Japanese study and JLPT · advanced · 19 min

How Much Difficult Japanese Do You Need to Study? | JLPT N3–N1 Podcast

Yuri discusses how far learners need to go with difficult Japanese, drawing on experience across JLPT N3, N2, and N1. Practice natural Japanese listening with a timed transcript and translations in five languages.

A line from this lesson

ご飯を食べながらこれ美味しくない?え、

While eating, you might say, “Isn’t this delicious?” or “Oh—”

Open the original lesson video

Japanese script with English translation

1.
ご飯を食べながらこれ美味しくない?え、
While eating, you might say, “Isn’t this delicious?” or “Oh—”
2.
めっちゃ美味しいじゃん。あれも頼むとか
“It’s so good! Let’s order that too,” and things like that.
3.
さ、そういうような気軽な日常会話を
You know, that kind of casual everyday conversation—
4.
楽しみたいなら
if that’s what you want to enjoy,
5.
大丈夫ならN1まで取る必要はうん、
and you’re otherwise doing fine, then, yeah, there’s no real need to go all the way to N1—
6.
あんまりないかもしれないなって思ったか
or at least that might be the case, I thought—
7.
な。でもう言葉をちゃんと使いこなせる
I guess. But being able to use the language properly
8.
ことで避けられる嫌なことっていうのは本当
really can help you avoid a lot of unpleasant things—
9.
にね、たくさんあるからうん。そういう
there are so many of them. Yeah. So in that
10.
意味ではね、そのN1を目指すっていうの
sense, aiming for N1
11.
は1ついいかもしれないね。
might be one good option.
12.
皆さん、こんにちは。ゆりズマインド
Hello, everyone. This is Yuri’s Mind
13.
カフェのゆりです。みんな元気かな?この
Café, and I’m Yuri. How’s everyone doing? This
14.
コーナーは中級から上級の方に向けて私が
segment is for intermediate and advanced learners, and I
15.
台本はゼロで、え、ため口で雑談をする
chat casually, with no script at all and, um, using informal speech.
16.
徒然なるままに話すそんなコーナーだ
It’s a segment where I simply talk freely about whatever comes to mind.
17.
ね。今日はえっと難しい日本語ってどこ
So, today, um, I want to talk about how far
18.
まで勉強する必要があるのかなっていう
we really need to go when studying difficult Japanese.
19.
ことについてあのちょっと考えたから話を
I’ve been thinking about that a little, so I’d like to
20.
したいなって思ってるんだよね。なんで
discuss it. And as for why
21.
この話をしたくなったかって言うと今ね
I wanted to talk about this, well, right now
22.
レッスンを受けている生徒さんが今年の
one of the students taking lessons with me is going to
23.
12月にえっとN1の試験を受けることに
take the N1 exam this December, um,
24.
なったんだよね。で、その試験に向けた
as it’s now been decided. So, in preparation for that exam,
25.
勉強もちょっとね、レッスンに取り入れる
we’re also going to incorporate a little exam study into our lessons.
26.
ことになって、今その問題数とか時間配分
So now I’m looking into things like the number of questions and how to allocate the time,
27.
とかその試験の基本的なところを調べてる
as well as the basic details of the exam.
28.
んだよね。そう、本もね、ちょっとね、
That’s what I’m doing. Oh, and I also borrowed a book.
29.
借りてきたよ。これはね、もしあの必要
I borrowed this one because, if it turns out to be useful,
30.
だったら買おうかなと思って、どんな感じ
I thought I might buy it, but first I wanted to see what it was like,
31.
だろうと思って借りてきたんだけど。そう
so I borrowed it. Right.
32.
。で、過去問をね、一緒に解いてって思っ
Then I thought we could work through past exam questions together,
33.
たんだけど、N1に出てくる日本語って
but the Japanese that appears on the N1
34.
難しいよね。私はさ、その複雑な文章読ん
is difficult, isn’t it? As for me, I used to read complex texts
35.
だりとかなんならそういう文章を書く側
and even be on the side that wrote that kind of material,
36.
だったからあれなんだけど夫にね、この
so I’m used to it, but I asked my husband to try this—
37.
