N4 · Unit 9
Lesson 36Explain use and perceive an action
Explain what something is used for and describe seeing or hearing a complete action.
What you learn
Explain what something is used for and describe seeing or hearing a complete action.
Learning points
- Use and evaluation
- Repeated focus on one behavior
- Visual and auditory perception
Why this lesson comes now
This lesson connects what you can already say to a new way of expressing it. Hear the key sentences, understand the structure, then use it in a real situation.
Your next step
Listen to the key sentences, understand the pattern, finish the examples and vocabulary, then continue to the next lesson.
Open the interactive lessonCore pattern
小句て / で + 結果 ・ N + に / 動詞基本形 + のに + 使います・便利です ・ N + ばかり / 動詞て + ばかり います ・ 普通形 + のが 見えます / 聞こえますBeginner explanation
〜て／で can link a cause to its result; the result normally is not a command. Nに or dictionary form＋のに can state a use or the basis for an evaluation. ばかり says nearly everything selected is of one kind or that someone repeatedly does only one thing, often with a critical tone. Add の to a full action before 見えます／聞こえます to say that action can be seen or heard.
Understand these sentences first
- 道が 混んでいて、遅く なりました。michi ga konde ite, osoku narimashita
I was late because the road was crowded.
- この はさみは 紙を 切るのに 使います。kono hasami wa kami o kiru no ni tsukaimasu
These scissors are used to cut paper.
- 弟は ゲームを して ばかり います。otōto wa gēmu o shite bakari imasu
My younger brother does almost nothing but play games.
- 外で 子供が 遊んでいるのが 見えます。soto de kodomo ga asonde iru no ga miemasu
I can see children playing outside.
Core vocabulary
- 遅れますおくれますbe late
- 通じますつうじますbe understood
- 申請しんせいapplication
- 便利べんりconvenient
- 持ち歩きますもちあるきますcarry around
- 見えますみえますbe visible
- 聞こえますきこえますbe audible
- ばかりばかりnothing but
Grammar, one point at a time
て or で can place a cause before its result or reaction
Aて／Nで、結果Verb te-form, i-adjective くて, and na-adjective or noun で can all mark a cause. The result is normally an event, feeling, judgment, or apology, not a direct command or request.
Examples
- 遅くなって、すみません。I am sorry for being late.
- 言葉が 通じなくて、困りました。I had difficulty because we could not communicate.
- 火事で、家が 焼けました。The house burned in a fire.
Noun + に can mark a concrete use or the criterion for an evaluation
N + に + 使う／便利だPurpose often combines with 使う or 役立つ; criteria often combine with 便利, 必要, 難しい, or いい. The following predicate determines the meaning of に.
Examples
- この 写真は 申請に 使います。This photograph is used for an application.
- この テープは 勉強に 役立ちます。This recording is useful for study.
- この 地域は 買い物に 便利です。This area is convenient for shopping.
Dictionary form + のに turns an action into a use or evaluation criterion
Vる + のに + 使う／便利だの nominalizes the action and に marks use or criterion. This looks like concessive のに, although, but the function differs; check whether it is followed by 使う or 便利 or by a full contrasting clause.
Examples
- パスポートを 申請するのに、写真を 使います。A photograph is used to apply for a passport.
- この フライパンは 卵焼きを 作るのに 便利です。This frying pan is convenient for making omelette.
Noun + ばかり selects the same kind repeatedly; てばかりいる repeats the same action
N + ばかり／Vて + ばかりいるばかり often evaluates a one-sided tendency rather than giving a neutral count. Saying someone is always doing something can sound accusatory; base it on observable facts and consider the relationship.
Examples
- 野菜ばかり 食べています。I am eating almost nothing but vegetables.
- 休日は 寝てばかりいます。On days off, I do little but sleep.
Plain clause + のが見える or 聞こえる presents a whole scene entering sight or hearing
小句普通形 + のが + 見える／聞こえるVerbs use plain form, i-adjectives add の directly, and affirmative present na-adjectives and nouns use なの. の marks the whole clause as the perceived object.
Examples
- 空港の 入り口に 警官が 立っているのが 見えます。You can see an officer standing at the airport entrance.
- 隣の 部屋で 子供が 騒いでいるのが 聞こえます。You can hear children making noise in the next room.
見える and 聞こえる are naturally perceptible; 見る and 聞く are intentional looking or listening
Nが見える／聞こえる vs Nを見る／聞くUse 山が見える when the mountain is visible and 山を見る for intentionally viewing it. Use 音が聞こえる for sound reaching you and 音楽を聞く for intentionally listening.
