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A weekly podcast for upper beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. Listen to Yumi talk about... whatever she wants to talk about. Practice your listening comprehension with natural (howbeit slightly slowed down) Japanese on various topics such as Japanese culture, fun idioms, and, of course, cats. The episodes can be enjoyed in any order. -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript and a list of key vocabulary. www.MakotoPlus.com
Episodes
Sunday Mar 06, 2022
Sunday Mar 06, 2022
Yumi posts daily vocabulary images on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thejapanshop/). For the past month or so, the lessons have been on Japanese slang. Slang can be fun but also a little dangerous if used in improper contexts. Listen as Yumi talks about slang and her time as a radio DJ.
KEY VOCABULARY:
一時的(いちじてき) temporary
仲間同士(なかまどうし) among friends; peers [the 同士 means "fellow" or "mutual" and shows the members of that group are similar in some way.]
犯罪者(はんざいしゃ) criminal
業界用語(ぎょうかいようご) industry terminology; professional jargon
ラジオ局(きょく) radio station
完(かん)パケ complete package; recording of a program from start to finish
ギャラ fee paid to performing artists
番宣(ばんせん) program (theater; TV; radio; etc) [short for 番組宣伝(ばんぐみせんでん)]
ドタキャン last-minute cancellation
流行(はや)りの言葉(ことば) buzzword
俗語(ぞくご) slang; colloquialism
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-76
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-76-m
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Yumi's cat and her childish embarrassment (this story is from when she was a first grade elementary student) gets her into some trouble at school. Do you know what 濡(ぬ)れ衣(ぎぬ)を着(き)せる means? Listen to today's podcast and find out.
KEY VOCABULARY:
思(おも)い出(で) memories; recollections; reminiscences
真(ま)っ赤(か) bright red
教室(きょうしつ) classroom
〇〇君(くん) boy called X [the 〇〇 is read "maru maru" and indicates a certain but unnamed name]
恥(は)ずかしかった was embarrassed; was shy
察(さっ)してくれた (the teacher) sensed and sympathized with (Yumi's embarrassement) [察(さっ)する (to sympathize with; to guess; to sense; to presume; to judge]
濡(ぬ)れ衣(ぎぬ)を着(き)せる falsely accuse someone of a crime; pin a crime on someone; frame [literally, to put wet clothes (on someone)]
叱(しか)られる to be scolded
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-75
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-75-m
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Sunday Feb 20, 2022
Continuing with the animal-theme from recent episodes, Yumi tells us about her first cat. The cat was plump and so received the name "Koro" (roly-poly). But… there was a reason for the cat's plumpness. Little Yumi was surprised when strange-looking mice-like creatures began coming out of her cat.
KEY VOCABULARY:
子(こ)どもの頃(ころ) childhood
思(おも)い出(で) memory
三毛猫(みけねこ) calico cat
名付(なづ)けた named (the cat)
すりすり snuggling; cuddling
かわいがりました to be affectionate; to pet (a pet); to cherish
押(お)し入(い)れ closet
ねずみ色(いろ) gray [mouse colored]
お察(さっ)しの通(とお)り as you can guess; as you may have figured out
感心(かんしん)して took to heart; admire; be impressed; astonishment
本能(ほんのう) instincts
お医者(いしゃ)さん doctor
看護師(かんごし) nurse
産婆(さんば)さん midwife (obsolete)
助産師(じょさんし)さん midwife (current term)
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-74
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-74-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
Sunday Feb 13, 2022
Today, Yumi tells us more about her experiences with dogs and cats and why she originally didn't like dogs (before getting two of them)!
KEY VOCABULARY:
思(おも)い出(で) memories; recollections; reminiscences
犬派(いぬは) dog person [派 (clique; group; faction; party; camp)]
猫派(ねこは) cat person
反応(はんのう)が良(よ)い responsive; good reaction
しつけ discipline; training
おすわり sit (dog command in Japanese)
お手(て) shake paw (dog command)
おかわり shake the other paw (dog command) [this is a command to have a dog place its second paw in one's hand; literally, "another helping" or "refill"]
警察犬(けいさつけん) police dog
番犬(ばんけん) watch dog
牧羊犬(ぼくようけん) sheepdog
苦手(にがて) not good at; not one's cup of tea; dislike of; cannot stand…
恐怖心(きょうふしん) fear; terror [literally a heart of fear]
幼児期(ようじき) infancy; childhood; early years
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-73
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-73-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Monday Feb 07, 2022
Are you Team Cat or Team Dog?
KEY VOCABULARY:
飼(か)っていますto have (a pet); to own (a pet)
里親(さとおや) foster parent; caretaker (pets)
動物病院(どうぶつびょういん) animal hospital
避妊手術(ひにんしゅじゅつ) sterilization (operation)
猫派(ねこは) cat person; cat lover [派 (faction; party; camp; group; sect)]
犬派(いぬは) dog person; dog lover
表(おもて) front (side); public face
裏(うら) back (side); hidden side
ツンデレ hot-cold personality type
甘(あま)やかす to pamper; to indulge (someone)
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-72
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-72-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Monday Jan 31, 2022
Catching a cold isn't fun, but it gave Yumi a chance to think about what's important. Too often we only appreciate the good things in life when they are gone.
KEY VOCABULARY:
無(な)くすとわかる understand (something) if (you) lose it
大切(たいせつ)なもの something important
前回(ぜんかい) last time
夢(ゆめ)が叶(かな)った dream came true
風邪(かぜ)をひきました caught a cold
健康(けんこう)の大切(たいせつ)さ importance of good health
当たり前(まえ) obvious; to be expected
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-71
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-71-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Jan 24, 2022
Monday Jan 24, 2022
What is happiness? It may sound like Yumi is waxing philosophical in today's episode, but she actually gives a rather concrete definition. What do you think? When are you the happiest?
KEY VOCABULARY:
幸(しあわ)せ happiness
定義(ていぎ) definition
状態(じょうたい) condition; state; situation; circumstance
実現(じつげん) actualization; realization
コツコツと steadily; laboriously
節約(せつやく) economizing; cutting back
貯金(ちょきん) saving money; putting money aside
夢(ゆめ)が叶(かな)った dream came true
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-70
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-70-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Jan 16, 2022
Sunday Jan 16, 2022
Yumi went to the movies for the first time in a long time. This event made her think about how different cultures react to stimuli. This leads to a discussion on 我慢 (gaman, perseverance, endurance, bearing something) which is a very Japanese thing to do.
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-69
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-69-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Sunday Jan 09, 2022
Yumi thinks back on her New Year's resolution (新年の抱負 shinnen no houfu) from last year. She kept at it admirably… for exactly one day. This year, she shares advice she heard that might make keeping resolutions better. Just keep moving forward. One step at a time. One kanji or vocabulary word at a time.
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-68
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-68-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Jan 02, 2022
Sunday Jan 02, 2022
あけましておめでとうございます! Yumi wanted to give a short New Year's message instead of her normal, longer talks.
We deeply appreciate every one of our listeners. 日本語(にほんご)の種(たね)を今年(ことし)もどうぞよろしくお願(ねが)い申(もう)し上(あ)げます。Please continue listening this year also.
Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-67
あけましておめでとうございます Happy New Year!
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-67
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-67-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com