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日本語

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Speak in a room where the decision costs something: a position, a reason, a concession, and a next step.

Twenty-four classes. Hear the line, say it, then say it about your own life.

Hiragana is the sentence in the first four classes. After that, kanji is part of the line. The roman reading is only an aid.

The sentences

1. 1

   Your name

   Say hello, your name, where you are from, and goodbye. Hiragana only.

   こんにちは。わたしは____です。____からきました。はじめまして。

   Hello. I am ____. I came from ____. How do you do.

2. 2

   The family

   Name your own family in a polite sentence.

   これはわたしのかぞくです。あにがいます。ははは、いしゃです。

   This is my family. I have an older brother. My mother is a doctor.

3. 3

   The day

   Say what time you get up and that you work, as a habit.

   しちじにおきます。はたらきます。ろくじにたべます。

   I get up at seven. I work. I eat at six.

4. 4

   A real need

   Ask for help and ask them to slow down.

   たすけてください。もうすこしゆっくりおねがいします。

   Please help. A little more slowly, please.

5. 5

   Yesterday

   Say three things that finished yesterday.

   昨日、仕事をしました。六時に帰りました。家で晩ご飯を食べました。

   Yesterday I worked. I went home at six. I ate dinner at home.

6. 6

   Tomorrow

   Say what you intend to do tomorrow.

   明日、働くつもりです。母に電話するつもりです。

   Tomorrow I intend to work. I intend to call my mother.

7. 7

   Getting there

   Ask the way, and say how you go.

   駅へはどう行きますか。歩いて行きます。バスで行きます。

   How do I get to the station? I walk. I go by bus.

8. 8

   The phone

   Open a call, ask for a person, and leave a time.

   もしもし、____です。____さんはいらっしゃいますか。あとでお電話ください。

   Hello, this is ____. Is ____ there? Please call later.

9. 9

   What happened

   Set the scene, then say what finished.

   昨日は雨が降っていました。遅く出て、バスに乗り遅れました。

   Yesterday it was raining. I left late and missed the bus.

10. 10

    What you think

    Give an opinion, then say you do not think the easy version.

    いい考えだと思います。簡単だとは思いません。

    I think it is a good idea. I do not think it is easy.

11. 11

    When it breaks

    Say what does not work, ask for someone, and move the meeting.

    インターネットが動きません。だれかを送れますか。会議をずらせますか。

    The internet does not work. Can you send someone? Can we move the meeting?

12. 12

    The work

    Say your role and what you have finished.

    アナリストとして働いています。報告書は終わりました。

    I work as an analyst. The report is finished.

13. 13

    A disagreement

    Grant one point, then differ.

    お話はわかります。でも賛成できません。別の日を提案します。

    I understand what you said. But I cannot agree. I propose another day.

14. 14

    Far away

    Say what you would do if you lived closer.

    もっと近くに住んでいたら、もっと会えるでしょう。

    If we lived closer, we would be able to see each other more.

15. 15

    The news

    Report what a paper said, and refuse a hot take.

    新聞によると、決定は難しいそうです。まだ判断できません。

    According to the paper, the decision is difficult. I still cannot judge.

16. 16

    The email

    Say the email: what you send, what you need, and by when.

    契約書をお送りします。金曜日までにご返事をお願いします。

    I send the contract. I ask for a reply by Friday.

17. 17

    What you mean

    Restate the point and ask if you are wrong.

    つまり、日を変えたいということですね。違いますか。

    So you want to change the day. Is that wrong?

18. 18

    A hard conversation

    Start with the difficulty, then make one request.

    言いづらいです。攻撃ではありません。家の手伝いが必要です。

    It is hard to say. It is not an attack. I need help at home.

19. 19

    The real issue

    Move the argument onto what it is about.

    お金の話ではありません。信頼の話です。

    It is not a conversation about money. It is a conversation about trust.

20. 20

    The deal

    Concede one thing with a condition, and repeat the deal.

    値段が変わらなければ、その日を受け入れます。繰り返します。そちらが届けて、こちらが設置します。

    If the price does not change, I accept that day. I repeat: you deliver, we install.

21. 21

    The joke

    Keep the joke with friends and the plain sentence at work.

    友だちにはおもしろいです。仕事では、そのまま言います。

    With friends, that is funny. At work, I say it plain.

22. 22

    The table

    Give a one-line toast, and a condolence that stops.

    この会に。どうぞお元気で。ご愁傷さまです。必要なら、ここにいます。

    To this gathering. Please be well. My condolences. If needed, I am here.

23. 23

    Any topic

    Stay in a topic you only half know.

    つまり、____の話ですね。もっと簡単に言えますか。考えは説明できます。用語はまだです。

    So this is a conversation about ____. Can you say it more simply? I can explain the idea. Not the term yet.

24. 24

    The room

    Say a position, one reason, one concession, and a next step.

    立場は、月曜に始めます。理由は、文面ができたからです。譲歩は、見直しを受け入れます。次は、今日ご確認ください。

    My position: we start Monday. The reason: the text is ready. The concession: I accept a review. The next step: please confirm today.