review & speak
You made the effort of going through the story — this is what makes it stick before the next one washes it out: engage with the words and patterns, then produce them out loud.
Intermediate · en→ja
1 · Vocabulary — the story's new words
The words this story used that are new at its level, sorted by meaning (Ctrl/Cmd+F to search). Save any of them to your word list — 46 new words here.
2 · Grammar — patterns from the story
desire — 〜たい expresses the speaker's desire to do somethingVerb stem + たい
にほんにいき«たい»です。
日本に行き«たい»です。
I want to go to Japan.
reason — 〜ので gives a reason, more softly and objectively than からPlain form + ので (Noun/na-adj + なので)
きょうはにちようひな«ので»、ぎんこうはやすみです。
今日は日曜日な«ので»、銀行は休みです。
Because today is Sunday, the bank is closed.
passive voice — 〜(ら)れる marks the subject as the receiver of an actionVerb in [passive -れる / -られる]
まんいんでんしゃのなかで、あしを«ふまれた»。
満員電車の中で、足を«踏まれた»。
My foot got stepped on in the crowded train.
morphology — て-form (connective / gerund form of the verb)Verb in [-て / -で]
シャワーを«あびて»、きがえた。
シャワーを«浴びて»、着替えた。
I took a shower and changed clothes.
morphology — plain past 〜た (completed action)Verb in [-た / -だ]
きのうごはんを«たべた»。
昨日ご飯を«食べた»。
I ate rice yesterday.
preparation — 〜ておく does something in advance for a future purposeVerb-te + おく
きゃくがくるまえに、へやをそうじして«おきます»。
客が来る前に、部屋を掃除して«おきます»。
I'll clean the room in advance before the guests arrive.
obligation — 〜なければならない expresses that something must be doneVerb neg-stem + なければならない
しゅくだいをし«なければならない»。
宿題をし«なければならない»。
I must do my homework.
purpose / benefit — 〜ために expresses the purpose of an action or its beneficiaryVerb (dict.) / Noun + の + ために
にほんのかいしゃではたらく«ために»、まいにちにほんごをべんきょうしている。
日本の会社で働く«ために»、毎日日本語を勉強している。
I study Japanese every day in order to work at a Japanese company.
aspect — 〜ている expresses an ongoing action or resultant stateVerb-te + いる
いま、ごはんをたべて«います»。
今、ご飯を食べて«います»。
I am eating right now.
simultaneous action — 〜ながら links two actions done at the same time by one subjectVerb-stem + ながら + main verb
かれはいつもテレビをみ«ながら»ごはんをたべる。
彼はいつもテレビを見«ながら»ご飯を食べる。
He always eats while watching TV.
place/means marker — で marks where an action happens or the means usedPlace/Means + で + verb
としょかん«で»べんきょうします。
図書館«で»勉強します。
I study at the library.
copula — です links a subject to a noun or adjective (polite)Subj. + は + noun/adj. + です
わたしはせんせい«です»。
私は先生«です»。
I am a teacher.
inclusive marker — も means also / too / evenNoun + も + predicate
わたし«も»がくせいです。
私«も»学生です。
I am also a student.
morphology — い-adjective past 〜かったい-adj stem + かった
きのうは«さむかった»。
昨日は«寒かった»。
It was cold yesterday.
subject marker — が marks the grammatical subjectSubject + が + verb
ねこ«が»きた。
猫«が»来た。
A cat came.
causative — 〜(さ)せる expresses making or letting someone do somethingVerb in [causative -せる / -させる]
せんせいはがくせいにまいにちさくぶんを«かかせる»。
先生は学生に毎日作文を«書かせる»。
The teacher makes the students write a composition every day.
morphology — conditional 〜たら (when / if … then)Verb-past stem + たら + result
いえに«かえったら»でんわしてください。
家に«帰ったら»電話してください。
Please call me when you get home.
3 · Practice A — build your own sentence
Use each pattern on your own life. Say it out loud, then peek at one valid version.
〜なければならない
Say you must wash your body before entering the bath.
〜ながら〜する
Say you soak in the hot spring while watching the scenery.
〜てはいけない
Say you must not put your towel in the bath.
〜ような気がする
Say you feel as if your fatigue is melting away.
〜と言われている
Say hot springs are said to be good for the body.
4 · Practice B — translate, then check
Your language → the language you're learning, using the story's words and patterns.
5 · The speech — say it out loud
A ~1-minute speech, not a monologue — the arc (open → explain → example → opinion → contrast → close) is what makes it sound human. Study the one help bank first; then pick an angle and say each line in the language you're learning, out loud — no cues next to the lines on purpose. ✨ = new for these speeches; everything else is review from the story.
help bank · key vocabulary
help bank · connectors — the glue, in talk order
help bank · grammar patterns
must (rule / obligation)〜なければならない
入る前に体を洗わなければなりません。— You must wash your body before entering.
while doing〜ながら〜する
雪を見ながら温泉に入ります。— I soak in the hot spring while watching the snow fall.
not allowed〜てはいけない
タオルを湯船に入れてはいけません。— You must not put your towel in the bath.
feel as if〜ような気がする
疲れがとれるような気がします。— I feel as if my fatigue is melting away.
said to be / I heard that〜と言われている
温泉は体にいいと言われています。— Hot springs are said to be good for the body.
to do in advance / keep it done〜ておく
ルールを覚えておくと安心です。— It's reassuring to have the rules memorized in advance.
now perform it — pick an angle · all 5 use the one bank above, no new words
Describe what a Japanese hot spring (onsen) experience is like
the speech — say each line in the language you're learning
①Why Japan has so many hot springs
1.Explain why there are so many hot springs in Japan — the volcanic geography.
2.Say how this has shaped a unique bathing culture over centuries.
②The health benefits
3.Describe the health benefits people attribute to soaking in a hot spring.
4.Say how the minerals in the water are said to be good for the body.
③Etiquette before entering
5.Explain the key etiquette rule — wash your body thoroughly before entering the shared bath.
6.Mention the towel rule — you must not put your towel in the bath water.
④The rotenburo (open-air bath)
7.Describe what a rotenburo is and what makes it special.
8.Paint a picture of the experience — soaking while viewing nature, mountains, or snow.
⑤Onsen food and drink
9.Mention onsen tamago (hot spring eggs) and what makes them distinctive.
10.Describe the tradition of drinking cold milk after bathing.
⑥The overall feeling
11.Describe how you feel after a proper onsen soak.
12.Say why this experience is something uniquely Japanese.
⚠ stuck? model answers — try first, peek last