1. Lesson Overview
Minna no Nihongo Lesson 3 teaches how to talk about places and locations, how to say where something is, and where you are going.
You learn basic location words and how to form sentences using “here, there, over there”, and “where?”
This lesson is mainly about:
• “Where is the school?”
• “Here / There / Over there”
• “I am going to the bank.”
• “The toilet is on the second floor.”
2. Key Grammar in Lesson 3
(1) Koko / Soko / Asoko (here / there / over there)
Used to talk about places without naming them.
• koko – here (near me)
• soko – there (near you)
• asoko – over there (far from both)
Examples:
• Koko wa eigakan desu. → Here is a movie theater.
• Soko wa kissaten desu. → That is a coffee shop.
• Asoko wa gakkou desu. → That over there is a school.
(2) Kochira / Sochira / Achira (polite forms)
Used in formal speaking or customer service.
• kochira – here, this way
• sochira – there, your side
• achira – that way, over there
Example:
• Kaigi-shitsu wa achira desu. → The meeting room is that way.