Learn Japanese with Calvin and Hobbes – January 11 2026

Speaker: Calvin
“What are you watching?”
（何見てんの？）
(Nani mite n no?)
Vocabulary: 見る — to see/watch
Note: The casual んの ending gives it a colloquial feel, typical for conversations among friends.

Speaker: Hobbes
“Garbage. This show would insult a 6-year-old! And I should know.”
（ゴミだよ。この番組は6歳児を侮辱するもん！俺が言うんだから。）
(Gomi da yo. Kono bangumi wa rokusai-ji o bujoku suru mon! Ore ga iu ndakara.)
Vocabulary: ゴミ — garbage
Note: The phrase “俺が言うんだから” emphasizes Hobbes’s authority on the subject, giving an assertive tone.

Speaker: Calvin
“So why watch it?”
（じゃあ、なんで見るの？）
(Jaa, nande miru no?)
Vocabulary: なんで — why
Note: The use of じゃあ makes it more conversational, reflecting natural spoken language.

Speaker: Hobbes
“All the other shows are even worse!”
（他の番組はもっとひどいから！）
(Hoka no bangumi wa motto hidoi kara!)
Vocabulary: ひどい — terrible
Note: This word intensifies Hobbes’s frustration, which is common in casual conversation