Chapter 4   Shopping, Likes & Dislikes, and Casual Talk

Objectives (what you should be able to do in this chapter) and Evaluations:

Click here for the Chapter 4 Kanji
(please refer to the kanji glossary as well.)

Click here for the conversations recorded by previous students.

Direct link: https://appserv02.uncw.edu/tealvision/player.aspx?VID=3%2bne%2bHhkHSU%3d 

Sample Conversation 1: Shopping

 Vocabulary glossary key words "Shopping items"  "Shopping-Stores"

Vocabulary glossary key words "counters

 Vocabulary Glossary Key word ” adjectives-i  “

Grammar:  Adjectives 

Grammar: Interrogatives (questions words)  Click here for the list of questions words and practice.

Note: You will not likely to be able to find any clothing which is equivalent of XL of the US.  The biggest shirt I found in Japan was XXXXL, which just fits me so Japanese XXXXXL or XXXL is equivalent of US Large.  I rarely find my shoes (8.5 - 9 in the US) size, either.   

Vocabulary Glossary Key word ” colors “

Note:  If you take out い of the I-adjective word, it becomes a noun.  E.g.  あかい (adjective) becomes あか (noun).  If a word expressing color does not end with い, it is a noun.  E.g.  みどり green, ちゃいろ brown, ピンク　pink, etc.

Other useful I-Adjective words:

Vocabulary Glossary Key word ” adjectives-i  “

Sample Conversation 2: Purchasing Omamori at a shrines and temples

  Vocabulary glossary key words "shopping-shrine"

You: 　えんむすびの　お守り    　ありますか。	So you have  a good luck charm for finding a spouse?
Miko:  はい、こちらで　ございます。	Yes, this is.
You:　それから、こうつうあんぜんの　お守りは　どれですか。	And, which one (of three or more choices) is a good luck charm for traffic safety?
Miko: 　あちらです。　あの　赤いのです	(It is) that one over there.  (It is) that red one.
You:　これですか。	(is it) this?
Miko: 　いえ、その　むこうのです。	No, the one over/beyond that one (you mentioned).
You:　これですか。	(is it) this?
Miko: 　はい、それです。	Yes, it is (near you).
You:　しゅういんは　どこですか。	Where is the Shuin (stamp and calligraphy of the temple)?
Miko: 　しゅういんは　あちらです。	The shuin is over there.
You:　じゃ、これを　おねがいします。	Well then, this one please.
Miko: 　はい、おまいり　ごくろうさまです。	Thank you for your visiting our shrine ( coming to pray at the shrine/temple).

What kind of luck would you like to receive?  Here are some samples for good lucks that you may receive.

Look up the following words in the Vocabulary Glossary " " (the link from the Homepage) and pick at least three good luck charms that you would like to buy at a shrine (since you will be asked during the test.  You do not have to actually buy them in Japan, though).

御守（おまもり）、家内安全（かない　あんぜん）、交通安全（こうつう　あんぜん）、身代（みがわり）、合格（ごうかく）、必勝（ひっしょう）、縁結（えんむすび）、厄除（きじょ）、魔除（まよけ）、開運（かいうん）、恋愛（れんあい）、大願（たいがん）、安産（あんざん）、商売繁盛（しょうばい　はんじょう）、子宝（こだから）、子供守り（こども　まもり）、無病息災（むびょう　そくさい）、長寿（ちょうじゅ）

Sample Conversation 3: Negotiating prices at a flea market in Kyoto

Vocabulary glossary key words "shopping-flea-market"

Japanese usually shock at your speaking any Japanese.  So haggling down a price in Japanese in a flea market is one of fun activities with the locals but vendors in Japan do not jack up a price just because you are a non-Japanese tourist unlike some other countries. They usually discount the price to a certain point (I think, usually discount 10 - 30 %) but if you ask more, they will loose an interest in selling the item.   Hand-made items are usually pricy.   The cheapest used Kimono that I have seen in a flea market was 500 yen but the design is plain and color is sometimes dark.  Obi (Kimono belt sash) are usually really pricy (much more than Kimono).   To view the flea market, go to https://appserv02.uncw.edu/tealvision/player.aspx?VID=pnsWy7naHBo%3d   

 Click here to review and practice the large numbers.

