Title: MiniCore Japanese-EN / Lesson 4
Tags: MinicoreJapanese-EN lesson-04 sentence vocab dialog-line dialog

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen.
Native: すみません。
English: Excuse me. / Sorry. / Thank you (for the trouble).
Literal: excuse-me / sorry / thanks-for-the-trouble

MinicoreJapanese: Konbini wa are desu ka.
Native: コンビニはあれですか。
English: Is the konbini that one over there?
Literal: konbini [topic] that-over-there is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Native: ゆっくりお願いします。
English: Slowly, please.
Literal: slowly, please

MinicoreJapanese: Wakarimasen.
Native: わかりません。
English: I don't understand.
Literal: I-don't-understand

MinicoreJapanese: Arigatou gozaimasu.
Native: ありがとうございます。
English: Thank you.
Literal: thank you (full polite form)

MinicoreJapanese: Toire wa arimasu ka.
Native: トイレはありますか。
English: Is there a toilet?
Literal: toilet [topic] exists ?
Notes: toire — toilet. Asked in any shop or station, completely normal (see "How to behave").

MinicoreJapanese: Fukuro wa arimasu ka.
Native: ふくろはありますか。
English: Do you have bags?
Literal: bag [topic] exists ?
Notes: Lesson 3's fukuro in the new frame — same word, new power.

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, arimasu.
Native: はい、あります。
English: Yes, there is. / Yes, we have it.
Literal: yes, exists
Notes: The answer echoes the verb. Catchable by design.

MinicoreJapanese: Arimasen.
Native: ありません。
English: There isn't. / We don't have it.
Literal: exists-not
Notes: arimasen — the no-shape in the wild. When you hear it, the thing doesn't exist here; move on gracefully.

MinicoreJapanese: Koko ni arimasu.
Native: ここにあります。
English: It's here. / We have it right here.
Literal: here in exists
Notes: ni pins existence to a place: `PLACE ni arimasu` — "it's at/in PLACE." (And there's koko — "here." Full family in the third frame below.)

MinicoreJapanese: Ue ni arimasu.
Native: 上にあります。
English: It's up top. / On the upper shelf.
Literal: above in exists
Notes: ue — up / above (a Lesson 0 rhythm word, now earning a living).

MinicoreJapanese: Shita ni arimasu.
Native: 下にあります。
English: It's down below. / On the bottom shelf.
Literal: below in exists
Notes: shita — down / below. ue/shita is a pair — shop shelves and station lockers speak it fluently.

MinicoreJapanese: Kagi, onegaishimasu.
Native: かぎ、お願いします。
English: The key, please.
Literal: key, please
Notes: kagi — key — dropped straight back into Lesson 1's request pattern. (Hotel front desks run on this sentence.)

MinicoreJapanese: Tanaka-san wa imasu ka.
Native: 田中さんはいますか。
English: Is Tanaka-san in?
Literal: Tanaka-hon. [topic] exists(animate) ?
Notes: Asking for a person at a desk, an office, a guesthouse.

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, imasu.
Native: はい、います。
English: Yes, he's here.
Literal: yes, exists(animate)
Notes: Same echo pattern as arimasu — the question shapes its own answer.

MinicoreJapanese: Iie, imasen.
Native: いいえ、いません。
English: No, she's not here.
Literal: no, exists(animate)-not
Notes: imasen — and the -masu/-masen system holds, exactly as promised.

MinicoreJapanese: Hoteru wa doko desu ka.
Native: ホテルはどこですか。
English: Where is the hotel?
Literal: hotel [topic] where is ?
Notes: hoteru — hotel.

MinicoreJapanese: Ginkou wa doko desu ka.
Native: 銀行はどこですか。
English: Where is the bank?
Literal: bank [topic] where is ?
Notes: ginkou — bank (another Lesson 0 sound, now a word you own). ATMs live in konbini too — often the faster answer.

MinicoreJapanese: Iriguchi wa doko desu ka.
Native: 入口はどこですか。
English: Where is the entrance?
Literal: entrance [topic] where is ?
Notes: iriguchi — entrance.

MinicoreJapanese: Deguchi wa doko desu ka.
Native: 出口はどこですか。
English: Where is the exit?
Literal: exit [topic] where is ?
Notes: deguchi — exit. Its pair with iriguchi matters in stations, where picking the wrong one costs you a city block.

MinicoreJapanese: Koko desu.
Native: ここです。
English: It's here.
Literal: here is
Notes: The answers you'll give: koko / soko / asoko + desu. (You've been saying the "for here" chunk koko de onegaishimasu since Lesson 3 — now you can see the koko inside it.)

MinicoreJapanese: Asoko desu.
Native: あそこです。
English: It's over there.
Literal: over-there is
Notes: asoko — with a point, this answers most doko questions you'll ever be asked.

