11.0 Getting Around Japan (2)
Learning goals
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Recognise and read kanji for directions and positions: 口 (mouth/entrance), 入 (enter), 出 (exit), 東 (east), 西 (west), 南 (south), 北 (north), 右 (right) and 左 (left).
- Use and conjugate various adjectives to describe surroundings and situations.
- Formulate and respond to suggestions politely using the ending forms ませんか (masen ka), ましょう (mashou) and ましょうか (mashou ka).
- Count thin items using the numerical counter: 枚 (まい: mai).
Why these skills matter
Cognitive benefits
- Boost your spatial awareness and navigation abilities by understanding kanji for directions
- Express detailed and nuanced ideas by using adjectives
- Increases cultural sensitivity and social understanding by formulating polite suggestions
Real-life benefits
- Read signs and give directions confidently in Japanese
- Describe surroundings and situations accurately to make your communication more effective
- Improve your social interactions by making and responding to suggestions politely
- Strengthen your practical numeracy skills by counting specific types of objects correctly
Words
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-verbs |
|||
| 曲（ま）がる | magaru | to turn | Dictionary form/Intransitive verb: Intransitive verbs describe actions that happen by themselves.
Use this verb with the direction particle に to indicate the direction of the turn. For example, 右（みぎ）に曲がってください。means ‘Please turn right’. When used with the particle が, 曲がる means ‘to bend’ or ‘to become curved’, implying that something bends or changes shape on its own. For example, 道（みち）が曲がる means ‘The road is curved’. |
| 渡（わた）る | wataru | to cross | Dictionary form/Intransitive verb.
Use this verb with the object particle を to indicate what is being crossed, such as a road, bridge or river. |
| 持（も）つ | motsu | to carry (something) | Dictionary form/Transitive: Transitive verbs act on an object (marked by the particle を).
Use this verb with the object particle を to indicate what is being carried. |
| 手伝（てつだ）う | tetsudau | to help | Dictionary form/Transitive.
Use this verb with the object particle を to indicate who is being helped. |
| 分（わ）かる | wakaru | to understand | Dictionary form/Intransitive. Use this verb with the subject particle が to indicate what is being understood. |
| Irregular verbs | |||
| 予約（よやく）する | yoyaku suru | to book | Dictionary form. |
| 持（も）って来（く）る | motte kuru | to bring (something) | Dictionary form: Use this verb with the object particle を to indicate what is being brought. For example, お菓子（かし）を持って来（き）ます。means ‘I will bring snacks’. |
| 連（つ）れて来（く）る | tsurete kuru | to bring (someone) | Dictionary form: Use this verb with the object particle を to indicate who is being brought (along), such as a friend, family member or pet. For example, 友達（ともだち）を連れて来（き）ます。means ‘I will bring my friend’. |
| Nouns | |||
| 入（い）り口（ぐち） | iri-guchi | entrance | |
| 出口（でぐち） | de-guchi |
exit | |
| 右（みぎ） | migi | right | |
| 左（ひだり） | hidari | left | |
| 右手（みぎて） | migi-te | right hand (side) | This refers literally to the right hand and can also be used when giving directions or identifying the right side of the body. For example, 右手に入り口があります。(Migi-te ni iri-guchi ga ari masu) means ‘There is an entrance on the right-hand side’. |
| 左手（ひだりて） | hidari-te | left hand (side) | This refers literally to the left hand and can also be used when giving directions or identifying the left side of the body. For example, 左手に出口があります。means ‘There is an exit on the left-hand side’. |
| イランカラプテ（いらんからぷて） | iran karapute | Irankarapte (Hello / How are you?) | Irankarapte is a traditional Ainu greeting that is used to express friendliness and gratitude when addressing one another. |
| 踊（おど）り | odori | dance | |
| 予約（よやく） | yoyaku |
booking | |
| チケット（ちけっと） | chiketto | tickets | |
| 道（みち） | michi | road | |
| 信号（しんごう） | shingou | traffic lights | |
| 交差点（こうさてん） | kousaten | intersection | |
| お皿（さら） | osara | plate | |
| タオル（たおる） | taoru | towel | |
| I-adjectives | |||
| 大（おお）きい | ookii |
big | This means ‘big’ in terms of size or scale. |
| 小（ちい）さい | chiisai |
small | This means ‘small’ in terms of size or scale. |
| 暖（あたた）かい | atatakai |
warm (for weather, or sometimes figuratively for a warm atmosphere) | This can be used to describe warm weather or a comfortable, warm atmosphere. |
| 温（あたた）かい | atatakai | warm (for objects, or sometimes figuratively for a person’s character) | This can be used to describe things that feel warm to the touch, such as drinks, food or surfaces. It can also be used figuratively to describe a person’s character, suggesting they are warm-hearted or kind. |
| 涼（すず）しい | suzushii |
cool (for weather) | This is used to specifically describe cool weather. |
| 暑（あつ）い | atsui |
hot (for weather) | This is specifically used to describe hot weather or a hot environment, such as a warm room or climate. |
| 熱（あつ）い | atsui | hot (for objects, or sometimes figuratively for a person’s character) | This is used for things that are physically hot, like drinks, food, or heated objects. Figuratively, it can describe a person as passionate or enthusiastic, implying they have a ‘fiery’ or intense personality. However, unlike in English, 熱い does not mean ‘physically attractive’ when describing a person. Instead, it conveys emotional warmth, passion or intensity. |
| 寒（さむ）い | samui |
cold (for weather) | This is used to specifically describe cold weather. |
| 冷（つめ）たい | tsumetai | cold (for objects or sometimes figuratively for a person’s character) |
|
| 楽（たの）しい | tanoshii | fun | This is used to describe an experience or activity that brings joy or pleasure. It often implies that something is enjoyable or gives a sense of happiness. For example, 旅行（りょこう）は楽しいです。(Ryokou wa tanoshii desu) means ‘The trip is fun’. |
| 面白（おもしろ）い | omoshiroi |
interesting/funny | This is used to describe something that captures attention, is engaging, or has an element of humour. It can refer to things that are intellectually interesting or amusing. For example, この本（ほん）は面白いです。means ‘This book is interesting’.
