In Japan, giving a reason and an apology clearly is part of good manners. At school or work you must explain why you are late or absent. This lesson also joins actions in time, so your sentences become longer and more natural.
Reasons: から and ので
Because…, …
(reason) から、(result) / (reason) ので、(result)
Both mean "because". から is direct and fine in speech. ので is softer and better for explaining and apologising to superiors. Before ので, な-adjectives and nouns take な: ひまなので, あめなので.
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| あたまが いたいですから、やすみます。 | atama ga itai desu kara, yasumimasu. | टाउको दुखेकाले आराम गर्छु। | My head hurts, so I'll rest. | ▶ |
| ねつが あるので、きょうは やすみます。 | netsu ga aru node, kyou wa yasumimasu. | ज्वरो भएकाले आज बिदा लिन्छु। | I have a fever, so I'll take today off. | ▶ |
| でんしゃが おくれたので、ちこくしました。 | densha ga okureta node, chikoku shimashita. | रेल ढिलो भएकाले म ढिलो पुगेँ। | The train was late, so I was late. | ▶ |
| あめなので、かさを もって いきます。 | ame na node, kasa o motte ikimasu. | पानी परेकाले छाता लिएर जान्छु। | It's raining, so I'll take an umbrella. | ▶ |
| どうして おくれましたか。 | doushite okuremashita ka. | किन ढिलो भयो? | Why were you late? | ▶ |
| バスが こなかったからです。 | basu ga konakatta kara desu. | बस आएन, त्यसैले। | Because the bus didn't come. | ▶ |
どうして asks "why?" and the answer ends with 〜からです.
Time clauses
| Pattern | Meaning | Example | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| plain form + とき | when ... | にほんへ いく とき、パスポートが ひつようです。 | ▶ |
| dictionary form + まえに | before ... | ねる まえに、はを みがきます。 | ▶ |
| た-form + あとで | after ... | たべた あとで、さんぽします。 | ▶ |
| て-form + から | after doing ... (then) | しごとが おわって から、あいます。 | ▶ |
| stem + ながら | while doing ... | おんがくを ききながら あるきます。 | ▶ |
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ひまな とき、えいがを みます。 | hima na toki, eiga o mimasu. | फुर्सद हुँदा चलचित्र हेर्छु। | When I have free time, I watch movies. | ▶ |
| たべる まえに、てを あらいます。 | taberu mae ni, te o araimasu. | खानुअघि हात धुन्छु। | I wash my hands before eating. | ▶ |
| しごとの あとで、ともだちに あいます。 | shigoto no ato de, tomodachi ni aimasu. | काम पछि साथीलाई भेट्छु। | I meet a friend after work. | ▶ |
| ごはんを たべて から、くすりを のみます。 | gohan o tabete kara, kusuri o nomimasu. | खाना खाएपछि औषधि खान्छु। | I take medicine after I eat. | ▶ |
| スマホを みながら あるいては いけません。 | sumaho o minagara aruite wa ikemasen. | फोन हेर्दै हिँड्न हुँदैन। | You must not walk while looking at your phone. | ▶ |
With a noun, add の: しごとの あとで, ごはんの まえに, こどもの とき (when I was a child).
Sickness and lateness: what to say at work
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| あたま | atama | टाउको | head | ▶ |
| おなか | onaka | पेट | stomach | ▶ |
| のど | nodo | घाँटी | throat | ▶ |
| ねつ | netsu | ज्वरो | fever | ▶ |
| せき | seki | खोकी | cough | ▶ |
| かぜを ひきます | kaze o hikimasu | रुघाखोकी लाग्छ | to catch a cold | ▶ |
| いたい | itai | दुख्ने | painful | ▶ |
| ちこくします | chikoku shimasu | ढिलो पुग्छु | to be late | ▶ |
| やすみます | yasumimasu | बिदा लिन्छु | to take a day off | ▶ |
| おくれます | okuremasu | ढिलो हुन्छ | to be delayed, late | ▶ |
| びょうきです | byouki desu | बिरामी छु | I'm sick | ▶ |
| やすんでも いいですか。 | yasunde mo ii desu ka. | बिदा लिन सक्छु? | May I take the day off? | ▶ |
In Japan you must telephone your workplace before the start time if you are sick or late, and say who you are, the reason, and when you expect to arrive or return. Text messages may be allowed at some places; ask on your first day. The phrase もうしわけありません is a stronger apology than すみません and is used with bosses and customers.
Dialogue: calling in sick
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली / English | Listen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | はい、さくらこうじょうです。 | hai, sakura koujou desu. | हजुर, साकुरा कारखाना हो। Hello, Sakura Factory. | ▶ |
| B | おはようございます。 サンジャイです。 すみません、ねつが あるので、きょうは やすみたいです。 | ohayou gozaimasu. sanjai desu. sumimasen, netsu ga aru node, kyou wa yasumitai desu. | शुभ प्रभात। म सञ्जय हुँ। माफ गर्नुहोस्, ज्वरो भएकाले आज बिदा लिन चाहन्छु। Good morning. This is Sanjay. Sorry, I have a fever, so I'd like to take today off. | ▶ |
| A | わかりました。 おだいじに。 びょういんへ いって ください。 | wakarimashita. odaiji ni. byouin e itte kudasai. | बुझेँ। ख्याल गर्नुहोस्। अस्पताल जानुहोस्। Understood. Take care. Please go to the hospital. | ▶ |
| B | ありがとうございます。 もうしわけありません。 | arigatou gozaimasu. moushiwake arimasen. | धन्यवाद। माफ गर्नुहोस्। Thank you. I am very sorry. | ▶ |
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
Try to answer every question before you look at the answers.
- Say "I have a fever, so I'll rest."
- Ask "Why were you late?"
- Answer: because the bus didn't come.
- What is the difference between から and ので?
- Say "I wash my hands before eating."
- Say "I meet a friend after work."
- What form comes before まえに and what form before あとで?
- Say "I walk while listening to music."
- What does おだいじに mean?
- Should you phone before or after the start time when you are sick?
Answers
Count your correct answers. If you got fewer than 7 out of 10, read the lesson again and listen to the audio once more.
- ねつが あるので、やすみます。
- どうして おくれましたか。
- バスが こなかったからです。
- ので is softer and better for explaining or apologising to superiors.
- たべる まえに、てを あらいます。
- しごとの あとで、ともだちに あいます。
- Dictionary form before まえに; た-form before あとで.
- おんがくを ききながら あるきます。
- Take care (said to someone who is sick).
- Before the start time.
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