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These are the dialogues for podcast #32 “Making dinner plans with a friend”

In this lesson you will learn the following:

1. How to make dinner plans with a friend
2. How to talk about a restaurant you regularly frequent

Introduction

In this podcast you will learn how to make dinner plans at a restaurant you regularly frequent. You’ll learn some natural phrases for making plans that native speakers commonly use. Check out the dialogue and grammar notes below for a detailed explanation.

Main Dialog (Japanese)

A: もしもし

B: もしもしアレックス、明日夜ご飯食べに行かない？

A: ごめん、明日はちょっと無理なんだ。土曜日なら行けるよ。

B: じゃあ土曜日の７時にいつものお寿司屋さんで！

A: あみは本当にお寿司飽きないねー！

Main Dialog (Pronunciation)

A: Moshi moshi

B: Moshi moshi, Arekkusu, ashita yoru gohan tabe ni ikanai?

A: Gomen, ashita wa chotto muri nan da. Doyōbu nara ikeru yo.

B: Jaa, doyōbi no shichi ji itsumo no osushi ya san de.

A: Ami wa hontō osushi ni akinai ne.

Main Dialog (English)

A: Hello?

B: Hi, Alex, do you wanna go out to eat dinner tomorrow?

A: Sorry, tomorrow’s not possible. If it’s Saturday I can go.

B: OK then, Saturday at 7 o’clock at the usual sushi place.

A: Ami, you never get sick of sushi do you!?

Grammar point and drills

Here is a breakdown of the main grammar pattern featured in the dialogue:

土曜日の７時にいつものお寿司屋さんで

Doyōbi no shichiji ni itsumo no osushiyasan de

(Let’s meet on) Saturday at 7 o’clock the usual sushi place.

Here are some more example drills:

1) 金曜日の６時半にいつものラーメン屋さんで。

Kinyōbi no roku ji ni itsumo no raamenyasan de.

(Let’s meet on) Friday at 6 at the usual ramen place.

2) 日曜日の６時にいつものイタリアンで。

Nichiyōbi no rokuji ni itsumo no itarian de.

(Let’s meet on) Sunday at 6 at the usual Italian place.

3) 木曜日の８時にいつもの居酒屋で。

Mokuyōbi no hachiji ni itsumo no izakaya de.

(Let’s meet on) Thursday at 8 at the usual Izakaya.

4) 土曜日の７時にいつものカラオケで。

Doyōbi no shichiji ni itsumo no karaoke de.

(Let’s meet on) Saturday at 7 at the usual Karaoke place.

Random Phrase of the Week

The random phrase of the week is where we teach you a random Japanese phrase to make your friends laugh and ask “where did you learn that from?!”

行き当たりばったり – Ikiatari battari

Meaning: unplanned and making decisions on the fly / Playing it by ear. It’s generally used in a negative way but there are some exceptions

Example sentences:

1) 行き当たりばったりでなんでも決めちゃう。

Ikiatari battari de nandemo kimechau.

To make decisions in a random or unplanned way

2) 行き当たりばったりな旅だった。

Ikiatari battari na tabi datta

It was an unplanned trip.

3) 行き当たりばったりにレストランを選んだ。

Ikiatari battari resutoran o eranda.

I randomly chose a restaurant.

For more podcasts on how to learn to speak natural fluent Japanese visit Learn Japanese pod

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In this podcast, Ami and Alex teach you how to talk about your preferences in Japanese.

Main Podcast Dialogue (Japanese)

A:　ね、お寿司とたこ焼きどっちが好き？

B:　そうだね。やっぱり、お寿司の方が好きかな。

A:　なるほどね。でもなんで？

B:　味が好きだから。あみは？

A:　もちろんたこ焼きの方が好き。

B:　あみは典型的な大阪人だよね。

A:　せやで！

Main Podcast Dialogue (Pronunciation)

A:　Ne, osushi to takoyaki, dochi ga suki?

B:　Sou da ne, yappari osushi no hou ga suki kana.

A:　Naruhodo. Demo nande?

B:　Aji ga suki dakara. Ami wa?

A:　Mochiron, takoyaki ga suki.

B:　Ami wa tenkeitekina osaka jin da yo ne.

A:　Se ya de！

Main Podcast Dialogue (English)

A:　Hey, which do you prefer, sushi or takoyaki?

B:　Well, I guess I prefer sushi.

A:　I see…but why?

B:　Because I like the taste. How about your Ami?

A:　Of course I prefer takoyaki.

B:　Ami, you are a typical Osakan!

