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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 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
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
In the original Godzilla movie from 1954, the professor uses the counter 一匹 to count Godzilla. But isn't 匹 used with small animals? Shouldn't Godzilla be counted as 一頭? This was a bit of a puzzle for Yumi too, so she researched the subject. Listen as Yumi explains what she discovered.
KEY VOCABULARY:
ゴジラ Godzilla [mix of ゴリラ (gorilla) and クジラ (whale)]
白黒(しろくろ) Black and white [in Japanese, "white and black"]
科学的(かがくてき)な説明(せつめい) scientific explanation
古臭(ふるくさ)い stale; old-fashioned; hackneyed; trite
普遍性(ふへんせい) universality; omnipresence
興味深(きょうみぶか)い very interesting; of great interest
昆虫(こんちゅう) insects; bugs
研究者(けんきゅうしゃ) researchers
脚本(きゃくほん) script
数(かぞ)え方(かた) way of counting
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-89
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-89-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 29, 2022
Sunday May 29, 2022
Japan has many wonderful things. The latest technology, tons of entertainment, low crime… but Japan also has one of the highest rates of suicide. Why is this so? Yumi talks about this difficult subject and gives a few of her thoughts about how to help prevent it.
KEY VOCABULARY:
自殺率(じさつりつ) suicide rate
私自身(わたしじしん)は I, myself; as for me, I…
有名(ゆうめい)な芸能人(げいのうじん) famous entertainer
他(ほか)の国(くに)の人(ひと) a person from another country
真面目(まじめ) serious; honest; sober; earnest
働(はたら)き者(もの) hard worker
ブラック企業(きぎょう) business that exploits its employees
残業(ざんぎょう) overtime work
従業員(じゅうぎょういん) employee; worker
上司(じょうし) boss; superior
精神科(せいしんか) psychiatry
助言(じょげん) advice
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-88
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-88-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 22, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022
Yumi was very careful to always keep a sharp eye out on her children when they were young. In the shortest of moments, the unthinkable can happen. Japan is a very safe country most of the time, but children are left unsupervised moreso than in other countries. Yumi wonders is it's time to rethink that.
KEY VOCABULARY:
行方不明(ゆくえふめい) missing (person); lost; whereabouts unknown
一致(いっち)する to match; to agree; to conform
キャンプ場(じょう) camp site
ほんのちょっと only a little; just a little
警察(けいさつ) police
諦(あきら)めずに never give up; not giving up
残念(ざんねん)な悲(かな)しいニュース unfortunate and sad news
誘拐(ゆうかい)される to be kidnapped
神隠(かみかく)し (the idea that the gods take missing children who cannot be found)
千(せん)と千尋(ちひろ)の神隠(かみかく)し Spirited Away (anime)
冒険(ぼうけん) adventure
現実(げんじつ)には as for reality; but really
敏感(びんかん) sensitive; alert; aware
小学校(しょうがっこう)の高学年(こうがくねん) upper elementary school
後(あと)からついていきました followed after
それに比(くら)べると compared to that; comparing the two
話題(わだい)になりました became a hot topic of conversation
幼児(ようじ) toddler; young child
判断(はんだん)する to judge
無事(ぶじ)に safe and sound; safely
責任(せきにん)を取(と)る to take responsibility
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-87
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-87-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com