Japanese · JLPT Band 1 (N5) · Chapter 45
A1の まとめ:そして・でも・だからWrapping up A1: soshite, demo, dakara
This is the last chapter of A1 (Band 1). We look back on what we have studied and learn words that connect sentences. Vocabulary: soshite, demo, dakara, fukushū, renshū, jishin, oboeru, tsuzukeru, ganbaru, kantan, tsugi, hajime. Key grammar: conjunctions that link sentences. "Soshite" (and then / also), "demo" (but, however), "dakara" (so, as a result). "~kara" gives a reason: attach "kara" to the end of the reason clause, and the reason comes first: "benkyō shita kara, ureshii desu" (because I studied, I'm happy). Note: "dakara" means the result comes after (reason → dakara → result), while "kara" is "reason + kara → result". English speakers, thinking of "because", tend to swap "dakara" and "kara": "ureshii desu, dakara benkyō shimashita" (= because I'm happy, I studied — reversed) → "benkyō shita kara, ureshii desu". Kana corner: let's review all the sounds.
Dialogue
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A1が おわりました— A1 is finished
- Yukiマイクさん、A1がおわりましたね。どうでしたか。Mike, A1 is finished. How was it?
- Mikeたのしかったです!わたしはうれしいです、だからたくさんべんきょうしました。It was fun! I'm happy, so I studied a lot.
- Yukiいいけいけんでしたね!でも、それだと「うれしいからべんきょうした」になりますよ。「べんきょうしたから、うれしいです」のほうがいいですね。What a good experience! But that way it becomes "I studied because I'm happy". "Benkyō shita kara, ureshii desu" is better.
- Mikeあ、そうか。「べんきょうしたから、うれしいです」ですね。Oh, I see. "Benkyō shita kara, ureshii desu", right.
- Yukiそうです!りゆうがさきで、「から」があとです。よくできました。That's right! The reason comes first, and "kara" after. Well done.
- Mikeありがとう!にほんごはむずかしいです。でも、たのしいです。だから、これからもつづけます!Thanks! Japanese is hard. But it's fun. So I'll keep going!
Dialogue
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つぎは A2!— Next is A2!
- Kenユキさん、A1でいちばんたのしかったことはなんですか。Yuki, what was the most fun thing in A1?
- Yukiかいわのれんしゅうです。はじめはむずかしかったです。でも、いまはじしんがあります。Conversation practice. At the beginning it was hard. But now I have confidence.
- Kenいいですね。わたしはかんじがむずかしかったです。だから、まいにちれんしゅうしました。Nice. Kanji was hard for me. So I practiced every day.
- Yukiすごいですね!つづけたから、じょうずになりましたね。Amazing! Because you kept going, you got good at it.
- Kenありがとう!つぎはA2ですね。いっしょにがんばりましょう。Thanks! Next is A2. Let's do our best together.
- Yukiはい!わたしたちはたくさんべんきょうしました。だから、A2もだいじょうぶです!Yes! We studied a lot. So A2 will be fine too!
Vocabulary
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- そして
conjunctionand, and then
- でも
conjunctionbut, however
- だから
conjunctionso, therefore
- ふくしゅう
nounreview
- れんしゅう
nounpractice
- じしん
nounconfidence
- おぼえる
verbto memorize, to learn
- つづける
verbto continue
- がんばる
verbto do one's best, to try hard
- かんたん
na-adj.easy, simple
- つぎ
nounnext
- はじめ
nounbeginning, start
Grammar
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Connecting sentences: soshite, demo, dakara, ~kara
Explanation
Let's learn the words that connect sentences. (1) "Soshite": say two things one after another (and also): "asa okimasu. Soshite, asagohan o tabemasu" (I get up in the morning. And then I eat breakfast). (2) "Demo": say something opposite (but): "nihongo wa muzukashii desu. Demo, tanoshii desu" (Japanese is hard. But it's fun). (3) "Dakara": the first part is the reason, the second is the result (so): "ashita tesuto ga arimasu. Dakara, benkyō shimasu" (there's a test tomorrow. So I'll study). (4) "~kara": give a reason within a single sentence. Attach "kara" to the end of the reason clause, and the reason comes first: "benkyō shita kara, ureshii desu" (because I studied, I'm happy). Key difference: "dakara" is "reason. Dakara result" (two sentences), while "~kara" is "reason-kara, result" (one sentence). Note: English "because" comes before the reason, but Japanese "kara" comes after the reason. Don't swap "dakara" and "kara" the English way: "ureshii desu, dakara benkyō shimashita" (= because I'm happy, I studied); if what you mean is "I'm happy because I studied", say "benkyō shita kara, ureshii desu".
Examples
- あさ おきます。そして、あさごはんを たべます。I get up in the morning. And then I eat breakfast.
- にほんごは むずかしいです。でも、たのしいです。Japanese is hard. But it's fun.
- あした テストが あります。だから、きょう べんきょうします。There's a test tomorrow. So I'll study today.
- たくさん れんしゅうした から、じょうずに なりました。Because I practiced a lot, I got good at it.
- わたしは にほんが すきです。だから、にほんごを べんきょうして います。I like Japan. So I am studying Japanese.
Kana
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A1の おとの ふくしゅう— Reviewing the sounds of A1
Read the sentences and review the sounds you learned:
- そして、でも、だからsoshite, demo, dakarathe connectors — dakara has voiced "da"
- べんきょうしたから、うれしいですbenkyō shita kara, ureshii desubenkyō = long ō + small ょ; kara = reason
- にほんごは たのしいですnihongo wa tanoshii desunihongo, tanoshii — short clear vowels
- つぎは A2、がんばりましょうtsugi wa A2, ganbarimashōganbarimashō = long ō (しょう)
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