TheJapanesePage.com - Beginning Japanese Phrases

Beginning Japanese Phrases #212: 〜てもいいですか (May I)

Today's podcast covers:

〜てもいいですか — May I...? Is it okay if I...?

This pattern is used to ask for permission to do something. It is formed by attaching to the tay-form of a verb, making it a polite way to request allowance for an action.

Example: ここに座ってもいいですか？
May I sit here?

Vocabulary:

• ここに — here
• 座って — sit
• も — even, also
• いいですか — is it okay?

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #211: です

Today's podcast covers:

です — is, am, are (polite copula)

This is a polite copula used at the end of sentences to link a subject to a noun or adjective, similar to 'to be' in English. It marks a formal or polite speech level and is one of the most fundamental building blocks of Japanese grammar.

Example: これはペンです。
This is a pen.

Vocabulary:

• これは — this (topic marker)
• ペンです — is a pen

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #210: 〜たり 〜たりする (doing things like A and B, alternating or listing multiple actions)

Today's podcast covers:

〜たり 〜たりする — doing things like A and B, alternating or listing multiple actions

This grammar pattern is used to list multiple actions or states in a non-exhaustive way, implying there are other similar activities as well. It is formed by attaching tari to the ta-form of verbs or adjectives and closing with suru. The sound changes to da after certain sounds.

Example: 週末は音楽を聴いたり、本を読んだりします。
On weekends, I do things like listen to music and read books.

Vocabulary:

• 週末は — on weekends
• 音楽を — music (object marker)
• 聴いたり — listen (listed action)
• 本を — book (object marker)
• 読んだりします — read, and so on (closing the pattern with suru)

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #209: 〜から (because, since, from)

Today's podcast covers:

〜から — because, since, from

The particle attaches to the end of a verb, adjective, or noun phrase to indicate a reason or cause, meaning 'because' or 'since'. It can also indicate a starting point in time or place, meaning 'from'.

Example: 雨が降っているから、家にいます。
Because it is raining, I am staying home.

Vocabulary:

• 雨が — rain (subject marker)
• 降っているから — because it is falling, raining
• 家に — at home
• います — I am, I stay

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #208: 〜てはいけません (You must not do, it is forbidden to do (prohibition))

Today's podcast covers:

〜てはいけません — You must not do, it is forbidden to do (prohibition)

The pattern is formed by attaching it to the te-form of a verb. It expresses a prohibition or rule, meaning that an action is not allowed or must not be done.

Example: 図書館で食べてはいけません。
You must not eat in the library.

Vocabulary:

• 図書館で — in the library
• 食べてはいけません — must not eat

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #207: こう (like this, in this way, thus)

Today's podcast covers:

こう — like this, in this way, thus

This is a demonstrative adverb used to describe the manner of doing something, referring to something close to the speaker or something the speaker is about to demonstrate. It is often paired with verbs to show how an action is performed.

Example: こうやって折り紙を折ります。
You fold origami like this.

Vocabulary:

• こうやって — like this, in this manner
• 折り紙を — origami (object marker)
• 折ります — to fold (polite form)

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #206: てみたい (want to try doing something)

Today's podcast covers:

てみたい — want to try doing something

This grammar pattern combines the verb with mitai, which expresses the desire to try doing something to see what it is like. It conveys curiosity or interest in experiencing something new.

Example: 日本に行ってみたいです。
I want to try going to Japan.

Vocabulary:

• 日本に — to Japan
• 行ってみたい — want to try going
• です — polite sentence ending

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #205: ～てしまう (to end up doing, to completely do, to do something regrettably)

Today's podcast covers:

～てしまう — to end up doing, to completely do, to do something regrettably

This grammar pattern attaches to verbs and expresses either completion of an action or a sense of regret about something that happened unintentionally or unfortunately. It often conveys that something was done completely, or that the speaker feels sorry about the result.

Example: 大切な写真を間違えて消してしまった。
I accidentally deleted an important photo.

Vocabulary:

• 大切な — important, precious
• 写真を — photo (object marker)
• 間違えて — by mistake, accidentally
• 消してしまった — ended up deleting, unfortunately deleted

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #204: ので (because, since, so)

Today's podcast covers:

ので — because, since, so

ので is a conjunction used to express cause or reason. It connects two clauses where the first clause explains the reason for the second clause, and it sounds softer and more polite than から
.

Example: 雨が降っているので、傘を持っていきます。
Since it\\\'s raining, I will take an umbrella.

Vocabulary:

• 雨が — rain (subject)
• ふっている — is falling
• ので — because, since
• 傘を — umbrella (object)
• 持っていきます — will take, will bring

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Beginning Japanese Phrases #203: ～になる (to become, to turn into)

Today's podcast covers:

～になる — to become, to turn into

This grammar pattern attaches to nouns and adjectives to express a change of state or transformation.

Example: 来年、私は二十歳になります。
Next year, I will turn twenty years old.

Vocabulary:

• 来年 — next year
• 私は — I (topic marker)
• 二十歳に — twenty years old (target of change)
• なります — will become (polite form)

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