Particle sa and related words (saa, sate, satetto)

Lets start from a simple example:

Because Im a man!

The general feeling I get from is something I would describe as rough and
informal, even a bit masculine, though some women do use this word. This
example sentence contains several elements in addition to which have a
connotation of masculine ( , ore) or informal ( , since it is not a polite
form). There is really no way to directly translate the here, but because of the
sentences content I think the simple English translation above is sufficient to
convey the informality and manly-ness. There are also some who say the
particle can have an implicit feeling of refutation or rebuttal).
can be used after a verb directly, or after the word (no).

(someday) Ill be king!

My intuitive feel for a sentence like this is the is attributing a sense of

toughness, or trying to brag about something. I think it would be more correct to
say it adds a feeling of assertion.
can also be used in the middle of a sentence, sometimes multiple times. The
below example uses once within the sentence and once at the end.

So I was thinking (literally: I thought)

In this usage, there is always a pause after the in the middle of a

sentence, hence the comma. Here, it is said to help the speaker adjust his or
her tone () as well as to indicate there is more to be said after.
I also get the feeling the speaker is a male speaking informally, somewhere
between a teenager and middle age, though there are definitely people outside
of this age group that use the expression. Again, it is hard to literally translate
s usage here into English, though I think we have some expressions such
you know, you see, and right which can be injected into informal
sentences and share some of the nuances of (ex: So, there was this guy,
right.and he starting running)
The particle (ne) can be used to a similar fashion to , however I feel it has
a much less strong, more friendly tone (possibly feminine depending on the
situation). (i.e. )
can also be placed at the beginning of a sentence, where it is used to invite
or urge a person to do something. You often see it used like this:
1

Alright, lets get started!

I think the Alright here captures the tone pretty well, and could be replaced by
ok as well. For this usage, you can extend the a sound to saa ( or
). Another common phrase is (Alright, lets go!)
The phrase (sate) and equivalent (satetto) have a
similar meaning to . While they can be used to get attention of another
person (), I more often hear this pair used when talking to
oneself.

Alrighty now. Which of these should I choose

also has another meaning (not usually associated with ) which is to
express a lack of caring about something or disinterest ()
P1:
P1: Why dont you help him/her?
P2:
P2: Who cares (or [shrug])
This carries a pretty cold, uncaring feeling, so be careful who you use it with. P2
in the above short dialog sounds like a real asshole to me. Ive been told that
saying is a little bit less harsh. I think this is because
that at least directly answers the question whereas seems like more of an
evasion.
The are even more uses of which I havent covered, like when it replaces
the final of an i-adjective to change that word to a noun, as in
(happy [adjective]) (happiness [noun])
There is at least one regional dialect ( ) where has a different function.
For example, in Yamagata dialect the following can be said:

This can be expressed in Tokyo (common) dialect as:

In addition to being used to mean , the sound is represented as and

as .
Which Particles can be Omitted from Sentences?

 , , and are often dropped; sometimes. , as a sentence-final

question particle, can be replaced with intonation.
Does the omission of particles make a sentence informal/impolite?
Informal yes, but not necessarily impolite. Dropping particles is only for spoken
Japanese, so you won't see it in (proper) writing.
When can particles be dropped? (e.g. How can you decide that it's okay)
When the situation allows. Speaking informally to someone above you or with
whom you don't have a close relationship is impolite. But if the situation lets you
speak informally, you can. In situations where polite Japanese is called for
(speaking
to
your
boss/teacher/doctor/etc
or
giving
a
formal
speech/presentation), all particles must be kept in the sentence. Omitting
particles does not change the meaning of the sentence or make it incorrect per
se, since the missing particles can be inferred from context and word order, but
it does make the sentence informal and thus unsuitable for polite contexts. As
noted above, in writing (excluding Twitter, blogs, and other informal variants of
writing) all particles must be kept. If you are unsure as to whether to keep or
omit particles, a good rule of thumb is to err on the side of keeping the particles.
Can multiple particles be dropped in a single sentence?
Yes.
Examples:

You can have this. (lit. "I'll give this [to you].")

Did you go to school yesterday? (slightly masculine)

I like watermelon. (feminine)

and , as you recall, are dropped when the part of the sentence they mark
is made into the scope/topic (marked by ):

I borrowed this book at the library.

