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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 Jul 16, 2023
Sunday Jul 16, 2023
In the previous episode, Yumi talked about her arrival to Japan. This time, she will talk about what she and her family did after that, like going on a sightseeing bus in Tokyo or visiting an old friend. But, arriving at the countryside where her parents live after going around Tokyo made her wonder about the differences you can find between big cities and the countryside.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 2階(かい)建(だ)て double-decker; two-story structure; two-story building [階(かい) (story); 建(だ)て (build)]
- 国(こっ)会(かい)議(ぎ)事(じ)堂(どう) National Parliament building [国会(こっかい) (parliament); 議事(ぎじ) (proceedings); 堂(どう) (hall)]
- 皇居(こうきょ) imperial Palace [皇(こう) (imperial);居(きょ) (residence)]
- ギリギリ just barely (onomatopoeia)
- 高速道(こうそくどう)路(ろ) expressway; highway [高 (high); 速 (speed)]
- 優(ゆう)雅(が)に gracefully; elegantly [優(ゆう)雅(が) (elegant; graceful; refined)]
- 乗(の)り心(ごこ)地(ち) riding comfortability [乗(の)り(riding); 心(ごこ)地(ち) (comfortability; level of physical comfort); 心(ごこ)地(ち) is pronounced ここち by itself]
- 誇(ほこ)る to be proud
- 乗(の)り換(か)え connection; transfer of public transportation [乗(の)り(riding); 換(か)え (change; switch)]
- 素(す)早(ばや)く quickly; promptly [素(す) is prefix for “exceedingly” in this case]
- 距(きょ)離(り) distance
- 接(せっ)する to touch; to come in contact (with)
- 人口密(じんこうみつ)度(ど) population density [人口(じんこう) (population); 密(みつ)度(ど) (density)]
- 新(しん)緑(りょく) new spring foliage color [新(しん) (new); 緑(りょく)(green)]
- 清潔(せいけつ) clean sanitary
- 整(せい)備(び) maintenance; servicing
- ~ひとつ…ない no ~ is there; no ~ exists [concise version of ~がひとつもない (there is no ~, not even one; not even one ~ exists)]
- 溢(あふ)れる to over flow
- 一切(いっさい)~ない not ~ whatsoever; not ~ at all
- 整(ととの)い方(かた) the way (things are) in order [整(ととの)い (ます- stem of 整(ととの)う(to be in order)); 方(かた) (the way); “ます- stem V + 方(かた)” is “the way to ~” or “the method of doing ~”]
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-139
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-139-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Finally, Yumi and her family are in Japan! It’s been a long time since the last visit, and it seems things have changed. At least, at the convenience stores! Listen to her and take note of ideas for souvenirs for your next trip!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 片(かた)付(づ)け tidying up
- 一段落(いちだんらく) stopping point (before the next stage) [段落 (end; end of a paragraph)]
- 復活(ふっかつ)させる revive; come back [復活(ふっかつ) (revival; resurrection); させる (causative of ~する)]
- 真(ま)下(した) right under; directly below) [真(ま) (prefix for “just~”; “right ~”)]
- 墜落(ついらく) crash
- 大惨(だいさん)事(じ) catastrophic event [惨事(さんじ) (disaster)]
- 入(にゅう)国(こく)検(けん)査(さ) Immigration clearance; Passport control; Immigration examination [入国(にゅうこく) (entry into country); 検(けん)査(さ) (examination)]
- 当(あ)てる hold ~ against [to put ~ on; to put ~against]
- 国籍(こくせき) nationality; citizenship
- 実感(じっかん) actual feeling; solid feeling [実感(じっかん) (real feeling); feeling and knowing of something by a first-hand experience]
- 流暢(りゅうちょう) fluent (in language skill)
- 丁寧(ていねい)に thoroughly [丁寧(ていねい) can mean “polite” or “courteous”, but here it means “thorough” in explanation]
- お湯(ゆ)を張(は)る fill up with hot water [張(は)る (to stretch); it describes the way the surface of water looks stretched out to all the way around inside of the tub. It’s sort of an elegant Japanese expression compared to お湯(ゆ)を入(い)れる (to pour the water in), which can be used here.]
