Chapter 15: Daily Activities and Occupations
Learn verbs for daily routines, occupations, and describing work and living situations
In this chapter, you will learn verbs for daily activities, occupations, and how to describe where you live and work. You
Key topics:
- ・Daily activities and routines
- ・Occupations and workplaces
- ・Describing where you live and work
- ・Shopping and services
- ・Product and service vocabulary
- ・Personal status and appearance
Vocabulary
1
たちます
tachimasu
立ちます
stand up, rise
Example
でんしゃでたちます.
Densha de tachimasu.
I stand on the train.
2
すわります
suwarimasu
座ります
sit down
Example
いすにすわります.
Isu ni suwarimasu.
I sit on the chair.
3
つかいます
tsukaimasu
使います
use, utilize
Example
パソコンをつかいます.
Pasokon o tsukaimasu.
I use a computer.
4
おきます
okimasu
置きます
put, place
Example
ここに おきます.
Koko ni okimasu.
I will put it here.
5
つくります
tsukurimasu
作ります
make, produce, create
Example
こうじょうでくるまをつくります.
Kōjō de kuruma o tsukurimasu.
I make cars at the factory.
6
うります
urimasu
売ります
sell
Example
みせでやさいをうります.
Mise de yasai o urimasu.
I sell vegetables at the store.
7
しります
shirimasu
知ります
get to know, find out
Example
しんぶんでニュースをしります.
Shinbun de nyūsu o shirimasu.
I find out news from the newspaper.
8
しっています
shitte imasu
知っています
know, be aware of
Example
そのことをしっています.
Sono koto o shitte imasu.
I know about that.
9
すみます
sumimasu
住みます
live, reside
Example
にほんにすみます.
Nihon ni sumimasu.
I live in Japan.
10
すんでいます
sunde imasu
住んでいます
am living, reside (currently)
Example
とうきょうにすんでいます.
Tōkyō ni sunde imasu.
I am living in Tokyo.
11
けんきゅうします
kenkyū shimasu
研究します
research, study
Example
だいがくでけんきゅうします.
Daigaku de kenkyū shimasu.
I do research at the university.
12
さら
sara
皿
plate, dish
Example
さらをあらいます.
Sara o araimasu.
I wash the dishes.
13
しりょう
shiryō
資料
materials, documents, data
Example
かいぎのしりょうをよみます.
Kaigi no shiryō o yomimasu.
I read the meeting materials.
14
カタログ
katarogu
-
catalog, brochure
Example
しなもののカタログをもらいます.
Shinamono no katarogu o moraimasu.
I receive a product catalog.
15
じこくひょう
jikokuhyō
時刻表
timetable, schedule
Example
でんしゃのじこくひょうをみます.
Densha no jikokuhyō o mimasu.
I check the train timetable.
16
ふく
fuku
服
clothes, clothing
Example
あたらしいふくをかいます.
Atarashii fuku o kaimasu.
I buy new clothes.
17
せいひん
seihin
製品
products, manufactured goods
Example
にほんのせいひんはしんせんです.
Nihon no seihin wa shinsen desu.
Japanese products are high quality.
18
ソフト
sofuto
-
software
Example
パソコンのソフトをあたらしくします.
Pasokon no sofuto o atarashiku shimasu.
I update the computer software.
19
せんもん
senmon
専門
specialty, field of expertise
Example
わたしのせんもんはコンピューターです.
Watashi no senmon wa konpyūtā desu.
My specialty is computers.
20
は
ha
歯
tooth, teeth
Example
はをみがきます.
Ha o migakimasu.
I brush my teeth.
21
はいしゃ
haisha
歯医者
dentist
Example
はいしゃにいきます.
Haisha ni ikimasu.
I go to the dentist.
22
とこや
tokoya
床屋
barber, barbershop
Example
とこやでかみをきります.
Tokoya de kami o kirimasu.
I get my hair cut at the barber.
23
プレイガイド
pureigaido
-
ticket agency, play guide
Example
プレイガイドできっぷをかいます.
Pureigaido de kippu o kaimasu.
I buy tickets at the ticket agency.
