にほんごのたね Nihongo no Tane with Yumi
A weekly podcast for upper beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. Listen to Yumi talk about... whatever she wants to talk about. Practice your listening comprehension with natural (howbeit slightly slowed down) Japanese on various topics such as Japanese culture, fun idioms, and, of course, cats. The episodes can be enjoyed in any order. -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript and a list of key vocabulary. www.MakotoPlus.com
Episodes
In this episode of her podcast, Yumi shares her personal story of dental discovery and recovery, emphasizing the vital role of dental care in our lives and the resilience needed to overcome oral health hurdles. Listen to this episode and let us know if you had some experience like this!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 歯(は)医(い)者(しゃ) - dentist [歯(は) (tooth); 医(い)者(しゃ) (physician; medical doctor)]
- 別(べつ)の件(けん) - another matter; another case [別(べ...
In this episode of her podcast, Yumi delves into the profound impact of classical music on personal growth, inspired by violin prodigy Yoshimura Himari's mesmerizing performances. She beautifully narrates her own musical journey and the unexpected ways a popular manga stirred a friend's ambition to master Chopin, weaving a narrative that celebrates the transformative power of art and inspiration. Listen to this episode and let us k...
Have you ever heard the term "神童" (shindou)? It refers to child prodigy, and this time, Yumi will talk about it. Listen to the podcast and let us know what you think about it in the comments below!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 神童(しんどう) child prodigy; genius; wonder child [神(しん) (god); 童(どう) (child)]
- 大(おと)人(な)に負(ま)けない as good as adults; comparable to adults; unyielding to adult; unbeatable by adult [literally, “unbeatable by adults”; 大(おと)...
Happy New Year! (Better late than never, right?). This year started not too good in Japan, with an earthquake and a plane crushing. So, this time Yumi will talk about it. Have you ever been in an earthquake? Let us know in the comments below!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 石川県(いしかわけん)能登(のと)半島(はんとう) the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture [石川県(いしかわけん) (Ishikawa Prefecture); 能登(のと) (Noto); 半島(はんとう) (peninsula)]
- 炎上(えんじょう)事故(じこ) crash that en...
Let’s talk about sleep! This time, Yumi will talk about her sleeping time, what she was doing when she woke up during the night (and now she stopped!) and how daylight saving times could affect your life or the life of your pet. Listen this episode and let us know what you think!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 寝付(ねつ)きがいい easy to fall asleep; to fall asleep quickly [寝付(ねつ)き (falling asleep) indicates “how quickly/easily one normally can fall...
What do you eat during the day? Listen to the podcast and find out the new diet Yumi is doing!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 実際(じっさい)に actually; really; truly; indeed
- 具体的(ぐたいてき)に specifically; in detail [具体的 (specific); に (“-ly”; makes the preceding word into adverb form)]
- 薄(うす)める to dilute; to thin
- 炒(いた)め物(もの) stir-fry; stir-fried food [炒(いた)め (fry; broil; roast); 物(もの) (thing; item)]
- 物足(ものた)りなさそうseeming not enough; seeming unsatisfied [物...
Yumi continues her talking about the changes she made in her life. What do you think of these changes? Listen to the podcast to know all the changes she made!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 大腸(だいちょう)カメラcolonoscopy [大腸(だいちょう) (large intestine; colon)]
- がん cancer
- ポリープ polyp
- 麻(ま)酔(すい) anesthesia [麻(ま) (hemp; flax); 酔(すい) (drunk)]
- 痛(いた)くもかゆくもない “it’s no concern at all” or “it has no effect on me whatsoever” [literally, “it’s neither painful nor ...
Have you tried stair stepper? Listen to Yumi to know why is she doing it and how it helped her to be in better shape.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 階段(かいだん) stair; stairway
- 目標(もくひょう) goal; objective; target
- 心臓(しんぞう) heart
- 心臓(しんぞう)が口(くち)から飛(と)び出(だ)す one’s heart pops out of the chest [it’s a saying that describes bodily feeling where one’s heart is beating so fast due to physical exertion or extreme nervousness that it almost feels as if the...
Yumi continues her talking about the changes she made in her life. What do you think of these changes? Listen to the podcast to know all the changes she made!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 順調(じゅんちょう)に steadily; smoothly; without a hitch
- 何(なん)度(ど)も many times; frequently; plenty of times
- 血液検(けつえきけん)査(さ) blood test; blood exam [血液(けつえき) (blood); 検(けん)査(さ) (check; checkup; inspection; exam)]
- 血管(けっかん) blood vessel [duct; t...
