About This Lesson
Use Choosing a Light Snack to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
おやつが欲しいです。
oh-YAH-tsoo gah ho-SHEE dess I want a snack.
A
あまりおなかがすいていません。
ah-MAH-ree oh-NAH-kah gah swee-TEH-ee-mah-SEN I am not very hungry.
B
では、ヨーグルトのような軽いものを選びましょう。
deh-WAH, YOH-gur-TOH noh YOH-oo-nah KAH-roo-ee moh-noh oh eh-RAH-bee-mah-SHOH-oo Then choose something light, like yogurt.
A
ナッツもありますか。
NAHT-tsoo moh ah-ree-MAHS-kah Do we have nuts too?
B
戸棚にいくつかあります。
TOH-dah-nah nee ee-KOOT-soo-kah ah-ree-MAHS There are some in the cupboard.
A
ヨーグルトにナッツを入れるとよさそうです。
YOH-gur-TOH nee NAHT-tsoo oh ee-REH-roo toh YOH-sah-SOH-oo dess Yogurt with nuts sounds good.
B
小さいボウルを取ってください。
chee-SAH-ee BOH-oo-roo oh TOHT-teh koo-DAH-sah-ee Take a small bowl.
B
それほど多くありません。
soh-reh-HOH-doh OH-oo-koo ah-ree-mah-SEN It is not too much.
A
今、作ります。
ee-MAH, tsoo-koo-ree-MAHS I will make one now.
B
私のためにナッツを少し残してください。
wah-TAH-shee noh TAH-meh nee NAHT-tsoo oh soo-KOH-shee NOH-koh-shee-teh koo-DAH-sah-ee Leave some nuts for me, please.Word by Word
おやつ
In おやつが欲しいです, おやつ means “snack,” specifically the snack the speaker wants. It is used as a noun for a small food item between meals. The pattern おやつが欲しいです politely states that you want a snack.
が
In おやつが欲しいです, が marks おやつ as the thing that is wanted. The pattern Xが欲しいです is used to say that you want a particular item. Use it when politely stating a desire.
欲しい
In おやつが欲しいです, 欲しい means “want” or “desire,” referring to the snack the speaker wants. It describes the desired item before the polite ending です. Use the pattern Xが欲しいです when saying that you want something.
です
In おやつが欲しいです, です makes the statement polite. It completes the polite sentence about wanting a snack. Use it at the end of a polite statement such as おやつが欲しいです.
あまり
In あまりおなかがすいていません, あまり means “not very” or “not much.” With the negative expression すいていません, it shows that the speaker is hungry only to a low degree. Place あまり before a negative expression when describing a low degree.
おなか
In あまりおなかがすいていません, おなか refers to the stomach as part of the expression for feeling hungry. Together with すいていません, the sentence means that the speaker is not very hungry. Use this expression when telling someone about your hunger state.
すいて
In おなかがすいていません, すいて contributes to the expression meaning “be hungry,” together with おなか and いません. The form connects the hunger state to the negative ending いません. Use the full expression when reporting that you are not hungry.
いません
In あまりおなかがすいていません, いません indicates that the hunger state is not present. It completes the polite negative expression with すいて. Use it here to say that the speaker is not in that state.
では
At the start of では、ヨーグルトのような軽いものを選びましょう, では means “then” or “in that case.” It responds to the statement that the speaker is not very hungry and introduces a suggestion. Use では when moving from a situation to a suggested next action.
ヨーグルト
In ヨーグルトのような軽いもの, ヨーグルト means “yogurt.” It is given as an example of a light food. Use it as a food noun when discussing yogurt or choosing it as a snack.
の
In ヨーグルトのような軽いもの, の links ヨーグルト with ような to form the phrase “like yogurt.” The pattern XのようなY describes Y by comparing it with X. Use it when giving an example of the type of thing you mean.
ような
In ヨーグルトのような軽いもの, ような means “like” or “such as.” It presents yogurt as an example of something light. Use XのようなY when describing a noun as being like or similar to another noun.
軽い
In ヨーグルトのような軽いもの, 軽い means “light” and describes the kind of snack being suggested. It appears before もの to describe it. Use 軽い before a noun when describing something as light.
もの
In 軽いもの, もの means “thing” or “something.” With 軽い, it refers to something light to eat. The pattern adjective + もの turns a description into a general item or thing.
を
In 軽いものを選びましょう, を marks 軽いもの as the object being chosen. The pattern Xを選ぶ is used when selecting X. Use を before a verb when marking the thing affected by the action.
選びましょう
In 軽いものを選びましょう, 選びましょう means “let’s choose.” It makes a polite suggestion for a shared action. Use it after the item to suggest choosing something together.
ナッツ
In ナッツもありますか, ナッツ means “nuts.” The speaker asks whether nuts are available in addition to the suggested yogurt. Use it as a food noun when discussing nuts as an ingredient or snack.
も
In ナッツもありますか, も means “also” or “too.” It adds nuts to the food already being discussed. Attach も after a noun when including that noun as another relevant item.
あります
In ナッツもありますか and 戸棚にいくつかあります, あります indicates that something is available or present. In the question, it asks whether nuts are available; in the answer, it says some are in the cupboard. Use Xがありますか to ask whether an item is available.