24
どくしん
dokushin
独身
single, unmarried
Example
わたしはどくしんです.
Watashi wa dokushin desu.
I am single.
25
そうこう
sōkō
草稿
draft, manuscript
Example
レポートのそうこうをかきます.
Repōto no sōkō o kakimasu.
I write a draft of the report.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Present continuous with ています
Structure: [Verb て-form] + います
Use 〜ています for two main meanings: (1) an action happening right now (
How to use: Change the verb to its て-form, then add います. Example: すむ (to live) → すんで → すんでいます (live / am living). For past ongoing/state: すんでいました (was living / used to live). For negative: すんでいません (do not live). For question: すんでいますか (Do you live __?). Use this pattern when you want to emphasize that something is currently true or happening, not just a general fact.
💡 Pro Tip: For verbs like いく (go) and くる (come), 〜ています means
Examples
おおさかにすんでいます.
Ōsaka ni sunde imasu.
→ I live in Osaka.
いまごはんをたべています.
Ima gohan o tabete imasu.
→ I am eating a meal now.
Rule 2: Stative verbs with ています
Structure: [Verb て-form] + います (for state, not ongoing action)
Some verbs, when used with 〜ています, describe a continuing state or condition that resulted from a past action, not an action happening right now. These are called
How to use: Take a verb that describes a change or achievement, change it to て-form, and add います. The meaning becomes
💡 Pro Tip: The most common mistake is using しっています for negative
Examples
そのしりょうをしっています.
Sono shiryō o shitte imasu.
→ I know that material.
あかいくつをはいています.
Akai kutsu o haite imasu.
→ I am wearing red shoes.
Rule 3: Using で for means or location of action
Structure: [Place/Means] + で + [Verb]
The particle で has two main uses: (1) marking the location where an action takes place (
How to use: To mark location of action: place the location noun, add で, then the verb. Example: とこや で かみをきります (I cut hair at the barbershop). To mark means: put the tool/vehicle/language, add で, then the verb. Example: バス で いきます (I go by bus). Do not confuse with に (which marks existence or direction). Use で for actions; use に for
💡 Pro Tip: A common mistake is using に instead of で for action locations. Remember: に is for existence (います/あります) and direction (いきます/きます). で is for action (たべる, よむ, かく, あう). For events like parties or concerts, use で: パーティーでたべます (I eat at the party). For transportation, で is correct, but for walking, you can say あるいて (by walking) instead of あるきで. For
Examples
とこやでかみをきります.
Tokoya de kami o kirimasu.
→ I cut my hair at the barber.
えんぴつでなまえをかきます.
Enpitsu de namae o kakimasu.
→ I write my name with a pencil.
Rule 4: Describing occupations
Structure: [Person] は [Occupation] です (or [Occupation] をしています for more detail)
To state someone
How to use: Basic pattern: take the person as topic (は), then the occupation noun, then です. Example: あのひと は はいしゃ です (That person is a dentist). For the active pattern: use the same structure but replace です with をしています. Example: あのひと は はいしゃ をしています (That person works as a dentist). For
💡 Pro Tip: Do not use the verb はたらく (to work) alone to state your occupation — that would mean
Examples
あのひとははいしゃです.
Ano hito wa haisha desu.
→ That person is a dentist.
わたしはほんやさんをしています.
Watashi wa hon'yasan o shite imasu.
→ I work as a bookstore clerk.
Exercises
Question 1
Choose the correct form particle:
いま ごはんを ______.
Question 2
おおさかに ______.
Question 3
How do you say
Question 4
______.
Question 5
Which particle marks the location where an action takes place?
Question 6
バス ______ いきます.
Question 7
How do you say
Question 8
あのひとは はいしゃ ______.
Question 9
What does
Question 10
あかい くつを ______.
Question 11
Which is correct for
Question 12
いま ごはんを ______.
Question 13
How do you say
Question 14
とこや ______ かみを きります.
Question 15
How do you say
Question 16
けっこん ______.
Question 17
How do you ask
Question 18
Choose the correct particle for
おおさか ______ すんでいます.
Question 19
What does
Question 20
くるまを ______.