Conversational Japanese Quiz: Understanding Audio Video Clips
10 questions · exam conditions
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Understanding Audio Video ClipsQuestion 1 of 10

You watch a short video clip of a Japanese language teacher explaining politeness levels: 「日本語には丁寧さのレベルがいくつかあります。友達や家族には普通体、つまりため口を使います。職場の上司やお客様には敬語を使います。敬語にはさらに種類があって、相手の行動を高める尊敬語と、自分の行動を低める謙譲語があります。どちらを使うか間違えると、失礼になることがあるので注意が必要です。」

A student watches this video and then encounters a situation where they must describe their own action politely to a customer. Which type of keigo, according to the video, should they use?

Tameguchi (ため口), because customers in Japan prefer a casual, friendly tone that makes them feel comfortable during interactions.
Sonkeigo (尊敬語), because this form elevates the actions of the person being spoken to, making it appropriate when referring to oneself politely.
Sonkeigo (尊敬語) for describing the customer's reactions and kenjōgo (謙譲語) for the customer's requests, since both types apply to the customer's side of the conversation.
Kenjōgo (謙譲語), because this form is used to lower the speaker's own actions when addressing someone of higher status.
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Conversational Japanese Quiz

Conversational Japanese Quiz: Understanding Audio Video Clips

Practice Understanding Audio Video Clips in Conversational Japanese with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Understanding Audio Video Clips, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Conversational Japanese.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

You watch a short video clip of a Japanese language teacher explaining politeness levels: 「日本語には丁寧さのレベルがいくつかあります。友達や家族には普通体、つまりため口を使います。職場の上司やお客様には敬語を使います。敬語にはさらに種類があって、相手の行動を高める尊敬語と、自分の行動を低める謙譲語があります。どちらを使うか間違えると、失礼になることがあるので注意が必要です。」

A student watches this video and then encounters a situation where they must describe their own action politely to a customer. Which type of keigo, according to the video, should they use?

  1. Tameguchi (ため口), because customers in Japan prefer a casual, friendly tone that makes them feel comfortable during interactions.
  2. Sonkeigo (尊敬語), because this form elevates the actions of the person being spoken to, making it appropriate when referring to oneself politely.
  3. Sonkeigo (尊敬語) for describing the customer's reactions and kenjōgo (謙譲語) for the customer's requests, since both types apply to the customer's side of the conversation.
  4. Kenjōgo (謙譲語), because this form is used to lower the speaker's own actions when addressing someone of higher status. (correct answer)
Explanation: When dealing with keigo (敬語), the key is understanding whose actions each form describes. The video draws a clear distinction: 尊敬語 elevates the other person's actions, while 謙譲語 lowers your own actions. Keeping this subject-action pairing in mind will unlock most keigo questions. In this scenario, you need to describe your own action politely to a customer — someone of higher social standing in a business context. The video explicitly states that 謙譲語 is used to humble the speaker's own actions (「自分の行動を低める」). By lowering yourself, you indirectly elevate the customer, which is the appropriate dynamic in Japanese business culture. That makes D correct. A is wrong on two levels: ため口 is reserved for friends and family (「友達や家族には普通体」), and using it with a customer would be considered rude — the video even warns that using the wrong form can be disrespectful (「失礼になることがある」). B confuses the direction of 尊敬語. This form elevates the other person's actions, not your own. Using it to describe something you are doing would be the exact mistake the video cautions against. C misapplies both forms to the customer's side of the conversation. 謙譲語 always applies to the speaker's actions, not the listener's — mixing them up this way reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the system. A reliable memory trick: 尊敬語 = raise them up, 謙譲語 = bring yourself down. Always ask "whose action is being described?" before choosing.

Question 2

You hear the following announcement at a train station in Japan: 「お客様にお知らせいたします。本日、東海道線は強風の影響により、午後3時から運転を見合わせております。振替輸送として、地下鉄銀座線をご利用ください。なお、運転再開の見通しは立っておりません。ご不便をおかけして申し訳ございません。」

Based on the station announcement, what is the main message passengers need to understand?

