Comprehensive Study Notes: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I (2nd Edition)

PREFACE AND INTRODUCTION TO MINNA NO NIHONGO SHOKYU I (2ND EDITION)

  • Objective of the Series

    • Designed as a comprehensive Japanese language textbook for beginners.
    • Aims to help learners communicate in Japanese in daily life, workplaces, homes, and educational institutions as quickly as possible.
    • Acts as a sister book to "Shin Nihongo no Kiso," leveraging its systematic grammar layout while broadening conversational scenarios for general learners.

  • Core Components

    • Main Textbook (Honsatsu): Includes an audio CD for listening components. Focused on four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
    • Translation and Grammatical Notes: Published in multiple languages (English, Chinese, etc.) to explain vocabulary, grammar rules, and cultural background.

  • Course Structure (Lessons 1–25)

    • Sentences Patterns (Bunkei): Basic structures introduced in each lesson.
    • Example Sentences (Reibun): Short dialogues showing how patterns are used in practice.
    • Dialogues (Kaiwa): Real-world scenarios featuring a cast of international characters living in Japan.
    • Excercises (Renshu A, B, and C):
      • Renshu A: Visual breakdown of grammar and conjugation patterns.
      • Renshu B: Drills based on specific grammar points to reinforce structure.
      • Renshu C: Short communicative tasks to build conversational fluency.
    • Problems (Mondai): Listening, grammar, and reading comprehension tests.

JAPANESE SOUND SYSTEM AND PRONUNCIATION

  • Hiragana and Katakana

    • The basic scripts are categorized by rows (a,ka,sa,ta,na,ha,ma,ya,ra,waa, ka, sa, ta, na, ha, ma, ya, ra, wa) and columns (a,i,u,e,oa, i, u, e, o).
    • Extended sounds include:
      • Dakuon/Handakuon: Voiced sounds (e.g., ga,za,da,ba,paga, za, da, ba, pa).
      • Yoon: Contracted sounds (e.g., kya,kyu,kyokya, kyu, kyo).

  • Phonetic Rules

    • Long Vowels (Cho-on): Distinguishing between short and long sounds (e.g., obasan vs. obaasan).
    • Syllabic Nasal (Hatsuon): The sound n (nn).
    • Double Consonants (Sokuon): Represented by a small tsu (e.g., bukka, zasshi).

THEMATIC VOCABULARY AND PRELIMINARIES

  • Classroom Phrases

    • Hajimemashou (Let's begin).
    • Owarimashou (Let's finish).
    • Yasumimashou (Let's take a break).
    • Wakarimasu ka (Do you understand?).

  • Daily Greetings

    • Ohayou gozaimasu (Good morning).
    • Konnichiwa (Good afternoon/Hello).
    • Konbanwa (Good evening).
    • Oyasumi nasai (Good night).
    • Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you).

  • Numbers (1–10)

    • 11: ichi, 22: ni, 33: san, 44: yon/shi, 55: go, 66: roku, 77: nana/shichi, 88: hachi, 99: kyuu/ku, 1010: juu.

GRAMMAR OVERVIEW BY LESSON (1–25)

  • Lesson 1: Self-Introduction and Basic Sentences

    • Noun A wa Noun B desu (Affirmative identities).
    • Ja arimasen (Negative identity).
    • Ka (Questions).
    • Mo (Addition/Also).
    • No (Possession or belonging).

  • Lesson 2: Pointing and Belonging

    • Kore/Sore/Are (This/That/That over there).
    • Kono/Sono/Ano + Noun (Specific noun reference).
    • Sou desu / Sou ja arimasen (Confirmation expressions).

  • Lesson 3: Locations and Directions

    • Koko/Soko/Asoko (Place markers).
    • Kochira/Sochira/Achira (Directional/Polite place markers).
    • Doko/Dochira (Where questions).
    • Price inquiry: Noun wa ikura desu ka.

  • Lesson 4: Time and Work Habits

    • Telling time: ~ji ~fun.
    • Verbs: okimasu (wake up), nemasu (sleep), hatarakimasu (work).
    • Kara (from) and made (to/until).
    • Days of the week: Getsu, Ka, Sui, Moku, Kin, Do, Nichi.

