Using Example Sentences to Learn New Words | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 私は勉強時間に新しい言葉を覚えます。

   I remember new words during study time.

   私は

   I; as for me

   勉強時間

   study time

   新しい

   new

   言葉

   word

   覚えます

   remember; learn

   More detail

   私は contains 私 (“I; me”) followed by は, which marks the topic. Here the speaker presents themself as the person who remembers or learns the words. 私 is a first-person pronoun; it does not by itself specify the speaker’s gender. A reusable pattern is 私は + description/action: “As for me, …” 勉強時間 means “study time.” It is a compound noun: 勉強 (“study”) + 時間 (“time”), referring here to the time spent studying. Japanese commonly places a noun before another noun to specify or qualify it, as in 勉強時間. 新しい means “new” here and describes 言葉. It is an i-adjective: its dictionary form is already 新しい, while its form changes for uses such as negation or past time. For example, 新しい本 means “a new book.” 言葉 means “word” here. Depending on context, this noun can also refer to language or an expression, but the fixed translation specifies the “word” sense. The form itself is not marked for plural number, so 新しい言葉 can mean “a new word” or “new words”; the translation establishes the plural meaning here. 覚えます means “remember” or “learn” in this sentence. Its base form is 覚える; 覚えます is the polite non-past form. The non-past form can describe a present habit, as it does here, rather than only a future event. The verb 覚える concerns retaining something in memory or learning it; it is different from 思い出す, which means “remember/recall” something already known. Together, 私は sets the speaker as the topic, 勉強時間に places the action during study time, 新しい言葉を marks new words as what is learned, and 覚えます gives the polite habitual action. The whole utterance therefore means: “I remember new words during study time.”

2. でも、話そうとすると忘れてしまいます。

   But I forget them when I try to speak.

   でも

   but

   話そうとすると

   when I try to speak

   忘れてしまいます

   end up forgetting

   More detail

   でも means “but” here. It marks a contrast with the preceding idea: the speaker can remember new words during study time, but a problem occurs when speaking. It is a common sentence-initial conjunction; for example, でも、今日は行きません。 means “But I’m not going today.” 話そうとすると expresses “when I try to speak.” 話そう is the volitional form of 話す (“to speak”): 話す → 話そう. In this pattern, V-ようとする means “try to V” or “attempt to V.” The と links that attempted action to する, and すると gives the condition or time meaning “when/if [someone] tries to do it.” For example, 日本語で話そうとすると、緊張します。 means “When I try to speak in Japanese, I get nervous.” The subject of 話そう is understood from context; Japanese does not require it to be stated here. 忘れてしまいます means “end up forgetting” in this sentence. Its lexical verb is 忘れる (“to forget”), and 忘れて is its て-form. しまう after a て-form adds the sense that an action is completed, often with regret or an unwanted result; in the polite non-past form, it appears as しまいます. Thus 忘れる is the neutral verb “forget,” while 忘れてしまう presents the forgetting as something that unfortunately happens or is completed despite the speaker’s intention. For example, 名前を忘れてしまいました。 means “I ended up forgetting the name.” The omitted object is understood from the fixed translation and context as the words under discussion; that object is not expressed in 忘れてしまいます itself. Together, 話そうとすると sets the situation—“when I try to speak”—and 忘れてしまいます states the resulting problem—“I end up forgetting them.” With the contrast marker でも, the complete utterance means: “But I forget them when I try to speak.”

3. その言葉が、実際に使う場面と結びついていないのかもしれません。

   The words may not be connected to situations where you would actually use them.

