Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
John: Asking Directions. In this lesson, you'll learn how to ask and understand basic directions in Japanese.
Body
John: Here's a way to ask "Where is the station?" in Japanese.
Risa: [Normal] 駅はどこですか。(Eki wa doko desu ka.)
John: First is a word meaning "station."
Risa: [Normal] 駅 [Slow] 駅 (eki)
John: Next is the topic particle.
Risa: [Normal] は [Slow] は (wa)
John: Next is the word meaning "where."
Risa: [Normal] どこ [Slow] どこ(doko)
John: Next is the word meaning "is."
Risa: [Normal] です [Slow] です(desu)
John: Last is the question particle.
Risa: [Normal] か [Slow] か(ka)
John: Note the rising intonation. Listen again to the question meaning "Where is the station?"
Risa: [Slow] 駅はどこですか。 [Normal] 駅はどこですか。
John: Here's the way to answer "it's straight over here."
Risa: [Normal] ここをまっすぐです。(Koko o massugu desu.)
John: First is a word meaning "here."
Risa: [Normal] ここ [Slow] ここ (koko)
John: Next is the particle which marks the place of motion.
Risa: [Normal] を [Slow] を(o)
John: Next is the word meaning "straight."
Risa: [Normal] まっすぐ [Slow] まっすぐ (massugu)
John: Last is the word meaning "is."
Risa: [Normal] です [Slow] です(desu)
John: Listen again to the response meaning "it's straight over here."
Risa: [Slow] ここをまっすぐです。 [Normal] ここをまっすぐです。
John: Here's a response meaning "Turn right."
Risa: [Normal] 右に曲がってください。(Migi ni magatte kudasai.)
John: First is a word meaning "right"
Risa: [Normal] 右 [Slow] 右(migi)
John: Next is the word meaning "to."
Risa: [Normal] に [Slow] に (ni)
John: Next is the word meaning "turn."
Risa: [Normal] 曲がって [Slow] 曲がって (magatte)
John: Last is the word meaning "please."
Risa: [Normal] ください [Slow] ください (kudasai)
John: Listen again to the response - "Turn right."
Risa: [Slow] 右に曲がってください。 [Normal] 右に曲がってください。
John: Here's a response meaning "Turn left."
Risa: [Normal] 左に曲がってください。(Hidari ni magatte kudasai.)
John: First is a word meaning "left."
Risa: [Normal] 左 [Slow] 左 (hidari)
John: Next is the word meaning "to."
Risa: [Normal] に [Slow] に (ni)
John: Next is the word meaning "turn."
Risa: [Normal] 曲がって [Slow] 曲がって (magatte)
John: Last is the word meaning "please."
Risa: [Normal] ください [Slow] ください (kudasai)
John: Listen again to the response - "Turn left."
Risa: [Slow] 左に曲がってください。 [Normal] 左に曲がってください。
Cultural Insight
John: Now, it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Risa: Recently, Japan has been implementing measures to become a tourism nation. One of the most noticeable measures include changing road sign displays. In the past, place names were written in both Romanized Japanese and English, for example Mount Fuji-san. After the change, the signs will include only the correct English translation. So, Mount Fuji-san will become Mount Fuji and Shibuya-eki Station, will become simply Shibuya Station.

Outro

John: And that's all for this lesson. Don't forget to check out the lesson notes, and we'll see you in the next lesson!
Risa: またね!(mata ne!)

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