Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1: Lesson 10 vocabulary review
Cover the meaning, recall the word, then read its example. Return to the lesson audio and passage when you cannot explain its use.
Review this lesson
- Read the Japanese and recall its meaning before checking the translation.
- Use the example to check how the word fits a sentence. Explain the distinction in the learning point.
- Open the lesson reader, listen, and note words you still confuse. Revisit them tomorrow.
Lesson vocabulary
コンビニ
convenience store
駅の前にコンビニがあります。
There is a convenience store in front of the station.
Learning point
コンビニ abbreviates コンビニエンスストア; it is not interchangeable with スーパー.
います
exist; be (animate)
部屋に猫がいます。
There is a cat in the room.
Learning point
Use いる for people and animals; use ある for ordinary objects.
東京ディズニーランド
Tokyo Disneyland
東京ディズニーランドへ行きました。
I visited Tokyo Disneyland.
Learning point
The name contains 東京, but the park is in 千葉県; its name is not its address.
県
prefecture
日本には県があります。
Japan has administrative divisions called prefectures.
Learning point
県 is a prefectural division, not necessarily the same level as a Chinese county.
千葉県
Chiba Prefecture
千葉県に住んでいます。
I live in Chiba Prefecture.
Learning point
千葉県 is ちばけん; the prefecture is distinct from the city 千葉市.
エー·ティー·エム
ATM
ATMでお金を下ろします。
I'll withdraw money from an ATM.
Learning point
This is usually written ATM and read エーティーエム; use で for the machine used.
男の人
man
男の人が受付にいます。
A man is at reception.
Learning point
男の人 is generally more neutral and polite than referring to someone simply as 男.
猫
cat
猫はベッドの上にいます。
The cat is on the bed.
Learning point
A cat is animate, so use います for its presence.
箱
box
箱の中に本があります。
There are books in the box.
Learning point
箱の中 gives the location inside a box; boxes are commonly counted with 個.
中
inside; middle
かばんの中に鍵があります。
There is a key in the bag.
Learning point
A noun plus の中 means inside, not necessarily the exact geometric center.
外
outside
外に出ましょう。
Let's go outside.
Learning point
外に出る means go outside; 外で locates an action outside.
～や～など
… and …, among others
机の上に本やペンなどがあります。
There are books, pens, and other things on the desk.
Learning point
や lists examples and implies others; と normally presents a complete coordinated list.
近く
nearby
駅の近くに住んでいます。
I live near the station.
Learning point
近く is noun-like; use 近い to describe something as near.
前
in front; before
銀行の前で待ちます。
I'll wait in front of the bank.
Learning point
A noun plus の前 gives a position; it can also mean before an event, as in 会議の前.
ナンプラー
fish sauce
ナンプラーを料理に使います。
I use fish sauce in cooking.
Learning point
ナンプラー is fish sauce, commonly used in Thai cooking, not the fish itself.
ストア
store
近くに新しいストアがあります。
There is a new store nearby.
Learning point
ストア often appears in shop names; 店 is natural for a generic shop.
どうもすみません。
thank you; sorry for the trouble
どうもすみません。助かりました。
Thank you for your trouble. That helped a lot.
Learning point
Here an apology also thanks someone for their effort, rather than signaling a serious offense.
コーナー
section; corner
パンのコーナーはどこですか。
Where is the bread section?
Learning point
In a shop, コーナー often means a section, not necessarily a physical corner.
一番下
at the very bottom
電池は一番下にあります。
The batteries are at the very bottom.
Learning point
一番 intensifies the position; 一番下 can identify the lowest shelf.
下
under; below
机の下にかばんがあります。
There is a bag under the desk.
Learning point
A noun plus の下 describes a relative position; 下 is した here.
ビル
building
あのビルに会社があります。
The company is in that building.
Learning point
ビル usually refers to a substantial office or commercial building, rather than every small house.
公園
park
公園に子どもがいます。
There are children in the park.
Learning point
公園 is a public park; a private garden is often 庭.
女の人
woman
女の人がバスを待っています。
A woman is waiting for the bus.
Learning point
女の人 neutrally describes an adult woman and sounds softer than simply 女.
隣
next to
銀行は郵便局の隣です。
The bank is next to the post office.
Learning point
隣 emphasizes being directly next to something; 近く is broader proximity.
