Japan Moji

Vocabulary appearing in past tests

2012-05-06T15:16:00.002-07:00

Test your vocabulary ability by taking the past tests.

Hoshii

2012-04-29T22:04:00.001-07:00

Hoshii

Meaning: want to, would like to.

When to use?

It is usually the 1st person in declarative sentences, and 2nd person in questions. In some cases, when hoshii is followed by garu, 3rd person should be used.

1) After object noun + "ga"

Watashi wa totemo pasokon ga hoshii desu.

= I want a personal computer very much.

Nani ga hoshii no desu ka.

= What do you want?

2) After te-form of verb

Nani ka o katte hoshii no desu ga.

= I want you to buy something for me.

Hoka

2012-04-27T08:09:00.001-07:00

Hoka

Meaning: Another, other, else, some other, somewhere or anywhere else, some or any other, besides, apart from, in addition to, except (for), as well as.

When to use?

It is determined by particle which follows: no, de, ni, and no.

1) Followed by particle "no"

Hoka no gakusei ni tanomimasu.

= I will ask some other students.

2) Followed by particles "ni" or "wa"

O-Mizu no hoka wa nani mo nomimasen.

= I don't drink anything other than water.

3) Used as noun followed by particle "no"

Hoka no o misete kudasai.

= Please show me another one.

4) Used as adverb followed by particle "ni" or "de"

Hoka ni nani ga motto yasui no desu ka.

= What else is cheaper?

Hou ga ii

2012-04-15T13:00:00.001-07:00

Hou ga ii

Meaning: It will be better to (do), you had better --.

When to use?

When talking to a person of higher position/ status or indirect manner, it is better to include "to omoimasu" (meaning I think) at the end of the phrase.

1) After dictionary form of verb

Kare ni soudan suru hou ga ii.

Kare ni soudan suru hou ga ii (to omoimasu).

= It is better to consult him.

2) After ta-form of verb

Kyou wa o-bentou o motte itta hou ga ii.

Kyou wa o-bentou o motte itta hou ga ii (to omoimasu).

= It is better to take along a lunch box today.

3) After nai-form of verb

Ashita ni wa ikanai hou ga ii desu yo.
Ashita ni wa ikanai hou ga ii (to omoimasu).

= It would be better for you not to go tomorrow.

Hodo

2012-02-23T11:42:00.000-08:00

Hodo

Meaning: About, to the extent of, enough to (do), the more -- the more --.

When to use?

1) After noun expressing quantity or length

Narita kuukou wa koko kara ni kiro hodo desu.

= Narita airport is about two kilometers from here.

2) After noun, followed by a negative

Eigo wa doitsugo hodo muzukashiku arimasen.

= English is not as difficult as German language.

3) After dictionary form of verb or adjective

Sono hon wa kodomo demo yomeru hodo yasashii desu yo.

= That book is so easy that even a child can read it.

4) After ta-form of verb

Kono chuuko no pasokon wa omotta hodo yasuku wa nakatta.

= This used laptop was not as cheap as I had expected.

5) After nai-form of verb

Kanojo wa mou arukenai hodo tsukaremashita.

= She is so tired that She can't walk any more.

Hou

2012-02-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Hou

Meaning: One is better than the other. It is always followed by the particle "ga".

When to use?

1) After the demonstrative adjectives "Kono", "Sono", "Ano"

Kono hou ga yasui desu.

= This is more cheap.

2) After noun + no

Getsu youbi no hou ga isogashii desu.

= I am busier on Monday.

3) After dictionary form of verb or adjective

Pasokon wa karui hou ga benri desu yo.

= A lighter laptop is handier.

4) After nai-form of verb

Ikanai hou ga ii desu yo.

= It's better not to go.

5) After ta-form of verb

Aruite itta hou ga hayai desu ne.

= It would be faster to go by walk isn't it.

Hazu ga nai

2012-02-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

Hazu ga nai

Meaning: It's impossible that., Cannot (do).

When to use?

1) After dictionary form of verb or adjective

Sonna ni okane ga tameru hazu ga nai.

= It's impossible that one would save so much money.

2) After ta-form of verb or adjective

Kanojo ga machigatta hazu ga nai.

= She can't have made a mistake.

3) After nai-form of verb or adjective

Kare ga mada kite inai hazu ga nai.

= It's not probable that he has not arrived yet.

