Do you have too many things in your house?  Is it time spring clean?
Angela reads the basic text from this lesson, (transcript available when you take this lesson).

This topic is also available for intermediate and higher-level learners.


English with Angela -  conversation 

TASK 19 - LESS STUFF MORE HAPPINESS

Script

おはようございます。日本語だんだんポットキャストのゆかりです。

今日の天気(てんき)は雨(あめ)です。

雨が降(ふ)っています。

北海道のさっぽろでは、雪(ゆき)がつもりましたよ。

ところで、みなさんは傘(かさ)をつかいますか？
雨のとき、傘をさしますか？

私はいつも、ちいさな、

"おりたたみ傘(がさ)"をもっています。

いつ雨が降ってもいいように、もっています。

そして、雨が降ったら、すぐに傘をさします。

実は、日本人が世界でいちばん、
傘をたくさんもっているそうです。

データでは、一人4.2本ぐらい、もっているようです。

私はふつうの傘と、おりたたみ傘、
2本もっています。

あ、そういえば車のトランクにもう1本ありました・・。3本ですね。

日本人はどうして、すぐに傘をさすのでしょうか。

私は風邪をひきたくないから、
傘をさします。

みなさんは、雨が降ったら、
傘をさしますか？

それとも、傘をささずに、
走りますか？

では、今日も最後まで聞いてくれて、だんだん、です。

また明日！

--------------------
Today's Keywords

□傘をさす
open an umbrella

Japaneseだんだんpodcast

53. すぐに傘(かさ)をさす日本人/Japaneseだんだんpodcast

It's no secret that Hawaii is a favorite destination for Japanese tourists. In 2023, the islands welcomed around 573,000 visitors from Japan — the most from any country.

But did you know there's a connection between Japan and Hawaii that goes beyond travel and into clothing?

Aloha shirts, also known as Hawaiian shirts, have roots in Japanese culture, beginning with Japanese immigrants in Hawaii.

In the late 1800s, Japanese immigrants in Hawaii started importing Japanese clothing as well as rolls of fabric to make clothes with.

In the 1920s, locals in Hawaii saw these fabrics and started using them to make casual dress shirts with Japanese patterns on them. These shirts became popular with tourists to Hawaii.

Soon after, aloha shirts were made in bulk, but instead of using fabric made for Japanese clothing, stores in Hawaii started bringing in printed fabrics made just for aloha shirts.

And by the late 1930s, the designs had changed from Japanese patterns to the Hawaiian inspired patterns we're used to today — images of Mount Fuji and Japanese pine trees were replaced with things like coconut trees, surfers and fish.

But even though today's aloha shirts don't look very Japanese inspired, they still remain popular within Japan.

Yosuke Seki, an aloha shirt aficionado who goes to Hawaii every year, told CNN he wears his shirts daily, and hopes to inspire others to try them.

"Right now, I'm wearing a replica of one of the expensive designs," Seki said, adding that his shirt cost between $130 and $200. The more expensive shirts can cost thousands of dollars, he explained.

And for some fans, aloha shirts are not just clothing — they're collectable items, or even considered art.

Yoshihiro Nakano is the brand director of Sun Surf, a Japanese company that has been making aloha shirts for about 50 years. Many customers don't even wear the aloha shirts they buy, and instead just collect them or frame them, Nakano told CNN.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

From Japan to Hawaii: The History of Aloha Shirts

New words：
移动支付 yí dòng zhī fù：Mobile Payment
微信支付 wēi xìn zhī fù：Wechat Pay（download and install “微信” app）
支付宝 zhī fù bǎo：Alipay（download and install“支付宝” app）
银行卡 yín háng kǎ：bank cards
信用卡 xìn yòng kǎ：credit card
万事达 wàn shì dá：Mastercard
现金 xiàn jīn：cash
外币兑换 wài bì duì huàn：Currency Exchange
人民币 rén mín bì：¥RMB


Welcome to visit China ”欢迎来中国!“

L7 Payment methods in China

Dangsu's Podcast Series

Days of the Week

我们都知道这三个词是量词，可是每次用的时候会不会很困惑，到底该用哪一个？
听听今天的讲解，也许就不难了。

完整视频在YouTube: BR轻松学中文 @brchineselearning


中文小课堂

只，枝，支的用法

SHANNON: What a fantastic performance! Thank you for inviting 
me to the musical.
ELENA: You are welcome. I’m happy you enjoyed the show. 
The choreography of the dancers was incredible. It 
reminds me of when I used to dance.
SHANNON: I know! You were such a talented ballerina. Do you 
miss dancing?
ELENA: Oh, that’s very kind of you, Shannon. I do miss it 
sometimes. But I will always be a fan of the arts. That’s 
why I love going to musicals because it’s the perfect 
combination of song, dance and theater.
SHANNON: Absolutely! I’m glad you are still an art fan too. Thank 
you for the invitation. It’s always a pleasure to attend 
an arts event with you and learn something new


LANGUAGE NOTES
• You are welcome. Elena replies “You are welcome” in this dialogue. She could also say, 
“Don’t mention it,” which is an example of downgrading. Downgrading a compliment 
varies with culture. When in doubt, just say “You are welcome.”
• When getting a compliment to someone (for example: “You were such a talented
ballerina”), you can either accept the compliment (“That’s very kind of you”) or 
downplay the compliment (“Oh, I wasn’t that good”).
• Giving compliments in English often includes using superlatives (“the most …,” “the 
best …”). This is the best musical playing on Broadway! / What’s the most entertaining 
movie you’ve seen? However, compliments can also be given by using the construction 
“I’m a fan of …”: I’m a fan of the arts. / I’m a big fan of theater. / I’m a huge fan of this 
band. Notice the use of adjectives

English Conversation practice (30-day challenge)

Day 24: At the theater

여자친구 정말 예쁘다, 너보다 훨씬 어려 보여.
你女朋友真漂亮，长得比你年轻多了。  

정말? 그런데 나보다 나이가 많아. 
真的吗？可是她比我大。 

뭐라고? 연상연하 커플이네. 
什么？你们是姐弟恋啊。 

爱情哪有什么限制，喜欢就好。  
사랑에 제한이 어디 있어, 좋으면 된 거지.

* 연상연하 커플 姐弟恋 
* 어리다 年轻
* 사랑, 애정 爱情
* 제한 限制

[YOON] 1분 한국어

여자친구 정말 예쁘다, 너보다 훨씬 어려 보여. 你女朋友真漂亮，长得比你年轻多了。

This episode introduces three idioms that use the word apple. Listen to the examples to hear how to use them. Please send me a message if you would like a copy of the audio script.