How to Write Japanese

CMxOu PL

637

3 1924 080 779 204

Cornell University Library

The tine

original of

tiiis

book

is in

Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

restrictions in

the United States on the use of the

text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924080779204

In compliance with current copyright law, Cornell University Library produced this replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard

Z39.48-1984 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original.

1995

LIBRARY

ITHACA

Charles

MY

14853

W WasonCdlscJte onRastAsia

HOW TO WRITE AND READ JAPANESE CORRECTLY [Seisoku Nihongo no Kakihata

Tomikatd)

BY

MINORU YUASA

® OKAZAKIYA SHOTEN 15,

itchome, Jimbocho, Kanda,

Tokyo

PREFACE Few

foreigners

from the Occident care

Do

Japanese in cKaracters.

study of Japanese thought ? interest In

ing

original

and

western take no interest in the

To

be

sure, they

do lake much

Whether they admire Japanese ways of

it.

and doing or

literature,

to learn to write

not, they

institutions

would

willingly study the history,

of the Oriental Empire through her

books and papers, only

Japanese in characters.

think-

Then

if

they could read

and

write

they should take lessons in

Japanese in the same way as Japanese school-children do.

This

little

who would

book

is

an attempt

care to give their spare

at paving the

moments

way

for those

to the study

of the

most important Oriental language. If the western student gets

a rudimentary knowledge of

written Japanese through this pioneer work,

the pains taken

it

will

amply repay

by

AUTHOR.

DIRECTIONS

How

to

m)

suzuRi

1.

2.

suMi

(M)

3.

FUDE

m)

make

:

^

Ink on the 3uzuri (Inkstone).

Four some water

the

in the weiU of

the Sumi (India ink) up and

down on

iiij^stoue

the

^s,lab

and rub till

the

water gets blackened enough.

H9W When

the ink

is

writing brush in it or

you

write on

will it.

make a

to

Use the

ready

Do

not

blot

Ink.

for use, let

dip the point of the

the jJmbibe too

much

ink,

on the paper \^hcn you try to

DIRECTIONS

IV

How

to

Hold the Fude-

Hold the writing Fude (brush) between -the thumb and fingers, as

shown

in the cut.

How ;

to

make

Strokes.

Hold the charged brush perpendicular to.the paper,

and make strokes, as directed

hand

off ihe desk

all

in the Lessons,

the while.

keeping your

JAPANESE CHARACTERS. KATA-KANA.

7

A^

^ ^ u

4

t

CHARACTERS

V,

he

ho

me

mo

ha

hi

ma

mi

ya

i

yu

-:^

JO

ra

ri

ru

re

ro

1%

"

mu

7 4 ^ ^ f wa

i

u

e

Wo

CHARAKTERS

vii

HIRA-GANA.

V^

he

^ ru

^

S

ii

^

^t

ro

ha

ni

ho

t

h

^

^

to

chi

i h wo

1^

i"i

^>

wa

ka

t

-^

ta

re

so

tsu

na

ra

mu

u

nu

^ yo

hi ne

CHARACTERS

VIII



,>^

t

4

Aoi ha.

Akai hana.

A green leaf.

A red flower.

Note " aoki

")

:

— " Aoi " {or

means " green,"

and "ha," "leaf."

Note

:

—Akai "

(or

" akaki ") means " red,"

:

PHRASES

38

4^

t

Semai kawa.

Hiroi michi.

A narrow river. Note :— " Semai "

{or

" scmaki ") mcau^ " narrow "

and " kawa,""^"

river."

A wide Note :— "

road.

Hiroi " {or

" hiroki ") means " wide,"

and " michi," "

road,

PHEASES

r

39

PHRASES

40

f .if

Mijikai-tsue.

Nagaibo.

A short cane.

A long pole.

Note :—"

" mijikaki ") and "

Mijikai " {or

means " short,"

tsue,"

" cane."

Note :— " Nagai "

{or

" nagaki ") means " long."

and bo," " pole."

PHRASES

41

7

^

^

7 Fukai (^

^ki)

Takai

Note

:

—" Fukai

oy

(,

-ki)

yama.

umi.

A deep sea.

A

A high mountain. Note

:

—" Takai " means

means "deep,"

" high," and " yama "

and " umi," " sea.

means "mountain."

PHRASES

42

7 Sei-no-hikui onna.

Sei-no-takai shinshi.

A short woman.

A tall gentleman.

Note :— " Sei-no-hikui means " ^Literal

inUrpfetation {or

Sei-no-takai "

means "tall."

short."

"sei-no-takai" stature."

