Speak Japanese in 90 Days, volume 2

Day 81: Other Uses of


We've already learned to use to say try, but there are even more uses for this
phrase. Because of the many uses of , we have to be careful every time we see it.
The first thing to look for is an O-Form verb, if we don't see it, we can move on
to thinking about the new definitions we will learn today. A lot of these uses are
a bit difficult to understand at first, because you can't directly translate the
sentences word for word, and you have to think hard about what is really being
said. If you see a sentence that uses , it's helpful to just drop it at first, and make
sure you understand what the sentence is saying before applying the . Besides to
try, the other definitions of that you will find in a dictionary are to decide, to
regard as, to use for, to assume.

With the definition of to decide, you're probably wondering about the difference
between and . Using the particle is far less common, and focuses on the end
result, rather than how that thing was accomplished. Also, the definition to
decide is slightly inaccurate, because this usage will almost always be a
question, , and will more accurately translate into I think, I guess, or Shall we? In
the following example, we are literally asking Will I decide to play soccer?

The baseball game is canceled? I guess I'll play soccer.


The next use of is to show how you yourself consider something, your opinion
rather than a fact. In the dictionary, this definition will be labeled to treat as, or
regard as. We can derive this meaning from decide, because we have decided to
have the stated opinion.

Muscles need protein to become strong. (in my opinion)
(Lit. As for muscle, I regard protein as necessary to become strong.)


His advice is indispensable. (in my opinion)
(Lit. As for his advice, I consider it indispensable.)

The next definition is easy to understand, it translates as to use for. This can also
be derived from decide, as in We decided to use something for something else.

This car uses hydrogen for fuel.


They are using their hands as weapons.


The final use translates to assume or suppose. We are deciding to have the
thought. Note that in English we can use suppose or assume to say what you are
thinking, but in Japanese this is used for bringing up hypothetical situations, and
most often found in the phrase Let's (assume / suppose). Compare the following
examples:

I assumed you were my friend. Was I wrong?


Let's (assume / suppose) he is coming. What then?


This grammar is often used as an if question, to make it: if we assume that, or
assuming that. We can use all four if constructions, however, is the most
common, with and taking second, and being somewhat rare.

If we assume that is true, what should we do?


What if you had money, what would you do?
If we assume that you had money, what would you do?
?
?

Again, be careful with this! Make sure the sentence doesn't have an O-Form
verb, if it does, the translation changes to attempt:

If I attempt to eat this, I will die!


As mentioned previously, can take the place of to emphasize the end result.
This is often the case when used with . is also sometimes used like this in formal
situations, like the weather report on TV. When we use instead of , the nuance is
that there won't be any more change after this, the object has reached it's final
state.

The tadpole became a frog.


The immigrant became a US citizen.


Day 81 Grammar Cards:
1. to decide / to regard as / to use for / to assume
2. If we assume / Assuming that

3. to become (final form)

Day 82: For, For a, As a

The prepositions for and as have many uses in English. In addition to other uses,
we can use them to show our perspective or standpoint. The following Japanese
words will do just that, but be careful not to use them in other contexts where we
use for and as.


We can use to show how something appears from a certain standpoint. It can be
translated as to, for, as far as ~ is concerned.

For me, Japanese is easy.


As far as my job is concerned, learning math is useless.


You may be asking yourself why we need at all in this previous sentences,
couldn't we have just use instead? We could have, but the nuance would be
slightly different. By using we aren't simply stating a fact, but rather, this is your
perspective, your view of the world, as far as you are concerned. Compare the
following sentences. The second sentence's emphasis is that it's the man's point
of view.

This information is necessary for him.


As far as he is concerned, this information is necessary.



We can use to express how our expectations contrast with reality. With
pronouns in English, we do this by using the phrase for a:

For a foreigner, his Japanese is pretty good.

It's too hot for December!



We can use to show our viewpoints from a particular role. Remember that can
mean assume, so for this Te-Form translation, think of it as assume a role. It can
usually be translated as: as a.

I used the desk as a chair.


She treated him as a pet.


Compare these with one of the example sentences we learned yesterday using ,
which translated to use for. In these previous example sentences we are saying
the desk and man fulfilled the roles of a chair and pet, but with the sentence
yesterday, the hydrogen wasn't fulfilling a role as fuel, it was the fuel. This
grammar is often used with jobs:

As a teacher, it is hard to punish students.


During summer vacation, she works as a singer.


We can also combine with pronouns, to emphasize our perspective. Again, this
could just be replaced with , but using this emphasizes further that it is just your
viewpoint.

I, for one, don't care at all.


As far as he is concerned, nothing matters but money.

