Japanese · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 2 of 12
Opinions and reasons
意見と理由Iken to riyū
Give your opinion in Japanese with ～と思う, give reasons with から, ので and ～し, and agree or disagree softly.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Say what you think and don't think with ～と思う
- Report what someone else thinks with ～と思っている
- Give one or several reasons with から, ので and ～し
- Agree and disagree politely and softly
Listen
At a university café in Nagoya, final-year students Tanaka Hina and Sugiyama Ryo talk about where to work after graduating. They are friends and speak casually. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Hina
涼は卒業した後、どうするの？もう決めた？
Ryō wa sotsugyō shita ato, dō suru no? Mō kimeta?
Ryo, what are you going to do after you graduate? Have you decided yet?
Ryo
まだ悩んでいるんだ。東京の会社か、地元の名古屋の会社か。
Mada nayande iru n da. Tōkyō no kaisha ka, jimoto no Nagoya no kaisha ka.
I'm still thinking it over. A company in Tokyo, or one here at home in Nagoya.
Hina
私は東京のほうがいいと思う。給料も高いし、面白い仕事もたくさんあるし。
Watashi wa Tōkyō no hō ga ii to omou. Kyūryō mo takai shi, omoshiroi shigoto mo takusan aru shi.
I think Tokyo is better. The pay is higher, and there are lots of interesting jobs.
Ryo
確かに。でも、都会は家賃も高いから、結局あまりお金は残らないんじゃないかな。
Tashika ni. Demo, tokai wa yachin mo takai kara, kekkyoku amari okane wa nokoranai n ja nai ka na.
That's true. But rents are high in the big city too, so I suspect you don't end up with much money left.
Hina
それはそうだけど、一度は都会に住んでみたいと思わない？
Sore wa sō da kedo, ichido wa tokai ni sunde mitai to omowanai?
That's true, but don't you want to try living in a big city at least once?
Ryo
うーん、僕はそうは思わないな。名古屋も便利だし、友達もいるし。それに、親は地元で就職したほうがいいと思っているんだ。
Ūn, boku wa sō wa omowanai na. Nagoya mo benri da shi, tomodachi mo iru shi. Sore ni, oya wa jimoto de shūshoku shita hō ga ii to omotte iru n da.
Hmm, I don't really think so. Nagoya is convenient too, and my friends are here. Besides, my parents think I should find a job here at home.
Hina
親の意見も大事だけど、涼はどうしたいの？
Oya no iken mo daiji da kedo, Ryō wa dō shitai no?
Your parents' opinion matters too, but what do you want to do?
Ryo
実は、大学院に行こうかなとも思っているんだ。
Jitsu wa, daigakuin ni ikō ka na to mo omotte iru n da.
Actually, I'm also thinking I might go to graduate school.
Hina
え、大学院？反対じゃないけど、どうして？
E, daigakuin? Hantai ja nai kedo, dōshite?
What, graduate school? I'm not against it, but why?
Ryo
もっと経済を勉強したいから。それに、大学院を出た人のほうが、給料が高いんじゃないかな。
Motto keizai o benkyō shitai kara. Sore ni, daigakuin o deta hito no hō ga, kyūryō ga takai n ja nai ka na.
Because I want to study more economics. And I think people with a graduate degree probably get paid more.
Hina
なるほど、いい理由だね。それなら私も賛成。涼は勉強が好きだし。
Naruhodo, ii riyū da ne. Sore nara watashi mo sansei. Ryō wa benkyō ga suki da shi.
I see, that's a good reason. In that case I'm for it too. You like studying, after all.
Ryo
ありがとう。でも、将来の安定も大事だから、もう少し考えてから決めるよ。
Arigatō. Demo, shōrai no antei mo daiji da kara, mō sukoshi kangaete kara kimeru yo.
Thanks. But a secure future matters too, so I'll think a bit more before I decide.
Understand
I think: ～と思う and ～と思っている
Put (to omou) after a plain form: (Tōkyō no hō ga ii to omou), I think Tokyo is better. After a noun or a な-adjective, add (da): (benri da to omou), I think it's convenient. In polite speech, (to omoimasu).