今回借りたこのね、どっか、これか。これ
this book I borrowed this time—where is it? Ah, this one. I asked him
38.
をね、ちょっとね、解いてもらったんだよ
to try solving some of it for me.
39.
ね。したら、
And then he said,
40.
あの、これは日本人超えてるでって言って
“Uh, this goes beyond what you can expect even from Japanese people,”
41.
たよ。
he told me.
42.
難しいってことね。そう、そう。多分俺の
Meaning it was very difficult. Right, right. He said, “There are probably
43.
会社に解けない人いっぱいおるでって言っ
lots of people at my company who couldn’t solve these,”
44.
てたよ。
that’s what he said.
45.
そう。何が難しいんだろうって考えてみた
Right. I tried thinking about what makes it so difficult,
46.
んだけど、日本人であっても日常場面では
and I realized that even Japanese people, in everyday situations,
47.
あんまり使わないであろう文法とか単語
probably don’t often use some of the grammar and vocabulary
48.
っていうのが、ま、結構出てくるよね。
that appear quite frequently on the exam.
49.
うん。そういう難しさがあるかな。そう、
Yeah. I guess that's one of the difficulties. Right,
50.
あとレッスンではいつも読解をやってるん
and we always do reading comprehension in our lessons,
51.
だけど、内容が複雑だったりとか、あと
but the content can be complicated, and also
52.
抽象的な文章が多かったりするよね。だ
there are often a lot of abstract passages, right? So
53.
からそういう文章を読み慣れてない人は
people who aren't used to reading that kind of writing
54.
まずそれになれるところから始めないと
have to start by getting accustomed to it,
55.
いけないからちょっとね、大変だろうなっ
so I thought it must be pretty tough
56.
て思ったよ。うん。そんな感じかな。あと
for them. Yeah. That's about it, I guess. Also,
57.
そのなんだろうね。JLPTで測れる日本
well, how should I put it? The Japanese ability measured by the JLPT
58.
語っていうのは、ま、あくまでも理解力な
is, ultimately, mainly comprehension
59.
のかなとも思ったかな。それを
—or so I thought. Whether you can
60.
使いこなせるかっていうところまでは見れ
actually use it proficiently isn't something it assesses
61.
てないようなそんな感じの試験っていう
—that's the kind of test it seems to be,
62.
印象を受けたね。そう。それで
was the impression I got. Right. And then
63.
その実際N1レベルの日本語って使うの
I also considered whether N1-level Japanese is actually used
64.
、使わないのっていうところも考えてみた
or not
65.
んだよね。N1に出てくる日本語ってまず
. First of all, as for the Japanese that appears on N1,
66.
アカデミックな場面で言うと、ま、必要だ
in academic settings, well, I'd say it's necessary,
67.
よねっていう感じかな。大学院とかだと
I suppose. In graduate school, for example,
68.
うん。普通に使うことがあると思う。必須
yeah, I think you use it routinely. You could call it essential
69.
って言っていいんじゃないかな。必須って
. By “essential,”
70.
いうのは資格を取ることが必須っていうの
I don't mean that obtaining the qualification itself is essential,
71.
ではなくてN1相当の文法とか語彙をうん
but that understanding and being able to use grammar and vocabulary at roughly the N1 level
72.
。理解して使いこなせることが必須って
is essential,
73.
いう感じかな。私がね、大学院生の時に
that's what I mean. When I was a graduate student,
74.
行ってた学校は中国とか韓国の大学院生がね
the university I attended was one where graduate students from places like China and Korea
75.
、来るようなそういう大学だったんだよね
would come to study, you see
76.
。それで大学院って毎週ゼミがあるんだ
. And in graduate school, we had a seminar every week,
77.
けど、ま、みんなそのゼミで自分の研究を
and everyone would present their own research there
78.
発表するんだよね。その留学生の子たちも
. The international students would present too,
79.
発表するんだけど、資料をね、作るんだ
and they would prepare presentation materials,
80.
けど、作ってくる資料は日本人の学生と
and the materials they brought were, compared with those of the Japanese students,
81.
遜色ないぐらいそのちゃんとしたものを
every bit as polished
82.
作ってくるんだけど、その質疑の場面に
. But when it came time for questions and answers,
83.