- 湯(ゆ)船(ぶね) bath tub [船(ぶね) (tank; tub; vessel); basically same as “お風呂(ふろ)”, but has the ambiance of old world]
- つかる is submerged; is soaked
- 揃(そろ)っている have everything; fully stocked [揃(そろ)う(to be complete; to be all present); (て) いる describes “a certain condition”]
- ~し、~し、 (揃(そろ)ってますし、~ありましたし、) ~ and ~ and, therefore … [used when listing up reason(s) to support the following conclusion]
- 快適(かいてき) pleasant; comfort; amenity
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-138
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-138-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Monday Jun 19, 2023
Nihongo no Tane 137: お土産その2 Omiyage Part 2| Japanese Immersion podcast
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Monday Jun 19, 2023
In the previous episode, Yumi told us she’s going back to Japan with her family. But she was having some issues deciding what to pick as souvenir for her family and friends. This time, she will talk about what she bought and where. Listen to her and take note of ideas for souvenirs for your next trip!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 何人(なんにん)か分(ぶん) portion for some people [何人(なんにん)か “some people” (かindicates it to be “not a specific number”); 分(ぶん) (portion)]
- 先(さき)ほど earlier; a short while ago; a moment ago
- 伴侶(はんりょ) spouse
- 更(さら)に furthermore; moreover
- 地(じ)元(もと) home area; home town; local area
- 大学(だいがく)時(じ)代(だい) college years [大学(だいがく) (college; university); 時(じ)代(だい) (era)]
- 軽(かる)くなっちゃうんです easily turns into (20 to 30 people) [軽(かる)く(easily); なっちゃうcontracted fromなってしまう (ends up turning into); んです contracted from のです (“it is the case that ~”; の explanatory particle emphasizing what is being said)]
- さらに furthermore
- 交友関係(こうゆうかんけい)が広(ひろ)い has a large circle of friends; has many friends [交友(こうゆう)関係(かんけい) (circle of friends one has; friendships with people one has); 広(ひろ)い (extensive; broad)]
- 全(ぜん)部(ぶ)合(あ)わせる put (everybody) all together [全(ぜん)部(ぶ) (all parts); 合(あ)わせる (to combine; to put together); causative form of 合(あ)う (to fit; to match) ]
- お菓子(かし)類(るい) snacks and sweets [お菓子(かし) (snacks; sweets); 類(るい) (kind; type)]
- 作(つく)り quality of how something was manufactured [noun form of 作(つく)る (to make)]
- 消毒(しょうどく) disinfection [消 (extinguishing); 毒 (poison)]
- 何々(なになに)さん so-and-so; Mr. so-and-so
- 匂(にお)い sent; smell
- 旗(はた) flag
- お守(まも)り charm
- 気(き)持(も)ちを込(こ)める to put one’s heart into something [気(き)持(も)ち (feeling; heart); 込(こ)める (to include)]
- 1ドルちょっとぐらい about a little over $1 [1ドルちょっと ($1 and a little); ぐらい (approximate; about)]
- ご報告(ほうこく) しようwill report [報告(ほうこく) (report)]
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-137
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-137-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Nihongo no Tane 136: お土産その1 Omiyage Part 1| Japanese Immersion podcast
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Sunday Jun 11, 2023
Yumi is going back to Japan with her family! This is a long-awaited trip. Soon they will be reunited with family and friends, but… There is something troubling Yumi’s mind. Listen to the podcast to know more about it!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 帰(き)省(せい) homecoming visit; going to one’s parents’ home
- うんうんうなるto moan (in pain or in discomfort) [うんうん (onomatopoeia that mimicking the sound of moaning); うなる (to growl; to moan; to grunt)]
- 夢(ゆめ)のまた夢(ゆめ) a dream within a dream; beyond (one’s) wildest dream [literally, “a dream beyond another dream” which basically means “something impossible to happen” or “something impossible for one to experience”]
- 水際対策(みぎわたいさく) border control measures [水際(みぎわ) (beach; shore; coastline; national border); 対策(たいさく) (countermeasures)]
- 連絡(れんらく)が取(と)れる to be able to get in touch; to be able to make contact [連絡(れんらく) (contact; communication); 取(と)れる to be able to get/to take (potential form of 取(と)る)]
- 悩(なや)んでいる to be having a hard time [悩(なや)む (to have a hard time with something mentally)]
- 20 年(ねん)ぶりに for the first time in 20 years [ぶりis a suffix that indicates a period of time that has passed before for one to experience the same situation. It is only used for positive circumstances]
- フロリダらしい Florida-like; Florida style
- 頭(あたま)に浮(う)かばない does not come to mind [literally, “doesn’t float to head]; used when one can’t think of ideas and such]
- 不(ふ)健康(けんこう) unhealthy; poor health
- どぎつい intense; gaudy; garish; loud in color [ど (casual prefix for “very”, “super” or “extremely”); ぎつい from きつい (intense; forceful; demanding)]
- 面倒(めんどう)くさい bothersome; hassle
- あげなきゃいいんじゃないの ? isn’t it better not to give? [more casual form for あげなければいいのではないのですか?; あげなきゃcontracted fromあげなければ (if you don’t give); いいんじゃ contracted from いいのでは (it’s good; it’s better); ないの contracted from ないのですか (is (it) not?)]
