Introduction

This module is for students as well as for the professors who want to learn to speak Nihongo. In
studying Japanese language, a student must be cautious in words, making sentences and employ them in
conversation. Nihongo is unlike English which has basic structure of Subject-Verb-Object order in sentence,
fundamental forms of verbs, and adjective. Nihongo has three writing system Hiragana (basic), Katakana, and
Kanji.

Hiragana is almost similar to abakada or alibata. Each syllable has an equivalent character or symbol.
Hiragana has only 81 syllables/symbols. The arrangements of syllables is different from A, E, I, O, U, but A, I,
U, E, O. Japanese language doesn’t have l,j, q, w, v, x, c, and f.

A – I- U- E-O
KA-KI-KU-KE-KO
SA-SHI-SU-SE-SO
TA-CHI-TSU-TE-TO
NA-NI-NU-NE-NO
HA-HI-FU-HE-HO
MA-MI-MU-ME-MO
YA—YU--- YO
RA-RI-RU-RE-RO
WA----WE-----WO

GA-GI-GU-GE-GO
ZA-JI-ZU-ZE-ZO
DA-DZI-DU-DE-DO
BA-BI-BU-BE-BO
PA-PI-PU-PE-PO

Katakana uses for foreign words, names of person, places, and events which cannot be translated into
Nihongo. Kanji have at 5,000 characters. It is almost like Chinese lettering. Japanese patterned Kanji
characters into natural qualities of which a symbol represents such as the word “ki” which means a tree was
given a stroke like this _______.

Japanese Word Order

In English sentences words are generally placed SVO (subject, verb, object). Ex: The girl eats the apple.
The girl is the subject, eats is the verb, and the apple is the object.

In Japanese sentences, however, words are generally arranged SOV (subject, object, verb). Ex: Kore wa
pen desu. Kore (this) is the subject, desu (is) is the verb, and pen is the object. (The use of wa is explained
further down this page.)

In general, the beginner can assume Japanese word order to take the form of TTOPV - Topic/Time
Object Place Verb.

Articles (a, an, the)

Japanese doesn't use any equivalent of a, an, or the. In translating from English to Japanese these can
simply be dropped. In translating from Japanese to English be careful to put the correct article back in though.
Since Japanese doesn't use them there may be cases where more than one of the articles is OK.

For example, the sentence Inu wa koko ni iru. can mean either 'A dog is here.' or 'The dog is here.'

Nouns and Pronouns

Most Japanese nouns do not change form as they can in English. For instance, most nouns (with the
exception of nouns referring to people) have no plural form. Thus 'cat' and 'cats' are both the same word neko.

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 There are ways to show there is more than one of something if necessary. There are counters or words
like takusan (many/a lot) or samazama (various).

Pronouns also don't change form as they do in English. As an example, she, her, and hers indicate the
same person. However, in Japanese she, her, and hers are all indicated with the word 'kanojo' and a particle is
used to determine which of the English equivalents is being used. Pronouns do usually have a plural form.

Particles

One of the first things that often throws English speakers when studying Japanese is particles. What is a
particle? Well, it's something that the English language doesn't have that Japanese does.

Particles help you tell which part of a sentence is which. Particles always follow the word or clause they
modify. Particles really have no meaning on their own; they just serve to modify sections of a sentence. (Some
particles have a rough equivalent in English if they are of the 'preposition' variety.)

One of the most basic mistakes when starting to learn Japanese is to 'translate' the particles.
Unfortunately there is often no good English equivalent. (For instance, Japanese uses a spoken question mark.)
Thus translating too literally will make the English tend to come out strange. It may be difficult for English
speakers who are used to every word having meaning, but try and think of most particles more as 'function'
words as opposed to 'meaningful' words.

Counters

As stated in the nouns section, most words in Japanese do not have a 'plural' form. Instead different
types of things have different counters. This is something similar to saying 'five glasses of water' in English.
You wouldn't just say 'five water'. The difference with Japanese is that everything requires this type of
qualifier. To see some types of counters, see the Counters page.

