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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 Jan 15, 2023
Sunday Jan 15, 2023
Sometimes simple analogies hit home the hardest. Learning a language is like breathing. It’s the small repetitive acts that keep us going and growing. Keep growing your Japanese little by little by studying, reading, and listening to Japanese daily.
KEY VOCABULARY:
新年(しんねん)の抱負(ほうふ) New Year’s resolution
一番(いちばん)最初(さいしょ)に the very first thing…
痩せたい want to lose weight
大成功(だいせいこう) big success
∼もつかの間(ま) ∼ was only short time
気(き)が緩(ゆる)む relax too much; lose an intention; become remiss
健康的(けんこうてき)に in healthy way；in healthy manner
瘦せ型体系 body type that is easy to lose weight
維持(いじ)する maintain; keep; sustain
参考にする refer to; learn from
一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい) with utmost effort; as one can
集中(しゅうちゅう)する concentrate; focus
短期間(たんきかん) short period of time
呼吸(こきゅう) breathing; breath
聖書(せいしょ) bible
毎日毎日(まいにちまいにち) every day; day after day
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-119
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-119-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 Jan 02, 2023
Monday Jan 02, 2023
In this short message, Yumi has some good news to share with the New Year.
KEY VOCABULARY:
令和(れいわ)5(５)年(ねん) Reiwa 5
西暦(せいれき) Western calendar
新年早々(しんねんそうそう) early in the New Year; at the beginning of the New Year
引(ひ)っ越(こ)し move (to a new house)
実家(じっか) one’s parent’s home; home where one grew up in
長(なが)い間(あいだ) long time
孫(まご) grandchildren
低学年(ていがくねん) early grade levels
節(ふし) occasion; time; section; passage; season; holiday
情報(じょうほう) information
長生(ながいけ)き long life
一期一会(いちごいちえ) once-in-a-life experience; an encounter that should be cherished
挨拶(あいさつ) greetings
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-118
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-118-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Dec 26, 2022
Monday Dec 26, 2022
As the year 2022 comes to a close, Yumi thinks back on all the things that happened to her and her family this year.
KEY VOCABULARY:
今年(ことし) this year
最後(さいご) last; final
何(なに)も覚(おぼ)えていません don’t remember anything
性格(せいかく) personality; character
写真(しゃしん) photo
娘(むすめ) daughter
ウクレレ ukulele
いわゆる the so-called
弾(ひ)き語(がた)り singing to one’s own accompaniment
遊園地(ゆうえんち) amusement park
成人式(せいじんしき) coming-of-age-ceremony
運動会(うんどうかい) sports day
映画(えいが) movie
ブルーベリー狩(が)り blueberry picking
掃除(そうじ) cleaning
裏庭(うらにわ) backyard
教会(きょうかい) church
風邪(かぜ)気味(ぎみ) slight cold
体験(たいけん) experience
笑(わら)い話(ばなし) funny story
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-117
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-117-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
This year’s kanji has been selected. Out of 220,000 votes, the kanji for war or battle was chosen. Yumi talks about this as well as what’s been going on in Japan recently.
KEY VOCABULARY:
戦争(せんそう) war
漢字能力検定(かんじのうりょくけんてい)協会(きょうかい) Kanji Proficiency Test Association
戦(たたか)う to fight; to battle
全国(ぜんこく) all of the country; the whole country
印象(いんしょう) impression
同時多発(どうじたはつ)テロ simultaneous attacks (particularly 9/11)
物騒(ぶっそう) troubled; disturbed
さらに in addition; moreover
大盛(おおも)り上(あ)がり great excitement
優勝(ゆうしょう)候補(こうほ) favored candidate; best bet for the title; favored for victory
勝利(しょうり) victory
残念(ざんねん)ながら unfortunately
練習(れんしゅう)に練習(れんしゅう)を重(かさ)ねて practice upon practice
礼儀正(れいぎただ)しい polite; courteous
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-116
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-116-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 Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Yumi’s daughter speaks Japanese, but sometimes incorrectly. In today’s episode, Yumi tells us how her daughter messes up “to give” in Japanese, and this spurred her to research how to best teach あげる・くれる・もらう(give and receive). Yumi discovered the key is to understand Japanese culture. Listen as she explains.
KEY VOCABULARY:
あげる・くれる・もらう To Give and Receive in Japanese
ゴチャまぜ mess; jumble; chaos
おやつ snack
ちょうだい please give me
日本(にほん)の文化(ぶんか) Japanese culture
考(かんが)え方(かた) way of thinking
内(うち)と外(そと) inside and outside
当(あ)たり前(まえ) natural; obvious; common
想像(そうぞう)する to imagine
真(ま)ん中(なか) in the middle
見事(みごと)に splendidly
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-115
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-115-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Dec 04, 2022
Sunday Dec 04, 2022
Yumi has a problem. The three large pecan trees in her backyard have produced tons of pecans. In this episode, she talks about what she’s doing with the pecans and then compares pecans to chestnuts in Japan.