か
At the end of ナッツもありますか, か marks the sentence as a question. It turns the polite statement about nuts being available into a question. Use it at the end of a polite question.
戸棚
In 戸棚にいくつかあります, 戸棚 means “cupboard.” It identifies where the nuts are stored. Use it when referring to a cupboard as a storage place.
に
In 戸棚にいくつかあります, に marks 戸棚 as the location where the nuts are present. The pattern placeにあります identifies where an item is located. Use に after a location before あります.
いくつか
In 戸棚にいくつかあります, いくつか means “some” or “several,” without specifying the exact quantity. It describes the amount of nuts available in the cupboard. Use it before あります when referring to an unspecified quantity of items.
入れる
In ヨーグルトにナッツを入れるとよさそうです, 入れる means “put in” or “add.” It describes adding nuts to the yogurt. The pattern XにYを入れる is used for putting or adding Y into X.
と
In 入れるとよさそうです, と connects the action 入れる with the judgment よさそうです, giving the sense “if or when you put them in, it seems good.” The pattern Xを入れると... links an action with its expected result or observation. Use it when describing what follows from an action.
よさそう
In 入れるとよさそうです, よさそう means “seems good” or “looks like a good idea.” It expresses a positive impression about adding nuts to the yogurt. Use it when something appears suitable or promising.
小さい
In 小さいボウル, 小さい means “small” and describes the bowl to take. It appears directly before ボウル. Use 小さい before a noun when describing its small size.
ボウル
In 小さいボウルを取ってください, ボウル means “bowl.” It is the object that the listener is asked to take. Use it when referring to a bowl for holding or preparing food.
取って
In 小さいボウルを取ってください, 取って means “take” or “get.” Together with ください, it forms a polite request to take the bowl. Use the pattern Xを取ってください when politely asking someone to take or get X.
ください
In 小さいボウルを取ってください, ください makes the request polite. It follows 取って and asks the listener to perform that action. Use the pattern Xてください to politely ask someone to do X.
それほど
In それほど多くありません, それほど means “that much” or “so much.” With the negative expression 多くありません, it limits the amount by saying it is not that large. Place it before a negative expression when saying that a degree or amount is not very high.
多く
In それほど多くありません, 多く refers to a large amount and describes how much there is. Together with それほど and ありません, it means that the amount is not very large. Use the pattern それほど多くありません to say that something is not that much.
ありません
In それほど多くありません, ありません makes the statement negative and says that the amount is not that much. It completes the expression about quantity. Use it here to describe a limited amount.
今
In 今、作ります, 今 means “now” and indicates when the speaker will prepare the snack. It sets the time for the action 作ります. Use 今 before an action when saying that it happens at the present time.
作ります
In 今、作ります, 作ります means “make” or “prepare.” In this context, it states the speaker’s polite intention to prepare the snack now. Use it for preparing food or making something in a polite statement.
私
In 私のためにナッツを少し残してください, 私 identifies the speaker as the person who should receive the nuts. With のために, it contributes the meaning “for me.” Use 私のために when saying that an action or item is intended for the speaker.
ため
In 私のためにナッツを少し残してください, ため expresses benefit or purpose, so 私のために means “for me.” The pattern Xのために describes the person or purpose an action is intended for. Use it when asking for something to be done for someone’s benefit.
少し
In ナッツを少し残してください, 少し means “a little” or “some” and specifies a small amount of nuts to leave. It appears after the object ナッツを. Use it when requesting or describing a small amount.
残して
In ナッツを少し残してください, 残して means “leave” or “save.” Together with ください, it politely asks the listener not to use all the nuts and to keep some for the speaker. Use the pattern Xを残してください when asking someone to leave or save X.
Grammar Points
NのようなN
ヨーグルトのような軽いもの
YOH-gur-TOH noh YOH-oo-nah KAH-roo-ee moh-nohsomething light like yogurt
「ような」は、あるものに似た例を挙げるときに使います。
Vると、〜
ナッツをいくつか入れると、よさそうです
NAHT-tsoo oh ee-KOOT-soo-kah ee-REH-roo toh, YOH-sah-SOH-oo dessIf we add some nuts, it seems good.
「と」は、ある行動の結果や自然な成り行きを表す「if/when」です。
Japanese Vocabulary
あまり
adv
ah-MAH-ree
not very; not much
おなか
noun
oh-NAH-kah
stomach; appetite
おやつ
noun
oh-YAH-tsoo
snack
すいていません
verb
swee-TEH-ee-mah-SEN
am not hungry
では
conj
deh-WAH
then
ナッツ
noun
NAHT-tsoo
nuts
もの
noun
MOH-noh
thing; something
ような
phrase
YOH-oo-nah
like; such as
ヨーグルト
noun
YOH-gur-TOH
yogurt
軽い
adj
KAH-roo-ee
light
選びましょう
verb
eh-RAH-bee-mah-SHOH-oo
let's choose
欲しい
adj
ho-SHEE
want
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
am not hungry
Show Answer
すいていませんyogurt
Show Answer
ヨーグルトlet's choose
Show Answer
選びましょうnot very; not much