Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Japanese Script
Japanese Script
Disc 1
Track 1:
Introduction to Japanese
Welcome to the study of Japanese. Designed with immersion in mind, English explanations and translations
are minimal. This can be frustrating initially, but forces the listeners to stretch the mind and really think and
attempt to acquire the language as if they are truly immersed in the culture and language.
All basic vocabulary is introduced once with a translation and then repeated frequently in following dialogues
and again in later sections, often without a translation. Please give yourself many opportunities to listen to each
section. Japanese is quite foreign to most native English speakers, with few cognate words and very different
grammar and pronunciation. Most English speakers take considerably longer to acquire proficiency in Japanese
than in romance languages such as Spanish, Italian or French. This does not mean it is impossible. It just
requires extra time, listening and patience to recognize words and grammar that you hear.
Best of luck in the Japanese immersion! Remember to be patient and have fun!!
頑張ってください (ganbatte kudasai)。
Alphabet
Japanese is a very easy language to pronounce. It is not tonal like Chinese or Vietnamese. In fact, Japanese
have very little inflection in their speech. Made up of syllables, they are generally the same length. In part I,
we will introduce the basic syllables that make up the Japanese language. In part II and III, we will introduce
the sounds made up of combinations of these syllables and that can be a little more difficult to pronounce for
Americans.
Another easy part about learning Japanese is the use of Gairaigo loan words. Japanese have incorporated many
words from Portuguese, Dutch and especially English into their language. They might sound a bit different but
you should be able to recognize these loan words and their meanings.
Track 2:
I: Basic sounds
あ、い、う、え、お
う:ushiro behind
Erebētā no ushiro ni arimasu. Behind the elevator.
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お:oishī delicious
Kore wa oishī desu. This is delicious.
Track 3:
か、き、く、け、こ
か:kaimono shopping
Kaimono ni ikitai desu. I want to go shopping.
き:kippu ticket
Kippu o ichi-mai kudasai. One ticket please.
く:kutsu shoes
Kutsu o nuide kudasai. Please take off your shoes.
け:kekkon marriage
Kekkon shite imasu ka? Are you married?
こ:kore this
Kore wan nan desu ka? What is this?
Track 4:
が、ぎ、ぐ、げ、ご
が:gakusē student
Watashi wa gakusē desu. I’m a student.
ぎ:ginkō bank
Ginkō no kōza o hirakitai desu. I want to open a bank account.
ぐ:grē gray
Sono grē no kutsu wa ikura desu ka? How much are those gray shoes?
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ご:gokiburi cockroach
Gochisōsama deshita. It was a delicious meal.
This is a set phrase to be used after finishing a meal, especially important when eating at the home of a Japanese
host.
Track 5:
さ、し、す、せ、そ
し:shatsu shirt
Kawaī shatsu desu ne. What a cut shirt!
せ:sensē teacher
(can be used as a noun and also as a title of respect.)
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Track 6:
ざ、じ、ず、ぜ、ぞ
じ:jōzu skillful/good
Ēgo ga o-jōzu desu ne. Your English is good.
ず:o-mizu water
O-mizu o kudasai. Water please.
ぞ:kazoku family
Kazoku wa nan’nin desu ka? How many people are in your family?
Track 7:
た、ち、つ、て、と
た:tanjōbi birthday
Tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka? When is your birthday?
ち:chikatetsu subway
Chikatetsu wa doko desu ka? Where is the subway?
て:tenki weather
Ī tenki desu ne. It is good weather today.
と:toire toilet/bathroom
Toire wa doko desu ka? Where is the bathroom?
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Track 8:
だ、で、ど
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai. Please repeat after me.
だ:dame bad
Dame desu. That is bad. No.
で:denwa phone
Tanaka-san, o-denwa desu. Tanaka-san, phone call.
Track 9:
な、に、ぬ、ね、の
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai. Please repeat after me.
な:namae name
nanji What time?
nanyōbi What day of the week?
nansai How old?
なん(nan) is a very useful question word.
に:nihongo Japanese
Nihongo o sukoshi hanasemasu. I can speak a little Japanese.
ぬ:inu dog
Inu o ni-hiki kattemasu. I own two dogs.
ね:nemutai sleepy
Nemutai desu. I am sleepy.
(This is a different word than to be physically exhausted.)
の:nodo throat
Nodo ga kawaita. My throat is dry. I am thirsty.
だ、で、ど
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Track 10:
は、ひ、ふ、へ、ほ
は:haikingu hiking
Haikingu ga suki desu. I like to hike. I like hiking.
ふ:o-furo bath
Japanese bathe each night before sleeping. The bath is an important part of Japanese culture and if you spend
the night at a Japanese home or Japanese inn you will be invited to take a bath.
