Title: MiniCore Japanese-EN / Lesson 9
Tags: MinicoreJapanese-EN lesson-09 sentence vocab dialog-line dialog recognition

MinicoreJapanese: Konnichiwa.
Native: こんにちは。
English: Hello. / Good day.
Literal: good day

MinicoreJapanese: Ramen wa dou desu ka.
Native: ラーメンはどうですか。
English: How about ramen (tonight)?
Literal: ramen [topic] how is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Oishii desu.
Native: おいしいです。
English: It's delicious!
Literal: delicious is

MinicoreJapanese: Ashita, nani o shimasu ka.
Native: あした、何をしますか。
English: What are you doing tomorrow?
Literal: tomorrow, what [obj] do ?

MinicoreJapanese: Kinou, sushi o tabemashita. Soshite, biiru o nomimashita.
Native: きのう、すしを食べました。そして、ビールを飲みました。
English: Yesterday I ate sushi. And I drank beer.
Literal: yesterday, sushi [obj] ate. and-then, beer [obj] drank

MinicoreJapanese: Wakarimashita.
Native: わかりました。
English: Understood. / Got it.
Literal: understood

MinicoreJapanese: Sushi ga suki desu.
Native: すしが好きです。
English: I like sushi.
Literal: sushi [ga] liked is
Notes: The statement. Whatever fills the slot, ga marks it — this frame never switches particles.

MinicoreJapanese: Sushi ga suki desu ka.
Native: すしが好きですか。
English: Do you like sushi?
Literal: sushi [ga] liked is ?
Notes: The question — same shape plus ka. (Natives often ask it with wa instead of ga; understand that as identical, but produce the ga form. One shape to own, not two.)

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, suki desu.
Native: はい、好きです。
English: Yes, I like it.
Literal: yes, liked is
Notes: Answers echo the predicate — hai, suki desu, never bare hai. You've been doing this since arimasu ka → hai, arimasu; it works exactly the same here.

MinicoreJapanese: Nihon ga suki desu.
Native: 日本が好きです。
English: I like Japan.
Literal: Japan [ga] liked is
Notes: Nihon — Japan, the country hiding inside Lesson 2's nihongo. You will be asked whether you like it, warmly and often; now you can answer.

MinicoreJapanese: Natto wa chotto…
Native: 納豆はちょっと…
English: Natto is… a bit much for me. (the polite dislike)
Literal: natto [topic] a-little… (trailing off)
Notes: And dislike? chotto — "a little" — trailed off, unfinished, with an apologetic tilt of the head. That unfinished sentence is the sentence. There's a strong word for "hate" in Japanese; this course deliberately never teaches it — X wa chotto… (or naming what you do like instead) is how the culture actually declines a food. (Natto† — fermented soybeans — is the traditional filler for this slot.)

MinicoreJapanese: Ano resutoran ga suki desu.
Native: あのレストランが好きです。
English: I like that restaurant.
Literal: that restaurant [ga] liked is
Notes: Lesson 2's ano and Lesson 4's restaurant, in the new frame — a compliment, an opinion, and the setup for the frame after this one.

MinicoreJapanese: Tabemasen ka.
Native: 食べませんか。
English: Won't you eat (with me)? / Shall we get food?
Literal: eat-not ? (= invitation)
Notes: The classic. Any verb you own works: ikimasen ka, nomimasen ka, mimasen ka.

MinicoreJapanese: Ikimasen ka.
Native: 行きませんか。
English: Shall we go?
Literal: go-not ? (= invitation)
Notes: Point at the poster, the shop, the shrine gate — the invitation carries the destination for you.

MinicoreJapanese: Ii desu ne. Ikimashou.
Native: いいですね。行きましょう。
English: Sounds good — let's go!
Literal: good is [ne]. go-let's
Notes: Two new sounds in one happy sentence. -mashou — "let's" — is the acceptance half of the invitation pair: ikimasu → ikimashou. And ne — the little agreement particle — turns ii desu "it's good" into "sounds good, doesn't it." More on ne below; for now, memorize the pair whole: invitation in -masen ka, acceptance in -mashou.

