Lesson 2: Everyday Objects

Vocabulary for daily items and demonstratives to identify and describe objects.

You will practice identifying and asking about various objects near the speaker, the listener, or far from both, establishing the use of demonstrative pronouns. This lesson also introduces how to confirm if something belongs to someone.

Key topics:

・Demonstratives: これ・それ・あれ (this ・ that ・ that over there)
・Question words: どれ (which one) and なん (what)
・Vocabulary for common objects (ほん, かぎ, とけい, etc.)
・The particle の to show possession (わたしのかさ)
・Asking and answering questions about objects
・Describing objects and ownership

Vocabulary

これ

kore

this (thing here)

Example

これはわたしのほんです。

Kore wa watashi no hon desu.

This is my book.

それ

sore

that (thing near you)

Example

それはあなたのぺんですか。

Sore wa anata no pen desu ka?

Is that your pen?

あれ

are

that (thing over there)

Example

あれはだれのかばんですか。

Are wa dare no kaban desu ka?

Whose bag is that over there?

この

kono

this (noun modifier)

Example

このほんはおもしろいです。

Kono hon wa omoshiroi desu.

This book is interesting.

その

sono

that (noun modifier)

Example

そのつくえはちいさいです。

Sono tsukue wa chiisai desu.

That desk is small.

あの

ano

that (noun modifier)

Example

あのひとはせんせいです。

Ano hito wa sensei desu.

That person is a teacher.

ほん

hon

本

book

Example

このほんはやすいです。

Kono hon wa yasui desu.

This book is cheap.

じしょ

jisho

辞書

dictionary

Example

わたしのじしょはあたらしいです。

Watashi no jisho wa atarashii desu.

My dictionary is new.

ざっし

zasshi

雑誌

magazine

Example

そのざっしをよみます。

Sono zasshi o yomimasu.

I read that magazine.

しんぶん

shinbun

新聞

newspaper

Example

あさしんぶんをよみます。

Asa shinbun o yomimasu.

I read the newspaper in the morning.

ノート

nōto

notebook

Example

このノートをつかいます。

Kono nōto o tsukaimasu.

I use this notebook.

てちょう

techō

手帳

pocket notebook

Example

てちょうにきろくします。

Techō ni kiroku shimasu.

I record in my pocket notebook.

めいし

meishi

名刺

business card

Example

めいしをこうかんします。

Meishi o kōkan shimasu.

We exchange business cards.

カード

kādo

card

Example

このカードはきれいです。

Kono kādo wa kirei desu.

This card is beautiful.

えんぴつ

enpitsu

鉛筆

pencil

Example

えんぴつでかきます。

Enpitsu de kakimasu.

I write with a pencil.

ぺん

pen

Example

そのぺんはわたしのです。

Sono pen wa watashi no desu.

That pen is mine.

シャープペンシル

shāpupenshiru

mechanical pencil

Example

シャープペンシルをもっています。

Shāpupenshiru o motte imasu.

I have a mechanical pencil.

かさ

kasa

傘

umbrella

Example

あめのひかさがいります。

Ame no hi kasa ga irimasu.

I need an umbrella on rainy days.

かばん

kaban

bag, briefcase

Example

このかばんはかるいです。

Kono kaban wa karui desu.

This bag is light.

くつ

kutsu

靴

shoes

Example

あたらしいくつをかいました。

Atarashii kutsu o kaimashita.

I bought new shoes.

うわぎ

uwagi

上着

jacket, coat

Example

このうわぎはあたたかいです。

Kono uwagi wa atatakai desu.

This jacket is warm.

とけい

tokei

時計

watch, clock

Example

そのとけいはたかいです。

Sono tokei wa takai desu.

That watch is expensive.

ラジオ

rajio

radio

Example

あさラジオをききます。

Asa rajio o kikimasu.

I listen to the radio in the morning.

カメラ

kamera

camera

Example

このカメラでしゃしんをとります。

Kono kamera de shashin o torimasu.

I take photos with this camera.

テレビ

terebi

television

Example

よるテレビをみます。

Yoru terebi o mimasu.

I watch TV at night.

コンピューター

konpyūtā

computer

Example

コンピューターではたらきます。

Konpyūtā de hatarakimasu.

I work with a computer.

くるま

kuruma

車

car

Example

あのくるまははやいです。

Ano kuruma wa hayai desu.

That car is fast.

つくえ

tsukue

机

desk

Example

このつくえはおおきいです。

Kono tsukue wa ōkii desu.

This desk is big.

いす

isu

椅子

chair

Example

そのいすにすわって下さい。

Sono isu ni suwatte kudasai.

Please sit on that chair.

Conversation

ちがいます

chigaimasu

That

Example Usage

ちがいます、それは私のではありません。

Chigaimasu, sore wa watashi no dewa arimasen.

That

そうですか

sou desu ka

Is that so? / I see

Example Usage

明日は雨ですか？そうですか。

Ashita wa ame desu ka? Sou desu ka.

