Basic Lessons
Asking Directions (7)
Dialogue
Click here for the dialogue for "Asking Directions."
Nara: Condition
"~ nara" expresses the condition. It is usually used when information is given by the addressee.
| Anata ga ikanai nara, watashi mo ikimasen. あなたが行かないなら、 私も行きません。 |
If you won't go, I won't go either. |
| Omoshiroi nara
yomitai desu. 面白いなら読みたいです。 |
If it is interesting, I want to read it. |
It is also attached after a noun, and used to indicate the noun is taken up for further comment. It has the nuance of "if you mean ~."
| Denwa wa doko desu ka. Denwa nara nikai ni arimasu. 電話はどこですか。 電話なら二階にあります。 |
Where is the telephone? As for the telephone, it is on the second floor. |
| Toshi wa doushite iru no kana. Toshi nara genki da yo. 利はどうしているのかな。 利なら元気だよ。 |
I wonder how Toshi is doing. Oh, Toshi, he is good. |
Gurai: Approximation
"~ gurai" is used for an approximate time period or quantity. It can be replaced with "hodo" or "yaku," though "yaku" comes before the quantity unlike others. Click here to learn the difference between "gurai" and "goro."
| Gofun gurai
desu. 五分ぐらいです。 |
It takes about five minutes. |
| Eki made juppun hodo
kakarimasu. 駅まで十分ほどかかります。 |
It takes ten minutes to the station. |
| Kono eiga wa yaku ni-jikan
desu. この映画は約二時間です。 |
This movie is about two hours. |
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