Today’s location is Mito・みと・水戸 captial of Ibaraki・いばらき・茨城 prefecture! A place Peter called home for 3+ years! Renown for Natto・なっとう・納豆 fermented beans, have a VERY distinct odor!!
Can anyone eat Natto?

We would like a lot of feedback on the format of today’s lesson! As a special bonus track, we gave you the same conversation in “real Japanese” (defined as a conversation between intimate people used very often!) . We feel the more exposure you have to this the smoother the transition will be, but we welcome all opinions for and against.

For the informal dialogues, the final two passages were corrected with correction history on, so you can see what changed if you go to TOOLS->CORRECTION HISTORY->OPTIONS->RED LINE. Do you like this?

Please lots of feedback!!!
By the way, 38 posts!! Great job!!

Just a tip. For all of you who doens’t have acrobat reader or any other pdf reader installed, you can use http://view.samurajdata.se/ to view the files online!

Jonas

Do you want to know how many (Japanese) blunders Peter make?
Are you tired of having to read endless personal comments before you get the useful information in this section? Do you want to know more about some of the words used in this podcast? Please, check http://it.geocities.com/welovehatethispod/index.htm
If you hate grammar or are kanji-allergic this site is not for you but if you want an accompaniment to japanese101.com you might like it. It is just a plain (we have no money or time for something fancier) but accurate HTML file updated daily. If you want to be able to order sushi in your next trip to Tokyo, two months of japanesepod and a couple of fast hands are enough but if you are serious about Japanese and miss something in every podcast you may find this site interesting.
Enjoy it

I have just listened to the last two podcasts. I do really enjoy listening and trying to learn the less-formal and I guess the more natural way to speak Japanese. I hope there are plans to teach more informal ways of speaking Japanese?
Can I use ‘Mou ii’ any situation inwhich I have had enough? For example, say I have been driving none stop for 5 hours, could I say to the passenger next me “I’ve had enough off driving. Can you take over” and use the word ‘Mou ii’? (sorry, I am not sure how you say “I’ve had enough off driving. Can you take over” in Japanese)

While we are in the habit of posting webpages, I thought you might like to see a work in progress. It as been a work in progress for a long time. I stopped, but listening to these podcasts as encouraged me to re-start all over again. It is not brilliant and is far from perfect. In fact my friend in Japan as noticed a few mistakes and she is going to guide me a little when she e-mails me at the weekend when she as some free time. But if you wish to take a look, please do at:

http://uk.geocities.com/sjbarnett1969/

I promised myself I would not let anyone else know about this website as it as been more of a personal thing…in the sense it as been a way for me to, kind of, study. But please bare in mind it is not complete. I have only managed to complete up to ‘Shopping’ After that all the other pages do not exist. As soon as I have completed it…and only if you like, I will let you know.

Has for the UK…or rather the part I live in…which is in the Thames Valley, I live very near to Windsor (No not Slough…Hehehehe!) 今日は天気いいです。 (ok…maybe it is a little さむい)

Oh! well, nearly time to go home.
Jaa mata
O-genki de
Steve

Peter-san.
WOW! Thank you for your nice comment about my web-site. I must admit I felt a little…Ummmm! embarrassed about telling everyone about it. But your words are encouraging. どうもありがとうございます。
I started the site when I was using Windows 98 and the Global IME. Recently, thanks to a member on this site (Sorry I forget his name) I discovered that Windows xp already had the Japanese IME installed…I am very grateful to that member and what with these great podcasts I could not help but feel encouraged to re-start it all over again.
Thanks so much
Now I really am going home
O-genki de
Steve

It’s amazing that you’re able to post so much helpful information for free. I’m trying to transition from beginner to, I guess, intermediate level Japanese, and I find your podcasts extremely helpful. Thanks!

納豆！

I have only tried natto once. At first, I thought I wouldn’t be able to eat it all. But then, as I continued eating it, it seemed to just all of the sudden be gone I would eat it again… I would love to try it in some dishes, as well. And here are today’s natto links

http://www.gaia21.net/natto/natto.htm - Learn how to make your own!
http://www.mercola.com/2005/may/17/aspirin_heart.htm - Learn about the awesome health benefits of natto!

I haven’t gotten to listen to the lesson yet, but I did give the informal track a quick listen. I have to say that I really love this feature! You guys (and gals) love bringing us practical Japanese that we don’t find in the classroom, and this is taking that a HUGE step further. Keep it up!

The corrections in the PDF file are a great idea! Just to let you know, I have the latest version of Acrobat Reader for English Windows XP, and there is no “Correction History” option that I can find, but the red-lined corrections do show up in the text. This works just as well!

Japanese student-san: You have an interesting idea for your site (expanding on some of the things that aren’t necessarily best covered in the lessons, but are still of interest to some), but your advertisement, URL, etc. are a bit distasteful. You have to realize that this show is catering to an audience much larger than yourself. The show really does a fantastic job of appealing to a very diverse group of people, as well as keeping things fun and interesting. You can always find a Japanese grammar website and have “Dave” the computer-voice read it to you. We come to JapanesePod to have a great time learning fun and interesting things as well as practical information - all with the hosts and hostesses that we’ve come to know and love (personality is a great thing). That said, a site that does a good job of supplementing with extra information regarding the material is not a bad idea - although I’m sure they would rather us simply discuss the podcasts here. Try a softer approach next time, though

I’ll get back to you all once I’ve listened to the lesson to comment on the format! Thanks, as always!

