Lesson 17: 前より日本語が上手になりました – My Japanese Is Better Than Before
Personal Growth and Skill Development
This lesson focuses on expressing personal growth, skill development, and changes over time. Students learn how to describe improvements in abilities, changes in habits and preferences, and progress in language learning or other skills. The lesson covers expressions for discussing personal development and achievements.
Key topics:
- ・Describing improvements in abilities and skills
- ・Expressing changes in habits and preferences
- ・Discussing language learning progress
- ・Talking about personal development over time
- ・Comparing past and present capabilities
Vocabulary
1
かんしゃする
kansha suru
感謝する
to appreciate
Example
いつも感謝しています.
Itsumo kansha shite imasu.
I am always grateful.
2
くろうする
kurou suru
苦労する
to have hard time
Example
たんごを苦労しました.
Tango o kurou shimashita.
I had a hard time with the vocabulary.
3
さそう
sasou
誘う
to invite
Example
しょくじに誘いますか？
Shokuji ni sasoimasu ka?
Would you like to join me for a meal?
4
しょうにんする
shounin suru
承認する
to approve
Example
けいかくを承認します.
Keikaku o shounin shimasu.
I approve the plan.
5
たのしむ
tanoshimu
楽しむ
to have fun
Example
パーティーを楽しみましょう.
Paatii o tanoshimimashou.
Let's enjoy the party.
6
はいる
hairu
入る
to enter
Example
えいがかんに入ります.
Eigakan ni hairimasu.
I'll enter the movie theater.
7
ふえる
fueru
増える
to increase
Example
ともだちが増えました.
Tomodachi ga fuemashita.
My friends increased.
8
わらう
warau
笑う
to laugh
Example
おもしろいから笑います.
Omoshiroi kara waraimasu.
I laugh because it's funny.
9
うまい
umai
-
to be good at
Example
かれは日本語がうまいです.
Kare wa nihongo ga umai desu.
He is good at Japanese.
10
くわしい
kuwashii
詳しい
familiar with
Example
コンピューターに詳しいですか？
Konpyuutaa ni kuwashii desu ka?
Are you familiar with computers?
11
__ いがい
igai
以外
besides __
Example
にちようび以外は、いそがしいです.
Nichiyoubi igai wa, isogashii desu.
Besides Sunday, I am busy.
12
おかげで
okage de
-
thanks to
Example
みなさんおかげで、たのしかったです.
Minasan okage de, tanoshikatta desu.
Thanks to everyone, it was fun.
13
さいしょのころ
saisho no koro
最初のころ
at first
Example
最初のころは、むずかしかったです.
Saisho no koro wa, muzukashikatta desu.
At first, it was difficult.
14
そろそろ
sorosoro
-
by now
Example
そろそろしゅうりょうです.
Sorosoro shuuryou desu.
It's about time to finish.
15
__ のころ
no koro
の頃
around __
Example
ごごさんじの頃、あいましょう.
Gogo san-ji no koro, aimashou.
Let's meet around 3 PM.
16
ほとんど
hotondo
-
mostly
Example
ほとんどのひとが、さんせいです.
Hotondo no hito ga, sansei desu.
Most people agree.
17
アイディア
aidia
-
idea
Example
いいアイディアがあります！
Ii aidia ga arimasu!
I have a good idea!
18
ゲストハウス
gesuto hausu
-
guest house
Example
きょうとでゲストハウスに、とまりました.
Kyouto de gesuto hausu ni, tomarimashita.
I stayed at a guest house in Kyoto.
19
サークル
saakuru
-
club
Example
えいがのサークルに、かよっています.
Eiga no saakuru ni, kayotte imasu.
I go to a movie club.
20
しごといがい
shigoto igai
仕事以外
other than work
Example
仕事以外のことも、はなしましょう.
Shigoto igai no koto mo, hanashimashou.
Let's also talk about things other than work.
21
しめび
shimebi
締め日
accounting deadline
Example
らいげつの締め日はいつですか？
Raigetsu no shimebi wa itsu desu ka?
