Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Naomi: なおみです。(Naomi desu.)
Peter: Peter here. Opening New Doors in Japan. In this lesson, you will learn the usage of a verb meaning "to break" and "to begin" in Japanese.
Naomi: Right. Which are こわれる (kowareru) and 始まる (hajimaru).
Peter: Where does this conversation take place?
Naomi: 101テレビ局の前。(Ichi maru ichi terebikyoku no mae.)
Peter: In front of 101 TV Station.
Naomi: 男の人が歩に話しかけます。(Otoko no hito ga Ayumu ni hanashikakemasu.)
Peter: A man speaks to Ayumu.
Naomi: 二人は丁寧に話しています。(Futari wa teinei ni hanashite imasu.)
Peter: They're using formal Japanese. OK. Let's listen to the conversation.
DIALOGUE
(バス)(basu)
アナウンス (anaunsu) : 次は、101テレビ局前。101テレビ局前。(Tsugi wa, Ichi maru ichi terebikyoku mae. Ichi maru ichi terebikyoku mae.)
: ドアが あきます。(Doa ga akimasu.)
: ドアが 閉まります。(Doa ga shimarimasu.)
(外)(soto)
男 (otoko) : あの、すみません。落としましたよ。(Ano, sumimasen. Otoshimashita yo.)
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : え?(E?)
男 (otoko) : かばんから 財布が 落ちましたよ。はい、これ。(Kaban kara saifu ga ochimashita yo. Hai, kore.)
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : あ、ありがとうございます。え?新?(A, arigatō gozaimasu. E? Shin?)
男 (otoko) : はい?違いますけど。じゃ。(Hai? Chigaimasu kedo. Ja.)
近森 渡 (Chikamori Wataru) : おはよ。歩。歩?あゆむ!(Ohayo. Ayumu. Ayumu? Ayumu!)
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : え?ああ、渡・・・おはよう。(E? Ā, Wataru... ohayō.)
近森 渡 (Chikamori Wataru) : 何しているの。(Nani shite iru no.)
: 会議が 始まるよ。急いで。(Kaigi ga hajimaru yo. Isoide.)
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : あ・・・うん。(A… un.)
:(もしかして・・・あの人は 私が この前病院で見た人?)(Moshikashite... Ano hito wa watashi ga kono mae byōin de mita hito?)
Naomi: もう一度、お願いします。今度はゆっくりお願いします。(Mō ichi-do, onegai shimasu. Kondo wa yukkuri onegai shimasu.)
アナウンス (anaunsu) : 次は、101テレビ局前。101テレビ局前。(Tsugi wa, Ichi maru ichi terebikyoku mae. Ichi maru ichi terebikyoku mae.)
: ドアが あきます。(Doa ga akimasu.)
: ドアが 閉まります。(Doa ga shimarimasu.)
男 (otoko) : あの、すみません。落としましたよ。(Ano, sumimasen. Otoshimashita yo.)
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : え?(E?)
男 (otoko) : かばんから 財布が 落ちましたよ。はい、これ。(Kaban kara saifu ga ochimashita yo. Hai, kore.)
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : あ、ありがとうございます。え?新?(A, arigatō gozaimasu. E? Shin?)
男 (otoko) : はい?違いますけど。じゃ。(Hai? Chigaimasu kedo. Ja.)
近森 渡 (Chikamori Wataru) : おはよ。歩。歩?あゆむ!(Ohayo. Ayumu. Ayumu? Ayumu!)
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : え?ああ、渡・・・おはよう。(E? Ā, Wataru... ohayō.)
近森 渡 (Chikamori Wataru) : 何しているの。(Nani shite iru no.)
: 会議が 始まるよ。急いで。(Kaigi ga hajimaru yo. Isoide.)
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : あ・・・うん。(A… un.)
:(もしかして・・・あの人は 私が この前病院で見た人?)(Moshikashite... Ano hito wa watashi ga kono mae byōin de mita hito?)
Naomi: 今度は、英語が入ります。(Kondo wa, Eigo ga hairimasu.)
アナウンス (anaunsu) : 次は、101テレビ局前。101テレビ局前。(Tsugi wa, Ichi maru ichi terebikyoku mae. Ichi maru ichi terebikyoku mae.)
The next stop is 101 TV Station. 101 TV Station.
: ドアが あきます。(Doa ga akimasu.)
The doors will now open.
: ドアが 閉まります。(Doa ga shimarimasu.)
The doors will now close.
男 (otoko) : あの、すみません。落としましたよ。(Ano, sumimasen. Otoshimashita yo.)
Um, excuse me. You dropped this.
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : え?(E?)
Huh?
男 (otoko) : かばんから 財布が 落ちましたよ。(Kaban kara saifu ga ochimashita yo.)
You dropped this wallet out of your bag.
男 (otoko) : はい、これ。(Hai, kore.)
Here you are.
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : あ、ありがとうございます。(A, arigatō gozaimasu.)
