MODULE 1- The Basics of Nihongo
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 sample sentences.
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 Nihongo; and,
3. 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/
nenrei age okane blossom
shokogyou occupation te-buru money
noka farmer mado table
bengoshi lawyer doa door
isha doctor shaken window
kare he gogo examination
kanojo she gosen afternoon
san morning
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 12- ju ni-nichi 22- ni-ju ni-nichi
March- San-gatsu month) 13 -ju san-nichi 23- ni-ju san-nichi
April- Shi-gatsu 2-futsuka 14 -ju yokka 24- ni-ju yokka
May- Go-gatsu 3-mikka 15- ju go-nichi 25 -ni-ju go-nichi
June- Roku-gatsu 4- yokka 16- ju roku-nichi 26- ni-ju roku-nichi
July- Shichi-gatsu 5- itsuka 17- ju shichi-nichi 27- ni-ju shichi-nichi
August- Hachi-gatsu 6- muika 18- ju hachi-nichi 28- ni-ju hachi-nichi
September- Ku-gatsu 7- nanoka 19- ju ku-nichi 29- ni-ju ku-nichi
October- Ju-gatsu 8- yoka 20- hatsuka 30- san-ju-nichi
November- Ju-ichi-gatsu 9- kokonoka 31- san-ju ichi-nichi
December- Ju-ni-gatsu 10- toka
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
Advanced sentence patterns construction will be discussed in Module 2.
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. Honyaku (Translation)- Translate words, numbers, time and
sentences from English to Nihongo and from Nihongo to English.
Activity 3. 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.