4) After adjectival noun + na or no

Kanojo no hanashi ga uso no hazu ga nai.

= Her story can't be false.

Hazu desu

2012-01-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

Hazu desu

Meaning: Expected to (do), supposed to (do).

When to use?

1) After dictionary form of verb or adjective

Kono pasokon wa motto takai hazu desu.

= This computer is expected to be more expensive.

2) After ta-form of verb or adjective

Sou itta hazu desu.

= I'm sure I told you that.

3) After (adjectival) noun + na or no

Kare wa byouki no hazu desu.

= I'm sure he is sick.

4) After nai-form (negative form) of verb or adjective

Kanojo wa ikanai hazu desu.

= I'm sure she will not come.

Hajimeru

2011-10-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hajimeru

Meaning: Begin, start (doing task).

When to use?

1) After conjunctive form of verb

Watashi no o-niisan wa senshuu kara nihongo wo benkyou shihajimemashita.

= My eldest brother began to study Japanese last week.

Kyonen piano wo naraihajimemashita.

= I started learning piano last year.

Goro

2011-08-13T06:28:00.003-07:00

Goro

Meaning: Around, about.

When to use?

1) After specified point in time

Kare wa kinou asa ku ji goro dekakemashita.

= He went out yesterday about nine o'clock in the morning.

2) After itsu or nan ji

Nanji goro denwashimashou ka.

= At about what time shall I call?

Narita Airport to Yokohama

2011-07-24T05:11:00.000-07:00

Depending on your departure time, there are many train routes that you can use when you are travelling from Narita Airport to Yokohama. For an instance, if your departure time from Narita Airport is around 8:00 am, you can get on a Skyliner 2 going to Nippori station. From there, change train and get on to JR keihintohoku line going to Yokohama.

Another route that you may consider when your departure time is around 7:00 am, you can get on JR Sobu line (rapid train) going to Tokyo. Then, change train and transfer to JR Yokosuka line going to Yokohama.

Garu

2011-07-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Garu

Meaning: Someone wants or feels something.

When to use?

1) After the stem of adjective expressing emotion

Kanojo wa motto ii kaban o hoshigatte imasu.

= She wants a better bag.

2) After the stem of adjective expressing sensation

Sono kega hito wa hidoku itagatte imasu.

= That injured person looks to be in terrible pain.

3) After conjunctive form of verb + ta

Kare wa nihon ni ikitagatte imasu.

= He is eager to visit Japan.

Japan Travel eBook - Visitor Edition

2011-06-26T04:28:00.000-07:00

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Ga

2011-06-08T03:23:00.000-07:00

Meaning: Particle indicating the subject or object for specific verb or adjective.

When to use?

1) After subject just introduced

Kono hito ga hanaoka-san desu. Kare wa daigaku no sensei desu.

= This is Mr. Hanaoka. He is a university teacher.

Ano depato no mae ni ginkou ga arimasu

= There is a bank in front of that department store.

2) After stressed subject

Watashi ga sore mo shimasu.

= I will also do it.

3) After interrogative

Nani ga omoshiroi no desu ka.

= What is so funny?

4) After subject in a relative clause

Watashi ga katta hon wa amerika no sei desu.

= The book I bought is American-made.

Douzo

2011-04-10T04:09:00.000-07:00

Douzo

Meaning: Please, sure, certainly, here it is.

When to use?

1) Used in imperative sentence

Douzo suwatte kudasai.

= Please sit down.

Kochira e douzo.

= This way, please.

2) Used in reply to a request

Konpyu-ta o kashite kuremasen ka. "Hai, Douzo".

= Can I use your computer? "Yes, certainly."

Chotto pen o kashite kuremasen ka. "Douzo".

= Would you lend me your pen for a moment? "Sure.".

Doushitemo

2011-04-02T02:30:00.000-07:00

Doushitemo

Meaning: No matter what, by any means, can't help, at any cost, simply.

When to use?

1) Used with affirmative

Doushitemo shiken no kekka wo kangaete shimaimasu.

= I can't help thinking of the exam result.

Doushitemo kono pasokon ga hitsuyou desu.

= I need this laptop at any cost.

2) Used with negative

Doushitemo kyou made ni owaranakereba narimasen.

= I must finish it by today no matter what.

Doushitemo ikitakunai desu.

= I simply don't want to go.

Doushite

2011-04-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

Doushite

Meaning: Why, how, in what way.

