MODULE 1- The Basics of Nihongo
Prepared by: Sharina Carla S. Merculio
Overview: Module 1, The Basics of Nihongo, intends to provide students the
basic Japanese vocabulary they need in order to converse in different
contexts. Since learning a foreign language is a must in developing globally
competitive students, this module also includes lessons on Self
Introduction, Japanese Vocabulary Words and Sentence Construction.
Each lesson in this module composed of lectures and examples to
give students model sentences to serve as guide in allowing them construct
sentences in Nihongo.
Objectives:
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. be familiarized with the basic Japanese vocabulary;
2. introduce themselves in Japanese;
3. negate positive sentences;
4. convert present tense sentences into past tense;
5. write declarative and interrogative sentences in Nihongo;
6. translate words and sentences from English to Nihongo and Nihongo to
English; and
7. display courtesy and respect in conversing using Nihongo
Discussion:
A. Self-Introduction
Jiko Shokai (self-introduction)
Hajimemashite
(How do you do?)
Watashi wa ____ desu
(I am [name])
Watashi wa _____ kara desu
(I am from [place])
Doozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu
(I am pleased to meet you)
Hajimemashite
(How do you do?)
Anata wa ____ desu
(You are [name])
Anata wa _____ kara desu
(You are from [place])
Yoroshi onegaishimasu
(Nice to meet you)
*desu (des)- is, am, are
**wa- particle that introduces
Example:
Hajimemashite
Watashi wa Sharina Carla desu
Watashi wa CLSU, Nueva Ecija kara desu
Doozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu
How do you do?
I am Sharina Carla
I am from CLSU, Nueva Ecija
I am pleased to meet you
B. Japanese Vocabulary
Watashi I toire toilet,restroom
Watashi tachi we uchi house,home
Anata tachi you (2nd person) toshokan library
Ano hito you ( 3rd person) gakkou school
Sensei teacher Daigaku university
Gakusei student chokore-to chocolate
tomodachi friend ko-hi coffee
boyiforendo boyfriend kyoushitsu classroom
garufurendo girlfriend shokudou canteen
kazoku family heya room
chichi (my) father tatemono building
haha (my) mother tanjobi birthday
musuko son kyo today
musume daughter kino yesterday
itoko cousin ashita tomorrow
sofu grandfather kutsu shoes
sobo grandmother basu bus
mago grandson hon book
otto husband no-to notebook
tsuma wife enpitsu pencil
atama head bo-rupen ballpen
me eye kasa umbrella
mimi ear ju-su juice
hana nose shukudai homework
kuchi mouth hasami scissors
nodo throat kami paper
ude arm kaban bag
te hand terebi television
onaka stomach rajio radio
ashi leg konpyu-ta computer
karada body isu chair
namae name keshi gomu eraser
juusho address hana flower/blossom
nenrei age okane money
shokogyou occupation te-buru table
noka farmer mado window
bengoshi lawyer doa door
isha doctor shaken examination
kare he gogo afternoon
kanojo she gosen morning
san connotes
respect to a
name of a
person
Country Nationality (jin) Language (go)
Philippines Firipin Firipinjin Firipingo
Japan Hihon/Nipon Hihonjin/Niponjin Hihongo/Nipongo
Korea Kankoku Kankokujin/kanjin Kankokugo
Spain Supein Supeinjin Supeingo
China Chugoku Chugokujin Chugokugo
Germany Doitsu Doitsujin Doitsugo
England Igiritsu Igiritsujin Igiritsugo
India Indo Indojin Indogo
Thailand Tai Taijin Taigo
Foreign country Gaikoku Gaijin Gaikokugo
Example:
Hajimemashite
Watashi wa Sharina Carla desu
Watashi wa CLSU, Nueva Ecija kara desu
Watashi wa Firipinjin desu
Watashi wa Nihongo sensei desu
Anata no gagusei desu
Yoroshi onegaishimasu
How do you do?
