1. Lesson Overview
Minna no Nihongo Lesson 5 teaches how to talk about movement, travel, and going somewhere with someone.
You learn:
• “I go to Tokyo.”
• “I go by train.”
• “I go with my friend.”
• “I go alone.”
• “I go for study / for shopping.”
This lesson is very important for daily conversation, travel, and JLPT N5.
2. Key Grammar in Lesson 5
(1) Place + e / ni + ikimasu (go)
Both e (へ) and ni (に) can show direction.
• Tokyo e ikimasu. → I go to Tokyo.
• Gakkou ni ikimasu. → I go to school.
Meaning is same.
へ simply shows direction, に shows destination more concretely.
(2) Transportation: “Vehicle + de + ikimasu”
de means “by / using”.
Examples:
• densha de ikimasu. → I go by train.
• kuruma de ikimasu. → I go by car.
• aruite ikimasu. → I go on foot. (No “de”)
Special rule:
aruite = on foot
Never say “aruite de”.
(3) Person + to + ikimasu (go with someone)
to = with
Examples:
• Tomodachi to ikimasu. → I go with my friend.
• Kazoku to nihon e ikimasu. → I go to Japan with my family.
(4) Hitoride (alone)
Means alone, without “to”.
Examples:
• Hitoride ikimasu. → I go alone.
• Hitoride byouin e ikimasu. → I go to the hospital alone.
(5) Purpose: Noun + ni + ikimasu
Used when you go somewhere for a purpose.
Examples:
• kaimono ni ikimasu. → I go (to) shopping.
• benkyou ni ikimasu. → I go to study.
• shigoto ni ikimasu. → I go for work.
Structure:
purpose + ni + movement verb
(6) Kara / Made (from / to, until)
• kara = from
• made = to / till
Examples:
• Tokyo kara Osaka made ikimasu. → I go from Tokyo to Osaka.
• 9-ji kara 5-ji made hatarakimasu. → I work from 9 to 5.
Lesson 5 uses kara/made for places mainly.
3. Vocabulary from Minna no Nihongo Lesson 5 (English Only)
Transportation & Movement
• densha – train
• shinkansen – bullet train
• basu – bus
• takushii – taxi
• kuruma – car
• hikouki – airplane
• fune – ship / boat
• aruite – on foot
People
• tomodachi – friend
• kazoku – family
• hitoride – alone
Places
• uchi – home
• eki – station
• gakkou – school
• kaisha – company
• depaato – department store
• kisaten – coffee shop
• kouen – park
Purposes
• kaimono – shopping
• ryokou – travel / trip
• benkyou – study
• shigoto – work
4. Example Sentences
• Watashi wa nihon e ikimasu.
→ I am going to Japan.
• Densha de gakkou ni ikimasu.
→ I go to school by train.
• Tomodachi to kouen e ikimasu.
→ I go to the park with a friend.
• Hitoride kaimono ni ikimasu.
→ I go shopping alone.
• Kuruma de kaisha e ikimasu.
→ I go to the company by car.
• Tokyo kara Osaka made shinkansen de ikimasu.
→ I go from Tokyo to Osaka by bullet train.
• Ryokou ni ikimasu.
→ I am going for a trip.
5. What You Will Achieve After Lesson 5
• Talk about your travel plans
• Say how you go (by train, car, etc.)
• Say who you go with
• Say you go alone
• Use “to” and “ni” naturally
• Use purpose form: "shopping/study + ni + go"
• Ask and answer movement questions smoothly