MinicoreJapanese: Ashita no ban, nomimasen ka.
Native: あしたの晩、飲みませんか。
English: Won't you have a drink tomorrow evening?
Literal: tomorrow of evening, drink-not ? (= invitation)
Notes: Lesson 7's calendar plugs straight in — day + part of day up front, invitation after.

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Ashita wa chotto…
Native: すみません。あしたはちょっと…
English: Sorry — tomorrow's a bit… (declining an invitation)
Literal: excuse-me. tomorrow [topic] a-little… (trailing off)
Notes: And declining one: the same chotto… hedge from the frame above, now pointed at a day instead of a food. No reason given, none expected — the trail-off does all the work, and both sides move on smiling.

MinicoreJapanese: Kinou, ano resutoran ni ikimashita. Demo, yasumi deshita.
Native: きのう、あのレストランに行きました。でも、休みでした。
English: Yesterday I went to that restaurant. But it was closed.
Literal: yesterday, that restaurant [ni] went. but, day-off was
Notes: demo — "but" — starts a fresh sentence rather than embedding a clause (you tasted it in Lesson 6). And meet deshita — desu's past form — hiding in plain sight all along: it's the deshita in gochisousama deshita and -masen deshita. Yasumi desu → yasumi deshita: it is closed → it was closed.

MinicoreJapanese: Zannen desu.
Native: 残念です。
English: Too bad. / What a shame.
Literal: regrettable is
Notes: zannen — the disappointment word. A complete sentence of feeling, ready to chain onto any small tragedy.

MinicoreJapanese: Takai desu. Dakara, kaimasen.
Native: 高いです。だから、買いません。
English: It's expensive. So I'm not buying it.
Literal: expensive is. therefore, buy-not
Notes: dakara — "so / therefore." Cause, full stop, consequence. This is also how you answer doushite — "why" — the last question word in the course: Doushite desu ka. → state the fact, dakara, state the result.

MinicoreJapanese: Doushite desu ka.
Native: どうしてですか。
English: Why?
Literal: why is ?
Notes: Use it sparingly — it's a true open question (rung 4 of Lesson 6's ladder), and the answer will arrive as chained sentences at native speed. Deploy, then listen for the dakara.

MinicoreJapanese: Oishii desu. Kedo, chotto takai desu.
Native: おいしいです。けど、ちょっと高いです。
English: It's delicious. Though it is a bit expensive.
Literal: delicious is. though, a-little expensive is
Notes: kedo — "though" — demo's gentler cousin, for afterthoughts and soft reservations. Note chotto doing its other job: not a refusal here, just "a little" — the cushion in front of any complaint.

MinicoreJapanese: Ja, ikimashou.
Native: じゃ、行きましょう。
English: Well then — let's go!
Literal: well-then, go-let's
Notes: ja — "well then" — the pivot word: it closes one topic and opens the next. Decision made, check paid, plan agreed — ja, onward.

MinicoreJapanese: Mata kimasu.
Native: また来ます。
English: I'll come again. (the promise you make leaving a place you liked)
Literal: again come
Notes: mata — "again." Mata kimasu to the shop you loved is the warmest goodbye a customer can give — and it costs you two words you already had.

MinicoreJapanese: Takai desu ka. Kaimasen. Yasui desu ka. Kaimasu.
Native: 高いですか。買いません。安いですか。買います。
English: If it's expensive, I won't buy it; if it's cheap, I will.
Literal: expensive is ? buy-not. cheap is ? buy
Notes: Ask each branch like a rhetorical question, answer it yourself. It sounds almost like thinking aloud — because it is, and it's completely clear. (Weather version, with a harvested noun: Ashita, ame† desu ka. Ikimasen. — rain? I don't go.)
2. "Probably / might / I think…" → tag it with tabun.

