Learn Japanese from the News
Lessons on this site use content from the NHK WORLD JAPAN program "Learn Japanese from the News." Use the news to learn Japanese and take conversations to a new level.
Learn Japanese from the News
Lessons on this site use content from the NHK WORLD JAPAN program "Learn Japanese from the News." Use the news to learn Japanese and take conversations to a new level.
東京で大きな地震が起きると、多くの人が家に帰ることができなくなります。そこで信用金庫の店に避難できるようにする、というニュースです。このニュースを通して、いつ起きるか分からない地震への備えを学びましょう。
とうきょうで おおきな じしんが おきると おおくの ひとが いえに かえることが できなくなります。そこで しんようきんこの みせに ひなんできるようにする というにゅーすです。このにゅーすを とおして いつおきるか わからない じしんへの そなえを まなびましょう。
Tookyoo de ookina jishin ga okiru to, ooku no hito ga ie ni kaeru koto ga dekinaku narimasu. Soko de shin-yoo-kinko no mise ni hinan dekiru yooni suru, to iu nyuusu desu. Kono nyuusu o tooshite itsu okiru ka wakaranai jishin e no sonae o manabimashoo.
If a major earthquake hits Tokyo directly, it’s believed that many people will be unable to return home. Today’s news story is about how people will now be able to evacuate to credit unions in such cases. Follow along to learn expressions related to earthquakes, which may occur at any time.
東京都は「首都直下地震」という大きな地震が起こった場合、450万人が家に帰ることができない可能性があると考えています。
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The Tokyo Metropolitan Government estimates that 4.5 million people may be unable to return home in the event of a major earthquake striking the capital.
Explanation
Following a big earthquake, public transport disruptions can leave many people stranded at work, school, or other facilities. In Japanese we call these stranded commuters 「帰宅困難者(kitaku-kon-nansha)」. Our story today is about how Shinkin banks have pledged to offer their locations as temporary shelters until evacuation centers can be set up.
The word 「可能性(kanoosee)」 means “likelihood” or “possibility.” 「可能性がある(kanoosee ga aru)」 means that there is a good chance that something will happen. 「可能性がない(kanoosee ga nai)」 means there is no chance of a certain outcome.
このため、たくさんの人が避難できる場所が必要です。
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For this reason, they need evacuation centers that can accommodate many people.
警視庁と東京都にある信用金庫の団体は12月2日、地震などの災害のときに協力することを約束しました。
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The Metropolitan Police Department and an association of credit unions in Tokyo pledged on December 2 to cooperate in the event of an earthquake or other disaster.
都にある信用金庫の全部の店を、家に帰ることができなくなった人が避難する場所に使います。
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All (member) Shinkin banks in Tokyo will be used as evacuation centers for those who are unable to return home.
店は750あって、学校などの避難所の準備ができるまでの間、避難できるようにします。避難所に行く手伝いもします。
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There are 750 outlets, and people will be allowed to take shelter until schools and other evacuation centers are ready. Bank staff will also help people get to shelters.
信用金庫は、まちの小さな会社などがお金を借りたり預けたりする所です。
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Shinkin banks are places where small local businesses and others can borrow and deposit money.
Explanation
「信用金庫(shin-yoo-kinko)」 are cooperative financial institutions established by local residents and businesses. They operate similarly to a commercial bank, or more specifically, a credit union, which is more community oriented. There are many Shinkin banks across the Greater Tokyo Area, so authorities hope they can serve as temporary shelters in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake.
The story describes Shinkin banks as 「お金を借りたり預けたりする所(okane o kari tari azuke tari suru tokoro)」, that is, “places to borrow and deposit money.” We use 「たり(tari)」 when we want to describe a sequence of related or repeated actions. For example, 「家の前を行ったり来たりする(Ie no mae o ittari ki tari suru.)」 means “walk back and forth in front of the house.”
a major earthquake striking the capital
首都直下地震
しゅとちょっかじしん
shuto-chokka-jishin
evacuation
避難
ひなん
hinan
credit union, also known as a Shinkin bank
信用金庫
しんようきんこ
shin-yoo-kinko
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Japanese
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English
ロン(Long)
最近日本の会社で働き始めた。ソフィアの後輩。
アン、一恵と同じマンションの住人。
ソフィア(Sophia)
ロンと同じ会社で働く先輩。子育てをしながら、日本で5年間働いている。
田中健司
ロンの上司。中学生と、小学生の2人の子どもがいる。
アン(An)
夫が日本で働くことになり、一緒に日本で暮らしている。小学生の娘がいる。
鈴木一恵
ロン、アンと同じマンションの住人。現在は一人暮らし。
教材作成/国際交流基金日本語国際センター
A new resident has moved into the apartment building where Long lives. The landlord is trying to explain about the local evacuation sites, but it seems the new resident has trouble understanding difficult Japanese. Follow along to learn how to explain the content of a conversation to someone else in a more understandable manner. Some key terms in this dialogue include 「自治体(local government)」「指定(designated)」「避難場所(evacuation shelters)」「温暖化(global warming)」「影響(influence)」「災害(disaster)」「備える(prepare for)」「氾濫(flood)」.
大家:もし地震が起きたら、自治体が指定した避難場所に逃げてくださいね。
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In case of an earthquake, please evacuate to evacuation sites designated by the local government.
新しい住人:えっと…。にげ…?
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Umm...“nige”...?
ロン:(指で公園を指しながら)もし、地震があったら、あそこに行きます。あの公園です。
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(Points to the park) If an earthquake happens, go there. That park over there.
Explanation
The key point of today’s dialogue is how to clarify important information that someone has talked about. Here, Long points to the park to explain that it is the evacuation site. Depending on the other person’s Japanese language skills, it will be helpful to supplement the information using hand gestures, showing pictures, or by drawing diagrams and pictures. Marking or underlining important points is also useful when using maps and other materials.
新しい住人:あー。
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Oh.
大家:日本は昔から地震が多いけど、最近はほら、温暖化の影響かなんかで雨が降って川が氾濫しちゃったりもするでしょう?だからね、災害に備えて避難場所は知っておかなきゃ。
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Japan has always had earthquakes, but recently, you know, due to global warming and things, when it rains, rivers tend to flood, right? So, you have to be prepared for disasters by familiarizing yourself with the evacuation sites.
新しい住人:はあ…。もう一度…。
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Umm…could you please repeat what you said...?
ロン:地震、日本は多いですよね。それから、(ジェスチャーをしながら)雨がたくさん降ると、川から水があふれます。危ないですから、避難場所、Shelter、覚えてくださいね。
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There are many earthquakes in Japan. And when it rains a lot (gestures with hands) rivers flood. It’s dangerous, so please remember where the evacuation sites, that is, shelters, are.
Explanation
Long explains what the landlord talked about in a way that is easier to understand. Here, he replaces difficult words with easier ones, talks in shorter sentences, and uses gestures so that the other person will be able to understand.
新しい住人:あー、はい、避難場所。
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Oh, I see, evacuation sites.
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