I am Sharina Carla
I am from CLSU, Nueva Ecija
I am a Filipino
I am a Nihongo teacher
You are my students
Nice to meet you
Regular Counters
0-rei 10-ju
1-ichi 11-juichi 100-hyaku
2-ni 12-ju-ni 20-ni-ju 200-ni-hyaku
3-san 13-ju-san 30-san-ju 300-san-hyaku
4-yong 14-ju-yong 40-yong-ju 400-yong-hyaku
5-go 15-ju-go 50-go-ju 500-go-hyaku
6-roku 16-ju-roku 60-roku-ju 600-rop-hyaku
7-sichi/nana 17-ju-nana 70-nana-ju 700-nana-hyaku
8-hachi 18-ju-hachi 80-hachi-ju 800-happyaku
9-ku/kyu 19-ju-kyu 90-kyu-ju 900-kyu-hyaku
1000-sen
Months and Days
Month Days
January- Ichi-gatsu 1- tsuitachi 11- ju ichi-nichi 21- ni-ju ichi-nichi
February- Ni-gatsu (First day of the month) 12- ju ni-nichi 22- ni-ju ni-nichi
March- San-gatsu 2-futsuka 13 -ju san-nichi 23- ni-ju san-nichi
April- Shi-gatsu 3-mikka 14 -ju yokka 24- ni-ju yokka
May- Go-gatsu 4- yokka 15- ju go-nichi 25 -ni-ju go-nichi
June- Roku-gatsu 5- itsuka 16- ju roku-nichi 26- ni-ju roku-nichi
July- Shichi-gatsu 6- muika 17- ju shichi-nichi 27- ni-ju shichi-nichi
August- Hachi-gatsu 7- nanoka 18- ju hachi-nichi 28- ni-ju hachi-nichi
September- Ku-gatsu 8- yoka 19- ju ku-nichi 29- ni-ju ku-nichi
October- Ju-gatsu 9- kokonoka 20- hatsuka 30- san-ju-nichi
November- Ju-ichi-gatsu 10- toka 31- san-ju ichi-nichi
December- Ju-ni-gatsu
Days of the Week
Sunday- Nichi yobi
Monday- Getsu yobi
Tuesday- Ka yobi
Wednesday- Sui yobi
Thursday- Moku yobi
Friday- Kin yobi
Saturday- Do yobi
Examples:
Watashi tanjobi wa hachi-gatsu nanoka desu
Watashi wa san-ju-san des
My birthday is August 7
I am 33
Kyowa ju-gatsu itsuka desu
Today is October 5
Kinowa nichi yobi deshita
Yesterday was Sunday
Itsu
When?
Time
O’clock (ji) Minute (fun/pun)
1- ichi-ji 1- ip-pun
2- ni-ji 2- ni-fun
3- san-ji 3- san-pun
4- yo-ji 4- yon-pun
5- go-ji 5- go-fun
6- roju-ji 6- rop-pun
7- shichi-ji 7- nana-fun/shichi-fun
8- hachi-ji 8- hap-pun
9- ku-ji 9- kyu-fun
10- ju-ji 10- jup-pun/jip-pun
11- ju-ichi-ji 15- ju-go-fun
12- ju-ni-ji 30- san-jip-pun
Jikan- hour
gogo- P.M.
gosen- A.M.
asa- morning
hiru- afternoon
yuugata- evening
yoru-night
nanji- What time?
Examples:
5:00 A.M.- gosen go-ji
3:14 P.M.- gogo san-ji ju yon-pun
Colors (Iro)
Kuro- black
Shiroi – white
Aka – red
Ao- blue
Midori – green
Ki-iro – yellow
Orenji – orange
Baioretto – violet
Hai-iro – gray ( gure)
Cha-iro – brown (kasshoku)
Murasaki – purple
Pinku – pink
Example:
Watashi no kaban wa shiroi
I have a white bag/ My bag is white
Nani iro
What color?
Grammatical Elements
wa- particle that introduces
desu- (des)- is, am, are
deshita- denotes past tense, was, were
dewa arimasen- is not, are not
dewa arimasen deshita- was not, were not
mo- also, too
no- my, mine
ka-denotes a question
Examples:
Watashi mo Eigo no sensei desu
I am an English teacher too
Merculio san mo Tgasa san mo Eigo no sensei desu
Mrs. Merculio and Ms. Tagasa are English teachers too
Watashi wa gakusei deshita
I was a student
Anata wa gakusei
You are a student
Anata wa gakusei deshita
You were a student
Anata wa gakusei dewa arimasen
You are not a student
Anata wa gakusei dewa arimasen deshita
You were not a student
Kare wa donate duse ka
Who is he?
Kanojo wa donate desu ka
Who is she?
Ima nanji desu ka
What time is it?
Anna no boyifurendo desu
This is Anna’s boyfriend
Nyuumon 1 (Sentence Pattern 1): Watashi/Anata wa…
Sensei: Watashi wa Sharina desu. I am Sharina.
Watashi wa Firipinjin desu. I am a Filipino (person).
Watashi wa Nihongo sensei desu. I am Nihongo teacher.
Anata wa Santos san desu ka. Are you Mr. Santos?
Mr. Santos: Hai, watashi wa Santos desu. Yes, I am Mr. Santos.
Sensei: Anatawa gakusei desu ka. Are you a student?
Mr. Santos: Iie, watashi wa gakusei dewa arimasen. No, I am not a student. I am a
Firipingo sensei desu. Filipino (language) teacher.
Sensei: Chan san wa Taijin desu ka. Is Ms. Chan a Thai?
Mr. Santos: Hai, Chan san wa Taijin desu. Yes, Ms. Chan is a Thai.
Sensei: Kare wa donata desu ka. Who is he?
Mr. Santos: Kare wa Saplaco san desu. He is Mr. Saplaco.
Sensei: Kanojo wa donata desu ka. Who is she?
Mr. Santos: Kanojo wa Garcia san desu. She is Ms. Garcia.
Sensei: Ano kata wa donate desu ka. Who is that person?
Mr. Santos: Dono kata desu ka. Who among them?