A:　That’s right！

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In this podcast you’re going to learn useful verbs to talk about your daily routine. These verbs are very commonly used in casual conversation throughout the day so they are well worth learning. You will also study a little grammar related to plain form verbs and -TE form verbs which are the most common type of verb used in casual speech. You will also learn how they are used together when describing actions in a sequence.

Also, the dialogue in this lesson will teach you particles which are sounds that usually go at the end of sentences to change the nuance of what you are saying. Learning these will help you sound a lot more natural when speaking Japanese.

A: Amiの平日の過ごし方を教えて！

B: ７時に起きて、顔を洗って、朝ごはんを食べるよ。

その後着替えて、メイクして、仕事に行くよ。

A: 休憩時間は？

B: 休憩時間はお弁当を食べて、携帯で時間を潰すよ。

A: 仕事が終わったら？

B: うちに帰って、晩御飯を食べて、お風呂に入るよ。

A: その後は何をするの？

B: 寝る！

A: Amiは忙しいね！

B: まあね！

Podcast Dialogue (Pronunciation)

A: Ami no heijitsu no sugoshikata oshiete!

B: Shichi ji ni okite, kao o aratte, asagohan o taberu. Sono ato kigaete, meiku shite, shigoto ni iku yo.

A: Kyuukei jikan wa?

B: Kyukeijikan wa obentō o tabete keitaii de jikan o tsubusu yo.

A: Shigoto ga owattara?

B: Uchi ni kaette, bangohan o taberu, ofuro ni hairu yo.

A: Sono ato nani suru no?

B: Neru!

A: Ami wa isogashii ne.

B: Maa ne.

Podcast Dialogue (English)

A: Ami, how do you spend your weekdays?

B: I wake up at 7, I wash my face and eat breakfast. After that I get dressed, put on my makeup and go to work.

A: What about your break time?

B: During my break time I eat a bento and kill time with my mobile phone.

A: And when work finishes?

B: I go home, I eat dinner and have a bath.

A: What do you do after that?

B: Sleep!

A: Ami, you’re busy!

B: I guess so.

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In this podcast you’re going to learn about how to use adverbs of frequency in daily speech. In other words, you’ll learn how to ask and answer questions about how often you do things in Japanese. You’ll learn how to ask questions such as “How often do you…”. You’ll also be able to reply that you do something never, occasionally, sometimes, often and always.

This kind of grammar and vocabulary comes up often in daily conversation as well as the Japanese Language Proficiency Exam so it’s well worth learning.

First of all, have a look at the vocabulary lists to get an idea of the main phrases used in this podcast. After that you can practice how to use that vocabulary naturally with the dialog examples. Following that are extra grammar and sentence examples.

Also, while reading this PDF lesson, you can listen along to either the main audio podcast which contains all the dialogs and explanations in English. Alternatively you can listen to the Japanese only audio file.

Main Lesson Vocabulary

Main Dialog 1 – Adverbs of frequency – (Japanese)

A: アレックスはどれくらい*運動するの？

B: 全然しないよ。 時間がないからさ。

A: そうなんだ。

A: 昔はよくしてただけどね。あみは？

B: 時々ジョギングするよ。たまに水泳もするよ。

A: じゃ、もうすぐオリンピックだから毎日　運動しよう。

Main Dialog 1 – Adverbs of frequency – (English)

A: Arekkusu wa dore kurai undō suru no.

Alex, how often do you exercise?

B: Zenzen shinai yo. Jikan ga nai kara sa.

Never. It’s cos I don’t have any time, you know.

A: Sō nan da.

Really?

B: Mukashi wa yoku shiteta kedo ne. Ami wa?

I used to however. How about you Ami?

A: Tokidoki jogingu suru yo. Tama ni suiei mo suru yo.

I sometimes go jogging. I occasionally also go swimming.

B: Ja, mō sugu orinpikku dakara mainichi undō shiyō.

Well, it’s almost time for the Olympics so exercise everyday!

Particles used in this dialog:

Wa – Sentence subject marker (As for so and so…)

Ga – Similar to Wa and is often used in sentences about having or not having something

No – Turns sentence into a question (Casual)

Yo – Emphasizes the statement

Ne – Means isn’t it or right?

Sa – Means something like “You know?” or “You see what I mean”

Extra example sentences

Japanese only dialog audio (From 00:47)

Zenzen – Not at all (00:47)

1: どれくらいお寿司食べるの？ ぜんぜん食べないよ。

Dore kurai osushi taberu no? Zenzen tabenai yo.

How often do you eat sushi? I never eat it.

