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Japanese Versatility List

Collocations: Stage 2

Talk about meals and drinks, catching a cold and getting better, doors, lights and bedtime, TV and photos, what you're wearing, family and friends, noticing and understanding things, and what you like.

102 sets in 24 chunks, learned alongside Stage 2 of the main list. Start with Drinks and use Next at the bottom of each page.

  1. 1DrinksFood & drinkmizu o nomu drink waterkoohii o nomu drink coffeeosake o nomu drink (alcohol)ocha o nomu have tea, drink tea
  2. 2Meals at homeFood & drinkgohan o taberu eat, have a mealgohan o tsukuru cook a meal, make dinnergohan ga dekiru the meal gets ready (dekita = it's ready)gohan ga sameru the food gets cold
  3. 3Getting sickBody & healthkaze o hiku catch a coldkaze ga utsuru catch someone's coldbyouki ni naru get sick, fall illtaichou o kuzusu get run down, fall illonaka o kowasu get an upset stomach
  4. 4Clothes and shoesClothes & wearingfuku o kiru put on / wear clotheskutsu o haku put on / wear shoeskutsu o nugu take off shoesfuku o nugu take off clothes, get undressed
  5. 5TV and musicPhone, photos & screensterebi o miru watch TVongaku o kiku listen to musicnyuusu o miru watch or check the newsongaku o kakeru put on musicchanneru o kaeru change the channel
  6. 6Doors and locksHome & daily routinedoa o akeru open the doordoa o shimeru close the doordoa ga aku the door opens (aiteru = is open)doa ga shimaru the door closes (shimatteru = is shut)kagi o kakeru lock (a door, bike, locker)kagi ga kakaru (a door) locks, gets locked (kakatteru = is locked)
  7. 7NoticingSenses & mindnioi ga suru smell something, there's a smelloto ga suru hear a noise, there's a soundkoe ga kikoeru hear a voice; (on a call) can hear someoneki ga tsuku notice, realise
  8. 8Kids and growing upPeople & talkkodomo ga iru have children, have kidskodomo ga umareru have a babyotona ni naru grow up, become an adultkodomo o sodateru raise children, bring up kidsmendou o miru look after, take care of
  9. 9Cold symptomsBody & healthnetsu ga aru have a fevernetsu ga deru get a feverseki ga deru have a coughhanamizu ga deru have a runny nosekarada ga darui feel heavy and sluggish
  10. 10Windows and curtainsHome & daily routinemado o akeru open the windowmado o shimeru close the windowkaaten o shimeru close the curtains
  11. 11Photos and your phonePhone, photos & screensshashin o toru take a photoshashin o miru look at photossumaho o ijiru be on your phoneshashin o okuru send a photo
  12. 12UnderstandingSenses & mindimi ga wakaru understand what something means; (negative) make no sensekimochi ga wakaru know how someone feelschigai ga wakaru tell the difference
  13. 13Eating outFood & drinkgohan ni iku go out to eatmise ga komu (a place) gets crowded (konderu = is packed)gohan o ogoru treat someone to a mealryou ga ooi it's a big portion
  14. 14Lights and buttonsHome & daily routinedenki o tsukeru turn on the lightdenki o kesu turn off the lightdenki ga tsuku the light comes on (tsuiteru = is on)botan o osu press the button
  15. 15Catching the trainGetting arounddensha ga okureru the train is delayeddensha ni maniau make the train in timedensha ga deru the train leavesdensha ni okureru be late for the train (and so miss it)shuuden ga nakunaru the last train is gone (no way home)
  16. 16Doctor and medicineBody & healthbyouin ni iku see a doctorkusuri o nomu take medicinekusuri ga kiku medicine works, takes effect
  17. 17Close and in touchPeople & talknaka ga ii get along well, be closenaka ga warui be on bad termsrenraku o toru get or stay in touchrenraku ga kuru hear from someone
  18. 18Likes, interest, confidenceSenses & mindki ni iru like, be pleased withkyoumi ga aru be interested (in)tanoshimi ni suru look forward tojishin ga aru be confident (in yourself, your answer)
  19. 19Ready and how longTime, money & plansjunbi ga dekiru be readyjikan ga kakaru take timejikan ga tatsu time passestema ga kakaru take work, be a hassle
  20. 20Bed and wakingHome & daily routineyume o miru have a dream (while asleep)me ga sameru wake up (from sleep); feel wide awake (me ga sameta)futon ni hairu get into bed, get under the coversmezamashi o kakeru set an alarmkotatsu ni hairu get under the kotatsu
  21. 21Storms and quakesWeather & naturetaifuu ga kuru a typhoon comes (hits)jishin ga okiru an earthquake happens, hitskaminari ga naru it thunders; thunder rumblestenki yohou ga hazureru the forecast is wrong
  22. 22Personality and moodDescribing peopleseikaku ga ii be a nice personseikaku ga warui be mean, nastykanji ga ii be pleasant, nice (person or place)genki ga nai be down, low on energy
  23. 23Lies, jokes and complaintsPeople & talkuso o tsuku tell a liejoudan o iu joke, kid aroundmonku o iu complainguchi o iu grumble, ventnaisho ni suru keep it secret
  24. 24Rest and recoveryBody & healthyoko ni naru lie downnetsu ga sagaru fever goes downkaze ga naoru get over a coldtsukare ga toreru shake off tiredness, feel rested