KEY VOCABULARY:
ピーカン pecan
我(わ)が家(や) my house
裏庭(うらにわ) backyard
地面(じめん) ground
食(く)い込(こ)む bite into; to dig into; to encroach
敷(し)き詰(つ)められた to be covered with
季節(きせつ)外(はず)れ unseasonal
殻(から) shell
作業(さぎょう) work
単純(たんじゅん) simple
無(む)になれる become free from thoughts
自生(じせい)する growing wild
農家(のうか) farmer
栽培(さいばい) cultivate
脂肪分(しぼうぶん) fat content
脂質(ししつ) fats
栗(くり) chestnuts
甘露煮(かんろに) candied (chestnuts)
お菓子(かし) candy; sweets
縄文時代(じょうもんじだい) Jomon period (over 3000 years ago)
鬼皮(おにかわ) hard shell of a nut
渋皮(しぶかわ) inner skin of a chestnut
面倒(めんどう)くさい bothersome
リス squirrel
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-114
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-114-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
In this episode Yumi talks about Kuroyanagi Tetsuko, a longtime announcer and personality, and her secrets for living long and well.
KEY VOCABULARY:
義理(ぎり)のお母さん Mother-in-law
物忘(ものわす)れ forgetfulness
予防(よぼう) prevention
若々(わかわか)しく youthful
将来(しょうらい)に備(そな)えたい to prepare for the future
黒柳徹子(くろやなぎてつこ) Kuroyanagi Tetsuko (born August 9, 1933)
女優(じょゆう) actress
団子(だんご) dango; dumpling
放送(ほうそう) broadcast
テレビ業界(ぎょうかい) the TV industry
クイズ番組(ばんぐみ) Quiz (TV) show
正解率(せいかいりつ) percentage of correct answers
司会者(しかいしゃ) host; MC; announcer
小説(しょうせつ) novel
勉強熱心(べんきょうねっしん) studious
興味(きょうみ)が湧(わ)いた become interested in
ユニセフの親善大使(しんぜんたいし) UNICEF Goodwill ambassador
認知症(にんちしょう) dementia; senility
上品(じょうひん) elegant
下品(げひん) vulger
影響(えいきょう) influence
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-113
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-113-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 Nov 20, 2022
Sunday Nov 20, 2022
Description:
It’s Thanksgiving and Black Friday season in the US. Yumi talks a little about what she and her family is doing and compares that with Japanese holidays.
KEY VOCABULARY:
感謝祭とブラックフライデー Thanksgiving and Black Friday
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-112
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-112-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
Sunday Nov 13, 2022
Daylight savings time in America is the one thing all Americans can agree to hate, and yet… they still can’t seem to come together long enough to pass a law to rid themselves of the twice-a-year menace. Yumi shares her thoughts and hope that this “Fall back” will be the last.
KEY VOCABULARY:
夏時間(なつじかん) summer time
早起(はやお)き rising early
時刻(じこく) time; the hour
有効(ゆうこう) valid; effective
電力(でんりょく)の節約(せつやく) saving energy
目的(もくてき) goal; purpose
実際(じっさい)に actually
徐々(じょじょ)に gradually
連動(れんどう) working together; being linked (to)
時計(とけい)の針(はり) hands of a clock
昼夜(ちゅうや) day and night
逆転(ぎゃくてん) sudden change; reversal
交通事故(こうつうじこ) traffic accident
採用(さいよう) use; adoption
説(せつ)がある there is a theory
公務員(こうむいん) civil servant
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-111
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-111-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Yumi’s family band! It was one of her dreams and recently her family had a chance to perform. Listen as she tells us her thoughts on families coming together to perform.
KEY VOCABULARY:
弾(ひ)きます to play (stringed instrument such as piano or guitar)
中級(ちゅうきゅう)の初(はつ)め beginning of intermediate stage
音符(おんぷ) musical notes
伴奏(ばんそう) (musical) accompaniment
演奏(えんそう) (musical) performance
上手(うま)い下手(へた) skillful or unskilled
素人(しろうと)の私(わたし) an amateur such as I am
長男(ちょうなん) eldest son
担当(たんとう)の人(ひと) person in charge
急遽(きゅうきょ) hurriedly; in a hurry
いろいろ原因(げんいん) various causes
感動的(かんどうてき) impressive; moving
録音(ろくおん) audio recording
録画(ろくが) video recording
年(とし)を経(へ)るにしたがって as the years go by
成長(せいちょう) growth; becoming an adult
出番(でばん) one’s turn on stage; one’s shift
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-110
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-110-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com