Thank you very much!
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : え?新?(E? Shin?)
Huh? Shin??
男 (otoko) : はい?違いますけど。じゃ。(Hai? Chigaimasu kedo. Ja.)
I'm sorry? I think you're mistaken. If you'll excuse me.
近森 渡 (Chikamori Wataru) : おはよ。歩。(Ohayo. Ayumu.)
'Morning, Ayumu.
: 歩?(Ayumu?)
Ayumu?
: あゆむ!(Ayumu!)
Ayumu!
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : え?ああ、渡・・・おはよう。(E? Ā, Wataru... ohayō.)
Huh? Ohh, Wataru...good morning.
近森 渡 (Chikamori Wataru) : 何しているの。(Nani shite iru no.)
What are you doing?!
: 会議が 始まるよ。急いで。(Kaigi ga hajimaru yo. Isoide.)
The meeting is going to start! Hurry up!
遠井 歩 (Tōi Ayumu) : あ・・・うん。(A… un.)
Oh...right.
:(もしかして・・・あの人は 私が この前病院で見た人?)(Moshikashite... Ano hito wa watashi ga kono mae byōin de mita hito?)
(Could it be...that that person is the person I saw at the hospital the other day?)
POST CONVERSATION BANTER
Peter: なおみ先生、「ドアがあきます」? (Naomi-sensei, “doa ga akimasu”?) Is that correct? It's not「ドアがひらきます」(“doa ga hirakimasu”)? 
Naomi: ああ、両方正しいです。(Ā, ryōhō tadashii desu.) Both are correct. Both あきます (akimasu) and ひらきます (hirakimasu) mean "to open", and when they are used to talk about doors, they basically mean the same thing.
Peter: I see. See, what I usually hear in the announcement though is ドアがひらきます (doa ga hirakimasu).
Naomi: あー、そうですか。(Ā, sō desu ka.) Is that right? I’ve never noticed it. Speaking of announcements… 日本の電車やバスのアナウンスって聞きやすいですよね。(Nihon no densha ya basu no anaunsu tte kikiyasui desu yo ne.)
Peter: So you asked the announcements on trains and buses are pretty easy to understand?
Naomi: うん。(Un.)
Peter: Yeah, I guess so. Most of them are pre-recorded and they come with a translation in English.
Naomi: あぁ、そうそう。そうなんですよね、だから、ビギナーにはうれしいですよね。訳があって勉強できますからね。(Ā, sō sō. Sō nan desu yo ne. Dakara, biginā ni wa ureshii desu yo ne. Yaku ga atte benkyō dekimasu kara ne.)
Peter: So it's Japanese-beginner friendly?
Naomi: Hm. Don’t you think?
Peter: Yeah, I can see that - the translations can be useful for studying.
VOCAB LIST
Let's take a look at the vocabulary for this lesson.
The first word is:
テレビ局 (terebikyoku) [natural native speed]
TV station
テレビ局 (terebikyoku) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
テレビ局 (terebikyoku) [natural native speed]
Next:
かばん (kaban) [natural native speed]
bag
かばん (kaban) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
かばん (kaban) [natural native speed]
Next:
会議 (kaigi) [natural native speed]
meeting, conference
会議 (kaigi) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
会議 (kaigi) [natural native speed]
Next:
急ぐ (isogu) [natural native speed]
to hurry, to rush
急ぐ (isogu) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
急ぐ (isogu) [natural native speed]
Next:
もしかして (moshikashite) [natural native speed]
perhaps, possibly
もしかして (moshikashite) [slowly - broken down by syllable]
もしかして (moshikashite) [natural native speed]
VOCAB AND PHRASE USAGE
Peter: Let's have a closer look at the usage for some of the words and phrases from this lesson. Naomi-sensei.
Naomi: はい。(Hai.)
Peter: The first word we’re looking at is?
Naomi: かばん (kaban)
Peter: “Bag.” Now, Naomi-sensei, you can also say バッグ (baggu) for bag, right?
Naomi: うん、そうですね。(Un, sō desu ne.)
Peter: So would you say they're interchangeable?
Naomi: Ah… according to the dictionary, "yes". はい、そうです。 interchangeable です。(Hai, sō desu. Interchangeable desu.)
でも...でも (demo… demo), my image of バッグ (baggu) is rather small and fashionable. なんか...。(Nanka…) People usually use かばん (kaban) for a bag that is relatively big and heavy....you know, maybe one made of leather and has a kind of classic design. I don't know. Anyway, that's my image.
Peter: Yeah. I have no idea what it comes to bags.
Naomi: あはは。そうね。(Ahaha. Sō ne.) You have no interest in bags or かばん (kaban).
Peter: あんまり。(Anmari.) But we’ll take your word for it.
Naomi: はい。(Hai.)
Peter: OK. Next.
Naomi: 会議 (kaigi)
Peter: “meeting" "conference”
Naomi: The katakana word ミーティング (mītingu) is also used to mean "meeting". To me 会議 (kaigi) sounds more formal and serious than ミーティング (mītingu).
