Lesson Dialogues
MP3
Download Now
* Hover over or tap words to see definitions:
Situation 1
On Friday evening, Sato-san has called out to a colleague, Yamada-san.
Comprehension Quiz (Skip if you don't understand the conversation yet)
佐藤さんと山田さんは、今から飲みますか？
A はい
B いいえ
佐藤：お疲れ様でした。
山田：もう帰るんですか？
佐藤：そうです。
山田：僕もなんです。今から飲みません？
佐藤：いいですね。金曜日ですし。
Situation 2
Eri and Misaki are talking.
Comprehension Quiz (Skip if you don't understand the conversation yet)
ミサキは、iPhoneを持っていますか？
A はい
B いいえ
エリ：今度、新しいスマホ買うんだ。
ミサキ：へー。iPhone？
エリ：うん。
ミサキ：いいな。私もiPhoneにしたい。
エリ：しないの？
ミサキ：うん。高いから。
Situation 3
Eri and Misaki are talking.
Comprehension Quiz (Skip if you don't understand the conversation yet)
エリは、最近____。
A 仕事がたくさんある
B 話を聞く
C 時間が全然ない
D 夜あんまり寝れない
エリ：最近、夜あんまり寝れないんだ。
ミサキ：え、なんで？
エリ：いろいろ考えちゃって。仕事の事とか。
ミサキ：話聞こうか？
エリ：うん。この後時間ある？
Situation 4
Yamada-san and Sato-san are on the go.
Comprehension Quiz (Skip if you don't understand the conversation yet)
佐藤さんと山田さんは、そこの＿＿に行く。
A 人
B カフェ
C レストラン
D 仕事
山田：すごい人ですね。
佐藤：ほんとですね。
山田：どこ行きましょうか？
佐藤：そこのカフェ行きません？
山田：いいですね。何か食べましょう。
Step 2 - Take the Quiz
Let's see how many words you remember.
Take the quiz here.
Step 3 - Writing Exercises (Optional)
Let's practice what you learned here.
Hello, I’m a bit confused by the sentence 私もiPhoneにしたい。I thought that if I’d want to say: I also want an IPhone or buy one, I’d say 私もiPhoneが欲しいです。or 私もiPhoneを買いたいです。so I’m confused with the にしたい。is this like a grammar point or how and when do you use this?
Thanks
That’s a good question!
The full sentence 私もiPhoneにしたい should be:
私も自分のスマホをiPhoneに替えたい。
– I’d like to replace my smartphone with an iPhone.
※替(か)える – replace, switch
You can omit the 自分のスマホ part since it’s obvious what she is talking about.
And you can use する (do) since it’s obvious what she wants to do.
So 私もiPhoneにしたい means “I want to switch to an iPhone.”
I personally think したい sounds a bit weird in this case, though.
People who speak Japanese more properly would say:
私もiPhoneに替えたい
or
私もiPhoneがいい。- I would prefer an iPhone too.
Still, there are people who use したい, it’s no harm in understanding the usage.
> I’d say 私もiPhoneが欲しいです。or 私もiPhoneを買いたいです。
ー I understand what you mean, and the two sentences are grammatically correct.
However, her intention here is to replace it with an iPhone, not to get or buy one.
Does it answer your question? Feel free to ask if you have further questions.
こんにちは！
I’m a bit confused about the following question:
もう帰るんですか？
Is it different from もう帰りますか？ Is there any rule on which form to use and when?
> I’m a bit confused about the following question:
もう帰るんですか？
Is it different from もう帰りますか？ Is there any rule on which form to use and when?
ー Yes, they are different.
When using んです in a question form, it can express your feelings of surprise or unexpectedness.
So, もう帰るんですか？ usually means “Are you leaving that early?”
In this case, maybe Sato-san usually works longer, and Yamada-san is surprised he’s leaving earlier than usual.
However, if someone asks もう帰るんですか？ in a normal way, not in a surprising tone, it can simply mean “Are you done working and leaving?”
As for もう帰りますか？, it’s usually used when you mean “Shall we leave now?”
This explanation may have helped unlock my understanding of んです. i still struggle to find when and where to use this but with every explanation and more practice, the pieces are coming together!
ありがとうございます。
The course has been great so far by the way!
Thank you for your comment. I’m glad to hear that.
In other words, んです in a declarative sentence is used when you want to assert something strongly (persuade someone strongly), or want to explain a reason for something you have previously mentioned.
Examples:
教育制度を変えなければ、犯罪はいつまでも減らないと思うんです。
– If we don’t change the education system, I don’t think crime will ever decrease.
(assertion)
遅れてすみません。バスが時間通りに来なかったんです。
– I’m sorry I’m late. The bus didn’t arrive on time.” (reason)
んです in a question sentence is used to express feelings of surprise, anger, etc. because it was unexpected.
Examples:
あの選手は負けたんですか？
- Did that player lose? (surprise)
私にウソをついたんですか？
- Did you lie to me? (anger)
If you haven’t checked out this page, it’ll also help you understand the usages:
../../../../2021/05/11/usage-of-のno／んだ-n-da／-んです-n-desu/index.html
> The course has been great so far by the way!
ー Thank you. We are thrilled to hear that! 🙂
I have a question about Situation (2) between Eri and Misaki.
When Misaki says: “私もiPhoneにしたい。” (“I also want to get an iPhone.”),
and Eri replies: “しないの？” (“You won’t?”).
Is it ordinary in Japanese, if someone says that they want to get something, for that to imply (maybe in a certain context) that they want the thing but aren’t going to get it?
Thanks in advance.
> Is it ordinary in Japanese, if someone says that they want to get something, for that to imply (maybe in a certain context) that they want the thing but aren’t going to get it?
ー I understand it’s confusing.
I guess しないの？ here is more like Why not?” or “What’s stopping you?”
Misaki is using Android, and she says she wants to switch to iPhone.
And Eri is responding “Why don’t you just do it?”
You can also say すれば？ (Yeah, you should.), but しないの？ suggests that Eli tries to listen to Misaki’s reasons for not changing her smartphone, rather than just recommending it.
Does it make sense?
Thank you. I had the same question.
No problem! I’m glad if it’s helpful. 😀
That does make sense now that you explain it, thanks.
Great! I’m glad to hear that. 🙂
Somehow, I’m particularly enjoying the conversations between Eri and Misaki, including last week’s.
Thank you for your lovely comment!
It makes our team happy and encouraging. 🙂