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🇯🇵 Japanese · Beginner Level 3

PART 1 · LESSON 1 OF 30 · 40 MINUTES Free

New Year's Day

On January first Ben visits a neighbourhood shrine with Yui's family, draws a fortune and talks about his hopes. Make a wish, ask what something says, describe different fortunes and name a goal for the year.

Lesson 1 · New Year's Day

Japanese · 40 minutes

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THE STORY

Thursday January first, 2026. Ben arrived in Kyoto yesterday and is staying with Yui's family until his paid return train on January third. This morning they walk slowly to a nearby shrine. Ben chooses to join the family's visit, learns how they make an offering and draws a fortune. The New Year lunch is waiting at home.

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Words and phrases

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がんじつganjitsuNew Year's Day
おさいせんosaisenan offering
おねがい を しますonegai o shimasumake a wish
おさいせん を いれて、 おねがい を しますosaisen o irete, onegai o shimasuput in an offering and make a wish
ベン さん、 おさいせん を いれて、 おねがい を します。Ben-san, osaisen o irete, onegai o shimasuBen, you put in an offering, and make a wish.
て を あわせますte o awasemasuput your hands together
あわせますawasemasubring together
て を あわせてte o awaseteput your hands together and
いくら いれます か？ikura iremasu kaHow much do I put in?
ごえんgoenfive yen
ごえん が いい です よ。goen ga ii desu yoFive yen is good.
なります ようにnarimasu yō nimay it become
にほんご が もっと じょうず に なります ようにnihongo ga motto jōzu ni narimasu yō nimay my Japanese get better
ことし、 にほんご が もっと じょうず に なります ように。kotoshi, nihongo ga motto jōzu ni narimasu yō niMay my Japanese get better this year.
で あります ようにde arimasu yō nimay it be
かぞく が げんき で あります ように。kazoku ga genki de arimasu yō niMay my family be well.
ごうかく できます ようにgōkaku dekimasu yō nimay I pass
あえます ようにaemasu yō nimay we be able to meet
おみくじomikujifortune slip
ひきましょうhikimashōlet's draw
おみくじ を ひきましょう！omikuji o hikimashōLet's draw a fortune!
かいて ありますkaite arimasuit's written
なん と かいて あります かnan to kaite arimasu kawhat is written
これ は なん と かいて あります か？kore wa nan to kaite arimasu kaWhat does this say?
だいきちdaikichigreat luck
だいきち です！ いちばん いい です よ！daikichi desu! ichiban ii desu yoGreat luck! It's the best one!
しょうきちshōkichismall luck
まあまあmāmāso-so
わたし は しょうきち です。 まあまあ です ね。watashi wa shōkichi desu. māmā desu neI got small luck. So-so.
もくひょうmokuhyōgoal
ことし の もくひょう は なん です かkotoshi no mokuhyō wa nan desu kawhat is this year's goal
ベン さん、 ことし の もくひょう は なん です か？Ben-san, kotoshi no mokuhyō wa nan desu kaBen, what's your goal for this year?
しけんshikenexam
しけん を うけますshiken o ukemasutake an exam
うけますukemasutake, an exam
うけたいuketaiwant to take, an exam
にほんご の しけん を うけたい です。nihongo no shiken o uketai desuI want to take the Japanese exam.
きっとkittosurely
きっと だいじょうぶ です よ。kitto daijōbu desu yoI'm sure you'll be fine.
おまもりomamoria charm
ランニングranningurunning
かんばんkanbansign
でぐちdeguchiexit
いい いちねん に なります ように。ii ichinen ni narimasu yō niMay it be a good year.