1. Home
  2. Japanese
  3. Making Friends
  4. Hometown Comparisons

Hometown Comparisons by Molly Hakes

Another great topic of conversation involves making comparisons between Japan and your home country, state, or town. Questions concerning weather, population, scenery, and seasons will have your head spinning. You may even find that you gain a whole new perspective on your hometown.

Weather

Japanese people will often refer to your homeland as mukoo. The dictionary defines its meaning as: “the other [opposite] side; over there.” It may seem rather vague to hear your home country referred to as “over there” countless times, but it is an extremely common expression.

50

Mukoo no tenki wa doo desu ka.

How is the weather over there (in the U.S.)?

Mukoo ni ame wa ippai furimasu ka.

Does it rain a lot over there?

Mukoo ni yoku hare no hi wa arimasu ka.

Do you have lots of clear days over there?

Mukoo wa attakai desu ne.

Isn't it warm over there?

Mukoo wa koko yori samui desu ka.

Is it colder over there than it is here?

In the first and third examples, no is connecting mukoo and tenki (literally, “over there's weather”), and hare and hi (“the days of clear”). The second and third examples utilize ni to signify “where the weather is.”

When answering these questions, it is not necessary to repeat the word mukoo, which has already been established. “Variables” in the question should be highlighted in your response, however.

50

Ame wa yoku furimasu.

It rains a lot.

Ame twa amari furanai desu ne.

It really doesn't rain that much.

Yoku haremasu, ne.

It is often sunny (clear).

Ondo wa koko to onaji gurai da to omou.

I think the temperature is about the same as here.

Notice how the verb furimasu is conjugated into the negative by changing the -ri to -ra and adding -nai. These verbs that pertain to weather, furi-masu and haremasu, actually describe the falling of the rain and the clearing of the sky. Their noun forms are, respectively, amefuri (“rainy weather”) and hare (“clear weather”).

Hare is also used to describe something auspicious or grand, while hareru can refer to being cheered up or refreshed. These parallels between weather and feelings will hit home with people who find their own moods mirrored in the sky.

Population

Both city-dwellers and small-town citizens may discover similarities when comparing characteristics of the daily life of either setting in Japan.

51

Jonson-san no furusato no jinkoo wa dore gurai desu ka.

What is the population of your hometown, Mr. Johnson?

Jonson-san wa toshi ni sunde imasu ka.

Do you live in a city, Mr. Johnson?

Inaka ni sunde imasu ka.

Do you live in the countryside?

Note the present-tense version of the verb sumu (“to live”) is created by replacing the ending -mu with -nde + imasu. The -nde (as opposed to -te) is necessary due to the -mu ending on sumu.

51

Furusato no jinkoo wa hyaku-man nin gurai desu.

My hometown population is about 100,000 people.

Watashi wa toshi ni sunde imasu.

I live in a city.

Watashi wa inaka ni sunde imasu.

I live in the country.

Watashi wa chiisai machi ni sunde imasu.

I live in a small town.

Scenery

Your hometown scenery will be of great interest to many people, especially those who have little or no experience with places beyond Japan's borders.

52

Mukoo no keshiki wa doo desu ka.

How about the scenery over there?

Mukoo ni yama wa arimasu ka.

Do you have mountains over there?

Umi wa chikai desu ka.

Is the sea close by?

When addressing people you are just getting to know, it is polite, even among friends, to use that person's last name, plus the suffix -san. The Japanese word for “you,” anata, is mostly reserved for lovers or married couples.

Depending on where you are from, there are many different ways to describe the scenery of your homeland.

52

Watashi no furusato wa tottemo heitan desu.

My hometown is very flat.

Watashi no furusato wa sabaku desu.

My hometown is a desert.

Watashi no furusato ni wa mizuumi ga arimasu.

My hometown has a lake.

<tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="75%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="25%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <thead> <tr> <entry namest="col1" nameend="col2"><p>Words for Where You Live</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>toshi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>city</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>inaka</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>countryside</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>machi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>town</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>jinkoo</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>population</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>furusato</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>hometown</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>sunde iru (sumu)</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>living (live)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>seikatsu</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>daily life</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="75%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="25%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <thead> <tr> <entry namest="col1" nameend="col2"><p>Words for Scenery</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>keshiki</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>scenery</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>yama</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>mountains</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kawa</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>river</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>umi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>sea</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>mizuumi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>lake</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>heitan</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>flat, level</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>hiroi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>wide, open</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>semai</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>narrow</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>sabaku</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>desert</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>mori</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>forest</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>chikai</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>nearby</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tooi</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>far away</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="75%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="25%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <thead> <tr> <entry namest="col1" nameend="col2"><p>Words for Seasons</p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>ima</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>now</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>fuyu</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>winter</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>haru</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>spring</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>natsu</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>summer</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>aki</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>fall, autumn</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>yuki</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>snow</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kanji</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>sense, feeling</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>kanjiru</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>to be impressed, sense</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/easy-responses.htm" title="Easy Responses">Easy Responses</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/talking-about-your-family.htm" title="Talking about Your Family">Talking about Your Family</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/hometown-comparisons.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Hometown Comparisons - Japanese </a></li> <li><a href="http://japanese.about.com/library/bllesson36.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Basic Japanese Lessons - Asking Directions (12) </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/commonly-asked-questions.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Commonly Asked Questions - Japanese </a></li> <li><a href="http://japanese.about.com/od/Grammar/a/Japanese-For-Travelers-Getting-Around.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Japanese for Travelers: Getting Around </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/talking-about-your-family.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Talking about Your Family - Japanese </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More Making Friends</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/can-you-speak-english.htm">Can You Speak English?</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/commonly-asked-questions.htm">Commonly Asked Questions</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/easy-responses.htm">Easy Responses</a></li> <li class="btO">Hometown Comparisons</li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/talking-about-your-family.htm">Talking about Your Family</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/hobbies-and-opinions.htm">Hobbies and Opinions</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/quizzes-and-exercises-8.htm">Quizzes and Exercises</a></li> </ul></ul></div> </div> <script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script> </div> <div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script> <div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/japanese/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">THE EVERYTHING CONVERSATIONAL JAPANESE BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">By Molly Hakes</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div> <div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">Japanese Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/japanese-through-the-centuries/">Japanese Through the Centuries</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/working-in-syllables/">Working in Syllables</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/japan-at-a-glance/">Japan at a Glance</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/first-impressions/">First Impressions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/negotiating-a-good-nights-sleep/">Negotiating a Good Night's Sleep</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/">Where the Streets Have No Names</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/shop-till-you-drop/">Shop Till You Drop</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/tummy-talk/">Tummy Talk</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-introductions/">Making Introductions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/easy-greetings/">Easy Greetings</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/">Making Friends</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/letting-loose-party-dialogues/">Letting Loose: Party Dialogues</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/the-guest-of-honor/">The Guest of Honor</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/countryside-quaintness/">Countryside Quaintness</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/school-and-office-life/">School and Office Life</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/hot-springs/">Hot Springs</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/hosting-a-student-from-japan/">Hosting a Student from Japan</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/especially-for-vacationers/">Especially for Vacationers</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/business-etiquette/">Business Etiquette</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/putting-it-all-into-practice/">Putting It All into Practice</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/appendix-a-japanese-to-english-glossary/">Japanese-to-English Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/appendix-b-english-to-japanese-glossary/">English-to-Japanese Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/appendix-c-answer-key/">Answer Key</a></li> </ul></div></div> <script type="text/javascript">zCi();validateForms();</script> <div id="abf" style="padding-right:0"><ol class="crumbtrail"><li class="home"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/">Home</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/">Japanese</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/">Making Friends</a></li><li>Hometown Comparisons</li></ol></div> <div id="aboutinfo" class="hlist"><div id="morefrom"><h6>Visit other About.com sites:</h6><ul><li><a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/" rel="nofollow">Calorie Count</a></li><li><a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/" rel="nofollow">ConsumerSearch</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.allexperts.com/" rel="nofollow">Allexperts.com</a></li></ul></div> <ul id="siteinfo"><li><a href="http://spiderbites.about.com/sitemap.htm">SiteMap</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/hc.htm" rel="nofollow">Help</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm#adchoices" rel="nofollow">Your Ad Choices</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/pform.htm" rel="nofollow">Contact Us</a></li></ul> <ul id="companyinfo"><li class="last"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/ " rel="nofollow">Buy Books</a></li></ul><div id="disclaimer"><p>Netplaces.com, a part of <a href="http://www.nytco.com/">The New York Times Company</a>.</p><p>All rights reserved.</p></div></div></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- zPxA[zPxC]=new Image();zPxA[zPxC++].src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6036459&c7=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enetplaces%2ecom%2fjapanese%2fmaking%2dfriends%2fhometown%2dcomparisons%2ehtm&c8=Hometown%20Comparisons&c9=&cv=2.0&cj=1"; adclose() //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(){var po=document.createElement('script');po.type='text/javascript';po.async=true;po.src='https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(po,s)})();</script> </body></html>