Japanese for English speakers School · Lesson 4

I got lost!

Directions and locations in Japanese — 外 (soto, outside), 左 (hidari, left), 食堂 (shokudō, canteen). Plus うそ (no way!) for surprise.

Conversation

  1. Cassian Cassian

    あっ！ここは男の人のトイレではありません。

    ah! koko wa otoko no toire dewa arimasen.

    Ops! This is not the male toilet!

    Tip: <toire> = toilet

  2. Meera Meera

    男の人のトイレは外ですよ！

    otoko no hito no toire ha soto desu yo

    The male toilet is outside

    Tip: <soto> = outside

  3. Cassian Cassian

    うそ！本当に外ですか？

    uso! hontōni soto desu ka?

    No way! Is it really outside?

    Tip: <uso> = interjection that literally means "lie", commonly used to say "unbelievable"

  4. Meera Meera

    うん、食堂の左です

    un, shokudō no hirari desu

    Yep, on the left of the canteen

    Tip: <shokudō> = canteen <hidari> = left

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does うそ mean colloquially?

Literally 'lie' — used as 'no way!' or 'you're kidding!'. Common reaction to surprising news.

What is 食堂 (shokudō)?

A canteen, cafeteria, or casual diner — often serving teishoku set meals at school or office buildings.

外 vs 外で vs 外に?

外 (soto) = outside (noun). 外で = (do something) outside. 外に = (be) outside / move outside.

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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