Dialogue

Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Notes

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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] すみません、ちょっと…。(Sumimasen, chotto...)
John: First is a word meaning "excuse me,” or “sorry."
Risa: [Normal] すみません [Slow] すみません (sumimasen)
John: Last is the word literally meaning "a bit."
Risa: [Normal] ちょっと [Slow] ちょっと(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] すみません、ちょっと…。 [Normal] すみません、ちょっと…。
John: Okay, now let's see an alternative way to say "I'm sorry, but..." in a less formal way, though it’s still polite.
Risa: [Normal] ごめんなさい、ちょっと…。(Gomen’nasai, chotto...)
John: First is a word meaning "excuse me, sorry."
Risa: [Normal] ごめんなさい [Slow] ごめんなさい (gomen’nasai )
John: Next is the word meaning "a bit."
Risa: [Normal] ちょっと [Slow] ちょっと(chotto)
John: Listen again to the formal phrase meaning "I'm sorry, but..."
Risa: [Slow] ごめんなさい、ちょっと…。 [Normal] ごめんなさい、ちょっと…。
John: The following is a formal way to say "I'm sorry, but I have plans."
Risa: [Normal] すみません、予定があります。(Sumimasen, yotei ga arimasu.)
John: First is a word meaning "excuse me, sorry."
Risa: [Normal] すみません [Slow] すみません(sumimasen)
John: Next is the word meaning "plan."
Risa: [Normal] 予定 [Slow] 予定(yotei)
John: Next is the subject particle.
Risa: [Normal] が [Slow] が(ga)
John: Last is the word meaning "as I have, as there is."
Risa: [Normal] あります [Slow] あります(arimasu)
John: Listen again to the formal phrase meaning "I'm sorry, but I have plans."
Risa: [Slow] すみません、予定があります。 [Normal] すみません、予定があります。
John: Finally is an alternative way to say "I'm sorry, but I have plans." in a less formal way, though it’s still polite.
Risa: [Normal] ごめんなさい、予定があります。(Gomennasai, yotei ga arimasu.)
John: First is a word meaning "I'm sorry."
Risa: [Normal] ごめんなさい [Slow] ごめんなさい(gomennasai)
John: Next is the word meaning "plan."
Risa: [Normal] 予定 [Slow] 予定 (yotei)
John: Next is the subject particle.
Risa: [Normal] が [Slow] が(ga)
John: Last is the word meaning "as I have / as there is."
Risa: [Normal] あります [Slow] あります(arimasu)
John: Listen again to the phrase meaning "I'm sorry, but I have plans."
Risa: [Slow] ごめんなさい、予定があります。 [Normal] ごめんなさい、予定があります。
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: またね!(mata ne!)

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