Sensei: Ano onna no kata desu ka. Who is the woman?
Mr. Santos: Ano onna no kata wa Marie san desu. That woman is Ms. Marie.
Ano otoko no kata wa Supein no Dela Cruz That man is Mr. Dela Cruz from
san desu. Spain.
Note:
ano- that
onna- female/woman
otoko- male/man
dono-which
donata-who
● Nihongo does not use question mark in expressing questions
● Past tense is expressed by changing “desu” with “deshita” at the end of
the sentence
Example: Watashi wa gakusei desu (I am a student)
Watashi wa gakusei deshita (I was a student)
● Negation is expressed by changing “desu” with “dewa arimasen” at the
end of the sentence
Example: Watashi wa gakusie desu (I am a student)
Watashi wa gakusei dewa arimasen (I am not a
student)
Watashi wa gakusei dewa arimasen deshita (I was
not a student)
Nyuumon 2 (Sentence Pattern 2): Ko-So-A-Do
Demonstrative Pronouns
Kore wa enpitsu desu. This is (a) pencil.
Sore wa hon desu. That (near you) is (a) book.
Are wa isu desu. That (over there) is (a) chair.
Mado dore desu ka Which door?
Modifier/Pre-noun
Kono kasa wa Santos san no kasa desu. This umbrella is Mr. Santos’ umbrella.
Sono hana wa Takeshi san no hana dewa arimasen. That flower (near you) is not Ms. Takeshi’s flower.
Ano uchi wa Santos san no uchi deshita. That (over there) was Mr. Santos’ house.
Dono kaban wa Jaedden san no kabani desu ka Which bag is Jaedden’s bag?
Direction
Santos san, kochira wa Dela Cruz san desu. Mr. Santos, this is Ms. Dela Cruz.
Sochira wa Jaedden san. That (near you) is Jaedden.
Achira wa watasi no gakkuo desu. That (over there) is my school.
Toshokan wa dochira desu ka Which way is the library?
Achira desu. That way.
Place
Koko ni wa toshokan desu. Here is (the) library.
Soko ni wa uchi watashi no uchi desu There (near you) is my house.
Asoko ni wa kyoushitsu desu. There is (the) classroom.
Watashi no kaban wa doko desu ka. Where is my bag?
Koko desu. Here.
Demonstrative Pronouns
Kore
Sore
Are
____dore desu ka
Modifier/Pre-noun
Kono
Sono
Ano
Dono ____________
Direction
Kochira- over there
Sochira- over there near you
Achira- over there (far from the speaker and listener)
Dochira desu ka- in what direction?
Location
Koko- here (near the speaker)
Soko- there (near the listener)
Asoko- There (far from the speaker and listener)
Doko desu ka- Where?
__________doko desu ka- where is?
Ko words (near So words (near A words (far Do words (for
the speaker) the listener) from both the asking)
speaker and
listener)
Thing Kore wa Sore wa Are wa Dore
This is… That (near you) That (over Which one
is… there) is…
Modifying/pre- Kono N Sono N Ano N Dono N
noun This N… That N… That N (over Which of them
there)
Direction Kochira Sochira Achira Dochira
This way/ this That way/ that That way, that Which way
person person person
Place Koko ni Soko Asoko Doko
Here There There Where
Other examples:
Kore wa Merculio san desu
This is Mrs. Merculio
Sore wa Anna san
That near you is (Ms.) Anna
Kono hon wa watashi no (hon) desu
This book is my book/mine
Evaluation:
Activity 1. Turn in a video of you introducing yourself in Japanese. Your
self-introduction must contain your name, where you are from, your age, birthday
and your FL teacher. Then, repeat your self-introduction but this time, in English.
The video must not be longer than 1 minute (to be credited as quiz).
Activity 2. Convert Nyuumon 1 into past tense. Provide also the English
Translation. Follow the same table format as used in Nyuumon 1.
Activity 3. Make/draw a comic strip with at least 6 frames (six conversation
exchanges in Nihongo). Turn in a picture of the comic strip (to be credited as
project). The comic strips you will make should be in classroom setting, with two
to four characters, they will talk about a subject, a person or a thing, one will ask
question and others will answer. Put a title to your comic stip. You will be graded
based on the following criteria:
Originality and Creativity (your project should be unique) 20%
Aesthetics or Beauty (your project should be appealing) 30%
Weight of intellect (conversation should be correct and sensible) 50%
Total 100%
Example:
The example above contains 7 frames. However, the conversations
are in English. The one you are required to make, should be in Nihongo.
Activity 4. Honyaku (translation)- Translate words and sentences from
English to Nihongo and from Nihongo to English.
Activity 5. First Term Exam
Reference:
Chino, N. 1991. All about particles. Tokyo: Kodansha International.
Hiroo Japanese Center. 1989. The complete Japanese verb guide.
Hokkaido Daigaku. 1993. Elementary Japanese grammatical notes.
Mine, M. 1994. Nihongo kiso (Basic Japanese for foreign students). Hiroshima:
Hiroshima University.
