Common N3 Idiomatic Phrases
This lesson introduces frequently encountered idiomatic expressions and set phrases that appear in N3-level contexts, helping you understand and use natural collocations in conversations and written materials. Focus is on recognition, meaning, and practical application.
🎯 Goal: Learn additional common N3-level idiomatic phrases and collocations.
Lesson Content
Learning Goal
By the end of this lesson, you will understand and be able to use 5 common N3-level idiomatic phrases and collocations in natural Japanese sentences. These expressions are frequently used in daily conversation and intermediate-level reading.
Concept
Idiomatic phrases (慣用句, kan'yōku) are fixed expressions whose meaning often cannot be guessed from the individual words. At the N3 level, mastering these helps you sound more natural and understand native speakers better. Collocations are word pairs that commonly appear together, like "take a break" in English. Today, we’ll focus on 5 practical ones.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. 気にする (ki ni suru) – to mind / to worry about
- Meaning: To care about something, often in a negative sense (to be bothered or anxious).
- Structure: 気 (ki, spirit/mind) + に (particle) + する (suru, to do)
- Usage: Used when someone is bothered by something small or important.
2. 気をつける (ki o tsukeru) – to be careful / to pay attention
- Meaning: To take care or watch out for something.
- Structure: 気 (ki) + を (object particle) + つける (tsukeru, to attach)
- Usage: Common in warnings and advice.
3. 手を貸す (te o kasu) – to lend a hand
- Meaning: To help someone physically or with a task.
- Structure: 手 (te, hand) + を + 貸す (kasu, to lend)
- Usage: Casual, friendly request for help.
4. 顔が広い (kao ga hiroi) – to have a wide network of acquaintances
- Meaning: To know many people; to be well-connected.
- Structure: 顔 (kao, face) + が + 広い (hiroi, wide)
- Usage: Describes someone sociable with many contacts.
5. 足を運ぶ (ashi o hakobu) – to go / to visit (making an effort)
- Meaning: To go somewhere, implying effort or intention.
- Structure: 足 (ashi, foot/leg) + を + 運ぶ (hakobu, to carry)
- Usage: Used when you go out of your way to visit a place.
Mini Examples
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| そんなことを気にしないで。 | Sonna koto o ki ni shinaide. | Don’t worry about such things. |
| 道で車に気をつけて。 | Michi de kuruma ni ki o tsukete. | Be careful of cars on the road. |
| ちょっと手を貸してくれませんか。 | Chotto te o kashite kuremasen ka. | Could you lend me a hand? |
| 彼は顔が広いから、いい仕事が見つかるよ。 | Kare wa kao ga hiroi kara, ii shigoto ga mitsukaru yo. | He has a wide network, so he’ll find a good job. |
| わざわざ足を運んでくれてありがとう。 | Wazawaza ashi o hakonde kurete arigatō. | Thank you for coming all the way here. |
Common Mistake
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Mixing up 気にする (ki ni suru) and 気をつける (ki o tsukeru):
- 気にする = worry about (internal feeling)
- 気をつける = be careful (action/attention)
Wrong: テストの点数を気をつけてください。 (Please be careful about test scores – unnatural)
Correct: テストの点数を気にしないでください。 (Please don’t worry about test scores.)
-
Using 手を貸す (te o kasu) for emotional help: It’s for physical or task-based help, not emotional support. For emotional help, use 助ける (tasukeru) or 支える (sasaeru).
Quick Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase from the lesson (choose from: 気にする, 気をつける, 手を貸す, 顔が広い, 足を運ぶ).
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この仕事は重いので、誰かに＿＿＿＿もらおう。
Kono shigoto wa omoi node, dareka ni ______ moraō.
(This work is heavy, so let’s get someone to lend a hand.) -
彼女は＿＿＿＿から、いろいろな人を紹介してくれる。
Kanojo wa ______ kara, iroiro na hito o shōkai shite kureru.
(She has a wide network, so she introduces me to various people.)
Answers:
- 手を貸して (te o kashite)
- 顔が広い (kao ga hiroi)
Summary and Next Step
You now know 5 common N3 idiomatic phrases:
- 気にする (to worry)
- 気をつける (to be careful)
- 手を貸す (to lend a hand)
- 顔が広い (to have a wide network)
- 足を運ぶ (to visit with effort)
Next step: Practice using these in short sentences about your daily life. For example, try saying “I need to be careful with my health” (健康に気をつける) or “My friend has a wide network” (友達は顔が広い). Then, move on to learning 5 more N3 idioms like 口が軽い (kuchi ga karui – to have a loose tongue) or 頭がいい (atama ga ii – to be smart).
Practice Drills
Lesson Materials
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