• 131 [✐3] ask casually 〜の?+ Role play
    Mar 24 2026

    [✐3. Moderato] V-Futsu+ no?

    “When are you going to Japan?”

    [00:07]

    Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Firstly, listen to the conversation. Hiroshi and Susy are talking.

    [00:15]

    Hiroshi: Morning!

    Susy: Oh? A big suitcase! Are you going on a trip?

    H: Yep. After work, I will go straight to Haneda (airport).

    S: What time is your flight?

    H: 11:00pm.

    S: By the way, where are you going?

    H: Nordic. Norway, Finland and also stop by Sweden.

    S: Sound good. And, when are you coming back?

    H: This Friday.

    S: What? Today is Monday, isn’t it!?

    H: Japanese people are good at short trips like this!

    • (chokko(suru) = go directly to, head straight to)
    • (〜ni yoru = stop off at)

    [00:52]

    As you noticed, the ending particle “no(の)” indicates a question. When you are curious about something you see, and you want to know about more, as you know, you can use the sentence structure of plain form + ndesuka. The casual version of this structure is “〜no?”.

    [01:11]

    Now we practice how to form this “no”. Don’t forget to put an rising intonation when we say this “no”.

    Repeat after me

    [01:23]

    1. go [masu form] go [jisho-form] Are you going? [jisho gotm + no]

    2. go back/return

    3. come

    4. do

    5. buy

    6. pack up/put away/bestow

    7. can

    8. carry, bring

    9. continue/go ahead/stay on

    10. know

    [03:57]

    Now, make a sentence as follows.

    For example,

    Are you still eating?

    → Are you still eating?

    Ready?

    [04:07]

    1. Are you going by taxi?

    =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

    「いつ、にほんへ いくの?」

    [00:07]

    みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。まず、かいわをきいてください。ひろしとスージーがはなしています。

    [00:15]

    ひろし: おはよう!

    スージー:あれ、おおきいスーツケース!りょこうにいくの?

    ひ: うん。しごとおわったら、はねだにちょっこう。

    ス: なんじのひこうきなの?

    ひ: よる11じ。

    ス: どころで、どこにいくの?

    ひ: ほくおう。ノルウェー、フィンランド、それから、スウェーデンにも よるんだ。

    ス: いいねぇ。それで、いつもどるの?

    ひ: こんしゅうのきんようび。

    す: え!きょう、げつようびだよね!?

    ひ: にほんじんは、こういう みじかいりょこう、とくいだから!

    (ちょっこう(する) = go directly to, head straight to)

    (〜に よる = stop off at)

    [01:11]

    では、この「〜の」のつくりかたをれんしゅうします。Don’t forget to put a rising intonation when you say this “no” at the end.

    Repeat after me

    [01:23]

    1. いきます[masu form]、いく[jisho-form]、いくの?[jisho form + no]

    2. かえります かえる かえるの?

    3. きます くる くるの?

    4. します する するの?

    5. かいます かう かうの?

    6. しまいます しまう しまうの?

    7. できます できる できるの?

    8. もっていきます もっていく もっていくの?

    9. つづけます つづける つづけるの?

    10. しって(い)ます しって(い)る しって(い)るの?

    [03:57]

    では、つぎのようにぶんをつくってください。

    たとえば、

    まだ、たべますか

    → まだ、たべるの?

    いいですか。

    [04:07]

    1. タクシーでいきますか

    → タクシーでいくの?

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    Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.

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    24 mins
  • 130 [✐4]it might be easy/difficult to... + Shadowing + Role Play
    Mar 17 2026

    Let's challenge the Role Play!

    [✐4. Allegretto] 〜やすいかも(しれません)、〜にくいかも(しれません)

    “It might be easy to get it wrong.”

    [00:07]

    Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Let’s begin straight away. Please change the sentence to ”〜yasui desu” as follows.

    For example,

    get fat

    → easy to get fat

    Ok?