Is it raining tomorrow? Is that so?

あのう

anou

Um... / Well... / Excuse me (getting attention)

Example Usage

あのう、すみません。

Anou, sumimasen.

Um, excuse me.

ほんのきもちです

honno kimochi desu

Example Usage

これはほんの気持ちです。

Kore wa honno kimochi desu.

This is just a small token of my feelings.

どうぞ

douzo

Please / Here you go / Go ahead

Example Usage

どうぞ、お召し上がり下さい。

Douzo, omeshiagari kudasai.

Please, go ahead and eat.

どうも

doumo

Thanks / Hello / Very (informal)

Example Usage

どうもありがとう。

Doumo arigatou.

Thank you very much.

[どうも] ありがとう [ございます]

[doumo] arigatou [gozaimasu]

Thank you very much

Example Usage

プレゼントをありがとうございます。

Purezento wo arigatou gozaimasu.

Thank you very much for the present.

これからお世話になります

korekara osewa ni narimasu

I will be in your care from now on

Example Usage

これからお世話になります、よろしくお願いします。

Korekara osewa ni narimasu, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

I will be in your care from now on, please be kind to me.

こちらこそよろしく

kochirakoso yoroshiku

I should be the one to say that / Likewise

Example Usage

よろしくお願いします。こちらこそよろしく。

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Kochirakoso yoroshiku.

Please be kind to me. Likewise.

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Demonstratives これ／それ／あれ (kore/sore/are)

Structure: これ／それ／あれ + は + [Noun] です

Use これ, それ, and あれ as pronouns that stand alone to refer to objects based on physical or psychological distance. これ means

How to use: Place これ, それ, or あれ as the subject of the sentence. Add は, then the noun (what it is) and です. For questions, replace the noun with なんですか (what is it?) or use ですか after the demonstrative. Do not attach a noun directly to これ/それ/あれ (use この/その/あの for that).

💡 Pro Tip: For things not visible or abstract, use それ when referring to something just mentioned (like

Examples

これはほんです。

Kore wa hon desu.

→ This is a book.

それはわたしのじしょです。あれはせんせいのじしょです。

Sore wa watashi no jisho desu. Are wa sensei no jisho desu.

→ That (near you) is my dictionary. That (over there) is the teacher

Rule 2: Modifying nouns with この／その／あの

Structure: この／その／あの + [Noun]

Use この, その, and あの as demonstrative adjectives that modify a following noun. この means

How to use: Place この, その, or あの directly before the noun you want to specify. No particle is needed between them. For example: この本 (this book), そのペン (that pen), あの人 (that person over there). Use the same rules of distance as with これ/それ/あれ.

💡 Pro Tip: Use この/その/あの when you want to be specific about which item you

Examples

そのぺんはわたしのです。

Sono pen wa watashi no desu.

→ That pen is mine.

このレストランはとてもおいしいです。あのレストランはちょっとたかいです。

Kono resutoran wa totemo oishii desu. Ano resutoran wa chotto takai desu.

→ This restaurant is very delicious. That restaurant over there is a bit expensive.

Rule 3: Possession and Relationships with の (no)

Structure: Noun1 + の + Noun2

The particle の connects two nouns to show possession, belonging, origin, or a relationship. It works like an apostrophe-s (

How to use: Place の between Noun1 (the possessor or modifier) and Noun2 (the possessed or modified item). For pronouns, use わたしの (my), あなたの (your), かのじょの (her), かれの (his). For names, add の after the name. The whole phrase acts like a noun that can be used in sentences.

💡 Pro Tip: の can also show other relationships: material (木のテーブル

Examples

たなかさんのかばんです。

Tanaka-san no kaban desu.

→ It

これはわたしのほんで、それはともだちのほんです。

Kore wa watashi no hon de, sore wa tomodachi no hon desu.

→ This is my book, and that is my friend

Rule 4: Asking

Structure: だれの + [Noun] + ですか

Use だれの (dare no) to ask about ownership or association. It means

How to use: Place だれの before the noun you are asking about. Then add ですか at the end of the sentence. The subject (e.g., これ, それ) can be placed at the beginning with は. For example: これはだれのペンですか (Whose pen is this?). You can also omit the noun if it

💡 Pro Tip: Answer with [Person] + の (です). For example: わたしのです (It

Examples

これはだれのノートですか。

Kore wa dare no nōto desu ka?

→ Whose notebook is this?

そのかばんはだれのですか。 – わたしのです。

Sono kaban wa dare no desu ka? – Watashi no desu.

→ Whose bag is that? – It

Lesson 2: Everyday Objects

Vocabulary for daily items and demonstratives to identify and describe objects.

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Demonstratives これ／それ／あれ (kore/sore/are)

Rule 2: Modifying nouns with この／その／あの

Rule 3: Possession and Relationships with の (no)

Rule 4: Asking

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20