MinicoreJapanese: Tabun, yasumi desu.
Native: たぶん、休みです。
English: It's probably closed.
Literal: probably, day-off is
Notes: tabun — probably. One word up front converts any statement into a guess. That's the entire probability system of this course.
3. "I should have… / I wish I had…" → the fact, plus a feeling.

MinicoreJapanese: Kaimasen deshita. Zannen desu.
Native: 買いませんでした。残念です。
English: I didn't buy it. (And now) I regret it.
Literal: bought-not. regrettable is
Notes: No subjunctive, no "should have" — what happened, then how it feels. Chaining again, doing philosophy's work with two plain sentences.
4. "It was delicious" → time word, or yokatta. Adjectives never inflect in this course — Lesson 3's rule holds to the end:

MinicoreJapanese: Kinou, oishii desu.
Native: きのう、おいしいです。
English: It was delicious (yesterday).
Literal: yesterday, delicious is
Notes: The time word carries the tense; the adjective stays frozen — same trick as the verbs in Lesson 6, minus even the ending.

MinicoreJapanese: Yokatta desu.
Native: よかったです。
English: That was great. / I'm glad. / What a relief.
Literal: was-good (frozen chunk)
Notes: yokatta — the one-word happy past: "that was good / thank goodness." (Grammar trivia you can ignore: it's technically a past-tense adjective — the only one in the course, which is exactly why it's taught as a frozen chunk and never as a pattern.)
5. "Have you ever…?" → mae ni + plain past.

MinicoreJapanese: Mae ni, Nihon ni kimashita ka.
Native: 前に、日本に来ましたか。
English: Have you been to Japan before?
Literal: before [ni], Japan [ni] came ?
Notes: Lesson 6's mae plus ni: "at before." No perfect tense, no "ever" — before, did you come? You'll be asked this constantly; answer with hai, kimashita or iie, hajimete† (first time — a word worth harvesting on the spot).

MinicoreJapanese: Chotto takai desu ne.
Native: ちょっと高いですね。
English: A bit expensive, isn't it.
Literal: a-little expensive is [ne]
Notes: ne — the agreement-seeker: "…isn't it? …right?" It invites the listener to nod along, which is why it softens complaints so well — you're not accusing the price, you're sharing it. Between chotto in front and ne behind, almost any criticism becomes safe to say.

MinicoreJapanese: Oishii desu yo.
Native: おいしいですよ。
English: It's delicious — really, try it!
Literal: delicious is [yo]
Notes: yo — ne's pushier sibling: "I'm telling you." It adds friendly insistence — perfect on recommendations and reassurances (daijoubu desu yo — really, it's fine). Handle with care: yo on a correction can sound like scolding. Recommend with it; don't argue with it.

MinicoreJapanese: Nihongo wa muzukashii desu.
Native: 日本語は難しいです。
English: Japanese is difficult.
Literal: Japanese [topic] difficult is
Notes: muzukashii — difficult. The most-said sentence in every language classroom on earth, and honest small talk from you. (File this word away for the behavior section below — from a Japanese speaker, muzukashii desu ne about your request usually isn't commentary. It's an answer.)

MinicoreJapanese: Kore wa kantan desu.
Native: これは簡単です。
English: This is easy!
Literal: this [topic] easy is
Notes: kantan — easy, simple — muzukashii's antonym, and (say it about this course, out loud, right now) a nice thing to realize at lesson nine of nine.

MinicoreJapanese: Anata mo ikimasu ka.
Native: あなたも行きますか。
English: Are you going too? (use sparingly — prefer name + -san)
Literal: you also go ?
Notes: anata — "you" — introduced last, on purpose. Japanese mostly doesn't say "you": names with -san do that job (Lesson 2's rule, still in force), and anata aimed at someone whose name you know can feel distant, even confrontational. It exists for the moments you genuinely have no name to use. Learn it, then keep preferring -san.

