Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which word means 'to turn' in Japanese?
Which word means 'to turn' in Japanese?
- Ushiro
- Magaru (correct)
- Zenshin suru
- Massugu
What does 'tonari' indicate in Japanese?
What does 'tonari' indicate in Japanese?
- Inside
- In front of
- Underneath
- Next to (correct)
If you want to express 'go forward' in Japanese, which phrase would you use?
If you want to express 'go forward' in Japanese, which phrase would you use?
- Zenshin suru (correct)
- Ushiro
- Mae
- Chikaku
What does 'ura' signify in Japanese?
What does 'ura' signify in Japanese?
In Japanese, if something is described as 'kado', where is it located?
In Japanese, if something is described as 'kado', where is it located?
How old was the speaker's father when he died?
How old was the speaker's father when he died?
When is the birthday of the speaker's lovely mother?
When is the birthday of the speaker's lovely mother?
'Migi' indicates which direction in Japanese?
'Migi' indicates which direction in Japanese?
How old was the speaker's mother when she died?
How old was the speaker's mother when she died?
What is the age and personal characteristic of Rodrigo?
What is the age and personal characteristic of Rodrigo?
Using adverbs, how was the speaker's older brother Rene described in the last month?
Using adverbs, how was the speaker's older brother Rene described in the last month?
What is the age and characteristic of Ronnel?
What is the age and characteristic of Ronnel?
What is the correct sentence structure for using adjectives in Japanese?
What is the correct sentence structure for using adjectives in Japanese?
Which type of adjectives ends in 'I and Na' in Japanese?
Which type of adjectives ends in 'I and Na' in Japanese?
What are some exceptions to the rule of 'I adjectives' mentioned in the text?
What are some exceptions to the rule of 'I adjectives' mentioned in the text?
Which phrase means 'Mr. Tanaka is young' in Japanese?
Which phrase means 'Mr. Tanaka is young' in Japanese?
In Japanese, what does 'koibito' refer to?
In Japanese, what does 'koibito' refer to?
Which term is used in Japanese for 'Grandson'?
Which term is used in Japanese for 'Grandson'?
Which particle is used in Japanese to indicate contrast in expressions of time or relative expressions of time?
Which particle is used in Japanese to indicate contrast in expressions of time or relative expressions of time?
Which of the following adjectives is an exception to the rule that 'I' adjectives end in 'I' and 'na' adjectives do not end in 'I'?
Which of the following adjectives is an exception to the rule that 'I' adjectives end in 'I' and 'na' adjectives do not end in 'I'?
Which word in Japanese means 'accountant'?
Which word in Japanese means 'accountant'?
What does 'otoi' refer to in Japanese?
What does 'otoi' refer to in Japanese?
How is 'breakfast' expressed in Japanese?
How is 'breakfast' expressed in Japanese?
What is the meaning of the Japanese term 'maitoshi'?
What is the meaning of the Japanese term 'maitoshi'?
What does 'kitchen/daidokoro' refer to in the text?
What does 'kitchen/daidokoro' refer to in the text?
Which item is represented by 'gas stove/gasu sutoba' according to the text?
Which item is represented by 'gas stove/gasu sutoba' according to the text?
In the given context, where is the 'television/terebi' typically located?
In the given context, where is the 'television/terebi' typically located?
Which word pairs are correctly matched based on the text?
Which word pairs are correctly matched based on the text?
What does the term 'mother/okasan' refer to in the text?
What does the term 'mother/okasan' refer to in the text?
Which item is associated with 'sink/nagashi' according to the text?
Which item is associated with 'sink/nagashi' according to the text?
Study Notes
Words to indicate position and place
- In Japanese, words indicating position and place act as nouns
- When expressing "next to X" in English, Japanese would say "X no tonari"
- Common positions and directions:
- Tonari: next to
- Chikaku: nearby
- Massugu: straight
- Mae: in front
- Kado: corner
- Naka: inside
- Magaru: to turn
- Sotto: outside
- Zenshin suru: go forward
- Ura: reverse/other side/back
- Hen: side
- Ushiro: for people
- Aida: in between
- Ue: top
- Shita: underneath
- Migi: right
- Hidari: left
- Kita: north
- Minami: south
- Higashi: east
- Nishi: west
Describing Position using A wa B no C desu
- A is A noun (object being located)
- B is another noun (reference object)
- C is the location of A with respect to B
- De: indicates the tense or mood of the sentence
- Examples:
- Rei: Resutoran wa kissaten no chikaku desu. (The restaurant is near the coffee shop.)
- Jiru san wa Tomu san no ushiro desu. (Jill is behind Tom.)
Describing Family Members and Birthdays
- Totemo kibishi chichi no tanjoubi wa juichigatsu muika senkuhyaku nijugonen umaremashita. (My very strict father was born on July 6, 1925.)
- Kyonen Taihen utsukushii haha no tanjoubi wa juichigatsu jugonichi senkuhyaku nijugonen deshita. (My very lovely mother's birthday was November 15, 1925 last year.)
Describing Siblings
- Use adverbs of time, quantity, and quality to describe siblings' names, ages, and personal characteristics
- Example:
- Kyonen ani no takai Rene rokujurokusai to hansumo na Ramon no rokujuisai to kakoi Rodrigo no gojukusai to shizuka na Rey Antonio no gojuhapsai to yakamashii Remegio gojurokusai to chiisai Ronnel yonjurokusai wa yoku genki dewa arimasen deshita.
Adjectives in Japanese
- Adjectives can come before or after a noun
- Two types of adjectives: "I" adjectives and "Na" adjectives
- "I" adjectives: most adjectives that end in "I"
- "Na" adjectives: adjectives that do not end in "I", with exceptions like kirei, genki, yuumei, and benri
- Adjective as noun modifier: similar to English, written before a noun
- Examples:
- Kore wa oishii chizu desu. (This is delicious cheese.)
- Ereganto na resutoran desu. (An elegant restaurant.)
Time-related Vocabulary
- Ato de: later
- Ima: now
- Koko: here
- Ashita: tomorrow
- Kinou: yesterday
- Asa: morning
- Hiru: lunch
- Yoru/Ban: evening
- Mai asa: every morning
- Mai ban: every evening
- Mai nich i: every day
- Gozen: a.m.
- Gogo: p.m.
Family Relationship Vocabulary
- Grandmother: sobo or obasan
- Grandfather: sofu or ojiisan
- Mother-in-law: gibu
- Father-in-law: gifu
- Uncle: oji
- Aunt: obasan
- Older sister: ane or onesan
- Younger sister: imoto or imotosan
- Older brother: ani or oniisan
- Younger brother: ototo or ototosan
- Son: musuko or musokosan
- Daughter: musume or ojosan
- Husband: goshujin
- Wife: kanai
- Granddaughter:
- Grandson:
- Cousin: itoko
Sentence Structure using Adjectives
- A wa B desu: A is (adjective) B
- Note what happens to each type of adjective if it comes at the end of a sentence
- Examples:
- Tanaka san wa wakai desu. (Mr. Tanaka is young.)
- Suzuki san wa hansumo desu. (Mr. Suzuki is handsome.)
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Description
Test your knowledge of Japanese positional words commonly used to indicate position and place, such as tonari (next to), chikaku (nearby), and mae (in front). Practice identifying the correct terms when describing locations in Japanese. Perfect for learners looking to enhance their vocabulary!