When is next month's accounting deadline?
22
じゅぎょう
jugyou
授業
class
Example
あしたの授業は、はじまりますか？
Ashita no jugyou wa, hajimarimasu ka?
Does tomorrow's class start?
23
セリフ
serifu
-
lines
Example
そのセリフを、おぼえています.
Sono serifu o, oboete imasu.
I remember that line.
24
ともだちリクエスト
tomodachi rikuesuto
友達リクエスト
friend request
Example
あたらしい友達リクエストがきました.
Atarashii tomodachi rikuesuto ga kimashita.
I got a new friend request.
25
ドラマ
dorama
-
drama
Example
どんなドラマがすきですか？
Donna dorama ga suki desu ka?
What kind of dramas do you like?
26
のうき
nouki
納期
delivery deadline
Example
ちゅうもんの納期は、いつですか？
Chuumon no nouki wa, itsu desu ka?
When is the delivery deadline for the order?
27
もんだい
mondai
問題
problem
Example
ちいさな問題があります.
Chiisana mondai ga arimasu.
There is a small problem.
28
やりとり
yaritori
-
communication
Example
メールのやりとりを、おわります.
Meeru no yaritori o, owarimasu.
I'll finish the email exchange.
29
わだいこ
wadaiko
和太鼓
Japanese drums
Example
和太鼓の、おとがすきです.
Wadaiko no, oto ga suki desu.
I like the sound of Japanese drums.
Kanji
1
大変
hard, tough, serious
大🎬
big
変🎬
change
Example
しごとが大変です.
Shigoto ga taihen desu.
Work is tough.
2
最近
recently, nowadays
最🎬
most
近🎬
near
Example
最近、日本語のべんきょうをはじめました.
Saikin, nihongo no benkyō o hajimemashita.
I started studying Japanese recently.
3
苦労
hardship, trouble
苦🎬
suffering
労🎬
labor
Example
しんせつで苦労しました.
Shinsetsu de kurō shimashita.
I had trouble with the procedure.
4
慣れる
to get used to
慣🎬
accustomed
Example
にほんのせいかつに慣れました.
Nihon no seikatsu ni naremashita.
I got used to Japanese life.
5
授業
class, lesson
授🎬
instruct
業🎬
business
Example
日本語の授業はたのしいです.
Nihongo no jugyō wa tanoshii desu.
Japanese class is fun.
6
問題
problem, question
問🎬
question
題🎬
topic
Example
この問題はむずかしいです.
Kono mondai wa muzukashii desu.
This problem is difficult.
7
困る
to be troubled, to have difficulty
困🎬
troubled
Example
かねがなくて困っています.
Kane ga nakute komatte imasu.
I'm having trouble because I have no money.
8
違う
to be different, to be wrong
違🎬
different
Example
こたえが違います.
Kotae ga chigaimasu.
The answer is wrong.
9
増える
to increase
増🎬
increase
Example
日本語のたんごが増えました.
Nihongo no tango ga fuemashita.
My Japanese vocabulary has increased.
10
笑う
to laugh
笑🎬
laugh
Example
ともだちと笑いました.
Tomodachi to waraimashita.
I laughed with my friend.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: V-(られ)るようになりました
Structure: V-(られ)る (potential form) + ようになりました
Used to describe changes where someone has become able to do something that was not possible before. Specifically used with potential form verbs.
How to use: Change the verb to potential form (Group I: u → eru; Group II: ru → rareru; Group III: suru → dekiru, kuru → korareru), then add ようになりました.
💡 Pro Tip: This pattern focuses on acquiring ability over time. For sudden realizations (e.g., 'I can see Mt. Fuji!'), use ___られる！ or ___える！ instead. Also, note the らぬきことば in casual speech: 食べられる → 食べれるようになった.
Examples
さいきんは、ほかの人にお店のじょうほうを教えられるようになりました.
Saikin wa, hoka no hito ni omise no jōhō o oshierareru yō ni narimashita.
