08.09.08 Chapter 1: tazuneru . tashikameru

08.09.08 Daiikka: tazuneru . tashikameru
08.09.08 Chapter 1: To inquire. To Verify
Suzuki-sensei no jyugyou desu

VERB COMPARISON:

kikimasu / kiku ===> to ask a question
tanomimasu / tanomu ===> to ask a FAVOUR
tazunemasu / tazuneru ===> to INQUIRE/ to MAKE AN INQUIRY;

GRAMMAR POINT 1: The intermediate way to ask for a word's meaning

A(phrase) ha, dou iu imi desu ka?

OR

A(phrase) to iu no ha, dou iu imi desu ka?

This 2nd form indicates that the asker is unfamiliar with the word/phrase

Example Sentences with the above forms:

Kono kotoba ha, dou iu imi desu ka?
Ue to iu no ha, dou iu imi desu ka?

GRAMMAR POINT 2: Responding to "What does this word/phrase mean?"
When answering someone's question about a meaning of a word, you follow the form:

(sentence/phrase/explanation), tte iu koto desu.

OR

(single NOUN) no koto desu.

Example Sentences with the above answer forms:

Sono kotoba ha, "jimushou de nagai ichinichi hataraite imasu" tte iu koto desu.
As for that word, it means "you spend long hours working at the office".
"Shita no hantai" no koto desu.

It's the "opposite of under".

GRAMMAR POINT 2: How to ask how to read a kanji/kanji compound & giving the response.
When asking how to read a kanji character, you point and use one of the "this/that" words and use the form:

(Kore/ Sore/ Are) ha nante yomu n desu ka?

When responding, the format to use is always: (fill in the parenthesis)

(Kore/ Sore/ Are) ha (the pronunciation/reading) desu.

GRAMMAR POINT 2a: When asking s/o how to read their name from Kanji

Kochira ha, nante yomu n desu ka?

NOTE: make sure you are pointing to a kanji name

OR

Onamae ha, nante yomu n desu ka?

GRAMMAR POINT 3: How to state a conditional problem/hypothetical situation and state a recommended action

The form is always in this form:

PROBLEM STATEMENT Verb(ta form, plain past) + ra ~ SOLUTION STATEMENT Verb(potential form) + ba ii desu.

Examples sentences:
a) Wasuremono wo shiTARA, asoko e IKEBA II DESU.
If you forgot something, going there would be good. (point to somewhere).
b) Tenki yohou ga shiranakaTTARA, 177 ni kiKEBA II DESU.
If you don't know the weather forecast, it is good to call 177.

GRAMMAR POINT 4: How to confirm the meaning of a word/phrase
When you are unsure of a meaning of a word or phrase, you can verify and confirm or check the meaning by asking a question in this format:

A(sentence/phrase/word) to iu no ha B(verification sentence) tte iu koto desu ka?

Does "SentenceA" mean "SentenceB"?

Example sentences:
a) Kitsuenjyo TO IU NO HA kinen seki no hantai TTE IU KOTO DESU KA?
Does Smoking place mean that it's the opposite of the no-smoking section?
: