人間関係Relationships and Social Life
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Talk about the people in your life using appropriate names, titles, and relationship terms.
- Describe invitations, messages, and social plans in more detail than in Chapter 2.
- Use「あげる」「くれる」「もらう」to describe giving and receiving from the correct point of view.
- Use expanded「〜てくれる」to describe a favor someone has done for you or for someone in your group.
- Mark the source or direction of an exchange using「に」and「から」.
- Track reference across several connected sentences about the same person without overusing names or pronouns.
- Read and write a short connected message about an invitation, a favor, or a small gift.
Communication Scenario
Yuki's birthday is coming up, and her online conversation partner Emma wants to send something small to mark the occasion. Meanwhile, Yuki mentions that a classmate has been helping her study for an upcoming test, and that her host family invited her to a small weekend gathering. As the two continue their messages, they need to talk clearly about who did what for whom — who invited someone, who helped someone, and who gave or received something — without confusing the people involved.
- This chapter expands your ability to describe relationships, invitations, favors, and small gifts, and to keep the people in a story straight as it develops.
- By the end of the chapter, you will complete a performance task that includes a written message about an invitation or favor, a spoken retelling of a small exchange, and a listening task based on a short account of a favor.
Core Vocabulary
This chapter controls vocabulary for relationships, messages, invitations, favors, gifts, and social plans. Several items recycle Volume I people and family vocabulary; new items support describing social exchanges more precisely.
People and Relationships
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 関係 | かんけい | relationship; connection |
| 友人 | ゆうじん | friend (slightly more formal than 友だち) |
| ホストファミリー | ホストファミリー | host family (recycled) |
| クラスメート | クラスメート | classmate |
「関係」is a new item in this chapter. Its grammar in this chapter is limited to use as an ordinary noun, often with「と」to mark the other person in the relationship.
Invitations, Messages, and Plans
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 招待 | しょうたい | invitation |
| 連絡 | れんらく | contact; a message or getting in touch |
| 集まり | あつまり | gathering; get-together |
| 約束 | やくそく | promise; appointment (recycled) |
Favors and Gifts
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| プレゼント | プレゼント | present; gift |
| 手伝う | てつだう | to help (recycled) |
| お願い | おねがい | a favor; a request |
| 誕生日 | たんじょうび | birthday (recycled) |
This chapter assumes control of Volume I vocabulary for family members, friends, and basic social activities. The new items above let you talk about the same people with more attention to how they connect to you and what they do for you.
Script and Kanji Focus
This chapter introduces new kanji for relationships, messages, meetings, and gifts, with continued furigana support on both this chapter's new kanji and Chapter 2's new kanji.
関係, 招待, 連絡, and 友人 are new productive kanji for this chapter and keep furigana support in all readings and exercises until a later chapter's matrix marks them as consolidated. 予定, 習慣, 責任, and 平日 from Chapter 2 are still developing and also keep furigana in this chapter. Volume I kanji already marked consolidated, such as 元気, 生活, and 友, continue to appear without furigana, following the pattern established in Chapter 1.
れんしゅう — Practice: Write 関係, 招待, 連絡, and 友人 three times each, then use each one once in a sentence about someone you know.
Pronunciation Review
Several new words in this chapter contain long vowels and a moraic ん that are easy to shorten or drop when speaking quickly. Practice these contrasts before the Model Dialogue:
- Long vowel: しょうたい (invitation) — hold the long おう sound for its full two morae
- Moraic ん in かんけい (relationship) and れんらく (contact), held for a full beat before the next sound
- Long vowel: ゆうじん (friend) — keep the long ゆう distinct from a short ゆ
Read the vocabulary tables above aloud slowly, then again at a natural pace, checking that each long vowel and each moraic ん keeps its full timing.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
This chapter authorizes 「あげる」「くれる」「もらう」as a set for describing giving and receiving, expanded 「〜てくれる」for describing a favor done for you or your group, 「に」and「から」for marking the source or direction of an exchange, and stronger reference omission across connected sentences about an exchange. No additional grammar paradigm is introduced.
1. Giving and receiving with 「あげる」「くれる」「もらう」
Purpose: to describe who gives something to whom, and who receives something from whom, while keeping the speaker's point of view clear. In this chapter, these three verbs are introduced together as a connected set rather than as three unrelated words for "give" and "receive."
- わたしはユキさんにプレゼントをあげます。I give a present to Yuki. (I give to someone else.)
- ユキさんはわたしにプレゼントをくれました。Yuki gave a present to me. (Someone gives to me or to my group.)
- わたしはユキさんにプレゼントをもらいました。I received a present from Yuki. (I receive from someone else.)
Notice that あげる and くれる both describe giving, but the choice depends on whether the receiver is the speaker (or the speaker's group) or someone else. もらう describes the same exchange from the receiver's point of view.
2. Describing a favor with expanded 「〜てくれる」
Purpose: to describe someone doing something for you or for someone in your group, as a favor. This builds on the て-form reviewed in Chapters 1 and 2.
- クラスメートが宿題を手伝ってくれました。A classmate helped me with my homework (as a favor to me).