2: どれくらい映画を見るの？ ぜんぜん見ないよ。

Dore kurai eiga o miru no? Zenzen minai yo.

How often do you watch movies? I never watch them.

Metta ni – Hardly ever (01:11)

1: どれくらいお寿司食べるの？ 滅多に食べないよ。

Dore kurai osushi taberu no? Metta ni tabenai yo.

How often do you eat sushi? I hardly ever eat it.

2: どれくらい映画を見るの？ 滅多に見ないよ。

Dore kurai eiga o miru no? Metta ni minai yo.

How often do you watch movies? I hardly ever watch them.

Tama ni – Occasionally (01:38)

1: どれくらいお寿司食べるの？ たまに食べるよ。

Dore kurai osushi taberu no? Tama ni taberu yo.

How often do you eat sushi? I occasionally eat it.

2: どれくらい映画を見るの？ たまにに見るよ。

Dore kurai eiga o miru no? Tama ni miru yo.

How often do you watch movies? I occasionally watch them.

Tokidoki – Sometimes (02:03)

1: どれくらい運動するの？ ときどきするよ。

Dore kurai undō suru no? Tokidoki suru yo.

How often do you exercise? I sometimes exercise.

2: どれくらいカラオケに行くの？ ときどき行くよ。

Dore kurai karaoke iku no? Tokidoki iku yo.

How often do you go to Karaoke? I sometimes go.

Yoku – Often (02:29)

1: どれくらい運動するの？ よく運動するよ。

Dore kurai undō suru no? Yoku undō suru yo.

How often do you exercise? I often exercise.

2: どれくらいカラオケに行くの？ よく行くよ。

Dore kurai karaoke iku no? Yoku iku yo.

How often do you go to Karaoke? I often go.

Itsumo – Always (02:53)

1: どれくらいゲームやるの？ いつもやってるよ。

Dore kurai geemu yaru no? Itsumo yatteru yo.

How often do you play video games? I’m always playing them

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In this podcast you will learn how to book a table at a restaurant by phone in natural Japanese. These days it is easy to make bookings online and with mobiles apps. However, there are still many restaurants in Japan which don’t have online booking facilities. Also, in crowded cities like Osaka and Tokyo, it can be hard to get a seat, especially during Fridays and weekends. Therefore being able to book seats in Japanese by phone is a useful skill.

Another thing you will learn is the polite language commonly used by restaurant and service staff. This is called Keigo and is a very polite way of speaking in Japanese. It’s also quite tricky to master as it uses different phrases and vocabulary compared with casual speech. However, I would recommend learning just enough to be able to understand it so you can interact with hotel, restaurant or department store staff. You don’t need to learn to speak it perfectly, just understanding a little is enough. Most Japanese people have difficulty speaking proper Keigo! Check out the podcast lessons and accompanying files which will help you learn to speak the dialogs fluently.

Main Dialogue (Japanese)

A: 居酒屋忍者でございます。

B: 今晩の予約をしたいんですが。

A: はい、かしこまりました。何名様でいらっしゃいますか？

B: 4名でお願いしたいんですが。

A: 何時からご希望ですか？

B: 7時でお願いします。

A: 少々お待ちください。お待たせいたしました。
お席ご用意できます。お名前お伺いしてもよろしでしょうか？

B: アレックスです。

A: アレックス様ですね。 では本日7時から4名様でご予約させていただきます。 お待ちしております。

A: Izakaya Ninja de gozaimasu. – This is Izakaya Ninja

B: Konban no yoyaku o shitain desu ga. – I’d like to make a booking for tonight.

A: Hai, kashikomarimashita. Nanmei sama de irasshimasu ka？ – Yes, certainly. How many people are there in your party?

B: Yonmei de onegai shitain desu ga. – I’d like (to book for) 4 people.

A: Nanji kara gokibō desu ka. – What time would you like (to book)?

B: Shichiji de onegai shimasu. – Seven o’clock please.

A: Shōshō omachi kudasi. Omatasei itashimashita. Oseki go yōi dekimasu. Onamae oukagai shitemo yoroshi deshou ka. – One moment please. Thank you for waiting I have prepared your seats. May I have your name please?

B: Arekkusu desu. – It’s Alex

A: Arekkusu sama desu ne. Dewa honjitsu shichiji kara yonmei sama de goyoyaku sasete itadakimasu. Omachi shite orimasu. – OK, so that is Alex. So, I have prepared your booking for 7pm for 4 people today. We shall be waiting for you.

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In this episode, Ami and Alex teach you how to speak Osaka dialect which is called Osaka Ben in Japanese. And for this lesson Ami sensei is our secret weapon as she is a native of Osaka city.

Sometimes this is referred to as Kansai Ben however, Kansai is the larger region located in central Japanese that includes Osaka city, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Shiga, Mie and Hyogo. And in turn, each of those areas have their own dialects. However, Ami sensei is from Osaka, and Osaka Ben is the dominant dialect that influences all the surrounding areas. Therefore we decided to go with Osaka Ben.

Of course this lesson is not a comprehensive guide to Osaka Ben as that would fill a few books. However, this lesson will teach you the most common phrases, speech patterns and intonation that you will hear on the streets of Osaka.

The main dialog is recorded by natives from Osaka including Ami so you’ll learn the authentic accent. We also included a dialog in standard Japanese so you can compare. Enjoy!

Main Dialog – Osaka Ben (Japanese)

A: めっちゃ久しぶりやん。最近どないしてんの?

B: 相変わらずやで。そっちは?

A: ぼちぼちやな。ま、頑張ってるで。
B: そうなんや。うちなんか全然あかんわ。

A: なんでなん?

B: 彼氏と別れてん。

A: え、そうなん?知らんかった。俺やって全然彼女できへんで。

B: 付き合おか。 A: なんでやねん!

Main Dialog – Osaka Dialect (English and pronunciation)

A:  Meccha hisashiburi yan. Saikin donain shiten no? –It’s been ages. How have you been recently?

B:  Aikawarazu ya de. Socchi wa? –Same as usual. About about you?

A:  Bochi bochi ya na. Ma, gannbatteru de. – So so I guess. Well, doing my best.

B:  Sō nan ya. Uchi nanka zenzen akan wa. – Really? I’m not good at all.

A:  Nande nan? – Why?

B:  Kareshi to wakareten. –I split up with my boyfriend.

A:  E? Sō nan? Shirankatta. Boku yatte, zenzen kanojo dekihen de. – Eh? Really? I didn’t know. I can never get a girlfriend.

B:  Tsuki aoka? –Wanna date?

A: Nande yanen! – What the heck!

Main Dialog – Standard Dialect Version

Here is the same dialog written in standard Japanese. Can you spot the differences?

A:  めちゃめちゃ久しぶりじゃん。最近どうしてるの?

Meccha hisashiburi jan. Saikin dō shiteru no.
It’s been ages. How have you been recently?

B:  相変わらずだよ。そっちは?

Aikawarazu da yo. Socchi wa?Same as usual.

About about you?

A:  普通かな。ま、頑張ってるよ。

Futsuu ka na. Ma gambatteru yo.

Same as usual. About about you?

B:  そうなんだ。私なんか全然だめだよ。
Sō nan da. Watashi nanka zenzen dame da yo.

Really? I’m not good at all.

A:  どうして?

Dō shite?

Why?

B:  彼氏と別れたの。

Kareshi to wakareta no.

I split up with my boyfriend.

A:  え、そうなの?知らなかった。俺だって全然彼女できないよ。

E sō na no? Shiranakatta. Boku datte, zenzen kanojo dekinai yo.

Eh? Really? I didn’t know. I can never get a girlfriend.

B:  付き合おっか。

Tsuki aokka?

Wanna date?

A: なんでだよ!

Nande da yo!

What the heck!

Extra Osaka Ben Phrases

ちゃう – Chau – No / That’s not right

ええ – Ee – Good / OK (ええやん、ええで、ええよ)
アホ – Aho – Stupid

なおす – Naosu – Put something away (Standard Japanese = to fix something)

Random Phrase of the Week

This week’s random phrase of the week is:

ちゃうちゃう、チャウチャウちゃうんちゃう?

Chau chau, chau chau chaun chau.

No no, that’s not a Chow chow is it?! Let’s break it down like this…

ちゃうちゃう 、 チャウチャウ ちゃうん ちゃう?

No no, a chow chow dog , it is not , is it?

Or in more natural English “No no, it’s not a Chow chow is it?!”

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Have you been scratching your head trying to work out what “Yappari” means? Well, scratch your head no more! In this podcast Ami sensei and I (Alex) attempt to explain what Yappari means. We teach you the three main meanings of Yappari and how to use it naturally and fluently in conversation with your Japanese friends. For more information keep reading, listen to the podcast and download the show notes.

What does Yappari mean?