   その

   those

   言葉

   words

   実際に

   actually

   使う

   use

   場面

   situations

   結びついていない

   not connected

   のかもしれません

   may be

   More detail

   その is a demonstrative determiner placed before a noun. With 言葉, it identifies the words referred to here; Japanese does not mark ordinary nouns for singular versus plural, so the form can correspond to “the word” or “the words” when context supports it. 言葉 means “word(s)” here. Depending on context, it can also refer to an expression or language, but the fixed translation supports the meaning “the words.” The particle が marks その言葉 as the subject of the clause. 実際に is an adverb meaning “actually” or “in practice.” It modifies the use described by 使う, so the sentence concerns real use rather than merely knowing or recognizing the words. 使う is the nonpast form of the verb 使う, “to use.” It appears before 場面 in a relative clause: 実際に使う場面 means “situations in which [you] actually use [the words].” Japanese places this clause before the noun it describes and does not require a relative pronoun. The subject and object of 使う are omitted in Japanese; the fixed translation supplies the intended reading “you use them.” 場面 means “situation” or “occasion,” especially the setting in which something happens. In this sentence it is the setting for using the words, not the thing that is used. 結びついていない comes from the intransitive verb 結びつく, “to become or be connected.” 結びついている describes a continuing connected state, and its negative form 結びついていない means “not be connected.” The subject marked by が is the words, while 場面と marks the situations they are connected with. This differs from transitive 結びつける, “to connect something.” のかもしれません expresses possibility politely: のかもしれない is the plainer counterpart. Here の nominalizes the preceding proposition, and かもしれません says that proposition may be true. It applies to the whole claim that the words are not connected to the relevant situations, not just to the final verb in isolation. Together, その言葉が sets up “the words” as the subject; 実際に使う場面 identifies the real-use situations; and 結びついていないのかもしれません presents their lack of connection as a possibility. The complete meaning is: “The words may not be connected to situations where you would actually use them.”

4. 私はいつも訳を書いて、後で同じリストを復習します。

   I usually write the translation and review the same list later.

   私は

   I; as for me

   いつも

   usually

   訳

   translation

   書いて

   write, and

   後で

   later

   同じ

   same

   リスト

   list

   復習します

   review

   More detail

   私は identifies the speaker as the topic: “as for me, I…”. 私 is a first-person pronoun, and は marks the topic. Japanese often leaves the subject out when it is already clear; here the fixed translation identifies the speaker as the person doing both actions. いつも means “usually” here and can also mean “always” when the context supports a stronger, every-time meaning. It is an adverb, so it describes the action rather than changing form. 訳 means “translation” in this sentence. It is a noun and can be used in compounds or noun phrases, such as 英訳 (“English translation”) in an appropriate context. The sentence does not specify what language the translation is into. 書いて is the te-form of the verb 書く (“to write”). The te-form connects this action to what follows: 訳を書いて、… means “write the translation and then…”. A reusable pattern is Vて、V: perform one action and continue with the next action. The subject of the second action is understood from the context rather than repeated. 後で means “later” or “afterward”. 後 means “after/later” in this expression, and で forms the time expression. It places the reviewing after the writing; it does not itself specify exactly when. 同じ means “same”. It is a na-adjective-like modifier before a noun, so 同じリスト means “the same list”. The word being described is リスト, not 同じ itself; 同じ does not change form here. リスト is the noun “list”, written in Japanese katakana as a borrowed word. In this sentence it is the object being reviewed, marked by the particle を inside リストを. 復習します means “review” here. Its dictionary form is 復習する; します is the polite nonpast form of する, used for present or habitual actions and, depending on context, future actions. The polite form is useful in ordinary careful conversation. For example, 毎晩復習します。 means “I review every evening.” Together, 私はいつも訳を書いて says “I usually write the translation,” and 後で同じリストを復習します says “I review the same list later.” The shared topic is the speaker, and the te-form connects the writing action to the later reviewing action. Thus the whole utterance means: “I usually write the translation and review the same list later.”

5. 使える言葉ごとに、簡単な例文を一つ加えてみてください。

   Try adding one simple example sentence for each useful word.

   使える

   useful

   言葉

   word

   ごとに

   for each

   簡単な

   simple

   例文

   example sentence

   一つ

   one

   加えて

   add

   みてください

   please try

   More detail

   使える is the plain nonpast form of 使える, which is the potential form of 使う (“use”). In this sentence it modifies 言葉 and means “usable” or, naturally here, “useful.” Example: この表現は使える。 — “This expression is useful.” 言葉 means “word” or “expression.” In 使える言葉, it is modified by 使える, giving “a useful word” or “useful words.” ごとに marks a repeated unit and means “for each” or “per.” The reusable pattern Nごとに applies an action separately to each N: ページごとに means “for each page.” Here, 言葉ごとに sets each useful word as a separate unit. 簡単な is the form of the na-adjective 簡単だ used before a noun. It means “simple” here, and な links it to 例文. 例文 means “example sentence”: a sentence used to show how a word or pattern is used. Example: この例文を読んでください。 — “Please read this example sentence.” 一つ is the general counter expression for one item. Here, 例文を一つ specifies one example sentence; 一つ is not an adjective modifying 例文. 加えて is the te-form of 加える (“add”). It joins 加える to the following auxiliary pattern, producing the action “add” within 加えてみてください. Example: 名前を一つ加えます。 — “I add one name.” みてください completes the request pattern Vてみてください. In Vてみる, みる means “try doing V,” and ください makes the request polite. Thus 加えてみてください means “please try adding.” Here みて is part of this grammatical pattern, not the independent verb “see.” Together, 使える言葉ごとに sets the unit as each useful word, 簡単な例文を一つ specifies one simple example sentence, and 加えてみてください politely asks the listener to try adding it. The whole utterance means: “Try adding one simple example sentence for each useful word.”

