TheJapanesePage.com - Beginning Japanese Phrases

Today's podcast covers: 〜たいです — want to do something This grammar pattern is attached to the stem of a verb to express the speaker's desire to do something. It is polite in form and translates roughly to 'I want to' in English. Example: 日本語を上手に話したいです。 I want to speak Japanese well. Vocabulary: 日本語を — Japanese, object marker 上手に — skillfully, well 話したいです — want to sp...

Today's podcast covers: 〜てもいいですか — May I...? Is it okay if I...? This pattern is used to ask for permission to do something. It is formed by attaching to the tay-form of a verb, making it a polite way to request allowance for an action. Example: ここに座ってもいいですか？ May I sit here? Vocabulary: ここに — here 座って — sit も — even, also いいですか — is it okay? Become a Makoto+ member...

Today's podcast covers: です — is, am, are (polite copula) This is a polite copula used at the end of sentences to link a subject to a noun or adjective, similar to 'to be' in English. It marks a formal or polite speech level and is one of the most fundamental building blocks of Japanese grammar. Example: これはペンです。 This is a pen. Vocabulary: これは — this (topic marker) ペンです — is a pen...

Today's podcast covers: 〜たり 〜たりする — doing things like A and B, alternating or listing multiple actions This grammar pattern is used to list multiple actions or states in a non-exhaustive way, implying there are other similar activities as well. It is formed by attaching tari to the ta-form of verbs or adjectives and closing with suru. The sound changes to da after certain sounds. Example:...

Today's podcast covers: 〜から — because, since, from The particle attaches to the end of a verb, adjective, or noun phrase to indicate a reason or cause, meaning 'because' or 'since'. It can also indicate a starting point in time or place, meaning 'from'. Example: 雨が降っているから、家にいます。 Because it is raining, I am staying home. Vocabulary: 雨が — rain (subject marker) 降っているから — b...

Today's podcast covers: 〜てはいけません — You must not do, it is forbidden to do (prohibition) The pattern is formed by attaching it to the te-form of a verb. It expresses a prohibition or rule, meaning that an action is not allowed or must not be done. Example: 図書館で食べてはいけません。 You must not eat in the library. Vocabulary: 図書館で — in the library 食べてはいけません — must not eat Be...

Today's podcast covers: こう — like this, in this way, thus This is a demonstrative adverb used to describe the manner of doing something, referring to something close to the speaker or something the speaker is about to demonstrate. It is often paired with verbs to show how an action is performed. Example: こうやって折り紙を折ります。 You fold origami like this. Vocabulary: こうやって — like this,...

Today's podcast covers: てみたい — want to try doing something This grammar pattern combines the verb with mitai, which expresses the desire to try doing something to see what it is like. It conveys curiosity or interest in experiencing something new. Example: 日本に行ってみたいです。 I want to try going to Japan. Vocabulary: 日本に — to Japan 行ってみたい — want to try going です — polite sentenc...

Today's podcast covers: ～てしまう — to end up doing, to completely do, to do something regrettably This grammar pattern attaches to verbs and expresses either completion of an action or a sense of regret about something that happened unintentionally or unfortunately. It often conveys that something was done completely, or that the speaker feels sorry about the result. Example: 大切な写真を間違え...

Today's podcast covers: ので — because, since, so ので is a conjunction used to express cause or reason. It connects two clauses where the first clause explains the reason for the second clause, and it sounds softer and more polite than から . Example: 雨が降っているので、傘を持っていきます。 Since it\\\'s raining, I will take an umbrella. Vocabulary: 雨が — rain (subject) ふっている — is falling...

Today's podcast covers: ～になる — to become, to turn into This grammar pattern attaches to nouns and adjectives to express a change of state or transformation. Example: 来年、私は二十歳になります。 Next year, I will turn twenty years old. Vocabulary: 来年 — next year 私は — I (topic marker) 二十歳に — twenty years old (target of change) なります — will become (polite form) Become a Makoto+ member...

Today's podcast covers: ～がする — to sense/feel (used with sensory experiences like smell, sound, taste) This expression is used to describe sensory perceptions. The particle marks what is being sensed, such as a smell, sound, taste, or feeling. It combines with nouns related to the five senses. Example: この部屋は変なにおいがする。 This room has a strange smell. Vocabulary: この — this 部屋は —...

もう今日(きょう)はこれで終(お)わりにしましょう。 Now | today | as for | this | with | end | decide on Let’s call it a day right here.   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-201 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as...

私(わたし)の娘(むすめ)はもう高校生(こうこうせい)です。 My | daughter | as for | high school student | already My daughter is a high school student already / My daughter is a high school student now.   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-200 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and...

もうランチは食(た)べましたか？ Already | answer | as for | realized | question marker Have you eaten lunch already? / Have you eaten lunch yet?   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-199 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar bre...

君(きみ)はステーキが好(す)きだろう？ you| as for | steak | subject marker | like | right? You like steak, right?   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-198 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files...

あの音(おと)はいったい何(なん)だろう？ that | sound | as for | on earth | what | (I) wonder I wonder what the sound is.   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-197 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound...

彼(かれ)のビジネスはきっと成功(せいこう)するだろう。 his | business | as for | most certainly | will succeed I’m sure his business will be successful.   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-196 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and gram...

この計算(けいさん)はこれで間違(まちが)いないだろう。 this | calculation | as for | this | with | fine | should be The calculation should be fine with this.   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-195 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and...

太郎(たろう)はきのう友達(ともだち)と一緒(いっしょ)に遊(あそ)んで、きっと楽(たの)しかっただろう。 Tarou | as for | yesterday | friends | with | together | played | surely | enjoyed| must have had Tarou must have had a lot of fun playing with his friends yesterday.   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-194 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japa...

この池(いけ)には、たくさん魚(さかな)がいます。 this | pond | in | as for | many | fish | exists There are many fish in this pond.   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-193 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as wel...

靴(くつ)を脱(ぬ)いでから家(いえ)に入(はい)ってください。 shoes| (direct object marker) | taking off | after | house | in | enter | please Enter the house after taking your shoes off please   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-192 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show n...

私(わたし)は東京(とうきょう)で生(う)まれたんです。 I | as for | Tokyo | in | was born I was born in Tokyo   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-191 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just...

私(わたし)は東京(とうきょう)で生(う)まれたんです。 I | as for | Tokyo | in | was born I was born in Tokyo   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-190 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just...

この週末(しゅうまつ)は家(いえ)でゆっくり休(やす)むつもりです。 this | weekend | as for | house | at | taking it easy | rest | (I) am intending I am planning to take it easy and rest at home this weekend.   View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-189 View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/  -- Become a Makoto+ member...