About This Lesson
Use Planning a Photo Walk to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
明日、写真を撮りながら歩きに行かない？
ash-TAH, shah-SHEEN oh toh-REE nah-gah-RAH ah-roo-KEE nee ee-kah-NAH-ee? Would you like to come on a photo walk tomorrow?
B
写真をもっと練習したいんだ。
shah-SHEEN oh MOHT-toh ren-SHOO shee-TAH-ee n dah. I could use more practice with photography.
A
朝の光のほうが、街の写真に向いていそう。
ah-SAH noh HEE-kah-ree noh HOH-gah, mah-chee noh shah-SHEEN nee moo-EE-teh ee-SOH. Morning light should be better for street photos.
B
最初に何を撮ろうか？
sigh-SHOH nee nah-nee oh toh-ROH-kah? What should we photograph first?
A
古い建物から始められるよ。
foo-ROO-ee tah-teh-MOH-noh kah-rah hah-jee-meh-RAH-reh-roo yoh. We can start with old buildings.
B
小さいカメラと予備のバッテリーを持っていくね。
shah-SAH-ee kah-meh-RAH toh yoh-BEE noh bah-teh-REE oh moht-teh ee-KOO neh. I'll bring my small camera and an extra battery.
A
道が混む前に会おう。
mee-chee gah koh-MOO mah-eh nee ah-OH. Let's meet before the streets get busy.
B
それから、あとでお互いの写真を比べられるね。
soh-reh-kah-RAH, ah-toh-DEH oh-tah-GUY noh shah-SHEEN oh koo-rah-BEH-rah-reh-roo neh. Then we can compare our photos later.Word by Word
明日
明日 means “tomorrow,” referring to the day when the photo walk is planned. It commonly appears with a planned action, as in 明日、写真を撮りながら歩きに行かない？. Use it when suggesting or arranging something for the next day.
写真
写真 means “photo” or “photograph.” In 写真を撮りながら, it is the thing being photographed. A common pattern is 写真を撮る for “take photos,” and you can use it when talking about taking, showing, or comparing photos.
を
を marks 写真 as the object of the action in 写真を撮りながら. It shows what the action 撮る is done to. Use the pattern nounを verb when identifying the direct object of an action.
撮り
撮り is the form of 撮る used before ながら, giving the meaning “taking photos” in 撮りながら. Together, 写真を撮りながら means “while taking photos.” Use a verb form such as 撮り before ながら when describing two actions happening at the same time.
ながら
ながら means “while doing” and follows 撮り in 撮りながら. The expression 写真を撮りながら歩く describes walking while taking photos. Use the pattern verb form＋ながら＋main action when one action continues during another.
歩き
歩き is the form of 歩く used in 歩きに行かない, referring to going out for a walk. In 写真を撮りながら歩きに行かない？, it helps describe the activity the speakers are inviting each other to do. The pattern verb stem＋に行く can describe going somewhere for that activity.
に
に marks the purpose of going in 歩きに行かない, so the phrase means going to walk. It connects the activity 歩き with the movement 行く. Use the pattern activity＋に行く when saying that you go somewhere to do an activity.
行かない
行かない is the negative form of 行く, but in 行きませんか or the casual question 行かない？ it can make an invitation such as “shall we go?” Here, 歩きに行かない？ invites the other person to go on the photo walk. Use this casual negative question with someone you can address informally when making a suggestion.
もっと
もっと means “more” in 写真をもっと練習したいんだ, expressing a wish for additional practice. It is placed before the action or quality being increased. Use it when saying that you want to do something more or want a greater amount of something.
練習
練習 means “practice” in 写真をもっと練習したいんだ. Here it refers to practicing photography, with 写真 identifying what the practice concerns. A common pattern is nounを練習する for practicing a skill or activity.
したい
したい expresses “want to do” in 練習したい, so 写真をもっと練習したい means “want to practice photography more.” It is formed from する in the expression 練習する and shows the speaker’s desire. Use it after an activity with する to say that you want to do that activity.
