Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Natsuko: こんにちは。なつこです。 (Konnichiwa. Natsuko desu.)
Sachiko: Sachiko here. Now I think today we are going to talk about the three basic colors in the traffic signals.
Natsuko: Oh those colors?
Sachiko: Yes 原色 (genshoku) I guess. So let’s see what kind of situation this pops up in. So today’s conversation takes place in a school.
Natsuko: Yes, classroom. And because it’s between teacher and students, what kind of formality?
Sachiko: Well the students should be speaking to the teachers with a polite form always at all times because they are younger and the teachers would be using casual form to talk to the students.
Natsuko: So it’s mixed here right?
Sachiko: Right.
Natsuko: Okay. You have to pay attention to that.
Sachiko: Right. And the students will be using polite form. Let’s take a look.
DIALOGUE
先生:信号には色が3つあるけど、何色かわかる人は手を挙げてー。
Sensei:Shingō ni wa, iro ga mittsu aru kedo, nani iro ka wakaru hito wa te o agetē.
生徒達:はいはいはいはいはいっ。
Seitotachi:Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai!
先生:じゃあ、マサル。
Sensei:Jā, Masaru.
マサル:はい。青と黄と赤です。
Masaru:Hai. Ao to ki to aka desu.
先生:よくできました。みんな拍手。
Sensei:Yoku dekimashita. Minna hakushu.
(生徒たち、拍手する)
(Seitotachi, hakushu suru)
先生:じゃあ、マサル。青と黄色と赤、それぞれどんな意味かわかるかい。
Sensei:Jā, Masaru. Ao to ki iro to aka, sorezore donna imi ka wakaru kai.
マサル:はい、先生。「青色は進んでよい」「黄色は止まれるなら止まれ」「赤色は止まれ」です。
Masaru:Hai, sensei. Aoiro wa susunde yoi. Kiiro wa tomareru nara tomare. Akairo wa tomare,desu.
先生:マサル、よくできました。よく知っていたなあ。
Sensei:Masaru, yoku dekimashita. Yoku shitte ita nā.
アサミ:先生、先生。マサルくんは、わかっていないと思います。
Asami:Sensei, sensei. Masaru-kun wa, wakatte inai to omoimasu.
先生:なんでそう思うんだ。
Sensei:Nande sō omō n da.
アサミ:だって、マサルくんは「赤信号、みんなで渡ればこわくない」って、いつも赤信号なのに渡ろうとするんです。
Asami:Datte, Masaru-kun wa (akashingō, minna de watareba kowakunai) tte, itsumo akashingō na noni watarō to suru n desu.
先生:なっ、なんだとー。
Sensei:Na, nan da tō.
もう一度お願いします。ゆっくりお願いします。
(Mō ichido onegaishimasu. Yukkuri onegaishimasu.)
先生:信号には色が3つあるけど、何色かわかる人は手を挙げてー。
Sensei:Shingō ni wa, iro ga mittsu aru kedo, nani iro ka wakaru hito wa te o agetē.
生徒達:はいはいはいはいはいっ。
Seitotachi:Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai!
先生:じゃあ、マサル。
Sensei:Jā, Masaru.
マサル:はい。青と黄と赤です。
Masaru:Hai. Ao to ki to aka desu.
先生:よくできました。みんな拍手。
Sensei:Yoku dekimashita. Minna hakushu.
(生徒たち、拍手する)
(Seitotachi, hakushu suru)
先生:じゃあ、マサル。青と黄色と赤、それぞれどんな意味かわかるかい。
Sensei:Jā, Masaru. Ao to ki iro to aka, sorezore donna imi ka wakaru kai.
マサル:はい、先生。「青色は進んでよい」「黄色は止まれるなら止まれ」「赤色は止まれ」です。
Masaru:Hai, sensei. Aoiro wa susunde yoi. Kiiro wa tomareru nara tomare. Akairo wa tomare,desu.
先生:マサル、よくできました。よく知っていたなあ。
Sensei:Masaru, yoku dekimashita. Yoku shitte ita nā.
