Iaij - Chapter 1

Front 1

V(Plain Past) ばかり

Back 1

"Have just done something; have just finished doing something"

1) 日本へ行ったばかりの頃は、日本語がわからなって困りました。　
When I was a newcomer to Japan, I had trouble understanding Japanese.

Front 2

あの and その

Back 2

あの is used when both the speaker and the listener are (or are assumed to be familiar with the person or thing in question.
その　is used when only the speaker or hearer is familiar with the item

1) その街はどんな街ですか。 What kind of town is that? (referring to the town the speaker is from)
2) ああ、あの人、どうしていますか。 Oh, how is he doing? (referring to a person both the speaker and listener know)

Front 3

V(plain)ようになる

Back 3

this pattern indicates a change that has taken place or will take place

1) 日本へいてから、日本に興味を待つようになりました。　
I came to have an interest in Japan after I went there.

Front 4

~なあ

Back 4

a sentence ending particle of exclamation. generally used to state one's feelings emphatically or one's wish emotively. usually said without an addressee in mind (by men).

1) 困ったなあ。
I don't know what to do!
2) 久しぶりだなあ。
Long time no see!
3) 一度アメリカへ行ってみたいなあ。
I wish I could go to America just once!

Front 5

V(plain present) ところ
V(plain past) ところ
V(plain progressive) ところ

Back 5

V(plain present) ところ "about to do something"
V(plain past) ところ "have/has just done something"
V(plain progressive) ところ "am/are/is in the process of doing something"

1) 今ちょと出かけるところなので、あtで電話をします。
I am about to go out, so I will call you later.
2)　今食べたところだから、お腹は空いていません。　
I have just eaten, so I am not hungry.
3)　今食べているところだから、もう少し待ってください。
I am eating right now, so please wait a little while.

Front 6

V(plain)ことになっている
V(plain)ことになった

Back 6

V(plain)ことになっている　"be expected/supposed to; it is a rule/custom that"
use when you want to talk about your future plan, which has already been arranged

V(plain)ことになった "it has been decided/arranged that"
use when you are reporting a certain decision or arrangement which has been made

1) 日本で英語を教えることになっています。 I am to teach in Japan.
2)　日本お家に上がるときは、靴をめぐことになっています。 When you enter a Japanese house, you are supposed to take off your shoes.
3)　日本お会社で仕事をすることになりました。
(It has been arranged that) I will be working at a Japanese company.

Front 7

N (or sentence + の)は初めてです。

Back 7

"first time"

1). おすしをたべたことがありますか。　
Have you had sushi before?
いいえ、おすしははじめてです。
No, this is my first time.

Front 8

V(stem) にくい
V(stem)やすい

Back 8

V(stem) にくい "something is difficult to verb"
V(stem)やすい "something is easy to verb"

1) ステキは、お箸では食べにくい。　
Steaks are difficult to eat with chopsticks.
2)きれいな字は、読みやすいです。
Nice handwriting is easy to read.

Front 9

V(plain)ことにする

Back 9

"decide to do"
this pattern indicates active decision making by the person involved.

1)毎日CDを聞くことにしました。
I have decided to listen to CD's every day.

Front 10

S1たらS2

Back 10

"when S1, S2"
when たら　clause is followed by a sentence (S2) in the past tense, it means "when". The second sentence usually expresses an event or state you did not expect.

1. 日本のかぞくへのおみやげを買ったら、「Made in Japan]と言いてあった。
I bought a present for my Japanese family, and I found that it was made in Japan. (and I was surprised)

Front 11

とても～ない

Back 11

"can't possibly"
this phrase expresses a strong sense of impossibility. the verb is usually in the potential from.

1) 東京ではとても家なんか買えません。
I can't possibly buy a house in Tokyo.

Front 12

V(stem)方

Back 12

"way of ~ing"

1). 漢字は、一つのものにも読み方がたくさなるので、難しい。
Kanji are difficult because even one kanji often has a number of readings.

Front 13

～らしい

Back 13

"it seems that; evidently"
tends to be used when one's conjecture is based on what one has heard

1)　日本人、熱いお風呂が好きらしい。
It seems like Japanese people like hot baths

Front 14

VてはじめてのN

Back 14

"The first N after V-ing"
when a verb occurs instead of a noun, this expression takes the form V1てはじめてV2, meaning "when V1 happens, then for the first time V2 happens)

1) 学校が始まって始めってのピクニックで、先生や他の学生に大勢会いました。
I met many teachers and students at the first picnic of the semester.
2) アメリカに行って初めてのカルチャショックだった。
It was my first culture shock after going to America.
3) 日本へ行って初めて、一日中日本語だけで話しました。
When I went to Japan, I spent the whole day speaking only in Japanese, for the first time in my life.