Hello! Minasan! Welcome to "Dictation for Every Day" (D4E: version 5) a.k.a. Mainichi no Kikitori
Workbook
PDF Workbook (volume 1, 2, and 3) is available from
[here]!
It includes the notes of words, phrases and grammars.
News and Story
2024.07.14: Volume 3, episode 101-150 starts.
An episode is updated every day.
A.E.A.D. (A Expression A Day)
2024.07.13 Sat #97: That makes sense!
なるほど
Naruhodo
I see
A「最近、趣味で絵を描き始めたんだ」 B「なるほど、それでいつも楽しそうなんだ」
A: "I recently started drawing pictures as a hobby." B: "I see, that's why you always look happy."
The phrase "naruhodo" is used to express that you understand the other person's explanation. It is used after hearing the other person's specific explanation. It is a phrase that is often used in everyday conversation by native speakers, so if you can use it well, your conversation will become more natural. However, just because someone uses this expression, it does not mean that he/she really understands. Some of my former students used this expression, but they did not actually understand. However, it may have been used as a strategy to prompt the other person's statement by saying, "Naruhodo naruhodo." It was used as a strategy to promote smooth conversation.
2024.07.12 Fri #96: As expected
やっぱり
Yappari
After all
A「雨が降ってきた」 B「やっぱり」
A: "It's raining." B: "After all."
The phrase "yappari" is used to express that the result is as expected. It is used when the result is as expected, as in the example sentence. It is a phrase that is often used in everyday conversation by native speakers, so if you can use it well, your conversation will become more natural.
2024.07.11 Thu #95: That's not like that!
そんなことない
Sonnakotonai
That's not like that!
A「今日のプレゼン、うまくいかなかった気がする。」 B「そんなことない、ちゃんと伝わってたよ」
A: "I don't think today's presentation went well." B: "That's not like that, it was well communicated."
The phrase "sonnakotonai" is used to deny the modest attitude of the other person and encourage them.
2024.07.10 Wed #94: What a mess!
なんてこった。
Nante kotta.
What a mess.
A「昨日、急にパソコンが壊れちゃって、データが全部消えたんだ」 B「なんてこった!修理できるの?」
A: "Yesterday, my computer suddenly broke down and all the data disappeared." B: "What a mess! Can it be repaired?"
The phrase "nante kotta" is a very natural Japanese expression that expresses surprise or confusion. It can be used for unexpected events, troubles, or good things. It is a phrase that is often used in everyday conversation by native speakers, so if you can use it well, your conversation will become more natural.
A: "I want to eat something." B: "Then, do you want to eat something?" A: "Curry rice?" B: "Why?" A: "Well, somehow I feel that way."
The phrase "maa nantonaku" is used when you do not have a clear reason to do something. It is often used when you cannot clearly explain the reason even if you are asked "why." It is more natural to say "nantonaku" than to say "I felt that way". It is a natural expression to say "nantonaku" in one word rather than saying "I felt that way." Other expressions include "maa, nantonaku wakarimasu." (Well, sort of understand.) "maa, nantonaku sou omoimasu." (Well, kind of think so.) "maa, nantonaku sonna ki ga suru." (Well, somehow I feel that way.)
Let's practice every day!
Let's learn Japanese through dictation practice!
PDF Workbook (volume 1 and 2) is available from
[here]!
It includes the notes of words, phrases and grammars.
This is the dictation practice site operated by Japanese Language Teaching Section, Tokyo Institute of Technology.
This practice involves a variety of natural expressions in daily conversation.
You can practice 10 sentences a day depending on your language ability.
It's a very simple exercise. You just follow the audio you hear and type in Roman letters.
Your comments and bug reports are very welcome. Please submit from here.
Zen and the Art of Dictation
Let's learn Japanese through drill and practice!
You will practice 10 sentences in an episode.
It's a very simple exercise.
You just follow the audio you hear and type in roman letters.
The first objective is to learn the basic Japanese sounds
and hiragana/katakana combinations.
You can practice as many times as possible.
The more you practice, the better you will get.
Please regularly contribute your time to this practice.
It is important to practice every day rather than to practice a lot at once.
The following is the psychological evidence of the importance of regular practice:
Figure 1: The forgetting curve described by Hermann Ebbinghaus.
Here, b represents 'Savings' expressed as a percentage, and t represents time in minutes, counting from one minute before end of learning. The constants c and k are 1.25 and 1.84 respectively. Savings is defined as the relative amount of time saved on the second learning trial as a result of having had the first. A savings of 100% would indicate that all items were still known from the first trial. A 75% savings would mean that relearning missed items required 25% as long as the original learning session (to learn all items). 'Savings' is thus, analogous to retention rate.