Dinner Before the Typhoon — Japanese Listening Practice

Akira

台風たいふうが近ちかづいてるね。今夜こんやは鍋なべにしようか。

The typhoon's getting closer. Shall we have hot pot tonight?

Word meanings

台風: typhoon · 台風 means typhoon.
が: Marks what is getting closer.
近づいてる: getting closer · 近づく + ている, shortened in casual speech; approaching.
ね: Invites agreement.
今夜: tonight · 今夜 means tonight.
は: Sets tonight as the topic.
鍋: hot pot · Here, a shared hot-pot meal rather than the pot itself.
に: Marks the choice with する.
しよう: let's have · する → しよう; suggests a shared choice.
か: Makes the suggestion a question.

Kyo

いいね。このスープはどう？

Sounds good. How about this soup base?

Word meanings

いい: good · Casual approval of the suggestion.
ね: Adds friendly agreement.
この: this · Points to the nearby product.
スープ: soup base · Here, the packaged broth for hot pot.
は: Introduces the product for consideration.
どう: how about · どう asks for an opinion about a choice.

Akira

これは四人分よにんぶんだね。多おおくない？

This is for four people. Isn't that too much?

Word meanings

これ: this · Refers to the soup base B suggested.
は: Marks this product as the topic.
四人分: four servings · 四人 + 分; an amount sufficient for four people.
だ: is · Casual form of です.
ね: Invites confirmation of the label.
多くない: too much · 多い → 多くない; with rising intonation, asks whether it is a lot.

Kyo

今日きょうは二人ふたりだから、半分はんぶんだけ使つかおう。

It's just the two of us today, so let's use half.

Word meanings

今日: today · 今日 is read きょう.
は: Sets today as the topic.
二人: two people · 二人 is read ふたり; here, the two friends.
だから: since · だ + から gives the reason for the next suggestion.
半分: half · Half of the soup base in the bottle.
だけ: just · Limits the amount to half.
使おう: let's use · 使う → 使おう; suggests using something together.

Akira

でも、水みず六百ろっぴゃくミリって書かいてあるよ。

But it says six hundred milliliters of water.

Word meanings

でも: but · Introduces a detail that needs checking.
水: water · The water added to dilute the soup base.
六百ミリ: six hundred ml · 六百 + ミリ; ミリ casually abbreviates milliliters here.
って: Casual quotation marker for the wording on the label.
書いてある: it says · 書く + てある; describes text already written on the label.
よ: Draws attention to the label's information.

Kyo

それは一本いっぽん全部ぜんぶ使つかう時ときだよ。

That's for when you use the whole bottle.

Word meanings

それ: that · Refers to the water amount on the label.
は: Makes that amount the topic.
一本: one bottle · 一 + 本; here counts a bottle, read いっぽん.
全部: all · Emphasizes using the entire bottle.
使う: use · 使う modifies 時: the time or case when it is used.
時: when · After a verb, 時 means when that action happens.
だ: is · Casual statement ending.
よ: Offers clarification.

Akira

じゃあ、スープは半分はんぶんで、水みずは三百さんびゃくミリ？

So, half the soup base and three hundred milliliters of water?

Word meanings

じゃあ: so · Introduces a conclusion from B's explanation.
スープ: soup base · Refers to the contents of the bottle.
は: Marks the soup base as the topic.
半分: half · The amount they will use for two servings.
で: Links the first amount to the next.
水: water · Water for diluting the half-bottle of soup base.
は: Sets up the corresponding water amount.
三百ミリ: three hundred ml · 三百 + ミリ; half of the label's water amount.

Kyo

そう。残のこりは冷蔵庫れいぞうこに入いれよう。

Right. The rest goes in the fridge.

Word meanings

そう: right · Confirms A's calculation.
残り: the rest · 残る → 残り; the portion left unused.
は: Marks the remaining soup base as the topic.
冷蔵庫: fridge · 冷蔵庫 means refrigerator.
に: Marks where the remaining soup base will go.
入れよう: let's put · 入れる → 入れよう; suggests putting it away.

Akira

うん、これにしよう。あと、豚肉ぶたにくと白菜はくさいだね。

Okay, let's get this. We'll also need pork and napa cabbage.

Word meanings

うん: okay · Casual agreement between friends.
これ: this · The soup base they have now agreed on.
に: Marks the selected product with する.
しよう: let's choose · これにする means to choose this; しよう makes it a suggestion.
あと: also · Introduces additional groceries.
豚肉: pork · 豚肉 means pork.
と: Connects the two ingredients.
白菜: napa cabbage · 白菜 is the leafy cabbage commonly used in hot pot.
だ: we need · Casual だ completes the implied list of things to buy.
ね: Invites agreement on the shopping list.

Kyo

きのこはうちにあるよ。豆腐とうふも買かう？

I have mushrooms at home. Want some tofu too?

Word meanings

きのこ: mushrooms · General everyday word for mushrooms.
は: Makes mushrooms the topic.
うち: my place · Casual word for one's home.
に: Marks the location where they are available.
ある: have · ある expresses the presence of things; here, food at home.
よ: Shares useful information.
豆腐: tofu · 豆腐 means tofu.
も: too · Adds tofu to the other ingredients.
買う: buy · With rising intonation, casually asks whether to buy it.

Akira

うん、買かおう。ご飯はんはうちにある？

Yeah, let's get some. Do you have rice at home?

Word meanings

うん: yeah · Agrees to buying tofu.
買おう: let's buy · 買う → 買おう; proposes buying the tofu.
ご飯: rice · Here, rice to serve with dinner.
は: Makes rice the topic.
うち: your place · Here refers to B's home, where they will eat.
に: Marks the location.
ある: have · ある asks whether rice is available.

Kyo

冷凍庫れいとうこにあるから、買かわなくていいよ。

There's some in the freezer, so we don't need to buy any.

Word meanings

冷凍庫: freezer · 冷凍庫 means freezer, distinct from 冷蔵庫.
に: Marks where the rice is stored.
ある: there is · Refers to rice already at home.
から: since · Connects the available rice to the following decision.
買わなくていい: needn't buy · 買う + なくていい; there is no need to buy it.
よ: Reassures A that rice is covered.

Akira

よし、これで全部ぜんぶだね。レジに行いこう。

Okay, we've got everything. Let's head to the checkout.

Word meanings

よし: okay · Signals satisfaction and readiness to move on.
これ: this · Refers to the groceries now gathered.
で: Marks the collection as sufficient for the meal.
全部: everything · Indicates that the shopping list is complete.
だ: is · Casual statement ending.
ね: Checks agreement that nothing else is needed.
レジ: checkout · The supermarket checkout counter.
に: Marks the destination.
行こう: let's go · 行く → 行こう; suggests going together.

Kyo

うん。風かぜが強つよくなる前まえに帰かえろう。

Yeah. Let's get home before the wind picks up.

Word meanings

うん: yeah · Agrees to heading to the checkout.
風: wind · The wind associated with the approaching typhoon.
が: Marks wind as what becomes stronger.
強くなる: picks up · 強い → 強く + なる; becomes stronger.
前: before · After a verb, 前 indicates before that action or change.
に: Marks the time limit for returning home.
帰ろう: let's go home · 帰る → 帰ろう; suggests returning home together.