YATABE KumikoMarch 28, 2015
If things can talk

Do you lose things often ? How do you find those things ? What if you could just call them and they could answer ? Yatabe sensei uses her imagination to tell this tale with self-made illustrations in the video to help you learn how to speak Japanese.

If things can talk

This Japanese teacher’s blog by YATABE Kumiko 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:If things can talk

物が話せたら

things can talk

物が声を出せたらいいなと思ったことはありませんか?私は子どもの頃からよくそう思っていました。

こう思うのは、物を探しているときです。家の鍵、自転車の鍵、携帯電話、ヘアクリップ、昔もらったプレゼント・・・ 家の中で、物をどこに置いたか忘れてしまったり、あるはずの物が見つからないことはよくあります。

そんなとき、もし「鍵!どこにいるの?」と大きな声で聞いて、鍵が「ここだよ!ジーンズの左ポケットの中だよ!」などと答えてくれたら、どんなに便利でしょうか?「洗濯機の中だよー早く助けて」と言ってくれれば、時には物の救えることもあるでしょう。

今までに家の中で見つからなくなった物たちが一斉に「ここだよー」と声を出したら、面白いでしょうね? 想像もしなかった所から昔なくした物やすっかり忘れていた物が出てくるかもしれません。 

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ものが話 (はな)せたら

ものこえたらいいなおもったことはありませんか?わたしどものころからよくそうおもっていました。

こうおもうのは、ものさがしているときです。いえかぎ自転車じてんしゃかぎ携帯電話けいたいでんわ、ヘアクリップ、むかしもらったプレゼント・・・ いえなかで、ものをどこにいたかわすれてしまったり、あるはずのものつからないことはよくあります。

そんなとき、もし「かぎ! どこにいるの?」とおおきなこえいて、かぎが「ここだよ! ジーンズのひだりポケットのなかだよ!」などとこたえてくれたら、どんなに便利べんりでしょうか? 「洗濯機せんたくきなかだよー はやたすけて」とってくれれば、ときにはものいのちすくえることもあるでしょう。

いままでにいえなかつからなくなったものたちが一斉いっせい「ここだよー」とこえしたら、面白おもしろいでしょうね? 想像そうぞうもしなかったところからむかしなくしたものすっかりわすれていたものてくるかも しれません。

English Translation for Understanding

If things could talk

Have you ever imagined if things could talk? I have often imagined this since I was a child.

I think of this when I am looking for something. A house key, a bike key, a cell-phone, a hair clip, a gift I received a long time ago... We often forget where we put things. Many times we cannot find a thing that must be in the house.

When this happens, if you could ask "My key! Where are you?" loudly and it answered like "I am here! In the left pocket of your jeans!", how convenient it would be. If things could say "I am in the washing machine, help me immediately!", sometimes you would be able to save their lives.

If all the things you could not find in your house said "I am here!" in chorus, it would be funny, wouldn't it? Maybe you would find things you had lost long time ago or things you had totally forgotten about, from the places you'd never have imagined. 

This Week’s Key Vocabulary

物が話せたら If things can talk

~たらいいな I hope..., It will be great if .....

いのち life

すくう save

一斉いっせいに all together, all at once

想像そうぞうする  imagine

すっかり  totally, completely

Meet the Teacher

YATABE Kumiko
YATABE Kumiko
Japanese Language Teacher

Although my Japanese teaching experience has been solely at Japonin(JOI), I have worked with many students over the years.
In 2012, I launched a dedicated listening practice class (now called LRC) to help learners who struggle with listening comprehension due to limited exposure to natural, spoken Japanese. The class has been very well received by many students.

Experience and Qualifications

  • BA, Department of Japanese Painting, Tama Art University
  • Completed the NAFL Japanese Teacher Training Program
  • Passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test

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