Japanese English

अढऊॉग़॔॥থ॑଎खພोञ‫؛‬ I carelessly forgot to turn off the air conditioner.

Four Seasons updated 2021-02-15 Hiragana 1

Did you know that Japan has four seasons? Welcome to the Japanese course!
Many who have visited Japan have been asked this question, and for good reason.
Unlike in many parts of the world, the four seasons in Japan are quite distinct and a
While many consider Japanese to be very difficult to learn for native English speakers,
core part of Japanese culture. The cyclical nature of the year has been celebrated on
this is only partially true. Many aspects of the Japanese language are quite simple,
the archipelago for millennia with festivals, rituals, and seasonal food. such as the sound system, and yes, even most of the grammar.

Spring is the traditional start of the year, a time of new beginnings, a new school year, Writing Systems
and a new year on the business calendar. Cherry blossoms bloom throughout Japan to
mark the transition into spring. Families and friends gather underneath the blossoming Japanese uses three different writing systems, hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
trees and have picnics with rice dumplings (੮৕‫؞‬ट॒ओ) and various beverages.
Hiragana is the most basic Japanese syllabary. It's like an alphabet that uses syllables
Summer is remarkably hot and humid throughout Japan, especially in areas away from instead of individual sounds.
the mountains or the sea. Summer festivals offer a respite from the heat with flavored
Katakana is the syllabary used to write foreign words and some noises. Although it's
shaved ice (ऊऌཥ‫؞‬ऊऌओउॉ) and cool drinks. Near the end of summer, many in different from hiragana, it represents the exact same syllables.
Japan return to their hometowns to celebrate the Bon Festival, a holiday to
commemorate the spirits of one's ancestors. Kanji are Chinese characters used in the Japanese language to write individual nouns,
verbs, and adjectives. Kanji are not phonetic, meaning you need to memorize each
Autumn is the season when the maple leaves turn a colorful spectrum of red, orange, pronunciation individually. In this course, we introduce kanji gradually and methodically.
and gold. The weather cools down, and the true bounty of the harvest takes the form of
the many delicacies available at this time, including baked sweet potato and a warming, Hiragana Pronunciation
broth-based stew (उद॒).
Below are the most basic forms of Japanese hiragana. We'll be introducing some more
Winter is the season for heavy snow in the mountains of central Japan and throughout later as well.
the north and northwest of the country. On New Years, Japanese people traditionally
eat long buckwheat noodles (जय) as a wish for future health and longevity.
Japanese IPA, Notes
Department stores celebrate the new year with mystery grab bags. Sapporo holds its
annual snow festival in February, complete with enormous sculptures that attract ँ [a]
visitors from around the world.
ः [i]

112 skills with tips and notes अ [ɯ], like the oo in food

इ [e]

उ [o]
0.003
ऊ [ka]

ऌ [ki]

ऎ [kɯ]

ऐ [ke]

ऒ [ko]

औ [sa]

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Japanese IPA, Notes politeness when speaking with strangers or coworkers.

ख [ɕi], like the shee in sheep When you speak with friends in casual settings or watch anime, you may hear a lot of
expressions that you have yet to be introduced to.
घ [sɯ], although it can shorten to more of a [s] at the end of a word
Pronouns
च [se]

ज [so] There are two male pronouns reserved for casual settings, ᄅ (उो), meaning "I" or
"me," and उ৐ (उऽइ) meaning "you." In formal settings, use of these pronouns is
ञ [ta]
considered confrontational and impolite. Both ᄅ and उ৐ sound extremely rough and
ठ [tɕi], like the tch in itchy masculine, which is why typically they are reserved for boys or men who are teenagers
or older.
ण [tsɯ], like the ts in cats
In addition, you may hear women and girls use the pronoun ँञख (sometimes written
थ [te] எ) to refer to themselves. This is not considered as polite as ॎञख‫ؚ‬but considerably
ध [to] more so than ᄅ‫؛‬

ऩ [na] Particle Dropping

प [ni]
In polite and written Japanese, grammatical particles that mark parts of speech, such
फ [nɯ] as म and ऋ‫ؚ‬see heavy use. However, in more casual settings, they are often
dropped when the meaning is clear without them. In Japanese just as in English,
ब [ne] formality and sentence length go hand-in-hand.

भ [no]
Formal Casual
म [ha], although pronounced like [ɰa] or "wa" as a particle
ँऩञम০नऒदघऊ‫ء‬ ০‫ؚ‬नऒ‫ء‬
ऱ [çi], like the h in human
ँभ্मनऩञदघऊ‫ء‬ ೀ‫ؚ‬ၴ‫ء‬
ऴ [ɸɯ], roughly between a short "hoo" and "foo"
जोदम‫ؚ‬ষऌऽखॆअ‫؛‬ ेख‫ؚ‬ষऒअ‫؛‬
ष [he], although pronounced like [e] or "eh" as a particle

ऺ [ho] Tech 2 updated 2021-02-15

ऽ [ma]
I didn’t mean to!
ा [mi]
When you’ve done something unintentionally, you can use the word णः to emphasize
ि [mɯ]
the fact that it was an accident. It’s often paired with the V+थखऽअ form, and it’s
ी [me] generally used to express regret over having done something you know you shouldn’t
have done.
ु [mo]

ृ [ja] Japanese English

ॅ [jɯ] ௵୸धਵखथःथुणः५ Even when I am talking with my friends, I wind up

ঐ঍॑ৄथखऽअ‫؛‬ looking at my smartphone unintentionally.
े [jo]

ै [ɾa], like the t in the American pronunciation of butter This sentence has a connotation of something like, “I wind up looking at my smartphone
(even though I know that I shouldn’t).”
ॉ [ɾi]
You can also use the word अढऊॉ to express that you’ve done something carelessly
or accidentally.
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Below are some example sentences. Japanese IPA, Notes

Japanese English ॊ [ɾɯ]

੡ଽોदਕຠखञ‫؛‬ I spent three nights in Nagoya. ो [ɾe]

ऒभ঍ॸঝम঳ຠ஛ਐ৞दघ‫؛‬ This hotel is forty thousand yen for one night. ौ [ɾo]

ॎ [ɰa]
In a certain place…
॑ [o], although it's most often romanized as "wo"

You can use the word ँॊ before a noun to specify that you’re talking about a certain ॒
[n] or [ŋ], like the n in pink, producing a [m] when combined with a bilabial
thing without going into specifics about it. stop, hence "tempura" and not "tenpura"

Japanese English As the only solitary consonant in hiragana, ॒ is especially notable because it is only
found at the end of another syllable. In other words, you will never read a Japanese
ೀमँॊ঍ॸঝपຠऽॉऽखञ‫؛‬ He stayed at a certain hotel. word that begins with ॒‫؛‬
எम௼੎ષ॑ःणुँॊਚपखऽढथः I always keep my valuables in a certain Enjoy the course!
ॊ‫؛‬ place.

Basics 1 updated 2020-12-16

Transportation 4 updated 2020-12-16

Welcome to the Japanese course!
Stop!
While many consider Japanese to be very difficult to learn for native English speakers,
Don’t forget about transitive and intransitive verbs! Transitive verbs are verbs that take this is only partially true. Many aspects of the Japanese language are quite simple,
a direct object, while intransitive verbs are verbs that do not take a direct object. such as the sound system, and yes, even most of the grammar.
Transitive and intransitive verbs often occur in pairs, and even though the dictionary
definition for both words is sometimes the same, their usage differs. Writing Systems

Japanese uses three different writing systems, hiragana, katakana, and kanji.
Japanese English
Hiragana is the most basic Japanese syllabary. It's like an alphabet that uses syllables
ૃीॊ (धीॊ) to stop (transitive)
instead of individual sounds.
ૃऽॊ (धऽॊ) to stop (intransitive)
Katakana is the syllabary used to write foreign words and some noises. Although it's
different from hiragana, it represents the exact same syllables.
Remember that the particle ॑ is used to mark the direct object of a sentence, so you
Kanji are Chinese characters used in the Japanese language to write individual nouns,
would use it with a transitive verb.
verbs, and adjectives. Kanji are not phonetic, meaning you need to memorize each
pronunciation individually. In this course, we introduce kanji gradually and methodically.
Japanese English
Basics 1
ઈૡুम૶प੤॑ૃीञ‫؛‬ The driver suddenly stopped the car.

ং५ऋ૶पૃऽढञ‫؛‬ The bus stopped suddenly. In Basics 1, we'll start introducing the hiragana writing system through six simple
words.

घख or "sushi," the famous Japanese rice dish. घ is the character for "su" and ख
Casual 1 updated 2021-02-15
is the character for "shi."

Casual Language ाङ or "mizu," meaning "water." ा is the character for "mi" and ङ is the
character for "zu." The two dashes on the upper-right side of ङ change its
Welcome to the casual language in the Japanese course! The reason that colloquial pronunciation from "su" to "zu."
language is listed late in the tree is that we wanted you to understand the importance of
94/96 3/96
 पऎ or "niku," meaning "meat." प is the character for "ni" and ऎ is the character Ordinary Formal
for "ku."
घॊ ಱखऽघ (ःञखऽघ) (one's own actions)
ुठ or "mochi," a soft Japanese rice cake. ु is the character for "mo" and ठ is
घॊ ऩऔःऽघ (someone else's actions)
the character for "chi."
ँॊ ओकःऽघ
जय or "soba," Japanese buckwheat noodles. ज is the character for "so" and य
is the character for "ba." The two dashes on the upper-right side of य change its ुैअ ःञटऌऽघ
pronunciation from "ha" to "ba."
ऎोॊ ऎटऔःऽघ
उठू or "ocha," meaning "green tea." उ is the character for "o" and ठू is the ষऎ‫؞‬ਟॊ ःैढखूःऽघ
set of characters for "cha." The regular-sized ठृ would be pronounced with two
syllables, "chi-ya." The small ू in ठू changes the pronunciation from "chi-ya" ੉अ ணखऽघ (ुअखऽघ)
to "cha." ट‫؞‬दघ दँॊ (written form)

Basics 2 updated 2020-12-16 ट‫؞‬दघ दओकःऽघ (spoken form)

୫सॊ ႋख঱ऋॉऽघ (ीखँऋॉऽघ)

Basics 2
Remember that formal language uses the polite ‫ع‬ऽघ form at the end of each
In Basics 2, we'll continue introducing the hiragana writing system through an
additional six words. sentence. Ending a formal sentence with the plain form, ट or टौअ sounds odd and
incongruous with the context.
ञऊः or "takai," meaning "expensive." ञ is the character for "ta," ऊ is the
character for "ka," and ः is the character for "i." The Hotel updated 2021-02-15

ओम॒ or "gohan," meaning "rice." ओ is the character for "go," म is the character
An Overnight Stay
for "ha," and ॒ is the character for "n." The two dashes on the upper-right side of
ओ change its pronunciation from "ko" to "go." When you’re staying overnight somewhere, you would use the counter word ຠ (मऎ)
to count the number of nights you stay somewhere. Please take note that some of the
उःखः or "oishii," meaning "tasty." उ is the character for "o," ः is the character readings are irregular!
for "i," and ख is the character for "shi."
Kanji Reading Meaning
ध or "to," meaning "and." Keep in mind that ध can only be used to connect
nouns, not full sentences. ঳ຠ ःढरऎ (ippaku) one (night of a stay)

मख or "hashi," meaning "chopsticks." म is the character for "ha" and ख is the ੸ຠ पमऎ (nihaku) two (nights of a stay)
character for "shi." ਕຠ औ॒रऎ (sanpaku) three (nights of a stay)

खौः or "shiroi," meaning "white." ख is the character for "shi," ौ is the character ஛ຠ े॒मऎ (yonhaku) four (nights of a stay)
for "ro," and ः is the character for "i." Notice that many adjectives in Japanese
૜ຠ ओमऎ (gohaku) five (nights of a stay)
end in the ः or "i" character.
౽ຠ ौढरऎ (roppaku) six (nights of a stay)
Hiragana 2 updated 2020-09-10
೻ຠ ऩऩमऎ (nanahaku) seven (nights of a stay)

ழຠ मढरऎ (happaku) eight (nights of a stay)

Hiragana Pronunciation
ృຠ ऌॄअमऎ (kyuuhaku) nine (nights of a stay)
Below are the most basic forms of Japanese hiragana. We'll be introducing some more
later as well. ેຠ गॄढरऎ (juppaku) ten (nights of a stay)

4/96 93/96
   

This lesson showcases some of the most common instances of formal language for use Japanese IPA, Notes
in business situations.
ँ [a]
Nouns
ः [i]
To make a noun extra formal, one places an उ‫ ع‬prefix before a word of Japanese अ [ɯ], like the oo in food
origin (typically a word with a single kanji) and a ओ‫ ع‬prefix before a word of Chinese
origin (typically a word with two kanji). We already learned a few examples earlier in the इ [e]
course.
उ [o]

Ordinary Formal ऊ [ka]

਷ (ाङ) उ਷ ऌ [ki]
⎣ (मख) उ⎣ ऎ [kɯ]
૏஡ (ॉॆअख॒) ओ૏஡ ऐ [ke]
਌য (खॄग॒) ओ਌য ऒ [ko]
ഊೆ (ीःॎऎ) ओഊೆ औ [sa]

ख [ɕi], like the shee in sheep

Sometimes a noun will change completely in the transition from ordinary to formal
language, often reflecting a parallel change in another part of speech, such as a verb. घ [sɯ], although it can shorten to more of a [s] at the end of a word

Ordinary Formal च [se]

০঩ (ऌॆअ) ম঩ (ऺ॒गण) ज [so]

੉ः๨ (ःःॎऐ) ணख๨ (ुअखॎऐ) ञ [ta]

ठ [tɕi], like the tch in itchy

Adjectives
ण [tsɯ], like the ts in cats
Adjectives typically do not change grammatical form in formal speech, but they are थ [te]
replaced with more formal varieties.
ध [to]
Ordinary Formal
ऩ [na]
ଐः (ःः‫े؞‬ः) ࿤खः (ेौखः)
प [ni]

Verbs फ [nɯ]

ब [ne]
For verbs, there is a mixed system. As introduced in an earlier lesson, some verbs
adopt an उ‫ ع‬prefix and may adopt the use of the copula दघ‫؛‬ भ [no]

म [ha], although pronounced like [ɰa] or "wa" as a particle

Ordinary Formal
ऱ [çi], like the h in human
োॉऽघऊ‫ء‬ उোॉदघऊ‫ء‬
ऴ [ɸɯ], roughly between a short "hoo" and "foo"
ୄढथऎटऔः‫؛‬ उୄठऎटऔः‫؛‬
ष [he], although pronounced like [e] or "eh" as a particle
Meanwhile, some verbs are replaced with more formal variants.

 92/96  5/96
 Japanese IPA, Notes In polite and written Japanese, grammatical particles that mark parts of speech, such
as म and ऋ‫ؚ‬see heavy use. However, in more casual settings, they are often
ऺ [ho] dropped when the meaning is clear without them. In Japanese just as in English,
formality and sentence length go hand-in-hand.
ऽ [ma]

ा [mi] Formal Casual

ि [mɯ] ँऩञम০नऒदघऊ‫ء‬ ০‫ؚ‬नऒ‫ء‬

ी [me] ँभ্मनऩञदघऊ‫ء‬ ೀ‫ؚ‬ၴ‫ء‬

ु [mo] जोदम‫ؚ‬ষऌऽखॆअ‫؛‬ ेख‫ؚ‬ষऒअ‫؛‬

ृ [ja]
Law 1 updated 2020-12-16
ॅ [jɯ]

े [jo] It just happened!

ै [ɾa], like the t in the American pronunciation of butter

When you are describing an event that just occurred, you can use the phrase ‫ع‬धऒौ.
ॉ [ɾi] The phrase follows directly after a verb in the short form. If the verb is in the non-past
tense, it describes an action that is just about to happen. If the verb is in the past tense,
ॊ [ɾɯ] it describes an event that just happened.

ो [ɾe]
Japanese English
ौ [ɾo] ਗ਼੤मলञधऒौट‫؛‬ The train just left.
ॎ [ɰa] ಩઺॑ৄपষऎधऒौटढञ‫؛‬ I was about to go to the movies.
॑ [o], although it's most often romanized as "wo"
[n] or [ŋ], like the n in pink, producing a [m] when combined with a bilabial Weather 3 updated 2020-12-16
॒
stop, hence "tempura" and not "tenpura"
Stating Sources
As the only solitary consonant in hiragana, ॒ is especially notable because it is only
found at the end of another syllable. In other words, you will never read a Japanese When you’re giving information from another source, you can use the phrase ‫ع‬पेॊ
word that begins with ॒‫؛‬ ध to state your source. It’s used when telling others information that you learned from
the news or from another person. We commonly translate the phrase as “according
Numbers 1 updated 2020-12-16 to…”

Numbers 1 Japanese English

੒ਾपेॊध‫ؚ‬৥঩मංटज
In Numbers 1, we'll continue introducing the hiragana writing system through the According to the forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
Japanese numbers one through six. अट‫؛‬

মিऔ॒भਵपेॊध‫ँؚ‬भ According to my conversation with Mr. Honda, that

ःठ or "ichi," meaning "one." ः is the character for "i" and ठ is the character for
಩઺मએஜःैखः‫؛‬ movie is supposed to be interesting.
"chi."

प or "ni," meaning "two."

Honorifics 1 updated 2020-12-16
औ॒ or "san," meaning "three." औ is the character for "sa" and ॒ is the character
for "n." Formal Language

6/96 91/96
The passive voice in Japanese is a verb form that is unique to each verb ending, yet it े॒ or "yon," meaning "four." े is the character for "yo" and ॒ is the character
is always some iteration of ‫ँع‬ोॊ or ‫ँع‬ोऽघ‫؛‬ for "n." Note that another word for "four" is ख or "shi," but this is less common
than े॒‫؛‬
Active Voice Passive Voice
ओ or "go," meaning "five." The two dashes on the upper-right side of ओ change
୫सॊ‫؞‬୫सऽघ ୫सैोॊ‫؞‬୫सैोऽघ
its pronunciation from "ko" to "go."
੉अ‫੉؞‬ःऽघ ੉ॎोॊ‫੉؞‬ॎोऽघ
ौऎ or "roku," meaning "six." ौ is the character for "ro" and ऎ is the character
ഭि‫؞‬ഭाऽघ ഭऽोॊ‫؞‬ഭऽोऽघ for "ku."

Remember that the topic or subject of a passive sentence is the recipient of the given In Town 1 updated 2020-12-16
action, and as such, it takes the म or ऋ particle instead of ॑‫؛‬
In Town 1
Example Translation
In this skill, we'll continue introducing the hiragana writing system through six additional
ॉ॒ओम୫सैोञ The apple was eaten. words.

