sentences you may not be able to write, let alone read aloud. In each lesson you will encounter several reading passages that will help you practice this skill.
Do not worry if you cannot pronounce every character in the reading passages. Understanding the meaning of the characters is more important for reading. You will know this skill is developing, if you can answer the reading comprehension questions correctly.
Contents of the CD-ROM
To download, please click here.
The CD-ROM contains a program for reviewing the kanji characters introduced in this book. It has a vocabulary quiz section and a reading comprehension section. Using a multiple-choice format, you can get immediate, interactive feedback on how well you are progressing through each lesson.
In addition to the quiz program, the CD-ROM also contains a set of flash cards for all of the kanji characters and vocabulary introduced in this book, and a few extra vocabulary items as a bonus. The front displays the kanji and the useful vocabulary associated with it, and the back displays the corresponding hiragana, romaji, and English for each card.
The card files are provided in two different page setups, so that you may select your preferred way of printing them. One set is formatted to print double-sided if your printer allows that (i.e., the card “pages” are sequenced with each card-fronts page followed immediately by its corresponding card-backs page). The other format has all card-fronts in a group, and all card-backs in a separate group.
Card stock paper works best for printing out flash cards. Not only does it last longer, it also makes it impossible to accidentally see the answer through the paper. You may want to print out multiple sets of flash cards, one side only, for playing games like Memory. One advantage of having the flash cards on the CD-ROM is your ability to print as many copies as you wish.
Also, please note that Japanese has many homonyms. For instance, the word spelled in hiragana as にかい can mean 二回 (two times) and 二階 (second floor). This is one reason why kanji characters are important to the Japanese language. As you progress in your Japanese studies, you will encounter some words that share the same sound as words you have already learned, but have different meanings. This is the case with some of the words on the flash cards. Luckily there are kanji characters in most cases to help minimize this confusion!
For best results, try studying a few at a time, adding more cards as they become easy. Some students prefer to divide their cards into two piles as they study: the cards they already know and the cards they are still working on mastering. By focusing on the stack of flash cards you are still learning, you will use your study time more efficiently.
One Step at a Time
The Japanese have a saying, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” 千 里の道も一歩から “senri no michi mo ippo kara.” This applies to learning kanji. You are taking the first steps toward mastering written Japanese. The list on the table of contents may seem vast at this point, but taking kanji one character at a time, one lesson at a time, you will make great progress. Most experienced students will tell you it is not easy, but worth it. When you look back, you will be impressed by all the ground you have covered. All the best to you in this journey!
1
一
One
One (1) stroke One finger
■ Trace the gray lines, and then practice on your own.
■ Useful vocabulary: Write the character, and trace the gray ones.
|
|
いち | ichi | one |
| いちがつ | ichi gatsu | January | |
| ひとつ | hitotsu | one thing | |
| ひとり | hitori | one person | |
| ついたち | tsuitachi | 1st of the month |
2
二
Two
Two (2) strokes Two fingers
■ Trace the gray lines, and then practice on your own.
■ Useful vocabulary: Write the character, and trace the gray ones.
|
|
に | ni | two |
| ふたつ | futatsu | two things | |
| ふたり | futari | two people | |
| ふつか | futsuka | 2nd of the month | |
| はつか | hatsuka | 20th of the month |
* An asterisk denotes vocabulary with kanji that have not yet been introduced.
Yoshiko san wa, nigatsu hatsuka kara isshūkan, hokkaidō ni ikimashita. Ichinichime wa tsukarete nanimo dekimasendeshita ga, futsukame kara wa sukii o shitari, onsen ni haittari, karaoke ni ittari shite, totemo tanoshikatta desu. Rainen no fuyu wa, sunōbōdo o naraitai desu.
Questions 1-A
1. Yoshiko came home on (A. February 10, b. February 27, C. October 20, D. October 27).
2. Yoshiko could not do anything on the first day because (A. she was too excited, b. she had a cold, C. she was tired, D. it was very far).
3. Apart from skiing, how did Yoshiko enjoy her trip? (A. bathing in a hot spring, b. snow-boarding, C. riding a bullet train,
