Level 1 - 日本語

De ( By/ With/ At )

Today I will show you how to use “de” (by / with / at)

Eat with chopstick - O hashi de tabemasu
Cut with scissors - Hasami de kirimasu
Write with pencil - Enpitsu de kakimasu
Speak in English - Eigo de hanashimasu

Go by car - Kuruma de ikimasu

Swim at the sea - Umi de Oyogimasu
Play inside the house - Uchi no naka de asobimasu

Meaning : Hashi (Chopstick / Bridge), Hasami (Scissors), Eigo (English), Umi (Sea), Oyogimasu (Swim), Asobimasu (Play)

Q : You come by what? - Nani de kimasu ka?
A : I come by car - Kuruma de kimasu

For negative use “de wa”. Example : Hasami de wa kirimasen

The combination of “de” and “e”
Go to school by train - Densha de Gakkou e ikimasu
Isn’t going to school by train - Densha de wa gakkou e ikimasen

Stay Tuned ! Level 2 lesson will be on the way.

E & Ni

“E” & “Ni” represent directions

Q : Are you going to office? - Kaisha e / ni ikimasu ka?
A : Yes, I am going to office - Hai, kaisha e / ni ikimasu
Q : Are you going to school - Gakkou e ikimasu ka?
A : No, I am not going to school - Iie, Gakkou e wa / ni wa ikimasen

Q : Where do you go? - Doko e ikimasu ka?
A : I am going to office - Kaisha e ikimasu

Q : Yesterday, where have you gone? - Kinou, doko e ikimashita ka?
A : I went to Ginza.How about you? - Ginza e ikimashita. Anata wa?
Q : I went to Shinjuku but my brother went to Ginza. - Watashi wa Shinjuku e ikimashita ga, Ani wa Ginza e ikimashita.

Q : Is Tony in? - Tony-san, imasu ka?
A : No, he is not in at the moment - Iie, ima, imasen
Q : Where is he? - Doko ni imasu ka?
A : He is in the cofeeshop infront of the train station. He will be back soon. - Eki no mae no kissaten ni imasu. Sugu kimasu.

Meaning : Kinou (Yesterday), Ima (Now), Sugu (Soon), Kimasu (Come)

You may notice the “ga” that located in between 2 sentences. It represents “but”.

English Pack Brush Put Talk Erase / Switch Off Send Out / Take Out Drop Buy Use Sing Smoke Wash Wait Carry Type Transport Undress Wake Sleep Sell Sit Enter / Get In / Go In Return Home / Go Back Board / Ride

Standard Form Tsutsumu Migaku Oku Hanasu Kesu Dasu Otosu Kau Tsukau Utau Suu Arau Matsu Motsu Utsu Hakobu Nugu Okiru Neru Uru Suwaru Hairu Kaeru Noru

“masu” Form Tsutsumimasu Migakimasu Okimasu Hanashimasu Keshimasu Dashimasu Otoshimasu Kaimasu Tsukaimasu Utaimasu Suimasu Araimasu Machimasu Mochimasu Uchimasu Hakobimasu Nugimasu Okimasu Nemasu Urimasu Suwarimasu Hairimasu Kaerimasu Norimasu

Conversation - Verbs

Today, I will show you how to converse using Verbs

Conversation 1
Q : Is the window closed? - Mado o shimemashita ka?
A : Yes, the window and curtain are closed - Hai, Mado mo ka-ten mo shimemashita (the curtain is an aditional info to the question, that’s why “mo” is used) OR
A : Yes, it’s closed - Hai, shimemashita

Conversation 2
Q : Have you rented a house? - Uchi o karimashita ka?
A : No, I did not rent a house but rented an Apartment - Iie, uchi wa karimasen deshita, apa-to o karimashita
Q : I see. Where is the Apartment located? - Sou desu ka. Sono apa-to wa doko ni arimasu ka?
A : It’s near the train station. - Eki no soba ni arimasu.