Name Suffixes

There are several name suffixes that are generally added to the end of names in Japanese.

-San is the usual suffix placed after names. It is a respectful term. This suffix is kind of like Ms. or Mr.
but it is gender-neutral and makes no reference to marital status. -San should never be used after your own
name.

-Sama is a more honorific form of -san. This is most often heard in the word okyaku-sama, honored
guest/customer.

-Chan is a diminutive form of -san. It is usually used after the given name of close friends or younger
family members. It is also used after the names of pets.

-Kun is a casual suffix. It is usually used after the names of peers in a casual situation. In schools, boys
will often be addressed by this suffix. In office situations, higher ups will often address subordinates with this
suffix.

All of the suffixes can be used for either sex. -San and -sama are also often used after titles in addition to
names. The example of okyaku-sama is given above.

A brief introduction to Japanese writing:

Hiragana is the set of symbols most akin to a Japanese "alphabet." Unlike the romanized alphabet,
however, hiragana is made up of entire syllables, and each syllable has the same name as the sound it
represents. It can be used to spell out any Japanese word. Books for small children are often written entirely in
hiragana.

Katakana is used for foreign words that have been imported into Japanese. Like hiragana, it is a set of
syllables used to spell words. Most of the same sounds are used in katakana as in hiragana. If your name is not

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Japanese, this is the set of syllables that would be used to spell it. Katakana has a sharper look than hiragana
and so is often used for emphasis, especially in subtitles for TV programs.

Kanji is a set of symbols derived from the Chinese writing system. Each symbol represents one or more
syllables in a word, but unlike just spelling a word, these symbols also have meaning by themselves. Even if two
words are spelled the same in Japanese, if their meanings are different, their kanji will also be different.
Kanji can be used in compounds and in conjunction with the other two writing systems. To read a
newspaper, one must know at least the 1,945 Jouyou kanji, hiragana and katakana. These are taught in
elementary school and junior high school.
The kanji charts provided on this site allow for students to check their progress by highlighting the
kanji they've learned.
The kanji lists include the definitions, readings, and some examples of the kanji in the charts.

Lesson 1: Japanese Basic Expressions

Objectives
• To get acquainted with familiar expressions
• To boost confidence of a student
• This would serve as an ice breaker for a student and a teacher

Nihongo English
Ohayoo gozaimasu Good Morning.
Konnichiwa Good Afternoon.
Konbanwa Good Evening.

NOTE:
• These are the basic greetings in
Nihongo. “Ohayoo gozaimasu” is
a formal greeting used in
addressing a superior or in any
situation requiring formality.
Gozaimasu may be omitted when
speaking with equals or inferiors.

Hajimemashite How do you do?

Doozo yoroshiku I’m glad to meet you.
NOTE:
• These two expressions would
come together. Hajimemashite
which literally means “For the
first time’ (to see you)
corresponds to How do you do?
or I’m glad to meet you?

Onamae wa nan to osshaimasu ka What’s your name?

Anata wa dochira no okuni no kata desu What is your nationality?
ka
NOTE:
• These are polite way of asking a
person’s name or asking one’s
nationality.

Ogenki desu ka How are you?

Genki desu I’m fine.
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NOTE:
“Ogenki desu” is the most common
expression in asking about one’s
health. “Genki desu” is the common
answer to How are you?

Osumai wa dochira desu ka Where do you live?

