Lesson 14: 大きいビルですね – Describing Places in Japanese
Describing places and buildings
Learn vocabulary for describing places, buildings, and their characteristics. This lesson focuses on adjectives for size, condition, location, and common public facilities.
Key topics:
- ・Describing buildings and places
- ・Using adjectives to describe characteristics
- ・Public facilities and signs
- ・Location and direction words
- ・Making observations and comments
- ・Understanding public information
Vocabulary
1
おおきい
ookii
大きい
large
Example
へやはおおきいです.
Heya wa ookii desu.
The room is large.
2
ちいさい
chiisai
小さい
small
Example
トイレはちいさいです.
Toire wa chiisai desu.
The toilet is small.
3
せまい
semai
-
cramped
Example
へやはせまいです.
Heya wa semai desu.
The room is cramped.
4
ひろい
hiroi
広い
spacious
Example
りょうはひろいです.
Ryou wa hiroi desu.
The dormitory is spacious.
5
たかい
takai
高い
high / expensive
Example
たかい たてものです.
Takai tatemono desu.
It's a high building.
6
ひくい
hikui
低い
low
Example
ひくい たてものです.
Hikui tatemono desu.
It's a low building.
7
あたらしい
atarashii
新しい
new
Example
アパートはあたらしいです.
Apaato wa atarashii desu.
The apartment is new.
8
ふるい
furui
古い
old
Example
いえはふるいです.
Ie wa furui desu.
The house is old.
9
きれいな
kirei na
きれいな
clean
Example
きれいな こうえんです.
Kirei na kouen desu.
It's a clean park.
10
きたない
kitanai
-
untidy
Example
へやはきたないです.
Heya wa kitanai desu.
The room is untidy.
11
ゆうめいな
yuumei na
有名な
famous
Example
ゆうめいな おてらです.
Yuumei na otera desu.
It's a famous temple.
12
しずかな
shizuka na
静かな
quiet
Example
しずかな こうえんです.
Shizuka na kouen desu.
It's a quiet park.
13
にぎやかな
nigiyaka na
-
lively
Example
にぎやかな しょうてんがいです.
Nigiyaka na shoutengai desu.
It's a lively shopping street.
14
あちら
achira
-
over there
Example
ぎんこうは あちらです.
Ginkou wa achira desu.
The bank is over there.
15
あっち
atchi
-
over there
Example
みせは あっちです.
Mise wa atchi desu.
The shop is over there.
16
おく
oku
奥
inside (back of __ )
Example
おくに あります.
Oku ni arimasu.
It's inside.
17
なか
naka
中
inside
Example
はおのなかにあります.
Hako no naka ni arimasu.
It's inside the box.
18
まえ
mae
前
in front
Example
えきの まえです.
Eki no mae desu.
It's in front of the station.
19
よこ
yoko
横
beside
Example
つくえのよこにいすがあります.
Tsukue no yoko ni isu ga arimasu.
There is a chair beside the desk.
20
うしろ
ushiro
後ろ
back, behind
Example
家のうしろに庭があります.
Ie no ushiro ni niwa ga arimasu.
There is a garden behind the house.
21
かわ
kawa
川
river
Example
かわの そばです.
Kawa no soba desu.
It's by the river.
22
こうえん
kouen
公園
park
Example
こうえんがあります.
Kouen ga arimasu.
There is a park.
23
やきゅうじょう
yakyuujou
野球場
baseball ground
Example
やきゅうじょうへ いきます.
Yakyuujou e ikimasu.
I go to the baseball ground.
24
とおり
toori
通り
street
Example
この とおりを まっすぐ いきます.
Kono toori o massugu ikimasu.
Go straight on this street.
25
おてら
otera
お寺
temple
Example
おてらがあります.
Otera ga arimasu.
There is a temple.
26
ぎんこう
ginkou
銀行
bank
Example
ぎんこうは あそこです.
Ginkou wa asoko desu.
The bank is over there.
27
ドーム
doomu
-
__ Dome
Example
きゅうじょードームです.
Kyuujou doomu desu.
It's a baseball dome.
28
ビル
biru
-
building
Example
あの ビルは たかいです.
Ano biru wa takai desu.
That building is tall.
29
えいぎょうちゅう
eigyouchuu
営業中
open
Example
えいぎょうちゅうです.
Eigyouchuu desu.
It's open.
30
じゅんびちゅう
junbichuu
準備中
opening soon
Example
じゅんびちゅうです.
Junbichuu desu.
It's opening soon.
31
ねんじゅうむきゅう
nenjuu mukyuu
年中無休
open year round
Example
ねんじゅうむきゅうです.
Nenjuu mukyuu desu.
