Living Abroad
Japanese Basic Conversation 3
Chapter 12 ยท Living Abroad: Settling In & Making Friends
๐๏ธ Living Abroad โ ใใใใใ ใใใใค
The last chapter of the course is about the day you stop being a visitor and start to live somewhere. You introduce yourself to the neighbours, join in with the neighbourhood association (ใกใใใชใใใ), learn the rubbish-sorting rules and, little by little, get used to life in Japan and make friends. The new grammar: ใใใใซ ใชใใพใใ ("I have come to...") and ใใซ ใชใใพใใ ("I've got used to..."). The chapter ends with a Course Complete recap. Dialog lines have no romaji; a Hard words note gives readings.
โ Greeting the Neighbours โ ใฒใฃใใใฎ ใใใใค
โก The Neighbourhood Association โ ใกใใใชใใใ
โข The Rubbish Rules โ ใใฟใฎ ใซใผใซ
โฃ Getting Used to It โ ใชใใพใใใ
โค Making Friends โ ใจใใ ใกใ ใงใใ
โฅ Between Friends (casual) โ ใจใใ ใกใจ
๐ Key Phrases โ ใ ใใใช ใฒใใใใ
| English | Polite (ใงใ / ใพใ) | Casual (friends) |
|---|---|---|
| I've moved in next door. | ใจใชใใซ ใฒใฃใใใฆ ใใพใใใ Tonari ni hikkoshite kimashita. | ใจใชใใซ ใฒใฃใใใฆ ใใใใ ใ Tonari ni hikkoshite kita n da. |
| I've got used to it. | ใใ ใชใใพใใใ Mล naremashita. | ใใ ใชใใใ Mล nareta. |
| I've come to understand. | ใใใใใใซ ใชใใพใใใ Wakaru yล ni narimashita. | ใใใใใใซ ใชใฃใใ Wakaru yล ni natta. |
| I made friends. | ใจใใ ใกใ ใงใใพใใใ Tomodachi ga dekimashita. | ใจใใ ใกใ ใงใใใ Tomodachi ga dekita. |
| Let's exchange contact details. | ใใใใใใใ ใใใใใใพใใใใ Renrakusaki o kลkan shimashล. | ใใใใใใใใใใใใใใใ Renrakusaki, kลkan shiyล. |
| I feel lonely. | ใใณใใใงใใ Sabishii desu. | ใใณใใใ Sabishii. |
๐ค Three Verbs โ ใฉใใ
| Verb | Polite | Plain | ใชใ-form | ใ-form | ใฆ-form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to get used to (ใชใใ, G2) | ใชใใพใ naremasu | ใชใใ nareru | ใชใใชใ narenai | ใชใใ nareta | ใชใใฆ narete |
| to invite (ใใใ, G1) | ใใใใพใ sasoimasu | ใใใ sasou | ใใใใชใ sasowanai | ใใใฃใ sasotta | ใใใฃใฆ sasotte |
| to make (ใคใใ, G1) | ใคใใใพใ tsukurimasu | ใคใใ tsukuru | ใคใใใชใ tsukuranai | ใคใใฃใ tsukutta | ใคใใฃใฆ tsukutte |
๐งฐ Grammar Tools โ ใถใใฝใ
1. ใใใใซ ใชใใพใใ: "I have come to..."
To say that something that was not possible or not the case has become so, put a plain-form verb before ใใใซ ใชใใพใใ: ใใใใใใซ ใชใใพใใใ "I've come to understand." ใงใใใงใ ใฏใชใ ใใจใ ใงใใใใใซ ใชใใพใใใ "I've got to where I can speak even on the phone." It describes a gradual change in ability or habit.
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| plain present + ใใใซ ใชใใพใใ | has come to (be able to / do) | ใใใ ใในใใใใซ ใชใใพใใใ I've come to eat sushi. |
| ใใใจใ ใงใใ + ใใใซ ใชใใพใใ | has become able to | ใซใปใใใง ใฏใชใ ใใจใ ใงใใใใใซ ใชใใพใใใ |
| ใชใ-form + ใใใซ ใชใใพใใ | has come not to (a new habit of not doing) | ใใ ใใใ ใญใชใใใใซ ใชใใพใใใ I've started not staying up late. |
| plain present + ใใใซ ใชใใพใ | will come to (in the future) | ใใ ใชใใใใใซ ใชใใพใใ You'll get used to it soon. |
| ใใชใ ใชใใพใใ | no longer | ใใณใใ ใชใ ใชใใพใใใ I no longer feel lonely. |
Compare with the simple changes you know: ใใใ ใชใใพใใ (i-adjective + ใชใใพใใ, "it has become cold") and ใใใใซ ใชใใพใใ (ใช-adjective + ใซ + ใชใใพใใ). ใใใซ is the same idea for a verb.
2. ใใซ ใชใใพใใ: "I've got used to..."
