In the listening section you hear short conversations and announcements once or twice and choose the answer. You must catch the key information: numbers, times, places, days, reasons and instructions. Reading practice does not help much here; only listening does.
These are original practice questions written for this course in the style of the topic. They are not copied from any real test, and the real test may use a different layout. Use the Japan Foundation's official sample questions as well.
What to listen for
| Key information | Words to catch |
|---|---|
| numbers and prices | さんびゃく, ろっぴゃく, はっせん, まん, えん |
| time | 〜じ, 〜ふん / ぷん, はん, ごぜん, ごご, 〜から, 〜まで, 〜までに |
| days and dates | らいしゅう, きょう, あした, ついたち, ふつか, ようび |
| places and directions | うえ, した, よこ, となり, まえ, みぎ, ひだり, かいだん |
| reasons | 〜から, 〜ので, どうして |
| instructions | まず, つぎに, さいごに, 〜て ください, 〜ないで ください |
| yes / no and refusal | はい, いいえ, ちょっと…, だいじょうぶです, けっこうです |
"Trap" words: in a conversation the speakers often say a wrong number first and then correct it (さんじ… あ、よじです). The last information is usually the answer. Also listen for じゃなくて ("not X, but Y").
A listening routine
- Every day: 15 minutes of listening, for example NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese and the slow dialogues in this course. Listen without text first, then with text.
- Shadowing: repeat what you hear immediately, copying the rhythm. It trains your ear and your mouth together.
- Practise with real Japanese too: announcements at stations, supermarket voices, YouTube for learners. Computer voices in this course are clear but not natural.
12 audio practice questions
In the Check yourself section, press the ▶ buttons to hear each short conversation (A is a woman, B is a man), then choose the answer. Do not read the transcript until you have answered. The Answers section shows the answer and the conversation.
Ready for a full test? Open the MeroSir app, go to Tests, choose Interactive and take JFT-Basic Practice Test 1 to 5 (free). Each has 50 questions in the four sections and 60 minutes, and afterwards you can review every answer with an explanation in English and Nepali. They are original practice tests, not official ones.
Every ▶ button plays a clear computer voice, which is good for learning sounds and rhythm but is not a native speaker. Pitch (the rise and fall of the voice) can sound a little flat. Also listen to real Japanese as often as you can: videos, news for learners (NHK Easy), and Japanese people around you.
Check yourself
Listen as many times as you need while practising (in the real test you can only listen once or twice).
- ▶ A ▶ B
What time does the meeting start?
A) 3:00
B) 3:30
C) 4:00
D) 4:30 - ▶ A ▶ B
How much is it?
A) 3,050 yen
B) 3,500 yen
C) 5,300 yen
D) 35,000 yen - ▶ A ▶ B
Where is the toilet?
A) Next to the stairs
B) In front of the station
C) Next to the elevator
D) On the 3rd floor - ▶ A ▶ B
When is the next day off?
A) This Thursday
B) Next Monday
C) Next Thursday
D) Next Sunday - ▶ A ▶ B
Why was the person late?
A) He overslept
B) The train was late
C) He was sick
D) The bus did not come - ▶ A ▶ B
What does the person do first?
A) Put on a mask
B) Wash hands
C) Change clothes
D) Switch on the machine - ▶ A ▶ B
How many people are in the family?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6 - ▶ A ▶ B
What is the matter?
A) A headache since today
B) A stomach ache since yesterday
C) A fever since yesterday
D) A sore throat since today - ▶ A ▶ B
How does the person go to the station?
A) On foot, 15 minutes
B) By bus, 15 minutes
C) By train, 50 minutes
D) By bicycle, 5 minutes - ▶ A ▶ B
Can the person take photos here?
A) Yes, anywhere
B) No, it is not allowed
C) Yes, but only outside
D) Yes, after 5 o'clock - ▶ A ▶ B
Where is Mr Tanaka?
A) He has gone home
B) He is away from his desk
C) He is in a meeting
D) He is on holiday - ▶ A ▶ B
By what time should the person come tomorrow?
A) Until 8
B) By 8
C) After 8
D) At 9
Answers
Count your correct answers. If you got fewer than 8 out of 12, read the lesson again and listen to the audio once more.
- B) 3:30. 3:30 p.m. (ごご さんじ はん).
A: すみません、かいぎは なんじからですか。 / B: ごご さんじ はんからです。 - B) 3,500 yen. 3,500 yen (さんぜん ごひゃく).
A: これは いくらですか。 / B: さんぜん ごひゃくえんです。 - A) Next to the stairs. Next to the stairs (かいだんの よこ).
A: すみません、トイレは どこですか。 / B: あの かいだんの よこです。 - C) Next Thursday. Next Thursday (らいしゅうの もくようび).
A: つぎの やすみは いつですか。 / B: らいしゅうの もくようびです。 - B) The train was late. The train was late (でんしゃが おくれた).
A: どうして ちこくしましたか。 / B: でんしゃが おくれたからです。 - B) Wash hands. Wash hands (まず てを あらって).
A: まず、てを あらって、つぎに マスクを つけて ください。 / B: はい、わかりました。 - B) 4. 4 people (よにん).
A: かぞくは なんにんですか。 / B: ちちと ははと あにと わたしの よにんです。 - B) A stomach ache since yesterday. A stomach ache since yesterday.
A: どう しましたか。 / B: きのうから おなかが いたいです。 - B) By bus, 15 minutes. By bus; it takes 15 minutes.
A: えきまで どうやって いきますか。 / B: バスで いきます。 じゅうごふん かかります。 - B) No, it is not allowed. No: すみません、ちょっと… is a polite refusal.
A: ここで しゃしんを とっても いいですか。 / B: すみません、ここは ちょっと…。 - B) He is away from his desk. He is away from his desk (せきを はずして います).
A: たなかさんは いらっしゃいますか。 / B: ただいま、せきを はずして おります。 - B) By 8. By 8 o'clock (はちじまでに).
A: あした なんじに きますか。 / B: はちじまでに きて ください。
Comments
Loading comments…