Peter: I agree. Generally speaking, the word 会議 (kaigi) refers to a relatively big meeting, right?
Naomi: うん。(Un.)
Peter: Where people have a discussion to decide something.
But the word ミーティング (mītingu) tends to be used for a relatively small meeting. I guess in some cases, sharing information with workers.
Naomi: あ、そうね。上手な説明ですね。(A, sō ne. Jōzu na setsumei desu ne.) Good explanation. その通りだと思います。(Sono tōri da to omoimasu.) I think you're exactly right.
Peter: まぁね。(Mā ne.) I agree. OK. What's the last one?
Naomi: もしかして (moshikashite)
Peter: “Perhaps”, “could it be…”, “by any chance”, “maybe.” This is often used as a prelude before presenting one's guess.
Naomi: うん、そうですね。(Un, sō desu ne.) Here's a sample sentence. もしかして、ピーターさんですか。(Moshikashite, Pītā-san desu ka.)
Peter: I maybe wrong but, are you Peter?
On to the grammar point.

Lesson focus

Peter: The focus of this lesson is the usage of the 2 verbs 始まる (hajimaru), meaning "to begin" or "to start", and こわれる (kowareru), meaning "to break".
Naomi: You must memorize these two verbs, right now!
Peter: I like that. Right now! Now, can we hear them one more time? "To begin" is?
Naomi: 始まる (hajimaru)
Peter: "To break" is?
Naomi: こわれる (kowareru)
Peter: Now, here's a sample sentence for 始まる (hajimaru).
Naomi: 会議が始まる。(Kaigi ga hajimaru.)
Peter: “The meeting begins.” “The meeting is going to begin.”
Naomi: In this case, who starts the meeting is not important. We are just focusing on the fact that the meeting begins.
Peter: Notice that the thing that begins, the thing that starts - in this case 会議 (kaigi), meeting was marked by the particle が (ga).
Naomi: Right. 会議「が」始まる。(Kaigi “ga” hajimaru)
Peter: "The meeting begins.” “The meeting is going to begin." Now, how do you say "The summer vacation begins” or ”The summer vacation starts" as in "The summer vacation starts now"?
Naomi: OK. "Summer vacation" is 夏休み (natsuyasumi).
Peter: The thing that begins has to be marked by が (ga). So...
Naomi: 夏休みが始まる。(Natsuyasumi ga hajimaru.)
Peter: "Summer vacation starts." How do you say "School started"?
Naomi: "School" is 学校 (gakkō), and "started" is 始まった (hajimatta), so… 学校が始まった。(Gakkō ga hajimatta.)
Peter: OK, listeners listen and repeat in Japanese. "School started."
Naomi: 学校が始まった。(Gakkō ga hajimatta.)
Peter: [pause] Again, say "School started" in Japanese.
Naomi: [pause] 学校が始まった。(Gakkō ga hajimatta.)
Peter: On to the next word.
Naomi: こわれる (kowareru)
Peter: "To break." こわれる (kowareru) simply means something breaks.
Naomi: Right. Who broke it is not important, so it's not mentioned.
Peter: How do you say "The car breaks” or “The car is going to break"?
Naomi: 車がこわれる。(Kuruma ga kowareru.)
Peter: Notice that the thing that breaks is marked by the particle が (ga). Who or what breaks the car is not mentioned. OK. How do you say "The computer broke"?
Naomi: “Computer” is コンピューター (konpyūtā).
Peter: The thing that breaks is marked by が (ga). So...
Naomi: コンピューターが (konpyūtā ga)
Peter: The past form of
Naomi: こわれる (kowareru)
Peter: "to break" is
Naomi: こわれた (kowareta)
Peter: So...
Naomi: コンピューターがこわれた。(Konpyūtā ga kowareta.)
Peter: OK. Listen and repeat, "The computer broke."
Naomi: コンピューターがこわれた。(Konpyūtā ga kowareta.)
Peter: [pause] OK. Say "The computer broke" in Japanese.
Naomi: [pause] コンピューターがこわれた。(Konpyūtā ga kowareta.)
Peter: OK. For these lessons, some of you may have some really important questions. Now, I don't want to scare you with grammatical terms, but these verbs, 始まる (hajimaru) and こわれる (kowareru) are intransitive verbs.
Naomi: そうですね。(Sō desu ne.) There's a detailed write up about what an intransitive verb is and how to use it, so… 読んでくださいね。(Yonde kudasai ne.)
Peter: Definitely take some time to read this because transitive and intransitive verbs are very important to Japanese.
Naomi: Right.
Peter: Japanese in particular.
Naomi: Hm.
Peter: So reading this will help you get a good understanding. And this will really help you in your studies.
Naomi: はい、そう思います。(Hai, sō omoimasu.)
Peter: That’s going to do it.
Naomi: じゃ、また。(Ja, mata.)

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