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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
Monday Aug 22, 2022
Monday Aug 22, 2022
Yumi has been on a cleaning kick. She’s always been tidy, but recently, she’s gotten serious about it. Japan has very clean streets despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that there are few public trash cans. Is there some connection with Japanese history and mythology to explain this?
KEY VOCABULARY:
掃除(そうじ) cleaning
ピカピカ with a glitter; with a sparkle; shiny and new
磨(みが)いています polishing; shining
主婦(しゅふ) housewife; homemaker
言葉(ことば)に触発(しょくはつ)されて inspired by words [言葉 (words) に (by) 触発 (triggering; inspiring) されて (passive)]
管理(かんり) control; management
整理(せいり) sorting; arrangement; putting in order
真剣(しんけん)に earnestly; in earnest
隙間(すきま) crevice; crack; gap
面倒(めんどう)くさい bothersome; tiresome
綿棒(めんぼう) cotton swab
竹串(たけぐし) bamboo skewer
神道(しんとう) Shinto
境内(けいだい) grounds (of shrine); compound
神話(しんわ) mythology; legend
日本(にほん)の国旗(こっき) Japanese flag
清潔(せいけつ) cleanliness; hygienic
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-99
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-99-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency.
KEY VOCABULARY:
オノマトペ onomatopoeia
ごちゃごちゃ messy; confused; chaotic
整理(せいり)されていない not organized
状態(じょうたい) condition; state of things
ペコペコ very hungry; starving
ペラペラ fluent (speaking foreign languages); incessantly (speaking)
流暢(りゅうちょう)に fluent; flowing
ゴロゴロする roll about; idling about; thundering; purring
ガタンゴトン clickety-clack
終点(しゅうてん) terminus; last stop (train)
川上(かわかみ) upstream
ドンブラコドンブラコ effect of tumbling
クンクン effect of sniffing
ドドドド sound of something heavy moving rapidly
グラグラ wobbling; shaking; unsteadily
ピキピキ snapping
豊富(ほうふ)に abundantly
身近(みぢか)に near at hand; near oneself
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-98
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-98-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Aug 08, 2022
Monday Aug 08, 2022
Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency.
KEY VOCABULARY:
オノマトペ onomatopoeia
日本人(にほんじん)らしく話(はなし)せる to be able to speak like a Japanese
汗(あせ)をかいた to sweat
さっぱり refreshed
含(ふく)まれます includes
さっぱり分(わ)からない don’t know at all
ゴロゴロ loafing; rolling; sound of thunder
回転(かいてん)する to rotate; to turn
クタクタ exhausted; tired; worn out
芯(しん) wick; core; heart; center
カンカンになっている to be very angry
絶対許(ぜったいゆる)さない absolutely won’t forgive
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-97
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-97-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency.
KEY VOCABULARY:
オノマトペ onomatopoeia
擬音語(ぎおんご) sound word onomatopoeia
擬態語(ぎたいご) mimetic word
音(おと)を真似(まね) imitating sounds
ぴかぴか光(ひか)るto sparkle; to glitter; to twinkle
ギラギラ glaringly; dazzlingly
バキーっ boom
ドカーン boom
ドドド b.b.boom
迫力(はくりょく)が出(で)ます show power; have strength
ドキドキする to be excited; to be nervous
わくわく to be excited
にやにや笑(わら)う to smirk
ニコニコ smile
キリキリと痛(いた)みます sharp pain
チクチク痛(いた)い prickling pain
頭(あたま)がズキズキする throbbing headache
脈(みゃく) pulse
ガンガン痛(いた)い pounding pain
万(まん)が一(いち) just in case; in the unlikely event
ふわふわ fluffy; lightly floating
ぷにぷに fluffy; squishy; bouncy
ぷるぷる soft and fluffy; jiggling; wobbling
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-96
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-96-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 25, 2022
Monday Jul 25, 2022
Yumi is surprised by Clay’s usage of onomatopoeia. “Just as a Japanese person would say,” she thought. Onomatopoeia is used much more often in Japanese than we would in English. Yumi is convinced learning to use onomatopoeia correctly and in natural situations will greatly improve your Japanese conversation.
KEY VOCABULARY:
オノマトペ onomatopoeia
よっぽど to a large extent; greatly
日本人(にほんじん)らしい like a Japanese person
ぐうぐう寝(ね)てる fast asleep; sleeping soundly
すやすや寝(ね)る to sleep like a baby; sleeping peacefully
雰囲気(ふんいき) atmosphere; mood
ズンズン前(まえ)に進(すす)む to boldly move forward; to steadily make progress
どんどん食(た)べてください please keep eating; please continue to enjoy your food
擬音語(ぎおんご) onomatopoeic word; word that mimics a sound
擬態語(ぎたいご) mimetic word; word that mimics an action, condition, or manner that does not make a sound
ゲラゲラ笑(わら)う to guffaw; to roar with laughter
シクシク泣(な)いている to softly cry; to weep; to sob
ポロポロ泣(な)いている to wail; to cry with large drops of tears
きらきら光(ひか)る sparkling light
カチカチ clattering; knocking; clacking
雨(あめ)がザーザー降(ふ)っている raining heavily
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-95
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-95-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Today, Yumi looks at a few ways to help prevent dementia. Good news! By listening to this podcast, you are already doing one very powerful thing.