んだ
In 写真をもっと練習したいんだ, んだ gives the statement an explanatory, personal tone: the speaker is explaining that they want more practice. ん presents the preceding statement as explanatory content, and だ gives the ending its plain declarative form. Use a plain statement＋んだ when giving a reason or explaining your situation in casual conversation.
朝
朝 means “morning” in 朝の光, identifying the time of day connected with the light. It combines with の to modify 光. Use it when talking about something that happens or exists in the morning.
の
の links 朝 to 光 in 朝の光, meaning “morning light.” It makes the first noun describe or identify the second noun. Use the pattern nounのnoun for relationships such as a time, place, or category connected to another noun.
光
光 means “light” in 朝の光, the light available in the morning. In the dialogue, this light is being evaluated for taking street photos. Use it with a source or time expression, such as 朝の光, when describing light.
ほう
ほう means “side” or “option” in 朝の光のほうが, which presents morning light as the better option. Together with が, it is used to compare choices. Use the pattern Aのほうがいい when saying that A is preferable.
が
が marks the preferred option in 朝の光のほうが、街の写真に向いていそう. It shows that morning light is the option being judged as more suitable. Use Aのほうが when selecting or comparing one option against another.
街
街 means “street” or “town” in 街の写真, referring here to photos of streets or town scenery. の links it to 写真. Use 街の＋noun when describing something associated with the streets or town.
向いて
向いて means “being suitable for” in 街の写真に向いていそう, where the morning light seems suitable for street photos. The object or purpose is marked with に, as in 写真に向いている. Use the pattern nounに向いている when describing something as a good fit for a purpose.
いそう
いそう in 向いていそう makes the statement mean “seems to be suitable,” rather than presenting it as certain. In 朝の光のほうが、街の写真に向いていそう, the speaker is giving an impression about the light. Use this form when making a tentative judgment based on what appears likely.
最初
最初 means “first” or “at the beginning” in 最初に何を撮ろうか, asking what the speakers should photograph first. It identifies the starting point in their planned sequence. Use 最初に before an action when discussing the first step.
何
何 means “what” in 何を撮ろうか, asking which thing should be photographed. を marks the thing that will be photographed. Use 何を＋verb when asking what someone will do or what object an action concerns.
撮ろう
撮ろう means “shall we take photos?” in 最初に何を撮ろうか. It presents the action as a shared proposal about what to do first. Use this kind of volitional form when suggesting an action for yourself and another person.
か
か turns 撮ろう into the suggestion-question 撮ろうか, meaning “shall we take photos?” It signals that the speaker is asking for agreement about the proposed action. Use verb volitional form＋か when checking or making a casual suggestion.
古い
古い means “old” in 古い建物, describing the buildings the speakers plan to photograph first. It comes directly before the noun 建物. Use the pattern adjective＋noun when describing the age or condition of an object.
建物
建物 means “building” in 古い建物, the first subject the speakers plan to photograph. 古い modifies it to mean “old buildings.” Use it with を when a building is the object of an action, such as 建物を撮る.
から
から means “from” or “starting with” in 古い建物から始められる, marking the point where the plan can begin. It identifies old buildings as the first part of the activity. Use the pattern nounから始める when saying that something starts with a particular person, place, or item.
始められる
始められる means “can start” in 古い建物から始められるよ, saying that the photo walk can begin with old buildings. The phrase 古い建物から identifies the starting point, while 始められる expresses possibility. Use nounから始められる when saying that an activity can begin with a particular item or stage.
よ
よ adds emphasis or new information at the end of 古い建物から始められるよ. It makes the speaker’s suggestion sound like useful information offered to the other person. Use it after a plain statement when informing or assuring someone in conversation.
小さい
小さい means “small” in 小さいカメラ, describing the size of the camera the speaker will take. It comes before カメラ. Use the pattern adjective＋noun when describing the size of an object.
カメラ
カメラ means “camera” in 小さいカメラと予備のバッテリー, naming one item the speaker will take along. と connects it with the spare battery. Use it with を in a phrase such as カメラを持っていく when saying that you will take a camera with you.
と
と connects 小さいカメラ and 予備のバッテリー in 小さいカメラと予備のバッテリー, meaning “a small camera and a spare battery.” It joins the listed items as a complete set. Use nounとnoun when listing two things together.