- 分(わ)け与(あた)えてあげる share; divide out [分(わ)け与(あた)えて (to share); あげる (to do a favor of doing ~)]
- 帰(かえ)り際(ぎわ)に right before going home; just as one is leaving [帰(かえ)り (”ます- stem” of 帰る); 際(ぎわ) (when; occasion); ”ます- stem V + 際(ぎわ)” is “on one is about to doing something”]
- 何々(なになに)さん so-and-so; Mr. so-and-so
- 配(くば)る deliver; distribute; pass around; hand out
- 御(お)札(ふだ) やお守(まも)り amulets and charms [御(お)札(ふだ) (amulet); お守(まも)り(charm)]
- 気(き)軽(がる)に easily; without hesitation
- いろんなとこ many places [いろんな (various); とこ contracted from ところ (place; location) which is only used in casual setting]
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-136
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-136-m
--

Sunday Jun 04, 2023
Sunday Jun 04, 2023
In the previous podcast, Yumi started to talk about her family trip to St. Augustine. Don’t miss the end of this story, where she explains the main reason of their trip and why she couldn’t sleep well that night.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 予(よ)約(やく) reservation; booking
- 無(む)効(こう) invalid; void
- 慌(あわ)てて in a hurry; in haste [fixed phrase]
- 近(ちか)場(ば) nearby place
- 重(かさ)ね合(あ)わせてtaking (the both countries’ histories) together and … [重(かさ)ね合(あ)わせる (to layer multiple things; to overlap)]
- 説得(せっとく) persuasion
- 温(おん)故知(こち)新(しん) visiting old, learn new [温(おん) (to warm; to rewarm); 故(こ) (old); 知(ち) (to know); 新(しん) (new); this saying means “an attempt to understand new things by studying the past”]
- 覗(のぞ)いたり doing peeking into (stores) and [覗(のぞ)い from 覗(のぞ)く(to peek into ; to take a quick look at); ~たり、~する (doing such thing like ~ing and ~ing)]
- お洒落(しゃれ)なstylish; fashionable; chic; lovely
- 結構(けっこう) fairly; quite a bit
- 大賑(だいにぎ)わい big crowd
- 雰(ふん)囲気(いき) atmosphere; mood of a space or situation
- 子(こ)供(ども)連(づ)れtaking children along
- 漂(ただよ)ってました (to be in the air) [漂う (to be in the air; to drift)]
- 清潔感(せいけつかん) sense of cleanliness [清潔 (clean; sanitary)]
- (ぱぱぱと)しか見なかった looked only (quickly) […しか~ない (to do ~ only …)]
- 飼(か)っていた had (peacocks) [飼う to have/own (animals or pets)]
- 野良(のら)クジャク stray peacock [野良(のら) (stray); クジャク (peacock)]
- 時(とき)すでに遅(おそ)しthe ship has already sailed [literally, “Time is already late”]
- 順調(じゅんちょう)に smoothly
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-135
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-135-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Monday May 29, 2023
Monday May 29, 2023
This time Yumi went to a trip to St. Augustine, a city she usually goes with her family to the beach. But this time she made a different kind of trip. In this first part of Saint Augustine’s trip story, she tells us about the history of the fortress located there, San Marcos, among other things.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 昔(むかし)ながらの unchanged as old time; as it was in the past [a fixed phrase]
- 日(ひ)帰(がえ)り day trip
- ~ばかりの頃(ころ) around the time when ~ [~ばかり (just doing ~); 頃(ころ) (approximate time period; around the time)]
- 砦(とりで)/要塞(ようさい) fort;fortress [slightly differs from each other in definition but basically “fort”]
- 詰(つ)まった packed [past of 詰(つ)まる (to be packed; to be clogged)]
- 石灰(せっかい)石(せき) lime stone [石灰(せっかい) (lime); 石(せき) (stone)]
- 遡(さかのぼ)りますと going back (in the history) [遡る (to date back); と (when; if)]
- 取(と)り戻(もど)す take back; regain
- 牢(ろう)屋(や) jail; prison
- 脱走兵(だっそうへい) defector; deserter [脱走(だっそう) (escape; desertion); 兵(へい) (solider)]
- 投獄(とうごく)されていた were imprisoned; were incarcerated [投獄(とうごく)される (to get imprisoned); (て) いた indicates a situation or state]
- 入(いり)江(え) inlet; cove; bay
- 合流(ごうりゅう)する merge; come together
- 狙(ねら)い撃(う)ち sniping; snipe attack [狙(ねら)い (aim); 撃(う)ち (shooting)]
- 領(りょう)土(ど)争(あらそ)い territorial dispute [領(りょう)土(ど) (territory); 争(あらそ)い (dispute; conflict)]
- 翻弄(ほんろう)された was trifled with; was tossed around
- 凄(すさ)まじさ ferocity; savagery [noun form of 凄(すさ)まじい (horrible; terrible)]
- 愚(おろ)かさ foolishness; absurdity [noun form of 愚(おろ)か (foolish)]
- 感慨(かんがい)にふけってしまいました was absorbed in deep emotion [感慨(かんがい)にふける (to be overcome with emotion; to be sunk in thought); 感慨(かんがい) (deep emotion which arises from deep thought or introspection)]
