Jessica

A bathroom sink and a bathtub have very different names in Japanese. Here are eight words to use when you're getting ready. 鏡 (kagami) — mirror 歯ブラシ (haburashi) — toothbrush 歯磨き粉 (hamigakiko) — toothpaste せっけん (sekken) — soap タオル (taoru) — towel 洗面台 (senmendai) — bathroom sink シャワー (shawaa) — shower 浴槽 (yokusou) — bathtub 洗面台の鏡を見ます。 Senmendai no kagami o mimasu. — I look in the bathroom mirror.

One cat, one box, six ways to say where the cat is. Put の between the object and the position word. 箱の中 (hako no naka) — inside the box 箱の外 (hako no soto) — outside the box 箱の上 (hako no ue) — on the box 箱の下 (hako no shita) — under the box 箱の前 (hako no mae) — in front of the box 箱の後ろ (hako no ushiro) — behind the box The box hides most of the cat, but you can see its ears poking out behind it. Which phrase fits? 箱の後ろ. To say the full sentence: 猫は箱の後ろにいます。 Neko wa hako no ushiro ni imasu. — The cat is behind the box.

You can “turn off” a light, “close” a door and “lock” it. In Japanese, learn the noun and verb together. 電気をつける (denki o tsukeru) — turn on the light 電気を消す (denki o kesu) — turn off the light ドアを開ける (doa o akeru) — open the door ドアを閉める (doa o shimeru) — close the door 鍵をかける (kagi o kakeru) — lock the door 鍵を開ける (kagi o akeru) — unlock the door Quick check: You're leaving home and want to tell someone to lock up. Do you say ドアを閉めて or 鍵をかけて? 鍵をかけて (kagi o kakete). ドアを閉めて only asks them to close the door.

“I want it” and “I want to do it” need different shapes in Japanese. ほしい (hoshii): want a thing コーヒーがほしいです。 Koohii ga hoshii desu. — I want some coffee. たい (tai): want to do an action コーヒーを飲みたいです。 Koohii o nomitai desu. — I want to drink some coffee. Try the same contrast with a camera: カメラがほしいです。 Kamera ga hoshii desu. — I want a camera. カメラを買いたいです。 Kamera o kaitai desu. — I want to buy a camera. Build the action form from the ます-stem: 飲みます → 飲みたいです nomimasu → nomitai desu 買います → 買いたいです kaimasu → kaitai desu Common fix: × 飲むたいです (nomu tai desu) ○ 飲みたいです (nomitai desu) These examples describe your own wishes. “Want a thing” uses noun + が + ほしい; “want to do” uses verb stem + たい. Do not attach たい to the dictionary form.

You may recognize the building before you can read the sign. These 12 Japanese place names help connect the two. 駅 (eki) — train station 銀行 (ginkou) — bank 郵便局 (yuubinkyoku) — post office 図書館 (toshokan) — library 病院 (byouin) — hospital 学校 (gakkou) — school 公園 (kouen) — park 交番 (kouban) — police box 市役所 (shiyakusho) — city hall スーパー (suupaa) — supermarket 本屋 (honya) — bookstore 薬局 (yakkyoku) — pharmacy Need directions? 郵便局はどこですか。 Yuubinkyoku wa doko desu ka. — Where is the post office? Notice the difference: 図書館 lets you borrow books; 本屋 sells them. Which signs have you spotted in Japan?