6. 仕事や買い物、友達へのメッセージについて文を書けます。

   I can write sentences about work, shopping, or messages to friends.

   仕事

   work

   買い物

   shopping

   友達

   friend

   メッセージ

   message

   について

   about; concerning

   文

   sentence

   書けます

   can write

   More detail

   仕事 means “work” here. It is a noun and can refer to work or a job depending on context. Example: 仕事があります。 — “I have work.” 買い物 means “shopping.” It is a noun formed from 買う (“to buy”) and commonly refers to the activity of shopping. Example: 週末に買い物をします。 — “I go shopping on the weekend.” 仕事や買い物 uses や to list representative items, similar to “work, shopping, and things like that.” It does not necessarily present the list as exhaustive. Example: 本や音楽について話します。 — “I talk about books, music, and things like that.” 友達 means “friend” or “friends.” Japanese nouns do not normally mark singular versus plural by changing this form, so the context determines the number. In 友達へのメッセージ, への marks the recipient or direction: “to a friend” or “to friends.” メッセージ means “message.” In this sentence, it is the noun being described as directed to friends. Japanese does not mark its singular or plural number here; the fixed translation presents the intended meaning as “messages to friends.” Example: 友達にメッセージを送ります。 — “I send a message to a friend.” について marks the topic or subject under discussion or writing, meaning “about” or “concerning.” It follows the topic phrase, so 仕事や買い物、友達へのメッセージについて means “about work, shopping, and messages to friends.” Example: 旅行について書きます。 — “I write about travel.” 文 means “sentence.” It is the noun that 書けます describes as something the speaker can write. Example: 短い文を書きます。 — “I write short sentences.” 書けます is the polite nonpast form of the potential form 書ける, “can write.” Its underlying verb is 書く (“to write”); 書ける expresses ability or possibility, and 書けます adds polite style. Example: 日本語が少し書けます。 — “I can write a little Japanese.” Together, 仕事や買い物、友達へのメッセージについて identifies the topics, and 文を書けます says that the speaker can write sentences about them. The whole utterance means: “I can write sentences about work, shopping, or messages to friends.”

7. そうした場面があると、会話中に意味を思い出しやすくなります。

   Those situations will make the meaning easier to recall during conversation.

   そうした

   such; of that kind

   場面

   situation; scene

   があると

   when there is; when there are

   会話中

   during a conversation

   意味

   meaning

   思い出しやすくなります

   becomes easier to remember

   More detail

   そうした means “such” or “of that kind.” It is an attributive form placed before a noun, so here it identifies the kind of 場面 being discussed. A useful contrast is こうした (“this kind of”) for something closer to the speaker. 場面 means “situation” or “scene.” In this sentence, そうした場面 means “such situations.” Japanese nouns do not normally mark singular versus plural in their form, so 場面 can cover one or more situations when the context supports that reading. があると consists of ある (“exist; be present”) with が, followed by と, which marks a condition that leads to a natural or expected result. Thus 場面があると means “when there are such situations” here. ある is used for the existence of things or situations; いる is used for animate beings. 会話中 means “during a conversation.” 中 here means “in the middle of” or “during” an activity or period, and it follows 会話 (“conversation”). For example, 仕事中 means “during work.” 意味 means “meaning.” In this sentence, it is the content that is recalled, as in “the meaning.” 思い出しやすくなります means “becomes easier to recall.” The base verb is 思い出す (“to remember; recall”). Its form changes to 思い出し before やすい, giving the pattern verb stem + やすい (“easy to …”): 思い出しやすい means “easy to recall.” なります is the polite form of なる (“become”), so 思い出しやすくなります describes a change toward greater ease. Example: この本は読みやすくなりました。 — “This book became easier to read.” Putting the parts together, そうした場面があると sets the condition, 会話中 specifies when the recalling happens, and 意味を思い出しやすくなります says that recalling the meaning becomes easier. The whole utterance therefore means: “Those situations will make the meaning easier to recall during conversation.”