Track 11:
へ:heya room
Heya wa ni-kai ni arimasu. The room is on the second floor.
ほ:hoshī want
Kitte ga hoshī. I want a stamp.
Track 12:
ば、び、ぶ、べ、ぼ
ば:bangō number
Denwa-bangō o oshiete kudasai. Please tell me your phone number.
び:bīru beer
Bīru o nomini ikimashō. Let’s go drink beer.
ぶ:budō grapes
Budō ga suki desu ka? Do you like grapes?
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ぼ:bōringu bowling
Watashi no shumi wa bōringu desu. My hobby is bowling.
Track 13:
ぱ、ぴ、ぷ、ぺ、ぽ
ぱ:pasupōto passport
Pasupōto o misete kudasai. Please show me your passport.
ぴ:piano piano
Watashi no shumi wa piano o kiku My hobby is to play the piano.
koto desu.
ぷ:purezento present
Kore wa anata e no purezento desu. This is a present for you.
Track 14:
ま、み、む、め、も
ま:matte wait
Chotto matte kudasai. Please wait a bit.
み:migi right
Migi ni magatte kudasai. Please turn right.
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む:muri impossible
Sore wa muri desu. That is impossible.
Track 15:
や、ゆ、よ
ゆ:yukkuri slow
Motto yukkuri hanashite kudasai. Please speak more slowly.
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu. This is a longer and more formal version of "Yoroshiku", to be used when
you first meet someone, asking for their good favor.
Track 16:
ら、り、る、れ、ろ
These sounds are between the R and L of the English alphabet.
り:ringo apple
Ringo wa oishī desu. This apple is delicious.
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る:rūmu-meito roommate
This is a non-Japanese tradition. Japanese tend to live with their families or alone, but you can use this phrase
to explain living situations in the United States.
Rūmu-meito to sunde imasu. I live with a roommate.
ろ:robī lobby
Robī de matte imasu. I am waiting in the lobby.
Track 17:
わ、を、ん
わ:watashi I
Japanese generally avoid using pronouns, preferring to infer the subject of the sentence. However, "watashi" is
used occasionally when talking about yourself.
Watashi wa amerika kara kimashita. I came from America. I am from the United States.
を:Sentence particle. Noun "o" verb, noun "wo" verb is a common pattern.
ん:The only sound in the Japanese language without a vowel. It is only at the end of words.
Track 18:
These combinations have a larger and longer emphasis on the first sound and a shorter emphasis on the second
sound of the combination. Be careful to listen for these combinations because some words combine the SAME
SOUNDS but give equal emphasis changing the entire meaning. Don’t worry though. Context is always a big
help in recognizing the vocabulary.
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きゃ、きゅ、きょ
きゅ:kyūkyūsha ambulance
きょ:kyōto Kyoto
The old capitol of Japan where there are many temples and shrines to see as a tourist.
tōkyō Tokyo
しゃ、しゅ、しょ
kaisha company
ちゃ、ちゅ、ちょ
ちょ:chotto a little
にゃ、にゅ、にょ
I hope you can hear the difference in the sounds of engagement and Japanese vegetable.
にゅ:nyūsu news
nyūin to enter the hospital
ひゃ、ひゅ、ひょ
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ひゃ:hyaku hundred
ひゅ:hyūzu fuse
ひょ:hyōga glacier
みゃ、みゅ、みょ
みゃ:myaku pulse
みゅ:myūjikku music
りゃ、りゅ、りょ
りゃ:ryaku omit
りょ:ryōshin parents
ryokō trip/vacation
ぎゃ、ぎゅ、ぎょ
ぎゃ:gyanburu gamble
ぎゅ:gyūniku beef
gyūnyū milk
びゃ、びゅ、びょ
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びゅ:intabyū interview
びょ:byōin hospital
ぴゃ、ぴゅ、ぴょ
ぴゅ:konpyūta computer
Track 19:
おお:ōkī big
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Disc 2
In the following lessons, you will hear a bell sound “(♪)" inserted in some of the phrases. This bell sound
indicates a variable or you could possibly insert your own word, such as a date, your age, your name, or where
you maybe from.
Greetings, Introductions, Your Work, Where You Are From, Saying Goodbye
Aisatsu: Greetings
Greeting: Aisatsu
Kīte kudasai. Please listen.
Aiko: Ohayō
Sara: Ohayō
Aiko: Konbanwa.
Sara: Konbanwa.
Track 3:
Aisatsu o shimashō. Please respond to my greeting.
Konban wa.
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Konban wa.
Ohayō gozaimasu.
Ohayō gozaimasu.
Kon’nichi wa.
Track 4:
Hajime mashite. Meeting someone for the first time.
Hajime mashite.
Nice to meet you. Literally it is the first time meeting. A set phrase.