Conversation 3
Waiter : Welcome - Irasshaimase
Tony : What do you want to drink - Nani o nomimasu ka?
Jenny : Coffee for me. How about you? - Watashi wa ko-hi- desu. Anata wa?
Tony : Me too and order me a cake please - Watashi mo. Sorekara ke-ki mo onegai shimasu

Meaning : Mado (Window), Shimemashita (Closed), Ka-ten (Curtain), Uchi (House), Karimashita (Rented), Apa-to (Apartment), Doko (Where), Iwasshaimase (Welcome), Nomimasu (Drink), Ko-hi (Coffee), Ke-ki (Cake), Onegai Shimasu (Please)

You may have notice that some verbs use “mashita” instead of “masu”. “mashita” is use for Past Tense where “masu” is Present Tense. For example :

Present Tense Nomimasu Karimasu Tabemasu Mimasu Kakimasu

Past Tense Nomimashita Karimashita Tabemashita Mimashita Kakimashita

See, It’s easy. Japanese Present/Past Tense is much easier than English.

Verbs

Today I will show you how to use Verbs in Japanese.

English Eat Drink Read Rest Teach Open Close Write Think Throw See

Standard Form Taberu Nomu Yomu Yasumu Oshieru Akeru Shimeru Kaku Kagaeru Suteru Miru

“masu” Form Tabemasu Nomimasu Yomimasu Yasumimasu Oshiemasu Akemasu Shimemasu Kakimasu Kagaemasu Sutemasu Mimasu

As you can see in the above example, the verbs in standard form (impolite) and “masu” form (polite) are different. Here I will show you how to do the conversion.

Whenever there is “4th tone” (ie: ke, se, re, me, etc) in the second last of the japanese character, you should change the last character to masu. Example : Taberu, notice that the “be” is positioned in second last, then you should use “Tabemasu (replace “ru” with “masu”). Another example, “Akeru” >> Akemasu.

With “3rd tone” (ie: ku, su, mu, ru, etc) positioned as last character, always replace with “2nd tone” (ie: ki, shi, mu, ri, etc) follow by “masu. Example : Kaku >> Kakimasu, Yasumu >> Yasumimasu. However some verbs ending with “ru” cannot be replace with “ri” but to replace with “masu”. Those special verbs are, Miru (See), Kiru (Wear), Kariru (Rent/Borrow), Okiru (Wake) where you have to change them to “Mimasu”, “Kimasu”, “Karimasu” & “Okimasu” respectively. For your info, there are some verbs with the same pronunciation but different Kanji. Example: Kiru which mean “Wear（着る）” & “Cut（切る） but only Wear use Kimasu where the rest will be “rimasu” (ie: kirimasu). Confusing huh!!!

There are also some special verbs such as “Kuru (Come)” & “Suru (Do)” where it will be changed to “Kimasu” & “Shimasu” respectively.

If you want to change the “masu (positive)” to negative, just use “masen”. Example : Tabemasen

It is a bit confusing initially but as long as you practice more, you will one day master the verbs conversion.

1^st Review

Today, I would like to review back what we have learned previously by Question & Answer. I will post the questions in English at the bottom and all you need to do is post your answers in Romaji (Japanese) in the comment. I will then let your know whether it is wrong or right.

Why I am doing this is because practical is an important factor to keep what we have learned in mind.

Here we go :
Example : My Question - What is this? Your Answer in comment - Kore wa nan desu ka?

Q1 - This is my pencil

Q2 - This is my car

Q3 - Is that your wallet?

Q4 - Yes, it is mine

Q5 - No, that is not my pencil

Q6 - Whose book is this?

Q7 - This book belongs to my younger brother

Q8 - That new car costs 100,000 yen

Q9 - Is this table heavy?

Q10 - How old is your elder brother?

Q11 - Your bag is in my father’s car

Q12 - I have a brown wallet as well as (and also) an expensive pen

OK, that’s all for this section. Try it out now !!!

Time & Day

Once you have master the pronunciation of Numbers that I have covered earlier, this section will be easy for you.

