About This Lesson
Use Comparing Jackets Before Buying to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
この二つのジャケットはとてもよく似ています。
KOH-noh foo-TAHT-soh-noh jah-KEHT-toh-wah toh-TEH-moh YOH-koo NEE-teh-MAHS. These two jackets look very similar.
B
生地とサイズ感を比べましょう。
kee-JEE-toh SAI-zoo-kahn-o KOO-rah-beh-mah-SHOH. Let's compare the fabric and fit.
A
こちらは軽く感じます。
koh-CHEE-rah-wah kah-ROO-koo kahn-JEE-MAHS. This one feels light.
A
生地が薄そうです。
kee-JEE-gah oo-SOO-SOH DEHSS. The fabric seems thin.
B
もう一つは、もっとしっかりしていて暖かく感じます。
MOH hee-TOO-tsoo-wah MOHT-toh sheeK-KAH-ree shee-TEH-ee-teh ah-tah-tah-KAH-koo kahn-JEE-MAHS. The other one feels sturdier and warmer.
A
それは普段使いにいいかもしれません。
soh-REH-wah foo-DAHN tsoo-KAI-nee EE kah-MOH-shee-reh-MAHS. That might be better for everyday use.
B
まず試着して、着心地を確かめましょう。
MAH-zoo shee-CHAH-koo shee-TEH, kee-KOH-jee-o tah-SHEE-kah-meh-mah-SHOH. Try it on first and see how it feels.
A
決める前に、両方試着します。
kee-MEH-roo MAH-eh-nee, RYOH-hoh shee-CHAH-koo shee-MAHS. I will try both before I decide.
B
そうすれば、選びやすくなるはずです。
SOH soo-REH-bah, eh-rah-BEE yah-SOO-koo nah-ROO hah-zoo DEHSS. That should make the choice easier.Word by Word
この
この means “these” here and identifies the two jackets in この二つのジャケット. It is commonly placed directly before a noun to point out something being discussed.
ジャケット
ジャケット means “jacket” and names the clothing item being compared. It is used here as the noun after この二つの.
の
の links the quantity 二つ to the noun ジャケット in この二つのジャケット. A reliable reuse pattern is a quantity followed by の and the thing being counted.
は
は marks この二つのジャケット as the topic of the sentence. It presents the jackets as the thing whose similarity is being described.
とても
とても means “very” and strengthens the description とてもよく似ています. It is commonly placed before an adjective or adverb to increase its degree.
よく
よく means “closely” or “very” in とてもよく似ています, describing the high degree of similarity. The expression よく似ています is useful when two things resemble each other.
似て
似て means “resembling” in 似ています and describes the jackets as similar. Its citation form is 似る, and this form is used before います to describe the state here.
います
います is the polite form of いる here and completes 似ています, describing the continuing state of resembling each other. It follows 似て in this polite statement.
生地
生地 means “fabric” and refers to the material of the jackets. It is the clothing feature being compared in the shop.
と
と connects 生地 and サイズ感 as two items in a list. It is commonly used between nouns when meaning “and.”
サイズ感
サイズ感 means the sense of a garment’s size or fit. Here it is one of the features being compared, alongside 生地.
を
を marks 生地とサイズ感 as what is compared in 生地とサイズ感を比べましょう. It commonly follows the object of an action.
比べ
比べ means “compare” in 比べましょう. Its citation form is 比べる, and this form is followed by ましょう to make a suggestion to compare something.
ましょう
ましょう makes 比べましょう a polite suggestion meaning “let’s compare.” It is placed after an action form when inviting someone to do the action together.
こちら
こちら means “this one” and politely identifies one of the jackets in こちらは軽く感じます. It is useful in a shop when indicating a particular item.
軽く
軽く means “light” in 軽く感じます and describes the jacket’s perceived weight. Its citation form is 軽い, and this form comes before 感じます to describe how something feels.
感じ
感じ means “feel” in 軽く感じます and expresses the speaker’s perception of the jacket. Its citation form is 感じる, and it is followed by ます for a polite statement.
ます
ます is the polite ending in 感じます. It makes the statement about the speaker’s perception polite and is attached after a verb form.
が
が marks 生地 as the subject in 生地が薄そうです. It identifies the thing that appears to have the described quality.
薄そう
薄そう means “seems thin” and presents the thinness as an appearance or impression rather than a firm statement. It is based on 薄い with そう adding the meaning “seems,” and it is followed by です in 薄そうです.
です
です is the polite statement ending in 薄そうです. It makes the observation about the fabric polite.
