Category: STUDY JLPT

～たことがある　～ta koto ga aru

　How to make”～たことがある..” in Japanese.

You can use　～たことがある when you want to say “have/has the experience of.”

The patterns is below:

Verb ta-form + koto ga aru .
have/ has the experience of ..
It indicates that something has (or hasn’t ever) happened in the past.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

アフリカに行ったことがあります。Africa ni itta koto ga arimasu .
I have been to Africa .

ドラエモンに会ったことがあります。Doraemon ni atta koto ga arimasu .
I have met Doraemon before .

私はそれを聞いたことがない。Watashi wa sore wo kiita kotoga nai.
I’ve never heard of this.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～たいです　～tai desu

　How to make”～たいです..” in Japanese.

You can use　～たいです when you want to say ” I want to (verb).”

The patterns is below:

Verb stem + tai desu .
I want to (verb).

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

私は日本語を勉強したいです。　Watashi wa nihongo o benkyo shitai desu.
I want to study Japanese

今晩すしを食べたいです。konban sushi o tabetai desu .
I want to eat sushi tonight

僕は ケーキを 食べたい です。Boku wa cake wo tabetai desu.
 I want to eat some cake

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Recommended books

～すぎる　～sugiru

　How to make”～すぎる..” in Japanese.

You can use　～すぎる when you want to say ” doing too much.”

The patterns is below:

Verb: Verb stem +sugiru.
i-adj: drop final i +sugiru. ( ex: takai → takasugiru , samui → samusugiru )
na-adj: drop final na +sugiru. ( ex: shizukana → shizuka sugiru, kireina → kirei sugiru)
doing too much or too excess.
It means “too much” or “too (big/small/expensive/etc.)”.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

私は食べすぎました。Watashi wa tabe sugimashita.
I ate too much.

私は飲みすぎました。Watashi wa nomi sugimashita.
I drunk too much

このシャツは大きすぎる。 Kono shirt wa ooki sugiru.
This shirt is too big.

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～のがすきです　～noga suki desu

　How to make”～のがすきです..” in Japanese.

You can use　～のがすきです when you want to say “to like ( verb).”

The patterns is below:

Verb dictionary from + noga suki desu.
It means to like doing something.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

私は歌うのが好きです。 Watashi wa utau noga suki desu .
I like to sing

彼女はテニスをするのが好きです。Kanojo wa tennis o suru no ga suki desu .
She likes to play tennis.

私はアニメを見るのが好きです。
I like watching anime.

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Recommended books

～のがじょうずです　～noga jozu desu

　How to make”～のがじょうずです..” in Japanese.

You can use　～のがじょうずです when you want to say “be good at (dictionary form).”

The patterns is below:

Verb dictionary form +noga jozu desu
be good at (dictionary form).
It means to be good at something..

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

彼女は歌うのが上手です。kanojo wa utau noga jozu desu.
she is good at singing.

タケシは相撲するのが上手です。Takeshi wa sumo o suru noga jozu desu.
Takeshi is good at playing sumo.

あなたは泳ぐのが上手ですか? Anata wa oyogu noga jozu desu ka?
Are you good at swimming?

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Recommended books

～のがへたです　～noga heta desu

　How to make”～のがへたです..” in Japanese.

You can use　～のがへたです when you want to say “be poor at (dictionary form).”

The patterns is below:

Verb dictionary form + noga heta desu.
be poor at (dictionary form) , be not good at (dictionary form)
It means to be bad at something..

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

メアリーは英語を話すのが下手です。Mary wa eigo o hanasu noga heta desu.
Mary is poor at speaking English

メアリーは料理をするのが下手です。Mary wa ryori i suru noga heta desu .
Mary is not good at cooking

私は踊るのがへたです。Watashi wa odoru noga heta desu.
I’m bad at dancing.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～ので　～node

　How to make”～ので..” in Japanese.

You can use　～ので when you want to say “because.”

The patterns is below:

(reason) node (situation)- (situation) because (reason)
It means “because” or “so”. The cause is more impartial (like because a building is red or tall) than with “から” or “だから” where it’s more subjective (like because you think an apple tastes good). With nouns and -na adjectives it becomes “なので”.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

暑いので脱ぎます。Atsui node nugimasu.
I take off my cloth because it’s too hot.

