[✐3]When yes not yes is. はい/うん、いいえ/ううん

“Yes? No?”

[00:07]

Hello everyone. How are you doing? Still many people are confused with “Yes” and “No” in Japanese. Sometimes “Yes” can mean “No,” depending on the context, and vice versa.

[00:21]

We start with quiz. Firstly, please listen to the example.

Example:

Hanako san, don’t you go to the party?

Hanako: Iie … I dare not to write No.

→ Hanako san is;

a) going to the party.

b) not going to the party.

[00:37]

Is the answer a) or b)? The answer is a). Here, “iie” negates the statement “don’t go to the party”, so it means “go to the party”.

Ready?

[00:52]

Quiz 1

Hanako san, don’t you eat breakfast?

Hanako: hai

→ Hanako san

a) eats breakfast.

b) doesn’t eat breakfast.

[01:07]

Quiz 2

Hanako san, you didn’t make it in time to the meeting, didn’t you?

Hanako: iie

→ Hanako san

a) was on time for the meeting.

b) was late for the meeting.

[01:25]

Quiz 3

Hanako san, didn’t you go back to your parent’s home at the end of the year?

Hanako: hai

→ At the end of the year, Hanako san

a) went back to her parent’s home.

b) didn’t go back to her parent’s home

[01:42]

Quiz 4

Hanako san, don’t you like Karaoke?

Hanako: iie

→ Hanako san

a) likes Karaoke.

b) doesn’t like karaoke.

[01:57]

Quiz 5

Hanako san, don’t you sign up for the Japanese course?

Hanako: iie

→ Hanako san

a) will sign up for the Japanese course.

b) will not sign up for the Japanese course.

[02:19]

How was it? If you agree with what the other person said, you say “hai”. If not, you say ”iie”. Let’s check, and please repeat the Hanako san’s answer.

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「はい？いいえ？」

[00:07]

みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。

にほんごのyes とnoは、まだこんらんしてしまうひとがおおいですね。Sometimes “Yes” can mean “No,” depending on the context, and vice versa.

[00:21]

では、クイズからはじめます。まず、れいをきいてください。

れい：

はなこさん、パーティにいかないんですか。

Hanako: いいえ

→ はなこさんは、

a) パーティにいきます。

b) パーティにいきません。

[00:37]

こたえはa)ですか、bですか？ こたえは、aです。Here, “いいえ” negates the statement “パーティにいかない”, so it means “パーティにいきます”.

いいですか。

[00:52]

クイズ1

はなこさん、あさごはんをたべないんですか。

Hanako: はい。

→ はなこさんは、

a）あさごはんをたべます。

b) あさごはんをたべません。

[01:07]

クイズ２

はなこさん、かいぎに まにあわなかったんですよね。

Hanako: いいえ。

→ はなこさんは、

a) かいぎにまにあいました。

b) かいぎにまにあいませんでした。

[01:25]

クイズ３

はなこさん、ねんまつ じっかに かえらなかったんですか。

Hanako: はい。

→ はなこさんは、ねんまつ、

a) じっかに かえりました。

b) じっかに かえりませんでした。

[01:42]

クイズ４

はなこさん、カラオケがきらいなんですか。

Hanako: いいえ。

→ はなこさんは、

a) カラオケがすきです。

b) カラオケがきらいです。

[01:57]

クイズ５

はなこさん、つぎのにほんごコースにもうしこまないんですか。

Hanako: いいえ

→ はなこさんは、

a) にほんごコースに もうしこみます。

b) にほんごコースに もうしこみません。

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[✐2. Andante] permitted/allowed to do something 〜ことができます

“You can pay by card.”

[00:07]

Hello, everyone. How are you doing? We will practice “〜kotoga dekimasu” today.

The sentence structure we will practice today is used to mean ”you are allowed or able to do something”. Firstly, repeat the sentences.

