Japanese Scripts
-The Japanese language has three types of scripts, Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji,
Each with specific role.
Sounds Words
PON
-No is a particle that links two nouns. In Japanese, you put a modifying word before a
noun.
e.g.) TOKYO NO OMIYAGE ( a souvenir from Tokyo)
Sound Words
NORONORO
SUTASUTA
It describes
that
is moving slowly.
LESSON 3
Gramming Tips
1
1
2
KOSOADO words
- Japanese demonstratives are called KOSOADO words,
taking the first syllables of the demonstrative of the four groups, such as
ASOK
O
KOKO (here).
SOKO (there), ASOKO (over there),
Sound Words
NOSSHINOSSHI
PYONPYON
PAKAPAKA
LESSON 4
TADAIMA
Grammar Tips
1
- If the answer is no
2
Greetings
Sound Words
GARAGARA
BATAN
The sound of a
LESSON 5
SORE WA WATASHI NO TAKARAMONO
DESU
Grammar Tips
1
MASU-form verbs
[Subject] WA +
[OBJECT]
Verb
Sound Words
JIKKURI
PARAPARA
LESSON 6
Grammar Tips
1
Numbers (1)
0
REI
ZERO
1
ICHI
2
NI
3
SAN
5
GO
YON,
SHI
ROK
U
NAN
A,
SHIC
HI
8
HAC
HI
10
KYU,
KU
JU
_ O SHIMASU (To do _)
(I cook.)
Sound Words
RIN
PURURURU
LESSON 7
SHKURMU WA ARIMASU
KA
1 _ GA ARIMASU (There is/are)
- GA is the particle that comes after a noun, which indicates the subject of a sentence
- Essentially, GA is used to introduce a person or a thing into the conversation for the
first time.
2
FUTATSU
3
MITTSU
Sound Words
PAKUPAKU
MOGUMOGU
LESSON 8
MICHIDO ONEGAI
SHIMASU
Grammar Tips
1
Basic Pattern
- When we use verbs in the middle of sentences, we use their conjugated forms.
- The conjugated verbs ending with TE or DE, are called TE-form verbs.
- To turn MASU-form verb into TE-form verbs, the basic pattern is just to change
MASSU to TE.
e.g.) OBOEMASU (to memorize) OBOETE
2
TE-form verb
KUDSAI
(Please do _ )
- When you ask somebody to do something in Japanese, you say TE-form verbs and
then KUDASAI (please)
e.g.) OBOEMASU
Sound Words
DOKI
DOKI
DOKI
LESSON 9
NANJI KARA DESU KA
Grammar Tips
TE-form verbs
(2)
Variations
In this pattern, you change not only MASU but also one syllable before it.
LESSON 10
ZEN-IN IMASU KA
Grammar Tips
11
IMASU
- IMASU is a verb to express the existence of living things.
e.g.) ANNA GA IMASU. (Anna is here)
ARIMASU refers to the existence of a non-living things.
LESSON 11
ZEHI KITE KUDASAI
Grammar Tips
GETSUYOBI
Monday
KAYOBI
Tuesday
SUIYOBI
Wednesday
MOKUYOBI
Thursday
KINYOBI
Friday
DOYOBI
Saturday
NICHIYOBI
Sunday
Dictionary-form
(to go)
IKU
TABERU
KITE
IKIMASU
KUDASA
I
Sound
Words
WAK
U
WAK
UKI
UKI
LESSON 12
It is used to express
excited joy or happy
expectations.
TA-form verbs
-The TA-form of verbs is the conjugation form of verbs that ends with TA or DA.
It is for the past or the perfect aspect of verbs.
-If you use this form, you sound more casual
e.g.) NAREMASU (to get used to) NARETA (got used to or have got used to)
- Making TA-form verbs is the same as making the TE-form of verbs, learned
In lesson 8 and 9. Simply replace TE with TA, and DE with DA.
Months
ICHIGATSU
KUGATSU
NIGATSU
JUGATSU
SANGATSU
JUICHIGATSU
SHIGATSU
JUNIGATSU
January
September
February
October
March
November
April
December
GOGATSU
May
ROKUGATSU
June
SHICHIGATSU
HACHIGATSU
July
August
Sound
GAYAGAYA
WAIWAI
( A likes B)
_ MASEN KA
(Why dont we _ ?)
