Lesson 9: Studying Japanese (日本語の勉強)

Can you teach me how to read it?

This lesson focuses on talking about Japanese language learning experiences, describing difficulties and preferences in studying Japanese, and asking for help with Japanese language problems. You'll learn how to discuss your learning background, express what you find easy or difficult, and politely request assistance.

Key topics:

・Talking about where and how you studied Japanese
・Describing what's easy and difficult in Japanese learning
・Topic 3: Comparing different aspects of Japanese language
・Politely asking for help with Japanese
・Discussing study methods and recommendations
・Learning about studying Japanese through anime
・Understanding local Japanese language classes

Vocabulary

おしゃべりする

oshaberi suru

お喋しゃべりする

to chat

Example

ともだちとよくお喋しゃべりします.

Tomodachi to yoku oshaberi shimasu.

I often chat with friends.

おぼえる

oboeru

覚おぼえる

to memorize

Example

何なん回かいも書かいて覚おぼえています.

Nankaimo kaite oboete imasu.

I memorize by writing many times.

さがす

sagasu

探さがす

to look for

Example

しごとを探さがします.

Shigoto o sagashimasu.

I look for a job.

せつめいする

setsumei suru

説明せつめいする

to explain

Example

このルールを説明せつめいします.

Kono rūru o setsumei shimasu.

I explain this rule.

チェックする

chekku suru

to check

Example

てんきよほうをチェックします.

Tenkiyohō o chekku shimasu.

I check the weather forecast.

ちがう

chigau

違ちがう

different

Example

日本にっぽん語ごとえいごは違ちがいます.

Nihongo to eigo wa chigaimasu.

Japanese and English are different.

にている

niteiru

似にている

similar

Example

このふたりは似にています.

Kono futari wa nite imasu.

These two people are similar.

みせる

miseru

見みせる

to show

Example

あたらしいくつを見みせます.

Atarashii kutsu o misemasu.

I show my new shoes.

アニメ

anime

anime / animation

Example

アニメで日本にっぽん語ごを勉強べんきょうします.

Anime de nihongo o benkyou shimasu.

I study Japanese with anime.

かいわ

kaiwa

会話かいわ

conversation

Example

日本にっぽん語ごの会話かいわを練習れんしゅうします.

Nihongo no kaiwa o renshuu shimasu.

I practice Japanese conversation.

カタカナ

katakana

Example

カタカナを覚おぼえました.

Katakana o oboemashita.

I memorized katakana.

かんじ

kanji

漢字かんじ

Kanji

Example

漢字かんじは難むずかしいです.

Kanji wa muzukashii desu.

Kanji is difficult.

ひらがな

hiragana

Example

ひらがなで書かきます.

Hiragana de kakimasu.

I write in hiragana.

ぶんぽう

bunpou

文法ぶんぽう

grammar

Example

文法ぶんぽうを勉強べんきょうします.

Bunpou o benkyou shimasu.

I study grammar.

はつおん

hatsuon

発音はつおん

pronunciation

Example

発音はつおんを練習れんしゅうします.

Hatsuon o renshuu shimasu.

I practice pronunciation.

もじ

moji

文字もじ

characters

Example

日本にっぽん語ごの文字もじは三みっつあります.

Nihongo no moji wa mittsu arimasu.

There are three types of Japanese characters.

きょうかしょ

kyoukasho

教科きょうか書きょうかしょ

textbook

Example

教科きょうか書しょを読よみます.

Kyoukasho o yomimasu.

I read the textbook.

にほんごがっこう

nihongo gakkou

日本にっぽん語ご学校にほんごがっこう

Japanese language school

Example

日本にっぽん語ご学校がっこうで勉強べんきょうします.

Nihongo gakkou de benkyou shimasu.

I study at a Japanese language school.

としょかん

toshokan

図書としょ館としょかん

library

Example

図書としょ館かんでほんをよみます.

Toshokan de hon o yomimasu.

I read books at the library.

こうこう

koukou

高校こうこう

high school

Example

高校こうこうで日本にっぽん語ごを勉強べんきょうしました.

Koukou de nihongo o benkyou shimashita.

I studied Japanese in high school.

だいがく

daigaku

大学だいがく

university / college

Example

大学だいがくで日本にっぽん語ごを勉強べんきょうします.

Daigaku de nihongo o benkyou shimasu.

I study Japanese at university.

れんしゅう

renshuu

練習れんしゅう

practice / exercise

Example

会話かいわの練習れんしゅうがもっとしたいです

kaiwa no renshu ga motto shitai desu.

I want to practice my conversation skills more.

__ かた

__ kata

__ 方ほう()

__ method

Example

読よみ方かたを教おしえてもらえませんか？

Yomikata o oshiete moraemasen ka?

