Yookoso Chapter 2

Commuting and Transportations

Follow the structures/usages below to be able to talk about commuting.

Sample conversation for Workbook p.165 A and "Yookoso" p.130 Activity 2

A:　カワムラさんのおすまい（or うち）は、どこ（or どちら）ですか。where is Kawamura-san's residence (or home)?

B:（カワムラさんのおすまい（or うち）は、）せたがやです。(Kawamura-san's residence (or home) )is Setagaya,.

A:　大学にちかいですか。（or 大学からとおいですか。）Is it close to the university? (is it far from the university)?

B:　（大学から）ちょっと　とおいです。It is a bit far (from the university)

A:　どのぐらいですか。（or どのぐらいかかりますか。）How long is it?  (or How long does it take?)

B:　でんしゃで　５０ぷんぐらいです。（or でんしゃで　５０ぷんぐらい　かかります。）

            It is about 50 min. by train.    (or It takes 50 min. by train.  )

(Transportation)で (length of time)ぐらいです。or

(It) is approximately (length of time)

(Transportation)で (length of time)ぐらいかかります。

(It) takes approximately (length of time)

で indicates “by means of” “by using”.

Add the kanji 間（かん）after hours

but the half はんcomes after 間（かん）.

E.g.

くるま　で　いちじ間　はん　ぐらい　です。 It is approximately hour and half by car.

Kuruma de ichi-ji kan han gurai desu (or kakarimasu).

あるいて*　ごふん（間**）ぐらい　です。

Airuite* go-fun gurai desu. Totemo benri desu. It is approximately 5 minutes on food. It is very convenient.

** Aruite does not require “-de” particle since it is te-form of the verb “Arukimasu.”

** 間is often omitted after minutes.

From (Location A) to (Location B), (it) is or takes (length of time)

(Location A)から(Location B)まで (Transportation)で(length of time)ぐらいです。

(Location A)から(Location B)まで (Transportation)で (length of time)ぐらいかかります。

E.g.

うち　から　大学　まで　いちじ間　はん　ぐらい　です　（or かかります）。

Uchi kara daigaku made kuruma de ichi-ji kan han gurai desu (or kakarimasu). It takes approximately an hour and half from home to college.

The differences between ごろ　and　ぐらい:

ごろ is used with a specific time to say “around a certain time.”.

ぐらい is used with amount and duration to say “approximately.”

E.g.

８じごろデートをします。I date around 8 o’clock.

Hahciji goro deeto o shimasu.

３じ間ぐらいデートをします。I date approximately three hours.

San-jikan deeto o shimasu.

Review the usage of Tooi and Chikai with particles.

(place) に ちかいです. Close to (place)

(place) から とおいです. Far away from (place)

E.g.

うち　は　大学　に　ちかい　です。

Uchi wa daigaku ni chikai desu.

うち　は　大学　から　とおい***　です。

Uchi wa daigaku kara tooi desu.

*** The Hiragana spelling for “far “is とおい (not とうい). It is an exception of the rule “the second –o_ sound have to be written withう.)