N4 Lesson 27 · Midnight Encounter / Season 2 · みんなの日本語 第 27 課

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日本語で読む / Show Japanese

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Episode 27: Eyes and Ears

On a rooftop across the street, Mike watches the target’s window. Cornered once, he had surprised them all.
通とおtooりの向むmuかいの屋上おくじょうokujouで、マイクは標的ひょうてきhyoutekiの窓まどmadoを見みmiつめる。かつて追おoい詰つtsuめられた時ときtoki、彼かれkareは皆みなminaを驚おどろodoroかせた。

Through the long lens, the room comes clear.
長ながnagaい レンズ越ごgoしに、その部屋へやheyaが はっきり見みmiえる。

Then, far off, a sound he knows too well.
その時ときtoki、遠とおtooくで、彼かれkareが知しshiりすぎた音おとoto。

His Japanese is sharp on the ear — but on the page, still only the soft kana.
彼かれkareの耳みみmimiは鋭するどsurudoい ── だが紙かみkamiの上うえueでは、まだ やわらかい かなだけ。

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Key Sentences

1. 可能動詞 (potential — can do)

• Mike can speak Japanese.
• 麦克会说日语。 / 麥克會說日語。
• Mike có thể nói tiếng Nhật.

2. 見えます (can see — naturally visible)

• From here, I can see the target’s room.
• 从这里能看见目标的房间。 / 從這裡能看見目標的房間。
• Từ đây có thể nhìn thấy phòng của mục tiêu.

3. 聞こえます (can hear — naturally audible)

• I can hear sirens in the distance.
• 远处能听见警报声。 / 遠處能聽見警報聲。
• Có thể nghe thấy tiếng còi ở đằng xa.

4. 〜しか 〜ません (only / nothing but)

• Mike can only read hiragana.
• 麦克只能读平假名。 / 麥克只能讀平假名。
• Mike chỉ có thể đọc hiragana.

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Vocabulary

日本語	English	简体	繁體	Tiếng Việt
話はなhanaせます	can speak (potential)	会说	會說	có thể nói
見みmiえます	can see (visible)	看得见	看得見	nhìn thấy
聞きkiこえます	can hear (audible)	听得见	聽得見	nghe thấy
〜しか〜ません	only, nothing but	只	只	chỉ
遠とおtooく	far away, the distance	远处	遠處	đằng xa
サイレン	siren	警报	警報	còi báo động
標的ひょうてきhyouteki / ターゲット	target	目标	目標	mục tiêu
レンズ	lens	镜头	鏡頭	ống kính

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Grammar Patterns

Grammar Picture

見えます vs 見られます — what’s the difference?

見えます = naturally comes into view (no effort): 山が見えます。
見られます = able to see by choice/opportunity: 映画が見られます。

Same for 聞こえます (naturally audible) vs 聞けます (can hear by choice).

〜しか always wants a negative

「しか」 cannot take a positive verb. It replaces を/が and forces the negative form:

• 百円しかありません。(I have only 100 yen.)
• ひらがなしか読めません。(can read only hiragana)

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Roleplay Practice

Scene: A rooftop surveillance. Pair up — A = partner on comms, B = Mike. Swap roles.

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How do you say this in Japanese?

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How to Use This Lesson

For Self-Study (45 minutes)

1. Read Grammar Patterns (5 min) — potential verb conjugation by group.
2. Practice Key Sentences (10 min).
3. Learn Vocabulary (10 min).
4. Read Mini Story (5 min) — Eyes and Ears.
5. Roleplay (10 min) — the surveillance scene.
6. Review tomorrow.

Check Yourself (click to expand)

Q1. The potential form of 「話します」 is:

• A. 話られます
• B. 話せます
• C. 話します

Show answer

✓ B. 話せます (Group I: -u → -eru)

Q2. 「窓が ___」 (the window is naturally visible):

• A. 見えます
• B. 見ます
• C. 見たいです

Show answer

✓ A. 見えます

Q3. 「ひらがなしか ___。」 (can read only hiragana)

• A. 読めます
• B. 読めません
• C. 読みます

Show answer

✓ B. 読めません — しか always takes a negative.

Q4. In the story, what does Mike hear in the distance?

• A. Music
• B. Sirens
• C. Rain

Show answer

✓ B. Sirens (サイレン)

Q5. Write one thing you can do, using a potential verb.

Try 「わたしは 〜が V-(ら)れます」.

Show answer

Sample: わたしは ピアノが ひけます。(I can play the piano.)

For Teachers (click to expand)

For Teachers (45-60 minutes in class)

• Potential drill (15 min): convert verbs to potential by group; watch the が particle shift.
• 見える/聞こえる vs 見られる/聞ける (10 min): contrast spontaneous vs volitional with pictures/sounds.
• しか drill (10 min): students state limits about themselves (100円しかありません, etc.).
• Roleplay (15 min): surveillance pair-work — “can you see / hear …?”

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