Could you teach me how to read it?

アプリ

apuri

app / application

Example

アプリで日本にっぽん語ごを勉強べんきょうします.

Apuri de nihongo o benkyou shimasu.

I study Japanese with an app.

ネット

netto

Internet

Example

ネットで調しらべます.

Netto de shirabemasu.

I look it up on the Internet.

ラジオ

rajio

radio

Example

ラジオを聞きます.

Rajio o kikimasu.

I listen to the radio.

Conversation

どこで __ を勉強しましたか？

Doko de __ o benkyou shimashita ka?

Where did you study __?

Example Usage

どこで日本にっぽん語ごを勉強べんきょうしましたか？

Doko de nihongo o benkyou shimashita ka?

Where did you study Japanese?

__ の勉強はどうですか？

no benkyou wa dou desu ka?

How is your study of __ going?

Example Usage

日本にっぽん語ごの勉強べんきょうはどうですか？

Nihongo no benkyou wa dou desu ka?

How is your Japanese studying going?

__ を教えてもらえませんか？

o oshiete moraemasen ka?

Could you teach me __?

Example Usage

読よみ方かたを教おしえてもらえませんか？

Yomikata o oshiete moraemasen ka?

Could you teach me how to read it?

いい __ のし方がありますか？

Ii __ no shikata ga arimasu ka?

Is there a good way to __?

Example Usage

いい練習れんしゅうのし方かたがありますか？

Ii renshuu no shikata ga arimasu ka?

Is there a good way to practice?

__ チェックしてもらえませんか？

chekku shite moraemasen ka?

Could you check __?

Example Usage

日本にっぽん語ごメールチェックしてもらえませんか？

Nihongo meru chekku shite moraemasen ka?

Could you check my Japanese email?

そんなことないです

sonna koto nai desu

Not really.

Example Usage

日本にっぽん語ごが上手じょうずですね.そんなことないです.

Nihongo ga jouzu desu ne. Sonna koto nai desu.

You're good at Japanese. Not really.

じしんがありません

jishin ga arimasen

I am not confident.

Example Usage

日本にっぽん語ごを話はなす自信じしんがありません.

Nihongo o hanasu jishin ga arimasen.

I am not confident speaking Japanese.

Kanji

説明せつめいする

to explain

説🎬

explanation

明🎬

clear, bright

Example

このルールを説明せつめいします.

Kono rūru o setsumei shimasu.

I explain this rule.

覚おぼえる

to memorize

覚🎬

memorize, remember

Example

何なん回かいも書かいて覚おぼえています.

Nankaimo kaite oboete imasu.

I memorize by writing many times.

探さがす

to look for

探🎬

look for, search

Example

しごとを探さがします.

Shigoto o sagashimasu.

I look for a job.

見みせる

to show

見🎬

see, show

Example

あたらしいくつを見みせます.

Atarashii kutsu o misemasu.

I show my new shoes.

練習れんしゅう

practice

練🎬

practice, polish

習🎬

learn

Example

会話かいわの練習れんしゅうがもっとしたいです

kaiwa no renshu ga Motto shitai desu.

I want to practice my conversation skills more.

会話かいわ

conversation

会🎬

meet

話🎬

talk, speak

Example

日本にっぽん語ごの会話かいわを練習れんしゅうします.

Nihongo no kaiwa o renshuu shimasu.

I practice Japanese conversation.

無料むりょう

free of charge

無🎬

nothing, without

料🎬

fee, materials

Example

教室きょうしつでは無料むりょうで日本にっぽん語ごを教おしえています

kiyositsu de wa muryō de nihongo o oshieteimasu.

We teach Japanese for free at the classroom..

漢字かんじ

kanji characters

漢🎬

Chinese

字🎬

character, letter

Example

漢字かんじは難むずかしいです.

Kanji wa muzukashii desu.

Kanji is difficult.

大学だいがく

university

大🎬

big

学🎬

study, learning

Example

大学だいがくで日本にっぽん語ごを勉強べんきょうします.

Daigaku de nihongo o benkyou shimasu.

I study Japanese at university.

高校こうこう

high school

高🎬

high, tall

校🎬

school

Example

高校こうこうで日本にっぽん語ごを勉強べんきょうしました.

Koukou de nihongo o benkyou shimashita.

I studied Japanese in high school.

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Saying the means or way you did something

Structure: N + で + V-ます

This expression indicates the means or way. It is used to describe the means taken to study Japanese. The particle で marks the tool, method, or medium.

How to use: Use N + で + V-ます. If asked どこで日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしましたか？, you can answer with the place where you studied or with your means of studying. If asking specifically about the means, use どうやって. The question form is 何なんで / どうやって + V-ますか？. The negative is V-ません.

