01
PATTERN
N1 は N2 です
Use は to introduce the topic and です to identify or describe it politely.
EXAMPLE · 例文私 は 会社員 です。
I am a company employee.
第1課 · COMPLETE LESSON
はじめまして
Introductions
Grammar first. Vocabulary ready when you are.These notes follow the grammar progression in the supplied Kanrin / Minna no Nihongo material. Each rule is summarized in English and paired with a fresh Japanese example, reading support, and translation.
GRAMMAR NOTES · 文法Build the pattern.
Build the pattern.
Then see it move.
Read the rule, cover the translation, and say the Japanese example aloud once.
02
PATTERN
N1 は N2 じゃありません
じゃありません (or the more formal ではありません) makes a noun sentence negative.
EXAMPLE · 例文ミラーさん は 学生 じゃありません。
Mr Miller is not a student.
03
PATTERN
～ですか
Add か to a polite sentence to make a question. The answer usually repeats です or じゃありません.
EXAMPLE · 例文マリアさん は 先生 ですか。
Is Maria a teacher?
04
PATTERN
N1 も N2 です
も means “also” or “too” and replaces は when two topics share the same information.
EXAMPLE · 例文私 も 日本語 の 学生 です。
I am also a Japanese-language student.
05
PATTERN
N1 の N2
の connects two nouns. The first noun describes ownership, origin, affiliation, or type.
EXAMPLE · 例文あれ は 私 の 名刺 です。
That is my business card.
LESSON WORDS · 語彙
Open spaced repetition →41 words from this lesson.
I
you
that person, he, she (あの かた is the polite equivalent of あの ひと)
Mr., Ms. (suffix added to a name for expressing politeness)
(suffix often added to a child's name instead of ～さん)
(suffix meaning 'a national of'; e.g. アメリカじん, an American)
teacher, instructor (not used when referring to one's own job)
teacher, instructor
student
company employee
employee of ～ company (used with a company's name, e.g. IMC の しゃいん)
bank employee
[medical] doctor
researcher, scholar
university
hospital
who (どなた is the polite equivalent of だれ)
－ years old
how old (おいくつ is the polite equivalent of なんさい)
yes
no
How do you do? (lit. I am meeting you for the first time. Usually used as the first phrase when introducing oneself.)
I'm from ～ (country)
Pleased to meet you. (lit. Please be nice to me. Usually used at the end of a self-introduction.)
Excuse me, but (used when asking someone for personal information such as their name or address)
May I have your name?
This is Mr./Ms. ～.
U.S.A.
U.K.
India
Indonesia
South Korea
Thailand
China
Germany
Japan
Brazil
fictitious companies
a fictitious institute
a fictitious hospital
fictitious universities