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3: I'm sorry, I don't really understand.

Asking for clarification, numbers, and basic information about language and objects.

This lesson focuses on asking for clarification when you don't understand something, learning numbers 0-10, and asking basic questions about language, objects, and personal information.

3: I'm sorry, I don't really understand. image

Key topics:

  • ・Numbers 0-10
  • ・Asking 'What is this in Japanese?'
  • ・Requesting clarification and repetition
  • ・Expressing understanding or lack of understanding
  • ・Asking about languages and nationalities
  • ・Basic classroom and office items
  • ・Polite requests for information

Vocabulary

1
みせて下さい
misete kudasai
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見せて下さい
Please show me ~.
Example
ざいりゅうかーどをみせて下さい。
Zairyuu kaado o misete kudasai.
Please show me your residence card.
2
よんで下さい
yonde kudasai
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読んで下さい
Please read ~.
Example
このことばをよんで下さい。
Kono kotoba o yonde kudasai.
Please read this word.
3
かいて下さい
kaite kudasai
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書いて下さい
Please write ~.
Example
なまえをかいて下さい。
Namae o kaite kudasai.
Please write your name.
4
すこし
sukoshi
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少し
a little / a few
Example
にほんごがすこしわかります。
Nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu.
I understand a little Japanese.
5
いんどねしあご
indoneshia-go
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インドネシア語
Indonesian language
Example
いんどねしあごができますか?
Indoneshia-go ga dekimasu ka?
Can you speak Indonesian?
6
ka
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mosquito
Example
「mosquito」は、にほんごで「」です。
「Mosquito」wa, nihongo de 「ka」desu.
'Mosquito' is 'ka' in Japanese.
7
ざいりゅうかーど
zairyuu kaado
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在留カード
residence card
Example
ざいりゅうかーどをみせて下さい。
Zairyuu kaado o misete kudasai.
Please show me your residence card.
8
ちゅうごくご
chuugoku-go
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中国語
Chinese language
Example
ちゅうごくごがわかりますか?
Chuugoku-go ga wakarimasu ka?
Do you understand Chinese?
9
はい
hai
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-
yes
Example
はい、できます。
Hai, dekimasu.
Yes, I can.
10
ぜろ
zero
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-
zero
Example
ぜろからはじめて下さい。
Zero kara hajimete kudasai.
Please start from zero.
11
さん
san
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-
three
Example
いち、に、さん
Ichi, ni, san
One, two, three
12
ろく
roku
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-
six
Example
ご、ろく、しち
Go, roku, shichi
Five, six, seven
13
きゅう
kyuu
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-
nine
Example
はち、きゅう、じゅう
Hachi, kyuu, juu
Eight, nine, ten
14
えいご
eigo
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英語
English language
Example
えいごができますか?
Eigo ga dekimasu ka?
Can you speak English?
15
かさ
kasa
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umbrella
Example
これはかさです。
Kore wa kasa desu.
This is an umbrella.
16
なまえ
namae
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名前
name
Example
なまえはなんですか?
O-namae wa nan desu ka?
What is your name?
17
へや
heya
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部屋
room
Example
これはへやです。
Kore wa heya desu.
This is a room.
18
いち
ichi
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-
one
Example
いちからじゅうまで
Ichi kara juu made
From one to ten
19
よん
yon
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-
four
Example
さん、よん、ご
San, yon, go
Three, four, five
20
なな
nana
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-
seven
Example
ろく、なな、はち