When the passive sentence includes a causative agent, this person or thing is marked दघ or "desu," meaning "is," "are," or "am." द is the character for "de" and घ is
with प‫؛‬ the character for "su." The two dashes on the upper-right side of द change its
pronunciation from "te" to "de." Notice how the final "u" sound of दघ is usually
Example Translation dropped. Most often, दघ is pronounced closer to "des."

ॉ॒ओमஎप୫सैोञ The apple was eaten by me. ाच or "mise," meaning "store" or "shop." ा is the character for "mi" and च is the
character for "se." Note how there are no words for "the" or "a" in Japanese.
There's also no way to express that there's more than one of something.
Colloquial updated 2019-05-15
Therefore, ाच can mean "a store," "the store," "stores," or "the stores."

Colloquial Language ृघः or "yasui," meaning "cheap" or "inexpensive." ृ is the character for "ya,"
घ is the character for "su," and ः is the character for "i." Much like in English,
Welcome to the final skill in the Japanese course! The reason that colloquial language Japanese adjectives come before the nouns they modify.
is listed as the final skill is that we wanted you to understand the importance of
politeness when speaking with strangers or coworkers. इऌ or "eki," meaning "train station." इ is the character for "e" and ऌ is the
When you speak with friends in casual settings or watch anime, you may hear a lot of character for "ki."
expressions that you have yet to be introduced to.
ऽठ or "machi," meaning "town." ऽ is the character for "ma" and ठ is the
Pronouns character for "chi."

ठःऔः or "chiisai," meaning "small." ठ is the character for "chi," ः is the

There are two male pronouns reserved for casual settings, ᄅ (उो), meaning "I" or
character for "i," and औ is the character for "sa."
"me," and उ৐ (उऽइ) meaning "you." In formal settings, use of these pronouns is
considered confrontational and impolite. Both ᄅ and उ৐ sound extremely rough and
masculine, which is why typically they are reserved for boys or men who are teenagers Hiragana 3 updated 2020-09-10

or older.
Hiragana Pronunciation
In addition, you may hear women and girls use the pronoun ँञख (sometimes written
எ) to refer to themselves. This is not considered as polite as ॎञख‫ؚ‬but considerably Below are the most basic forms of Japanese hiragana. We'll be introducing some more
more so than ᄅ‫؛‬ later as well.

Particle Dropping Japanese IPA, Notes

90/96 7/96
Japanese IPA, Notes Japanese English

ँ [a] ૃीॊ (धीॊ) to stop (transitive)

ः [i] ૃऽॊ (धऽॊ) to stop (intransitive)

अ [ɯ], like the oo in food

Remember that the particle ॑ is used to mark the direct object of a sentence, so you
इ [e] would use it with a transitive verb.
उ [o]
Japanese English
ऊ [ka]
ઈૡুम૶प੤॑ૃीञ‫؛‬ The driver suddenly stopped the car.
ऌ [ki]
ং५ऋ૶पૃऽढञ‫؛‬ The bus stopped suddenly.
ऎ [kɯ]

ऐ [ke] Society updated 2021-02-15

ऒ [ko]
Cities and Prefectures
औ [sa]
Japan is divided into different areas, which are known as “prefectures.” Most of these
ख [ɕi], like the shee in sheep areas will be identified by adding the character ਩ (ऐ॒) to the end of the area’s name.
घ [sɯ], although it can shorten to more of a [s] at the end of a word For instance, if you lived in Yamaguchi prefecture, you would tell people you live in ৛ઠ
਩ (ृऽएठऐ॒).
च [se]

ज [so] If you’re talking about a city, you would usually add the character ৘ (ख) to the end of
the place name. So if you lived in Chiba City, you would tell people you live in ૸୴৘
ञ [ta] (ठयख).
ठ [tɕi], like the tch in itchy
Did you know that sometimes a prefecture will contain a city of the same name? So if
ण [tsɯ], like the ts in cats you live in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, you would live in both ૸୴਩(ठयऐ॒) and ૸
୴৘ (ठयख)!
थ [te]

ध [to] As a….

ऩ [na] When discussing someone’s role, you can use the word धखथ in Japanese. The word
प [ni] धखथ comes after the noun or “role” that is being discussed. In English, it’s often
translated to the word “as.”
फ [nɯ]
Japanese English
ब [ne]
௵୸धखथஎमਔৄ॑੉ःऽखञ‫؛‬ I said my opinion as a friend.
भ [no]
৛ઠऔ॒म৉੪भৈૅद੔েधखथ௮ Mr. Yamaguchi is working as a teacher at a
म [ha], although pronounced like [ɰa] or "wa" as a particle
ःथःऽघ‫؛‬ local high school.
ऱ [çi], like the h in human

ऴ [ɸɯ], roughly between a short "hoo" and "foo" Memories 2 updated 2020-12-16

ष [he], although pronounced like [e] or "eh" as a particle

Passive Voice
8/96 89/96
 Ordinary Formal Japanese IPA, Notes

ऎोॊ ऎटऔःऽघ ऺ [ho]

ষऎ‫؞‬ਟॊ ःैढखूःऽघ ऽ [ma]

੉अ ணखऽघ (ुअखऽघ) ा [mi]

ट‫؞‬दघ दँॊ (written form) ि [mɯ]

ट‫؞‬दघ दओकःऽघ (spoken form) ी [me]

୫सॊ ႋख঱ऋॉऽघ (ीखँऋॉऽघ) ु [mo]

ृ [ja]
Remember that formal language uses the polite ‫ع‬ऽघ form at the end of each
sentence. Ending a formal sentence with the plain form, ट or टौअ sounds odd and ॅ [jɯ]
incongruous with the context. े [jo]

Technology updated 2020-01-14 ै [ɾa], like the t in the American pronunciation of butter

ॉ [ɾi]
I didn’t mean to!
ॊ [ɾɯ]
When you’ve done something unintentionally, you can use the word णः to emphasize ो [ɾe]
the fact that it was an accident. It’s often paired with the V+थखऽअ form, and it’s
generally used to express regret over having done something you know you shouldn’t ौ [ɾo]
have done.
ॎ [ɰa]
Japanese English ॑ [o], although it's most often romanized as "wo"
௵୸धਵखथःथुणः५ Even when I am talking with my friends, I wind up [n] or [ŋ], like the n in pink, producing a [m] when combined with a bilabial
॒
ঐ঍॑ৄथखऽअ‫؛‬ looking at my smartphone unintentionally. stop, hence "tempura" and not "tenpura"

This sentence has a connotation of something like, “I wind up looking at my smartphone As the only solitary consonant in hiragana, ॒ is especially notable because it is only
(even though I know that I shouldn’t).” found at the end of another syllable. In other words, you will never read a Japanese
word that begins with ॒‫؛‬
You can also use the word अढऊॉ to express that you’ve done something carelessly
or accidentally.
Hiragana 4 updated 2018-10-25

Japanese English
In the following skill, we introduce a few more elements to basic hiragana.
अढऊॉग़॔॥থ॑଎खພोञ‫؛‬ I carelessly forgot to turn off the air conditioner.
Hiragana Part II: Dakuten

Transportation 3 updated 2020-01-13 Putting two little dashes or dakuten at the upper right corner of a hiragana syllable
voices the consonant. It changes the pronunciation of the hiragana in the following
way:
Stop!
Sound Sound with Dakuten Example
Don’t forget about transitive and intransitive verbs! Transitive verbs are verbs that take
a direct object, while intransitive verbs are verbs that do not take a direct object. k g ऊ (ka) → ऋ (ga)
Transitive and intransitive verbs often occur in pairs, and even though the dictionary
definition for both words is sometimes the same, their usage differs. s z औ (sa) → क (za), ख (shi) → ग (ji)*

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 Sound Sound with Dakuten Example Ordinary Formal
t d ञ (ta) → ट (da), ण (tsu) → त (zu)* ਷ (ाङ) उ਷
h b म (ha) → य (ba) ⎣ (मख) उ⎣

૏஡ (ॉॆअख॒) ओ૏஡
Putting a little circle or handakuten at the upper right corner changes the pronunciation
of the म-ऱ-ऴ-ष-ऺ hiragana in the following way: ਌য (खॄग॒) ओ਌য

ഊೆ (ीःॎऎ) ओഊೆ
Sound Sound with Handakuten Example

h p म (ha) → र (pa) Sometimes a noun will change completely in the transition from ordinary to formal
language, often reflecting a parallel change in another part of speech, such as a verb.

Hiragana Part III: Small ढ Ordinary Formal

Putting a ढ (small tsu) between two hiragana syllables doubles the letter right after ढ ০঩ (ऌॆअ) ম঩ (ऺ॒गण)
and introduces a short pause between two sounds. See some examples below:
੉ः๨ (ःःॎऐ) ணख๨ (ुअखॎऐ)

Without ढ With ढ
Adjectives
ऌथ (kite) ऌढथ (kitte)
Adjectives typically do not change grammatical form in formal speech, but they are
ुध (moto) ुढध (motto) replaced with more formal varieties.
ँऔॉ (asari) ँढऔॉ (assari)
Ordinary Formal

Hiragana Part IV: Big and Small Characters ଐः (ःः‫े؞‬ः) ࿤खः (ेौखः)

Lastly, this skill introduces the big and small versions of three sounds in hiragana. A
Verbs
small ृ‫ؚॅؚ‬or े changes the pronunciation of a word in the following way:
For verbs, there is a mixed system. As introduced in an earlier lesson, some verbs
Big ृ-ॅ-े Small ृ-ॅ-े adopt an उ‫ ع‬prefix and may adopt the use of the copula दघ‫؛‬

ऌृ [ki-ya] ऌू [kya]
Ordinary Formal
ऌॅ [ki-yu] ऌॄ [kyu]
োॉऽघऊ‫ء‬ उোॉदघऊ‫ء‬
ऌे [ki-yo] ऌॆ [kyo]
ୄढथऎटऔः‫؛‬ उୄठऎटऔः‫؛‬

The small character changes the two-syllable construction into a one-syllable

Meanwhile, some verbs are replaced with more formal variants.
construction. Sometimes, the difference can lead to a real change in meaning, as
shown below:
Ordinary Formal
Big े Small े घॊ ಱखऽघ (ःञखऽघ) (one's own actions)

लेअः॒ [bi-yō-in] "beauty salon" लॆअः॒ [byō-in] "hospital" घॊ ऩऔःऽघ (someone else's actions)

ँॊ ओकःऽघ
Numbers 2 updated 2022-03-22
ुैअ ःञटऌऽघ

Only
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 Kanji Reading Meaning There are two ways to express the idea of “only” or “just” in Japanese. One of them is
with the word टऐ, which is used with affirmative sentences.
஛ຠ े॒मऎ (yonhaku) four (nights of a stay)

૜ຠ ओमऎ (gohaku) five (nights of a stay) Japanese English

౽ຠ ौढरऎ (roppaku) six (nights of a stay) ௲৞टऐँऑऽघ‫؛‬ I will give you only a hundred yen.

೻ຠ ऩऩमऎ (nanahaku) seven (nights of a stay) ৄथःॊटऐदघ‫؛‬ I am just looking.

ழຠ मढरऎ (happaku) eight (nights of a stay)

Another way you can express this idea is with the word खऊ, which has the same
ృຠ ऌॄअमऎ (kyuuhaku) nine (nights of a stay) meaning but is used with negative sentences in Japanese, although the meaning of the
sentence is not translated in the negative.
ેຠ गॄढरऎ (juppaku) ten (nights of a stay)
Japanese English
Below are some example sentences.
ऒभ৖ોपमিরऔ॒खऊःऽच॒‫؛‬ Only Mrs. Tanaka is in this room.
Japanese English ঩মୁभോછ॑঳ၻखऊ੅ढथःऩः‫؛‬ I have only one Japanese dictionary.
੡ଽોदਕຠखञ‫؛‬ I spent three nights in Nagoya.
Several
ऒभ঍ॸঝम঳ຠ஛ਐ৞दघ‫؛‬ This hotel is forty thousand yen for one night.
ਯ‫( ع‬घअ‫ )ع‬is a prefix that can be added to some words to mean “several….” or “a
In a certain place… few…” Some examples are below.

You can use the word ँॊ before a noun to specify that you’re talking about a certain Kanji Reading Meaning
thing without going into specifics about it.
ਯয घअप॒ a few people, several people
Japanese English ਯফ घअब॒ a few years, several years
ೀमँॊ঍ॸঝपຠऽॉऽखञ‫؛‬ He stayed at a certain hotel. ਯ৚ घअऊः a few times, several times
எम௼੎ષ॑ःणुँॊਚपखऽढथः I always keep my valuables in a certain
ॊ‫؛‬ place. In order to…

The phrase भप has many different uses in Japanese. One of the meanings is “in order
Honorifics updated 2019-05-15 to (perform an action).” In this construction “AभपB” would be “I did B in order to A,” in
which भप follows a verb in the short form. Some examples are listed below.
Formal Language
Japanese English
This lesson showcases some of the most common instances of formal language for use
in business situations. ೯मৗୂ॑ഭिभपཽྰ॑ෳऐऽ My father put on his glasses in order to read
खञ‫؛‬ the newspaper.
Nouns
ऒभਣषਟॊभपఄষਃ॑੸৚ଭ
I transferred planes twice to come to this island.
To make a noun extra formal, one places an उ‫ ع‬prefix before a word of Japanese ॉఌइञ‫؛‬
origin (typically a word with a single kanji) and a ओ‫ ع‬prefix before a word of Chinese
origin (typically a word with two kanji). We already learned a few examples earlier in the
course. Questions updated 2020-12-16

Ordinary Formal Questions

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In this skill, you'll learn how to form basic questions in Japanese. Oftentimes when you want to express your positive emotions in Japanese, you end the
sentence with either ऩ or ऩँ‫ؚ‬with the latter expressing an even deeper sense of
To turn a polite statement into a question, all you need to do is add the particle ऊ or longing for something. This particle does not translate directly into English, but it often
"ka" at the end of the sentence. acts similarly to the previously-introduced particle ब‫ؚ‬which establishes a "harmony of
understanding" between the speaker and listener.
Japanese English

ःःदघ‫"؛‬ii desu." It's good. Example Translation Emotional Depth

ःःदघऊ‫"ء‬ii desu-ka?" Is it good? ःःब‫؛‬ Isn't that nice! neutral

ःःऩ‫؛‬ Isn't that nice! medium

We use ऊ for all question types, regardless of whether we're talking about adjectives or
ःःऩँ‫؛‬ Isn't that nice! high
nouns.

Japanese English Volitional Form

ऊऔदघ‫"؛‬kasa desu." It's an umbrella. This course introduced the polite phrase ‫ع‬ऽखॆअ relatively early on. This usually
ऊऔदघऊ‫"ء‬kasa desu-ka?" Is it an umbrella? translates to "let's ... " but not always. If the speaker is referring to an action that is
intended to be done alone, it translates better as "I will," a kind of definitive affirmation
of one's desire to do something.
In this skill, you'll also learn the Japanese words for "yes" and "no."
Example Translation
Japanese English
எम਒ষपষऌऽखॆअ‫؛‬ I will go to the bank.
मः "hai" yes

ःःइ "iie" no This lesson introduces the casual form of ‫ع‬ऽखॆअ, which is some iteration of ‫ع‬उअ
or ‫ेع‬अ depending on the ending of the verb in question.

Saying Hi updated 2020-12-16

Example Translation

Saying Hi எम਒ষपষऒअ‫؛‬ I will go to the bank.

আ२॑୫सेअ‫؛‬ Let's eat pizza.

Below are some useful phrases for interacting with other people.
ਗदँजऻअ‫؛‬ Let's play outside.
Japanese English

घाऽच॒ "sumimasen" excuse me Hotel updated 2020-01-08

ऒ॒पठम "konnichiwa" hello

An Overnight Stay
ँॉऋधअ "arigatou" thank you
When you’re staying overnight somewhere, you would use the counter word ຠ (मऎ)
In Japanese, you can use the suffix औ॒ or "san" at the end of someone's name to to count the number of nights you stay somewhere. Please take note that some of the
show them respect. You can use औ॒ at the end of their given name or family name. readings are irregular!

Kanji Reading Meaning

Japanese Name Japanese Name with औ॒
঳ຠ ःढरऎ (ippaku) one (night of a stay)
मऩ "Hana" मऩऔ॒ "Hana-san"
੸ຠ पमऎ (nihaku) two (nights of a stay)
ऐ॒ "Ken" ऐ॒औ॒ "Ken-san"
ਕຠ औ॒रऎ (sanpaku) three (nights of a stay)

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The noun मङ describes the way something is expected to be. Japanese Name Japanese Name with औ॒

Example Translation ञऩऊ "Tanaka" ञऩऊऔ॒ "Tanaka-san"

ୢ঻मୢ৾॑໥ਘघॊमङट‫؛‬ Doctors are supposed to study medicine.

In Japanese, we never use the औ॒ suffix after our own name.

‫ع‬सऌ Animals 1 updated 2020-12-16

The noun सऌ‫ؚ‬however, describes responsibilities and obligations with a more Animals 1
moralistic bent.
Keep in mind that there are no words for a or the in Japanese. There's also no way to
Example Translation show if something is singular or plural. We can usually understand what someone
means through context. Therefore, a Japanese word usually has several possible
৾ૅपষऎसऌदघ‫؛‬ I should go to school. translations in English, as shown below.

Because सऌ can come across as harsh, it is most often used to describe one's own Japanese English
obligations. For talking about other people, "ऺअऋःः" is often used instead. ःफ "inu" a dog

ःफ "inu" the dog

Example Translation

৾ૅपষढञऺअऋःः‫؛‬ You should go to school. ःफ "inu" dogs

ःफ "inu" the dogs

Causative Form
This skill introduces the names of three animals and three adjectives for describing
The causative form is used to express the fact when someone lets or forces someone them.
to do something. It is created by adding a form of ‫ँع‬चॊ or ‫ँع‬चऽघ to the end of
a verb stem. When the person who is requested to perform the action is followed by Nouns
प‫ؚ‬this usually translates to "let someone do something."
Japanese English
Example Translation
ःफ "inu" dog
ೀैमೀप॔ওজढ़षষऊचञ‫؛‬ They let him go to the US.
बऒ "neko" cat

When this person is followed by ॑‫ؚ‬however, this usually implies that the person had धॉ "tori" bird
no choice in the matter.
Adjectives
Example Translation

ೀैमೀ॑॔ওজढ़षষऊचञ‫؛‬ They made him go to the US. Japanese English

ऎौः "kuroi" black

This distinction is not a hard-and-fast rule, however, and the context of the sentence is
usually enough to determine the difference. Either English translation is possible for उउऌः "ookii" big
either of the Japanese sentences above.
ऊॎःः "kawaii" cute
Desires 1 updated 2021-02-15

Snack Time updated 2020-12-16

Sentence-Ending Particles ऩ and ऩँ

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Snack Time ਯ‫( ع‬घअ‫ )ع‬is a prefix that can be added to some words to mean “several….” or “a
few…” Some examples are below.
This skill introduces two very important words in Japanese, ऒो and जो‫؛‬
Kanji Reading Meaning
Japanese English
ਯয घअप॒ a few people, several people
ऒो "kore" this, this one
ਯফ घअब॒ a few years, several years
जो "sore" that, that one
ਯ৚ घअऊः a few times, several times

Keep in mind that ऒो is used to describe things that are close to the speaker, just like
In order to…
the English "this one." जो is used to describe things that are close to the listener, just
like the English "that one."
The phrase भप has many different uses in Japanese. One of the meanings is “in order
to (perform an action).” In this construction “AभपB” would be “I did B in order to A,” in
Katakana 3 updated 2020-02-08
which भप follows a verb in the short form. Some examples are listed below.

