Japanese for English speakers Farm · Lesson 1

Getting out and coming back home

Describe your daily routine in Japanese — 出かけます (dekakemasu, leave home), 帰ります (kaerimasu, return). Use the time-marking particle に for specific times like 7時半 (7:30).

Conversation

  1. PX296 PX296

    ヤヤさんは朝、何時に出かけますか？

    Yaya san wa asa, nanji ni dekakemasu ka?

    Yaya, what time do you go out in the morning?

    Tip: <dekakemasu> = to go out / to leave your house

  2. Yaya Yaya

    朝、７時半に出かけます

    asa, shichi ji han ni dekakemasu

    I go out at 7:30 in the morning

    Tip: <han> = half / of half past

  3. PX296 PX296

    夜は何時に帰りますか？

    yoru wa nanji ni kaerimasuka?

    What time do you come back in the evening?

    Tip: <kaerimasu> = to go back / to return

  4. Yaya Yaya

    大抵、５時半に帰ります

    taitē, goji han ni kaerimasu

    I mostly come back at 5:30

    Tip: <taitē> = mostly / most of the times

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does 半 (han) mean for time?

'Half' — placed after the hour for 'half past': 7時半 (shichi-ji han) = 7:30.

When do you use に for time?

For specific clock times and dates: 7時に起きます (I wake up at 7). Don't use it with general words like 今日, 明日.

What is 出かけます?

'To go out' or 'leave home' — different from 行きます (to go somewhere). 出かけます emphasises departing your home.

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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