Day 82 Grammar Cards:
1. to / for / As far as ~ is concerned
[] (UK)
2. for a

3. as a (from the viewpoint of a particular role)

Day 83: Reading 15

Reading 15 Vocabulary:
6) [] to distort / to disfigure
7) [] to support / to cheer
12) [] to move / to transfer
15) [] to put in order / to arrange neatly
20) [] extra / surplus
20) [] suitable
21) [] to substitute
22) nerd / geek
26) [] cannon

Reading 15:



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Day 84: Whenever, Each Time, In the Case of


If you look up in the dictionary, it will say the definition is on the occasion of,
which is a fancy way of saying whenever, each time, or every time.

Whenever I go to the supermarket, I buy milk.

Whenever I eat pork I get a stomach ache.


If we use this word with nouns, we have to add to make it . Suru-Verbs can take
this noun form with or without .

Every weekend I study math.
(Lit. On the occasion of the weekend, I study.)


Whenever I study math, I get a headache.


Each time I drive, I get nervous.


Each time I drive, I get nervous.



A very useful word that you will encounter a lot is [] which means case or
situation. This can sometimes be translated as if.

In case of fire.


If I go, I will call you.

(Lit. If it is the case that I go, I will call you.)


[] is often paired with and .

I'm usually wrong, but in this case I'm right.


In that case, I'll change my mind.


Because this word is referring to certain occasions, we can use it to express what
we do during those occasions. In English as well as Japanese, this has a nuance
of something that happens rarely, or under special circumstances. In English, we
usually say but when I do.

I don't really like takoyaki, but when I go to Osaka, I eat it.


He rarely goes out to eat, but when he does, he eats yakiniku.


Day 84 Grammar Cards:
1. on the occasion of / whenever / each time / every time
[] (UK)
2. in the case of / situation / whenever
[]

Day 85: Within


The kanji for [] means inside or within, and is often paired with the Nai-Form to
say that you did something within a time frame, or that you did something before
something undesirable happened.

I climbed the mountain before the sun rose.


I had not worked for ten minutes before I got tired.


There is a special construction that uses the verb twice, the first time as the U-
Form + , and the second time as the Nai-Form + . When it appears like this, you
don't translate the verb twice, but rather, add the word hardly, or just barely to
the sentence. Suru-Verbs will say twice as well, but the noun being done will
only be said once.

I had hardly worked ten minutes before I got tired.


I had hardly driven five minutes before I got into an accident!



The phrase is used to mean soon, eventually, or before long:

Before long, he will have to answer for his crimes.


Your Japanese will get better eventually.


Day 85 Grammar Cards:
1. Before (verb) happened... (usually undesirable)

Nai-Form + [] (UK)
2. Hardly (verb) before (sentence) happened
U-Form + Nai-Form + + (sentence)
3. soon / eventually / before long

Day 86: Just, In the Middle of, About to

In today's lesson, we will learn how to say that we just did something, are in the
middle of doing something, or are about to do something. Most of the words
today we have already learned before in other contexts.


To say that we have just completed an action, we add the word . We've
previously learned to use this word with nouns to say only or just, but it can be
used with time as well. Of course, this has to be used with a verb in the past
tense to make sense. In casual conversation, the last kana is often dropped,
while adding to .

I just took a shower.


I just ate.



The I-Form can be combined with to show that something was just completed.
The new word will become a No-Adjective. The nuance of this word is freshly.
So if you use it in certain contexts, it can sound funny. This is used primarily
with fresh food, though some other verbs are also common, such as [] (to learn).

I like eating freshly baked bread.


It's tough to recall newly learned words.



To say that we are in the middle of doing or currently doing something, we use
the I-Form + []. This can sometimes be translated to say that something is
underway. Often in English we use the word under in phrases like under
construction or under review. [] is used similarly. Another thing to consider is
the translation of sentences using this word. Often in English we won't say we

are in the middle of doing something, we will just use the present continuous
tense. But in Japanese, people explicitly state that they are in the middle of doing
it.

I am looking for a job.
(Lit. I am in the middle of looking for a job).


I'm working right now.
(Lit. I'm in the middle of work now.)



To say that you are about to do something, use the O-Form + . Remember that
this grammar also means to try / attempt for things that don't happen over a long
period of time, but rather things that we are attempting at the moment. With this
translation regarding time, we can finally see why it has this temporal attribute.

I am about to eat dinner.


The train is about to depart.


Again, we learned this grammar to say that we attempted to do something. The
previous sentences could also have been translated as I am trying to eat dinner
and The train is trying to depart. From context alone, you should be able to
determine if someone is saying they are about to do something or if they are
attempting to do something.

Day 86 Grammar Cards:
1. just (time)
Past verb +
2. freshly
I-From + [] (UK)
3. In the middle of / Underway
I-Form + []

4. About to (verb)
O-Form +

Day 87: Time Phrases Part 1

In today's lesson we will learn a few alternate words to phrases that we already
know.