-If you change MASU-form verbs to MASEN KA, you are inviting people to do
something.
e.g.) MINNA DE HON-YA NI IKIMASU.
bookstore)
2 Types of adjectives
-Adjectives are divided basically into two kinds.
Those that end with the syllable I are called I-adjective. The others called NA-adjectives.
I-adjectives
ATARASHI (new)
NA-adjectives
SUKINA HON
PIKAPI
KA
KIRAKIRA
2
-
Sound Words
MERA
MERA
PACHI
PACHI
It describes
It also bein
omebody ,
LESSON 15
NETE IMASU
Grammar Tips
1
-
2
-
_ MASHO
(Lets _ )
If you change the IMASU part of a verb to MASHO, you are making a proposal.
e.g) KOKO DE ORIMASU.
(We will get off here.)
KOKO DE ORIMASHO.
(Lets get off here.)
3
-
To turn I-adjectives into the negative form, you change I at the end to KUNAI.
For NA-adjectives, add DEWANAI.
I-adjectives
:
ATARASHII (new)
ATARASHIKUNAI
(not new)
NA-adjectives
:
DAIJOBU (all right)
DAIJOBUDEWANAI
(not all right)
Sound Words
GUGU
LESSON 16
KAIDAN O AGATTE, MIGI NI ITTE KUDASAI
Grammar Tips
1
2
(Right)
DIRECTIONS
HIDARI
MIGI
(Left)
Sound Words
TONTON
Adding SO after an adjective allows you to talk about what you think or guess,
After you look or listen to something.
When you add So to I-adjectives, you change I at the end to SO.
I-adjectives
:
OMOSHIROI
(interesting)
OMOSHIROSO
(seem interesting)
_ WA CHOTTO
-
You can say this to decline a proposal, in a soft, indirect way, without directly
voicing disapproval.
e.g.) HORA WA CHOTTO . (Horror stories are a little bit .)
RXQG:RUGV
SHIN
It describe
Sound Words
OROORO
UROURO
This word describes how a person has lost his/her presence of mind, or panicked.
It describe
LESSON 19
YOKATTA
Grammar Tips
GOMENNASAI
SUMIMASEN
YASUKATTA
(was/were inexpensive)
(exception)
:
II
(good)
YOKATTA
(was/were good)
NA-adjectives
:
DAIJOBU
(all right)
DAIJOBU DATTA
(was/were all right)
(Im sorry)
You say GOMENNASAI, when you apologize to people closer to you, such as family
GOMENNA
or friends.
SUMIMASEN sounds more formal than GOMENNASAI.
Sound Words
PACHIRI
KASH
LESSON 20
NIHON NO UTA O UTATTA KOTO GA ARIMASU KA
Grammar Tips
ARIMASU
RXQG:RUGV
KA
GATAN
GOTON
LESSON 21
IIE, SOREHODODEMO
Grammar Tips
NAI-form of verbs
IIE, SOREHODODEMO
The verbs that conjugate, ending with NAI, are called NAI-form verbs.
They are the casual-negative verbs.
e.g.) TABEMASU
(to eat)
TABENAI
(not to eat)
OKIMASU
(to get up)
OKINAI
(not to get up)
IKIMASU
(to go)
IKANAI
(not to go)
TSUKAIMASU
(to use)
TSUKAWANAI
(not to use)
KIMASU
(to come)
KONAI
(not to come)
KYAKYA
WAWA
e.g) OSOKU
NARIMASHITA. (Im late.)
We can change NA-adjectives
to adverbs
by adding NI after the words.
OSOKU
NARIMASHITA
JOZU (good at)
JOZUNI
e.g.) JOZUNI
NARIMASHITA. (I have become good at it.)
FUN/PUN
2
-
: Grammar
a counter
Tips for minutes
TE-form verb
3
-
WA IKEMASEN
If you say a TE-form of verb and then WA IKEMASEN, you mean, You shouldnt
do it.
e.g.) YAKUSOKU O YABUTTE WA IKEMASEN. (You shouldnt break promises.)
