Japanese for English speakers Beach · Lesson 1

Symptoms 2

Describe a sore throat in Japanese with 喉が痛いです (nodo ga itai desu) and offer a throat lozenge — のど飴 (nodo ame). Practice the particle が for what hurts, and ...はどうですか for polite suggestions.

Conversation

  1. Bolin Bolin

    ゲホゲホ

    *geho geho*

    *Cough, cough*

    Tip: <Geho geho> = Onomatopoeic sound of cough

  2. Yennifer Yennifer

    ～さん、喉が痛いですか？

    ...San, nodo ga itai desu ka?

    Bolin, do you have a sore throat?

    Tip: <Nodo> = Throat <Itai> = Painful/sore <Ga itai> = Hurts

  3. Bolin Bolin

    うん、ちょっといたいです

    Un, chotto itai desu

    Yes, it's a little sore

  4. Yennifer Yennifer

    では、のど飴をどうぞ

    Dewa, nodo ame wa dō desu ka?

    What about a throat lozenge, then?

    Tip: <Nodo ame> = Throat lozenges <Ame> = Candy (It sounds like the word for "rain" but it is written with a different kanji)

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'my throat hurts' in Japanese?

喉が痛いです (nodo ga itai desu). The particle が marks the body part that hurts.

What is the difference between 飴 (candy) and 雨 (rain)?

They are pronounced identically (ame) but written with different kanji. Context tells you which is meant.

How do you suggest something politely?

Use ...はどうですか (... wa dō desu ka) — 'how about ...?' — a soft, non-pushy way to offer a suggestion.

What does ちょっと mean here?

ちょっと literally means 'a little' but is often used as a hedging word: 'a little sore', 'a little expensive', or to politely trail off when declining.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

Next lesson in Beach Invitations to events →