About This Lesson
Use Meeting someone and talking about class to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
はじめまして。
hah-jee-meh-MAH-shee-teh Nice to meet you.
B
ここでの最初のレッスンですか。
koh-koh-deh-noh sai-SHOH-noh REHSS-soon dess-kah Is this your first lesson here?
A
私は以前ここに来ました。
wah-TAH-shee wah ee-ZEN koh-koh-nee kee-MAH-shee-tah I came here before.
B
ここに来てから、しばらくたちます。
koh-koh-nee kee-teh-kah-RAH, shee-bah-RAH-koo tah-chee-MAHS I have been here for a while.
A
先生はどんな人ですか。
SEN-say wah DOHN-nah HEE-toh dess-kah What is the teacher like?
B
先生はとても親切です。
SEN-say wah TOH-teh-moh sheen-SEHT-soo The teacher is very kind.Word by Word
はじめまして
“はじめまして” is the greeting used when meeting someone for the first time, as in “Nice to meet you.” It is a polite way to open a first meeting, especially with a new classmate or teacher.
ここ
“ここ” means “here,” referring to the place where the speakers are. In “ここでの最初のレッスン,” it identifies this place or school, and it can be reused when pointing out the current location.
で
In “ここでの,” “で” marks the place connected with the lesson: the lesson takes place here. It commonly follows a place when describing where an activity happens.
の
In “ここでの,” “の” connects the place expression with the following noun, giving the meaning “the lesson here” or “the first lesson at this place.” It is commonly used to link a place or other noun to a following noun.
最初
“最初” means “first” or “beginning” in “最初のレッスン,” referring to the first lesson at this place. With “の,” it comes before a noun to identify something as the first one.
レッスン
“レッスン” means “lesson” in the question about the speaker’s first class here. It is a loanword used for a class or lesson and can follow a number or description.
です
In “ですか,” “です” makes the statement polite: it presents the lesson as being the person’s first lesson here. It is used after a noun or description in a polite statement, and “か” turns this statement into a question.
か
In “ですか,” “か” marks the sentence as a question, asking whether this is the person’s first lesson here. It is placed at the end of a polite question.
私
“私” means “I” or “me” in “私は以前ここに来ました.” It identifies the speaker and is useful when the speaker wants to state something about themself.
は
In “私は” and “先生は,” “は” marks the topic of the sentence: the speaker in the first expression and the teacher in the second. It commonly follows the person or thing being discussed.
以前
“以前” means “before” or “previously” in “以前ここに来ました,” indicating that the speaker came here at an earlier time. It can be placed before an action to refer to an earlier occasion.
に
In “ここに来ました,” “に” marks “here” as the destination of coming. It commonly follows a destination or place before a movement verb.
来ました
“来ました” means “came” or “arrived” in the polite past form used in “以前ここに来ました.” It is useful for politely reporting that someone came to a place in the past.
来て
In “来てから,” “来て” means “coming” and connects the act of coming with what follows. This form is used before “から” when explaining what has happened since someone came.
から
In “来てから,” “から” means “since” and sets the time starting with the speaker’s coming here. It commonly follows an action before describing the period or situation that has continued afterward.
しばらく
“しばらく” means “for a while” in “しばらくたちます,” describing a period of some time. It can be used when saying that an amount of time has passed or that something continues for a while.
たち
In “たちます,” “たち” expresses time passing or elapsing. Here it combines with “しばらく” to say that a while has passed, and this pattern is useful for describing elapsed time.
ます
In “たちます,” “ます” is the polite ending of the verb expression. It makes the statement about time passing suitable for a polite conversation, such as speaking with a new classmate.
先生
“先生” means “teacher” in “先生はどんな人ですか” and “先生はとても親切です.” It is used when talking respectfully about a teacher or another person in a teaching role.
どんな
“どんな” means “what kind of” in “どんな人,” asking about the teacher’s qualities or character. It is placed before a noun when asking what type or kind of person or thing someone is.
人
“人” means “person” in “どんな人,” so the phrase asks what kind of person the teacher is. It can follow “どんな” when asking about someone’s character or qualities.
とても
“とても” means “very” in “とても親切です,” strengthening the description of the teacher’s kindness. It commonly appears before an adjective or descriptive expression.
親切
“親切” describes the teacher as kind and helpful in “先生はとても親切です.” It is useful when describing someone’s considerate character, and here “です” makes the description polite.
Grammar Points
動詞のて形＋から
来てから、しばらくたちます。
kee-teh-kah-RAH, shee-bah-RAH-koo tah-chee-MAHSIt has been a while since I came.
「〜てから」は、ある行動の後から現在までの時間や出来事を表します。
どんな＋名詞
どんな先生ですか。
DOHN-nah SEN-say dess-kahWhat kind of teacher is he/she?
「どんな」は、名詞の前で人や物の種類・特徴をたずねるときに使います。
Japanese Vocabulary
ここ
pron
koh-koh
here
しばらく
adv
shee-bah-RAH-koo
for a while
たちます
verb
tah-chee-MAHS
passes; has passed
どんな
det
DOHN-nah
what kind of; what ... like
はじめまして
phrase
hah-jee-meh-MAH-shee-teh
Nice to meet you
レッスン
noun
REHSS-soon
lesson
以前
adv
ee-ZEN
before; previously
最初
noun
sai-SHOH
first; initial
私
pron
wah-TAH-shee
I; me
先生
noun
SEN-say
teacher
来てから
phrase
kee-teh-kah-RAH
since coming; after coming
来ました
verb
kee-MAH-shee-tah
came
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
came
Show Answer
来ましたNice to meet you
Show Answer
はじめましてsince coming; after coming
Show Answer
来てからlesson