Let’s practice your Japanese comprehension with this video, which includes N5 and N4 level Japanese grammar points taught in Genki 1 and Genki 2. The Japanese language has many sensitive nuances, and using them smoothly and appropriately can be the most difficult part. Experience, such as talking and listening as much as possible, is key to learning how to navigate them.
Eriko is a Japanese YouTuber living in Italy, who shares her experiences. Because she is a Japanese teacher herself, her way of speaking is comparatively easy to understand for students. She speaks naturally while using a fair amount of “textbook” grammar. It is a good balance of both conversational and polite language.
In this video, she shares a short story about her recent adoption of a blind rescue cat. Another good reason to watch this video, don’t you think?
It is ok if you do not perfectly understand everything said in the video since the goal is to understand more or less the outline. Listen first without captions, and then you can read my commentaries below. In this post, I will break down a few grammar points she uses, and include the chapters in which you can find explanations in the textbook “Genki.”
■■ -0:15
この猫ちゃんまだ名前がないんですけど
この ねこちゃん まだ なまえ が ないんですけど
= This cat doesn’t have a name yet but…
→ This is a typical use of “んです” use. You have learned that this expression is used to: 1) bring attention, 2) make an emphasis, or 3) give an explanation/reason. We often use it at the beginning of a conversation, to bring the attention, which is the case here. In that case, it is a bit similar to a tap on the shoulder and saying something like “hey, you know what?” to make a conversation flow. So here, Eriko introduces this cat and explains the fact that he has not yet been named. “けど” at the end normally means “however,” but here it is used casually and has no real meaning, it is just often paired with “んです” to introduce the topic we are about to talk. She uses “んですけど” a few more times in this video in the same way, so try to recognize where and feel how she uses them. [Genki 1, chapter 12]
■■–0:35
獣医さんの所に運んでくれたそうです
じゅういさん の ところ に はこんで くれたそうです
= He kindly brought him to the vet
→ We often use -そうです after a verb in the short form, which means “sounds like, seems like, I’ve heard that.” It is because it is a second hand information. In Japanese, “desu/masu” forms have a very strong affirmative or statement nuance, so when it is not our information per se, we usually like to soften it by adding suffixes like “そうです”, “らしいです”, “ようです” for example to be less affirmative. This is not something that needs to be translated, as in English it is not customary to do so. It’s important to not be confused with the “そうです” which goes after an adjective and means “looks like.” [Genki 2, chapter 17]
→ The “くれた” part comes from the helping verb “くれる” after a te-form, to express gratitude. It is subtle, but it implies that the speaker appreciates the action someone did, and it is usually used when someone has done a favor for us. Here, the person who found the cat did not bring the cat as a favor specifically for Eriko, but she expresses that she is happy he did so and that it is a nice thing to do. I translated it by “kindly” but it can also be omitted. That is also why it is used in expressions to thank someone. “～てくれてありがとう” (“thank you for ~ing”) [Genki 2, chapter 16]
■■–0:40 ~ 0:50
Here Eriko uses the ending particle “ね” multiple times while talking to the cat: it is a sweet way to talk to someone. It shows affection or intimacy. It is like if she was tapping you on the shoulder and saying “right?” affectionately. If we were to use an emoji here, it would be hearts.
■■–0:50
最初家に来た時、あの、もうすごく怖がっていて、
さいしょ いえ に きたとき、あの、もう すごく こわがっていて
= When he first came home, he was really scared and…
→ Eriko uses the form こわがっていて instead of こわくて because it is the third person. It is the same principle as “～たい” (= want to do something) which we change to “～たがる” for the 3rd person. In fact, she says “あそびたがる” at 1:48 (= he wants to play, shows signs that he wants to play). Also notice that she uses “もう” here a lot. It is the “もう” I explained at the bottom of this post, under the three stars.
That is all for today. I will post the second part soon! よろしくお願いします！