More Katakana
Japanese English

Japanese IPA, Notes ೯मৗୂ॑ഭिभपཽྰ॑ෳऐऽ My father put on his glasses in order to read
खञ‫؛‬ the newspaper.
ॡ [kɯ]
ऒभਣषਟॊभपఄষਃ॑੸৚ଭ
९ [so] I transferred planes twice to come to this island.
ॉఌइञ‫؛‬
ॸ [te]

ং [ba] Law updated 2020-01-07

१ [sa]
It just happened!
८ [ze]
When you are describing an event that just occurred, you can use the phrase ‫ع‬धऒौ.
ঔ [mo]
The phrase follows directly after a verb in the short form. If the verb is in the non-past
঎ [bo] tense, it describes an action that is just about to happen. If the verb is in the past tense,
it describes an event that just happened.
঍ [ho]
Japanese English
ढ़ [ka]
ਗ਼੤मলञधऒौट‫؛‬ The train just left.
ॽ [ni]
಩઺॑ৄपষऎधऒौटढञ‫؛‬ I was about to go to the movies.
० [go]

ঘ [jɯ]
Obligations updated 2021-02-15
ॣ [ke]

ॳ [tɕi], like the tch in itchy Obligations

ॾ [nɯ] Two grammatical elements in Japanese are especially important when describing
responsibility and expectation.
অ [bi]
‫ع‬मङ
ঞ [ɾe]

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Phrase Occasion People 1 updated 2021-02-15

उ੔पଷ຀खऽघ‫؞‬उ A routine apology said when leaving work before other

औऌपखणोःखऽघ people do so. People 1

उ໸ो஘दखञ‫؞‬उण A routine response to "उ੔पଷ຀खऽघ", acknowledging Japanese verbs, including the copula दघ‫ؚ‬can be used as they are with any subject,
ऊोऔऽदखञ that the coworker's hard work has been appreciated. regardless of gender or number. This means that Japanese sentences often have many
possible English equivalents.

Weather 2 updated 2020-01-07 Japanese English

ऋऎचःदघ‫؛‬ He's a student.

Stating sources
ऋऎचःदघ‫؛‬ She's a student.
When you’re giving information from another source, you can use the phrase ‫ع‬पेॊ
ऋऎचःदघ‫؛‬ They're students.
ध to state your source. It’s used when telling others information that you learned from
the news or from another person. We commonly translate the phrase as “according
to…” This skill introduces several words that describe people. You can reference them below.

Japanese English Japanese English

੒ਾपेॊध‫ؚ‬৥঩मංटज ऋऎचः "gakusei" student

According to the forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
अट‫؛‬
धुटठ "tomodachi" friend
মিऔ॒भਵपेॊध‫ँؚ‬भ According to my conversation with Mr. Honda, that ःखू "isha" doctor
಩઺मએஜःैखः‫؛‬ movie is supposed to be interesting.
च॒चः "sensei" teacher

Numbers 3 updated 2020-12-16

Time 1 updated 2018-10-25

Only
Kanji from this Skill
There are two ways to express the idea of “only” or “just” in Japanese. One of them is
with the word टऐ, which is used with affirmative sentences. Below is a table of the six kanji that are introduced in this skill, complete with possible
readings.
Japanese English
Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading
௲৞टऐँऑऽघ‫؛‬ I will give you only a hundred yen.
঳ One ऱध•ण ःठ
ৄथःॊटऐदघ‫؛‬ I am just looking.
੸ Two ऴञ•ण प

Another way you can express this idea is with the word खऊ, which has the same ਕ Three ाढ•ण औ॒
meaning but is used with negative sentences in Japanese, although the meaning of the
ৎ Time धऌ ग
sentence is not translated in the negative.
০ Now ःऽ ऒ॒
Japanese English
ী Minute, Part ॎ•ऊॊ ऴ॒‫ؚ‬व॒
ऒभ৖ોपमিরऔ॒खऊःऽच॒‫؛‬ Only Mrs. Tanaka is in this room.

঩মୁभോછ॑঳ၻखऊ੅ढथःऩः‫؛‬ I have only one Japanese dictionary.

Time 2 updated 2018-10-25

Several Kanji from this Skill

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Below is a table of the eight kanji that are introduced in this skill, complete with possible Work 1 updated 2021-02-15
readings.

Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading Transitive and Intransitive Verb Pairs

஛ Four े॒‫ेؚ‬ढ•ण ख The English language has certain sets of verbs that are related to each other but
behave differently in a sentence. Transitive verbs like "raise" or "lay" always take a
૜ Five ःण•ण ओ grammatical object. However, intransitive verbs like "rise" or "lie" never do. The same
principle works in Japanese, with the examples below.
౽ Six िढ•ण ौऎ
Transitive Verbs (take an object)
೻ Seven ऩऩ‫ؚ‬ऩऩ•ण खठ

ழ Eight ृढ•ण मठ Japanese English

ృ Nine ऒऒभ•ण ऌॄअ‫ؚ‬ऎ ঱ऑॊ‫ँ؞‬ऑॊ raise (something)
ે Ten धउ गॄअ ৣऑॊ‫؞‬औऑॊ lower (something)
઄ Half ऩऊ•य म॒
Intransitive Verbs (no object)

Greetings updated 2021-02-15

Japanese English

Saying Thank You ঱ऋॊ‫ँ؞‬ऋॊ rise

The phrase "thank you" in Japanese is dependent on the situation. Below is a table of ৣऋॊ‫؞‬औऋॊ fall
the most common forms, from least to most formal. Note that the formality increases
with the length of the phrase. So how do you know if and when a verb is transitive or intransitive in Japanese?
Aside from noticing which verbs do and do not take grammatical objects, there are a
Japanese Explanation few spelling patterns that can act as clues.

नअु Thanks, used with friends. Transitive verbs often end in इ-sounds or घ‫ؚ‬like the verbs ઩ीॊ (मगीॊ)‫ؚ‬
ৠीॊ (ऌीॊ)‫ؚ‬or লघ (टघ)‫؛‬
ँॉऋधअ Thank you, used with friends.
Their intransitive pairings often end in ँ-sounds, like the verbs ઩ऽॊ (मगऽ
नअुँॉऋधअ Thank you very much, used with friends. ॊ) or ৠऽॊ (ऌऽॊ)‫؛‬
ँॉऋधअओकःऽघ Thank you, used with strangers, teachers, and bosses.
Greetings at Work
नअुँॉऋधअओकः Thank you very much, used with strangers, teachers,
and bosses. Greetings and set phrases are an extremely important part of Japanese work culture.
ऽघ
Below is a sampling of some of the most important points.

Saying Thank You for a Past Action Phrase Occasion

A standard morning greeting, occasionally shorted to ओक

If you'd like to thank someone for something they did in the past, you change the ओक उमेअओकःऽघ
ःऽघ‫ؚ‬ऽघ‫ؚ‬or simply a loud hiss.
ःऽघ ending to ओकःऽखञ‫؛‬
उ໸ो஘दघ‫؞‬उणऊ A mid-day greeting to acknowledge that someone is doing
Japanese Explanation ोऔऽदघ such a good job that they look tired from doing so.

ँॉऋधअओकःऽ Thank you for what you did, used with strangers, teachers, ଷ຀खऽघ‫؞‬खणोः
and bosses. A routine apology said when entering or leaving a room.
खञ खऽघ

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sentence is not translated in the negative. Japanese Explanation

Japanese English नअुँॉऋधअओ Thank you very much for what you did, used with
कःऽखञ strangers, teachers, and bosses.
ऒभ৖ોपमিরऔ॒खऊःऽच॒‫؛‬ Only Mrs. Tanaka is in this room.

঩মୁभോછ॑঳ၻखऊ੅ढथःऩः‫؛‬ I have only one Japanese dictionary.

Katakana 1 updated 2021-02-15

Several Katakana

ਯ‫( ع‬घअ‫ )ع‬is a prefix that can be added to some words to mean “several….” or “a This lesson will begin introducing katakana. Like hiragana, katakana is a Japanese
few…” Some examples are below. phonetic writing system. It's used for several things, but one of the most common uses
is for foreign words.
Kanji Reading Meaning
Japanese IPA, Notes
ਯয घअप॒ a few people, several people
॔ [a]
ਯফ घअब॒ a few years, several years
ग़ [e]
ਯ৚ घअऊः a few times, several times
ड़ [o]

ॖ [i]
Memories updated 2019-05-15
জ [ɾi]
Passive Voice
ছ [ɾa], like the t in the American pronunciation of butter
The passive voice in Japanese is a verb form that is unique to each verb ending, yet it ढ़ [ka]
is always some iteration of ‫ँع‬ोॊ or ‫ँع‬ोऽघ‫؛‬
ও [me]
Active Voice Passive Voice य़ [ki]
୫सॊ‫؞‬୫सऽघ ୫सैोॊ‫؞‬୫सैोऽघ ই [ɸɯ], roughly between a short "hoo" and "foo"
੉अ‫੉؞‬ःऽघ ੉ॎोॊ‫੉؞‬ॎोऽघ ॥ [ko]
ഭि‫؞‬ഭाऽघ ഭऽोॊ‫؞‬ഭऽोऽघ ঐ [ma]

Remember that the topic or subject of a passive sentence is the recipient of the given ३ [ɕi], like the shee in sheep
action, and as such, it takes the म or ऋ particle instead of ॑‫؛‬ [n] or [ŋ], like the n in pink, producing a [m] when combined with a bilabial
থ
stop, hence "tempura" and not "tenpura"
Example Translation ५ [sɯ], although it can shorten to more of a [s] at the end of a word
ॉ॒ओम୫सैोञ The apple was eaten. ॱ [ta]

When the passive sentence includes a causative agent, this person or thing is marked ট [ɾo]
with प‫؛‬ চ [jo]

Example Translation ‫ش‬ long vowel mark, used to extend the vowel sound that precedes it

ॉ॒ओमஎप୫सैोञ The apple was eaten by me.

Katakana with Dakuten

80/96 17/96
 Japanese IPA, Notes Remember, transitive verbs are verbs that take a direct object, while intransitive
verbs are verbs that do not take a direct object. Transitive and intransitive verbs often
ॠ [gi] occur in pairs, and their meaning and usage differs.

४ [dʑi], like the jee in jeep

Japanese English
ঃ [pa] କऒॊ (उऒौ) take place, occur (intransitive)
আ [pi] କऒघ (उऒघ) cause (transitive)

If you sound out the words below using katakana characters, you might find some
Remember that the particle ॑ is used to mark the direct object of a sentence, so you
familiar words! Some of the pronunciation is a little different than its English equivalent,
though. would always use it with a transitive verb.

Japanese Romaji English Japanese English

ढ़ওছ kamera camera হ௛मକऒढञ‫؛‬ An accident occurred.

॔ওজढ़ Amerika the US হ௛॑କऒखञ‫؛‬ I caused an accident.

ঐজ॔ Maria Maria (female given name)

Transportation 2 updated 2021-02-15
॔ইজढ़ Afurika Africa

ওय़३॥ Mekishiko Mexico As….as possible

ইছথ५ Furansu France दऌॊटऐ is a phrase meaning “as much as possible” or “as much as one can.”
ग़জढ़ Erika Erika (female given name) Depending on the subject of the sentence, the exact translation of the phrase can
change, however.
ঐজड़ Mario Mario (male given name)
Japanese English
Just be careful - not all words written in katakana were taken from English! दऌॊटऐଫऎऒऒषਟथऎटऔः‫؛‬ Please come here as soon as you can.

Japanese Romaji English ೀमदऌॊटऐசऎ௒ॉऽखञ‫؛‬ He ran as fast as he could.

ॖॠজ५ Igirisu the UK எमदऌॊटऐ੗ऎभৎ৑ऋ૑ਏदघ‫؛‬ I need as much time as possible.

ॖॱজ॔ Itaria Italy

Education updated 2021-02-15
ট‫ش‬ঐ Rōma Rome

Only
Not all foreign loan words in Japanese are directly equivalent to their English
counterparts! For instance, in Japanese ॔ওজढ़ (Amerika) isn't commonly used to
There are two ways to express the idea of “only” or “just” in Japanese. One of them is
refer to all of North America or to both North and South America - it's used almost
with the word टऐ, which is used with affirmative sentences.
exclusively to mean "the United States." However, ॖॠজ५ (Igirisu) can be used to
refer to both "the UK" and "England."
Japanese English

Introduction updated 2021-02-15 ௲৞टऐँऑऽघ‫؛‬ I will give you only a hundred yen.

ৄथःॊटऐदघ‫؛‬ I am just looking.

Introduction to Kanji
This lesson introduces the non-phonetic writing system of Japanese, kanji. Kanji Another way you can express this idea is with the word खऊ, which has the same
literally means "Chinese characters," and they're used to build content words like meaning but is used with negative sentences in Japanese, although the meaning of the

18/96 79/96
The word ुख cannot express "if" by itself. Rather, it is a supplemental word generally nouns, verbs, and adjectives.
used at the beginning of a sentence to express that a conditional is coming. It
generates a backdrop of uncertainty about the information ahead. Kanji Readings

Example Translation So how do you read kanji? Most kanji have at least two possible readings. Typically,
one reading is derived from a native Japanese word, and one reading is derived from a
ुखৎ৑ऋऩःऩै‫ؚ‬৥঩द Supposing you do not have time, tomorrow would Chinese loanword. These are called "kunyomi" ("meaning reading") and "onyomi"
also be alright. ("sound reading") respectively.
ुःः‫؛‬
Let's take the kanji for "country," ব‫؛‬On its own, we use the Japanese "kunyomi"
reading, ऎप‫؛‬In Japanese, ऎप means "country." However, in compounds, we use
Science 1 updated 2021-02-15
the "onyomi" reading of ऒऎ‫؛‬Therefore, China, রব or "middle country," is read as ठ
How to measure? ॄअओऎ‫؛‬

In Japanese, similar words often use different kanji characters in order to express Rendaku
different nuance. For instance, the character for “to measure” differs depending on the
thing you’re measuring! All the words below are read मऊॊ and all of them mean “to So why isn't it ठॄअऒऎ‫ء‬This is due to a phenomenon known as "rendaku" or
measure,” but the situations in which you would use each are different. "sequential voicing." Syllables that come later in a word are sometimes voiced and
marked with a dakuten. This is often rather unpredictable, so rendaku words should be
memorized individually.
Japanese English

୤ॊ to measure (weight or volume) Example Kanji

ੑॊ to measure (quantities, time, temperature) Below is a table of the six kanji that are introduced in this lesson, complete with
possible readings.
೾ॊ to measure (length, depth, width, speed)
Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading
‫ع‬औ
য Person ऱध ग॒‫ؚ‬प॒

If a quality can be measured objectively, its nominal form will end in औ‫؛‬This is also the র Middle ऩऊ ठॄअ
case for all ऩ-adjectives, regardless of one's ability to measure them. ব Country ऎप ऒऎ

Adjective Noun ঩ Sun, Day ऱ पठ‫ؚ‬गण

পऌः‫؞‬big পऌऔ‫؞‬size ম Origin, Book ुध ऺ॒

শः‫؞‬long শऔ‫؞‬length ি Rice Paddy ञ द॒

ৈः‫؞‬tall ৈऔ‫؞‬height
You may have noticed that the word Japan, or ঩ম is composed of the kanji meaning
੎ः‫؞‬heavy ੎औ‫؞‬weight "sun" and "origin." This word was first adopted by the Chinese, and to them, Japan was
off to the east, the place where the sun rose or "originated."
೶ਹ‫؞‬convenient ೶ਹऔ‫؞‬convenience
Katakana Pronunciation
ऌोः‫؞‬pretty ऌोःऔ‫؞‬prettiness
This lesson also introduces katakana, the phonetic Japanese writing system used for
foreign words. See their pronunciation below.
Emergency 1 updated 2021-02-15
Basic Katakana
Transitive and Intransitive Verb Pairs
Japanese IPA, Notes

78/96 19/96
   

Japanese IPA, Notes Example Translation

॔ [a] ॱॖখमଽःध‫ؚ‬஠ऩःदघ‫؛‬ If tires are old, they are dangerous.

ॖ [i]
ऩै - Future Speculation
क़ [ɯ], like the oo in food

ग़ [e] We use ऩै when expressing that something will take effect in a certain context. This
is often a personal intention about the future based on a given assumption about what
ड़ [o] will happen.
ढ़ [ka]
Example Translation
य़ [ki]
ा॒ऩऋষऎऩै‫ؚ‬எुষऎ‫؛‬ If everyone is going, I will go as well.
ॡ [kɯ]

ॣ [ke] य - Conditional Focus

॥ [ko]
We can use the य form of a verb to express a conditional sentence in almost any
१ [sa] context. However, it is ungrammatical to use this construction when the subject is the
same in both parts of the sentence and the sentence expresses a desire or prohibition.
३ [ɕi], like the shee in sheep It places a special focus on what comes before it, and the outcome is usually good.
The य form sounds rather formal, so it's often used for writing and polite speech.
५ [sɯ], although it can shorten to more of a [s] at the end of a word

७ [se] Example Translation

९ [so] ऒभఇ॑ධीय‫ेؚ‬ऎऩॉऽघे‫؛‬ If you take this medicine, you will get better.

