VOCABULARY

こんにちは hello (daytime greeting)

あの um; well; err [often said longer: あのう]

大丈夫 all right; okay

です be; is (copula)

か (question marker)

NOTES

こんにちは is said anytime during the daytime. The kanji is 今日(こんにち) which means “this day” but it is usually written in hiragana since 今日 can also be pronounced kyou. When used as a greeting, it is followed by the topic particle は. A literal translation might be, “as for this day…”

あの can mean “that” when referring to something in the distance, but here, it is an interjection.

VOCABULARY

えっ eh (a show of surprise)

NOTES

え？ when said as a question (rising) can show surprise or confusion. The small っ indicates an abrupt stop mimicking the surprise one might feel when saying it.

When said as a statement, ええ shows agreement. Is that right? ええ、そうです。 ee sou desu. Yes, that’s right.

VOCABULARY

大丈夫 all right; okay

NOTES

VOCABULARY

ええと let me see…; well
はい yes
大丈夫 all right; okay
です be; is (copula)

NOTES

ええと is a common interjection when stalling for words. Let me see… What was it…? 

VOCABULARY

あなた you
は (topic marker)
誰 who
です be; is (copula)
か (question marker)

NOTES

(question word) + ですか is an easy way to form questions

• 誰だれですか dare desu ka—Who is it?
• 何なんですか nan desu ka—What is it?
• どこですか doko desu ka—Where is it?
• いつですか itsu desu ka—When is it?

VOCABULARY

私 I; me
は (topic particle)
フランク Frank
です be; is (copula)

NOTES

は as the topic particle is pronounced “wa” even though it is written with the hiragana “ha.” It may be helpful to think of it as meaning, “as for x”

私わたしは、ねこがすき。  
watashi wa neko ga suki.
As for me, I like cats.

VOCABULARY

はじめまして Nice to meet you
おばあさん grandma; old lady

NOTES

おばあさん means grandmother or female senior citizen. Do not confuse this with おばさん which means “aunt” or “young to middle-aged lady.”

VOCABULARY

大丈夫 okay; fine
です be; is (copula)
か (sentence ending question marker)

NOTES

Many statements like 大丈夫だいじょうぶです (I am fine) can be made into a question by adding a か.

VOCABULARY

もう already; anymore
大丈夫 OK; fine
元気 healthy; energetic
です be; is (copula)
か (sentence ender that indicates a question)

NOTES
もう大丈夫だいじょうぶ？ as a question (Are you all better?) could be answered with the same phrasing: もう大丈夫だいじょうぶ。(I’m) fine now.

もう can also mean “more” or “again” [examples: もう一回いっかい mou ikkai—one more time; もう一匹いっぴきの猫ねこ mou ippiki no neko—one more cat]

もう can also mean “soon” for something about to happen. 
もう寝ねます mou nemasu—I’m going to sleep; もう帰かえりましょう mou kaerimashou—let’s go soon

VOCABULARY

いいえ no
元気 healthy; fine; energetic
ではありません (polite) is not

NOTES

The kanji for 元気げんき literally means “beginning of spirit.” (気き can mean many things like: spirit; mind; air; atmosphere; mood)

VOCABULARY

あなた you
は (topic particle)
フランクさん Mr. Frank
です be; is (copula)
ね (sentence ender showing emphasis or agreement or request for confirmation)

NOTES

おばあさん uses さん with Frank’s name out of respect. Only the closest of friends may drop the さん. Never use さん with yourself.

VOCABULARY

はい yes
私 I; me
は (topic particle)
フランク Frank
です be; is (copula)

NOTES

VOCABULARY

何か　something
飲みたい like to drink
です be; is (copula)
か (sentence ender that indicates a question)

NOTES

Just as か at the end of a sentence makes it into a question, adding か to a question word like 何なに (what) adds a question or uncertainty to the question word:

• 何なに nani—what —> 何なにか nanika—something
• どこ doko—where —> どこか dokoka—somewhere
• いつ itsu—when —> いつか itsuka—sometime

VOCABULARY

はい yes
飲みたい like to drink
です be; is (copula)

NOTES

The たい means “want to.” 
Just drop the –masu and add たい.