Repeat after me

[00:26]

1. eat → can eat

2. do → can do

3. smoke → can smoke

4. park a car can park a car

5. stay at the hotel → can stay at the hotel

6. withdraw money → can withdraw money

7. buy → can buy

Repeat after me

[01:58]

1. You can eat lunch here.

2. You can make a copy here.

3. You can’t smoke over there.

4. You can play tennis in that park.

5. This car can accommodate 7 people.

6. 8 people can stay in this room.

7. You can withdraw money here.

8. You can’t park here.

9. You can buy a cable for the smartphone here.

(しけんちゅう = during the exam)

10. You can’t take pictures here.

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[00:07]

みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。きょうは、 ｢〜ことができます｣をれんしゅうします。The sentence structure we will practice today is used to mean; ”you are allowed or able to do something”. まず、リピートしてください。

Repeat after me

[00:26]

1. たべます → たべることができます

2. します → することができます

3. たばこをすいます → たばこをすうことができます

4. くるまをとめます → くるまをとめることができます

5. ホテルにとまります → ホテルにとまることができます

6. おかねをおろします → おかねをおろすことができます

7. かいます → かうことができます

Repeat after me

[01:58]

1. ここで ランチを たべることができます。

2. ここで コピーを することができます。

3. あそこで たばこを すうことができません。

4. あのこうえんで テニスをすることができます。

5. このくるまに ７にん のることができます。

6. このへやは 8にん とまることができます。

7. ここで おかねを おろすことができます。

8. ここに くるまを とめることができません。

9. しけんちゅうに じしょをみることができません。

(しけんちゅう = during the exam)

10. ここで しゃしんを とることができません。

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I have to work "do・nichi”. - which days of the week are mentioned?

[✐1. Adagio] day of the week/month]

“What day of the week today?”

[00:06]

Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Well, what day of the week is it today? What day of the month is it? Firstly, let’s practice days of the week.

Repeat after me

[00:18]

1. Monday

2. Tuesday

3. Wednesday

4. Thursday

5. Friday

6. Saturday

7. Sunday

[01:06]

Please say following in Japanese.

1. Sunday [nichiyoubi]

2. Thursday [mokuyoubi]

3. Friday [kinnyoubi]

4. Monday [getsuyoubi]

5. Wednesday [suiyoubi]

6. Tuesday [kayoubi]

7. Saturday [doyoubi]

[01:59]

Please answer as follows.

For example,

What day of the week today?

You hear; Wednesday

→ Then you answer; suiyoubi desu.

Ready?

[02:13]

1. What day of the week is it today?

Wednesday

→ suiyoubi desu.

2. What day of the week is it today?

Friday

→ kinyoubi desu.

3. What day of the week is it today?

Thursday

→ mokuyoubi (desu).*

4. What day of the week is it today?

Monday

→ getsuyoubi (desu)*.

5. What day of the week is it today?

Saturday

→ doyoubi desu.

6. What day of the week is it today?

Tuesday

→ kayoubi (desu)*.

7. What day of the week is it today?

Sunday

→ nichiyoubi desu.

*Note: When the question is casual (without “desuka”, you can also answer casually without “desu”.

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「きょう、なんようび？」

[00:06]

みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。えっと、きょうはなんようびですか。なんにちですか。まず、ようびを れんしゅうしましょう。

Repeat after me

[00:18]

1. げつようび

2. かようび

3. すいようび

4. もくようび

5. きんようび

6. どようび

7. にちようび

[01:06]

Please say followings in Japanese.

1. Sunday [にちようび]

2. Thursday [もくようび]

3. Friday [きんようび]

4. Monday [げつ[ようび]

5. Wednesday [すいようび]

6. Tuesday [かようび]

7. Saturday [どようび]

[01:59]

Please answer as follows.

