Lesson: Basic Introduction and Simple Sentence Structure

Source: みんなの日本語

VOCABULARY
KANA ROMAJI ENGLISH
わたし watashi I
わたしたち watashitachi We
あなた anata You
あのひと（あのかた） anohito(anokata) That person, he, she
みなさん minasan Ladies and gentlemen, all of you
～さん -san Mr., Ms. (title of respect added to
a name)
～ちゃん -chan Suffix often added to a child’s
name
～くん -kun Suffix often added to a boy’s
name
～じん -jin Suffix meaning “national of”; e.g.
アメリカじん, an American
せんせい Sensei Teacher, instructor (not used
when referring to one’s own job)
きょうし Kyoushi Teacher, instructor
がくせい Gakusei Student
かいしゃいん Kaishain Company employee
しゃいん Shain Employee of; e.g. IMC のしゃい
ん, IMC’s employee
ぎんこういん Ginkouin Bank employee
いしゃ Isha Medical doctor
けんきゅうしゃ Kenkyuusha Researcher, scholar
エンジニア Enjinia Engineer
だいがく Daigaku University
びょういん Byouin Hospital
でんき Denki Electricity, light
だれ（どなた） Dare (donata) Who (donata is polite form)
―さい -sai - years old
なんさい Nansai How old
はい Hai Yes
いいえ Iie No
しつれいですが Shitsurei desu ga Excuse me, but…
おなまえは？ Onamae wa? May I have your name?
こちらは～さんです。 Kochira wa –san desu. This is Mr./Ms.--
～からきました。 --kara kimashita. I came from ---
BUNKEI | SENTENCE PATTERNS

1. I am Mike Miller.
Watashi ha Mike Miller desu.
わたし は マイク・ミラーです。

2. Mr. Santos is not a student.

Santos-san ha gakusei ja arimasen.
サントスさん は がくせい じゃ ありません。

3. Is Mr. Miller a company employee?

Miller-san ha kaishain desu ka?
ミラーさん は かいしゃいん です か。

4. Mr. Santos is also a company employee.

Santos-san mo kaishain desu.
サントスさん も かいしゃいん です。

REIBUN – EXAMPLE SENTENCES

1. Are you Mike Miller? [Anata ha] Mike Miller-san desu ka?
…Yes, I am Mike Miller. ...Hai, [Watashi ha] Mike Miller desu.

2. Are you a student, Mr. Miller? Miller-san ha, gakusei desu ka?
…No, I am not a student. …Iie, [watashi ha] gakusei ja arimasen.
I am a company employee. Kaishain desu.

3. Is Mr. Wang an engineer? Wang-san ha enjinia desu ka?

…No, Mr. Wang is not an engineer. …Iie, Wang-san ha enjinia ja arimasen.
He is a doctor. Isha desu.

4. Who is that person? Ano kata ha donata desu ka?

…He is Professor Watt. …Watt-san desu.
He is a teacher at Sakura University. Sakura daigaku no sensei desu.

5. How old is Teresa? Teresa-chan ha nansai desu ka?

…She is nine years old. …Kyuusai desu.
KAIWA | CONVERSATION HAJIMEMASHITE | HOW DO YOU DO?

Sato: Good morning.

Yamada: Good morning.
Ms. Sato, this is Mike Miller.
Miller: How do you do? I am Mike Miller
I am from the United States of America.
Nice to meet you.
Sato: I am Sato Keiko.
Nice to meet you.

Sato: Ohayou gozaimasu.

Yamada: Ohayou gozaimasu.
Sato-san, kochira ha Mike Miller desu.
Miller: Hajimemashite. Mike Miller desu.
Amerika kara kimashita.
Douzo yoroshiku.
Sato: Sato Keiko desu.
Douzo yoroshiku.
GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

1. Noun1 は Noun2 です。 | Noun1 ha Noun2 desu.

a. Particle は (ha)
The particle ha indicates that the word before it is the topic of the sentence.
You select a noun you want to talk about, and add ha to show that it is the topic
and give a statement about the topic.

Note: The particle ha is pronounced as wa.

Watashi ha Mike Miller desu. I am Mike Miller.

b. です （desu）
Nouns used desu work as predicates.
Desu also indicates judgment or assertion.
Desu also conveys that the speaker is being polite towards the listener.
Desu inflects when the sentence is negative or in the past tense.

Watashi ha enjinia desu. I am an engineer.

2. Noun1 は Noun2 じゃ ありません。| Noun1 ha Noun2 ja arimasen.

Ja arimasen is the negative form of desu. It is the form used in daily conversation.
For formal speech or writing, では ありません deha arimasen is used.

Note: Ha is deha is pronounced as wa.

Santos-san ha gakusei ja arimasen. Mr. Santos is not a student.

3. Sentence か | Sentence ka

a. Particle か (ka)
The particle ka is used to express the speaker’s doubt, question, uncertainty,
etc. A question is formed by simply adding ka to the end of the sentence. A
question ends with a rising intonation.

b. Questions answerable by yes or no

The word order does not change. Just add ka at the end of the sentence.
 Miller-san ha amerikajin desu ka? Is Mr. Miller an American?
…Hai, amerikajin desu. Yes, he is.

c. Questions with interrogatives

An interrogative replaces the part of the sentence that covers what you want to
ask about. The word order does not change, and ka is added at the end.

Ano kata ha donata desu ka? Who is that man?

…[Ano kata ha] Miller-san desu. …That’s Mr. Miller.

4. Noun も | Noun mo

Mo is added after a topic instead of ha when the statement about the topic is the
same as the previous topic.

Miller-san ha kaishain desu. Mr. Miller is a company employee.

Gupta-san mo kaishain desu. Mr. Gupta is also a company employee.

5. Noun1 の Noun2 | Noun1 no Noun2

No is used to connect two nouns. Noun1 modifies Noun2.

Miller-san ha IMC no kaishain desu. Mr. Miller is an IMC employee

Amerika no kutsu American shoes
Firipin no dansu Philippine dance