JPNLessonsOsaka Blog

The Japanese language is not so strict about pluralization as English is.

Normally the word ねこ which means cat , can be a cat, some cats or cats in general. There are some specific words and suffixes to pluralize nouns, but when you are a beginner please don’t worry too much about whether they are singular or plural.

ねこが好きすです。　 I like cats ( in general )

あそこにねこがいます。can be “there is a cat over there” or “there are some cats over there”.

友だちと学校へ行きます。　can be ” I go to school with my friend ” or ” I go to school with my friends.”

There has been alot of rain this year.

今年は雨が多いですね。

↓あめのことばです。

雨（あめ）rain

梅雨(つゆ）rainy season 雨期（うき）rainy season

つゆ is the word for rainy season in Japan. We have another word  for the rainy season. It is うき which means “rainy period” . Japanese うき is つゆ so we use つゆ when we talk about Japanese rainy season. 

大雨(おおあめ) →heavy rain

小雨(こさめ)→light rain

霧雨(きりさめ) →drizzle

どしゃ降り(どしゃぶり) →downpour ,heavy rain

洪水(こうずい) →flood　

土砂崩れ(どしゃくずれ) →landslide

注意報(ちゅういほう）→advisory/watch 洪水注意報(こうずいちゅういほう)→flood advisory

警報(けいほう) →warning/alert　洪水警報（こうずいけいほう）→ flood warning

ふります is the verb means “fall “for rain.

やみます is the verb means “stop” for rain.

雨あめがふります。/雨あめがやみます。

“Yo” indicates mild emphasis when the speaker is very sure of what she or he is saying.

このクッキーとてもおいしいですよ。

This cookie is delicious. ( so I recommend this cookie. )

It is often used to convey informarion which the listener doesn’t know.

パーティは何時なんじからですか。→　３時からですよ。

What time does the party start? → It starts at 3:00.　

You can use “yo” to get someone’s attention.

晩ばんごはんですよ！　 Dinner’s ready!!

“Yo” can also be used when the speaker is making a judgment, so be careful not to put too much stress on it, and do not overuse it; otherwise you might sound aggressive.

If you are a musical theatre fan and also interested in Japanese lauguage, I found another “stay home musical video ” in Japanese.

日本語でミュージカルの歌うたをきいてみましょう。

Seasons of Love from “RENT”

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred 　日本語で言えますか？

わたしはこの歌が大好だいすきです。

” Ne ” indicates agreement, confirmation or sympathy.

暑いあつですね。→ そうですね 。 It is hot, isn’t it? → Yes, it is.（ I think so, too )

レッスンは４月からですね 。The lesson will start from April, am I right?

It can also soften a request.

また連絡れんらくしてくださいね。また連絡してね。 Please contact me again. (please keep in touch )

Sometimes the speaker will use ” ne ” in a monologue: in this case it indicates the speaker’s subjective reflection, trying to reach back into memories or thought.

日本にほんの食たべ物もので何なにがいちばん好すきですか。Among Japanese food, what do you like the best?

そうですね…（Let me see…)　お好このみ焼やきが大好だいすきです。 I love Okonomiyaki.

私の趣味しゅみはミュージカルをみることです。コロナウィルスの影響えいきょうで今はみに行くことができませんが、すてきな動画どうがをみつけました。

If you are a musical theatre fan and also interested in Japanese lauguage, there are some videos ” Stay home musical “

日本語　Do you hear the people sing? from -Les miserables-　民衆の歌

日本語　You will be found　from Dear Evan Hansen

You can compare with English version.

英語 English Do you hear the people sing?

英語　English 　You will be found