💡 Pro Tip: で marks means or method, while に marks destination and を marks object. Do not confuse means で with place-of-action で; context decides. 何なんで can also mean「 why,」so どうやって is clearer for「 how.」

Examples

アニメで日本にっぽん語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしました.

Anime de Nihongo o benkyō shimashita.

→ I studied Japanese by watching anime.

ネットで日本にっぽん語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしました.

Netto de Nihongo o benkyō shimashita.

→ I studied Japanese on the Internet.

Rule 2: Saying how long you did something

Structure: [Duration] + V-ます

These expressions indicate duration. They are used to describe how long one has studied Japanese. ～ぐらい describes an approximate length, while ～間かん describes a definite duration.

How to use: Place the duration before the verb: [Duration] + V-ます. Use ～ぐらい for approximate length and ～間かん for a definite period. To ask, use どのぐらい or どのくらい. The negative is V-ませんでした, and the past is V-ました.

💡 Pro Tip: ぐらい/くらい means「 about,」while 年間ねんかん counts a definite number of years. Do not say ２年ねんぐらい when you mean exactly two years; use ２年間ねんかん. For months, use ～か月がつ; for hours, ～時間じかん.

Form	Meaning
～ぐらい	approximate length
～間かん	definite duration

Examples

１年ねんぐらい日本にっぽん語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしました.

Ichi-nen gurai Nihongo o benkyō shimashita.

→ I studied Japanese for about a year.

大学だいがくで３年間ねんかん中国ちゅうごく語ちゅうごくごを勉強べんきょうしました.

Daigaku de san-nenkan Chūgokugo o benkyō shimashita.

→ I studied Chinese for three years at university.

Rule 3: Describing a characteristic of something

Structure: N1 + は + N2 + が + [ナA/イA] / N1 + は + V-る + の + が + [ナA/イA]

This expression concretely describes the characteristics of something. It is used to say, for example, that characters are difficult in Japanese. If the N2が section uses a verb, の is added to the verb in dictionary form.

How to use: Use N1 + は + N2 + が + ナAです / イA-いです. If N2 is a verb, use V-る + のが: 話はなす→話はなすのが, 読よむ→読よむのが, かくえる→かくえるのが. The question form is N1は何なにが～ですか？. The negative is ナA + じゃないです or イA + くないです.

💡 Pro Tip: The large topic is marked by は, and the specific aspect is marked by が. Do not use を with adjectives like なんしい; use が. の turns the verb into a noun-like phrase.

Dictionary Form	Noga
話はなす	話(はな)すのが
読よむ	読(よ)むのが
かくえる	かくえるのが

Examples

日本にっぽん語にほんごはぶんじがなんしいです.

Nihongo wa moji ga muzukashii desu.

→ The characters are a difficult part of Japanese.

英語えいごははつ音おとがなんしいです.

Eigo wa hatsuon ga muzukashii desu.

→ English pronunciation is difficult.

Rule 4: Comparing two characteristics

Structure: N1 + は、～.でも、N2 + は、～.

This expression talks about characteristics by comparing two things. Here, the person says that speaking Japanese is easy, while in comparison reading it is difficult. The second sentence often contrasts with the first.

How to use: Use N1 + は、～.でも、N2 + は、～.. は marks each topic and often adds contrast. でも starts the contrasting sentence. The negative and question forms depend on the predicates used. Related: は can appear twice in one clause for contrast, as in 英語えいごはぶんほうはかんたんです.

💡 Pro Tip: でも is sentence-initial; が joins clauses within one sentence. Repeating は can make the contrast stronger. Do not confuse comparison は with simple topic は.

Examples

日本にっぽん語にほんごは、読よむのはしょうしなんしいです.でも、会話かいわはえいです.

Nihongo wa, yomu no wa sukoshi muzukashii desu. Demo, kaiwa wa tokui desu.

→ Reading Japanese is a bit difficult, but I am good at speaking in Japanese.

かんじはかくえるのが大だいへんです.でも、ひらがなはかんたんです.

Kanji wa oboeru no ga taihen desu. Demo, hiragana wa kantan desu.

→ Memorizing kanji is tough. But hiragana is easy.

Rule 5: Politely asking someone to do something

Structure: V-て + もらえませんか？

This expression requests something from the other person. V-てもらえませんか？ is a more polite expression than V-て下ください. ～もらえませんか？ is added after the verb in テ-form.

How to use: Use V-て + もらえませんか？. Conjugation: チェックする→チェックしてもらえませんか,
せつ明めいする→せつ明めいしてもらえませんか,
教おしえる→教おしえてもらえませんか,
見みせる→見みせてもらえませんか.
The form is already a polite negative question; to accept, say はい、いいですよ. A more formal version is V-ていただけませんか？. In casual speech, use V-てもらえる？.