MinicoreJapanese: Keitai o sagashimasu.
Native: 携帯を探します。
English: I'm looking for my phone.
Literal: phone [obj] look-for
Notes: sagashimasu — look for — this lesson's third verb, and keitai — mobile phone. `X o sagashimasu` is doko's partner: it explains your search to anyone helping you.

MinicoreJapanese: Pasupooto o sagashimasu.
Native: パスポートを探します。
English: I'm looking for my passport.
Literal: passport [obj] look-for
Notes: pasupooto — passport. May you never need this sentence with this noun.

MinicoreJapanese: Deguchi wa asoko desu.
Native: 出口はあそこです。
English: The exit is over there.
Literal: exit [topic] over-there is
Notes: And the recycle: new words settling back into Lesson 2's `___ wa ___ desu.` — you can answer location questions, not just ask them.

MinicoreJapanese: Resutoran wa arimasu ka.
Native: レストランはありますか。
English: Is there a restaurant (here / nearby)?
Literal: restaurant [topic] exists ?
Notes: Not "where can I eat?" — that's unparseable homework. Arimasu ka gets you a hai and a pointed finger.

MinicoreJapanese: Konbini wa asoko desu ka.
Native: コンビニはあそこですか。
English: Is the konbini over there? (pointing)
Literal: konbini [topic] over-there is ?
Notes: The expert version: turn even a where question into a yes/no by guessing and pointing. Wrong guess? They'll point at the right place — which was the answer you wanted anyway.

MinicoreJapanese: Kono hoteru wa atarashii desu.
Native: このホテルは新しいです。
English: This hotel is new.
Literal: this hotel [topic] new is
Notes: atarashii — new. Lesson 2's kono + Lesson 3's adjective pattern.

MinicoreJapanese: Ano hoteru wa furui desu.
Native: あのホテルは古いです。
English: That hotel is old.
Literal: that hotel [topic] old is
Notes: furui — old — and together with the line above, that's Lesson 3's comparison-by-enumeration move choosing your lodging.

MinicoreJapanese: Hito, ooi desu.
Native: ひと、多いです。
English: So many people! (it's crowded)
Literal: people, many is
Notes: ooi — many/lots. The universal Kyoto-in-cherry-season observation.

MinicoreJapanese: Hito, sukunai desu.
Native: ひと、少ないです。
English: Hardly anyone here. (it's quiet)
Literal: people, few is
Notes: sukunai — few. The antonym pair ooi/sukunai — negation by antonym still applies: "not crowded" = sukunai desu.

MinicoreJapanese: Resutoran wa asoko desu.
Native: レストランはあそこです。
English: The restaurant is over there.
Literal: restaurant [topic] over-there is
Notes: resutoran — restaurant — Lesson 0 rhythm practice, now vocabulary.

MinicoreJapanese: Pasupooto, douzo.
Native: パスポート、どうぞ。
English: My passport — here you are. (at check-in)
Literal: passport, go-ahead
Notes: Hotel check-in wants your passport (it's the law for foreign guests) — hand it over the Lesson 1 way.

MinicoreJapanese: Kaban wa ikura desu ka.
Native: かばんはいくらですか。
English: How much is the bag?
Literal: bag [topic] how-much is ?
Notes: kaban — bag (the carrying kind, vs. Lesson 3's fukuro, the plastic kind) — shopping with Lesson 3's frame.

MinicoreJapanese: Toire wa doko desu ka.
Native: トイレはどこですか。
English: Where is the toilet?
Literal: toilet [topic] where is ?
Notes: Deploy anywhere, guilt-free (see below — asking is completely normal in Japan).

MinicoreJapanese: Wai-fai wa arimasu ka.
Native: ワイファイはありますか。
English: Is there Wi-Fi?
Literal: Wi-Fi [topic] exists ?
Notes: wai-fai — Wi-Fi. Hotels, cafes, stations. The answer usually comes with a password card — douzo.

MinicoreJapanese: Kaban no naka ni arimasu.
Native: かばんの中にあります。
English: It's in my bag.
Literal: bag of inside in exists
Notes: naka — inside. Look at the machinery: Lesson 2's no + naka + this lesson's ni arimasu — three small pieces, one very reusable sentence. (`X no naka` = "inside X" works for any X.)

