6[✐3] I have a meeting via Zoom. 〜んです

09/05/23 • 9 min

Japanese Swotter - Speaking Drill + Shadowing

「〜んです」means of explanation, emphasis - ”you see”-function
[✐3.Moderato]
“It’s a meeting via Zoom, you know.”
[00:07]
Hello, everybody.
Let’s start.
Repeat after me
[00:12]
1. Are you going to a bank?
2. Yes, I withdraw some money, you see.
3. You’ve got lots of cardbords. (why?)
4. Soon, I’ll be moving out.
5. Do you do sports often?
6. No, I don’t have time.
7. You wear a sweter in Summer?
8. Yes, (because) it’s cold in the office.
9. The computer is slow, isn’t it?
10. Yes, (that’s why) I want a new one.
11. Is the car old?
12. Yes, I bought it quite a while ago.
13. You are quite familiar with China (why?)
14. (Because) I have Chinese friends.
15. Are you studing German?
16. Yes, I like German culture.
Plain Style
[03:10]
Listen to the casual conversation.
[03:13]
A: George san is married, you know.
B: wow, I didn’t know that.
A: His wife is an international lawyer and speaks three languages fluently. Besides she is beautiful.
B: That’s George san!
*pera pera = speaks fluently (colloq.)
[03:29]
It goes like this in Masu Style;
[03:32]
A: George san is married, you know.
B: I didn’t know that.
A: His wife is an international lawyer and speaks three languages fluently. Besides she is beautiful.
B: That’s George san!
Repeat after me
[03:50]
1. He’s married.
2. She speaks three languages fluently.
3. She is beautiful.
[04:26]
Now, we continue practicing speaking.
Repeat after me
[04:29]
1. You watched many videos, didn’t you?
2. I was free (nothing else to do).
3. You cancelled the reservation (why)?
4. Yes, it became inconvenient (= it doesn’t fit my schedule).
5. Don’t you eat that curry (why)?
6. Yes, it’s too hot.
7. What happened?
8. I‘ve lost my mobile phone.
9. Don’t you go out yet?
10. (Because) I work at home today.
11. Don’t you drink alcohol?
12. I go back home by car after this.

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Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.

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Previous Episode

5[✐2]I know.

[✐2. Andante] I know but I don’t know.
[00:09]
Hello, everybody. Let’s start.
Repeat After Me
[00:13]
1. Do you know George Clooney?
2. Do you know this song?
3. Do you know the address of the restaurant?
4. I know a very good dentist.
5. I know the synopsis of this film.
6. I knew the answer of the quiz.
7. He doesn’t know my ex. (moto kare = ex-boyfriend [colloq.])
8. I don’t know my boss’s wife.
9. I didn’t know that news.
10. I didn’t know the convenience store in front of the station.
[02:14]
The negative form is “Shirimasen”, not “Shitte imasen”.
[02:22]
Please answer Yes or No.
[02:26]
Example:
Do you know Tokyo Skytree?
Yes→ Yes, I know.
No → No, I don’t know.
Then let’s start.
[02:37]
1. Do you know that new super market? - Yes
→ Yes, I know.
2. Do you know hotsprings?
→ Yes, I know.
3. Where did they go? – No
→ No, I don’t know.
4. There is the Olympic game in Tokyo. Did you know? - Yes
→ Yes, I knew.
5. Toyota san has been transferred to London Office. Did you know that? – No
→ No, I didn’t know.
[03:30]
Next, we practice “wakarimasu = I know/understand”.
Repeat After Me
[03:35]
1. I understand a little bit of Italian.
2. I understand your feeling.
3. I found it by looking at the map.
4. I don’t understand the question.
5. I don’t know(understand) any Kanji.
6. I don’t know how to make a copy.
7. I don’t know how to take a train.
8. I don’t know how to get to the airport.
9. I don’t know(see) the difference in taste.
10. I don’t understand his behaviour.

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7[✐4] Abenomask has finally arrived

[✐4.Allegretto] just about to:〜ところ、〜ばかり- indicate what point the action stands.

(Abenomask = a mask supplied under Prime Minster Abe’s mask distribution program.)

[00:09]
Hello, everybody. Today’s topics are “〜tokoro”and “〜bakari”. Let’s start with “(blah blah) tokoro”.
Repeat after me
[00:20]
1. The party is just about to start.
2. I’m about to go shopping.
3. I’m about to send it for repair.
4. I’m eating lunch now.
5. I’m having a meeting with the clients.
6. I’ve just returned to home.
7. Just now, I’ve got on the Shinkansen.
8. The summer sales has just begun.
[01:54]
Next we practice “bakari”.
How the speaker feels the length of time depends on himself. For some people, a month is enough to master a foreign language, but for others it could be too short, for example. “Bakari” also implies that the situation is not what was expected.
[02:21]
Repeat after me
1. You’ve had a meal a while ago, and you are going eat again?
2. My sister changed her job (only) last week, but she already quit.
3. It’s (only) last month that I bought the smart phone, but I left it somewhere.
4. As I washed this car last weekend, it is still shiny.
5. As the lockdown has just been eased, I continuously work at home.
[04:05]
Now, make sentences using “tokoro” or “bakari”.
[04:10]
For example,
I’m eating lunch. I’ll call(contact) you later.
→ As I’m eating lunch now, I will call you later.
Ready?
[04:21]
1.
→ As(while) I’m currently confirming it, please wait over there.
2.
→ As this restroom is going to be cleaned from now, please use the adjacent one.
3.
→ It was just last week I’ve bought this computer, but it’s already broken.
4.
→ It was only last month that I started to learn the violin, so I cannot make clean/beautiful sound yet.
5.
→ As we are now going to ship the product, it will be delivered (to you) no later than the day after tomorrow.
6.
→ I was told(given) a password a while ago, but I’ve already forgot it.