8. 勉強する言葉を減らして、もっと頻繁に使ったほうがよさそうです。

   I should probably study fewer words and use them more often.

   勉強する

   study

   言葉

   words

   減らして

   reduce and …

   もっと

   more

   頻繁に

   frequently

   使ったほうがよさそうです

   it seems better to use them

   More detail

   勉強する means “to study.” Its dictionary form ends in する; the form stays する here because it modifies the following noun: 勉強する言葉 means “words to study.” For example, 日本語を勉強する means “study Japanese.” 言葉 means “word” or “words.” The form itself does not mark singular versus plural, so the translation’s plural meaning comes from the context. Here it is the noun modified by 勉強する. 減らして is the te-form of 減らす, “to reduce” or “to decrease something.” The te-form connects this action to what follows: Aを減らして、B means “reduce A and then/do B” or “by reducing A, do B.” The object is 勉強する言葉, so the sentence says to reduce the number of words being studied; 減らす is transitive, unlike 減る, “to decrease” without an expressed agent. もっと means “more” or “to a greater extent.” It modifies the following idea, 頻繁に使う: use them more frequently. It is not itself the comparative form of 頻繁に; it is an adverb that increases the degree. 頻繁に means “frequently.” It is the adverbial form used to describe how often an action occurs. In 頻繁に使う, it describes the frequency of 使う, “to use.” 使ったほうがよさそうです expresses that using them seems to be the better choice. 使った is the past form of 使う, “to use,” and in the pattern V-たほうがいい, it recommends doing V: 休んだほうがいい means “You should rest” or “It is better to rest.” Here よさそうです adds seems, so the recommendation is presented as a likely judgment rather than a completely direct command. The object of 使う is omitted in Japanese and is understood from the sentence and fixed translation as the words being studied. です gives the ending a polite tone. Together, 勉強する言葉を減らして sets up the first action: reduce the words to study. もっと頻繁に使ったほうがよさそうです gives the apparent better practice: use those words more often. The whole utterance therefore means, “I should probably study fewer words and use them more often.”

9. 繰り返し使うと、その言葉が使える語彙の一部になります。

   Repeated use will help the words become part of your active vocabulary.

   繰り返し

   repeatedly

   使うと

   when [someone] uses

   その

   that

   言葉

   word

   使える

   usable; can use

   語彙

   vocabulary

   一部

   part

   なります

   becomes

   More detail

   繰り返し means “repeatedly” here. It functions adverbially with the following verb. The related noun 繰り返し can also mean “repetition,” but in this sentence it describes doing something again and again. 使うと combines 使う (“to use”) with と, a conditional form. Here と presents the result as something that follows from repeated use: “when/if [someone] uses [them].” The person who uses them is not stated in this sentence, and 使う itself does not identify that person. Example: 毎日使うと、覚えやすくなります。 — “When you use it every day, it becomes easier to remember.” その is the attributive form meaning “that” or “those,” referring here to the words already under discussion. Japanese demonstratives such as その occur before the noun they modify. 言葉 means “word” or “words.” Its exact number is determined by context rather than by a plural ending; the fixed translation presents the intended referent as the words being studied and used. 使える is the potential form of the verb 使う: 使う → 使える, “can use” or “usable.” In 使える語彙, it describes vocabulary that the speaker can use, giving the intended sense of active vocabulary. This is different from 使う語彙, which would mean “vocabulary [someone] uses” without expressing ability. 語彙 means “vocabulary,” especially the body or range of words someone knows or uses. The phrase 使える語彙 is therefore “vocabulary one can use.” 一部 means “part” or “portion.” The pattern Xの一部 means “part of X”; here, 語彙の一部 means “part of the vocabulary.” なります is the polite nonpast form of なる, “to become.” With に, as in 一部になります, it marks the resulting state: “becomes a part.” The polite form is suitable for a neutral explanatory statement. Taken together, 繰り返し使うと sets up repeated use as the condition, その言葉が marks the words as the subject of the result, and 使える語彙の一部になります says that they become part of the vocabulary the learner can use. The whole utterance means: “When you use those words repeatedly, they become part of your active vocabulary.”

