Learn about plants that are common in Japan
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Yura:Hi everyone, I’m Yura. |
| Natsuko:And I’m Natsuko! |
| Yura:In this lesson you'll learn 5 essential words related to Geography &Nature. These are five common plants in Japan. Hand picked. |
| FIVE KEY VOCABULARY ITEMS |
| Yura:Natsuko, what’s our first word? |
| Natsuko:桜 |
| Yura:cherry blossoms |
| Natsuko:(slow) 桜 (regular) 桜 |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:桜 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| Japanese people enjoy cherry blossoms in spring. In spring weather forecasts, the so-called "cherry blossom front" is also mentioned; this is like a sign of spring coming for Japanese people. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 日本人は、夜桜も楽しみます。 |
| Yura:Japanese people enjoy cherry blossom viewing at night as well. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 日本人は、夜桜も楽しみます。 |
| Yura:Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko:松 |
| Yura:pine |
| Natsuko:(slow) 松 (regular) 松 |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:松 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| The pine is considered an auspicious tree which represents youth and long life. Pines are often used as garden trees and/or miniature potted trees. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 正月の間、門松を家の前に飾ります。 |
| Yura:During the New Year period, traditional decorations made from pine and bamboo are placed in front of houses. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 正月の間、門松を家の前に飾ります。 |
| Yura:Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko:菊 |
| Yura:chrysanthemum |
| Natsuko:(slow) 菊 (regular) 菊 |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:菊 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| Chrysanthemums have long been used in Japan as the family emblem of the aristocracy. It's known as the Imperial Seal of Japan. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 菊は、仏花の代表的な花です。 |
| Yura:Chrysanthemums are a typical flower to offer at the Buddhist family altar and tomb. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 菊は、仏花の代表的な花です。 |
| Yura:Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko:あじさい |
| Yura:hydrangea |
| Natsuko:(slow) あじさい (regular) あじさい |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:あじさい |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| The hydrangea is a flower representative of the rainy season in Japan. Japanese people enjoy the beauty of hydrangeas in the wet, humid and hot rainy season. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) あじさいの花の色は、土壌の酸性度によって決まります。 |
| Yura:The colour of a hydrangea depends on the pH level in the soil. |
| Natsuko:(slow) あじさいの花の色は、土壌の酸性度によって決まります。 |
| Yura:Okay, what’s the last word? |
| Natsuko:イチョウ |
| Yura:ginkgo |
| Natsuko:(slow) イチョウ (regular) イチョウ |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:イチョウ |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| Ginkgo trees are mostly found lining streets. In autumn, their leaves' colour changes to a beautiful yellow. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 多くの日本人が、イチョウの種である銀杏を好んで食べます。 |
| Yura:Many Japanese people enjoy grilled or cooked ginkgo seeds. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 多くの日本人が、イチョウの種である銀杏を好んで食べます。 |
| QUIZ |
| Yura:Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the words you just learned? A will give you the Japanese – please say the English meaning out loud! Are you ready? |
| Natsuko:桜 |
| [pause]Yura:cherry blossom |
| Natsuko:松 |
| [pause]Yura:pine |
| Natsuko:菊 |
| [pause]Yura:chrysanthemum |
| Natsuko:あじさい |
| [pause]Yura:hydrangea |
| Natsuko:イチョウ |
| [pause]Yura:ginkgo |
Outro |
|---|
| Yura:There you have it – five common plants in Japan! Thanks everyone, see you next time! |
| Natsuko:またね！ |
5 Comments
HideIn your country, do you use specific flowers in ceremonies or special events that have a special meaning? Tell us about it below!
Hey جاندادهیحسین,
Thank you for sharing these cultural insights! 😄 Very nice way of decorating your mosque and celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad's daughter (peace be upon her)!
Kind regards,
Levente
Team JapanesePod101.com
Usually in some of our religious occasions we would have roses from different colors , like the birthday of Prophet Muhammad's daughter Lady Fatima Al-Zahraa (peace be up on her) where roses are distributed to girls named Zahraa or Fatima , also we decorate our mosque with them and flowers like Jasmin , it's also to be known that a bouquet of flowers is the best way to gift newlyweds ; but for us the Jasmin and Chomomile blossoms are the sign of spring arrival and not Sakura blosslms .
マイケルさん、
Yes, you're right; we use katakana for foreign words.
We also use katakana for some other reasons and names of trees and plants
are one of the typical cases. Kanji for 銀杏 is fairly well known, but
it might not be considered as "standard" use. :smile:
Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com
Why is イチョウ written in katakana? Katakana suggests that it is a foreign, imported word but surely that isn't the case with 銀杏?
マイケル