No, my wife is not a student.

  5. 17

    たなかたいい、さかいしょうさはあなたのおともだちですか。

    CPT Tanaka, is Major SAKAI your friend?

  6. 18

    はい、さかいしょうさはわたくしのともだちです。

    Yes, Major Sakai is my friend.

かない
wife (self)
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
ともだち
friend

Nationalities and identifying people · Dialogue 4 of 5

Two people and one identity

The speakers identify two officers and ask whether both study Japanese.

*スミスぐんそうは このかたで、 パーカーちゅうさは あのかたです* means "SGT Smith is this person and LTC Parker is that person."

Two forms to hear

*で* in *スミスぐんそうは このかたで* connects that identification to the second officer's identification.

In *スミスぐんそうも パーカーちゅうさも にっぽんごの せいとです*, *も* follows each officer and includes both as students.

  1. 19

    たなかたいい、あなたはべいこくじんですか、えいこくじんですか。

    CPT Tanaka, are you an American or an Englishman?

  2. 20

    わたくしはべいこくじんです。

    I am an American.

  3. 21

    スミスぐんそうとパーカーちゅうさはどなたですか。

    Who are SGT Smith and LTC Parker?

  4. 22

    スミスぐんそうはこのかたで、パーカーちゅうさはあのかたです。

    SGT Smith is this person and LTC Parker is that person.

  5. 23

    スミスぐんそうもパーカーちゅうさもにっぽんごのせいとですか。

    Are both SGT Smith and LTC Parker students of the Japanese language?

  6. 24

    はい、スミスぐんそうもパーカーちゅうさもにっぽんごのせいとです。

    Yes, both SGT Smith and LTC Parker are students of the Japanese language.

で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)

Contrasting nationalities and services · Dialogue 5 of 5

Two officers, one correction

*アーサーたいさも パーカーちゅうさも くうぐんの しょうこうですか* asks whether both men are Air Force officers.

The answer says neither is an Air Force officer. It identifies them as Army officers.

Neither officer

*も* follows each officer in *アーサーたいさも パーカーちゅうさも くうぐんの しょうこうでは ありません*.

In this negative answer, the two uses of *も* mean neither officer has that identity.

  1. 25

    アーサーたいさもわたくしもにっぽんじんですか。

    Are both COL Arthur and I Japanese?

  2. 26

    いいえ、あなたはにっぽんじんですが、アーサーたいさはべいこくじんです。

    No, you are a Japanese, but COL Arthur is an American.

  3. 27

    アーサーたいさもパーカーちゅうさもくうぐんのしょうこうですか。

    Are both COL Arthur and LTC Parker Air Force officers?

  4. 28

    いいえ、アーサーたいさもパーカーちゅうさもくうぐんのしょうこうではありません。りくぐんのしょうこうです。

    No, neither COL Arthur nor LTC Parker is an Air Force officer. They are Army officers.

が、
but (See Gram. Notes)

Asking names and relationships · Pattern 1

Honorific for others, plain for oneself

*あなたの おなまえは なんですか* means "What is your name?" Honorific *お* makes *なまえ* respectful.

*わたくしの なまえは たなかです* means "My name is Tanaka." The speaker does not add honorific *お*.

A humble word refers to the speaker or something connected with the speaker.

The same contrast appears in *あなたの おともだち* and *わたくしの ともだち*.

  1. 29

    あなたのおなまえはなんですか。

    What is your name?

  2. 30

    わたくしのなまえはたなかです。

    My name is Tanaka.

  3. 31

    あなたのおなまえはなんですか。

    What is your name?

  4. 32

    わたくしのなまえはさかいです。

    My name is Sakai.

  5. 33

    あなたはせんせいですか。

    Are you a teacher?

  6. 34

    はい、わたくしはきょうしです。

    Yes, I am a teacher.

  7. 35

    たなかさんはあなたのおともだちですか。

    Is Mr. Tanaka your friend?

  8. 36

    はい、たなかさんはわたくしのともだちです。

    Yes, Mr. Tanaka is my friend.

きょうし
teacher

Linking contrasting descriptions · Pattern 2 1 of 2

Two identifications together

*これは ほんで、 それは かみです* means "This is a book and that is a paper."

The first identification ends in *で*. The second ends in *です*.

Change is to is and

When a sentence ends in a noun plus *です* and another sentence follows, *です* becomes *で*.

*で* keeps the meaning "is" and adds "and." *あのかたは せんせいで、 このかたは せいとです* connects teacher and student.

  1. 37

    たなかさんはこのかたで、たむらさんはあのかたです。

    Mr. Tanaka is this person, and Mr. Tamura is that person over there.

  2. 38

    これはほんで、それはかみです。

    This is a book and that is a paper.