メアリーはいじわるなので嫌いです。Mary wa ijiwaru na node kirai desu.
I hate Mary because she is mean

この本は高いので買わない。Kono hon wa takai node kawanai.
I’m not buying this book, because it’s expensive.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～にいく　～ni iku

　How to make”～にいく..” in Japanese.

You can use　～にいく when you want to say “go to ( verb).”

The patterns is below:

Verb stem + ni iku
It means to go somewhere or to go do something.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

食べに行く。Tabe ni iku
go to eat

飲みに行く。Nomi ni iku –
go to drink

私は泳ぎに行く。
I go swimming.

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Recommended books

～に/へ　～ni/e

　How to make”～に/へ..” in Japanese.

You can use　～に/へ when you want to say “(go) to…”

The patterns is below:

(place etc) ni/e
This means “to”, and is used when describing a destination.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

私は日本に行きます。Watashi wa Nihon ni ikimasu.
I will go to Japan.

ケイコはローマにいきました。 Keiko wa rome ni ikimashita.
keiko went to Rome.

家に帰ります。Ie ni kaerimasu.
I will go home.

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Recommended books

～ないでください　～naide kudasai

　How to make”～ないでください..” in Japanese.

You can use　～ないでください when you want to say “Please do not…”

The patterns is below:

Negative stem + naide kudasai =Please do not …
This means “please don’t do”, used in place of a “-te” form of a verb.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

話さないでください。hanasanaide kudasai .
Please do not talk.

寝ないでください。nenaide kudasai .
Please do not sleep.

このりんごを食べないでください。Kono ringo wo tabenaide kudasai.
Please don’t eat this apple.

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Recommended books

に ni

　How to make”に..” in Japanese.

You can use に when you want to say “at on in (time)…”

The patterns is below:

(Time) ni

The time frame can be specified by any expression that specifies a duration of time such as: 分 (fun – “minutes”), 時間 (jikan – “hours”), 日 (nichi – “days”),週間 (shuukan – “weeks”),ヶ月 (kagetsu – “months”),年 (nen – “years”)

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

一時に寝ます。1 ji ni nemasu
I sleet at 1 o’clock

日曜日に京都に行きます。Nichiyoubi ni kyoto ni ikimasu.
I will go to Kyoto on Sunday.

私は１日に２時間ぐらい勉強します。Watashi wa ichinichi ni nijikan gurai benkyou shimasu.
I study for about 2 hours a day.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

も mo

　How to make”も..” in Japanese.

You can use も when you want to say “too, as well…”

The patterns is below:

Subject/Topic/Object + も ( replace wa/ga/wo with mo)
This means “too”, “and”, or “also”.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

私も日本人です。Watashi mo nihonjin desu
I am a Japanese person too

かれはサッカーがすきです。わたしもサッカーがすきです。 Kare wa soccer ga suki desu. Watashi mo soccer ga suki desu.
He likes soccer. I like soccer, too.

マイクはケーキもクッキーもたべました。 Mike wa cake mo cookies mo tabemashita.
Mike ate both cake and cookies.

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Recommended books

～ましょうか ～mashouka

　How to make”～ましょうか..” in Japanese.

You can use ～ましょうか when you want to say “Shall I/ We…”

The patterns is below:

Verb stem +ましょうか
Shall I/ We …
This is a polite volitional phrase used for suggestions.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

テニスをしましょうか？Tennis wo shimashou ka ？
Shall We play tennis?

買物に行きましょうか？Kaimono ni ikimashou ka?
Shall We go for shopping?

食べましょうか? Tabemashou ka?
Shall we start? ( to eat)?

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Recommended books

～ましょう ～mashou

　How to make”～ましょう..” in Japanese.

You can use ～ましょう when you want to say “Let’s…”

The patterns is below:

Verb stem +ましょう
Let’s …
This is a polite volitional phrase, meaning “I’ll” or “let’s”.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

飲みましょう。Nomimashou.
Let’s drink!

行きましょう。Ikimashou.
Let’s go!

食べましょう。
Let’s eat!

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Recommended books

～ませんか ～masen ka

　How to make”～ませんか..” in Japanese.

You can use ～ませんか when you want to say “Won’t you…”

The patterns is below:

Verb stem +ませんか is used to invite someone to do it.
It means Won’t you – , How about – , Wouldn’t you –

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

一緒に食べませんか？Issho ni tabemasen ka?
Won’t you eat with me?

デートをしませんか？Date shimasen ka?
Won’t you go on a date?

