Learn Japanese with manga and context

The idea

First scan a short scene without a dictionary and note the situation. Guess the meaning of one expression from the picture and dialogue, then check its form and meaning in a reliable dictionary or grammar reference. Here 降りそう predicts rain from appearance; 重そう describes an apparent quality. 疲れたよう suggests a conclusion from evidence. Record the whole sentence, the clue, your checked meaning and a new example; revisit it later.

Examples

• 雨あめが降ふりそうですから、傘かさを持もっていきましょう。It looks like rain, so let’s take an umbrella.
• この箱はこは重おもそうですから、二人ふたりで運はこびましょう。That box looks heavy, so let’s carry it together.
• あの店みせはおいしそうですから、入はいってみましょう。That restaurant looks good, so let’s try going in.
• 友達ともだちは疲つかれたようですから、ここで休やすみましょう。My friend seems tired, so let’s rest here.
• 電車でんしゃが遅おくれているようですから、少すこし待まちましょう。The train seems to be delayed, so let’s wait a little.
• この道みちは暗くらそうですから、明あかるい道みちを通とおりましょう。This road looks dark, so let’s take the bright one.

Watch out

Pictures support a guess but cannot prove a word’s meaning. Fictional speech can also reflect a character or an unusual register, so check before using it in real conversation.

Try it yourself

1. 雨あめが降ふり＿ですから、傘かさを持もっていきましょう。（そう／よう）

   Show answer or example answer

   そう

   降りそう attaches そう to the verb stem 降り and predicts rain from appearance; the umbrella is the response.

2. この箱はこは重おも＿ですから、二人ふたりで運はこびましょう。（そう／よう）

   Show answer or example answer

   そう

   重そう removes the final い from 重い before そう; the box appears heavy.

3. 友達ともだちは疲つかれた＿ですから、ここで休やすみましょう。（そう／よう）

   Show answer or example answer

   よう

   疲れたよう follows the plain past form and presents an inference that the friend is tired.

Use it today

Choose a short manga scene at your level. Note one panel clue and one sentence, check your interpretation, then write a new sentence and revisit it tomorrow.