NOTE:
• This is a polite expression used to
ask one’s residence. A more
common of this is “Doko ni sunde
imasu ka”. The response to this is
“Watashi wa (place) ni sunde
imasu. ( I live at
______________.)
Shitsurei shimasu/Sumimasen Excuse me.
Gomen nasai/Sumimasen deshita I’m sorry.
Ojama itasshimasu Sorry to disturb you.
Ojama itashimashita Sorry to have disturbed you.
NOTE:
• “Shitsure shimasu “ is used to • “Ojama itashimasu” is used when
espress an apology when you one is one about to disturb
interrupt a conversation or when somebody upon entering his
you’re leaving people in a party. house or room.
• “Gomen nasai” is also used to • “ Ojama itashimashita” is used
express an apology wheu ask for when someone is leaving another
someone’s pardon for breaking place.
his camera or stepping on his
foot.
Doozo ohairi kudasai Please come in.
Doozo okake kudasai Please sit down.
NOTE:
• “Doozo ohairi kudasai” is used • “Doozo okake kudasai” is used as
when you greet a visitor at the a sign of courtesy when you invite
entrance of your house and you another to sit down
want to let him/her in.
Arigatoo gozaimasu Thank you.
Doo itashimashite Don’t mention it..
NOTE:
• “Arigatoo gozaimasu” is the most • “Doo itashimashite” means “why
common expression of thanks. or how come”. The idea of the
sentence is why do you say such
things (when there is no reason for
you to say so.)
Chotto matte kudasai / Shooshoo omachi Wait a moment please.
kudasai.
NOTE:
“Chotto matte kudasai” is said when you
want someone to wait for you, or for
someone .
Sayoonara Goodbye.
Oyasumi nasai Good night
NOTE:
Both expressions are used when you
make a farewell to someone who is about
to go to abroad (Sayoonara) or you go
home late in the evening (Goodnight).
Itte mairimasu I’m going out. /I’m leaving
Itte rasshai Goodbye, have a nice time.
NOTE:
Both expressions are usually addressed
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to someone left a house or office.
Tadaima I am back.
Okaeri nasai Welcome back.
NOTE:
When you return from work or having
having met some appointment, you say
“Tadaima” to those who were left
behind. The response from them should
be “okaeri nasai”.

Lesson 2: The study of Wa and Ga

Objectives:
• To utilize the proper use of wa, ga, imasu, arimasu
• To introduce new (nihongo) vocabulary to a student

Wa is used to indicate a subject while placing the emphasis on the predicate and Ga is used to
emphasize the subject.

Examples:
1. Kore wa hon desu (This is a book)
2. Korera wa hon desu (These are the books)

Imasu is used for the persons and living things and arimasu is use for inanimate things.

Examples:
1. Otoko ga imasu. (There is a man.)
2. Hon ga arimasu (There is a book.)
3. Jikan ga arimasu (There is time.)

Words to Study:
1. wa – particle
2. ga- particle
3. desu – be verb (present tense- affirmative)
4. deshita – be verb (past tense- affirmative)
5. ka – indicates question
6. arimasu – there is(nonliving things)
7. imasu- there is ((people, animals/ living things)
8. dewa arimasen – be verb(present negative)
9. dewa arimasen deshita – be verb (past tense negative)
10. kore – pronoun “this”
11. sore – pronoun “that”
12. are – pronoun “that” – far away from both speakers.
13. san – Mr, Miss (formal address)
14. kun – used for teenagers, young ladies
15. chan – child (either boy or girl)

Vocabulary
hon-book empitsu - pencil
otoko-man hana-flower
mado – window uchi- house
kami – paper kaban bag
isu- chair tsukue - desk

Examples:

Affirmative and Negative Sentences:

A. Affirmative Present Tense

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 1. Kore wa kaban desu (This is a bag.)
2. Sore wa gakkoo desu (That is the school.)
3. Are wa isu desu. ( That is chair.)
4. Are wa Reishi san desu. (That is Mr. Reishi.)
5. Kore wa watashi no empitsu desu. (This is my pencil)

B. Negative Present Tense

1. Kore wa kaban dewa arimasen. (This is not a bag)
2. Sore wa gakkoo dewa arimasen. (That is not the school)
3. Are wa isu dewa arimasen. (That is not a chair.)
4. Are wa Reishi san dewa arimasen. ( That is not Mr. Reishi.)
5. Kore wa watashi no empitsu dewa arimasen. (This is not my pencil.)