- 友人が駅まで来てくれました。A friend came to the station for me.
3. Marking source and direction with 「に」and「から」
Purpose: to mark clearly who an exchange comes from or goes to, especially with もらう.
- 先生に日本語を習いました。I learned Japanese from my teacher. (person as source, marked with に)
- 友人からメッセージをもらいました。I received a message from a friend. (person as source, marked with から)
With もらう, either に or から can mark the source of the exchange for a person. This chapter treats both as available options rather than choosing a single fixed rule.
4. Reference tracking across connected sentences
Purpose: to describe the same person across several sentences without repeating their name every time or overusing pronouns.
- ユキさんは友人です。よく連絡をくれます。Yuki is a friend. She often sends me messages. (the subject of the second sentence is recoverable from context)
Error: *「友人はわたしにプレゼントをあげました」to mean "my friend gave a present to me."
Correction: 友人はわたしにプレゼントをくれました。 — When the receiver is the speaker or someone in the speaker's group, use くれる rather than あげる, even though both verbs describe giving.
Grammar Review Practice
- Write one sentence using あげる to describe giving something to someone else.
- Write one sentence using くれる to describe someone giving something to you.
- Write one sentence using もらう to describe receiving something.
- Write one sentence using expanded てくれる to describe a favor.
- Write one sentence using に or から to mark the source of an exchange.
Model Dialogue
Setting: Yuki and Emma message each other about Yuki's upcoming birthday and a recent favor from a classmate.
ないようりかい — Comprehension questions:
- What did Yuki receive from Emma last year?
- Who helped Yuki study before her test?
- Who invited Yuki to the weekend gathering?
Guided Practice
タスク１ — Who gave what to whom? With a partner (or on your own, imagining a partner), take turns describing a small exchange from your own life using あげる, くれる, or もらう, making sure the point of view is correct.
タスク２ — A favor. Think of one small favor someone recently did for you. Write one sentence describing it using てくれる, and one sentence describing your relationship to that person.
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following passage aloud at a clear, moderate pace.
きくタスク — Yuki talks about a favor
先週、テストがあったので、少し心配だった。でも、クラスメートが勉強を手伝ってくれた。図書館で二時間ぐらい、いっしょに勉強した。その友人からいい説明をたくさんもらった。おかげで、テストはよくできたと思う。今度、その友人にお礼のプレゼントをあげたい。
聞くタスク — Listening task: Note who helped Yuki, where they studied, and what Yuki plans to do to thank her friend. Compare your notes with a partner or check them against the passage.
This script uses plain style, appropriate for a private reflection rather than a message to someone Yuki does not know well.
Speaking Practice
コントロールされた練習 — Controlled practice: Quick answers
- 先週、だれかが何かをしてくれましたか。
- 最近、だれかにプレゼントをもらいましたか。
- 友人にプレゼントをあげたことがありますか。
コミュニケーションタスク — Telling a small story about an exchange
With a partner, tell a short story about a time someone helped you or gave you something. Use at least one of あげる, くれる, or もらう, and use に or から to mark the source at least once.
ひとりでもできる練習 — Solo practice: Recorded relationship description
Record yourself describing one important relationship in your life in about one minute, including at least one thing that person has done for you, in polite style.
Reading Practice
Read the following short message, then answer the questions below.
招待への返事 — A reply to an invitation
エマさん、こんにちは。連絡ありがとうございます。週末の集まりに招待してくれて、うれしいです。ぜひ行きたいです。ところで、先週、テストの前に、クラスメートが勉強を手伝ってくれました。その友人から説明をたくさんもらって、テストはよくできました。とてもいい関係だと思います。それでは、週末に会いましょう。
ないようりかい — Comprehension questions:
- What is the writer replying to, and how does she feel about it?
- Who helped the writer before her test, and what did she receive from that person?
- How does the writer describe her relationship with her classmate?
Writing Workshop
In this workshop you will write a short message describing an invitation, a favor, or a small gift, using the Building Block pattern from the Grammar section.
- Introduce the person and your relationship to them in one sentence.
- Describe what they did or gave you, using てくれる, くれる, or もらう.
- Mark the source or direction of the exchange, using に or から, if it helps clarify who is involved.
- Add a brief reaction or plan, such as how you felt or what you intend to do next.
- Revise and check using the checklist below before finalizing your message.
チェックリスト — Editing checklist:
- I introduced the person and my relationship to them clearly.
- I chose あげる, くれる, or もらう correctly based on who received the gift or favor.
- I used に or から accurately when marking a source, if needed.
- I did not repeat the person's name more often than necessary.
- I kept one consistent register throughout.
- I kept furigana on 関係, 招待, 連絡, 友人, and this chapter's Chapter 2 kanji, and removed it from consolidated Volume I kanji.
- I ended each sentence with 。 and used consistent script and punctuation throughout.
Culture and Communication
Giving and receiving small gifts, such as souvenirs, seasonal presents, or thank-you items, is common among many people in Japan, and expectations about occasion, amount, and timing can vary by relationship, region, and individual family or workplace custom. The あげる/くれる/もらう system reflects how the exchange is described in language, not a single fixed social rule about when gifts must be given.
