Lesson 1: 先週、日本に来ました – I Came to Japan Last Week
Learn how to introduce yourself and describe your hometown in Japanese for workplace and social situations.
In this lesson, you will learn how to introduce yourself in a professional setting, describe your hometown with geographical features, and understand basic workplace introductions. This lesson focuses on practical communication skills for daily life and work environments in Japan.
Key topics:
- ・Workplace introductions and understanding roles
- ・Detailed self-introductions (name, origin, experience)
- ・Describing geographical features and locations
- ・Talking about hometown characteristics
- ・Connecting sentences with ___て, ___から, ___けど
- ・Using demonstratives それ/そこ in discourse context
Vocabulary
1
がんばります
ganbarimasu
-
I will do my best
Example
仕事をがんばります.
Shigoto o ganbarimasu.
I'll do my best at work.
2
いっしょうけんめい
isshōkenmei
一生懸命
work hard, with all one's might
Example
一生懸命働きます.
Isshōkenmei hatarakimasu.
I work very hard.
3
のんびりしている
nonbiri shite iru
-
easygoing, relaxed
Example
日曜日はのんびりしています.
Nichiyōbi wa nonbiri shite imasu.
I relax on Sundays.
4
うみ
umi
海
sea, ocean
Example
海へ行きます.
Umi e ikimasu.
I'm going to the sea.
5
おおぜい
ōzei
大勢
many people, crowd
Example
今日は大勢来ました.
Kyō wa ōzei kimashita.
Many people came today.
6
おきゃくさん
okyaku-san
お客さん
visitors, customers
Example
お客さんがいらっしゃいました.
Okyaku-san ga irasshaimashita.
A customer has arrived.
7
がくしゅう
gakushū
学習
study, learning
Example
日本語の学習をします.
Nihongo no gakushū o shimasu.
I study Japanese.
8
じこしょうかい
jikoshōkai
自己紹介
self-introduction
Example
自己紹介お願いします.
Jikoshōkai onegaishimasu.
Please introduce yourself.
9
かんこうきゃく
kankōkyaku
観光客
tourist
Example
観光客が増えています.
Kankōkyaku ga fuete imasu.
Tourists are increasing.
10
かんこうち
kankōchi
観光地
tourist destination
Example
ここは有名な観光地です.
Koko wa yūmei na kankōchi desu.
This is a famous tourist spot.
11
もり
mori
森
forest
Example
森を散歩します.
Mori o sanpo shimasu.
I walk in the forest.
12
やま
yama
山
mountain
Example
山に登ります.
Yama ni noborimasu.
I climb the mountain.
13
こうげん
kōgen
高原
plateau
Example
高原でキャンプします.
Kōgen de kyanpu shimasu.
I camp on the plateau.
14
さばく
sabaku
砂漠
desert
Example
砂漠は暑いです.
Sabaku wa atsui desu.
The desert is hot.
15
かわ
kawa
川
river
Example
川で泳ぎます.
Kawa de oyogimasu.
I swim in the river.
16
しま
shima
島
island
Example
その島へ行きたいです.
Sono shima e ikitai desu.
I want to go to that island.
17
ジャングル
janguru
-
jungle
Example
ジャングルが怖いです.
Janguru ga kowai desu.
The jungle is scary.
18
しゅっしん
shusshin
出身
home (town, country, etc.), origin
Example
出身はアメリカです.
Shusshin wa Amerika desu.
I'm from America.
19
しゅと
shuto
首都
capital
Example
日本の首都は東京です.
Nihon no shuto wa Tōkyō desu.
Japan's capital is Tokyo.
20
しゅにん
shunin
主任
chief, person in charge
Example
あの人は主任です.
Ano hito wa shunin desu.
That person is the manager.
21
そうげん
sōgen
草原
grassland
Example
草原が広いです.
Sōgen ga hiroi desu.
The grassland is wide.
22
ひがし
higashi
東
east
Example
太陽は東から登ります.
Taiyō wa higashi kara noborimasu.
The sun rises in the east.
23
にし
nishi
西
west
Example
太陽は西に沈みます.
Taiyō wa nishi ni shizumimasu.
The sun sets in the west.
24
きた
kita
北
north
Example
北の国は寒いです.
Kita no kuni wa samui desu.
Northern countries are cold.
25
みなみ
minami
南
south
Example
南の国は暖かいです.
Minami no kuni wa atatakai desu.
Southern countries are warm.
26
けいけん
keiken
経験
experience
Example
面白い経験でした.
Omoshiroi keiken deshita.
It was an interesting experience.
27
たんとう
tantō
担当
be in charge
Example
私は売上の担当です.
Watashi wa uriage no tantō desu.
I'm in charge of sales.
28
てつづき
tetsuzuki
手続き
procedure
Example
入学の手続きをしました.
Nyūgaku no tetsuzuki o shimashita.
I did the enrollment procedures.
29
テント
tento
-
tent
Example
キャンプでテントを張りました.
Kyanpu de tento o harimashita.
I pitched a tent at the camp.
30
ねこ
neko
猫
cat
Example
家で猫を飼っています.
Uchi de neko o katte imasu.