なるとちょっとね、言葉が出てきにくかっ
they would sometimes have a little trouble finding the words
84.
たりするような留学生っていうのが結構ね
, and quite a few international students were like that
85.
、多かった印象があるんだよね。うん。
, as I recall. Yeah.
86.
そう。当時はね、まだAIなんてなかった
Right. Back then, AI didn't exist yet,
87.
から、その資料もその留学生たちが
so those materials must also have been something the international students
88.
ちゃんとね、自分で作ったものだったはず
had properly created themselves
89.
なんだけど、今思うと多分そのなんだろう
. But looking back now, perhaps, how should I put it,
90.
な、理解力っていうのはすごくしっかり
their comprehension was very solid,
91.
あるんだけど使いこなせるっていうとこ
but when it came to using the language proficiently,
92.
まで行ってなかったのかなって思うんだよ
perhaps they hadn't quite reached that point, I think
93.
ね。そう、だから大学院を目指す場合は
. Right, so if you're aiming for graduate school,
94.
N1相当レベルの日本語とか文法を理解
you should not only understand Japanese and grammar at roughly the N1 level,
95.
するだけじゃなくて使いこなせるっていう
but also reach the point where you can use them proficiently
96.
ところまでなっておくとそのね、学校での
—then, you know, at school…
97.
そういうな、何て言うんだろう、ストレス
That kind of, how should I put it, stress...
98.
が減るかなって思うよね。その研究だけに
I think it would reduce that stress. You could focus solely on your research...
99.
集中できるというかね。うん。ま、大学院
Or rather, you could concentrate on it. Yeah. Well, it depends on the graduate school...
100.
によるけどね。そう、そうなんだよね。で
It depends, though. Yes, exactly. And...
101.
、大学院じゃなくて、大学生でじゃあN
If we're talking about undergraduates rather than graduate school, then is an N...
102.
相当が必要かって言うと、これはね、うん
...equivalent level necessary? Well, as for that, hmm...
103.
、日本の大学はピン
Japanese universities range...
104.
からキリまであるから大学によるかなって
...from one extreme to the other, so I think it depends on the university.
105.
思うよね。あと仕事の場合は大学院と一緒
That's what I think. And when it comes to work, I think it's the same as graduate school...
106.
かなって思うね。仕事で人と
...I would say. The words you use when communicating with people at work...
107.
コミュニケーション取る時に使うような
...the sort used when communicating...
108.
単語とか文法は普通にN1レベルで出て
...and grammar routinely appear at the N1 level...
109.
くるなっていう感じかな。ただね、これも
...that's the impression I get. But again, this too...
110.
ね、やっぱり仕事によるよね。うん。あと
...ultimately depends on the job. Yeah. Also...
111.
はニュースとか本とかあとね、市役所
...there's the news, books, and places like city hall...
112.
みたいな公的な機関でやり取りする時もN
...and when dealing with public institutions like city hall, an N...
113.
1相当の言葉は使うかなっていう感じかな
...1-equivalent vocabulary would probably be used, I think.
114.
。そう、大体そんな感じで、たださ、その
Yes, that's roughly how it is. But you know...
115.
人と話す時っていつも真面目な話ばっかり
When you talk with people, you don't always talk exclusively about serious things...
116.
するわけじゃないよね。そう。そのご飯を
...right? Exactly. Like when you're eating...
117.
食べながらこれ美味しくない?え、
...you might say, “Isn't this delicious?” “Whoa...”
118.
めっちゃ美味しいじゃん。あれも頼むとか
“It's really good! Let's order that too,” and things like that.
119.
さ、そういう何気ない会話もたくさんある
There are lots of casual conversations like that...
120.
わけでしょ。そう、そういうような気軽な
...right? Yes, that kind of relaxed...
121.
日常会話を楽しみたいなら、それだけで
If you just want to enjoy casual everyday conversation, and that's all...
122.
大丈夫ならN1まで取る必要はうん。
...if that's enough for you, then you don't really need to obtain N1. Yeah.
123.
あんまりないかもしれないなって
I thought there might not be much need for it.
124.
思ったかな。うん。日本語って実は日本人
That's what I thought. Yeah. In fact, when it comes to Japanese, not all Japanese people...
125.