• 飲のみます nomimasu—to drink
• 飲のみたい nomitai—want to drink
• 食べます tabemasu—to eat
• 食べたい tabetai—want to eat

VOCABULARY

はい (used to get attention)

どうぞ please; here you are

NOTES

As mentioned above, the はい here, rather than showing affirmation (yes), is used to get Frank’s attention prior to speaking.

VOCABULARY

これは as for this
何 what
です be; is (copula)
か (ender indicating a question)

NOTES

Think of the は particle (topic particle written with the hiragana “ha” but pronounced “wa”) as “as for this…” 私わたしは watashi wa…—as for me, I...

VOCABULARY

水 water

です be; is (copula)

NOTES

Literally, just “water is” since the “it” or topic is obvious.

VOCABULARY

水 water

って (casual quoting particle)

何ですか what is (it)?

です be; is (copula)

NOTES

って何なんですか  is a useful way to ask what anything is. If you don’t understand a word someone just said, repeat the word and add って何なんですか？

Or you can point at something and say, これって何なんですか？ What is this?

VOCABULARY

水 water

は (topic particle)

飲み物 a drink

です be; is (copula)

NOTES

物もの mono just  means “thing” or “object.” it is used for non-living things. If you want to say “someone” or an “unknown person” use 者もの which is also pronounced mono. Take the –masu form, drop the –masu, and add 物もの.

• 飲のみます nomimasu—to drink
• 飲のみ物もの nomimono—thing to drink (a drink)
• 食たべ物もの tabemono—thing to eat (food)

VOCABULARY

あ ah; show of surprise

そうですか I see; is that so? [Frank could also say そうか which is often said among friends and family members, but since he should be polite to the older lady he just met, he shouldn’t be that casual.]

おいしい delicious

宇宙の中 in all the universe

の (particle that shows possession or linkage)

一番おいしい most delicious

飲み物 drink

です be; is (copula)

NOTES

宇宙うちゅう can mean “outer space” in general or the entire universe.

Adding の中なか to things means “inside that.” 机つくえの中なか tsukue no naka—inside the desk; 家いえの中なか ie no naka—inside the house.

一番いちばん literally means “number one.” When combined with other words, it means “the best” or “-est.”

VOCABULARY

今いまから from now
どこか somewhere
へ to (somewhere)
行いきません won’t go
か (indicates question )

NOTES

Literally, “from now-someplace-to-don’t go-(question).”

This negative question asks if he wouldn’t like to go somewhere. “Wouldn’t you like to go somewhere?”  This is a polite way to make a suggestion in the form of a negative question.

• 行いきます ikimasu to go
• 行いきません ikimasen to not go

VOCABULARY

どこ where

に to

NOTES

The に shows motion or direction. “To where” versus “where.”

VOCABULARY

おすし屋さん sushi restaurant

は (topic particle)

どう how about

NOTES

すし屋や means “sushi shop.” The お is added for politeness and the さん is added as an honorific with occupational titles. Here isn’t necessarily referring to someone, but rather to the restaurant as a whole.

• 本屋ほんやさん honya san—bookseller.
• パン屋やさん pan ya san—baker; breadstore

VOCABULARY

すし sushi

って (casual quoting particle)

何 what

だろう I wonder

NOTES

何なんだろう is used like, “I wonder what X is.” This may be said aloud but is really to oneself.

VOCABULARY

こんにちは hello (daytime greeting)
お元気ですか (polite) how are you

NOTES

The お in お元気げんき is added for politeness when speaking about someone else’s health. You would not use the お about your own level of 元気げんき.

VOCABULARY

それは as for that

すし sushi

です is; am (copula)

よ (sentence ender to show emphasis)

NOTES

These demonstrative pronouns have a different form if placed directly before a noun.

• これ this (object nearby) | この this (used before nouns: このねこ this cat)
• それ that (object near listener) | その this (used before nouns そのいす that chair)
• あれ that (object not near either person) | あの this (used before nouns あのひと that person)

VOCABULARY

ああ ah (show of surprise)

これは as for this

すし sushi

そうか I see; I get it [when more or less speaking to oneself]

はい yes

わかりました (I) understand

こんにちは Hello (daytime greeting)

すしさん Mr. Sushi

NOTES

わかりました is often used to show not only understanding but agreement also.

