Episode 19 – Japanese Made Easy

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Exercises Only

Hi Greg here. Welcome to Japanese Made Easy episode 19. In this lesson we’ll learn as super common need to know, need to master, usage of the “に”(ni) particle, along with some other useful patterns.

The usage of the “に”(ni)  particle that we’ll be going over mirrors a similar usage in English.

All of the following phrases will use the に (ni) particle in Japanese.

I’m going on Monday.

Let’s meet at 7:00 p.m.

He started walking when he was two years old.

So, what do these examples all have in common?

Watch what happens if we use に (ni) and common Japanese word order

I’m going on Monday becomes…

Monday に(ni) I’m going.

Let’s meet at 7:00 p.m becomes…

7:00 p.m. に(ni) let’s meet.

He started walking when he was two years old becomes…

2yrs old became, point in time に(ni), walking started.　

For the next section we’ll need the days of the week. I’m guessing that you already know them, so we won’t spend too much time here.

First let’s just hear them in context, then I’ll help you remember them.

The first day of the work week is

月曜日 (げつようび) (getsuyoubi)The 2nd day of the work week is.

火曜日 (かようび) (kayoubi) Hump day, or the middle of the week is

水曜日(すいようび)(suiyoubi)  After that is

木曜日 (もくようび) (mokuyoubi) The final day of a five day work week is

金曜日 (きんようび)(kinyoubi)  Then, we have our two weekend days,

土曜日 (どようび) (doyoubi) followed by

日曜日 (にちようび) (nichiyoubi)

Now that you’ve heard them, I’ll give you some mnemonics that can help to recall them.

Visualize these in your mind on a calendar. We just want something close enough to jog your memory if needed.

月曜日 (getsuyoubi) On Monday…I get soup.. Make a calendar in your mind, see the blank boxes for Monday through Sunday, and on Monday stick a bowl of soup.

月曜日 (getsuyoubi)

On Tuesday…

火曜日 (kayoubi)

I fly a kite. Stick a kite on Tuesday… the sound of the beginning of the word kite..is similar to…

火曜日 (kayoubi)

On Wednesday

水曜日 (suiyoubi) I feed the pigs saying “sui sui sui… and they come runn’n.” So on the Wednesday spot imagine a bunch of pigs eating. And the farmer saying “sui, sui, sui” or however they yell for pigs.

水曜日 (suiyoubi)

On Thursday I drink moka…

木曜日 (mokuyoubi) just change the a to a u.. and again, visualize these on a mental calendar. Stick a cup of mocha in the Thursday slot.

木曜日 (mokuyoubi) 

On Friday,

金曜日(kinyoubi)  I’m keen to study Japanese…

金曜日 (kinyoubi) as in I’m up for it. I’m keen on Friday…

Visualize being happy, a happy emoji, something like that.

金曜日(kinyoubi) 

On Saturday I work at the pizza store making “dough.”

土曜日 (doyoubi) Slap some dough on the spot for Saturday, maybe roll it with a pin, hit it with your hands, smooth it out and visualize it on Saturday.

土曜日(doyoubi) 

On Sunday, I read about knees.

日曜日(nichiyoubi)  Imagine flipping the pages of book with a big knee on the cover.

日曜日 (nichiyoubi) Now, I suggest you stop here and go over the mental images a couple time until you have them, and then continue.

Ok, let’s do some easy sentences with に(ni)  while practicing days of the week. Using…

月曜日 (getsuyoubi) and 行(い)きます。(ikimasu) We don’t care about where we are going, just generally.. How would you say,

“I’m going on Monday?” or “I’ll go on Monday.”

月曜日に行きます。(Getsuyoubi ni ikimasu.) 

On Tuesday…but casual.

火曜日に行く。(Kayoubi ni iku.) 

On Wednesday, polite.

水曜日に行きます。(Suiyoubi ni ikimasu.) 

Still polite, I’m going on Thursday.

木曜日に行きます。(Mokuyoubi ni ikimasu.) 

As I’ve mentioned in past episodes, time words are often at the front of sentences, so with that in mind and still polite, let’s add a place to go to.

Try saying, I’m going to Tokyo, on Thursday.