Lesson 3: Order of the Sentence

Objective:
• To be familiar with the sentence structure in nihongo

The order of sentence in Nihongo shall be:

1. First, the subject.
2. Second, the phrase and modifier.
3. Third, the compliment
4. Fourth, the verb.

Examples:

1. Kore wa hon desu

1 2 3
2. Kore wa hana desu.
1 2 3
3. Sore wa inu dewa arimasen.
1 2 3
4. Kore wa kodomo desu.
1 2 3
5. Sore wa uchi desu,
1 2 3

Lesson 4: Pronouns
Objective:
• To distinguish the use of personal pronoun, demonstrative pronoun, interrogative pronoun and
possessive pronoun.

Personal Pronoun Possesive Pronoun

Watashi – I Watashi no – my
Anata – You Anata no – your
Kare – he Kare no – his
Kanojo – she Kanojo no – her
Watashi tachi/ Anata tachi – we Watashi tachi no/Anata tachi no - our
Karera- they (male) Anata gata no – your
Kanojo tachi –they (female) Karera no – their
Anata gata – you Kanojo tachi no – their

Interrogative Pronoun Demonstrative Pronoun

Nan/Nani – what Kore/kono – this
Itsu – When Sore/Sono – that
Dochira/Doko – Where Are/Ano – that (0ver there)
Donata/Dare – Who Koko – here
Doo – How Soko – there
Dooshite/Naze – Why Korera- these

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Vocabulary A:

Countries Nationality Languages

Philippines Firipin Firipinjin Firipingo
Japan Nihon Nihonjin Nihongo
Korea Kankoku Kankokujin Kankokugo
Spain Supein Supeinjin Supeingo
Germany Doitsu Doitsujin Doitsugo
China Chuugoku Chuugokujin Chuugokugo
India Indo Indojin Indigo
Thailand Tai Taijin Taigo
England Igirisu Igirisujin Eigo
Foreign Country Gaigoku Gaikokujin Gaikokugo

Examples:

Personal Pronoun
1. Watashi wa Firipinjin desu. (I am a Filipino)
2. Anata wa Nihonjin desu ka. ( Are you a Japanese?)
3. Kare wa gaikokujin desu. ( He is a foreigner?)
4. Kanojo wa Taijin desu ka. ( Is she a Thai?)
5. Kanojo wa watakushi no ane desu. ( She is my sister.)
6. Anata wa byooki desu ka. ( Ae you sick?)

Vocabulary B.

Ashi- legs Kome - rice Nasu- eggplant Hone- bone Rakuda -

camle
Inu- dog Sake- wine Ninu- meat Ma Ringo – apple
Uma- horse Shima- island Nuno- cloth Mikan – soRU- monkey
orange
Eki- train Suika- Neko- cat Mushi – insect Rei – example
station watermelon
Origami – art Sensu- fan No Megane – Ro-
of folding sunglasses
paper
Ka Sora- sky Hata – flag Momo - peach Wata – cotton
Ki- tree Tako- kite Hi – Fire Ya Wo
Kutsu- shoes Chizu- map Fune- boat Yu Te- Hand
Kendou- Tsuke- moon Hebi- snake Yori - night Hon – book
fencing
Tori- Bird

Demonstrative Pronoun and Possesive Pronoun

Examples:
1. Kore wa anata no inu desu. (This is your dog.)
2. Sore wa kanojo no kutsu desu ka (Is that her bird?)
3. Are wa watashi tachi no desu. ( That is our boat)
4. Are wa karera no gakkoo desu. (That is their school.)
5. Kore wa kago desu ka ( Is this a basket?)
6. Kore wa heya desu. (This is a room.)
7. Sore wa hana desu ka (Is that a flower?)

Vocabulary C:
Kago – basket to- door
Heya- room okane - money
Kami – paper kagami- mirror
Mizu – water booshi- hat
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 Hako – box kagi - key

Interrogative Pronoun
1. Doko desu ka ( Where is it?)
2. Donata/Dare desu ka (Who is it?)
3. Dooshite (Why?)
4. Nan desu ka ( What is it?)
5. Itsu kimasu ka (When do you come?)
6. Kare wa doko ni imasu ka (Where is he?)
7. Dooshite ikimasu ka (Why do you go?)
8. Nani ga arimasu ka? (What have you?)
9. Kami wa doko arimasu ka (Where is the paper?)
10. Ano hito wa Jose- san desu ka ( Is he Jose?)

