Chapter 14: Everyday Actions and Instructions
Learn verbs for daily activities and how to give/receive simple instructions
In this chapter, you will learn common verbs for everyday actions, how to give and follow instructions, and vocabulary for household items and common activities.
Key topics:
- ・Daily activities and actions
- ・Giving and receiving instructions
- ・Household items and appliances
- ・Common expressions for daily life
- ・Basic verb conjugations (ます-form)
- ・Asking for and giving help
Vocabulary
1
つけます
tsukemasu
付けます
turn on, switch on
Example
テレビをつけます.
Terebi o tsukemasu.
I turn on the TV.
2
けします
keshimasu
消します
turn off, extinguish
Example
電気をけします.
Denki o keshimasu.
I turn off the light.
3
あけます
akemasu
開けます
open
Example
えいぎょうちゅうです.
Eigyouchuu desu.
It
4
しめます
shimemasu
閉めます
close, shut
Example
ドアをしめます.
Doa o shimemasu.
I close the door.
5
いそぎます
isogimasu
急ぎます
hurry, rush
Example
仕事にいそぎます.
Shigoto ni isogimasu.
I hurry to work.
6
まちます
machimasu
待ちます
wait
Example
バスをまちます.
Basu o machimasu.
I wait for the bus.
7
とめます
tomemasu
止めます
stop, park
Example
車をとめます.
Kuruma o tomemasu.
I park the car.
8
まがります
magarimasu
曲がります
turn
Example
角をまがります.
Kado o magarimasu.
I turn at the corner.
9
もちます
mochimasu
持ちます
hold, carry
Example
かばんをもちます.
Kaban o mochimasu.
I carry the bag.
10
とります
torimasu
取ります
take, get
Example
写真をとります.
Shashin o torimasu.
I take a photo.
11
てつだいます
tetsudaimasu
手伝います
help, assist
Example
料理をてつだいます.
Ryōri o tetsudaimasu.
I help with the cooking.
12
よびます
yobimasu
呼びます
call, invite
Example
医者をよびます.
Isha o yobimasu.
I call a doctor.
13
はなします
hanashimasu
話します
speak, talk
Example
電話ではなします.
Denwa de hanashimasu.
I talk on the phone.
14
みせます
misemasu
見せます
show
Example
写真をみせます.
Shashin o misemasu.
I show the photo.
15
おしえます
oshiemasu
教えます
teach, tell
Example
名前をおしえます.
Namae o oshiemasu.
I tell my name.
16
はじめます
hajimemasu
始めます
begin, start
Example
仕事をはじめます.
Shigoto o hajimemasu.
I start work.
17
ふります
furimasu
降ります
fall (rain, snow)
Example
雨がふります.
Ame ga furimasu.
It rains.
18
コピーします
kopī shimasu
-
copy, photocopy
Example
書類をコピーします.
Shorui o kopī shimasu.
I copy documents.
19
エアコン
eakon
-
air conditioner
Example
エアコンをつけます.
Eakon o tsukemasu.
I turn on the air conditioner.
20
パスポート
pasupōto
-
passport
Example
パスポートを見せます.
Pasupōto o misemasu.
I show my passport.
21
なまえ
namae
名前
name
Example
おなまえはなんですか？
O-namae wa nan desu ka?
What is your name?
22
じゅうしょ
jūsho
住所
address
Example
じゅうしょはどちらですか.
Juusho wa dochira desu ka.
What is your address?
23
ちず
chizu
地図
map
Example
ちずを見ます.
Chizu o mimasu.
I look at the map.
24
しお
shio
塩
salt
Example
しおを とってください.
Shio o totte kudasai.
Please pass me the salt.
25
さとう
satō
砂糖
sugar
Example
さとうを ください.
Satou o kudasai.
Please give me sugar.
26
よみかた
yomikata
読み方
reading method
Example
漢字のよみかたをおしえます.
Kanji no yomikata o oshiemasu.
I teach how to read kanji.
27
ゆっくり
yukkuri
-
slowly, leisurely
Example
ゆっくり話してください.
Yukkuri hanashite kudasai.
Please speak slowly.
28
すぐ
sugu
-
immediately, right away
Example
すぐ行きます.
Sugu ikimasu.
I
29
また
mata
-
again, and
Example
また来ます.
Mata kimasu.
I
30
あとで
ato de
-
later, afterwards
Example
あとで電話します.
Ato de denwa shimasu.
I
31
もうすこし
mō sukoshi
-
a little more
Example
もうすこし待ってください.
Mō sukoshi matte kudasai.
Please wait a little more.
32
もう
mō
-
already, more
Example
もう終わりました.
Mō owarimashita.
It
33
いいですよ
ii desu yo
-
That
Example
「窓をあけてもいいですか.」「はい、いいですよ.」
「Mado o akete mo ii desu ka?」「Hai, ii desu yo.」
「May I open the window?」「Yes, that
34
さあ
sā
-
well, now, come on
Example
さあ、始めましょう.
Sā, hajimemashō.
Well, let
35
あれ？
are?
-
Huh? What? (expression of surprise)
Example
あれ？鍵がない.
Are? Kagi ga nai.
Huh? The key is missing.