ケーキをたべませんか？ 　Cake wo tabemasen ka?
Won’t you have some cake?

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Recommended books

まだ～ていません mada ～te imasen

　How to make”まだ～ていません..” in Japanese.

You can use まだ～ていません when you want to say “have not….yet…”

The patterns is below:

mada + te form + imasen = have not….yet

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

私はまだ昼ごはんを食べていません。Watashi wa mada hirugohan o tabete imasen.
I have not eaten lunch yet

ケンはまだ起きていません。Ken wa mada okite imasen.
Ken has not woken up yet.

私はまだシャワーを浴びていません。Watashi wa mada shower wo abite imasen.
I have not taken a shower yet.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～まえに ～mae ni

　How to make”～まえに..” in Japanese.

You can use～まえに when you want to say “before doing…”

The patterns is below:

Very dictionary form + mae ni = before doing something.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

出かける前に電話します。　dekakeru mae ni denwa shimasu
I will call you before going out.

食べる前に手を洗います。taberu mae ni te o araimasu
I wash my hands before eating

おいしいから食べます。Oishii kara tabemasu.
Because (it’s) tasty, I will eat.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～から ～kara

　How to make”～から..” in Japanese.

You can use ～から when you want to say “because…..”

The patterns is below:

(reason)kara..

Verb +から
い adjective +から
Noun + だ +から
な adjective + だ +から

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

明日はテストがあるから勉強します。Ashita test desu kara benkyo shimasu.
I will study because there will be a test tomorrow.

学生時代は、お金がなかったから、旅行に行けませんでした。Gakuseijidai wa okane ga nakattakara ryokou ikemasen deshita.
I couldn’t go traveling when I was a student because I didn’t have any money.

おいしいから食べます。Oishii kara tabemasu.
Because (it’s) tasty, I will eat.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～です ～desu

　How to make”～です..” in Japanese.

You can use ～です when you want to say “is, are,am (to be).”

The patterns is below:

(Subject or topic) wa/ga ( something) desu.

This means “is”, “am”, or “are” (depending on the situation), though the meaning in English is a lot broader than in Japanese. Some other

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

私は学生です。Watashi wa gakusei desu.
I am a student.

これはペンです。 Kore wa pen desu.
This is a pen.

わたしはケンです。Watashi wa Ken desu.
I am Ken.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～でしょう ～deshou

　How to make”～でしょう..” in Japanese.

You can use～でしょう when you want to say “making a guess.”

The patterns is below:

verb short form + desho – probably

It means something like to express a level of some certainty and is close in meaning to 「多分」. Just like 「～です／～ます」, it must come at the end of a complete sentence. It does not have any other conjugations. You can also replace 「～ですか」 with 「～でしょうか」 to make the question sound slightly more polite and less assuming by adding a slight level of uncertainty. or prediction.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

明日は晴れるでしょう。Ashita wa hareru desho.
Tomorrow should be sunny.

北海道は寒いでしょう。Hokkaido wa samui desho.
It is probably cold in Hokkaido

あなたは学生さんでしょうか。Anata wa gakusei-san deshou ka?
Are you a student?

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

で de

　How to make”で..” in Japanese.

You can use で when you want to say “at, in, on (place).”.

The patterns is below:

(place) de
at, in, on (place)

This means “at” or “in”, and is used when specifying where something happens.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

家で食べます。Ie de tabemasu.
I eat at home

ケンは学校ですう学をべんきょうします。 Ken wa gakkou de sugaku wo benkyo shimasu.
Ken studies math at school.and is used when specifying where something happens.

来年日本で仕事をします。Rainen nihon de shigoto wo shimasu.
I will work in Japan next year.

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Recommended books

ＡやＢ A ya B

　How to make”ＡやＢ..” in Japanese.

You can use ＡやＢ when you want to say “A and B , for example.”.

The patterns is below:

A ya B = A and B , for example

This is a particle used to link nouns in an incomplete list.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

私は東京や大阪に行きます。Watashi wa Tokyo ya Osaka ni ikimashita.
I went to Tokyo, Osaka etc.

猫や犬や猿が動物園にいます。 Neko ya Inu ya Saru ga doubutsuen ni imasu.
There are cats and dogs and monkeys (among other things) at the zoo.

私は寿司や味噌汁が日本料理の中で好きです。Watashi wa sushi ya misoshiru ga nihonryori no naka de suki desu.
Among Japanese foods, I like Sushi and Misoshiru for example.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

が　あります/います ga arimasu/imasu

　How to make”が　あります/います..” in Japanese.