  1. The Tōkaidō Line has stopped running due to strong winds, and passengers should use the Ginza Subway Line as an alternative until further notice. (correct answer)
  2. The Tōkaidō Line will resume service at 3:00 PM after a brief delay caused by strong winds, and passengers should wait on the platform.
  3. All train lines in the station are suspended due to a storm, and passengers must exit the station and find their own transportation.
  4. The Ginza Subway Line is temporarily closed, so passengers on the Tōkaidō Line should expect significant delays before departure.
Explanation: When listening to Japanese train announcements, your goal is to extract four key pieces of information: what happened, why it happened, what the alternative is, and when service resumes. Announcements follow a predictable formal structure, so recognizing key phrases will guide your comprehension. The announcement states 「東海道線は強風の影響により、運転を見合わせております」— the Tōkaidō Line has suspended service (見合わせる = to suspend/hold off) due to strong winds (強風). It then offers 「振替輸送として、地下鉄銀座線をご利用ください」— use the Ginza Subway Line as alternative transport (振替輸送 = replacement/alternative transportation). Critically, 「運転再開の見通しは立っておりません」means there is no prospect of resuming service — resumption is unknown. This confirms A as correct: the line is stopped, an alternative is provided, and no resumption time is given. B is wrong because it claims service resumes at 3:00 PM — the opposite is true. 3:00 PM is when the suspension began, and no restart time is mentioned. C is wrong because only the Tōkaidō Line is suspended; the Ginza Subway Line is explicitly available, not closed. D completely reverses the situation — it incorrectly states the Ginza Line is closed, when in fact it is the recommended alternative. A helpful study tip: memorize key station announcement vocabulary like 見合わせ (suspension), 振替輸送 (alternative transport), and 見通しは立っておりません (no timeline yet). These phrases appear frequently on listening comprehension sections and signal critical information about transit disruptions.

Question 3

You watch a short documentary clip about Japanese festivals: 「お盆は日本の伝統的な行事で、毎年8月に行われます。この時期、先祖の霊が家に戻ってくると信じられています。家族は墓参りをしたり、お盆の初日に迎え火を焚いたりします。そして最終日には送り火を焚いて、霊を送り出します。この期間中、多くの人が仕事を休み、故郷に帰省します。」

Based on the documentary, what is the primary purpose of the fires lit during the Obon festival, and when are they each used?

  1. A sending fire (送り火) is lit on the first day to purify the home before spirits arrive, and a welcoming fire (迎え火) is lit on the last day to thank the spirits for their visit.
  2. A welcoming fire (迎え火) is lit on the first day to guide ancestral spirits home, and a sending fire (送り火) is lit on the final day to see the spirits off. (correct answer)
  3. Both the welcoming fire (迎え火) and the sending fire (送り火) are lit on the same day at the beginning of the festival to mark the start and anticipated end of the ancestral visit.
  4. Fires are lit throughout the entire Obon period as a continuous symbol of family unity and remembrance, with the specific timing of each fire determined by regional customs rather than a fixed schedule.
Explanation: When reading a Japanese passage about cultural practices, pay close attention to sequence words like 初日 (first day) and 最終日 (final day), as these signal the correct order of events — which is exactly what this question tests. The passage states clearly: 「お盆の初日に迎え火を焚いたりします。そして最終日には送り火を焚いて、霊を送り出します。」 This tells you that the 迎え火 (welcoming fire) is lit on the first day to guide ancestral spirits back home, and the 送り火 (sending fire) is lit on the final day to see those spirits off. The kanji themselves are helpful clues — 迎え means "to welcome/receive," and 送り means "to send off." Answer B matches this exactly and captures both the purpose and timing correctly. A is a reversal trap — it swaps the two fires, assigning 送り火 to the first day and 迎え火 to the last. This is a common trick that tests whether you actually read carefully rather than just recognizing vocabulary. C is incorrect because the passage never says both fires are lit on the same day; they are explicitly on opposite ends of the festival. D introduces the idea of "regional customs" determining timing, but the passage describes a fixed, specific schedule — this answer fabricates details not found in the text. As a study strategy, always use kanji meanings as internal clues. 迎え (welcome) and 送り (send off) logically map to beginning and end — let the characters guide you when the passage details feel overwhelming.

