1. Lesson Overview
Minna no Nihongo Lesson 2 teaches how to talk about things, what they are, and whose they are.
You learn how to identify objects, ask questions, and introduce items politely.
This lesson is mainly about:
• “What is this?”
• “Is that your book?”
• “This is my pen.”
• “That is not mine.”
2. Key Grammar in Lesson 2
(1) Kore / Sore / Are (this / that / that over there)
These words show distance.
• kore – this (near me)
• sore – that (near you)
• are – that over there (away from both)
Examples:
• Kore wa pen desu. → This is a pen.
• Sore wa hon desu. → That is a book.
• Are wa kasa desu. → That (over there) is an umbrella.
(2) Kono / Sono / Ano + noun
Used directly before a noun.
• kono pen – this pen
• sono hon – that book
• ano kasa – that umbrella over there
Example:
• Kono pen wa watashi no desu. → This pen is mine.
(3) Nani / Nan (what)
Use nani or nan to ask what something is.
Examples:
• Kore wa nan desu ka? → What is this?
• Sore wa nan desu ka? → What is that?
(4) Noun no noun (possession / belonging)
“no” connects two nouns.
Meaning: A’s B or B of A
Examples:
• watashi no pen → my pen
• Tanaka-san no hon → Tanaka’s book
• Nihon no kamera → Japanese camera
Example sentence:
• Kore wa watashi no kasa desu. → This is my umbrella.
(5) So desu / So ja arimasen
Answering questions politely.
• Hai, so desu. → Yes, that’s right.
• Iie, so ja arimasen. → No, that’s not right.
(6) Ka? (Question marker)
As in Lesson 1, place ka at the end to make a question.
Example:
• Are wa anata no desu ka? → Is that over there yours?
3. Vocabulary from Minna no Nihongo Lesson 2 (English Only)
Common Items
• pen – pen
• enpitsu – pencil
• hon – book
• zasshi – magazine
• tokei – clock
• kasa – umbrella
• kaban – bag
• meishi – business card
• kutsu – shoes
• saifu – wallet
• kamera – camera
• teepu – tape
• ichi – one
• nichi – sunday (avoid, this lesson is about items not days)
Useful Nouns
• watashi – I
• anata – you
• namae – name
• kata – person (polite)
• kaisha – company
4. Example Sentences (Easy English)
• Kore wa hon desu.
→ This is a book.
• Sore wa watashi no pen desu.
→ That is my pen.
• Are wa dare no kaban desu ka?
→ Whose bag is that over there?
• Kono kamera wa Nihon no seihin desu.
→ This camera is a Japanese product.
• Sono kasa wa anata no desu ka?
→ Is that umbrella yours?
• Hai, so desu.
→ Yes, that’s right.
5. What You Will Achieve After Lesson 2
• Understand "this / that / that over there"
• Use “my, your, his, her” with “no”
• Identify everyday objects
• Ask “What is this?”
• Make polite questions and answers
• Improve self-introduction with items (e.g., “This is my bag.”)