N4 Lesson 29 · Midnight Encounter / Season 2 · みんなの日本語 第 29 課

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日本語で読む / Show Japanese

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Episode 29: Traces

Mike reaches the room first — but someone has already been here. The safe stands open.
マイクは先さきsakiに部屋へやheyaに着つtsuく ── だが誰だれdareかが すでに来きkiていた。金庫きんこkinkoは開あaいて いる。

By the window, jagged glass. The intruder’s way in.
窓まどmadoのそばそばsobaに、ぎざぎざの ガラス。侵入者しんにゅうしゃshinnyuushaの入はいhaiり口ぐちguchi。

Still — against the odds, he has it all. Every last piece.
それでも ── 困難こんなんkonnanを越こkoえて、彼かれkareは すべてを手てteにした。最後さいごsaigoの一ひとhitoつまで。

Then his blood runs cold. One file — the most important — is gone.
その時ときtoki、血ちchiの気けkeが引ひhiく。一いちichiつの ファイル ── 一番いちばんichiban大切たいせつtaisetsuな ── が消きkiえて いる。

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Key Sentences

1. V-て います (resulting state)

• The safe is open.
• 保险箱开着。 / 保險箱開著。
• Két sắt đang mở.

2. V-て います (resulting state)

• The window is broken.
• 窗户碎了。 / 窗戶碎了。
• Cửa sổ bị vỡ.

3. V-て しまいました (completion)

• I have gathered all the evidence.
• 我把证据全部收集完了。 / 我把證據全部收集完了。
• Tôi đã thu thập hết bằng chứng.

4. V-て しまいました (regret / mishap)

• I’ve lost the important file.
• 我把重要的文件弄丢了。 / 我把重要的文件弄丟了。
• Tôi đã làm mất tệp tài liệu quan trọng.

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Vocabulary

日本語	English	简体	繁體	Tiếng Việt
開あaきます（開あaく）	to open (intransitive)	开（自动）	開（自動）	mở (tự động)
割わwaれます	to break, shatter (intr.)	碎，破	碎，破	vỡ
集あつatsuめます	to collect, gather	收集	收集	thu thập
なくします	to lose	弄丢	弄丟	làm mất
金庫きんこkinko	safe (strongbox)	保险箱	保險箱	két sắt
証拠しょうこshouko	evidence	证据	證據	bằng chứng
ファイル	file	文件	文件	tệp tài liệu
〜て しまいました	(completed / regrettably) did	（彻底/不小心）做了	（徹底/不小心）做了	(đã lỡ / đã xong) làm

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Grammar Patterns

Grammar Picture

〜ています: action-in-progress vs resulting-state

Same form, two meanings — context decides:

• Progress: 食べています = is eating (right now).
• State: 開いています = is open (a state, after opening). Common with 開く・閉まる・割れる・つく・結婚する・住む.

しまう — completion or regret?

Tone & context tell them apart. With mistakes (なくす, 忘れる, 落とす) it’s usually regret. With tasks (読む, 食べる, 終わる) it’s usually completion. Casual: 〜ちゃった.

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Roleplay Practice

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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) — state vs action; completion vs regret.
2. Practice Key Sentences (10 min).
3. Learn Vocabulary (10 min).
4. Read Mini Story (5 min) — Traces.
5. Roleplay (10 min) — describe a disturbed room.
6. Review tomorrow.

Check Yourself (click to expand)

Q1. 「ドアが 開いて います」 means:

• A. Someone is opening the door now
• B. The door is (in the state of being) open
• C. The door will open

Show answer

✓ B. Resulting state.

Q2. 「全部 読んで しまいました」 most likely means:

• A. read it all (completion)
• B. regret reading
• C. will read

Show answer

✓ A. completion

Q3. 「なくして しまいました」 carries a feeling of:

• A. pride
• B. regret
• C. permission

Show answer

✓ B. regret

Q4. In the story, what is missing at the end?

• A. The safe
• B. An important file
• C. The window

Show answer

✓ B. だいじな ファイル.

Q5. Describe a state with 〜て います (e.g., a light, a door, a window).

Try 「〜が 〜て います」.

Show answer

Sample: でんきが ついて います。(The light is on.)

For Teachers (click to expand)

For Teachers (45-60 minutes in class)

• State vs progress (15 min): sort verbs into action (食べる) vs change (開く); practice ています for each.
• Crime-scene description (10 min): a picture of a messy room — students describe states (開いています, 割れています…).
• しまう nuance (10 min): completion vs regret with example pairs.
• Roleplay (15 min): discovering a disturbed room.

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