Lesson 14 Flashcards
turn on
つけます
“Tsuke” sounds a bit like “to get” (the lights on). Imagine saying “I’ve got to switch on the light.”
turn off
けします
消します
“Ke-shi” → Think of “K, shh…” as you hush and turn off a noisy device.
open
あけます
開けます
“Ake” → “Ah, okay!” as you open a door wide
close, shut
しめます
閉めます
“Shh, me…” → hush (quiet) and close something gently.
hurry
いそぎます
急ぎます
“I so gotta go!” → You’re in a rush: hurry up!
wait
まちます
待ちます
“Ma-chill!” → telling yourself to chill out or wait.
stop, park
とめます
止めます
“To me!” → calling the car to stop or park right here.
turn [to the right]
まがります[みぎへ~]
曲がります
“Ma, gotta turn!” → you realize you need to make a turn.
hold
もちます
持ちます
“Mochi” (sticky rice cake) → you carefully hold mochi so it won’t drop.
take, pass
とります
取ります
“Tori” = bird. Picture yourself taking or passing a small bird along.
help (with a task)
てつだいます
手伝います
Think of a friend named Tetsu who always helps you out.
call
よびます
呼びます
“Yo, B!” → you call out to your friend, “Hey, B!”
speak, talk
はなします
話します
“Hana” means nose, but you speak with your mouth right below your nose.
show
みせます
見せます
“Mi-se” → “Me see?” → you show something so others can see it.
tell [an address]
おしえます[じゅうしょを~]
教えます
“Oh, see, eh?” → you teach or tell someone so they “see” or understand.
start, begin
はじめます
始めます
“Hajime” means “beginning” in Japanese—straightforward.
rain
ふります[あめが~]
降ります
“Fur” → imagine fur falling from the sky like rain or snow.
copy
コピーします
Loanword from English “copy.” Straightforward.
air conditioner
エアコン
Short for “air conditioner.” Another straightforward loanword.
passport
パスポート
Also a loanword. Just keep in mind the Japanese pronunciation.
name
なまえ
名前
“Na-ma-e” → “Name-ah?” → direct link to “name.”
address
じゅうしょ
住所
“You show (jūsho) me your address?”
map
ちず
地図
“Cheese?” → imagine a map leading to free cheese.
salt
しお
塩
“She owes me some salt.”
sugar
さとう
砂糖
“Sa-sweet!” → sugar. Often paired with しお (salt).
how to read, way of reading
よみかた
読み方
“Yomi” (read) + “kata” (method). “Reading method.”
how to ~, way of ~ing
~かた
~方
“Kata” in martial arts = “form, way, method.”
slowly, leisurely
ゆっくり
“You curry?” → imagine taking your time, slowly savoring curry.
immediately
すぐ
直ぐ
“Swoosh, go!” → do it right away, immediately.
again
また
又
“Ma ta!” → “Mother again?!” Or “Mata ne!” = “See you again.”
later
あとで
“A to D” in the alphabet—further along, i.e., do it later.
a little more
もうすこし
もう少し
“Mō” = “already/more,” plus “sukoshi” = “a little” → “a little more.”
~ more, another ~
もう~
Exasperated “Mou!” in Japanese can mean “Enough already!” → “already” or “more.”
Sure. / Certainly
いいですよ。
“Eee, this yo?” → “That’s fine, sure!”
right (used when encouraging some course of action)
さあ
“Saa, let’s go!” → a phrase to spur someone into action.
Oh! (in surprise or in wonder)
あれ?
“Are…?” → “Huh?” or “Oh?” in English.
Turn right at the signal.
しんごうをみぎへまがってください。
信号を右へ曲がってください。
(shingō o migi e magatte kudasai) – “Turn right at the signal.”
しんごう (shingō) = “traffic light”
みぎへ (migi e) = “to the right”
まがってください (magatte kudasai) = “please turn”
Mnemonic: Picture the traffic light (shingō) and physically turning (magarimasu) right (migi).
straight
まっすぐ
真っ直ぐ
“Ma + sugu (immediately)” → go straight on without turning.
I’d like to pay with this.
これでおねがいします。
これでお寝がいします。
“With this (kore de), please.” Imagine handing over your money/card and politely saying this.
change
おつり
お釣り
“Oh, tsuri!” → 釣り (tsuri) means “fishing.” Imagine fishing for coins—change.
Sit down
すわります
座ります
Use
つかいます
使います