💡 Pro Tip: もらえませんか？ is politer and softer than 下ください. Do not use it with someone far above you if an even more respectful form is needed; いただけませんか is safer. The verb before もらえませんか must be in テ-form.

Dictionary Form	Request Form
チェックする	チェックしてもらえませんか
せつ明めいする	せつ明めいしてもらえませんか
教おしえる	教おしえてもらえませんか
見みせる	見みせてもらえませんか

Examples

日本にっぽん語にほんごをチェックしてもらえませんか？

Nihongo o chekku shite moraemasen ka?

→ Will you check my Japanese?

か物ものをじってもらえませんか？

Nimotsu o motte moraemasen ka?

→ Could you carry my luggage?

Rule 6: Introducing a situation and seeking help

Structure: [Situation] + んですが、～

んですが describes your situation and invites the listener's help, advice, or response. It often trails off with falling intonation, leaving the actual request implied. It is a soft, polite way to bring up a topic before asking a question.

How to use: Attach んですが to the plain form of a sentence. For nouns and ナ-adjectives, use N/ナA + なんですが. For verbs and イ-adjectives, use the plain form + んですが. The ん is a contraction of の, and the が softens the statement and leaves it open. In casual speech, use んだけど. The sentence can end there or continue: ～んですが、～ですか？.

💡 Pro Tip: Here が is not a contrast marker; it softens and seeks a response. Do not confuse んですが (lead-in) with が meaning but. んです asks for an explanation, while んですが introduces your own situation. Register: んですが is polite; んだけど is casual.

Examples

すみません、ちょっと聞ききたいんですが….

Sumimasen, chotto kikitai n desu ga __

→ Excuse me, I'd like to ask you something __

パソコンを買かいたいんですが、どこがいいですか？

Pasokon o kaitai n desu ga, doko ga ii desu ka?

→ I want to buy a computer; where would be good?

Rule 7: Saying how to do something

Structure: V-ます stem + ほう

～ほう indicates how to do something. 書かきほう means「 how to write.」Here, the person says he does not know how to fill out the document. It connects to the マス-form of the verb with ます removed.

How to use: Use V-ます stem + ほう. Conjugation: 書かく→書かきほう, 読よむ→読よみほう, しう→しいほう, する→しほう. To ask, use ～ほうを教おしえて下ください or ～ほうはどうですか？. The negative is ～ほうがわかりません.

💡 Pro Tip: ほう is read かた here, not ほう. For する, say しほう, not すほう. ～ほう is a noun, so it can take が, を, or は depending on the sentence.

Dictionary Form	Kata
書かく	書(か)きほう
読よむ	読(よ)みほう
しう	しいほう
する	しほう

Examples

この書かきるいの書かきほうがよくわかりません.

Kono shorui no kakikata ga yoku wakarimasen.

→ I do not know how to fill out this paperwork.

このかんじの読よみほうを教おしえて下ください.

Kono kanji no yomikata o oshiete kudasai.

→ Please teach me how to read this kanji.

Lesson 9: Studying Japanese (日本語の勉強)

Can you teach me how to read it?

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Saying the means or way you did something

Rule 2: Saying how long you did something

Rule 3: Describing a characteristic of something

Rule 4: Comparing two characteristics

Rule 5: Politely asking someone to do something

Rule 6: Introducing a situation and seeking help

Rule 7: Saying how to do something

Exercises

Question 1: Which particle means 'by means of' or 'through'?

Question 2: 'I studied Japanese on the Internet.'

Question 3: Which is correct for 'I studied Japanese with an app.'?

Question 4: 'I studied Japanese for about a year.'

Question 5: Which is correct for 'I studied Chinese for three years at university.'?

Question 6: 'How long did you study Japanese?'

Question 7: Which is correct for 'The characters are a difficult part of Japanese.'?

Question 8: 'English pronunciation is difficult.'

Question 9: Which is correct for 'Memorizing kanji is difficult.'?

Question 10: 'I like speaking Japanese.'

Question 11: Which is correct for 'Reading Japanese is a bit difficult. But I am good at speaking.'?

Question 12: 'Memorizing kanji is tough. But hiragana is easy.'

Question 13: Which is the correct polite request for 'Could you teach me how to read it?'

Question 14: 'Could you check my Japanese?'

Question 15: Which is correct for 'Could you carry my luggage?'

Question 16: 'I don't know how to write it.'

Question 17: Which is correct for 'Please tell me how to read this kanji.'

Question 18: 'I do not know how to fill out this document.'

Question 19: Which is correct for 'I studied Japanese through anime. Could you teach me how to read kanji?'

Question 20: Which is correct for 'I studied Japanese for about a year. Japanese characters are difficult, but conversation is easy.'