1. Yappari – I knew it!

One common use of yappari expresses the fact that your assumptions or predictions were proved to be correct. It also means you were not surprised by a particular outcome. It might be translated into English as “I knew it”, “As I suspected…” or “…but of course…” Another way to think of it is as a phrase that emphasises IS or WAS, as in “It WAS you” or “He IS the culprit!”

Here’s an example of how it can be used in conversation.

Dialog 1

Here are some other examples that express the yappari in the same way.

1. 彼が犯人だとずっと思ってて、やっぱりそうだった。

Kare wa hannin da to zutto omottete, yappari sō datta.

I thought he was the criminal, and I knew it, he was.

2. もう一度やってみたけどやっぱり無理だった

Mō ichido yatte mita kedo, yappari muri datta.

I tried one more time, but as I suspected, it was impossible.

3. やっぱり彼女来なかった。

Yappari kanojo konakatta.

I knew it, she didn’t come.

2. Yappari – Indeed it is!

Another use of yappari emphasises the strength of your opinion. For example, I really do think that something is true. やっぱり温泉が好き Yappari onsen ga suki means I really do indeed love hot springs. English translations might include “indeed” or “of course”.

Dialog 2

Note: In this conversation we have two different examples of how yappari is used. Yappari onsen ga suki is the 2nd use of yappari which emphasises the point that the speaker does indeed like hot springs. After Ami says she likes Takoyaki, the reply is yappari which in this case is means “I knew it” as we learned with dialog 1.

Here are some more examples of how yappari is used to mean “indeed” or “of course”:

2.1 やっぱり毎日日本語を勉強しなきゃ。

Yappari mainichi nihongo o benkyō shinakya.

Of course, you have to study Japanese everyday.

2.2 やっぱり彼女が好き。

Yappari, kanojo ga suki.

I DO like her / I do indeed like her / Of course, I like her.

2.3 和食と言えばやっぱり刺身。

Washoku to ieba yappari sashimi.

If you are talking about Japanese food, of course it’s gotta be Sashimi.

3. Yappari – Ah, you know what? I changed my mind.

The final use of yappari is used when you change your mind. It means something like “Ah, you know what? I changed my mind” or “Actually, let’s not”. Here’s an example in dialog form:

Dialog 3

Here are a couple of other examples:

3.1. やめようかな。やっぱりもうちょっと頑張る。

Yameyō kana. Yappari, mō chotto gambaru.

I give up. You know what? I’ll try a little more.

3.2. ケーキ食べたい。やっぱりやめる、ダイエットしなきゃ。

Keeki tabetai. Yappari yameru, dietto shinakya.

I want to eat a cake. Nope, I need to diet.

Random Phrase of the Week

In every podcast we tech a random phrase to amuse and delight your Japanese friends. Here is this week’s random phrase:

ウケる – Ukeru – That’s so funny.

Ex.1 あのテレビ番組超ウケる

Ano terebi bangumi chō ukeru.

That TV program is so funny.

Ex. 2 あの漫才ウケる

Ano manzai ukeru

That comedy duo is so funny.

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This podcast episode is about various phrases you can use to start up a conversation in Japanese. It is important to remember that each conversation is unique and how you start one depends on who you are talking to and the situation. However, in this episode you will hear some of the most common phrases you are likely to hear used by Japanese people. One final thing to remember is that this episode focuses on casual conversations between friends.

Here is a full vocabulary list taken from the podcast

Podcast Dialog 1

Dialog 2

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How to eat Takoyaki

Delicious Takoyaki with toppings

Food is one of our most popular subjects to talk about so in this podcast Ami sensei and I (Alex) introduce you to one of Kansai’s most loved street snacks, the honorable Takoyaki.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to order and prepare takoyaki yourself with the correct ingredients and utensils. We also talk about the history of takoyaki, why it became so famous plus our recommendations for the best Takoyaki restaurants in Japan.

So get ready for a takoyaki extravaganza!

Takoyaki Vocabulary

Here is a full vocabulary list taken from the podcast

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
ご注文	Gochuumon	Your order
いかがでしょうか	Ikaga deshō	Is it OK? / Are you ready?
たこやき	Takoyaki	Takoyaki (Octopus fry)
お願いします	Onegaishimasu	Please
かしこまりました	Kashikomarimashita	Certainly
すみません	Sumimasen	Excuse me
作り方	Tsukurikata	How to make something
教えて	Oshiete	Teach me
いただけませんか	Itadakemasenka	Would you please?
まず	Mazu	First
その後	Sono ato	After that
その次に	Sono tsugi ni	Next
最後に	Saigo ni	Finally
生地	Kiji	Batter
鉄板	Teppan	Iron pan
入れます	Iremasu	Put in
他	Hoka	Other
好きな	Sukina	Something you like
具材	Guzai	Ingredients
焼きながら	Yakinagara	While cooking
千枚通し	Senmaidooshi	Long needle like implement for cooking takoyaki
ひっくり返します	Hikkuri kaeshimasu	Turn something over
熱い	Atsui	Hot
気をつけて	Ki o tsukete	Take care
食べてください	Tabete kudasai	Please eat
なるほど	Naruhodo	I see
ありがとうございます	Arigatō gozaimasu	Thank you very much