Roku, nana, hachi
Six, seven, eight
21
じゅう
juu
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-
ten
Example
きゅう、じゅう
Kyuu, juu
Nine, ten
22
あのう
anou
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-
excuse me / er
Example
あのう、すみません。
Anou, sumimasen.
Um, excuse me.
23
ここ
koko
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-
here
Example
ここにすわって下さい。
Koko ni suwatte kudasai.
Please sit here.
24
すまほ
sumaho
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スマホ
smartphone
Example
すまほがありますか?
Sumaho ga arimasu ka?
Do you have a smartphone?
25
にほんご
nihongo
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日本語
Japanese language
Example
にほんごをべんきょうしています。
Nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu.
I am studying Japanese.
26
めんきょしょう
menkyoshou
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免許証
license
Example
うんてんめんきょしょうをみせて下さい。
Unten menkyoshou o misete kudasai.
Please show me your driver's license.
27
ni
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-
two
Example
いち、
Ichi, ni
One, two
28
go
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-
five
Example
よん、、ろく
Yon, go, roku
Four, five, six
29
はち
hachi
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-
eight
Example
なな、はち、きゅう
Nana, hachi, kyuu
Seven, eight, nine
30
じゃあ
jaa
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-
Well then...
Example
じゃあ、はじめましょう。
Jaa, hajimemashou.
Well then, let's begin.
31
そうそう
sousou
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-
That's right.
Example
そうそう、それです。
Sousou, sore desu.
That's right, that's it.
32
はい、できます
hai, dekimasu
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-
Yes, I can.
Example
えいごができますか? - はい、できます
Eigo ga dekimasu ka? - Hai, dekimasu.
Can you speak English? - Yes, I can.
33
はい、どうぞ
hai, douzo
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-
Here you go.
Example
かさをかして下さい。 - はい、どうぞ
Kasa o kashite kudasai. - Hai, douzo.
Please lend me the umbrella. - Here you go.
34
もういちど、お願いします
mou ichido, onegaishimasu
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-
Can you say that again please.
Example
もういちど、お願いします。よくきこえませんでした。
Mou ichido, onegaishimasu. Yoku kikoemasen deshita.
Can you say that again please. I couldn't hear well.
35
よくわかりません
yoku wakarimasen
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-
I'm not sure I understand.
Example
すみません、よくわかりません
Sumimasen, yoku wakarimasen.
I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand.
36
~がわかりますか?
~ ga wakarimasu ka?
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-
Do you understand ~?
Example
にほんごがわかりますか
Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka?
Do you understand Japanese?
37
もうすこし、ゆっくりいって下さい
mou sukoshi, yukkuri itte kudasai
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-
Can you say that a little slower please.
Example
もうすこし、ゆっくりいって下さい
Mou sukoshi, yukkuri itte kudasai.
Can you say that a little slower please.
38
わかりました
wakarimashita
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-
I understand.
Example
はい、わかりました
Hai, wakarimashita.
Yes, I understand.
39
~ができますか?
~ ga dekimasu ka?
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-
Can you speak ~?
Example
えいごができますか
Eigo ga dekimasu ka?
Can you speak English?
40
はい、わかります
hai, wakarimasu
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-
Yes, I understand ~.
Example
にほんごがわかりますか? - はい、わかります
Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka? - Hai, wakarimasu.
Do you understand Japanese? - Yes, I understand.
41
わかりません
wakarimasen
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-
I do not understand.
Example
すみません、わかりません
Sumimasen, wakarimasen.
I'm sorry, I don't understand.