Lesson 5: Occupation & Family

Occupation
Occupation Shokugyoo
Bank employee Ginkoo-in
Nutritionist Eiyooshi
Company employee Kaisha-in
Company president Shachoo
Diplomat Gaikookan
Doctor Isha
Dentist Ha-isha
Nurse Kangofu
Embassy employee Taishikan-in
Engineer Gishi
Journalist Jaanaristo
Driver Untenshu
Housewife Shufu
Lawyer Bengoshi
Musician Ongakuka
Office worker Jimu-in
Telephone operator Kookanshu
Painter Gaka
Policeman Keikan
Public Servant Koomu-in
Businessman Bijinesuman
Scholar Gakusha
Student Gakusei
Teacher Sensei
Writer Sakka
Secretary Hisho
Tour Guide Kankoo gaido
Security Guard Gaadooman
Receptionist Uketsukegakari
Sales clerk Ten-in

Family

For the members of a For the members of one’s

family other than one’s own family
own
Family Gokazoku Kazoku
Parents Goryooshin Ryooshin
Grandfather Ojisan Sofu
Grandmother Obaasan Sobo
Father Otoosan Chichi
Mother Okaasan Haha

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Uncle Ojisan Oji
Aunt Obasan Oba
Son Musukosan Musuko
Daughter Ojoosan/Musumesan Musume
Elder brother Oniisan Ani
Elder sister Oneesan Ane
Younger brother Otootosan Otooto
Younger sister Imootoosan Imooto
Nephew Oigosan Oi
Niece Meigosan Mei
Cousin Itokosan Itoko
Husband Goshujin Shujin
Wife Okusan Kanai

Lesson 6: How to Count according to Types of Objects

Objective:
• To learn how to count depending the usage of numbers.

English Hiragana Hiragana

One Ichi Hitotsu
Two Ni Futatsu
Three San Mittsu
Four Yon Yottsu
Five Go Itsutsu
Six Roku Muttsu
Seven Nana/Shichi Nanatsu
Eight Hachi Yattsu
Nine Kyuu Kokonotsu
Ten Juu Too
Eleven Juuichi
Twenty Nijuu

Counters
-nin (people) -mai (Flat things & -hon (long objects) - satsu (magazine
thin things) & books
Ichinin Ichimai Ippon Issatsu
Ninin Nimai Nihon Nisatsu
Sannin Sanmai Sanbon Sansatsu
Yonin Yonmai Yonhon Yonsatsu
Gonin Gomai Gohon Gosatsu
Rokunin Rokumai Roppon Rokusatsu
Nananin Shichimai/nanamai Shichihon/nanahon Nanasatsu
Hachinin Hachimai Hachihon/happon Hassatsu
Kyuunin Kyuumai Kyuuhon Kyuusatsu
Juunin Juumai Juppon Jussatsu
Nannin Nanmai Nan hon Nan satsu

- hiki (animals/fish) -soku (pairs of -hai (containers) -kai

footwear) (floors/buildings)
Ippiki Issoku Ippai Ikkai
Nihiki Nisoku Nipai Nikai
Sanbiki Sanzoku Sanbai Sangai
Yonhiki Yonsoku Yonhai Yonkai
Gohiki Gosoku Gohai Gokai
Roppiki Rokusoku Roppai Rokai
Nanahiki Nanasoku Nanahai Shichikai/nanakai
Happiki or Hassoku Happai Hachikai

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 Hachihiki
Kyuuhiki Kyuusoku Kyuuhai Kyuukai
Juppiki Jussoku Juppai Jukkai
Nanbiki Nanzoku Nanbai Nankai

ban me (ordinal) -sai (age)

