Japanese course

Lesson 57 of 240

New here? This is lesson 57 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.

Start hereHow this works

I think it's good in Japanese

Leo sits at the Kissa Hotaru counter. Masako asks if he wants a blend coffee or the morning set.

In the booth, Goro already has his toast, and his coffee is still full.

You will say a short view in a few words, agree or not, then leave the choice to someone else.

Keep it polite. Longer opinions come later.

By the end of this lesson

Share a short view and leave the choice to someone else.

  • いいと思(おも)います。I think it's good.
  • そう思(おも)います。I think so.
  • よくないと思(おも)います。I don't think that's good.
  • どうですか。How about this?
  • どちらでもいいです。Either is fine.
  • お任(まか)せします。I'll leave it to you.

Scene — blend or morning

Masako stands behind the wooden counter with the siphon still on the flame. Leo hangs his clear umbrella and sits down.

In the corner booth, Goro already has thick buttered toast. His blend coffee sits full, as always.

Masako works at the siphon while Leo settles in and Goro has toast and untouched coffee in the corner booth.

Learn — a short view

These four lines let you share a short view, agree, say no, or ask what someone thinks.

Two more lines hand the choice back when you cannot decide.

  1. Leo nods toward Masako and the siphon in agreement with Goro's approval.

    いいと思(おも)います。

    I think it's good.

    When to use it: Say this when you like a choice.

    Learn it as one piece for a short yes.

    Say it: Hold the long い in いい.

  2. Goro nods in agreement beside his toast and still-full coffee.

    そう思(おも)います。

    I think so.

    When to use it: Use this to agree with someone's view.

    Learn it as one piece to agree.

  3. Goro gently rejects Masako's suggestion of an iced coffee.

    よくないと思(おも)います。

    I don't think that's good.

    When to use it: Use this when a choice does not seem good.

    Learn it as one piece for a polite no.

  4. Masako presents the coffee and morning set choices to Leo at the counter.

    どうですか。

    How about this?

    When to use it: Offer a choice and ask what they think.

    Learn it as one piece to offer a choice.

  5. Leo opens his palms toward Masako, leaving the choice to her.

    どちらでもいいです。

    Either is fine.

    When to use it: Use this when both choices work for you.

    Learn it as one piece when you have no preference.

  6. Leo gives Masako a small seated bow, leaving the decision to her.

    お任(まか)せします。

    I'll leave it to you.

    When to use it: Use this to let the other person choose.

    Learn it as one piece to hand the choice over.

    Say it: The u in します is almost silent.

Story — leave it to masako

Masako offers Leo a blend or the morning set. Goro has already ordered toast.

Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.

  1. Morning at the counter. Goro's toast is already on the table.
  2. Masakoゴローさん、モーニングはどうですか。Goro, how about the morning set?
  3. Goroいいと思(おも)います。I think it's good.
  4. Leoそう思(おも)います。I think so.
  5. Masakoゴローさん、アイスはどうですか。Goro, how about an iced one?
  6. Goroよくないと思(おも)います。I don't think that's good.
  7. Masako glances at Goro's full cup. He still has not taken a sip.
  8. Masakoレオさん、ブレンドとモーニング、どちらですか。Leo, blend or the morning set, which one?
  9. Leoええと、どちらでもいいです。お任(まか)せします。Either is fine. I'll leave it to you.

Practice — pick the right view

Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, and build a line.

Each one is small, so you move on quickly.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Japanese

    いいと思(おも)います。Drop the English here
    そう思(おも)います。Drop the English here
    よくないと思(おも)います。Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Japanese, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Goro's toast looks good. Ask him what he thinks of it.

  4. Fill the gap

    Either is fine.

    どちらでもいい____。

  5. What does it mean?

    そう思(おも)います。

  6. Build the line

    I'll leave it to you.

    。

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    You do not like the iced coffee idea. Fix the first word.

    ____と思(おも)います。

  8. Find the mistake

  9. What do you say?

    Masako asks blend or morning set. You cannot decide. Leave it to her.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

  11. What do you say?

    Two cups sit on the counter. Ask Goro which one.

Say it — your turn to speak

You are Leo at the counter this morning. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.

  1. Masakoモーニングはどうですか。How about the morning set?
  2. Leo (you)Say you think it is good.

    いいと思(おも)います。

    I think it's good.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

JapaneseEnglish
いいと思(おも)います。I think it's good.
そう思(おも)います。I think so.
よくないと思(おも)います。I don't think that's good.
どうですか。How about this?
どちらでもいいです。Either is fine.
お任(まか)せします。I'll leave it to you.
Next: lesson 58Food I can't eat

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep these short views in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.

A short Yak Cards round keeps a short view ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards