In this podcast, Asuka and I teach you some useful classroom Japanese phrases so you can interact with your teacher and understand more. We teach you how to ask questions about vocabulary and sentences. In fact, I wish I had known all this when I started to study Japanese in Tokyo all those years ago. It would have helped me learn vocabulary a lot more quickly. We also teach you how to speak in a respectful way to your Sensei. And of course you can catch up with the rest of our random banter about what’s been going on with Asuka and I recently. Check out the podcast!

Main Podcast

Japanese Dialogues

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Vocabulary

Japanese Pronunciation English 先生 Sensei Teacher ちょっと Chotto A little 質問 Shitsumon Question どうぞ Dōzo Please go ahead …てどういう意味ですか …te dō iu imi desu ka What does … mean? …という意味です。 …to iu imi desu It means… …でどんな文章が作るんですか？ …de donna bunshō ga tsukurun desu ka What kind of sentence can you make with… 食事 Shokuji Food 残す Nokosu To leave something 彼女 Kanojo Girlfriend 振る Furu To shake / to dump someone 使える Tsukaeru To be able to use something 君 Kimi You (casual) 指輪 Yubiwa Ring

Main Dialog 1 (Japanese)

Student: 先生、ちょっと質問があります。 Sensei, chotto shitsumon ga arimasu. Teacher: はい、どうぞ。 Hai dōzo. Student: 「もったいない」ってどういう意味ですか？ Mottainai tte dō iu imi desu ka. Teacher: それはtoo good to wasteという意味です。 Sore wa too good to waste to iu imi desu. Student: 「もったいない」で、どんな文章が作れるんですか？ Mottainai de donna bunshō ga tsukurun desu ka. Teacher: 食事を残すなんてもったいない。 Shokuji o nokosu nante mottainai. Student: そのように使うんですね。わかりました。ありがとうございます。 Sono yō ni tsukaun desu ne. Wakarimashita. Arigatō gozaimasu.

Main Dialog (English)

Student: (Teacher) Could I just ask a question? Teacher: Yes, go ahead. Student: What does “Mottainai” mean? Teacher: “Mottainai” means too good to waste. Student: How do you use “Mottainai” in a sentence? Teacher: Leaving food is a waste (mottainai). Student: That’s how you use it! I understand. Thank you.

Random Phrase – Mottainai – It’s a waste

Here are some extra examples of this week’s random phrase which is “Mottainai” which means it’s such a waste.

1) 彼女を振ったなんてもったいない！

Kanojo futta nante mottainai

It was such a shame (waste) that you dumped your girlfriend!

2) もう新しいパソコン買うの？もったいないな、まだ使えるのに。

mō atarashii pasokon kau no. mottainai na, mada tsukaeru noni.

You’re buying a new PC already? That’s a waste, you can still use the old one.

3) 君にその指輪はもったいないよ。

Kimi ni sono yubiwa mottainai yo

That ring is wasted on you.