(♪) to mōshimasu.
I am called last name, first name.
All versions are polite, however, the longer the phrase generally means it is more formal or polite. You will
hear all versions used, depending on the formality of the situation. A set phrase for introductions.
Track 5:
Hajimemasite. Meeting for the first time.
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Respond.
Dōzo yoroshiku.
Respond.
Dōzo yoroshiku.
Track 6:
Hajimemashite. Meeting for the first time. Using a more formal expression.
Kīte kudasai. Please listen.
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Disc 2
Respond.
Dōzo yoroshiku.
Respond.
Track 7:
Tango: Vocabulary
Kīte ano ni kurikaeshite kudasai.: Listen and repeat after me.
*If a sentence ends with a "ka" then you know it is a question. Also if the sentence ends on a higher note, this
indicates you are being asked a question. Be on the lookout for KA!
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Track 8:
Kīte kotaete kudasai. Please listen and answer the question.
O-namae wa?
A: Kon’nichi wa.
S: Kon’nichi wa.
A: Sumimasen. O-namae wa nan desu ka?
S: Watashi wa Jonson Sara to mōshimasu. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu.
A: Watashi wa Sawada Aiko desu. Yoroshiku ongai shimasu.
Respond.
Respond.
You may have responded "Konban wa", and then last name, first name desu, or last name, first name to
mōshimasu.
Track 9:
Formal Business Greeting/Introductions
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Disc 2
*In business situations, it is important to state your affiliation when introducing yourself. This is the time
to pass our business card to the listener. You should pass it with both hands and with the lettering facing the
listener so that it is easy for them to read as you pass it to them. Accept their business card with both hands and
pretend to read it for a few minutes. Don’t put it in your back pocket and crumple it and throw it away!
*Although you always place "san" at the end of names of people you address, you should never place "san" at
the end of your own name. It is like calling yourself Mr. or Mrs.
Track 10:
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Track 11:
O-shigoto wa nan desu ka? What is your work?
Tango: Vocabulary.
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai. Please listen and repeat.
*Sensē is a title of respect and should not be used to describe yourself. If you are a teacher you should refer to
yourself as kyōshi.
Track 12:
Kīte kudasai. Please listen.
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Track 13:
Doko kara? Where are you from? (informal)
Track 14:
Kīte kudasai. Please listen.
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Track 15:
Dochira kara? Where are you from? (formal)
Tango: Vocabulary
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai: Please listen and repeat.
Dochira kara? Where are you from? "dochira" is a more polite way to ask "doko".
Dochira kara kimashita ka? Where did you come from?
Dochira kara koraremashita ka? Where did you come from? Very polite form.
(Koraremashita cannot be used about yourself.)
Watashi wa Amerika kara desu. I am from the United States.
Watashi wa Kyōto shusshin desu. I am a native of Kyoto (a city in Japan).
Watashi wa Furansu no Pari kara kimashita. I am from Paris, France.
mēshi business card
Kore wa watashi no mēshi desu. This is my business card.ahead
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Dōzo Please, go
Arigatō gozaimasu. Thank you.
Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu. Thank you. (more formal)
Track 16:
Kīte kudasai. Please listen.
Track 17:
O-wakare no kotoba. Words for saying goodbye.
Tango: Vocabulary.
Sayōnara: Goodbye
Sayōnara. Goodbye. (Use in formal situations or when you won’t see someone again in the near
future.)
Sorosoro kaerimasu. It’s about time I left. (Used with the previous phrase. Used when leaving someone’s
house, or an engagement.)
Ki o tsukete kudasai. Please take care. (Used when parting like English, ‘Take care.’)
O-genki de. Be well. (Used when parting for a long period of time and wishing them good luck
and good health.)
O-yasumi nasai. Good night. Before sleeping. (This phrase is not used for business. Use when at
someone’s house.)
O-saki ni shitsurē Excuse me for leaving before you. (Used when leaving work or an official
shimasu. engagement.)
O-tsukaresama It’s been a hard day. (A set phrase used in response to the previous phrase.)
deshita.
Track 18:
Kīte kudasai. Please listen to the three dialogues.
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Disc 2
O-yasumi nasai.
O-yasumi nasai.
Track 19:
Kīte kudasai. Please listen to the two formal dialogues.
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Disc 3
Numbers (1-100), Age, Telephone Numbers, Time, Date (Months and Days of the Month), Days of the
Week
Sūji: Numbers
Zero zero
Ichi one
Ni two
San three
Yon, Shi four
Go five
Roku six
Shichi, Nana seven
Hachi eight
Kyū nine
Jū ten
Track 3:
Track 4:
Track 5:
2 ni
4 yon/shi
12 jū-ni
17 jū-nana
25 nijū go
33 sanjū san
46 yonjū roku
54 gojū yon
61 rokujū ichi
79 nanajū kyū
88 hachijū hachi
99 kyūjū kyū
100 hyaku
Track 6:
Denwa phone
Denwa bangō phone number
Denwa bangō o oshiete kudasai. Please tell me your phone number.
