Dialogue

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
John: Refusing Politely. In this lesson, you'll learn how to refuse invitations politely in Japanese.
Body
John: Here's the formal way to say "I'm sorry, but..." in Japanese.
Risa: [Normal] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจโ€ฆใ€‚(Sumimasen, chotto...)
John: First is a word meaning "excuse me,โ€ or โ€œsorry."
Risa: [Normal] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ [Slow] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ (sumimasen)
John: Last is the word literally meaning "a bit."
Risa: [Normal] ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจ [Slow] ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจ(chotto)
John: In general, saying "no" directly is considered very casual in Japanese culture, so gentler language is preferred. Listen again to the formal phrase meaning "I'm sorry, but..."
Risa: [Slow] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจโ€ฆใ€‚ [Normal] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจโ€ฆใ€‚
John: Okay, now let's see an alternative way to say "I'm sorry, but..." in a less formal way, though itโ€™s still polite.
Risa: [Normal] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ใ€ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจโ€ฆใ€‚(Gomenโ€™nasai, chotto...)
John: First is a word meaning "excuse me, sorry."
Risa: [Normal] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ [Slow] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ (gomenโ€™nasai )
John: Next is the word meaning "a bit."
Risa: [Normal] ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจ [Slow] ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจ(chotto)
John: Listen again to the formal phrase meaning "I'm sorry, but..."
Risa: [Slow] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ใ€ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจโ€ฆใ€‚ [Normal] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ใ€ใกใ‚‡ใฃใจโ€ฆใ€‚
John: The following is a formal way to say "I'm sorry, but I have plans."
Risa: [Normal] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€ไบˆๅฎšใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚(Sumimasen, yotei ga arimasu.)
John: First is a word meaning "excuse me, sorry."
Risa: [Normal] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ [Slow] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“(sumimasen)
John: Next is the word meaning "plan."
Risa: [Normal] ไบˆๅฎš [Slow] ไบˆๅฎš(yotei)
John: Next is the subject particle.
Risa: [Normal] ใŒ [Slow] ใŒ(ga)
John: Last is the word meaning "as I have, as there is."
Risa: [Normal] ใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ [Slow] ใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™(arimasu)
John: Listen again to the formal phrase meaning "I'm sorry, but I have plans."
Risa: [Slow] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€ไบˆๅฎšใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ [Normal] ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ใ€ไบˆๅฎšใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚
John: Finally is an alternative way to say "I'm sorry, but I have plans." in a less formal way, though itโ€™s still polite.
Risa: [Normal] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ใ€ไบˆๅฎšใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚(Gomennasai, yotei ga arimasu.)
John: First is a word meaning "I'm sorry."
Risa: [Normal] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ [Slow] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„(gomennasai)
John: Next is the word meaning "plan."
Risa: [Normal] ไบˆๅฎš [Slow] ไบˆๅฎš (yotei)
John: Next is the subject particle.
Risa: [Normal] ใŒ [Slow] ใŒ(ga)
John: Last is the word meaning "as I have / as there is."
Risa: [Normal] ใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ [Slow] ใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™(arimasu)
John: Listen again to the phrase meaning "I'm sorry, but I have plans."
Risa: [Slow] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ใ€ไบˆๅฎšใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚ [Normal] ใ”ใ‚ใ‚“ใชใ•ใ„ใ€ไบˆๅฎšใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ใ€‚
Cultural Insight
John: Now, it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Risa: The word chotto means "a little" or "a bit," but it's also often used when refusing in a roundabout way, like "I have a small thing and I'm sorry I have to refuse your invitation." Of course, you can use it even if you don't have any plans.

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: ใพใŸใญ๏ผ(mata ne!)

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