Japanese Lesson 1

[Verse 1] Start with は (wa)—the topic’s place “As for me” is 私 (watashi) Then です (desu) to end with grace “I am a cat”—私 は 猫 です One two three, the spine is set これ は ペン です—now you won’t forget [Chorus] Step by step, let the rhythm show は for topic, です to close Subject first, then what it is これ は ペン です—Japanese is yours Ha ha ha, the sound is “wa” Say it with the beat, you’ll go far [Verse 2] Turn to a question—add か (ka) at the end それ は 犬 です か？ “Is that a dog?” my friend “This” is これ, “that” nearby is それ あれ is “that one over there”—point and tell Three small words to show the way Kore, sore, are—you use them every day [Verse 3] Places need に (ni)—“to school I go” 学校 に 行きます (gakkō ni ikimasu)—flow 見ます (mimasu) is “see,” 食べます (tabemasu) “eat” Past tense: ました (mashita) makes it complete 食べました (tabemashita) “ate,” so neat Negative: ません (masen), no repeat [Bridge] Count with me—一 (ichi), 二 (ni), 三 (san) 四 (shi/yon), 五 (go), 六 (roku)—now you understand 七 (nana), 八 (hachi), 九 (kyū), 十 (jū) General things? 一つ (hitotsu), 二つ (futatsu)—use them too [Verse 4] い-adjectives come before the noun 白い 猫 (shiroi neko)—white cat in town Or end the sentence with です in tow この 寿司 は 美味しい です—see how it flows 美味しい (oishii), 高い (takai), 寒い (samui)—cold Adjectives are friends, let them be bold [Verse 5] が (ga) marks the subject when it’s new 私 が 猫 です—it’s me, it’s true を (o) marks the object, action’s clue リンゴ を 食べます—apple, thank you で (de) for means or place you’re in バス で 行きます—by bus, begin へ (e) for “toward”—東京 へ 行く Direction smooth, no need to look [Verse 6] 私 (watashi) for me, あなた (anata) for you But use with care—names feel more true 彼 (kare) is he, 彼女 (kanojo) she Add さん (san) for courtesy 先生 (sensei) teacher, 友達 (tomodachi) friend These are the roots that never end [Chorus] Step by step, let the rhythm show は for topic, です to close Subject first, then what it is これ は ペン です—Japanese is yours Ha ha ha, the sound is “wa” Say it with the beat, you’ll go far [Outro] Here’s your first ground—built on groove Every line a step to move は and です, か to ask 一、二、三—you’re up to the task The river’s wide, you’ve stepped in また ね (mata ne)—let the song begin これ は 歌 です—and you’re living it