こんにちは is used throughout the daytime hours. おはようございます is used in the morning. こんばんは is used at night.

VOCABULARY

それは as for that

人間 human being

ではありません isn’t

NOTES

Frank shouldn’t use –san with non-human objects

VOCABULARY

私も I also; me too

人間 human being

ではありません am not

NOTES

も means “too” or “also.”

• あなたも you too
• ねこも the cat too
• きのうも yesterday too
• それも that also

VOCABULARY

あっそう hmmm; oh

それなら in that case

いい (it’s) fine

わ (feminine ender)

NOTES

わ is a common sentence ender used mostly by women. It can indicate emotion or admiration.

それなら is made up of それ (that) and なら (if).

VOCABULARY

おばあさん old lady; grandmother

私の my

友達 friend

NOTES

私わたし watashi by itself is the first person pronoun (I, me). When you add の it becomes possessive. 私わたしの my.

あなたの anata no—yours
彼かれらの karera no—theirs

VOCABULARY

あなたの your

友達 friend

って you said (casual quoting particle)

NOTES

If you wanted to say “your” plural, add tachi: あなたたちの

Adding って after something you don’t understand is an easy and useful way to elicit further information.

VOCABULARY

これ this

NOTES

VOCABULARY

さっき previously; just now

言った said

でしょう isn’t it; don’t you agree? I wonder; I hope

それは as for that

すし sushi

です be; is (the polite copula)

友達 friend

じゃない isn’t

のよ (ender for emphasis)

NOTES

Remember to use さん even with friends.

さっき usually indicates something that very recently occurred, but it can be a generic “earlier.”

でしょう is one of those versatile words that has many meanings depending on the context. Here, Obaasan is lightly berating Frank for forgetting. Don’t you remember what I just said?!

じゃない is a casual form of ではない or the more formal ではありません. It negates the sentence. “is not”

VOCABULARY

さあ well, then…; come on

おばあさんに to Obaasan

自己紹介 self-introduction

してください please do (self-introduction)

NOTES

さあ is another useful interjection. It can be a subtle prompter to do something (as in this case) or can show ignorance: “I don’t know”

• Do you know when we’ll finish? さあ (who knows)

自己紹介じこしょうかい is made of  自己じこ which means “self” and 紹介しょうかい which means “introduction.”

VOCABULARY

すし sushi
話せません cannot speak

よ (ender showing emphasis)

NOTES

VOCABULARY

話せません can’t speak

か (question)
話しません don’t speak

NOTES

You can give a number of options and put a か after each one to make a list of “or…or?”

Here are a few examples of changing a verb to mean "not able to…" The -i becomes -e.

• 飛とびません (don't fly) 飛とべません (can't fly)
• 読よみません (don't read) 読よめません (can't read)

Not all verbs use this form, but these are a few useful ones.

VOCABULARY

話せません cannot speak
です be; is (copula)

NOTES

She could have just said 話はなせません but by adding です, she is emphasizing the correct answer.

VOCABULARY

おお ah; oh; good heavens!
かわいそうに what a poor thing; how pitiable

NOTES

The に after かわいそう turns it into an adverbial phrase.

Don’t confuse this with かわいい (cute), but if it helps you remember, it...

VOCABULARY

すし sushi

かわいそう poor thing; pitiable

じゃない isn’t

のよ ender showing emphasis and certainty

食べ物 food

だから so; therefore; because

NOTES

The は (topic particle, pronounced “wa”) sets すし as the overall topic for both sentences.

The のよ and だから are used to emphasize the Obaasan’s belief in the truth of her statement. You shouldn’t feel bad for sushi. It’s just food!

VOCABULARY

え？！ What?!

本当？ Really?

NOTES

え is a common interjection showing surprise or disbelief.

The adverbial form is 本当ほんとうに really; truly.

フランクは本当ほんとうに素敵すてきな人ひとです。

VOCABULARY

ああ ah; oh; alas!

さようなら goodbye

友 friend

よ (ender showing emphasis and certainty)

NOTES

さようなら is usually said when parting for a long time. Frank will never again see his friend, so this is appropriate. To tell someone goodbye and you expect to see him or her again soon, use またね or even バイバイ (bye bye).

友ともよ is more dramatic than saying the more common 友達ともだち. It gives a sense of emotion and close friendship.

