Class 1: Minna no Nihongo Unit 1

We will prepare 25 classes, one for each unit of Minna no Nihongo , including vocabulary, grammar rules, example sentences, and practice sentences. I’ll structure each class as follows:

1. Vocabulary: Key words and phrases from the unit.
2. Grammar and Rules: Detailed explanation of the grammar covered.
3. Example Sentences: Usage of vocabulary and grammar in context.
4. Practice Sentences: Exercises to reinforce the concepts.

Let’s start with Unit 1.

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Class 1: Minna no Nihongo Unit 1

1. Vocabulary

• わたし (watashi) – I
• あなた (anata) – You
• あのひと (ano hito) – That person
• みなさん (minasan) – Everyone
• せんせい (sensei) – Teacher
• がくせい (gakusei) – Student
• かいしゃいん (kaishain) – Company employee
• いしゃ (isha) – Doctor
• びょういん (byouin) – Hospital
• だれ (dare) – Who
• なんさい (nansai) – How old
• はい (hai) – Yes
• いいえ (iie) – No

2. Grammar and Rules

• Noun は Noun です (Noun wa Noun desu): This is the basic sentence pattern for stating something.

  • Example: わたしはがくせいです。 (Watashi wa gakusei desu.) – I am a student.

• Noun は Noun じゃありません (Noun wa Noun ja arimasen): Used for negative sentences.

  • Example: わたしはせんせいじゃありません。 (Watashi wa sensei ja arimasen.) – I am not a teacher.

• Question Form: Noun ですか (Noun desu ka?): To form a question, simply add か at the end.

  • Example: あなたはせんせいですか。 (Anata wa sensei desu ka?) – Are you a teacher?

• ~さん (~san): A polite title added after someone's name.

  • Example: たなかさん (Tanaka-san) – Mr./Ms. Tanaka.

• だれですか (dare desu ka?): Used to ask "Who is it?" or "Who are they?"

  • Example: あのひとはだれですか。 (Ano hito wa dare desu ka?) – Who is that person?

3. Example Sentences

• わたしはかいしゃいんです。
  (Watashi wa kaishain desu.)
  – I am a company employee.

• あなたはせんせいですか。
  (Anata wa sensei desu ka?)
  – Are you a teacher?

• たなかさんはがくせいじゃありません。
  (Tanaka-san wa gakusei ja arimasen.)
  – Mr./Ms. Tanaka is not a student.

• あのひとはいしゃですか。
  (Ano hito wa isha desu ka?)
  – Is that person a doctor?

4. Practice Sentences

• みなさんはがくせいです。
  (Minasan wa gakusei desu.)
  – Everyone is a student.

• わたしはびょういんのいしゃです。
  (Watashi wa byouin no isha desu.)
  – I am a doctor at a hospital.

• だれがかいしゃいんですか。
  (Dare ga kaishain desu ka?)
  – Who is the company employee?