Japanese Lesson 3

[Verse 1] You’ve got the basics—now let’s talk exchange Giving, receiving—how actions arrange Three verbs of giving, each with point of view あげる (ageru): I give to you, or someone new くれる (kureru): you give to me, a gift that flows もらう (morau): I receive—now watch it grow Particle に (ni) marks the giver or receiver 誰にあげる？ (dare ni ageru?)—now you’re a achiever [Chorus 1] あげる, くれる, もらう—know the flow Who gives to whom? The particles show 友達 に プレゼント を あげた (tomodachi ni purezento o ageta) “I gave a gift to my friend”—that’s set 私 は 母 に 本 を もらった (watashi wa haha ni hon o moratta) “I received a book from Mom”—you got it, don’t forget [Verse 2] When someone does a favor, add て-form plus あげる てあげる (te ageru)—for others, I confer てくれる (te kureru)—someone does for me, so kind てもらう (te morau)—I have them do, in my mind 手伝ってあげる (tetsudatte ageru) “I’ll help you out” 手伝ってくれる (tetsudatte kureru) “they help me, no doubt” 手伝ってもらった (tetsudatte moratta) “I got them to help” These three will make your Japanese melt [Bridge] Now let’s move to “let’s”—volitional form in sight For ます-verbs: drop ます, add ましょう (mashō), polite and light 行きましょう (ikimashō) “let’s go” 食べましょう (tabemashō) “let’s eat”—the flow For plain verbs: う (u) → おう (ō) sound 行く (iku) → 行こう (ikō) unbound 食べる (taberu) → 食べよう (tabeyō) する (suru) → しよう (shiyō) and 来る (kuru) → 来よう (koyō)—you know [Chorus 2] Let’s go, let’s eat, let’s do it now Volitional form—take a vow ましょう for polite, おう for plain 一緒に (issho ni) “together”—say it again 行こう, 行きましょう—both are “let’s go” The spirit of invitation, watch it grow [Verse 3] Conditionals—if and when, a world of chance たら (tara) is friendly, easy to advance Past tense short form + ら (ra) is the key 行ったら (ittara) “if I go” or “when I’ll see” 食べたら (tabetara) “if I eat”—so fine 雨 が 降ったら (ame ga futtara) “if it rains,” take a sign Then the result follows naturally Follow this pattern, set your mind free [Verse 4] Another conditional: ば (ba) for verbs and い-adj too For u-verbs: change u to e + ば (ba)—it’s true 行く (iku) → 行けば (ikeba) “if I go” For ru-verbs: drop る, add れば (reba)—the flow 食べる (taberu) → 食べれば (tabereba) い-adj: drop い, add ければ (kereba) for “if it’s…” 美味しければ (oishikereba) “if it’s delicious” な-adj and noun: なら (nara) is propitious 静かなら (shizuka nara) “if quiet” 学生なら (gakusei nara) “if a student”—try it [Chorus 3] たら and ば—if and when Open up the world of “then” Past + ら, or e + ば, plus ければ for い なら for nouns and な-adj—fly Choose your conditional, make your speech clear If you practice, soon they’ll hear [Verse 5] Let’s add とき (toki)—“when” or “at the time” Verb plain form + とき—simple rhyme 日本 に 行く とき (nihon ni iku toki) “when I go to Japan” 買います (kaimasu) “I’ll buy”—that’s the plan For past: 行った とき (itta toki) “when I went” Past tense then, with no lament Noun + の とき (no toki) for a time like “spring” 春 の とき (haru no toki)—let the meaning ring [Verse 6] Now let’s compare—ほうが (hō ga) for “more” A より B の ほうが (A yori B no hō ga) “B is more than A”—it’s law 寿司 より ラーメン の ほうが 好き (sushi yori rāmen no hō ga suki) “I like ramen more than sushi”—see the trick 一番 (ichiban) means “the most” of all 日本語 が 一番 難しい (nihongo ga ichiban muzukashii)—stand tall Equality: と同じ (to onaji) “same as” これ は それ と 同じ です (kore wa sore to onaji desu)—passed [Chorus 4] Compare, contrast, choose your way より and ほうが—what you want to say 一番 for “most,” と同じ for “same” Now your comparisons have a name Build your sentences, let them grow Lesson three—you’re in the flow [Outro] Giving, receiving, invitations to share Conditionals to show when and where Comparisons to weigh what you feel Each new form makes the language real These songs will stack, brick by brick 覚えて (oboete)—let it stick 次は 第四課 (tsugi wa dai yon ka) また 歌 で 会いましょう (mata uta de aimashō)