    [00:23]

    1. write

    → easy to write

    2. drink

    → easy to drink

    3. repair/fix

    → easy to repair

    4. work

    → easy to work

    5. consult/ask

    → easy to consult

    6. teach

    → easy to teac

    7. use

    → easy to use

    8. grow/cultivate

    → easy to grow

    9. say

    → easy to say

    10. memorize/remember

    → easy to memorize

    11. mistake

    → easy to mistake

    12. understand/know/get it

    → easy to understand

    [03:13]

    Next is “〜nikui”. Please change to “〜nikui” as follows.

    For example,

    get fat

    → hard to get fat

    Ready?

    [03:28]

    1. write

    → hard to write

    2. drink

    → hard to drink

    3. repair/fix

    → hard to repair

    4. work

    → hard to work

    5. consult/ask

    → hard to consult

    6. teach

    → hard to teach

    7. use

    → hard to use

    8. grow/cultivate

    → hard to grow

    9. say/tell

    → hard to say/tell

    10. memorize/remember

    → hard to memorize

    11. mistake

    → hard to mistake

    12. understand/know/get it

    → hard to understand

    [06:27]

    When “kamo” is added after “〜yasui”, it means “it might be easy to do something.

    When :kamo: is added after “〜nikui”, it means “it might be difficult/hard to do something.

    [06:45]

    For example,

    “nedan ga sagatta node, kaiyasui kamo.” means “As the price has come down, it mght be easier to buy.”

    Or,

    “ji ga heta dakara, yominikui kamo.” means “As my handwriting is not good, it might be difficult to read.”.

    Now, let’s practice them!

    Repeat after me

    [07:07]

    1. It might be easy to drink.

    2. It might be difficult to understand.

    3. It might be easy to work.

    4. It might be easy to memorize.

    5. It might be hard to use.

    [07:48]

    The polite way of saying those above is “〜kamo shiremasen”.

    Therefore,

    “nomiyasui kamo shiremasen.”

    “wakarinikui kamo shiremasen.”

    “hataraki yasui kamo shiremasen.”

    [08:08]

    Please repeat the sentence after you hear key words [KW].

    You hear;

    [KW] cut into small pieces

    🎵 I cut it into small pieces so it might be easier to eat.

    Then repeat the sentence.

    → I cut it into small pieces so it might be easier to eat.

    Ready?

    [08:29]

    1. [KW] medicine, sweet, easy to take

    🎵 This medicine is sweet, so easy to take.

    2. [KW] Ikebukuro station, wide, hard to make out

    🎵 As Ikebukuro station is wide, it might be hard to make out.

    (wakarinikui = here means; hard to make out, confusing)

    3. [KW] positive work place, easy to work

    🎵 It’s a positive workplace, it might be easy to work.

    (akarui = here means; positive, cheerful, upbeat)

    (shokuba = workplace)

    4. [KW] Yamada san, story, hard to understand

    🎵 Yamada’s story (= The way Yamada san said) might be difficult to understand (= not clear).

    Support the show

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    Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.

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    18 mins
  • 129 [✐2] Plain Style (casual)
    Mar 10 2026

    [✐2. Andante] Plain style intensive training

    “Did you bring an umbrella?”

    [00:07]

    Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Today, we will practice Plain Style, a casual style, which you use when you talk to your family or friends, you know.

    [00:18]

    Please say in Plain Style after the Masu-style sentence.

    For example,

    Do you mail? [Masu Style 🎵 → Plain Style]

    The intonation is like, “lifting up” at the end.

    “me-ru suru?, suru?”

    Ready?

    [00:36]

    1. Do you go (= Are you going) ?

    2. Do you eat?

    3. Do you read?

    4. Do you write?

    5. Do you buy?

    6. Do you go back?

    7. Do you fix/repair?

    8. Do you use it?

    9. Do you borrow?

    10. Do you return?

    11. Do you call?

    12. Do you work overtime?

    13. Do you throw away?

    14. Do you learn?

    15. Do you bring (along/around)?

    16. Do you take (= bring smth. to somewh ere)?

    [03:21]

    Next, we will practice in past tense.

    For example,

    Did you mail? [Masu Style 🎵 → Plain Style]

    Ready?

