Page 222 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

aka-chan 赤ちゃん baby
rikon-suru 離婚する get divorced
kon’yaku-suru 婚約する get engaged

dokushin 独身 unmarried; single

wakareru 別れる split; break up
byōki 病気 sick; disease
*The polite version is gobyōki. While genki/ogenki is a na-noun, byōki/gobyōki

is a regular noun, e.g., genki na hito “healthy person” byōki no hito “sick
person”.

nakunaru 亡くなる decease(d)

shinu 死ぬ die
*Nakunaru is more indirect and appropriate to describe someone’s passing.
Shinu is direct and usually avoided for people.

GRAMMAR NOTE Verb te-form + iru= Progressive Form

The pattern verb -te form + iru has two basic meanings: Progressive or
Resultative.
1. Progressive: On-going process (similar to the progressive form in English)
Ima, tabete iru. I’m eating now.

Mainichi renshū-shite iru. I’m practicing every day.

Sato-san to kōsai-shite iru. I’m dating Ms. Sato.

In this usage, the action is repeated or continuous over a period of time, and may
or may not be happening right at the moment. This pattern implies there is a
beginning and ending point, and therefore refers to a current and temporary
action as opposed to a permanent and general characteristic. Compare the
following.

Yasai o yoku tabemasu. I eat a lot of vegetables (as a general
habit).
Yasai o yoku tabete I’m eating a lot of vegetables (these

imasu. days).

2. Resultative: a state resulting from an action or a past experience
Kekkon-shite imasu. I’m married.