がみんなその同じ言葉を使って
...use exactly the same words...
126.
るっていうわけじゃないんだよね。
...you see.
127.
ちょっとこれ難しいんだけど、どんな教育
This is a little complicated, but things like what kind of education...
128.
を受けてきたかとか、どんな仕事をしてる
...someone has received, what kind of work they do...
129.
かとか、あるいはそのどんなコミュニティ
...or what kind of community...
130.
にいるかとかで触れる言葉とか使い慣れた
...they belong to affect the words they encounter and the vocabulary they're accustomed to using...
131.
語彙っていうのは変わってくるんだよね。
...and that varies from person to person.
132.
これが結構違う。うん。例えばね、大学の
It differs quite a lot. Yeah. For example, in a university...
133.
研究室なんかだとこの結果からどんなこと
In a research lab, if you want to ask what can be said based on these results...
134.
が言えますかって聞きたい時にその結果
...instead of asking it that way, you would ask, “What do these results...”
135.
から何が示唆されますかって聞くのがま、
“...suggest?” That would be, well...
136.
普通かな。うん。よく言うかなって思うと
...the usual phrasing. Yeah, I think that's said quite often. Or...
137.
か、あるいはその会議で相手の意見に対し
...in a meeting, when responding to someone else's opinion...
138.
てそのなんだろうね、それって本当に合っ
...how should I put it, if you want to ask, “Is that really...”
139.
てますか?って聞きたい時にその判断は
“...correct?” you might instead say, “Is that judgment...”
140.
妥当ですかって言い換えることも、ま、
“...valid?” Rephrasing it that way is, well...
141.
結構ある。うん。そう。それって本当に
...quite common. Yeah. Right. Saying, “Is that really...”
142.
合ってますかはいいんだけど、ちょっと
“...correct?” is perfectly fine, but it's a little...
143.
ビジネスの場面だとうん。なんかね、何て
...well, in a business setting. It's kind of... how...
144.
言ったらいいんだろうね。ちょっとね、
...should I put it? It's a little, you know...
145.
直接的すぎるかなって思うんだよね。会社
I feel like that might be too direct. It depends on the company,
146.
によるんだけどさ。そう。ま、そんな感じ
though. Yeah. Well, that’s basically how it is,
147.
でコミュニティによって使う語いとか言葉
and the vocabulary and language people use vary by community.
148.
っていうの変わってきて、みんなだけじゃ
Those things change, and it isn’t just you all—
149.
なくて日本人もその進学とか就職とか転職
Japanese people also go on to further education, find jobs, or change careers,
150.
とか色々あるじゃん。環境が変わると
among many other things. When your environment changes,
151.
言葉遣いとかそのコミュニケーションの
the way people speak and the way they communicate
152.
取り方が今までと全然違うっていうので
can be completely different from what they were used to,
153.
驚くことっていうのはまあねよくあるんだ
so it’s quite common to be surprised by that.
154.
よね。そうだからその新しい場所
Right? So, in a new place,
155.
で人と関わりながらそのコミュニティなら
as you interact with people, you learn the ways of choosing words that are unique
156.
ではの言葉の選び方を身につけていくって
to that particular community.
157.
いうのはみんなだけじゃないよね。日本人
That’s not something only you all have to do. Japanese people
158.
も一緒かなって思うかな。そうでさ、それ
do the same, I think. And, you know, I was
159.
についてちょっともうちょっと考えてたん
thinking about that a little more,
160.
だけど、言葉って私的には服に似てると
and personally, I think language is like clothing.
161.
思う。この服ね。うん。服って自分のその
That’s what I think—clothing, you know. Yeah. Clothes express
162.
個性とかどんな風に見られたいのかを表す
your individuality and how you want others to see you, right?
163.
よね。そうやって自分を表現できるよね。
You can express yourself that way.
164.
でも同時にどこに着ていくのかとかその
But at the same time, where you’re going to wear them and whether they
165.
場所に合ってるかみたいなのも大切な時が
suit the setting can also matter.
166.
あるよね。ちゃんとした服装が求められる
Right? If you go somewhere that requires proper attire
167.
時にTシャツと短パンで行ったらめちゃくちゃ
in a T-shirt and shorts, you’ll look completely
168.
