Minna no Nihongo - Unit 22 Overview

Minna no Nihongo - Unit 22 Overview

In Unit 22, you will learn how to describe attributes of objects and people, make comparisons, and express a preference between two options. You will also cover the use of ～とき (toki) to indicate when something happens, as well as how to use ます-form verbs to request permissions. This unit is essential for expanding your ability to talk about preferences and describe people, objects, or events in more detail.

---

1. Vocabulary (たんご)

Here’s some useful vocabulary for comparisons, attributes, and descriptions:

• きます (kimasu) – to wear (shirts, jackets)
• はきます (hakimasu) – to wear (pants, shoes)
• かぶります (kaburimasu) – to wear (hats)
• かけます (kakemasu) – to wear (glasses)
• うまれます (umaremasu) – to be born
• コート (kooto) – coat
• スーツ (suutsu) – suit
• セーター (seetaa) – sweater
• ぼうし (boushi) – hat, cap
• めがね (megane) – glasses
• アパート (apaato) – apartment
• よく (yoku) – often, well
• おめでとう (omedetou) – congratulations

---

2. Grammar Points (ぶんぽう)

A. Describing People and Objects with て-form

Use the て-form to link two or more descriptions of a person or object. This is useful when describing what someone is wearing, for example.

1. Structure:
   [Verb in て-form] + [additional verb/description]
   • Examples:
     • かれは ぼうしを かぶって、めがねを かけています。
       (He is wearing a hat and glasses.)
     • かのじょは あかい ドレスを きて、かわいいです。
       (She is wearing a red dress and is cute.)

B. Making Comparisons Using より and ほうが

When making comparisons in Japanese, you will use より to indicate the lesser option and ほうが to indicate the preferred or greater option.

1. Structure:
   • To compare two things, place より after the lesser item and ほうが after the preferred item.
   • [Noun 1] より [Noun 2] のほうが [adjective] です。
     (Noun 2 is more [adjective] than Noun 1.)
   • Examples:
     • にほんりょうりより イタリアりょうりのほうが すきです。
       (I like Italian food more than Japanese food.)
     • このえいがより あのえいがのほうが おもしろいです。
       (That movie is more interesting than this movie.)

C. Expressing When Something Happens Using ～とき (toki)

Use とき to describe when something happens. The verb or adjective before とき tells us when the action occurs—whether before, during, or after a particular time.

1. Structure:
   [Verb or adjective] + とき、[action]。
   • If the event happens before the action:
     Verb in dictionary form + とき。
   • If the event happens after the action:
     Verb in past form + とき。
   • Examples:
     • べんきょうするとき、しずかにします。
       (When I study, I am quiet.)
     • がっこうに いったとき、かさを わすれました。
       (When I went to school, I forgot my umbrella.)

D. Requesting Permissions Using ～てもいいですか

When asking for permission to do something, use ～てもいいですか. This structure is useful in both polite and casual settings.

1. Structure:
   [Verb in て-form] + もいいですか。
   • Examples:
     • しゃしんを とってもいいですか。
       (May I take a picture?)
     • ここに すわってもいいですか。
       (May I sit here?)

---

3. Example Sentences

1. かれは コートを きて、ぼうしを かぶっています。
   (He is wearing a coat and a hat.)

2. チョコレートより くだもののほうが すきです。
   (I like fruit more than chocolate.)

3. ほんを よむとき、めがねを かけます。
   (When I read a book, I wear glasses.)

4. テレビを みてもいいですか。
   (May I watch TV?)

5. わたしは かのじょより せが たかいです。
   (I am taller than her.)

---

4. Practice Sentences

• わたしは しごとを するとき、コーヒーを のみます。
  (When I work, I drink coffee.)

• にほんより アメリカのほうが ふゆが さむいです。
  (Winter in America is colder than in Japan.)

• このくつを かってもいいですか。
  (May I buy these shoes?)

• かれは スーツを きて、めがねを かけています。
  (He is wearing a suit and glasses.)

---

5. Summary

In Unit 22, you learned how to describe people and objects using the て-form of verbs and adjectives, make comparisons using より and ほうが, and express when something happens using とき. Additionally, you learned how to ask for permission with ～てもいいですか. These sentence patterns are essential for everyday conversations in Japanese, especially when describing preferences, making comparisons, and asking for permissions in a polite manner.