Question 4

You watch a short video in which a Japanese chef explains a recipe: 「今日は肉じゃがの作り方を紹介します。まず、じゃがいもと玉ねぎを切ります。次に、油で牛肉を炒めてから、野菜を加えます。だし、醤油、砂糖、みりんで味付けをして、弱火で20分ほど煮込めば完成です。お肉は豚肉でも作れますが、関西では牛肉が一般的です。」

What is the chef's main point about meat selection in this recipe?

  1. Beef is the standard choice in the Kansai region, though pork can also be used as a substitute in this dish. (correct answer)
  2. Pork is the traditional and most widely used meat for this dish throughout all regions of Japan.
  3. The recipe requires both beef and pork to be used together for the most authentic flavor.
  4. Beef must be used exclusively because pork changes the flavor of the broth in an undesirable way.
Explanation: When reading or listening to Japanese passages, pay close attention to contrast markers like 「でも」("even/also") and regional qualifiers like 「〜では」("in the region of ~"). These signal important nuances about exceptions or regional preferences — exactly what this question tests. The chef says: 「お肉は豚肉でも作れますが、関西では牛肉が一般的です。」 Breaking this down: 「豚肉でも作れます」means "it can also be made with pork," and 「関西では牛肉が一般的です」means "beef is common/standard in the Kansai region." The 「〜ますが」structure connects two ideas with a soft contrast — pork is possible, but beef is the Kansai norm. This makes A the correct answer, as it accurately captures both points. B is wrong because the chef never claims pork is traditional or dominant throughout all of Japan — quite the opposite. Pork is presented as an alternative, not the standard. C is incorrect because the recipe uses only beef (「牛肉を炒めて」), and there is no mention of combining both meats. D is a trap — the chef never says pork negatively affects the broth or that beef must be used exclusively; in fact, pork is offered as a valid substitute. A useful strategy: when Japanese passages discuss regional customs or ingredient alternatives, the answer will almost always require you to respect both parts of the contrast statement. Don't over-generalize one clause while ignoring the other — that's the most common trap here.

Question 5

You hear a short news report: 「環境省の発表によると、今年の夏は例年に比べて気温が2度高く、熱中症による救急搬送者数が去年の1.5倍に達しました。専門家は、こまめな水分補給と直射日光を避けることを勧めています。特に高齢者と子どもは注意が必要で、屋外での活動は早朝か夕方以降に限定することが理想的だと述べています。」

What is the main conclusion that can be drawn from this news report about this summer's heat?

  1. This summer's temperatures are the highest ever recorded in Japan, causing emergency services to become overwhelmed across the country.
  2. The number of heat-related emergencies doubled compared to last year because people are not following government hydration guidelines.
  3. The Environment Ministry is urging all citizens to avoid outdoor activities entirely during the summer months to prevent heat exhaustion.
  4. Higher temperatures this summer led to a significant rise in heat-related emergency cases, and experts recommend specific precautions especially for vulnerable groups. (correct answer)
Explanation: When answering Japanese listening comprehension questions, your goal is to identify what the passage actually states versus what sounds plausible but goes beyond the text. This question tests whether you can distinguish accurate summarization from exaggeration or misrepresentation. The passage tells you three key things: temperatures this summer are 2°C higher than usual (例年に比べて2度高く), heat-related emergency transports reached 1.5 times last year's number (去年の1.5倍), and experts recommend hydration, avoiding direct sunlight, and limiting outdoor activity for vulnerable groups to early morning or evening. Choice D captures all of this accurately — higher temperatures caused a significant rise in emergencies, and experts offer targeted advice for vulnerable populations. That makes D the correct answer. Choice A overclaims by saying temperatures are "the highest ever recorded" (過去最高) and that emergency services are "overwhelmed across the country" — neither detail appears anywhere in the report. Choice B introduces a false cause: the passage never says people are ignoring hydration guidelines; it simply states the number of cases increased. Assigning blame not found in the source text is a classic distractor trap. Choice C distorts the expert recommendation — the passage says outdoor activity should be limited to early morning or evening, not avoided entirely. This is a subtle but important difference that the passage makes clear. A key strategy for these questions: watch for absolute language like "highest ever," "doubled," or "entirely." Japanese news reports tend to be precise, and distractors often exaggerate or add unsupported causes. Always return to what the passage explicitly says (発表によると、専門家は述べています) rather than what seems logical.