Sample Conversation 4: Shopping and Likes and Dislikes

 Vocabulary glossary key words "shopping-likes-dislikes"

Intermediate Grammar:  Click here to learn and practice "Comparative and Superlative"

The concept of "in-group" and "out-group" terms:  Click here to see images.  When a Japanese mention their own father to other non-family member (an out-group member), they say "ちち" to address their own father.  The non-family member (the out-group member) use "おとうさん " to refer to your father.  But when you call your own father within the family members (in-group), you call your father "おとうさん."    The other example is when you introduce your fellow company member (no matter if they are you boss or colleague) to other company members, you call their (boss or colleague's) name without-san. When you are within the company, you call their name with -san. 

Break Time ひとやすみ

 Take a break and watch some videos on Japanese department stores.
Opening:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cihM6zWjJpw

Family Mart (a Japanese convenience store)  You do not need to bring anything to Japan.  You can get everything here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2RwlSxFYuQ

Sample Conversation 5: Casual Talk and Kansai Dialect

Learn some Kansai dialect here.   Learn some commonly used/heard words used in Kansai area.

Vocabulary glossary key words "food-japanese"

Culture: Click here to see the summary of some Kansai "dialect" words.

Grammar: Click here to learn and practice plain/casual/dictionary forms of verbs.

Here are some sample conversation you may have with your Japanese friends when you meet them in Japan.

You will learn plain forms of verbs in the next chapter but you can start learning how to speak in casual/direct tones with a friend.  If the sentences end with noun or adjective predicate (noun+です , or adjective+ です), you simply omitです .  I put parenthesis for you to see how it is omitted.

 
I am introducing some Kansai Dialect 関西弁　かんさいべん　here.  If you can, try it with your Japanese friend from Kansai area and ask them for more words unique to Kansai dialect (you can do that while you are practicing English conversation with people from Kansai area).  

Assignment 1: Writing shopping conversations

Write four souvenirs of different types such as clothing (size and color), dolls, non-perishable food and snack, music CD, DVD, games, etc. that  you would like to buy in Japan.  Write out a possible conversation you might be having at a shop for each item you would like to buy in Japan.

Assignment 2: Writing a casual note with an invitation (Negative Questions)

Vocabulary glossary key words "invitation" 
Culture glossary key word "preferences_invitation"

Suppose, you have a close Japanese friend of similar age.  Write an e-mail to him/her about what you suggest (would like) to do with him/her when you are with them in Japan. You can imagine that you are meeting them at a station in Osaka and then go to the Shinsaibashi street mall area in Osaka where you can find anything and everything.  Include at least three places such as having a desert at a coffee shop, shopping for some souvenirs at a department store or  the street mall, and eating supper for local specialties such as お好み焼き　(おこのみやき) and　たこ焼き（たこやき）.  Do not forget to ask for recommendations.   Useful phrases:  What is (your) recommendation?おすすめは　なに？　Are there any recomendaciones? なにか　おすすめは　ある？  (Please see the note above about the usage of "is there" vs. "do you have."

 Here is a sample if you were writing to a student in Mie University (MU). 

Assignment 3: Recording and writing about likes and dislikes of your Japanese partner(s) (20 questions interview)

 Vocabulary glossary key words "likes-dislikes"

 Vocabulary glossary key words "question words"

Refer to the vocabulary glossary key word "food" "color" etc.  Write questions to ask about your partner's preferences on food, drinks, singers, movie, movie starts, etc. Be sure to use as many questions words you know such as what, who, which (2 choices), which (more than three choices), where, what kind, etc. Please submit the questions to me before you interview your partner and get OK from me.　While you interview, offer your preferences as well to make the conversation interesting (two-way) to the partner.  See the sample questions and sample summary below. Record the interview and then summarize the findings and turn it in to me.

Please refer to "Audio Recordings" in the syllabus under "Requirements."