Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1: Lesson 18 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.

Open this lesson in the reader

Lesson vocabulary

秋葉原あきはばら

Akihabara

秋葉原あきはばらでパソコンを買いかいました。

I bought a computer in Akihabara.

Learning point

秋葉原 is あきはばら, a district in Tokyo.

できます

can; be able to

日本語にほんごを話すはなすことができます。

I can speak Japanese.

Learning point

A dictionary-form verb plus ことができる expresses ability; できる can also mean become ready.

趣味しゅみ

hobby

趣味しゅみは写真しゃしんを撮るとることです。

My hobby is taking photographs.

Learning point

For an activity as a hobby, use a dictionary-form verb plus こと to make it noun-like.

日記にっき

diary

毎晩まいばん、日記にっきを書きかきます。

I write in my diary every evening.

Learning point

Writing a diary is 日記を書く; the notebook itself can be ノート.

運転しますうんてんします

drive

毎日まいにち、車くるまを運転うんてんします。

I drive a car every day.

Learning point

Use を for the vehicle driven; 運転 also applies to some machinery, though this lesson concerns driving.

車の運転くるまのうんてん

driving a car

車くるまの運転うんてんができます。

I can drive a car.

Learning point

運転 is a noun modified by 車の; the action is 車を運転する.

現金げんきん

cash

現金げんきんで払いはらいます。

I'll pay in cash.

Learning point

Use で for the payment method; 現金 contrasts with cards and similar methods.

集めますあつめます

collect

切手きってを集めあつめています。

I collect stamps.

Learning point

集める collects things together; 集まる describes things or people gathering.

動物どうぶつ

animal

動物どうぶつの写真しゃしんが好きすきです。

I like photographs of animals.

Learning point

動物 is a general word for animals; their presence normally takes いる.

特にとくに

especially

果物くだものが好きすきです。特にとくにみかんが好きすきです。

I like fruit, especially mandarins.

Learning point

特に highlights one item in particular, not a first occurrence.

馬うま

horse

馬うまに乗るのることができます。

I can ride a horse.

Learning point

Riding a horse is 馬に乗る, not a direct を object with 乗る.

へえ

oh, really; wow

へえ、ピアノが弾けるはじけるんですか。

Oh, you can play the piano?

Learning point

This reacts to new information with surprise or interest; a flat tone can sound indifferent.

それはおもしろいですね。

that's interesting

切手きってを集めあつめていますか。それはおもしろいですね。

You collect stamps? That's interesting.

Learning point

それ refers to what the other person just said, not necessarily a physical object.

なかなか

not easily; not readily

忙しくいそがしくて、なかなか休めやすめません。

I'm busy and can't easily take time off.

Learning point

With a negative, this means something is difficult to achieve; affirmative uses have other meanings such as fairly good.

ほんとうですか。

is that true?

ほんとうですか。知りしりませんでした。

Really? I didn't know that.

Learning point

This checks news or expresses surprise and does not always accuse the speaker of being untruthful.

是非ぜひ

by all means; definitely

ぜひ遊びあそびに来きてください。

Please do come and visit.

Learning point

ぜひ expresses a strong wish or recommendation, not an objective certainty.

ピアノ

piano

子どもこどもの時とき、ピアノを習いならいました。

I learned piano as a child.

Learning point

The instrument is ピアノ; playing it commonly uses 弾く.

弾きますひきます

play (a string or keyboard instrument)

ギターを弾きはじきます。

I play the guitar.

Learning point

弾く, ひく, plays keyboard or string instruments; wind instruments commonly use 吹く.

ピアノを弾きます。ピアノをひきます。

play the piano

毎日まいにちピアノを弾きはじきます。

I play the piano every day.

Learning point

The instrument takes を; する does not fully replace 弾く.

予約しますよやくします

reserve; book

ホテルを予約よやくします。

I'll book a hotel.

Learning point

Use を for what is reserved; 予約する works for hotels, restaurants, and seats.

ホテルの予約ホテルのよやく

hotel reservation

ホテルの予約よやくをしました。

I made a hotel reservation.

Learning point

ホテルの予約 is a noun phrase; the action is ホテルを予約する.

換えますかえます

change; exchange

円えんをドルに換えかえます。

I'll exchange yen for dollars.

Learning point

Use を for the original and に for the result; currency exchange commonly uses 換える.

洗いますあらいます

wash

食事しょくじの前まえに手てを洗いあらいます。

I wash my hands before eating.

Learning point

Use を for what is washed; the て form of 洗う is 洗って.

―メートル

… meters

百ひゃくメートル泳げおよげます。

I can swim one hundred meters.

Learning point

メートル measures length; distinguish it from キロメートル, kilometers.

歌いますうたいます

sing

カラオケで歌うたを歌いうたいます。

I sing songs at karaoke.

Learning point

歌う means sing; instrumental playing without a voice normally uses another verb.

故郷ふるさと

Furusato (song)

故郷こきょうを歌いうたいました。

I sang Furusato.

Learning point

Here this is the song title ふるさと; the same word can also be the general noun hometown.

インターネット

internet

インターネットでホテルを予約よやくします。

I'll book a hotel online.

Learning point

Use で for the method; connecting to the internet is インターネットにつなぐ.

お祈りおいのり

prayer

食事しょくじの前まえにお祈りおいのりをします。

I say a prayer before the meal.

Learning point

祈り is a noun; 祈る is the verb meaning pray or wish for something.

ビートルズ

the Beatles

ビートルズの歌うたをよく聞きききます。

I often listen to Beatles songs.

Learning point

This names the British band and includes a long vowel, not beetles as insects.

部長ぶちょう

department manager

部長ぶちょうは会議かいぎ室しつにいます。

The department manager is in the meeting room.

Learning point

In a company, 部長 is usually a department manager, not a government minister.

課長かちょう

section manager

課長かちょうにレポートを出しだします。

I'll submit the report to the section manager.

Learning point

課長 heads a section called 課; the precise hierarchy varies by company.

社長しゃちょう

company president

社長しゃちょうに会いあいました。

I met the company president.

Learning point

社長 names a company president or head and is not automatically every organization's general manager title.

捨てますすてます

throw away

古いふるい紙かみを捨てすてます。

I'll throw away the old paper.

Learning point

捨てる intentionally discards something; accidentally losing it is なくす.

These study examples and learning points support review. They do not replace the textbook; meanings follow the lesson context.