Use noun + ใซ + ใชใใพใใ (or ใชใใฆ ใใพใ for a continuing state) to say you are used to something: ใซใปใใฎ ใใใใคใซ ใชใใพใใใ "I've got used to life in Japan." ใพใ ใใใใซ ใชใใฆ ใใพใใใ "I'm not used to the cold yet." For a verb, make it a noun with ใใจ: ใฏใใ ใใใ ใใจใซ ใชใใพใใใ
| Meaning | Japanese |
|---|---|
| I've got used to it. | ใชใใพใใใ |
| I'm used to Japanese food. | ใซใปใใใใใใซ ใชใใฆ ใใพใใ |
| I'm not used to it yet. | ใพใ ใชใใฆ ใใพใใใ |
| You'll get used to it. | ใใฎใใก ใชใใพใใใ |
| Have you got used to it? | ใใ ใชใใพใใใใ |
3. Making friends and talking about feelings
"Friends" appear in Japanese rather than being "made": ใจใใ ใกใ ใงใใพใใ ("friends came into being", with ใ). You can also say ใจใใ ใกใ ใคใใใพใใ ("I made friends on purpose"). These phrases help you keep a friendship going:
| You want to... | Say |
|---|---|
| suggest meeting again | ใพใ ใใใพใใใใ |
| suggest a meal | ใใใฉ ใใฃใใใซ ใใฏใใ ใในใพใใใใ |
| swap contact details | ใใใใใใใ ใใใใใใพใใใใ |
| say you enjoyed yourself | ใใใใฏ ใจใฆใ ใใฎใใใฃใใงใใ |
| say you feel lonely | ใจใใฉใ ใใณใใ ใชใใพใใ |
| say you miss home | ใใผใ ใทใใฏใซ ใชใใพใใใ |
| accept an invitation | ใใฒ ใใใใใงใใ |
4. Rubbish and neighbourhood life
| Category | Japanese | Typically includes |
|---|---|---|
| burnable | ใใใ ใใฟ | kitchen waste, paper, cloth |
| non-burnable | ใใใชใ ใใฟ | ceramics, small metal items |
| recyclables | ใใใ ใใฟ (ใณใใปใใใปใใใใใใซ) | bottles, cans, plastic bottles, rinsed |
| bulky waste | ใใ ใ ใใฟ | furniture; you must book a collection |
| circulating notice | ใใใใใฐใ | notices passed between households |
Collection days and categories differ by town, so ask your neighbours or the ward office (ใใใใใ). The rules are usually printed in a calendar and on the collection point (ใใฟ ใใ ใใใ ใใใ).
๐ฐ Reading โ ใใฟใใฎ
A short text. Kanji appear with the reading in brackets. Read it, then answer the true/false questions below.
ใซใปใใฎ ใใใใค
ๆฅๆฌ(ใซใปใ)ใซ ใใฆใ1ๅนด(ใญใ)ใซ ใชใใพใใใใใใใฏ ใใฟใฎ ใซใผใซใ ใใใใชใใฆใใใพใใพใใใใงใใใจใชใใฎ ไบบ(ใฒใจ)ใ ใใใใฆ ใใใใฎใงใใใพใฏ ใใใใใใซ ใชใใพใใใใกใใใชใใใใซใ ใฏใใฃใฆใใใใใซ ใใใใใฆ ใใพใใใตใผใฏใซใง ใจใใ ใกใ ใงใใพใใใใใณใใ ใจใใ ใใใพใใใใใพใฏ ใซใปใใฎ ใใใใคใซ ใชใใพใใใๆฅๅนด(ใใใญใ)ใ ใใใง ใใใใใใงใใ
It has been a year since I came to Japan. At first I couldn't understand the rubbish rules and was in trouble. But my neighbour taught me, so now I understand. I also joined the neighbourhood association and take part in the cleaning. I made friends at my club. There are times when I feel lonely, but I've got used to life in Japan now. Next year I want to live here again.
Words: ใใพใใพใใ komarimashita (was in trouble) ยท ใใใใใฆ ใใพใ sanka shite imasu (take part) ยท ใใใ kurasu (live, spend one's life)
1. The writer came to Japan a year ago.
Show answer
True: ๆฅๆฌใซ ใใฆใ1ๅนดใซ ใชใใพใ.
2. At first the rubbish rules were easy.
Show answer
False: ใใฟใฎ ใซใผใซใ ใใใใชใใฆใใใพใใพใใ.
3. The writer made friends at a club.
Show answer
True: ใตใผใฏใซใง ใจใใ ใกใ ใงใใพใใ.
4. The writer still feels lonely every day.
Show answer
False: there are times when they feel lonely, but they have got used to life in Japan.
