Vocabulary
Words Related to Sound
音[おと]② Sound from nature or objects, noun
外から音が聞こえます。
Soto kara oto ga kikoemasu.
I can hear sounds from outside.
声[こえ]① Voice produced by humans or animals, noun
彼女の声はとてもきれいです。
Kanojo no koe wa totemo kirei desu.
Her voice is very beautiful.
Words Related to Titles
息子[むすこ]⓪ Son (used when referring to one's own son), noun
私の息子は大学生です。
Watashi no musuko wa daigakusei desu.
My son is a college student.
娘[むすめ]③ Daughter (used when referring to one's own daughter), noun
娘はピアノが上手です。
Musume wa piano ga jouzu desu.
My daughter is good at playing the piano.
息子さん Your son (used when referring to someone else's son), noun
息子さんはおいくつですか。
Musuko-san wa oikutsu desu ka.
How old is your son?
お嬢[じょう]さん Your daughter (used when referring to someone else's daughter), noun
お嬢さんはとても可愛いですね。
Ojou-san wa totemo kawaii desu ne.
Your daughter is very cute.
Words Related to Occupations
医者[いしゃ]⓪ Doctor, noun
彼は医者になりたいです。
Kare wa isha ni naritai desu.
He wants to become a doctor.
旅行ガイド[りょこうガイド]④ Tour guide, noun
旅行ガイドの仕事は大変です。
Ryokou gaido no shigoto wa taihen desu.
Being a tour guide is tough work.
学者[がくしゃ]⓪ Scholar, noun
彼は有名な学者です。
Kare wa yuumei na gakusha desu.
He is a famous scholar.
パイロット① Pilot, noun
パイロットになるのは難しいです。
Pairotto ni naru no wa muzukashii desu.
It's difficult to become a pilot.
デザイナー② Designer, noun
彼女は有名なデザイナーです。
Kanojo wa yuumei na dezainaa desu.
She is a famous designer.
社会人[しゃかいじん]② Working adult (someone who has entered society after graduation), noun
彼はもう社会人です。
Kare wa mou shakaijin desu.
He is already a working adult.
Words Related to Shopping
タイムサービス④ Time-limited sale, noun
タイムサービスで安く買えます。
Taimu saabisu de yasuku kaemasu.
You can buy things cheaply during time-limited sales.
サービス⓪ Service; discount, noun
この店はサービスがいいです。
Kono mise wa saabisu ga ii desu.
This store has good service.
新春セール[しんしゅんセール]⑤ New Year sale, noun
新春セールでたくさん買いました。
Shinshun seeru de takusan kaimashita.
I bought a lot during the New Year sale.
３割引き[さんわりびき]③ 30% off, noun
この商品は３割引きです。
Kono shouhin wa sanwari biki desu.
This product is 30% off.
値段[ねだん]⓪ Price, noun
この値段は高いです。
Kono nedan wa takai desu.
This price is high.
～が高い/低い Expensive/cheap, adjective
この商品は値段が高いです。
Kono shouhin wa nedan ga takai desu.
This product is expensive.
Words Related to Clothing
シャツ① Shirt, noun
このシャツはとてもきれいです。
Kono shatsu wa totemo kirei desu.
This shirt is very beautiful.
スカート② Skirt, noun
彼女は赤いスカートを履いています。
Kanojo wa akai sukaato o haite imasu.
She is wearing a red skirt.
色[いろ]② Color, noun
この色は好きですか。
Kono iro wa suki desu ka.
Do you like this color?
赤[あか]① Red, noun
赤は私の好きな色です。
Aka wa watashi no sukina iro desu.
Red is my favorite color.
青[あお]① Blue, noun
青い空がきれいです。
Aoi sora ga kirei desu.
The blue sky is beautiful.
青信号[あおしんごう] Green light, noun
青信号で渡りましょう。
Ao shingou de watarimashou.
Let's cross when the light is green.
Words Related to Time
時間[じかん]⓪ Time, noun
時間がありません。
Jikan ga arimasen.
There is no time left.
将来[しょうらい]① Future, noun
将来は医者になりたいです。
Shourai wa isha ni naritai desu.
I want to become a doctor in the future.
お正月[しょうがつ]⑤ New Year (January 1-3), noun
お正月には家族と過ごします。
Oshougatsu ni wa kazoku to sugoshimasu.
I spend New Year's with my family.
Verbs
なります③ To become (expressing change), verb
彼は医者になりました。
Kare wa isha ni narimashita.
He became a doctor.
開きます[あきます]③ To open (intransitive verb), verb
ドアが開きます。
Doa ga akimasu.
The door opens.
似合います[にあいます]④ To suit, verb
この服はあなたに似合います。
Kono fuku wa anata ni niaimasu.
This outfit suits you.
Other Related Words
うるさい③ Noisy; annoying, adjective
隣の部屋がうるさいです。
Tonari no heya ga urusai desu.
The room next door is noisy.
