New here? This is lesson 133 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Still learning in Japanese
Saturday class at the community centre. New kanji wait on the board, and Leo has not learned them yet.
The teacher points at a blank space and offers him the chalk. He needs more practice, has not tried this yet, and is not ready.
You will say what you still need to practice, what you have not learned or tried, and that you can do it with help.
Keep it polite. Ask before you try.
By the end of this lesson
Say what you are still learning and that you need practice.
- ___の練習がもっと必要です。I need more practice with ___.
- まだ___ことを習っていません。I haven't learned to ___ yet.
- まだ試していません。I haven't tried it yet.
- やってみてもいいですか。May I try?
- まだ準備ができていません。I'm not ready yet.
- 手伝ってもらえれば、できます。I can do it if someone helps me.
Scene — chalk at the board
The community-centre classroom is quiet after the first drill. Chalk sits in the tray under a board of new kanji.
Leo stands with his notebook still closed. The teacher holds out a piece of chalk and nods at an empty square.
Learn — not yet, still learning
Six lines for class: what you still need, what you have not learned or tried, and a polite request to try.
One line lets you say you can do it with help.
___の練習がもっと必要です。
I need more practice with ___.
When to use it: Use this when you still need more practice with something.
が marks what you still need more of.
Say it: Give ん in 練習 its own beat.
まだ___ことを習っていません。
I haven't learned to ___ yet.
When to use it: Use this when you have not learned to do that yet.
こと turns the action into the thing you have not learned.
まだ試していません。
I haven't tried it yet.
When to use it: Use this when you have not tried that thing yet.
まだ plus the て-form negative means the try has not happened yet.
やってみてもいいですか。
May I try?
When to use it: Ask this before you try something that may need permission.
て plus もいいですか asks if something is allowed.
Say it: Make a brief stop before the て in やって.
まだ準備ができていません。
I'm not ready yet.
When to use it: Use this when you are not ready to start yet.
できていません is about the state: you are not ready, not unable.
手伝ってもらえれば、できます。
I can do it if someone helps me.
When to use it: Use this when you can do it only with someone's help.
もらえれば means if someone will do that for you.
Story — a try on the board
Leo has not learned the new kanji. The teacher still offers him the chalk.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- New kanji on the board. Leo's notebook is still closed.
- Teacherレオさん、この字ですよ。Leo, this is the character.
Leoまだ書くことを習っていません。I haven't learned to write yet.- Teacher大丈夫ですよ。It's all right.
- Leo漢字の練習がもっと必要です。I need more practice with kanji.
- The teacher holds out a piece of chalk.
- Leoまだ試していません。I haven't tried it yet.
- Teacherゆっくりでいいですよ。You can take it slowly.
- Leoやってみてもいいですか。May I try?
- Teacherはい、どうぞ。Sure, go ahead.
- Leo takes the chalk.
- Teacherここに書いてください。Please write it here.
- Leo steps to the board, then stops.
- Leoええと、まだ準備ができていません。Um, I'm not ready yet.
- Teacherがんばってください。Do your best.
- Leo手伝ってもらえれば、できます。I can do it if someone helps me.
- Teacherええ、一緒に書きましょう。Yes, let's write it together.
Practice — pick what you still need
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and catch a slip.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
まだ試していません。
What do you say?
What do you say?
The new characters are hard. You still need more practice with kanji.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The teacher asks if you have learned to write this character yet. Say you have not learned to write it yet.
Build the line
Build the line
I can do it if someone helps me.
、。
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I'm not ready yet.
まだ準備____できていません。
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want to ask if you may try. Fix the ending.
やってみてもいいです____。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What do you say?
What do you say?
A classmate asks if they may write on the board. Let them go ahead.
True or false?
True or false?
You say this when you want someone to write in this spot.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A classmate looks nervous at the board. Cheer them on.
Say it — your turn to try
You are Leo at Saturday class. 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.
- Teacherレオさん、この字ですよ。Leo, this is the character.
- Leo (you)You have not learned to write this yet.
You have not learned to write this yet.
まだ___ことを習っていません。
I haven't learned to ___ yet.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| ___の練習がもっと必要です。 | I need more practice with ___. | |
| まだ___ことを習っていません。 | I haven't learned to ___ yet. | |
| まだ試していません。 | I haven't tried it yet. | |
| やってみてもいいですか。 | May I try? | |
| まだ準備ができていません。 | I'm not ready yet. | |
| 手伝ってもらえれば、できます。 | I can do it if someone helps me. |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
Want the next lesson in your inbox?
Get the next lesson by email, one a day.
Join the newsletterDaily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.
Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these still-learning lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round after class keeps not-yet ready for next Saturday.
Open Yak Cards