Question 6

You listen to a short podcast segment: 「日本の伝統的な家屋には、玄関という特別な空間があります。これは家の入り口にある段差のある場所で、外と内の境界を示しています。玄関では必ず靴を脱いで、スリッパに履き替えます。しかし、畳の部屋に入る時は、スリッパも脱がなければなりません。また、トイレ専用のスリッパが別に用意されている場合もあります。」

Based on the podcast, what would be the correct sequence of footwear changes for a guest entering a traditional Japanese home and then visiting the tatami room and the toilet?

  1. Keep outdoor shoes on until reaching the tatami room, remove them there, then use toilet slippers only in the bathroom.
  2. Remove outdoor shoes at the genkan and walk barefoot throughout the house, including the tatami room and the toilet area.
  3. Remove outdoor shoes at the genkan and put on slippers; remove slippers when entering the tatami room; change to toilet slippers before entering the toilet. (correct answer)
  4. Put on slippers at the genkan and keep them on throughout the entire house, including tatami rooms and the toilet, to maintain cleanliness.
Explanation: When reading Japanese passages about cultural practices, focus on identifying the sequence of actions described — especially transitional phrases like 「しかし」(however) and 「また」(also), which signal additional rules or exceptions. The passage describes a layered system of footwear in traditional Japanese homes. First, you remove outdoor shoes at the 玄関 (げんかん, genkan) — the entryway with a raised step marking the boundary between outside and inside — and put on slippers. This is described clearly: 「靴を脱いで、スリッパに履き替えます」(remove shoes and change into slippers). Then, the passage introduces an exception with 「しかし」: when entering a 畳 (たたみ, tatami) room, slippers must also be removed — 「スリッパも脱がなければなりません」. Finally, 「また」introduces another rule: there are often dedicated toilet slippers used only in the bathroom. This three-step sequence matches answer C exactly. Answer A is wrong because shoes are removed at the genkan, not at the tatami room — the passage is explicit about this. Answer B incorrectly claims guests walk barefoot throughout the house; slippers are worn in non-tatami areas. Answer D contradicts the passage directly by suggesting slippers are kept on everywhere — this ignores both the tatami room rule and the separate toilet slipper system. As a study tip, when Japanese listening or reading questions involve procedures or customs, mentally map each step as you process the text. Transition words like 「しかし」and 「また」almost always signal information that exam questions will test directly.

Question 7

You watch a short travel video about a Japanese city: 「京都には多くの観光スポットがありますが、特に人気なのは嵐山地区です。嵐山では竹林の小道を歩いたり、渡月橋を渡ったりすることができます。ただし、最近は観光客が増えすぎて、地元住民への迷惑が問題になっています。そのため、一部の地区では観光客が立ち入ることができない区域が設けられ始めています。」

What tension does the video mainly highlight about Arashiyama as a tourist destination?

