にほんごのたね Nihongo no Tane with Yumi

Last week, a friend of ours brought his son over to talk about Japan. This young man really wants to move to Japan. Yumi felt a little nostalgic after the meeting. His strong desire to learn Japanese and live in Japan reminded her of her husband Clay when he was younger. Today, she tells a little more about this son and the challenges he has to overcome.

KEY VOCABULARY:

前回(ぜんかい) last time; last episode

息子(むすこ)くん (other person’s) son

我(わ)が家(や) my home; our house

遊(あそ)びに来(き)た came to visit

若者(わかもの) young man

憧(あこが)れている  longing for; admiring; attracted by

田舎町(いなかまち) small town; country small town

同(おな)じ年頃(としごろ) about the same age

あっという間(ま)に in no time

話(はな)し相手(あいて) conversation partner; someone to talk to

文化(ぶんか)に浸(ひた)りたい to want to be immersed in (Japanese) culture

軍隊(ぐんたい) military

眼科(がんか)の先生(せんせい)  Ophthalmologist; eye doctor

基地(きち) (military) base

ポロリ(ぽろり)と漏(も)らした let slip

宣言(せんげん) declaration

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-103

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-103-m

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Japan is a very safe country. It is also very clean. There isn’t much garbage on the streets as you might see in other countries. However, there aren’t many public garbage cans. Listen as Yumi explains the connection between the lack of garbage cans and public safety.

KEY VOCABULARY:

先日(せんじつ) the other day

我(わ)が家(いえ) our house; our family

長年(ながねん)の友達(ともだち) long-time friend

息子(むすこ)さん (his) son; someone else’s son

遊(あそ)びに来(き)ました came over; came to visit

一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい) with utmost effort

文化(ぶんか)や歴史(れきし) culture or history

禅(ぜん) Zen Buddhism

話題(わだい)になった became a topic of conversation

テロを防(ふせ)ぐため in order to prevent terrorism

即答(そくとう)  immediate reply

地下鉄(ちかてつ)サリン事件(じけん) Tokyo subway sarin gas attck

オウム真理教(しんりきょう)  Aum Shinrikyo  doomsday cult that mixed elements of Buddhism, Hinduism, and end time Christian beliefs

宗教団体(しゅうきょうだんたい)  religious group

毒(どく)ガス poisonous gas

一切(いっさい)なくなりました completely disappeared; all gone

不思議(ふしぎ)な国(くに) strange country

殺人事件(さつじんじけん) murder incidents

凶悪犯罪(きょうあくはんざい) atrocious crimes

例(れい)がない unprecedented

安倍元総理大臣(あべもとそうりだいじん) Former Prime Minister Abe

手作(てづく)りの銃(じゅう) handmade gun

記憶(きおく)に新(あたら)しいところです  fresh on one’s mind; fresh in one’s memory

違法(いほう) illegal

猟師(りょうし)さん hunter

手先(てさき)が器用(きよう)な skillful; dexterous with one’s hands

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-102

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-102-m

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www.MakotoPlus.com

The 101st episode. Today, Yumi shares some details and trivia about a 1991 hit TV drama called The 101st Proposal starring Takeda Tetsuya and Asano Atsuko.

KEY VOCABULARY:

101回目(かいめ) 101st time

101回目(かいめ)のプロポーズ 101st Proposal (1991 Fuji TV drama)

平成(へいせい)3年(ねん) Heisei 3; 1991

フジテレビ Fuji TV (TV Station)

放送(ほうそう)された was broadcast

武田鉄矢(たけだてつや) Takeda Tetsuya [Japanese folk singer and actor; he has a weekly podcast called 今朝の三枚おろし (This Morning’s Three Cuts) where he shares interesting tidbits from some book he’s recently read. The topics vary widely, but it is always interesting. He has a deep knowledge in a wide variety of topics. Recommended for intermediates and above.]

浅野温子(あさのあつこ) Asano Atsuko [Actress]

最終回(さいしゅうかい) final episode (of a TV program)

視聴率(しちょうりつ) viewing rate; ratings (of a TV program)

リメイク remake

チェロ奏者(そうしゃ) Cellist

お見合(みあ)い a formal marriage interview [often set up by matchmakers]

冴(さ)えないおじさん dull older man; unattractive older man

結婚式当日(けっこんしきとうじつ) the day of (her) wedding

ひたむきに dedicated; single mindedly; earnestly

ダンプカー dump truck

僕(ぼく)は死(し)にません I won’t die

美女(びじょ)と野獣(やじゅう) Beauty and the Beast

交通(こうつう)マナー traffic manners; traffic etiquette

台本(だいほん) script

流行語(りゅうこうご) buzzword; vogue word; popular phrase

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-101

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-101-m

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www.MakotoPlus.com

100th episode. Yumi started this podcast exactly two years ago and is now on her 100th episode. Today, Yumi talks about several interesting Japanese phrases that include the word 百【ひゃく】 (hundred).

