Minna no Nihongo - Unit 7 Overview
Unit 7 is all about giving and receiving things, talking about gifts, and visiting someone’s home. This unit introduces how to talk about what you give or receive from others and how to express actions with these verbs. You will also learn how to use polite expressions in conversations related to giving and receiving.
1. Vocabulary (たんご)
Key vocabulary in Unit 7 revolves around giving, receiving, and various household-related objects:
- あげます (agemasu) – to give
- もらいます (moraimasu) – to receive
- かします (kashimasu) – to lend
- かります (karimasu) – to borrow
- おしえます (oshiemasu) – to teach
- ならいます (naraimasu) – to learn
- おくります (okurimasu) – to send
- てがみ (tegami) – letter
- プレゼント (purezento) – present
- はな (hana) – flower
- おかね (okane) – money
- きっぷ (kippu) – ticket
- にもつ (nimotsu) – luggage, package
- クリスマス (Kurisumasu) – Christmas
- チョコレート (chokorēto) – chocolate
- はは (haha) – mother (when referring to one’s own mother)
- おかあさん (okaasan) – mother (when referring to someone else’s mother)
- ちち (chichi) – father (when referring to one’s own father)
- おとうさん (otōsan) – father (when referring to someone else’s father)
2. Grammar Points (ぶんぽう)
A. Giving and Receiving
- To express giving, use:
- [Person] に [Object] を あげます。
Examples:
- わたしは ともだちに プレゼントを あげます。 (Watashi wa tomodachi ni purezento o agemasu.) – I give my friend a present.
- かのじょは せんせいに はなを あげました。 (Kanojo wa sensei ni hana o agemashita.) – She gave flowers to the teacher.
- To express receiving, use:
- [Person] に [Object] を もらいます。
Examples:
- わたしは かのじょに チョコレートを もらいました。 (Watashi wa kanojo ni chokorēto o moraimashita.) – I received chocolate from her.
- せんせいに ほんを もらいました。 (Sensei ni hon o moraimashita.) – I received a book from the teacher.
B. Borrowing and Lending
- To express lending, use:
- [Person] に [Object] を かします。
Example:
- わたしは ともだちに おかねを かします。 (Watashi wa tomodachi ni okane o kashimasu.) – I lend my friend money.
- To express borrowing, use:
- [Person] に [Object] を かります。
Example:
- わたしは ともだちに ほんを かります。 (Watashi wa tomodachi ni hon o karimasu.) – I borrow a book from my friend.
C. Offering and Requesting Help
- How to Offer Help:
- [Object] を おくりましょうか。 (O [object] o okurimashō ka?) – Shall I send [object] for you?
Example:
- にもつを おくりましょうか。 (Nimotsu o okurimashō ka?) – Shall I send the luggage for you?
- How to Request Help:
- [Verb] て ください。 ([Verb] te kudasai.) – Please [verb].
Example:
- おしえて ください。 (Oshiete kudasai.) – Please teach me.
3. Example Sentences
- わたしは ちちに ネクタイを あげます。 (Watashi wa chichi ni nekutai o agemasu.) – I will give my father a tie.
- ともだちは わたしに ほんを かしました。 (Tomodachi wa watashi ni hon o kashimashita.) – My friend lent me a book.
- わたしは せんせいに てがみを もらいました。 (Watashi wa sensei ni tegami o moraimashita.) – I received a letter from the teacher.
- ともだちは わたしに チョコレートを くれました。 (Tomodachi wa watashi ni chokorēto o kuremashita.) – My friend gave me chocolate.
4. Practice Sentences
- わたしは ははに はなを あげます。 (Watashi wa haha ni hana o agemasu.) – I will give flowers to my mother.
- せんせいに プレゼントを もらいました。 (Sensei ni purezento o moraimashita.) – I received a present from the teacher.
- いもうとは ともだちに おかねを かりました。 (Imōto wa tomodachi ni okane o karimashita.) – My younger sister borrowed money from a friend.
- にほんごを おしえて ください。 (Nihongo o oshiete kudasai.) – Please teach me Japanese.
5. Summary
Unit 7 focuses on giving, receiving, borrowing, and lending. The structure involves using the particle に to indicate the recipient and the particle を to indicate the object. This unit also introduces how to politely offer help and ask for help. Practice using verbs like あげます (to give) and もらいます (to receive) in different contexts, focusing on the correct use of particles and polite expressions.
