Japanese

The thing they say in anime.

Introduction

This document is structured according to the JLPT syllabus.

Vocabulary and Grammar is seperated by lesson.

• Foundations
• N5

Foundations

Numbers

Days of the week

Time

5W1H

Demonstratives

Common family names

N5

Vocab 1

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. わたしは会社員じゃありません。
2. I am not an office worker.
3. はじめまして、ガブリエルです、しんがぽるからきました、どぞ、よるしくおんえがいします！
4. Nice to meet you, I'm Gabriel, I come from Singapore. Please treat me kindly!

Vocab 2

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. ホテルはどこですか。
   • Where is the hotel?
2. くこはどこですか。
   • Where is the airport?
3. これをください。
4. Please give me this.
5. いくらですか。
6. How much is it?
7. わたしはアメリカじんです。
8. I am American.

Vocab 3

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. すみません、もういちどおねがいします。
2. Excuse me, please say it one more time.
3. これはなんですか。
4. What is this?
5. わたしのいえはここです。
6. My house is here.

Vocab 4

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. いま、なんじですか。
2. What time is it now?
3. こうえんはどこですか。
4. Where is the park?
5. このへやはあかるいです。
6. This room is bright.

Vocab 5

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. わたしはきょうとにいきます。
2. I am going to Kyoto.
3. ここにえきがあります。
4. There is a station here.
5. しんおおさかまでいくらですか。
6. How much to Shin-Osaka?

Vocab 6

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. このほんは500えんです。
2. This book is 500 yen.
3. いぬをさんぽさせます。
4. I take my dog for a walk.
5. りんごを3つください。
6. Please give me three apples.

Vocab 7

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. いぬはかわいいです。
2. The dog is cute.
3. しんぶんをよみます。
4. I read the newspaper.
5. にほんごのべんきょうをしています。
6. I am studying Japanese.

Vocab 8

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. きょうのてんきはどうですか。
2. How is the weather today?
3. わたしのへやはちいさいです。
4. My room is small.
5. あしたのてんきはどうですか。
6. What will the weather be like tomorrow?

Vocab 9

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. どこでおひるごはんをたべますか。
2. Where do you have lunch?
3. あのレストランはおいしいです。
4. That restaurant is delicious.
5. きょうはしごとがあります。
6. I have work today.

Vocab 10

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. あした、なにをしますか。
2. What will you do tomorrow?
3. ちかくのスーパーでかいものをします。
4. I will shop at the nearby supermarket.
5. わたしのうちはあたらしいです。
6. My house is new.

Vocab 11

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. どこでかいものをしますか。
2. Where do you do your shopping?
3. えきのまえにカフェがあります。
4. There is a café in front of the station.
5. いっしょにあそびましょう。
6. Let's play together.

Vocab 12

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. わたしのいえはここからちょっととおいです。
2. My house is a little far from here.
3. どこでおおきいパーティーがありますか。
4. Where is the big party?
5. くるまはどこにありますか。
6. Where is the car?

Vocab 13

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. いま、いっしゅうかんまえにいきました。
2. I went a week ago.
3. あさごはんにパンをたべます。
4. I eat bread for breakfast.
5. さくばん、ばんごはんにすしをたべました。
6. Last night, I ate sushi for dinner.

Vocab 14

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. このかばんはいくらですか。
2. How much is this bag?
3. りょこうにいきたいです。
4. I want to go on a trip.
5. わたしのともだちにあいます。
6. I will meet my friend.

Vocab 15

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. おいしいレストランをしっていますか。
2. Do you know a good restaurant?
3. ゆうびんきょくはどこですか。
4. Where is the post office?
5. わたしはよくうちでしごとをします。
6. I often work at home.

Vocab 16

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. いま、どこにいますか。
2. Where are you now?
3. しゅうまつにどこへいきますか。
4. Where will you go on the weekend?
5. すぐにいけます。
6. I can go immediately.

Vocab 17

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. わたしはあしたしごとがあります。
2. I have work tomorrow.
3. おおきいしごとがひとつあります。
4. There is a big job.
5. わたしはよくカフェでべんきょうします。
6. I often study at a café.