You can use が　あります/います when you want to say ” There is/are (thing) .”.

The patterns is below:

There is/are(people etc) -(people etc) ga imasu

「があります」、 It is used for non-living things (use 「がいます」 for living things).

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

先生がいます。Sensei ga imasu.
There is a teacher.

あそこの木の下に、子ども二人がいます。 Asoko no kinoshita ni kodomo ga futari imasu.
There are two children under the tree over there.

きょうしつに山田さんがいますか。Kyoshitsu ni yamada san ga imasu ka?
Is Mr. Yamada in the classroom?”

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

AのほうがＢより～A no houga B yori (property)

　How to make”AのほうがＢより～..” in Japanese.

You can use AのほうがＢより～ when you want to say ” A is more (property) than B.”.

The patterns is below:

A no houga B yori (property) – A is more (property) than B

It means that something is more (interesting/expensive/etc.) than something else.

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

日本のほうがイギリスより大きいです。Nihon no houga Igirisu yori ookii desu.
Japan is bigger than Great Britain.

電車のほうがバスより速いです。Densha no houga Bus yori hayai desu.
Train is faster than bus.

この本のほうがあの新聞より高いです。Kono hon no houga ano shinbun yori takai desu.
This book is more expensive than that newspaper.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～のなかでＡがいちばん～ (Class of items)no naka de A ga ichiban (property)

　How to make”～のなかでＡがいちばん～..” in Japanese.

You can use～のなかでＡがいちばん～ when you want to say ” A is the most (property)among (Class of items)..”.

The patterns is below:

(Class of items)no naka de A ga ichiban (property)

It means the best from something or the most (new/old/expensive/likable/etc.).

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

世界の中で日本が一番安全です。Sekai no naka de nihon ga ichiban anzen desu.
Japan is the safest country in the world.

クラスの中でタカオが一番大きいです。Class no nakade Takao ga ichiban ookii desu .
Takao is the tallest in the class .

このお菓子の中でクッキーがいちばん好きです。Kono Okashi no naka de cookie ga ichiban suki desu.
From these sweets I like cookies the most.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～ずくめ ～zukume

　How to make”～ずくめ….” in Japanese.

You can use ～ずくめ when you want to say “full of / a lot of ..”.

The patterns is below:

名詞＋ずくめ

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

ピンクずくめの女が原宿に多い。
Many girls who dressed  all in pink are exist in harajuku.

規則ずくめの高校に入ってからというもの毎日疲れている。
Since I entered a high school with plenty of rules, I’m getting tired every day.

彼は全身黒ずくめだった。
He was wearing all in black.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～をよそに ～wo yosoni

　How to make”～をよそに….” in Japanese.

You can use ～をよそに when you want to say “Without consideration for  ..”.

The patterns is below:

名詞＋をよそに

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

両親の心配をよそに彼女は一人で海外旅行へいった。
Without considering that his parents might be worried, she’s gone to overseas trip alone.

彼は国外追放の可能性をよそに不法滞在してる。
Indifferent to the sentenced to deportation, He is staying illegally.

住民の不安をよそに、原子力発電所の建設工事が始まった。
Indifferent to the anxiety of the residents, construction of the nuclear generating station commenced.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～に足(た）る ～ni taru

　How to make”～に足る….” in Japanese.

You can use ～に足る when you want to say “is plenty; has value  ..”.

The patterns is below:

動辞書形＋　に足る
名詞＋に足る

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

彼の振る舞いは尊敬するに足る。
his behavior is worthy of respect.

あの人の話は聞くに足る。
His talk is worthful.

ケンは投資でいい暮らしをするに足るお金をかせいだ。
The investment made Ken a small fortune.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books

～にたえない(～に堪えない) ～ni taenai

　How to make”～にたえない….” in Japanese.

You can use ～にたえない when you want to say “cannot stand ..”.

The patterns is below:

動辞書形＋　にたえない

　例文：Examples of sentence (with audio)

あの国は日本の悪口ばかりいってる。本当に聞くにたえない。
That country always talk bad about Japan, I can’t stand to hear.

あの下手な選手は見るにたえない。
I can’t stand watch such a poor player.

あのような陰口は聞くにたえません。
I can’t stand to hear that kind of bitching behind people’s backs.

Keep up with your studies!

Recommended books