  3. 39

    あのかたはせんせいで、このかたはせいとです。

    That person over there is a teacher, and this person is a student.

  4. 40

    これはあかいほんで、あれはあおいほんです。

    This is a red book, and that over there is a blue book.

  5. 41

    このかたはりくぐんちゅういで、そのかたはかいぐんちゅういです。

    This person is an Army first lieutenant, and that person is a Navy lieutenant junior grade.

  6. 42

    これはながいえんぴつで、それはみじかいえんぴつです。

    This is a long pencil, and that is a short pencil.

あかい
red
あおい
blue
ちゅうい
first lieutenant

Correcting paired descriptions · Pattern 2 2 of 2

Two different fields

*いいえ、 このかたは フランスごの せいとで、 わたくしは タイごの せいとです* corrects the idea that both people study Japanese.

It means "No, this person is a French language student, and I am a Thai language student."

The first correction connects

The *で* in *このかたは フランスごの せいとで* connects that identification to the speaker's different field.

*あかい えんぴつは あなたので、 きいろい えんぴつは パーカーさんのです* means "The red pencil is yours and the yellow pencil is Mr. Parker's."

  1. 43

    あなたがたはにっぽんごのせいとですか。

    Are you Japanese language students?

  2. 44

    いいえ、このかたはフランスごのせいとで、わたくしはタイごのせいとです。

    No, this person is a French language student, and I am a Thai language student.

  3. 45

    あなたとやまださんはりくぐんのぐんじんですか。

    Are you and Mr. Yamada Army soldiers?

  4. 46

    いいえ、わたくしはかいぐんのぐんじんで、やまださんはかいへいたいのぐんじんです。

    No, I am a Navy man and Mr. Yamada is a Marine Corps man.

  5. 47

    あかいえんぴつときいろいえんぴつはあなたのですか。

    Are the red pencil and yellow pencil yours?

  6. 48

    いいえ、あかいえんぴつはあなたので、きいろいえんぴつはパーカーさんのです。

    No, the red pencil is yours and the yellow pencil is Mr. Parker's.

きいろい
yellow

Both people and things · Pattern 3 1 of 2

Two students together

*スミスさんも たなかさんも にっぽんごの せいとです* means "Both Mr. Smith and Mr. Tanaka are Japanese language students."

Both and

With an affirmative predicate, *も* after each of two subjects means "both" and "and."

*このえんぴつも そのえんぴつも きいろいです* means "Both this pencil and that pencil are yellow."

  1. 49

    スミスさんもたなかさんもにっぽんごのせいとです。

    Both Mr. Smith and Mr. Tanaka are Japanese language students.

  2. 50

    これもそれもわたくしのほんです。

    Both this and that are my books.

  3. 51

    このえんぴつもそのえんぴつもきいろいです。

    Both this pencil and that pencil are yellow.

  4. 52

    せんせいもせいともべいこくじんです。

    Both the teachers and the students are Americans.

  5. 53

    さかいさんもパーカーさんもりくぐんのしょうこうです。

    Both Mr. Sakai and Mr. Parker are Army officers.

  6. 54

    えんぴつもはくぼくもみじかいです。

    Both the pencil and the chalk are short.

Asking about shared identities · Pattern 3 2 of 2

Two things with one owner

*はい、 これも それも わたくしの ペンです* means "Yes, both this and that are my pens."

The two uses of *も* give both things the same owner.

Respect in the question

*あなたの おくさんは べいこくじんですか* asks whether another person's wife is American.

The reply uses *かない*: *かないも わたくしも べいこくじんです*, "Both my wife and I are Americans."

  1. 55

    これはあなたのペンですか。

    Is this your pen?

  2. 56

    はい、これもそれもわたくしのペンです。

    Yes, both this and that are my pens.

  3. 57

    パーカーさん、あなたのおくさんはべいこくじんですか。

    Mr. Parker, is your wife an American?

  4. 58

    はい、かないもわたくしもべいこくじんです。

    Yes, both my wife and I are Americans.

  5. 59

    あなたもさかいさんもりくぐんのぐんじんですか。

    Are both you and Mr. Sakai Army men?

  6. 60

    はい、そうです。

    Yes, that's right.

ペン
pen

Neither people nor things · Pattern 4 1 of 2

Neither officer

*たなかたいいも パーカーしょうさも くうぐんの しょうこうでは ありません* means "Neither CPT Tanaka nor MAJ Parker is an Air Force officer."

Neither nor

With a negative predicate, *も* after each of two subjects means "neither" and "nor."

*これも それも えんぴつでは ありません* means "Neither this nor that is a pencil."

  1. 61

    たなかたいいもパーカーしょうさもくうぐんのしょうこうではありません。

    Neither CPT Tanaka nor MAJ Parker is an Air Force officer.