It's open year round.
32
しゅくじつ
shukujitsu
祝日
public holiday
Example
しゅくじつは やすみです.
Shukujitsu wa yasumi desu.
Public holidays are days off.
33
ていきゅうび
teikyuubi
定休日
closed every __
Example
ていきゅうびは にちようびです.
Teikyuubi wa nichiyoubi desu.
It's closed every Sunday.
34
ちゅうい
chuui
注意
caution
Example
ちゅういです.
Chuui desu.
Caution.
35
きけん
kiken
危険
danger
Example
きけんです.
Kiken desu.
It's dangerous.
36
こうじちゅう
koujichuu
工事中
under construction
Example
こうじちゅうです.
Koujichuu desu.
It's under construction.
37
つうこうどめ
tsuukoudome
通行止
road closed
Example
つうこうどめです.
Tsuukoudome desu.
The road is closed.
38
インフォメーション
infomeeshon
-
information counter
Example
インフォメーションで きいてください.
Infomeeshon de kiite kudasai.
Please ask at the information counter.
39
じどうはんばいき
jidouhanbaiki
自動販売機
vending machine
Example
じどうはんばいきが あります.
Jidouhanbaiki ga arimasu.
There's a vending machine.
40
さけ
sake
酒
liquor
Example
さけの みせです.
Sake no mise desu.
It's a liquor shop.
41
たくさん
takusan
-
lots of
Example
ひとが たくさん います.
Hito ga takusan imasu.
There are lots of people.
42
わかった
wakatta
-
I understand
Example
はい、わかった.
Hai, wakatta.
Yes, I understand.
43
あれ
are
-
that
Example
あれは なんですか.
Are wa nan desu ka.
What is that?
Conversation
1
おおきい たてものですね.
Ookii tatemono desu ne.
It's a big building, isn't it.
Example Usage
みて、おおきい たてものですね.
Mite, ookii tatemono desu ne.
Look, it's a big building, isn't it.
2
そうだね.
Sou da ne.
Yes. / I agree.
Example Usage
おおきいですね.そうだね.
Ookii desu ne. Sou da ne.
It's big, isn't it. Yes.
3
ちょっと、わかりませんね.
Chotto, wakarimasen ne.
I don't really know.
Example Usage
あれは なんですか.ちょっと、わかりませんね.
Are wa nan desu ka. Chotto, wakarimasen ne.
What is that? I don't really know.
4
まっててください.
Mattete kudasai.
Please wait there.
Example Usage
ここで まっててください.
Koko de mattete kudasai.
Please wait here.
5
みて！
Mite!
Look at that!
Example Usage
みて、あの たかい ビル.
Mite, ano takai biru.
Look at that tall building!
Kanji
1
大きい
big, large
大🎬
big, large
Example
おおきい たてものです.
Ookii tatemono desu.
It's a large building.
2
小さい
small, little
小🎬
small
Example
ちいさい みせです.
Chiisai mise desu.
It's a small shop.
3
高い
tall, high, expensive
高🎬
high, tall
Example
たかい たてものです.
Takai tatemono desu.
It's a high building.
4
低い
low, short
低🎬
low
Example
ひくい たてものです.
Hikui tatemono desu.
It's a low building.
5
前
front
前🎬
front, before
Example
えきの まえです.
Eki no mae desu.
It's in front of the station.
6
後ろ
back
後🎬
after, behind
Example
たてものの うしろです.
Tatemono no ushiro desu.
It's behind the building.
7
横
beside
横🎬
side, horizontal
Example
ぎんこうの よこです.
Ginkou no yoko desu.
It's beside the bank.
8
新しい
new
新🎬
new
Example
あたらしい ビルです.
Atarashii biru desu.
It's a new building.
9
古い
old
古🎬
old
Example
ふるい おてらです.
Furui otera desu.
It's an old temple.
10
公園
park
公🎬
public
園🎬
garden
Example
こうえんで さんぽします.
Kouen de sanpo shimasu.
I take a walk in the park.
11
川
river
川🎬
river
Example
かわの そばです.
Kawa no soba desu.
It's by the river.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Asking if something exists nearby
Structure: [Place] + に + N + (は) + ありますか？
This expression asks whether something exists in a certain place. It is used with このきんくに to ask about convenience stores or ATMs. The particle に marks the place, and あります asks about the existence of a thing.
How to use: Use [Place] + に + N + (は) + ありますか？. The は is often included for contrast or topic, and it can be omitted as N + が + ありますか？. To ask where something is located, use ～は、どこにありますか？ or ～は、どこですか？. The negative answer is いいえ、ありません or N + はありません. Common answers include この先にありますよ, あっちです, and このおくです. For people, use います instead of あります.
