Learn the question "What is your name?" in Japanese and how to answer it
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Gabriella: In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Japanese learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native speaker. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Gabriella: In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question What's your name? In Japanese this is |
| Kaori: 名前は何ですか。 |
| (なまえはなんですか。Namae wa nan desu ka.) |
| Gabriella: The first word in the question is |
| Kaori: 名前 |
| (なまえ namae) |
| Gabriella: meaning “name” in English. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 名前 |
| (なまえ namae) |
| Gabriella: Listen again and repeat. |
| Kaori: 名前 |
| (なまえ namae) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Kaori: は |
| (wa) |
| Gabriella: meaning something like “is.” This is the subject-marking particle. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) は |
| (wa) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: は |
| (wa) |
| {Pause} |
| Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 名前は |
| (なまえは namae wa) |
| {pause} |
| And next |
| Kaori: 何 |
| ( なんnan) |
| Gabriella: meaning “what.” |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 何 |
| (なん nan) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: 何 |
| (なん nan) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: Listen to the the first 3 words of the question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 名前は 何 |
| （なまえ は なん Namae wa nan） |
| {pause} |
| Gabriella: And after that |
| Kaori: です |
| (desu) |
| Gabriella: meaning something like "is" or "to be". This is the sentence-ending particle. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) です |
| (desu) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: です |
| (desu) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: Listen to the the first 4 words of the question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 名前(なまえ) は 何(なん) です |
| (Namae wa nan desu) |
| {pause} |
| Gabriella: And next |
| Kaori: か |
| (ka) |
| Gabriella: the question marker. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) か |
| (ka) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: か |
| (ka) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 名前 は 何ですか。 |
| （なまえ は なんです か。 Namae wa nan desu ka.） |
| {pause} |
| Gabriella: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question “What's your name?” |
| Kaori: 私の名前は、マイケルです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、マイケルです。 Watashi no namae wa Maikeru desu.) |
| Gabriella: "My name is Michael.” Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Kaori: (Slow) 私の名前は、マイケルです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、マイケルです。 Watashi no namae wa Maikeru desu.) |
| {pause} |
| Gabriella: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
| Kaori: 私 |
| (わたし watashi) |
| Gabriella: means “I.” |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 私 |
| (わたし watashi) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat |
| Kaori: 私 |
| (わたし watashi) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: And after that |
| Kaori: の |
| (no) |
| meaning "of.” |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) の |
| (no) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: の |
| (no) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: And next |
| Kaori: 名前 |
| (なまえ namae) |
| Gabriella: meaning “name.” |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 名前 |
| (なまえ namae) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: 名前 |
| (なまえ namae) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: Next is |
| Kaori: は |
| (wa) |
| Gabriella: the subject marking particle, meaning "is" or "to be". |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) は |
| (wa) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: は |
| (wa) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: And next |
| Kaori: マイケル |
| (Maikeru) |
| Gabriella: which is the name “Michael.” |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) マイケル |
| (Maikeru) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: マイケル |
| (Maikeru) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: And next |
| Kaori: です |
| (desu) |
| Gabriella: the sentence-ending particle, meaning something like “is.” |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) です |
| (desu) |
| Gabriella: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: です |
| (desu) |
| {Pause} |
| Gabriella: Listen to the speaker say, “My name is Michael.,” and then repeat. |
| Kaori: 私の名前は、マイケルです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、マイケルです。 Watashi no namae wa Maikeru desu.) |
| {pause} |
| Gabriella: To make another phrase, replace “Michael” with “Peter”. |
| Kaori: ピーター |
| (Pita) |
| Gabriella: Peter |
| Kaori: (slow) ピーター (regular) ピーター |
| (Pita) (Pita) |
| Gabriella: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “Peter.” |
| Kaori: 私の名前は、ピーターです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、ピーターです。 Watashi no namae wa Pita desu.) |
| Gabriella: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “Michael” with “Peter.” Say “My name is Peter.” |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 私の名前は、ピーターです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、ピーターです。 Watashi no namae wa Pita desu.) |
| Gabriella: To use a different phrase, replace “Peter” with “Catherine.” |
| Kaori: キャサリン |
| (Kyasarin) |
| Gabriella: Catherine |
| Kaori: (slow) キャサリン (regular) キャサリン |
| (Kyasarin) (Kyasarin) |
| Gabriella: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “Catherine.” |
| Kaori: 私の名前は、キャサリンです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、キャサリンです。 Watashi no namae wa Kyasarin desu.) |
| Gabriella: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “Peter” with “Catherine.” Say “My name is Catherine.” |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 私の名前は、キャサリンです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、キャサリンです。 Watashi no namae wa Kyasarin desu.) |
| Gabriella: To expand on the pattern, replace “Catherine” with “Marco.” |
| Kaori: マルコ |
| (Maruko) |
| Gabriella: Marco |
| Kaori: (slow) マルコ (regular) マルコ |
| (Maruko) (Maruko) |
| Gabriella: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “Marco.” |
| Kaori: 私の名前は、マルコです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、マルコです。 Watashi no namae wa Maruko desu.) |
| Gabriella: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “Catherine” with “Marco.” Say “My name is Marco.” |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 私の名前は、マルコです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、マルコです。 Watashi no namae wa Maruko desu.) |
| QUIZ |
| Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you're visiting Japan and someone asks you your name. Your name is “Michael.” Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 名前は何ですか。 |
| (なまえはなんですか。 Namae wa nan desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| 私の名前は、マイケルです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、マイケルです。 Watashi no namae wa Maikeru desu.) |
| Gabriella: Now, your name is “Peter.” Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 名前は何ですか。 |
| (なまえはなんですか。 Namae wa nan desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| 私の名前は、ピーターです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、ピーターです。 Watashi no namae wa Pita desu.) |
| Gabriella: Imagine your name is “Catherine.” Answer the speaker's question. |
| Kaori: 名前は何ですか。 |
| (なまえはなんですか。 Namae wa nan desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) 私の名前は、キャサリンです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、キャサリンです。 Watashi no namae wa Kyasarin desu.) |
| Gabriella: Imagine your name is “Marco.” Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 名前は何ですか。 |
| (なまえはなんですか。 Namae wa nan desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| 私の名前は、マルコです。 |
| (わたしのなまえは、マルコです。 Watashi no namae wa Maruko desu.) |
| Gabriella: You want to learn that person's name. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Kaori: 名前は何ですか。 |
| (なまえはなんですか。 Namae wa nan desu ka.) |
| {pause} |
| Gabriella: Now it's time to answer the question with actual information about yourself. |
| Kaori: 名前は何ですか。 |
| （なまえはなんですか。 Namae wa nan desu ka.） |
Outro |
| Gabriella: This is the end of Lesson 1 |
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