8.0 Getting Ready to Take On Japan (1)
Are you ready to set off on an unforgettable journey to Japan? In this chapter, Getting Ready to Take On Japan, we’ll guide you through the essentials of preparing for your trip, from engaging in meaningful conversations about your plans to effectively asking questions.
Learn how to discuss your travel plans with friends, discover the best places to stay, and find out how to ask about costs with confidence. Whether you’re curious about must-see destinations, accommodation options or budget considerations, you’ll acquire the skills to navigate conversations and gather the information you need.
Prepare to explore practical phrases and strategies that will make your trip planning smooth and enjoyable. Let’s get started on making your Japanese adventure a reality!
Learning goals
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Recognise essential kanji for weekdays, places and time.
- Describe where things are in Japanese.
- Talk about dates and plan a schedule.
- Use two key verbs: あります (ari masu) for objects and います (i masu) for people and animals
- Work with larger numbers up to 10,000.
Why these skills matter
Cognitive benefits:
- Strengthens spatial awareness through kanji like 上 （うえ: ue）, 中 （なか: naka） and 下 （した: shita）.
- Exposes you to a different way of structuring location and existence.
- Enhances number flexibility by introducing the 10,000 (万: まん: man) grouping system.
Real-life benefits:
- Read basic signs, schedules, and make plans in Japanese.
- Give clear directions and ask where things are.
- Use numbers naturally in everyday contexts.
Words
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ru-verbs |
|||
| いる | iru | to exist | Dictionary form. いる is often translated as ‘is/are’ or ‘have/has’. To indicate where a person or animal is, use the particles に and が in the sentence pattern ‘Place に Person/Animal がいます’. For more details, see the key grammar points below. |
| U-verbs | |||
| ある | aru | to exist | Dictionary form. ある is often translated as ‘there is/are’ or ‘have/has’. To indicate where something is, use the particles に and が in the sentence pattern ‘Place に Thing があります’. For more details, see the key grammar points below. |
| 泊（と）まる | tomaru | to stay | Dictionary form. To indicate the place where you are staying, use the particle に in the sentence pattern ‘Place に泊まります’. |
| 送（おく）る | okuru | to send (something) | Dictionary form. To indicate the thing you are sending, use the object particle を in the sentence pattern ‘Thing を送ります’. |
| Nouns | |||
| 学期（がっき） | gakki | semester, (school) term | |
| みんな | minna |
everyone | |
| 冬休（ふゆやす）み | fuyu yasumi | winter vacation | Winter vacation in Japan starts in late December and finishes in early January for schools, or the end of March for universities. |
| 夏休（なつやす）み | natsu yasumi | summer vacation | Summer vacation in Japan typically starts from late July and finishes at the end of August for schools, or the end of September for universities. |
| 予定（よてい） | yotei | plans | |
| インターンシップ（いんたあんしっぷ） | intaanshippu |
internship | インターンシップ is derived from the English word ‘internship’. |
| インターン（いんたあん） | intaan | internship/intern | インターン is a shortened term for ‘internship’ and is also used to refer to an intern, that is, an individual participating in an internship. |
| 仕事（しごと） | shigoto | job/work | |
| メルボルン（めるぼるん） | Meruborun | Melbourne | |
| 毎週（まいしゅう） | mai shuu | every week | |
| X 週間（しゅうかん） | X shuukan | X week(s) | X 週間 is used to express a duration of X weeks, where X is a number: Number + 週間 = X weeks. |
| X 日間（にちかん） | X nichikan | X day(s) | X 日間 is used to express a duration of X days, where X is a number: Number + 日間 = X days. |
| X 時間（じかん） | X jikan | X hour(s) | X 時間 is used to express a duration of X hours, where X is a number: Number + 時間 = X hours. |
| 東京（とうきょう） | Toukyou |
Tokyo | The capital city of Japan, renowned for its bustling metropolis, advanced technology and rich cultural heritage. |
| 京都（きょうと） | Kyouto | Kyoto | Kyoto is a historic city known for its rich cultural heritage. It was the imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, from 794 to 1868. |
