Describing Japanese things verbs of sensation practice and presentation
with like as a preposition
Choose one of the things below. Compare it to other things (including non-Japanese things if you can) without saying its name until your partner guesses which one you are talking about. Do they agree with your descriptions?
OR
Describe something below without saying the name until your partner guesses which one you are talking about, then see if they agree with your description.
| Useful phrases for describing things with verbs of sensation It looks… (but…) It smells… (but…) It sounds… (but…) It feels rough/ smooth/ tight/ loose/ light/ heavy/ warm/ cold/ hot/ cool/… (but…) It tastes disgusting/ bitter/ sour/ sweet/… (but…) It looks (a bit) like (a normal/ Western)… but… It smells like (a normal/ Western)… but… It sounds like (a normal/ Western)… but… It feels like (a normal/ Western)… but… It tastes like (a normal/ Western)… but… It sometimes sounds (like)… but sometimes/ often/ usually sounds (like)… It looks/ smells/ sounds/ feels/ tastes (like)… but looks/ sounds/ tastes/ smells/ feels (like)… (because…) … but actually/ really … but it is (a bit/ a lot) …er … but is made of…… is used for… Useful phrases for asking for more description What does it look/ taste/ smell/ sound/ feel like? Does it look/ taste/ smell/ sound/ feel…? Does it look/ taste/ smell/ sound/ feel like…? |
- Andonatsu
- Anko
- Chabudai
- Chankonabe
- Chasen
- Chashitsu
- Chuhai
- Dorayaki
- Edamame
- Enka
- Futon
- Genmaicha
- Geta
- Getabako
- Goya
- Hanjukutamago
- Happoshu
- Hayashi rice
- Houjicha
- Jimbei
- Kakejiku
- Kamaboko
- Karepan
- Konnyaku
- Kotatsu
- Matcha
- Matsutake
- Mochi
- Monjayaki
- Natto
- Negi
- Nira
- Obi
- Okonomiyaki
- Omuraisu
- Oshibori
- Otohime
- Sembei
- Shiitake
- Shochu
- Shouji
- Tabi
- Tansu
- Tonkatsu sauce
- Towelkette
- Tsukune
- Wasabi
- Washlette
- Yakitori
- Yukata
- Zabuton
- Zori
When your teacher stops you, choose one which you think was explained well in your group and write that description down. Then read it out and see if the class can make any suggestions to improve it.
Ask about anything above you couldn’t explain, working together to explain that thing each time.
Try to identify what each explanation below is about.
- It looks like flip flops but feels like walking on tatami because the soles are made from the same material.
- It looks a bit like a cucumber but tastes really bitter.
- It looks like English tea but tastes kind of burnt.
- It looks like Japanese-style curry but tastes like gravy.
- It looks like a donut but tastes like curry.
- It looks like a huge ribbon. It feels really tight around your waist.
- It looks like a little towel but feels wet and often warm.
- It looks like a mattress, but you put it directly on the floor.
- It looks like a normal donut, but it has red bean jam in it.
- It looks like a normal omelet but tastes like ketchup because it has ketchup and rice inside.
- It looks like a normal table, but is much smaller.
- It looks like a normal toilet but sounds like music or water.
- It looks like a pancake but isn’t sweet.
- It looks like a pirate’s treasure chest, but is used to store clothes, especially kimonos.
- It looks like a table but feels hot.
- It looks like a whisk but is made of bamboo.
- It looks like big green peas but is actually green soya beans.
- It looks like jelly but doesn’t taste sweet.
- It looks like meatballs but is made from chicken.
- It looks like normal green tea but tastes less bitter.
- It looks like pajamas but is worn during summer festivals.
- It looks like sandals but sounds like clogs when you walk because it has wooden soles.
- It looks like two pancakes but it has red bean jam between it.
- It looks sweet but is made from fish and tastes bland (= doesn’t have a strong taste).
- It sometimes sounds a bit like a chanson or jazz, but usually sounds more Asian.
- It tastes disgusting, smells like old socks, and feels really slimy.
- It tastes like a fizzy drink (= soda pop), but it is alcoholic.
- It tastes like beer but is much cheaper and leaves a nasty aftertaste.
- It tastes like crisps but is bigger and is made from rice.
- It tastes like steak sauce or English brown sauce, but is eaten with Japanese pork cutlet.
- It tastes really sweet but is made of beans.
- It’s a kind of green tea but tastes really bitter.
- It’s a kind of kimono but feels lighter because it’s worn in the summer.
- It’s a kind of socks but can feel weird (= odd = strange) because it goes between your toes.
Check your answers as a class.
Do you disagree with any of the descriptions above? Can you make them better?
Ask about anything above which you couldn’t understand.
Verbs of sensation grammar presentation
Without looking above for now, put one word into each gap below.
It feels ______ walking on tatami because the soles are made from the same material.
It looks like Japanese-style curry but tastes ____________________________ gravy.
It looks like a huge ribbon. It _____________________ really tight around your waist.
It looks like a normal toilet but ____________________________ like music or water.
It looks _____________________________ bit like a cucumber but tastes really bitter.
It looks like English tea but tastes kind ________________________________ burnt.
It looks like ________________________ mattress, but you put it directly on the floor.
It looks like a whisk but is made _________________________________ bamboo.
It looks like jelly but _______________________________________not taste sweet.
It looks like normal green tea _______________________________ tastes less bitter.
Check your answers with the previous page.
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