_Lesson 1
Introduction
Let's begin our journey to Japanese proficiency.
In beginning the study of a foreign language, it makes sense to start with short, simple exchanges that occur in normal speech. In this course, these short exchanges rely heavily on context. So, practice these exchanges with an appropriate context in mind.
For example, if I am holding a large, red, English-Japanese dictionary, all I need to say in order to ask the price is " How much is this?". Later on, we will learn how to say, "How much is the large, red, English-Japanese dictionary?". So, we will begin with exchanges very high in context but low in linguistic requirements.
SECTION A
Core Conversations (CC)
Note: Every CC in this course is presumed to have as one of its participants a non-native speaker of Japanese (N) and a native Japanese (J).
The CC of this section are brief exchanges between individuals who maintain a certain amount of distance when communicating with each other. The participants are business colleagues or supervisors with their assistants. All of the exchanges take place in an office setting.
Instructions:
1(J) Wakarimasu ka. (N) Ee, wakarimasu.
Do you understand? Yes, I do (understand).
(J) checks with (N) on her ability to understand the French material she is looking at.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
wakarimasu (SP 1( Refer to Structural Pattern 1 below) understand; become understandable
ka (SP2) /question particle/
ee (SP4) /affirmation/
2(N) Kyoo simasu ne. (J) Iya, tigaimasu. Asita simasu yo.
You'll do it today--right? No, (it's different). I'll do it tomorrow.
( N) checks on his colleague's (J's) plans to do some work on the computer.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
kyoo today
simasu do
ne (SP2) /confirmatory particle/
iya (SP4) /negation/
tigaimasu be different; be wrong
asita or
+asu tomorrow
yo (SP2) /informative particle/
3(J) Wakarimasita ka. (N) Ee, wakarimashita.
Did you understand? Yes, I did (understand).
(J) checks on whether (N) understood a procedure on the computer that he has just demonstrated.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
wakarimasita understood; became understandable
4(J) Tukurimasita ne. (N) Hai. Kinoo tukurimasita.
You made it--right? Yes. I made it yesterday.
(J) checks with (N) on his assumption that (N) made up a new computer program.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
tukurimasu make, construct
tukurimasita made, constructed
hai (SP4) /affirmation/
kinoo yesterday
5(N) Dekimasita ka. (J) Dekimasita. Hai.
All done? All done. Here you are.
(N) checks with the secretary on whether some work has been completed.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
dekimasu become completed; can do; be possible
dekimasita became completed; could do; was possible
hai here you are
6(J) Asita kimasen ne. (N) Iya, kimasu yo.
You're not coming tomorrow--right? No, I am coming.
An office supervisor (J) checks on her assumption that a part-time student worker (N) is not coming tomorrow.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
kimasu come
kimasen not come
kimasen ne (SP3) you're not coming--right?
7(J) Simasen ka. (N) Tyotto..
Won't you do it (or play)? I'm afraid not.
(N) is invited to join a game of go during an office break.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
simasu do; play (of games)
simasen not do; not play
tyotto a bit; I'm afraid not.i.e., polite refusal.
8(J) Nomimasen ka. (N) Arigatoo gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.
Won't you have (lit.drink) some? Thank you. I will (accept).
(J) offers his foreign colleague a cup of coffee.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
nomimasu drink
nomimasen not drink
+tabemasu eat
+tabemasen not eat
itadakimasu I drink; I eat; I accept /polite/
9(J) Ikimasita ne. (N) Iie, ikimasen desita.
You went--right? No, I didn't (go)
(J) checks on his assumption that his colleague (N) attended an event advertised on a poster they are looking at.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
ikimasu go
ikimasita went
i(i)e /negation/
ikimasen desita didn't go
10 (N)a. Sumimasen. Wakarimasen desita. (J) Wakarimasen desita ka.
I'm sorry. I didn't understand. You didn't (understand)?
b. Ee. Doo mo sumimasen.
That's right. I'm very sorry.
(N) apologizes for not having understood a new computer procedure.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
wakarimasen desita didn't understand; didn't become understandable
(SP)Structural Patterns (Grammar)
1. VERBALS ( Something similar to English verbs, but the Japanese verbs are a little bit different)
The first word class that we are going to establish for Japanese is the class to be called VERBALS. A Japanese VERBAL is a word which has a number of different forms including one form ending in -masu and another in -masita (-mashita). A sentence which consists of, or ends with a verb form (with or without following sentence particles is a verbal sentence.
In this section, four verbal-related patterns are introduced:
Introduction
Let's begin our journey to Japanese proficiency.
In beginning the study of a foreign language, it makes sense to start with short, simple exchanges that occur in normal speech. In this course, these short exchanges rely heavily on context. So, practice these exchanges with an appropriate context in mind.