Yumi has made some changes in her life. What do you think she changed? Listen to the podcast and hear her reflections on this!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- あまり～ない (there is ) not so much ~; (I have) not so much ~ [あまりmeans “very” or “much” when used with ～ない]
- これといって nothing special; not worth mentioning [always used with ～ない; “いって” is “言(い)って”, but usually written in hiragana]
- 神様(かみさま) [God]
- 退屈(たいくつ) boring; dull; boredom [a state where n...
The Hurricane Idalia has come to Florida, and after its passage, it left Yumi without electricity for a few hours. This made Yumi think about the importance of electricity in her life. Listen to the podcast and hear her reflections on this!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 直撃(ちょくげき)する to hit directly [直(ちょく) (direct); 撃(げき) (hit; attack)]
- 避(ひ)難(なん)する to evacuate; flee; escape
- 出身(しゅっしん) one’s origin (country, city, town; school)
- 平(ひら)屋(や) sing...
Finally, the trip to Japan ended and Yumi and her family are back in Florida. So, this time Yumi will reflect on the trip and the impressions she had during it. Listen to the podcast and learn what was the thing that left a big impression on her this time!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 総(そう)まとめ total conclusion; roundup; overall summary [総(そう) (total); まとめ (conclusion; summary)]
- 感想(かんそう) view; thought; impression
- すっきりする become neat [すっきり (...
A few months ago, Yumi comment us about the souvenirs she was planning to take to Japan for family and friends. Now that she’s back, she will tell us which are the ones that people liked and which ones may have not being such a success. Listen to the podcast to find out!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 経(た)つ (for time) to pass
- 落(お)ち着(つ)く to settle down
- 反応(はんのう) response; reactions
- 喜(よろこ)ぶ to be pleased; to be delighted
- がっかりされた was disappoint...
This is the final part of the long-awaited journey to Japan! This time, Yumi will tell us about an incredible visit to USJ and more about Tokyo. Listen to the podcast and pay attention to her recommendations for your next trip to Japan!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- たどり着(つ)くfinally arrive at; to get to (at last); find one’s way to
- 書斎(しょさい) library; study; sanctum
- 超(ちょう)おすすめ highly recommended [超(ちょう) (highly; extremely; super); おすすめ(recomm...
In this episode, Yumi will tell us about the troubles she encountered while in Japan. Can you imagine what was the most difficult thing during her stay there? You may never imagine what was… Listen to the podcast and find out what it was!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 随分(ずいぶん) considerably; rather; fairly; quite
- お久(ひさ)しぶり it has been a long time [お 久(ひさ)しぶりis politer form for 久(ひさ)しぶり]
- 無事(ぶじ) safely; with no problems [無...
In the previous episode, Yumi talked about her arrival to Japan. This time, she will talk about what she and her family did after that, like going on a sightseeing bus in Tokyo or visiting an old friend. But, arriving at the countryside where her parents live after going around Tokyo made her wonder about the differences you can find between big cities and the countryside.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- ２階(かい)建(だ)て double-decker; two-story ...
Finally, Yumi and her family are in Japan! It’s been a long time since the last visit, and it seems things have changed. At least, at the convenience stores! Listen to her and take note of ideas for souvenirs for your next trip!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 片(かた)付(づ)け tidying up
- 一段落(いちだんらく) stopping point (before the next stage) [段落 (end; end of a paragraph)]
- 復活(ふっかつ)させる revive; come back [復活(ふっかつ) (revival; resurrection); させる (causati...
In the previous episode, Yumi told us she’s going back to Japan with her family. But she was having some issues deciding what to pick as souvenir for her family and friends. This time, she will talk about what she bought and where. Listen to her and take note of ideas for souvenirs for your next trip!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 何人(なんにん)か分(ぶん) portion for some people [何人(なんにん)か “some people” (かindicates it to be “not a specific number”);...
Yumi is going back to Japan with her family! This is a long-awaited trip. Soon they will be reunited with family and friends, but… There is something troubling Yumi’s mind. Listen to the podcast to know more about it!
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 帰(き)省(せい) homecoming visit; going to one’s parents’ home
- うんうんうなるto moan (in pain or in discomfort) [うんうん (onomatopoeia that mimicking the sound of moaning); うなる (to growl; to moan; to grunt)]
- 夢(...
In the previous podcast, Yumi started to talk about her family trip to St. Augustine. Don’t miss the end of this story, where she explains the main reason of their trip and why she couldn’t sleep well that night.
KEY VOCABULARY:
- 予(よ)約(やく) reservation; booking
- 無(む)効(こう) invalid; void
- 慌(あわ)てて in a hurry; in haste [fixed phrase]
- 近(ちか)場(ば) nearby place
- 重(かさ)ね合(あ)わせてtaking (the both countries’ histories) together and … [重(かさ)ね合(あ)...
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