Steve-san,
Thanks for posting your site. I think you’ve done a very nice job with it and I’m glad you shared it with us. Nothing to be embarrassed about!

Japanese student-san, しつれいですね。I think Nathan-san already said what I wanted to say on the matter.

As for natto, I’ve never tried it. I’m a bit afraid. My Japanese teacher will sometimes treat me to dinner for helping to assist her with the Japanese 2 students, I’ll have to remember and try them next time (maybe). As for the lesson, thank you for including the informal track as well as the PDF notes. It was helpful to see it with the track changes on.

Speaking of the Japanese 2 students, tonight is their midterm, so that’s where I’ll be this evening. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

~ロンダ

Hey all! First time poster, long time listener! Looking forward to being part of this community you guys are building here. (And I will be )

Peter, Sakura, Natsuko, and of course Kazunori, I LOVE this podcast. Unfortunately I can only listen to it at work, so I get interrupted a lot, plus I cannot repeat out loud any words because .. well.. I’m at work

I REALLY like the little ‘casual language’ supplements. I’m a lazy guy, and the casual way seems so much more efficient Although I think it would be kinda funny to ask my close friends “Good day chaps. What would thou say to a spot of lunch at a local eatery? Pip pip!”, instead of “yo dudes. Hungry?”

Also I love your humour, I am of the school of thought that something isn’t worth doing unless you can have fun, so thanks for that, and keep it up!

So yeah hi to you all from New Zealand! I may come over to japan soon!

Ps, could you tell me the japanese word for new zealand? I can kinda guess it but would like an official response

cheers dudes!

Nate-san,

日本語ができますか。(Nihongo ga dekimasu ka) is proper, although there is some omitted information. できます (dekimasu) is the potential form of the verb する (suru - “to do”), and thus means “to be able to do”. Including the omitted information, it would be 日本語を話すことができますか。(Nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu ka), which means “the-thing-of-speaking-Japanese can-you-do” or “can you speak Japanese”. You can also achieve this by using the potential form of the verb, e.g. 日本語を話せますか。(Nihongo o hanasemasu ka).

Regarding dialects in Japan, there are many, many dialects! In fact, when you hear Kazunori say “mecha mecha genki”, he is using words from a non-standard dialect - 関西弁 (Kansai-ben). Although there are many dialects, pretty much all Japanese should be able to speak 標準語 (hyoujungo), or standard Japanese (which is what you learn in schools and here, aside from a phrase every now and then).

Here is an article from Wikipedia about Japanese dialects:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_dialects

Nathan - awesome thanks!

I very very quickly learned katakana and hiragana about 2 years ago (ie one night of cramming to prove to my friend I could do it haha), so I’m not sure about this but: si = shi, shi with the 2 little ticks = ji, so I assume there is no “zi” ? or if there is, is it too annoying to write? (in regards to new ZEaland)

Cool, thanks nathan

I had a friend of mine tell me a story about a classmate of his who was learning japanese. This person had gone to japan for a holiday, and he had gone to a reasonably remote part. He fell in love with the place and lived there for 3 years, becoming fluent in the language. After 3 years he visited one of the main cities (Most likely tokyo) and he could not understand or speak to anyone! So he had to study “standard” japanese! poor guy

well.. not really ‘poor guy’ he lived in a place he loved for 3 years! but you know what I mean

Hi Podcasters!!!

Great lesson today minnasan. This is the second time I laughed from one of your conversations. The first one was the “pick-up lines” and this time the arguement(?) from the couples.

It’s always easy to remember when you/we have fun while learning.

Hi Natsuko,

I like your spontaneity , your comments make me laugh, in a good way.

To Podcast writers (if you have besides the hosts):

Great Job, I’ll be looking forward to a more natural and fun conversation!!!

Ja Ne!!!

Re. dialects…
here in Tsugaru (north west Aomori) the dialect (Tsugaru-ben) is crazy. when it gets mixed with the accent, especially by men, its difficult to even make out some of the syllables let alone understand anything!
My friends have been teaching me some… eg to use Jonah’s previous example of Hokkaido-ben put into Tsugoru-ben:

“oishii” is “me” and comes from a contraction of the local accent’s pronunciation of “umai”

“totemo” is “nambo” and in exclamations they put “ba” on the end to round it all off…

so…
totemo oishii desu!
- nambo me ba! (more for men)
or
- waii me ja!

sheesh

Arigato onegaishimasu to Nathan-san, Jonas-san, and Ormo-san for the information on dialects and the phrase.

wooo!! you guys are getting real popular here, 30ish comments for one show! Omedetou!

I really like this episode, especially a little row between Natsuko and Kaze1973, very natural

Keep up the fantastic work guys!