I have a cat at home.
31
パート
pāto
-
part-time worker
Example
スーパーでパートとして働いています.
Sūpā de pāto to shite hataraite imasu.
I work part-time at a supermarket.
32
はたけ
hatake
畑
plantation, field
Example
祖母の畑で野菜を作っています.
Sobo no hatake de yasai o tsukutte imasu.
I grow vegetables in my grandmother's field.
33
よびかた
yobikata
呼び方
nickname, way of calling
Example
この人の呼び方は何ですか.
Kono hito no yobikata wa nan desu ka.
What's this person's nickname?
Conversation
1
__ と申します.
to mōshimasu.
My name is __ (humble form)
Example Usage
山田太郎と申します.
Yamada Tarō to mōshimasu.
My name is Taro Yamada.
2
__ と呼んでください.
to yonde kudasai.
Please call me __
Example Usage
タローと呼んでください.
Tarō to yonde kudasai.
Please call me Taro.
3
__ という意味です.
to iu imi desu.
It means __
Example Usage
「フェスティバル」はお祭りという意味です.
'Fesutibaru' wa omatsuri to iu imi desu.
'Festival' means a celebration event.
Kanji
1
意味
meaning, significance
意🎬
idea, mind, thought
味🎬
flavor, taste
Example
ホアは花という意味です.
Howa wa hana to iu imi desu.
Howa means flower?
2
山
mountain
山🎬
mountain
Example
山にのぼります.
Yama ni noborimasu.
I climb the mountain.
3
川
river
川🎬
river
Example
川でおよぎます.
Kawa de oyogimasu.
I swim in the river.
4
海
sea, ocean
海🎬
sea, ocean
Example
海へいきます.
Umi e ikimasu.
I'm going to the sea.
5
島
island
島🎬
island
Example
その島へいきたいです.
Sono shima e ikitai desu.
I want to go to that island.
6
森
forest
森🎬
forest
Example
森をさんぽします.
Mori o sanpo shimasu.
I walk in the forest.
7
客
guest, customer
客🎬
guest, visitor
Example
このみせにはたくさん客がきます.
Kono mise ni wa takusan kyaku ga kimasu.
Many customers come to this shop.
8
観光地
tourist destination, sightseeing spot
観🎬
observe, view
光🎬
light
地🎬
ground, place
Example
ここはゆうめいな観光地です.
Koko wa yūmei na kankōchi desu.
This is a famous tourist spot.
9
経験
experience
経🎬
pass through, manage
験🎬
test, examine
Example
おもしろい経験でした.
Omoshiroi keiken deshita.
It was an interesting experience.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Introducing something with という
Structure: N1 + という + N2
This expression is used to introduce or explain something that you think the other person is hearing for the first time or something that you think they do not know. It can be used as ～という町, ～という料理, and ～という店. ～という意味 is used to explain the meaning of a word.
How to use: Use N1 + という + N2. The particle と quotes N1, and いう means 'to say/call'. For meaning, use N1 + という + 意味 + です. The question form is どういう意味ですか？. The negative is ～という意味ではありません. In casual speech, っていう is often used instead of という.
💡 Pro Tip: という introduces a name or definition. Do not confuse it with ということ, which nominalizes a clause. っていう is casual. Register: という is neutral; っていう is casual.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| N1 + という + N2 | ダナンという町 |
| N1 + という + 意味 | 「花」という意味 |
| casual: N1 + っていう + N2 | ダナンっていう町 |
Examples
ホアは「花」という意味です.
Hoa wa "hana" to iu imi desu.
→ Hoa means "flower".
これは「すし」という料理です.
Kore wa "sushi" to iu ryōri desu.
→ This is a dish called "sushi".
Rule 2: Saying you just did something
Structure: V-た + ばかりです
This is an expression to indicate that not much time has passed since a certain action. It connects to the タ-form of the verb.
How to use: Use V-た + ばかりです. The question form is V-たばかりですか？. The negative is V-たばかりではありません. In casual speech, use V-たばかりだ.
💡 Pro Tip: ばかり means 'just' in the sense of time. Do not confuse it with ところ, which means 'just about to' or 'in the middle of'. Register: ～たばかりです is polite; ～たばかりだ is casual.
| Dictionary Form | Taform | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 来る | 来(き)た | 来たばかりです |
| 始める | 始(はじ)めた | 始めたばかりです |
| 着く | 着(つ)いた | 着いたばかりです |
Examples
先週、日本に来たばかりです.
Senshū, Nihon ni kita bakari desu.
→ I just came to Japan last week.
最近、この本を読み始めたばかりです.
Saikin, kono hon o yomihajimeta bakari desu.
→ I just started reading this book recently.
Rule 3: Describing past states with ていました
Structure: V-て + いました
This expression is for indicating a past state. It is used to describe one's occupation at a certain time in the past.
How to use: Use V-て + いました. The question form is V-ていましたか？. The negative is V-ていませんでした. In casual speech, use V-てた.