ॱ [ta]
ञै‫؞‬टै - Consequence Focus
ॳ [tɕi], like the tch in itchy

ॶ [tsɯ], like the ts in cats The use of ञै or टै to end a past-tense verb presents the fewest restrictions and
greatest freedom for expressing a conditional sentence in Japanese. It is often used for
ॸ [te] hypotheticals and speculations that have yet to be proven, much like the construction "if
... would ..." in English. It places a special focus on what comes after it. This is the
ॺ [to] only construction that is grammatical for a past event, or when the subject is the
same in both parts of the sentence and the sentence expresses a desire or prohibition.
ॼ [na] Please refer to the example sentences below.
ॽ [ni]
Example Translation
ॾ [nɯ]
୫सघऍञै‫ؚ‬ਞ੅ठபऎऩॉऽखञ‫؛‬ I got sick when I ate too much.
ॿ [ne]
Example Translation
ঀ [no]
उඣ॑ධ॒टै‫ؚ‬ঽૡ੤पଭढथमःऐ You must not ride your bike if you drink
ঁ [ha]
ऽच॒‫؛‬ alcohol.
঄ [çi], like the h in human

ই [ɸɯ], roughly between a short "hoo" and "foo" When in doubt about which form of "if" to use, ञै or टै is usually a safe bet.

ঊ [he] ुख - Conditional Warning

20/96  77/96
This lesson also introduces the concept of nouns formed from adjectives, much like Japanese IPA, Notes
how "sweet" becomes "sweetness" in English with an additional ending. The ability or
inability to measure such nouns in Japanese plays an important role in how they are ঍ [ho]
formed.
ঐ [ma]
‫ع‬औ
঑ [mi]

If a quality can be measured objectively, its nominal form will end in औ‫؛‬This is also the ঒ [mɯ]
case for all ऩ-adjectives, regardless of one's ability to measure them.
ও [me]

Adjective Noun ঔ [mo]

পऌः‫؞‬big পऌऔ‫؞‬size খ [ja]

শः‫؞‬long শऔ‫؞‬length ঘ [jɯ]

ৈः‫؞‬tall ৈऔ‫؞‬height চ [jo]

੎ः‫؞‬heavy ੎औ‫؞‬weight ছ [ɾa], like the t in the American pronunciation of butter

೶ਹ‫؞‬convenient ೶ਹऔ‫؞‬convenience জ [ɾi]

ऌोः‫؞‬pretty ऌोःऔ‫؞‬prettiness ঝ [ɾɯ]

ঞ [ɾe]
‫ع‬ा
ট [ɾo]

If, however, a quality cannot be measured objectively, its nominal form will almost ড [ɰa]
always end in ा‫ؚ‬especially if it is a feeling or flavor.
ত [wo] or [o], although it's used very rarely

Adjective Noun [n] or [ŋ], like the n in pink, producing a [m] when combined with a bilabial
থ
stop, hence "tempura" and not "tenpura"
൱ः‫؞‬painful ൱ा‫؞‬pain
‫ش‬ long vowel mark, used to extend the vowel sound that precedes it
๩खः‫؞‬sad ๩खा‫؞‬sadness

๿ः‫؞‬sweet ๿ा‫؞‬sweetness Katakana with Dakuten

अऽः‫؞‬tasty अऽा‫؞‬tastiness
Japanese IPA, Notes

फ़ [ga]
Possibilities 1 updated 2020-12-16
ॠ [gi]
In Japanese, there are four different expressions that translate to the English word ॢ [gɯ]
"if."
। [ge]
ध - Natural Consequence
० [go]
We use the word ध when something is a natural, inevitable, and predictable २ [za]
consequence of something else. This cannot be a personal intention. It is often used
when describing facts and operations, instructions, and habitual actions. ४ [dʑi], like the jee in jeep

६ [zɯ]
Example Translation

76/96 21/96
 Japanese IPA, Notes When expressing appearance in Japanese, one can choose from several grammatical
expressions.
८ [ze]
ेअ
॰ [zo]

ॲ [da] Using the noun ेअ is the most basic way of expressing something's outward
appearance.
ॴ [dʑi], like the jee in jeep

ॷ [zɯ] Example Translation

ॹ [de] ೀमःजऋखःेअट‫؛‬ He looks busy.

ॻ [do]
ाञः
ং [ba]

অ [bi] The noun ाञः is used almost exactly like ेअ‫ؚ‬only it has a more casual tone. Be
careful not to treat it as a verb or an adjective, although it might look like one.
ঈ [bɯ]

ঋ [be] Example Translation

ଽःाञःदघ‫؛‬ It looks old.

঎ [bo]

ঃ [pa]
जअ
আ [pi]
The noun जअ is used to express how something seems or appears to be based on
উ [pɯ]
one's observation. It's more of an educated guess and less of a certainty than ेअ or
ঌ [pe] ाञः‫؛‬
এ [po]
जअ is also used to describe hearsay gathered from other people. In this instance, the
grammar of the word changes slightly. Verbs, for example, change from the stem form
for appearance to the short form for hearsay.
Time 3 updated 2019-02-06

Example Translation
Directional Particle
ංऋఋॉजअदघ‫؛‬ It seems like it will rain.
The particle ष indicates a direction towards which something or someone moves. This
ංऋఋॊजअदघ‫؛‬ I hear that it will rain.
movement is the direction away from the current location. When used as a particle, ष
is pronounced as [e].
ैखः
Location and Time Particle
With respect to hearsay, ैखः is used in similar contexts as जअ‫ؚ‬only it acts like any
The particle प with a time expression indicates a specific point in time. प can also other ः-adjective would.
express times on a clock, days of the week, or years.
Example Translation
Direction English Location or Time English
ँभ಩઺म௫खःैखः‫؛‬ I hear that movie is fun.
ভ঺‫؞‬ऊःखूष to the office ‫گ‬ৎ‫؞‬गप at 3 o’clock

৾ૅ‫؞‬ऋढऒअष to school া໫঩‫؞‬ऑणेअलप on Monday Degree

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Japanese English Direction English Location or Time English

ઇइञৢॉृॉऩऔः‫؛‬ Do as I taught you. ঩ম‫؞‬पऺ॒ष to Japan ‫ڱ‬া‫؞‬ऋणप in May

৺൶ৢॉप೛਻॑खञ‫؛‬ I did my homework as promised. ॔ওজढ़ष to America ‫ڲڭڬڮ‬ফ‫؞‬ब॒प in 2016

Kanji from this Skill

Nature 3 updated 2021-02-15

Below is a table of the four kanji that are introduced in this skill, complete with possible
Counting Large Animals readings.

Remember, the counter word ‫( ྥع‬ऱऌ) is used to count small animals. Have you Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading
wondered how you would count large animals? You would use the counter word ‫୍ع‬
ষ Go ः•ऎ ऒअ
(धअ) instead! Thankfully, the kanji is read the same way (धअ) regardless of the
number of large animals you are counting! ૅ School ऒअ

Kanji Reading Meaning ଏ Noon ओ

঳୍ ःढधअ (ittou) one (large animal) ৏ After ँध‫ؚ‬अख•ौ ओ

੸୍ पधअ (nitou) two (large animals)

Katakana 2 updated 2021-02-15
ਕ୍ औ॒धअ (santou) three (large animals)

஛୍ े॒धअ (yontou) four (large animals) More Katakana

૜୍ ओधअ (gotou) five (large animals)

Japanese IPA, Notes
౽୍ ौऎधअ (rokutou) six (large animals)
ॻ [do]
೻୍ ऩऩधअ (nanatou) seven (large animals)
ঌ [pe]
ழ୍ मढधअ (hattou) eight (large animals)
ॶ [tsɯ], like the ts in cats
ృ୍ ऌॄअधअ (kyuutou) nine (large animals)
ॼ [na]
ે୍ गॄढधअ (juttou) or गढधअ (jittou) ten (large animals)
ॲ [da]

Hardly Any ঈ [bɯ]

ঝ [ɾɯ]
ऺध॒न is a word that can be used in a negative sentence to mean “hardly any” or
“hardly (at all)” or “almost no…” Below are a few examples of its usage. ঋ [be]

঒ [mɯ]
Japanese English
ॿ [ne]
ऺध॒नਦगैोऩऊढञ‫؛‬ I could hardly believe it.
ॺ [to]
঩মपमऺध॒नલఅऋँॉऽच॒‫؛‬ There is almost no oil in Japan.
খ [ja]

Condition updated 2021-02-15 এ [po]

फ़ [ga]
Appearance

74/96 23/96
Japanese IPA, Notes Example Translation Emotional Depth

क़ [ɯ], like the oo in food ःःऩ‫؛‬ Isn't that nice! medium

ঀ [no] ःःऩँ‫؛‬ Isn't that nice! high

ড [ɰa]
Volitional Form
ॹ [de]
This course introduced the polite phrase ‫ع‬ऽखॆअ relatively early on. This usually
translates to "let's ... " but not always. If the speaker is referring to an action that is
Introduction 2 updated 2021-02-15
intended to be done alone, it translates better as "I will," a kind of definitive affirmation
of one's desire to do something.
Basic Grammar
Example Translation
One thing that makes Japanese very different from English is the Japanese tendency to
drop the subject of the sentence when the meaning is clear from context. Statements எम਒ষपষऌऽखॆअ‫؛‬ I will go to the bank.
usually refer to oneself, while questions usually address the person you're speaking
with.
This lesson introduces the casual form of ‫ع‬ऽखॆअ, which is some iteration of ‫ع‬उअ
The Question Marker or ‫ेع‬अ depending on the ending of the verb in question.

Adding question marker ऊ at the end will make the affirmative (positive) sentence into Example Translation
question. If the sentences end in ‫ع‬दघ, it’s easy to formulate questions by using ‫ع‬द
எम਒ষपষऒअ‫؛‬ I will go to the bank.
घऊ‫؛‬
আ२॑୫सेअ‫؛‬ Let's eat pizza.
Positive Question ਗदँजऻअ‫؛‬ Let's play outside.
॔ওজढ़যदघ‫(؛‬I’m American.) ॔ওজढ़যदघऊ‫(؛‬Are you American?)

ऋऎचःदघ‫(؛‬I’m a student.) ऋऎचःदघऊ‫(؛‬Are you a student?) Thoughts

Talking and Thinking About Something

Pronouns

Pronouns are relatively rare in Japanese, but they are sometimes used to explicitly N+पणःथ is a phrase used in Japanese to discuss a topic being talked or thought
specify the subject or topic of a sentence. Below are some of the most common ones. about. It can be translated as “regarding....” or “about...”

Person Singular Plural Japanese English

எञठ‫؞‬ॎञखञठ is ऒभਖ਻पणःथਵखऽखञ‫؛‬ I talked about this problem.

எ‫؞‬ॎञख is used in polite settings by women most common. ೑‫؞ر‬ ऒोपणःथઅइॊ૑ਏऋँॊ‫؛‬ I need to think about this.
First and men, used by women in most other settings. ॎोॎो sounds
໊‫ऻ؞‬ऎ is used by men in informal settings. rather stiff and
business-like. As Expected

ँऩञ is used in polite settings, however, if you ँऩञञठ is used in

‫ৢع‬ॉ (धउॉ) is a phrase used in Japanese to express that something is “as
know someone's name, it's best to call them by formal settings, and ೒ expected.” It can be used following a verb (usually in the short form past tense) or a
their name, typically followed by औ॒ or च॒च ञठ‫؞‬ऌाञठ is
Second noun. Directly following a noun, the pronunciation sometimes changes to नउॉ, such
ः‫؛‬೒‫؞‬ऌा is used by men in informal settings, used in informal as in the phrase ৺൶ৢॉ (ृऎजऎनउॉ), which means “as promised.”
specifically to those on or beneath one's social settings, especially to
level. subordinates.
Japanese English

24/96 73/96
 Kanji Reading Meaning Person Singular Plural

ਯফ घअब॒ a few years, several years ೀै‫؞‬ऊोै is also

Third -
ೀ‫؞‬ऊो used for a mixed-
ਯ৚ घअऊः a few times, several times Male
gendered group

Third - ೀ੓ञठ‫؞‬ऊभगॆञ
In order to… ೀ੓‫؞‬ऊभगॆ
Female ठ

The phrase भप has many different uses in Japanese. One of the meanings is “in order
to (perform an action).” In this construction “AभपB” would be “I did B in order to A,” in Kanji from this Skill
which भप follows a verb in the short form. Some examples are listed below.
Below is a table of the eight kanji that are introduced in this lesson, complete with
possible readings.
Japanese English
Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading
೯मৗୂ॑ഭिभपཽྰ॑ෳऐऽ My father put on his glasses in order to read
खञ‫؛‬ the newspaper. ৾ Education ऽऩ•व ऋऎ

ऒभਣषਟॊभपఄষਃ॑੸৚ଭ ে Born, Raw ऩऽ‫ؚ‬ः•ऌॊ चः

I transferred planes twice to come to this island.
ॉఌइञ‫؛‬
੔ Previous औऌ च॒

ஶ English इः
Nature 2 updated 2021-02-15
ୁ Language ऊञ•ॊ ओ
Onomatopoeia ୦ What ऩप

The Japanese language features many words that are known as onomatopoeia - a ੡ Name ऩ ीः‫ؚ‬ाॆअ
word that is named by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it. One of these
words is ऌैऌै, which means "sparkling." It is meant to mimic the sound one might ৐ Before ऽइ छ॒
imagine a glittering diamond or star might make. ऌैऌै can be used as a -घॊ verb
(ऌैऌैघॊ) or paired with the verb ୾ॊ (ऌैऌै୾ॊ) to further emphasize the Home updated 2019-02-06
sparkle.

In Japanese, onomatopoeia can be commonly written in either hiragana (ऌैऌै) or The Verbs ँॉऽघ and ःऽघ
(य़ছय़ছ), depending on what you prefer stylistically.
ँॉऽघ and ःऽघ are very special verbs in Japanese that refer to something's
existence. They're often translated into English as "there is" or "there are." Even though
Desires updated 2019-05-15
they're often translated identically, they describe different objects:

Sentence-Ending Particles ऩ and ऩँ ँॉऽघ is used for inanimate objects, like books, rooms, televisions, and
apples.
Oftentimes when you want to express your positive emotions in Japanese, you end the ःऽघ is used for animate objects, like people, cats, dogs, and other animals.
sentence with either ऩ or ऩँ‫ؚ‬with the latter expressing an even deeper sense of
longing for something. This particle does not translate directly into English, but it often Japanese Counting Words
acts similarly to the previously-introduced particle ब‫ؚ‬which establishes a "harmony of
understanding" between the speaker and listener. The Japanese language uses special counting words to count things, actions, and
events. You use these words when you want to mention a specific number of a certain
noun. Below is how they are typically formed.
Example Translation Emotional Depth

ःःब‫؛‬ Isn't that nice! neutral Noun Particle Number + Counter Verb

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 Noun Particle Number + Counter Verb Example Translation

೭‫؞‬धॉ ऋ ੸ಭ‫؞‬पॎ ःऽघ எमಟप୨॑େढथुैढञ‫؛‬ I had my mother buy (me) flowers.

ೀ੓मೀ੽प୨॑େढथुैढञ‫؛‬ She had her boyfriend buy (her) flowers.

೭ऋ੸ಭःऽघ means "there are two birds."

In Japanese, you also have the option of placing the number and counter before the ःञटऎ
noun, but this is less common and typically involves an additional particle.
You may recognize the verb ःञटऎ from the phrase ःञटऌऽघ‫ؚ‬which is said
Number + Counter भ Noun Particle Verb before eating. ःञटऎ is a polite form of ुैअ‫ؚ‬usually used when asking for a
੸ಭ‫؞‬पॎ भ ೭‫؞‬धॉ ऋ ःऽघ favor. In addition to ःञटऎ‫ؚ‬one can use the verb ऎोॊ for a more casual tone.

Example Translation
੸ಭभ೭ऋःऽघ also means "there are two birds."
୨॑େढथःञटऐऽच॒ऊ‫ء‬ Would you please buy me flowers?
Below is a table for ಭ‫ؚ‬the counting word introduced in this lesson. ಭ is a counter
used just for birds and rabbits. ୨॑େढथऎोऽच॒ऊ‫ء‬ Would you mind buying me flowers?

Number Form of ಭ
Numbers updated 2020-02-08

‫؞ڭ‬঳‫؞‬ःठ ঳ಭ‫؞‬ःठॎ
Only
‫؞੸؞ڮ‬प ੸ಭ‫؞‬पॎ
There are two ways to express the idea of “only” or “just” in Japanese. One of them is
‫؞گ‬ਕ‫؞‬औ॒ ਕಭ‫؞‬औ॒ॎ
with the word टऐ, which is used with affirmative sentences.
‫؞ڰ‬஛‫॒े؞‬ ஛ಭ‫॒े؞‬ॎ
Japanese English
‫؞ڱ‬૜‫؞‬ओ ૜ಭ‫؞‬ओॎ
௲৞टऐँऑऽघ‫؛‬ I will give you only a hundred yen.
‫؞ڲ‬౽‫؞‬ौऎ ౽ಭ‫؞‬ौऎॎ
ৄथःॊटऐदघ‫؛‬ I am just looking.
‫؞ڳ‬೻‫؞‬ऩऩ ೻ಭ‫؞‬खठॎ

‫؞ڴ‬ழ‫؞‬मठ ழಭ‫؞‬मठॎ Another way you can express this idea is with the word खऊ, which has the same
‫؞ڵ‬ృ‫؞‬ऌॄअ ృಭ‫؞‬ऌॄअॎ meaning but is used with negative sentences in Japanese, although the meaning of the
sentence is not translated in the negative.
‫؞ે؞ڬڭ‬गॄअ ેಭ‫؞‬गॄअॎ
Japanese English
Kanji from this Skill ऒभ৖ોपमিরऔ॒खऊःऽच॒‫؛‬ Only Mrs. Tanaka is in this room.

Below you will find the kanji for all of the vocabulary words in this skill. ঩মୁभോછ॑঳ၻखऊ੅ढथःऩः‫؛‬ I have only one Japanese dictionary.

Kanji Hiragana Meaning Components Several

઎ਚ टःनऒौ kitchen pedestal + place
ਯ‫( ع‬घअ‫ )ع‬is a prefix that can be added to some words to mean “several….” or “a
৖ો षृ room division + dwelling few…” Some examples are below.
௯໶ ऴौ bath wind + spine
Kanji Reading Meaning
൦ पॎ yard, garden
ਯয घअप॒ a few people, several people

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 Regular Examples घॊऒधऋदऌॊ Examples Kanji Hiragana Meaning Components

໥ਘघॊ‫؞‬study ໥ਘघॊऒधऋदऌॊ‫؞‬can study ੇ ःइ house

ઈ৿घॊ‫؞‬exercise ઈ৿घॊओधऋदऌॊ‫؞‬can exercise ษ ऽन window

ქ बऒ cat

Favors updated 2021-02-15 ໳ ःफ dog

೭ धॉ bird
Expressing favors in Japanese makes frequent use of the थ-form in coordination with a
set of special verbs for giving and receiving. ᇼ৕ ःघ chair chair + small thing

ၱ णऎइ desk
ँऑॊ

We use ँऑॊ when we ourselves do a favor for someone else. We also use it when Food 1 updated 2021-02-15
the interaction involves only other people.

