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Japanese · Skills · A1 to B1

Listening practice: catching the end of the sentence

Listen for the end: Japanese puts yes or no, past or present, last明日、会議に出ます出ません出ましたI’ll attendI won’t attendI attended
The first four words are identical in all three; only the last syllables decide the meaning.

Short answer: in Japanese the most important part of a sentence comes last: the verb, the negative, the tense and the tone. Good listeners keep the whole sentence in mind until the end. These dialogues are everyday situations at a learner’s pace: listen first without reading, then read along, then listen again.

Dialogue 1: at the station

Asking which platform.

A
すみませんsumimasenexcuse me京都きょうとKyōtoKyoto行きゆきyukibound forはwa(topic)何番線なんばんせんnanbansenwhich platformですかdesu kais?
Sumimasen, Kyōto yuki wa nanbansen desu ka. · “Excuse me, which platform for Kyoto?”行き after a place: “bound for”, read ゆき here.
B
十四番線じゅうよんばんせんjūyon-bansenplatform 14ですdesuis
Jūyon-bansen desu. · “Platform 14.”
A
次つぎtsuginextのno’s電車でんしゃdenshatrainはwa(topic)何時なんじnan-jiwhat timeですかdesu kais?
Tsugi no densha wa nan-ji desu ka. · “What time is the next train?”
B
十時じゅうじjū-jiten五分ごふんgo-funfive pastですdesuis
Jū-ji go-fun desu. · “10:05.”五分: ごふん.

Dialogue 2: at a café

Ordering and paying.

Staff
ご注文ごちゅうもんgochūmonyour orderはwa(topic)
Gochūmon wa? · “What would you like?”Short polite question.
Customer
アイスコーヒーaisu kōhīiced coffeeのno(link)Mサイズえむサイズemu saizumediumをo(object)くださいkudasaiplease
Aisu kōhī no emu saizu o kudasai. · “A medium iced coffee, please.”
Staff
店内てんないtennaiin the shopでdeatお召し上がりですかおめしあがりですかomeshiagari desu kaeating?
Tennai de omeshiagari desu ka. · “For here?”Keigo: 召し上がる is respectful “eat, drink”.
Customer
持ち帰りもちかえりmochikaeritake awayでdeasお願いしますおねがいしますonegai shimasuplease
Mochikaeri de onegai shimasu. · “To take away, please.”持ち帰り: carry home.

Dialogue 3: a phone call

Making plans with a friend, in casual speech.

A
もしもしmoshi moshihello (phone)今いまimanow大丈夫だいじょうぶdaijōbuOK
Moshi moshi, ima daijōbu? · “Hi, is now a good time?”Casual: no です.
B
うんunyeahどうしたdō shitawhat’s up
Un, dō shita? · “Yeah, what’s up?”
A
土曜日どようびdoyōbiSaturday映画えいがeigafilm行かないいかないikanaiwon’t you go?
Doyōbi, eiga ikanai? · “Want to see a film on Saturday?”Casual invitation: negative question.
B
いいねii nenice行こういこうikōlet’s go
Ii ne, ikō! · “Sounds good, let’s go!”Volitional 行こう.

あいづち: showing you are listening

Japanese listeners respond constantly while the other person speaks. Silence can sound like you are not following.

Dialogue 4: at the doctor

A short clinic visit.

Doctor
今日きょうkyōtodayはwa(topic)どうされましたかdō saremashita kawhat brings you in?
Kyō wa dō saremashita ka. · “What brings you in today?”Respectful passive.
Patient
昨日きのうkinōsince yesterdayからkarafrom熱ねつnetsufeverがga(subject)あってattethere is and喉のどnodothroatもmoalso痛いですいたいですitai desuhurts
Kinō kara netsu ga atte, nodo mo itai desu. · “I’ve had a fever since yesterday, and my throat hurts.”
Doctor
薬くすりkusurimedicineをo(object)出しておきますだしておきますdashite okimasuwill prescribe
Kusuri o dashite okimasu. · “I’ll prescribe some medicine.”出す: issue, prescribe.
Doctor
お大事におだいじにodaiji nitake care
Odaiji ni. · “Take care.”

Listen for these signal words

Words that tell you what is coming next.

Check yourself

Try each one, then open the answer to check and hear it.

  1. (station) Which platform for Kyoto?
    Show answer
    Kyōto yuki wa nanbansen desu ka.
  2. (café) To take away, please.
    Show answer
    Mochikaeri de onegai shimasu.
  3. (listening response) I see.
    Show answer
    Naruhodo.

A listening routine

Ten minutes, four steps, any audio.

Related guides

Next guideSpeaking practiceShadowing what you hear.Next guideAdvanced listeningFast and regional speech.Next guideSentence-ending particlesHearing ね and よ.Next guidePronunciationThe beat of spoken Japanese.