New here? This is lesson 149 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
The typhoon is coming in Japanese
A typhoon warning hits Yanaka. Leo ducks into Kissa Hotaru as the lane goes dark.
Masako will not lend the old black umbrella, even now. Goro stays in the booth with toast and an unfinished blend coffee.
You will say a typhoon is coming, check if trains will stop, stay home, and stock water.
Ask people to shut the windows and not go out. Keep it polite.
By the end of this lesson
Get ready for a typhoon.
- 台風が来ます。A typhoon is coming.
- 電車が止まります。The trains will stop.
- 今日は家にいます。I'm staying home today.
- 水を買っておきます。I'll buy water in advance.
- 窓を閉めてください。Please shut the windows.
- 外に出ないでください。Please don't go out.
Scene — the warning
Yanaka is under a typhoon warning. Leo steps into Kissa Hotaru with his clear umbrella still dripping. The lane outside is already empty.
Masako stands at the wooden counter with her phone. In the corner booth, Goro has two seats, thick toast, and a blend coffee he has not touched.
Learn — get ready
These six lines help you get ready for a typhoon.
You name the storm, check the trains, stay home, stock water, and keep people inside.
台風が来ます。
A typhoon is coming.
When to use it: Use this when a typhoon is on the way.
が marks the typhoon as the new fact.
Say it: Hold the long う in ふう.
電車が止まります。
The trains will stop.
When to use it: Use this when trains will shut down in a storm.
Polite ます reports a future stop, not a past one.
今日は家にいます。
I'm staying home today.
When to use it: Use this to say you will stay home today.
に marks home as the place you stay.
水を買っておきます。
I'll buy water in advance.
When to use it: Use this when you stock water before a storm.
ておきます here means you do it now so you are ready later.
Say it: Hold the small っ in 買って.
窓を閉めてください。
Please shut the windows.
When to use it: Use this to ask someone to shut the windows.
て plus ください makes a polite request.
外に出ないでください。
Please don't go out.
When to use it: Use this to tell someone not to go outside.
ないでください is the polite way to say don't.
Story — water and toast
A warning lands at the kissa. Masako will not lend the old umbrella. Leo stocks water, and Goro orders more toast.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Wind hits the kissa glass. Masako checks her phone at the counter.
Masako今日は雨です。It's rainy today.- Masako台風が来ます。A typhoon is coming.
Goroなるほど。I see.- Goro電車が止まります。The trains will stop.
- Leo looks at the old black umbrella. The writing on the faded tag is hard to make out.
Leo傘を貸してもらえますか。Could you lend me an umbrella?- Masakoそれはだめですよ。Not that one.
- Leo水を買っておきます。I'll buy water in advance.
- He can still reach the konbini, then go home and stay in.
- Masako家の窓を閉めてください。Please shut the windows at home.
- Masako今日は家にいてください。Please stay home today.
- Leo今日は家にいます。I'm staying home today.
- Masako外に出ないでください。Please don't go out.
- Goro slides his empty plate over. His blend coffee still sits full.
- Goroバタートーストをください。Buttered toast, please.
- Masako気をつけてください。Take care.
- Leoはい。Okay.
Practice — pick the right line
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick a reply.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
台風が来ます。Drop the English here電車が止まります。Drop the English here今日は家にいます。Drop the English here水を買っておきます。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You walk to the konbini fridge. You need bottles before the typhoon.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
The trains will stop.
電車が____。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
窓を閉めてください。
Pick the reply
Goro says:
Pick the reply
台風ですね。ちょっと外に出ます。
It's a typhoon, isn't it. I'm going out for a bit.
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
I'm staying home today.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
The wind is up. Ask someone to shut the windows.
窓を____ください。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Rain starts at the kissa door. You want to borrow an umbrella.
True or false?
True or false?
This line means a typhoon is coming.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You head to the konbini for water. Masako stays at the counter. Tell her to take care.
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo on the typhoon warning day. 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.
- Masako今日は雨です。It's rainy today.
- Leo (you)Tell her a typhoon is coming.
Tell her a typhoon is coming.
台風が来ます。
A typhoon is coming.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 台風が来ます。 | A typhoon is coming. | |
| 電車が止まります。 | The trains will stop. | |
| 今日は家にいます。 | I'm staying home today. | |
| 水を買っておきます。 | I'll buy water in advance. | |
| 窓を閉めてください。 | Please shut the windows. | |
| 外に出ないでください。 | Please don't go out. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these typhoon lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them at home.
A short Yak Cards round keeps the storm lines ready before the wind hits.
Open Yak Cards