月: 2026年5月

Japanese Learning (A4 S19): Changes of a Condition/Nature that is described by Nouns; [Noun]+ni Narimashita.

At the exercise A4 on Section 19, the following three constructions are introduced;

1-1. [Subject] wa [I-adj]+ku Narimashita.

1-2. [Subject] wa [Na-adj]+ni Narimashita.

1-3. [Subject] wa [Noun]+ni Narimashita.

All three use the intransitive verb “Naru/Narimasu” in perfect tense. Note that I-adjective and Na-adjective are words that conjugate, but Noun never conjugates. Despite of the difference about conjugation, the major difference exists between I-adjective and other two. I-adjective uses “ku”, but Na-adjective and Noun use “ni”.

Are the “ni” for Na-adjective and the “ni” for Noun the same? Of course, the character is the same “に”. But what about grammatically? Some teachers may say they are the same, but I think it’s better to think as below;

– [Stem of Na-adj]+ni Narimashita. => “ni” is changing part of Na-adjective that is conjugating words

– [Noun]+ni Narimashita. => “ni” is a particle.

The particle “ni” has many functions. 1 through 4 have already been listed at A4 S11. This time, I add the number 5.

1. Time of Action

example; Watashi wa Maiasa Roku-ji ni Okimasu. (I get up at six every morning.)

2. Place of Existence

example; Panda wa Ueno Doubutsuen ni Imasu. (A Panda is in Ueno Zoo.)

3. Place where an action is going(getting) to

example; Watashi wa Mainichi Gakkou ni Ikimasu. (I go to school every day.)

4. Object to allocate number

example; Ichinen ni San kai Kuni ni Kaerimasu. (I go to my hometown three times a year.)

5. Condition/Status after the change

example; Satou-san wa Daigakusei ni Narimashita. (Sato-san has become a university student.)

Here are some examples for the function 5 of the particle “ni”.

– Suzuki-san wa Nijuu-Ni sai ni Narimashita. (Suzuki-san has becom twenty-two years old.)

– Shingou wa Ao ni Narimasita. (Traffic light turned to be Blue) — blue means you can go

– Ashita wa Yasumi ni Narimashita. (I’ve got a day-off tomorrow.)

– Haru ni Narimashita. (Spring has come.)

Note that words with “ni” behind describe Condition/Status after the changes.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A4 S19): Changes of a Condition/Nature that is described by Na-adjectives; [Na-adj]+ni Narimashita.

When describing a change of something, the following sentence construction is used.

1. [Subject] wa [Condition/Nature after the change] Narimashita.

And for the word to describe “condition/nature”, three groups of words are applicable; I-adjectives, Na-adjectives, and Nouns. The sentence construction 1 would be the following for each of three.

1-1. [Subject] wa [I-adj]+ku Narimashita.

1-2. [Subject] wa [Na-adj]+ni Narimashita.

1-3. [Subject] wa [Noun]+ni Narimashita.

We have already learned 1-1, which is the sentence of changes described with I-adjectives. Today, we are learning 1-2, which uses Na-adjectives.

The most confusing Na-adjective for beginners of Japanese is “Kireina”. Many learner erroneously believe “Kirei” is an I-adjective because it looks like ending with “i”. Let us look at conjugation of Na-adjectives, using “Kireina”.

<1> Concise ending; [Kirei]<da>

<2> Modifying a noun behind; [Kirei]<na> Youfuku (a beautiful cloths)

<3> Being connected to another conjugating word behind*; [Kirei]<ni> narimashita. (It’s become beautiful/clean.)

<4> To make the adjective hypothetical; [Kirei]<nara> (If it’s beautiful/clean)

(* “Kireide” is omitted in <3> for simplicity)

Now we are learning <3>. A little longer example is as below;

2. Mizu de Yoku Araimashita kara, Te ga Kirei-ni Narimashita.

(Washing well with water, (my) hands has got cleaned.)

– Misu: noun; water

– de: particle; to mark what to use for action

– Yoku: adverb; well

– Arau/Araimasu: transitive verb; wash

– kara: conjunctive particle; to make the former clause a reason/cause of the latter clause.