| 北海道（ほっかいどう） | Hokkaidou | Hokkaido | The northernmost island of Japan, known for its beautiful natural landscapes, including mountains and hot springs and its winter sports. Historically, it has been home to the Ainu people, an Indigenous group that also lives in parts of the Russian Far East and northern Honshu. We will learn more about the Ainu people in the next chapter. |
| 楽（たの）しみ | tanoshimi |
excitement or pleasure about something that will happen in the future | |
| 誕生日（たんじょうび） | tanjoubi | birthday | |
| 子（こ）ども | kodomo | child | |
| 大人（おとな） | otona | adult | |
| 町（まち） | machi | town | |
| バス停（てい） | basu-tei | bus stop | |
| スーパー | suupaa | supermarket | |
| お寺（てら） | otera | temple | お寺 refers to a Buddhist temple, a place of worship in Japanese Buddhism where people go to pray, meditate, and honour Buddha and other deities. |
| 神社（じんじゃ） | jinja | shrine | 神社 refers to a Shinto shrine, a sacred place in Japan where people can worship Shinto gods (kami) and participate in rituals to seek blessings, protection or purification. Shrines are marked by a distinctive torii gate at the entrance, symbolising the sacred space. |
| Location words | See Module 8.2 for more details. | ||
| 上 （うえ) | ue | up/above | |
| 中 （なか） | naka | inside | |
| 下 （した） | shita | down/below | |
| 右 （みぎ） | migi | right | |
| 左 （ひだり） | hidari | left | |
| 前 （まえ） | mae | front | |
| 後（うし）ろ | ushiro | back | |
| 間（あいだ） | aida | between | |
| 隣（となり） | tonari | next | |
| Days of the week | See Module 8.3 for more details. | ||
| 月曜日（げつようび） | getsu-youbi |
Monday | |
| 火曜日（かようび） | ka-youbi |
Tuesday | |
| 水曜日（すいようび） | sui-youbi |
Wednesday | |
| 木曜日（もくようび） | moku-youbi |
Thursday | |
| 金曜日（きんようび） | kin-youbi |
Friday | |
| 土曜日（どようび） | do-youbi |
Saturday | |
| 日曜日（にちようび） | nichi-youbi |
Sunday | |
| Months | See Module 8.3 for more details. | ||
| 一月（いちがつ） | ichi-gatsu |
January | |
| 二月（にがつ） | ni-gatsu |
February | |
| 三月（さんがつ） | san-gatsu |
March | |
| 四月（しがつ） | shi-gatsu |
April | |
| 五月（ごがつ） | go-gatsu |
May | |
| 六月（ろくがつ） | roku-gatsu |
June | |
| 七月（しちがつ） | shichi-gatsu |
July | |
| 八月（はちがつ） | hachi-gatsu |
August | |
| 九月（くがつ） | ku-gatsu |
September | |
| 十月（じゅうがつ） | juu-gatsu |
October | |
| 十一月（じゅういちがつ） | juu-ichi-gatsu |
November | |
| 十二月（じゅうにがつ） | juu-ni-gatsu |
December | |
| Large numbers | See Module 8.6 for more details. | ||
| 百（ひゃく） | hyaku |
hundred | 百 is used to represent hundreds. One hundred must be written as 百, not 一百. NOTE: It is read as hyaku or byaku, depending on the number before it (e.g. ni hyaku = 200, san byaku = 300). |
| 千（せん） | sen |
thousand | 千 is used to represent thousands. One thousand is typically written as 千, though it can also be written as 一千 (いっせん). NOTE: It is read as sen or zen, depending on the number before it. |
| 万（まん） | man |
ten thousand | 万 is used to represent ten thousand. Unlike hundred and thousand, ten thousand must be written as 一万（いちまん）, not just 万. |
Expressions and phrases
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| X ぐらい | X gurai |
about/approximately X | ぐらい is placed after a quantity, time or duration to convey that the figure is not exact but rather a general approximation. |
Key grammar points
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| X があります | X ga ari masu |
there is/are X
have/has X |
あります is used to indicate the existence or location of non-sentient beings, objects or abstract things, such as plans and events. |
| X がいます | X ga i masu |
there is/are X
have/has X |
います is typically used to indicate the existence or location of sentient beings with a sense of autonomy or movement, especially people and animals. In general, あります is used for everything else, even if it’s technically alive, including: 1. Plants, which are generally considered non-sentient, even though they are living organisms. 2. Other living things that lack sentience or mobility, such as bacteria, fungi or algae. |
NOTE: In Japanese, あります (ari masu) and います (i masu) are used to express both existence and possession—similar to how English uses ‘have’ or ‘has’. Please see Module 8.4 for more information.
Kanji
| Time | 今 (now), 何 (what) and 半 (half) |
|---|---|
| Location |
上 (top/above), 中 (middle/inside) and 下 (down/under) |
| Days of the week | 月 (moon), 火 (fire), 水 (water), 木 (tree), 金 (gold), 土 (earth), 日 (sun) and 曜 (day of the week) |
NOTE: These kanji will be further explored in Module 8.1.