MinicoreJapanese: arimasu
Native: あります
English: there is / has (things)
Notes: no-shape: *arimasen*

MinicoreJapanese: imasu
Native: います
English: there is (people/animals)
Notes: no-shape: *imasen*

MinicoreJapanese: sagashimasu
Native: 探します
English: look for
Notes: `___ o sagashimasu`

MinicoreJapanese: koko
Native: ここ
English: here
Notes: place column of ko-so-a-do

MinicoreJapanese: soko
Native: そこ
English: there (by you)

MinicoreJapanese: asoko
Native: あそこ
English: over there
Notes: your default *doko* answer

MinicoreJapanese: doko
Native: どこ
English: where

MinicoreJapanese: atarashii
Native: 新しい
English: new
Notes: antonym: *furui*

MinicoreJapanese: furui
Native: 古い
English: old (things)
Notes: antonym: *atarashii*

MinicoreJapanese: ooi
Native: 多い
English: many / crowded
Notes: antonym: *sukunai*

MinicoreJapanese: sukunai
Native: 少ない
English: few / quiet
Notes: antonym: *ooi*

MinicoreJapanese: hoteru
Native: ホテル
English: hotel

MinicoreJapanese: toire
Native: トイレ
English: toilet
Notes: free & everywhere — just ask

MinicoreJapanese: resutoran
Native: レストラン
English: restaurant

MinicoreJapanese: ginkou
Native: 銀行
English: bank
Notes: konbini ATMs often beat it

MinicoreJapanese: iriguchi
Native: 入口
English: entrance
Notes: pair: *deguchi*

MinicoreJapanese: deguchi
Native: 出口
English: exit
Notes: pair: *iriguchi*

MinicoreJapanese: keitai
Native: 携帯
English: mobile phone
Notes: said with a two-beat *e* (kei)

MinicoreJapanese: kaban
Native: かばん
English: bag (carried)
Notes: vs. *fukuro*, the plastic kind

MinicoreJapanese: kagi
Native: かぎ
English: key

MinicoreJapanese: pasupooto
Native: パスポート
English: passport
Notes: hotels must see it — hand it with *douzo*

MinicoreJapanese: wai-fai
Native: ワイファイ
English: Wi-Fi

MinicoreJapanese: naka
Native: なか
English: inside
Notes: `X no naka` = inside X

MinicoreJapanese: ue
Native: うえ
English: up / above
Notes: pair: *shita*

MinicoreJapanese: shita
Native: した
English: down / below
Notes: pair: *ue*

MinicoreJapanese: At the front desk
Notes: Traveler: Sumimasen.
Excuse me.
[excuse-me]
Clerk: Hai.
Yes?
[yes]
Traveler: Konbini wa arimasu ka.
Is there a konbini (around here)?
[konbini [topic] exists ?]
Clerk: Hai, arimasu. Asoko desu.
Yes, there is — it's just over there.
[yes, exists. over-there is]
Traveler: Wai-fai wa arimasu ka.
Is there Wi-Fi?
[Wi-Fi [topic] exists ?]
Clerk: Hai. Pasuwaado wa kore desu.
Yes — the password is this. (handing a small card)
[yes. password [topic] this is]
Traveler: Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you.
[thank you (full polite form)]
Traveler: Toire wa doko desu ka.
Where is the toilet?
[toilet [topic] where is ?]
Clerk: Asoko desu.
Just over there. (stepping out to show him the way)
[over-there is]
Traveler: Doumo.
Thanks.
[thanks (light)]

MinicoreJapanese: Hai.
Native: はい。
English: Yes?
Literal: yes

MinicoreJapanese: Konbini wa arimasu ka.
Native: コンビニはありますか。
English: Is there a konbini (around here)?
Literal: konbini [topic] exists ?

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, arimasu. Asoko desu.
Native: はい、あります。あそこです。
English: Yes, there is — it's just over there.
Literal: yes, exists. over-there is

MinicoreJapanese: Hai. Pasuwaado wa kore desu.
Native: はい。パスワードはこれです。
English: Yes — the password is this. (handing a small card)
Literal: yes. password [topic] this is

MinicoreJapanese: Doumo.
Native: どうも。
English: Thanks.
Literal: thanks (light)

MinicoreJapanese: Too fast on the street
Notes: Traveler: Sumimasen. Ginkou wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me — where is the bank?
[excuse-me. bank [topic] where is ?]
Local: Ano shingou o migi ni magatte, futatsu-me no kado o hidari desu ne.
Turn right at that traffic light, then it's on the left at the second corner.
[(too fast — that's the point)]
Traveler: Sumimasen. Wakarimasen.
Sorry — I don't understand.
[excuse-me. I-don't-understand]
Local: Asoko desu.
It's (just) over there. (walking you to the corner and pointing)
[over-there is]

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Ginkou wa doko desu ka.
Native: すみません。銀行はどこですか。
English: Excuse me — where is the bank?
Literal: excuse-me. bank [topic] where is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Ano shingou o migi ni magatte, futatsu-me no kado o hidari desu ne.
Native: あの信号を右に曲がって、二つ目の角を左ですね。
English: Turn right at that traffic light, then it's on the left at the second corner.
Literal: (too fast — that's the point)

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Wakarimasen.
Native: すみません。わかりません。
English: Sorry — I don't understand.
Literal: excuse-me. I-don't-understand