How to do something: 〜かた
Verb (stem) ＋ かた
Stem + かた = how to… (読みかた, つかいかた). It's a noun: the object takes の.
In short
Verb stem (the ます-form without ます) + かた (方) = “the way of…”, “how to…”. 読みます → 読みかた (the reading, how to read). The result is a noun: you link it with の and use it with が, を, は.
- この かんじの 読みかたを おしえて ください。kono kanji no yomikata o oshiete kudasaiPlease teach me how to read this character.
- はしの つかいかたが わかりません。hashi no tsukaikata ga wakarimasenI don't know how to use chopsticks.
- 駅への 行きかたは かんたんです。eki e no ikikata wa kantan desuGetting to the station is easy.
The basics
Verb stem + かた gives “the way of…”: 読みかた (how to read, the reading of a word), 書きかた (how to write), つかいかた (how to use, instructions). The result is a noun, very close to English “how to…”.
- この かんじの 読みかたを おしえて ください。kono kanji no yomikata o oshiete kudasaiTeach me how to read this kanji.
- はしの つかいかたが わかりません。hashi no tsukaikata ga wakarimasenI don't know how to use chopsticks.
Like a noun
Since it's a noun, the verb's object takes の instead of を: ラーメンを つくります → ラーメンの つくりかた (how to make ramen, the ramen recipe). And it can be used with は, が, を like any other noun.
| Verb | かた noun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 読みます | 読みかた | reading, how to read |
| 書きます | 書きかた | how to write |
| 行きます | 行きかた | how to get there |
| つかいます | つかいかた | how to use, instructions |
| つくります | つくりかた | how to make, recipe |
Asking for help
It's the perfect pattern for asking for help: “～かたを おしえて ください” (please show me how to…).
- 駅への 行きかたを おしえて ください。eki e no ikikata o oshiete kudasaiCould you tell me how to get to the station?
Common mistakes
- Keeping を: “ラーメンを つくりかた” is wrong, it's ラーメンの つくりかた.
- Starting from the ます-form: it's the stem, 読みかた, not 読みますかた.
- Mixing it up with ～たい: 読みたい (want to read) has nothing to do with 読みかた (how to read).
5 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N5 point is on the Asakusa Line (Actions) of the Tokyo subway.