PUNPUN
GAMIGAMI
KAN
KAN
Sound Words
It expresses nagging,
It is used to describe
somebody who looks sulky grumbling or scolding
with anger.
with anger.
MANIAIMASU
be in time)
MANIAIMASEN
OKSAN
NI (to
SHIKARAREMASHITA
Past
negative
MANIAIMASHITA (was/were in time)
(wasnt/werent in time)
2
(not to be in time)
MANIAIMASEN DESHITA
Passive expression
Grammar
-
We use the passive form of a verb and indicate who did the action using the
particle, NI.
SHIKARIMASU (to scold)
SHIKARAREMASU
(to be scolded)
OKOSAN WA WATASHI O SHIKARIMASHITA.
(Mother scolded me.)
WATASHI WA OKASAN NI SHIKARAREMASHITA.
mother.)
(I was scolded by
Sound Words
KYUKYU
GOSHIGOS
HI
NAI-FORM VERB
1
-
DE KUDASAI
(Please dont _)
If you add DE KUDASAI to the NAI-form of verb, you are telling somebody not to
do something.
e.g.) IKANAI DE KUDASAI. (Please dont go.)
NAI-form of IKIMASU (to go)
---
KYO
---
---
SENSHU
(last week)
RAISHU
(next week)
---
---
SENGETSU
(last month)
RAIGETSU
(next month)
---
(Yesterday)
ASHITA
(tomorrow)
(Today)
Sound Words
BUBU
BUTSU
BUTSU
LESSON 25
TSUKUE NO SHITA NI HAIRE
Grammar Tips
The command form is often used at the time of an emergency, or for signs, such
as traffic.
e.g.) NIGEMASU (to run away)
NIGERO.
(Run away!)
YO DA/YO DESU
2
-
(It seems _)
ZO WA HANA GA NAGAI
Topic
subject
GURA
GURA
GAT
A
GAT
LESSON 26
TSUGI WA GANBAR
Grammar Tips
1
-
_ N DESU
DESHITA
GANBARO
3
-
(It is hard)
Sound Words
EN
EN
OGYA
OGYA
1st
YOKKA
TSUITACHI
2 nd
:
ITSUKA
6TH :
KOKONOKA
11TH :
TH
10
If you say the NAI-form of a verbwith a rising intonation, you are inviting someone
to do something in a casual way.
e.g.)
ISSHO NI EIGA O MINAI?
(Wont you see a movie with
me?)
The polite way to say it is:
NAI-form of MIMASU (to see)
ISSHO NI EIGA O MIMASEN KA. (Why dont we see a movie together?)
TH
MUIKA
:
JUICHINICHI
7TH
:
:
FUTSAKA
3 rd
NANOKA
8 TH :
MIKKA
4 TH
YOKA
9TH
TOKA
20TH :
HATSUKA
24TH :
NIJUYOKKA
Sound Words
NYA
NYA
WAN
WAN
LESSON 28
SHIZUOKA E YKOSO
Grammar
_ E YOKOSO
1
2
(Welcome to _)
_ KARA
(as/because _) (2)
KAWAII:
I-adjective
- When you use KARA with NA-adjectives or nouns, KARA becomes DAKARA.
e.g.) GENKI DAKARA (because he/she is in high spirits)
GENKI:
NA-
adjective
3
Sound Words
PIPOPIPO
LESSON 29
CHIKAKU DE MIRU TO, KII DESU NE
Grammar
_ TO (If _)
1
-
_ N DA
2
-
SHITO
SHITO
ZAZA
LESSON 30
M SUKOSHI SHASHIN O TORITAI DESU
Grammar
Tips
_ TAI DESU
1
-
(want to _)
Replacing MASU of MASU-form verbs with TAI, you can express what you want to
do.
If you add DESU after TAI, the sentence will be polite.
e.g.)
SHASHIN O TORIMASU.
(I take pictures.)
TA-form verb
2
-
RA (If _)
Sound Words
GORO GORO
It is the sound of
thunder.
KORO KORO
When we want to show respect to the listener or the person we are talking
about, we say O or GO before nouns or adjectives.
We use GO with nouns originally from China, for all other nouns, we use O.
e.g.)
