にほんごをべんきょうしています
nihongo o benkyō shite imasuhiragana, polite
In hiragana, "I am learning Japanese" is にほんごをべんきょうしています (nihongo o benkyō shite imasu). It literally says "I am studying Japanese". It is also called にほんごをならっています (nihongo o naratte imasu).
Meaning: saying you are studying Japanese (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| にほんごをべんきょうしています | nihongo o benkyō shite imasu | hiragana, polite |
| にほんごをならっています | nihongo o naratte imasu | hiragana, taking lessons |
What does it mean word for word?
にほんご is "Japanese language", を marks the object, べんきょう is "study" and しています means "am doing".
Which one should you use?
にほんごをならっています (nihongo o naratte imasu) fits when you take lessons from a teacher.
How does it change in a sentence?
Add わたしは (watashi wa) at the start to name yourself, though Japanese often drops it when it is clear.
Did you know?
- Japanese uses three scripts together, and hiragana is the first one most learners study.
Examples in context
- まいにちひらがなをれんしゅうしています。Mainichi hiragana o renshū shite imasu.I practice hiragana every day.
- にほんごはむずかしいですが、たのしいです。Nihongo wa muzukashii desu ga, tanoshii desu.Japanese is difficult, but fun.
Example conversation
At a language exchange cafe, Anna from Germany talks to Takeshi.
- Takeshiはじめまして。Hajimemashite.Nice to meet you.
- Annaはじめまして。わたしはにほんごをべんきょうしています。Hajimemashite. Watashi wa nihongo o benkyō shite imasu.Nice to meet you. I am learning Japanese.
- Takeshiそうですか。じょうずですね。Sō desu ka. Jōzu desu ne.Is that so? You are good at it.
- Annaありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