VOCABULARY

フランクさん Frank
私の my
友達 friend
紹介 introduce

NOTES

Use さん even after the name of close friends.

する means to do or activate the previous word, so 紹介しょうかいする would mean “to introduce.” したい means to want to do. 紹介しょうかいしたい means “to want to introduce.”

わ is a feminine sentence ender.

VOCABULARY

いいですね Isn’t that good?

ちょうど  just (became hungry)

腹減った hungry [literally, stomach decreased; this is a rough or crude way to say "I'm hungry." Say only among friends.]

NOTES

As a set phrase, いいですね is often used to show agreement. いい is good and the ね shows agreement or emphasis.

ちょうど indicates a recent occurrence: Frank was just starting to feel hungry.

VOCABULARY

私の友達 my friend

食べ物 food

ではありません isn’t

NOTES

Think of 私わたしの as “my.”

ではありません is polite negative. じゃない is the same thing in the plain form.

VOCABULARY

でも but
さっき previously
あなたは as for you, you...
私の友達 my friend
食べちゃった ate up

NOTES

The ちゃった (colloquial form of しまった) shows completeness and often with regret.

The よ sentence ender shows emphasis.

VOCABULARY

さっき previously; just now
言った said
でしょ didn’t I? Don’t you remember?
それは as for that
すし sushi
でした was (the polite copula)
友達 friend
じゃない isn’t
のよ (ender for emphasis)

NOTES

さっき usually indicates something that very recently occurred, but it can be a generic “earlier.”

でしょう is one of those versatile words that has many meanings depending on the context. Here, Obaasan is lightly berating Frank for forgetting. Don’t you remember what I just said?!

じゃない is a casual form of ではない or the more formal ではありません. It negates the sentence. “is not”

のよ is made of  の which is a sentence ender that indicates emphasis and confidence in the conclusion. よ likewise shows certainty and emphasis.

VOCABULARY

わかりました I understand
食べられない cannot eat
食べられない友達 inedible friend
してください please (introduce me)

NOTES

わかりました is used often in speech to show agreement as well as understanding. As the past tense, it shows you have already thought it through and understand the speaker’s point.

食たべる to eat | 食たべない to not eat 
食たべられない cannot eat; inedible

VOCABULARY

山田さん Mrs. Yamada

こちら this (meaning, Frank)

私の友達 my friend

NOTES

I’m assuming Yamada next door is a married, older lady, 山田やまださん could be Mr., Miss, or even a child.

VOCABULARY

あ ah; oh

初めまして Nice to meet you.

NOTES

初はじめまして is a set phrase when meeting someone for the first time. Literally, this means “let’s start.”

How do you do? Glad to have met you.

VOCABULARY

初めまして Nice to meet you.

おばあさんの The Obaasan’s

食べられない友達 inedible friend

NOTES

You can parse 食たべられない友達ともだち backwards like, “the friend 友達ともだち who cannot be eaten 食たべられない”

VOCABULARY

フランクさんは as for Frank

どこから from where

いらしたんでした came from

っけ (particle that shows the speaker is trying to recall something)

アメリカ America

フランス France

NOTES

いらしたん is from いらっしゃる and is an honorific， respectful way to ask of someone’s origins. When asking, say this, どこからいらっしゃいましたか？ Where are you from?

っけ is used when you don’t quite remember the details of some information you once knew and want to prompt your listener into reminding you.

あなたのうちはどこだっけ？ Where is your house again?

VOCABULARY

いいえ no
違います incorrect; wrong
僕 I; me
宇宙人 alien; space man
宇宙から from space
来ました came

NOTES

While いいえ、違ちがいます literally means, “no (you are) wrong,” it isn’t as rude-sounding as it is in English. “No, that’s not quite right.”

A US citizen is アメリカ人じん. A French person would be フランス人じん.. Someone from outer space would be 宇宙人うちゅうじん.

VOCABULARY

宇宙・・・ Outer space...

VOCABULARY

どうしたの？ What’s wrong?

NOTES

This set phrase is どうした (in what way) + the sentence ender, の (indicating a question and often with an emotional emphasis).

This の is used just as Frank is using it, when asking what the matter is. If a child is crying, this is the question to ask.