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LESSON 36 カットですね
KATTO DESU NE

び よ う し きょ う

美容師 今日はどうしますか？ How would you like your hair

HAIRDRESSER KYÔ WA DÔ SHIMASU KA? done today?
みじか

クオン 短 くしてほしいんですけど…。 I’d like my hair cut short…

CUONG MIJIKAKU SHITE HOSHII N DESU
KEDO…
び よ う し

美容師 カットですね。 A haircut, right?

なが

HAIRDRESSER ⻑さはどうしますか？ How would you like the length?

まえがみ まゆ てい ど

前髪は眉にかかる程度ですか？ Would you like the fringe long

KATTO DESU NE. enough to cover your
NAGASA WA DÔ SHIMASU KA? eyebrows?
MAEGAMI WA MAYU NI KAKARU
TEIDO DESU KA?
みじか

クオン もっと 短 くしてください。 Please make it shorter.

CUONG MOTTO MIJIKAKU SHITE KUDASAI.

GRAMMAR POINT

 ––te form of a verb + hoshii n desu = “would like ____ to ____”

Ex. issho ni itte hoshii n desu (I would like you to go with me)

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てんき

LESSON 37 いい天気になりましたね
II TENKI NI NARIMASHITA NE

てん き

クオン いい天気になりましたね。 The weather’s turned fine,

CUONG II TENKI NI NARIMASHITA NE. hasn’t it?
きんじょ ひと ほんとう

近所の人 本当。 Yes, indeed!

あめ つづ ひさ き も

NEIGHBOR 雨が続いたから、久しぶりに気持ちいいわ。 Because it’s been raining so

HONTÔ. AME GA TSUZUITA KARA, much, I feel comfortable for the
HISASHIBURI NI KIMOCHI II WA. first time in a long time.
あたた そう じ き も

クオン 暖 かくなったので、掃除するのも気持ち Because it’s become warm, I feel

CUONG いいです。 comfortable doing the cleaning
ATATAKAKU NATTA NODE, SÔJI SURU as well.
NO MO KIMOCHI II DESU.

GRAMMAR POINT

 When narimasu follows a noun, the particle ni comes before narimasu.

 When adjectives are followed by narimasu, the final ––i changes to ku.
Ex. atatakai (warm) → atatakaku narimasu (becomes warm)

The weather

Thanks to Japan’s four distinct seasons, the Japanese are very sensitive to the changing
seasons.
When you write a formal letter, it’s good manners to begin with some seasonal greeting. And
you should seize any opportunity for conversation by starting with the topic of the weather. When
you start talking to someone you’ve just met for the first time, talking about politics does not
create a comfortable atmosphere. It’s also better to avoid starting off with some personal matters,
because the Japanese consider keeping some distance from other people as being very important.
Here are two expressions that show how closely the Japanese associate with the weather. Have
you ever heard of a hare-onna, which means “a fine-weather woman” or an ame-otoko, “a rain
man”? For some reason, a hare-onna always seems to take fine weather with her when traveling
or going out, whereas an ame-otoko always seems to produce rain when it’s least wanted! In fact,
the Japanese qualify themselves as a hare or an ame! Which type are you?

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じしん お

LESSON 38 地震が起きたら、どうしたらいいですか？
JISHIN GA OKITARA, DÔ SHITARA II DESU KA?

いえ とき じし ん お
クオン 家にいる時、地震が起きたら、どうしたら What should I do if an
CUONG いいですか？ earthquake occurs when I’m at
IE NI IRU TOKI, JISHIN GA OKITARA, home?
DÔ SHITARA II DESU KA?
おお や した はい

大家 まずテーブルの下に入ってね。 First, you should go under a

LANDLADY MAZU TÊBURU NO SHITA NI HAITTE table.
NE.
きんじょ ひと たお か ぐ ちゅう い

近所の人 倒れてくる家具に 注 意しなくちゃ。 You must pay attention to falling

NEIGHBOR TAORETE KURU KAGU NI CHÛI furniture.
SHINAKUCHA.
おお や ひ け わす

大家 コンロの火を消すのも忘れないで。 You must also not forget to turn

LANDLADY KONRO NO HI O KESU NO MO off the gas.
WASURENAI DE.

GRAMMAR POINT

 Remove the ––masu ending of a verb + tara, dô shitara ii desu ka? = “What should I do, if ___?”

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LESSON 39 おじゃまします
O-JAMA SHIMASU

クオン おじゃまします。 May I come in?

CUONG O-JAMA SHIMASU.
おお や

大家 どうぞ。 Please come in.

おっと はな たの

LANDLADY 夫 もクオンさんと話すのを楽しみにして My husband is also looking

いるの。 forward to talking to you.
DÔZO. OTTO MO KUON-SAN TO
HANASU NO O TANOSHIMI NI SHITE
IRU NO.
い きん ちょう

クオン そんなことを言われると、緊 張 します。 Hearing that makes me feel

CUONG SONNA KOTO O IWARERU TO, KINCHÔ nervous.
SHIMASU.
たたみ

クオン あっ、 畳 がありますね。 Oh, there are tatami mats!

