About This Lesson
Use Starting with a Short Sentence to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
簡単な言葉のほうが、私にはやさしいです。
kahn-TAHN nah koh-toh-BAH noh HOH-gah, wah-TAH-shee nee wah yah-sah-SHEE dess. Simple words are easier for me.
B
私たちは短い文から始められます。
wah-TAH-shee-tah-chee wah mee-jee-KAH-ee boon kah-rah hah-jeh-meh-RAH-reh-mahss. We can start with a short sentence.
A
それで、私は理解できます。
soh-reh-deh, wah-TAH-shee wah ree-KAI deh-KEE-mahss. That helps me understand.
B
私のあとに、この文を読んでください。
wah-TAH-shee noh AH-toh nee, koh-noh boon oh YOHN-deh koo-dah-SAI. Read this line after me.
A
私はやってみる準備ができています。
wah-TAH-shee wah YAHT-teh MEE-roo, joom-BEE gah deh-KEE-teh ee-MAHSS. I am ready to try.
B
急がずに、はっきり言ってください。
ee-soh-gah-zoo nee, hahk-kee-ree EET-teh koo-dah-SAI. Take your time and say it clearly.Word by Word
簡単
In 「簡単な言葉」, 「簡単」 means simple or easy. Here it describes the words as easy for the speaker to use or understand. A new example is 「簡単な問題」 for “an easy problem.”
な
In 「簡単な言葉」, 「な」 connects 「簡単」 to the noun 「言葉」 and makes the phrase mean “simple words.” It is used after this kind of noun-like modifier before the noun it describes. A new example is 「静かな部屋」 for “a quiet room.”
言葉
In this dialogue, 「言葉」 means words or language expressions. It is the noun being described by 「簡単な」 in 「簡単な言葉」. A new example is 「新しい言葉」 for “a new word.”
の
In 「言葉のほう」, 「の」 links 「言葉」 with 「ほう」 and identifies the side or option being compared. This pattern can connect a noun to 「ほう」 when choosing or comparing options. A new example is 「電車のほう」 for “the train option.”
ほう
In 「言葉のほうが」, 「ほう」 means the side or option of simple words in the comparison. Together with 「の」 and 「が」, the expression marks simple words as the easier choice for the speaker. A new example is 「こちらのほうがいいです」 for “this one is better.”
が
In 「言葉のほうが」, 「が」 marks the option that is being presented as easier. It helps identify simple words as the preferred side of the comparison. A new example is 「朝のほうが便利です」 for “the morning is more convenient.”
私
In 「私には」, 「私」 means “I” or “me,” referring to the speaker. It identifies the person for whom the words are easy. A new example is 「私も読みます」 for “I will read too.”
に
In 「私には」, 「に」 marks the person affected by or experiencing the quality, meaning “for me.” It can be used after a person when describing what is easy or difficult for that person. A new example is 「私には難しいです」 for “it is difficult for me.”
は
In 「私には」, 「は」 marks 「私」 as the topic and gives the phrase a contrastive focus: “for me.” The combination 「には」 is useful when stating how something applies to a particular person. A new example is 「彼には簡単です」 for “it is easy for him.”
やさしい
In 「私にはやさしいです」, 「やさしい」 means easy for the speaker, not difficult. Here it describes how 「簡単な言葉」 feel to 「私」. A new example is 「この文はやさしいです」 for “this sentence is easy.”
です
At the end of 「やさしいです」, 「です」 gives the sentence a polite tone. It presents the statement about the words in a polite way. A new example is 「大丈夫です」 for “it is okay.”
私たち
In 「私たちは」, 「私たち」 means “we” or “us,” referring to the people who can begin with a short sentence. It is followed by 「は」 when this group is the topic. A new example is 「私たちは学生です」 for “we are students.”
短い
In 「短い文」, 「短い」 means short and describes the length of the sentence. It comes directly before the noun 「文」 here. A new example is 「短い言葉」 for “short words.”
文
In 「短い文」 and 「この文」, 「文」 means a sentence. It refers to the sentence that the learners will start with and read. A new example is 「文を読みます」 for “I read a sentence.”
から
In 「短い文から始められます」, 「から」 marks the starting point: beginning with a short sentence. It commonly follows the first item in a sequence or activity before 「始める」. A new example is 「ここから始めます」 for “I will start from here.”
始められます
In 「短い文から始められます」, 「始められます」 means “can start,” so the speakers are able to begin with a short sentence. It is used after the starting point marked by 「から」. A new example is 「明日から始められます」 for “we can start tomorrow.”