10. 少しだけ言葉を選んで、授業の後に自分の例文を書きます。

    I will choose a small set and write personal examples after class.

    少しだけ

    just a little

    言葉

    words; terms

    選んで

    choose and…

    授業の後に

    after class

    自分の

    one’s own; personal

    例文

    example sentences

    書きます

    write

    More detail

    少しだけ means “just a little” or “only a small amount.” 少し is “a little,” and だけ limits the amount. This does not by itself state an exact number of words; the fixed translation presents the selected amount as a small set. 言葉 means “words” or “terms.” It is a noun that can refer to words as vocabulary, as it does here. A useful related expression is 言葉を使う (“use words”), but 言葉 itself is the noun in this sentence. 選んで comes from the verb 選ぶ (“to choose”). The form 選んで is the te-form, which links this action to the following action: Aを選んで、B means “choose A and then do B” or “choose A and do B.” The subject is understood from the context and the fixed translation as the speaker. 授業の後に means “after class.” 授業 is “class,” 後 is “after,” and に marks the time when the later action occurs. The pattern Nの後に is reusable: 仕事の後に means “after work.” 自分の means “one’s own” or “personal.” 自分 is a pronoun-like noun meaning “oneself,” and の links it to the following noun: 自分のN means “one’s own N.” Here it describes examples made by the speaker, matching “personal examples” in the fixed translation. The exact referent of 自分 is supplied by the sentence’s perspective rather than by a special inflection on 自分. 例文 means “example sentence.” It is a noun used for a sentence created to demonstrate vocabulary or grammar. The plural-like English wording “examples” comes from the intended meaning; Japanese nouns do not generally require a separate plural ending here. 書きます comes from 書く (“to write”). 書きます is the polite nonpast form. In this sentence, the planned future reading is “will write”; the form itself can also describe a habitual or generally expected action when the context supports that reading. The polite ending ます marks the speech style, while the verb stem carries the meaning “write.” Together, 少しだけ言葉を選んで says “choose just a small set of words,” with 選んで linking that choice to the next action. 自分の例文を書きます says “write personal example sentences,” and 授業の後に places the writing after class. Thus the whole utterance expresses the speaker’s plan to choose a small set of words and write personal example sentences after class.

11. その習慣で、語彙の練習がもっと実用的になりそうです。

    That routine should make your vocabulary practice more practical.

    その

    that

    習慣

    routine

    語彙

    vocabulary

    練習

    practice

    もっと

    more

    実用的

    practical

    なりそうです

    seems likely to become

    More detail

    その is a demonstrative used before a noun: “that …”. Here, with the fixed translation, it identifies the routine referred to as “that routine.” Japanese demonstratives such as その do not change for gender or number. 習慣 is the noun “habit” or “routine.” The combination その習慣で means “with/by that routine”: で marks the means or circumstance used to produce the result. Example: この方法で練習します。 — “I practise with this method.” 語彙 means “vocabulary.” It is a noun, often used in combinations such as 語彙力 (“vocabulary ability”) and 語彙を増やす (“increase one’s vocabulary”). 練習 means “practice” or “practice activity.” In 語彙の練習, the particle の links 語彙 to 練習, giving “vocabulary practice.” の here describes the type or content of the practice; it does not itself mark possession. もっと is an adverb meaning “more.” It raises the degree of the following description. For example, もっとゆっくり話してください。 means “Please speak more slowly.” 実用的 means “practical” or “useful in practice.” It is a Japanese な-adjective. Before なる (“become”), it takes に: 実用的になる means “become practical.” The comparison here is formed with もっと: もっと実用的になる means “become more practical.” なりそうです is the polite form of なりそうだ. The base verb is なる (“become”); its stem なり- combines with そうだ to express that something appears likely to become that way. The polite ending です makes the statement polite. This construction presents the change as a likely result rather than stating it as a completed fact. Putting the parts together, その習慣で gives the means, 語彙の練習 gives the activity, and もっと実用的になりそうです says that the activity seems likely to become more practical. The whole utterance therefore means: “That routine should make your vocabulary practice more practical.”