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For beginner to upper beginner learners of Japanese. Each episode presents a useful vocabulary word and an example sentence. Use shadowing, repetition, and sentence break-downs to fully understand the Japanese. Show notes can be found at https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/
Episodes

Feb 12, 2026
Feb 12, 2026
1 min
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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Feb 5, 2026
Feb 5, 2026
1 min
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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Jan 31, 2026
Jan 31, 2026
2 min
Today's podcast covers:
~がする — to sense/feel (used with sensory experiences like smell, sound, taste)
This expression is used to describe sensory perceptions. The particle marks what is being sensed, such as a smell, sound, taste, or feeling. It combines with nouns related to the five senses.
Example: この部屋は変なにおいがする。
This room has a strange smell.
Vocabulary:
- この — this
- 部屋は — room (topic marker)
- 変な — strange, weird
- においが — smell (subject marker)
- する — to do, sense
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![Beginning Japanese Phrases 201: もう(part.2) shortly; soon; now [gives a sense of being already the time for something or to do something]](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/9583151/cover-art---Beginning-Japanese-phrases-2_300x300.jpg)
Jul 31, 2025
Jul 31, 2025
1 min
もう今日(きょう)はこれで終(お)わりにしましょう。
Now | today | as for | this | with | end | decide on
Let’s call it a day right here.
View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-201
View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just the Japanese to download.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Jul 17, 2025
Jul 17, 2025
1 min
私(わたし)の娘(むすめ)はもう高校生(こうこうせい)です。
My | daughter | as for | high school student | already
My daughter is a high school student already / My daughter is a high school student now.
View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-200
View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just the Japanese to download.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Jun 12, 2025
Jun 12, 2025
1 min
もうランチは食(た)べましたか?
Already | answer | as for | realized | question marker
Have you eaten lunch already? / Have you eaten lunch yet?
View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-199
View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just the Japanese to download.
www.MakotoPlus.com

May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025
1 min
君(きみ)はステーキが好(す)きだろう?
you| as for | steak | subject marker | like | right?
You like steak, right?
View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-198
View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just the Japanese to download.
www.MakotoPlus.com

May 1, 2025
May 1, 2025
1 min
あの音(おと)はいったい何(なん)だろう?
that | sound | as for | on earth | what | (I) wonder
I wonder what the sound is.
View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-197
View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just the Japanese to download.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Apr 24, 2025
Apr 24, 2025
1 min
彼(かれ)のビジネスはきっと成功(せいこう)するだろう。
his | business | as for | most certainly | will succeed
I’m sure his business will be successful.
View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-196
View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just the Japanese to download.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Apr 10, 2025
Apr 10, 2025
1 min
この計算(けいさん)はこれで間違(まちが)いないだろう。
this | calculation | as for | this | with | fine | should be
The calculation should be fine with this.
View this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/jphrases-ep-195
View all episodes here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with complete vocabulary and grammar breakdowns as well as sound files of just the Japanese to download.
www.MakotoPlus.com
