← N5 · First steps

N5 · Lesson 17

Weeks and Birthdays

Learn weeks and years, say the day of the month, and talk about birthdays — and find out what Mimi is planning for Saturday.

🎧 Listen first

9:16 · Mimi's voice. Listen once through before reading anything — ears first, eyes second.

Peek as much as you need — then fade the help.

Words this lesson assumes you know: (わたし)· (きょう)· (にほん)· (ひと)· (あめりか)· (いま)· (きのう)· (ちち)· (いえ)· (よる)· (たいせつ)· (ごはん)· (みせ)· (かう)· (たべる)· (しろい)· (いく)· (かえる)· (くる)· (あるく)· (でんしゃ)· (どこ)· (それから)· (こんしゅう)· (らいしゅう)· (なに)· (あの)· (だれ)· (ください)· (さい)· (いくつ)· (いちど)· (ねん)· (ふたつ)
Every assumed word was taught by an earlier lesson in the chain — that's the deal.

📚 Today's words

WordRomajiMeaning

いちにち
ichinichione day; all day

Kyou wa ichinichi ie ni imasu.Today, I will be at home all day.

Ichinichi, Pochi to arukimashita.One day, I walked with Pochi.


おさら
osaraplate, dish

Osara wa shiroi desu.The plate is white.

Osara o futatsu kudasai.Two plates, please.


おそい
osoilate

Densha ga osoi desu.The train is late.

Pochi wa osoi desu.Pochi is slow.


おそく
osokulate

Watashi wa yoru osoku ie e kaerimashita.I got home late at night.

Kinou, osoku nemashita.Yesterday, I went to bed late.


おととし
ototoshithe year before last

Chichi wa ototoshi Nihon e ikimashita.The year before last, my father went to Japan.

Ototoshi, Pochi wa issai deshita.The year before last, Pochi was one year old.


こんげつ
kongetsuthis month

Kongetsu no mikka wa, chichi no tanjoubi deshita.The third of this month was my father's birthday.

Kongetsu, watashi wa mise e ikimashita.This month, I went to the store.


しゅう
shuuweek

Shuu ni ichido, chichi ga kimasu.Once a week, my father comes.

Konshuu mo raishuu mo, Pochi to arukimasu.This week and next week too, I walk with Pochi.


たんじょうび
tanjoubibirthday

Kongetsu no mikka wa, chichi no tanjoubi deshita.The third of this month was my father's birthday.

Tanjoubi wa taisetsu desu.Birthdays are important.


どようび
doyoubiSaturday

Doyoubi wa Pochi to arukimasu.On Saturday, I walk with Pochi.

Kinou wa doyoubi deshita.Yesterday was Saturday.


にねん
ninentwo years

Chichi wa Nihon ni ninen imashita.He was in Japan for two years.

Ano hito wa ninen Amerika ni imashita.That person was in America for two years.


まいしゅう
maishuuevery week

Watashi wa maishuu doyoubi, Pochi to arukimasu.Every week on Saturday, I walk with Pochi.

Maishuu, mise e ikimasu.Every week, I go to the store.


みっか
mikkathe third day of the month

Kongetsu no mikka wa, chichi no tanjoubi deshita.The third of this month was my father's birthday.

Mikka ni, mise e ikimashita.On the third, I went to the store.

📖 The story

The same story you heard in the audio. Read it with as much help as you need.

Kongetsu no mikka wa, chichi no tanjoubi deshita.The third of this month was my father's birthday.

Watashi wa osara o futatsu kaimashita.I bought two plates.

Chichi wa ototoshi Nihon e ikimashita.The year before last, my father went to Japan.

Chichi wa Nihon ni ninen imashita. Ima wa ie ni imasu.He was in Japan for two years. Now he is at home.

Doyoubi ni, chichi to gohan o tabemashou.On Saturday, let's have a meal with my father.

Sorekara, Pochi to arukimasen ka?And after that, how about a walk with Pochi?

Watashi wa maishuu doyoubi, Pochi to arukimasu.Every week on Saturday, I walk with Pochi.

Kyou wa ichinichi ie ni imasu.Today, I will be at home all day.

Kinou, densha ga osokatta desu.Yesterday, the train was late.

Watashi wa yoru osoku ie e kaerimashita.I got home late at night.

❓ Questions about the story

Say your answer out loud first — then tap to check.

Question 1 ·

Kongetsu no mikka wa, dare no tanjoubi deshita ka?Whose birthday was the third of this month?

Answer:

Chichi no tanjoubi deshita.It was my father's birthday.

Question 2 ·

Mimi wa osara o ikutsu kaimashita ka?How many plates did Mimi buy?

Answer:

Futatsu kaimashita.She bought two.

Question 3 ·

Chichi wa ototoshi, doko e ikimashita ka?Where did her father go the year before last?

Answer:

Nihon e ikimashita.He went to Japan.

Question 4 ·

Chichi wa Nihon ni nannen imashita ka?How many years was her father in Japan?

Answer:

Ninen imashita.He was there for two years.

Question 5 ·

Mimi wa maishuu doyoubi, dare to arukimasu ka?Who does Mimi walk with every Saturday?

Answer:

Pochi to arukimasu.She walks with Pochi.

🈳 Kanji in this lesson

These get their own cards in the kanji sectionas it grows — recognition first, no quizzes.