Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1: Lesson 15 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
電子辞書
electronic dictionary
電子辞書で漢字を調べます。
I look up kanji in an electronic dictionary.
Learning point
Use 調べる for looking up words; 電子辞書 can mean a device or a digital dictionary.
カタログ
catalogue
カタログで製品を選びます。
I choose a product from the catalogue.
Learning point
カタログ usually means a product catalogue; a book's contents page is 目次.
知ります
come to know; know
その店を知っています。
I know that shop.
Learning point
Use 知っています for knowing something; not knowing is normally 知りません.
住みます
live; reside
駅の近くに住んでいます。
I live near the station.
Learning point
住んでいます describes ongoing residence; use に for where someone lives.
北京に住んでいます。
live in Beijing
北京に住んでいます。会社も北京です。
I live in Beijing. My workplace is there too.
Learning point
住んでいます describes residence, not merely someone's temporary presence in Beijing.
独身
single; unmarried
私は独身です。
I'm single.
Learning point
独身 means unmarried, not living alone or having no siblings.
専門
specialty; field of study
専門は経済です。
My field is economics.
Learning point
専門 can mean a field of study or expertise; 専攻 also names an academic major.
高校
senior high school
高校で英語を教えています。
I teach English at a high school.
Learning point
高校 abbreviates 高等学校, distinct from 大学, university.
思い出します
remember; recall
友達の名前を思い出しました。
I remembered my friend's name.
Learning point
思い出す is recalling something; 覚えている describes keeping it in memory.
いらっしゃいます
be; stay (respectful)
先生は教室にいらっしゃいます。
The teacher is in the classroom.
Learning point
Here it is respectful for いる; it can also respectfully express 来る or 行く.
置きます
put; place
机の上に本を置きます。
I'll put the book on the desk.
Learning point
Use を for the item placed and に for its destination.
資料
material; document
会議の資料を作ります。
I'll prepare the meeting materials.
Learning point
資料 can mean documents, materials, or data, not only an individual file.
製品
product
この製品は日本で作っています。
This product is made in Japan.
Learning point
製品 is a manufactured product; 商品 emphasizes merchandise offered for sale.
電気製品
electrical appliance
電気製品を売っています。
We sell electrical appliances.
Learning point
電気製品 means electrical products; household appliances are also 家電.
売ります
sell
この店で本を売っています。
This shop sells books.
Learning point
Use を for the goods sold; 売っている can describe a business's regular offering.
日本橋
Nipponbashi (Osaka)
日本橋で買い物しました。
I shopped in Nipponbashi in Osaka.
Learning point
The Osaka name here is にっぽんばし; the Tokyo place with the same characters is usually にほんばし.
作ります
make; prepare
家で料理を作ります。
I cook at home.
Learning point
作る broadly covers preparing food and creating works, not only physically small objects.
造ります
build; manufacture
この会社は船を造っています。
This company builds ships.
Learning point
造る often appears for ships and substantial construction or manufacturing, with spelling also governed by convention.
ソフト
software
新しいソフトを使っています。
I'm using new software.
Learning point
In a computer context, ソフト means software; elsewhere it can describe softness.
コンピューター・ソフト
computer software
コンピューター・ソフトを作っています。
I develop computer software.
Learning point
Modern everyday usage often shortens this to ソフト or uses ソフトウェア.
研究します
research
大学で経済を研究しています。
I research economics at university.
Learning point
Use を for the research subject; 研究する implies systematic research rather than merely taking classes.
経済
economy; economics
大学で経済を勉強しました。
I studied economics at university.
Learning point
経済 can mean economic activity; the academic discipline is also 経済学.
時刻表
timetable
駅で時刻表を見ます。
I'll check the timetable at the station.
Learning point
時刻表 lists specific times; 時刻 is not a duration.
歯医者
dentist
歯医者に行きます。
I'll go to the dentist.
Learning point
歯医者 can mean a dentist or dental practice; 歯科医 is a formal professional term.
市役所
city hall
市役所で住所を変更します。
I'll update my address at city hall.
Learning point
市役所 is the municipal office, not a generic name for every government agency.
皆さん
everyone (polite address)
皆さん、おはようございます。
Good morning, everyone.
Learning point
皆さん politely addresses a group; みんな is more casual.
服
clothes
新しい服を買いました。
I bought new clothes.
Learning point
服 is a general word for clothes; wearing upper-body clothes uses 着る, but trousers use 履く.
These study examples and learning points support review. They do not replace the textbook; meanings follow the lesson context.