36
みぎへ
migi e
右へ
to the right
Example
みぎへまがってください.
Migi e magatte kudasai.
Please turn right.
Conversation
1
いいですよ
ii desu yo
That
Example Usage
まどをあけてもいいですよ.
Mado wo akete mo ii desu yo.
It
2
さあ
saa
Well___ / Come on / Let
Example Usage
さあ、いきましょう.
Saa, ikimashou.
Well, let
3
あれ？
are?
Huh? / What? / That
Example Usage
あれ？かぎがない.
Are? Kagi ga nai.
Huh? The key is missing.
4
しんごうをみぎへまがってください
shingou wo migi e magatte kudasai
Please turn right at the traffic light
Example Usage
つぎのしんごうをみぎへまがってください.
Tsugi no shingou wo migi e magatte kudasai.
Please turn right at the next traffic light.
5
まっすぐ
massugu
Straight / Go straight ahead
Example Usage
このみちをまっすぐいってください.
Kono michi wo massugu itte kudasai.
Please go straight on this road.
6
ねがこれでお願いします
kore de onegaishimasu
I
Example Usage
1,000えんでこれでお願いします.
Sen-en de kore de onegaishimasu.
It
7
おつり
otsuri
Change (money)
Example Usage
おつりは300えんです.
Otsuri wa sanbyaku-en desu.
Your change is 300 yen.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Verb ます-form for polite speech
Structure: [Verb stem] + ます (present/future affirmative polite)
The ます-form is the standard polite way to end a verb in Japanese. You use it when speaking to strangers, teachers, bosses, or anyone outside your close friends and family. Remove the ます to get the verb stem, which is useful for many other grammar patterns. The ます-form itself does not indicate tense clearly — context tells you if it
How to use: Start with a verb in its dictionary form. Change it to the ます-form by replacing the ending: う-verbs change う to い + ます (e.g., かう → かいます), る-verbs drop る and add ます (たべる → たべます), irregular verbs: する → します, くる → きます. Then use this form to end your sentence politely. Example: テレビをつけます (I turn on / will turn on the TV).
💡 Pro Tip: The ます-form is safe for most situations, but using it with close friends sounds too formal. For past tense, change ます to ました (たべました = ate). For negative, change ます to ません (たべません = don
Examples
テレビをつけます.
Terebi o tsukemasu.
→ I turn on the TV.
あさごはんをたべます.
Asagohan o tabemasu.
→ I eat breakfast.
Rule 2: Asking for permission with 〜てもいいですか
Structure: [Verb て-form] + も + いいですか
Use this pattern to politely ask for permission to do something. It means
How to use: First, change the verb to its て-form. Then add も, then いいですか. Example: あける (to open) → あけて → あけてもいいですか (May I open?). For negative permission (May I not do __?), use なくてもいいですか: しなくてもいいですか (May I not do it?). To give permission, say いいですよ (It
💡 Pro Tip: In casual conversation with friends, drop ですか and just say 〜てもいい？ Do not confuse this with 〜てもかまいません (more formal,
Examples
まどをあけてもいいですか.
Mado o akete mo ii desu ka.
→ May I open the window?
ここにすわってもいいですか.
Koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka.
→ May I sit here?
Rule 3: Giving instructions with 〜てください
Structure: [Verb て-form] + ください
Use 〜てください to make polite requests or give instructions. It means
How to use: Change the verb to its て-form, then add ください. Example: まつ (to wait) → まって → まってください (Please wait). For negative: change verb to ない-form, add で, then ください: たべないでください (Please don
💡 Pro Tip: Do not use 〜てください with superiors or customers unless you are in a position of giving instructions. Instead use 〜ていただけますか (more humble and polite). When talking to close friends, drop ください and just use the て-form alone: まって (Wait). For
Examples
ここでまってください.
Koko de matte kudasai.
→ Please wait here.
なまえをかいてください.
Namae o kaite kudasai.
→ Please write your name.
Rule 4: Describing ongoing actions with 〜ています
Structure: [Verb て-form] + います
Use 〜ています to describe an action that is currently in progress (
How to use: Change the verb to its て-form, then add います. Example: する → して → しています (I am doing / I do). For past ongoing action (
💡 Pro Tip: Many learners overuse 〜ています for every verb. For simple statements of fact (e.g.,
Examples
コピーをしています.
Kopī o shite imasu.
→ I
いまテレビをみています.
Ima terebi o mite imasu.
→ I am watching TV now.
Exercises
Question 1
Choose the correct ます-form of かう (to buy).
まいにち しんぶんを ______.
Question 2
あさごはんを ______.
Question 3
How do you ask
Question 4
ここで ______ ください.
Question 5
What does
Question 6
あさごはんを ______.
Question 7
How do you say
Question 8
______ ください.
Question 9
What does
Question 10
かいものを ______.
Question 11
How do you ask
Question 12
まいにち 日本語を ______.
Question 13
What does
Question 14
なまえを ______ ください.
Question 15
What does
Question 16
さんじに ______.
Question 17
How do you say
Question 18
いま テレビを ______.
Question 19
What would you say to a close friend to ask them to wait?
Question 20
Complete the question meaning
あさごはんを ______ か.