12.00 - Juuni ji
12.30 - Juuni ji han
12.45 - Juuni ji yonjuu go fun
Meaning : Ji (o’clock), Fun (Minute), Byou (Second)

1 minute - ippun
2 minute - nifun
3 minute - sanbun
4 minute - yonfun
5 minute - gofun
6 minute - roppun
7 minute - nanafun
8 minute - happun
9 minute - kyuufun
10 minute - juppun

On date, we use Nichi (Date aka Day), Getsu / Gatsu (Month), Nen (Year) & Youbi (Day). For Western, they use Month-Day-Year or Day-Month-Year but for Japanese, they use Year-Month-Day.
Example
19th December 2005 - 2005 nen juuni gatsu juukyuu nichi desu

For Day (Youbi), Japanese uses Moon (mon), Fire (tue), Water (wed), Wood (thur), Gold (fri), Earth (sat) and Sun (sun).
Monday - Getsu youbi
Tuesday - Ka youbi
Wednesday - Sui youbi
Thursday - Moku youbi
Friday - Kin youbi
Saturday - Do youbi
Sunday - Nichi youbi

Day after Tomorrow - Asatte
Tomorrow - Ashita
Today - Kyou
Yesterday - Kinou
Day before Yesterday - Ototoi

This Week - Konshuu, This Month (Kon getsu)
Next Week - Raishuu, Next Month (Rai getsu)
Last Week - Senshuu, Last Month (Sen getsu)

Let’s go for some conversation lesson :
Today is Monday - Kyou wa getsu youbi desu
What time we / you are going? - Nanji ni ikimasu ka?
Go at 3 o’clock - Sanji ni ikimasu
When is our meeting? - Kaigi wa itsu shimasu ka?

Position

Today, I will cover on the position of something.

The bank is next to the bookstore - Ginko wa honya no tonari ni arimasu
「ぎんこ は ほんや の となり に あります」

The Post Office is located between the pharmacy and clinic - Yuubinkyoku wa kusuriya to shinryoujo no aida ni arimasu
「ゆうびんきょく は くすりや と しんりょうじょ の あいだ に あります」

The bookstore is near the train station - Honya wa eki no soba ni arimasu
「ほんや は えき の そば に あります」

The Clinic is in front of the department store - Shinryoujo wa depa-to no mae ni arimasu
「しんりょうじょ は デパート の まえ に あります」

The department store is on the left side - Depa-to wa hidari gawa ni arimasu
「デパート は ひだりがわ に あります」

Other Direction
Right - Migi
Right Side - Migi gawa
Beside - Yoko
Opposite - Hantai
Opposite Direction - Hantai gawa
Behind - Ushiro

Question & Answer Conversation
Q : Where is the school? - Gakkou wa doko ni arimasu ka?
「がっこう は どこ に あります か」
A : The school is next to the post office - Gakkou wa yuubinkyoku no tonari ni arimasu
「がっこう は ゆうびんきょく の となり に あります」

Q : Is the Hotel located beside the station? - Hoteru wa eki no yoko ni arimasu ka?
「ホテル は えき の よこ に あります か」
A : Yes, it is beside the station. - Hai, yoko ni arimasu.
「はい、よこ に あります」
A : Iie, it is not beside the station. - Iie, yoko ni wa arimasen
「いいえ、よこ に は ありません」

Imasu

The other day, I have posted a lesson on “Arimaus” where it is use for non living things. “Imasu” is use for living things such as human and animals. Remember, when you want to say “Is Tony around”, do not use “arimasu” (ie. Tony-san ga arimasu ka). If you use arimasu, that means Tony-san is not a living things

Here’s some example on how to use “Imasu”
Q : Is Tony’s father around - Tony-san no otousan ga imasu ka?　「トニさん の おとうさん が います か」
A : Yes, he is around - Hai, Imasu (Positive)　「はい、います」
A : No, he is not around - Iie, Imasen (Negative)　「いいえ、いません」

Q : Is your dog at home? - Inu ga uchi ni imasu ka?　「いぬ が うち に います か」
A : Yes, it is at home - Hai, uchi ni Imasu　「はい、うち に います」

Q : Is your manager in the office? - Buchou ga jimusho ni imasu ka?　「ぶちょ が じむしょ に います か」
A : Yes, he / she is in the office - Hai, jimusho ni imasu　「はい、じむしょ に います」