Takoyaki Conversation

A:	ご注文はいかがでしょうか。	Gochuumon wa ikaga deshou ka	Are you ready to order?
B:	たこやきをお願いします。	Takoyaki o onegaishimasu	I’d like takoyaki please.
A:	かしこまりました。	Kashikomarimashita	Certainly.
B:	あの、すみませんがたこやきの作り方を教えていただけませんか。	Ano, sumimasen ga, takoyaki no tsukurikata o oshiete kudasai.	Um, excuse me but would you mind telling me how to make takoyaki?
A:	まず、生地を鉄板に入れます。	Mazu, kiji o teppan ni iremasu.	First put the batter in the iron pan.
B:	生地を鉄板に入れます。	Kiji o teppan ni iremasu.	Put the batter in the pan.
A:	そのあと、たこを入れます。	Sono ato, tako o iremasu.	After that, put in the octopus.
B:	たこを入れます。	Tako o iremasu.	Put in the octopus.
A:	その次に、他の好きな具材を入れます。	Sono tsugi, hoka no suki na guzai o iremasu.	After that, put in the ingredients you like.
B:	具材を入れます。	Guzai o iremasu.	Put in the ingredients.

What is Takoyaki?

Takoyaki Ingredients

Takoyaki is a speciality dish from Osaka and is usually eaten as a casual fast food. Imagine golf sized balls of baked dough, crispy on the outside and piping hot in the middle.

What are the basic ingredients of Takoyaki?

The dough is made from water, flour and eggs and you add dashi, salt and soy sauce to taste. It also has slices of tako which is octopus. Yaki means cooked or baked which is why we say we say Takoyaki. It kind of tastes a little like Okonomiyaki so it’s savory with a range of interesting flavors and umami.

How do you cook Takoyaki?

An electric Takoyaki set

We start with a takoyaki teppan which is a hot plate to cook the batter in. The hot plate has semi spherical indents which you pour the batter into. You basically drown the whole plate in runny takoyaki batter. Then add those slices of tako.

You then sprinkle on other ingredients including benishouga which is pickled red ginger, chopped green onions and tenkasu which are little scraps of tempura.

Then as it starts to cook you use what’s called a 千枚通し Senmaidooshi to constantly flip over the batter as it turns into little takoyaki balls.

And then finally you garnish it with mayonnaise, Takoyaki sauce which is like Worcestershire sauce, aonori which is green laver and Katsuo bushi which is dried flakes of bonito fish. But there are other flavours too, sometimes they’ll add cheese or mochi.

When do you usually eat Takoyaki?

You usually pick them up as a snack from a takoyaki stand on the street. But you can also order them in Izakayas with other food. Some restaurants let you make them yourself using the takoyaki teppan which is fun. But usually you’ll get them at a food stall at a matsuri and they usually come in sets of 6 or 8.

Where can you buy Takoyaki?

The Dotonbori area of Osaka

If you are in Japan, you could buy Takoyaki in almost any city. However, if you want to do it in style, in the home of the Takoyaki, I would recommend the Dotonbori area of Osaka. It’s a very popular tourist destination packed with amazing restaurants, Izakayas and bars. It’s famous for its huge colourful illuminated signs, entertainment and nightlife.

All the shops run along the Dotonbori canal where it gets its name. So it’s great for food and just strolling down the river.

There are hundreds of places where you can get Takoyaki but one place I really like is くれおー る They’re actually a chain of restaurants that serve famous Osaka dishes including Okonomiyaki. I would recommend going to the Dotonbori shop as it has seats overlooking the river. It’s a little touristy but if you can get a good seat, the view of the river is really nice especially at night. And the Takoyaki themselves are perhaps some of the best I’ve ever had in Japan. According to the website they supply various hotels with their speciality Takoyaki which isn’t surprising because they really are that good.