Words like 友人 and 友だち, or the way someone refers to a classmate versus a close friend, can carry different nuances depending on age, school culture, workplace norms, and individual relationships. This chapter's vocabulary offers a starting point, not a universal scale of closeness.
Yuki's polite written reply to Emma and her plainer private reflection about the same favor describe similar facts, but the register shifts because the audience shifts from a friend she is writing to directly to a private account of her own thoughts. Volume II will continue to return to this kind of audience-based register shift in later chapters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: *友人はわたしにプレゼントをあげました。 (using あげる when the receiver is the speaker).
Correction: 友人はわたしにプレゼントをくれました。 — Use くれる, not あげる, whenever the receiver is the speaker or someone in the speaker's group.
Error: *わたしはユキさんをプレゼントをもらいました。 (marking Yuki with を instead of に or から).
Correction: わたしはユキさんにプレゼントをもらいました。 — もらう describes receiving, so the source of the exchange is marked with に or から, and the item received is marked with を.
Error: *ユキさんは友人です。ユキさんはよくユキさんにメッセージをくれます。 (repeating the name where the subject is already clear from context).
Correction: ユキさんは友人です。よく連絡をくれます。 — Once the subject is clear from context, it is more natural to omit it than to repeat the name.
Chapter Review
Section A — ごい (Vocabulary)
1. Give at least five vocabulary items connected to relationships, invitations, favors, or gifts from this chapter.
Section B — もじ (Script)
1. Write 関係, 招待, 連絡, and 友人 from memory, and explain why they still need furigana in this chapter.
Section C — ぶんぽう (Grammar)
1. Write one sentence using あげる correctly.
2. Write one sentence using くれる correctly.
3. Write one sentence using もらう correctly, including に or から.
4. Write one sentence describing a favor using expanded てくれる.
Section D — どっかいりかい (Reading comprehension)
1. Look again at the reply to the invitation in the Reading Practice section. Write two sentences summarizing it in your own words.
Section E — かくこと (Writing)
1. Complete your message about an invitation, favor, or gift, following the Writing Workshop steps.
Section F — はなすこと (Speaking)
1. With a partner or instructor, tell a short story about an exchange and answer at least one follow-up question.
Practical Performance Task
パフォーマンスタスク
人間関係 — Describing relationships, invitations, and favors
This performance task draws together the systems developed in this chapter. Complete all three components below.
- Written message: Write a message of at least six sentences describing an invitation, a favor, or a small gift involving someone in your life, including at least one correct use of あげる, くれる, or もらう, and one use of に or から.
- Spoken retelling: Present a one-minute spoken account of a small exchange (a favor, invitation, or gift) to a partner, instructor, or recording, in polite style.
- Listening check: Listen to a short account of a favor and correctly identify who helped whom, what was exchanged, and how the speaker responded.
Assessment focus: accurate use of new Chapter 3 kanji and vocabulary; correct point-of-view choice among あげる, くれる, and もらう; accurate use of expanded てくれる; correct use of に and から to mark source or direction; reduced repetition of names where reference is already clear; correct furigana on new kanji; and comprehensible pronunciation with attention to long vowels and moraic ん.
Answer Key
Grammar Review Practice
1. Model: わたしはユキさんにプレゼントをあげます。 2. Model: ユキさんはわたしにプレゼントをくれました。 3. Model: わたしはユキさんにプレゼントをもらいました。 4. Model: クラスメートが宿題を手伝ってくれました。 5. Model: 友人からメッセージをもらいました。
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- Yuki received a present from Emma last year.
- A classmate (friend) helped Yuki study before her test.
- Yuki's host family invited her to the weekend gathering.
Listening task — Model summary
A classmate helped Yuki study for about two hours at the library before her test. Yuki received many helpful explanations from that friend, and she thinks the test went well. She plans to give her friend a present to thank her.
Reading — Comprehension
- The writer is replying to an invitation to a weekend gathering, and she is happy about it and plans to go.
- A classmate helped the writer before her test, and the writer received many explanations from that friend.
- The writer describes her relationship with her classmate as a very good one.
Chapter Review — Section A and B
Open-ended; check against the Core Vocabulary tables and the Script and Kanji Focus section above.
Chapter Review — Section C
Open-ended; models follow the patterns shown in the Grammar section above.
Chapter Review — Section D
Model answer: エマさんは週末の集まりにユキさんを招待しました。テストの前に、クラスメートがユキさんの勉強を手伝ってくれました。 (Other accurate answers accepted.)
Chapter Review — Section E and F, and Practical Performance Task
These are open-ended production tasks. Evaluate written work against the Writing Workshop checklist above, and evaluate the spoken retelling and listening check against the assessment focus listed under the Practical Performance Task.
Looking Ahead
いまできること — What you can do now
You can describe the people in your life and your relationships to them, talk about invitations, favors, and small gifts using あげる, くれる, and もらう, describe favors with expanded てくれる, mark the source or direction of an exchange with に or から, and track reference across connected sentences without overusing names, supported by expanded Volume II kanji, vocabulary, and grammar.