  • Lesson 5: Movement and Travel

    • Ikimasu (go), kimasu (come), kaerimasu (return).
    • Transportation: Vehicle de ikimasu.
    • Companions: Dare to ikimasu ka.

  • Lesson 6: Action Verbs and Objects

    • Noun o Verb (Transitive actions).
    • Location of action: Basho de verb.
    • Invitations: Issho ni ikimasen ka (Won't you go with me?).
    • Suggestions: Verb-mashou (Let's do…).

  • Lesson 7: Giving and Receiving

    • Tools/Means: Hashi de tabemasu.
    • Giving: Noun (receiver) ni Noun (object) o agemasu.
    • Receiving: Noun (giver) ni/kara Noun (object) o moraimasu.
    • Completed actions: Mou verb-mashita.

  • Lesson 8: Adjectives

    • I-adjectives (e.g., takai, samui).
    • Na-adjectives (e.g., kirei, nigiyaka).
    • Questions: Noun wa dou desu ka.
    • Modifying Nouns: Adjective + Noun.

  • Lesson 9: Preferences and Proficiency

    • Suki (like), kirai (dislike), jouzu (skillful), heta (unskillful).
    • Wakarimasu (understand) and arimasu (possess).
    • Kara (reason): Reason kara, result.

  • Lesson 10: Existence

    • inanimate items: Arimasu.
    • Living beings: Imasu.
    • Location descriptions: Ue (above), shita (under), naka (inside), mae (front), ushiro (back).

  • Lesson 11: Quantifiers and Duration

    • Counting objects: Hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu…
    • Counting people: ~nin.
    • Asking for duration: Dono kurai.

  • Lesson 12: Past and Comparisons

    • Past tense of adjectives and nouns.
    • Comparison: A wa B yori Adjective desu (A is more… than B).
    • Selection: A to B to dochira ga Adjective desu ka.

  • Lesson 13: Desires and Purpose

    • Hoshii (want an object).
    • Verb-tai (want to do an action).
    • Purpose of movement: Place e Verb-ni ikimasu.

  • Lesson 14: Verb Groups and Requests

    • Group I, II, III verb distinction.
    • Te-form introduced.
    • Verb-te kudasai (Please do…).
    • Verb-te imasu (Present continuous).

  • Lesson 15: Permission and Prohibitions

    • Verb-te mo ii desu ka (May I…?).
    • Verb-te wa ikemasen (You must not…).
    • States: Shitte imasu (I know), kekkon shite imasu (I am married).

  • Lesson 16: Sequential Actions

    • Verb-te, verb-te, final verb (Connecting actions).
    • Verb-te kara (After doing…).

  • Lesson 17: Negative Verbs

    • Nai-form introduced.
    • Verb-nai de kudasai (Please don't…).
    • Verb-nakereba narimasen (Must do).
    • Verb-nakute mo ii desu (Need not do).

  • Lesson 18: Ability and Hobbies

    • Dictionary form introduced.
    • Ability: Verb (Dict. form) koto ga dekimasu.
    • Hobbies: Shumi wa Verb (Dict. form) koto desu.
    • Mae ni (Before doing).

  • Lesson 19: Experience and Changes

    • Ta-form introduced.
    • Experience: Past verb-ta koto ga arimasu.
    • Listed actions: Verb-tari, verb-tari shimasu.
    • Becoming: Narimasu.

  • Lesson 20: Informal Style

    • Casual speech patterns (Plain forms vs. Polite forms).

  • Lesson 21: Opinions and Quotations

    • Thinking: ~to omoimasu.
    • Saying: ~to iimasu.
    • Confirmation: ~deshou?.

  • Lesson 22: Noun Modification

    • Using entire sentences to modify nouns (Relative clauses).

  • Lesson 23: When and Result

    • Toki (When…).
    • ~to (If/When… result occurs automatically).

  • Lesson 24: Acts of Giving/Receiving Help

    • Verb-te agemasu / moraimasu / kuremasu.

  • Lesson 25: Conditionals and Concessions

    • Verb-tara (If/When).
    • Verb-te mo (Even if).

CHARACTERS AND SETTING

  • The textbook features a consistent cast such as Mike Miller (USA), José Santos (Brazil), Karina (Indonesia), Wang Xue (China), and the Yamada Family (Japan). Scenes are set in offices, universities, and hospitals to provide a broad vocabulary base.