Note:— "

"Sei" hikui)

signifies

*'

means "high

statue "; {or

low)

PHRASES

43

Chiisai mushi.

A small insect. Note :— "

Chiisai

^or " chiisa na ") means

" small "

or "

little."

Okii zo.

A large elephant. Note :— " Okii {or

" oki na ") means « large."

PHRASES

44

Saru to kani.

Inu to neko.

A monkey and

A dog and

a crab.

a cat.

Note

:

— " Saru " means

" monkey," and " ,

"crab."

Note

:

— " To "

is

a

kani," conjunction equivalent to

the English conjunction,

" and

'';

it is

used also in

the sense of " with " a verb comes after

when it.

PHRASES

Tsuru to tsubo.

45

Kitsune to budo.

A crane and a jug. A fox and grapes. Note :^^" Tsubo "jug," and

'•

"

means

tsuru,"

Note

:

— " Bud5 " means

" grape," and " kitsune," " fox."

PHRASES

46

V

Sofu to mago.

Sobo to magomusume.

A grand-mother and A grand-father and her grand-daughter. Note

:

—" Sobo " means

grand-son or grand-daughter. his

Note

" grand-mother," and " mago-musume " means

:

—In

common

— " Sofu " means

" grand-father," and

"mago,"

" grand-daughter."

Note

:

" grand-son."

and especially in an and " obaa-san " are used

speech,

infantile expression, "ojii-san "

instead of " sofu " and " sobo " respectively.

PHRASES

47

/\

^

r^ U t^^ %^

} Chichi ni musuko.

Haha

ni

musume.

A father and his A mother and her daughter.

son. Note:

— In

above

the

particle, ni, connects

two nouns,

as " to," so that wc_

" Chichi

ni

impressions

musuko ").

may

it

say, "

is

in

which

of the same

Haha

ni

the

meaning

musume

" (or

PHRASES

y -7Shujin

lii

meshitsukai.

Otto ni tsuma.

A master and his

A husband and

servant.

his wife.

Note

:

— " Shujin " means

" master," and '

meshitsukai," " servant,"

Note "

:

— " Otto " means

" husband " and " tsuma," " wife."

PHRASES

Oba

An

ni mei.

aunt and her niece.

49

Oji ni

oi.

An uncle and nephew.

his

PHRASES.

so

V

^

Ushi no tsuno.

The horns Note "

cow

:

of

a cow.

—" Ushi " means

(or ox), and " tsuno,"

" horn " or " horns."

Notes :

Shika no ashi.

The legs of a deer. Note

:

—" Shika " means

" deer," and " ashi," " leg " or "

—" No," placed before a noun,

origin, possession, or the like.

legs."

denotes source,

In the Japanese language,

neither nouns nor verbs have a plural form or termination

opposed to the singular; so that the Japanese for

and that

for " horns " are the

same form,

*'

tsuno."

"horn"

PHRASES

51

4

Ki no

eda.

The branches {or

a branch) of a tree.

^

le

no yane.

The roof of a house.

PHRASES

52

n

if

'yf f Kogatana no

e.

The handle of a knife.

Note *

:

— " Kogatana " means

knife,'

The

and "

e,"

literal

meaning of

"kogatana"

is

'

handle.'

'small

sword/ but we use

word

in

the sense of

this '

knife.'

Tsukue no

The

ashi.

legs of a desk,

How

to write Japanese characters

54

PENMANSHIP

3

Jk

PHRASES

55

-I Tsuki ga

The moon Note

:

Hi ga deru.

iru.

The sun

sets.

— " Tsuki " means

Note

" moon," and " iru," '•

:

rises.

—" Hi " means

" sun," and " deru,"

" to come out," " to get

get in," or " disappear."

out," or " appear."

Note

:

—" ga "

(or "

that the preceding noun

wa ")

is

is

a particle which denotes

the subject of a

finite

verb.

56

Kumo ga deru.

Clouds appear.

PHRASES

Hoshi ga deru.

Stars

come

forth.

PHRASES

Ame The

ga

furu.

rain

falls.

Notes

They

:

—^Yuki

Yuki ga furu.

The snow

(snow)

many words

and ame

as nouns

are never used

English

57

(rain)

or

''

and the

like.

are

nouns.

and as verbs, while in

are used as verbs, so that Japanese

has no expressions corresponding to " rains,"

falls.

"

Furu " means "

in flakes from the sky/'

It

snows,"

"

to fall in drops

It

"

PHRASES

S8

i

a

•J

Q Kori ga haru.

To be frozen over,

Shimo ga

The

oriru.

frost falls.

to be covered with ice.

Note

:

— " Kori " means

" ice," and " haru " " to spread over," " to expand."

