Skip to content

Book2_12

    Japanese Grammar – Book 2 Lesson 12

    ■ ナA-そうです

    ■ イA-そうです

    Meaning: “It looks ～” / “It seems ～ (based on appearance)”

    Formation:

    ナ-adjectiveな ＋ そうです

    イ-adjectiveい ＋ そうです

    Key Point:

    Used to express an impression or guess based on appearance or atmosphere.

    Often used to describe how food looks or how a person appears (e.g., emotional or physical state).

    This form does not confirm actual state — it only reflects a visual or intuitive guess.

    Example
    Ａ：
    みかん、ちょっと　すっぱそうですね。 This orange looks a bit sour.
    Ｂ：
    そんなこと　ないわよ 。 甘[あま]いわよ。 No, it is not. It is sweet.

    ■ ナA-そうな N

    ■ イA-そうな N

    Meaning: N that looks ～” / “N that seems ～

    Formation:

    ナ-adjectiveな ＋ そうな ＋ Noun

    イ-adjectiveい ＋ そうな ＋ Noun

    Key Point:

    This pattern is used to describe a noun based on its appearance or impression.

    It is the attributive form of ～そうです used before a noun.

    Examples:

    ・おいしそうなケーキ (a delicious-looking cake)

    ・大変[たいへん]そうな仕事[しごと] (a job that looks hard)

    Often interchangeable with そうです used after the noun, e.g.,

    ・その 料理[りょうり]、辛[から]そうですね。

    Example
    おいしそうな　ケーキですね。 The cake looks delicious.

    ■ イA-くて、～

    ■ イA-くなくて、～

    Meaning: “It is ～ and…” / “Because it is ～” (for positive or negative adjectives)

    Formation:

    イ-adjectiveい ＋ くて、～

    Negative form: イ-adjectiveい ＋ くなくて、～

    Key Point:

    Used to connect adjectives or to show a reason/cause in the following sentence.

    Commonly used when describing food, feelings, or conditions.

    Can be used both to list multiple characteristics and to express reasons.

    Examples:

    ・やさしくて、おもしろい 先生[せんせい]です。

    ・寒[さむ]くなくて、気持[きも]ちが いいです。

    Example
    梅[うめ]干[ぼ]しは　すっぱくて、苦手[にがて]です。 I am not a fan of umeboshi because they are too sour.
    この料理[りょうり]は　辛[から]くなくて、子[こ]どもも　食[た]べることが　できます。 This dish is also suitable for children because it is not spicy.

    ■ V-て　みます

    Meaning: “Try doing (something)”

    Formation:
    Verb（テ-form）＋ みます
    Key Point:

    Used to try doing something new or see what something is like.

    Often appears in the form V-てみてください (please try), V-てみたい (want to try), or V-てみませんか？ (would you like to try?).

    Commonly used in invitations, suggestions, and talking about first-time experiences.

    Examples:

    ・使[つか]ってみます (I’ll try using it)

    ・飲[の]んでみたいです (I want to try drinking it)

    ・読[よ]んでみてください (Please try reading it)

    Example
    Ａ：
    梅[うめ]干[ぼ]し、食[た]べてみる？ Do you want to try some umeboshi?
    Ｂ：
    はい。いただきます。 Yes, please.
    今度[こんど]、おすしを　作[つく]ってみます。 I will make sushi next time.

    ■ Intransitive verbs / Transitive verbs

    Meaning: “Intransitive and Transitive Verbs”

    Key Point:

    Japanese verbs are categorized into intransitive verbs and transitive verbs.

    Transitive verbs describe an intentional action done by a person, and use the particle を.

    e.g., ドアを 閉[し]めます (close the door), ご飯[はん]を 食[た]べます (eat a meal)

    Intransitive verbs describe an event or state that happens by itself, and use the particle が.

    e.g., ドアが 閉[し]まります (the door closes), 雨[あめ]が 降[ふ]ります (it rains)

    Some verbs come in intransitive / transitive pairs, such as:

    入[はい]る (to be in / enter, intransitive) ←→ 入[い]れる (to put in, transitive)

    To describe the current state of something, use the テ-form of the intransitive verb + います.

    e.g., チーズが 入[はい]っています (It contains cheese).

    To describe what someone puts in, use the transitive verb.

    e.g., チーズを 入[い]れます (I add cheese).

    Example
    すき焼[や]きには　牛肉[ぎゅうにく]、豆腐[とうふ]、ねぎが　入[はい]っています。 Sukiyaki contains beef, tofu, and green onion.
    ときどき、しいたけを　入[い]れます。 I put in shiitake mushrooms sometimes.
    Ａ：
    肉]にく]が　焼[や]けましたよ。食[た]べてください。 The meat is done grilling. Please eat.
    Ｂ：
    いただきます。 Thank you.
    Ａ：
    次[つぎ]は　何[なに]を　焼[や]きますか？ What should I grill next?

    ■ イA-くないですか？

    Meaning: “Isn’t it…?” / “Don’t you think…?”

    Formation:
    イ-adjectiveい + くない ＋ ですか？
    Key Point:

    Used to gently express concern or ask for someone’s opinion about something.

    Often used to check how others feel about taste, temperature, difficulty, etc.

    Commonly used expressions include:

    うすくないですか？ (Isn’t it too plain?)

    寒[さむ]くないですか？ (Isn’t it too cold?)

    難[むずか]しくないですか？ (Isn’t it too difficult?)

    Sounds softer and more considerate than directly saying it’s too plain, cold, or difficult.

    Example
    Ａ：
    わさび 、 辛[から]くないですか？ Isn’t wasabi too spicy for you?
    Ｂ：
    だいじょうぶです。わさび、大[だい]好[す]きですから。 I am fine. I love wasabi.