たとえば、

きょうは なんようびですか。

You hear; Wednesday

→ Then you answer; すいようびです。

いいですか。

[02:13]

1. きょうは なんようびですか。

Wednesday

→ すいようびです。

2. きょうは なんようびですか。

Friday

→ きんようびです。

3. きょうは なんようび？*

Thursday

→ もくようび(です)。

4. きょうは なんようび？*

Monday

→ げつようび(です)*。

5. あしたは なんようびですか？

Saturday

→ どようびです。

6. あしたは なんようび*？

Tuesday

→ かようび(です)*。

7. あさっては なんようびですか

Sunday

→ にちようびです。

*Note: When the question is casual (without “desuka”, you can also answer casually without “desu”.

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[✐3.Moderato] Conditional: -eba 〜ば いいですか、i-adjective, noun：〜nara 「リクエストがあれば、おしえてください。」
“If you have a request, let me know.”
[00:08]
Hello, everyone. We begin with reviewing 3 forms; Masu-, Jisho- and Jouken(conditional)-Kei(forms).
Repeat after me
[00:17]
1.  eat
2.  see/watch/look
3.  be
4.  fall(rain, snow)
5.  read
6.  go
7.  hear/listen
8.  meet/see
9.  buy
10.  call
11.  do
12.  come
[01:38]
There are Jouken(conditional)-kei(form) of na- and i-adjectives.  Note that “〜nara” follows after adjectives and nouns.
Repeat after me
[01:51]
1.  good
2.  bad
3.  high/tall/expensive
4.  cheap
5.  clean/beautiful
6.  free/disengaged/leisure
7.  quiet
8.  rain
9.  snow
10.  spring
[02:45]
Now let’s practice with sentences.
Repeat after me
[02:48]
1.  If you walk, it’s about 20 minutes to the station.
2.  If you go to that 100-yen shop, you can buy almost anything.
3.  If you have a question, ask me.
4.  If you eat this, you’ll be fine.
5.  If it’s clear on weekend, I will play tennis.
6.  If it snows, it’s “White Christmas”, isn’t it?
7.  If you read this, you will understand it well.
8.  If you take the medicine, you will get better.
9.  If you call the police, they will come soon.
10.  If you buy two, the third one is half price.
11.  When it comes to coffee, I recommend you that café.
12.  Where should I write my name?
13.  I’d like to go to Asakusa, but how can I go(get) there?
14.  I don’t know how to use this. What should I do?
[05:31]
Make a sentence as follows;
For example,
Tomorrow rain, cancel
→  If it rains tomorrow, it will be cancelled.
Here we go.

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[✐3. Moderato] V-Futsu+ no？

“When are you going to Japan?”

[00:07]

Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Firstly, listen to the conversation. Hiroshi and Susy are talking.

[00:15]

Hiroshi: Morning!

Susy: Oh? A big suitcase! Are you going on a trip?

H: Yep. After work, I will go straight to Haneda (airport).

S: What time is your flight?

H: 11:00ｐｍ.

S: By the way, where are you going?

H: Nordic. Norway, Finland and also stop by Sweden.

S: Sound good. And, when are you coming back?

H: This Friday.

S: What? Today is Monday, isn’t it!?

H: Japanese people are good at short trips like this!

• (chokko(suru) = go directly to, head straight to)
• (〜ni yoru = stop off at)

[00:52]

As you noticed, the ending particle “no(の)” indicates a question. When you are curious about something you see, and you want to know about more, as you know, you can use the sentence structure of plain form + ndesuka. The casual version of this structure is “〜no?”.

[01:11]

Now we practice how to form this “no”. Don’t forget to put an rising intonation when we say this “no”.

Repeat after me

[01:23]

1. go [masu form] go [jisho-form] Are you going? [jisho gotm + no]

2. go back/return

3. come

4. do

5. buy

6. pack up/put away/bestow

7. can

8. carry, bring

9. continue/go ahead/stay on

10. know

[03:57]

Now, make a sentence as follows.

For example,

Are you still eating?

→ Are you still eating?

Ready?