When

it

freezes,

we

" kori ga haru."

say,

Note "

:

— " Shimo " means

frost,"

and " oriru,"

" to come down."

PHRASES

^

59

PHRASES

6o

m f

9

Inabikari ga suru.

Lightning flashes. Note

:

— " inabikari

means " lightning," and " suru " " to do." We say also " Inabikari ga hikaru In Japanese (flashes)." many nouns with the particle, ga, after them, often take the verb, suru ;

" Dzutsu {luadache) ga suru," which means, " to

as,

have a headache."

Kaminari ga naru. It

thunders.

Note :— " Kaminari" {God's cry or roar") means " thunder," and " naru," " to sound out."

PHRASES

€tl

I

ii

I Kisha ga hashiru.

Kawa ga nagareru.

A (railway) train

A river runs.

runs. Note

:

— " Kisha " means

" train," « hashiru," " run."

Note •'

:

— " Kawa " means

river,"

and " nagarcru,'*

" to flow in stream or streams."

63

PHRASES

I''

t'

PHRASES

ti

^

63

PHRASES

64

tff

f ^ <

Nezumi ga

nigeru.

Neko ga naku.

A rat runs away.

A cat mews.

(Rats run away.)

(Cats iiiews.)

Note "

:

— " Nezumi " means

rat,"

and " nigeru,"

" ruft away:"

Note "

:

—" Naku " means

to cry

;

to sing.''

How

to write Japanese characters

(See page 88)

66

PENMANSHIP

SENTENCES

67

\i

if

r

X r Hito ga tegami

wo

kaite imasu.

A man is writing

Kodomo ga imasu.

asonde

SENTENCES

63

* ^

t

SENTENCES

69

7

fj

J5

-^\

4

wo Ano gakusei wa hon wo yonde-imasu. kaite-imasu.

Ano

rujin

That old

wa

e

man

is

painting a picture. Note

:

— " e " means

and " kaite " imasu," " is painting

'*

picture,"

or

" drawing."

That student

is

reading a book. Note

:

—" yonde-imasu

means "

is

reading."

"

SENTENCES

70

T I f

-T

•^

X T

A

Ano otoko-no-ko wa Ano onna-no-ko wa tsutsumi wo akago wo seotteimasu.

kakaete-imasu.

That boy

is

holding

a package under his

Note

:

That girl is carrying a baby on her

arm.

— " kakaetc-imasu " —

means " is holding under his arm " or " in his arms."

back. Note

:

— " seotte-imasu " —

means "

is carrying on her back," and " akago,"

"baby."

"akago"

The meaning is

" red

of

child."

SENTENCES

71

^

M"^

It Alio gakusei

wa

hashitte-imasu.

Ano rodosha wa nimotsu

wo

hakonde-i-masu.

That student

is

running. Note :^-" gakusei means " student," and " hashitte-i-inasu " is running."

That labourer

is

carrying a load. Note

:

— " rodosha "

means

" labourer," and " hakondei-tnasu,

"

is

carrying."

SENTENCES

72

^

Tj.

t Ano

wa Ano junsa wa junkai wo shite-i-masu. wo mite-

onna-no-ko

hoshi

i-masu.

That

girl is

up at the Note

:

looking stars.

— " wo mite- i-masu,

means "

is

looking {or

looking up) at," and

"hoshi," "star."

That policeman is going his rounds. Note

:

— " junsa " means

"policeman," and "junkaj

wo

shite-i-raasu,"

"

going his rounds."

is

SENTENCES

73

r

Ir

/ -f

if

I

r

T 9

'^

Heya no sumi

ni

naga-isu ga

Teiburu no soba ni isu

ga ari-masu.

ari-masu.

There the

{or

is

a)

sofa in

corner

There are chairs

by the

table.

of the room.

—

" Naga-isu " means " sofa," and

Note

:

" sumi-ni," " in the corner."

—

" Isu " means Note " chair," " no soba ni means " by." :

SENTENCES

74

^

^t

:$ V

B

>

y^^

/

^

1/

^ Inu-goya no naka ni inu

ga

ori-masu.

There

is

a dog

in the kennel.

Note

:

— ''Inu-goya

means " kennel."

Futon no ue neko ga

ni

ori-masu.

There

is

a cat

on the cushion. Note :— " Futon

''

means " cushion."

SENTENCES

^^^ T?

/

75

SENTENCES

76

W

M"V »J

Ay

I

ir Oka no ue

ni

jinsha ga

ari-masu. is

shrine

on the

Note

:

hill.

