Vocabulary
Atmosphere and Pronunciation
雰囲気[ふんいき]③ Atmosphere, mood, noun
パーティーの雰囲気がとてもいいです。
Paatii no fun'iki wa totemo ii desu.
The atmosphere at the party is very nice.
発音[はつおん]⓪ Pronunciation, noun
彼女の発音はとてもきれいです。
Kanojo no hatsuon wa totemo kirei desu.
Her pronunciation is very beautiful.
Family and Workplace
孫[まご]⓪ Grandchild, noun
彼は孫と一緒に遊んでいます。
Kare wa mago to issho ni asonde imasu.
He is playing with his grandchild.
係[かかり]① Staff member in charge, noun
～の人に聞いてください。
～ no hito ni kiite kudasai.
Please ask the staff member in charge.
支社長[ししゃちょう]② Branch manager, noun
支社長は会議に出席しました。
Shishachou wa kaigi ni shusseki shimashita.
The branch manager attended the meeting.
Clothing and Home
マフラー① Scarf, noun
冬になるとマフラーが必要です。
Fuyu ni naru to mafuraa ga hitsuyou desu.
Scarves are needed in winter.
ネックレス① Necklace, noun
彼女はきれいなネックレスをしています。
Kanojo wa kirei na nekkuresu o shite imasu.
She is wearing a beautiful necklace.
Places and Occupations
大使館[たいしかん]③ Embassy, noun
大使館でパスポートを申請しました。
Taishikan de pasupooto o shinsei shimashita.
I applied for a passport at the embassy.
不動産屋[ふどうさんや]③ Real estate agency, noun
不動産屋で部屋を探しています。
Fudousanya de heya o sagashite imasu.
I am looking for a room at a real estate agency.
Other Vocabulary
意味[いみ]① Meaning; significance, noun
この言葉の意味が分かりますか？
Kono kotoba no imi ga wakarimasu ka?
Do you understand the meaning of this word?
引っ越し[ひっこし]⓪ Moving (to a new place), noun
来月引っ越しします。
Raigetsu hikkoshi shimasu.
I will move next month.
Grammar Points
1. Basic Expressions of Giving and Receiving
In Japanese, giving and receiving relationships not only indicate the transfer of items but also reflect the transfer of favors. Below are three basic expressions for giving and receiving:
1.1 ～は～に～をくれます
Indicates that someone gives something to me or someone on my side.
- 誕生日に父は（わたしに）時計をくれました。
- Tanjoubi ni chichi wa (watashi ni) tokei o kuremashita.
- My father gave me a watch for my birthday.
- 分からない。鈴木さんがくれました。
- Wakaranai. Suzuki-san ga kuremashita.
- I don't know. Suzuki gave it to me.
1.2 ～てあげます
Indicates that I or someone on my side does something for someone else.
- （私は）メリーさんに地図を書いてあげます。
- (Watashi wa) Mearii-san ni chizu o kaite agemasu.
- I will draw a map for Mary.
- 母は私の写真を彼女に見せてあげました。
- Haha wa watashi no shashin o kanojo ni misete agemashita.
- My mother showed her my photo.
Note: When directly asking someone, especially if they are not close or of higher status, using 「～てあげます」 can be impolite.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 昨日雨でしたから、部長に傘を貸してあげました 〇 | Because it rained yesterday, I lent the manager an umbrella. |
| あっ、雨ですね。部長、傘を貸してあげますか ✖ | Oh, it's raining. Manager, shall I lend you an umbrella? (Impolite) |
| あっ、雨ですね。部長、傘を貸しましょうか （To superiors） | Oh, it's raining. Manager, shall I lend you an umbrella? (Polite) |
| 重いですね。荷物を持ってあげましょうか （To peers or friends） | It's heavy. Shall I carry your luggage? (Polite) |
1.3 ～てくれます
Indicates that someone does something for me or someone on my side.
- 母は私にお弁当を作ってくれました。
- Haha wa watashi ni obentou o tsukutte kuremashita.
- My mother made me a lunchbox.
- パクさんが（わたしに）ケーキの作り方を教えてくれました。
- Paku-san ga (watashi ni) keeki no tsukurikata o oshiete kuremashita.
- Mr. Park taught me how to make a cake.
Additional Note: When directly asking someone to do something for you, the following expressions can be used, ordered from least to most polite:
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ゴミを出してくれますか | Can you take out the trash for me? |
| 李さん、この手紙を読んでくれませんか | Mr. Lee, could you read this letter for me? |
1.4 ～てもらいます
Indicates that the speaker or someone on the speaker's side asks someone else to do something.
- 息子はマリーさんに英語の作文を直してもらいました。
- Musuko wa Marii-san ni eigo no sakubun o naoshite moraimashita.
- My son asked Mary to correct his English essay.
- 大学の教授に結婚式でスピーチをしてもらいたいんですが。
- Daigaku no kyouju ni kekkonshiki de supiichi o shite moraitai n desu ga.
- I would like to ask the university professor to give a speech at the wedding.
Note: This structure cannot be used directly in questions.
| Example | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ごめん、このこと、内緒してもらいたいですが… | Sorry, I would like you to keep this a secret... |
| ごめん、このこと、内緒してもらえますか | Sorry, could you keep this a secret? |
Dialogue Practice
Basic
A: これは何[なん]ですか
A: Kore wa nan desu ka?
A: What is this?
B: これは本です
B: Kore wa hon desu.
B: This is a book.
Workplace
A: これはどなたの書類[しょるい]ですか
A: Kore wa donata no shorui desu ka?
A: Whose document is this?
B: それは部長[ぶちょう]の書類[しょるい]です
B: Sore wa buchou no shorui desu.
B: That is the manager's document.
A: どうもありがとうございます
A: Doumo arigatou gozaimasu.
A: Thank you very much.
Daily Life
A: この傘[かさ]はだれのですか
A: Kono kasa wa dare no desu ka?
A: Whose umbrella is this?
B: それは私のです
B: Sore wa watashi no desu.
B: That is mine.
A: どうぞお使[つか]いください
A: Douzo otsukai kudasai.
A: Please use it.
Cultural Knowledge
Language Culture
Giving and Receiving Relationships: In Japanese, the verbs for giving and receiving (あげる、くれる、もらう) not only indicate the transfer of items but also reflect the transfer of favors. Pay special attention to hierarchical relationships and politeness levels when using them.
Expression Characteristics: Japanese people often use indirect expressions to avoid direct refusal, such as 「ちょっと…」(a bit...).
Social Culture
Workplace Etiquette: In the workplace, exchanging business cards (名刺[めいし]) is a common business etiquette. When meeting someone for the first time, it is customary to hand over and receive business cards with both hands.
Gift-Giving Culture: In Japan, gifts (お土産[おみやげ]) are often used to express goodwill. When receiving a gift, it is important to express gratitude.
Summary and Key Points
This lesson focused on giving and receiving verbs (あげる、くれる、もらう) and their application in conversations, including expressing the transfer of items and favors. Through the structures 「～てあげます」「～てくれます」「～てもらいます」, we learned how to express doing something for others, others doing something for us, and requesting others to do something. Additionally, we studied vocabulary related to workplace and daily life scenarios, such as 「支社長」「引っ越し」「案内します」.