Hi guys. Just wanted to say thanks for the great podcasts, the polite and casual versions of the conversations is an inspired idea!

I have a question about the podcast today… Why is there a shi at the end of the line “Kyou wa samukunai desu yo! Kyou wa doyou-bi desu yo! Tenki mo ii shi!”

is it something to do with the mo-also bit? how do we go about using this? am a bit confused, maybe i missed it in a previous lesson. Any help would be really appreciated!

Steve-san,

That someone was either trying to fool you or just meant that there’s really no word for “love” in the sense that Americans (and some other cultures, of course) use it regarding the phrase “I love you”. As I’m sure you know well, Japanese culture doesn’t really promote directness when expressing your feelings. 愛してる (愛して＋いる, the い is commonly dropped in speech) does indeed carry the meaning of “I love you”, but it is very direct and blunt, and therefore is not used in the same sense as we would use the phrase in America. “Show, don’t tell.” If you are going to say that in Japan, be ready for the wedding

James-san,

That’s a good question. I know of using し as a conjunctive particle, but I’ve never really seen it used at the end of the sentence. Then again, I don’t have much experience with it. Hopefully someone can enlighten us!

Nathan-san
Thanks for that. Yes I realise that Japanese culture does not promote directness. I just wanted to check with someone. When I was told that there is no word for Love in Japanese, I did not believe what was said as I was aware of　愛　and 愛してる　
（愛している）

Mmmmm! I have no plans to say 愛してる to anyone…I don’t think my wife would like it too much…hehehehe!

Jaa-mata
Steve

Jonas-san,

I had a feeling that this would be encountered more in casual speech, which is probably why I haven’t encountered it too much. Thanks for confirming that. With that in mind, though, I would question why it was not left to the informal part of the lesson.

Steve-san,

In addition, I would point out that there is another word for love as well - 恋 (こい). This is really the more “romantic” of the two. Check this article out:

http://japanese.about.com/library/weekly/aa021101a.htm

Nathan-san: I’m not a native speaker, but it is not unnatural the way it is phrased now. There is a balance to consider too. Too many “desu”es, and it sounds strange.

Jonas

Steve-san,

Actually, they both have 心 in them

Jonas-san,

Yes, I understand. There is polite, natural, and then there is polite, forced. Thanks for the information!

Peter-san,

Great to see you drop in to give us a dose of daily smilies But in all seriousness, thanks for always responding!

I loved this episode! The dialogue was so funny ^^ It’s great because with your acting I can usually tell what’s going on even if I don’t understand the japanese I’d like request that you use the phrase ‘that’s an excuse’ again in future episodes (onigaishimasu!) , it’s too useful to just do once

btw. WOW, look at all the post!

さくらさん、

返事をありがとうございました。すごく役に立ちました。

hi JP

for windows:
http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/handson/user/IME_Paper.mspx

on linux i use UIM
http://uim.freedesktop.org/wiki/

Yep thanks guys. Sakura, you have made the し thing much clearer! I just wanted to say thanks for the hard work you put in.

I listen to the cast most mornings on the way to work in Tokyo, the trains are pretty crowded but you make the journey much more bearable!!

Its a bit embarrassing though when I notice people looking at me because I am grinning at the Jokes!!!!

Peter, Nathan-san has already posted this URL above
I found it really interesting. Arigatou gozaimasu

What Japanese might say for “I love you” to a family member is, I guess, “Itsumo arigatou” (thank you for what you do everyday [what a poor translation ]). If you are lovers, something like, “Itsumo soba ni iruyo” (I’m always by your side). If you want to become lovers with someone, you might say, “hottokenai yo” (short for “houtte okenai yo”; I can’t leave you alone?). Or something like that.

Sakura-san, using the devil face, caused me to almost cry laughing! hysterical!

Nathan-san, how soon can you get to Tokyo?

This is my first time posting, so yoroshiku onegai shimasu! Minna-san, ganbarimasu! These lessons are so helpful. I’m 16 and I’ve been studying for 3 years on my own. Sure I’ve taught myself the kana systems, and I’ve picked up quite a bit of vocabulary, but these lessons just bring everything all together! Eien ni arigatou gozaimasu! These lessons are God-sends. I can’t even begin to express my gratitude! I’m posting on this post because this is as far as I’ve gotten. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this podcast until a couple of weeks ago. I have a lot of catching up to do! Oh well. I will post on a more recent one once I’ve gotten there! Oh! Sakura-sensei, If you get this post I have a quick question. What exactly is “na no da” supposed to mean? I’ve read that they’re nonsense words attached to sentences, but do you think you can try and translate? Thank you!

Rea-san, thanks for posting and welcome to the community! no is a particle that let’s the listener know that the speaker is explaining something or asking for an explanation about something. So if you were explaining something to someone you might use this. Also, many times when one asks a question in a casual situation no is attached. Atsui no? Are you hot?

Was this helpful?

Daniel-san, thank you for posting and welcome to the community! We’re so glad to hear you liked the story! If you like this one, you’re sure to like some of the others we have. And, the informal track was continued! Will do my best to keep answering your posts.
Yoroshiku!