アサミ:先生、先生。マサルくんは、わかっていないと思います。
Asami:Sensei, sensei. Masaru-kun wa, wakatte inai to omoimasu.
先生:なんでそう思うんだ。
Sensei:Nande sō omō n da.
アサミ:だって、マサルくんは「赤信号、みんなで渡ればこわくない」って、いつも赤信号なのに渡ろうとするんです。
Asami:Datte, Masaru-kun wa (akashingō, minna de watareba kowakunai) tte, itsumo akashingō na noni watarō to suru n desu.
先生:なっ、なんだとー。
Sensei:Na, nan da tō.
次は英語が入ります。
(Tsugi wa eigo ga hairimasu.)
先生:信号には色が3つあるけど、何色かわかる人は手を挙げてー。
Sensei:Shingō ni wa, iro ga mittsu aru kedo, nani iro ka wakaru hito wa te o agetē.
Teacher: Traffic signals consist of three colors. Raise your hands if you know what colors they are.
生徒達:はいはいはいはいはいっ。
Seitotachi:Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai!
Students: Me! Me! Me! Me!
先生:じゃあ、マサル。
Sensei:Jā, Masaru.
Teacher: Okay then, Masaru.
マサル:はい。青と黄と赤です。
Masaru:Hai. Ao to ki to aka desu.
Masaru: Yes. Green, red and yellow.
先生:よくできました。みんな拍手。
Sensei:Yoku dekimashita. Minna hakushu.
Teacher: Very good. Everyone, let's give Masaru a round of applause.
(生徒達、拍手する)
(Seitotachi, hakushu suru)
(everyone applauds)
先生:じゃあ、マサル。青と黄色と赤、それぞれどんな意味かわかるかい。
Sensei:Jā, Masaru. Ao to ki iro to aka, sorezore donna imi ka wakaru kai.
Teacher: Okay, then. Masaru, what does each color mean?
マサル:はい、先生。「青色は進んでよい」「黄色は止まれるなら止まれ」「赤色は止まれ」です。
Masaru:Hai, sensei. Aoiro wa susunde yoi. Kiiro wa tomareru nara tomare. Akairo wa tomare,desu.
Masaru: Yes. Green means go. Yellow means stop if you can. Red means stop.
先生:マサル、よくできました。よく知っていたなあ。
Sensei:Masaru, yoku dekimashita. Yoku shitte ita nā.
Teacher: Very good, Masaru. You know this very well.
アサミ:先生、先生。マサルくんは、わかっていないと思います。
Asami:Sensei, sensei. Masaru-kun wa, wakatte inai to omoimasu.
Asami: Teacher, I don't think Masaru knows this very well.
先生:なんでそう思うんだ。
Sensei:Nande sō omō n da.
Teacher: Why do you say that?
アサミ:だって、マサルくんは「赤信号、みんなで渡ればこわくない」って、いつも赤信号なのに渡ろうとするんです。
Asami:Datte, Masaru-kun wa (akashingō, minna de watareba kowakunai) tte, itsumo akashingō na noni watarō to suru n desu.
Asami: Because he always tries to cross a red light, saying "It's not scary if we all cross a red light together."
先生:なっ、なんだとー。
Sensei:Na, nan da tō.
Teacher: What!?
POST CONVERSATION BANTER
Sachiko: Natsuko san, what did you think of the conversation?
Natsuko: マサルくんはちゃんと信号を守らないとダメですね。 (Masaru-kun wa chanto shingō o mamoranaito dame desu ne.)
Sachiko: Masaru needs to follow the rules of the traffic lights because what does he do?
Natsuko: 赤信号、みんなで渡ればこわくない。 (Akashingō, min'na de watareba kowakunai.)
Sachiko: “It’s not scary if we all cross the red light together.”
Natsuko: Well that may be an aspect of reality.
Sachiko: Yeah true.
Natsuko: But it’s a joke, always right?
