Host
Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is June twentieth. China is limiting exports of a metal called tungsten, and that's a worry for Japanese makers of phones and chips. Let's listen.
News
今日のニュースです。
Here's today's news.
News
中国が、「タングステン」という金属を、外国に売るのを制限すると発表しました。
China announced that it will restrict sales of a metal called "tungsten" to other countries.
News
タングステンは、とてもかたくて、熱につよい金属です。
Tungsten is a metal that is very hard and resistant to heat.
News
スマートフォンや、半導体や、工場の道具を作るときに使います。
It is used to make smartphones, semiconductors, and factory tools.
News
世界のタングステンの多くは、中国で作られています。
Much of the world's tungsten is produced in China.
News
だから、中国がこの金属を売らないと、ほかの国はとても困ります。
So if China does not sell this metal, other countries will be in serious trouble.
News
日本の会社も、タングステンの多くを中国から買っています。
Japanese companies also buy much of their tungsten from China.
News
今、日本の会社は、ほかの国から買う方法を探しています。
Now, Japanese companies are looking for ways to buy it from other countries.
News
同じ金属を、何度も使えるようにする研究も進んでいます。
Research is also progressing on making it possible to use the same metal many times.
News
大切な金属を安定して手に入れることが、これからの大きな課題です。
Obtaining important metals in a stable way is a big challenge for the future.
Host
Let's break it down.
Breakdown
Slow Repeat
中国が、「タングステン」という金属を、外国に売るのを制限すると発表しました。
China announced that it will restrict sales of a metal called "tungsten" to other countries.
Host
China announced it will restrict selling a metal called tungsten to other countries.
Vocab
金属
Host
It means metal — iron, gold, copper, and so on. Tungsten is one kind of metal.
Slow Repeat
タングステンは、とてもかたくて、熱につよい金属です。
Tungsten is a metal that is very hard and resistant to heat.
Host
Tungsten is a very hard metal that stands up well to heat.
Vocab
熱
Host
It means heat. The same word also means a fever when you're sick. Here, resistant to heat.
Slow Repeat
スマートフォンや、半導体や、工場の道具を作るときに使います。
It is used to make smartphones, semiconductors, and factory tools.
Host
It's used to make things like smartphones, semiconductors, and factory tools.
Vocab
道具
Host
It means a tool or instrument. Cooking tools, factory tools — the all-purpose word for tools.
Slow Repeat
世界のタングステンの多くは、中国で作られています。
Much of the world's tungsten is produced in China.
Host
Much of the world's tungsten is made in China.
Vocab
世界
Host
It means the world. A related word means the whole world over, everywhere.
Slow Repeat
だから、中国がこの金属を売らないと、ほかの国はとても困ります。
So if China does not sell this metal, other countries will be in serious trouble.
Host
So if China doesn't sell this metal, other countries are in real trouble.
Vocab
困る
Host
It means to be in trouble, to be at a loss, or stuck about what to do. A very useful everyday verb.
Slow Repeat
日本の会社も、タングステンの多くを中国から買っています。
Japanese companies also buy much of their tungsten from China.
Host
Japanese companies, too, buy much of their tungsten from China.
Vocab
会社
Host
It means a company or firm — the place people mean when they say they're heading in to work.
Slow Repeat
今、日本の会社は、ほかの国から買う方法を探しています。
Now, Japanese companies are looking for ways to buy it from other countries.
Host
Right now, Japanese companies are searching for ways to buy from other countries.
Vocab
探す
Host
It means to look for or search for something — look for your keys, look for a job, look for a new supplier.
Slow Repeat
同じ金属を、何度も使えるようにする研究も進んでいます。
Research is also progressing on making it possible to use the same metal many times.
Host
Research on reusing the same metal again and again is also moving forward.
Vocab
研究
Host
It means research or study — the careful digging into a question that scientists do. The person who does it is a researcher.
Host
Let's listen to the full story one more time.
News
今日のニュースです。
Here's today's news.
News
中国が、「タングステン」という金属を、外国に売るのを制限すると発表しました。
China announced that it will restrict sales of a metal called "tungsten" to other countries.
News
タングステンは、とてもかたくて、熱につよい金属です。
Tungsten is a metal that is very hard and resistant to heat.
News
スマートフォンや、半導体や、工場の道具を作るときに使います。
It is used to make smartphones, semiconductors, and factory tools.
News
世界のタングステンの多くは、中国で作られています。
Much of the world's tungsten is produced in China.
News
だから、中国がこの金属を売らないと、ほかの国はとても困ります。
So if China does not sell this metal, other countries will be in serious trouble.
News
日本の会社も、タングステンの多くを中国から買っています。
Japanese companies also buy much of their tungsten from China.
News
今、日本の会社は、ほかの国から買う方法を探しています。
Now, Japanese companies are looking for ways to buy it from other countries.
News
同じ金属を、何度も使えるようにする研究も進んでいます。
Research is also progressing on making it possible to use the same metal many times.
News
大切な金属を安定して手に入れることが、これからの大きな課題です。
Obtaining important metals in a stable way is a big challenge for the future.
Host
Quiz time. Three questions.
Slow Repeat
中国は、何を制限すると発表しましたか。
Host
What did China announce it would restrict? Selling the metal tungsten to other countries.
Slow Repeat
タングステンは、何を作るときに使いますか。
Host
What is tungsten used to make? Things like smartphones, semiconductors, and factory tools.
Slow Repeat
日本の会社は、今、何をしていますか。
Host
What are Japanese companies doing now? Looking for other countries to buy from, and researching how to reuse the metal.
Host
That's today's Japanese Daily News. Full transcript with furigana at podcast.jpnotes.dev. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. See you tomorrow.
News
また明日。
See you tomorrow.
1 / 0
Grammar Reference
〜という N4
called ~; named ~
name + という + noun
「タングステン」という金属。
A metal called tungsten.
〜という introduces the name of something the listener may not know. タングステンという金属 = a metal called tungsten. Use it the first time you mention an unfamiliar name.
Grammar notes → 〜ないと N4
if (one) doesn't ~, then ...
verb plain negative ない + と
中国が売らないと、ほかの国は困ります。
If China doesn't sell, other countries are in trouble.
This と links a condition to a result that naturally follows. With a negative verb, 売らないと means 'if (they) don't sell, then ....' In speech it also becomes a way to say 'I have to' — 行かないと.
N4 grammar list → 〜ようにする N4
to make it so that ~; arrange so that ~
verb dictionary / potential form + ようにする
金属を何度も使えるようにします。
They make it so the metal can be used many times.
〜ようにする means working toward a state. With a potential verb, 使えるようにする = make it so it can be used. Keep it apart from 〜ようになる, which is 'come to be able to' on its own.
Grammar notes → 〜ています N5
is ~ing; (state) continues
verb て-form + います
日本の会社は方法を探しています。
Japanese companies are looking for a way.
〜ています shows an action in progress (探しています = is searching) or an ongoing state (作られています = is made). Very common in news to describe what is happening now.
Grammar notes →