Japanese for English speakers Cafe · Lesson 3

Summer drinks

Order a Japanese summer treat — 苺のかき氷 (ichigo no kakigōri, strawberry shaved ice) — and learn weather/temperature words: 暑い (atsui, hot weather), 冷たい (tsumetai, cold to the touch).

Conversation

  1. Pishi Pishi

    夏ですね～暑いですね

    Natsu desu ne... atsui desu ne

    It's summer. It's very hot

    Tip: <Natsu> = Summer <Atsui> = Hot (for weather)

  2. Honey Honey

    冷たい飲み物はいかがですか？

    Tsumetai nomimono wa ikaga desu ka?

    Would you like to have a cold drink?

    Tip: <Tsumetai> = Cold (for drinks or by touch)

  3. Pishi Pishi

    いいですね

    Ī desu ne

    Good idea

    Tip: <Ī desu ne> = Good idea

  4. Pishi Pishi

    イチゴのかき氷を一つお願いします

    Ichigo no kakigōri o hitotsu onegaishimasu

    One strawberry shaved ice, please

    Tip: <Ichigo> = Strawberry <Kakigōri> = Shaved ice (a refreshing dessert)

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What is かき氷 (kakigōri)?

Japanese shaved ice topped with sweet syrup (strawberry, matcha, melon) and sometimes condensed milk — a beloved summer dessert at festivals.

What is the difference between 暑い and 熱い?

暑い (atsui) is hot weather. 熱い (atsui) is hot to the touch — a drink, food, an object. Same pronunciation, different kanji.

What does いい です ね mean?

'Good idea' or 'sounds good' — a friendly way to agree with a suggestion.

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.

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