Denwa bangō wa nan desu ka? What is your phone number?
Denwa bangō wa? Your phone number?
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Disc 3
Kētai/Kētai denwa cell phone
Kētai no denwa bangō cell phone number
--san no denwa bangō no is possessive.
(Name) no denwa bangō = -- no denwa bangō.
Track 7:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sara-san no denwa bangō o oshiete kudasai.
S: Denwa bangō wa 03-4278-9610 desu.
Kīte kudasai.
S: Aiko-san no denwa bangō wa nan desu ka?
A: Kētai denwa no bangō wa 090-8763-4215 desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Tanaka-san no denwa bangō o oshiete kudasai.
B: Jitaku no denwa bangō desu ka?
A: Hai, jitaku no denwa bangō o oshiete kudasai.
B: 03-6890-8710 desu.
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Disc 3
Track 8:
Tango: Vocabulary
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai. Please repeat after me.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kētai denwa bangō o oshiete itadakemasu ka?
B: Kētai denwa bangō wa 090-8763-4215. Katō-san no kētai wa?
A: 090-2589-1733 desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Yoshida-san no denwa bangō o oshiete itadakemasu ka?
B: Kētai no bangō desu ka?
A: Jitaku no bangō o onegaishimasu.
B: Bangō wa 03-2849-3945 desu.
Track 9:
Tango: Vocabulary
Nan-sai desu ka? How old are you?
*When using numbers for age there are exceptions in the way they say the numbers 20, and numbers using 1
and 8.
Track 10:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Shitsurēdesu ga, Jonson-san wa o-ikutsu desu ka?
B: Gojū-issai desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Emi-san wan an-sai desu ka?
B: Watashi wa nijū-roku sai desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sara-san wa o-ikutsu desu ka?
S: Watashi wa hatachi desu. Aiko-san wa nan-sai desu ka?
A: Watashi wa jūkyū sai desu.
Kīte kudasai.
K: Shitsurē desu ga, Buraun-sanwa o-ikutsu desu ka?
B: Nijū-hassai desu. Katō-san wa?
K: Watashi wa sanjū-yon sai desu.
Track 11:
Time: Sumimasen, Ima nan-ji desu ka? Excuse me, what time is it now?
*Telling time in Japanese is not difficult. You just have to be careful with the numbers 7 and 4 that you use
differently than with telephone numbers and age. Also listen to the sound for minutes. It changes slightly
depending on how many minutes.
--Ji hour
--Ji –fun desu --hour –minute
Track 12:
Kīte kudasai.
S: Sumimasen, ima nan-ji desu ka?
A: Yo-ji desu.
S: Arigatō gozaimasu.
A: Dō itashimashite.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Ima nan-ji desu ka?
B: Gogo shichi-ji jūgo-fun desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Nan-ji desu ka?
B: Gozen hachi-ji han desu.
A: Arigatō gozaimasu.
B: Dō itashimashite.
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Sumimasen, ima nan-ji desu ka?
Gogo (♪) desu.
Gozen (♪) desu.
Track 13:
*The months in Japanese are very easy. You count from1-12, beginning in January and ending in December and
add the word "gatsu".
Track 14:
Tsuitachi 1st
Futsuka 2nd
Mikka 3rd
Yokka 4th
Itsuka 5th
Muika 6th
Nanoka 7th
Yōka 8th
*Be careful because the 8th and 4th sound very similar to Americans.
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Disc 3
Kokonoka 9th
Tōka 10th
Track 15:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka?
B: San gatsu jūgo nichi desu.
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Kīte kudasai.
A: Kaigi wa itsu desu ka?
B: Ku gatsu jūyokka desu.
A: Nan-ji desu ka?
B: Gogo san-ji han kara desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kaigi wa itsu desu ka?
B: San gatsu yokka desu.
A: Nan-ji kara desu ka?
B: Gozen jū-ji kara desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kaigi wa itsu desu ka?
B: Jūni gatsu muika desu.
A: Kaigi wa nan-ji kara desu ka?
B: Gozen jūichi-ji jūgo-fun mae kara desu.
Track 16:
Track 17:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Tanaka-sensē no seminā wa itsu desu ka?
B: Kongetsu no yōka desu.
A: Nan-ji kara desu ka?
B: Gogo yo-ji jūgo-fun sugi kara desu.
A: Nan-ji made desu ka?
B: Roku-ji han made desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sara-san, tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka?
