Learn the question "How old are you?" in Japanese and how to answer it
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Janet: In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Japanese learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native speaker. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Janet: In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question βHow old are you?β In Japanese this is |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³γ§γγγ(γͺγγγγ§γγγ Nansai desu ka.) |
| Janet: The first word in the question is |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³(γͺγγγ nansai) |
| Janet: meaning something like βhow oldβ in English. It literally means βhow many years.β |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) δ½ζ³ (γͺγγγ nansai) |
| Janet: Listen again and repeat. |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³ (γͺγγγ nansai) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Kaori: γ§γ (desu) |
| Janet: sentence ending particle |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) γ§γ (desu) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: γ§γ (desu) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³ γ§γ (γͺγγγ γ§γγNansai desu) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: And after that |
| Kaori: γ (ka) |
| Janet: question marking particle. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) γ (ka) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: γ (ka) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³ γ§γ γ (γͺγγγ γ§γ γ Nansai desu ka.) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question βHow old are you?β |
| Kaori: 18ζ³γ§γγ (γγ γγ―γ£γγγ§γγ Juuhassai desu.) |
| Janet: "I'm 18 years old.β Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Kaori: (Slow) 18ζ³γ§γγ (γγ γγ―γ£γγγ§γγ Juuhassai desu.) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: Asking women their ages might be considered rude in Japan, just like in other countries. Please use this question only if necessary. |
| Janet: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
| Kaori: 18ζ³ (γγ γγ―γ£γγ juuhassai) |
| Janet: means 18 years old. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 18ζ³ (γγ γγ―γ£γγ juuhassai) |
| Janet: Now repeat |
| Kaori: 18ζ³ (γγ γγ―γ£γγ juuhassai) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: And next |
| Kaori: γ§γ (desu) |
| Janet: sentence ending particle |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) γ§γ (desu) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: γ§γ (desu) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the speaker say, βI'm 18 years old.β and then repeat. |
| Kaori: 18ζ³γ§γγ (γγ γγ―γ£γγγ§γγ juuhassai desu.) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: To expand on the pattern, replace β18 years oldβ with β25 years old.β |
| Kaori: 25ζ³ (γ«γγ γγγγ nijuugo sai) |
| Janet: 25 years old |
| Kaori: (slow) 25ζ³(γ«γγ γγγγ nijuugo sai) |
| Kaori: (regular) 25ζ³(γ«γγ γγγγ nijuugo sai) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with β25 years oldβ |
| Kaori: 25ζ³γ§γγ(γ«γγ γγγγγ§γγ Nijuugo sai desu.) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace β18 years oldβ. Say βI'm 25 years old.β |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 25ζ³γ§γγ (γ«γγ γγγγγ§γγ Nijuugo sai desu.) |
| Janet: To use a different phrase, replace β25 years oldβ with β47 years old.β |
| Kaori: 47ζ³ (γγγγ γγͺγͺγγ yonjuunana sai) |
| Janet: 47 years old |
| Kaori: (slow) 47ζ³(γγγγ γγͺγͺγγ yonjuunana sai) |
| Kaori: (regular) 47ζ³(γγγγ γγͺγͺγγ yonjuunana sai) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with β47 years oldβ |
| Kaori: 47ζ³γ§γγ(γγγγ γγͺγͺγγγ§γγ Yonjuunana sai desu.) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace β25 years oldβ with β47 years old.β Say βI'm 47 years old.β |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 47ζ³γ§γγ (γγγγ γγͺγͺγγγ§γγ Yonjuunanasai desu.) |
| Janet: To expand on the pattern, replace β47 years oldβ with β60 years old.β |
| Kaori: 60ζ³ |
| (γγγγ γ£γγ rokujussai) |
| Janet: 60 years old |
| Kaori: (slow) 60ζ³(γγγγ γ£γγ rokujussai) |
| Kaori: (regular) 60ζ³(γγγγ γ£γγ rokujussai) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with β60 years oldβ |
| Kaori: 60ζ³γ§γγ (γγγγ γ£γγγ§γγ Rokujussai desu.) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace β47 years oldβ with β60 years oldβ. Say βI'm 60 years old.β |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 60ζ³γ§γγ(γγγγ γ£γγγ§γ Rokujussai desu.) |
| QUIZ |
| Janet: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting Japan and someone asks you how old you are. You are 18 years old. Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³γ§γγγ(γͺγγγγ§γγγ Nansai desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| Kaori: 18ζ³γ§γγ(γγ γγ―γ£γγγ§γγ Juuhassai desu.) |
| Janet: Imagine you are 25 years old. Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³γ§γγγ(γͺγγγγ§γγγ Nansai desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| Kaori: 25ζ³γ§γγ(γ«γγ γγγγγ§γγ Nijuugosai desu.) |
| Janet: Now imagine you are 47 years old. . Answer the speaker's question. |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³γ§γγγ(γͺγγγγ§γγγ Nansai desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| Kaori: 47ζ³γ§γγ(γγγγ γγͺγͺγγγ§γγ Yonjuunanasai desu.) |
| Janet: Imagine you're 60 years old. Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³γ§γγγ(γͺγγγγ§γγγ Nansai desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| Kaori: 60ζ³γ§γγ(γγγγ γ£γγγ§γγ Rokujussai desu.) |
| Janet: You want to ask someone how old they are. Ask the question |
| (5 seconds) |
| Kaori: δ½ζ³γ§γγγ(γͺγγγγ§γγγ Nansai desu ka.) |
| {pause} |
Outro |
| Janet: This is the end of Lesson 11 |
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