Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."

Join us as we learn Japanese and about the country through Japanese news stories.

Our headline for today is:

Lunar Probe Lands Within 100 Meters of Target

JAXA launched the SLIM lunar probe in September 2023.

It is very exciting. I'm a big science fiction fan.

I am obsessed with space, so this is a huge milestone - it's really amazing.

So now, before we listen to the news story in Japanese, let's go over some key terms.

"tansaki"

probe

"yotee"

plans

"basho"

location or spot

All right, see if you can follow along.

On January 20, the Japanese probe SLIM landed on the moon.

On January 25, JAXA announced that it examined data it had received from SLIM

and found that it appeared to have landed 55 meters east of the planned site.

According to JAXA,

this is the first time in the world that a lunar probe has landed within 100 meters of the planned site.

Until now, probes have landed over 1 km away.

The two robots that SLIM was carrying also seem to be operational.

A photo taken by one of the robots shows SLIM with its engines pointing upward.

JAXA says that a part of the engine array fell off during the descent to the moon,

and the probe seems to be oriented differently than planned.

So SLIM had a little engine trouble when it was trying to touch down,

but we've heard since then that it has now completed its main mission objectives.

Yes. Because of the landing angle, the solar panel array was unable to generate power.

But more than a week later, sunlight started to hit the panels, bringing SLIM back to life.

That allowed it to carry out scientific observations of the lunar surface.

OK, let's review the following phrase from the story.

The lunar probe has landed within 100 meters of the planned site.

Now read along with me.

"tsuki no tansaki ga yotee no basho no hyaku-meetoru inai no tokoro ni orita"

We heard the phrase...

"yotee no basho no hyaku-meetoru inai no tokoro"
(within 100 meters of the planned site)

Yes. Several nations are currently planning or undertaking missions to the moon,

and the ability to make precision landings would position a country as a leader in lunar exploration.

It makes it possible to focus on locations of interest, such as those thought to be rich in water ice.

The key is 100 m "inai."

As this diagram shows, "inai" is used to specify a range.

We attach it to units of distance, time, money, and so on

to refer to what's within a certain range.

"Inai" includes the value that precedes it.

So...

"Mikka inai ni shorui o dashite kudasai."
(Please submit the documents within three days.)

includes today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow.

"Mikka inai ni shorui o dashite kudasai."
(Please submit the documents within three days.)

A word that's similar to "inai" is "ika."

For example, let's say you're having an office gift exchange.

The person in charge might say,

"Prezento wa sanzen-en ika de onegaishimasu."
(Please keep gifts to 3,000 yen or less."

Yes. "Sanzen-en ika" includes 3,000 yen, and excludes 3,001 yen.

So "ika" means "X or less" or "X and under."

If you were to say "sanzen-en ijoo," that would mean "3,000 yen and up."

So "3,000 yen ika" can also be rephrased as "3,000 yen inai."

Exactly.

But if you're describing a specific range,

you could say, "Nisen-en ijoo sanzen-en ika."

but you wouldn't use "ijoo" and "inai" together.

Instead you'd say...

"Nisen-en kara sanzen-en no aida de onegaishimasu."
(Please keep it to between 2,000 and 3,000 yen.)

Use "X kara Y no aida."

"Nisen-en kara sanzen-en no aida de onegaishimasu."
(Please keep it to between 2,000 and 3,000 yen.)

I see. I had a lot of trouble with this myself actually,

so learning these expressions that describe a range of values or time intervals,

it's always helpful to have some visual aids to really understand them.

Bite-Size Japan.

So the story mentions that the lunar probe was carrying robots...

and just look at this little guy!

And, this is a model of one of the "two" robots that worked together

to take photos of SLIM on the lunar surface and transmit them back to Earth.

He moves around the lunar surface like that! Oh!

So JAXA developed this little robot in partnership with industry and academia,

including the help of a Japanese manufacturer of "omocha."

So what did a toy company bring to the project? Check this out.

Moments before touchdown, SLIM released two small robots onto the lunar surface.

This one completed its mission thanks to its lightweight, compact build,

and its ability to climb sandy slopes.

The SORA-Q's frame was designed to pop open at its destination.

This was inspired by transforming toy robots.

The other key is movement.

We looked at how baby sea turtles climb sand dunes.

The idea was to design it to move like an animal.

This toy robot from the company has legs attached to axes that have been shifted off-center.

They incorporated the same movement into the lunar rover.

I hope the SORA-Q inspires kids to take an interest in natural science.

These are photos my father took in 1963, the year I was born.

It was the year a Soviet woman became the first woman in space.

Next to me is the news article.

That is so adorable!

And it's amazing to think how much technology and space travel has changed since then too.

Indeed.

So let's learn some common expressions that have to do with space exploration.

Our story is about an unmanned probe that explored the lunar surface.

First up is "tansa" in "tansaki."

It refers to "probing" or "investigating" unknown areas.

Now, another word that means "investigation" is "choosa,"

which is often used in the context of research, work, other similar things.

Yes, "choosa" refers to investigating something in order to explain it.

For example... "Koshoo no gen-in o choosa-shimasu."
(We will examine the cause of the malfunction.)

"Koshoo no gen-in o choosa-shimasu."
(We will examine the cause of the malfunction.)

Lastly is "uchiageru," as in "Nippon ga uchiageta tansaki."

It means "to launch" something like fireworks high into the air.

But sensee, I think in daily conversation the word "uchiage" is often used to refer to a kind of "nomikai."

Right. "Nomikai" is a "drinking party."

"Uchiage" is a party to celebrate the completion of project or event.

One of my exchange students was invited to "uchiage,"

and they mistakenly thought they were going to see a fireworks display!

I can totally see that happening.

There's these little misunderstandings that happen when you're learning a language,

but it's really part of the fun of it.

All right, that's all for today.

- Until next time!
- See you soon.

"Mata aimashoo."
(See you soon.)