June 19th, 2009 | View Comments

[podcast]http://media.libsyn.com/media/japanese/funfriday20090619.mp3[/podcast]

In this week’s Fun Friday we have music from Crispy Nuts and Electric Eel shock, two awesome rock bands from Japan. We also talk about some cool Japan related websites, how to become a ninja and other sillly banter with me Alex and the unstoppable Coffeebot.

Shout out to Tomo Akiyama who taught us how to say “Is that a sword in your pocket or are you happy to see me?”.

If you have any funny, interesting or amazing Japan related pictures or stories, shout outs or whatever please send them to info[at]learnjapanesepod[dot]com

Featured websites included:

Tofugu

Monster flower

Cracked

Black Belt Course

Featured bands were:

Crispy Nuts

Electric Eel Shock

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Featured Photo

The sign reads “HOMO SAUSAGE”…no comment. Thanks to Coffeebot for sending this photo in.

Please send your own Japan related photos to info[at]learnjapanesepod[dot]com to be featured on Fun Friday

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Posted in Fun Friday, Podcasts
May 28th, 2009 | View Comments

[podcast]http://media.libsyn.com/media/japanese/lj89.mp3[/podcast]

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In this week’s podcast, Waka sensei teaches us how to use the phrase 間に合う/ ma ni au / to be in time. The easiest example of this would be "電車に間に合った” densha ni ma ni atta – I was on time for the train or I made it in time for the train. This is a really useful phrase that I hear all the time.

However I was interested to learn that this in fact has another meaning I had never heard of before which means to "be enough". For example, "お金は間に合ってる” okane wa ma ni atteru – I have enough money. This isn’t quite as common as the first usage but it is used. Enjoy the podcast.

 

Posted in Podcasts
March 20th, 2008 | View Comments

[podcast]http://media.libsyn.com/media/japanese/lj61.mp3[/podcast]

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Waka sensei was kind enough to teach me Japanese outside on her sunny flower filled wooden deck. This week we studied the verb “Kariru” which means to borrow. This is a very useful word you can use in everyday conversation. Sorry about the noisy dog in the background.

Posted in Podcasts
February 19th, 2008 | View Comments

[podcast]http://media.libsyn.com/media/japanese/lj60.mp3[/podcast]

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Today Waka sensei teaches us about the word “あたりまえ”(atarimae) which has a few meanings including, obvious, of course and to take something for granted. This is quite a useful phrase that you will hear in daily conversation to express that a fact or answer to a question is obvious. It can also be used to express the idea of taking things for granted.

Resources:
Atarimae example sentences

Don’t forget to check out the…
FORUMS

Posted in Podcasts
February 7th, 2008 | View Comments

[podcast]http://media.libsyn.com/media/japanese/lj59.mp3[/podcast]

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Hello again everyone and Learn Japanese Pod is back with a new free Japanese lesson podcast for your entertainment and edification. In this lesson Beb and I discussed the use of the word “寒い/samui or cold.

However, this word can also mean something is unfunny. Why? The idea is, when you hear a joke that is so bad, it sends shivers down your spine, hence “Samui!”. So it’s a great way to tell someone not to give up their day job.

Another word in Japanese that is used to describe something cold is “冷たい/tsumetai. Like Samui, this means cold however it is used to describe objects and liquids. Samui is usually used just to talk about temperature. For example you can say “kyou wa samui” or today it is cold. However you say “kono koucha ga tsumetai” or this tea is cold. Another possible use is “ano hito wa tsumetai” or that person is cold. (Standoffish/distant/unfriendly)

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