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Japanese · JLPT Band 1 (N5) · Chapter 23

ふくと いろClothes and colours

Fuku to iro

Clothes and colour words: shatsu, zubon, wanpiisu, saizu, iro, akai, aoi, kuroi, shiroi, kiru. The key grammar is colour i-adjective + noun: akai shatsu, aoi wanpiisu. Colour words are i-adjectives ending in "~i" and go before the noun. English speakers make the mistake of dropping the "i" and saying "aka shatsu" — say "akai shatsu". Kana corner: pronouncing the colour words. Culture: Japanese shopping and service.

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Dialogue

i

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あお？ あおい？— ao? aoi?

  1. YukiマMaイiクkuさsaんn、なnaにniをoかkaいiたtaいiでdeすsuかka？Mike, what do you want to buy?
  2. MikeあAおoシャshaツtsuをoかkaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。I want to buy a blue shirt. (slip: colours are i-adjectives → "aoi shatsu", not "ao shatsu")
  3. Yuki「あAおoいi」でdeすsu：いiろroはwaいi-けkeいiようyōしshiでdeすsu。あAおoいiシャshaツtsu。It is "aoi": colours are i-adjectives. Aoi shatsu.
  4. MikeあA、あaおoいiシャshaツtsuをoかkaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。Ah, I want to buy a blue shirt.

Dialogue

i

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ふくやで— At the clothes shop

  1. MikeあAかkaいiシャshaツtsuをoかkaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。I want to buy a red shirt.
  2. てんいんサSaイiズzuはwa？おおŌきkiいiシャshaツtsuもmoちchiいiさsaいiシャshaツtsuもmoあaりriまmaすsu。What size? We have both big shirts and small shirts.
  3. MikeちChiいiさsaいiシャshaツtsuがgaいiいiでdeすsu。いIくkuらraでdeすsuかka。A small shirt is good. How much is it?
  4. てんいんせSeんnえeんnでdeすsu。It's one thousand yen.

Vocabulary

i

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シャshaツtsu

nounshirt

ズzuボboンn

nountrousers

ワwaンnピーpīスsu

noundress

サsaイiズzu

nounsize

いiろro

nouncolour

あaかkaいi

adjectivered (i-adj)

あaおoいi

adjectiveblue (i-adj)

くkuろroいi

adjectiveblack (i-adj)

しshiろroいi

adjectivewhite (i-adj)

きkiるru

verbto wear (→ kimasu)

Grammar

i

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Colour i-adjective + noun

Explanation

The colour words "akai, aoi, kuroi, shiroi" are i-adjectives ending in "~i". Use them before a noun: akai shatsu, aoi wanpiisu, kuroi kutsu. When you add "desu" the i-adjective rule is the same: kono shatsu wa akai desu. English speakers make the mistake of dropping the "i" and saying "aka shatsu" — colour words always keep the "i": akai shatsu.

Examples

  • あAかkaいiシャshaツtsuをoかkaいiたtaいiでdeすsu。I want to buy a red shirt.
  • あおい ワンピースは たかいです。The blue dress is expensive.
  • くろい くつは やすいです。The black shoes are cheap.
  • この シャツは おおきいです。ちいさい サイズが いいです。This shirt is big. A small size is better.

Culture

i

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にほんの かいものShopping in Japan

When you walk into a shop in Japan, the first thing you hear is "irasshaimase" (welcome). Prices are fixed and there is no tipping. You put your money on a small tray, and your change is returned politely. Knowing these three things makes shopping much easier.

"Irasshaimase"

When a customer enters, the shop clerk says "irasshaimase". It means "welcome", and you do not have to answer. Japanese service is very polite — this is called "omotenashi". The clerk hands you goods with both hands and places them carefully in a bag. It makes shopping a pleasant experience.

Prices and tipping

In Japanese shops, prices are fixed. People almost never haggle — you pay the price on the tag as it is. And the most important thing: there is no tipping in Japan. Not in restaurants, not in taxis — no tip is needed. In fact, offering a tip can leave the other person confused. Just pay the marked price and you are fine.

The money tray and wrapping

When you pay at the checkout, you do not put the money in the clerk's hand — you place it on a small tray. The clerk counts your change and returns it with both hands. If you buy a gift, they will wrap it very beautifully. This careful wrapping is one of the pleasures of shopping in Japan.

In short: at a shop you hear "irasshaimase", prices are fixed, there is no tipping, and you put your money on the tray. Knowing these manners makes shopping in Japan even more enjoyable. Enjoy your shopping!

Kana

i

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いろと ふくの ことば— Colour and Clothes Words

Read the words:

  • あかい シャツakai shatsua red shirt
  • あおい ワンピースaoi wanpīsua blue dress
  • くろい くつkuroi kutsublack shoes
  • しろい シャツshiroi shatsua white shirt

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