💡 Pro Tip: あります is for things, not people. に marks the location of existence, while で marks the location of an action. In casual speech, ある？ can replace ありますか？. The は in Nはありますか highlights the item you are asking about.
Examples
このちかくに、コンビニはありますか？
Kono chikaku ni, konbini wa arimasu ka?
Is there a convenience store near here?
駅のちかくに、ATMはありますか？
Eki no chikaku ni, ATM wa arimasu ka?
Is there an ATM near the station?
Rule 2: Explaining your exact location
Structure: N + の + [Location] + に + います
This expression explains one's location in detail. It is used to tell the other person where you are when arranging to meet. Add の to an easy-to-spot place and describe your position from there, such as ～の前, ～のよこ, ～の中, or ～の後ろ.
How to use: Use N + の + [Location] + に + います. The N is a landmark like かいさつ, コンビニ, or インフォメーション. Instead of ～にいます, ～です can also be used. To ask, use 今、どこにいますか？ or 今、どこですか？. The negative is いません or いないです.
💡 Pro Tip: います is for people and animals, while あります is for things. の connects the landmark to the position word: かいさつの前, not かいさつ前. Position words like 前, よこ, 中, and 後ろ need に before います. ～です is common in casual conversation.
| Form | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ～の前 | in front of ～ |
| ～のよこ | beside ～ |
| ～の中 | inside ～ |
| ～の後ろ | behind ～ |
Examples
今、かいさつの前にいます.
Ima, kaisatsu no mae ni imasu.
I'm in front of the ticket gate right now.
図書館の後ろにいます.
Toshokan no ushiro ni imasu.
I'm behind the library.
Rule 3: Sharing impressions of a place
Structure: ナA + な + N + ですね / イA + い + N + ですね
This expression shares an impression of a place. It is used to comment on a street, park, or building. When an adjective modifies a noun, the adjective comes before the noun: ナ-adjectives take な, and イ-adjectives take い.
How to use: Use ナA + な + N + ですね or イA + い + N + ですね. The ね invites agreement or a shared feeling. The question form is ～ですか？. The negative is less common but can be ナA + じゃない + N + ですね or イA + くない + N + ですね. 大きい and 小さい are exceptions: although they are イ-adjectives, they each have two forms when modifying nouns, 大きい / 大きな and 小さい / 小さな.
💡 Pro Tip: Do not drop な for ナ-adjectives: にぎやかとおりり is wrong; say にぎやかなとおりり. For イ-adjectives, keep い: 広い公園, not 広公園. 大きな and 小さな are more emotive and often used in writing or set phrases. きれい is a ナ-adjective even though it ends in い.
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ナA | ～な + N | にぎやかなとうり |
| イA | ～い + N | 広い公園 |
| Exception | 大きい / 大きな + N | 大きい公園 / 大きな公園 |
| Exception | 小さい / 小さな + N | 小さい公園 / 小さな公園 |
Examples
にぎやかなとうりですね.
Nigiyaka na toori desu ne.
It's a busy street.
新しいたてものですね.
Atarashii tatemono desu ne.
It's a new building.
Exercises
Question 1
'Is there a convenience store near here?'
このちかくに、コンビニ ______ ありますか？
Question 2
How do you ask 'Is there an ATM near the station?'
Question 3
'I'm in front of the ticket gate right now.'
今、かいさつ ______ 前にいます.
Question 4
How do you say 'I'm behind the library.'
Question 5
'It's a busy street, isn't it?'
にぎやか ______ とうりですね.
Question 6
Which is correct for 'It's a new building, isn't it?'
Question 7
Choose the correct reading of 大きい.
Question 8
Choose the correct reading of 小さい.
Question 9
Choose the correct reading of 高い.
Question 10
Choose the correct reading of 低い.
Question 11
Choose the correct reading of 前.
Question 12
Choose the correct reading of 後ろ.
Question 13
Choose the correct reading of 横.
Question 14
Choose the correct reading of 新しい.
Question 15
Choose the correct reading of 古い.
Question 16
Choose the correct reading of 公園.
Question 17
Choose the correct reading of 川.
Question 18
What does 営業中 mean?
Question 19
What does 準備中 mean?
Question 20
'This restaurant is closed every Sunday.'
このレストランは ______ は日曜日です.
Question 21
What does 年中無休 mean?
Question 22
'Is this restaurant open?'
このレストランは ______ ですか.
Question 23
What does 休み mean in a restaurant context?
Question 24
Which is correct: 'Is there a bank near here? Yes, it's beside the station.'
Question 25
Which is correct: 'It's a big park, isn't it?'