Meg’s Simple Japanese Podcast

みなさん、ひさしぶりです。

この半年間、私はずっとがんばっていることがあります。

今日は、そのことを話します。

Hi everyone, long time no see!

There is something I’ve been working hard on for the past six months.

Today, I’d like to talk about it.

This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

日本語能力試験（にほんごのうりょくしけん）：Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)

法律（ほうりつ）：law

繰り返し（くりかえし）：repeat

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/40-ganbatteiru-n3-level/

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

I’ll introduce Japanese culture in easy Japanese.

Today’s Theme is “七五三の歴史《The history of Shichi-go-san》”.

This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

七五三（しちごさん）：Shichi-go-san is an annual Japanese festival to celebrate the growth of children. It takes place on or around November 15. The festival is for boys aged three and five, and girls aged three and seven. That’s why it is called shichi-go-san (seven-five-three).

お祝（いわ）い：celebration

成長（せいちょう）：growth

中旬（ちゅうじゅん）：middle of a month

江戸時代（えどじだい）：Edo period (1603-1868 CE)

剃（そ）る：shave

袴（はかま）：man's formal divided skirt

帯（おび）：belt (e.g. of a kimono)

千歳飴（ちとせあめ）：longevity candy, long red-and-white stick candy

On shichi-go-san, children eat long red-and-white stick candy, called chitose ame. Chitose means “one thousand years.” It symbolizes health and longevity.

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/39-shichi-go-san-n3-level/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/8878?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

Today’s Theme is “紅葉（こうよう）《Autumn colors》”.

This episode is JLPT-N4 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

紅葉狩り（もみじがり / momijigari）：This is a yearly event for many Japanese people in Autumn. The word “Momiji” in Momiji-gari means Autumn colours, and “gari” means hunting. Japanese people go out to parks and mountains where they can see lots of trees in their Autumn colors – yellows, oranges and reds, and simply enjoy the beautiful change of seasons from Summer to Autumn.

お花見（おはなみ / ohanami）：Ohanami is a traditional Japanese custom in spring. At a cherry blossom viewing party, people get together under cherry blossom trees and enjoy eating and drinking.

嵐山（あらしやま / arashiyama）：Arashiyama is an area in the western part of Kyoto City. The mountain named Arashiyama at an altitude of 382 meters in the western part of Kyoto City, the surrounding mountains, and the foot of the mountain are generally called Arashiyama. At the foot of Arashiyama, there are many historical temples, shrines, and historic sites, making it a famous tourist destination.

上旬（じょうじゅん / jōjun）：at the beginning of the month

中旬（ちゅうじゅん / chūjun）：in the middle of the month

下旬（げじゅん / gejyun）：at the end of the month

日光（にっこう / nikkō）：Nikko is a town located in Tochigi Prefecture. Tochigi prefecture is an inland prefecture located in the northern part of the Kanto region. Nikko has many old-style buildings, and it is registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

新幹線（しんかんせん / shinkansen）：bullet train

☆Script for this episode
https://meg-smile.com/38-autumn-colors-n4-level/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/8472?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

Today’s Theme is わたしのまち《My town》”.

This episode is JLPT-N5 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

最近（さいきん / saikin）：recently

風邪を 引く（かぜをひく / kaze o hiku）：catch a cold

紹介する（しょうかいする / shōkaisuru）：introduce

福岡（ふくおか / Fukuoka）：Fukuoka (city)

※Fukuoka prefecture is located in the north of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four major Japanese islands.

九州（きゅうしゅう / Kyūshu）：Kyushu (southernmost of the four main islands of Japan)

東（ひがし / higashi）：east

祭り（まつり / matsuri）：festival

花火大会（はなびたいかい / hanabi taikai）：fireworks festival

神社（じんじゃ / jinja）：shrine

笑顔（えがお / egao）：smile

不便な（ふべんな / fuben na）：inconvenient

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/37-my-town-n5-level/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/8202?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

I’ll introduce Japanese culture in easy Japanese.

Today’s Theme is “日本の温泉の歴史《The history of Onsen (Hot Springs) in Japan》”.