浮くじゃん。
out of place.
169.
逆にさ、なんかなんだろうね。うん。
Conversely… how should I put it? Yeah.
170.
バーベキューみたいなそういう気軽な
If you went to a casual event like
171.
ところにタキシードで行ったらそれもまた
a barbecue in a tuxedo, that would also
172.
浮くよね。だから上質な服をいつでもどこ
look out of place, right? So it’s not as though wearing high-quality clothes everywhere
173.
でも着ていけばいいかって言うとそういう
at all times is necessarily the right thing to do.
174.
問題でもないよね。言葉も同じで難しい
That’s not really how it works. Language is the same: even if you know difficult
175.
言葉を知っててもそれをねいつでもどこで
words, that doesn’t mean you should use them always and every-
176.
も使えばいいっていうわけじゃないんだよ
where.
177.
ね。同じことを伝えるにもいろんな単語と
Right? Even when conveying the same thing, there are many different words
178.
か表現があってその中から何を選ぶかで
and expressions, and what you choose from among them
179.
相手が受ける印象もね変わってくるんだよ
changes the impression the other person gets.
180.
ね。服と一緒だよね。そう。で、特にね、
It’s just like clothing, right? Yeah. And especially
181.
面接とか仕事の商談とか、あとはその取引
during job interviews, business negotiations, and conversations
182.
先での会話とかね、そういう時にそれがね
with clients, I think the effect of this
183.
、結構顕著に出るかなって思う。だから
becomes quite noticeable. So,
184.
仕事によってはいろんな言葉を知っておく
depending on your job, you may need to know a wide range of words
185.
必要があるし、そのニュアンスまで
and understand even their nuances
186.
ちゃんと理解して使いこなせるようになっ
properly so that you can use them effectively.
187.
ておくことが必要かなって思うかな。自分
I think it’s important to be able to do that. Where you want to go,
188.
がどこに行って、どんな人たちと関係を
and what kinds of people you want to build relationships
189.
築きたいのか。その場にあった言葉が
with—whether you can choose language suited to that setting
190.
選べるかどうかとかそういうのが自分が
and things like that matter when it comes to whether the group
191.
その入りたいと思ってるその集団
or community that you want to join
192.
コミュニティがあるよね。そこに受け入れ
will accept you.
193.
られるかどうかに関わってくるかなって
I think it may come down to whether or not you can do that.
194.
思うかな。うん。うん。そう。実際ね
That's what I think. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Right. Actually,
195.
難しい言葉って聞いたり読んだりしたら
when you hear or read difficult words,
196.
分かるんだけど自分では使わないっていう
you may understand them but not use them yourself—
197.
ことも結構あるんだよね。私はそういう
that happens quite often. As for me, those kinds of
198.
ちょっと難しい日本語も日常会話で使う方
slightly difficult Japanese expressions are something I tend to use even in everyday conversation,
199.
なんだけど、例えばそのさっき言った
but, for example, take what I mentioned earlier:
200.
それって本当に合ってますかっていうのと
“Is that really correct?” and
201.
その判断って妥当なんですかっていう表現
the expression “Is that judgment reasonable?”
202.
があるじゃん。私的にはそれって合って
You know those expressions, right? To me, when someone asks, “Is that
203.
ますかって聞かれると正しいか間違ってる
correct?” it feels like they're asking whether it is right or
204.
かを聞かれているように感じるんだよね。
wrong.
205.
でも妥当なんですかって聞かれるとその
But when someone asks whether it is reasonable,
206.
根拠とか状況を踏まえてそう考えてもそう
it feels like they're asking whether, given the grounds and circumstances, it is okay to think that way or
207.
判断しても問題がないかっていうのを聞い
make that judgment without issue.
208.
てる感じになるかな。うん。微妙な
That's the impression it gives me. Yeah. It's a subtle
209.
ニュアンスなんだけど、例えば仕事で何か
nuance, but, for example, at work, when
210.
新しいことをやるかやらないか決める時
deciding whether or not to try something new,
211.
ってその絶対の正解があるわけじゃないよ
there isn't necessarily one absolutely correct answer,
212.
ね。大抵の場合は何でもやっぱりメリット
right? In those cases, everything has its advantages
213.
とデメリットがあるし、お金とか時期とか
and disadvantages, and factors such as money and timing,
214.
、ま、何か会社でやろうと思ったら
and, well, if you're planning to do something at a company,
215.
いろんなことが関わってくると思うんだよ
I think all sorts of things come into play,
216.
ね。そういう時はその判断は妥当なんです
right? At times like that, asking, “Is that judgment reasonable?”
217.
かって聞く方がその状況にフィットする
often fits the situation
218.
ことが多いような感じがするね。しっくり
better, I feel. It seems more
219.
する感じがする。うん。ま、そのメリット
natural. Yeah. Well, those advantages
220.
とかデメリットっていうのはあくまでも今
and disadvantages were only brought up just now
221.
この説明をするための一例なんだけど、
as an example to explain this, though.
222.
まあね、実際の場面だともちろん合ってる
Of course, in actual situations, “correct”
223.
と妥当なのっていうのは全然違うことを
and “reasonable” aren't asking about completely different things;
224.
聞いてるわけじゃなくて、その重なる
there is some overlap between them,
225.
ところもあるんだけどなんだろうね。合っ
but how should I put it? It conveys that it's not
226.
てるっていうその単純な問いかけじゃない
just the simple question of whether something is correct—
227.
ことが妥当なのだと伝わるっていう感じか
that's what “reasonable” communicates, I suppose.
228.
な。うん。その現実のそのいい悪いで分け
Yeah. It's a word suited to the complexity of reality, which can't be divided
229.
られないその複雑さにあった言葉かなって
simply into good and bad,
230.
思うんだよね。だから日常場面では
I think. So in everyday situations,
231.
あんまり使わないけどビジネスの場面では
it isn't used very much, but in business settings,
232.
比較的よく使うのかなって思うんだよね。
I think it's used relatively often.
233.
うん。みたいな感じでその私は細かい
Yeah. So, in that sense, I have a strong desire to express even subtle
234.
ニュアンスまでちょっとね表現したいって
nuances, you know.
235.
いう気持ちが強いんだよね。大体同じ意味
That's something I feel strongly about. There are many Japanese words that mean roughly the same thing
236.
なんだけど、ま、微妙にね、ニュアンスが
but, well, differ subtly in
237.
違う日本語ってたくさんあって、私は結構
nuance, and I quite often
238.
その微妙なニュアンスの違いも含めて言葉
choose words while taking those subtle differences in nuance
239.
を選ぶことが多いかな。うん。そこまでね
into account. Yeah. Why am I so
240.
、こだわるのはなんでだろうね。うん。
particular about that, I wonder? Yeah.
241.
生きてきた世界がこだわらざるを得なかっ
Maybe it also has something to do with the world I grew up in, where I had no choice but to be particular about it,
242.
たっていうのもあるかもしれないけど、
though that may be part of the reason,
243.
単純にその日本語が私は結構好きなんだよ
I also simply like the Japanese language quite a lot,
244.
ね。大切にしてる。本も好きだからね。
you know. I cherish it. I like books too.
245.
うん。そういうところが出てるかなって
Yeah. I think that side of me may come through.
246.
思う。そうだからね、難しい言葉を使わ
That’s what I think. But that doesn’t mean that people who don’t use difficult words
247.
ない人はうん、ダメだっていうつもりは
are somehow no good—
248.
全然なくて、ま、そのどこまでニュアンス
I don’t mean that at all. It depends on things like how carefully someone wants to convey every nuance,
249.
を丁寧に伝えたいかとか、ま、使わなけれ
or whether they need to use such words,
250.
ばならないかとか、あるいはその簡単な
and some people may simply feel more comfortable
251.
言葉のやり取りだけの方が気が楽っていう
communicating only in simple language,
252.
人もいるし、それで十分な状況にいる人も
while others are in situations where that is entirely sufficient.
253.
いるだろうから。だから日本人でも人に
There must be people like that. So even among Japanese people, it depends on the person
254.
よるし状況によるかなって思うんだよね。
and the situation, I think.
255.
どんな日本語を使うかっていうのはね。
That is, what kind of Japanese they use.
256.
そう。あともう1つなんだけど、あのこれ
Right. There’s one more thing, and this
257.
