Minna no Nihongo Lesson 11 Vocabulary: Minna no Nihongo (みんなの日本語), one of the most widely used textbooks for learning Japanese, offers learners a structured way to grasp the language. Lesson 11 is a significant milestone as it introduces vocabulary related to numbers, time, and daily activities. These terms are essential for basic conversations and understanding the structure of Japanese.
Let’s dive into the key vocabulary from Lesson 11 and explore their meanings, usage, and relevance.
Read More: Minna no Nihongo Lesson 10: Grammar and Vocabulary
Minna no Nihongo Lesson 11 Vocabulary
Hiragana | Romaji | English |
---|---|---|
います [こども が-] | imasu | have [a child] |
います [にほん に] | imasu | stay, be (in Japan) |
かかります | take a day off [work] | take (referring to time or money) |
やすみます [かいしゃを~] | yasumimasu | take a day off[work] |
ひとつ | hitotsu | One (used when counting things) |
ふたつ | futatsu | two |
みっつ | mittsu | three |
よっつ | yottsu | four |
いつつ | itsutsu | five |
むっつ | muttsu | six |
ななつ | nanatsu | seven |
やっつ | yattsu | eight |
ここのつ | kokonotsu | nine |
とお | too | ten |
いくつ | ikutsu | how many |
ひとり | hitori | one person |
ふたり | futari | (counter for machines, cars, etc.) |
~にん | -nin | -people |
~だい | -dai | (counter for paper, stamp, postcard, etc.) |
-まい | -mai | (counter for paper, stamp, postcard, etc.) |
~かい | -kai | -times |
りんご | ringo | apple |
みかん | mikan | mandarin orange |
き って | kitte | postage stamp |
はがき | hagaki | post card |
ふうとう | boudou | envelop |
りょうしん | ryoushin | parents |
きょうだい | kyoudai | brothers and sisters |
あに | ani | my elder brother |
おにいさん | oniisan | (someone else’s) elder brother |
あね | ane | my elder sister |
おねえさん | oneesan | (someone else’s) elder sister |
おとうと | otouto | my younger brother |
おとうとさん | otoutosan | (someone else’s) younger brother |
いもうと | imouto | my younger sister |
いもうとさん | imoutosan | (someone else’s) younger sister |
がいこく | gaikoku | foreign country |
りゅうがくせい | ryuugakusei | foreign student |
~じかん | -jikan | -hour(s) |
~しゅうかん | -shuukan | -week(s) |
~かげつ | -kagetsu | -months(s) |
ぐらい | gurai | about |
どのくらい | donokurai | how long |
ぜんぶで | zenbude | in total |
みんな | Dake | all, everything, everyone |
だけ | dake | only |
Minna no Nihongo Lesson 11 Vocabulary Key Vocabulary
- ~人(~にん) – People Counter
Japanese use counters to count various objects, animals, or people. For counting people, the suffix ~人 is added to numbers. Examples:- 一人 (ひとり): One person二人 (ふたり): Two people三人 (さんにん): Three people
- ~台(~だい) – Machine Counter
The counter ~台 is used for machines, vehicles, and other mechanical items:- 一台 (いちだい): One machine二台 (にだい): Two machines三台 (さんだい): Three machines
- It is a practical term, especially concerning cars or electronic devices.

- ~枚(~まい) – Thin Object Counter
To count flat or thin objects like paper, tickets, or plates, ~枚 is used:- 一枚 (いちまい): One sheet
- 二枚 (にまい): Two sheets
- 三枚 (さんまい): Three sheets
- ~回(~かい) – Frequency Counter
For counting occurrences or repetitions, the counter ~回 is employed:- 一回 (いっかい): One time
- 二回 (にかい): Two times
- 三回 (さんかい): Three times
- かかります – It Takes (Time or Money)
This verb indicates the amount of time or money required for something:- 駅まで何分かかりますか? (えきまでなんぷんかかりますか?): How many minutes does it take to the station?旅行にいくらかかりましたか? (りょこうにいくらかかりましたか): How much did the trip cost?
- 家族(かぞく) – Family
The term 家族 refers to family and is a common topic in Japanese conversations.- 家族は何人いますか? (かぞくはなんにんいますか?): How many people are in your family?
- 兄弟(きょうだい) – Siblings
This word refers to siblings and is an important addition to family-related vocabulary:- 兄弟は何人いますか? (きょうだいはなんにんいますか?): How many siblings do you have?
- 外国(がいこく) – Foreign Country
The word 外国 is used to describe places outside of Japan:- 外国に行ったことがありますか? (がいこくにいったことがありますか?)Have you been to a foreign country?
- 休み(やすみ) – Holiday/Break
This word is crucial for discussing days off or breaks:- 休みの日は何をしますか? (やすみのひはなにをしますか?): What do you do on your day off?
Practical Applications
Understanding the vocabulary from Lesson 11 can significantly enhance your ability to communicate in daily life. Here are some ways to apply what you’ve learned:
- Counting Practice: Use counters to describe real-life scenarios, such as ordering food, telling family members, or discussing possessions.
- Travel and Time: Practice using かかります in sentences about commuting, travel, or expenses.
- Family Conversations: Discuss family size or structure, incorporating terms like 家族 and 兄弟.
Tips for Mastering Lesson 11 Vocabulary
- Flashcards: Create flashcards for each word and its usage in sentences.
- Practice Conversations: Use the vocabulary to practice real-world scenarios, such as asking about time or family.
- Repetition: Regularly review the counters and their associated objects to internalize them.
Minna no Nihongo lesson 11 vocabulary answers
Lesson 11 of Minna no Nihongo doesn’t typically have a standard set of “answers,” as it focuses on vocabulary and basic sentence structure practice. However, I can create an answer key to example exercises involving the Lesson 11 vocabulary. Let me outline sample questions and their answers below:
Matching Exercise:
Match the Japanese words with their English meanings.
- います
- ふたり
- りんご
- きって
- そくたつ
Answer Key:
- a) to exist (animate objects)
- b) two people
- c) apple
- d) postage stamp
- e) express mail
Fill in the Blank:
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate vocabulary words:
- 私は子どもが ___ 。 (I have a child.)
- 日本に ___ 。 (I am in Japan.)
- ___ を買いました。(I bought an apple.)
- ___ で送ります。(I will send it by express mail.)
- 切手を ___ ください。(Please give me a stamp.)
Answer Key:
- います
- います
- りんご
- そくたつ
- きって
Translation Practice:
Translate the following sentences into English:
- りょうしんは外国にいます。
- 私は兄がふたりいます。
- 切手を全部で5枚買いました。
- カレーライスを2つください。
- このみかんは一ついくらですか。
Answer Key:
- My parents are in a foreign country.
- I have two elder brothers.
- I bought five stamps in total.
- Two orders of curry rice, please.
- How much is this mandarin orange per piece?
Conclusion of Minna no Nihongo Lesson 11 Vocabulary
Lesson 11 of Minna no Nihongo introduces vocabulary essential for discussing quantities, counting, and expressing preferences in daily life. You learned how to count various objects, such as flat items, long items, and other general objects, using appropriate counters like ~まい (for flat items) and ~ほん (for long items). Additionally, you explored vocabulary related to shopping, asking about quantities, and expressing your needs effectively.