Learning a New Word | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults discuss a new word by checking its meaning, pronunciation, and example sentence..

EN → JA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Learning a New Word to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

この単語はどういう意味ですか？

KOH-noh TAHN-goh wa doh-YOO ee-MEE dess kah What does this word mean?
B

小さい部屋という意味です。

chee-SAI heh-YAH toh-YOO ee-MEE dess It means a small room.
A

ゆっくり発音できますか？

YOOK-koo-ree hah-tsoo-OHN deh-kee-MAHS kah Can you pronounce it slowly?
B

区切って言います。

koo-GIT-teh ee-MAHS I'll break it into parts.
A

例を一つ言えますか？

RAY o hee-TOH-tsoo ee-EH-MAHS kah Can you give me an example?
B

この部屋はきれいで明るいです。

KOH-noh heh-YAH wa kee-RAY deh ah-kah-ROO-ee dess This room is clean and bright.
A

それを使う練習をしたいです。

soh-REH o tsoo-KAH-oo ren-SHOO o shee-TAI dess I want to practice using it.
B

短い文で使ってみてください。

mee-JAH-kai BOON deh tsoo-KAHT-teh mee-TEH koo-DAH-sai Try it in a short sentence.

Word by Word

この この means “this” and comes before a noun. In この単語はどういう意味ですか？, it points to the word being discussed. Use it before a noun when referring to something nearby or already identified.
単語 単語 means “word.” In この単語はどういう意味ですか？, it refers to the word whose meaning the learner is asking about. It is useful when discussing vocabulary and word meanings.
は は marks この単語 as the topic in この単語はどういう意味ですか？, giving the sense “as for this word.” A noun followed by は can be presented as the topic of a statement or question.
どういう どういう asks what kind of meaning something has in どういう意味ですか？. It comes before 意味 to ask what the word means. Use it before a noun when asking for the nature or description of something.
意味 意味 means “meaning.” In この単語はどういう意味ですか？ and 小さい部屋という意味です。, it refers to the meaning of a word or expression. Use it when asking about or explaining what a word means.
です です makes the statement polite in どういう意味ですか？ and 小さい部屋という意味です。. It links the description to a polite sentence ending. It is commonly used at the end of polite explanations and statements.
か か marks the sentence as a question at the end of この単語はどういう意味ですか？, ゆっくり発音できますか？, and 例を一つ言えますか？. It is used after a polite sentence when asking someone for information or confirmation.
小さい 小さい means “small” and directly describes 部屋 in 小さい部屋という意味です。. It comes before the noun it describes. Use it before a noun when describing a small size.
部屋 部屋 means “room.” In 小さい部屋という意味です。, it is the room described as small. It can be used with descriptions of a room’s size, condition, or appearance.
という In 小さい部屋という意味です。, という presents 小さい部屋 as the content being stated about the meaning: と marks the preceding phrase as the content, and いう contributes the idea of saying or calling it. Together, という意味です means “means ...” in this explanation. This construction is useful when explaining what a word or expression means.
ゆっくり ゆっくり means “slowly.” In ゆっくり発音できますか？, it asks for the pronunciation to be done at a slow pace. It can modify an action when asking someone to do that action more slowly.
発音 発音 means “pronunciation” or “pronouncing.” In ゆっくり発音できますか？, it refers to pronouncing the word being discussed. It is useful when talking about how a word or name is pronounced.
できます できます means “can” or “be able to” in 発音できますか？. It is the polite form of できる and asks whether the person is able to pronounce the word. It follows an action such as 発音 when expressing ability.
区切って 区切って means doing something with divisions or pauses between parts in 区切って言います。. It is the て-form of 区切る and connects this action to 言います. Use it before a following action when one action describes how the next action is carried out.
言います 言います means “say” in 区切って言います。. It is the polite form of 言う, and here the speaker says the word in separated parts. It is commonly used when politely stating or reporting something someone says.
例 例 means “example.” In 例を一つ言えますか？, it refers to an example that the other person is being asked to provide. Use it when asking someone to demonstrate a meaning or usage.
を を marks the object of an action. In 例を一つ言えますか？, it marks 例 as what can be said, and in それを使う練習をしたいです。, it marks それ as what is used. A noun followed by を is commonly the thing affected by the following verb.
言えます 言えます means “can say” or “can give” in 例を一つ言えますか？. It is the polite form of 言える and asks whether someone can provide an example. Use it with something to be said when asking about the ability to state it.
きれい きれい means “clean” in この部屋はきれいで明るいです。. It describes the room’s condition and is linked to 明るい by で. Use it to describe a place or object as clean.
で で links the two descriptions in きれいで明るいです。, so the room is described as both clean and bright. It lets another description follow the first one. This linking use connects descriptions in the same sentence.
明るい 明るい means “bright” in この部屋はきれいで明るいです。. It describes the room’s lighting or brightness. Use it when describing a room or place that has plenty of light.
それ それ means “it” or “that.” In それを使う練習をしたいです。, it refers to the word being discussed and practiced. It is used to refer to something already mentioned or understood from the conversation.
使う 使う means “use.” In それを使う練習をしたいです。, its plain form comes before 練習 and identifies the action being practiced. Use it when describing what someone uses or what action involves using something.
練習 練習 means “practice.” In それを使う練習をしたいです。, it refers to practice using the word. It is commonly used with an action to describe practicing that activity.
したい したい means “want to do” in 練習をしたいです。. It expresses the speaker’s desire to practice. A polite statement using an activity followed by したいです is a reusable way to say that the speaker wants to do that activity.
短い 短い means “short” and describes 文 in 短い文で使ってみてください。. It comes before the noun it describes. Use it before a noun when describing something with short length or duration.
文 文 means “sentence.” In 短い文で使ってみてください。, it refers to a sentence in which the learner should use the word. It is useful when discussing sentences in language study or writing.
使って 使って supplies the action “use” in 使ってみてください。, where the speaker asks the learner to try using the word. It is the て-form of 使う and connects to みてください. This form is commonly used before a request to try using something.
みて みて contributes the meaning “try” in 使ってみてください。. It is the auxiliary use of みる after the て-form 使って, so the whole construction asks someone to try using it. A verb in て-form followed by this auxiliary is a common way to suggest trying an action.
ください ください makes 使ってみてください a polite request meaning “please try using it.” It follows みて in this request construction. It is commonly used after a て-form to ask someone politely to do something.

Grammar Points

〜てみてください

それを使ってみてください。

soh-REH o tsoo-KAHT-teh mee-TEH koo-DAH-sai

Please try using it.

Use the て-form + みる + ください to politely ask someone to try an action.

Japanese Vocabulary

きれい adj
kee-RAY clean
どういう意味 phrase
doh-YOO ee-MEE what meaning; what does it mean
ゆっくり adv
YOOK-koo-ree slowly
意味 noun
ee-MEE meaning
一つ num
hee-TOH-tsoo one; one thing
区切って verb
koo-GIT-teh breaking into parts
言います verb
ee-MAHS say
小さい adj
chee-SAI small
単語 noun
TAHN-goh word
発音 noun
hah-tsoo-OHN pronunciation
部屋 noun
heh-YAH room
例 noun
RAY example

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

slowly

Show Answerゆっくり

breaking into parts

Show Answer区切って

say

Show Answer言います

what meaning; what does it mean

Show Answerどういう意味