Frank and the Obaasan (eBook)

A Japanese Reader for Beginners

Clay Boutwell, Yumi Boutwell (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
331 Seiten
Kotoba Inc (Verlag)
978-0-00-097856-1 (ISBN)

Infos

READ Real Japanese Today-with the Help of an Alien!

Are you a beginner or upper-beginner student of Japanese? Looking for something fun that's actually written for adults-but not too hard? Meet Frank: a confused, natto-loving alien and your new Japanese reading buddy.

Textauszug

EPISODE ONE: The Encounter

出会であ会い

Makoto+ Search Code: frank1a

TIP: The Makoto+ Search Code works in the search bar for both “Browse Sentences” and “Story Mode.” Use it to quickly focus just on this particular episode chapter.

 

 

Try to read the Japanese first. If you need the ro-maji version, use it sparingly. Lastly, read the English to cement understanding. The following pages will break down each line and explain grammar, kanji, and culture. Please look for the sound files of the stories.

 

Frank is an alien. His Japanese isn’t top-notch, but he gets an A+ for the effort. Having crashlanded on earth, let’s join him as he learns a little bit about Japan and the Japanese language.

 

And now, Story One, The Encounter.

 

[OBAASAN] こんにちは！あの、大丈夫だいじょうぶですか？

[FRANK] えっ？

[OBAASAN] 大丈夫だいじょうぶ？

[FRANK] ええと・・・はい、大丈夫だいじょうぶです。

[OBAASAN] あなたは誰だれですか？

[FRANK] 私わたしはフランクです。

[OBAASAN] フランクさん、はじめまして。

[FRANK] はじめまして、おばあさん。 [FRANK FAINTS]

[OBAASAN] 大丈夫だいじょうぶですか？大丈夫だいじょうぶ？

 

Use the ro-maji and English on this page sparingly.

[OBAASAN]　konnichi wa! ano, daijoubu desu ka? [FRANK]　e? [OBAASAN]　daijoubu? [FRANK] eeto… hai, daijoubu desu. [OBAASAN]　anata wa dare desu ka? [FRANK]　watashi wa furanku desu. [OBAASAN]　furanku san, hajimemashite. [FRANK]　hajimemashite, obaasan. [FRANK FAINTS] [OBAASAN]　daijoubu desu ka? daijoubu?

[OBAASAN]　Hello! Um, are you okay? [FRANK]　What? [OBAASAN]　Are you okay? [FRANK] Um… Yes, I am fine. [OBAASAN]　Who are you? [FRANK]　I am Frank. [OBAASAN]　Nice to meet you, Mr. Frank. [FRANK]　Nice to meet you, grandma. [FRANK FAINTS] [OBAASAN]　Are you all right? Are you fine?

 

Now, let’s break down each line for better understanding.

[OBAASAN] こんにちは！あの、大丈夫だいじょうぶですか？

Hello! Um, are you okay?

VOCABULARY

1. こんにちは hello (used during the daytime)

1. あの um; well; uh [spoken hesitation; often lengthened as あのう]

1. 大丈夫だいじょうぶ all right; okay; safe

1. です is; polite copula

1. か question marker

NOTES

こんにちは literally means “this day” (今日きょう), but it's almost always written in hiragana when used as a greeting. The full expression is actually a shortened form of こんにちは、ごきげんいかがですか？ ("As for today, how are you?").

あの is often used at the beginning of a sentence when the speaker is hesitating or thinking. It’s polite and less abrupt than jumping straight into a question.

大丈夫だいじょうぶですか is a very common way to ask someone if they're okay, feeling well, or if something is safe or possible.

 

[FRANK]　えっ？

What?; eh?

 

VOCABULARY

1. えっ eh?; what? (shows surprise or confusion) 

 NOTES

This is a very short but expressive word. The small っ at the end emphasizes a sharp stop, capturing a sense of surprise or being caught off guard.

Compare with ええ, which (without the small っ) is a way to say “yes” in informal situations.

Example:

えっ？ほんとう？ – "Huh? Really?"

ええ、そうです。 – "Yes, that’s right."

 

[OBAASAN]　大丈夫だいじょうぶ？

Are you okay?

 

VOCABULARY

1. 大丈夫だいじょうぶ all right; okay

 

 NOTES

When said alone with a rising intonation, 大丈夫？ is asking “Are you okay?” or “Is everything all right?”

This phrase is also used to check on people emotionally or physically, and even to ask if something is acceptable.

In different contexts, it can also mean:

“I’m okay” → 大丈夫だいじょうぶです

“It’s okay” → 大丈夫だいじょうぶですよ

“No problem” → 大丈夫だいじょうぶ！

 

 

[FRANK] ええと・・・はい、大丈夫だいじょうぶです。

Umm… Yes, I’m fine.

 

VOCABULARY

1. ええと let me see…; well

1. はい yes

1. 大丈夫だいじょうぶ all right; okay

1. です be; is (copula)

NOTES

ええと is a filler used when thinking or hesitating. Similar to “umm” in English, it buys you a little time to organize your thoughts.

はい is the standard word for “yes” in polite conversation.

です is the polite sentence-ending word that turns the phrase into a polite statement. It's technically a verb (copula) but often just marks formality. です adds politeness but cannot attach to verbs and is optional with い‑adjectives.

In spoken Japanese, です is usually pronounced more like “dess”, without the "u" sound.

 

[OBAASAN]　あなたは誰だれですか？

Who are you?

 

VOCABULARY

1. あなた you

1. は (topic marker)

1. 誰だれ who

1. です be; is (copula)

1. か (question marker)

NOTES

This is a simple and polite way to ask someone’s identity.
In Japanese, (question word) + ですか is a basic way to form polite questions.

Examples:

誰だれですか？ – Who is it?

何なんですか？ – What is it?

どこですか？ – Where is it?

いつですか？ – When is it?

Note: While あなた means “you,” it can sound distant or even rude if overused in real conversation. Here, it’s fine because the two have just met.

 

[FRANK]　私わたしはフランクです。

I am Frank.

 

VOCABULARY

1. 私わたし I; me

1. は (topic particle)

1. フランク Frank

1. です be; is...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 28.7.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Schulbuch / Wörterbuch ► Wörterbuch / Fremdsprachen
• ISBN-10: 0-00-097856-6 / 0000978566
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-097856-1 / 9780000978561