は主に女性に向けた話なんだけど、言葉
is mainly directed at women: language
258.
って自分を守るためにも役に立つって私は
can also help you protect yourself, I
259.
思うんだよね。うん。これはすごく悲しい
believe. Yeah. This is something very sad
260.
し、怒りを感じることなんだけど、日本で
and infuriating, but in Japan,
261.
は女性、特に若い女性が一部のその男性
women, especially young women, are sometimes treated by certain men
262.
からね、すごく軽く見られることっていう
as though they don’t deserve to be taken seriously.
263.
のがある。本当一部の男性なんだけど
That does happen. It’s really only some men,
264.
少なくない数ある。うん。日本でしばらく
but their number is not insignificant. Yeah. If you live in Japan for a while,
265.
生きてたらそれを体験することはいずれ
I feel that sooner or later, experiencing this
266.
絶対起こるんじゃないかなって思う嫌な
is almost inevitable. It’s an awful
267.
ことなんだけどね。うん。
thing, though. Yeah.
268.
その仕事のちょっとしたやり取りでも気分
Even during a minor interaction at work, someone may treat you in a way
269.
が落ちるような態度を取られることって
that leaves you feeling down.
270.
いうのがたまにね、あってね、ま、よく
That happens sometimes. Well, I don’t want to say it happens
271.
あるとは言いたくないんだけど、そう本当
often, but ideally,
272.
はね、そういう状況自体が変わるのがいい
that situation itself should change,
273.
し、変わる必要があるし、すぐにね、
it needs to change, and it needs to happen immediately.
274.
変えるべきだと思うんだけど、現実問題と
I believe it should change, but realistically,
275.
してすぐには変わらないんだよね。例えば
it won’t change right away. For example,
276.
今20何歳だろう?若い子、23とかの子
suppose a young woman—how old might she be now, maybe twenty-three—
277.
が日本に住もうってなって日本で働くって
decides to live in Japan and work there.
278.
なった時にその今のその状況の中で生きて
Then she has to live within the reality as it currently stands,
279.
いかなければならないよね。生きていく
right? She has to keep living.
280.
しかないじゃん。仕事するしかないって
She has no other choice. There are many situations where she simply has to work,
281.
いう状況ってたくさんあると思ってて、だ
I think. That’s why
282.
から私たちはその環境を、ま、ベストとは
to make it through that environment—which, well, we can’t exactly call ideal—
283.
言えないその環境を生き抜くための
and survive it,
284.
サバイブするためのそういういろんな武器
we need to equip ourselves with various tools—various weapons, so to speak.
285.
を持っておく必要があると思ってて、その
I believe we need to have them at our disposal, and
286.
1つが私は言葉だと思うんだよね。例えば
I think language is one of them. For example,
287.
N1に相当するような文法とか語彙を使っ
by using grammar and vocabulary comparable to the N1 level
288.
て知性を感じさせるようなあの
and conveying a sense of intelligence, um…
289.
コミュニケーションを取っていると
When you're communicating with people,
290.
あんまりね侮ることがないんだよね。
they're much less likely to underestimate you.
291.
少なくなる限りなくね。
It becomes almost nonexistent.
292.
ま、この場でそのN1って言ってるのは
Well, when I say “N1” here,
293.
分かりやすくするためのその目安で実際に
it's just a convenient benchmark to make the point easier to understand; in reality,
294.
その大切なのは試験の級じゃなくてその
what matters isn't your test level, but
295.
この人ちゃんと考えて喋ってるなって思わ
using words that make people think, “This person really thinks about
296.
せるような言葉を使うっていうこと。それ
what they're saying.” That
297.
が大切っていうことね。本当に嫌なんだ
is what's important. I really hate that it's this way,
298.
けど簡単な言葉だけで喋ってるとそれだけ
but if you speak using only simple words, just because of that
299.
で軽く見てくる人がいるのも今現状事実な
the reality right now is that some people will look down on you.
300.
んだよね。本当にね、その難しい言葉を
That's how it is. Really, using difficult words
301.
使うだけでその人の賢さって決まるわけ
alone doesn't determine how intelligent someone is,
302.
じゃないよね。特にみんなにとって日本語
right? Especially since, for all of you, Japanese
303.