Vocab 18

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. あのホテルはとてもたかいです。
2. That hotel is very expensive.
3. いぬはしろいです。
4. The dog is white.
5. おいしいりょうりをつくります。
6. I make delicious dishes.

Vocab 19

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. ちかくにおいしいレストランがあります。
2. There is a good restaurant nearby.
3. すぐにえきにいけます。
4. You can go to the station right away.
5. わたしのうちのちかくにこうえんがあります。
6. There is a park near my house.

Vocab 20

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. いまなんじですか。
2. What time is it now?
3. このえいがはどうでしたか。
4. How was this movie?
5. とてもたのしかったです。
6. It was very fun.

Vocab 21

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. あしたのてんきはどうですか。
2. How is the weather tomorrow?
3. このしごとはとてもむずかしいです。
4. This work is very difficult.
5. どこであいましょうか。
6. Where shall we meet?

Vocab 22

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. あのスーパーはひろいです。
2. That supermarket is spacious.
3. おしごとのじかんはなんじからなんじまでですか。
4. What time is your work from and to?
5. やすいほんをさがしています。
6. I am looking for a cheap book.

Vocab 23

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. しごとのあとでえいがをみます。
2. I watch a movie after work.
3. おいしいおすしをたべました。
4. I ate delicious sushi.
5. このへやはすこしさむいです。
6. This room is a little cold.

Vocab 24

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. しんおおさかまでのきっぷをください。
2. Please give me a ticket to Shin-Osaka.
3. ここはあまりおおきくないです。
4. It is not very large here.
5. いちばんちかいえきはどこですか。
6. Where is the nearest station?

Vocab 25

Here are some sentences and their translations.

1. きょうはとてもさむいです。
2. Today is very cold.
3. おさけをのみませんか。
4. Would you like to drink sake?
5. いちばんおいしいレストランはどこですか。
6. Where is the best restaurant?

Grammar 1

1. N1 は N2 です

   • は particle => indicates that the noun BEFORE it (N1) is the subject matter (topic) of the sentence
     • Speaker adds は to what they are talking about and makes statements about it.
     • Eg. わたしはガブリエルです。
       • I’m Gabriel.
   • です => nouns that come with it (N2) are predicates (part of a sentence that gives information about the subject matter)
     • Shows politeness to listeners
     • です inflects when sentence negative or in past tense
     • Eg. わたしは会社員です。
       • I’m a company employee.

2. N1 は N2 じゃ / では ありません

   • じゃ / では ありません => negative form of です that similarly acts as a predicate for N2
     • Essentially means NOT
   • じゃありません => used in EVERYDAY conversation
     • Eg. サントスさんはがくせいじゃありません。
       • Mr Santos is not a student (informal).
   • ではありません => used in FORMAL speech, WRITING
     • Eg. サントスさんはがくせいではありません。
       • Mr Santos is not a student (formal).

3. N1 は N2 ですか

   • か particle => appending か to the end of a sentence makes it a QUESTION
     • Generally ends with rising intonation
     • Expresses uncertainty and doubt
   • Questions asking if a STATEMENT IS CORRECT OR NOT
     • Append か to the end of the given statement
     • Replies begin with はい for yes or いいえ for no
       • Eg. ミラっさんはアメリカじんですか。
         • Is Mr Miller an American?
       • Eg. はい、アメリカじんです。
         • Yes, he is an American.
       • Eg. ミラっさんはせんせいですか。
         • Is Mr Miller a teacher?
       • Eg. いいえ、せんせいじゃありません。
         • No, he is not a teacher.
   • Questions with INTERROGATIVES (sentences that explicitly ask a question to request information)
     • Interrogative replaces the part of the sentence that states what the speaker wants to ask about
     • Append か to the end of the given statement
       • Eg. あの方はどなたですか。
         • Who is that person?
       • Eg. あの方はミラっさんです。
         • That is Mr Miller.

4. N1 も

   • も => replaces は particle in a sentence when the SAME THING IS REPEATED
     • Applicable in both STATEMENTS and QUESTIONS
     • Effectively means ALSO
     • Eg. ミラっさんは会社員です。グプタさんも会社員です。
       • Mr Miller is a company employee. Mr Gupta is also a company employee

5. N1 の N2

   • の => CONNECTS two nouns when a noun N1 modifies a following noun N2
     • Eg. ミラさんは IMC の 社員です。
       • Mr Miller is an IMC employee.

