Latest / Learn Japanese with Fexingo / Japanese Directions - Left & Right
Transcript
- Lucas: Hey everyone, welcome back to Learn Japanese with Fexingo! I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. So glad to be back with you all. Lucas: Today we're going to learn something super useful if you're ever walking around a Japanese city. Luna: Ooh, I bet it's directions! I always get lost. Lucas: Exactly. Today we focus on two key words: right and left. In Japanese, right is みぎ. Say it with me: みぎ. Luna: みぎ. That's short and sweet. Lucas: And left is ひだり. Try it: ひだり. Luna: ひだり. ひだり. Hmm, that one's a bit longer. Lucas: You got it. So みぎ and ひだり. Now, to say 'turn right,' we say みぎにまがって. Listen: みぎにまがって. Luna: みぎにまがって. That sounds like a command. Lucas: It's the 'te' form of the verb 'to turn.' Very common in directions. Now left: ひだりにまがって. Repeat after me: ひだりにまがって. Luna: ひだりにまがって. Lucas: And one more: straight. That's まっすぐ. Say it: まっすぐ. Luna: まっすぐ. Sounds like 'massugu.' Lucas: Perfect. So let's imagine a little scene. You're at a train station and need to find the exit. Someone tells you: みぎにまがって. What do you do? Luna: Turn right! みぎ! Lucas: Exactly. Or they say: ひだりにまがって. Then you turn left. And if they say まっすぐ, you go straight. Luna: Let me practice all three. みぎにまがって. ひだりにまがって. まっすぐ. Lucas: Great work. Now let's do a mini dialogue. I'll be the helpful stranger. You're asking for directions. Luna: Okay. Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka? Lucas: Ah, using some Japanese we learned before. So I'll say: まっすぐいって、つぎのかどをみぎにまがってください. Luna: Whoa, that's a lot. But I caught まっすぐ and みぎにまがって. Lucas: You did. 'Go straight, then turn right at the next corner.' Now you try saying a direction. Tell me to turn left. Luna: ひだりにまがって. Lucas: Perfect! And go straight? Luna: まっすぐ. Lucas: Awesome. So to recap, today we learned: みぎ, ひだり, みぎにまがって, ひだりにまがって, and まっすぐ. Luna: I'll remember these by thinking of 'migi' like 'my gee, I need to turn right!' Lucas: That works. And 'hidari' sounds a bit like 'hid a lie' — but you don't lie, you turn left. Luna: Exactly. Thanks Lucas. And thanks to Fexingo for making this podcast. Practice these words with us, and next time you're in Japan, you'll find your way. Lucas: Keep listening, keep practicing. See you next episode on Learn Japanese with Fexingo! Luna: Bye bye!