“I don't think it's …” is usually said by making the first part negative: (takakunai to omou), I don't think it's expensive. ～とは思わない (to wa omowanai) is a clearer disagreement: (sō wa omowanai), I don't think so. Ryo says (boku wa sō wa omowanai na): (boku) is the casual “I” of men and boys, and a final (na) makes it sound like he is thinking aloud.
is only for your own opinion. For someone else's, use (to omotte iru): (oya wa jimoto ga ii to omotte iru), my parents think home is better. You also use for a plan or view you have held for some time: (daigakuin ni ikō to omotte iru), I'm thinking of going to graduate school.
- この店は高くないと思います。Kono mise wa takakunai to omoimasu.I don't think this shop is expensive.
- 山田さんは、明日は雨だと思っています。Yamada-san wa, ashita wa ame da to omotte imasu.Mr Yamada thinks it will rain tomorrow.
- 私はそうは思いません。Watashi wa sō wa omoimasen.I don't think so.
Giving reasons: から, ので, ～し, だから, それで
You know (kara) and (node) from A2: the reason comes first, then the result. sounds softer and more polite. (dakara) and (sorede) start a new sentence with “so”, “that's why”.
～し (shi) after a plain form lists reasons, suggesting there are even more: (Nagoya mo benri da shi, tomodachi mo iru shi), Nagoya is convenient, and my friends are here (so I'd rather stay). The conclusion is often left unsaid. With ～し, (mo) often replaces or .
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (Takai kara, kawanai.) | It's expensive, so I won't buy it. |
| (Ame na node, ie ni imasu.) | It's raining, so I'm staying at home. (softer) |
| (Kyūryō mo takai shi, shigoto mo omoshiroi shi.) | The pay is good, and the work is interesting (among other things). |
| (dakara) | so, that's why (starts a sentence) |
| (sorede) | and so, and then (starts a sentence) |
Agreeing and disagreeing softly
Japanese speakers rarely disagree head-on. They first accept part of the other opinion with (tashika ni, that's true) or (sore wa sō da kedo, that's true, but), and then add their own view.
～んじゃないかな (-n ja nai ka na) after a plain form is a soft way to give an opinion, like “I suspect …” or “isn't it …?”: (okane wa nokoranai n ja nai ka na), I suspect you won't have much money left. After a noun or な-adjective, use (na n ja nai ka na). In polite speech: ～んじゃないでしょうか (-n ja nai deshō ka).
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (Tashika ni.) | That's true. |
| (Sore wa sō da kedo, …) | That's true, but … |
| (Sō kamo shirenai kedo, …) | That may be so, but … |
| (Sansei.) / (Hantai.) | I'm for it. / I'm against it. |
| (Takai n ja nai ka na.) | I suspect it's expensive. |
| (Naruhodo.) | I see. (you accept the other person's point) |
New words
- 決めるkimeruto decide · きめる; (kangaete kara kimeru), to think it over (, kangaeru) before deciding
- 悩むnayamuto be unable to decide, to worry over · なやむ; (nayande iru), I can't make up my mind
- 地元jimotohome town, the local area · じもと
- 給料kyūryōsalary, pay · きゅうりょう; (okane ga nokoru), to have money left over
- 確かにtashika nicertainly, that's true · たしかに
- 都会tokaibig city · とかい; the opposite is (inaka), the countryside
- 親oyaparent, parents · おや
- 意見ikenopinion · いけん
- 大学院daigakuingraduate school · だいがくいん; (jitsu wa), actually, to tell the truth
- 反対hantaiagainst; opposition · はんたい; ～に反対だ (ni hantai da), to be against …
- 理由riyūreason · りゆう
- 賛成sanseiin favour; agreement · さんせい; ～に賛成だ (ni sansei da), to be for …
- 将来shōraithe future (your own) · しょうらい; (shōrai no yume), your dream for the future
- 安定anteistability, security · あんてい; (antei shita shigoto), a secure job
Practise
1.Ryo explains what his parents think. Which sentence is right?
2.Ryo gives two reasons for staying in Nagoya. Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.Nagoya is convenient too, and my friends are here.
3.Match the Japanese with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
4.A friend says Tokyo is the best place to live. You partly agree but want to add a doubt. What do you say?
5.How do you say “I think he's a student”?
6.You want to give a soft, polite reason: “It's raining, so I'm staying at home.” Which sentence is correct?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
私もそう思います。
Watashi mo sō omoimasu.
I think so too.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.