New Year’s Greetings: I hope we can share more time together this year through this podcast.

This episode's vocab list:

お正月 New Year’s Day and the days that follow

どのように過ごしましたか。How did you spend your time?

体中 all over my body

虫に刺されました。 I got bitten by bugs

いろいろな面で in various aspects

準備をしっかりする to make thorough preparation

そうは言っても、Even so; That being said

挑戦したいです。I want to take on a challenge

言葉にすると、目標に近づけます。By putting it into words, you will get closer to your goal.

見返す to look back at it; to review it

メイトさんと繋がっている to stay connected with you

How was your 2024? Check it out! This is the last episode of this year. Thank you for listening to my podcast again this year. Wishing you a wonderful festive season and a very happy New Year!

This episode's vocab list:

4週間ぶり first time in 4 weeks

言い訳 excuse

振り返ると When I look back on the past

今年は人生で一番忙しい年だったかもしれません。This year might have been the busiest year of my life.

大袈裟だったかな。Was it exaggerating?

改めてonce again or anew; afresh

実行する to carry out; put into action

ことわざ proverb

終わり the end

途中 on the way; in the middle of it; during the time

総合的な評価 overall assessment

些細な事 small things

祝日 public holiday

来年も引き続き continuing into next year

よいお年をお迎えください。Wishing you a Happy New Year!

What katakana words confuse you? Is “Mansion” one of them? Check it out!

This episode's vocab list:

どんな建物 building

モデルルーム show apartment/ show flat

普通のアパート standard apartment/flat

紛らわしい misleading; confusing; ambiguous

その違いは、はっきりと決められている訳ではないそうです。I found that the distinction isn’t clearly or officially defined.

それでも一般的には、Even so, generally speaking,

木造 wooden building

軽量鉄骨造 light steel-frame building

3階建て 3-story

鉄筋コンクリート造 reinforced concrete building

鉄骨鉄筋コンクリート造 steel-frame reinforced concrete building

これは正しいとか正しくないとか、そういうものではない This is not about whether something is correct or incorrect

エレベーターがあるかないかを目安にする to use the presence or absence of an elevator as a standard

義務 obligation

自信を持つ to have confidence

How is your Japanese learning journey going? Do you struggle with Katakana words? I recently came across a Katakana word that I hadn’t noticed was strange before. Now, it’s part of my ‘strange word’ group. Check it out!

This episode's vocab list:

カタカナ語に苦労する to struggle/challenge with Katakana words

英語のような発音 pronunciation that sounds like English

通じません。It’s not understood /It isn’t coming through.

英語以外の言葉 languages other than English

フランス語 French

ポルトガル語 Portuguese

ドイツ語 German

オランダ語 Dutch

その中でも特に変なのは The especially strange ones among them are

ブランド名 Brand name

３つとも all three

使い始めました。They began using

カタカナ語の由来 the origin of that katakana word

ただの偶然かもしれません。It might be just a coincidence.

部品 parts of the product

What autumn foods make your appetite grow? Do you know any autumn foods from Japan? Guess what I will be introducing in this episode. Check it out!

This episode's vocab list:

毎年話している気がします I feel like I talk about this every year

食欲の秋 Autumn: the season of good appetite

私たちの食欲が増すOur appetite increases.

個人的な意見ですが、This is just my personal opinion, but

栗 chestnut

柿 persimmon

さんま pacific saury

上げればきりがないほどあります。There are too many to list because the possibilities are endless.

お米 rice

新米 new rice

並べる to set side by side

新米は収穫した年の12月31日までに袋詰めされたお米です。Shinmai refers to rice that has been polished and packed by the 31st of December of the harvest year.

この時期だけ only during this period

いつものご飯と全然違いますよ。It’s completely different from rice we usually eat.

もちもちした食感を体験してほしいです。I want you to experience its pleasantly chewy, slightly sticky texture.

“You can do it” is now one of my favourite phrases. I used to misunderstand what it meant, but I’ve come to appreciate its significance. I hope this episode inspires to have more heartfelt exchanges with others.

This episode's vocab list:

学ぶ to learn

がんばって Good luck; Go for it; hang in there; do your best

表現 expression

相手 the other person

応援している to support; to cheer

伝える to convey

覚えてほしいです I want you to remember

高校生 high school student

答えが返って来ました。The answer/reply returned to me

信じている to believe

誤解していました。I misunderstood.

別の生徒さん other student

克服したい to want to overcome a challenge

英語に訳さなくてもいい not necessary to translate into English

応援している気持ちを受け取ってください。Please accept their feelings of support. Please accept their heartfelt encouragement.

What would your answer be to this question, “What day is the 10th of October?” I’ve found various interesting pieces of information about this date. Enjoy learning Japanese though this episode!

This episode's vocab list:

体育 physical education

祝日 public holiday

どうして10月10日かというと The reason why it’s set for the 10th of October is because

開会式the opening ceremony

移動する to move; transfer

延期 postpone

2年連続  2 years in a row

第2月曜日 the second Monday

「体育の日」を思い出します。It reminds me of the Taiiku no hi holiday

目の愛護 eye protection; eye care

横向きに倒す to turn them sideways; lay them down sideways

眉毛 eyebrow

転倒slipping over; tripping over

予防 prevention

発想conception; way of thinking

銭湯 public bath

パターン pattern; way

世界的に Internationally

Which term do you use for a mobile phone in your language: ‘mobile’ or ‘phone’? Languages are changing and we often find that there can be more than one correct answer. Enjoy learning Japanese!

This episode's vocab list:

残り3か月になりました。 There are 3 months left.

ちょっと焦ります。 I’m feeling a bit anxious or stressed.

目の前のことにひとつずつ取り組みます。 I’ll tackle each task one by one, focusing on what’s right in front of me.

早速始めます。I’ll start right away.

言語 language

時代とともに変わって行きます。It’ll change with the times.

母国語 mother language; first language; native language

疑問 question; wonder

なんて言いますか。What would you say?

違いはない there is no difference

自然にnaturally

我が家 my home

家電Home phone

確実に certainly

時代とともに over time; as time goes by

「電話」の代表 representative of a phone

「携帯」になりつつある to be becoming “mobile”; to be transitioning to “mobile”

日本人はどうだろうかと疑問に思いました。I wondered how Japanese people do

今でも still now

正しい答えは、ひとつとは限りません。Correct answers are not limited to just one.

Are you planning a long holiday in Japan -  weeks, months or even years? How long would you like to stay if you could? I am curious about the types of visas that make extended stays possible for tourists. Take a break and join me for a chat!

This episode's vocab list:

どんなビザ what type of visa

滞在 the temporary nature of the stay

計画している人が何人かいます。There are a few people who are making plans.

観光ビザ tourist visa

いろいろ条件があります。 There are various requirements they need to meet.

詳しいです。 I’m knowledgeable about it.

留学ビザ student visa

以外 other than those

どんなところに住んでいますか。What kind of place do you live in?

Did you look up last night? What did you see? Do you prefer the full moon or the new moon? Dive into this episode to explore these celestial Japanese vocabs!

This episode's vocab list:

秋 autumn

夜空 night sky

月 the moon

風習 custom

お月見moon viewing

別の名前で in another name

秋と言いましたが Although I said autumn

もともと Originally

満月 the full moon

風物詩 a symbol of the season; something that gives us the real feeling of a season

新月 the new moon

星 star

どちらかと言うと If I have to choose one

どちらも捨てがたいです。It’s hard to give up either of the two

影 shadow

感動しました。I was moved.