Sound Words
GABU GABU
GOKUGOKU
When you ask someone to compare the properties of A with those of B, you say A
TO B TO DOCHIRA GA and after that, you say an adjective, followed by DESU KA.
e.g.) FUTON TO BEDDO TO DOCHIRA GA SUKI DESU KA.
(Which do you like better, futons or beds?)
than B)
-
When you compare the properties of A with those B, you say A NO HO GA B YORI
e.g.) TAI NO HO GA NIHON YORI ATSUI DESU. (Thailand is hotter than Japan.)
Sound Words
FUKAFU
KA
FUWAFUW
A
LESSON 33
ANNA-SAN NI AGEMASU
Grammar
Tips
1
-
2
-
AGEMASU
When the speaker gives something to the listener, the speaker says AGEMASU (to
give).
AGEMASU is also used, when people generally give something to others.
KUREMASU
KUREMASU
If somebody gives you something, you use KUREMASU (to give).
In Japanese, different, verbs are used, depending on whether
you are speaking
- KUREMASHITA
(past form)
- KURERU (Dictionary form)
from the perspective of the giver or the receiver.
Sound Words
NIY
A
NIY
NIKO
NIKO
It describes a person
who is smiling, silently
and happily.
If you want to modify something using two or more adjectives, to the TE-form.
e.g.) YAWARAKAKUTE OISHII DESU. (Its tender and delicious.)
Sound Words
ASSARI
KOTTE
LESSON 35
KUREJITTO KDO WA TSUKAEMASU KA
Grammar
Tips
Numbers
(3)
100
HIYAKU
1000
SEN
10000
MAN
2
-
The potential form of verbs has two meanings. One is ability to do something.
The other is permission to do something under a certain circumstance.
e.g.) HANASHIMASU (to speak)
HANASEMASU (Can speak)
TSUKAIMASU
(to use)
Sound Words
CHIN
PI
NAI-form verb
1
-
When you say you must, or need to do something, you replace the NAI part at
the end of the NAI-form verb with NAKEREBA NARIMASEN.
(MASUfor
IKIMAS
U (to
go)
2
SEASONS
(NAIform)
IKANAI
(not to
IKANAKEREBA
NARIMASEN.
(I have to go.)
HARU (Spring)
NATSU
(Summer)
AKI
(Autumn)
Sound Words
+<
+<
HYUHYU
PYUPYU
Th
TA-form verb
1
-
RI SHIMASU
When we cite two or three examples out of actions, we use TA-form verbs and
attach RI after each TA-form verb in succession. And at the end, we close the
sentence by using SHIMASU (to do) or SHIMASHITA (did).
e.g.) FUJISAN O MITA.
(I watched Mt. Fuji.)
OSUSHI O TABETA.
(I
ate sushi.)
FUJISAN O MITARI, OSUSHI O TABETARI SHIMASHITA.
(I watched Mt. Fuji, ate sushi, and so on.)
2
-
_ WA DO DATTA?
DO is how. DATTA is the casual form of DESHITA, which ends a sentence with
the past form.
e.g.) SHIKEN WA DO DATTA? (How was the exam?)
Sound Words
KUTAKUTA
HETOHETO
LESSON 38
KASHIKOMARIMASHITA
Grammar
Tips
1
2
Honorific Expression
You use honorific expression when you are talking with, or referring to, your
seniors, superiors, or people you dont know well.
GORANNINARIMASU
(To watch)
If you use it to express the deeds or the situation of the person you are talking
with or referring to, you can show respect to that person.
(2) Humble
WAKARIMASHITA
KASHIKOMARIMASHITA
(Understood)
You show your respect by using humble words to speak
about yourself.
Sound Words
FURAFURA
KAZE DA Grammar
TO LESSON
OMOIMASU
39
It desc
ATAMA GA ITAI
DESU.
(I have a
HANAMIZU
GADESU
ONAKA
GA ITAI
DEMASU.
(My stomach aches.)
(I have a runny
_ TO OMOIMASU
2
-
(I think that _)
When you express your ideas, opinions or guesses, you first say what you think,
and then say TO OMOIMASU. Before TO OMOIMASU, you use the plain form of
verbs.
e.g.) KANOJO WA KIMASU.
Sound Words
GOHOGOHO
KONKON
A bad cough.
