Page 66 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

hanashimasen.
Yoku means “well”, “a lot”, or “frequently” depending on the context.
Yoku wakarimasu. I understand very well.

Yoku tsukaimasu. I use it often.

CULTURAL NOTE Virtue of Ambiguity

Japanese culture is marked by a preference for ambiguity over precision,
particularly in less-than-favorable situations. It is often the result of an effort to
avoid negativity and save face. For example, chotto “a little” is used to reject an
invitation rather than bluntly saying “No, thank you.”
Although the language may seem to be ambiguous, what is meant is usually
unmistakably clear. It is a challenge at first for new learners of Japanese to figure

out what is really meant, but you’ll soon find that this linguistic ambiguity is a
fact of life in Japan and an integral part of many customs. It’s just the way the
language works!

PATTERN PRACTICE 3

Cue: Eigo wakarimasuka.

Do you understand English?
Response: Eigo desu ka. Ie, amari wakarimasen.

English? No, I don’t understand (it) very well.
Cue: Gēmu, shimasu ka.

Do you play games?
Response: Gēmu desu ka. Ie, amari shimasen.

Games? No, I don’t play a lot.

Repeat the drill with the following:
1. Manga, yomimasu ka.
2. Kētai, tsukaimasu ka.

3. Terebi, mimasu ka.
4. Chūgoku-go hanashimasu ka.
5. Pasokon, dekimasu ka.

PATTERN PRACTICE 4