To get to the Dontonbori area from Osaka station, get on the Midosuji line and get off at Namba. It’s then a 5 or 10 minute walk north to the river. And you’ll know you’re there when you see a giant plastic animated Crab and also the neon Glico man sign on the river next to Ebisu bridge. Anyway check out the link in the show notes and on the website.

What is the history of Takoyaki?

A street vendor making takoyaki

As you probably know, rice, fish and vegetables have been the traditional staple diet of Japan. Takoyaki which is made from flour and water was a relatively new food type in Japan. It has it roots in the 1600s when battered food and other French cuisine started to be eaten in Japan.

Fast forward to the Tokyo earthquake in 1923 which left the kanto area with huge food shortages. The government started experimenting with flour and water to make cheap filling food. It wasn’t that popular but it kept people from starving.

Then in 1935 a street vendor in Osaka called Tomokichi Endo started experimenting with flour and water batter with seafood. There was a big cheap supply of octopus which he mixed with the batter to create the first Takoyaki. It took off and became a success. In the years after the 2nd world war, wheat flour was sent to Japan as relief aid. And that’s when Takoyaki started to get really famous throughout Japan.

It’s another one of those things in Japan that had a foreign influence but then changed into something uniquely Japanese.

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In this lesson you are going to learn how to say “must” in Japanese. Here’s the problem. There are a confusing number of ways to say it. Just look at this list of phrases which all mean the same thing:

しなければなりません Shinakereba narimasen

しなければいけません Shinakereba ikemasen
しなくてはいけません Shinakute wa ikemasen
しなくちゃいけません Shinakucha ikemasen
しなきゃいけません Shinakya ikemasen
しないといけません Shinai to ikemasen
しなくちゃ Shinakucha
しなきゃ Shinakya
しないと Shinai to

Not only that but each way of saying “must” in Japanese has a different level of politeness associated with it for different social situations. It’s also quite common for Japanese schools and textbooks to only teach the formal way of saying of “must”. However, in daily life in Japan, you will notice that most of the time, people tend to use the casual form.

But fear not dear student of Japanese, Learn Japanese Pod will help you to navigate this linguistic confusion. We are all about teaching you the most useful and natural Japanese for daily life in Japan. Therefore, this lesson will exclusively focus on the casual form which in my experience is the most useful form to know.

But before we do, let’s briefly study the grammar and a little of the culture behind this.

Grammar: How to say “must” in Japanese

One of the most formal and common ways you will be taught “must” in Japanese is:

しなければなりません Shinakereba narimasen

This is made from two parts “Shinakereba” which means “If I do not” and “Narimasen” which means “It is not allowed”. So this literally means, “it is not allowed if I do not do it” or “It will be bad if I don’t do it”.

This two part form is used for most levels of politeness

If I don’t do it It will not be allowed

Shinakereba Narimasen

Shinakereba Ikemasen

Shinakya Ikemasen

There is no direct way of saying must in Japanese so this indirect double negative form is used. This roundabout way of saying “must” in Japanese perhaps reflects the way Japanese shy away from direct language and confrontational statements.

The most common way to say “must” in Japanese

As you will discover when you come to Japan, most people in daily conversation use the common form. Instead of using the tongue twisting “Shinakereba narimasen” you can drop the -nakereba narimasen and simply add -kya to give you shinakya – I must do something.

The formal way of saying I have to clean the house is:

掃除しなければなりません – Sōji shinakereba narimasen – I have to clean (the house)

However, the more common and easy way to say that is

掃除しなきゃ – Sōji shinakya –  I have to clean

How to construct the casual form of “must” in Japanese

To say you must do something using other verbs using the casual form, simply follow these steps:

Step 1) Take the negative casual form of a verb, for example:

しない Shinai Don’t do

行かない Ikanai Don’t go

食べない Tabenai Don’t eat

買わない Kawanai Don’t buy

Step 2) Replace the -i at the end of the verb with -kya

しなきゃ Shinakya I must do (something)

行かなきゃ Ikanakya I must go (somewhere)

食べなきゃ Tabenakya I must eat (something)

買わなきゃ Kawanakya I must buy (something)

Finally, there are three common casual forms:

1) しなきゃ Shinakya

2) しなくちゃ Shinakucha

3) しないと Shinai to

Sometimes people will add いけない to the end of these forms to make:

しなきゃいけない

しなくちゃいけない

しないといけない

You can use any of these forms in a casual setting to say you must do something. This lesson will focus on using just shinakya.

Main Dialog

Other examples of saying I must in Japanese

Here are some more examples of how you can say you must do something:

１） 明日5時に起きなきゃ、めどくさい。

Ashita goji ni okinakya, mendokusai

Tomorrow I have to wake up at 5am, what a hassle.

