To be able to use “〜方（かた）”
Let’s learn what it means
The expression “〜方（かた）” is used to express ways and means.
- Meaning: Expressing a way or means
- In English: The way to〜 / How to〜 / Method of〜
- Conjunction: V(ます形)ます + 方
- JLPT Level: N5
Textbooks in which this sentence pattern appears
The sentence pattern of “〜方（かた）” can be studied in the following textbooks.
Minna no Nihongo beginner’s level Lesson 14
Dekiru Nihongo Beginner’s level Lesson 7
Example sentences
Learn many example sentences and study how to use them.
- ひらがなの書き方を勉強しています。
- 美味しい料理の作り方を教えてください。
- 便利なツールの使い方を覚えました。
- あなたは教え方が上手ですね。
- この漢字の読み方がわかりません。
ひらがなの書き方を勉強しています。
It means, “I am learning how to write hiragana.”.
今はどのような勉強をしていますか？
What are you studying now?
ひらがなの書き方を勉強しています。
I am learning how to write hiragana.
難しいですか？
Is it difficult?
はい。
Yes, it is.
美味しい料理の作り方を教えてください。
It means, “Please teach me how to cook good food.”
好きな食べ物はなんですか？
What is your favorite food?
パスタが好きで、よく作ります。
I like pasta and often make it.
私は料理が苦手です。美味しい料理の作り方を教えてください。
I am not good at cooking. Please teach me how to cook good food.
もちろん、いいですよ。
Sure, why not?
便利なツールの使い方を覚えました。
It means, “I learned how to use a useful tool.” or “I remember how to use a useful tool.”
便利なツールの使い方を覚えました。
I learned how to use a useful tool.
どんなツールですか？
What kind of tool?
AIが日本語の解説をしてくれるんです。
It’s an AI that provides explanations about Japanese.
それってChatGPTのことですか？
Is that ChatGPT?
あなたは教え方が上手ですね。
It means, “You are good at teaching.” or “The way you teach is very good.”
教科書でわからないところがあります。
There are points in the textbook that I don’t understand.
教えましょうか？
Would you like me to teach you?
お願いします。
Yes, please.
これはこうやって答えます。
This is how to answer.
あなたは教え方が上手ですね。
You are good at teaching.
この漢字の読み方がわかりません。
It means, “That was not very difficult.”
この漢字の読み方がわかりません。
Tomorrow there will be a Kanji test.
どれですか？
Which one is it?
「明後日」です。
This one.
それは「あさって」と読みます。
It reads “asatte”. (It mans “the day after tomorrow”)
Vocabulary List
Let’s learn the words commonly used to express using “〜方 (kata)”.
| Verb | Meaning | Verb+kata | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 行く | go, going | 行き方 | how to go there, how to get there |
| 帰る | go home | 帰り方 | how to go home |
| 飲む | drink | 飲み方 | how to drink |
| 書く | writing | 書き方 | how to write |
| 話す | speak, talk | 話し方 | how to speak, how to talk |
| 言う | saying | 言い方 | how to say |
| 読む | read | 読み方 | how to read |
| 買う | buy | 買い方 | how to buy |
| 飼う | keep, take care of | 飼い方 | how to keep, how to take care of |
| 売る | selling | 売り方 | how to sell |
| 撮る | take (a picture/video) | 撮り方 | how to take (a picture/video) |
| 取る | take, catch | 取り方 | how to take, how to catch |
| 歩く | walking | 歩き方 | how to walk |
| 走る | running | 走り方 | how to run |
| 泳ぐ | swim | 泳ぎ方 | how to swim |
| 聞く | listen | 聞き方 | how to listen |
| 乗る | ride | 乗り方 | how to ride |
| やる | do | やり方 | how to do |
| 座る | sit down | 座り方 | how to sit down |
| 歌う | sing | 歌い方 | how to sing |
We will continue to explain other grammar points and example sentences in the next article, so stay tuned.
See you next time!