For example, if I am holding a large, red, English-Japanese dictionary, all I need to say in order to ask the price is " How much is this?". Later on, we will learn how to say, "How much is the large, red, English-Japanese dictionary?". So, we will begin with exchanges very high in context but low in linguistic requirements.
SECTION A
Core Conversations (CC)
Note: Every CC in this course is presumed to have as one of its participants a non-native speaker of Japanese (N) and a native Japanese (J).
The CC of this section are brief exchanges between individuals who maintain a certain amount of distance when communicating with each other. The participants are business colleagues or supervisors with their assistants. All of the exchanges take place in an office setting.
Instructions:
- Please go to the "Pronunciation and Romaji" page first to learn the correct pronunciation
and familiarize yourself with the Romaji - To play the audio file for this Core Conversations (CC), press the "play button" at
the bottom of this page - You can pause the audio at anytime by pressing the "pause button"
- After each lesson, please go to the "Drills" section for that lesson. It is the most important part of your learning process, make sure you master the drills before proceeding to next lesson.
1(J) Wakarimasu ka. (N) Ee, wakarimasu.
Do you understand? Yes, I do (understand).
(J) checks with (N) on her ability to understand the French material she is looking at.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
wakarimasu (SP 1( Refer to Structural Pattern 1 below) understand; become understandable
ka (SP2) /question particle/
ee (SP4) /affirmation/
2(N) Kyoo simasu ne. (J) Iya, tigaimasu. Asita simasu yo.
You'll do it today--right? No, (it's different). I'll do it tomorrow.
( N) checks on his colleague's (J's) plans to do some work on the computer.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
kyoo today
simasu do
ne (SP2) /confirmatory particle/
iya (SP4) /negation/
tigaimasu be different; be wrong
asita or
+asu tomorrow
yo (SP2) /informative particle/
3(J) Wakarimasita ka. (N) Ee, wakarimashita.
Did you understand? Yes, I did (understand).
(J) checks on whether (N) understood a procedure on the computer that he has just demonstrated.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
wakarimasita understood; became understandable
4(J) Tukurimasita ne. (N) Hai. Kinoo tukurimasita.
You made it--right? Yes. I made it yesterday.
(J) checks with (N) on his assumption that (N) made up a new computer program.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
tukurimasu make, construct
tukurimasita made, constructed
hai (SP4) /affirmation/
kinoo yesterday
5(N) Dekimasita ka. (J) Dekimasita. Hai.
All done? All done. Here you are.
(N) checks with the secretary on whether some work has been completed.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
dekimasu become completed; can do; be possible
dekimasita became completed; could do; was possible
hai here you are
6(J) Asita kimasen ne. (N) Iya, kimasu yo.
You're not coming tomorrow--right? No, I am coming.
An office supervisor (J) checks on her assumption that a part-time student worker (N) is not coming tomorrow.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
kimasu come
kimasen not come
kimasen ne (SP3) you're not coming--right?
7(J) Simasen ka. (N) Tyotto..
Won't you do it (or play)? I'm afraid not.
(N) is invited to join a game of go during an office break.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
simasu do; play (of games)
simasen not do; not play
tyotto a bit; I'm afraid not.i.e., polite refusal.
8(J) Nomimasen ka. (N) Arigatoo gozaimasu. Itadakimasu.
Won't you have (lit.drink) some? Thank you. I will (accept).
(J) offers his foreign colleague a cup of coffee.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
nomimasu drink
nomimasen not drink
+tabemasu eat
+tabemasen not eat
itadakimasu I drink; I eat; I accept /polite/
9(J) Ikimasita ne. (N) Iie, ikimasen desita.
You went--right? No, I didn't (go)
(J) checks on his assumption that his colleague (N) attended an event advertised on a poster they are looking at.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
ikimasu go
ikimasita went
i(i)e /negation/
ikimasen desita didn't go
10 (N)a. Sumimasen. Wakarimasen desita. (J) Wakarimasen desita ka.
I'm sorry. I didn't understand. You didn't (understand)?
b. Ee. Doo mo sumimasen.
That's right. I'm very sorry.
(N) apologizes for not having understood a new computer procedure.
BREAKDOWNS (AND SUPPLEMENTARY VOCABULARY)
wakarimasen desita didn't understand; didn't become understandable
(SP)Structural Patterns (Grammar)
1. VERBALS ( Something similar to English verbs, but the Japanese verbs are a little bit different)
The first word class that we are going to establish for Japanese is the class to be called VERBALS. A Japanese VERBAL is a word which has a number of different forms including one form ending in -masu and another in -masita (-mashita). A sentence which consists of, or ends with a verb form (with or without following sentence particles is a verbal sentence.