[04:07]

1. Are you going by taxi?

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「いつ、にほんへ いくの？」

[00:07]

みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。まず、かいわをきいてください。ひろしとスージーがはなしています。

[00:15]

ひろし： おはよう！

スージー：あれ、おおきいスーツケース！りょこうにいくの？

ひ： うん。しごとおわったら、はねだにちょっこう。

ス： なんじのひこうきなの？

ひ： よる11じ。

ス： どころで、どこにいくの？

ひ： ほくおう。ノルウェー、フィンランド、それから、スウェーデンにも よるんだ。

ス： いいねぇ。それで、いつもどるの？

ひ： こんしゅうのきんようび。

す： え！きょう、げつようびだよね！？

ひ： にほんじんは、こういう みじかいりょこう、とくいだから！

(ちょっこう(する) = go directly to, head straight to)

(〜に よる = stop off at)

[01:11]

では、この｢〜の｣のつくりかたをれんしゅうします。Don’t forget to put a rising intonation when you say this “no” at the end.

Repeat after me

[01:23]

1. いきます[masu form]、いく[jisho-form]、いくの？[jisho form + no]

2. かえります かえる かえるの？

3. きます くる くるの？

4. します する するの？

5. かいます かう かうの？

6. しまいます しまう しまうの？

7. できます できる できるの？

8. もっていきます もっていく もっていくの？

9. つづけます つづける つづけるの？

10. しって(い)ます しって(い)る しって(い)るの？

[03:57]

では、つぎのようにぶんをつくってください。

たとえば、

まだ、たべますか

→ まだ、たべるの？

いいですか。

[04:07]

1. タクシーでいきますか

→ タクシーでいくの？

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Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.

[✐all levels] 「(N)なら、(N)です」: in the case of, then, in the event that, if it is, if so〜, when it comes to
[00:07]
Hello, everyone.
“Sushi nara Wasabi desu” would be; “If it is Sushi, you eat with Wasabi (not with Ketchup)”, for example. This translation is just one of many.

“〜nara,〜desu” means;  in the case of, in the event that, if so, when it comes to etc, and the meaning varies with different contexts. We use only nouns to construct this pattern today. So it’s easy.

Repeat the sentence and think about the meaning. Then check my sample translation.  I say “sample”, because there could be more possibile translations.  Here we go.

(There may be different translations depending on the context or background. )

Repeat after me
[00:59]
1.  If you want to visit Japan, you should go in Spring.
My favourite season in Japan is Spring.
If you want to know when is the best season in Japan, it is Spring.
2.  If you want to visit Japan, you should go to Kyoto.
When it comes to Japan, Kyoto is the most popular city.
If you go to Japan, you should visit Kyoto.
3.  If you are in Tokyo, you should go to Asakusa.
If I were asked which area in Tokyo to visit, I would say Asakusa.
One of the most popular touristic area in Tokyo is Asakusa.
4.  If it is Anime,  (I recommend) Doraemon.
5.  If you ask me which movie I like, it is French movies.
In case you want to watch a film, I recommend a french film.
6.  If it rains on weekend, the barbecue will be cancelled.
7.  If it is tomorrow, I have time.
8.  In terms of alcohol, if it is a little bit, I’m OK. (=I can drink a little alcohol).
9.  When it comes to smartphone, this model should be the one. (= I recommend
this model. )
10.  If it is only Hiragana, it is fine.  (=I can read/manage if it is written only in
Hiragana.)
[02:31]
Now, make a sentence.
For example;
Sushi, toro(tuna)
→ If you eat Sushi, try Toro(Tuna).
(Again, those are sample translations.)
Are you ready?
[02:40]
1.→ If you eat Sushi, eat with Soy source and wasabi.
2.→ If you want to know where to go skiing, I’d say Hokkaido.
3.→ When it comes to shopping, I suggest to go to Shinjuku.
4. → If it rains heavily, I will take a taxi.
5.  → If asked who will be the next prime minister, I’d say Tabe san.

