Today's podcast covers:

〜たいです — want to do something

This grammar pattern is attached to the stem of a verb to express the speaker's desire to do something. It is polite in form and translates roughly to 'I want to' in English.

Example: 日本語を上手に話したいです。 I want to speak Japanese well.

Vocabulary:

• 日本語を — Japanese, object marker
• 上手に — skillfully, well
• 話したいです — want to speak

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Today's podcast covers:

〜てもいいですか — May I...? Is it okay if I...?

This pattern is used to ask for permission to do something. It is formed by attaching to the tay-form of a verb, making it a polite way to request allowance for an action.

Example: ここに座ってもいいですか？ May I sit here?

Vocabulary:

• ここに — here
• 座って — sit
• も — even, also
• いいですか — is it okay?

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Today's podcast covers:

です — is, am, are (polite copula)

This is a polite copula used at the end of sentences to link a subject to a noun or adjective, similar to 'to be' in English. It marks a formal or polite speech level and is one of the most fundamental building blocks of Japanese grammar.

Example: これはペンです。 This is a pen.

Vocabulary:

• これは — this (topic marker)
• ペンです — is a pen

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Today's podcast covers:

〜たり 〜たりする — doing things like A and B, alternating or listing multiple actions

This grammar pattern is used to list multiple actions or states in a non-exhaustive way, implying there are other similar activities as well. It is formed by attaching tari to the ta-form of verbs or adjectives and closing with suru. The sound changes to da after certain sounds.

Example: 週末は音楽を聴いたり、本を読んだりします。 On weekends, I do things like listen to music and read books.

Vocabulary:

• 週末は — on weekends
• 音楽を — music (object marker)
• 聴いたり — listen (listed action)
• 本を — book (object marker)
• 読んだりします — read, and so on (closing the pattern with suru)

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Today's podcast covers:

〜から — because, since, from

The particle attaches to the end of a verb, adjective, or noun phrase to indicate a reason or cause, meaning 'because' or 'since'. It can also indicate a starting point in time or place, meaning 'from'.

Example: 雨が降っているから、家にいます。 Because it is raining, I am staying home.

Vocabulary:

• 雨が — rain (subject marker)
• 降っているから — because it is falling, raining
• 家に — at home
• います — I am, I stay

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Today's podcast covers:

〜てはいけません — You must not do, it is forbidden to do (prohibition)

The pattern is formed by attaching it to the te-form of a verb. It expresses a prohibition or rule, meaning that an action is not allowed or must not be done.

Example: 図書館で食べてはいけません。 You must not eat in the library.

Vocabulary:

• 図書館で — in the library
• 食べてはいけません — must not eat

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Today's podcast covers:

こう — like this, in this way, thus

This is a demonstrative adverb used to describe the manner of doing something, referring to something close to the speaker or something the speaker is about to demonstrate. It is often paired with verbs to show how an action is performed.

Example: こうやって折り紙を折ります。 You fold origami like this.

Vocabulary:

• こうやって — like this, in this manner
• 折り紙を — origami (object marker)
• 折ります — to fold (polite form)

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Today's podcast covers:

てみたい — want to try doing something

This grammar pattern combines the verb with mitai, which expresses the desire to try doing something to see what it is like. It conveys curiosity or interest in experiencing something new.

Example: 日本に行ってみたいです。 I want to try going to Japan.

Vocabulary:

• 日本に — to Japan
• 行ってみたい — want to try going
• です — polite sentence ending

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