Let's talk about common sense and feelings using "things" / Japanese Learning Support LLC | blog

What does the word "thing" mean?

Of course, it has the meaning of a substance or something that has a form, but it also appears in a variety of other sentences. This time, let's make various sentences using "things".

The temperature has dropped considerably over the past few days, and it feels like the season is finally moving on. The autumn leaves are beautiful, and I want to spend my time enjoying autumn.

Now, this time we will study how to talk using "things". Have you noticed? In the sentence above, you can say, ``I want to enjoy autumn,'' but why do you go out of your way to say ``I want to spend it there?'' What can be conveyed by including things? I think there are many expressions that you will learn at the intermediate level, which is a little higher than usual, but they are often used in everyday life, so please give them a try.

■Everyone makes mistakes.

Used when you want to talk about what is generally believed, the essence of something, or a tendency.

For example, a presentation at a company. Can you proceed without getting nervous at all?

Most people will probably be a little nervous. In such cases, you can use "mono" to say it.

"Presentations make everyone nervous."

Let's use it in more different sentences.

・A: “I feel like I haven’t been getting along well with my co-workers lately…”

B: “Human relationships don’t always go well.”

・Mother: “Hey, Taro came back injured again.”

Father: ``Children do get hurt, so you shouldn't worry too much.''

・Everyone panics when a sudden disaster occurs, so you must be well prepared.

・A: “My university dormitory is very small.”

B: "The dormitories are all small. Don't complain too much."

・（×）Chicken is delicious.

→Do not use it for things that have a different personal feel or feel differently depending on the person.

■You are expected to be quiet in the library.

It can also be used when you want to tell someone that they should do something based on social norms or what is generally thought to be the way they should do something.

For example, the above sentence can be said like this because it is common etiquette in libraries to not speak in order not to disturb other people's reading, and when speaking, to do so in a low voice. .

(on the train)

・You should give up your seat to the elderly.

・This is not for making phone calls on the train.

→It is a well-known etiquette in Japan that you should not use the phone or wear makeup on the train. When you want to say, ``You must not do something, you shouldn't do something,'' use the form ``It's not something.'' In spoken language, the form ``～monda/～monjanai'' is often used.

・Children eat well and sleep well.

・A: “Hey, I heard there’s a part-time job where you can earn 30,000 yen in a day! I think I’ll give it a try.”

B: “I don’t believe in such suspicious stories.”

■I want to spend my time enjoying autumn.

Now, back to the opening sentence. This sentence doesn't seem to be a common sense expression like the previous one.

The word ``mono'' in this case is one of the expressions used when talking about one's feelings and hopes, such as ``I really...'' and ``I sincerely...''.

・I want to enjoy autumn.

・I want to enjoy autumn.

Both of them are saying the same thing, but the second way of saying it using "things" seems to have more emotion, and gives the impression that you sincerely want to do it.

・Has it already been a year? That's fast.

・I would like to take some time off and go on a trip someday.

・It's lonely to have fewer friends as you get older.

・Although he is only in his first year at the company, he works very quickly. It's reliable.

→It can be used very naturally when expressing one's wishes such as "I want to...", when expressing one's thoughts deeply, or when something is a little surprising or unexpected.

■When I was a child, I often played in the nearby mountains.

The past tense (ta) is also used when speaking while remembering something from the past. For example, childhood memories. ``I caught bugs in the mountains.'' will convey the truth, but saying ``I used to catch bugs in the mountains and play with them'' will help you remember those days and convey a sense of nostalgia to the other person. , it will be a lively sentence.

・When I was a child, my mother would often scold me for leaving vegetables out at meals.

・When I first started living alone, I often overslept and was almost late for university.

・When I first joined the company, I had a hard time learning the job, but now I'm having a hard time nurturing my subordinates.

Well, this time we looked at various ways to say things, focusing on ways to say things using the word "mono." If you use it ``when you want to say something in general'' or ``when you want to say it with emotion (emphasis),'' you can better convey the nuance to the other person.

Finally, let's actually make sentences!

1) On the escalator, it is ( ).

2) When I was a child, I used to ( ) a lot.

3) 2024 is something I want to see in ( ).

Now, what kind of sentences did you create? Please feel free to write a variety of sentences based on the various thoughts you have, such as nostalgic events or hopes for the future. By the way, the correct way to ride an escalator is not often practiced, so if you are not confident, please do some research.

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