Ichi ban me (1st) Juhassai – 18 years old
Ni ban me(2nd) Hatachi – 20 years old
San ban me(3rd) Nijuni sai – 22 years old
Yon ban me Nijugo sai – 25 years old
(4th)
Go ban me(5th) Sanjussai- 30 years old
Roku ban me(6th) Sanjugo sai- 30 years old
Nana ban me (7th) Yonjusai – 40 years old
Hachi ban me (8th) Gojusai- 50 years old
Ku ban me/kyuu ban me (9th) Rokujusai – 60 years old
Ju ban me (10th) Nanajussai- 70 years old
Hachijugosai- 80 years old

Notes
Yen – Japan currency
10- ju
20 – ni ju
100 – hyaku
200 – ni hyaku
1000 – sen
2000- ni sen
10,000 – ichi man
20,000- ni man
100, 000 – ju man
200,000-ni man
1, 000,000- hyaku man
6,000,000 – roppyaku man
100,000,00 – ichi oku

Lesson 7: How to Tell Time

JI (o’ clock) Fun/Pun Jikan

(minutes) (Hours)
Ichiji 1 o’clock Ippun 1 minute Ichijikgn 1 hour
Niji 2 o’clock Nifun 2 minutes Nijikan 2 hours
Sanji 3 o’clock Sanpun 3 minutes Sanjikan 3 hours
Yoji 4 o’clock Yonpun 4 minutes Yonjikan 4 hours
Goji 5 o’clock Gofun 5 minutes Gojikan 5 hours
Rokuji 6 o’clock Roppun 6 minutes Rokujikan 6 hours
Nanaji/Shichiji 7 o’clock Nanafun 7 minutes Shichijikan 7 hours
Hachiji 8 o’clock Happun 8 minutes Hachijikan 8 hours
Kuji 9 o’clock Kyuufun 9 minutes Kujikan 9 hours
Juuji 10 o’clock Juppun 10 minutes Juujikan 10
hours
Juuichiji 11 o’clock Juugofun 15 minutes Juuichijika 11
n hours
Juuniji 12 o’clock Nijuugofun 25 minutes Juunijikan 12
hours
nanji What time? sanjuppun 30 minutes Nanjikan How
many
hours?

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VOCABULARY:

Ima- now
Choodo- exactly
Mae- before
Sugi- past
Han- half past
Gozen- A.M.
Gogo- P.M.
Asa- morning
Kara-from
Made- until: up to
Susunde-imasu – advanced
Okurete-imasu – late

Examples:
Romanji
8:15 AM Gozen hachiji juugofun
11:45 PM Gogo juuichi yonjuugofun
1:30 PM Gozen ichiji han
2:25 Niji nijuugofun
12:10 Juuniji juppun
5 minutes before 3 Sanji gofun mae
15 minutes past 11 Juuichi juugofun sugi
It’s 5 minutes advanced. Gofun susundeimasu
It’s 10 minutes late. Juppun okureteimasu
From 8:00 to 5:00 Hachi kara goji made

Lesson 9: Days & Months

Vocabulary:
Kinoo- yesterday
Kyoo- today
Ashita- tomorrow
Yuube- last night
Konban- tonight
Ototoi – the day before yesterday
Asatte – the day after tomorrow
Manichi – everyday
Tokidoki- sometimes
Kongetsu – this month
Sengetsu – last month
Raigetsu – next month
Konshuu- this year
Senshuu- last year
Raishuu- next year
Kotoshi- this month
Rainen – next year
Kyonen- last year
Days of the Week

English (day) Nihongo (yoobi)

Sunday Nichiyoobi
Monday Getsuyoobi
Tuesday Kayoobi
Wednesday Suiyoobi
Thursday Mokuyoobi
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 Friday Kinyoobi
Saturday Doyoobi
What is the day? Nan yoobi?