- 目的(もくてき)を果(は)たす accomplish the goal; fulfill the objective [目的(もくてき) (goal; purpose); (を)果(は)たす (to fulfill)]
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-134
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-134-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Sunday May 14, 2023
Nihongo no Tane 133裸の文化Naked Culture | Japanese Immersion podcast
Sunday May 14, 2023
Sunday May 14, 2023
Japanese culture about nakedness is different from the occidental one. Japanese people go to onsen naked while most occidental people would feel embarrassed for doing this. In this podcast, Yumi talks about it, and about the changes over time around this culture.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 恥(は)ずかしがる to be shy of; to be bashful
- お相(す)撲(もう)さん Sumo wrestler(s) [affectionate way of calling sumo wrestlers]
- まる見(み)え full view; completely visible [まるprefix for “whole/total/all”/full; 見(み)え noun form of 見(み)える (to be visible)]
- 伝統(でんとう)国(こく)技(ぎ) traditional national sport
- 競(きょう)技(ぎ) competition; game; match; contest
- まる出(だ)し bare; fully exposed
- 明(めい)治(じ)時(じ)代(だい) Meiji period (1868-1912)
- 禁(きん)止(し) prohibition
- 根(ね)強(づよ)くfirmly; persistently [adverb form of 根(ね)強(づよ)い (firm; persistent; deep-seated; deep-rooted)
- 銭湯(せんとう) public bathhouse [銭(せん) (coin); 湯(とう) (bath water; warm water)]
- 展(てん)示(じ) する to exhibit; to display
- 海水浴場(かいすいよくじょう) designated swimming area beach
- 彫刻(ちょうこく)家(か) sculptor [彫刻(ちょうこく)(carving; sculpture); 家(か) (suffix for some professions or title for people with highly skill)
- 裸(ら)体(たい) naked body; nudity
- 矛(む)盾(じゅん)する to contradict [矛(む)盾(じゅん) (contradictory)]
- 価値(かち)観(かん) sense of values; value system [価値(かち) (value); 観(かん) (view)]
- 普(ふ)段(だん) usual; ordinary
- 基(き)準(じゅん) standard
- 中(ちゅう)世(せい) Middle Age
- 股(こ)間(かん) crotch; groin [股(こ) (groin; thigh); 間(かん) (between)]
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-133
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-133-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Sunday May 07, 2023
Nihongo no Tane 132温泉と裸 Onsen and Nakedness | Japanese Immersion podcast
Sunday May 07, 2023
Sunday May 07, 2023
Description:
Japan is a country with many hot springs. Going to one is an experience you may not want to miss during your stay in Japan. Listen to Yumi talking about ryokans, hot springs and how she overcame the embarrassment about going naked to one.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 湧(わ)いてきた started gushing out; started bubbling out [湧(わ)いて from 湧(わ)く(to gush out); てきた from てくる (to start doing ~)]
- (お湯(ゆ)に)つかる to be soaked (in warm water); to be submerged (in warm water)]
- (足をお湯に)つける to soak (one’s feet in hot water); to put (one’s feet in hot water)
- 成分(せいぶん) composition
- 効能(こうのう) benefit; effect; efficacy
- おもてなし hospitality
- 懐石(かいせき)料(りょう)理(り) traditional Japanese meal brought in courses
- 名産物(めいさんぶつ) local special products [名(めい) (famous); 産(さん)物(ぶつ) (products; produce)]
- 施(し)設(せつ) facility
- 癒(いや)す to heal
- 庭園(ていえん) garden [garden that is professionally designed and maintained; 庭(てい) (garden; yard); 園(えん) (park)]
- ~なんか such as ~; such thing as ~
- 堪能(たんのう)する to indulge in; to enjoy
- 露(ろ)天(てん)風(ぶ)呂(ろ) open-air bath
- 見知(みし)らぬ人(ひと) stranger(s) [見知らぬ (unacquainted; unfamiliar; unknown; strange)]
- 抵抗(ていこう) resistance; reluctance; opposition
- そっか “Ah, I see”; “Oh, I get it”; “Oh, okay” [a very casual expression which stems from そうか/そうですか]
- 指(さ)す to indicate; to point
- 個(こ)室(しつ) private room
- 思(し)春(しゅん)期(き) adolescence
- 付(つ)き合(あ)い fellowship; friendship
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-132
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-132-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com

Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Nihongo no Tane 131マリオ Mario | Japanese Immersion podcast
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Yumi went with her family to see the Super Mario Brothers movie. Listen to Yumi talk about her thoughts on the movie and what she wanted to do after watching it!