→ Recently, I became able to share information about stores with others.
日本語のしょうせつが読めるようになりました.
Nihongo no shōsetsu ga yomeru yō ni narimashita.
→ I became able to read Japanese novels.
Rule 2: V-るようになりました
Structure: V-る (dictionary form) + ようになりました
Used to express that a person's preference, mindset, or customs have changed. Indicates the start of a new habit or behavior.
How to use: Attach ようになりました to the dictionary form of a verb. Describes a change in routine or habit over time.
💡 Pro Tip: Unlike ___ようにする (make an effort to do), ___ようになる is an objective change. It often follows verbs like おもう, かんじる, 好き, 嫌い, or daily actions. For negative habits, use ___なくなりました.
Examples
日本に来てから、料理にしょうゆをつかうようになりました.
Nihon ni kite kara, ryōri ni shōyu o tsukau yō ni narimashita.
→ I started using soy sauce in cooking after I came to Japan.
毎朝ジョギングするようになりました.
Maiasa jogingu suru yō ni narimashita.
→ I started jogging every morning.
Rule 3: V-なくなりました
Structure: V-ない (nai-form) + なくなりました
Used to express changes where a person stopped doing something. Indicates the cessation of a habit or behavior.
How to use: Change the verb to ない-form, drop い, and add なくなりました (e.g., 食べない → 食べなくなります). This shows that something is no longer done.
💡 Pro Tip: This is the opposite of ___るようになりました. Use it when a past habit or state has ended. Can also be used with adjectives: 高くなくなりました (it's no longer expensive).
Examples
日本になれて、せいかつにこまらなくなりました.
Nihon ni narete, seikatsu ni komaranaku narimashita.
→ I no longer have problems living in Japan since I'm used to it.
いそがしくて、テレビを見なくなりました.
Isogashikute, terebi o minaku narimashita.
→ I stopped watching TV because I'm busy.
Exercises
Question 1: Choose the correct form particle: 'I became able to read Japanese novels.'
日本語のしょうせつが______ようになりました.
Question 2: Choose the correct reading of 大変.
しごとが______です.
Question 3: Choose the correct form particle: 'I started using soy sauce in cooking after I came to Japan.'
にほんにきてから、りょうりにしょうゆを______ようになりました.
Question 4: What does 最近 mean?
さいきん、日本語のべんきょうをはじめました.
Question 5: Choose the correct form particle: 'I stopped watching TV because I'm busy.'
いそがしくて、テレビを______なくなりました.
Question 6: Choose the correct reading of 苦労.
しんせつで______しました.
Question 7: Choose the correct form particle: 'Recently, I became able to share information about stores with others.'
さいきんは、ほかのひとにおみせのじょうほうを______ようになりました.
Question 8: What does 慣れる mean?
にほんのせいかつになれました.
Question 9: Choose the correct form particle: 'I started jogging every morning.'
まいあさジョギング______ようになりました.
Question 10: Choose the correct reading of 授業.
日本語の______はたのしいです.
Question 11: Choose the correct form particle: 'I no longer have problems living in Japan since I'm used to it.'
にほんになれて、せいかつに______なくなりました.
Question 12: What does 問題 mean?
このもんだいはむずかしいです.
Question 13: Choose the correct casual potential form to complete 'I became able to eat raw fish.'
なまさかなを______ようになりました.
Question 14: Choose the correct reading of 困っています.
かねがなくて______.
Question 15: Choose the correct form particle: 'I started thinking that Japanese food is delicious.'
にほんのりょうりはおいしいと______ようになりました.
Question 16: What does 違う mean?
こたえがちがいます.
Question 17: Choose the correct form particle: 'I stopped using cash and now use a card.'
げんきんを______なくなりました.
Question 18: Choose the correct reading of 増えました.
日本語のたんごが______.
Question 19: Choose the correct form particle: 'I became able to understand Japanese news.'
日本語のニュースが______ようになりました.
Question 20: What does 笑う mean?
ともだちとわらいました.