#5
Saying how you studied Japanese
It's Tam's first day of classes at the university. The robot landlady Haru-san notices she's nervous.
今日
kyoo
today
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学校
gakkoo
school
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はい
hai
yes
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あらまあ
ara maa
oh
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どう
doo
how
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する
suru
do
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日本語
Nihongo
Japanese language
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心配(な)
shinpai (na)
anxious
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上手(な)
joozu (na)
skillful
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いいえ
iie
no
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まだまだ
mada mada
not enough/not yet
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ベトナム
Betonamu
Vietnam
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勉強する
benkyoo-suru
study
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ラジオ
rajio
radio
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それなら
sore nara
in that case
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大丈夫(な)
daijoobu (na)
OK
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Saying how you studied Japanese
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To express something you did in the past, change the end of the verb's MASU-form from "masu" to "mashita." "De" in "rajio de" indicates the means. The subject "watashi wa" or "I" and the object "Nihongo o" or "Japanese" have been omitted because they're clear from the context.
Particle "de":
In "Rajio de benkyoo-shimashita" or "I studied by listening to the radio", "de" indicates the means. The "de" in "Daigaku de benkyoo-shimashita" or "I studied at the university" shows the location. As these examples indicate, one particle can have different usages.
1Which of these three choices is the correct way to say this sentence in Japanese?
I studied by watching anime.
anime
アニメ
anime
2Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).
I studied with/at XXX.
~で勉強しました。
~de benkyoo-shimashita.
school
学校
gakkoo
3Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).
I studied with/at XXX.
~で勉強しました。
~de benkyoo-shimashita.
books
本
hon
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This humble expression can be used when someone praises you. "Iie" means "no" and "mada mada desu" means "not enough."
Haru-san’s Bagful of Advice
Expressions of Humility
If someone compliments you, saying "Your Japanese is good," how would you answer?
1) Thank you very much.
2) No, it’s not good enough.
3) Yes, I studied at the university.
Most Japanese people would answer in a humble way and say it's not good enough as in 2) "Iie, mada mada desu." Japanese has lots of other humble expressions. For example, even when someone has prepared a table full of delicacies for a guest, a common way to present the food would be "We have nothing but this."