In this section, four verbal-related patterns are introduced:
Affirmative |
Negative |
|
Imperfective ( = unfinished condition ) |
X-masu 'X does or will occur' eg. wakari - masu |
X-maseƱ 'X doesn't or won't occur' eg. wakari - masen |
Perfective ( = finished condition ) |
X-masita 'X occured' eg. wakari - masita |
X-maseƱ desita 'X didn't occur' eg. wakari - masen desita |
_X = a verbal stem, i.e., wakari, iki, nomi, etc
2. SENTENCE-PARTICLES: ka, ne, yo
DEFINITION: a SENTENCE-PARTICLE is one of a small group of words which occur only at the end of sentences; they qualify the meaning of what has preceded. They regularly follow the preceding word directly without pause
3. NEGATIVE QUESTIONS; INVITATIONS
Negative questions occur in the following types of contexts:
1. to check on or confirm a negative situation already introduced into the context or assumed, on the basis of general context, as correct:
Dekimasen. 'I can't do it.'
Dekimasen ka ? 'You can't do it?'
Ikimasen ne. 'You're not going to go -- right?'
2. to check on the possibility of a negative situation contrary to the speaker's underlying assumptions:
Tukurimasen. ' I'm not going to make [it].'
Dekimasen ka? 'You can't do it?' (i.e., I thought you could, but...)
3. as an invitation:
Kimasen ka? 'Won't you come?'
4. AFFIRMING AND NEGATING
Hai, and the more relaxed, conversational ee, in response to yes-no questions. indicate agreement:
Wakarimasita ka. 'Did you understand?'
Hai/ee, wakarimashita. 'Yes. I did.'
I(i)e (or ie), and the more relaxed, conversational iya, indicate lack of agreement in a parallel way. Compare:
Ikimasu ka. 'Are you going?'
I(i)e / iya, ikimasen. 'No. I'm not (going).' and
Ikimasen ka. 'You're not going -- right?'
I(i)e / iya, ikimasu yo. 'No, I'm going.'
Next step, please go to the "Drills". Proceed to a following drill only after mastering the one at hand.
- A verbal can occur as a complete sentence all by itself. (EX: "Wakarimasu" is a complete sentence.)
- Finished (Perfective) versus unfinished (Imperfective) is the significant contrast in Japanese, whereas English speakers tend to think in terms of three time distinctions: past, present, and future.
- The -mas- (-masi- before consonants) portion of the above forms is a style marker. It signals what will be called DISTAL-STYLE (Polite form) for verbals. This style indicates that the speaker is showing solicitude toward, and maintaining some linguistic distance from the addressee. In other words, s/he is being less direct and more formal as a sign of deference to the person addressed. DISTAL-STYLE contrasts with DIRECT-STYLE, which is often used in casual conversations among Japanese students --especially male students-- who are good friends.
2. SENTENCE-PARTICLES: ka, ne, yo
DEFINITION: a SENTENCE-PARTICLE is one of a small group of words which occur only at the end of sentences; they qualify the meaning of what has preceded. They regularly follow the preceding word directly without pause
- Ka: a question-marker; occurs at the end of both information questions (i.e.,those that ask who, what, when, where, etc.) and yes-no questions; makes a statement into a yes-no question.
- Ne: a confirmation-seeker; with rising intonation seeks confirmation of an assumption made by the speaker: 'right?', 'don't you agree', 'isn't it?', etc.
- Yo: a particle of assertion; common in assurances, contradictions, and warnings (to the addressee); indicates that the speaker assumes s/he is providing the addressee with new information or a new suggestion.
3. NEGATIVE QUESTIONS; INVITATIONS
Negative questions occur in the following types of contexts:
1. to check on or confirm a negative situation already introduced into the context or assumed, on the basis of general context, as correct:
Dekimasen. 'I can't do it.'
Dekimasen ka ? 'You can't do it?'
Ikimasen ne. 'You're not going to go -- right?'
2. to check on the possibility of a negative situation contrary to the speaker's underlying assumptions:
Tukurimasen. ' I'm not going to make [it].'
Dekimasen ka? 'You can't do it?' (i.e., I thought you could, but...)
3. as an invitation:
Kimasen ka? 'Won't you come?'
4. AFFIRMING AND NEGATING
Hai, and the more relaxed, conversational ee, in response to yes-no questions. indicate agreement:
Wakarimasita ka. 'Did you understand?'
Hai/ee, wakarimashita. 'Yes. I did.'
I(i)e (or ie), and the more relaxed, conversational iya, indicate lack of agreement in a parallel way. Compare:
Ikimasu ka. 'Are you going?'
I(i)e / iya, ikimasen. 'No. I'm not (going).' and
Ikimasen ka. 'You're not going -- right?'
I(i)e / iya, ikimasu yo. 'No, I'm going.'
Next step, please go to the "Drills". Proceed to a following drill only after mastering the one at hand.