予備
予備 means “spare” or “extra” in 予備のバッテリー, identifying the battery as a replacement or backup item. の links it to バッテリー. Use 予備の＋noun when describing something kept for use if the main one is unavailable.
バッテリー
バッテリー means “battery” in 予備のバッテリー, the extra battery the speaker plans to take. 予備の describes it as a spare. Use it with を when naming a battery as the thing being carried, charged, or replaced.
持っていく
持っていく means “take along” in 小さいカメラと予備のバッテリーを持っていくね, describing taking the camera and battery to the photo walk. 持って indicates holding or carrying the items, and いく adds movement toward the destination. Use the pattern nounを持っていく when saying that you will take an item with you.
ね
ね in 持っていくね gives the statement a friendly, shared tone as the speaker tells the other person about their plan. It makes the announcement sound conversational rather than abrupt. Use it at the end of a casual statement when inviting a friendly sense of agreement or connection.
道
道 means “road” or “street” in 道が混む前に, referring to the streets becoming busy. が marks 道 as the thing whose condition changes. Use 道 when talking about a road or route, especially with expressions describing traffic or movement.
混む
混む means “become crowded” or “be busy” in 道が混む前に, describing the streets filling with traffic or people. It appears before 前に to identify the condition that should not yet have happened. Use it with a place or route when saying that it becomes crowded.
前
前 means “before” in 道が混む前に会おう, placing the meeting earlier than the streets becoming busy. The clause 道が混む前に gives the time condition for 会おう. Use the pattern clause＋前に when saying that one action happens before another event.
会おう
会おう means “let’s meet” in 道が混む前に会おう. It presents meeting as a shared plan or proposal. Use this volitional form when suggesting that you and another person do something together.
それから
それから means “then” or “after that” in それから、あとでお互いの写真を比べられるね, moving to the next step after the photo walk. それ points back to what has just been discussed, and から marks the point after that. Use it to connect one planned action or event to the next.
あとで
あとで means “later” in あとでお互いの写真を比べられるね, referring to a time after the photo walk. あと identifies a later point, and で marks when the action takes place. Use the pattern あとで＋verb when arranging to do something later.
お互い
お互い means “each other” in お互いの写真, referring to the photos belonging to both people. の connects it to 写真 and gives the meaning “each other’s photos.” Use the pattern お互いの＋noun when talking about something shared between the people involved.
比べられる
比べられる means “can compare” in お互いの写真を比べられるね, expressing that the speakers will be able to compare each other’s photos. お互いの写真を identifies the photos being compared. Use the pattern nounを比べる for comparing things, and 比べられる when expressing that the comparison is possible.
Grammar Points
〜ながら
写真を撮りながら歩きに行かない？
shah-SHEEN oh toh-REE nah-gah-RAH ah-roo-KEE nee ee-kah-NAH-ee?Shall we go for a walk while taking photos?
Attach ながら to the verb stem to express two actions happening at the same time.
〜そう
朝の光は古い建物に向いていそう。
ah-SAH noh HEE-kah-ree wah foo-ROO-ee tah-teh-MOH-noh nee moo-EE-teh ee-SOH.The morning light seems suitable for old buildings.
〜そう expresses that something appears or seems likely based on its appearance or situation.
Japanese Vocabulary
もっと
adv
MOHT-toh
more
街
noun
mah-chee
street; town; city
古い
adj
foo-ROO-ee
old
光
noun
HEE-kah-ree
light
向いていそう
phrase
moo-EE-teh ee-SOH
seems suitable for
最初に
adv
sigh-SHOH nee
first
撮りながら
phrase
toh-REE nah-gah-RAH
while taking photos
写真
noun
shah-SHEEN
photo; photograph
朝
noun
ah-SAH
morning
歩きに行かない
phrase
ah-roo-KEE nee ee-kah-NAH-ee
shall we go for a walk?
明日
adv
ash-TAH
tomorrow
練習したい
phrase
ren-SHOO shee-TAH-ee
want to practice
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
while taking photos
Show Answer
撮りながらwant to practice
Show Answer
練習したいshall we go for a walk?
Show Answer
歩きに行かないseems suitable for