Lesson 22 — どんなアパートがいいですか (Real Estate Inquiries & Noun-Modifying Clauses)

Introduction

In Minna no Nihongo Lesson 22 Conversation, we visit a Japanese real estate agency (不動産屋 – Fudousan’ya) to search for an apartment. You will master the pinnacle of N5 grammar: Noun-modifying relative clauses (連体修飾 – Rentai shuushoku). Learn how to specify desired features (駅から近くて家賃が安いアパート – An apartment that is close to the station and cheap in rent), inquire about room layouts (1K, 2LDK), and arrange room inspections.

Learning Objectives

• Form complex sentences using Japanese relative noun-modifying clauses.
• Inquire about rental housing features at a real estate agency.
• Understand apartment layout jargon: ワンルーム, 1K, 2LDK, 家賃, 敷金, 礼金.
• State room preferences: 駅から近い (Near station), 風呂とトイレが別 (Separate bath/toilet).
• Complete 20 JLPT-format MCQs on relative clauses, housing terms, and agency dialogues.

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Lesson Contents

Concept / Meaning

Situational Concept: In Japanese, relative clauses directly precede the noun they modify without any relative pronoun like ‘who’ or ‘which’. For example: 「ミラーさんが住んでいるアパート」 (The apartment where Miller lives). At real estate agencies, specify your ideal room with descriptive clauses.

नेपाली व्याख्या:

जापानी भाषामा कुनै पनि नामपदको विशेषता बुझाउन पूरै वाक्यलाई सो नामपदको अगाडि राखिन्छ (जस्तै: ‘स्टेशन नजिक भएको कोठा’ = 駅から近い部屋)। घरजग्गा दलाल (不動産屋) कहाँ कोठा खोज्न जाँदा ‘कस्तो खालको अपार्टमेन्ट खोज्नुभएको हो?’ (どんなアパートがいいですか) को उत्तरमा ‘भाडा सस्तो भएको र स्टेशन नजिक भएको’ भनी माग राख्ने संवाद हो।

Japanese Form

不動産屋: いらっしゃいませ。どんな アパートが いいですか。

客: 駅から 近くて、家賃が 安い アパートが いいです。

不動産屋: 家賃は おいくらぐらいが ご希望ですか。

客: 6万円以下です。お風呂と トイレが 別の ところが いいんですが…

不動産屋: では、こちらの 物件は どうでしょうか。駅から 徒歩5分です。

English Meaning

Agent: Welcome. What kind of apartment are you looking for?

Client: I would like an apartment that is close to the station and has cheap rent.

Agent: About what rent are you hoping for?

Client: Under 60,000 yen. And I would prefer a place where the bath and toilet are separate…

Agent: Well then, how about this property? It is a 5-minute walk from the station.

Nepali Meaning

दलाल: स्वागत छ। कस्तो खालको अपार्टमेन्ट खोज्नुभएको होला?

ग्राहक: स्टेशन नजिक भएको र कोठा भाडा सस्तो भएको अपार्टमेन्ट भए हुन्थ्यो।

दलाल: भाडा कति जतिको खोज्नुभएको हो?

ग्राहक: ६०,००० येन भन्दा कम। अनि बाथरुम र ट्वाइलेट छुट्टाछुट्टै भएको ठाउँ भए राम्रो हुन्थ्यो…

दलाल: त्यसो भए यो कोठा कस्तो होला त? स्टेशनबाट हिँडेर जम्मा ५ मिनेट लाग्छ।

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Detailed Explanation

Basic Rule

1. Relative clause rule: [Plain Form Sentence] ＋ [Noun].
2. Subject within the modifying clause takes particle が (ga), never は.
3. State preference: [Clause] ＋ [Noun] が いいです.
4. Real estate agency question: どんな [Place] を お探しですか.

Formation

Usage

Vital when apartment hunting in Japan, describing people/places in detail, and reading rental housing ads (SUUMO, Homes).

Important Notes

• Japan has initial rental fees: 敷金 (Shikikin – deposit) and 礼金 (Reikin – key money/gift to landlord), which can equal 2-4 months’ rent upfront!
• Japanese apartment layouts: 1R (One room), 1K (Room + separate kitchen), 2LDK (2 bedrooms + Living, Dining, Kitchen).
• ‘Ofuro to toire ga betsu’ (separate bath/toilet) is one of the most requested features among young Japanese renters.

Exceptions

When a na-adjective modifies a noun in plain affirmative, use な (na): e.g. 静かなアパート (NOT 静かだアパート).

Common Mistakes

Using ‘は’ inside the modifying clause (e.g. わたしは住んでいる町). It MUST be ‘わたしが住んでいる町’.

