Chapter 25: Thinking, Age, and Conditional Expressions
Learn verbs for thinking and arriving, expressions about age and study abroad, and conditional grammar patterns
In this chapter, you will learn verbs for thinking and arriving, vocabulary related to study abroad and places, and important conditional expressions using もし and いくら. You
Key topics:
- ・Thinking and mental processes
- ・Arriving and reaching places
- ・Study abroad and international topics
- ・Age and time expressions
- ・Conditional expressions (if, even if)
- ・Rural vs. urban vocabulary
Vocabulary
1
かんがえます
kangaemasu
考えます
think, consider, ponder
Example
もんだいについてかんがえます.
Mondai ni tsuite kangaemasu.
I think about the problem.
2
つきます
tsukimasu
着きます
arrive, reach
Example
えきにつきます.
Eki ni tsukimasu.
I arrive at the station.
3
りゅうがくします
ryūgaku shimasu
留学します
study abroad
Example
らいねんアメリカにりゅうがくします.
Rainen Amerika ni ryūgaku shimasu.
I will study abroad in America next year.
4
とります
torimasu
取ります
take, get, pass (age)
Example
としをとります.
Toshi o torimasu.
I get older (literally: take years).
5
いなか
inaka
田舎
countryside, rural area, hometown
Example
いなかのくうきはきれいです.
Inaka no kūki wa kirei desu.
The air in the countryside is clean.
6
たいしかん
taishikan
大使館
embassy
Example
アメリカのたいしかんでビザをもらいます.
Amerika no taishikan de biza o moraimasu.
I get a visa at the American embassy.
7
グループ
gurūpu
-
group
Example
10にんのグループでりょこうします.
Jū-nin no gurūpu de ryokō shimasu.
I travel in a group of 10 people.
8
チャンス
chansu
-
chance, opportunity
Example
これはいいチャンスです.
Kore wa ii chansu desu.
This is a good chance.
9
おく
oku
億
hundred million (100,000,000)
Example
にほんのじんこうは1おくにんです.
Nihon no jinkō wa ichi-oku nin desu.
Japan
10
もし
moshi
-
if, in case
Example
もしあめがふったら、うちにいます.
Moshi ame ga futtara, uchi ni imasu.
If it rains, I
11
いくら
ikura
-
how much, no matter how much
Example
いくらべんきょうしても、日本語がむずかしいです.
Ikura benkyō shite mo, Nihongo ga muzukashii desu.
No matter how much I study, Japanese is difficult.
Conversation
1
てんきん
tenkin
Job transfer / Relocation for work
Example Usage
ちちはらいげつてんきんします.
Chichi wa raigetsu tenkin shimasu.
My father will be transferred next month.
2
こと
koto
Thing / Matter / Fact
Example Usage
たいせつなことをはなします.
Taisetsu na koto wo hanashimasu.
I
3
のいっぱいのみましょう
no ippai nomimashou
Let
Example Usage
しごとのあとでいっぱいのみましょう.
Shigoto no ato de ippai nomimashou.
Let
4
せわ [いろいろ] おせわになりました
osewa ni narimashita
Thank you for everything / Thank you for your help
Example Usage
ながいあいだ、おせわになりました.
Nagai aida, osewa ni narimashita.
Thank you for your help over a long period.
5
がんばります
ganbarimasu
I
Example Usage
しけんのためにがんばります.
Shiken no tame ni ganbarimasu.
I
6
どうぞおげんきで
douzo ogenki de
Please take care / Stay well
Example Usage
さようなら、どうぞおげんきで.
Sayounara, douzo ogenki de.
Goodbye, please take care.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Conditional たら form
Structure: [Verb/Adjective た-form] + ら
The たら form is one of the most common conditional patterns in Japanese. It expresses
How to use: For verbs: change to past tense (た-form), then add ら. Example: ふる (to fall/rain) → ふった → ふったら (if it rains). For い-adjectives: remove い, add かったら. Example: あつい → あつかったら (if it
💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse たら (if/when) with なら (if, in the case that). たら is for specific events; なら is for hypothetical topics or advice. Example: いくなら、はやくいって (If you
Examples
もしあめがふったら、えいがにいきません.
Moshi ame ga futtara, eiga ni ikimasen.
→ If it rains, I won
ひまだったら、いっしょにいきませんか.
Hima dattara, issho ni ikimasen ka.
→ If you
Rule 2: Concessive ても form
Structure: [Verb/Adjective て-form] + も
The ても form expresses concession, meaning
How to use: For verbs: take the て-form, then add も. Example: たべる → たべて → たべても (even if I eat). For い-adjectives: remove い, add くても. Example: あつい → あつくても (even if it
💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse ても (even if) with て (and) or から (because). For
Examples
いくらたべても、おなかがいっぱいになりません.
Ikura tabete mo, onaka ga ippai ni narimasen.
→ No matter how much I eat, I don
あめがふっても、いきます.
Ame ga futte mo, ikimasu.
→ Even if it rains, I will go.
Rule 3: Thinking with かんがえます
Structure: [Topic] について かんがえます
Use かんがえます (to think/consider) to express deep thought, consideration, or reflection about a topic. Unlike おもいます (which expresses an opinion or belief), かんがえます implies actively pondering or analyzing something. For
How to use: For thinking about a topic: topic + について + かんがえます. Example: みらい に ついて かんがえます (I think about the future). For thinking of a specific thing: noun + を + かんがえます. Example: かいだいをかんがえます (I consider the solution). For past: かんがえました (thought). For negative: かんがえません (don
💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse かんがえます (think over/consider) with おもいます (think/believe). おもいます is for opinions: にほんはきれいだとおもいます (I think Japan is beautiful). かんがえます is for pondering: しごとについてかんがえています (I
Examples
みらいについてかんがえます.
Mirai ni tsuite kangaemasu.
→ I think about the future.
しごとについてかんがえています.
Shigoto ni tsuite kangaete imasu.
→ I
Rule 4: Arriving with つきます
Structure: [Place] に つきます
Use つきます (to arrive/reach) with the particle に to mark the destination or place of arrival. This is used for arriving at stations, buildings, countries, or even abstract destinations like decisions. Unlike いきます (go) or きます (come), つきます focuses on the completion of travel and reaching the destination.
How to use: Take the place of arrival, add に, then つきます. Example: えき に つきます (I arrive at the station). For past: つきました (arrived). For negative: つきません (will not arrive). For present progressive: ついています (has arrived / is in a state of having arrived). For
💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse つきます (arrive) with とどきます (to be delivered) or いきます (to go). For
Examples
えきにつきました.
Eki ni tsukimashita.
→ I arrived at the station.
なんじににほんにつきますか.
Nan-ji ni Nihon ni tsukimasu ka?
→ What time will you arrive in Japan?
Exercises
Question 1
もし あめが ______、えいがに いきません.
Question 2
How do you say
Question 3
ひま ______、いっしょに いきませんか.
Question 4
What does
Question 5
あめが ______、いきます.
Question 6
Which verb means
Question 7
みらい ______ かんがえます.
Question 8
How do you say
Question 9
なんじに にほん ______ つきますか.
Question 10
にほんに ______、すしを たべて ください.
Question 11
やす ______、かいません.
Question 12
What does
Question 13
ろくじ ______ うちに つきます.
Question 14
How do you say
Question 15
なにを ______、まんぞくできません.
Question 16
How do you say
Question 17
でんしゃが えきに ______.
Question 18
What does
Question 19
たべ ______、おなかが すきません.
Question 20
Which sentence means