We've learned to say [] or to mean about and around with time, but if we want
to be more polite, it's better to use . If we are using verbs that take time, such as
[] (to wait), [] (to pass), and [] (to take), we can also use . However, is a bit old
fashioned, and younger Japanese people probably won't use it.

She came about an hour ago. (polite)


This process takes about three hours. (old fashioned)


and can sometimes be used with any approximate amount of something, not
just time:

There were about 10 people.


It's about 2000 yen.



We've seen the kanji in the word [] (afternoon), and also the word [] (back /
behind). This kanji is often used in compound words to mean after. When it
appears first, it will be pronounced , and when it appears second, it will be
pronounced . For example: [](second half) and [] (from now on). By itself, the
kanji is pronounced [] to mean afterwards, or [] to mean after, later, behind, or
left over / remaining. [] is usually only used in writing, and in speech, most
people will just say [].

Let's talk later/after.

There is a cat behind you.


There are three people remaining.


He became famous. Afterwards he became rich.



We learned to say with time to say from or since, but a more formal way to say
since with time is to use [].

I have lived in Japan since 2005.


Since then, it has become dangerous.



We learned that we can say [] to say before, but a more formal way is to use [].
This is often used in sentences comparing things to the past, or to show how
things used to be.

There was boulder here before.
There used to be a boulder here.

This was a peaceful county back then.



If we add to [] (now) it means soon, before long, or at any time.

The package will arrive soon.

She will call before long.


Day 87 Grammar Cards:
1. about / around (amount / interval)
(polite)
(old fashioned)
2. After prefix
[]
3. After suffix
[]
4. afterward
[] (written)
[] (spoken)
5. since
[]
6. before / used to
[]
7. soon / before long / at any time
[]

Day 88: Time Phrases Part 2

After nearly finishing this book, if you're feeling a bit nostalgic for the format of
Volume One, here are a couple lessons to remind you of the good old days when
Japanese was easy! The following words require little explanation, so I decided
to arrange them like a lesson from Volume One.

1. already [] (UK)
We learned to say already with and a past tense verb in Volume One. We can
also use the phase to mean already. This word has a nuance of saying that it's
too late to do something, because something else has already happened.
2. recently / the other day / a few days ago []
If we look at the kanji, we can see the meanings previous and day.
3. recently / nowadays []
The kanji are the same ones we use for [] (near / close) and [] (time / about).
4. just as / as soon as []
This is used to show what action happened immediately after something else
happened.
5. from now on []
The meaning of this is similar to [].
6. in those days / at that time []
This is often used to refer to to the distant past.
7. simultaneously / at the same time []
Be careful not to confuse this with word #6.
8. by and by / soon / eventually [] (UK)
This is yet another word that means soon. The first meaning by and by was
chosen to distinguish it from the other words.

Day 88 Example Sentences:

1. The train has already left. (So it's too late to get on.)

2. I met Ann the other day.

3. These days, those kinds of machines are obsolete.

4. Just as I saw it, it disappeared!

5. From now on, tell me first.
6. In those days we didn't have the internet.
7. Can you drive and eat at the same time?
8. By and by, he came to be able to eat natto.

Day 89: Time Phrases Part 3

1. finally / at last / in the end [] (UK)
We learned in Day 28, but with the particle the word is completely different.
With a negative verb, this word translates to in the end. To help you distinguish
it from the following words, note that the kanji means accomplish.
2. after all / eventually / in the end []
We can use this with affirmative verbs for in the end. The kanji meanings are tie
and conclusion. Perhaps you can think of it as what happened when all the loose
ends were tied up.
3. finally / after all / in the end [] (UK)
Yet another word for finally, these kanji mean arrival and head, so you can thing
of it as some process reaching its final conclusion.
4. forever / eternally / indefinitely / no matter what
5. always / constantly []
6. at once / immediately / directly / in person []
7. again / once more / a second time []
8. all at once []

Day 89 Example Sentences:

1. He finally paid back his debt.

2. In the end, everyone was unharmed.

3. I could finally sell my stock.

4. I will love you no matter what.

5. Even though I've taken medicine, my stomach constantly hurts.

6. If you have pain, call the doctor immediately.

7. After losing his wealth, he became rich once more.

8. She drank the wine all at once.

Day 90: Reading 16

Reading 16 Vocabulary:
1) [] reading
5) [] sushi
5) [] karate
6) [] amazing
6) [] experience
7) [] Mt. Fuji
7) mochi
8) [] to pass / to elapse (time)
12) [] to understand / to realize
14) [] effort
18) [] expression
18) [] method / way
20) [] ability
20) [] to progress / to advance
21) [] perfect
28) [] to leave your name in history

Reading 16:



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3) 2010



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