Japanese for English speakers Supermarket · Lesson 0

A home remedy

Discuss home remedies — はちみつ生姜湯 (honey and ginger hot water) is the best for a sore throat. Includes ...の時 (when ...) and the praise 頭がいい (smart).

Conversation

  1. Magicat Magicat

    のどが痛い時...

    nodo ga itai toki...

    When your throat is sore...

    Tip: <toki> = when / during. Usually after nouns, adjectives or verbs. It is not used to ask questions.

  2. Magicat Magicat

    ハチミツ生姜湯は一番です

    hachimitsu shōga yū wa ichiban desu

    water with ginger and honey is the best

    Tip: <hachimitsu> = bee honey <shōga> = ginger <yū> = hot water

  3. Lindo Lindo

    さすがですね

    sasuga desu ne

    I knew it

    Tip: <sasuga> = interjection that means "as I expected". It always has a positive nuance, in sentences like "I knew you could do it, you are so smart / brave / dedicated"

  4. Lindo Lindo

    マジキャットさんはいつも頭がいいですね

    Majikiatto san wa itsumo atama ga ī desu ne

    You are always so smart

    Tip: <atama ga ī desu> = to be smart / intelligent

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does noun + の時 mean?

'When (it is) ...' — 喉が痛い時 = 'when your throat is sore'. の時 is placed at the end of a descriptive clause.

What does 頭がいい mean?

Literally 'good head' — used to mean 'intelligent / smart'. The opposite: 頭が悪い = 'not smart'.

What does さすが mean?

'As expected (in a positive sense)' or 'you really are ...!' — a complimentary interjection: さすが、ピシ君 = 'I knew you could do it, Pishi'.

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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