S: Raigetsu no hatsuka desu. Aiko-san wa?
A: Go gatsu yōka desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sara-san no nihongo no kurasu wa itsu kara desu ka?
S: Kongetsu no jūgo-nichi kara desu.
A: Kurasu wa itsu made desu ka?
S: Jūni gatsu hatsuka made desu.
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Track 18:
Kyō today
Ashita tomorrow
Asatte day after tomorrow
Mo also
To and
Kīte kudasai.
B: Katō-san, kyō no kaigi wan nan-ji kara desu ka?
K: Gozen no jū-ji kara jūichi-ji han made desu.
B: Ashita wa?
K: Gogo no ichi-ji yonjūgo-fun kara san-ji jūgo-fun made desu.
Kīte kudasai.
B: Kyō no kaigi wan an-ji made desu ka?
K: San-ji han made desu. Asatte no kaigi mo jūni-ji kara san-ji made desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sara-san, kyō no kurasu wa nan-ji made desu ka?
S: Gozen jūichi-ji made desu.
A: Ashita no kurasu mo?
S: Īe, ashita no kurasu wa gozen ni-ji kara yo-ji made desu.
A: Sōka.
Track 19:
Nichiyōbi Sunday
Getsuyōbi Monday
Kayōbi Tuesday
Suiyōbi Wednesday
Mokuyōbi Thursday
Kinyōbi Friday
Doyōbi Saturday
*For Japanese the week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. So if it is Friday, "this week" ends with
Saturday and "next week" begins on Sunday.
Track 20:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sara-san, getsuyōbi no kurasu wa nan-ji made desu ka?
S: Gogo yo-ji han made desu.
A: Raishū no getsuyōbi no kurasu mo?
S: Ē, raishū no kurasu mo yo-ji han made desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Konshū no kaigi wa itsu desu ka?
B: Suiyōbi desu.
A: Nan-ji kara desu ka?
B: Gozen jū-ji kara desu.
A: Raishū no kaigi wa?
B: Raishū no kaigi wa mokuyōbi no jū-ji kara desu.
A: A, sō desu ka.
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Kīte kotaete kudasai.
Konshū no kaigi wa mokuyōbi desu ka?
Īe, suiyōbi no jū-ji kara desu. No, it’s from 10 am on Wednesday.
Raishū no kaigi wa itsu desu ka?
Mokuyōbi no jū-ji kara desu. It’s from 10 on Thursday.
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Disc 4
Kaimono: Shopping
What is this?, Numbers 100-90,000, How much is it?, Counting objects, Adjectives, Do you have it?
Track 3:
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Track 4:
Hyaku 100
Ni-hyaku 200
San-byaku* 300
Yon-hyaku 400
Go-hyaku 500
Ro-ppyaku 600
Nana-hyaku 700
Ha-ppyaku 800
Kyū-hyaku 900
Sen 1,000
Track 5:
Track 6:
Track 7:
Track 8:
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*Once you get to 10,000 in Japanese, counting higher is easy because Japanese use this as a base. So you just
count how many multiples of 10,000 (man) you have.
Ni-man 20,000
San-man 30,000
Yon-man 40,000
Go-man 50,000
Roku-man 60,000
Nana-man 70,000
Hachi-man 80,000
Kyū-man 90,000
Jū-man 100,000
You can continue counting this way, even as high as Hyaku-man, one hundred man or one million, but we
hope you won’t need it for shopping in Japan.
Track 9:
Track 10:
Track 11:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Sore wa ikura desu ka?
B: 650 en desu.
A: Sore o o-negai shimasu.
Track 12:
Tango: Vocabulary
Kono shatsu wa ikura desu ka? How much is this shirt?
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai.
Pan-ya bakery
Hon-ya bookstore
Sakana-ya fish store
Rāmen-ya ramen shop, Chinese noodle shop
Ya store
Depāto department store
Sūpā supermarket
Konbini convenience store, throughout Japan truly convenient
Kono- this plus noun
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Kono orenji this orange
Sono- that plus noun
Sono shatsu that shirt
Ano that noun over there
Ano remon that lemon over there
Taki desu expensive
Yasui desu cheap, inexpensive
*As we discussed in CD 1, in the Japanese language there are many loan words, vocabulary borrowed from
other languages. In this section you should recognize most of the objects and products being discussed at the
store even if the pronunciation is a bit different so translations are not provided in the vocabulary section.
Track 13:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Sono orenji wa ikura desu ka?
B: 300 en desu.
A: Kono remon wa?
B: Sore wa 200 en desu.
A: Remon to orenji o kudasai.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Kono wain wa ikura desu ka?
B: Sore wa 4,500 en desu.
A: Takai desu ne. Kono bīru wa ikura?
B: 1,400 en desu.
