Skip to content
fluentbyear
🇯🇵 Japanese · Intermediate Level 3

PART 3 · LESSON 23 OF 30 · 32 MINUTES

Thirty-Two

Wednesday the twenty-eighth of June, the rainy season, at home. Ben is thirty-two, though with his friends his age is still a secret. A long parcel has come from Kyoto, a fishing rod with no card, from a man who doesn't need words. Kenta, Natsuki (Grandma said to bring her) and Sota come round after work, wet through, with sushi from Missus Sato, and Yui brings in the cake with the candles on it, a three and a two. Learn to say what someone else wants, from the outside (hoshigatte ta desho, shiritagatte ta, tabetagatte imasu), to explain a present casually (okutte kureta n da yo), to pass on an order from home (tsurete itte tte), to ask a friend how old they are now (ikutsu ni natta), and to complain that something was supposed to be a secret (himitsu datta noni).

Audio instruction: English

Report a problem with this lesson

This lesson needs a subscription.

The first 2 lessons of each level are free. One subscription unlocks every other lesson, in the app and on the website.

See the plans

Already subscribed? Sign in. Or listen to lesson 1 for free.

THE STORY

Wednesday, the twenty-eighth of June, twenty twenty-eight, the rainy season. Ben is thirty-two today, and with his friends his age is still a secret. At four a postman rang with a long box from Kyoto, and Yui signed for it with Ben's own stamp. At seven Ben comes home wet from the station and opens it. At half past seven Kenta, Natsuki and Sota ring the bell, wetter still, with sushi from Missus Sato, and at eight Yui brings in the cake, with the candles on it. This is the conversation you'll be able to say by the end of the lesson.

Flashcards

The words and phrases of this lesson, one card each. Best after you’ve listened.

Create your account.

Create a free account and confirm your email to keep the cards you like and the decks you make.

Already have an account? Sign in

Words and phrases

The lesson is for your ears. Open this afterwards, to see what you learned.
ほしがって たhoshigatte tawas wanting, of someone else
じぶん の さお、 ほしがって た でしょ。jibun no sao, hoshigatte ta deshoYou wanted your own rod, didn't you?
おとうさん が おくって くれた ん だ よ。otōsan ga okutte kureta n da yoDad sent it for you.
ことば が いらない ひとkotoba ga iranai hitoa man who doesn't need words
おとうさん は、 ことば が いらない ひと だ から。otōsan wa, kotoba ga iranai hito da karaDad's a man who doesn't need words.
ばあちゃん が、 なつき さん も つれて いって って。bāchan ga, Natsuki-san mo tsurete itte tteGrandma said to bring Natsuki too.
いくつ に なった？ikutsu ni nattaHow old are you now?
さんじゅうにsanjūnithirty-two
さん と に。 さんじゅうに だ！san to ni. sanjūni daA three and a two. Thirty-two!
ひみつ だった のに！himitsu datta noniIt was supposed to be a secret!

7 more cards in this lesson. Subscribe to see and study them all. See the plans. Already subscribed? Sign in.