The most important Japanese lesson yet!

Posted On September 3, 2021

Public transportation is great in Japan. You will probably need to take a bus at some point. So, you’ll want to ask questions like, “Is this bus heading to Tokyo?” You will probably also need to tell people things like, “I need to get off the train at Nagano station.” Phrases and questions like these are the key to moving in Japan.

This article for Japanese beginners is here to help you! You will learn to ask and answer questions about the place you are trying to get to. Ask for Kono basu wa Tokyo-iki desu? (“Is this bus heading to Tokyo?”) And similar questions in Japanese. This Japanese article is the key to getting where you are going!

Vocabulary: In this article, you will learn the following words and phrases:

waza waza – “take so much trouble”

agaru – “enter, go up” (verb class 1)

Kaeru – “return” (verb class 1)

Yuuhan – “Dinner”

ekimae – “in front of the station”

umai – “delicious, tasty” (adjective ending -i)

uisukii – “whiskey”

koori – “ice”

hantai – “opposite”

kansha – “thank you, gratitude”

shoojiki – “honestly, honestly”

betsu – “different, other”

Grammar: In this article, you will learn the following words and phrases:

Useful phrases and vocabulary

Yuuhan “dinner, dinner”

There are several words that mean “dinner” in Japanese:

Yuu-gohan

ban-gohan

Yuu-shoku

Yuuhan

yumeshi (very informal and masculine sounds)

banmeshi (very informal and masculine sounds)

Also check “breakfast” and “lunch:”

Breakfast:

handle-go-han

choo-shoku

asa-meshi (very informal and masculine sounds)

Lunch:

o-hiru-go-han

hiru-go-han

o-hiru

hiru

chuu-shoku

hiru-meshi (very informal and masculine sounds)

hantai “opposition”

When we add -suru gold or suru , becomes a verb that means “to oppose”. The opposite word is sansei, which means “approval”. Particle or it follows the object that one opposes or agrees with.

Example

Musume not kekkon nor hantai suru.

“I am opposed to my daughter’s marriage.”

Today’s destiny phrase

Tokyo nor kaetta.

“She went back to Tokyo.“

The verb conjugations that make the –your form of a verb, or the simple past form of a verb, are today’s grammatical point. The formation of the simple past form is quite simple: change the final sound of the –you form from –you for –your.

-t form of verbs

1. Conjugate a verb with the –you form. SEE Articles 19, 20, 21, and 22 of Beginner Series Season 4 for more details.
2. Release the tea and add –your

“English” / Dictionary form / The shape / Your form

“to buy” / kau / Katte / Katta

“to write” / kaku / kaite / kaita

“talk” / hanasu / hanashita / hanashita

“expect” / matsu / mate / matta

“To die” / shinu / shinde / shinda

“to drink” / nomu / nonde / nonda

“to make” / tsukuru / tsukutte / tsukutta

“to swim” / oyogu / oyoids / oyoida

“invite” / I bu / yonde / yonda

“to go” / iku / itte / itta

“eat” / taberu / tabeta / tabeta

“to return” / Kaeru / kaette / kaetta

“do” / suru / shit / shita

“come” / kuru / Kite / kita

Formal and informal speech

Politeness Level / Formal Speech / Informal SpeechAffirmative not past / Watashi wa Tokyo ni kaerimasu. / Watashi wa Tokyo ni kaeru.

No negative past / Watashi wa Tokyo ni kaerimasen. / Watashi wa Tokyo ni kaeranai.

Affirmative Past / Miu wa Tokyo ni kaerimashita. / Miu wa Tokyo ni kaetta.

Negative past / Miu wa Tokio ni kaerimasen deshita. / Miu wa Tokio ni kaeranakatta.

Notes:

* Non-past dictionary form of a verb: see Nihongo Doojoo, “Style You and Beyond, Articles 19, 20, 21 and 22”, for more details.

* Uneducated Past Form of a Verb – See Season 4 Beginner Article 23 for more details.

* Note that the simple negative non-past form of a verb is conjugated as final -i adjectives to obtain the past form. Change the ending -I for Katta.

For instance:

1. Kaeranai becomes keranakatta
2. minai becomes minakatta

This grammar point has yet to be explained in the Nihongo Doojoo series.

Practice 1:

Fill in the blanks to complete the table.

Class 1 verbs

“English” / Dictionary form / Simple negative form / -Shapes you / -Ta Form

“listen” / kiku / kikanai / kiite / Kiita

“to lend” / —- / Kasanai / kashite / —-

“expect” / matsu / —- / —- / —-

“read” / —- / yomanai / —- / —-

“understand” / —- / —- / wakatte / —-

“to go” / iku / —- / itte / —-

“tell” / iku / iwanai / itte / —-

“get together” / for / —- / —- / —-

Class 2 verbs

“English” / Dictionary form / Simple negative form / -Shapes you / -Ta Form

“to sleep” / neru / baby / no / —-

“look” / miru / —- / —- / —-

Class 3 verbs

“English” / Dictionary form / Simple negative form / -Shapes you / -Ta Form

“do” / —- / —- / shit / —-

“come” / kuru / —- / Kite / —-

Practice 2:

Swap formal speech for informal speech.

1. Terebi or mimashita.
2. Yhan or tabemashita.
3. Nihon-go or benky shimashita.
4. Kin Nihon ni kimashita.
5. Wakarimashita.
6. Mizu or nomimashita.
7. Takush of ikimashita.