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Examples

Example 1

• Japanese: これは先週買った靴です。とても履きやすいです。
• Reading: Kore wa senshuu katta kutsu desu. Totemo hakiyasui desu.
• English: These are the shoes I bought last week. They are very easy to wear.
• Nepali: यी मैले गएको हप्ता किनेका जुत्ता हुन्। लगाउन धेरै सजिला छन्।

Example 2

• Japanese: あそこで本を読んでいる人は誰ですか。ミラーさんです。
• Reading: Asoko de hon o yonde iru hito wa dare desu ka. Miraa-san desu.
• English: Who is that person reading a book over there? It is Mr. Miller.
• Nepali: उ त्यहाँ किताब पढिरहेको मान्छे को हो? मिलरजी हुनुहुन्छ।

Example 3

• Japanese: 駅から歩いて5分のアパートを探しています。
• Reading: Eki kara aruite go-fun no apaato o sagashite imasu.
• English: I am looking for an apartment a 5-minute walk from the station.
• Nepali: म स्टेशनबाट हिँडेर ५ मिनेट लाग्ने अपार्टमेन्ट खोजिरहेको छु।

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Vocabulary

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Conversation Practice

Situation

Mr. Mike Miller visits a real estate agent near Shibuya Station to look for an apartment closer to his company.

Dialogue

不動産屋 (Realtor): いらっしゃいませ。どのような お部屋を お探しですか。 (Irasshaimase. Dono youna oheya o osagashi desu ka.)

ミラー (Miller): 会社まで 電車で 20分以内で 行ける アパートが いいんですが。 (Kaisha made densha de ni-juppun inai de ikeru apaato ga ii n desu ga.)

不動産屋 (Realtor): 家賃の ご予算は おいくらぐらいですか。 (Yachin no goyosan wa oikura gurai desu ka.)

ミラー (Miller): 管理費も 入れて、7万円くらいが 希望です。 (Kanrihi mo irete, nana-man-en kurai ga kibou desu.)

不動産屋 (Realtor): お風呂と トイレは 一緒でも よろしいですか。 (Ofuro to toire wa issho demo yoroshii desu ka.)

ミラー (Miller): できれば、別々の ところが いいです。 (Dekireba, betsubetsu no tokoro ga ii desu.)

不動産屋 (Realtor): では、この 緑町に ある アパートは いかがですか。去年 建てたばかりで、とても きれいです。 (Dewa, kono Midorichou ni aru apaato wa ikaga desu ka. Kyonen tateta bakari de, totemo kirei desu.)

ミラー (Miller): いいですね。きょう 見学する ことが できますか。 (Ii desu ne. Kyou kengaku suru koto ga dekimasu ka.)

不動産屋 (Realtor): はい、今すぐ ご案内できますよ。車で 行きましょう。 (Hai, ima sugu go-annai dekimasu yo. Kuruma de ikimashou.)

Translation

• English:

Realtor: Welcome. What kind of room are you looking for?

Miller: I would like an apartment where I can reach my company within 20 minutes by train.

Realtor: About what is your rent budget?

Miller: Including the maintenance fee, around 70,000 yen is my preference.

Realtor: Would a combined bath and toilet unit be acceptable?

Miller: If possible, I prefer a place where they are separate.

Realtor: Well then, how about this apartment located in Midori-cho? It was built just last year, so it is very clean and new.

Miller: Sounds great! Can I go inspect it today?

Realtor: Yes, I can show you right now. Let’s go by car!

• Nepali:

दलाल: स्वागत छ। कस्तो खालको कोठा खोज्दै हुनुहुन्छ होला?

मिलर: अफिससम्म रेलबाट २० मिनेटभित्र पुग्न सकिने अपार्टमेन्ट भए हुन्थ्यो।

दलाल: कोठा भाडाको बजेट कति जति सोच्नुभएको छ?

मिलर: मर्मत सम्भार खर्च (क्यान्रिही) सहित ७०,००० येन जतिको आशा छ।

दलाल: बाथरुम र ट्वाइलेट एउटै भएको भए पनि हुन्छ?

मिलर: सकेसम्म छुट्टाछुट्टै भएको ठाउँ भए राम्रो हुन्थ्यो।

दलाल: त्यसो भए मिदोरी-चोमा रहेको यो अपार्टमेन्ट कस्तो होला? पोहोर साल मात्र बनेकाले धेरै सफा र नयाँ छ।

मिलर: राम्रो रहेछ! के आजै कोठा हेर्न जान सकिन्छ होला?

दलाल: हजुर, अहिले नै देखाउन लैजान सक्छु। गाडीमा जाऔं है!

