The 3rd lesson is about the plural in Japanese and how to create it from the singular form. In addition, I will include a list of vocabulary about languages, nationalities, and countries. Finally, you will find some common everyday sentences. I will try to give examples using both vocabulary and grammar. That way it will be easy for you to see the words when they are separate and when they are in a sentence. Going through the whole page should take about 30 min. Make sure to read the pronunciation and hear the audio as well. If you have any question about this course, please email me directly at Japanese Classes.
Plural
Knowing how to create the plural from the singular word can double the vocabulary you already know. It can make it easy to have a conversation about different topics by simply knowing some grammatical rules. For example how to change the word "book" to "books" or "woman" to "women".
Below is a list of singular words and their plural equivalent. I included examples about nature as well as about humans. The table contains 3 columns (English, Japanese, and Audio). Make sure you repeat each word after hearing it by either clicking on the audio button or by reading the pronunciation. That should help with memorization as well as improving your pronunciation.
Singular vs. Plural in Japanese
English
Japanese
Audio
Country
国 [kuni]
Countries
国々 [kuniguni]
Lake
湖 [mizuumi]
Lakes
湖 [mizuumi]
Language
言語 [gengo]
Languages
言語 [gengo]
Woman
女性 [josei]
Women
女性たち [josei tachi]
Man
男性 [dansei]
Men
男性たち [dansei tachi]
Boy
少年 [shounen]
Boys
少年たち [shonen tachi]
Girl
少女 [shoujo]
Girls
少女たち [shoojo tachi]
Now we will try to implement some of the words above into full Japanese sentences. That way you will be able to see how both forms are used when embedded in a structure.
Singular vs. Plural in a Sentence
English
Japanese
Audio
We speak two languages
私たちは二ヶ国語を話ます。 [Watashi tachi wa nikakoku go wo hanasi masu.]
They speak four languages
彼らは四ヶ国語を話します。 [Karera wa yonkakoku go wo hanasi masu.]
I visited one country
私は１カ国を訪れました。 [Watashi wa ikka koku o otsozure masita.]
She visited three countries
彼女は三カ国を訪れました。 [Kanojo wa sanka koku wo otozure masita.]
She has one sister
彼女には一人の女兄弟がいます。 [Kanojo niwa hitori no onna kyoudai ga imasu.]
He has two sisters
彼には二人の女兄弟がいます。 [Kare niwa futari no onna kyoudai ga imasu.]
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact me If you simply want to ask a question, please Japanese contact form on the header above.
Vocabulary List about Languages, Nationalities, and Countries
Below is a list of 50 words related to languages, nationalities, and countries. If you can memorize them by heart, you will be able to have a good conversation about how many languages you speak or where you came from.
Languages Nationalities and Countries List in Japanese
English
Japanese
Audio
Arabic (language)
アラビア語 [Arabia go]
Moroccan (nationality)
モロッコ人 [Morokko jin]
Morocco (country)
モロッコ [Morokko]
Brazilian (language)
ブラジル人 [Buraziru jin]
Brazilian (nationality)
ブラジル人 [Brajiru jin]
Brazil (country)
ブラジル [Brajiru]
Chinese (language)
中国語 [Chuugoku go]
Chinese (nationality)
中国人 [Chuugoku jin]
China (country)
中国 [Chuugoku]
English (language)
英語 [Eigo]
British (nationality)
英国人 [Eikoku jin]
Britain (country)
イギリス [Igirisu]
American (nationality)
アメリカ人 [Amerika jin]
America (country)
アメリカ [Amerika]
French (language)
フランス語 [Furansugo]
French (nationality)
フランス人 [Furansu jin]
France (country)
フランス [Furansu]
German (language)
ドイツ語 [Ddoitsu go]
