Sunshine Japanese Yasashii Nihon-go radio

Are you confused by any homophones or pitch accents in Japanese? You may discover a new tricky aspect of the language. Just laugh! Every language has its own tricky elements for learners.

This episode's vocab list:

日本語にある音の数 the number of sounds in the Japanese language

英語と比べると compared to English

同音異義語 homophones

とは言え、 however; although that was said,

話の内容 context of the conversation or story

もうひとつ例を挙げる to give another example

もう、笑うしかありません。No way, we have no choice but to laugh.

Looking to improve your Japanese language skills? Finding conversation partners can be one of the best ways. But where do you find them? Tune in to this episode to find out. You just might discover a new perspective on Japanese practice.

This episode's vocab list:

目的 purpose

共通の趣味 common hobbies; common interests

日本人プレーヤーを探す to look for Japanese players

協力的な人ばかりではありません Not everyone is cooperative.

基本的に basically

一石二鳥ですね。It’s a case of killing two birds with one stone.

いい出会い good encounter; nice meeting

思いつかなかった所 a place I didn’t think of; a place I didn’t consider

Navigating a doctor's visit in a foreign country can be daunting. How do you prepare for such an experience? Join me in this episode as I introduce my simple strategy for overcoming this challenge.

This episode's vocab list:

初めて for the first time

眼医者 eye doctor; ophthalmologist

ドライアイが気になりました。 I worried about dry eyes

緊張する to feel nervous

それに moreover; also

聞きなれない言葉 unfamiliar words

たまたまpurely by chance

主人もその時間空いていました。My husband also had that time period free

検査の結果 the result of the examination

意識的に瞬きをする to blink consciously

目薬をさす to apply eye drops

瞼を暖める to warm eyelids

目が潤う the eyes become moist or hydrated

前もって beforehand

気持ちが楽になります。I will feel better.

心の準備 mental preparation

Do you know about Japan’s 3 major holiday seasons? One of them is coming up this weekend! Are you eager to experience the festivities or looking to plan your visit around them?

This episode's vocab list:

土日 Saturday & Sunday

祝日 public holiday

天皇 Emperor

翌月曜日 following Monday

振替休日a Monday makeup holiday

ゴールデンウィークを知らずに without knowing it will be the Golden Week

計画を立てる to make a plan

ゴールデンウィーク中 during the Golden Week

たくさんの人で賑わっている to be bustling; to be crowded with people

普通では味わえないこと something we cannot experience; savour; appreciate in a standard situation

参考までに just for reference

8月中旬 mid-August

年末年始 from the end of one year to the start of the next new year

Do you have any recent happy stories? I do! Join me as I share two of mine here.

This episode's vocab list:

嬉しい話 happy story

2組 2 pairs

合計 totally

全員 all of these people

幸せを分けてもらえる to receive a share of their happiness

結婚祝い a wedding gift

インターネットショッピングで注文する to order online

ちょうど帰国中でした。 she happened to be returning to Japan at just the right time.

届く to be delivered

和紙 handmade Japanese paper

ラッピングペーパー wrapping paper

喜んでくれるといいなぁ！I hope they like it.

聞き始める to start listening

旧ツイッター old Twitter

数字 the number; the amount

受け取る to receive

心から続けていてよかったぁって思います。I truly feel glad that I’ve kept going from the bottom of my heart

メイトさんの顔が見られない分、Not being able to see your face makes a result, which will be mentioned after this

繋がっていると感じる to feel like we are connecting

嬉しい気持ちが抑えられない to be unable to hold in my joy and delight

Reading an English short story before bed works very well for me. I am now curious if a Japanese book would have the same effect. If it does, I might have an new idea for my dream. Stay turned!

This episode's vocab list:

不眠症に悩んでいる to suffer from insomnia

穏やかな calm; peaceful

意外にもよく効いています。It works better than I expected.

日常everyday life

日記 diary

ハラハラドキドキする to be thrilled and have butterflies in one’s stomach

同じように効くかどうか試したい to

書いてみたい to give it a try to write

一冊出しました。I released one book.

投稿する to post; contribute

集めた物 a collection

今度は for this time

夢見ています。I am dreaming of it.

言葉 speech; words you have said

不思議な力 miraculous power

言葉通りの事が起きます。the same thing as you said will happen.

心に秘める to keep it hidden in your heart

もしくは or

Did you commemorate your first day of primary school with a special ceremony? Listen to this episode as you reflect on significant milestones in your life. Gain fresh insights that may inspire your approach to future milestones.  Enjoy this episode.

This episode's vocab list:

入学 admission to school

新学期 a new school term

入社 joining a company; entry to be an employee

節目 "a milestone"; "a significant point to mark a transition or change, often indicating the beginning or end of a phase or marking progress between old and new phases"

節目節目に at each start of a new phase; at every milestone

必ずと言っていいほど "to the point where I can say it happens without fail" or "to the extent that I can confidently say it occurs without fail."

式を開く To hold a ceremony; conduct a ceremony

社会人 a working member of society; working adult

自然と naturally; automatically

通常 normally; generally

入学式があるのが当たり前だと思っていました。 I thought it was natural/normal that we have a ceremony for school entry

寂しく感じます。I feel something lacking.

周りから与えられなくても even if it’s not provided from surroundings; even if it’s not given by others

発想の転換 a change in perspective; a shift in thinking

At a shop, do you typically pay with cash, credit card, or another method? With the greater variety of payment methods available now than before, have you found it easier to navigate? Are you comfortable with these choices or do you sometimes feel uncertain? Enjoy this episode.

This episode's vocab list:

支払う方法 the way of payment

急に suddenly

店員さん shop workers

現金 cash

渡す to hand in

機械に入れる to insert it into the machine

セルフレジ self-checkout

画面 screen

戸惑いました。I was at a loss. I was puzzled over.

以前は、formerly; before

確認されました。I was verified.

デビットカード debit card

クレジットカード以外 except credit cards

定期的に at regular intervals

アップデート update

Have you ever experienced losing your wallet or any valuables in Japan? Was it retrieved? Guess what I want to emphasize about this topic. Enjoy this story in Japanese.

This episode's vocab list:

財布 wallet

戻って来ましたか。Was it retrieved?

どなたの財布も all their wallets

必ず certainly; without fail

学生の頃 in my school days

置き忘れる to leave it behind

ボウリング場 bowling centre

貴重品 valuable items

ホッとしたのと同時に the moment I was relieved

声を大にして言いたいです。I want to say it loudly or emphasise it.

Spring is just around the corner in Japan. What　reminds you of a　season? Enjoy this story in Japanese.

{Special thanks} https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/sakura/

This episode's vocab list:

発表されました。It was announced

天気予報 weather forecast

開花 bloom

咲き始めるto start blooming

全国的に nationwide

平年並み similar to an average year

南北に長い島a long island stretching from south to north

3月中旬 middle of March

1か月以上も差があります。There is a difference of more than 1 month

満開full blossom

たくさん散ってしまいます。A lot of them will fall unfortunately.

見頃 the best time to see

種類 type; species

種類の違いに目を向けるto pay attention to the differences among species