💡 Pro Tip: V-ていました describes a past continuous or habitual state. Do not confuse it with V-ました, which is a simple past action. Register: ～ていました is polite; ～てた is casual.
| Dictionary Form | V-て Form | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 働く | 働いて | 働いていました |
| する | して | していました |
Examples
ベトナムでは、ホテルで働いていました.
Betonamu de wa, hoteru de hataraite imashita.
→ I used to work at a hotel in Vietnam.
学生のとき、コンビニで働いていました.
Gakusei no toki, konbini de hataraite imashita.
→ When I was a student, I used to work at a convenience store.
Rule 4: Referring back with それ and そこ
Structure: それ / そこ (discourse demonstratives)
それ and そこ are used to refer to what one said or what the other person said during a conversation. Here, it refers to ジョグジャカルタ in the previous sentence.
How to use: Use それ to refer to a previously mentioned thing or statement. Use そこ to refer to a previously mentioned place. The question form is それは何ですか？. The negative is それではありません. In casual speech, the same forms are used.
💡 Pro Tip: それ and そこ refer to something already mentioned in the conversation. Do not confuse them with これ/ここ (near speaker) or あれ/あそこ (far from both). Register is neutral.
| Word | Refersto |
|---|---|
| それ | a previously mentioned thing or statement |
| そこ | a previously mentioned place |
Examples
ジャワ島に、ジョグジャカルタという大きい町があります.ウォノソボは、そこから、バスで４時間ぐらいです.
Jawa-tō ni, Jogujakaruta to iu ōkii machi ga arimasu. Wonosobo wa, soko kara, basu de yo-jikan gurai desu.
→ There is a large city called Yogyakarta on the island of Java. Wonosobo is about four hours by bus from there.
東京に、スカイツリーという有名な場所があります.そこはとても人気があります.
Tōkyō ni, Sukaitsurī to iu yūmei na basho ga arimasu. Soko wa totemo ninki ga arimasu.
→ There is a famous place called Skytree in Tokyo. It is very popular.
Rule 5: Combining sentences with て, から, and けど
Structure: S1 + て、S2 / S1 + から、S2 / S1 + けど、S2
～て, ～から, and ～けど are used to combine two sentences into one. ～て is used to simply string sentences side by side. ～から is used to describe the cause or reason. ～けど is used to connect two sentences that are contradictory to each other.
How to use: ～て connects to the テ-form of verbs and adjectives. ～から and ～けど connect to the plain form. For nouns and ナ-adjectives, use だ before から and けど. For negative, use ではない. ～ではない is a formal way of saying ～じゃない. The question form depends on the final clause.
💡 Pro Tip: て simply links, から gives a reason, けど contrasts. Do not confuse から (because) with から (from). Register: て is neutral; から and けど are used in both polite and casual speech, but けど is more casual.
| Base | Te | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ある | あって | 畑がたくさんあって |
| 首都(しゅと)だ | 首都だから、都会です | |
| 首都(しゅと)だ | 首都だけど、静かです | |
| 首都(しゅと)ではない | 首都ではないけど、にぎやかです |
Examples
お茶の畑がたくさんあって、のんびりしています.
Ocha no hatake ga takusan atte, nonbiri shite imasu.
→ It has many tea plantations, and it's easygoing.
この町は静かだけど、とても便利です.
Kono machi wa shizuka da kedo, totemo benri desu.
→ This town is quiet, but it's very convenient.
Exercises
Question 1: Choose the correct particle to complete 'a city called Tokyo'.
東京______ まちにすんでいます.
Question 2: Choose the correct reading of 意味.
このことばの______はなんですか.
Question 3: Choose the correct form to say 'I just took a bath.'
おふろに______ばかりです.
Question 4: What does 山 mean?
あの山はたかいです.
Question 5: Choose the correct form to say 'I was studying yesterday afternoon.'
きのうの午後、ずっと勉強______いました.
Question 6: Choose the correct reading of 川.
______でおよぎます.
Question 7: Choose the correct pronoun to refer to a place just mentioned.
きょうとに行きました.______はとてもれきしがあるまちです.
Question 8: What does 海 mean?
なつに海へいきます.
Question 9: Choose the correct connector meaning 'but'.
日本語はむずかしい______、おもしろいです.
Question 10: Choose the correct reading of 島.
にほんは______です.
Question 11: Choose the correct sentence meaning 'This is the word called 'sumimasen'.'
これは「すみません」______ことばです.
Question 12: What does 森 mean?
森のなかをさんぽします.
Question 13: Choose the correct sentence meaning 'I just came to Japan.'
日本に______ばかりです.
Question 14: Choose the correct reading of 客.
このみせにはたくさん______がきます.
Question 15: Choose the correct form to say 'I used to fight with my sister.'
小さいころ、よく姉とケンカ______いました.
Question 16: What does 観光地 mean?
きょうとはゆうめいな観光地です.
Question 17: Choose the correct pronoun to refer to a thing just mentioned.
「美味しいレストランをしっていますか？」「はい、______に先週行きました.」
Question 18: Choose the correct reading of 経験.
これはよい______でした.
Question 19: Choose the correct connector meaning 'because'.
雨がふった______、しあいはちゅうしになりました.
Question 20: What does 意味 mean?
このことばの意味はなんですか.