Object Particle
Example Translation

எमँऩञप୨॑େढथँऑञ‫؛‬ I bought flowers for you. The marker ॑ is attached to things or people, and means that they are the target of the
verb. Subjects are often omitted in Japanese sentences. Unlike English, the location of
মিमিরप୨॑େढथँऑञ‫؛‬ Honda bought flowers for Tanaka. the verbs are usually at the end of the sentence. ॑ was once pronounced wo, but now
it’s the [o] sound.
ृॊ
Object ॑ Verb English
We use ृॊ when we ourselves do a favor for someone of a lower social status, such
ाङ ॑ भाऽघ‫؛‬ I drink water.
as a child or a pet. This also applies when the interaction involves only other people.
औऊऩ ॑ ञसऽघ‫؛‬ I eat fish.
Example Translation

எमཀप୨॑େढथृढञ‫؛‬ I bought flowers for my daughter. General Pronouns

মিमཀप୨॑େढथृढञ‫؛‬ Honda bought flowers for his daughter. This lesson also introduces the general pronouns ऒो‫ؚ‬जो‫ँؚ‬ो‫ؚ‬and नो‫ؚ‬which
translate to "this," "that," "that (over there)," and "which (one)," respectively.
ऎोॊ
ऒ ज ँ न
We use ऎोॊ when someone else does a favor for us.
Japanese ऒो जो ँो नो
English this that that (over there) which
Example Translation
closer to the closer to the far from both the speaker
ೀमஎप୨॑େढथऎोञ‫؛‬ He bought flowers for me. Notes question
speaker listener and listener

ुैअ Kanji from this Skill

Below is a table of the two kanji that are introduced in this skill, complete with possible
We use ुैअ when the topic of the sentence is the one to receive the favor, as "ुै
readings.
अ" literally means "receive." This is often translated as "had (someone) do
(something)."
Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading

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 Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading The first and more casual way is the potential form of the verb, which changes the
usual verb ending into a form that rhymes with ‫ع‬इॊ or ‫ع‬इऽघ‫؛‬Notice how the
਷ Water ाङ घः potential form ending changes in accordance with the original ending.
୫ Eat ञ•सॊ खॆऎ
Regular Forms Potential "Can-Do" Forms

ৄॊ‫ৄ؞‬ऽघ ৄइॊ‫ৄ؞‬इऽघ
Time updated 2021-02-15
ষऎ‫؞‬ষऌऽघ ষऐॊ‫؞‬ষऐऽघ
Kanji from this Skill ੿ॊ‫੿؞‬ॉऽघ ੿ोॊ‫੿؞‬ोऽघ

Below is a table of the six kanji that are introduced in this skill, complete with possible ఄव‫؞‬ఄलऽघ ఄसॊ‫؞‬ఄसऽघ
readings.

When using this form, you may notice that the particle ऋ plays a major role in
Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading
describing what would normally be the object of a sentence marked with ॑‫؛‬This is
঳ One ऱध•ण ःठ because the potential form often translates better to "is able to be" than "can."

੸ Two ऴञ•ण प
Regular Examples Potential "Can-Do" Examples
ਕ Three ाढ•ण औ॒
ম॑ৄॊ‫؞‬look at a book মऋৄइॊ‫؞‬see a book
ৎ Time धऌ ग
ఠ௫॑ୂऎ‫؞‬listen to music ఠ௫ऋୂऒइॊ‫؞‬hear music
০ Now ःऽ ऒ॒

ী Minute, Part ॎ•ऊॊ ऴ॒‫ؚ‬व॒ Using दऌॊ

The second and more formal to express ability is with the verb दऌॊ‫ؚ‬sometimes
Routines updated 2021-02-15
spelled লਟॊ‫؛‬Ordinarily, the short form of a verb attaches to the word ऒधऋदऌॊ
to signify someone's ability to do something.
Directional Particle
Regular Examples ऒधऋदऌॊ Examples
The particle ष indicates a direction towards which something or someone moves. This
movement is the direction away from the current location. When used as a particle, ष ဈॊ‫؞‬dance ဈॊऒधऋदऌॊ‫؞‬can dance
is pronounced as [e].
ജऑॊ‫؞‬escape ജऑॊऒधऋदऌॊ‫؞‬can escape

Location and Time Particle

घॊ Verbs
The particle प with a time expression indicates a specific point in time. प can also
express times on a clock, days of the week, or years. For verbs that end in ‫ع‬घॊ or ‫ع‬खऽघ‫ؚ‬one has no choice but to express ability with
दऌॊ‫؛‬The more casual way to do this is with दऌॊ by itself.
Direction English Location or Time English

ভ঺‫؞‬ऊःखूष to the office ‫گ‬ৎ‫؞‬गप at 3 o’clock Regular Examples ‫ع‬दऌॊ Examples

৾ૅ‫؞‬ऋढऒअष to school া໫঩‫؞‬ऑणेअलप on Monday ໥ਘघॊ‫؞‬study ໥ਘदऌॊ‫؞‬can study

঩ম‫؞‬पऺ॒ष to Japan ‫ڱ‬া‫؞‬ऋणप in May ઈ৿घॊ‫؞‬exercise ઈ৿दऌॊ‫؞‬can exercise
॔ওজढ़ष to America ‫ڲڭڬڮ‬ফ‫؞‬ब॒प in 2016
To make the form more formal, you can add घॊऒधऋदऌॊ to the end of the verb
instead.
Kanji from this Skill
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The ৛ু଍ (ृऽभथच॒) or "Yamanote Line" is a train line in Tokyo that goes in a Below is a table of the four kanji that are introduced in this skill, complete with possible
circle, and it makes stops in all the areas listed above. It might be better to avoid riding readings.
the train at rush hour, though - otherwise you might run into lots of १ছজ‫ش‬ঐথ (office
workers) going to and from work, and the train might be too packed for you to get on! Kanji Meaning Kunyomi Reading Onyomi Reading

ষ Go ः•ऎ ऒअ
Emergency updated 2020-01-03
ૅ School ऒअ
Transitive and Intransitive Verb Pairs ଏ Noon ओ

Remember, transitive verbs are verbs that take a direct object, while intransitive ৏ After ँध‫ؚ‬अख•ौ ओ
verbs are verbs that do not take a direct object. Transitive and intransitive verbs often
occur in pairs, and their meaning and usage differs.
Family updated 2018-10-25
Japanese English

କऒॊ (उऒौ) take place, occur (intransitive) Familial Terms

କऒघ (उऒघ) cause (transitive) Japanese uses a number of terms for family members. Some use the honorific form,
which is typically reserved for someone else's family members, while others use a
shorter, more casual form, reserved for your own family members.
Remember that the particle ॑ is used to mark the direct object of a sentence, so you
would always use it with a transitive verb. Still, these rules are not hard and fast. You will still hear children use the honorific form
to address their own mother or father.
Japanese English
Family Member Honorific Form Personal Form
হ௛मକऒढञ‫؛‬ An accident occurred.
Older Brother उ฼औ॒ (उपःऔ॒) ฼ (ँप)
হ௛॑କऒखञ‫؛‬ I caused an accident.
Older Sister उྲྀऔ॒ (उबइऔ॒) ྲྀ (ँब)

Younger Brother ๧औ॒ (उधअधऔ॒) ๧ (उधअध)

Olympic Games updated 2021-02-15
Younger Sister ཊऔ॒ (ःुअधऔ॒) ཊ (ःुअध)
The Olympics!
Child उ৕औ॒ (उऒऔ॒) ৕୹ (ऒनु)
Are you looking forward to the Olympics? If you are, you can tell people that you are Parents ओ૏஡ (ओॉॆअख॒) ૏஡ (ॉॆअख॒)
looking forward to something by using the phrase ௫खापखथःॊ - or ௫खापखथ
ःऽघ if you want to be more polite. What Olympic sport are you looking forward to the Father उ೯औ॒ (उधअऔ॒) ೯ (ठठ)
most? Who do you hope will win the সওॲঝ (gold medal)? Mother उಟऔ॒ (उऊँऔ॒) ಟ (मम)

Grandfather उຳ೯औ॒ (उगःऔ॒) ຳ೯ (जऴ)

Japanese English

எमड़জথআॵॡ॑௫खापखथःॊ! I am looking forward to the Olympics! Grandmother उຳಟऔ॒ (उयँऔ॒) ຳಟ (जऻ)

Uncle Older than Parent ྨ೯औ॒ (उगऔ॒) ྨ೯ (उग)

Ability 1 updated 2020-12-16 Aunt Older than Parent ྨಟऔ॒ (उयऔ॒) ྨಟ (उय)

Uncle Younger than Parent ྈ೯औ॒ (उगऔ॒) ྈ೯ (उग)

There are several ways of expressing one's ability to do something in Japanese.
Aunt Younger than Parent ྈಟऔ॒ (उयऔ॒) ྈಟ (उय)
Potential Form
Husband ओ਌য (ओखॄग॒) ୏ (उढध)

Wife ൔऔ॒ (उऎऔ॒) ൲ (णऽ)

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 Japanese English
Arriving and Departing Phrases
୴છ॑ଛॉञःभदघऋ‫؛‬ I would like to send a postcard.
This skill also teaches a special set of Japanese phrases when someone enters or exits ॱॡ३‫॑ش‬ళ॒दඟखःदघ‫؛‬ I want you to call a taxi.
a home. These are in widespread use throughout Japan.
ॱॡ३‫॑ش‬ళ॒दඟखः॒दघऋ‫؛‬ I would like you to call a taxi.
One makes the statement when one either departs from or arrives in a home, and one
makes the response upon hearing the corresponding statement.

The City updated 2021-02-15

Statement Response

When Departing ःढथऌऽघ ःढथैढखूः Maid Cafes?

Translation "I'm leaving!" "Take care!"
There are many things you can find in Japan that aren't common in other countries.
When Returning ञटःऽ उऊइॉऩऔः Want to dress up as your favorite anime character and get your photo taken on the
street? Visit a cafe where the waitresses all dress like maids? You can find all that and
Translation "I'm home!" "Welcome back!" more in Japan!

Japanese English Notes

Restaurant updated 2019-02-06
ও‫ॻش‬ढ़ Maid
In maid cafes, the servers dress up like maids!
Determiners ইख़ Cafe

The word "otaku" is usually used in English to refer to

Just like in English, determiners in Japanese come before a noun and signify both its someone who is obsessed with anime and manga, but the
location and relationship with the speaker. Japanese also has two words for "that" word is used for many other things in Japan. For instance, did
depending on whether or not the listener is close to the noun or not. ड़ॱॡ Otaku
you know that a ਗ਼੤ड़ॱॡ is someone who is obsessed with
ऒभম (ऺ॒) मৈः (ञऊः) दघ means "this book is expensive" when the book trains?
in question is close to you but farther from the person you're speaking to. "Cosplay" refers to dressing up as characters, usually from
॥५উঞ Cosplay
anime, manga, or video games. It is short for "costume play."
जभম (ऺ॒) मৈः (ञऊः) दघ means "that book is expensive" when the
book in question is far from you but near the person you're speaking to.
Ride the Yamanote Line!
ँभম (ऺ॒) मৈः (ञऊः) दघ means "that book is expensive" when the
book in question is far away from both you and the person you're speaking to. There are a lot of interesting and trendy areas in Tokyo, so it can be helpful to know
their names if you ever choose to visit.
नभম (ऺ॒) मৈः (ञऊः) दघऊ‫ ء‬means "which book is expensive?" no
matter where the book in question happens to be. Japanese Reading

ਉ೛ मैगॄऎ
Place Marker
෡દ खवृ
The particle द usually shows the location of action or event, such as "at" "in" or "on" in
English. द also indicates "with" "by" or "using" to show a language or tools being used. ௘୴ਉ ँऌमयै

౱ฦ ःऐवऎौ
Adjectives
ৗ೛ ख॒गॄऎ
This lesson also introduces Japanese adjectives, which are divided into ः-adjectives
and ऩ-adjectives. Harajuku and Shibuya are both known for their fashion - Harajuku for street fashion and
Shibuya for having many large department stores for shopping! Harajuku is a great
ः-Adjectives place to go if you like to cosplay. Akihabara and Ikebukuro are interesting places for an
otaku - you can buy video games, anime and manga, computer parts, and all kinds of
other things! And Shinjuku is well-known for its exciting nightlife.

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 Example Translation ः-adjectives are true adjectives that have been in the Japanese language since the
very beginning. All of them end in ः‫ؚ‬although not all adjectives that end in ः are in
ऒभఇ॑ධीय‫ेؚ‬ऎऩॉऽघे‫؛‬ If you take this medicine, you will get better.
fact ः-adjectives. See how they operate using the example ः-adjective उःखः‫ؚ‬
meaning "delicious."
ञै‫؞‬टै - Consequence Focus
Sentence Translation
The use of ञै or टै to end a past-tense verb presents the fewest restrictions and
ऒोमउःखःदघ‫؛‬ This is delicious.
greatest freedom for expressing a conditional sentence in Japanese. It is often used for
hypotheticals and speculations that have yet to be proven, much like the construction "if
... would ..." in English. It places a special focus on what comes after it. This is the Note that all ः-adjectives can drop the दघ ending in casual speech. This is
only construction that is grammatical for a past event, or when the subject is the grammatical as well.
same in both parts of the sentence and the sentence expresses a desire or prohibition.
Please refer to the example sentences below.
Sentence Translation
Example Translation ऒोमउःखः‫؛‬ This is delicious.
୫सघऍञै‫ؚ‬ਞ੅ठபऎऩॉऽखञ‫؛‬ I got sick when I ate too much.
When placed before a noun, there's no change to the spelling of an ः-adjective.
Example Translation

उඣ॑ධ॒टै‫ؚ‬ঽૡ੤पଭढथमःऐ Sentence Translation

You must not ride your bike if you drink
ऽच॒‫؛‬ alcohol. उःखःघखदघ‫؛‬ It is delicious sushi.

When in doubt about which form of "if" to use, ञै or टै is usually a safe bet. We will be introducing the other major category of Japanese adjectives later in the
course.
ुख - Conditional Warning
Large Numbers
The word ुख cannot express "if" by itself. Rather, it is a supplemental word generally
used at the beginning of a sentence to express that a conditional is coming. It Japanese has certain conventions for writing large numbers. Below are the kanji and
generates a backdrop of uncertainty about the information ahead. readings for a few of them that will be introduced in this lesson.

Example Translation Japanese English

ुखৎ৑ऋऩःऩै‫ؚ‬৥঩द ௲ (ऱूऎ) one hundred

Supposing you do not have time, tomorrow would
ुःः‫؛‬ also be alright. ૸ (च॒) one thousand

ਐ (ऽ॒) ten thousand

Post Office updated 2021-02-15

௲ and ૸ can be used in isolation to mean 100 and 1,000.

I would like...
Example Translation
NOUN+ऋඟखः and VERB STEM+‫ع‬ञः are two ways to express that you want
something. However, Japanese speakers often desire to be less direct, which is ௲৞ (ऱूऎइ॒) 100 yen
considered more polite. You can do that by adding ‫ع‬भदघऋ or ‫॒ع‬दघऋ to the end
૸৞ (च॒इ॒) 1,000 yen
of a request to make it less blunt. In English, you can translate sentences containing
this ending as "I would like..."
It would sound unnatural in Japanese to write ঳௲ or ঳૸ when you have 100 or 1,000
Japanese English of something. However, ਐ functions with the opposite convention; when you have
୴છ॑ଛॉञःदघ‫؛‬ I want to send a postcard. 10,000 of something, it is customary to put ঳ in front of it.

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 Example Translation English Kanji Plain Form थ-Form Plain Past
঳ਐ৞ (ःठऽ॒इ॒) 10,000 yen read ഭि ेि े॒द े॒ट

Home 1 updated 2021-02-15 Just like when we create the थ-form, verbs that end in ऎor ए in the plain form have
irregular endings.

The Verbs ँॉऽघ and ःऽघ

English Kanji Plain Form थ-Form Plain Past
ँॉऽघ and ःऽघ are very special verbs in Japanese that refer to something's write છऎ ऊऎ ऊःथ ऊःञ
existence. They're often translated into English as "there is" or "there are." Even though
they're often translated identically, they describe different objects: swim ็ए उेए उेःद उेःट

ँॉऽघ is used for inanimate objects, like books, rooms, televisions, and
apples. Possibilities updated 2019-06-06
ःऽघ is used for animate objects, like people, cats, dogs, and other animals.
In Japanese, there are four different expressions that translate to the English word
Japanese Counting Words "if."

The Japanese language uses special counting words to count things, actions, and ध - Natural Consequence
events. You use these words when you want to mention a specific number of a certain
noun. Below is how they are typically formed.
We use the word ध when something is a natural, inevitable, and predictable
consequence of something else. This cannot be a personal intention. It is often used
Noun Particle Number + Counter Verb
when describing facts and operations, instructions, and habitual actions.
೭‫؞‬धॉ ऋ ੸ಭ‫؞‬पॎ ःऽघ
Example Translation
೭ऋ੸ಭःऽघ means "there are two birds." ॱॖখमଽःध‫ؚ‬஠ऩःदघ‫؛‬ If tires are old, they are dangerous.

In Japanese, you also have the option of placing the number and counter before the
noun, but this is less common and typically involves an additional particle. ऩै - Future Speculation

Number + Counter भ Noun Particle Verb We use ऩै when expressing that something will take effect in a certain context. This
is often a personal intention about the future based on a given assumption about what
੸ಭ‫؞‬पॎ भ ೭‫؞‬धॉ ऋ ःऽघ will happen.

੸ಭभ೭ऋःऽघ also means "there are two birds." Example Translation

ा॒ऩऋষऎऩै‫ؚ‬எुষऎ‫؛‬ If everyone is going, I will go as well.

Below is a table for ಭ‫ؚ‬the counting word introduced in this lesson. ಭ is a counter
used just for birds and rabbits.
य - Conditional Focus
Number Form of ಭ
We can use the य form of a verb to express a conditional sentence in almost any
‫؞ڭ‬঳‫؞‬ःठ ঳ಭ‫؞‬ःठॎ
context. However, it is ungrammatical to use this construction when the subject is the
‫؞੸؞ڮ‬प ੸ಭ‫؞‬पॎ same in both parts of the sentence and the sentence expresses a desire or prohibition.
It places a special focus on what comes before it, and the outcome is usually good.
‫؞گ‬ਕ‫؞‬औ॒ ਕಭ‫؞‬औ॒ॎ The य form sounds rather formal, so it's often used for writing and polite speech.