それ
In 「それで」, 「それ」 means “that,” referring to the preceding idea of starting with a short sentence. It points to something already mentioned rather than introducing a new object. A new example is 「それは簡単です」 for “that is easy.”
で
In 「それで」, 「で」 connects “that” with the result that follows, giving the sense “with that” or “as a result.” Together, 「それで」 introduces how the preceding action helps the speaker understand. A new example is 「それで、分かりました」 for “that is how I understood.”
理解
In 「理解できます」, 「理解」 contributes the meaning “understanding” or “understand.” Together with 「できます」, the phrase means that the speaker can understand. A new example is 「内容を理解します」 for “I understand the content.”
できます
In 「理解できます」, 「できます」 expresses ability, so the complete expression means “can understand.” It follows 「理解」 to state that understanding is possible. A new example is 「読むことができます」 for “I can read.”
あと
In 「私のあとに」, 「あと」 means after or behind, and here it refers to the learner following the other speaker. With 「私の」 and 「に」, it forms the phrase “after me.” A new example is 「先生のあと」 for “after the teacher.”
この
In 「この文」, 「この」 means “this” and points to a sentence close to the speaker or already available to see. It comes directly before the noun it describes. A new example is 「この言葉」 for “this word.”
を
In 「この文を読んでください」, 「を」 marks 「この文」 as the thing being read. It is placed after the object and before the action. A new example is 「言葉を練習します」 for “I practice words.”
読んで
In 「読んでください」, 「読んで」 is the form used to connect “read” with the polite request 「ください」. The whole expression asks someone to read the sentence. A new example is 「もう一度読んでください」 for “please read it one more time.”
ください
In 「読んでください」, 「ください」 makes the request polite: “please read.” It follows this action form when asking another person to do something. A new example is 「聞いてください」 for “please listen.”
やってみる
In 「やってみる準備」, 「やってみる」 means “try doing it.” The 「やって」 part supplies the action to try, and 「みる」 adds the idea of trying that action to see how it goes. A new example is 「読んでみる」 for “try reading it.”
準備
In 「やってみる準備」, 「準備」 means preparation or readiness for trying something. It identifies the readiness that the speaker says is already in place. A new example is 「授業の準備」 for “preparation for the lesson.”
できています
In 「準備ができています」, 「できています」 means that the preparation is complete and ready. Together with 「準備が」, it tells the listener that the speaker is ready to try. A new example is 「準備ができています」 when saying that everything is ready before an activity.
急がず
In 「急がずに」, 「急がず」 means without hurrying. It tells the learner to perform the next action calmly rather than quickly. A new example is 「急がずに読んでください」 for “please read without hurrying.”
はっきり
In 「はっきり言ってください」, 「はっきり」 means clearly, especially so that the words can be heard or understood. It describes how the learner should say the words. A new example is 「はっきり話してください」 for “please speak clearly.”
言って
In 「言ってください」, 「言って」 is the form used before 「ください」 in a polite request to say something. Here the listener is asked to say the sentence clearly. A new example is 「名前を言ってください」 for “please say your name.”
Grammar Points
Vずに
急がずに、はっきり言ってください。
ee-soh-gah-zoo nee, hahk-kee-ree EET-teh koo-dah-SAI.Please say it clearly without hurrying.
「ずに」は「〜ないで」と同じで、ある動作をしないまま次の動作をすることを表します。
Vてみる
やってみる。
YAHT-teh MEE-roo.I’ll try doing it.
「てみる」は、経験や確認のために何かを試すことを表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
あと
noun
AH-toh
after; behind
やさしい
adj
yah-sah-SHEE
easy; gentle
やってみる
phrase
YAHT-teh MEE-roo
try doing
簡単
adj
kahn-TAHN
simple; easy
簡単な
急がずに
verb
ee-soh-gah-zoo nee
without hurrying; take your time
言葉
noun
koh-toh-BAH
word; words
始められます
verb
hah-jeh-meh-rah-reh-MAHSS
can start
準備
noun
joom-BEE
preparation; readiness
短い
adj
mee-jee-KAH-ee
short
読んでください
phrase
YOHN-deh koo-dah-SAI
please read
文
noun
boon
sentence
理解できます
verb
ree-KAI deh-KEE-mahss
can understand
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
can understand
Show Answer
理解できますcan start
Show Answer
始められますplease read
Show Answer
読んでくださいeasy; gentle