  1. Local businesses in Arashiyama are struggling financially because too many tourists visit without spending money at local shops.
  2. Arashiyama's natural environment, including the bamboo grove, is being permanently damaged by the large volume of tourists visiting each year.
  3. The area's growing popularity has led to overcrowding that disrupts local residents, resulting in some zones being restricted from tourist access. (correct answer)
  4. The Kyoto city government is planning to close Arashiyama entirely to tourists in order to restore it as a residential neighborhood.
Explanation: When reading a Japanese passage about tourism, focus on identifying the central conflict the narrator emphasizes — not just the attractive features of a place, but any problems or consequences mentioned alongside them. The passage describes Arashiyama's appeal (the bamboo path and Togetsukyo Bridge), but then shifts with the key word 「ただし」("however"), signaling a contrast. The problem stated is 「観光客が増えすぎて、地元住民への迷惑が問題になっています」— tourists have increased too much, causing trouble for local residents. The consequence is that some areas have begun establishing zones where tourists cannot enter (「立ち入ることができない区域」). This directly matches C: overcrowding disrupts locals, leading to restricted zones. That is the core tension the video highlights. A is a trap — the passage never mentions anything about tourists failing to spend money at local shops. Financial struggles of businesses are completely absent from the text. B tempts you because the bamboo grove is mentioned, but the passage says nothing about permanent environmental damage to nature — the concern is specifically about inconvenience to residents, not ecological harm. D goes far beyond what the passage states. The video describes some zones being restricted, not a plan to close Arashiyama entirely or convert it back into a purely residential neighborhood. As a strategy, train yourself to spot contrast markers like 「ただし」、「しかし」、or 「そのため」in Japanese passages — they almost always signal the main point the author wants to make, which is often what reading comprehension questions target.

Question 8

You hear a short audio message left by a Japanese colleague: 「田中さん、山田です。明日の会議の件ですが、部長から午後2時を午前10時に変更するよう連絡がありました。場所は変わらず第3会議室です。それから、プレゼンの資料は前日までにメールで送ってほしいとのことです。つまり、今日中に送る必要があります。よろしくお願いします。」

Tanaka-san listens to this message in the afternoon. What are the two most critical actions Tanaka-san must take based on this message?

  1. Confirm the meeting room change with the manager and send the presentation materials before 2:00 PM tomorrow.
  2. Send the presentation materials by email today, and attend tomorrow's meeting at 10:00 AM in Conference Room 3. (correct answer)
  3. Reschedule the meeting to the morning and notify all participants, then send presentation materials by the end of the week.
  4. Attend tomorrow's meeting at 2:00 PM in Conference Room 3 and bring printed copies of the presentation materials.
Explanation: When listening to Japanese audio messages, your job is to extract specific action items — particularly anything involving time, location, or deadlines. This message contains two distinct instructions for Tanaka-san, and you need to identify both accurately. Yamada's message tells us three things: (1) the meeting time changed from 2:00 PM to 10:00 AM (「午後2時を午前10時に変更する」), (2) the location remains Conference Room 3 (「場所は変わらず第3会議室」), and (3) presentation materials must be emailed by the day before the meeting — and since Tanaka is listening in the afternoon on the day prior, that means today (「今日中に送る必要があります」). Answer B correctly captures both critical actions: send materials by email today, and attend tomorrow's meeting at 10:00 AM in Conference Room 3. Answer A fails on two counts — there is no mention of confirming the room with the manager (the room didn't change), and the deadline for materials is today, not before 2:00 PM tomorrow. Answer C is entirely fabricated — Tanaka-san is not asked to reschedule anything or notify participants; Yamada is simply relaying the manager's change. Answer D uses the old meeting time of 2:00 PM, which is exactly the change being communicated, and mentions printed copies when the message specifically says to send materials by email (「メールで送ってほしい」). A useful habit: when reviewing Japanese listening passages, mentally flag 「変更」 (change), 「までに」 (by/deadline), and 「つまり」 (in other words) — these signal the most testable details.

Question 9

You watch a short educational video about Japanese business culture: 「日本のビジネスシーンでは、名刺交換はとても重要な儀式です。名刺を受け取ったら、両手で持ち、しっかりと読んでから丁寧にしまいましょう。会議中は、テーブルの上に名刺を並べておくのが一般的です。また、名刺に書き込んだり、折ったりすることは大変失礼にあたります。」

According to the video, which behavior would be considered disrespectful during a business card exchange in Japan?