German (nationality)
ドイツ人 [Doitsu jin]
Germany (country)
ドイツ [Doitsu]
Greek (language)
ギリシャ語 [Girisha go]
Greek (nationality)
ギリシャ人 [Girisha jin]
Greece (country)
ギリシャ [Girisha]
Hindi (language)
ヒンズー語 [hinzuu go]
Indian (nationality)
インド人 [Indo jin]
India (country)
インド [Indo]
Irish (language)
アイルランド語 [Airurando go]
Irish (nationality)
アイルランド人 [Airurando jin]
Ireland (country)
アイルランド [Airuranndo]
Italian (language)
イタリア語 [Itaria go]
Italian (nationality)
イタリア人 [Itaria jin]
Italy (country)
イタリア [Itaria]
Japanese (language)
日本語 [Nihongo]
Japanese (nationality)
日本人 [Nihon jin]
Japan (country)
日本 [Nippon]
Korean (language)
韓国語 [Kankoku go]
Korean (nationality)
韓国人 [Kankoku jin]
Korea (country)
韓国 [Kankoku]
Persian (language)
ペルシャ語 [Perusha go]
Iranian (nationality)
イラン人 [Iran jin]
Iran (country)
イラン [Iran]
Portuguese (language)
ポルトガル語 [Prutogaru go]
Portuguese (nationality)
プルトガル人 [Porutogaru jin]
Portugal (country)
ポルトガル [Porutogaru]
Russian (language)
ロシア語 [Roshia go]
Russian (nationality)
ロシア人 [Rosia jin]
Russia (country)
ロシア [Rosia]
Spanish (language)
スペイン語 [Supein go]
Spanish (nationality)
スペイン人 [Supein jin]
Spain (country)
スペイン [Supein]
Daily Conversation in Japanese
Finally, a list of sentences about languages, nationalities, and countries plus some bonus phrases. For a complete list of commonly used sentences, please visit our Japanese Phrases page. Enjoy!
Common Expressions in Japanese
English
Japanese
Audio
Languages
I don't speak Korean
私は韓国語が話せません。 [Watasi wa Kankoku go ga hanase masen.]
I love the Japanese language
私は日本語が好きです。 [Watasi ha Nihon go ga suki desu.]
I speak Italian
私はイタリア語が話せます。 [Watasi wa Itaria-go ga hanase masu.]
I want to learn Spanish
私はスペイン語を習いたい。 [Watasi wa Supein-go wo narai tai.]
My mother tongue is German
母の母語はドイツ語です。 [Haha no bogo wa Doitsu-go desu.]
Spanish is easy to learn
スペイン語を習うのは容易です。 [Supein go wo narau nowa youi desu.]
Origins
He has a Moroccan rug
彼はモロッコの絨毯を持っています。 [Kare wa Morokko no jyuutan wo motte imasu.]
I have an American car
私はアメリカ車を持っています。 [Watasi wa Ameriak sha wo motte imasu.]
I love French cheese
私はフランスのチーズが好きです。 [Watasi wa Furansu no chiizu ga suki desu.]
I'm Italian
私はイタリア人です。 [Watasi wa Itaria jin desu.]
My father is Greek
私の父はギリシャ人です。 [Watasino chichi ha Girisha jin desu.]
My wife is Korean
私の妻は韓国人です。 [Watashi no tsuma wa Kankoku jin desu.]
Countries
Have you ever been to India?
あなたはインドへ行ったことがありますか？ [Anata wa Indo e itta koto ga arimasuka?]
I came from Spain
私はスペイン出身です。 [Watasi wa Supein shusshin desu.]
I live in America
私はアメリカに住んでいます。 [Watashi wa Amerika ni sunde imasu.]
I want to go to Germany
私はドイツへ行きたい。 [Watasi wa Doitsu e ikitai.]
I was born in Italy
私はイタリアで生まれました。 [Watasi wa Itaria de umare masita.]
Japan is a beautiful country
日本は美しい国です。 [Nihon wa utsukusii kuni desu.]
Phrases
Long time no see
久し振り [hisasi buri]
I missed you
会いたかった [aita katta]
What's new?
何か変わったことは？ [nanika kawatta koto wa?]
Nothing new
変わったことは何もない。 [kawatta koto wa nani mo nai.]
Make yourself at home!
お楽にしてください！ [orakni shite kudasai!]
Have a good trip
よい旅を [yoi tabi wo]
Fun Facts
Language Quote that by simply knowing how to form the plural, you can double the number of nouns in your vocabulary, without having to memorize all the plural form.
Congratulations! You finished your third lesson in Japanese about singular, plural, languages, nationalities, and countries. Are you ready for the next lesson? We recommend Japanese Lesson 4. You can also simply click on one of the links below or go back to our Learn Japanese homepage.
