About This Lesson
Use Starting a First Lesson Slowly to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
授業の前は緊張します。
joo-GYOH noh MAH-eh wah keen-CHOH shee-MAHS I feel nervous before class.
B
その気持ちは普通です。グループは親しみやすいです。
soh-noh kee-MOH-chee wah foo-TSOO dess. goo-ROO-poo wah shee-tah-shee-MEE-yah-soo-EE dess. That feeling is normal. The group is friendly.
A
それを聞いてうれしいです。
soh-REH oh KEE-teh oo-reh-SHEE dess I am glad to hear that.
B
最初はゆっくり進めます。
sigh-SHOH wah YOOK-koo-ree soo-soo-MEH-mahs We take things slowly at first.
A
それはいいですね。
soh-REH wah EE dess neh That sounds good.
B
最初の部分は簡単です。
sigh-SHOH noh boo-BOON wah kahn-TAHN dess The first part is easy.Word by Word
授業
授業 means a class or lesson here, as in 授業の前は緊張します。It is used for an organized learning session, and it commonly appears before の when describing something related to the class.
の
In 授業の前は緊張します, の links 授業 and 前, showing that the 前 is the time before the class. A useful pattern is [event or noun]の前, meaning “before [that event or thing].”
前
前 means “before” in 授業の前は緊張します, referring to the time before class begins. The pattern 授業の前 means “before class.”
は
In 授業の前は緊張します, は marks 授業の前 as the time frame being discussed: “As for before class...” or simply “Before class...” It is useful for setting the topic or time of a statement.
緊張
緊張 expresses nervousness or tension in 緊張します. Together with します, 緊張します means “feel nervous” or “be nervous,” especially before an event such as a class.
します
In 緊張します, します completes the polite expression for feeling nervous; the whole form means “feel nervous.” The same polite pattern can be used with other noun-plus-する expressions when stating an action or state politely.
その
その means “that” in その気持ちは普通です, pointing to a feeling already understood in the conversation. It comes directly before the noun it describes, here 気持ち.
気持ち
気持ち means “feeling” in その気持ちは普通です. The expression refers to the nervous feeling mentioned just before, and 気持ち can commonly be followed by は when the feeling is the topic.
普通
普通 means “normal” in その気持ちは普通です, reassuring the listener that the feeling is not unusual. With です, it makes a polite statement about the feeling.
です
In その気持ちは普通です, です politely states that the feeling is normal. It is used at the end of this noun-based statement, and it can also politely complete similar descriptions.
グループ
グループ means “group” in グループは親しみやすいです, referring to the people learning together. It is the topic of the description and is followed by は.
親しみやすい
親しみやすい describes the group as friendly and easy to feel comfortable with in グループは親しみやすいです. It is useful when describing people or places that make it easy to feel at ease.
それ
それ means “that” in それを聞いてうれしいです, referring to the information just given about the group. It is followed by を because that information is what the speaker hears.
を
In それを聞いてうれしいです, を marks それ as what is heard. The pattern [thing or information]を聞く means “hear [something].”
聞いて
聞いて means “hearing” in それを聞いてうれしいです, linking hearing the information with the speaker’s happiness. In this sentence, the pattern [information]を聞いてうれしいです expresses being glad to hear [the information].
うれしい
うれしい means “glad” or “happy” in それを聞いてうれしいです. Here it describes the speaker’s positive feeling after hearing reassuring information, and it is followed by です for a polite statement.
最初
最初 refers to the beginning or the first stage in 最初はゆっくり進めます. With は, 最初は sets “at first” as the time frame, and it is useful when describing how something begins.
ゆっくり
ゆっくり means “slowly” in 最初はゆっくり進めます, describing a gentle pace. It commonly comes before the verb it modifies, as in ゆっくり進めます.
進めます
進めます means “proceed” or “move things forward” in ゆっくり進めます. With ゆっくり, the expression says that the lesson or activity will move forward slowly; this polite form is useful when explaining how an activity will continue.
いい
いい means “good” in それはいいですね, showing approval of the plan to proceed slowly. The expression それはいいです can state that something is good, while それはいいですね adds a shared, agreeable tone.
ね
In それはいいですね, ね invites agreement or presents the statement warmly as something the speakers can share. It is useful after a statement when the speaker expects or welcomes the listener’s agreement.
部分
部分 means “part” in 最初の部分は簡単です, referring to one section of the lesson, specifically its first section. The pattern 最初の部分 means “the first part.”
簡単
簡単 means “easy” or “simple” in 最初の部分は簡単です, describing the first part of the lesson. It is used here with です to give a polite evaluation of that part.
Grammar Points
〜前に
授業の前に、緊張します。
joo-GYOH noh MAH-eh nee, keen-CHOH shee-MAHSI feel nervous before class.
「前に」means “before” and follows a noun with の to show when something happens.
〜て、〜
それを聞いて、うれしいです。
soh-REH oh KEE-teh, oo-reh-SHEE dessI’m glad to hear that.
The て-form links events or gives a reason; here, hearing that causes the speaker to feel glad.
Japanese Vocabulary
うれしい
adj
oo-reh-SHEE
glad; happy
グループ
noun
goo-ROO-poo
group
その
det
soh-noh
that
それ
pron
soh-REH
that
気持ち
noun
kee-MOH-chee
feeling
緊張します
verb
keen-CHOH shee-MAHS
feel nervous
最初
noun
sigh-SHOH
at first; beginning
授業
noun
joo-GYOH
class; lesson
親しみやすい
adj
shee-tah-shee-MEE-yah-soo-EE
friendly; approachable
前
noun
MAH-eh
before; front
普通
adj
foo-TSOO
normal; ordinary
聞いて
verb
KEE-teh
hearing; on hearing
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
feel nervous
Show Answer
緊張しますgroup
Show Answer
グループfriendly; approachable
Show Answer
親しみやすいglad; happy