Also, to celebrate the 100th episode, Makoto+ members not only get a full transcript, but we also created an Anki flashcard deck with dozens of key vocabulary words heard in today’s podcast. Not only that, each card has a sound file. Listen, learn, and repeat with Yumi!

KEY VOCABULARY:

百回(ひゃっかい)目(め) the 100th time

たどり着(つ)く to arrive at (after a struggle); to finally reach

百貨店(ひゃっかてん)  department store

百獣(ひゃくじゅう)の王(おう) King of a hundred beasts (lion)

種類(しゅるい) variety; sort; kind

という意味(いみ) such a meaning

百戦錬磨(ひゃくせんれんま) veteran; battle-worn; rich in experience

経験(けいけん)を積(つ)む to gain experience; to accumulate experiences

戦(たたか)い fight; battle; struggle

鍛(きた)える to forge; to drill; to train; to discipline

百花繚乱(ひゃっかりょうらん) a gathering of many talented people; gathering of many beautiful women; simultaneous emergence of many talents and achievements        

乱(みだ)れる to be disordered; to be disarrayed; to be upset; to be confused; to lapse into chaos

能力(のうりょく)がある人(ひと) a person with ability

優(すぐ)れた人物(じんぶつ)  an outstanding person; person of distinction

同(おな)じ時期(じき)に at the same time

活躍(かつやく)する to be active; to flourish; to participate actively

百回(ひゃっかい)を迎(むか)える to reach 100 times; to welcome the 100th time

私(わたし)の気持(きも)ち my feelings

紹介(しょうかい)します to introduce; (I) will introduce

続(つづ)く to continue

受験勉強(じゅけんべんきょう) studying for a test; studying for school entrance exams

諦(あきら)めないで don’t give up

最後(さいご)まで until the end

試(し)験(けん) test

こうやって in this way; like this

～気(き)がします I have a feeling that~

見(み)たことある (I’ve) seen it before

穴(あな)を掘(ほ)る to dig a hole

あともう一息(ひといき) just a little more [literally, after one more breath]

宝物(たからもの)に届(とど)く to reach the treasure

隣(となり) next to; next door; neighbor

同(おな)じように in the same way

諦(あきら)めずに without giving up

最後(さいご)まで until the end

手(て)に入(い)れる to obtain; to procure; to get a hold of

気持(きも)ちはわかります (I) understand the feeling

辿(たど)り着(つ)く to arrive at (after a struggle); to finally reach; to find one’s way to

～を目指(めざ)して aiming for ~

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-100

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-100-m

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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Yumi has been on a cleaning kick. She’s always been tidy, but recently, she’s gotten serious about it. Japan has very clean streets despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that there are few public trash cans. Is there some connection with Japanese history and mythology to explain this?

KEY VOCABULARY:

掃除(そうじ) cleaning

ピカピカ  with a glitter; with a sparkle; shiny and new

磨(みが)いています polishing; shining

主婦(しゅふ) housewife; homemaker

言葉(ことば)に触発(しょくはつ)されて  inspired by words [言葉 (words) に (by) 触発 (triggering; inspiring) されて (passive)]

管理(かんり) control; management

整理(せいり) sorting; arrangement; putting in order

真剣(しんけん)に earnestly; in earnest

隙間(すきま)  crevice; crack; gap

面倒(めんどう)くさい bothersome; tiresome

綿棒(めんぼう) cotton swab

竹串(たけぐし) bamboo skewer

神道(しんとう) Shinto

境内(けいだい) grounds (of shrine); compound

神話(しんわ) mythology; legend

日本(にほん)の国旗(こっき) Japanese flag

清潔(せいけつ) cleanliness; hygienic

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-99

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-99-m

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Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency.