6. ~さん

   • さん => appended to given name or family name of listener or third party to show RESPECT
     • Never appended to the speaker’s own name
   • ちゃん => appended to child’s name to indicate familiarity
   • あなた => Means YOU
     • あなた is used to address someone you are VERY FAMILIAR with (romantic partner, husband or wife)
     • Rarely used if the listener or third party’s name is known since calling someone "you" directly is considered IMPOLITE
     • Where the name is known, use ~さん instead

Grammar 2

1. これ / それ / あれ

   • Demonstratives => refer to a THING but does not explicitly specify subject
     • “What is that?”
   • これ => thing NEAR SPEAKER (this)
   • それ => thing NEAR LISTENER (that)
   • あれ => thing FAR from SPEAKER AND LISTENER (that but far)
     • Eg. それは辞書ですか。
       • Is that a dictionary?
     • Eg. これをください。
       • I’ll take this (but polite).

2. このＮ / そのＮ / あのＮ

   • Modify nouns => refer to N as the specific subject, where N is a THING or PERSON
     • Note that は still suffixes N as previously established above in basic sentence structure
     • “What is that dictionary?”
   • この N => thing or person NEAR SPEAKER (this)
   • その N => thing or person NEAR LISTENER (that)
   • あの N => thing or person FAR from SPEAKER AND LISTENER (that but far)
     • Eg. この 本は わたしのです。
       • This book is mine.
     • Eg. あの かたは どなたですか。
       • Who is that person?
     • Eg. この かぎは だれのですか。
       • Whose is this key?

3. はい、そうです / いいえ、そうじゃ ありません / いいえ、違うます

   • そう => prefix REPLY for questions requiring AFFIRMATIVE or NEGATIVE answer paired with the です or じゃありません suffix previously learnt
     • Eg. それはテレホンカードですか。
       • Is that a telephone card?
     • Eg. はい、そうです。
       • Yes, it is.
     • Eg. それはテレホンカードですか。
       • Is that a telephone card?
     • Eg. いいえ、そうじゃありません。
       • No, it isn’t.
   • 違います => ちがいます => same meaning as そうじゃありません
     • Note that this does NOT replace the いいえ which still has to be said
     • Eg. それはテレホンカードですか。
       • Is that a telephone card?
     • Eg. いいえ、違います。
       • No, it isn’t.

4. S1か、S2か

   • Question asking for CHOICE between alternatives S1 and S2 as the answer
     • Replied with chosen option S1 or S2
     • はい/いいえ are not used
     • Standard suffixes です apply
   • Eg. これは９ですか、７ですか。
     • Is this a 9 or a 7?
   • Eg. ９です。
     • It’s a 9.

5. N1のN2

   • Modify
     • の => connect nouns when noun N1 MODIFIES noun N2
   • Explanation of subject matter
     • の => connect nouns when noun N1 EXPLAINS WHAT N2 is ABOUT
   • Ownership
     • の => connects nouns when noun N1 INDICATES WHO OWNS N2
     • N2 sometimes omitted and の substitutes N2 where ownership has been established and is obvious
     • N2 CANNOT be omitted if N2 is a person
   • Eg. これはコンピュータのほんです。
     • This is a book on computers. (explanation of subject matter)
   • Eg. これはわたしのほんです。
     • This is my book. (ownership)
   • Eg. あれはだれのかばんですか。
     • Whose bag is that? (ownership)
   • Eg. 佐藤さんのです。
     • It’s Ms Sato’s. (ownership where N2 has been substituted by の since ownership relationship between N1 佐藤さん and N2 かばん established in question asked)
   • Eg. このかばんはあなたのですか。
     • Is this bag yours? (ownership)
   • Eg. いいえ、わたしのじゃありません。
     • No, it’s not mine. (ownership)
   • Eg. ミラさんはIMCの社員ですか。
     • Is Mr Miller an employee of IMC? (ownership)
   • Eg. はい、IMCの社員です。
     • Yes, he is. (ownership)