KEY VOCABULARY:
認知症(にんちしょう) dementia; senility; cognitive impairment
認知症予防(にんちしょうよぼう) dementia prevention
言(い)い方(かた) way of saying; term
アルツハイマー型認知症(がたにんちしょう) Alzheimer's disease
症状(しょうじょう) symptoms
開口一番(かいこういちばん) first words out of one's mouth
義理(ぎり)のお母さん mother-in-law
公務員(こうむいん) civil servant
規則(きそく) rules; regulations
政治家(せいじか) politician
高齢(こうれい)の方(かた) elderly person
自営業(じえいぎょう) self-employed
常(つね)に always
外国語(がいこくご) foreign language
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-94
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-94-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
We spend so much time behind our computer screens, so it is nice to, once-in-a-while, actually meet people. Today, Yumi shares a meeting with a Makoto+ member who happened to be in town. It was a lot of fun and helped motivate Yumi to keep on doing what she's doing.
KEY VOCABULARY:
わざわざ taking the trouble (to do something)
海(うみ)を越(こ)えて crossing the sea and
有名人(ゆうめいじん) famous person
用事(ようじ) business; tasks; affairs
年齢(ねんれい) age
鬼滅(きめつ)の刃(やいば) Demon Slayer (manga/anime)
披露(ひろう) presentation; displaying
自画自賛(じがじさん) self-praise
阿部寛(あべひろし) Abe Hiroshi (famous movie and TV star in Japan)
日本通(にほんつう) expert of Japan; Japanophile
交流(こうりゅう) exchange
機会(きかい)があれば whenever (I) have a chance
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-93
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-93-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 04, 2022
Monday Jul 04, 2022
A Makoto+ member had a question for Yumi. "Why are Diet members (Japanese parliament) called "kun" when "kun" is mostly for little boys?" Good question. Listen as Yumi delves into the fascinating history behind this common honorific title.
KEY VOCABULARY:
子供(こども)の頃(ころ) when I was a kid; childhood
そういう感(かん)じ such a feeling; that's how (I) feel
新聞社(しんぶんしゃ) newspaper company
決(き)まりがある there's a rule
年下(としした) younger (person)
現代(げんだい)の日本(にほん) modern Japan
国会議員(こっかいぎいん) Diet member
子供(こども)っぽい childish
年齢(ねんれい)の高(たか)い方(かた) older people
違和感(いわかん) feeling out of place; uncomfortable feeling; bad feeling
明治時代(めいじじだい) Meiji period (1868-1912)
江戸時代(えどじだい) Edo period (1603-1868)
武士(ぶし) samurai; warrior
農民(のうみん) farmer
商人(しょうにん) merchant
身分制度(みぶんせいど) status system; class system
廃止(はいし) abolish
敬称(けいしょう) honorary titles
平等(びょうどう) equality; impartiality
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-92
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-92-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 19, 2022
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Yumi continues to talk about counters in Japanese. This series started due to a question from a listener about how to count Godzilla. Then, she talked about rabbits (which uses 一羽 ichiwa -- just like birds). This time, she turns her attention to fish. Fish in general are easy to count. But… of course, it isn't that simple in the real world.
KEY VOCABULARY:
数(かぞ)え方(かた) way of counting
島国(しまぐに) island country
たくさんの種類(しゅるい) many varieties
季節(きせつ)による by season; according to the season
サバ (mackerel)、サンマ (Pacific saury; mackerel pike)、アジ (horse mackerel)、マグロ (tuna)、ブリ (Japanese amberjack)、イワシ (sardine)、カツオ (bonito)、イカ (squid)、カニ (crab)、エビ (shrimp)、貝類(かいるい) (shellfish)、海藻(かいそう) (seaweed)、ワカメ (wakame seaweed)、昆布(こんぶ) (konbu kelp)、フグ (puffer fish)
水族館(すいぞくかん) aquarium
漁師(りょうし)さん fisherman
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-91
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-91-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 13, 2022
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Yumi continues counting in Japanese. Last time, she discussed how to count Godzilla (is it 一匹 ippiki or 一頭 ittou?). This week, she turns her attention to the interesting counter for rabbits. Is it 一匹 ippiki? Nope. It's 一羽 ichiwa -- just like birds. Why? Listen as Yumi gives two possible etymologies.
KEY VOCABULARY:
数(かぞ)え方(かた) way of counting
頭(とう) counter for large animals (meaning head)
匹(ひき) counter for most small animals and insects
羽(わ) counter for birds and rabbits (means feathers)
束(たば) bundles
把(わ) counter for bundles
説(せつ)があります there is a theory
生類(しょうるい)憐(あわ)れみ mercy on living things
食糧事情(しょくりょうじじょう) food situation
一般(いっぱん)の庶民(しょみん) ordinary folk; common people
頓智話(とんちばなし) story of a quick-witted person
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-90
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-90-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com