– Te: noun; hands

– Kireina: Na-adjective; beautiful/clean

– Naru/Narimasu: intransitive verb; become

It is so important for a Japanese learner to learn that “Kireina” is not I-adjective but Na-adjective. But those who erroneously believe “Kireina” is an I-adjective (WRONG!!) tend to overgeneralize the sentence like 2 to all the I-adjectives. Then the following errors happen quite often.

WRONG: Samui-ni Narimasu => RIGHT: Samu-ku Narimasu. (becomes cold)

WRONG: Sabishii-ni Narimasu => RIGHT: Sabishi-ku Narimasu. (becomes sad)

In order to prevent such errors, it is indispensable for learners to know there are two types of adjectives; I-adjectives and Na-adjectives, and they conjugate differently.

Again, “Kireina” is a Na-adjective. Actually, Na-adjective came from combination of a noun and the auxiliary verb “da”. “da” conjugates, so [Noun+Auxiliary verb] conjugates. Therefore, you can see many similarities between Na-adjectives and Nouns when it comes to sentence constructions.

1-2. [Subject] wa [Na-adj]+ni Narimashita. Example: Kirei-ni Narimashita.

1-3. [Subject] wa [Noun]+ni Narimashita. Example: Daigakusei ni Narimashita.

So, the similarity the above 1-2 and 1-3 is that “ni” is used in both. For today, think that “ni” for “Kirei-ni” is the changing part of conjugation of a Na-adjective. Tomorrow, “ni” for “Daigakusei ni” will be explained as a particle.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A4 S19): Changes of a Condition/Nature that is described by I-adjectives; [I-adj]+ku Narimashita.

At the Renshuu A4 in the section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo”, three sentence constructions are introduced. These three are to express changes using the intransitive verb “Naru/Narimasu” as shown below;

1. [Subject] wa [Condition/Nature after the change] Narimashita.

There is [Condition/Nature after the change] in the sentence 1. And for this part, I-adjectives, Na-adjectives, and Nouns can be used.

1-1. [Subject] wa [I-adj]+ku Narimashita.

1-2. [Subject] wa [Na-adj]+ni Narimashita.

1-3. [Subject] wa [Noun]+ni Narimashita.

Though the A4 introduces these three at once, let me explain one by one for the three. Today’s post focuses on sentences of changes of condition/nature described by I-adjectives (1-1).

The first thing you need to accept about Japanese adjectives is that I-adjectives and Na-adjectives do conjugate. And I-adjectives and Na-adjectives conjugate differently. But unfortunately, many Japanese learners do not accept conjugation especially of I-adjectives. Probably this problem is affected by a Na-adjective “Kireina”. So, let us carefully examine conjugation of I-adjectives.

Conjugating words in Japanese are verbs, I-adjectives, Na-adjectives, and Auxiliary verbs. How changes happen are common to these four words groups.

[Conjugating Word] => [Stem]+<Ending> = [Unchanging]+<Changing>

In the case of I-adjectives “Samui (cold)”, the word endings change as below;

<1> Concise ending; [Samu]<i>

<2> Modifying a noun behind; [Samu]<i> Heya (a cold room)

<3> Being connected to another conjugating word behind; [Samu]<ku> narimashita. (It’s become cold.)

<4> To make the adjective hypothetical; [Samu]<kereba> (If it’s cold)

So, you can see that conjugation happens depending on how the conjugating word works in a sentence. And it is important for Japanese learners in beginner’s level to choose properly <2> or <3>;

<2> [I-adj stem]<i> + [Noun] ; Atsui Natsu (Hot summer)

<3> [I-adj stem]<ku> + [Verb/I-adj/Na-adj] ; Atsuku Narimasu (become hot)

“Naru/Narimasu” is not the only verb that follows an I-adjective and make it “stem+ku”. For example;

– Hayaku Hashirimasu. (runs fast)

But “stem+ku Narimasu” is the most major combination of “ku+conjugating words” for I-adjectives. Read aloud the following examples.