空気[くうき]① Air, noun
空気がきれいです。
Kuuki ga kirei desu.
The air is fresh.
準備[じゅんび]① Preparation, noun
準備はできましたか。
Junbi wa dekimashita ka.
Are you ready?
病気[びょうき]⓪ Illness, noun
彼は病気です。
Kare wa byouki desu.
He is sick.
シンプル① Simple, adjective
このデザインはシンプルです。
Kono dezain wa shinpuru desu.
This design is simple.
まもなく② Soon (written language), adverb
まもなく到着します。
Mamonaku touchaku shimasu.
We will arrive soon.
もうすぐ③ Soon (spoken language), adverb
もうすぐ終わります。
Mou sugu owarimasu.
It will end soon.
さらに① Even more (written language), adverb
さらに努力が必要です。
Sarani doryoku ga hitsuyou desu.
Even more effort is needed.
もっと① Even more (spoken language), adverb
もっと勉強しなければなりません。
Motto benkyou shinakereba narimasen.
I need to study even more.
さあ① Urging interjection, exclamation
さあ、行きましょう。
Saa, ikimashou.
Come on, let's go.
できるだけ⓪ As much as possible, adverb
できるだけ早く来てください。
Dekiru dake hayaku kite kudasai.
Please come as early as possible.
今[いま]から① From now on, adverb
今から始めましょう。
Ima kara hajimemashou.
Let's start now.
まとめて⓪ Summarize, adverb
まとめて提出してください。
Matomete teishutsu shite kudasai.
Please submit everything together.
Grammar Points
1. ～なります
「～なります」is used to describe natural changes in things. Imagine a baby growing up or the seasons changing from spring to summer. These natural changes can be expressed using 「～なります」.
| Conjugation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| い-adjective (remove い) +「く」+なります | Indicates a change in quality or state | 赤ちゃんは大きくなりました。/The baby grew bigger. |
| な-adjective/Noun +「に」+なります | Indicates a change in identity or state | 王さんは医者になります。/Mr. Wang will become a doctor. |
| Time word +なります | Indicates the passage of time | もう４月になりました。/It's already April. |
Core Concept:「～なります」emphasizes natural changes, usually without human intervention.
2. ～します
「～します」is used to describe changes caused by human intervention. For example, turning up the volume on a radio or deciding to buy a product requires human action, which is expressed using 「～します」.
| Conjugation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| い-adjective (remove い) +「く」+します | Make something... | ラジオの音を大きくします。/Turn up the radio volume. |
| Noun +にします | Make a subjective decision | これにします。/I'll take this. |
Core Concept:「～します」emphasizes human intervention, usually with subjective intent.
3. Intransitive and Transitive Verbs
The difference between intransitive and transitive verbs lies in whether the action requires external force. For example, a door closing by itself (intransitive) versus you closing the door (transitive) illustrates the difference.
Intransitive Verbs: The subject performs the action naturally, resulting in a change.
Transitive Verbs: Require external force and take an object.
Examples:
- ドアが閉まります。/The door closes (state).
- ドアを閉めます。/Close the door (action).
Core Concept:Intransitive verbs describe natural states, while transitive verbs describe human actions.
4. ～ほうがいいです
「～ほうがいいです」is used to give advice or make comparisons. For example, when choosing a hotel, you might say, "A room with more space is better," which is an example of using 「～ほうがいいです」.
Conjugation:
- い-adjective +ほうがいいです
- な-adjective +な+ほうがいいです
- Noun +の+ほうがいいです
Examples:
- ホテルは部屋が広いほうがいいです。/A hotel with a larger room is better.
- パソコンは操作が簡単なほうがいいです。/A computer with simpler operation is better.
Core Concept:「～ほうがいいです」is used for comparisons or advice, expressing subjective preference.
Dialogue Practice
Daily Life Scenario
A: 携帯電話は小さくなりましたね。
A: Keitai denwa wa chiisaku narimashita ne.
Mobile phones have become smaller, haven't they?
B: ええ、とても便利になりました。
B: Ee, totemo benri ni narimashita.
Yes, they have become very convenient.
Shopping Scenario
A: このシャツはどうですか。
A: Kono shatsu wa dou desu ka.
How about this shirt?
B: 色が赤いほうがいいです。
B: Iro ga akai hou ga ii desu.
I prefer the red one.
Cultural Knowledge
Japanese Shopping Culture
In Japan, "タイムサービス" (time-limited sales) and "新春セール" (New Year sales) are common. Stores attract customers with discounts, especially during the New Year.
Occupational Titles
In Japan, it is common to add "さん" to occupational titles to show respect, such as "医者さん" (doctor).
Summary and Key Points
This lesson focused on expressions of change (～なります) and human-induced changes (～します), as well as the difference between intransitive and transitive verbs. Through the 「～ほうがいいです」pattern, we learned how to give advice or make comparisons. Additionally, we studied vocabulary related to sound, occupations, and shopping, such as "音," "医者," and "タイムサービス."