っていうのは第2言語だからね。うん。で
is a second language. Right. And
304.
もそうなんだけどその現実問題としてそう
that's true, but realistically,
305.
いう見方をする人っていうのはいるので
some people do judge others that way, so
306.
自分を守る道具としてある程度その高度な
as a tool for protecting yourself, gaining the ability to use
307.
語彙、言葉っていうのを使えるようにしてい
a certain level of advanced vocabulary
308.
くっていうのは日本で生きていく上で役に
can be helpful when living in Japan,
309.
立つと私は思います。うん。決して無駄に
in my opinion. Yes. I don't think it will ever
310.
ならないかなって。もちろんね、その言葉
be a waste. Of course, words alone
311.
だけでどうにかできる場面ばっかりじゃ
can't solve every situation,
312.
ないんだけどね。でも言葉をちゃんと
of course. But by properly
313.
使いこなせることで避けられる嫌なことっ
mastering language, there are unpleasant experiences you can avoid—
314.
ていうのは本当にね、たくさんあるから。
a great many of them, really.
315.
うん。そういう意味ではね、そのN1を
Yes. In that sense, aiming for N1
316.
目指すっていうのは1ついいかもしれない
might be one good goal.
317.
ね。ちゃんと使いこなせないとあのダメだ
Though you do have to be able to use the language properly.
318.
けどね。うん。そう。ま、そんな感じかな
That's the condition, though. Yeah. So, I guess that's about it.
319.
。色々思いつくままに話したんだけど、ま
I talked about various things as they came to mind, but, well,
320.
、その難しい日本語ってどこまで勉強する
as for how far one needs to go in studying advanced Japanese,
321.
必要があるんだろうかっていう問に関して
regarding that question,
322.
言えば、やっぱりそのみんながどうしたい
I'd say it ultimately depends on what each of you wants to do
323.
かとみんなが身を置くその環境によるかな
and the environment you find yourself in.
324.
。うん。細かいことまで伝えたいっていう
Yes. Sometimes you may want to convey even the finer details,
325.
場合もあれば逆にその自分がどうかよりも
while in other cases, regardless of your personal preference,
326.
仕事でそこまで喋る必要がある場合もある
your job may require you to speak at that level.
327.
よね。どんな場所で誰とあとはどんな関係
Right? The words you need to learn will vary depending on where you are, who you're with, and what kind of relationship
328.
を築きたいのかとかそういうことによっ
you want to build—things like that.
329.
てその身につける言葉は変わってくるか
I think those factors change what language you should acquire.
330.
なって思ったよ。どこまで身につけるべき
That's what I thought. How far you should go in mastering it
331.
かは変わってくるかなって思ったかな。
will probably vary as well.
332.
うん。そんなことを考えながら今はその
Yeah. With those thoughts in mind, I'm currently
333.
試験に向けたレッスンの準備をしてるんだ
preparing lessons for the exam.
334.
けど。そうね。是非ね、やっぱり頑張って
And, well, if you're going to work hard
335.
勉強するんだったら受かって欲しいなって
and study, I really want you to pass.
336.
思ってるんだよね。このポッドキャストを
That's how I feel. This podcast...
337.
聞いてくださってる方の中にもN3、N2
Among those of you listening, I think there are also people taking N3, N2
338.
、N1受ける人いると思うので、いろんな
and N1, so I’m sure you’re all facing various
339.
級があると思うけど頑張ってね、応援して
levels represented, but do your best. I’m rooting for
340.
ます。
you.
341.
はい。私はね、プレプリで日本語を教えて
Okay. I teach Japanese on Preply,
342.
いるのでプロフィールは概要欄にリンクを
and I’ve put a link to my profile in the description,
343.
載せているので気になる人は是非見てみて
so if you’re interested, please do take a look.
344.
ください。じゃ、今日は話したいことは
Well then, I’ve said everything I wanted to say today,
345.
話せたので、そんな感じでみんな
so with that, everyone,
346.
試験勉強頑張ってください。はい、じゃあ
please work hard on your exam preparation. Okay, then,
347.
また次のエピソードでお会いしましょう。
I’ll see you again in the next episode.
348.
バイバイ。
Bye-bye.

Open the interactive lesson