When to use?

1) Asking a method

Kono e wa doushite kakimasuka.

= How do you draw this painting?

2) Asking a reason

Doushite yameta no desu ka.

= Why did you resign?

Leo passed the JLPT - N5!

2011-03-24T05:09:00.001-07:00

"Studying under JapanMoji have been very fruitful in my learning experience. While the lessons and guides posted in the website are already helpful, having a sensei -a Filipino well-versed in Japanese- takes it on a different level because you can confidently practice your conversational Japanese without having any feeling of intimidation. Jess gives spontaneous examples and will also check on your pronunciation and accent, a rare experience for learners who mostly rely on reading materials alone. During breaks, he also shares his previous work experience in Japan which makes the sessions worthwhile.Thanks!" - Leo

Dore

2011-03-19T23:40:00.000-07:00

Dore

Meaning: Which.

When to use?

1) Used as subject

Kono uchi dore ga ichiban yuumei desu ka.

= Which is the most famous of them?

2) Used as object

Ano futatsu no uchi dore wo erabimasu ka.

= Which do you choose of these two?

Dore ga ichiban takai desu ka.

= Which is the most expensive?

3) Before noun (Dore changes to "Dono")

Dono eiga ga omoshiroi desu ka.

= Which movie is interesting?

4) Used with particle

Kono uchi dore ka yasui desu ka.

= Which is cheapest among these?

Dono Kurai

2011-03-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

Dono Kurai

Meaning: How much, how many, how long, how far, how tall.

When to use?

1) Before noun

Dono kurai hon wo atsumemashita ka.

= How many books have you collected?

2) Used as adverb

Gakkou kara eki made dono kurai kakarimasu ka.

= How long does it take from school to the train station?

Shinkansen wa dono kurai kakarimasu ka.

= How long does it take by bullet train?

Dokoro ka

2011-03-11T22:01:00.000-08:00

Dokoro ka

Meaning: To say nothing of, far from, not to speak of, much more, much less, not only, but.., on the contrary.

When to use?

1) After (adjectival) noun

Kanojo wa eigo dokoro ka nihongo mo hanasemasu.

= She can speak not only English but Japanese as well.

Yasai dokoro ka sakana mo tabemasen.

= I don't even eat fish much less vegetable.

2) After dictionary form of verb or adjective

Kare wa jouzu dokoro ka tensai desu.

= He is not only clever but a genius.

3) After nai-form of verb

Kare wa shigoto shite inai dokoro ka monku wo itte iru.

= Not only he does not work, but he complains.

Dokoro de(wa) nai

2011-03-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

Dokoro de(wa) nai

Meaning: Be more than.., be out of the question, not an occasion for.

When to use?

1) After dictionary form of verb/ adjective

Benkyou ni iku dokoro dewa nai.

= Going on a study is out of the question.

Jodan wo itte iru dokoro dewa nai.

= This is not an occasion for joking.

Doko

2011-03-06T02:19:00.000-08:00

Doko

Meaning: Where, what.

When to use?

1) Followed by desu

Byouin wa doko desu ka.

= Where is the hospital?

Suzuki-san wa ima doko desu ka.

= Where is Mr. Suzuki now?

2) Followed by locational particle

Kare wa doko ni hataraite iru no desu ka.

= Where is he working?

Do youbi ni wa doko e iku no desu ka.

= Where are you going on saturday?

3) Followed by possessive particle "no"

Doko no gakkou ni benkyou suru no desu ka.

= At what school are you studying?

4) Followed by subject marker "ga"

Kore no doko ga warui no desu ka.

= What's wrong with this?

Kanji appearing in past tests

2011-03-03T07:31:00.000-08:00

Test your kanji ability by taking the past tests.

JLPT Level N4 (Past Kanji 1992) » online exam

Dou

2011-03-02T04:34:00.000-08:00

Dou

Meaning: What, How, How about.

When to use?

1) Followed verb + noun

Kore wa dou shimasu ka.

= How shall I do this?

Toshokan made dou ikimasu ka.

= How can I go to the library?

2) Followed by desu

Ashita no sukeju-ru wa dou desu ka

= How about your schedule tomorrow?

Sore o tameshi mitara dou desu ka.

= How would it be if you try it?

3) Used with verb Omou

Sono eiga o dou omoimasu ka.

= What do you think of this movie?