KEY VOCABULARY:

オノマトペ onomatopoeia

ごちゃごちゃ messy; confused; chaotic

整理(せいり)されていない  not organized

状態(じょうたい) condition; state of things

ペコペコ very hungry; starving

ペラペラ fluent (speaking foreign languages); incessantly (speaking)

流暢(りゅうちょう)に fluent; flowing

ゴロゴロする  roll about; idling about; thundering; purring

ガタンゴトン clickety-clack

終点(しゅうてん) terminus; last stop (train)

川上(かわかみ) upstream

ドンブラコドンブラコ effect of tumbling

クンクン effect of sniffing

ドドドド sound of something heavy moving rapidly

グラグラ  wobbling; shaking; unsteadily

ピキピキ snapping

豊富(ほうふ)に abundantly

身近(みぢか)に near at hand; near oneself

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-98

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-98-m

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www.MakotoPlus.com

Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency.

KEY VOCABULARY:

オノマトペ onomatopoeia

日本人(にほんじん)らしく話(はなし)せる to be able to speak like a Japanese

汗(あせ)をかいた to sweat

さっぱり refreshed

含(ふく)まれます includes

さっぱり分(わ)からない don’t know at all

ゴロゴロ loafing; rolling; sound of thunder

回転(かいてん)する to rotate; to turn

クタクタ exhausted; tired; worn out

芯(しん)  wick; core; heart; center

カンカンになっている to be very angry

絶対許(ぜったいゆる)さない absolutely won’t forgive

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-97

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-97-m

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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency.

KEY VOCABULARY:

オノマトペ onomatopoeia

擬音語(ぎおんご)  sound word onomatopoeia

擬態語(ぎたいご) mimetic word

音(おと)を真似(まね) imitating sounds

ぴかぴか光(ひか)るto sparkle; to glitter; to twinkle

ギラギラ glaringly; dazzlingly

バキーっ  boom

ドカーン boom

ドドド b.b.boom

迫力(はくりょく)が出(で)ます show power; have strength

ドキドキする to be excited; to be nervous

わくわく to be excited

にやにや笑(わら)う to smirk

ニコニコ smile

キリキリと痛(いた)みます sharp pain

チクチク痛(いた)い prickling pain

頭(あたま)がズキズキする throbbing headache

脈(みゃく) pulse

ガンガン痛(いた)い pounding pain

万(まん)が一(いち)  just in case; in the unlikely event

ふわふわ fluffy; lightly floating

ぷにぷに fluffy; squishy; bouncy

ぷるぷる soft and fluffy; jiggling; wobbling

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-96

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-96-m

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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Yumi is surprised by Clay’s usage of onomatopoeia. “Just as a Japanese person would say,” she thought. Onomatopoeia is used much more often in Japanese than we would in English. Yumi is convinced learning to use onomatopoeia correctly and in natural situations will greatly improve your Japanese conversation.

KEY VOCABULARY:

オノマトペ onomatopoeia

よっぽど to a large extent; greatly

日本人(にほんじん)らしい like a Japanese person

ぐうぐう寝(ね)てる fast asleep; sleeping soundly

すやすや寝(ね)る to sleep like a baby; sleeping peacefully

雰囲気(ふんいき) atmosphere; mood

ズンズン前(まえ)に進(すす)む to boldly move forward; to steadily make progress

どんどん食(た)べてください please keep eating; please continue to enjoy your food

擬音語(ぎおんご) onomatopoeic word; word that mimics a sound

擬態語(ぎたいご) mimetic word; word that mimics an action, condition, or manner that does not make a sound

ゲラゲラ笑(わら)う to guffaw; to roar with laughter

シクシク泣(な)いている to softly cry; to weep; to sob

ポロポロ泣(な)いている to wail; to cry with large drops of tears

きらきら光(ひか)る sparkling light

カチカチ clattering; knocking; clacking

雨(あめ)がザーザー降(ふ)っている raining heavily

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-95

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-95-m

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Today, Yumi looks at a few ways to help prevent dementia. Good news! By listening to this podcast, you are already doing one very powerful thing.

KEY VOCABULARY:

認知症(にんちしょう) dementia; senility; cognitive impairment

認知症予防(にんちしょうよぼう) dementia prevention

言(い)い方(かた) way of saying; term

アルツハイマー型認知症(がたにんちしょう) Alzheimer's disease

症状(しょうじょう) symptoms

開口一番(かいこういちばん) first words out of one's mouth

義理(ぎり)のお母さん mother-in-law

公務員(こうむいん) civil servant

規則(きそく) rules; regulations

政治家(せいじか) politician

高齢(こうれい)の方(かた) elderly person

自営業(じえいぎょう) self-employed

常(つね)に always

外国語(がいこくご) foreign language

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-94

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-94-m

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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com