Examples
- 家から 富士山が 見えます。Mount Fuji is visible from the house.
- 隣から 音楽が 聞こえます。Music can be heard from next door.
Expressions and situations
凧 means kite, but flying depends on the site, power lines, wind, and local rules
The textbook's generalization that modern children no longer fly kites lacks enough current evidence. The course teaches 凧を揚げる, 広い場所, and 電線; actual activity requires the site operator's rules.
- 凧を 揚げていい 場所か 確認します。I will check whether kite flying is allowed here.
ほんと is a casual spoken form of 本当
It can mean really or really? Use 本当に or 本当ですか in formal writing or polite contexts.
- ほんとに 大丈夫？Are you really all right?
とにかく sets aside details and prioritizes the most important point or action
It can mean in any case or first things first. Using it with incomplete information does not authorize skipping safety or permission checks.
- 間に合うか 分かりませんが、とにかく 連絡しましょう。I do not know whether we will make it, but let's contact them first.
ぺらぺら can mean fluent speech but can also suggest chattering
For a clear compliment, 日本語がとても流暢です is safer. The meaning of ぺらぺら depends on target, tone, and following evaluation.
- 彼は 日本語が ぺらぺらです。He speaks Japanese fluently.
Sound-symbolic words imitate sounds or describe states, actions, and sensations
ワンワン and ザーザー are sound-like; すやすや and くねくね describe states. They often modify verbs adverbially but do not map word-for-word to Chinese or English sound words.
- 雨が ザーザー 降っています。Rain is pouring down.
- 子供が すやすや 眠っています。The child is sleeping peacefully.
量り売り means selling by measured weight or quantity and coexists with packaged sales
The textbook's claim that modern supermarkets generally use boxes or bags is too broad. Loose, weight-based, unit-priced, and prepacked sales may coexist; check the label or ask staff.
- この 果物は 量り売りですか。Is this fruit sold by weight?
市場 read いちば often means a physical market; しじょう can mean an economic market
Reading is not determined by kanji alone. 築地場外市場 is つきじじょうがいしじょう; fixed names must be learned as whole expressions.
- 豊洲市場は 卸売市場です。Toyosu Market is a wholesale market.
- 世界市場を 調査します。We research the global market.
The central wholesale market moved from Tsukiji to Toyosu, while Tsukiji Outer Market continues
Tsukiji Outer Market's official site says that after the central wholesale market moved to Toyosu in 2018, more than 400 food and kitchen-goods shops continued operating in the outer market. The textbook's traffic, auction times, and world-largest claim describe the old inner market and are not current visitor information.
- 築地の 場外市場と 豊洲市場は 別の 場所です。Tsukiji Outer Market and Toyosu Market are different places.
まだまだ means there is still a long way to go
As a response to praise, まだまだです is modesty, not necessarily factual rejection of the compliment. It can also state that one's learning must continue.
- 日本語は まだまだです。My Japanese still has a long way to go.
What you should be able to do
- Turn verb, adjective, and noun causes into て or で clauses and judge whether a command can follow.
- Distinguish purpose and evaluation criteria with noun + に.
- Distinguish purpose のに from concessive のに and make two sentences of each.
- Rewrite potentially accusatory てばかりいる sentences with concrete frequency or counts.
- Distinguish natural perception with のが見える or 聞こえる from intentional 見る or 聞く.
- Complete an original market task distinguishing Tsukiji and Toyosu, asking the pricing unit, stating quantity, and following market rules.
Culture and real use
Tsukiji and Toyosu are not one current market: distinguish place, function, and reading
The textbook describes the former Tsukiji central wholesale market: its 1935 opening, auctions, and vehicle figures are historical background. Tokyo's main central wholesale functions moved to Toyosu Market in 2018, so facility, visitor hours, and route information should come from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's current market pages. Tsukiji Outer Market did not disappear; its official site says more than 400 shops selling seafood, produce, dry goods, knives, tableware, and packaging continue to serve professionals, consumers, and visitors. 市場 read いちば often denotes a physical marketplace, while しじょう may denote wholesale, financial, or economic markets; fixed place and institution names follow their official reading. The course no longer publishes old Tsukiji auction times, vehicle counts, or size rankings as current facts.
- 豊洲市場の 見学情報を 確認します。I will check Toyosu Market's visitor information.
- 築地場外市場の ルールを 守ります。I will follow Tsukiji Outer Market's rules.
- これは 量り売りですか。Is this sold by weight?