喫茶店
café; coffee shop
喫茶店でコーヒーを飲みます。
I have coffee at a café.
Learning point
喫茶店 is きっさてん; カフェ is another common term.
右
right
駅を出て、右へ行ってください。
Leave the station and go right.
Learning point
右へ gives a direction; 右にある says something is located on the right.
左
left
左のドアから入ってください。
Please enter through the door on the left.
Learning point
左の modifies a noun to identify the object on the left.
ポスト
mailbox
ポストに手紙を入れます。
I'll put the letter in the mailbox.
Learning point
Here this usually means a public postbox; a home's receiving box is also 郵便受け.
ドア
door
ドアを開けてください。
Please open the door.
Learning point
ドアを開ける means open a door; ドアが開く describes it opening.
スイッチ
switch
スイッチを押してください。
Please press the switch.
Learning point
スイッチを入れる and 切る describe turning a switch on and off.
木
tree
庭に大きい木があります。
There is a large tree in the garden.
Learning point
For a tree's presence, basic Japanese normally uses あります rather than the animal form います.
男の子
boy
男の子が公園で遊んでいます。
A boy is playing in the park.
Learning point
男の子 usually means a boy; an adult man is generally 男の人.
女の子
girl
女の子が本を読んでいます。
A girl is reading a book.
Learning point
女の子 usually means a girl; an adult woman is generally 女の人.
冷蔵庫
refrigerator
牛乳は冷蔵庫の中です。
The milk is in the refrigerator.
Learning point
Putting something in uses 冷蔵庫に入れる; taking it out uses から出す.
色々
various
店にいろいろな物があります。
The shop has various things.
Learning point
いろいろな modifies a noun; いろいろと can modify an action.
物
thing; object
ここに物を置かないでください。
Please do not leave objects here.
Learning point
物 usually refers to concrete objects; abstract matters often use こと.
上
on; above
机の上に本があります。
There is a book on the desk.
Learning point
の上 marks a relative position and may mean on a surface or above it, depending on context.
テーブル
table
テーブルで昼ご飯を食べます。
I eat lunch at the table.
Learning point
テーブル is common for a dining table; a study or work desk is often 机.
ベッド
bed
ベッドの下に猫がいます。
There is a cat under the bed.
Learning point
Sleeping in bed is ベッドで寝る; floor bedding is 布団.
窓
window
窓を開けてもいいですか。
May I open the window?
Learning point
Use を for the window you open; 窓の近く means near the window.
後ろ
behind
店の後ろに駐車場があります。
There is a parking lot behind the shop.
Learning point
後ろ is うしろ and means behind in space; 後 often means after in time.
犬
dog
犬と散歩します。
I take a walk with my dog.
Learning point
Use いる for a dog's presence; dogs are commonly counted with 匹.
乗り場
boarding area
タクシー乗り場はどこですか。
Where is the taxi stand?
Learning point
A vehicle type plus 乗り場 identifies its boarding area, not necessarily a railway station.
パンダ
panda
動物園にパンダがいます。
There are pandas at the zoo.
Learning point
パンダ is animate and takes います; it normally means the giant panda.
象
elephant
象は体が大きいです。
Elephants have large bodies.
Learning point
象 is ぞう with a long vowel, not its Chinese pronunciation.
～屋
… shop
花屋で花を買います。
I buy flowers at a flower shop.
Learning point
A product plus 屋 can name a shop selling it, or sometimes the shopkeeper.
お土産屋
souvenir shop
お土産屋でお菓子を買いました。
I bought sweets at a souvenir shop.
Learning point
お土産 is a gift brought back from a trip, not every ordinary present.
電池
battery
電池を交換します。
I'll replace the batteries.
Learning point
電池が切れる means the battery runs out; replacing it is 交換する.
本屋
bookshop
本屋で日本語の本を買いました。
I bought a Japanese book at a bookshop.
Learning point
本屋 usually means a bookshop and may also refer to its proprietor.
間
between
銀行は駅と公園の間です。
The bank is between the station and the park.
Learning point
AとBの間 means between A and B; 間 reads あいだ here.
棚
shelf
棚に本を置きます。
I put books on the shelf.
Learning point
Use に for the placement location; the precise furniture type depends on its structure.
These study examples and learning points support review. They do not replace the textbook; meanings follow the lesson context.