    =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

    「かさ、もってきた?」

    [00:07]

    みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。きょうはカジュアルな、Plain Styleのれんしゅうです。かぞくや ともだちとはなすときに つかいますね。

    [00:18]

    ますスタイルのあと、Plainスタイルをいってください。

    たとえば、

    メールしますか 🎵 → メールする?

    イントネーションは さいごを もちあげるかんじです。”メールする?、する?”

    いいですか。

    [00:36]

    1. いきますか → いく?

    2. たべますか → たべる?

    3. よみますか → よむ?

    4. かきますか → かく?

    5. かいますか → かう?

    6. かえりますか → かえる?

    7. なおしますか → なおす?

    8. つかいますか → つかう?

    9. かりますか → かりる?

    10. かえしますか → かえす?

    11. でんわしますか → でんわする?

    12. ざんぎょうします → ざんぎょうする?

    13. すてますか → すてる?

    14. ならいますか → ならう?

    15. もってきますか → もってくる?

    16. もっていきますか → もっていく?

    [03:21]

    つぎは かこけいです。

    たとえば

    メールしましたか 🎵 → メールした?

    いいですか。

    Support the show

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    Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.

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    19 mins
  • 128 [✐1] I made a mistake! + Shadowing
    Mar 3 2026

    [✐1. Adagio] Past tense

    ★★★★★

    “Oops! I made a mistake.”

    [00:07]

    Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Today, we will practice the past tense. Say the past tense of the following words.

    [00:17]

    1. go … went

    2. eat … ate

    3. read … read

    4. write … wrote

    5. see/watch/look … saw/watched/looked

    6. go back/return … went back/returned

    7. do … did

    8. come … came

    9. forget … forgot

    10. make a mistake … made a mistake

    [02:08]

    So far so good? Next is the negative (form). Also make it in the past tense.

    For example,

    ride – didn’t ride

    Ready?

    [02:21]

    1. go ... didn’t go

    2. eat … didn’t eat

    3. read … didn’t read

    4. write … didn’t write

    5. see/watch/look … didn’t see/watch/look

    6. go back/return … didn’t go back/return

    7. do … didn’t do

    8. come … didn’t come

    9. forget … didin’t forget

    10. make a mistake … didn’t make a mistake

    Repeat after me

    =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

    「あ、まちがえました。」

    [00:07]

    みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。きょうは かこけいを れんしゅうします。では、つぎのことばの かこけいを いってください。

    [00:17]

    1. いきます … いきました

    2. たべます … たべました

    3. よみます … よみました

    4. かきます … かきました

    5. みます … みました

    6. かえります … かえりました

    7. します … しました

    8. きます … きました

    9. わすれます… わすれました

    10. まちがえます… まちがえました

    [02:08]

    ここまでOKですね。つぎは、ひていです。

    これも かこけいで いってください。

    たとえば、

    のります … のりませんでした

    いいですか。

    [02:21]

    1. いきます … いきませんでした

    2. たべます … たべませんでした

    3. よみます … よみませんでした

    4. かきます … かきませんでした

    5. みます … みませんでした

    6. かえります … かえりませんでした

    7. します … しませんでした

    8. きます … きませんでした

    9. わすれます … わすれませんでした

    10. まちがえます … まちがえませんでした


    Support the show

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    Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.