๐ Vocabulary โ ใใ
20 key words for settling in and making friends. Common kanji appear in brackets.
| # | Japanese | Romaji | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ใชใใพใ (ๆ ฃใใพใ) | naremasu | get used to | verb |
| 2 | ใใใใพใ (่ชใใพใ) | sasoimasu | invite; ask along | verb |
| 3 | ใคใใใพใ (ไฝใใพใ) | tsukurimasu | make | verb |
| 4 | ใใใใใใพใ (ไบคๆใใพใ) | kลkan shimasu | exchange | verb |
| 5 | ใใฟ | gomi | rubbish | noun |
| 6 | ใใใ ใใฟ (็ใใใใฟ) | moeru gomi | burnable rubbish | noun |
| 7 | ใใใชใ ใใฟ (็ใใชใใใฟ) | moenai gomi | non-burnable rubbish | noun |
| 8 | ใใใใใฟ (่ณๆบใใฟ) | shigen gomi | recyclable rubbish | noun |
| 9 | ใกใใใชใใใ (็บๅ ไผ) | chลnaikai | neighbourhood association | noun |
| 10 | ใจใชใ (้ฃ) | tonari | next door; neighbour | noun |
| 11 | ใใใใ (่ฟๆ) | kinjo | neighbourhood | noun |
| 12 | ใใใใค (ๆจๆถ) | aisatsu | greeting | noun |
| 13 | ใใใใค (็ๆดป) | seikatsu | daily life | noun |
| 14 | ใซใผใซ | rลซru | rule | noun |
| 15 | ใถใในใค (ๅๅฅ) | bunbetsu | sorting (rubbish) | noun |
| 16 | ใใผใ ใทใใฏ | hลmushikku | homesickness | noun |
| 17 | ใใณใใ (ๅฏใใ) | sabishii | lonely | i-adj. |
| 18 | ใจใใ ใก (ๅ้) | tomodachi | friend | noun |
| 19 | ใใใใ (็ฅใๅใ) | shiriai | acquaintance | noun |
| 20 | ใใใใใใ (้ฃ็ตกๅ ) | renrakusaki | contact details | noun |
โ๏ธ Try It Yourself โ ใใใใ ใ
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Introduce yourself to a new neighbour and offer a gift.
Show answer
ใจใชใใซ ใฒใฃใใใฆ ใใ ในใในใงใใใใใใคใพใใชใ ใใฎใงใใใ
2. Say "I've come to understand the rubbish rules."
Show answer
ใใฟใฎ ใซใผใซใ ใใใใใใซ ใชใใพใใใ
3. Say "I've got used to life in Japan, but I'm not yet used to the cold."
Show answer
ใซใปใใฎ ใใใใคใซ ใชใใพใใใใใใใใซใฏ ใพใ ใชใใฆ ใใพใใใ
4. Say "The rule is to put burnable rubbish out on Mondays and Thursdays."
Show answer
ใใใ ใใฟใฏ ใใคใใใณใจ ใใใใใณใซ ใ ใ ใใจใซ ใชใฃใฆ ใใพใใ
5. Say "I made friends. Let's exchange contact details."
Show answer
ใจใใ ใกใ ใงใใพใใใใใใใใใใ ใใใใใใพใใใใ
6. Tell a friend casually that you got a bit homesick but you're fine now.
Show answer
ใกใใฃใจ ใใผใ ใทใใฏใซ ใชใฃใใใฉใใใ ใ ใใใใใถใ
๐ Course Complete โ ใใใงใจใ๏ผ
You have finished Japanese Basic Conversation 3. In twelve chapters you moved from short exchanges and set phrases to longer, more independent conversation: shopping, travel, errands, housing, work, your own story, technology, advice, wishes, customs and life as a resident. Along the way you learned the grammar that the first two courses taught only as ready-made phrases. Here is the whole journey.
| Chapter | Topic | You can nowโฆ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buying Clothes | Ask about sizes, try things on, exchange or return, and use the plain and ใชใ-forms. |
| 2 | Planning a Trip | Book a hotel and a train, say what you intend with ใใคใใ and list activities with ใใใ. |
| 3 | Post Office, Bank & Paying Bills | Send a parcel, use an ATM and pay bills, with the ใฆ-form, ใใฆใใ and ใใพใงใซ. |
| 4 | Finding a Home | View a flat, understand rent and deposits, and use ใใใปใใใใ, ใใฆใ ใใใงใใ and ใใพใใซ / ใใใจใง. |
| 5 | Work & Careers | Introduce yourself in an interview with ใใใจใ ใงใใพใ and ใใใใจใ ใใใพใ. |
| 6 | At Work | Use office phrases, report and write emails, and say what you must or need not do. |
| 7 | Your Life Story | Tell your story with the plain past, ใใจใ, and reasons with ใใ and ใฎใง. |
| 8 | Technology & Media | Talk about phones and the news with ใใฆใใ, ใใจ ใใใใพใ and ใใจใใ. |
| 9 | Advice & Suggestions | Advise with ใใใปใใใใ and ใใใ ใฉใใงใใ, and say what might be with ใใใใใใพใใ. |
| 10 | Wishes & Dreams | Say "if" and "when" with ใใใ, and hope with ใใจ ใใใงใใญ. |
| 11 | Customs & Festivals | Explain customs and rules with ใใใจใซ ใชใฃใฆ ใใพใ, and give and receive with ใใใ, ใใใ, ใใใ. |
| 12 | Living Abroad | Settle in, follow the rubbish rules, make friends, and say what you've got used to or come to do. |