— " Jinsha "

means " Shinto

ni

ori-masu.

a Shinto

There

Kago no naka ko-tori ga

shrine,"

and "oka." "hill."

There

is

a

little

bird in the cage. Note :— " Kago " means

" cage."

SENTENCES

17

& riaj

^%y

/ail*

V

•

-7

r

7

Michino katawara ni yubin-bako ga

Hashi no chikaku

ari-masu.

ari-masu.

There

is

a post-box

by the

side of

the road.

—

" michi " means Note " road," " no katawara ni," " by the side of," and :

'<

" yObin-bako," " post-box " pillar-box." or

ni

kobanshoga

There is a policebox close by the bridge. Note :— " K6ban-sho " means " police-box," and

" no chikaku

ni,"

" close

by " and " hashi," « bridge."

SENTENCES

78

c

t

f

Kodomo no

sobani

inu ga ori-maru.

Sutobu no maeni

kodomo ga ori-masu.

There

is

a dog

beside the child.

There

is

a child

before the stove. Note :— " No-mae-ni" means " before " " Sutobu " is derived from English " stove."

SENTENCES

79

r I

IT?

/V

o

Kwabin no nakani

Teiburu no ueni

hana ga ari-masu.

kwabin ga arimasu.

There are flowers in the flower-vase.

There

is

flower-

vase on the table. Note

:

— " kwabin "

" flowcr-vase." is

means

" Teiburu derived from English

" table."

''

SENTENCES

8o

^S }f

9

^

T

t Ki no eda

ni

karasu ga ori-masu.

There

is

its

Yane ni suzume ga ori-masu.

'

a crow

on a branch

There are sparrows

on the roof.

of the tree. Note

:

— " karasu "

means "crow."

Note

:

—" suzume

means " sparrow."

SENTENCES

8l

'k.'-r

if

Onna-no-ko ga

Otoko-no-ko tachi

hari-shigoto wo shite-i-masu.

ga mari wo nagete-i-masu.

A girl is engaged

Boys are playing

in needlework.

ball.

—

" Hari-shigoto Note wo shite-i-masu " :

means "

is

engaged

needlework."

in

"

—

: " Mari wo nagetei-masu " means " are (is)

Note

throwing a

ball."

" Tachi " is a Suffix used in forming the plural of a personal noun or pronoun.

SENTENCES

.82

$> i;

W* It

^^T\i

"h

t

t

Ano shikwan wa gorei wo kakete

Ano

heishi

wa jii wo

ninatte-i-masu.

i-masu.

That

officer is

giving a

command. Note .— " Shikan " means " ofBcer," and " gorei i-roasu.

wo '

IS

kakete giving a

command."

That private

is

carrying a gun on his shoulder.

—

" Heishi " means " private soldier," " is carrying— on his shoulder,'' and " jo," " gun."

Note

:

SENTENCES

7

^

Ano

fujin

>N

wa

ami-

83

r

_,

^^

SENTENCES

84

iJ4 h

7 if ^

I

X

i

t Watashi no ototo

wa fue wo

fuite-

Watashi no ane

wa piano WO

i-masu.

soshite-i-masu.

My younger

My elder sister is

brother

on a Note

:

is

playing

playing on the piano.

flute.

— " — wo

fuite-

i-masu," means " is blowing " and '< fue," " flute."

Note

:

—" Watakushi no my " " — wo

''

means "

s6shite-i-masu," " is playiftg ". Piano ." is on." ,

derived from the English piano."'

SENTENCES

I y

>--

8S

^

'9

-.9

)

^I

*rs

» t? Boku no ane wa Shinrui no uchi e yuki-mashita.

My elder sister has gone to a Note

:

relatives.

— " Yukimashita

means

" has gone,"

" shinrui no uchi e "

" to a

relative's."

—

Boku no haha wa kaimono ni yuki-mashita.

My mother has gone shopping. —

" Kaimono ni " means " to make a

Note

:

purchase {or shopping) " " yuki-mashita," " has gone."

Note : Japanese has but one tense for the. English Present Perfect and Past, so that " has {or have) gone and " went " take the same form.

SENTENCES

86

M

9

m/

7^

^ ^

.a?

A

+

-^

»

V Boku no

ototo

wa

Boku no imoto wa

asobi ni yuki-

yubinkyoku e

mashita.

yuki-mashita.

My younger

My younger

sister

brother has gone

has gone to the

for play.

post-office.

Note :— " Asobi

ni

means " for play "; " to play."

"

—

" Yubinkyoku " means " post-office."

Note

:

SENTENCES

87

\i

^

-^

t

\i

t t

I

ft

1t

Boku no

ani

wa

Boku no

chichi

wa

yakusho e

gakko e yuki-mashita.

yuki-mashita.