Conversation

1
もういちど、お願いします。
Mou ichido, onegaishimasu.
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Can you say that again please.
Example Usage
すみません、もういちど、お願いします
Sumimasen, mou ichido, onegaishimasu.
Excuse me, can you say that again please.
2
よくわかりません。
Yoku wakarimasen.
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I'm not sure I understand.
Example Usage
すみません、よくわかりません
Sumimasen, yoku wakarimasen.
I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand.
3
これは、にほんごでなんですか?
Kore wa, nihongo de nan desu ka?
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What's this in Japanese?
Example Usage
これは、にほんごでなんですか? - かさです。
Kore wa, nihongo de nan desu ka? - Kasa desu.
What's this in Japanese? - It's an umbrella.
4
にほんごでなんといいますか?
Nihongo de nan to iimasu ka?
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What do you call this in Japanese?
Example Usage
「mosquito」は、にほんごでなんといいますか?
「Mosquito」wa, nihongo de nan to iimasu ka?
What do you call 'mosquito' in Japanese?
5
~ができますか?
~ ga dekimasu ka?
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Can you speak ~?
Example Usage
えいごができますか? - はい、できます。
Eigo ga dekimasu ka? - Hai, dekimasu.
Can you speak English? - Yes, I can.

Kanji

1
名前
なまえ
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name
🎬
name
🎬
front, before
Example
名前は何ですか。
Namae wa nan desu ka.
What is your name?
2
くに
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country
🎬
country
Example
どこのですか。
Doko no kuni desu ka.
Which country are you from?
3
わたし
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I, me
🎬
private, I
Example
は学生です。
Watashi wa gakusei desu.
I am a student.

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: ~は日本語で何ですか?

Structure: Word/Phrase + は + 日本語で + 何ですか?

Used to ask 'What is ~ in Japanese?' This pattern can be used to ask for translations or names of things in Japanese.

Example
「mosquito」は、にほんごでなんですか?
「Mosquito」wa, nihongo de nan desu ka?
→ What is 'mosquito' in Japanese?

Rule 2: ~を言いて下さい

Structure: Word + を + 言いて下さい

A polite request meaning 'Please say ~' or 'Please tell me ~'. Used when asking someone to pronounce or state something.

Example
にほんごでなんといいますか。いって下さい。
Nihongo de nan to iimasu ka. Itte kudasai.
→ What do you say it in Japanese? Please say it.

Rule 3: ~がわかりますか?

Structure: Topic + が + わかりますか?

Used to ask 'Do you understand ~?' The particle が marks the object of understanding.

Example
にほんごがわかりますか?
Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka?
→ Do you understand Japanese?

Rule 4: もういちどお願いします

Structure: もういちど + お願いします

A polite phrase meaning 'One more time, please' or 'Can you repeat that, please?' Used when you didn't hear or understand something.

Example
もういちどお願いします。
Mou ichido onegaishimasu.
→ One more time, please.

Exercises

Question 1

Choose the correct way to ask 'What is 'mosquito' in Japanese?'

「mosquito」は、にほんごで ______ ですか?

Question 2

Complete the question meaning 'Do you understand Japanese?'

にほんご ______ わかりますか?

Question 3

What does 'もういちどお願いします' mean?

Question 4

How do you say 'Please say it in Japanese'?

Question 5

Choose the correct reading of 名前 to complete the sentence.

______ は なんですか。

Question 6

You want to ask 'What is 先生 in English?' Which is correct?

Question 7

Complete the request meaning 'Please say your name.'

なまえを ______ 下さい。

Question 8

How do you say 'I don't understand Japanese'?

Question 9

Choose the correct reading of 国 to complete the sentence.

どこの ______ ですか。

Question 10

You didn't catch what the teacher said. What do you say?

Question 11

Complete the question meaning 'Do you understand the meaning?'

いみ ______ わかりますか。

Question 12

Choose the correct reading of 私 to complete the sentence.

______ は がくせい です。

Question 13

Complete the question and request meaning 'What do you say it in Japanese? Please say it.'

にほんごで なんと ______ か。______ 下さい。

Question 14

How do you ask 'What is 'apple' in Japanese?'

Question 15

Complete the sentence meaning 'I didn't understand the teacher's words.'

せんせいの ことば ______ わかりませんでした。

Question 16

What is the casual way to say 'One more time' to a close friend?

Question 17

Choose the correct reading of 名前 to complete the sentence.

あなたの ______ は?

Question 18

How do you ask 'Do you understand the meaning of this kanji?'

Question 19

Complete the request meaning 'Please don't say that.'

それを ______ 下さい。

Question 20

Choose the most appropriate response if you don't understand the question.

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