‫؞ڰ‬஛‫॒े؞‬ ஛ಭ‫॒े؞‬ॎ
Example Translation

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(धअ) instead! Thankfully, the kanji is read the same way (धअ) regardless of the Number Form of ಭ
number of large animals you are counting!
‫؞ڱ‬૜‫؞‬ओ ૜ಭ‫؞‬ओॎ
Kanji Reading Meaning
‫؞ڲ‬౽‫؞‬ौऎ ౽ಭ‫؞‬ौऎॎ
঳୍ ःढधअ (ittou) one (large animal)
‫؞ڳ‬೻‫؞‬ऩऩ ೻ಭ‫؞‬खठॎ or ऩऩॎ
੸୍ पधअ (nitou) two (large animals)
‫؞ڴ‬ழ‫؞‬मठ ழಭ‫؞‬मठॎ
ਕ୍ औ॒धअ (santou) three (large animals)
‫؞ڵ‬ృ‫؞‬ऌॄअ ృಭ‫؞‬ऌॄअॎ
஛୍ े॒धअ (yontou) four (large animals)
‫؞ે؞ڬڭ‬गॄअ ેಭ‫؞‬गॄअॎ
૜୍ ओधअ (gotou) five (large animals)

౽୍ ौऎधअ (rokutou) six (large animals) Kanji from this Skill

೻୍ ऩऩधअ (nanatou) seven (large animals) Below you will find the kanji for all of the vocabulary words in this skill.

ழ୍ मढधअ (hattou) eight (large animals)

Kanji Hiragana Meaning Components
ృ୍ ऌॄअधअ (kyuutou) nine (large animals)
઎ਚ टःनऒौ kitchen pedestal + place
ે୍ गॄढधअ (juttou) or गढधअ (jittou) ten (large animals)
৖ો षृ room division + dwelling

௯໶ ऴौ bath wind + spine

Hardly Any
൦ पॎ yard, garden
ऺध॒न is a word that can be used in a negative sentence to mean “hardly any” or
“hardly (at all)” or “almost no…” Below are a few examples of its usage. ੇ ःइ house

ษ ऽन window
Japanese English
ქ बऒ cat
ऺध॒नਦगैोऩऊढञ‫؛‬ I could hardly believe it.
໳ ःफ dog
঩মपमऺध॒नલఅऋँॉऽच॒‫؛‬ There is almost no oil in Japan.
೭ धॉ bird

Memories 1 ᇼ৕ ःघ chair chair + small thing

ၱ णऎइ desk
The Plain Past Form

We use the "plain past" form or "short past" form first and foremost to express the past Introduction 3 updated 2021-02-15
tense in a casual conversation, such as between friends. We also use it to express the
past tense in certain other situations.
Sentence-Ending Particles
This form is constructed by taking the थ-form of a verb and replacing with ञ (if it ends
in थ) or ट (if it ends in द). This lesson introduces two of the most common sentence-ending particles, ब and े‫؛‬
Used exclusively in conversation, they communicate intention rather than concrete
meaning, and as such, they are difficult to translate directly.
English Kanji Plain Form थ-Form Plain Past
ब is used to seek passive agreement from the person being spoken to, much like "...
eat ୫सॊ ञसॊ ञसथ ञसञ right?" or "... correct?" in English.
buy େअ ऊअ ऊढथ ऊढञ
ःःଠਞ (थ॒ऌ) दघब means "nice weather, isn't it?" and is a common
expression on mild, sunny days.
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े is used to express certainty in a matter of uncertainty, as if to emphasize the truth of ru-verbs: ाॊ (ru) → ाऩः (nai)
the words that come before it. This sense of emphasis mirrors the use of the word
"does" in the English sentence "She (actually) does enjoy tennis."
Type Verb Plain Negative Negative Request
उ੪ਞ (ऑ॒ऌ) दघऊ‫ء‬means "are you doing well?" and a valid response would Godan line up ऩैव ऩैयऩः ऩैयऩःदऎटऔः‫؛‬
be as follows.
Godan go ःऎ ःऊऩः ःऊऩःदऎटऔः‫؛‬
੪ਞ (ऑ॒ऌ) दघे means "I am doing well (you know)" and communicates that
perhaps the answerer's health was actually poor recently and they intend to Ichidan look ाॊ ाऩः ाऩःदऎटऔः‫؛‬
underline their present healthiness.
Ichidan quit ृीॊ ृीऩः ृीऩःदऎटऔः‫؛‬

Counting updated 2021-02-15 Irregular come ऎॊ ऒऩः ऒऩःदऎटऔः

Irregular do घॊ खऩः खऩःदऎटऔः‫؛‬

Japanese Counting Words

The Japanese language uses special counting words to count things, actions, and Health 1 updated 2021-02-15
events. Below is a table for ण and ଻‫ؚ‬the counting words introduced in this lesson. ण
is a counter that can be used for anything, while ଻ is restricted to physical objects that
The Plain Past Form
are relatively small and round.
We use the "plain past" form or "short past" form first and foremost to express the past
Number Form of ण Form of ଻ tense in a casual conversation, such as between friends. We also use it to express the
past tense in certain other situations.
‫؞ڭ‬঳‫؞‬ःठ ঳ण‫؞‬ऱधण ঳଻‫؞‬ःढऒ
This form is constructed by taking the थ-form of a verb and replacing with ञ (if it ends
‫؞੸؞ڮ‬प ੸ण‫؞‬ऴञण ੸଻‫؞‬पऒ in थ) or ट (if it ends in द).
‫؞گ‬ਕ‫؞‬औ॒ ਕण‫؞‬ाढण ਕ଻‫؞‬औ॒ऒ
English Kanji Plain Form थ-Form Plain Past
‫؞ڰ‬஛‫॒े؞‬ ஛ण‫े؞‬ढण ஛଻‫॒े؞‬ऒ
eat ୫सॊ ञसॊ ञसथ ञसञ
‫؞ڱ‬૜‫؞‬ओ ૜ण‫؞‬ःणण ૜଻‫؞‬ओऒ
buy େअ ऊअ ऊढथ ऊढञ
‫؞ڲ‬౽‫؞‬ौऎ ౽ण‫؞‬िढण ౽଻‫؞‬ौढऒ
read ഭि ेि े॒द े॒ट
‫؞ڳ‬೻‫؞‬ऩऩ ೻ण‫؞‬ऩऩण ೻଻‫؞‬ऩऩऒ

‫؞ڴ‬ழ‫؞‬मठ ழण‫ृ؞‬ढण ழ଻‫؞‬मढऒ Just like when we create the थ-form, verbs that end in ऎor ए in the plain form have
‫؞ڵ‬ృ‫؞‬ऌॄअ ృण‫؞‬ऒऒभण ృ଻‫؞‬ऌॄअऒ irregular endings.

‫؞ે؞ڬڭ‬गॄअ ે‫؞‬धउ ે଻‫؞‬गॄढऒ English Kanji Plain Form थ-Form Plain Past

write છऎ ऊऎ ऊःथ ऊःञ

Transportation updated 2018-10-25
swim ็ए उेए उेःद उेःट

Negative ः-Adjectives
Ecology updated 2020-01-03
When ः-adjectives are switched from positive to negative, they undergo a spelling
change. The characteristic ः-ending switches to a ऎ‫ؚ‬and the phrase meaning "not" Counting Large Animals
is added to the end. The final result is an ending such as ऎऩःदघ‫؛‬See the example
below. Remember, the counter word ‫( ྥع‬ऱऌ) is used to count small animals. Have you
wondered how you would count large animals? You would use the counter word ‫୍ع‬

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English Kanji Plain Form थ-Form Sentence Translation

fly ఄव धव ध॒द ऒोमउःखःदघ‫؛‬ This is delicious.

buy େअ ऊअ ऊढथ ऒोमउःखऎऩःदघ‫؛‬ This is not delicious.

use ઞअ णऊअ णऊढथ

Just like with positive ः-adjectives, all negative ः-adjectives can drop the दघ ending
in casual speech.
Nominalizing Verbs with the Plain Form + भ
Sentence Translation
You can use the construction ‫ع‬भऋघऌदघ to talk about things you like doing. In the
ऒोमउःखऎऩः‫؛‬ This is not delicious.
example below, उेए (swim) is the plain form of verb उेऍऽघ‫؛‬When you add भ
to the plain form, the translation becomes either “to swim” or “swimming”. The sentence
ends with ‫ع‬ऋघऌदघ‫ؚ‬which means "I like." To make the speech more formal, one can change the ending from ऎऩःदघ to ऎँ
ॉऽच॒‫؛‬
Therefore, उेएभऋ஀ऌदघ means "I like swimming" or "I like to swim."
Sentence Translation
Remember that you can add additional information to any sentence to provide more
context. ऒोमउःखऎँॉऽच॒‫؛‬ This is not delicious.

For example, अादउेएभऋ஀ऌदघ means "I like swimming in the ocean."

Family 1 updated 2021-02-15
Below is a table of sample sentences that model this construction.

Familial Terms
Object Verb भ ऋ Adverb दघ
Japanese uses a number of terms for family members. Some use the honorific form,
मखॊ भ ऋ मृः दघ
which is typically reserved for someone else's family members, while others use a
उेए भ ऋ ঱ু दघ shorter, more casual form, reserved for your own family members.

ॸॽ५॑ घॊ भ ऋ ৣু दघ Still, these rules are not hard and fast. You will still hear children use the honorific form
to address their own mother or father.
॔ॽও॑ ৄॊ भ ऋ ஀ऌ दघ
Family Member Honorific Form Personal Form
मखॊभऋमृःदघ means "My running is fast" or "I run fast." Older Brother उ฼औ॒ (उपःऔ॒) ฼ (ँप)
उेएभऋ঱ুदघ means "Your swimming is skilled" or "you are good at
swimming." Older Sister उྲྀऔ॒ (उबइऔ॒) ྲྀ (ँब)
ॸॽ५॑घॊभऋৣুदघ means "My tennis playing is poor" or "I am bad at Younger Brother ๧औ॒ (उधअधऔ॒) ๧ (उधअध)
playing tennis."
॔ॽও॑ৄॊभऋ஀ऌदघ means "I like watching anime" or "I like to watch Younger Sister ཊऔ॒ (ःुअधऔ॒) ཊ (ःुअध)
anime."
Child उ৕औ॒ (उऒऔ॒) ৕୹ (ऒनु)

Classroom 3 updated 2021-02-15 Parents ओ૏஡ (ओॉॆअख॒) ૏஡ (ॉॆअख॒)

Father उ೯औ॒ (उधअऔ॒) ೯ (ठठ)

थ form: Negative Request
Mother उಟऔ॒ (उऊँऔ॒) ಟ (मम)
‫ع‬ऩःदऎटऔः is a negative request with the थ-form (थ becomes द). The first two
Grandfather उຳ೯औ॒ (उगःऔ॒) ຳ೯ (जऴ)
types are called Godan (u-verbs), which you change the /u/ sound ending into /a/ sound
+ nai to make the negative form. Grandmother उຳಟऔ॒ (उयँऔ॒) ຳಟ (जऻ)
u-verbs: ऩैव (-u) → ऩैयऩः (-anai)
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 Family Member Honorific Form Personal Form The second and more formal to express ability is with the verb दऌॊ‫ؚ‬sometimes
spelled লਟॊ‫؛‬Ordinarily, the short form of a verb attaches to the word ऒधऋदऌॊ
Uncle Older than Parent ྨ೯औ॒ (उगऔ॒) ྨ೯ (उग)
to signify someone's ability to do something.
Aunt Older than Parent ྨಟऔ॒ (उयऔ॒) ྨಟ (उय)
Regular Examples ऒधऋदऌॊ Examples
Uncle Younger than Parent ྈ೯औ॒ (उगऔ॒) ྈ೯ (उग)
ဈॊ‫؞‬dance ဈॊऒधऋदऌॊ‫؞‬can dance
Aunt Younger than Parent ྈಟऔ॒ (उयऔ॒) ྈಟ (उय)
ജऑॊ‫؞‬escape ജऑॊऒधऋदऌॊ‫؞‬can escape
Husband ओ਌য (ओखॄग॒) ୏ (उढध)

Wife ൔऔ॒ (उऎऔ॒) ൲ (णऽ)

घॊ Verbs

Restaurant 1 updated 2020-12-16 For verbs that end in ‫ع‬घॊ or ‫ع‬खऽघ‫ؚ‬one has no choice but to express ability with
दऌॊ‫؛‬The more casual way to do this is with दऌॊ by itself.
Determiners
Regular Examples ‫ع‬दऌॊ Examples
Just like in English, determiners in Japanese come before a noun and signify both its
location and relationship with the speaker. Japanese also has two words for "that" ໥ਘघॊ‫؞‬study ໥ਘदऌॊ‫؞‬can study
depending on whether or not the listener is close to the noun or not.
ઈ৿घॊ‫؞‬exercise ઈ৿दऌॊ‫؞‬can exercise
ऒभম (ऺ॒) मৈः (ञऊः) दघ means "this book is expensive" when the book
in question is close to you but farther from the person you're speaking to.
To make the form more formal, you can add घॊऒधऋदऌॊ to the end of the verb
जभম (ऺ॒) मৈः (ञऊः) दघ means "that book is expensive" when the instead.
book in question is far from you but near the person you're speaking to.
Regular Examples घॊऒधऋदऌॊ Examples
ँभম (ऺ॒) मৈः (ञऊः) दघ means "that book is expensive" when the
book in question is far away from both you and the person you're speaking to. ໥ਘघॊ‫؞‬study ໥ਘघॊऒधऋदऌॊ‫؞‬can study

नभম (ऺ॒) मৈः (ञऊः) दघऊ‫ ء‬means "which book is expensive?" no ઈ৿घॊ‫؞‬exercise ઈ৿घॊओधऋदऌॊ‫؞‬can exercise
matter where the book in question happens to be.

Place Marker Hobby 3 updated 2021-02-15

The particle द usually shows the location of action or event, such as "at" "in" or "on" in The Plain Form
English. द also indicates "with" "by" or "using" to show a language or tools being used.
We use the "plain," "short" or "dictionary" form first and foremost to express the present
Adjectives or future tense in a casual conversation, such as between friends. We also use it to
express these tenses in certain other situations before the end of a sentence.
This lesson also introduces Japanese adjectives, which are divided into ः-adjectives Without exception, all plain form verbs end in a [u] sound. In the examples below, see
and ऩ-adjectives. how the plain form endings correlate with the construction of the थ-form.

ः-Adjectives English Kanji Plain Form थ-Form

ः-adjectives are true adjectives that have been in the Japanese language since the eat ୫सॊ ञसॊ ञसथ
very beginning. All of them end in ः‫ؚ‬although not all adjectives that end in ः are in give - ँऑॊ ँऑथ
fact ः-adjectives. See how they operate using the example ः-adjective उःखः‫ؚ‬
meaning "delicious." read ഭि ेि े॒द

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Number Form of ଌ Form of ੌ Form of ା Sentence Translation

‫؞ڭ‬঳‫؞‬ःठ ঳ଌ‫؞‬ःढजऎ ঳ੌ‫؞‬ऱधऎा ঳ା‫؞‬ःढठूऎ ऒोमउःखःदघ‫؛‬ This is delicious.

‫؞੸؞ڮ‬प ੸ଌ‫؞‬पजऎ ੸ੌ‫؞‬ऴञऎा ੸ା‫؞‬पठूऎ

Note that all ः-adjectives can drop the दघ ending in casual speech. This is
‫؞گ‬ਕ‫؞‬औ॒ ਕଌ‫؞‬औ॒झऎ ਕੌ‫؞‬औ॒ऎा ਕା‫؞‬औ॒ठूऎ grammatical as well.

‫؞ڰ‬஛‫॒े؞‬ ஛ଌ‫॒े؞‬जऎ ஛ੌ‫॒े؞‬ऎा ஛ା‫॒े؞‬ठूऎ

Sentence Translation
‫؞ڱ‬૜‫؞‬ओ ૜ଌ‫؞‬ओजऎ ૜ੌ‫؞‬ओऎा ૜ା‫؞‬ओठूऎ ऒोमउःखः‫؛‬ This is delicious.
‫؞ڲ‬౽‫؞‬ौऎ ౽ଌ‫؞‬ौऎजऎ ౽ੌ‫؞‬ौढऎा ౽ା‫؞‬ौढठूऎ
When placed before a noun, there's no change to the spelling of an ः-adjective.
‫؞ڳ‬೻‫؞‬ऩऩ ೻ଌ‫؞‬ऩऩजऎ ೻ੌ‫؞‬ऩऩऎा ೻ା‫؞‬ऩऩठूऎ

‫؞ڴ‬ழ‫؞‬मठ ழଌ‫؞‬मढजऎ ழੌ‫؞‬मढऎा ழା‫؞‬मढठूऎ Sentence Translation

‫؞ڵ‬ృ‫؞‬ऌॄअ ృଌ‫؞‬ऌॄअजऎ ృੌ‫؞‬ऌॄअऎा ృା‫؞‬ऌॄअठूऎ उःखःघखदघ‫؛‬ It is delicious sushi.