My elder brother

My father has gone

has gone to school.

to his office.

Note

:

— " Gakko c "

Note

means " to school."

Note

:

—" Boku

" Watakushi no."

young man

'

no

''

is

— " Yakusho e "

means " to his office." same meaning as

of the

The former

or a student.

:

is

generally used

by a

88

SENTENCES

SENTENCES

89

^}^ H^

Hibachi no nakani sumibi ga ari-masu.

There are burning charcoals in the brazier.

—

" No naka ni " means " in, " sumi-bi," " burning charcoal."

Note

:

Literal interpretation " Suini " means charcoal," :

and " hi "

" bi ") {fir signifies " fire."

Heya no mannaka ni hibachi ga ari masu.

There

a brazier middle of the room. is

in the

Note :— " Hibachi

"

means " brazier," " mannaka ni," " in the middle," and " heya," " room."

SENTENCES

go

A*

1^X7^

^

:^2 *

^^

^t e.

'^

^.^ L

I

% Nihon no ichiban hajime no Tenno Jinmu-Tenno to moshimasu.

The first Emperor of Japan is the Emperor of Jimmu. Note first

:

— " Jimmu "

is

Emperor who founded

the posthumous this

wo

called

name

of the

Empire ; " Jimmu " means

" as mighty as a god " and " moshi-masu " means, " they call "; "

we

call ";

" you

call ";

"

is called."

SENTENCES

gi

3^^

H=

y

^

ItfV

r

^

Kono tenno ga Nihon-koku wo kensetsu-nasaremashita. This

Emperor founded the country of Japan.

Note :— " meaning as "

Kensetsu-nasaremashita "

kensetsu-shita," but the

expression than the

latter.

is

of the same

former

is

a politer

SENTENCES

92

*-

n.

%i Jc

t

«

II

Nihon wa shima-guni de atte, shiho wa umi ni torimakarete i-masu. Japan

is

an island-country, and

surrounded on Note

:

— " Shitna--gunl "

" niakarete-i-masu,"

every "

all sides

"

tori-side " (or

is

by the

means

surrounded,"

" on

all sides ").

is

seas.

" island-country," " shih5 waj"

" on

SENTENCES

93

y •XT

.A

>\

>\

Sono shufu jinko

wa Tokyo to

moshimashite,

wa gohyakuman

Its capital is called

ijo

arimasu.

Tokyo, and

its

population exceeds five millions. Note:

—"Shufu"

" population," "

ijo

means

desu," "

and "gohyaku-man ", "five " Sono

" has

is

"capital,"

"jinko,"

more than " or " exceeds,''

millions."

two meanings

;

as "its," and the other, "that."

one

is

of the same sense

SENTENCES

94

yui Stl ^'^

9

t Nihon

wa itaru-tokoro

ni takai

yama

ga takusan arimasu. There are a great

many

high mountains

in every part of Japan. Note " takai

:

— " Itaru

yama ga

tokoro ni " means " in every part,"

takusan," " a great

many high mountains."

SENTENCES

95

SENTENCES

96

K

t

f Nihon

wa

matsu-no-ki no kuni to

iwarete orimasu.

Japan Note

:

pine-trees,"

masu), "

is

is called

the land of pine-trees.

— " Matsu-no-ki

no kuni " means " the land of

"iwarete orimasu" {or iware-masu; yobarecalled."

SENTENCES

^*

Desu kara kaigan

g'j,

^^"'

wa

^*

taigai

matsu no

taiboku ga haete-i-masu.

And

most of the sea-shores are grown

so

over with large pine-trees. Note: "Jcat-gan,"

— "Desu *'

kara" means

" and

,

so

'';

so that,

sea-shore "; " taigai," " most of ";,?' generally";

"taiboku," "big tree"; "haete-i-masu," "grow (grows)!';

"

matsu-iao-ki

wa

ga haetc

iru ";

" pine-trees grow

";

matsu-no-ki ga haete-i-masu," " the sea-shore

over with pine-trees."

" kaigan is

grown

SENTENCES

98

2^13

I

r

'^

f Cho wa utsukushii ga gaichu desUi

The

butterfly (it is)

Note:— "Ch5

is

a beautiful

a noxious means

(insect),

but

insect.

"butterfly,"

" utsukushi-i,"

" beautiful," " gaichu," " noxious insect."

