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.
1月1日の大きな地震が起きた石川県の能登半島の北側では、海の底が上がりました。このニュースに関連して、地震が起きたときに自分を守るための表現について学びましょう。
1がつ ついたちの おおきな じしんが おきた いしかわけんの のとはんとうの きたがわでは うみの そこが あがりました。 このニュースに かんれんして、じしんが おきたときに じぶんを まもるための ひょうげんについて まなびましょう。
Ichi-gatsu tsuitachi no ookina jishin ga okita Ishikawa-ken no Noto-hantoo no kitagawa dewa, umi no soko ga agarimashita. Kono nyuusu ni kanren-shite, jishin ga okita toki ni jibun o mamoru tame no hyoogen ni tsuite manabimashoo.
Today’s news story is about the seafloor uplift in the northern part of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture caused by the big earthquake on January 1. Follow along to learn expressions related to safety measures to protect yourself in the event of an earthquake.
地震で大きな被害を受けた石川県の能登半島の北側では、海の底が上がって、約90kmの海岸で陸が約4.4km2広くなりました。
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In the northern part of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, which was severely damaged by the earthquake, the seabed rose, and the land(area)expanded by about 4.4 km2 along roughly 90 km of coastline.
専門家が調べると、輪島市門前町の港では堤防が4mぐらい高くなっていました。
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Experts found that a breakwater had been uplifted by about 4 meters at a port in the Monzenmachi district of Wajima City.
別の場所でも、約3.6m高くなって、岩が段になっている所がありました。
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In another spot, there was an upheaval of about 3.6 meters, and the rocks had formed a terrace.
輪島市や珠洲市の北側には、海岸が3つの段になっている所があります。
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In northern Wajima and Suzu City, there are places where the coastline has three-step terraces.
この段は、約6000年の間に大きな地震でできたと考えられています。
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The terraces are believed to have been formed in massive earthquakes over the past 6,000 years.
専門家は「能登半島は、地震で何度も海の底が上がってできた半島です。何千年もなかった大きなことが起こったと考えています」と話しています。
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An expert says,“The Noto Peninsula was formed by repeated seafloor uplift due to earthquakes. We believe that something major has happened—something that hasn't happened in thousands of years.”
Explanation
The quake generated a tsunami, which caused great damage. Let’s learn some expressions used in the news to warn people of danger.
First is: 「引き続き 揺れに注意してください。(Hikitsuzuki yure ni chuui-shite kudasai.)」 “Remain on alert for tremors.” In the hours and days after a big earthquake, you want to remain on alert for any more tremors that may occur in the same area.
Next is: 「 今すぐ可能な限り高い所へ逃げること。(Ima sugu kanoo na kagiri takai tokoro e nigeru koto.)」 “Evacuate immediately to the highest possible place.” When Japan’s weather agency issued a Major Tsunami Warning, NHK used phrases like this to urge people to evacuate to higher ground immediately.
Next, let’s learn some Japanese expressions you’ll want to know to stay safe in an earthquake.
First is:「姿勢を低くしてください。(Shisee o hikuku-shite kudasai.)」 “Get down low.” You want to get low onto the ground so you aren’t knocked over by the shaking.
The next thing to keep in mind is:「頭を守ってください。(Atama o mamotte kudasai.)」 “Protect your head.” Objects may fall off shelves or from the ceiling. Furniture may topple over. Find a cushion, bag, or other nearby item, and cover your head. Remember to stay calm. And if there’s a table nearby, get underneath and hold on.
And finally:「揺れがおさまるまで 動かないでください。(Yure ga osamaru made ugokanaide kudasai.)」 “Stay put until the shaking stops.” 「揺れがおさまるまで(yure ga osamaru made) means the same thing as「揺れている間(yurete iru aida)」. Take cover under a desk or table and hold onto the legs.
These are all good expressions to know in case you ever need to give instructions during an emergency.
damage
被害
ひがい
higai
levee / breakwater
堤防
ていぼう
teeboo
step(of a staircase or terrace)
段
だん
dan
Shuffle
日
Japanese
E
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。
After Sophia and Long take part in tsunami evacuation training, they talk about their concerns for what actually might happen after an earthquake.
ロン:本物の津波警報が出たとき、ここに何を持って逃げればいいんですか?
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If a real tsunami alert is issued, what do we bring with us when we evacuate?
ソフィア:荷物の心配よりも、着の身着のままで高い所に逃げた方がいいと思うよ。
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Instead of worrying about what to bring, you should escape to the highest place near you with nothing but the clothes on your back.
Explanation
「着の身着のまま(ki no mi ki no mama)」(nothing but the clothes on your back)
This expression means 「今、着ているもののほかは何も持っていない (to take nothing with you but what you are wearing). 」 It expresses a situation where you evacuate on the spot without taking anything with you, for example, in the case of an earthquake, fire, or tsunami. 「まま」 means 「ある状態を変えずに (without changing the current situation)」. This expression is also used to describe a situation in which you rushed out of the house after receiving urgent news unrelated to a natural disaster.
ロン:安否を確認したり、いろいろな情報を知るためには、携帯電話だけは持っていかないと。
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But you have to take a mobile phone with you to confirm the safety of others and to gather information.
Explanation
「安否を確認する(anpi o kakunin-suru)」(check if ... is safe)
「安否」 means 「無事かどうか(if you are safe or not)」. It is the action of checking to see if certain people are alive or safe in the event of a natural disaster, accident, or incident. If it’s unclear whether they are safe or not, the expression 「安否が不明(safety unknown) 」is used.
ソフィア:私の家族は、お互いの無事を知らせるために、「171」にかけて、メッセージを残すことにしているから、携帯がなくても大丈夫。
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Our family will call 171 and leave a message to tell each other that we are safe, so I don’t have to have a mobile phone.
ロン:それ、「災害用伝言ダイヤル」の番号ですね。通信障害が起きても公衆電話から安否確認ができるんですよね。
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That’s the number for 「災害用伝言ダイヤル(Disaster Emergency Message Dial)」right? You can check on each other’s safety from a pay phone even in cases of communication failure.
Explanation
「通信障害(tsuushin-shoogai)」(communication failure/network outage)
A situation where communication networks such as telephone and the internet are temporarily unavailable due to problems that arise from natural disasters or a technical issue is called 「通信障害」. 「障害」 refers to the problem that occurs when something doesn’t function properly. You can also say, 「通信障害が発生する」. When things are back to normal and the problem is fixed, you can say 「復旧した(fukkyuu-shita)」 or 「回復した(kaifuku-shita)」.
ソフィア:それぞれの携帯会社でも、災害時の伝言サービスがあるから、事前に確認しておくことが大事よね。それに、通信障害が起きたら、安全な無料Wi-Fiの「ファイブゼロ・ジャパン」が使えるんだって。
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Each cellphone carrier has their own message service in case of disasters, so it’s important to look into it beforehand. And if there is communication failure, they say you can use a free, secure Wi-Fi network called “00000JAPAN.”
ロン:へえ、知りませんでした。ソフィアさんはいろいろな情報を知っていて、さすがです!
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Wow, I didn’t know that. I admire you for knowing so much, Sophia!
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