6. お～

   • Sometimes prefixes words when speaking POLITELY
   • Eg. おみやげ
     • Souvenir / Present
   • Eg. おさけ
     • Japanese rice wine

7. そうですか

   • Expression when speaker UNDERSTAND new information received => I SEE
   • Eg. この傘はあなたのですか。
     • Is this umbrella yours?
   • Eg. いいえ、違います。シュミットさんのです。
     • No, it's Mr Schmidt’s (ownership where N2 has been substituted by の since ownership relationship between N1 シュミットさん and N2 傘 established in question asked)
   • Eg. そうですか
     • I see.

Grammar 3

1. ここ / そこ / あそこ / こちら / そちら / あちら

   • Takes after これ (this thing) それ (that thing near listener) あれ (that thing far from listener), paired with は and です as established
   • ～こ refers to PLACES (this place, that place, that place over there)
     • ここ => place where SPEAKER IS (this place)
     • そこ => place where LISTENER IS (that place)
     • あそこ => place FAR FROM SPEAKER AND LISTENER (that place over there)
     • If Speaker regards Listener as SHARING same territory, the place both are standing in is referred to as ここ, and そこ would refer to somewhere distant from both speaker and listener and あそこ would be somewhere even further away
   • ～ちら refers to DIRECTIONS (this way, that way, that way but far), and POLITE alternatives to ending with ～こ
     • こちら => this way
     • そちら => that way (near listener)
     • あちら => that way (far from speaker and listener)

2. N は PLACE です

   • は used appropriately as previously established to indicate the LOCATION of a PLACE, THING or PERSON
     • Eg. トイレはあそこです。
       • The toliet is OVER THERE.
     • Eg. でんわはニかいです。
       • The telephone is on the SECOND FLOOR.
     • Eg. やまださんは じむしょです。
       • Mr Yamada is in his OFFICE.

3. どこ / どちら

   • ど => ASKING for location of something OR ASKING for NAME of Country, Company, School or Organisation one belongs to, paired with は and です as established
   • どこ asks WHERE
   • どちら asks WHICH DIRECTION (polite alternative to どこ)
     • Eg. トイレはどこですか。
       • WHERE is the toilet?
     • Eg. あそこです。
       • It’s OVER THERE.
     • Eg. エレベーターは どちらですか。
       • WHICH DIRECTION (WHERE) is the lift?
     • Eg. あちらです。
       • It's in THAT DIRECTION (It’s OVER THERE).
     • Eg. がっこうは どこですか。
       • WHAT school do you go to?
     • Eg. かいしゃは どちらですか。
       • WHAT company do you work for?

4. どこ の N2

   • Interrogative どこ => Asks WHERE or WHAT source an item is from, where N2 is the ITEM OF INQUIRY
     • の => Indicates OWNERSHIP or PROVENANCE of an item, where N1 is the SOURCE and N2 is the ITEM as previously established in N1 の N2
       • Eg. N1 is a Country name, N2 is a Product name, meaning the product was made in that country
       • Eg. N1 is a Company name, N2 is a Product name, meaning the product is made by that company
   • Eg. これは どこの コンピューターですか。
     • WHERE is this computer made? / WHAT company is this computer made by?
   • Eg. 日本の コンピューターです。
     • It’s made in Japan.
   • Eg. パワーてんきの コンピューターです。
     • It’s made by Power Electric Company.

5. お～

   • お prefixes things related to OTHERS to show RESPECT to the person
     • Eg. おくには どちらですか。
       • What country are you from?

Here is a summary of the more commonly used demonstratives.

More on

Core resources

• Minna no Nihongo Shokyu
• Minna no Nihongo audio
• Anki Japanese Core 2k
• jlptstudy.net

Additional resources

• JLPT level summary
• Genki
• Tobira: Gateway to Advanced Japanese
• how should a beginner learn japanese?
• how do i start learning japanese?
• r/LearnJapanese
• how to use minna no nihongo to study
• why Genki is good

Prerequisite knowledge

• learn Hiragana
• learn Katakana
• Hiragana and Katakana quiz