Sachiko: Yeah. I think when people are feeling timid about making changes or doing something different, they will say みんなで渡ればこわくない (min'na de watareba kowakunai)
Natsuko: You can dare to do it.
Sachiko: Yeah we will be okay if we all do it together. It’s kind of a thing that we say to motivate each other to go on. Natsuko-san, let’s go over today’s vocabulary.
VOCAB LIST
Natsuko: はい。信号 (Hai. Shingō)
Sachiko: Traffic lights.
Natsuko: し・ん・ご・う「信号」 (Shi n gou `shingō')
Sachiko: So as we found out in today’s conversation, in Japanese, the colors for the traffic signals are considered blue, red and yellow instead of green.
Natsuko: Well the actual color is green.
Sachiko: Right.
Natsuko: But we call it blue.
Sachiko: Right.
Natsuko: Somehow.
Sachiko: Because we are all colorblind.
Natsuko: No, no, no…oh, oh….
Sachiko: No, no, no, no, no…
Natsuko: I think the word blue 青 (ao) in Japanese has the meaning of young, younger.
Sachiko: Right.
Natsuko: It’s like 青年 (seinen) young.
Sachiko: As in youth?
Natsuko: Yes youth 青春 (seishun)
Sachiko: Uh, which is kind of like puberty but a more romantic way of saying it. I don’t know what the good translation would be for that but…
Natsuko: Are there some words using this kanji blue and has the meaning of young?
Sachiko: Right. So the color green might give you the feeling of some, you know, young leaves.
Natsuko: Right, young leaves.
Sachiko: So maybe that’s why we call green blue. Not always. You know, there is a word for green 緑 (midori)
Natsuko: Right.
Sachiko: So sometimes you use that one but in the case of a signal…
Natsuko: Some reason we call them blue.
Sachiko: Yes, blue signal 青信号 (ao shingō)
Natsuko: Yes.
Sachiko: Okay. So when we say the blue signal, we say 青信号 (ao shingō).
Natsuko: Yes 赤信号 (aka shingō).
Sachiko: For red light.
Natsuko: 黄色信号 (kiiro shingō)
Sachiko: For the yellow lights. In Japan, I’ve noticed that when giving directions, we often use signals.
Natsuko: Oh yes right.
Sachiko: The traffic signals.
Natsuko: Aha because it has names.
Sachiko: That’s right. There is a name for the location of the signals. So when you give directions, you often say, turn right at the next signal.
Natsuko: 次の信号で右に曲がってください。 (Tsugi no shingō de migi ni magatte kudasai.)
Sachiko: And also because in Japanese, we don’t use the concept of blocks. You have to, have to, have to count the traffic signals…
Natsuko: You’re right…
Sachiko: And not the blocks. So remember that if you ever ask for directions in Japan. Okay the next vocabulary please.
Natsuko: 拍手 (hakushu)
Sachiko: Clapping hands, applause
Natsuko: は・く・しゅ「拍手」 (Ha ku shu `hakushu')
Sachiko: So in Japanese, how would you say, they wouldn’t stop clapping at the concert.
Natsuko: コンサートで拍手が止まない。 (Konsāto de hakushu ga yamanai.)
Sachiko: The next vocabulary please.
Natsuko: 進む (susumu)
Sachiko: To advance, to make progress.
Natsuko: す・す・む「進む」 (su su mu `susumu')
Sachiko: So what are we doing now? We are progressing with the lesson. What would that be?
Natsuko: レッスンが進みます。 (Ressun ga susumimasu.)
Sachiko: The lesson is progressing. Next vocabulary please
Natsuko: 止まる (tomaru)
Sachiko: To stop.
Natsuko: と・ま・る「止まる」 (to ma ru `tomaru')
Sachiko: This is unfortunately used a lot on the trains because it seems like every train I get on stops.
Natsuko: Yes.
Sachiko: And the reasons could be anything -
Natsuko: Yeah right…
Sachiko: From the train in front of it is running late or the weather…
Natsuko: Yes.
Sachiko: Weather conditions often stop trains.
Natsuko: Right.
