Japanese for English speakers Townhall · Lesson 0

No, it is not

Politely correct misinformation with 違います (chigaimasu, 'it's not like that'). Practice directional phrases — パン屋の隣 (next to the bakery) — and place names.

Conversation

  1. Magicat Magicat

    すみません、あそこは市役所ですか？

    sumimasen, asoko wa shiyakusho desu ka?

    Excuse me, is that the town hall?

    Tip: <shiyakusho> = town hall

  2. Honey Honey

    いいえ、違います

    īe, chigaimasu

    No, it is not

    Tip: <chigaimasu> = expression that usually follow "īe", or similar words, and means "it is not like that".

  3. Honey Honey

    あれはアメリカの大使館です

    are wa amerika no daishikan desu

    That is the USA embassy

    Tip: <Amerika> = USA <taishikan> = embassy

  4. Honey Honey

    市役所はパン屋の隣です

    shiyakusho wa panya no tonari desu

    The town hall is next to the bakery

    Tip: <pan> = bread <panya> = bakery <tonari> = next to / close to <[place A] + wa + [place B] + no + tonari desu> = Place A is next to place B

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does 違います mean?

'It's not like that' or 'wrong' — a polite way to correct someone's assumption. Softer than はい/いいえ alone.

How do you say 'next to' in Japanese?

AはBの隣です = 'A is next to B'. 隣 (tonari) is the positional noun for 'next door / adjacent'.

What does 大使館 mean?

'Embassy' — diplomatic mission of a foreign country. アメリカの大使館 = 'the American embassy'.

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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