" Ga tion

" after a predicate verb or adjective, is

which means " but."

a conjunc-

SENTENCES

0fn

59:

W^ ^^z ^•^

r Cho

MT

wa futatsu no

ni

tsubasa to roppon

no ashi ga ari-masu. The butterfly has two wings and six Note \5ing

(£>/•

:

— " Futatsu

no "

wings),." roppon

Note

:

—"

ni

wa

" two " " tsubasa," " (o^ muttsu no"), "six,"

means

no"

acd " ashi," " leg " (or " legs

legs.

").

ga ari-masu " means " has

," The noun which comes before " ni {^ " have ") wa " is the subject of the verb " has " and the noun which Some sentences in this follows " ni wa " is its object. coBstruction may be translated literally. For instance, ''Niwa {ni wa) like £-a ari masu" means "There is

{ffrimasti)

a pond {ike go) in the garden {niiva nizva)."

SENTENCES

ICO

*

5i

n^

O

I

^ Cha wa

cha^no-ki

no ha kara

seishi-masu.

Tea made of the leaves of the tea plant. Note plant,"

masu, "

:

— " Cha "

" ha/' means " is

made

" Scisuru "

means " leaf,''

of," of " is is

used

in

tea,"

" cha-no-ki,"

" tea-

or " leaves," and " kara seishi

made

from.''

the sense of " to prepare."

c

SENTENCES

I02

Ao-zora ni gan no tonde-oru no

wo

go-ran-nasai.

See the wild-geese Note:

,.

— "Gan

fly in

no tondcoru no

the blue sky. wo" "the flight

of

wfld-gefese."

When stress is laid upon the doing, we say " gan no tonde iruno wo go-ran nasal," but when it. is laid upon the doer, we say " tonde iru gan wo goran nasai." From a grammatical point of view, the particle "no" between a noun and a verb denotes that the noun is in the same relation to the verb as a noun in the possesive case in English is to a gerund coming after it ; as " Kodomo no rialoi ico ga kikoeru (I hear a child's crying) ; that is, " I hear a child cry." .

.

SENTENCES

Gan wa

^03

aki ni kite haru ni

nam to

kaette-yukimasu Wild-geese comes here in the autumn,

and go away when

— " Aki

it is

spring.

" the autumn," " ni naru means " to pass to a certain state or condition from a previous one." The English equivalent of it being " grow " or " be-

Note

:

ni

" means "

in

"heishi ni naru" may be translated "beconie and the literal translation of " haru ni naru " is " become spring-time," that is, " it will be spring-time." " Haru ni naru to " means " when it becomes spring.** " Kite i^f)" and " kaette i^f ';> 7- ) " are the cod" iunctive forms of " kuru (come) " and " kaeru (return)

come,"

soldiers,"

rc-rpcctively.

i'

" Kaeru " means " return "; " \z.tXX.eyuM-masu" means go back," and " kaette ki-masu," " come back."

SENTENCES

104

t Kome wa

Nippon-jin no shiiyo-naru

shoku-ry5-hin desu.

Rice

is

the principal food of the Japanese.

Note: — "Shuyonaru shokuryo-hin " means

"princi-

pal food."

"Shoku (pp)»" 3"

(:^)-r>'o

article

;

(ifSj-)"

means "eatable," and "hin

" shokury5-hin " may be translated " an

article {or articles) of food."

SENTENCES

^t

105

SENTENCES

io6

Nara no daibutsu wa Ninon de ichiban okii

butsuzo desu.

The Daibutsu at Nara is the biggest image of Buddha in Japan. Note (big,

:

— " Daibutsu "

is

a compound

wood

of " dai

"

large\ and " butsu " (Buddha) " Butsuzo " means " the

image of Buddha." situated near Kyoto.

"Nara"

is

a famous place which Is

SENTENCES

ro8

t 5^

.h

I '-t

ir Watakushi

wa

kisha-ryoko I

kinjitsu chichi to

wo

shimasu.

am going to make a railway-travelling with my father shortly.

Note :^" Kisha-ryoko " means " railway-travelling," " kinjitsu {or chikajika ni)," "shortly," " to," " with," ' Watakushi wa wo shimasu " means " I am ." going to make " Kinjitsu " means " near day." " Watakushi wa wo shimasu " may mean : (1)

I will or (I shall)

(2) I

do

or

make

do .

(or

make)

[Fresmt)

.

{Ftiture).

SENTENCES

Nihon de ichiban

okii teishaba

toy

wa

Tokyo-eki desu.

The

largest railway-station in Japan is

Tokyo-Station.

—

'

Note : " Ichiban 6ki-i " means " largest," " teishaba," railway-station." " eki " • stage." COMPABISOX OF ADJECTTVKS Okii (large)

Motto

:

{Positive degree).