木曜日に東京(とうきょう)に行きます。(Mokuyoubi ni toukyou ni ikimasu.) 

I’m going to a department store on Friday.

金曜日(きんようび)にデパートに行きます。(Kinyoubi ni depāto ni ikimasu.)   There are no rules here, if a person is speaking really fast, and clarity isn’t called for, they may drop both particles.

That is something to understand if you hear it, more than worry about saying perfectly.　Dropping things for very casual…

金曜日に沖縄(おきなわ)に行きます。(Kinyoubi ni okinawa ni ikimasu.) might become just…

金曜日沖縄行くよ。 (Kinyoubi, okinawa ikuyo.)  How would you translate this?

健司(けんじ)は土曜日(どようび)に沖縄に行きます。(Kenji wa doyoubi ni okinawa ni ikimasu.) 

Literally that’s… Kenji wa, or regarding him, Saturday ni, Okinawa ni will go. Kenji is going to Okinawa on Saturday. If wanting to say all of that casually, again no rules here, just tendencies…. You might hear wa dropped, perhaps “ni” for “on” Saturday is kept for clarity, and the final particle might be dropped as well.

健司、土曜日に沖縄行くよ。 (Kenji, doyoubi ni okinawa ikuyo.) 　Again I have to repeat, there is no right or wrong as far as dropping particles here. Just understand this is possible in casual Japanese. After hearing and practicing enough Japanese it becomes instinctive.

Let’s run through some really easy sentences with places we already know. We’ll keep them polite for the sake of particle practice too. Talking about your plans, so we don’t need to say “I” …to get soup…Tell somebody…Monday, grocery store, will go. Monday, grocery store, will go.

月曜日にスーパーに行きます。(Getsuyoubi ni sūpā ni ikimasu.)      To fly a kite… On Tuesday, department store, will go.

火曜日にデパートに行きます。(Kayoubi ni depāto ni ikimasu.)    To feed the pigs sui sui sui… On Wednesday, convenience store will go.

水曜日にコンビニに行きます。(Suiyoubi ni konbini ni ikimasu.)   To drink moka… On Thursday, Starbucks, will go.

木曜日にスタバに行きます。(Mokuyoubi ni sutaba ni ikimasu.)   I’m down for, or keen to watch a game, so On Friday, soccer stadium, will go.

金曜日にサッカースタジアムに行きます。(Kinyoubi ni sakkā sutajiamu ni ikimasu.)   On Saturday, I have to work at the pizza place making dough. So try saying.. On Saturday, Domino’s, will go.

土曜日にドミノに行きます。(Doyoubi ni domino ni ikimasu.)  Did you change that “dah” to “doh” for correct pronunciation? ドミノ

And Sunday we’ll read about knees, on the beaches of Okinawa. Try saying… On Sunday, Okinawa, will go.

日曜日に沖縄に行きます。(Nichiyoubi ni okinawa ni ikimasu. )

Ok, so that was a good review of days of the week and this usage of “に”(ni)  would of course translate as “on”.

Recalling way back in Episode 6, we learned to say things like…

リモコンはどこですか？(Rimokon wa doko desuka?)  or if in the supermarket…

マヨネーズはどこですか？(Mayonēzu wa doko desuka?)  Where’s the mayonnaise? This was our は (wa) with doko pattern for asking questions.

Something は(wa) or something regarding it, where is? Doko being a question word of course.

With that idea, see if you can get the meaning of this common question that follows the same pattern. If you are in Japan for any length of time you will likely hear it.

You’re shopping with a Japanese friend at the supermarket and somebody is handing out samples. As you pass by, they extend a plate with little cookies on it, saying to your friend…

クッキーはどうですか？(Kukkī wa dou desuka?)  Your friend waves it off, saying, “Sorry, I’m trying to cut down on sweets.” Not giving up though, they quickly grab a different plate with little slices of kiwi on it, saying

キウイはどうですか？(Kiui wa dou desuka? )  Again, your friend politely declines.. “No sorry, I’ve had enough fruit today, but thanks.”