Exercise 1
Verbs & Nouns
Days of the Week & Months
Model dialogue
After class, Lina, Nao, Ren and Kevin discuss their winter holiday plans, exploring exciting destinations and delving into fascinating cultural experiences. Read their engaging conversation below!
| Lina: 五月（ごがつ）ですね。 | Go-gatsu desu ne. |
| Nao: 学期（がっき）も終（お）わりますね。 | Gakki mo owari masu ne. |
| Ren: みんな、冬休（ふゆやす）みに何（なに）をしますか。予定（よてい）がありますか。 | Minna, fuyu yasumi ni nani o shi masu ka. Yotei ga ari masu ka. |
| Nao: 私（わたし）は六月（ろくがつ）と七月（しちがつ）にインターン（いんたあん）の仕事（しごと）がありますから、メルボルン（めるぼるん）にいます。 | Watashi wa roku-gatsu to shichi-gatsu ni intaan no shigoto ga ari masu kara, Meruborun ni i masu. |
| Kevin: 毎週（まいしゅう）どのぐらい仕事がありますか。 | Maishuu dono gurai shigoto ga ari masu ka. |
| Nao: 月曜日（げつようび）と水曜日（すいようび）と金曜日（きんようび）にあります。 | Getsu-youbi to sui-youbi to kin-youbi ni ari masu. |
| Ren: リナ（りな）さんは？ | Rina-san wa? |
| Lina: 私は七月に日本（にほん）に行（い）きます！ | Watashi wa shichi-gatsu ni Nihon ni iki masu! |
| Ren: えっ、本当（ほんとう）ですか？いいですね！ | E, hontou desu ka? Ii desu ne! |
| Kevin: どのぐらい行きますか。 | Dono gurai iki masu ka. |
| Lina: 二週間（にしゅうかん）ぐらい行きます。 | Ni-shuukan gurai iki masu. |
| Ren: どこに行きますか。 |
Doko ni iki masu ka. |
| Lina: 東京（とうきょう）と京都（きょうと）と北海道（ほっかいどう）に行きます。東京にお姉（ねえ）さんがいますから、お姉さんの家（うち）に泊（と）まります。 | Toukyou to Kyouto to Hokkaidou ni iki masu. Toukyou ni oneesan ga i masu kara, oneesan no ie ni tomari masu. |
| Nao: へえ、楽（たの）しみですね！写真（しゃしん）を送（おく）ってくださいね。 | Hee, tanoshimi desu ne! Shashin o okutte kudasai ne. |
English translation
| Lina: It’s already May, isn’t it? |
| Nao: The semester is ending too, isn’t it? |
| Ken: Everyone, what are you doing for the winter vacation? Do you have any plans? |
| Nao: I have an internship in June and July. So, I’ll be in Melbourne. |
| Kevin: How many days a week will you have work? |
| Nao: I’ll have work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. |
| Ken: What about Rina? |
| Lina: I’m going to Japan in July! |
| Ren: Oh, really? That’s great! |
| Kevin: How long will you be going for? |
| Lina: I’m going for about two weeks. |
| Ren: Where are you going? |
| Lina: I’m going to Tokyo, Kyoto and Hokkaido. Because I have an older sister in Tokyo, I’ll stay at her house. |
| Nao: I see, that sounds exciting! Please send us photos. |
Exercise 2
Listen to the following audio files and repeat each Japanese phrase after the recording. Each phrase is read twice, first at a slow pace and then at a natural pace.
Lina: もう五月（ごがつ）ですね。
Ren: 学期（がっき）も終（お）わりますね。
Kevin: みんな、冬休（ふゆやす）みは何（なに）をしますか。予定（よてい）がありますか。
Ren: 私（わたし）は六月（ろくがつ）と七月（しちがつ）にインターン（いんたあん）の仕事（しごと）がありますから、メルボルン（めるぼるん）にいます。
Kevin: 毎週（まいしゅう）どのぐらい仕事がありますか。
Nao: 月曜日（げつようび）と水曜日（すいようび）と金曜日（きんようび）にあります。
Ren: リナ（りな）さんは？
Lina: 私は七月に日本（にほん）に行（い）きます！
Ren: えっ、本当（ほんとう）ですか？いいですね！
Kevin: どのぐらい行きますか。
Lina: 二週間（にしゅうかん）ぐらい行きます。
東京（とうきょう）と京都（きょうと）と北海道（ほっかいどう）に行きます。
東京にお姉（ねえ）さんがいますから、お姉さんの家（いえ）に泊（と）まります。
Nao: へえ、楽（たの）しみですね！写真を送ってくださいね。
Discussion points
Let’s reflect on the following points and share your observations and thoughts!
- In Japanese conversations, it’s common to omit certain words to avoid repetition and make the dialogue more natural. Pay attention to how some words are left out. Can you identify these sentences? How many words are omitted, and what are they?
Figures
1 “Japanese Masks for Sale Hanging on a Fence” by Alex Toi. Pexels. Licensed under Pexels licence.
2 “Goal Icon” by faisalovers. Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC by 3.0.
3 “Speech Bubble Icon” by Geremy Good. Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC 0.
4 “Lightbulb Icon” by Maxim Kulikov. Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC by 3.0.
