Japanese Language Lesson Minna no Nihongo 1 Chapter 11 Section B Part 3
In this article, the focus is asking about the number of the item depicted in the image or picture given in Minna no Nihongo 1 book chapter 11 Section B Part 3 in page 91 as a question. In this article, the usage of interrogative pronoun 「‘nan’（何・なん）」combined with the item which is being asked specifically and then followed by ‘imasu’ or ‘arimasu’「います・あります」 is becoming a topic of discussion. The main purpose of that Japanese language grammar pattern is for asking the number of the item exist. Below is the pattern of the Japanese language grammar which is going to be learned or to be studied :
| Kanji | : | 。。。 | ＋ | 何 | ＋ | 助数詞 | ＋ | いますか・ありますか |
| Hiragana | : | 。。。 | ＋ | なん | ＋ | じょすうし | ＋ | いますか・ありますか |
| Romaji | : | 。。。 | ＋ | nan | ＋ | jyosuushi | ＋ | imasuka・arimasuka |
| Meaning | : | 。。。 | ＋ | what | ＋ | counter | ＋ | is there・are there |
For an example :
| Kanji | : | 公園で像が | ＋ | 何 | ＋ | 対 | ＋ | ありますか |
| Hiragana | : | 。。。 | ＋ | なん | ＋ | めいし | ＋ | ありますか |
| Romaji | : | 。。。 | ＋ | nan | ＋ | meishi | ＋ | arimasuka |
| Meaning | : | 。。。 | ＋ | what | ＋ | noun | ＋ | is there・are there |
The Japanese grammar pattern which is used as a main focus in this article is a Japanese grammar pattern for counting items or normally called as ‘counter’and it is called as joosushi in Japanese language. This counter is used for counting items in Japanese language.
Since there are many different items are there, furthermore in Japanese language there are many different classification available depends on the type of the item. For an example, the counter for flat or thin object like paper, picture the correct counter to use in Japanese language is 「枚・まい（‘mai’）」. On the other hand for machine, electronic device such as television or a vehicle such as car, bicycle, the counter which is used is 「台・だい（‘dai’）」.
This is the conversation which is made as an example to answer the question :
Kanji :
鉛筆が 何本ありますか
。。。六本あります。
Hiragana :
えんぴつが なんぼんありますか
。。。ろっぽんあります。
Romaji :
Enpitsu ga nan bon arimasuka ?
。。。Roppon arimasu。
Meaning :
How many pencils are there ?
。。。There are six pencils。
In the above context, ぼん･ぽん 本（’bon / pon ‘）is used as a counter for pencils which is categorized as a item which has a long, cyllindrical shape.
The question contains several images which is used as base of the item for answering in form of a specific conversation. Looking at the item and also the number of the item depicted in the picture or the image, below are the answers given to answer the question exist in Minna no Nihongo 1 book Chapter 11 Section B Part 3 at page 91.
Below are the answers given to answer the question exist in Minna no Nihongo 1 book Chapter 11 Section B Part 3 at page 91.
１．Answer
Kanji :
外国人の社員が 何人いますか。
。。。二人がいます。
Hiragana :
がいこくじんのしゃいんが なんにんいますか。
。。。ふたりがいます。
Romaji :
Gaikokujin no shain ga nan nin imasuka。
。。。futari ga imasu。
Meaning :
How many foreign employee are there ?。
。。。there are two person。
２．Answer
Kanji :
女の人は 何人いますか。
。。。六人 います。
Hiragana :
おんなのひとは なんにんいますか。
。。。ろくにん います。
Romaji :
Onna no hito wa nan nin imasuka。
。。。Rokunin imasu。
Meaning :
How many women are there ?。
。。。There are six women。
３． Answer
男の子は 何人いますか。
。。。二人が います。
Hiragana :
おとこのこは なんにんいますか。
。。。ふたりが います。
Romaji :
Otoko no ko wa nan nin imasuka。
。。。futari ga imasu。
Meaning :
How many boys are there ?。
。。。There are two boys。
４．Answer
子どもが 何人いますか。
。。。一人が います。
Hiragana :
こどもが なんにんいますか。
。。。ひとりが います。
Romaji :
Kodomo ga nan nin imasuka。
。。。hitori ga imasu。
Meaning :
How many children are there ?。
。。。There are one child。
The full question which consists of several numbers can be seen completely in Minna no Nihongo 1 Chapter 11 Section B Part 3 on page 91.