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. (An Expression A Day)
2025.04.03 Thu #361: Take a detour
寄り道して
Yorimichi shite
Take a detour
A「寄り道して、帰ろ」B「いいね」
A: "Let's take a detour and go home." B: "Sounds good!"
"Yorimichi shite kaero" is a casual phrase used to suggest taking a detour on the way home. "Yorimichi" means "detour," "shite" is the te-form of the verb "suru" ("to do"), and "kaerou" is the volitional form of "kaeru" ("to go home"). This expression is commonly used in everyday conversation to propose a spontaneous change of plans or to make the journey more enjoyable. The volitional form adds a nuance of suggestion or gentle invitation. It's a familiar phrase even in pop culture, for example, in the lyrics of Kazuyoshi Saito's song "Aruite Kaerou."
2025.04.02 Wed #360: Let's go home
帰ろ
Kaero
Let's go home
A「いっしょに帰ろ」B「うん、帰ろう」
A: "Let's go home together." B: "Yeah, let's go."
"Kaero" is a casual way to suggest going home. It is the volitional form of the verb "kaeru" (to go home), and in formal situations, it would be "kaerou." However, in casual conversations, it is often shortened to "kaero." This phrase is commonly used in conversations with friends or family. By using the volitional form, it gives a more direct and casual impression.
2025.04.01 Tue #359: Take it easy
今度、のんびり、コーヒーでもどう？
Kondo, nonbiri, koohii demo dou?
How about taking it easy with a coffee next time?
A「今度、のんびり、コーヒーでもどう？」B「いいね」
A: "How about taking it easy with a coffee next time?" B: "Sounds good!"
"Nonbiri" is a phrase used to express a relaxed or leisurely state. It means "take it easy" or "relax," and it is often used in casual conversations to suggest a laid-back attitude. The use of the word "dou" at the end of the sentence indicates that the speaker is making a suggestion or invitation. When a close friend says this, it is better not to refuse too strongly, considering the other person's feelings. For example, if someone asks, "How about taking it easy with a coffee next time?" saying "I can't this time" might be a bit rude. Instead, it would be better to say something like, "I can't this time, but please invite me again." Also, just because you're invited like this doesn't mean you have to go. The other person may not really want to go together. This is what we call 'shakoujirei' in Japanese, what might be called 'an empty promise disguised as a courteous remark' in English. In such cases, instead of asking, "So when should we do it?" just respond with "Sure, let's do it!"
2025.03.31 Mon #358: Is that so?
そうなの？
Sou nano?
Is that so?
A「明日、試験だよね」B「そうなの？じゃないと思うけど」
A: "The exam is tomorrow, right?" B: "Is that so? I don't think so."
"Sou nano?" is a phrase used to express surprise or confirmation. "Sou" means "like that" or "is that so," and "nano" is a colloquial form of the question particle "no." This phrase is often used in casual conversations to confirm information or express disbelief. The use of the question particle "no" adds a sense of inquiry or curiosity. The phrase "ja nai to omou kedo" is a light denial expression, indicating that the speaker thinks it is not the case. This allows for a shorter expression by omitting the word before "ja nai," making it sound more natural and fluent, as native speakers often do.
2025.03.30 Sun #357: Finally, it's done
やっと、だよ
Yatto dayo
Finally, it's done
A「宿題、もう終わったの？」B「もう、じゃなくて、やっと、だよ」
A: "You done with your homework already?" B: "Not already, finally!"
"Yatto da yo" is a phrase used to express a sense of achievement or relief upon completion. "Yatto" means "finally," "da" is the plain form of the verb "to be" (like "is"), and "yo" is a sentence-final particle that indicates the speaker is presenting new or important information to the listener. This expression is commonly used when something has taken a long time or much effort to complete. The use of "yatto" highlights the speaker's feeling of relief or satisfaction.
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.
Drill for Every Day (D4E: V5)