Months of the Year

English (Month) Nihongo (Gatsu)

January Ichigatsu
February Nigatsu
March Sangatsu
April Shigatsu
May Gogatsu
June Rokugatsu
July Nanagatsu
August Hachigatsu
September Kyugatsu
October Juugatsu
November Juuichigatsu
December Juunigatsu
What is the month? Nangatsu

Days of the Month

English Nihongo
1st Tsuitachi
2nd Futsuka
3rd Mikka
4th Yokka
5th Itsuka
6th Muika
7th Nanoka
8th Yooka
9th Kokonoka
10th Tooka
11th Juuichinichi
12th Juunichi
13th Juusannichi
14th Juuyokka
15th Juugonichi
16th Juurokunichi
17th Juushichinichi
18th Juuhachinichi
19th Juukunichi
20th Hatsuka
21st Nijuuichinichi
22nd Nijuuninichi
23rd Nijusannichi
24th Nijuyokka
25th Nijuugonichi
26th Nijuurokunichi
27th Nijushichinichi
28th Nijuhachinichi
29th Nijukunichi
30th Sanjunichi
31st Sanjuichinichi

Sentences:

1. Kongetsu wa ichigatsu desu. (This month is January.)

2. Raigetsu wa nangatsu wa desu ka. (What month is next month?)
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 3. Raigetsu wa nigatsu desu. (Next month is February.)
4. Sengetsu wa nangatsu deshita ka. (What month last month?)
5. Sengetsu wa juunigatsu deshita. (Last month was December.)
6. Ashita wa kayoobi de asatte wa suiyoobi desu. (Tomorrow is Tuesday and the day after tomorrow is
Wednesday.)
7. Suiyoobi no tsugi wa Mokuyoobi desu. (Next to Wednesday is Thursday.)
8. Kinoo wa nanyoobi deshita ka. (What day of the week was it yesterday?)
9. Kyoo wa tsuitachi desu (Today is the first day of the month.)
10. Kyoo wa Getsuyoobi desu. (Today is Monday.)
11.
Lesson 10: The Use of Wo (O) & He (E)

This lesson is about the Japanese particle wo. Wo is pronounced 'o' and will be spelled 'o' in romanized
Japanese but should not be confused with the vowel o. (W)o is only used as a particle. nihongo o benkyou
shimasu It is used to mark the object of a sentence. The particle comes after the object and before the verb.
Basically, you have "noun o action verb" which means: "do/does the action verb to the noun."

hon o yomimasu read a book

zasshi o yomimasu read a magazine

niku o tabemasu eat meat

ringo o tabemasu eat an apple
terebi o mimasu watch TV
koora o nomimasu drink cola
ongaku o kikimasu listen to music

One can also attach a subject to the sentence to explain who or what is doing the action.

Examples:

1. Watashi wa hon o yomimasu. (I read books.)

2. Annasan wa Nihongo o benkyou shimasu. (Anna studies Japanese.)
3. Yoshisan wa ongaku o kikimasu. (Yoshi listens to music.)
4. Ano neko wa ringo o tabemasu. (That cat over there eats apples.)

All of the verbs above end in masu. That is called the masu ending. That is the positive present (or
future) form of the verb in polite form. If you want to use the negative present form of the verb you change the
masu to masen. So "I listen", "Watashi wa kikimasu", becomes "I don't listen", "Watashi wa kikimasen."

Examples:
1. Watashi wa hon o yomimasen. ( I don't read books.)
2. Meerisan wa ringo o tabemasen. (Mary doesn't eat apples.)
3. Watashi no neko wa banana o tabemasen. (My cat doesn't eat bananas.)
4. Maikusan wa Nihongo o benkyou shimasen. (Mike doesn't study Japanese.

Lesson 11: Verbs

In this lesson, you will learn how to tell someone that you want to do something. Recall that present
tense verbs have the -masu ending. In order to change these to the 'want to' ending, drop the -masu and
replace it with -tai.

