INAMOTO MarikoINAMOTO Mariko
INAMOTO MarikoMarch 23, 2015
Our house's pet dog

How would you talk to a dog if it only understood Japanese ? Inamoto sensei has the opposite problem ! Japanese pet dogs learn a few phrases, like sit - 'osuwari' or give me your hand - 'ote', but what happens when the animal doesn't understand Japanese ? This blog by Inamoto sensei gives an amusing insight into this domestic situation. Vocabulary hints, Kanji readings and an English translation are provided.

Our house's pet dog

This Japanese teacher’s blog by INAMOTO Mariko sensei is a great way to study natural Japanese expressions. You can read, listen, and learn useful vocabulary from a short essay written in everyday Japanese.


Read Natural Japanese in Context:Our house's pet dog

我が家の犬

dog

1ヶ月前に我が家に新しい犬が来ました。カミーラといいます。前の飼い主が かえなくなってしまったので、引き取ったのです。実はその飼い主、スペイン語を話す人だったので、はじめ日本語が全然わかりませんでした。

でも最近だんだん日本語がわかるようになって来ました。「まて」「おすわり」「おいで」「だめ」を覚えました。でもまだ「ふせ」「お手」は、わかりません。今練習中です。

仔犬なので、レッスンのときに ほえてしまうかもしれませんが、みなさん ゆるしてください。

Learn Japanese Listening with Video Lesson

Watch INAMOTO Mariko sensei read this blog with clear native pronunciation and improve your Japanese listening skills.

Learn Japanese Kanji with Furigana Reading Help

いぬ

ヶ月かげつまえあたらしいいぬました。カミーラといいます。まえぬしが かえなくなってしまったので、ったのです。じつはそのぬし、スペインはなす人だったので 、カミーラは はじめ日本語にほんご全然ぜんぜんわかりませんでした。

でも最近さいきんだんだん日本語にほんごがわかるようになってきました。「まて」「おすわり」「おいで」「だめ」をおぼえました。でもまだ「ふせ」「」は、わかりません。いま練習中れんしゅうです。

仔犬こいぬなので、レッスンのときに ほえてしまうかもしれませんが、みなさん ゆるしてください。

English Translation for Understanding

A month a go, a new dog came to live at our house. Her name is Camilla. Her previous owner couldn't take care of her anymore, so we took care of her. Actually, that owner spoke Spanish, so Camilla didn't understand a word of Japanese at first.

However, recently she has gradually come to understand some Japanese. She has learned to understand “Wait” - 'mate', “Sit” - 'osuwari' , “Come here” - 'oide' and “No!” - 'dame' But she still doesn't understand, “Lie down” -'fuse' and “Give me your hand” - 'ote'. We are practicing these phrases now.

During my online lessons, you might hear the puppy barking in the background, if you do please forgive her !

This Week’s Key Vocabulary

 my home

ぬし owner

る claim; take care of

まて wait

おすわり sit down

おいで some here

だめ no

ふせ lie down

give me a hand

仔犬こいぬ puppy

ほえる bark

ゆるす forgive

Meet the Teacher

INAMOTO Mariko
INAMOTO Mariko
Japanese Language Teacher

INAMOTO Mariko wrote this post for the Japonin (JOI) teachers’ blog. It is a short Japanese essay with a vocabulary list, furigana, an English translation, and a video so you can listen as you read.

Join a live Japanese class and start learning with our teachers today!

Get 2 Free Lessons

Unlock 2 Live Japanese Lessons for Free!

Join over 5000+ students and start your journey toward Japanese fluency today

Copyright 2026, JAPONIN.com - All Rights Reserved