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    17 mins
  • 127 [✐3,4] if/when : ba? ra?+ Shadowing
    Feb 24 2026
    How do you leave a message on the answering machine?[✐3.Moderato, 4.Allegretto] conditional form★★★★★“If the fever doesn’t go down, I will take a day off.”[00:08]Hello, everyone. How are you doing? Today’s topic is a conditional form. Please make a sentence in conditional form after masu-form♫.For example,“make a mistake” ♫ - “if I make a mistake”Ready?Repeat after me[00:27]1. go [masu-form – conditional form]2. take a day off / rest3. warm up4. cool / refrigerate5. go down6. become7. to be8. there is / I have9. throw away10. forget11. look / watch / see12. eat13. do14. come[02:02]Now, listen to the key words [KW] and then repeat the sentence.[02:08]1. [KW] hurry up, Shinkansen(bullet train)→ If you hurry, you can catch the Shinkansen.2. [KW] I have a navigation, fine / OK→ If I have a navigation, I should be fine.3. [KW] warm up, tasty→ If you warm it up, it will taste even better.4. [KW] the fever goes down, work→ If the fever goes down, I will go to work.5. [KW] turn twenty years old, alcohol→ When you turn twenty, you can drink alcohol.6. [KW] Bucho (manager) is not here, meetingl→ If Bucho is not here, I think s/he is attending a meeting.7. [KW] you have questions, anytime→ If you have any questions, ask me anytime.8. [KW] see it in the film theatre, gripping / punch / impressive→ If you see it in a film theatre, it is more powerful / punchy.9. [KW] order today, the day after tomorrow→ If you order today, it will arrive the day after tomorrow.10. [KW] bring it tomorrow, can be replaced→ If you bring it tomorrow, it can be replaced.=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=「ねつがさがらなければ、やすみます。」[00:08]みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。きょうはconditional formですね。ますFormのあと♫、じょうけんけいconditional formをつくってください。たとえばまちがえます♫ - “まちがえれば”いいですか。Repeat after me[00:27]1. いきます - いけば2. やすみます - やすめば3. あたためます – あたためれば4. ひやします - ひやせば5. さがります - さがれば6. なります - なれば7. います - いれば8. あります - あれば9. すてます – すてれば10. わすれます - わすれれば11. みます - みれば12. たべます - たべれば13. します - すれば14. きます - くれば[02:02]では、キーワード[KW]をきいてから、ぶんをリピートしてください。[02:08]1. [KW] いそぎます、しんかんせん→ いそげば、しんかんせんにまにあいます。2. [KW] ナビがあります、 だいじょうぶ→ ナビがあれば、だいじょうぶです3. [KW] あたためます、おいしい→ あたためれば、もっとおいしくなります。4. [KW] ねつがさがります、しごと→ ねつがさがれば、しごとにいきます。5. [KW]はたちになります、おさけ→ はたちになれば、おさけをのめます。6. [KW] ぶちょうがここにいません、かいぎ→ ぶちょうがここにいなければ、かいぎにでているとおもいます。(かいぎにでる = attend a meeting)7. [KW] しつもんがあります、いつでも→ しつもんがあれば、いつでも きいてください。8. [KW]えいがかんでみます、はくりょく→ えいがかんでみれば、もっと はくりょくがあります。(はくりょくがある = have a tremendous impact, gripping)9. [KW] きょう ちゅうもんします、あさって→ きょう ちゅうもんすれば、あさってとどきます。10. [KW] あしたもってきます、とりかえてもらえます→ あしたもってくれば、とりかえてもらえます。Support the show=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=Need more translation & transcript? Become a patron: More episodes with full translation and Japanese transcripts. Members-only podcast feed for your smartphone app. Japanese Swotter on PatreonNote: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.
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    21 mins
  • 126 [✐2] Is it OK if I don't wear a mask? + Plain Style practices
    Feb 17 2026

    There are lots of "Plain Style" practices today!

    [✐2. Andante ] 〜てもいいですか ask permission to do something, 〜なくてもいいですか ask if you don’t have to

    “Is it OK if I don’t wear a mask?”

    [00:08]

    Hello, everyone. How are you doing. Thank you for listening to Japanese Swotter today again.

    Today we will practice “〜temo iidesuka”, namely “ask permission to do something“. First, please repeat in casual “Plain Style”.

    Repeat as follows,

    kakimasu>kaite [V-te Form] (♪repeat)

    Then, repeat the sentence

    Kaitemo iidesuka? (♪repeat)

    OK?

    Repeat after me

    [00:37]

    1. read

    May I read it?

    2. take a look/see/watch

    May I take a look/see/watch?

    3. ask/hear/listen to

    May I ask/hear/listen to?

    4. drink

    May I drink?

    5. buy

    May I buy?

    6. sleep

    May I sleep?

    7. take a nap

    May I take a nap?

    8. throw away

    May I throw it away?

    9. have/take it

    May I have/take it?

    10. take a rest/take a day off

    May I take a rest/day off?

