ＨＥＬＬＯ！ Ｉ　ＡＭ　ＱＵＩＺＢＯ™！And, it is that special time of the week betwixt Monday and Friday. Once there was a dark age in which there were only lessons available on Monday and Friday, leaving those who are invested in learning more Japanese language and culture without sustenance for far too long. That is why, with the help of Kiki and Koko, I have created for you a segment that will fulfil your need for mental activity, but also allow you to properly rest. This is Word of the Week Wednesday with me, your host, ＱＵＩＺＢＯ™. In this segment, I will introduce you to a Japanese word or phrase, and sometimes there will be bonus words, often added by Kiki and Koko.

If you would like to learn how to apply these words to your own basic sentences, feel free to take a look at a few of Kiki and Koko’s articles on this subject in Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! Japanese Language Essentials.

First, I read the word aloud for you, then you can repeat after me. I do not simply leave you to work with these new words or phrases on your own, though. I also create for you example sentences which exemplify ways the word or phrase can be used. As it will be at a normal speed, you are not required to repeat after me. But, you are encouraged to try to make your own sentences! We have lessons that can assist you in creating your very own basic sentences! In no time, you will be speaking and/or writing Japanese sentences at a level. That is correct, you will have basic useful skills. But, everyone must begin somewhere, and for most the first steps are the most difficult. Once you get your inertia started, you will soon be able to continue rolling across the universe of Japanese language.

We do not want to overload you with too much information at once, but we make sure to give you enough with which you can work. For some, they simply need a quick hint and something new will click in their mind. But, all in all, be sure to make this a relaxing and fun experience. There is no need to make revising/studying a chore. It is something fun and different to what you may normally do, and it should be an oasis. Be sure to keep your learning space comfortable and learn at your own pace! Others boast at learning quickly, but this is not useful for most. There is no magic method, it is simply using the way humans learn and adapting to it. Everyone learns differently, and we hope we can cater to every type of learner as time goes on. But, for now, we continue to do our very best for you!

And, I say, ‘we,’ because I am joined again by Kiki and Koko with their Helpful Hints on the Word(s) of the Week!

Without further ado, let us NihonGO!!

Word(s) of the Week:

飲む【のむ】※
nomu
verb (godan, transitive)
1. to drink
2. to take (e.g. medicine)
3. to sm*ke (usu. 吸う【すう】suu)
4. to engulf; overwhelm
5. to conceal
6. to accept (e.g. terms, conditions)

Bonus Word(s) of the Week:

飲み物【のみもの】
nomimono
noun
1. drink; beverage

※Helpful Hints with Kiki+Koko

Photo via @kikikokoNihonGO on Twitter

Hello, there!

We’re Kiki and Koko from Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! You may notice this week’s main Word of the Week has quite a few definitions! We’re here to give you some context and help you feel less bombarded with so many definitions.

So, obviously, context is an important way to figure out the definition of a word. You’re probably not going to drink a condition, and you most likely won’t overwhelm a glass of water. But, kanji is another important part of this. Contrary to popular belief, and contrary to many Japanese news and entertainment shows on television, Japanese subtitles do not appear in everyday conversation. But, when reading, there are different kanji that can specify the type of 飲む, nomu, you’re using. (Watching Japanese news channels are definitely a good help when you’re a bit further into learning, as well. Most of the time, when they interview people, there will be subtitles in Japanese. But, this is only helpful when you can read Japanese, so be sure to take a look at our reading and writing lessons!)

But, most of the time, in basic Japanese, you’ll only have to worry about the first two definitions of 飲む, nomu, which are drinking and taking medicine. You might wonder if it applies when it’s nor a liquid medicine, and yes, indeed! Even if it’s a tablet or capsule, you’ll still 薬を飲む, kusuri wo nomu, take (lit. drink) medicine. That’s why it’s always important to know whether a phrase in Japanese is similar to in English, or if it takes on an entirely different verbage that you wouldn’t have expected. That’s why we’re here as your guides to assist you!

Take this, it’s dangerous to verb without this valuable language tool.

But, if you want to use this properly, you may want to know the basic polite form. The dictionary form is a casual form, but it’s still important to know for different parts of sentences. You can use our Japanese Language Learning Essentials lesson concerning particles to make a basic sentences with a transitive verb. Clicking or tapping the thumbnail next to this paragraph should lead you there. But, in the meantime, here is the dictionary form and the basic polite form of the verb:

飲みます【のみます】
nomimasu

And, funnily enough, you’ll see the stem of this verb in our bonus word: 飲み, nomi. This is a bit different to our other words: 食べます and 食べ物. 飲む, nomu, is a 五段動詞, godandoushi, whilst 食べる is an 一段動詞, ichidandoushi. This brings us to the different types of verbs that are conjugated differently, but this is something a bit too complex for a Word of the Week for which we will create a lesson of its own. But, anyway, the point is 飲み物, nomimono, ironically only has one definition despite the verb being so versatile. Yet, 飲み物, nomimono, can be so versatile from water to coffee, tapioca tea to juice and everything in between! And, we’ll be there, teaching you how to talk and write about it all in Japanese with your continued support.

We hope that helps!! Until the next lesson!
♡Kiki+Koko

Thank you, Kiki and Koko! This is the most definitions presented so far, so I will try to create only more common usage sentences this time. So, without further ado, let us continue onto the speaking portion:

Example Sentences:

The first row is in Japanese with Kanji. The Next row is in hiragana, then romanised using rōmaji with the final row translated into English.
(Japanese→Hiragana→Rōmaji→English)

Example #1:

[basic polite emphatic speech]
あの喫茶店で　コーヒーを　飲みましょうよ！
あのきっさてんで　こーひーを　のみましょうよ！
ano kissaten de koohii wo nomimashou yo!
Let’s have* a coffee at that cafe!

(*drink)

Example #2:

[basic polite speech]
寝る前、この薬を　一錠　飲んだら、朝には　気分がよくなるでしょう。
ねるまえ、このくすりを　いちじょう　のんだら、　あさには　くぶんが　よくなるでしょう。
neru mae, kono kusuri wo ichijou nondara, asa ni wa kibun ga yoku naru deshou.
If you take a tablet of this medicine before bed, you will feel better by morning.

Example #3:

[casual speech + basic polite]
A: ねえねえ、知ってる？デビッド・ボウイ様はイギリス人だったのに、お茶を飲むのがあまりすきじゃなかった。コーヒーを飲むのほうが好きだった。
A: ねえねえ、しってる？でびっど・ぼういさまは　いぎりすじんだったのに、おちゃを　のむのが　あまり　すきじゃなかった。　こーひーを　のむのほのうが　すきだった。
A: nee nee, shitteru? debiddo・boui sama wa igirisujin dattanoni, ocha wo nomu no ga amari sukijyanakatta. koohiiwo nomu no hou ga suki datta.
A: Did you know? Even though David Bowie was English, he didn’t like to drink tea very much. He preferred to drink coffee.

B: お客様、こちらはドライブスルーです。何かご注文はありますか。
B: おきゃくさま、こちらは　どらいぶするーです。　なにか　ごちゅうもんは　ありますか。
B: okyakusama, kochira wa doraibusuruu desu. nanika gochuumon wa arimasuka.
B: Sir, this is a drive-through. Would you like to order anything?

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Thank you so much for learning with us!
♡QUIZBO™