A: Yasui desu ne. Bīru o o-negai shimasu.
Instant Immersion 45
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Disc 4
Track 14:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kono shatsu wa ikura desu ka?
B: 2,200 en desu.
A: Yasui desu ne. Kore o o-negai shimasu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Ano sētā wa ikura desu ka?
B: 20,000 en desu.
A: Takai desu ne.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sono nekutai wa ikura desu ka?
B: 7,500 en desu.
A: Takai desu ne. Kono nekutai wa?
B: Sore wa 2,200 en desu.
A: Yasui desu ne. 2,200 en no nekutai o o-negai shimasu.
Track 15:
Sore o futatsu kudasai. Two of those, please.
Counters: counting objects in Japan can be complex as there are two systems. One system uses the numbers
as we learned them in tape 2 plus a word to describe the type of object. Flat objects have a word, bottles have
a word, small objects have a word and so on. The other system for counting has special words for 1 through
10 that can be used independently, without designating the type of object. We will introduce the second, more
simple way to count objects up to 10. Please note that this counting system can NOT be used for living beings
such as people and animals.
Tango: Vocabulary
Sore o futatsu kudasai. Two of those please.
Hitotsu one
Futatsu two
Mittsu three
Yottsu four
Itsutsu five
Muttsu six
Nanatsu seven
Yattsu eight
Kokonotsu nine
Tō ten
Ikutsu desu ka? How many * This is the same question word that can be
used to politely ask a person’s age but with an O.
O-ikutsu.
Ikutsu How many?
--ni narimasu will be (♪)
Track 16:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Sono kēki o futatsu kudasai.
B: Hai, 500 en desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Kono chokorēto kēki wa ikura desu ka?
B: 450 en desu.
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Disc 4
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Remon o yottsu to banana o nanatsu kudasai.
B: Hai, 1,900 en ni narimasu.
Track 17:
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai.can mean underwear or pants, long pants that you wear.
Aka red
Aka no nekutai red tie
Ao blue
Ao no sētā blue sweater
Kīro yellow
Kīro no nekkuresu yellow necklace
Midori green
Gurīn green (a loan word)
Midori no sukāto green skirt
Kuro black
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Disc 4
Kuro no pantsu black pants. Please be careful because pants in Japanese
can mean underwear or pants, long pants that you wear.
Shiro white
Shiro no shatsu white shirt
Orenji orange
Orenji no piasu orange earrings
Gurē gray
Gurē no jaketto gray jacket
Aka to ao red and blue
Kīro to gurīn yellow and green
Nani-iro what color
Track 18:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kono ano no sētā wa ikura desu ka?
B: 5,000 en desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sono kuro no shatsu wa ikura desu ka?
B: 3,000 en desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sono shatsu o kudasai.
B: Kono kuro no shatsu desu ka?
A: Īe, kuro to shiro no shatsu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kono piasu o o-negai shimasu.
B: Aka no piasu desu ka?
A: Hai, sō desu. Sore to aka no nekkuresu o kudasai.
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Disc 4
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kono aka no sētā mo 5,000 en desu ka?
B: Īe. Sono sētā wa 7,000 en desu.
A: Ano sētā wa ikura desu ka?
B: Ano kuro no sētā desu ka?
A: Hai.
B: 6,500 en desu.
Track 19:
Tango: Vocabulary
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai.
Ōkī big
Chīsai small
Kawaī cute
Ī desu good or nice
Chotto a little
Totemo very
Zan’nen desu ne too bad
Dō desu ka? How is it?
Track 20:
Kīte kudasai.
Sono aka no sētā wa kawaī desu ne.
Kono gurē no zubon wa ōkī desu.
Kono ao to gurīn no shatsu wa chīsai desu.
Sono orenji no nekutai wa ī desu ne.
Track 21:
Sumimsen. Orenji jūsu wa arimasu ka? Excuse me, do you have orange juice?
Tango: Vocabulary
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai.
Track 22:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Orenji jūsu wa arimasu ka?
B: Hai, asoko desu.
Kīte kudasai.
Sumimasen. Wain wa arimasu ka?
Īe, arimasen.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Kariforunia no wain wa arimasu ka?
B: Hai, koko desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sumimasen. Ōkī shatsu wa arimasu ka?
B: Ōkī shatsu desu ka?
A: Hai, sō desu.
B: Sumimasen. Ōkī shatsu wa arimasen.
A: Zan’nen desu ne.
Family members, number of people, siblings, sibling age, Are you married?
Tango: Vocabulary
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai. Please repeat after me.
Go-kazoku wa nan-nin desu ka? How many people are in your family?
Anata you
Anata no go-kazoku wa nan-nin desu ka? How many people are in your family?
