Let's describe cinematic pictures in Japanese 🇯🇵

Happy Sunday Japanophiles, Herewith the 35th issue of the Hai Japan Newsletter — your Weekly Dose of Japan!

Today, we’re going to describe pictures 😄 

1. Scene: 古い図書館の中で (In an Old Library)

Japanese: 古い図書館の中で、静かに本を読む。

Romaji: Furui toshokan no naka de, shizuka ni hon o yomu.

Grammar: 

- "古い" (furui) means "old," modifying "図書館" (toshokan), meaning "library."

- "の中で" (no naka de) means "inside of."

- "静かに" (shizuka ni) is the adverb form meaning "quietly."

- "本を読む" (hon o yomu) means "to read a book."

- Verb "読む" (yomu) is in the plain form, indicating a simple action.

2. Scene: 夜の雨の中を歩く (Walking in the Night Rain)

Japanese: 夜の雨の中を、ゆっくりと歩く。

Romaji: Yoru no ame no naka o, yukkuri to aruku.

Grammar: 

- "夜" (yoru) means "night," and "の雨" (no ame) means "the rain of the night."

- "の中を" (no naka o) means "through" or "within" the rain.

- "ゆっくりと" (yukkuri to) means "slowly," modifying the verb.

- "歩く" (aruku) means "to walk," in plain form.

3. Scene: 暗い部屋でキャンドルが揺れる (Candle Flickering in a Dark Room)

Japanese: 暗い部屋で、キャンドルが静かに揺れる。

Romaji: Kurai heya de, kyandoru ga shizuka ni yureru.

Grammar: 

- "暗い" (kurai) means "dark," modifying "部屋" (heya), meaning "room."

- "キャンドルが揺れる" (kyandoru ga yureru) means "the candle flickers."

- "静かに" (shizuka ni) is used here to add a sense of calm to the flickering.

4. Scene: 曇った窓を見つめる (Gazing at a Foggy Window)

Japanese: 曇った窓を静かに見つめる。

Romaji: Kumotta mado o shizuka ni mitsumeru.

Grammar: 

- "曇った" (kumotta) is the past participle form of "曇る" (kumoru), meaning "to cloud," describing the window.

- "窓を見つめる" (mado o mitsumeru) means "to gaze at the window."

- "静かに" (shizuka ni) means "quietly," modifying the verb.

5. Scene: 森の中、月が光る (The Moon Shining in the Forest)

Japanese: 森の中で、月が薄く光る。

Romaji: Mori no naka de, tsuki ga usuku hikaru.

Grammar: 

- "森の中で" (mori no naka de) means "in the forest."

- "月が光る" (tsuki ga hikaru) means "the moon shines."

- "薄く" (usuku) is an adverb meaning "faintly."

6. Scene: 静かな図書室の隅で (In the Corner of a Quiet Library)

Japanese: 静かな図書室の隅で、ひとり座る。

Romaji: Shizuka na toshoshitsu no sumi de, hitori suwaru.

Grammar: 

- "静かな" (shizuka na) is the adjective form of "quiet," modifying "図書室" (toshoshitsu), meaning "library room."

- "隅で" (sumi de) means "in the corner."

- "ひとり" (hitori) means "alone," and "座る" (suwaru) means "to sit."

7. Scene: 本棚に囲まれた部屋 (A Room Surrounded by Bookshelves)

Japanese: 本棚に囲まれた部屋で、古い本を探す。

Romaji: Hondana ni kakomareta heya de, furui hon o sagasu.

Grammar: 

- "本棚に囲まれた" (hondana ni kakomareta) is a passive form meaning "surrounded by bookshelves."

- "部屋で" (heya de) means "in the room."

- "古い本を探す" (furui hon o sagasu) means "to search for old books."

8. Scene: 窓の外に降る雪を見る (Watching Snowfall Outside the Window)

Japanese: 窓の外に降る雪をじっと見る。

Romaji: Mado no soto ni furu yuki o jitto miru.

Grammar: 

- "窓の外" (mado no soto) means "outside the window."

- "降る雪" (furu yuki) means "falling snow," modifying "雪" (yuki).

- "じっと" (jitto) means "fixedly," modifying the verb "見る" (miru), meaning "to look."

9. Scene: 月明かりの中で手紙を書く (Writing a Letter in the Moonlight)

Japanese: 月明かりの中で、手紙を書く。

Romaji: Tsukiakari no naka de, tegami o kaku.

Grammar: 

- "月明かりの中で" (tsukiakari no naka de) means "in the moonlight."

- "手紙を書く" (tegami o kaku) means "to write a letter."

10. Scene: 雨に濡れた石畳を歩く (Walking on Wet Cobblestones)

Japanese: 雨に濡れた石畳を、静かに歩く。

Romaji: Ame ni nureta ishidatami o, shizuka ni aruku.

Grammar: 

- "雨に濡れた" (ame ni nureta) means "wet from the rain."

- "石畳" (ishidatami) means "cobblestones."

- "静かに歩く" (shizuka ni aruku) means "to walk quietly."

That’s all folks!

Let me know if you enjoyed describing some cool pictures :)

Have a great Sunday!