Sachiko: Right. So if you were to say, the train is stopped because of the typhoon, it would be
Natsuko: 台風で電車が止まる。 (Taifū de densha ga tomaru.)
Sachiko: Scary thought; don’t want to be on that one. Okay, the next vocabulary please
Natsuko: 渡る (wataru)
Sachiko: “To cross” or “cross over.”
Natsuko: わ・た・る「渡る」 (wa ta ru `wataru')
Sachiko: I guess the most common way of using this is maybe to cross a bridge.
Natsuko: 橋を渡る。 (Hashi o wataru.)
Sachiko: Right. Or if you fly overseas, you cross an ocean.
Natsuko: 海を渡る。 (Umi o wataru.)
Sachiko: Right….
Natsuko: Because Japan is an island country.
Sachiko: Right. That’s the interesting thing because Japan is an island, everything foreign is considered overseas.
Natsuko: Yes.
Sachiko: Okay. Well, since we are talking about colors, why don’t we introduce some more?
Natsuko: Oh yes, sure.
Sachiko: What else is there?
Natsuko: 黒 (kuro)
Sachiko: Black.
Natsuko: 白 (shiro)
Sachiko: White.
Natsuko: 緑 (midori)
Sachiko: Green.
Natsuko: 紫 (murasaki)
Sachiko: Purple, my favorite.
Natsuko: Wow! 茶色 (chairo)
Sachiko: Brown.
Natsuko: 金色 (kin'iro)
Sachiko: Gold
Natsuko: 銀色 (gin'iro)
Sachiko: Silver
Natsuko: 水色 (mizuiro)
Sachiko: Which is light blue. It’s considered light blue and it’s written in the kanji signaling “water.”
Natsuko: Yes.
Sachiko: So it’s light blue because it looks like water.
Natsuko: Uhoo…
Sachiko: Okay 水色 (mizuiro)
Natsuko: ピンク (pinku)
Sachiko: Pink.
Natsuko: オレンジ (orenji)
Sachiko: Orange. Now I think there are a couple of colors that are very unique to Japanese culture. Right. I think one is 朱色 (shuiro)
Natsuko: Oh yes.
Sachiko: How would you describe that?
Natsuko: Vermillion? Yeah it’s very bright and slightly orangey red.
Sachiko: And I think it’s used for stamps?
Natsuko: Oh yes, the ink.
Sachiko: Yeah right.
Natsuko: And it’s maybe of Chinese origin because Chinese temples are usually colored…
Sachiko: That’s right.
Natsuko: They are very bright red. Orangey, reddish.
Sachiko: Yeah, yeah, yeah and also the 鳥居 (torii) in Japan are typically that color.
Natsuko: Oh yes, yes the shrine.
Sachiko: Yeah it’s really beautiful. The gates of a shrine usually have this 朱色 (shuiro) color.
Natsuko: And another thing that I think is very Japanese is 藍色 (aiiro).
Sachiko: Uhh indigo.
Natsuko: Yeah, indigo blue.
Sachiko: Very beautiful color, isn’t it?
Natsuko: I love it. I think it’s beautiful.
Sachiko: Very dark and pure kind of blue, isn’t it?
Natsuko: Yeah it’s navy but it’s deeper than that. It’s so hard to describe…
Sachiko: Yes.
Natsuko: But I think yeah, I think it’s a very traditional color.
Sachiko: Right. So if you go to a souvenir shop, you see a lot of these.
Natsuko: Uhoo…It’s usually used in traditional fabrics like 浴衣 (yukata) kimono…
Sachiko: Right, right.
Natsuko: 手ぬぐい (Tenugui) and the のれん (noren)
Sachiko: Oh yes. The sheets are hung at the entrance of a house or a business.
Natsuko: Yes.

Outro

Sachiko: We’ve covered a lot of colors today. And today’s lesson involved a lot of vocabulary. So be sure to rewind and listen to it again. See you next week.
Natsuko: それじゃ、また今度! (Sore ja, mata kondo!)

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