Skip to content

Book3_1

    Japanese Grammar – Book 3 Lesson 1

    ■ N1というN2

    Meaning: “N2 called N1” / “N2 named N1” / “N1 means…”

    Formation:
    N1 + という + N2
    Key Point:

    Used to introduce or explain something unfamiliar to the listener.

    Frequently used when:

    Explaining the meaning of a word (e.g., ～という 意味[いみ]です)

    Referring to a person, place, or thing by name (e.g., ～という 人[ひと]／店[みせ]／料理[りょうり])

    Common pattern:

    「N1は、N2という 意味[いみ]です。」= “N1 means N2.”

    Example
    ベトナムの　ダナンという　町[まち]から　来[き]ました。 I came from a city called Da Nang City in Vietnam.
    今[いま]は 、「 東京[とうきょう]イン」という　ホテルで　働[はたら]いています。 Now, I work at a hotel called Tokyo Inn.

    ■ V-た　ばかりです

    Meaning: just did V” / “have just V-ed

    Formation:
    Verb (タ-form) + ばかりです
    Key Point:

    Indicates that only a short time has passed since the action was completed.

    Often used with verbs like 来[き]た (came), 着[つ]いた (arrived), 始[はじ]めた (started), 帰[かえ]った (left), 食[た]べた (ate), etc.

    Gives a feeling of recency or “just now.”

    Example
    Ａ：
    合気道[あいきどう]は　長[なが]いんですか？ Have you been doing aikido for a long time?
    Ｂ：
    いいえ 、最近[さいきん]、始[はじ]めたばかりです。 No, I just started recently. ▶
    さっき　空港[くうこう]に　着[つ]いたばかりです。 I just arrived at the airport not too long ago.

    ■ V-て　いました

    Meaning: “was doing V” / “used to do V”

    Formation:
    Verb (テ-form) + いました
    Key Point:

    Describes an ongoing or repeated action in the past, or a past state.

    Often used to talk about things you used to do or a situation that continued over a period of time.

    It is the past form of V-て います.

    e.g., 働[はたら]いていました (was working), 勉強[べんきょう]していました (was studying)

    Example
    Ａ：
    国[くに]では　どんな　仕事[しごと]を　していましたか？ What kind of work did you do back home?
    Ｂ：
    ツアーガイドの　仕事[しごと]を　していました。 I worked as a tour guide.

    ■ それ／そこ ＜Discourse Demonstratives＞

    Meaning: “that” / “there” (referring to something previously mentioned in the conversation or text)

    Key Point:

    それ and そこ usually refer to something near the listener.

    In discourse, they are also used to refer to something that has just been mentioned.

    – e.g.,

    ジャワ島[とう]に ジョグジャカルタという 大[おお]きい 町[まち]が あります。

    ウォノソボは、そこから バスで 4時間[じかん]ぐらいです。
    　　→ “そこ” refers to ジョグジャカルタ.

    Example
    Ａ：
    私[わたし]の　町[まち]は、ストロマトライトが　有名[ゆうめい]です。 My city is famous for stromatolite.
    Ｂ：
    それは　何[なん]ですか？ What is that?

    ■ ～て、～／～から、～／～けど、～　＜Combine two sentences into one＞

    Meaning: Connects two sentences to describe sequence, reason, or contrast.

    Formation:

    V(テ-form) / イAい くて / ナAな で、S2

    V(dict-form,マス-form)から / Nだから /イAいから / ナAなだから、S2

    V(dict-form,マス-form)けど / Nだけど / イAいけど / ナAなだけど、S2

    Key Point:

    ～て is used to list or connect actions / states in sequence.

    ～から explains the reason or cause for something.

    ～けど connects two ideas with a contrast or softens a statement.

    All can be used in polite or plain form depending on context.

    Example
    町[まち]の　中心[ちゅうしん]は、屋台[やたい]が　たくさん　あって、にぎやかです。 The city center is lined with many food stands and is bustling.
    町[まち]は　山[やま]の　中[なか]だから、空気[くうき]が　よくて、とても　気[き]も持[ち]が　いいんです。 Because the city is located in the mountains, the air is clean and very refreshing.
    私[わたし]の　町[まち]は　有名[ゆうめい]じゃないけど、とても　いい　町[まち]です。 My city is not famous but it is a nice city.