    [03:03]

    Repeat sentences in plain style.

    Repeat after me

    [03:09]

    1. May I read it?

    2. May I take a look/see/watch?

    3. May I ask/hear/listen to?

    4. May I drink?

    5. May I buy?

    6. May I sleep?

    7. May I take a nap?

    8. May I throw it away?

    9. May I have/take it?

    10. May I take a rest/day off?

    =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

    「マスクをしなくてもいいですか。」

    [00:08]

    みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。きょうもJapanese Swotterをきいてくれて、ありがとうございます。

    まず「〜てもいいです」を れんしゅうします。Ask permission to do something.ですね。

    つぎのようにリピートします

    かきます>かいて[VてForm] ♪repeat

    それから、ぶんをリピートしてください。

    かいてもいいですか。♪repeat

    いいですか。

    Repeat after me

    [00:37]

    1. よみます>よんで

    よんでもいいですか。

    2. みます>みて

    みてもいいですか。

    3. ききます>きいて

    きいてもいいですか。

    4. のみます>のんで

    のんでもいいですか。

    5. かいます>かって

    かってもいいですか

    6. ねます>ねて

    ねてもいいですか。

    7. ひるね(を)します>ひるね(を)して

    ひるね(を)してもいいですか。

    8. すてます>すてて

    すててもいいですか。

    9. もらいます>もらって

    もらってもいいですか。

    10. やすみます>やすんで

    やすんでもいいですか。

    [03:03]

    つぎは、カジュアルなPlain Styleでリピートしてください。

    Repeat after me

    [03:09]

    1. よんでもいい?

    2. みてもいい?

    3. きいてもいい?

    4. のんでもいい?

    5. かってもいい?

    6. ねてもいい?

    7. ひるねしてもいい?

    8. すててもいい?

    9. もらってもいい?

    10. やすんでもいい?

    Support the show

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    Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.

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    22 mins
  • 15[✐3] If you have requests, let me know.
    Nov 7 2023

    [✐3.Moderato] Conditional: -eba 〜ば いいですか、i-adjective, noun:〜nara 「リクエストがあれば、おしえてください。」
    “If you have a request, let me know.”
    [00:08]
    Hello, everyone. We begin with reviewing 3 forms; Masu-, Jisho- and Jouken(conditional)-Kei(forms).
    Repeat after me
    [00:17]
    1.  eat
    2.  see/watch/look
    3.  be
    4.  fall(rain, snow)
    5.  read
    6.  go
    7.  hear/listen
    8.  meet/see
    9.  buy
    10.  call
    11.  do
    12.  come
    [01:38]
    There are Jouken(conditional)-kei(form) of na- and i-adjectives.  Note that “〜nara” follows after adjectives and nouns.
    Repeat after me
    [01:51]
    1.  good
    2.  bad
    3.  high/tall/expensive
    4.  cheap
    5.  clean/beautiful
    6.  free/disengaged/leisure
    7.  quiet
    8.  rain
    9.  snow
    10.  spring
    [02:45]
    Now let’s practice with sentences.
    Repeat after me
    [02:48]
    1.  If you walk, it’s about 20 minutes to the station.
    2.  If you go to that 100-yen shop, you can buy almost anything.
    3.  If you have a question, ask me.
    4.  If you eat this, you’ll be fine.
    5.  If it’s clear on weekend, I will play tennis.
    6.  If it snows, it’s “White Christmas”, isn’t it?
    7.  If you read this, you will understand it well.
    8.  If you take the medicine, you will get better.
    9.  If you call the police, they will come soon.
    10.  If you buy two, the third one is half price.
    11.  When it comes to coffee, I recommend you that café.
    12.  Where should I write my name?
    13.  I’d like to go to Asakusa, but how can I go(get) there?
    14.  I don’t know how to use this. What should I do?
    [05:31]
    Make a sentence as follows;
    For example,
    Tomorrow rain, cancel
    →  If it rains tomorrow, it will be cancelled.
    Here we go.

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    Note: English translations might sound occasionally unnatural as English, as I try to preserve the structure and essence of the original Japanese.

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