KEY VOCABULARY:
公開(こうかい)される to be open; to be open to the public [公開(こうかい) (opening to the public; release)]
話(わ)題(だい)に上(のぼ)る to come up in conversation [話(わ)題(だい) (topic)]
毎週(まいしゅう)のように almost every week [毎(まい) (every);週(しゅう)(week)]
期(き)待(たい)通(どお)りas expected; as hoped for [期(き)待(たい) (expectation; anticipation; hope)]
再現(さいげん)される to be reproduced [再現(さいげん) (reproduction; recreation; reenactment)]
心(こころ)をつかまれる to be touched; to be captured [つかまれる (to be grasped); passive form of つかむ (to catch; to grasp)]
ネタバレ spoiler; spoiling a story [shortened fromネタがバレる; ネタ(core of a story); バレる(to be exposed)]
揃(そろ)ってall together [adverb stemmed from 揃(そろ)う(to be all present; (all pieces) to be complete)]
この辺(へん)にしておく to leave it here [辺(へん) (area); この辺(へん) (around here; this vicinity); にしておく (to leave ~ as)]
平日(へいじつ) week day(s)
物語性(ものがたりせい) story theme; narrativity [物語 (story); 性 (nature; quality; -ness)]
取(と)り入(い)れる to adopt; to take in
動(どう)機(き) motivation; incentive
与(あた)える to give; to provide
冒険(ぼうけん)する to explore [冒険(ぼうけん) (exploration; adventure)]
ハマる to get hooked [slang for “to get addicted” but can be used in a good way as well; stemmed fromはまる to get stuck; to fall in (a ditch, trap etc.)]
続出(ぞくしゅつ)する to appear one after another
誇(ほこ)れる can proud [potential form of 誇(ほこ)る (to proud)]
超有名(ちょうゆうめい) super famous [超(ちょう) (super-; ultra-); 有名(ゆうめい) (famous)]
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-131
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-131-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

Sunday Apr 16, 2023
Sunday Apr 16, 2023
Last time, Yumi talked about things she does on a daily basis. This time, she speaks about things she does occasionally and then things she would like to do in the future.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- こまめに frequently; diligently; regularly
- 大(おお)掃(そう)除(じ) major cleanup
- 掃(そう)除(じ)機(き) vacuum cleaner
- 拭(ふ)く to wipe
- 隅(すみ)っこ corner; recess [隅(すみ)っこ is casual or spoken language for 隅(すみ) (corner; recess)]
- 安息(あんそく)日(び)sabbath [安息(あんそく) (rest; relax)]
- 勧(すす)める to recommend; to advise; to encourage
- 美(び)容(よう) beauty; beautiful appearance; youthful appearance
- 幾(いく)つか some; several; few
- 解説(かいせつ) commentary; explanation
- 鋭(するど)く sharply; keenly
- 図(と)書(しょ)館(かん) library [図(と)書(しょ) (books; reading materials); 館(かん) (building)]
- 興味(きょうみ) interest
- 油(あぶら)絵(え) oil painting [油(あぶら)(oil); 絵(え) (picture; drawing)]
- 壁(かべ) wall
- 抽(ちゅう)象(しょう)画(が) abstract art [抽(ちゅう)象(しょう)(abstraction); 画(が) (drawing)]
- 飾(かざ)り decoration; ornament
- 金粉(きんぷん) gold dust [金 (gold); 粉 (power)]
- 近日(きんじつ)中(ちゅう) soon; in few days; one of these days [近(きん) (near); 中(ちゅう) (within)]
- 挑戦(ちょうせん) challenge; attempt; try; dare
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-130
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-130-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com