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

A1 no matome: 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.

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A1が おわりました— A1 is finished

  1. YukiMaikusanAA1gaowarimashitaneどうdeshitakaMike, A1 is finished. How was it?
  2. MikeTanoshikattadesuWatashiwaureshiidesudakaratakusanbenきょうkyōshimashitaIt was fun! I'm happy, so I studied a lot.
  3. YukiIikeikendeshitaneDemosoredatoureshiikarabenきょうkyōshitaninarimasuyoBenきょうkyōshitakaraureshiidesunoほうgaiidesuneWhat a good experience! But that way it becomes "I studied because I'm happy". "Benkyō shita kara, ureshii desu" is better.
  4. MikeAそうkaBenきょうkyōshitakaraureshiidesudesuneOh, I see. "Benkyō shita kara, ureshii desu", right.
  5. YukiそうdesuRiゆうgasakidekaragaatodesuYokudekimashitaThat's right! The reason comes first, and "kara" after. Well done.
  6. MikeArigaとうNihongowamuzukashiidesuDemotanoshiidesuDakarakorekaramotsuzukemasuThanks! Japanese is hard. But it's fun. So I'll keep going!
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つぎは A2!— Next is A2!

  1. KenYukisanAA1deichibantanoshikattakotowanandesukaYuki, what was the most fun thing in A1?
  2. YukiKaiwanorenしゅうshūdesuHajimewamuzukashikattadesuDemoimawajishingaarimasuConversation practice. At the beginning it was hard. But now I have confidence.
  3. KenIidesuneWatashiwakanjigamuzukashikattadesuDakaramainichirenしゅうshūshimashitaNice. Kanji was hard for me. So I practiced every day.
  4. YukiSugoidesuneTsuzuketakaraじょうzuninarimashitaneAmazing! Because you kept going, you got good at it.
  5. KenArigaとうTsugiwaAA2desuneIsしょshoniganbarimaしょうshōThanks! Next is A2. Let's do our best together.
  6. YukiHaiWatashitachiwatakusanbenきょうkyōshimashitaDakaraAA2modaiじょうbudesuYes! We studied a lot. So A2 will be fine too!
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soshite

conjunctionand, and then

demo

conjunctionbut, however

dakara

conjunctionso, therefore

fukuしゅうshū

nounreview

renしゅうshū

nounpractice

jishin

nounconfidence

oboeru

verbto memorize, to learn

tsuzukeru

verbto continue

ganbaru

verbto do one's best, to try hard

kantan

na-adj.easy, simple

tsugi

nounnext

hajime

nounbeginning, start

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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.
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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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