Examples:

masu form English tai form English

Tabemasu to eat tabetai want to eat
nomimasu to drink nomitai want to drink
Ikimasu to go ikitai want to go
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 Kaimasu to buy kaitai want to buy
yomimasu to read yomitai want to read
Kakimasu to write kakitai want to write
mimasu to watch/see mitai want to watch/see
Kikimasu to listen/hear kikitai want to listen/hear

Examples:
1. Kouen ni ikimasu. ( I will go to park.)
2. Kouen ni ikitai.( I want to go to park.)
3. Gakkou ni ikimasu.( I will go to school)
4. Gakkou ni ikitai. ( I want to go to school)

Now for one more twist. When you use tai with verbs that take o, you can also change the o to ga for emphasis
if you want.

Examples:

1. Ringo o tabemasu. (I eat apples.)

2. Ringo o tabetai. ( I want to eat an apple.)
3. Ringo ga tabetai. (I want to eat an apple.)

In the above example, the second sentence just means that you want to eat apples. The third sentence
means that you want to eat apples as opposed to something else. It's not really that important of a difference so
you can stick with just o if you're more comfortable with it.

Lesson 14: The I- Adjective

. Here we learned about making the negative and past forms of i adjectives. To make a negative i
adjective you take off the last i and replace it with kunai. To make a past form i adjective you take of the last i
and replace it with katta.

The negative and past forms of the tai verbs are made the same way that the i adjective forms are. To
make the negative form, drop the final i and add kunai. To make the past form drop the final i and add katta.
To make the negative past form, drop the final i and add kunakatta.

Examples:
1. Ringo o tabetai. I want to eat apples.
2. Ringo o tabetakunai. I don't want to eat apples.
3. Ringo o tabetakatta. I wanted to eat apples.
4. Ringo o tabetakunakatta. I didn't want to eat apples.

5. Puuru de oyogimasu. I swim at the pool.

6. Puuru de oyogitai. I want to swim at the pool.
7. Puuru de oyogitakunai. I don't want to swim at the pool.
8. Puuru de oyogitakatta. I wanted to swim at the pool.
9. Puuru de oyogitakunakatta. I didn't want to swim at the pool.
10. To make these sentences more polite, you can add desu to the end of them.

NOTE:

• tai verb ending meaning 'want to'

• takunai verb ending meaning 'don't want to'
• takatta verb ending meaing 'wanted to'
• takunakatta verb ending meaning ' didn't want to'

Lesson 15: Preposition

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 1. mae- front, before
2. ushiro- back, behind
3. yoko- next to, along side
4. ue-top, above
5. shita-bottom, under
6. naka-inside, middle
7. soto-outside
8. aida-between, interval
9. mukou-beyond
10. tonari- next door, neighboring
11. hidari gawa-left side
12. migi gawa - right side

Examples:

1. Neko wa doko ni imasu ka. (Where is the cat?)

2. Soto ni imasu. (It's outside.)
3. Naka ni imasu.( It's inside.)

Now we need to combine the location words with objects to create such locations as 'in the bag' etc. We do this
g the particle no. Recall from lesson 2 that no indicates possession.

Examples:
1. kuruma no ue (on the car)
2. kuruma no shita (under the car)
3. kuruma no naka (in the car)
4. kuruma no soto (outside of the car)
5. kuruma no ushiro (behind the car)

Note that where in English these phrases are indicated with prepositions these are more like postpositions. OK,
that we have our new locations, we can insert them in our location sentence as before.
Examples:
1. Neko wa doko ni imasu ka. (Where is the cat?)
2. Kuruma no ue ni imasu. (It's on the car.)
3. Kuruma no shita ni imasu.( It’s under the car.)
4. Kaban wa doko ni arimasu ka. (Where’s the back?)
5. Kuruma no naka ni arimasu. (It’s in the car.)

Lesson 16: Use of “de”

De roughly means "by means of", "at" or "in" depending upon how it's used. In this lesson, we'll be
using the 'by means of' meaning. De is a particle and therefore it follows the term it modifies.

Examples:

kuruma de by car
jitensha de by bike
basu de by bus
densha de by train
Now we can insert these new phrases into our direction sentences.
Examples:

(Watashi wa) kuruma de mise ni ikimashita. I went to the store by car.

Basu de kouen ni ikimasu. I'll go to the park by bus.

Hiragana

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Katakana

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