Meaning : Inu (Dog), Buchou (Department Head), Jimusho (Office), Uchi (Home)

Other places
School - Gakkou　「がっこう（学校）」
Clinic - Shinryoujo　「しんりょうじょ（診療所）」
Classroom - Kyoushitsu　「きょうしつ（教室）」
Room - Heya　「へや（部屋）」
Meeting Room - Kaigishitsu　「かいぎしつ（会議室）」
Pharmacy - Kusuri Ya　「くすりや（薬屋）」
Cofee Shop - Kissaten　「きっさてん（喫茶店）」
Hotel - Hoteru　「ホテル」
Kitchen - Daidokoro　「だいどころ（台所）」
Park - Kooen　「こうえん（公園）」
Garden / Yard - Niwa　「にわ（庭）」
Roof - Yane　「やね（屋根）」
Bank - Ginkou　「ぎんこう（銀行）」
Police Stand - Kouban　「こうばん（交番）」
Greengrocer - Yao Ya　「やおや（八百屋）」
Fish Shop - Sakana Ya　「さかなや（魚屋）」
Book Store - Hon Ya　「ほんや（本屋）」
Department Store - Depa-to　「デパート」
Hospital - Byouin　「びょういん（病院）」
Company - Kaisha　「かいしゃ（会社）」
Train Station - Eki　「えき（駅）」
Theatre / Cinema - Eigakan　「えいがかん（映画館）」
Post Office - Yuubinkyoku　「ゆうびんきょく（郵便局）」
Motel (Japanese Style) - Ryokan　「りょかん（旅館）」

On, Under, In

Today I will show you how to say “something in on something”

The book is on the table - Hon ga tsukue no ue ni arimasu
「ほん が つくえ の うえ に あります」

The pen is under the chair - Pen ga isu no shita ni arimasu
「ペン が いす の した に あります」

The pen is inside / in the drawer - Pen ga hikidashi no naka ni arimasu
「ペン が ひきだし の なか に あります」

Meaning : Tsukue (Table), Ue (up), Ue ni (on / on top), Isu (Chair), Shita (Down), Shita ni (under / at the bottom), Hikidashi (Drawer), Naka / Naka ni (Inside / In)

The particle “ni” is translated as “in, at, on”. It is also normally use for questions such as Where (direction), What (time), etc. For example :
Q : Where is my pen - Watashi no pen ga doko ni arimasu ka?　「わたし の ペン が どこ に あります か」
A : Your pen is in the drawer - Anata no pen ga hikidashi no naka ni arimasu?　
「あなた の ペン が ひきだし の なか に あります」

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Sorekara

“Sorekara” can be translated as “And”, “Then”, “And Also”. Look at the examples below:

Q : Do you have books? - Hon ga arimasu ka?　「ほん が あります か」
A : Yes, I have books and also a dictionary. - Hai, hon ga arimasu, sorekara jisho mo arimasu.　「はい、ほん が あります。それから、じしょ も あります」
Meaning : Jisho (Dictionary), Mo (Too)

You can also use 2 “mo” in one sentence. Example :
Q : Do you have cheap TV? - Yasui terebi ga arimasu ka?　「やすい テレビ が あります か」
A : Yes, we have. And also good cameras as well as cheap telephones too - Hai, arimasu. Sorekara, ii kamera mo yasui denwa mo arimasu 　「はい、あります。それから、いい カメラ も やすい でんわ も あります」
Meaning : Terebi (TV), Denwa (Telephone)

Another usage is :
Q : Do you have Sony’s Camera? - Soni kamera ga arimasu ka?　「ソニ カメラ が あります か」
A : Yes, we have Sony as well as Panasonic cameras - Hai, Soni kamera ga arimasu. Sorekara, Panasonikku kamera mo arimasu.　「はい、ソニ カメラ が あります。それから、パナソニック カメラ も あります」

To simplify the answer, we use :
A : Hai, Soni kamera ga arimasu. Sorekara, Panasonikku no mo arimasu.
「はい、ソニ カメラ が あります。それから、パナソニック の も あります」

As you know, “no” means “belongs to” something or someone. So without mentioning camera again in the sentence, we can use “no mo”.