Dialogue (Plain Style)
[04:02]
A:  ah I’m hungry.
B:  If you are thinking of a packed lunch, you should try department store’s basement food floor. It’s amazing. Lots of choices!
A:  But I feel like eating Ramen, though.
B:  ah, Ramen?.  If it’s Ramen, the Ramen shop in front of the station is good.  If my memory is correct, the name of the shop is…..

Repeat after me (in Masu Style)
[04:25]
1.  → I’m hungry.
2.  → If you like a packed lunch, try a department store’s basement food floor.
3.  → I feel like eating Ramen.
4.  → If it’s Ramen, the ramen shop in front of the station is good/delicious/worth going.
[05:13]
That’s all for today.  It was fun, ne.
If it is Podcast, you can practice speaking in the bed, right?
See you again!

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Let's challenge the Role Play!

[✐4. Allegretto] 〜やすいかも(しれません)、〜にくいかも(しれません)

“It might be easy to get it wrong.”

[00:07]

Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Let’s begin straight away. Please change the sentence to ”〜yasui desu” as follows.

For example,

get fat

→ easy to get fat

Ok?

[00:23]

1. write

→ easy to write

2. drink

→ easy to drink

3. repair/fix

→ easy to repair

4. work

→ easy to work

5. consult/ask

→ easy to consult

6. teach

→ easy to teac

7. use

→ easy to use

8. grow/cultivate

→ easy to grow

9. say

→ easy to say

10. memorize/remember

→ easy to memorize

11. mistake

→ easy to mistake

12. understand/know/get it

→ easy to understand

[03:13]

Next is “〜nikui”. Please change to “〜nikui” as follows.

For example,

get fat

→ hard to get fat

Ready?

[03:28]

1. write

→ hard to write

2. drink

→ hard to drink

3. repair/fix

→ hard to repair

4. work

→ hard to work

5. consult/ask

→ hard to consult

6. teach

→ hard to teach

7. use

→ hard to use

8. grow/cultivate

→ hard to grow

9. say/tell

→ hard to say/tell

10. memorize/remember

→ hard to memorize

11. mistake

→ hard to mistake

12. understand/know/get it

→ hard to understand

[06:27]

When “kamo” is added after “〜yasui”, it means “it might be easy to do something.

When :kamo: is added after “〜nikui”, it means “it might be difficult/hard to do something.

[06:45]

For example,

“nedan ga sagatta node, kaiyasui kamo.” means “As the price has come down, it mght be easier to buy.”

Or,

“ji ga heta dakara, yominikui kamo.” means “As my handwriting is not good, it might be difficult to read.”.

Now, let’s practice them!

Repeat after me

[07:07]

1. It might be easy to drink.

2. It might be difficult to understand.

3. It might be easy to work.

4. It might be easy to memorize.

5. It might be hard to use.

[07:48]

The polite way of saying those above is “〜kamo shiremasen”.

Therefore,

“nomiyasui kamo shiremasen.”

“wakarinikui kamo shiremasen.”

“hataraki yasui kamo shiremasen.”

[08:08]

Please repeat the sentence after you hear key words [KW].

You hear;

[KW] cut into small pieces

🎵 I cut it into small pieces so it might be easier to eat.

Then repeat the sentence.

→ I cut it into small pieces so it might be easier to eat.

Ready?

[08:29]

1. [KW] medicine, sweet, easy to take

🎵 This medicine is sweet, so easy to take.

2. [KW] Ikebukuro station, wide, hard to make out

🎵 As Ikebukuro station is wide, it might be hard to make out.

(wakarinikui = here means; hard to make out, confusing)

3. [KW] positive work place, easy to work

🎵 It’s a positive workplace, it might be easy to work.

(akarui = here means; positive, cheerful, upbeat)

(shokuba = workplace)

4. [KW] Yamada san, story, hard to understand

🎵 Yamada’s story (= The way Yamada san said) might be difficult to understand (= not clear).

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Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.