Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1: Lesson 16 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
ジェーアール
JR (Japan Railways)
JRの電車に乗ります。
I'll take a JR train.
Learning point
JR names a railway group; not all railways in Japan belong to JR.
体
body
運動は体にいいです。
Exercise is good for the body.
Learning point
体にいい means good for health; 体を動かす means move your body.
髪
hair
髪を短く切りました。
I had my hair cut short.
Learning point
髪 mainly means hair on the head; 毛 is used for animal fur or body hair.
暗い
dark
この部屋は暗いです。
This room is dark.
Learning point
暗い can describe low light or a gloomy mood or personality.
電車を降ります。
get off a train
次の駅で電車を降ります。
I'll get off the train at the next station.
Learning point
Use を for the vehicle left and で for the place you get off.
サービス
service
この店はサービスがいいです。
This shop has good service.
Learning point
サービス can also refer to a complimentary offer, depending on context.
頭がいい
intelligent
妹は頭がいいです。
My younger sister is intelligent.
Learning point
頭がいい is a set expression for intelligence, not literally a judgment of head health.
すごいですね。
that's impressive
一日でできましたか。すごいですね。
You finished it in a day? That's impressive.
Learning point
This can praise an achievement or express surprise, depending on tone.
お引き出しですか。
are you withdrawing money?
お引き出しですか。こちらの機械をどうぞ。
Are you withdrawing money? Please use this machine.
Learning point
This is a polite banking question; 引き出し can also mean a drawer in another context.
降ります
get off; descend
バスを降りて、歩きます。
I'll get off the bus and walk.
Learning point
降りる is おりる; rain falling is 降る, ふる, a different verb.
ジョギング
jogging
朝、ジョギングをします。
I go jogging in the morning.
Learning point
ジョギングをする is jogging, not ordinary walking.
シャワー
shower
シャワーを浴びます。
I'll take a shower.
Learning point
Taking a shower uses 浴びる; a bath in a tub is commonly お風呂に入る.
浴びます
bathe in; be exposed to
朝、シャワーを浴びます。
I take a shower in the morning.
Learning point
浴びる can also mean bask in sunlight or receive attention, involving exposure.
シャワーを浴びます。
take a shower
運動してから、シャワーを浴びます。
I'll take a shower after exercising.
Learning point
シャワー takes を as the object of 浴びる, not に in this phrase.
明るい
bright
この部屋は明るいです。
This room is bright.
Learning point
明るい can also describe a cheerful person or a bright color.
どうやって
how; by what means
駅までどうやって行きますか。
How do you get to the station?
Learning point
This asks the method or means of travel; why is どうして.
―番
number …
三番のボタンを押してください。
Please press button number three.
Learning point
番 indicates an order or identifying number, not a quantity of objects.
乗ります
ride; board
バスに乗ります。
I'll take the bus.
Learning point
Use に for the vehicle boarded; use で for the means of travel.
電車に乗ります。
board a train
新大阪で電車に乗ります。
I'll board the train at Shin-Osaka.
Learning point
Use で for the boarding location and に for the vehicle, unlike を when getting off.
先ず
first
まず、名前を書いてください。
First, please write your name.
Learning point
まず introduces the first step, not a first-ever experience, 初めて.
押します
press; push
このボタンを押してください。
Please press this button.
Learning point
押す can push a door or press a button; pulling uses 引く.
次に
next
次に、暗証番号を入れます。
Next, enter your PIN.
Learning point
次に links steps; 次の modifies a noun, as in 次の駅.
キャッシュカード
cash card; bank card
キャッシュカードを入れてください。
Please insert your bank card.
Learning point
This is a bank cash card, not necessarily a credit card; a credit card is クレジットカード.
入れます
put in; insert
箱に本を入れます。
I put the book in the box.
Learning point
Use を for the item and に for the container or destination.
暗証番号
PIN; secret code
暗証番号を入力します。
I'll enter my PIN.
Learning point
暗証番号 usually means a numerical authentication code; an online password is also パスワード.
金額
amount of money
金額を確認してください。
Please check the amount.
Learning point
金額 is a monetary amount, not a bank-card number.
確認
confirmation
確認のボタンを押します。
I'll press the confirmation button.
Learning point
確認する means check or confirm; button labels vary by device.
ボタン
button
確認ボタンを押します。
I press the confirmation button.
Learning point
ボタン can mean a device button or a clothing button.
背
height; back
背が高い人です。
The person is tall.
Learning point
背 as せ in 背が高い refers to height, unlike 背中, the back.
背が高い
tall
兄は背が高いです。
My older brother is tall.
Learning point
Use 背が高い for a person's height, rather than simply 高い人.
目
eye
目が大きいです。
The eyes are large.
Learning point
Describe a feature with the pattern person は body part が adjective.
耳
ear
耳が痛いです。
My ear hurts.
Learning point
耳で聞く describes hearing; 耳が痛い may also figuratively mean criticism hits home.
歯
tooth
朝、歯を磨きます。
I brush my teeth in the morning.
