Japanese · JLPT Band 1 (N5) · Chapter 42

スマホで なにが できますかWhat can you do with a smartphone?

Sumaho de nani ga dekimasu ka

Talking about technology and what you "can do". Vocabulary: sumaho, pasokon, apuri, intānetto, dōga, shashin, pasuwādo, saito, tsukau, kensaku, benri, dekiru. Key grammar: "dekimasu" expresses ability and possibility. For skills or languages, use "N ga dekimasu": "nihongo ga dekimasu" (I can speak Japanese). For verbs, use "dictionary form + koto ga dekimasu": "oyogu koto ga dekimasu" (I can swim), "apuri de shashin o okuru koto ga dekimasu" (I can send photos with the app). "Dekimasen" means "cannot". Note: with a verb, do not forget "koto". Thinking of English "I can swim", people tend to say "oyogu dekimasu", but "oyogu koto ga dekimasu" is correct. Culture corner (§6): technology in Japan. Kana corner: long sounds in katakana (sumaho, apuri, pasuwādo).

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あたらしい アプリ— A new app

  1. YukiMaikusanatarashiiapuridesuneSoredenanigadekimasukaMike, that's a new app. What can you do with it?
  2. MikeKoredeしゃshashinookurudekimasuWith this I can send photos!
  3. YukiIidesuneDemoどうshinotokiwakotogairimasuyoしゃShashinookurukotogadekimasudesuNice! But with a verb you need "koto". It's "shashin o okuru koto ga dekimasu".
  4. MikeAそうkaしゃShashinookurukotogadekimasudesuneOh, I see. It's "shashin o okuru koto ga dekimasu", right.
  5. YukiHaikanpekidesuHokaninanigadekimasukaYes, perfect! What else can you do?
  6. MikeどうgaomirukotomodekimasuSoreninihongomosukoshidekimasuI can watch videos too. And I can also do a little Japanese!
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スマホは べんり— Smartphones are convenient

  1. KenYukisansumahodekippuokaukotogadekimasukaYuki, can you buy tickets with a smartphone?
  2. YukiHaidekimasuApuridekippuokaukotomomichiokensakusurukotomodekimasuYes, you can. With the app you can both buy tickets and search for directions.
  3. KenBenridesuneWatashiwamainichisumahodeどうgaomimasuConvenient! I watch videos on my smartphone every day.
  4. YukiWatashimoDemopasuワーdowamuzukashiidesuneTokidokiwasuremasuMe too! But passwords are hard, aren't they. I sometimes forget them.
  5. KenそうdesuneDemosumahowabenridesuPasokonyoribenridesuTrue. But smartphones are convenient. More convenient than a computer.
  6. YukiHonとうniそうdesuneWatashiwasumahogaichibansukidesuThat's so true! I like my smartphone the best.
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sumaho

nounsmartphone

pasokon

nouncomputer, PC

apuri

nounapp

inターnetto

nouninternet

どうga

nounvideo

しゃshashin

nounphoto

pasuワーdo

nounpassword

saito

nounwebsite, site

tsukau

verbto use

kensakusuru

verbto search (online)

benri

na-adj.convenient

dekiru

verbcan do, to be able to

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Can: N ga dekimasu / V koto ga dekimasu

Explanation

"Dekimasu" expresses ability (being able to do ~ well) and possibility (~ is possible). There are two patterns. (1) For nouns such as skills or languages: "N ga dekimasu": "nihongo ga dekimasu" (I can speak Japanese, i.e. I am able to speak Japanese), "tenisu ga dekimasu". (2) For verbs: "dictionary form + koto ga dekimasu": "oyogu koto ga dekimasu" (I can swim), "apuri de shashin o okuru koto ga dekimasu" (I can send photos with the app). The negative is "dekimasen": "kanji o yomu koto ga dekimasen" (I can't read kanji). The question is "dekimasu ka". Important note: with a verb you always need "koto". English "I can swim" has one verb, but in Japanese you make the shape "oyogu + koto ga dekiru": "oyogu dekimasu" ✗ → "oyogu koto ga dekimasu" ○. Also be careful not to change the "ga" of "N ga dekimasu" to "o": "nihongo o dekimasu" ✗ → "nihongo ga dekimasu" ○.

Examples

  • わたしは にほんごが できます。I can speak Japanese.
  • この アプリで しゃしんを おくる ことが できます。You can send photos with this app.
  • スマホで どうがを みる ことが できます。You can watch videos on a smartphone.
  • わたしは およぐ ことが できません。I can't swim.
  • ここで インターネットを つかう ことが できますか。Can you use the internet here?
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  • 進捗はチャプターと端末をまたいで保存 — パソコンとスマホ
  • 会話と単語の音声再生
  • フィードバック付きのスピーキング練習
  • 辞書検索も AI チャットも、すべてアプリの中で

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にほんの テクノロジーTechnology in Japan

Japan is called a country of technology, but everyday digital life has its own Japanese character. The smartphone is at the center of life: contacting people, shopping, trains — you can do many things with a smartphone.

Messaging is "LINE"

The most-used messaging app in Japan is "LINE". More people use LINE than the apps popular in other countries. You can express feelings with cute "stamps" (stickers), and you can also use LINE to keep in touch with family, friends and work. People often exchange a "LINE ID" rather than a phone number.

Money and IC cards

On trains and at convenience stores you can pay with IC cards like "Suica" or "PASMO", or with your phone — you just tap the card lightly. But in Japan cash is still used a lot. Recently, more shops let you pay with a QR code such as "PayPay". Since the way you pay differs from shop to shop, it is reassuring to carry a little cash too.

A convenient daily life

Japan has a great many vending machines (jihanki), where you can buy drinks and even tickets. Trains are precise about time, and you can search times and routes with an app. On the other hand, offices still sometimes use paper and fax. The way new technology and old habits exist side by side is one of the interesting things about Japan.

Technology is quietly woven into daily life in Japan. Once you learn words like "apuri", "saito" and "pasuwādo", life in Japan becomes even more convenient. To start, try using one Japanese app on your smartphone.

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カタカナの ながい おと— Long sounds in katakana

Read the sentences and find "ー" (long sound) and "ッ":

  • スマホで しゃしんを おくる ことが できますsumaho de shashin o okuru koto ga dekimasusumaho (no long mark) + dekimasu
  • アプリを ダウンロードしますapuri o daunrōdo shimasudaunrōdo = long "rō" (ロー)
  • パスワードを つかいますpasuwādo o tsukaimasupasuwādo = long "wā" (ワー)
  • インターネットは べんりですintānetto wa benri desuintānetto = long "tā" (ター) + small "ッ"

この内容を本当に身につけるなら — 音声・間隔反復・進捗管理と一緒に。

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