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Today's podcast covers: 〜ながら — while doing something Attach this expression to the stem of a verb to show that two actions happen at the same time. The final verb expresses the main action, and both actions usually have the same subject. Example: 音楽を聞きながら勉強します。 I study while listening to music. Vocabulary: 音楽を — music 聞きながら — while listening 勉強します。 — study Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

Today's podcast covers: 〜ほうがいいです — should, it would be better to This expression gives advice. Put a verb in its plain past form before it, even when the recommended action is in the future. Example: 今夜は早く寝たほうがいいです。 You should go to bed early tonight. Vocabulary: 今夜は — tonight 早く — early 寝た — go to bed, in the plain past form ほうがいいです — should, it would be better to Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

Today's podcast covers: 〜たり〜たりする — to do things like A and B (listing representative actions) This pattern lists a few representative actions or states among many, implying they are examples rather than an exhaustive list. Each verb takes its past-tense form followed by ri, and the whole phrase is typically closed with the verb suru. Example: 週末は本を読んだり映画を見たりします。 On weekends I do things like read books and watch movies. Vocabulary: 週末は — on weekends 本を — books 読んだり — do things like read 映画を — movies 見たりします — and watch, among other things Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

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 Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

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? Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

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 Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

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) Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

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 Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

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 Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

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) Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

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 Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

Today's podcast covers: ～てしまう — to end up doing, to completely do, to do something regrettably This grammar pattern attaches to verbs and expresses either completion of an action or a sense of regret about something that happened unintentionally or unfortunately. It often conveys that something was done completely, or that the speaker feels sorry about the result. Example: 大切な写真を間違えて消してしまった。 I accidentally deleted an important photo. Vocabulary: 大切な — important, precious 写真を — photo (object marker) 間違えて — by mistake, accidentally 消してしまった — ended up deleting, unfortunately deleted Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

Today's podcast covers: ので — because, since, so ので is a conjunction used to express cause or reason. It connects two clauses where the first clause explains the reason for the second clause, and it sounds softer and more polite than から . Example: 雨が降っているので、傘を持っていきます。 Since it\\\'s raining, I will take an umbrella. Vocabulary: 雨が — rain (subject) ふっている — is falling ので — because, since 傘を — umbrella (object) 持っていきます — will take, will bring Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

Today's podcast covers: ～になる — to become, to turn into This grammar pattern attaches to nouns and adjectives to express a change of state or transformation. Example: 来年、私は二十歳になります。 Next year, I will turn twenty years old. Vocabulary: 来年 — next year 私は — I (topic marker) 二十歳に — twenty years old (target of change) なります — will become (polite form) Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com

Today's podcast covers: ～がする — to sense/feel (used with sensory experiences like smell, sound, taste) This expression is used to describe sensory perceptions. The particle marks what is being sensed, such as a smell, sound, taste, or feeling. It combines with nouns related to the five senses. Example: この部屋は変なにおいがする。 This room has a strange smell. Vocabulary: この — this 部屋は — room (topic marker) 変な — strange, weird においが — smell (subject marker) する — to do, sense Become a Makoto+ member for bonus content: www.MakotoPlus.com