– Atarashii Omise (new store) — <2>

  Omise ga Atarashiku Narimashita. — <3>

– Ii Tenki (good weather) — <2>

  Tenki ga Yoku Narimashita. — <3>

– Isogashii Shigoto (busy job) — <2>

  Shigoto ga Isogashiku Narimashita. — <3>

– Oishii Misoshiru (taste-good Miso soup) — <2>

  Misoshiru ga Oishiku Narimashita. — <3>

– O’okii Karada (large body) — <2>

  Karada ga O’okiku Narimashita. — <3>

– Omoshiroi Jugyou (interesting class) — <2>

  Jugyou ga Omoshiroku Narimashita. — <3>

– Takai Se (tall body-height) — <2>

  Se ga Takaku Narimashita. — <3>

– Chiisai Keshigomu (small eraser) — <2>

  Keshigomu ga Chiisaku Narimashita. — <3>

– Tsumetai Kaze (chilly wind) — <2>

  Kaze ga Tsumetaku Narimashita. — <3>

– Hikui ten (low score (of a test)) — <2>

  Tesuto no ten ga Hikuku Narimashita. — <3>

– Furui Ie (old house) — <2>

  Ie ga Furuku Narimashita. — <3>

– Muzukashii Tesuto (difficult test) — <2>

  Tesuto ga Musukashiku Narimashita. — <3>

– Yasashii Shiken (easy examination) — <2>

  Shiken ga Yasashiku Narimashita. — <3>

– Yasui Nedan (cheap price) — <2>

  Nedan ga Yasuku Narimashita. — <3>

Learn when “i” remains “i”, or when “i” needs to be “ku”, for I-adjectives.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A4 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A3 S19): Expression of Two Actions without much care about Sequence of the Two; Tari-Tari Construction

We have already learned some complex sentences. Complex sentences are sentences that have two or more pairs of subject and predicate. Let us review a such complex sentence using two verbs, which appeared in A2 S16.

1. [V1-te] + kara, [V2].

Example: Te o Aratte kara, Gohan o Tabemasu. (I wash my hands, and then I eat meal.)

Think about time sequence of V1 and V2 in the above sentence construction.Washing hands is the action number one, and eating meal is the action number two. After you finishing the action number one, and then, you do action number two.

But if you do not care much about sequence of two actions, how do you express those two actions? For example, you do two actions on Sunday; watching a TV, and taking a walk. TV first, and then walk, or walk first, and then TV, either is okay for you. Perhaps you do only one of them in a particular Sunday. Then you say in Japanese;

– Watashi wa Maishuu Nichiyoubi, Terebi o Mitari, Sampo ni Ittari shimasu.

(Every Sunday, sometimes I watch TV and sometimes I take a walk.)

This construction is called “Tari-tari construction”, and symbolized like follows;

2. [V1-ta]+ri, [V2-ta]+ri shimasu.

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Satou-san wa Maiban Nani o Shimasuka. (What kind of things do you do every night?)

B : Watashi wa Maiban Hon o Yondari, Sumaho o Mitari Shimasu. (I read a book and/or watch my smartphone.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Rice Fields and a Local Train in Niigata, Northern Japan

I guess that people like these kinds of photographs better than my Japanese Learning posts. The reason why I am trying to posts about Japanese Learning is that I hope someday my posts will feed the database of AI. Probably my posts would not help Japanese learners directly, but if those posts could be helpful to learners indirectly through AI, I would be happy.

Japanese Learning (A2 S19): Expression to say you have an experience in the past; [V-ta]+Koto ga Arimasu.

Today we are going to learn one of constructions that use Ta-form of verbs. And the construction uses a formal noun “koto”. “Koto” has a meaning like “a thing” and/or “a matter”, but more importantly than meaning, “koto” has a function that makes a verb clause a noun-equivalent. Recently we learned a construction in which “koto” works to turn a verb to be a noun-equivalent. That was;

1. Watashi wa Piano o Hiku koto ga Dekimasu. (I can play a piano.)

Then, today’s construction also uses “koto” for the same purpose to make a verb a noun equivalent.

2. Watashi wa Hokkaidou e Itta koto ga Arimasu. (I have an experience of having been to Hokkaido.)

What is common, and what is different between the sentences 1 and 2?

Both sentences are “Wa-ga construction” with predicates of stative verbs. And both use “koto” to make a verb clause a noun equivalent so that the verb clause could be placed in front of the particle “ga”.