CUONG A’, TATAMI GA ARIMASU NE.

GRAMMAR POINT

Passive form of a verb

meaning Basic form Passive form ––masu form Passive ––masu form
say iu iwareru iimasu iwaremasu
write kaku kakareru kakimasu kakaremasu
throw nageru nagerareru nagemasu nageraremasu

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やす ひ なに

LESSON 40 休みの日は何をしているんですか？
YASUMI NO HI WA NANI O SHITEIRU N DESU KA?

おお や おっと やす ひ なに
大家の 夫 休みの日は何をしているんですか？ What do you do on holidays?
LANDLORD YASUMI NO HI WA NANI O SHITEIRU N
DESU KA?
えい が み ほん よ

クオン 映画を⾒たり、本を読んだりしています。 I go to see a movie or read a

ふた り

CUONG お二人は？ book.

EIGA O MITARI, HON O YONDARI How about you two?
SHITEIMASU.
O-FUTARI WA?
おお や す つき いち ど やま い

大家 ハイキングが好きで、月に１度は山に⾏く Since we like hiking, we go to the

LANDLADY の。 mountains at least once a
HAIKINGU GA SUKI DE, TSUKI NI month.
ICHIDO WA YAMA NI IKU NO.
やま い くう き

クオン 山に⾏くと、空気がおいしいでしょうね。 If you go to the mountains, I’m

CUONG YAMA NI IKU TO, KÛKI GA OISHII sure the air is good.
DESHÔ NE.

GRAMMAR POINT

 ––tari is used to describe several actions, hinting that there are others as well. ––tari follows a
verb without ––masu.
Ex. mitari, yondari shimasu “see or read”

An energetic life after retirement

Japan is increasingly becoming an aging society. According to a survey carried out by an

affiliate of a life insurance company, the hobbies people most want to enjoy after their retirement
include travel, sports (exercise), enjoying gourmet cuisine, and reading books.
The reasons for having hobbies vary,
including “keeping the brain active” and “a
fulfilling retirement life”. All of them seem to
play a role in maintaining a healthy mind and
body.

Source : Japan Institute of Life Insurance

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LESSON 41 そろそろ
SOROSORO

ぼく

クオン すみません、僕、そろそろ…。 Excuse me, but I must be going

CUONG SUMIMASEN, BOKU, SOROSORO… soon…
おお や じか ん

大家 あっ、もうこんな時間。 Oh, it’s that time already!

LANDLADY A’, MÔ KONNA JIKAN.
きょ う

クオン 今日はありがとうございました。 Thank you very much for today.

たの

CUONG 楽しかったです。 I had a good time.

KYÔ WA ARIGATÔ GOZAIMASHITA.
TANOSHIKATTA DESU.
おお や おっと き

大家の 夫 こちらこそ、来てくれてありがとう。 It was our pleasure.

LANDLORD KOCHIRAKOSO, KITE KURETE Thank you for coming.
ARIGATÔ.
おお や しご と

大家 お仕事がんばってね。 Good luck for your job!

LANDLADY O-SHIGOTO GANBATTE NE.

GRAMMAR POINT

 The past tense of an adjective → change ––i to ––katta.

Ex. tanoshii desu (have a good time) → tanoshikatta desu (had a good time)

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もう わけ

LESSON 42 申し訳ございません
MÔSHIWAKE GOZAIMASEN

しょう ひん て もと とど

クオン もう 商 品はお手元に届きましたか？ Has the product arrived at your

CUONG MÔ SHÔHIN WA O-TEMOTO NI company yet?
TODOKIMASHITA KA?
とりひきさき とど

取引先 それが、届いていません。 No, it hasn’t arrived yet.

CLIENT どうなっているんですか？ What’s going on?
SORE GA, TODOITE IMASEN.
DÔ NATTE IRU N DESU KA?
もう わけ

クオン 申し訳ございません。 I’m very sorry.

しら お かえ れん らく

CUONG すぐに調べて、折り返しご連絡をさしあげ I’ll check it right away and call

ます。 you back.
MÔSHIWAKE GOZAIMASEN.
SUGU NI SHIRABETE, ORIKAESHI
GO-RENRAKU O SASHIAGEMASU.

GRAMMAR POINT

 ––te form of a verb + imasen = “have/has not ___ yet”

 Expression for apology : gomennasai < môshiwake arimasen < môshiwake gozaimasen
(the politest expression)

How to make an apology to change a failure into a

plus factor

Anyone can make a mistake. However, if you keep making excuses or apologies in a rough
manner, you may give a bad impression to others. You should boost your popularity by making
smart apologies.
Expressions of apology used in business are Sumimasen, Môshiwake gozaimasen and
Shitsurei itashimashita.
When the person you are apologizing to is actually in front of you, you should bow as you
express your words of apology.
When you are late for an appointment, because, for example, the trains were delayed by an
accident, the first thing you must do is apologize, even through you are not to blame for being late.
Whatever the reason is, it’s best to apologize, because you have caused the other person trouble
by being unable to keep your promise. Once you have sincerely expressed your apology, all you
can do is make an effort to retrieve trust through your subsequent work.