One last try… suddenly there’s a plate of sandwich slices just under your nose and again the person asks…

サンドイッチはどうですか？(Sandoicchi wa dou desuka?)  Your friend smiles and says.. “Ok, I’ll give it a try.” Given the situation, the questions, and responses how would you translate

クッキーはどうですか？ (Kukkīwa dou desuka?)  We have cookie, regarding it, and then a question word, and the polite desu ka. So, what’s the question word? Here’s a casual version.

You’re going to watch Netflix and your friend says…

スターウォーズはどう？(Sutāuwōzu wa dou?)  You say.. “Nah, I’ve seen that a bunch of times.” You’re in the mood for a horror movie about a guy on a passenger ship that hits an ice-berg, and guy the who then slowly slides into the dark freezing cold water while his love interest just kind of watches, so you say…

タイタニックはどう？(Taitanikku wa dou?)  Your friend says, “Yeah, sounds good.”

Ask somebody in polite Japanese… “How about some pizza?”

ピザはどうですか？(Piza wa dou desuka?)  Keep in mind, this is the same pattern as our doko question. Something, regarding it.. question word. In this case, “how about”

Making plans with a friend… “How about Starbucks?”

スタバはどう？ (Sutaba wa dou?)  Let’s run through the days of the week backwards… Polite.

How about Sunday?

日曜日はどうですか？ (Nichiyoubi wa dou desuka?)  Saturday, how about it…

土曜日はどうですか？(Doyoubi wa dou desuka?)  Friday, how about it…

金曜日はどうですか？(Kinyoubi wa dou desuka?)  Thursday..

木曜日はどうですか？(Mokuyoubi wa dou desuka?)  Ok, switch to casual… Wednesday…

水曜日はどう？(Suiyoubi wa dou?)  Tuesday…

火曜日はどう？(Kayoubi wa dou?)  and Monday…

月曜日はどう？ (Getsuyoubi wa dou?) 

Here’s an interesting food…

なっとう　　なっとう (nattou)

which are fermented soy beans. Check Youtube for a “can you eat this foreign food eating challenge”, and it will likely come up.

As you try it for the first time, the person who gave it to you will be looking at your face for a reaction… then they might ask just..

どう？(dou?)  or what do you think, how is it, etc. The first time I tried nato, it didn’t get that far. It tasted like rotten motor oil, as I imagine it, so before my friend could even ask..

どう？(dou?)  I had already spit it out. But, it’s an acquired taste, so now I eat it a few times a week for breakfast actually. So, if a Japanese friend were to offer me some saying…

なっとうはどう？(Nattou wa dou?)  I’d say..

うん、食(た)べるよ。(Un, taberuyo.)  Literally, Sure, will eat. More naturally, “Sure, I’ll have some.”

———————————– Tip of The Day

Here’s a fun story. I decided to get a drivers license here in Japan. But in the U.S. and Japan people drive on the opposite sides of the road. So to be safe, I decided it would be best to practice at a driving school on a closed course before trying to get my license.

So, I signed up for five one hour practice lessons spaced over two weeks. The instruction was of course in Japanese.

First, before getting in the car we had to walk around and check for obstructions. I guess looking for large rocks or cats, or anything that might have made it’s way under the car. All clear. We get in, then have to adjust rear view mirror, check the side view mirrors, and double check the seatbelt. Basically, just had to show that you are paying attention to those details in particular.

So, we start driving… and the instructor says, “Signal and turn left at the next corner.” Again, in Japanese. Cool, I can do that. So, I flipped the lever to signal and…the windshield wipers came on.

At that, I scrambled to figure out what happened, and realized that the signal and wiper levers on the opposite sides as well. So, I practiced flipping on the turn signals, and the wipers, to get a feel for it real quick.

Now, keep in mind I’m trying to process opposite driving for the first time ever, with the instruction being in Japanese, with car specific instruction and vocabulary I wasn’t used to hearing. I was definitely feeling the pressure.

So, we proceed, and he says, “Make a right at the corner.” Got it. So I flipped the lever to signal and…wind shield wipers. Again. As it turns out, it just isn’t that easy to quickly undo years of instinctive reflexes I had from driving in the U.S. for so long.

By the end of that first lesson, I’d turned the windshield wipers on no less than five times. I said to the instructor in Japanese… “You’re definitely going to have a good story to tell at the dinner table tonight.” to which he chuckled and agreed.