‫؞ે؞ڬڭ‬गॄअ ેଌ‫؞‬गॄढजऎ ેੌ‫؞‬गॄढऎा ેା‫؞‬गॄढठूऎ

We will be introducing the other major category of Japanese adjectives later in the
course.
Ability updated 2020-06-12
Large Numbers
There are several ways of expressing one's ability to do something in Japanese. Japanese has certain conventions for writing large numbers. Below are the kanji and
readings for a few of them that will be introduced in this lesson.
Potential Form
Japanese English
The first and more casual way is the potential form of the verb, which changes the
usual verb ending into a form that rhymes with ‫ع‬इॊ or ‫ع‬इऽघ‫؛‬Notice how the ௲ (ऱूऎ) one hundred
potential form ending changes in accordance with the original ending.
૸ (च॒) one thousand

Regular Forms Potential "Can-Do" Forms ਐ (ऽ॒) ten thousand

ৄॊ‫ৄ؞‬ऽघ ৄइॊ‫ৄ؞‬इऽघ
௲ and ૸ can be used in isolation to mean 100 and 1,000.
ষऎ‫؞‬ষऌऽघ ষऐॊ‫؞‬ষऐऽघ

੿ॊ‫੿؞‬ॉऽघ ੿ोॊ‫੿؞‬ोऽघ Example Translation

ఄव‫؞‬ఄलऽघ ఄसॊ‫؞‬ఄसऽघ ௲৞ (ऱूऎइ॒) 100 yen

૸৞ (च॒इ॒) 1,000 yen

When using this form, you may notice that the particle ऋ plays a major role in
describing what would normally be the object of a sentence marked with ॑‫؛‬This is It would sound unnatural in Japanese to write ঳௲ or ঳૸ when you have 100 or 1,000
because the potential form often translates better to "is able to be" than "can."
of something. However, ਐ functions with the opposite convention; when you have
10,000 of something, it is customary to put ঳ in front of it.
Regular Examples Potential "Can-Do" Examples

ম॑ৄॊ‫؞‬look at a book মऋৄइॊ‫؞‬see a book Example Translation

ఠ௫॑ୂऎ‫؞‬listen to music ఠ௫ऋୂऒइॊ‫؞‬hear music ঳ਐ৞ (ःठऽ॒इ॒) 10,000 yen

Using दऌॊ
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 Clothes updated 2018-10-25 Japanese Reading

ਉ೛ मैगॄऎ
Wearing Clothing
෡દ खवृ
Japanese has many translations for the English words "to wear" or "to put on,"
depending on where on the body the clothes are worn. Below are some examples ௘୴ਉ ँऌमयै
taught in this lesson.
౱ฦ ःऐवऎौ

Japanese Notes
Harajuku and Shibuya are both known for their fashion - Harajuku for street fashion and
ାऽघ (ऌऽघ) wear, on the whole body or upper body Shibuya for having many large department stores for shopping! Harajuku is a great
place to go if you like to cosplay. Akihabara and Ikebukuro are interesting places for an
଺ॉऽघ (ऊवॉऽघ) wear, on the head otaku - you can buy video games, anime and manga, computer parts, and all kinds of
other things!
၎ऌऽघ (मऌऽघ) wear, on the lower body
Shopping 2 updated 2021-02-15

Activity 1 updated 2021-02-15

This lesson introduces the very fundamentals of รୁ‫؞‬ऐःओ‫ؚ‬also known as "respect
language," as applied to verbs. Believe it or not, you've already learned some respect
Past Tense
language, such as in the phrases "उ੪ਞदघऊ‫ "ء‬or "उबऋःखऽघ‫ "آ‬Just like
This lesson introduces the past tense of verbs. In Japanese, there are other varieties of those phrases, the extra-polite constructions we introduce in this chapter also begin
tense, but we will cover those in later lessons. Changing a verb from the present/future with उ‫؛‬
tense to the past tense is rather simple.
We learned from earlier lessons that the most common way of asking someone to do
ঃথ॑୫ (ञ) सऽघ means either "I will eat bread" or "I eat bread." something is with the थ-form, often followed by ऎटऔः‫؛‬
ঃথ॑୫ (ञ) सऽखञ means "I ate bread."
Japanese English
Verb Tense Positive Ending
ୄढथऎटऔः‫؛‬ Please wait. (ordinary form)
Present ‫ع‬ऽघ

Future ‫ع‬ऽघ To make the request extremely humble and polite, we take the stem of the verb from its
‫ع‬ऽघ form and add an उ‫ ع‬prefix. It's as simple as that. Although you are unlikely to
Past ‫ع‬ऽखञ use this form on a brief trip to Japan, you are certain to hear it from shopkeepers and
restaurant employees.

Instead of changing the negative ending ‫ع‬ऽच॒ to make a negative past tense verb
Japanese English
("did not eat"), we simply add the word दखञ to the end.
उୄठऎटऔः‫؛‬ Please wait. (ultra-polite form)
ঃথ॑୫ (ञ) सऽच॒ means either "I will not eat bread" or "I do not eat bread."
ঃথ॑୫ (ञ) सऽच॒दखञ means "I did not eat bread."
Clothes 3 updated 2020-12-16

Verb Tense Negative Ending

Counting Words for Clothing
Present ‫ع‬ऽच॒
Below is a table for ଌ‫ ੌؚ‬and ା‫ؚ‬the counting words introduced in this lesson. ଌ is a
Future ‫ع‬ऽच॒
counter that counts pairs of things you put on your feet, while ੌ counts other kinds of
Past ‫ع‬ऽच॒दखञ pairs, such as pairs of gloves. ା is a counter for suits, jackets, and kimono.

The endings above apply to all verbs that end with ‫ع‬ऽघ‫؛‬ Number Form of ଌ Form of ੌ Form of ା

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There are also multiple words meaning "thick," and their usage differs based on the Position updated 2021-02-15
shape of the object being described, too.

Japanese English Expressing Position

୬ः (ऴधः) thick (for long, cylindrical things) As noted in an earlier lesson, Japanese has two special verbs that mean "be" or "exist"
depending on the animateness of the subject. ःऽघ is used for living things, while ँ
ௐः (ँणः) thick (for flat things)
ॉऽघ is used for inanimate objects. We use these verbs to describe someone or
something's position relative to something else.
Is it thick or is it hot?
Topic Location भ Directional Verb
Remember, kanji matters! Although the three words below have the same reading, the
meaning completely changes if you select the wrong kanji! ქ‫؞‬बऒ‫؞‬म ၱ‫؞‬णऎइ भ ঱‫؞‬अइ‫؞‬प ःऽघ

Japanese English
ქमၱभ঱पःऽघ means "the cat is on the desk."
ௐः (ँणः) thick (for flat things)

ဂः (ँणः) hot (weather) Topic Location भ Directional Verb

೸ः (ँणः) hot (object) ম‫؞॒ऺ؞‬म ၱ‫؞‬णऎइ भ ঱‫؞‬अइ‫؞‬प ँॉऽघ

মमၱभ঱पँॉऽघ means "the book is on the desk."

Japanese Subculture updated 2020-01-03
Notice how the verb changes depending on whether or not the topic is animate.
Maid Cafes?
Activity 2 updated 2021-02-15
There are many things you can find in Japan that aren't common in other countries.
Want to dress up as your favorite anime character and get your photo taken on the
street? Visit a cafe where the waitresses all dress like maids? You can find all that and थ-Form
more in Japan!
The थ-form or द-form of a verb is a very important grammatical construct in Japanese
Japanese English Notes that is used in several contexts.
ও‫ॻش‬ढ़ Maid
In maid cafes, the servers dress up like maids! Requests
ইख़ Cafe

The word "otaku" is usually used in English to refer to ‫ع‬थ / ‫ع‬द + ऎटऔः is used for requests. It means "please + [verb]"
someone who is obsessed with anime and manga, but the
ड़ॱॡ Otaku word is used for many other things in Japan. For instance, did े॒दऎटऔः means "please read."
you know that a ਗ਼੤ड़ॱॡ is someone who is obsessed with
trains? You can also attach nouns to these requests to get more specific.

"Cosplay" refers to dressing up as characters, usually from ম॑े॒दऎटऔः means "please read the book."
॥५উঞ Cosplay
anime, manga, or video games. It is short for "costume play."

English Short Form Polite Form Request

Tokyo!
do घॊ खऽघ खथऎटऔः
There are a lot of interesting and trendy areas in Tokyo, so it can be helpful to know
their names if you ever choose to visit. read ेि ेाऽघ े॒दऎटऔः

turn on णऐॊ णऐऽघ णऐथऎटऔः

Japanese Reading
close खीॊ खीऽघ खीथऎटऔः

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 English Short Form Polite Form Request Just like with the other forms of the ः-adjectives, you're allowed to drop the दघ
ending in casual conversation.
open ँऐॊ ँऐऽघ ँऐथऎटऔः
Sentence Translation
Hobby 1 updated 2021-02-15 ऒोमउःखऊढञ‫؛‬ This was delicious.

Counting People
Direction 3 updated 2020-12-16
Counting people in Japanese is relatively easy, but there are a couple irregular forms.
Please reference the following table to learn how to count people. This skill introduces three important suffixes in the Japanese language. The words that
use them are called indefinite, negative, and inclusive word ranges. See how they work
Number Form of য below.

‫؞ڭ‬঳‫؞‬ःठ ঳য‫؞‬ऱधॉ Question Indefinite Negative Inclusive

‫؞੸؞ڮ‬प ੸য‫؞‬ऴञॉ Base
+ऊ +ु + दु
Form
‫؞گ‬ਕ‫؞‬औ॒ ਕয‫؞‬औ॒प॒
ၴ (टो) ၴऊ (टोऊ) ၴदु (टोदु)
ၴु (टोु) no one
‫؞ڰ‬஛‫॒े؞‬ ஛য‫े؞‬प॒ who? someone anyone

‫؞ڱ‬૜‫؞‬ओ ૜য‫؞‬ओप॒ ୦ (ऩप) ୦ऊ (ऩपऊ) ୦दु (ऩ॒दु)

୦ु (ऩपु) nothing
what? something anything
‫؞ڲ‬౽‫؞‬ौऎ ౽য‫؞‬ौऎप॒
ःण ःणऊ some ःणु always, never (with ःणदु at any
‫؞ڳ‬೻‫؞‬ऩऩ ೻য‫؞‬खठप॒ when? time negative verbs) time
‫؞ڴ‬ழ‫؞‬मठ ழয‫؞‬मठप॒ नऒ नऒऊ नऒदु
नऒु nowhere
where? somewhere anywhere
‫؞ڵ‬ృ‫؞‬ऌॄअ ృয‫؞‬ऌॄअप॒
नअ
‫؞ે؞ڬڭ‬गॄअ ેয‫؞‬गॄअप॒ नअऊ somehow नअु in no way नअदु anyhow
how?

You will also see another counter, ූ (ऽः), which is used to count flat things. Keep in mind that for most of the words in the negative word range, Japanese uses a
Thankfully, ූ has no irregular forms, and so it's read the same way regardless of the double negative for full sentences.
number that comes before it.
ऒऒपमटोुःऽच॒‫؛‬
Here, no one is not. (There is no one here.)
Not Much

ँऽॉ is a word you can use with negative sentences to express ideas like “not much,” Object
“not often” or “not many.” Below are a few examples of its usage.
Thin and Thick
Japanese English
Just like counter words, different adjectives are sometimes used depending on the
಩઺मँऽॉৄऽच॒‫؛‬ I do not watch a lot of movies. objects being described. When you are talking about something being "thin," you would
use a different adjective depending on the shape of the object being described.
ങనमँऽॉखऽच॒‫؛‬ I do not go on walks very often.
Japanese English
Family 2 updated 2021-02-15 ಍ः (ऺजः) thin (for long, cylindrical things)

ුः (अघः) thin (for flat things)

Familial Terms

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Be careful, because using the wrong particle can sometimes greatly change the Japanese uses a number of terms for family members. Some use the honorific form,
meaning of your sentence. which is typically reserved for someone else's family members, while others use a
shorter, more casual form, reserved for your own family members.
Japanese English Still, these rules are not hard and fast. You will still hear children use the honorific form
४ঙথधళ॒दऎटऔः‫؛‬ Please call me "John." to address their own mother or father.

४ঙথ॑ళ॒दऎटऔः‫؛‬ Please call John. Family Member Honorific Form Personal Form

Husband ओ਌য (ओखॄग॒) ୏ (उढध)

Counting Long Things
Wife ൔऔ॒ (उऎऔ॒) ൲ (णऽ)
‫ع‬ম (ऺ॒) is another Japanese counter word, and it is used to count long,
Child उ৕औ॒ (उऒऔ॒) ৕୹ (ऒनु)
cylindrical things like pens and pencils. Be careful, because the pronunciation of ‫ع‬ম
also changes depending on the number before it! Grandfather उຳ೯औ॒ (उगःऔ॒) ຳ೯ (जऴ)

Grandmother उຳಟऔ॒ (उयँऔ॒) ຳಟ (जऻ)

Kanji Reading Meaning

঳ম ःढ़॒ (ippon) one (long, cylindrical thing) Not your uncle but your grandfather!
੸ম पऺ॒ (nihon) two (long, cylindrical things)
Sometimes, changing just one character can entirely change the meaning of a word.
ਕম औ॒ऻ॒ (sanbon) three (long, cylindrical things) Japanese learners often make this mistake with the words for uncle/grandfather and
aunt/grandmother. Please double-check the length of your vowel!
஛ম े॒ऺ॒ (yonhon) four (long, cylindrical things)
Japanese English
૜ম ओऺ॒ (gohon) five (long, cylindrical things)
उगऔ॒ uncle
౽ম ौढ़॒ (roppon) six (long, cylindrical things)
उगःऔ॒ grandfather
೻ম ऩऩऺ॒ (nanahon) seven (long, cylindrical things)
उयऔ॒ aunt
ழম मढ़॒ (happon) eight (long, cylindrical things)
उयँऔ॒ grandmother
ృম ऌॄअऺ॒ (kyuuhon) nine (long, cylindrical things)

ેম गॄढ़॒ (juppon) ten (long, cylindrical things)

Arriving and Departing Phrases

This skill also teaches a special set of Japanese phrases when someone enters or exits
Feelings 1 updated 2021-02-15 a home. These are in widespread use throughout Japan.

One makes the statement when one either departs from or arrives in a home, and one
Past-Tense ः-Adjectives makes the response upon hearing the corresponding statement.

To turn an ः-adjective from the present to the past tense, you remove the ः-ending Statement Response
and replace with ऊढञ. Adding a दघ at the end will turn it into the polite form. See
the example below. When Departing ःढथऌऽघ ःढथैढखूः
Translation "I'm leaving!" "Take care!"
Sentence Translation
When Returning ञटःऽ उऊइॉऩऔः
ऒोमउःखःदघ‫؛‬ This is delicious.
Translation "I'm home!" "Welcome back!"
ऒोमउःखऊढञदघ‫؛‬ This was delicious.
Transportation 1 updated 2021-02-15

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Negative ः-Adjectives Japanese English

ॉ॒ओऋඟखः‫؛‬ I want an apple.

When ः-adjectives are switched from positive to negative, they undergo a spelling
change. The characteristic ः-ending switches to a ऎ‫ؚ‬and the phrase meaning "not" ংॼॼऋඟखःदघ‫؛‬ I want a banana.
is added to the end. The final result is an ending such as ऎऩःदघ‫؛‬See the example
below.
Desiring Actions

Sentence Translation This lesson introduces how to express that you want to perform a certain action. This is
done with a form of the ‫ع‬ञः ending, which turns any verb into an adjective. You take
ऒोमउःखःदघ‫؛‬ This is delicious.
the ‫ع‬ऽघ form of the verb, add the ‫ع‬ञः or ‫ع‬ञःदघ ending, and you can express
ऒोमउःखऎऩःदघ‫؛‬ This is not delicious. that you want to do something.

Just like with positive ः-adjectives, all negative ः-adjectives can drop the दघ ending Japanese English
in casual speech.
ॉ॒ओ॑୫सञः‫؛‬ I want to eat an apple.

Sentence Translation ংॼॼऋ୫सञःदघ‫؛‬ I want to eat a banana.

ऒोमउःखऎऩः‫؛‬ This is not delicious.

Keep in mind that since both ඟखः and ‫ع‬ञः are adjectives, they behave like
adjectives in other ways, including in the formation of the negative tense, past tense,
To make the speech more formal, one can change the ending from ऎऩःदघ to ऎँ and negative-past tense.
ॉऽच॒‫؛‬
Japanese English
Sentence Translation
ॉ॒ओ॑୫सञः‫؛‬ I want to eat an apple.
ऒोमउःखऎँॉऽच॒‫؛‬ This is not delicious.
ॉ॒ओ॑୫सञऎऩः‫؛‬ I do not want to eat an apple.

ॉ॒ओ॑୫सञऊढञ‫؛‬ I wanted to eat an apple.

People updated 2019-12-18
ॉ॒ओ॑୫सञऎऩऊढञ‫؛‬ I did not want to eat an apple.
Not your uncle but your grandfather!
Remember, just like with other ः-adjectives, one can attach the दघ copula to any of
Sometimes, changing just one character can entirely change the meaning of a word. the four sentences above to make the statement more polite.
Japanese learners often make this mistake with the words for uncle/grandfather and
aunt/grandmother. Please double-check the length of your vowel!
Classroom 2 updated 2021-02-15

Japanese English
He said, she said!
उगऔ॒ uncle
When you are quoting what someone said or telling someone what something is called,
उगःऔ॒ grandfather
you would use the particle ‫ع‬ध. You can think of ‫ع‬ध kind of like quotation marks in
उयऔ॒ aunt English, with the phrase coming before ‫ع‬ध being the phrase that would be in quotes.
Since there's no opening quotation mark like there would be with a quote in English,
उयँऔ॒ grandmother though, you sometimes have to figure out from context which words are being quoted.

੓ and ੬ Japanese English

ೀमःःइध੉ःऽखञ‫؛‬ He said "No."

In this skill, you’ll encounter words about men and women and boys and girls, and you’ll
see some different expressions you might use to talk about them. The word for woman
is ੓ (उ॒ऩ) and the word for man is ੬ (उधऒ), but it is more polite to use the
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 English Short Form Polite Form Ongoing Action expressions ੓भয (उ॒ऩभऱध) and ੬भয (उधऒभऱध) instead. There are also
the expressions ੓भ৕ (उ॒ऩभऒ) and ੬भ৕ (उधऒभऒ) which mean “girl” and
drink भि भाऽघ भ॒दःऽघ
“boy” respectively. Did you notice that the polite expressions for “man” and “woman”
use the character for "person" - য (ऱध) – while the expressions for “boy” and “girl”
Prohibitions use the character for “child” - ৕ (ऒ)?

‫ع‬थ + म + ःऐऽच॒ is used when telling someone that they must not or should not
Japanese Reading English
do something.
੓ उ॒ऩ woman
े॒दमःऐऽच॒ means "you must not read."
੬ उधऒ man
ँभম॑े॒दमःऐऽच॒ means "you must not read that book."
੓भয उ॒ऩभऱध woman (more polite)

English Short Form Polite Form Prohibition ੬भয उधऒभऱध man (more polite)

do घॊ खऽघ खथमःऐऽच॒ ੓भ৕ उ॒ऩभऒ girl

read ेि ेाऽघ े॒दमःऐऽच॒ ੬भ৕ उधऒभऒ boy

eat ञसॊ ञसऽघ ञसथमःऐऽच॒

Death
drink भि भाऽघ भ॒दमःऐऽच॒
Much like English, Japanese has more than one way to talk about death. The different
words have different connotations, similar to the English language expressions “died”
Linking Sentences and “passed away.”

