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Chapter 1 of 12
First words, new places
First conversations
Unit 1 · beginner
First Sounds and Greetings
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First Sounds and Greetings
10 lessons- 1
Hello and Goodbye
Learn the core Japanese greetings and goodbyes, when each fits by time of day and relationship, and how to open and close a first conversation politely.
- 2
Introduce Yourself
Learn to introduce yourself in Japanese with 私は〜です and 〜から来ました, then ask お名前は何ですか and どこから来ましたか in polite beginner conversation.
- 3
Basic Vowel Sounds
Learn to pronounce Japanese a, i, u, e, o in isolation and in simple words, and practice telling similar vowels apart, such as the 'ee'-like i and the 'ih'-like sound English speakers often substitute.
- 4
Responding to Greetings
Learn to reply to common Japanese greetings with short, natural responses and follow-up questions. Master 'Genki desu' and 'Anata wa?' to keep conversations flowing.
- 5
Using Excuse Me
Learn to use sumimasen to get attention, pass by someone, or interrupt politely in public. Includes phrases, dialogue, and cultural tips for beginners.
- 6
Asking Yes/No Questions
Learn to turn Japanese statements into simple yes/no questions using か, and answer them naturally with はい and いいえ.
- 7
Counting 1 to 10
Learn Japanese numbers one through ten, their readings, and how to count fingers, books, and other common items using basic counters.
- 8
Responding to Apologies
Learn to respond to apologies in Japanese with phrases like 'No problem' or 'It's okay'. This lesson focuses on the receiver's response, not making apologies.
- 9
Basic Consonant Sounds
Learn to hear and say Japanese p and b clearly, with practical examples and a dialogue to practice.
- 10
Asking How to Pronounce a Word
Learn to ask how a Japanese word is pronounced and repeat it back for confirmation, using 何と読みますか and 〜ですね. Perfect for building pronunciation confidence.
First Bites: Essential Food Basics
10 lessons- 11
Name Common Foods
Learn to name 10 common foods in Japanese and use the verbs tabemasu (eat) and suki desu (like) to talk about them.
- 12
Express Basic Tastes
Learn to describe the basic taste of food in Japanese using kore wa ___ desu and ___ no aji ga shimasu, so you can talk about what a dish is like rather than whether you like it.
- 13
State Food Preferences
Learn the Japanese patterns for saying you like or dislike a food, using suki and kirai with common dishes. Beginner level, with polite forms and practice.
- 14
Order at a Cafe
Learn to order a drink in Japanese, specify a size or option, and ask the price politely using 〜をください, 〜でお願いします, and いくらですか.
- 15
Ask for the Bill
Learn how to request the check and ask about payment methods in Japanese, focusing on ending a meal politely.
- 16
Identify Meal Times
Learn to name the four meals in Japanese and say when you eat them using simple time patterns like asa, hiru, ban, and yoru.
- 17
Say What You Eat for Breakfast
Learn the Japanese pattern for describing your breakfast: asagohan ni ___ o tabemasu / nomimasu, with common breakfast foods and drinks.
- 18
Ask Someone Their Favorite Food
Learn to ask 'What is your favorite food?' in Japanese and answer with common foods. Practice polite conversation patterns for asking others' preferences.
- 19
Express Hunger and Thirst
Learn to express hunger and thirst in Japanese with onaka ga suita and nodo ga kawaita, ask others how they feel, and understand why these differ from ordering food or drinks.
- 20
Name Common Drinks
Learn six common Japanese drink words and the pattern 'I drink ___' using the particle o with the verb nomimasu, with polite and casual forms.
Getting Around: Basic Transport
10 lessons- 21
Buying a Single Ticket
Learn to buy a one-way ticket for local transport in Japanese. Master katakana ワンウェイ, the particle を, and polite requests like お願いします. Compare with return tickets later.
- 22
Buying a Return Ticket
Learn to ask for a round-trip ticket in Japanese, including return date and time, using polite beginner-friendly phrases and counters.
- 23
Asking the Price of a Ticket
Learn to ask 'How much is a ticket to ...?' in Japanese with the pattern 〜までいくらですか, understand the answer in yen, and ask a polite follow-up.
- 24
Asking About Departure Time
Learn to ask what time the next bus or train departs in Japanese, understand simple schedule answers, and avoid confusing departure time with arrival time.
- 25
Asking About Arrival Time
Learn to ask arrival times in Japanese with 何時に着きますか and 何時に来ますか. Practice bus and train arrival questions, understand duration, and use かかります for travel time.
- 26
Finding the Platform
Learn to ask 'Which platform is the train to ___ on?' in Japanese, understand platform numbers, and read station signs at beginner level.
- 27
Asking for the Next Stop
Learn the beginner Japanese question 次の駅は何ですか (tsugi no eki wa nan desu ka) and its bus version, plus how to catch and confirm stop names while riding trains and buses in Japan.
- 28
Asking to Be Notified of Your Stop
Learn beginner Japanese for asking a bus or taxi driver to let you know when to get off, plus how to understand their confirmation and thank them politely.
- 29
Buying a Metro Ticket
Learn to ask for a metro ticket in Japanese, name your destination, and understand fare and zone options at the ticket machine or counter.
- 30
Asking for a Taxi
Learn to say 'I need a taxi to...' in Japanese, ask for estimated arrival time, and handle phone or taxi stand requests with confidence.
Foundations of Social Interaction
10 lessons- 31
Greeting Friends Casually
Learn casual Japanese greetings like やあ, おーい, 元気？, and どう？ for friends and peers, and practice them at different times of day.
- 32
Introducing Yourself Socially
Learn to say your name, where you're from, and one hobby in a friendly, casual Japanese introduction. Perfect for beginners making friends.
- 33
Asking Basic Personal Questions
Learn beginner Japanese question patterns that invite people to share, such as asking about hobbies or siblings, and see how they differ from yes/no questions.
- 34
Responding to 'How Are You?'
Learn to respond to 'How are you?' in casual Japanese with variations like 'Pretty good, thanks!' or 'A bit tired today,' and how to ask the question back.
- 35
Saying Goodbye in Social Settings
Learn relaxed Japanese farewells for leaving a gathering politely, including jaa ne, mata ne, and osaki ni shitsurei shimasu, with notes on when each fits.
- 36
Expressing Thanks Casually
Learn casual Japanese thanks like ありがとう and 助かる for small favors among friends, and see how they differ from formal ありがとうございます in tone and endings.
- 37
Apologizing to Friends
Learn to say 'Sorry I'm late!' and 'My bad' in casual Japanese, and how to respond when someone apologizes to you. Perfect for everyday situations with friends.
- 38
Giving Compliments to Peers
Learn to give sincere, specific compliments in Japanese and accept them naturally. Practice phrases for appearance, skills, and possessions, and distinguish compliments from flattery.
- 39
Inviting a Friend to Hang Out
Learn to invite friends in casual Japanese with 〜ない？ and 空いてる？, plus time and activity phrases for spontaneous, low-pressure plans.
- 40
Accepting and Declining Invitations
Learn to accept enthusiastically and decline politely in casual Japanese invitations. Master phrases like 'Zenzen ii yo!' and 'Gomen, chotto...' for flexible, friendly responses.
First Encounters: Polite Basics
10 lessons- 41
Formal vs. Informal Greetings
Learn to choose between formal and informal Japanese greetings like おはようございます and おはよう, and know when each is appropriate based on context and relationship.
- 42
Introducing Yourself: Name and Basic Info
Learn to introduce yourself in Japanese with です, say your name and nationality, choose formal or casual endings, and respond naturally when someone introduces themselves to you.
- 43
Asking Someone's Name Politely
Learn to ask "What's your name?" in Japanese at three politeness levels, from casual 名前は？ to formal お名前を伺ってもよろしいでしょうか, with natural pronunciation and usage notes.
- 44
Saying Please and Thank You
Learn to use onegaishimasu and arigatou gozaimasu in daily Japanese. Master formal and casual forms, and respond to thanks naturally.
- 45
Apologizing for Simple Mistakes
Learn beginner Japanese apologies for small everyday slip-ups: sumimasen, gomen nasai, osoku natte sumimasen, and polite replies like daijoubu desu. Includes formal and casual forms with a short dialogue.
- 46
Using 'Excuse Me' to Get Attention
Learn beginner-friendly Japanese phrases to politely get attention in public or interrupt a conversation, including sumimasen, chotto sumimasen, and shitsurei shimasu, with clear usage notes.
- 47
Polite and Casual Requests
Learn how one request changes from casual to polite Japanese by adjusting verb forms, sentence endings, and softeners for friends, colleagues, and strangers.
- 48
Responding to Thanks
Learn when to use どういたしまして, いいえ, 大丈夫です and other natural replies to thanks in formal and casual Japanese, with pronunciation and example dialogue.
- 49
Saying Goodbye: Formal and Informal
Learn Japanese goodbye expressions for formal, neutral, and casual situations. Choose the right farewell based on relationship, setting, and time of day.
- 50
Small Talk About the Weather
Learn beginner Japanese weather phrases to start brief, polite small talk: ask about today's weather, agree, and end the exchange naturally with desu and ne.