Learning point
Brushing is 歯を磨く; a toothache is 歯が痛い.
足
foot; leg
足が長いです。
The legs are long.
Learning point
足 can mean foot or leg depending on context, not always foot.
短い
short
髪が短いです。
The hair is short.
Learning point
短い describes short length or duration; a short person's height is usually 背が低い.
若い
young
母はまだ若いです。
My mother is still young.
Learning point
若い normally concerns age or an early stage, not small body size.
頭
head
頭が痛いです。
I have a headache.
Learning point
頭が痛い means have a headache; 頭がいい is the set expression for intelligence.
いいえ、まだまだです。
no, I still have a long way to go
いいえ、まだまだです。もっと練習します。
No, I still have a long way to go. I'll practice more.
Learning point
This modestly responds to praise by acknowledging room to improve, not denying permission.
バンドン
Bandung
バンドンから来ました。
I come from Bandung.
Learning point
バンドン names a city in Indonesia, not a country.
緑
green; greenery
この公園は緑が多いです。
This park has plenty of greenery.
Learning point
緑 can mean the color green or greenery; 緑のシャツ describes a green shirt.
ベラクルス
Veracruz
ベラクルスで働いています。
I work in Veracruz.
Learning point
This is a Mexican place name, written in katakana as used in the textbook.
フランケン
Franconia
フランケンへ旅行しました。
I traveled to Franconia.
Learning point
フランケン names the German region commonly called Franconia in English.
入ります
join; enter (school or company)
来年、大学に入ります。
I'll enter university next year.
Learning point
Use に入る for joining a school or company, not merely walking into its building.
大学に入ります。
enter university
四月に大学に入りました。
I entered university in April.
Learning point
大学に入学する is another explicit way to say enroll in university.
出ます
leave; graduate
三月に学校を出ます。
I'll leave school in March.
Learning point
出る can mean leave a place or graduate; context determines which.
大学を出ます。
graduate from university
去年、大学を出ました。
I graduated from university last year.
Learning point
を marks the school left here; 卒業する explicitly means graduate.
神社
Shinto shrine
神社へお参りに行きます。
I'll visit a Shinto shrine to pray.
Learning point
神社 is usually associated with Shinto; a Buddhist temple is 寺.
飲みます
drink (alcohol)
友達とビールを飲みました。
I had beer with my friends.
Learning point
This context concerns alcohol, but 飲む itself also applies to water and other drinks.
見学します
visit to observe; tour
工場を見学しました。
I toured the factory.
Learning point
見学 emphasizes observing to learn, rather than just viewing or sightseeing.
どの～
which …
どの電車に乗りますか。
Which train will you take?
Learning point
どの requires a noun; use どれ when choosing an item without naming the noun.
顔
face
顔を洗います。
I wash my face.
Learning point
Washing one's face is 顔を洗う; 顔が丸い describes a round face.
長い
long
この道は長いです。
This road is long.
Learning point
長い describes length or duration; a tall person is 背が高い.
どれ
which one
この中で、どれが好きですか。
Which of these do you like?
Learning point
どれ stands alone as a pronoun; use どの to modify a noun.
鼻
nose
鼻が痛いです。
My nose hurts.
Learning point
鼻 is はな, sharing its reading with 花 but not its meaning.
口
mouth
口を開けてください。
Please open your mouth.
Learning point
The body part is くち; compounds such as 入口 have other readings.
梅田
Umeda
梅田で電車を乗り換えます。
I'll change trains at Umeda.
Learning point
梅田 is うめだ, an Osaka district name also used in station names.
乗り換えます
change (trains or vehicles)
ここで地下鉄に乗り換えます。
I'll transfer to the subway here.
Learning point
Use に for the vehicle transferred to and で for the transfer location.
下ろします
withdraw; lower
銀行でお金を下ろします。
I'll withdraw money at the bank.
Learning point
下ろす can lower an object; with money it means withdraw.
お金を下ろします。
withdraw money
ATMでお金を下ろしました。
I withdrew money from an ATM.
Learning point
Withdrawing is お金を下ろす; depositing is commonly お金を預ける.
始めます
start (something)
九時に仕事を始めます。
I start work at nine.
Learning point
始める starts something deliberately; 始まる describes something starting.
出します
take out; submit; send
明日、宿題を出します。
I'll submit my homework tomorrow.
Learning point
出す can mean take out, submit, or send, depending on its object.
電話します
telephone; call
家族に電話します。
I'll call my family.
Learning point
Use に for the person called; 電話をかける is another common expression.
雪祭り
snow festival
雪祭りを見に行きます。
I'll go to see the snow festival.
Learning point
雪祭り is a snow-themed festival and may name a particular local event.
お寺
Buddhist temple
お寺を見学しました。
I toured a Buddhist temple.
Learning point
寺 usually means a Buddhist temple, distinct from 神社; お is a common polite prefix.
These study examples and learning points support review. They do not replace the textbook; meanings follow the lesson context.