We already learned the words ध and ृ that mean "and" when combining nouns.
Japanese Reading English
Instead of those words, we use the थ-form to link verbs together in Japanese
sentences. ଈपऽखञ खपऽखञ died

ॻ॔॑൷ीथษ॑৫ऌऽघ means " I will close the door and open the window." ಝऎऩॉऽखञ ऩऎऩॉऽखञ passed away

ॉ॒ओ॑୫सथ਷॑ධाऽखञ means "I ate the apple and drank the water."
Clothes 1 updated 2021-02-15

For the examples above, notice how the थ-form is used for the first verb regardless of
the tense of the overall sentence. Only the final verb indicates the tense in this Wearing Clothing
construction.
Japanese has many translations for the English words "to wear" or "to put on,"
depending on where on the body the clothes are worn. Below are some examples
Vacation updated 2019-03-31
taught in this lesson.

Desire Japanese Notes

Desiring Objects ାऽघ‫؞‬ऌऽघ wear, on the whole body or upper body

Earlier in this course, you learned how to express that you want a certain object using ଺ॉऽघ‫؞‬ऊवॉऽघ wear, on the head
the adjective ඟखः‫؛‬ඟखः literally means "desirable," but it's used like "want" or ၎ऌऽघ‫؞‬मऌऽघ wear, on the lower body
"want to have" in English. Because it behaves like other Japanese ः-adjectives,
however, you are free to add दघ on the end of the adjective to make the sentence
more polite. Hobby 2 updated 2021-02-15

Japanese English Together!

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In Japanese, there are different ways to ask someone to do something with you. Your Kanji Reading Meaning
verb ending can subtly change the nature of your request or suggestion.
ృྥ ऌॄअऱऌ (kyuuhiki) nine (small animals)
Verb Ending Meaning in English
ેྥ गॄढळऌ (juppiki) ten (small animals)
~ऽच॒ऊ "Would you like to...?" / "Do you want to...?"

~ऽखॆअ "Let's..." The Water Radical

~ऽखॆअऊ‫ء‬ "Shall we...?" / "Should we...?" Kanji characters are made up of different component parts called radicals. Did you
know that a kanji's radicals can sometimes give you a hint about the kanji's meaning?
Japanese English For instance, kanji containing the radical 㳡often have something to do with water. If
you look at the words below, you can see that they all contain the radical 㳡 on the left
উ‫ش‬ঝद็ऍऽच॒ऊ‫ء‬ Would you like to swim at the pool?
side of the kanji character, and all of them involve water. You might have noticed this
উ‫ش‬ঝद็ऍऽखॆअ‫؛‬ Let's swim at the pool. radical in other kanji you've already seen, too!

উ‫ش‬ঝद็ऍऽखॆअऊ‫ء‬ Shall we swim at the pool? Kanji Reading Meaning

ਲ अा sea
Weeks and Months
౱ ःऐ pond
Japanese has specific words for ideas like "last week," "next week" and "this week."
There is even a word for "the week after next"! Maybe you'll notice a pattern with how ็ऍऽघ उेऍऽघ swim
these words are formed!

Word Reading Meaning Classroom updated 2021-02-15

০া ऒ॒ऑण this month

थ-Form
ਟা ैःऑण next month
We will now take a look at three more purposes for the थ-form of verbs.
੔া च॒ऑण last month
Ongoing Actions
Word Reading Meaning

০ౝ ऒ॒खॄअ this week ‫ع‬थ / ‫ع‬द + ःऽघ is used for actions in progress.

ਟౝ ैःखॄअ next week े॒दःऽघ means "I am reading."

੔ౝ च॒खॄअ last week We also use this construction for ongoing actions that would ordinarily use the present
perfect construction in English.
ગਟౝ औैःखॄअ the week after next
಩઺ममगऽढथःऽघ means "The movie has begun."
Playing an Instrument
‫ع‬थ / ‫ع‬द + ःऽच॒ is the corresponding negative construction.
Japanese uses different verbs to talk about playing different kinds of musical
instruments. In this skill, you will encounter the verb used for playing a string instrument े॒दःऽच॒ means "I am not reading."
- ഩऌऽघ (ऱऌऽघ). Don't forget that the piano is included as a string instrument!
English Short Form Polite Form Ongoing Action
Japanese English
do घॊ खऽघ खथःऽघ
আ॔ঀ॑ഩऌऽघ‫؛‬ I play the piano.
read ेि ेाऽघ े॒दःऽघ
ॠॱ‫॑ش‬ഩऌऽघ‫؛‬ I play the guitar.
eat ञसॊ ञसऽघ ञसथःऽघ

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Number Form of ଌ Form of ੌ Form of ା Weather 1 updated 2021-02-15

‫؞ڴ‬ழ‫؞‬मठ ழଌ‫؞‬मढजऎ ழੌ‫؞‬मढऎा ழା‫؞‬मढठूऎ

Isn't it?
‫؞ڵ‬ృ‫؞‬ऌॄअ ృଌ‫؞‬ऌॄअजऎ ృੌ‫؞‬ऌॄअऎा ృା‫؞‬ऌॄअठूऎ
In Japanese, it is common to ask a question in the negative form in order to solicit
‫؞ે؞ڬڭ‬गॄअ ેଌ‫؞‬गॄढजऎ ેੌ‫؞‬गॄढऎा ેା‫؞‬गॄढठूऎ agreement. These sentences are commonly translated as "Isn't it...?" in English.

Japanese English
Nature 1 updated 2021-02-15
พःदघऊ‫ء‬ Is it dark?
What was happening? พऎऩःदघऊ‫ء‬ Isn't it dark?

‫ع‬थ / ‫ع‬द + ःऽघ can be used to describe continuing action in the present, but did
Did you notice the difference? When the question is asked with a regular adjective
you know that you can use the -थ form of the verb to describe continuing action in the form, the English meaning is "Is it...?" When it is asked with an adjective in the
past, too? Instead of ‫ع‬ःऽघ, you would use ‫ع‬ःऽखञ after the -थ form of a verb negative form, the English translation changes to "Isn't it...?"
to describe an ongoing action that occurred in the past. Look at how the verb endings
can change the meaning of a sentence. Adverbs

Japanese English In Japanese, you can change an -ः adjective to an adverb by dropping the -ः and
replacing it with -ऎ. Adverbs are usually words that end in -ly in English and describe
ංऋఋॉऽघ It rains how something happens.
ංऋఋढथःऽघ It is raining
Adjective Meaning Adverb Meaning
ංऋఋॉऽखञ It rained
ਘः (णेः) strong ਘऎ (णेऎ) strongly
ංऋఋढथःऽखञ It was raining
ൠः (ेॎः) weak ൠऎ (ेॎऎ) weakly

Counting Small Animals

Here are some examples of how these different forms are used.
Japanese has a lot of counter words that change depending on the object or creature
being counted. Sometimes, the counter word even depends on the size of the thing Japanese English
being counted! For instance, the counter word ‫( ྥع‬ऱऌ) is used to count small
௯ऋਘःदघ‫؛‬ The wind is strong.
animals. However, the reading of the word ‫ ྥع‬changes depending on the number that
comes before it. ਘः௯ऋऴऌऽघ‫؛‬ A strong wind blows.

௯ऋਘऎऴऌऽघ‫؛‬ The wind blows strongly.

Kanji Reading Meaning

঳ྥ ःढळऌ (ippiki) one (small animal)

Food 2 updated 2021-02-15
੸ྥ पऱऌ (nihiki) two (small animals)

ਕྥ औ॒लऌ (sanbiki) three (small animals) Very, quite, or not at all!

஛ྥ े॒ऱऌ (yonhiki) four (small animals) In this skill, you will encounter words that can modify the severity of your sentences.

૜ྥ ओऱऌ (gohiki) five (small animals) ৸ே (छ॒छ॒) and ৸ऎ (ऽढञऎ) can both be used with negative sentences to
mean "not at all."
౽ྥ ौढळऌ (roppiki) six (small animals)

೻ྥ ऩऩऱऌ (nanahiki) seven (small animals) Japanese English

ழྥ मढळऌ (happiki) eight (small animals) ऒभ৙ཅम৸ேउःखऎऩःदघ‫؛‬ These vegetables are not delicious at all.
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Japanese English Casual Formal Meaning
ฟ໚मऽढञऎ੗ऎऩःदघ‫؛‬ There is not much milk at all. जढठ जठै there, that way (close to the listener)
over there, over that way (far from both the listener and the
ँढठ ँठै
धथु and প૗ (ञःष॒) can both be used in affirmative sentences to mean "very." speaker)
नढठ नठै where?, which direction?
Japanese English

ऒभছ‫ش‬ওথमधथुउःखःदघ‫؛‬ This ramen is very tasty.

Health updated 2018-10-25
প૗उःखःदघ‫؛‬ It is very tasty.
The Short Past Form
੥ଡ (ऐढऒअ) can be used in affirmative sentences to mean "quite."
The short past form is made by taking the थ-form of the verb and replacing with ञ or
Japanese English ट.

වऋ੥ଡ੗ःदघब‫؛‬ There is quite a lot of salt, isn't there?

Verb Kanji Plain Form थ-Form Past

A Small Amount write છऎ ऊऎ ऊःथ ऊःञ

swim ็ए उेए उेःद उेःट

૘ऩः (घऎऩः) is an adjective that means “few” or “not much.” Be careful – although
the word ends in -ऩः, it isn’t the negative form of the adjective! The negative form of rest ೬ि ृघि ृघ॒द ृघ॒ट
૘ऩः is actually ૘ऩऎऩः (घऎऩऎऩः). That’s a mouthful! play ฉव ँजव ँज॒द ँज॒ट

buy େअ ऊअ ऊढथ ऊढञ

Japanese English

ढ़ঞ‫ش‬ऋ૘ऩःदघ‫؛‬ There is not much curry.

Clothes 2 updated 2021-02-15

Direction 1 updated 2021-02-15

Counting Words for Clothing

Big and Small Below is a table for ଌ‫ ੌؚ‬and ା‫ؚ‬the counting words introduced in this lesson. ଌ is a
counter that counts pairs of things you put on your feet, while ੌ counts other kinds of
There a few adjectives that have both an -ः and a -ऩ adjective form. With these pairs, such as pairs of gloves. ା is a counter for suits, jackets, and kimono.
adjectives, it is common to use the -ऩ adjective form when the adjective comes before
the noun it is modifying. "Big" and "small" are two such adjectives.
Number Form of ଌ Form of ੌ Form of ା

-ः adjective -ऩ adjective Meaning ‫؞ڭ‬঳‫؞‬ःठ ঳ଌ‫؞‬ःढजऎ ঳ੌ‫؞‬ऱधऎा ঳ା‫؞‬ःढठूऎ

পऌः (उउऌः) পऌऩ (उउऌऩ) big, large ‫؞੸؞ڮ‬प ੸ଌ‫؞‬पजऎ ੸ੌ‫؞‬ऴञऎा ੸ା‫؞‬पठूऎ

৵औः (ठःऔः) ৵औऩ (ठःऔऩ) small ‫؞گ‬ਕ‫؞‬औ॒ ਕଌ‫؞‬औ॒झऎ ਕੌ‫؞‬औ॒ऎा ਕା‫؞‬औ॒ठूऎ

‫؞ڰ‬஛‫॒े؞‬ ஛ଌ‫॒े؞‬जऎ ஛ੌ‫॒े؞‬ऎा ஛ା‫॒े؞‬ठूऎ

Japanese English

जभ਒ষमপऌःदघ‫؛‬ That bank is big. ‫؞ڱ‬૜‫؞‬ओ ૜ଌ‫؞‬ओजऎ ૜ੌ‫؞‬ओऎा ૜ା‫؞‬ओठूऎ

जोमপऌऩ਒ষदघ‫؛‬ That is a big bank. ‫؞ڲ‬౽‫؞‬ौऎ ౽ଌ‫؞‬ौऎजऎ ౽ੌ‫؞‬ौढऎा ౽ା‫؞‬ौढठूऎ

‫؞ڳ‬೻‫؞‬ऩऩ ೻ଌ‫؞‬ऩऩजऎ ೻ੌ‫؞‬ऩऩऎा ೻ା‫؞‬ऩऩठूऎ

Big or Wide?
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and “passed away.” The word ઁः (ऱौः) means "wide" and ໭ः (चऽः) means "narrow," but
these words are often used in Japanese in situations in which we'd use the words "big"
Japanese Reading English or "small" in English. For instance, when you're describing the internal area of a room
as "large," you usually use the word ઁः rather than পऌः . ઁः is sometimes also
ଈपऽखञ खपऽखञ died translated as "spacious."
ಝऎऩॉऽखञ ऩऎऩॉऽखञ passed away
Japanese English

ऒभ୰੹मઁःदघ‫؛‬ This hospital is spacious. (large inside)

Direction 2
ऒभ৖ોम໭ःदघ‫؛‬ This room is small. (narrow inside)
Big and Small
Where?
There a few adjectives that have both an -ः and a -ऩ adjective form. With these
adjectives, it is common to use the -ऩ adjective form when the adjective comes before Japanese has different levels of formality, and sometimes there are different words with
the noun it is modifying. "Big" and "small" are two such adjectives. the same meaning that differ by formality level. You'll encounter some of them in this
skill.
-ः adjective -ऩ adjective Meaning
Casual Formal Meaning
পऌः (उउऌः) পऌऩ (उउऌऩ) big, large
ऒढठ ऒठै here, this way (close to the speaker)
৵औः (ठःऔः) ৵औऩ (ठःऔऩ) small
जढठ जठै there, that way (close to the listener)
Japanese English over there, over that way (far from both the listener and the
ँढठ ँठै
speaker)
जभ਒ষमপऌःदघ‫؛‬ That bank is big.
नढठ नठै where?, which direction?
जोमপऌऩ਒ষदघ‫؛‬ That is a big bank.

Big or Wide? Feeling updated 2018-10-25

The word ઁः (ऱौः) means "wide" and ໭ः (चऽः) means "narrow," but Past-Tense ः-Adjectives
these words are often used in Japanese in situations in which we'd use the words "big"
or "small" in English. For instance, when you're describing the internal area of a room To turn an ः-adjective from the present to the past tense, you remove the ः-ending
as "large," you usually use the word ઁः rather than পऌः . ઁः is sometimes also
and replace with ऊढञ. Adding a दघ at the end will turn it into the polite form. See
translated as "spacious."
the example below.

Japanese English
Sentence Translation
ऒभ୰੹मઁःदघ‫؛‬ This hospital is spacious. (large inside)
ऒोमउःखःदघ‫؛‬ This is delicious.
ऒभ৖ોम໭ःदघ‫؛‬ This room is small. (narrow inside)
ऒोमउःखऊढञदघ‫؛‬ This was delicious.

Where? Just like with the other forms of the ः-adjectives, you're allowed to drop the दघ
ending in casual conversation.
Japanese has different levels of formality, and sometimes there are different words with
the same meaning that differ by formality level. You'll encounter some of them in this
skill. Sentence Translation

ऒोमउःखऊढञ‫؛‬ This was delicious.

Casual Formal Meaning

ऒढठ ऒठै here, this way (close to the speaker)

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 Food 3 updated 2021-02-15 ऩ-adjectives are nominal adjectives that have been imported from other countries
over centuries, mainly from China. There is no pattern as to what they look like, aside
from the fact they're not likely to end in an ः‫؛‬Remember that ऌोः is an exception.
An Empty Stomach
See how they operate using the example of ऌोः below.
In Japanese, when you ask someone if they are hungry, the expression is उ໅ऋघऌऽ
खञऊ‫( ء‬उऩऊऋघऌऽखञऊ‫)ء‬ Sentence Translation

Although the Japanese expression is written in past tense, its understood meaning ऒोमऌोःदघ‫؛‬ This is pretty.
would be equivalent to the English expression “Are you hungry?” It literally translates to
something like, “Has your stomach been emptied?” – because if your stomach has Note that ऩ-adjectives typically do not drop the दघ ending in a construction like the
become empty, that means that you’re hungry now!
one above.

Dates updated 2021-02-15 When placed before a noun, a ऩ-adjective adds a characteristic ऩ between the
adjective and the noun that follows.
Japanese Counting Words
Sentence Translation
The Japanese language uses special counting words to count things, actions, and
events. Below is a table for ঩‫ؚ‬the counting word introduced in this lesson. ঩ is the ऌोःऩ୨दघ‫؛‬ It is a pretty flower.
counter for days.
People 2 updated 2021-02-15
Number Form of ঩

‫؞ڭ‬঳‫؞‬ःठ ঳঩‫؞‬णःञठ ੓ and ੬

‫؞੸؞ڮ‬प ੸঩‫؞‬ऴणऊ In this skill, you’ll encounter words about men and women and boys and girls, and you’ll
see some different expressions you might use to talk about them. The word for woman
‫؞گ‬ਕ‫؞‬औ॒ ਕ঩‫؞‬ाढऊ
is ੓ (उ॒ऩ) and the word for man is ੬ (उधऒ), but it is more polite to use the
‫؞ڰ‬஛‫॒े؞‬ ஛঩‫े؞‬ढऊ expressions ੓भয (उ॒ऩभऱध) and ੬भয (उधऒभऱध) instead. There are also
the expressions ੓भ৕ (उ॒ऩभऒ) and ੬भ৕ (उधऒभऒ) which mean “girl” and
‫؞ڱ‬૜‫؞‬ओ ૜঩‫؞‬ःणऊ
“boy” respectively. Did you notice that the polite expressions for “man” and “woman”
‫؞ڲ‬౽‫؞‬ौऎ ౽঩‫؞‬िःऊ use the character for "person" - য (ऱध) – while the expressions for “boy” and “girl”
use the character for “child” - ৕ (ऒ)?
‫؞ڳ‬೻‫؞‬ऩऩ ೻঩‫؞‬ऩभऊ

‫؞ڴ‬ழ‫؞‬मठ ழ঩‫े؞‬अऊ Japanese Reading English

‫؞ڵ‬ృ‫؞‬ऌॄअ ృ঩‫؞‬ऒऒभऊ ੓ उ॒ऩ woman

‫؞ે؞ڬڭ‬गॄअ ે঩‫؞‬धउऊ ੬ उधऒ man

‫؞ે੸؞ڬڮ‬पगॄअ ੸ે঩‫؞‬मणऊ ੓भয उ॒ऩभऱध woman (more polite)

੬भয उधऒभऱध man (more polite)

Shopping 1 updated 2021-02-15
੓भ৕ उ॒ऩभऒ girl

੬भ৕ उधऒभऒ boy

ऩ-Adjectives

This lesson teaches the first ऩ-adjective in the course, ऌोः‫ؚ‬meaning "pretty" or Death
"clean." Although it looks like an ः-adjective, it belongs to the ऩ-adjective category.
Much like English, Japanese has more than one way to talk about death. The different
words have different connotations, similar to the English language expressions “died”
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