This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

鹿（しか）：deer

鶴（つる）：crane (any bird of the family Gruidae, esp. the red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis)

お坊（ぼう）さん：monk

仏教（ぶっきょう）：Buddhism

教（おし）え：teachings

鉄道（てつどう）を整備（せいび）する：build a railroad

露天風呂（ろてんぶろ）：an open-air spa

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/36-onsen-japan-n3-leve/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/7884?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

☆Reference☆

JAPAN ONSEN ASSOCIATION：https://www.spa.or.jp/

Easy News📺

I introduce Japanese news in easy Japanese.

Today’s Theme is “ポテトチップスの袋《Plastic Bag of potato chips》”.

This episode is JLPT-N4 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

紙（かみ / kami）：paper

プラスチック（ぷらすちっく / purasutikku）：plastic

環境（かんきょう / kankyō）：environment

～を守（まも）る（～o mamoru）：protect

カルビー（かるびー / karubi-）：Calbee（Confectionery Company in Japan）

空気（くうき / kūki）：air

薄（うす）い（usui）：thin

商品（しょうひん / shōhin）：products

親指（おやゆび / oyayubi）：thumb

☆Grammar☆

・～ために：in order to

・～そうです：heard

・～（よ）うと思う：be going to（This sentence pattern is used to talk about the speaker’s determinations or plans.）

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/35-potato-chips-n4/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/7650?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

☆Reference

NHK NEWS WEB EASY

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10013826891000/k10013826891000.html

NHK NEWS WEB

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20220920/k10013826891000.html

Today’s episode is “こうもり の ともだち？（kōmori no tomodachi?）”《Who is the bat's friend?》.

This is from Aesop's Fables.

This episode is JLPT-N5 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

こうもり（kōmori）：bat

森（もり / mori）：forest

鳥（とり / tori）：birds

動物（どうぶつ / dōbutsu）：animals

けんかをする（kenka o suru）：get in a fight

言う（iu）：say

空（そら / sora）：sky

飛ぶ（とぶ / tobu）：fly

牙（きば / kiba）：fang, tusk

爪（つめ / tsume）：nail

強い（つよい / tsuyoi）：strong

弱い（よわい / yowai）：weak

王様（おうさま / ōsama）：king

翼（つばさ / tsubasa）：wing

暗い（くらい / kurai）：dark

洞窟（どうくつ / dōkutsu）：cave

☆Grammar☆

・～ことができます（～koto ga dekimasu）：can ～

・～たら（～tara）：if ～

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/34-bats-friends-n5/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/7550?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

I’ll introduce Japanese culture in easy Japanese.

Today’s Theme is “日本酒の歴史《The History of SAKE》”.

This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

代表的（だいひょうてき）な：typical

～に夢中（むちゅう）になる：into ～

「君（きみ）の名（な）は。」：”Your Name.”

※Your Name. is a Japanese film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai.

巫女（みこ）：shrine maiden

天皇（てんのう）：Emperor of Japan

免許（めんきょ）：license

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/33-history-of-sake-n3/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/7317?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

Today’s Theme is “私（わたし）のペット《My pets》”.

This episode is JLPT-N4 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

飼う（かう / kau）：adopt a pet, have a pet

種類（しゅるい / shurui）：type

使い捨てカメラ（つかいすてかめら / tsukaisutekamera）：disposable camera

後悔する（こうかいする / kōkaisuru）：regret

八百屋（やおや / yaoya）：greengrocer

吠える（ほえる / hoeru）：bark

初代（しょだい / shodai）：first generation

～代目（～だいめ / ～daime）：～ generation

☆Grammar☆

～ことにする

～ので

～ばよかった

passive form

～ようになる

～んです

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/32-my-pets-n4/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/7164?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

Today’s episode is Japanese vocabulary Quiz.

I'll give 3 hints.

Please answer in Japanese.

This episode is JLPT-N5 level.

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

言葉（ことば / kotoba）：vocabulary, word

考える（かんがえる / kangaeru）：think

答え（こたえ / kotae）：answer

苦い（にがい / nigai）：bitter

道（みち / michi）：road

☆Grammar☆

・～たり、～たり

・～とき

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/31-3-hints-quiz-n5/

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）