What is Cinema にほんご?

Cinema にほんご is a Japanese learning website that teaches JLPT N5 to N1 through a cinematic spy-thriller series. Each lesson combines grammar, vocabulary, and kanji with a story narrative, designed to be accessible for every learner — including those with dyslexia, hearing, or visual differences.

Who creates Cinema にほんご?

Cinema にほんご is built by Kaori Uchiyama, a Japanese language teacher in Tokyo, working alone from KnitCafe Studio. She became a Japanese teacher to help people who struggle to communicate.

Is Cinema にほんご free?

Yes. All content on Cinema にほんご is free to access — no ads, no third-party tracking, no popups. The site is supported by voluntary donations via Stripe.

What JLPT levels does Cinema にほんご cover?

Currently N5-N4 (Midnight Encounter) with all 50 lessons published — Season 1 (N5, Lessons 1-25) and Season 2 (N4, Lessons 26-50). The Story section has editions for N5 through N1. Future series will expand to N3, N2, and N1 content.

Does Cinema にほんご support learners with disabilities?

Yes. The site is built to be safe for learners with dyslexia, hearing differences, or visual differences. Furigana toggle, multi-language translations, no autoplay, and clean reading flow are part of the accessibility-first design.

← Lesson 33 Midnight Encounter Lesson 35 →

N4 Lesson 34 · Midnight Encounter / Season 2 · みんなの日本語第 34 課

Coming Soon — banner & video to follow.

Reading:

Episode 34: As I Say

Mike lays a hand on the floor plan. No improvising tonight. Follow it exactly.
マイクは見取り図みとりずmitorizuに手てteを置おoく。今夜こんやkonyaは即興そっきょうsokkyouなし。言いiった通とおtooりに動うごugoけ。

おれが言いiった通とおtooりに、動うごugoいてくれ。

Reporting comes later — first the work, then the words.
報告ほうこくhoukokuは後あとatoだ ── 先さきsakiに仕事しごとshigoto、それから言葉ことばkotoba。

任務にんむninmuが終おoわったあとで、報告ほうこくhoukokuする。

He shoulders the gear and steps into the dark — carrying everything he needs.
必要ひつようhitsuyouなものをすべて持もmoって、彼かれkareは闇やみyamiへ踏ふfuみ出だdaす。

装備そうびsoubiを持もmoって、出でdeかける。

And he leaves the way a ghost leaves — telling no one.
そして幽霊ゆうれいyuureiが去さsaるように、誰だれdareにも告つtsuげずに立たtaち去さsaる。

誰だれdareにも言いiわないで、ここを出でdeる。

Key Sentences

1. 〜とおりに (exactly as ～)

おれが言いiった通とおtooりに、動うごugoいてくれ。

Move exactly as I said.
照我说的做。 / 照我說的做。
Hãy làm đúng như tôi nói.

2. 〜たあとで (after ～)

任務にんむninmuが終おoわったあとで、報告ほうこくhoukokuする。

After the mission ends, I’ll report.
任务结束之后再报告。 / 任務結束之後再報告。
Sau khi nhiệm vụ kết thúc, tôi sẽ báo cáo.

3. 〜て (in a state of / and then)

装備そうびsoubiを持もmoって、出でdeかける。

I’ll head out, carrying my gear.
带着装备出门。 / 帶著裝備出門。
Tôi mang theo trang bị rồi ra ngoài.

4. 〜ないで (without doing)

誰だれdareにも言いiわないで、ここを出でdeる。

I’ll leave here without telling anyone.
不告诉任何人就离开这里。 / 不告訴任何人就離開這裡。
Tôi rời đi mà không nói với ai.

Vocabulary

日本語	English	简体	繁體	Tiếng Việt
〜とおりに	exactly as, the way ～	照…那样	照…那樣	đúng như
〜あとで	after ～	之后	之後	sau khi
〜ないで	without doing ～	不…就	不…就	không … mà
報告ほうこくhoukokuします	to report	报告	報告	báo cáo
任務にんむninmu	mission	任务	任務	nhiệm vụ
見取り図みとりずmitorizu	floor plan	平面图	平面圖	sơ đồ
装備そうびsoubi	equipment, gear	装备	裝備	trang bị
動うごugoきます	to move	移动，行动	移動，行動	di chuyển

Grammar Patterns

V-た / V-る + とおりに

Do something the same way as a model. Past 言ったとおりに (as I said); present 言うとおりに (as I say); noun の: 地図のとおりに.

V-た + あとで

Do B after A finishes. 食べたあとで, 終わったあとで. Noun + の: 仕事のあとで. (Compare 〜まえに from L18.)

V-て / V-ないで (accompanying state)

〜て: do B in the state of A (持って出かける = go out carrying). 〜ないで: do B without doing A (言わないで出る = leave without saying).

Grammar Picture

とおり — past vs present vs noun

言ったとおりに — as (I already) said
言うとおりに — as (I) say
地図のとおりに — according to the map

〜て vs 〜ないで (accompanying state)

傘を持って行きます = go (while) carrying an umbrella. 朝ごはんを食べないで行きます = go without eating breakfast. Note: the “without” form is 〜ないで, not 〜なくて, for accompanying actions.

Roleplay Practice

マイク: おれが言いiった通とおtooりに、動うごugoいてください。
(Move exactly as I said.)

相棒あいぼうaibou: わかりました。報告ほうこくhoukokuは?
(Understood. And the report?)

マイク: 終おoわったあとでします。装備そうびsoubiを持もmoって、行いiきましょう。
(After it ends. Let’s go, carrying the gear.)

マイク: 誰だれdareにも言いiわないで出でdeてください。
(Leave without telling anyone.)

How do you say this in Japanese?

How to Use This Lesson

For Self-Study (45 minutes)

Read Grammar Patterns (5 min) — とおりに forms; て vs ないで.
Practice Key Sentences (10 min).
Learn Vocabulary (10 min).
Read Mini Story (5 min) — As I Say.
Roleplay (10 min) — give exact instructions + sequence.
Review tomorrow.

Check Yourself (click to expand)

Q1. 「私が言った ___ 書いてください」 (write as I said)

A. とおりに
B. あとで
C. ないで

Show answer

✓ A. とおりに

Q2. 「仕事が終わった ___ 飲みに行きます」

A. まえに
B. あとで
C. とき

Show answer

✓ B. あとで

Q3. 「朝ごはんを ___ 行きます」 (go WITHOUT eating breakfast)

A. 食べて
B. 食べないで
C. 食べた

Show answer

✓ B. 食べないで

Q4. In the story, when does Mike report?

A. Before the mission
B. After the mission
C. During the mission

Show answer

✓ B. 終わったあとで.

Q5. Say you’ll do something without doing another (〜ないで).

Try 「〜ないで、〜ます」.

Show answer

Sample: でんきをけさないで、ねます。(I sleep without turning off the light.)

For Teachers (click to expand)

For Teachers (45-60 minutes in class)

とおりに drill (10 min): model-following tasks (draw as I say, fold as shown).
Sequencing (10 min): order daily actions with 〜あとで (and review 〜まえに).
て vs ないで (10 min): accompanying-state contrasts (傘を持って / 食べないで).
Roleplay (15 min): give precise step-by-step instructions.

← Lesson 33 | Midnight Encounter | Lesson 35 →