A slight cough.
LESSON 40
ATAMA
Grammar
GA ZUKIZUKI
ZUKIZUKI SHIMASU
1
-
2
-
(to throb)
ZUKIZUKI is an onomatopoeia. You can use it, when you have a headache, and
feel as if your head were pulsing. If combined with SHIMASU (to do), the word
becomes a verb.
Group
---
Group
--The verbs that have the vowel E and some verbs that have
the vowel I in the
syllable
before MASU. e.g.) TABEMASU (to eat)
Group
The verbs that have the vowel I in the syllable before MASU.
---
Sound
Words
ZOKUZOKU
MUKAMU
KA
It describes feeling
chills from a fever.
It describes feeling
nauseous.
1
Dictionary-form verb
the thing of _)
-
KOTO GA DEKIMASU
(can do
You can express ability or potential, if you use the dictionary form of verbs, and
attach to it KOTO GA DEKIMASU.
e.g.) WATASHI WA IKU KOTO GA DEKIMASU. (I can go.)
-
You can express the same meaning using the potential form.
e.g.) WATASHI WA IKEMASU. (I can go.)
2
-
Zip
Receiver
s
Senders
address
address
and
name.
Receiver
s name
Sound Words
SUKKIR
SAPPA
LESSON 42
DORE GA ICHIBAN OISHII KANA
Grammar
Tips
1
-
DORE GA ICHIBAN
Adjective DESU KA
most _?)
-
GA (Which)
NANI
GA (What)
Sound Words
PEK
O
PEK
GUG
It is the sound of a
stomach, when a
person is hungry.
It describes being
very hungry.
LESSON 43
DSHITE DESH KA
Grammar
Tips
_ DESHO (probably _)
1
-
You use DESHO at the end of a sentence, when you talk about
a prediction
for
Himeji
City
the future or something uncertain.
e.g.) ASHITA WA AME DESHO.
(It will probably rain tomorrow.)
DOSHITE DESHO KA
2
-
Sound Words
PINPON
TE-form verb
+ KARA
(After _)
(It may be
Sound Words
BIRIBIRI
JINJIN
You say this when your hands or legs have become numb or developed a painful tingle. It describes a sensation cau
LESSON 45
OTANJBI OMEDET
Grammar
OTANJOBI OMEDETO
-
(Happy Birthday)
MORAIMASU
2
-
When the receiver is the subject, you use MORAIMASU. Use the particle NI to
indicate the giver.
AGEMASU
MORAIMA
SU
JIN
HORORI
LESSON 46
KIKOKU SURU MAE NI, YUKI O MIRU KOTO GA DEKITE SHIAWASE DESU
Grammar
Tips
_ NO YO NI (like, similar to _)
Dictionary-form verb
-
MAE NI (before _)
You use ATO DE (after), when you want to emphasize what you do or did, after
taking another action. You use the TA-form of verbs before ATO DE.
e.g.) GOHAN O TABETA ATO DE, OSERA O ARAIMASU. (After I eat a meal, I wash
dishes.)
Sound Words
KONKON
CHIRA CHIRA
It describes something small and light, such as snowflakes, falling slowly in the air.
LESSON 47
NIHONGO-KYSHI NI NARU NO GA YUME DESU
Grammar
Tips
1
-
NARIMASU
2
-
Plain-form verb
+ no
To change verbs into nouns, you add NO to the plain forms of verbs, such as
the dictionary form or the TA-form.
e.g.) NIHONGO-KYOSHI NI NARU NO GA YUME DESU.
Dictionary form of NARIMASU (to be)
(To be a Japanese language teacher is my teacher is my dream.)
Sound Words
PERAPERA
SURASURA
LESSON 48
IROIRO OSEWA NI NARIMASHITA
Grammar
Tips
KIOTSUKETE
1
2
KIOTSUKETE is the
TE-form of the verb, KIOTSUKEMASU (to taka care/ to be
careful)
We use the particle NI to indicate the object of this verb, or what you should
take care of.
Farewell greetings
IROIRO OSEWA NI
NARIMASHITA
(Thank you very
much for
everything.)
SAYONARA (Goodb
RXQG:RUGV
UFUFU
AHAHA