Not sure about this considering i am new to the language. But i was reading the the notes on this episode it looked like some of the hiragana was wrong. Instead of “wa” and “mo” and had “ha”. But other then that I am loving the show. i just started listening 3 days ago and i feel like I am learning alot.

Tim-san, thanks for the post and pointing that out! Jonas-san, thanks again! You the best! The notes have been corrected, and are ready to be downloaded. Thanks again!
Yes, the romaji (roman alphabet) wa and the hiragana は, yes, we’re going to get something up on the page about this in the near future! It threw me for a loop the first time I came across it!
Great to hear your taking up the language! There is so much to like about it, and please, please let us know if there is any way we can help. We really care about students of Japanese, and will do everything possible to help you in your studies!

Thank you again.
よろしくおねがいします！(Yoroshiku O-negai Shimasu!

Joey-san, great to hear from you! Well, the question itself is fine, but we just think directly asking someone, “Who are you?” is a bit rude in any language. However, if the situation did call for it, and there are cases that it may, one should go with:
Dochira-sama deshou ka?
This is the same as Anata wa dare desu ka? just all dressed up!
Dare -> Dochira (the politer form)
sama -> most polite suffix (higher than san, usually used for customers or business relations)
desu -> deshou (a little more vague, making it more polite)
Again, same phrase just dressed up in a tux. You’ll here this if you show up to the front desk of place of business.

Was this helpful?

Seems me and Peter-san posted at the same time! Just wanted to say that both “dochirasama” and “donatasama” has the same meaning, and they can be used interchangeably (as far as I know. I can’t think of a situation where you can’t)

Jonas

Awesome guys. So far I’ve been doing this for two days. I listen to lessons on my way to school and to work. I feel I’m learning a lot. Keep up the awesome work!

How do you spell out “Who is he?” and “Who is she?”

To be more polite, you can also use:

Kare wa dochira deshou ka?
Kanojyo wa dochira deshou ka?

Even more polite could be:

Kare wa dochira sama deshou ka?
Kanojyo wa dochira sama deshou ka?

-mentioned earlier in this message thread.

Daniel

I was wondering how would “deshou” be literally translated?
What verbal mode is it?

Kathy-san and Sergiu-san

deshou is the polite presumptive form of the copula da (to be).
desu is the polite form of da.
darou is the plain presumptive.

It means “is probably” “will probably”
can also be “I suppose”, or sometimes be translated as “isn’t it?”
deshou ka could be “I wonder”

As such it softens assertions and questions and hence is a bit more polite than desu.

BUT, at this stage I’d stick to just using desu and desu ka
deshou makes it’s first offical appearence in Beginner #101

Great lesson. Very fun with the celebrity names. Tanoshii-desu!

Kon’ichiwa. Watashi wa Dwarika Gerard desu. Watashi mo Amerika jin desu. Great lessons. Thank you. You speak great English Sakura.