Of course, difference is that they are different constructions to describe different things; 1 is to say “someone can do something”, and 2 is to say “someone has an experience doing an action in the past.”. A difference more in detail, 1 uses Dictionary form of a verb, while 2 uses Ta-form. Since the sentence 2 is talking about an experience in the past, Ta-form is used.

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Miraa-san wa O-Sashimi o Tabeta koto ga Arimasuka. (Miller-san, have you eaten raw fish?)

B : Hai, Watashi wa O-Sashimi o Tabeta koro ga Arimasu. (Yes, I have eaten raw fish.)

“O-” attached in front of “Sashimi” is a prefix that makes the word more polite.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A1 S19): One of Verb Conjugation Forms, “Ta-Form”; [Verb Stem]+ ta/ita/ida/tta/nda/shita

We have already learned Te-form of verbs. Today we are going to learn another conjugation pattern, Ta-form. It seems that the difference between Te-form and Ta-form is only for vowels “e” or “a”. Yes, it’s the only difference in terms of spelling, but there is a huge difference between the two about the function they have.

– Te-form is used not for ending, but for continuing a sentence. Another conjugating word must follow after the verb in Te-form. Usually, the word behind is another verb.

– Ta-form can be the ending of a sentence with nuance of past and/or perfect, though it sounds rough or casual. If a word follows after a verb in Ta-form, the word is a noun. In other words, a Ta-form can modify a noun, with nuance of past and/or perfect.

Although you need to put these differences in your mind, how to make Ta-form from Te-form is easy. Just replace “e” in Te-form with “a”.

The followings are examples of “Ta-form” of verbs. Note that the list is written in the order of Masu-form, Te-form, and Ta-form.

Group 2 Verbs

– Imasu — Ite — Ita

– Mimasu — Mite — Mita

– Nemasu — Nete — Neta

– Okimasu — Okite — Okita

Group 3 Verbs

– Kimasu — Kite — Kita

– Shimasu — Shite — Shita

– Benkyoushimasu — Benkyoushite — Benkyoushita

Group 1 Verbs

– Tsukaimasu — Tsukatte — Tsukatta

– Kakimasu — Kaite — Kaita

– Ikimasu — Itte —Itta

– Isogimasu — Isoide — Isoida

– Hanashimasu — Hanashite — Hanashita

– Machimasu — Matte — Matta

– Tobimasu — Tonde — Tonda

– Yomimasu — Yonde — Yonda

– Tsukurimasu — Tsukutte — Tsukutta

summary

– Ta-form has a nuance of past and/or perfect of the verb.

– Ta-form can be the ending of a sentence in concise style.

– Ta-form can modify a noun behind

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 19 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A5 S18): Describing Action that you do BEFORE doing Something; [V1-dic] Mae ni, [ V2 ]

At A2 in Section 16, we learned an expression that says two actions happening in turn.

1. [V1-te] + kara, [V2].

Note that V1 is in T-form, and V1 happens first, and then V2 second.

Today’s construction is also to describe two actions happening in turn.

2. [V1-dic]+ Mae ni, [V2].

As for 2, V1 is in Dictionary form, and V2 happens first, and then V1 second.

When you eat something, you wash your hands before eating. I hope you do so. Let me express this in constructions 1 and 2.

(1) Te o Aratte kara, Gohan o Tabemasu. (After I wash my hands, I eat.)

(2) Gohan o Taberu Mae ni, Te o Araimasu. (Before I eat, I wash my hands.)

We are learning (2) today. Take a look at several examples for the construction 2.

– Neru Mae ni, Ha o Migakimasu. (Before I go to bed, I brush my teeth.)

– Gakkou ni Iku Mae ni, Kyoukasho o Kaban ni Iremasu. (Before going to the school, I put textbooks into my bag.)

– Osake o Nomu Mae ni, Minna de Kampai o Shimasu. (Before drinking Sake, we all raise a toast.)

Probably you have noticed that the subject doesn’t appear these sentences. In such case, assume the subject is “Watashi wa”. Sometimes it’s not “Watashi wa”, but usually is.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section 18 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”