楽しい emphasises a feeling of enjoyment or pleasure, often associated with activities or events, while 面白い focuses on intellectual engagement or humour, describing things that are captivating or amusing. |
| 高（たか）い | takai |
expensive/high/tall | This is used to describe something costly, a tall building or something of great height. However, when describing a person’s height, you should use the subject 背 (せ, se: height) and say Xは背が高い (X wa se ga takai), literally ‘As for X, their height is tall’, not simply Xは高い, as we would in English. |
| 安（やす）い | yasui |
cheap/inexpensive | |
| Irregular i-adjectives | |||
| いい | ii |
good | This is used to describe something favourable or satisfactory, often indicating quality in various contexts. |
| かっこいい | kakkoii |
good-looking/cool | This is used to describe someone or something that looks attractive or stylish. |
| Na-adjectives | |||
| きれいな | kireina |
beautiful/clean | This is used to describe something that is aesthetically pleasing or clean. |
| 元気（げんき）な | genkina |
healthy/energetic/lively | This is used to describe someone who is lively, in good health, or full of energy. Unlike in English, where we might say ‘healthy food’ or ‘healthy lifestyle’, 元気 (げんき, genki) is only used for people or sometimes animals, not inanimate things. |
| 静（しず）かな | shizukana |
quiet | This is used to describe a calm, peaceful, or quiet environment. |
| にぎやかな | nigiyakana |
lively | This is used to describe a place or situation that is bustling with activity and energy. |
| Adverbs | |||
| まっすぐ |
massugu |
straight | When giving directions, you can say まっすぐ行（い）ってください (massugu itte kudasai), meaning ‘Please go straight’. Additionally, まっすぐな is a na-adjective, as in まっすぐな道（みち） (massugu na michi), which means ‘a straight road’. |
Expressions and phrases
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| よかったら | yokattara | if you like | This expression is used to offer something or suggest an action politely. It implies that the speaker is considering the listener’s preferences or comfort. It often precedes an offer or suggestion. |
| X 枚（まい） | X mai |
X [counter for thin, flat objects] | The counter 枚 is used to count thin, flat objects such as paper, tickets or plates. It is placed after the number and is used with nouns to specify the quantity of these items. For further details, see Module 11.7. |
| わかりました | wakari mashita |
I understand. | This phrase is used to acknowledge that you have understood something that was said. It is commonly used in formal, as well as in informal situations (where we would say ‘OK’ in English). |
Key grammar points
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| … ませんか | masen ka |
What about …? | This is used to make a polite suggestion or invitation. It’s often used when proposing an activity or asking if someone is interested in doing something. For further details, see Module 11.4. |
| … ましょう | mashou |
Let’s … | This is used to make a suggestion for a joint activity or to propose doing something together. It’s a way to invite someone to participate in an action with you. For further details, see Module 11.5. |
| … ましょうか | mashou ka |
Shall I …? or Shall we …? | This is used to propose or suggest doing something and often seeks confirmation or agreement from the listener. It can also imply considering an action together. For further details, see Module 11.6. |
Kanji
| Directions and positions | 口 (mouth/entrance), 入 (enter), 出 (exit), 東 (east), 西 (west), 南 (south), 北 (north), 右 (right) and 左 (left) |
|---|
NOTE: These kanji will be further explored in Module 11.1.
Exercise 1
Guess which hiragana character needs to be filled in! To check the answer, click the ‘turn’ button.
Verbs, nouns and adverbs
Adjectives