(Usually, you, the listener, is inferred in sentences but sometimes Japanese will make it
clear that they are referring to you , anata.)
*Counting the number of people is very ease once you memorize the exceptions of 1 person and two people. 3
people and more is just the number + nin, people.
Hitori 1 person
Futari 2 people
San-nin 3 people
Yo-nin 4 people
Go-nin 5 people
Roku-nin 6 people
Nana-nin 7 people
(Shichi-nin, not used as often as nana-nin)
Hachi-nin 8 people
Kyū-nin 9 people
Jū-nin 10 people
*When counting the number of people in your family, always count yourself in the group. If you have two
siblings and two parents you would say go-nin, five people in your family.
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Disc 5
Track 3:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Go-kazoku wa nan-nin desu ka?
B: Watasi no kazoku wa san-nin desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Go-kazoku wa nan-nin desu ka?
B: Kazoku wa nana-nin desu.
Track 4:
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Disc 5
Imasuka? Do you have? Imasu is the verb to be for animate objects, people and animals.
In tape 4 we learned the verb arimasu to be used for inanimate objects.
Track 5:
Kīte kudasai. Please listen.
A: Sara-san, kyōdai wa imasu ka?
S: Hai, kyōdai wa 3-nin desu.
Track 6:
Tango: Vocabulary
Ato ni kurikeshite kudasai.
Japanese make a very clear distinction between in-group and out-group members, using language to elevate or
honor members outside of their group and different words when referring to members of their won group. This
becomes especially relevant when talking about family members. When referring to your own family you will
use vocabulary that is familiar and more humble. When referring to members of another family you will use
honorific words. These are usually longer and begin in an O or a Go or end in San.
Below we will introduce both the elevated and humble term for each family member. Listen for the O and you
will know it is an honorific term.
O-nī san ga futari imasu ka? Do you have two older brothers?
Īe, ani ga hitori imasu. No, I have one older brother. Please note the use of
"ga" instead of "wa" in these sentences about siblings.
(♪) ga imasu. Have (♪) .
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Disc 5
O-nē san ga imasu ka? Do you have an older sister?
Hai, ane ga hitori imau. Yes, I have one older sister.
Track 7:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Sara-san no kyōdai wa nan-nin desu ka?
S: 3 nin desu. Ani hitori to imōto hitori ga imasu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Aiko-san wa kyōdai ga imasu ka?
B: Kyōdai wa futaridesu. Ane ga hitori imasu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Emi-san wa otōto san ga imasu ka?
B: Īe, imasen.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Aiko-san wa o-nē sag a imasu ka?
B: Hai, hitori imasu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: O-nē san ga iamsu ka?
B: Īe, imoōto ga imasu.
Track 8:
Track 9:
*The following conversations about siblings will include vocabulary from2 and 3, such as age and some
professions.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kenji-san wa o-nī-san ga imasu ka?
B: Hai, imasu.
A: O-ikutsu desu ka?
B: 26 sai desu.
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Disc 5
Kīte kudasai.
A: Yoshi-san, o-nē san ga imasu ka?
B: Īe, imōto ga imasu.
A: O-ikutsu desu ka?
B: Hatachi desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Satoru-san, o-nē-san ga imasu ka?
B: Īe, otōto ga imasu.
A: O-ikutsu desu ka?
B: 19 sai desu.
Kīte kudasai.
Y: O-nē-san wa o-ikutsu desu ka?
A: Ane wa 16 sai desu. Yūta-san no go-kyōdai wa o-ikutsu desu ka?
Y: Ani ga 24 sai, imōto wa 18 sai desu.
Track 10:
Anata jishin ni tsuite kotaete kudasai.
Please tell me about yourself.
Kyōdai wa imsen.
(I don’t have siblings.)
Track 11:
Tango: Vocabulary
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudsaai.
Yōchien-ji Preschool student
Gakusē Student
Shōgakusē Elementary school student (from grade 1 to grade 6)
Chūgakusē
Middle school student (7th through 9th grade. In Japan they begin counting from 1 again from each school.
Middle schools students are grade 1 to 3 of middle school.)
Kōkōsē
High school student (10th through 12th grade. Again, these students would be called 1 through 3rd grade of high
school rather than 10th through 12th.)
Daigakusē College or university student
Kaisha-in Working for a company. A business man or woman.
O-shigoto wa nan desu ka? What is your, his or her job?
Track 12:
Kīte kudasai.
A: Emi-san no otōto-san wa nan-sai desu ka?
B: 22 sai desu.
A: Gakusē desu ka?
B: Sō desu.
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Disc 5
Kīte kudasai.
A: O-nī-san wa o-ikutsu desu ka?
B: 28 sai desu.
A: O-shigoto wa nan desu ka?
B: Kaisha-in desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Kana-san no imōto-san wa nan-sai desu ka?
