In this podcast, Asuka and I teach you some useful classroom Japanese phrases so you can interact with your teacher and understand more. We teach you how to ask questions about vocabulary and sentences. In fact, I wish I had known all this when I started to study Japanese in Tokyo all those years ago. It would have helped me learn vocabulary a lot more quickly. We also teach you how to speak in a respectful way to your Sensei. And of course you can catch up with the rest of our random banter about what’s been going on with Asuka and I recently. Check out the podcast!
Main Podcast
Japanese Dialogues
Vocabulary
| Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
| 先生 | Sensei | Teacher |
| ちょっと | Chotto | A little |
| 質問 | Shitsumon | Question |
| どうぞ | Dōzo | Please go ahead |
| …てどういう意味ですか | …te dō iu imi desu ka | What does … mean? |
| …という意味です。 | …to iu imi desu | It means… |
| …でどんな文章が作るんですか？ | …de donna bunshō ga tsukurun desu ka | What kind of sentence can you make with… |
| 食事 | Shokuji | Food |
| 残す | Nokosu | To leave something |
| 彼女 | Kanojo | Girlfriend |
| 振る | Furu | To shake / to dump someone |
| 使える | Tsukaeru | To be able to use something |
| 君 | Kimi | You (casual) |
| 指輪 | Yubiwa | Ring |
Main Dialog 1 (Japanese)
| Student: | 先生、ちょっと質問があります。 | Sensei, chotto shitsumon ga arimasu. |
| Teacher: | はい、どうぞ。 | Hai dōzo. |
| Student: | 「もったいない」ってどういう意味ですか？ | Mottainai tte dō iu imi desu ka. |
| Teacher: | それはtoo good to wasteという意味です。 | Sore wa too good to waste to iu imi desu. |
| Student: | 「もったいない」で、どんな文章が作れるんですか？ | Mottainai de donna bunshō ga tsukurun desu ka. |
| Teacher: | 食事を残すなんてもったいない。 | Shokuji o nokosu nante mottainai. |
| Student: | そのように使うんですね。わかりました。ありがとうございます。 | Sono yō ni tsukaun desu ne. Wakarimashita. Arigatō gozaimasu. |
Main Dialog (English)
| Student: | (Teacher) Could I just ask a question? |
| Teacher: | Yes, go ahead. |
| Student: | What does “Mottainai” mean? |
| Teacher: | “Mottainai” means too good to waste. |
| Student: | How do you use “Mottainai” in a sentence? |
| Teacher: | Leaving food is a waste (mottainai). |
| Student: | That’s how you use it! I understand. Thank you. |
Random Phrase – Mottainai – It’s a waste
Here are some extra examples of this week’s random phrase which is “Mottainai” which means it’s such a waste.
1) 彼女を振ったなんてもったいない！
Kanojo futta nante mottainai
It was such a shame (waste) that you dumped your girlfriend!
2) もう新しいパソコン買うの？もったいないな、まだ使えるのに。
mō atarashii pasokon kau no. mottainai na, mada tsukaeru noni.
You’re buying a new PC already? That’s a waste, you can still use the old one.
3) 君にその指輪はもったいないよ。
Kimi ni sono yubiwa mottainai yo
That ring is wasted on you.
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