Speaking Practice

Practice specifying preferences: ‘[Condition] tokoro ga ii desu. Kengaku dekimasu ka.’

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Reading Practice

Short Reading

日本で アパートを 借りる 時、不動産屋へ 行きます。家賃だけでなく、敷金や 礼金を 払わなければ なりません。最近は 「駅から 近くて、インターネットが 無料の 物件」が 若い人に とても 人気配が あります。

Vocabulary Help

借りる (かりる – Rent/Borrow), 敷金 (しききん – Security deposit), 礼金 (れいきん – Key money), 無料 (むりょう – Free)

Reading Questions

1. アパートを 借りる 時、どこへ 行きますか。
2. 家賃の ほかに 何を 払いますか。
3. どんな 物件が 若い人に 人気ですか。

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Practice

Fill in the Blank

1. 駅から [ _____ ] アパートを 探しています。(近い / 近く)
2. 母が [ _____ ] 料理は おいしいです。(作った / 作るでした)
3. きょう 見学する ことが [ _____ ] か。(できます / あります)

Choose the Correct Answer

1. Q: 修飾節（Clause）の中の 主語に つく 助詞は？

A: (a) が (b) は (c) を

1. Q: 部屋を 借りる 時、大家に 払う「お礼のお金」は？

A: (a) 礼金（れいきん） (b) 給料 (c) おつり

Sentence Formation

1. (家賃が / 安い / アパート / いいです / が)
2. (昨日 / 買った / 本 / 読みました)

Word Arrangement

1. [ アパートが / 駅から近い / いいです ]
2. [ 見学できますか / 今から / お部屋を ]

Translation Practice

1. The person drinking coffee over there is my teacher. (उ त्यहाँ कफी पिइरहेको मान्छे मेरो शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ।)
2. I want to live in a quiet, safe town. (म शान्त र सुरक्षित शहरमा बस्न चाहन्छु।)

Speaking Practice

State 3 requirements for your dream house in Japanese using relative clauses.

Writing Practice

Write down a real estate request sheet with rent budget, layout, and distance.

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Questions

Basic Questions

Where does a modifying relative clause go in a Japanese sentence?

Understanding Questions

Why does the subject inside a modifying clause take ‘ga’ instead of ‘wa’?

Application Questions

How do you tell a realtor that you want an apartment with an auto-lock security entrance?

JLPT-style Questions

Reading sentence: ‘Watashi ga kinou mita eiga wa omoshirokatta’. What did the speaker watch?

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Meaning

Japanese Meaning

関係節（名詞修飾節）を用いて条件や希望を具体的に提示し、不動産仲介業者と賃貸物件の探索・内見を行う生活実用会話。

English Meaning

High-level functional conversation for apartment hunting using noun-modifying relative clauses to specify preferences and negotiate property viewings.

Nepali Meaning

क्रियालाई नामपदको अगाडि राखेर (विशेषणात्मक वाक्य) आफूलाई मन परेको कोठाको खोजी गर्ने, घरभाडा र सुविधाबारे घरजग्गा दलालसँग कुराकानी गर्ने संवाद हो।

Important Vocabulary

不動産屋, 家賃, 敷金, 礼金, 物件, 徒歩, 見学

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How to Learn

Step 1: Understand

Master relative clause structure: English puts clause AFTER noun; Japanese puts clause BEFORE noun!

Step 2: Memorize

Remember rule: ALWAYS use Plain Form inside the modifying clause.

Step 3: Practice

Learn Japanese housing terms: 1K, 2LDK, Ofuro, Toire betsu, Toho.

Step 4: Speak

Understand initial move-in costs (Shikikin, Reikin).

Step 5: Read

Practice room inspection request: ‘Kengaku dekimasu ka’ or ‘Naisen dekimasu ka’.

Step 6: Review

Notice how Japanese apartments measure room size in Tatami mats (〜畳 – Jou).

Memory Tips

In Japanese: ‘The yesterday bought book’ (Clause comes first, noun comes last!).

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Common Mistakes

Mistake 1

• Incorrect: Using ‘は’ inside the modifying clause (e.g. わたしは作った料理).
• Correct Form: Always use ‘が’ (わたしが作った料理 – Watashi ga tsukutta ryouri).
• Why: The subject within an embedded relative clause is strictly subordinated with ‘ga’ (वाक्यभित्रको विषयमा ‘गा’ लाग्छ).

Mistake 2

• Incorrect: Using ‘だ’ for Na-adjectives modifying nouns (e.g. 静かだ部屋).
• Correct Form: Use ‘な’: 静かな部屋 (Shizukana heya).
• Why: Na-adjectives retain ‘na’ when modifying nouns directly in present affirmative.

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