MinicoreJapanese: Kinou, ano resutoran ni ikimashita. Demo, yasumi deshita. Zannen desu.
Native: きのう、あのレストランに行きました。でも、休みでした。残念です。
English: Yesterday I went to that restaurant. But it was closed. What a shame.
Literal: yesterday, that restaurant [ni] went. but, day-off was. regrettable is
Notes: The chaining showpiece: three clauses of English collapsed into three short sentences you've owned for lessons — past tense, contrast, feeling. Every "long sentence" you ever need is this move repeated.

MinicoreJapanese: Chotto takai desu ne. Are ga ii desu.
Native: ちょっと高いですね。あれがいいです。
English: A bit expensive, isn't it. I'd prefer that one.
Literal: a-little expensive is [ne]. that-one [ga] good is
Notes: The polite pivot: soften the objection (chotto… ne), then redirect with Lesson 5's preference frame. Complaint and solution in one friendly breath.

MinicoreJapanese: suki
Native: 好き
English: like
Notes: frame keeps *ga*, both directions

MinicoreJapanese: ikimashou
Native: 行きましょう
English: let's go
Notes: *-mashou* = "let's," on any verb

MinicoreJapanese: demo
Native: でも
English: but
Notes: starts a new sentence

MinicoreJapanese: dakara
Native: だから
English: so / therefore
Notes: answers *doushite*

MinicoreJapanese: kedo
Native: けど
English: though
Notes: *demo*'s gentler cousin

MinicoreJapanese: ja
Native: じゃ
English: well then
Notes: the pivot word

MinicoreJapanese: mata
Native: また
English: again
Notes: *Mata kimasu.* / *ja, mata ashita*

MinicoreJapanese: ne
Native: ね
English: …isn't it? (softener)
Notes: sentence-final

MinicoreJapanese: yo
Native: よ
English: I'm telling you (emphasis)
Notes: recommend, don't argue

MinicoreJapanese: tabun
Native: たぶん
English: probably / maybe
Notes: tags any statement as a guess

MinicoreJapanese: zannen
Native: 残念
English: too bad / a shame
Notes: *Zannen desu.*

MinicoreJapanese: yokatta
Native: よかった
English: that was good / I'm glad
Notes: frozen chunk — the happy past

MinicoreJapanese: chotto
Native: ちょっと
English: a little / (trailing off) = no
Notes: hedge and soft refusal

MinicoreJapanese: doushite
Native: どうして
English: why
Notes: open question — use sparingly

MinicoreJapanese: muzukashii
Native: 難しい
English: difficult
Notes: *muzukashii desu ne* can mean "no"

MinicoreJapanese: kantan
Native: 簡単
English: easy / simple
Notes: antonym: *muzukashii*

MinicoreJapanese: anata
Native: あなた
English: you
Notes: prefer *name-san*; use sparingly

MinicoreJapanese: Nihon
Native: 日本
English: Japan
Notes: the country inside *nihongo*

MinicoreJapanese: Kekkou desu.
Native: 結構です。
English: no, thank you
Notes: drop the offer — *wakarimashita, daijoubu desu*

MinicoreJapanese: Making a plan
Notes: Friend: Nihon wa dou desu ka.
How's Japan (treating you)?
[Japan [topic] how is ?]
Traveler: Suki desu. Demo, nihongo wa muzukashii desu.
I love it. But Japanese is difficult.
[liked is. but, Japanese [topic] difficult is]
Friend: Daijoubu desu yo. Sushi ga suki desu ka.
You're doing fine! Do you like sushi?
[fine is [yo]. sushi [ga] liked is ?]
Traveler: Hai, suki desu. Sakana ga suki desu.
Yes, I like it — I love fish.
[yes, liked is. fish [ga] liked is]
Friend: Ja, ashita no ban, tabemasen ka.
Well then — shall we get dinner tomorrow evening?
[well-then, tomorrow of evening, eat-not ? (= invitation)]
Traveler: Ii desu ne. Ikimashou.
Sounds good — let's go!
[good is [ne]. go-let's]
Friend: Nan-ji ga ii desu ka.
What time is good?
[what-hour [ga] good is ?]
Traveler: Roku-ji han wa dou desu ka.
How about 6:30?
[6:00 half [topic] how is ?]
Friend: Ii desu yo.
Works for me!
[good is [yo]]
Traveler: Ja, mata ashita.
Well then — see you tomorrow.
[well-then, again tomorrow]
Friend: Mata ashita.
See you tomorrow!
[again tomorrow]