B: 12 sai desu.
A: Shōgakusē desu ka?
B: Īe, chūgakusē desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Mariko-san no otōto-san wa nan-sai desu ka?
B: 6 sai desu.
A: Yōchien-ji desu ka?
B: Shōgakusē desu.
Track 13:
Kazoku no menbā:
Members of the family
Tango: Vocabulary
Kazoku no tango: More vocabulary for the family
In talking about parents, grandparents and other relatives to others, you use humble words to refer to your own
family and honorific terms to talk about the family of others. However, when addressing your own parents and
older relatives you will use the honorific terms to show respect to those older than you.
Okā-san Mother
Haha My mother, when talking to someone else
Otō-san Father
Chichi My father, when talking to someone else
Ojī-san Grandfather
Sofu My grandfather, when talking to someone else
Obā-san Grandmother
Sobo My grandmother, when talking to someone else
Oji-san Uncle
Oji My uncle, (when talking to someone else)
Oba-san Aunt
Oba My aunt, (when talking to someone else)
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Disc 5
Kīte kudasai.
A: Megumi-san, otō-san no o-shigoto wa nan desu ka?
B: Chichi wa kaisha-in desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Megumi-san, okā-san no o-shigoto wa nan desu ka?
B: Haha wa shufu desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Megumi-san, oji-san no o-shigoto wa nan desu ka?
B: Oji wa kaisha-in desu.
A: Oba-san no o-shigoto wa?
B: Oba mo kaisha-in desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Megumi-san no ojī-san wa nan-sai desu ka?
B: Sofu wa 81 sai desu.
A: Obā-san wa nan-sai desu ka?
B: Sobo wa 79 sai desu.
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Disc 5
Kīte kotaete kudasai:
Tomo-san no otō-san to okā-san no o-shigoto wa nan desu ka?
Kaisha-in desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Megumi-san, oji-san no o-shigoto wa nan desu ka?
B: Oji wa taishoku shite imasu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Tomo-san no ojī-san wa nan-sai desu ka?
B: Sofu wa 75sai desu.
A: Obā-san wa nan-sai desu ka?
B: Sobo wa nakunarimashita.
Track 15:
Kekkon shite imasu ka?
Are you married?
Tango: Vocabulary
Ato ni kurikaeshite kudasai.
Kekkon shite imasu ka? Are you married?
Hai, kekkon shite imasu. Yes, I’m married.
Īe, mada dokushin desu. No, I’m still single.
Īe, kekkon shite imsen. No, I am not married.
*In referring to spouses and children the same rule applies as in other family members. Longer, more honorific
forms refer to the family of other, shorter, more humble forms in speaking of your family, to others.
Go-shujin
Husband
Otto
My husband
Oku-san
Wife
Tsuma
My wife
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Disc 5
Kanai
My wife (another word)
Kodomo-san
Children
Kodomo
My children
Musuko-san
Son
Musuko
My son
Musume-san
Daughter
Musume
My daughter
Dare
Who
Track 16:
Kīte kudasai.
K: Tanaka-san, kekkon shite imasu ka?
T: Īe, kekkon shite imasen. Katō-san wa go-kekkon wa?
K: Hai, kekkon shite imasu.
Kīte kudasai.
Y: Suzuki-san wa kekkon shite imasu ka?
S: Hai, kekkon shite imasu. Yoshida-san wa?
Y: Mada, kekkon shite imasen. Dokushin desu.
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Disc 5
Track 17:
Kīte kudasai.
Please listen for the age of Fujii-san’s children.
F: Okamoto-san, go-kekkon wa?
O: Mada dokushin desu. Fujī-san wa?
F: Kekkon shite imasu. Kodomo ga 3-nin imasu.
O: O-ikutsu desu ka?
F: Musuko wa 8 sai to 5 sai desu. Musume wa 2 sai desu.
O: Kawaī deshō ne.
Kīte kudasai.
Please listen for information about Araki-san’s child.
A: Yamada-san wa kodomo-san ga imasu ka?
Y: Hai, kodomo wa futari desu. Araki-san wa?
A: Kodomo wa hitori desu.
Y: O-ikutsu desu ka?
A: Musume wa 16 sai desu. Kōkōsē desu.
Kīte kudasai.
A: Fujī-san , kekkon shite imasu ka?
F: Hai, kekkon shite imasu.
A: Oku-san no o-shigoto wa nan desu ka?
F: Kanai wa shufu desu.
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Disc 5
Kīte kudasai.
A: Uchida-san no go-shujin no o-shigoto wa nan desu ka?
U: Otto wa kaisha-in desu.
Kotaete kudasai:
Uchida-san no go-shujin wa taishoku shite imasu ka?
Track 19:
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