Minna no Nihongo Elementary 1: Lesson 19 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
調子がいい
in good condition
今日は調子がいいです。
I'm feeling good today.
Learning point
調子がいい works for people or machines; for a person it may concern health or performance.
調子が悪い
in poor condition
パソコンの調子が悪いです。
My computer isn't working well.
Learning point
For a machine, this means poor operation, not bad moral character.
お蔭様で
thanks to you; fortunately
おかげさまで、元気になりました。
Thanks to you, I'm feeling well again.
Learning point
This thanks someone for help or concern, without always claiming they directly caused the result.
ダイエット
weight-loss diet
ダイエットをしています。
I'm trying to lose weight.
Learning point
Japanese ダイエット usually concerns weight loss or control, not every eating pattern.
乾杯します
make a toast
みんなで乾杯しました。
We all made a toast.
Learning point
乾杯する means make a toast; 乾杯！ is what people say while doing so.
でも
but
行きたいです。でも、時間がありません。
I want to go, but I don't have time.
Learning point
でも commonly starts a contrasting sentence, unlike が linking clauses.
無理
impossible; unreasonable
今日は無理です。
Today won't work for me.
Learning point
無理 can mean impossible or overly demanding; 無理をする means push yourself too hard.
体にいい。
good for the body
散歩は体にいいです。
Walking is good for the body.
Learning point
体にいい is a language expression; に marks what benefits, rather than a specific treatment claim.
登ります
climb
友達と山に登りました。
I climbed a mountain with friends.
Learning point
登る commonly describes purposeful climbing; 山に登る is the usual expression.
相撲
sumo
テレビで相撲を見ます。
I watch sumo on television.
Learning point
相撲 is すもう with a long vowel; a wrestler is called 力士.
日
day
暑い日が続いています。
The hot days are continuing.
Learning point
日 alone as a day often reads ひ; its date-counter readings vary.
段々
gradually
だんだん暖かくなりました。
It has gradually become warmer.
Learning point
だんだん describes a gradual change, not an immediate result.
なります
become
日本語が上手になりました。
My Japanese has improved.
Learning point
A な adjective takes に; an い adjective drops い for く before なる.
一度
once
一度、日本へ行きました。
I went to Japan once.
Learning point
一度 is いちど; 一回 can also count one occurrence.
一度も
not even once
富士山に一度も登ったことがありません。
I've never climbed Mount Fuji, not even once.
Learning point
Combine 一度も with a negative to mean not even once.
調子
condition; state
体の調子はどうですか。
How are you feeling physically?
Learning point
調子 can describe health, machine operation, or performance, not every general situation.
上ります
go up; ascend
階段を上ります。
I'll go up the stairs.
Learning point
上る emphasizes upward movement; use を for the staircase route.
東京スカイツリー
Tokyo Skytree
東京スカイツリーへ行きました。
I visited Tokyo Skytree.
Learning point
This is the tower's proper name, commonly written Tokyo Skytree in English.
泊まります
stay overnight
友達の家に泊まります。
I'll stay overnight at my friend's house.
Learning point
泊まる emphasizes an overnight stay; long-term residence uses 住む.
ホテルに泊まります。
stay at a hotel
二晩、ホテルに泊まりました。
I stayed at a hotel for two nights.
Learning point
Use に for the accommodation; overnight stays can also be counted with 泊.
掃除します
clean
週末に部屋を掃除します。
I clean my room on weekends.
Learning point
Use を for what is cleaned; laundry normally uses 洗濯する separately.
洗濯します
do laundry
朝、洗濯します。
I do laundry in the morning.
Learning point
洗濯する concerns laundry; washing hands is not 手を洗濯する.
ゴルフ
golf
日曜日にゴルフをします。
I play golf on Sundays.
Learning point
Playing golf is ゴルフをする; a course is ゴルフ場.
練習
practice
毎日、ピアノの練習をします。
I practice the piano every day.
Learning point
Use noun の練習をする or directly ピアノを練習する.
強い
strong
このチームは強いです。
This team is strong.
Learning point
強い can describe power, competitive ability, or strong wind, depending on the subject.
弱い
weak
今日は風が弱いです。
The wind is weak today.
Learning point
弱い can describe low force or resistance, not only a person's character.
眠い
sleepy
昨夜寝ませんでしたから、眠いです。
I'm sleepy because I didn't sleep last night.
Learning point
眠い is feeling sleepy; already sleeping uses expressions such as 寝ている.
もう直ぐ
very soon
もうすぐ電車が来ます。
The train will arrive very soon.
Learning point
もうすぐ means about to happen; もう with a past form can mean already.
静岡県
Shizuoka Prefecture
静岡県でお茶を買いました。
I bought tea in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Learning point
静岡県 is しずおかけん, distinct from the city 静岡市.
山梨県
Yamanashi Prefecture
山梨県へ車で行きます。
I'll drive to Yamanashi Prefecture.
Learning point
山梨県 is やまなしけん; do not construct its reading from the separate characters.
葛飾北斎
Katsushika Hokusai
葛飾北斎の絵を見ました。
I saw a painting by Katsushika Hokusai.
Learning point
The name is かつしかほくさい, an ukiyo-e artist's name.
These study examples and learning points support review. They do not replace the textbook; meanings follow the lesson context.