  1. Writing notes on the business card or folding it, as these actions are considered highly disrespectful to the card's owner. (correct answer)
  2. Placing the received business card on the table during a meeting, as cards should be stored away immediately after reading.
  3. Holding the business card with both hands when receiving it, as one hand is considered more respectful in formal settings.
  4. Reading the business card carefully before putting it away, as this is seen as wasting the other person's time.
Explanation: When reading a Japanese cultural passage, your job is to match specific details in the text to the answer choices — especially when the passage lists explicit rules or prohibitions. The passage clearly states: 「名刺に書き込んだり、折ったりすることは大変失礼にあたります」— meaning writing on or folding a business card is considered highly disrespectful. This directly confirms A as the correct answer. The phrase 「大変失礼にあたります」("is extremely rude") leaves no ambiguity, making A a near word-for-word match with the passage. The distractors are designed to flip the passage's actual guidance, so watch for that trap. B is incorrect because the passage actually recommends placing cards on the table during meetings (「テーブルの上に名刺を並べておくのが一般的です」), not avoiding it. C is wrong because the passage explicitly says to receive cards with both hands (「両手で持ち」), which is the respectful behavior — the answer choice inverts this. D is similarly backwards: carefully reading the card before storing it (「しっかりと読んでから丁寧にしまいましょう」) is encouraged, not considered rude. Notice a pattern: B, C, and D all take correct behaviors described in the passage and reframe them as disrespectful — a classic trap in reading comprehension questions. Your strategy is to underline or mentally flag each action the passage describes as good or bad before looking at the choices. That way, you're matching evidence to answers rather than relying on general assumptions about Japanese culture.

Question 10

You listen to a short radio segment: 「今週末、市内の中央公園で桜まつりが開催されます。イベントは土曜日の午前10時から午後8時まで、日曜日は午後6時までとなっております。屋台や伝統的な踊りのパフォーマンスもございます。ただし、雨天の場合、屋台のみ開催し、ダンスのパフォーマンスは中止となりますのでご注意ください。」

A listener hears this radio announcement on Friday evening. If it rains on Sunday, what should the listener correctly expect?

  1. The food stalls will still operate on Sunday, but the traditional dance performances will be cancelled for that day. (correct answer)
  2. The entire Sunday event will be cancelled, including both the food stalls and the dance performances.
  3. The dance performances will proceed indoors on Sunday, but the food stalls will be moved to a covered area.
  4. Sunday's event will end earlier than planned, and only a reduced number of food stalls will remain open.
Explanation: When listening to Japanese announcements, pay close attention to conditional phrases introduced by words like 「ただし」("however/but") and structures like 「〜の場合」("in the case of ~"). These signal exceptions or special conditions that override the general information stated earlier — and exam questions frequently test whether you caught these details. The announcement states the general schedule, then adds: 「ただし、雨天の場合、屋台のみ開催し、ダンスのパフォーマンスは中止となります」— meaning "However, in the case of rain, only the food stalls will operate, and the dance performances will be cancelled." The key word here is 「のみ」("only"), which confirms that food stalls will continue, while dance performances will not. Since Sunday is part of the event and rain is the given condition, A is the correct answer — the food stalls continue, but the dances are cancelled on that day. B is wrong because the announcement never says the entire event is cancelled due to rain — only the dance performances are. C introduces the idea of moving events indoors or to covered areas, but the announcement says nothing remotely like this; don't invent details that aren't stated. D is incorrect because there is no mention of shortened hours or a reduced number of food stalls under rainy conditions. A useful strategy: in listening comprehension questions, the correct answer often hinges on a single conditional sentence near the end of the passage. Train yourself to stay especially alert after 「ただし」or 「ただ」— these words almost always introduce the detail that the question will test.