So I go back a couple days later for the second lesson. Again, more windshield wipers, but only three times. The third lesson, only two times. The fourth lesson, only once. In the final lesson, perfect signaling, perfect driving, no windshield wipers. No mistakes.

I was ready to go get my license. That is another long but fun story, so I’ll continue in a later episode.

So what’s the language learning tip? Well, the engrained tendencies you bring in from English if it’s your first language, such as the urge to use pronouns like “I” and “you”, and the feeling of English word order that you might battle with for now, will slowly but surely be removed with time and practice.

———————————– Tip of The Day

For this next part we’ll need a new verb ending to work with. First just listen, then we’ll get the meaning from context.

飲(の)む (nomu)　飲みましょう (nomimashou)  

After a workout I usually 飲む (nomu) water, or maybe 飲む (nomu) some sports drink. Given that, how about this meaning…

Ed and Marge were in the desert with not much water left. Ed says… Should we ration the water, or drink it? Marge says…

I read somewhere that it’s best to be hydrated, 飲みましょう。(nomimashou) Ed agrees Ok. 飲みましょう。(nomimashou) 

食(た)べる (taberu)　　食(た)べましょう (tabemashou) 

I try to 食べる(taberu)  three meals a day. Vegetarians don’t 食べる(taberu)  meat. Given that…

At a restaurant, the food was on the table, but everybody was waiting for Steve who stepped outside to take an important phone call.

Steve comes in and says “Sorry. Trouble at the office. I can’t stay and eat.” Everybody looks around at each other. Emi shrugs her shoulders and says.. 食べましょう。(tabemashou)  Kenji says..

うん、食べましょう。(Un, tabemashou.)  So, they all go ahead and eat.

買(か)う (kau) 　買(か)いましょう (kaimashou) 

When I go to the mall I’m going to 買う (kau) some new socks.

Two parents go to the store to get supplies for their son`s birthday party. The dad says…

We need candles, and paper plates. The mom says, “I’m not sure if we have placemats or not.”

The dad says.. here are some cheap ones. Just in case…

買いましょう。(kaimashou)  The mom finds some birthday

part placemats and says.. Oh, these are perfect.

買いましょう。(kaimashou) The dad says, Yeah, put them in the cart.

Let those simmer in the brain for a bit, and we’ll come back to them.

We just heard a bunch of examples of things we will do on a day of the week such as…

月曜日(げつようび)にスタバに行きます。(Getsuyoubi ni sutaba ni ikimasu.) 

A group of co-workers are going to meet up for lunch. Somebody says…

How about Tuesday?

火曜日(かようび)はどうですか？ (Kayoubi wa dou desuka? )

That won’t work for everybody, but Wednesday is good. So, Megumi confirms and solidifies the plan saying…

じゃ、水曜日(すいようび)に行きましょう。(Jya, suiyoubi ni ikimashou.) To that, everybody says…

Ok, Sounds like a plan. And another scenario…

Megumi and Mayumi are going to meet at a coffee shop. Megumi says…

3時(さんじ)に会(あ)いましょう。(Sanji ni aimashou.)  This would of course translate literally, 3:00 at, let’s meet.

会(あ)います (aimasu)  being meet, changed to

会いましょう (aimashou)  let’s meet. Tell a friend… “Let’s meet at 1:00.”

１時(いちじ)に会いましょう。(Ichiji ni aimashou.)   Let’s meet at 2:30.

２時半(にじはん)に会いましょう。(Nijihan ni aimashou.)  Let’s meet at Starbucks, at 4:30. Remember, time words tend to be first.

４時半(よじはん)にスタバで会いましょう。(Yojihan ni sutaba de aimashou.)   Keep in mind Starbucks is being utilized as the meeting place, so we use “で. So, let’s try a に… に…combination. Let’s go to Starbucks at 5:30

５時半(ごじはん)にスタバに行きましょう。(Gojihan ni sutaba ni ikimashou.)  As you know, this usage of に…

is “the target location of go”

Alright, there was a lot there if you didn’t already know the days of the week, so be sure to go over those mentally over the next day or so.

For speaking homework, try saying the days of the week when you wake up, once around mid day, and once before going to bed.