２） まずいけど薬飲まなきゃ。

Mazui kedo kusuri nomanakya

It doesn’t taste good but I have take (drink) this medicine

３） あ、買い物忘れちゃった、買わなきゃ！

A, kaimono wasurechatta, kawanakya!

Ah, I forgot the shopping. I have to buy something!

４） もう時間だ。行かなきゃ！

Mo jikan da. Ikanakya!

It’s time. I have to go.

５） この部屋超汚い、掃除しなきゃ！

Kono heya chō kitanai, sōji shinakya.

This room is super dirty, I have to clean it.

６） 明日テストがあるから勉強しなきゃ。

Ashita tesuto ga aru kara benkō shinakya.

Tomorrow I have a test so I have to study.

７） 東京がゴジラに攻められてるから逃げなきゃ。

Tōkyō ga gojira ni semerareteru kara nigenakya.

Godzilla is attacking Tokyo so we have to run!

Random Phrase of the Week

飯テロ Meshi Tero

This is used to make fun of people post pictures what they are eating on social media. It also refers to the way your friends are “terrorised” by the these pictures especially when they are hungry.

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In this lesson Ami and I teach you how to ask and give your opinions on various topics using the verb 思う Omou – To think. This is usually used to say “I think that…”.

思う is a very useful phrase you use all the time in conversation in Japanese. The main grammatical structure we will be using is this:

Something or someone…どう思う？Dō omou which means what do you think about so and so… For example:

彼女どう思う？ Kanojo wa dō omou What do you think of her?

彼どう思う？ Kare wa dō omou What do you think of him?

Then to answer you could say your opinion plus と思う which means I think so and so. So, for example you can say 可愛いと思うよ Kawaii to omou yo which means I think she’s cute or カッコイイと思うよ Kakko ii to omou which means I think he’s cool.

Here are the example conversations in the podcast:

Dialog 01

Dialog 02

Dialog 03

Dialog 04

Dialog 05

Dialog 06

Extra Grammar Notes

Casual and polite ways to say “I think…”

Random Phrase of the Week

A: 最近どう？ Saikin dō? How have you been recently?

B: 相変わらずだよ Aikawarazu da yo Same old, same old…

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In this podcast Ami and I talk about what to do if you lose your wallet or other personal items when in Japan. The good news is that Japanese people are generally very law abiding and honest. Therefore, if someone finds your lost item, there is a good chance they will hand it in to the police and you will get it back.

If you do lose something, the best idea is to ring the place you think you left it and ask if it has been found. If you lose something on the train it’s best to go to the station master’s office and ask there. If you drop something in the street then you should go to a Koban or police box.

This lesson focuses on how to call the last place you were at to ask the staff if they found you things. Study the vocabulary list and dialogs below to learn how to do it.

Vocabulary featured in the podcast

Dialog 01

Dialog 02

Dialog 03

Extra Phrases

Let’s study some other phrases related to lost items:

1) 申し訳ありませんが財布は届いてないようです。

Mōshi wake arimasen ga saifu wa todoite inai yō desu.

I’m very sorry but it seems your wallet hasn’t been handed in.

2) 連絡先を教えていただけたら見つかり次第ご連絡します。

Renrakusaki o oshiete itadaketara mitsukari shidai gorenraku shimasu.

If you give me your contact details we’ll contact you the moment it is found.

3) 忘れ物

Wasuremono

Lost items

4) 紛失届け

Fun shitsu todoke

A form to fill out at the police station for lost items

Cultural Points

1. The Japanese are generally quite law abiding and honest. Most times, if found, your lost items  will be returned.
2. If you lose something on the train go to the nearest 駅長室 Eki Chō shitsu – Station master’s office and tell them what you lost and on which train it was on. They’ll ring ahead to the next station or terminal station to see if they can locate your items.
3. You can also go to any 交番 Koban police box to report lost or stolen items. For lost items you would write out a form called a 紛失届け Fun shitsu todoke

Random Phrase Of The Week

あたまが真っ白

Atama ga masshiro

When you mind goes completely blank or you are lost for words.

留守番電話を残す時いつもあたまが真っ白

Rusuban denwa o nokosu toki ni atama ga masshiro

When I leave a message on an answering machine my mind goes completely blank

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In this podcast, Ami and I (Alex) teach you how to talk about your favorite movies in Japanese. Listen to the podcasts and read the dialogs below to get an idea of what these phrases and dialogs mean. You can also download the PDFs too! Enjoy!