(Conparative). adverb, tnatto (more) is often understood. Ichi-ban (number one) okii (largest) : {^Superlative).

The

okii (larger)

:

I

SENTENCES

ro

a

-7

t I'

It

wa sakujitsu ensoku ni dekake mashita. Yesterday we went on an excursion (or a trip).

Watashi-tachi

—

" Sakujitsu " means " yesterday," " ensoku ni Note dekakeru," " to go on an excursion," and " ensoku ni dekake " -tachi " is a plural mashita," " went on an excursion." teniiinatioii of pjersonal nouns, and pronouns. " En-soku " is composed of two words signifying " far " " and foot;" " mashita " or " ta," which is a familiarism, :

is

an auxiliary forming the past tense.

PRESENT

PAST

dekake masu dekake rit

dekake mashita dekake ta

SENTENCES

lii

^

f

".

f Watashi-tachi wa asa hayaku dekakemashite, yoru osoku kaeri-mashita.

Early

in the morning-,

out),

and came home

(or set late irithe liight.

—

" Asa hayaku " means " early in the morn" dekake-mashita Cor dekaketa)," went out "kaeri-

Note ing,"

we went out

mashita"

:

..or kilaku-shi-mashita), osoku,'' " late in the night." " '*

"came home," "yoru

mashiDekake-jz/asu," mashita" and " te" -masn forms the present and the future, -niashita, the past, and -mashite, a 'connecting particle, preceding to the succeeding clause.

SENTENCES

112

^

^i

-r Kinzoku no uchi de

yaku Iron

is

wa tetsu ga ichiban

ni tachi-masu.

the most useful (metal) of all

metals.

—"Tctsu"

means "iron," "ichiban yaku ni tachi-masu," " is the most useful," " kinzoku no uchi de," " of all metals."

Note:

Note:— When "of" comes superlative degree,

" no uchidewa."

it is

after the adjective of the

always translated " no uchidc " or

SENTENCES

m

l»3

SENTENCES

1X4

Tetsu

wa buki ya hamono wo tsukuru ni tsukaware-masu.

Iron

is

used in making weapons

and edged-tools. Note

:

— " Buki " means " weapon," " ha-mono " means

" edged tool " " tsukaware-masu " " tsukuru ni," " in making."

"

is

(or

are)

used,"

The

particles ya and to are conjunctives differing slightmeaning and use. " Ya " is generally used in the sense of " by way of example," while " to " is used in a ly

in

The particle " ni " after a rather exclusive proposition. verb denotes intention or purpose, " tsukaware-masu " is the passive form of " tsukai masu."

SENTENCES

11$

y

m¥

9V%

t

^^

>^

^^

7s Sono-hoka

ni tetsu

wa gunkan ya

ki-

kwansha wo

tsukuru-ni tsukaware-masu.

Besides, iron

is

used in making warships

and locomotives. Note

:

—" Sono-hoka ni" means " besides," " gunkan,"

" warship," and " kikwansha," " locomotive." (outside) ni " literally

means

"

on outside of

it."

" Sono hoka

SENTENCES

Ii6

a^ ^^'*

^F^"

Nihon de ichiban-tsuyoi kemono

kuma

:

The strongest beast Note:

—"Ichiban

wa

desu.

in

Japan

is

the bear.

tsuyoi" means "strongest," "ke-

mono," " beast," " kuma," " bear."

SENTENCES.

::^|

117;

SENTENCES

Ii8

>N

m r

X

>v

wa

Nihon de wa kuma no sanchi Hokkaido desu.

The place of the production of bears in

Note : origin,

Japan

—" Sanchi "

is

is

a

Hokkaido. compound word

of Chinese

composed of " san (production)" and " chi

(place),"

SENTENCES

119

Ml Sit J:.'

^

t Kuma wa

^>-

ato-ashi de tachi-agaru koto

ga deki-masu. The bear can stand up on

his hind-legs.

—

Note : " Tachi-agarukoto ga deki-masu " (or " ga dekiru ") "can stand up," and "ato-ashi de," "on

his

hind-legs."

When

" dekiru " " is used as a predicate verb, " watakushi wa sore ga deHmasu " As an auxiliary, it means " can."

" can do ";

do

it."

as,

—"means can it

I

A verb

with " koto " after it is a verbal noun ; " kodomo wa asobu ^t?io ga suki " mssns " boys like playing " " tachi-agaru ^oia ga dekiru " means literally " can do standing lip " ;

SENTENCES

tao

J:

«

^

J. Sono kawa

wa

yoi shiki-mono ni

nari-masu. Its skin

(fiir)

makes a good

"

Note '"

make " " ."

