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Japanese Versatility List

Collocations: Stage 1

Talk about the weather, being hungry or in pain, going out and coming home, the bathroom, catching a train, school and work days, chatting and making friends, simple hobbies, how you feel, and what people look like and are good at.

101 sets in 22 chunks, learned alongside Stage 1 of the main list. Start with Rain and snow and use Next at the bottom of each page.

  1. 1Rain and snowWeather & natureame ga furu it rains; rain fallsyuki ga furu it snowsame ga yamu the rain stopskasa o sasu put up (open) an umbrella; have an umbrella upame ni furareru get caught in the rain
  2. 2Hungry, full, thirstyBody & healthonaka ga suku get hungryonaka ga ippai be full (after eating)nodo ga kawaku get thirstyonaka ga heru get hungry (blunter, casual)
  3. 3Out and backHome & daily routineuchi ni kaeru go home, get homeuchi o deru leave the housesoto ni deru go outside, step outkaimono ni iku go shoppingkaeri ga osoi get home late
  4. 4Looks and voiceDescribing peoplese ga takai be tallse ga hikui be short (height)koe ga ookii have a loud voice, be loudkami ga nagai have long hairsutairu ga ii have a good figure
  5. 5Getting on and offGetting arounddensha ni noru ride / get on the trainbasu ni noru take the buskuruma ni noru get in / ride in a cardensha o oriru get off the trainjitensha ni noru ride a bike
  6. 6School and work daysWork & schoolgakkou ni iku go to schoolshigoto ni iku go to workshigoto ga owaru get off workshigoto ga isogashii be busy with work
  7. 7Feels good or badSenses & mindkimochi ga ii feels good, feels nicekimochi ga warui feel queasy, feel nauseous; gross, creepykibun ga ii be in a good mood; feel wellkigen ga warui be in a bad mood, grumpyigokochi ga ii comfortable to be in, cosy
  8. 8Read, watch, sing, drawHobbies, sport & gameshon o yomu read a bookeiga o miru watch a movieuta o utau sing a songe o kaku draw or paint a picture
  9. 9Talking to peoplePeople & talkhanashi o suru talk, have a talkhanashi o kiku listen to someone, hear someone outhanashi ga aru need to talk (to you)hanashi ga nagai be long-winded, go on forever
  10. 10No time, no moneyTime, money & plansjikan ga nai have no timehima ga nai have no free timeokane ga nai have no money, be brokeokane ga tarinai be short of moneyyoyuu ga nai have nothing to spare
  11. 11Weather and windWeather & naturetenki ga ii the weather is nicekaze ga tsuyoi it's windyame ga tsuyoi the rain is heavykaze ga fuku the wind blowskaze ni ataru get some (fresh) air
  12. 12Washing and groomingBody & healthte o arau wash your handskao o arau wash your facekami o arau wash your hairkami o kiru get a haircuttsume o kiru cut your nails
  13. 13BathroomHome & daily routinetoire ni iku go to the toiletshawaa o abiru take a showerofuro ni hairu take a bathha o migaku brush your teethhige o soru shave (your face)
  14. 14Smart and skilledDescribing peopleatama ga ii be smart, clevernihongo ga jouzu be good at Japaneseshigoto ga dekiru be capable, good at one's jobsensu ga ii have good taste, a good eye
  15. 15Going out for funHobbies, sport & gamesasobi ni iku go out for fun; go visiteiga ni iku go to the moviessanpo ni iku go for a walkkaraoke ni iku go to karaoke
  16. 16Questions and learningWork & schoolshitsumon ga aru have a questionshitsumon ni kotaeru answer a questioneigo o hanasu speak Englishbenkyou ni naru be instructive; learn a lot
  17. 17Aches and painsBody & healthatama ga itai have a headacheonaka ga itai have a stomachachenodo ga itai have a sore throatkoshi ga itai have lower back painkata ga koru have stiff shoulders
  18. 18Making friendsPeople & talktomodachi ga dekiru make a friend, make friendstomodachi ni naru become friends (with someone)namae o oshieru tell someone your namekoe o kakeru speak to, call out to; ask alongdeai ga aru meet someone new
  19. 19Play and lessonsHobbies, sport & gamesgeemu o suru play games (video games, cards and the like)sakkaa o suru play soccerpiano o hiku play the pianopiano o narau take piano lessons
  20. 20Feeling unwellBody & healthguai ga warui feel unwelltaichou ga warui not feel well, be under the weather (the safe phrase at work)choushi ga warui feel off; act up (devices)choushi ga ii be in good shape, going wellkibun ga warui feel sick (queasy or faint); feel put off
  21. 21What's onWork & schooljugyou ga aru have classkaigi ga aru have a meetingshiken ga aru have an examshigoto ga hairu work comes upenki ni naru be postponed
  22. 22Luck and helpDescribing peopleun ga ii be luckyun ga warui be unluckyyaku ni tatsu be useful, helpfultame ni naru be worthwhile, do you good