  2. 62

    これもそれもあかくはありません。

    Neither this nor that is red.

  3. 63

    これもそれもえんぴつではありません。

    Neither this nor that is a pencil.

  4. 64

    これもそれもわたくしのではありません。

    Neither this nor that is mine.

  5. 65

    わたくしもあのかたもせんせいではありません。

    Neither he nor I am a teacher.

  6. 66

    これもそれもきいろくはありません。

    Neither this nor that is yellow.

  7. 67

    はくぼくもえんぴつもながくはありません。

    Neither the chalk nor the pencil is long.

Rejecting both alternatives · Pattern 4 2 of 2

Neither is an officer

*いいえ、 スミスさんも パーカーさんも しょうこうでは ありません* means "No, neither Mr. Smith nor Mr. Parker is an officer."

*かしかんです* means "They are NCO's."

Neither has the property

The *も* pair with a negative predicate rejects the same property for both alternatives.

*そのほんも このはこも あかくは ありません* means "Neither that book nor this box is red."

  1. 68

    スミスさんとパーカーさんはしょうこうですか。

    Are Mr. Smith and Mr. Parker officers?

  2. 69

    いいえ、スミスさんもパーカーさんもしょうこうではありません。かしかんです。

    No, neither Mr. Smith nor Mr. Parker is an officer. They are NCO's.

  3. 70

    このあかいえんぴつとくろいペンはあなたのですか。

    Are this red pencil and black pen yours?

  4. 71

    いいえ、そのあかいえんぴつもくろいペンもわたくしのではありません。

    No, neither that red pencil nor black pen is mine.

  5. 72

    このほんとそのはこはあかいですか。

    Are this book and that box red?

  6. 73

    いいえ、そのほんもこのはこもあかくはありません。あおいです。

    No, neither that book nor this box is red. They are blue.

くろい
black

Languages, names and friends · Word list 1 of 3

Languages, names, and friends

The words cover languages, language schools, names, and friends.

*がいこくご* means "foreign language," *おなまえ* means "name," and *ともだち* means "friend."

*おなまえ* is the honorific form used for another person's name.

  1. 74

    がいこくご

    foreign language

  2. 75

    がいごがっこう

    foreign language school

  3. 76

    えいご

    English language

  4. 77

    フランスご

    French

  5. 78

    ドイツご

    German

  6. 79

    ロシアご

    Russian

  7. 80

    タイご

    Thai

  8. 81

    なまえ

    name

  9. 82

    おなまえ

    name

  10. 83

    ともだち

    friend

がいこくご
foreign language
がいごがっこう
foreign language school
えいご
English language
フランスご
French "
ドイツご
German "
ロシアご
Russian "
タイご
Thai "
おなまえ
name

People, institutions and nationalities · Word list 2 of 3

People and institutions

The words cover people, family relationships, institutions, and nationalities.

*おくさん* is "madam" or "Mrs." *かない* is "wife" when the speaker refers to his own wife.

*こくぼうしょう* means "Defense Department."

  1. 84

    おともだち

    friend

  2. 85

    みなさん

    everybody

  3. 86

    おくさん

    madam; Mrs.

  4. 87

    かない

    wife (self)

  5. 88

    きょうし

    teacher

  6. 89

    こくぼうしょう

    Defense Department

  7. 90

    こくぼうしょうごがっこう

    Defense Language Institute

  8. 91

    アメリカじん

    American

  9. 92

    イギリスじん

    Englishman

  10. 93

    にっぽんじん

    Japanese

おともだち
friend
みなさん
everybody
おくさん
madam; Mrs.
こくぼうしょう
Defense Department
こくぼうしょうごがっこう
Defense Language Institute
アメリカじん
American
イギリスじん
Englishman
にっぽんじん
Japanese

Nationalities and paired conjunctions · Word list 3 of 3

Nationalities and paired forms

The words cover nationalities, paired statements, and asking who.

*べいこくじん* means "American," *--も--も--です* means "both and," and *だれ* means "who?"

  1. 94

    べいこくじん

    American

  2. 95

    えいこくじん

    Englishman

  3. 96

    フランスじん

    Frenchman

  4. 97

    ドイツじん

    German

  5. 98

    ロシアじん

    Russian

  6. 99

    で

    --is and -- (See Grammar Notes)

  7. 100

    --も--も--です

    both --- and (See Grammar Notes)

  8. 101

    --も--も--ではありません

    neither--nor (See Grammar Notes)

  9. 102

    だれ

    who?

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.
べいこくじん
American
えいこくじん
Englishman
フランスじん
Frenchman
ドイツじん
German
ロシアじん
Russian
--も--も--です
both --- and (See Grammar Notes)
--も--も--ではありません
neither--nor (See Grammar Notes)
だれ
who?

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.