MinicoreJapanese: Nihon wa dou desu ka.
Native: 日本はどうですか。
English: How's Japan (treating you)?
Literal: Japan [topic] how is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Suki desu. Demo, nihongo wa muzukashii desu.
Native: 好きです。でも、日本語は難しいです。
English: I love it. But Japanese is difficult.
Literal: liked is. but, Japanese [topic] difficult is

MinicoreJapanese: Daijoubu desu yo. Sushi ga suki desu ka.
Native: 大丈夫ですよ。すしが好きですか。
English: You're doing fine! Do you like sushi?
Literal: fine is [yo]. sushi [ga] liked is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Hai, suki desu. Sakana ga suki desu.
Native: はい、好きです。さかなが好きです。
English: Yes, I like it — I love fish.
Literal: yes, liked is. fish [ga] liked is

MinicoreJapanese: Ja, ashita no ban, tabemasen ka.
Native: じゃ、あしたの晩、食べませんか。
English: Well then — shall we get dinner tomorrow evening?
Literal: well-then, tomorrow of evening, eat-not ? (= invitation)

MinicoreJapanese: Nan-ji ga ii desu ka.
Native: 何時がいいですか。
English: What time is good?
Literal: what-hour [ga] good is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Roku-ji han wa dou desu ka.
Native: 六時半はどうですか。
English: How about 6:30?
Literal: 6:00 half [topic] how is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Ii desu yo.
Native: いいですよ。
English: Works for me!
Literal: good is [yo]

MinicoreJapanese: Ja, mata ashita.
Native: じゃ、またあした。
English: Well then — see you tomorrow.
Literal: well-then, again tomorrow

MinicoreJapanese: Mata ashita.
Native: またあした。
English: See you tomorrow!
Literal: again tomorrow

MinicoreJapanese: Closed for inventory
Notes: Traveler: Sumimasen. Kyou wa yasumi desu ka.
Excuse me — are you closed today?
[excuse-me. today [topic] day-off is ?]
Shopkeeper: Moushiwake gozaimasen. Honjitsu wa tanaoroshi no tame, rinji kyuugyou to sasete itadaite orimasu.
Terribly sorry — we're closed today for inventory.
[(too fast — that's the point)]
Traveler: Sumimasen. Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Sorry — slowly, please.
[excuse-me. slowly, please]
Shopkeeper: Kyou wa, yasumi desu. Ashita, kite kudasai.
We're closed today. Please come tomorrow.
[today [topic], day-off is. tomorrow, come-please]

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Kyou wa yasumi desu ka.
Native: すみません。今日は休みですか。
English: Excuse me — are you closed today?
Literal: excuse-me. today [topic] day-off is ?

MinicoreJapanese: Moushiwake gozaimasen. Honjitsu wa tanaoroshi no tame, rinji kyuugyou to sasete itadaite orimasu.
Native: 申し訳ございません。本日は棚卸しのため、臨時休業とさせていただいております。
English: Terribly sorry — we're closed today for inventory.
Literal: (too fast — that's the point)

MinicoreJapanese: Sumimasen. Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Native: すみません。ゆっくりお願いします。
English: Sorry — slowly, please.
Literal: excuse-me. slowly, please

MinicoreJapanese: Kyou wa, yasumi desu. Ashita, kite kudasai.
Native: 今日は、休みです。あした、来てください。
English: We're closed today. Please come tomorrow.
Literal: today [topic], day-off is. tomorrow, come-please