''*

seat.

'i

I

:

— " Kawa," means " skin," "

ni nari-masu,"

(or " inakes)."

wa

—— :

nl narimasu "

" Yoi kodomo

A good boy

wa

yoi hito «/

makes a good man."

" a thing spread to

sit

means "

makes

narimasu" means

" Shikiniono " means

or squat upon/' or " seat."

SENTENCES

122

t Nihon ni wa yoi zaimoku ga takusan ari-masu.

Japan has a great deal of good timber. Note: are

(is)

,"

— " Nihon nl

wa

ari-masu" means "there

in Japan," " takusan " means "

" a great deal of

" or

many

" plenty of

" Yoi zaimoku," means " good timber."

(or ."

much)

SENTENCES

SENTENCES

124

y ^

if Sono uchide sugi ga ichiban hiroku mochii-rare-masu.

Among them

cryptomeria

is

used

most widely. Note: — "Sono uchide" means "among them," and "ichiban hiroku mochii-rareru," "

mochii-rare-masij " is

(are) used

or

"ichiban hiroku

most widely."

SENTENCES

f

125

\i

Kore-ra no zaimoku

wa

ita

ya hashira

ni tsukurare-masu.

These timbers are made into planks (or

NocE '

pillar.",

:

—"

boards) and pillars.

Ita "

means " plank," and " hashira " means

SENTENCES

126

^? ^tl i^T

7

Mokuzo-kaoku

wa kore-ra no

zairyo

no

dore-ka de tsukuru-no-desu.

Wooden houses

are built of one or

another of these materials. Note;

—"Mokuzo-kaoku"

" zairyo," " materials," and " another of

——."

means "wooden house," no dore ka

de,''

" one or

SENTENCES

127"

t

1^1

X

r Ima wa Tokyo

ni

tsugu daitokwai

de ari-masu.

At

present this

is

a large town ranking

next to Tokyo. Note

:

— " Itna wa " means " at present,'' " daitokwai,"

" a large [or great( town " {or " city)." " next to

."

"

ni tsugu,"

SENTENCES

/ Nintoku-Tenno

I3S

^

mo kono-chi wo

shufu to

nasare-mashita.

The Emperor Nintoku made

this place

the capital of the country. Note :—" Nintoku Emperor. "

"

" this place," " shufu," "

" Nintoku

is

the posthumous

to nasare-mashita,"

"

name

of

tlic

" made," " kono chi,"

capital."

means " benevolence."

SENTENCES

136

f

^

^l

V^*

*^

;^ ^

Sono nochi Toyotomi Hideyoshi ga kono-chi ni shiro

wo

kizuki-mashita.

Afterwards Hideyoshi Toyotomi had a castle built here. Note

"

castle."

:

— " Sono-nochi " means " afterwards," " shiro," " Kizuki-mashita" has two meanings — " had a

thing built" and " built a thing." build a castle, as he

means "

in this

(He himself did not

was not a carpenter).

place,"

and " sono

" Kono-chi ni "

nochi,''

" after that."

SENTENCES

137

4 fc

^

v"

9 Kono

shiro

wo

This castle Note

:

Osaka-jo to ii-mashita.

was

called

" Osaka-jo."

— " Osaka-Jo " means " the castle of Osaka."

SENTENCES

1.^8

l^

^

i

^

v70

t Shichu

wo

nagareru kawa wo Yodo-gawa to ii-masu.

The

river which runs through the city is called the " Yodo River."

—

Note: "Shichu vvo" means "through the city," "nagareru," " run." There is no Japanese word which corresponds to the Relative Pronoun " which" so that when we translate " the river which runs " into Japanese, we say •' nagareru kawa." Japanese has no relative pronouns. When a verb takes a noun after it, the noun does not make its object as in English, but is modified by the preceding verb, which is said to be in the conjunctive mode, so that English relatives, who, which, and so on have no equivalents in Japanese. Kawa ga shichii wo nagareru. (A river runs through the city). Shichu wo itagareru kawa. (A river which runs through the city).

SENTENCES

139

V

Kono-kawa igwai

ni hori-wari

ga

takusan ari-masu.

Besides this river, there are a great

many Note:— "

canals in the city.

Igwal-ni"

or

"no hoka-ni" means

" besides," " hbriwari ga takusan," " a great many canals."

SENTENCES

I40

Kono chi wa Nihon de no

saidai-kogyo-chi

de ari-masu. This place

is

the largest manufacturing

district in Note:

Japan.

— " Kogyo-chi " means " manufacturing district"

^

^

m

m

n

ff

*

Uj

ffl

H «

-a

n=

^ *

m