もう一つ
もう一つ means “the other one” in this dialogue about two jackets. もう indicates an additional or remaining item, and 一つ means one item; together they identify the second option after one has been mentioned.
もっと
もっと means “more” and increases the comparison in もっとしっかりしていて暖かく感じます. It is used before a description when one item has a greater degree of a quality.
しっかり
しっかり means “sturdy” or “solidly” in しっかりしていて. It describes the jacket as having a firm construction and commonly appears with している for this kind of state.
して
して is part of しっかりしていて and helps express that the jacket is sturdy. Its citation form is する, but here it links the description of sturdiness to the next description.
いて
いて is part of しっかりしていて and connects the continuing state of being sturdy to 暖かく感じます. Its citation form is いる, and the linking form keeps the two descriptions together.
暖かく
暖かく means “warm” in 暖かく感じます and describes the warmth perceived when touching or wearing the jacket. Its citation form is 暖かい, and this form comes before 感じます.
それ
それ means “that” and refers back to the other jacket just described. In それは普段使いにいいかもしれません, it makes that jacket the topic of the next evaluation.
普段使い
普段使い means “everyday use” and describes ordinary daily wear. Here it indicates the purpose for which the jacket may be suitable.
に
に marks 普段使い as the purpose or use in 普段使いにいい. Together with いい, it shows what something is suitable for.
いい
いい means “good” or “suitable” in 普段使いにいい. Here it evaluates the jacket as suitable for everyday use and is softened by かもしれません.
かもしれません
かもしれません expresses possibility, so 普段使いにいいかもしれません means “it might be good for everyday use.” In this full expression, かも introduces the possibility, while しれ, ませ, and ん complete the polite expression.
まず
まず means “first” in まず試着して and establishes the first step in the plan. It is commonly used at the beginning of an instruction or sequence of actions.
試着
試着 means “trying on clothes.” In 試着して, it names the action of putting on the jacket so its feel can be checked.
着心地
着心地 means the comfort or feel of clothing when it is worn. In 着心地を確かめましょう, it is what the speakers want to check after trying on the jacket.
確かめ
確かめ means “check” or “confirm” in 確かめましょう. Its citation form is 確かめる, and it is followed by ましょう to suggest checking something together.
決める
決める means “decide” in 決める前に. It names the decision that will be made after trying both jackets.
前
前 means “before” in 決める前に. A reliable reuse pattern is a verb followed by 前に to place one action before another.
両方
両方 means “both” and refers to the two jackets. In 両方試着します, it is the object of the action of trying them on.
します
します is the polite form of する in 試着します and means “will try on” here. It turns the noun 試着 into a polite action statement.
そうすれば
そうすれば means “if that is done” or “then,” referring to trying on both jackets. そう points back to the preceding action, すれ is the conditional form of する, and ば marks the condition.
選びやすく
選びやすく means “easy to choose” in 選びやすくなる. Its citation form is 選びやすい, and this form is used before なる to describe a change into an easier state.
なる
なる means “become” in 選びやすくなる and describes the choice becoming easier. It commonly follows a quality expressed in the form used before なる.
はず
はず expresses an expectation or reasonable “should” in なるはずです. Here it shows the speaker expects that trying both will make the choice easier.
Grammar Points
い形容詞の語幹＋そうです
こちらは薄そうです。
koh-CHEE-rah-wah oo-SOO-SOH DEHSS.This one looks thin.
Attach そうです to an adjective stem to say something appears or seems a certain way. 薄い becomes 薄そうです.
動詞のます語幹＋やすい
こちらは選びやすいです。
koh-CHEE-rah-wah eh-rah-BEE yah-SOO-ee DEHSS.This one is easy to choose.
Attach やすい to a verb stem to express that an action is easy to do. 選ぶ becomes 選びやすい.
Japanese Vocabulary
こちら
pron
koh-CHEE-rah
this one; here
この
det
KOH-noh
this
サイズ感
noun
SAI-zoo-kahn
fit; sense of sizing
ジャケット
noun
jah-KEHT-toh
jacket
とても
adv
toh-TEH-moh
very
よく
adv
YOH-koo
well; very
感じる
verb
kahn-JEE-roo
to feel
感じます
軽い
adj
kah-ROO-ee
light
軽く
似る
verb
NEE-roo
to resemble; to look similar
似ています
生地
noun
kee-JEE
fabric; material
二つ
num
foo-TAHT-soo
two
比べる
verb
koo-rah-BEH-roo
to compare
比べましょう
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
jacket
Show Answer
ジャケットto resemble; to look similar
Show Answer
似ていますto compare
Show Answer
比べましょうfit; sense of sizing