Minna no Nihongo Lesson 42 will introduce you to 51 new words and 4 new grammar structures of Japanese

Vocabulary and grammar of Minna no Nihongo lesson 42

• Part 1: Vocabulary
• Part 2: Grammar

Part 1: Vocabulary

Listed below are 51 new words that appear in lesson 42. Let’s review these words before learning grammar.

Part 2: Grammar

This sentence pattern indicates a purpose.

自分の店を持つために、貯金しています。

I am saving money in order to have my own shop.

引っ越しのために、車を借ります。

I will rent a car for the move.

N のためにis also used to mean “for the benefit of N”.

健康のために、毎朝走っています。

For my health, I jog every morning.

家族のために、うちを建てます。

I will build a house for my family.

[Note 1] ～ように, which you learned in Lesson 36, is also used to express a purpose. ～ようにis used with verbs that do not contain volition, while ～ためにis used with verbs that do. Compare the two sentences below.

自分の店を持つために、貯金しています。(*)

自分の店を持てるように、貯金しています。(**)

I am saving money in order to be able to have my own shop.

(*) means that one has intentionally set up the objective of ‘having a shop” and “is saving” money to attain that objective, while (**) means one’s objective is a state in which “a shop may be gained” and one “is saving money” in order to get closer to that state.

[Note 2] なりますindicates either volition or non-volition.

弁護士になるために、法律を勉強しています。

I study law in order to become a lawyer.

日本語が上手になるように、毎日勉強しています。

I study every day so that my Japanese may improve.

As you learned in Lesson 38, V dictionary form のcan be used as a noun phrase. V dictionary form のにand N にare followed by such expressions as つかう, いい, べんりだ, やくにたつ, [じかんが]かかる, etc., and indicate a purpose.

このはさみは花を切るのに使います。

This pair of scissors is used to cut flowers.

このかばんは大きくて、旅行に便利です。

This bag is big and convenient for trips.

電話番号を調べるのに時間がかかりました。

It took a lot of time to find the telephone number.

[Note] Different ways of expressing purpose.

Let us summarize the expressions for indicating purpose that you have learned so far.

神戸へ船を見に行きます。

I’ll go to Kobe to look at the ships.

日本へ経済の勉強に来ました。

I came to Japan to study economics.

早く届くように、速達で出しました。

I will mail this by special delivery so that it can get there earlier.

忘れないように、メモします。

I make a note so that I don’t forget.

大学に入るために、一生懸命勉強します。

I study as hard as possible in order to enter university.

健康のために、野菜をたくさん食べます。

I eat a lot of vegetables for my health.

ファイルは書類を整理するのに使います。

Files are used to put paper in order.

近くに店がなくて、買い物に不便です。

There are no stores nearby, so it is inconvenient for shopping.

3. Quantifierは

When attached to a quantifier, the particle はindicates the minimum amount that the speaker estimates is required or necessary.

日本では結婚式をするのに２００万円は要ります。

In Japan you need at least 2 million yen to hold a wedding.

4. Quantifierも

When attached to a quantifier, the particle indicates that the speaker thinks that the amount mentioned is a lot.

駅まで行くのに２時間もかかりました。

It took as long as two hours to get to the station.

うちを建てるのに３０００万円も必要なんですか。

You need as much as 30 million yen to build a house?

The above is all knowledge about Vocabulary and Grammar of Minna no Nihongo lesson 42. To see other lessons, please click here.