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き ひ し

LESSON 43 気を引き締めるように
KI O HIKISHIMERU YÔ NI

ぶちょう はっちゅう

部⻑ 発 注 ミスがあったそうだね。 I hear there was a mistake with

BUCHO HATCHÛ MISU GA ATTA SÔ DA NE. an order.
もう わけ

クオン 申し訳ございません。 I am very sorry.

CUONG MÔSHIWAKE GOZAIMASEN.
やま だ わたし いち ど かくにん

山田 私 がもう一度、確認するべきでした。 I should have checked it one

YAMADA WATASHI GA MÔ ICHIDO, KAKUNIN more time.
SURUBEKI DESHITA.
ぶちょう き ひ し

部⻑ 気を引き締めるように。 Pull yourself together.

まか し ごと たの

BUCHO 任された仕事は、しっかり頼みますよ。 I’m counting on you to deal

KI O HIKISHIMERU YÔ NI. properly with the work
MAKASARETA SHIGOTO WA, entrusted to you.
SHIKKARI TANOMIMASU YO.

GRAMMAR POINT

 To tell someone to do something, you add yô ni to the basic form of a verb.

 ––beki desu means “should”.

Human resources development

Japanese companies attach great importance to human resources development, based on the
idea that “a company is a citizen.” Seniors teach juniors how to deal with daily work procedures
and a wide variety of training programs are provided.
During the training for newcomers, in particular, besides practical training some companies
provide mental training, such as long-distance walking and doing Zazen meditation. Some local
government offices have all the new employees experience garbage collection during their training
program so that they will learn the spirit of service as a public servant. The purpose is to implant
and develop a sense of what it means to be a local civil servant.

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せいしんせいい

LESSON 44 誠心誠意
SEISHIN-SEII

ぶちょう おそ

部⻑ 遅くまでやっているね。 You’re working late, aren’t you?

BUCHO OSOKU MADE YATTE IRU NE.
せんぽう てが み か

クオン はい。先方におわびの手紙を書いています。 Yes, sir. I’m writing an apology

CUONG HAI. SENPÔ NI O-WABI NO TEGAMI O letter to the client.
KAITE IMASU.
ぶちょう しゃ せいしんせいい

部⻑ わが社のモットーは誠心誠意。 Our company motto is “in all

しっ ぱい こころ たい せつ

BUCHO 失敗しても、その 心 がけが大切です。 sincerity”.

WAGASHA NO MOTTÔ WA Even if you make a mistake, that
SEISHIN-SEII. sort of mental attitude is
SHIPPAI SHITE MO, SONO important.
KOKOROGAKE GA TAISETSU DESU.

GRAMMAR POINT

 ––te form of a verb + mo = “even if ____”

Ex. okurete mo daijôbu desu (even if you are late, it’ll be OK)

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げんき

LESSON 45 元気ないね
GENKI NAI NE

やま だ げん き

山田 ねぇ、元気ないね。どうしたの？ Hey, you look depressed. What’s

YAMADA NÊ, GENKI NAI NE. DÔ SHITA NO? wrong?
さと う いや

佐藤 ちょっと嫌なことがあってね。 I’ve had a slightly unpleasant

SATO CHOTTO IYA NA KOTO GA ATTE NE. experience…
やま だ きぶんてんかん なに た い

山田 気分転換に何か食べに⾏かない？ Shall we go for something to eat

たかはし さそ
YAMADA 高橋さんも誘おうよ。 to have a change of air?
しご と

まだ仕事しているはずよ。 Let’s invite Miss Takahashi, too.

KIBUN TENKAN NI NANI KA TABE NI I’m sure she is still working.
IKANAI?
TAKAHASHI-SAN MO SASOÔ YO.
MADA SHIGOTO SHITE IRU HAZU YO.
ぼく い

クオン 僕も⾏きます！ I’ll join you!!

CUONG BOKU MO IKIMASU!

GRAMMAR POINT

 Basic form of a verb + hazu desu = “sure that ____”

Salaried workers’ spending money

Who holds the household purse strings at your home? At about 70% of Japanese families,
wives control the management of family finances. This means that husbands only have a limited
amount of money to use freely.
According to the result of the “Salaried Workers’ Spending Money” survey which has been
carried out every year by a bank for more than 30 years, the average amount of spending money in
2010 was 40,600 yen per month. More than half of the respondents said they use that money for
“lunch” and “expenses for hobbies.”
You need to good at making ends meet to squeeze out enough money from a limited amount of
spending money not only for lunch but also for the cost of food and drinks to deepen your
friendship with colleagues and for your hobbies. To the question “What do you save money on
most?” in the questionnaire, most men answered “lunch expenses.” It seems they take a lunch
box to work or choose a cheap restaurant as often as possible.
Source : Shinsei Bank

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