(making the scope)

Soshite, Sorekara, Keredomo & Soretomo

Soshite And
Sorekara Then
Keredomo But / However
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Soretomo Or (connectiong two alternatives)

Examples
I went to amusement park yesterday. And rode roller coaster.
Kinou, Yuuenchi ni ikimashita. Soshite, jettoco-suta- ni norimashita.
I will visit library today. Then back home.
Kyou wa toshokan ni yorimasu. Sorekara, uchi ni kaerimasu.
Ive waited for Tony at the Train Station. However, Tony didnt turn up.
Eki de Tony-san o machimashita. Keredomo, Tony-san wa kimasen deshita.
You want coffee? Or Tea?
Ko-hi- ni shimasu ka? Soretomo, koucha ni shimasu ka?
What is a Copula?
A copula is essentially a verb meaning "to be". It can be used to show identity
(Max is a dog), properties (furry), state (happy), and membership in a set (one
of my pets). Other verbs, like "become", "seem", "feel", and "appear", also
function much like the main copula.
Forms of "be" English include "is", "am", "are", "was", "were", "been", and
"being". The Japanese copula also has several forms, the most important of
which are the plain form "da" and the polite form "desu". Note that while
the English "to be" can also be used to show existence (I am in my living room),
Japanese has two separate verbs for this purpose: "iru" for animate
objects (animals, people, robots) and "aru" for inanimate objects. You'll
learn how to use these verbs later on.
Using "Desu"
Although the Japanese copula is a somewhat unusual verb, it goes at the end
of the sentence just like every other.
Hon da.
(It) is (a) book.
Politeness shows up in the main verb (always the last in the sentence), which in
this case is the copula, so in polite speech (teineigo) da is replaced with desu.
Hon desu.
(It) is (a) book.
As a root verb, desu is non-past ("present") tense and affirmative ("positive").
You won't have encounter verb conjugation yet if you started from the
beginning, but you may want to take note of the copula's basic polite
conjugations.
Basic Conjugations of "Desu"

Affirmative
Non-past
desu
Past
deshita

Negative

de wa arimasen

de wa arimasen deshita

Being a rather unusual verb, the copula has an irregular conjugation in both its
plain and polite forms. Fortunately, almost all other Japanese verbs are regular,
in that they follow a universal conjugation pattern. As a side note, desu is
believed to be a contraction of "de gozaimasu", which is now mainly used in
keigo (honorific speech). At some point, the negative forms of gozaimasu were
also replaced by the negative forms of arimasu.
Missing Inflections
Did you notice how I've been using "non-past" instead of "present"? This is
because Japanese doesn't differentiate between present and future tenses. If
the time frame is not specified separately, (now, soon, 3 years from now), then it
must be inferred.
Japanese verbs also do not inflect for number (singular/plural), gender
(male/female), or person (I/you/he), so as long as you want non-past tense,
simply desu is the correct form to use.
Incomplete Sentences
Often, the topic of the sentence is implied rather than stated explicitly.

Itou desu.
(I) am Itou.

Enpitsu desu. (It) is (a) pencil.

In the first example it's watashi "I" simple enough. But what about the second?
Japanese doesn't really have a word for "it", but if the topic was stated it would
probably be kore "this". The topic of a sentence is usually omitted if it is clear
from context. This could be the case if the speaker is answering a question
about the topic of the previous sentence, or it might simply be obvious, such as
when introducing yourself or pointing to something. Because of this habit,
translations out of context often ambiguous.
Expanding on "Wa" and "Desu"
The following lessons do not introduce any additional sentence structures, but
simply expand what you can do with wa and desu.

= Anoo... Sorosoro oyatsu no jikan nan desuga

= Um.I think it is time for a snack, you know

= Sonna me de mitsumeraretara iya to ienai naa

= How can I say no to those eyes.

When to Use (=konna) (=sonna) (=anna)

(=konna) (=sonna) (=anna) are much stronger in
many ways and they involves certain emotions.
* (=konna) such (a), this kind, something like this
* (=sonna) such(a), that kind, something like that
* (=anna) such(a), that kind, something like that
How to form:
1) modifying a noun:
* (=konna) / (=sonna) / (=anna) + noun
* (=konnani) / (=sonnani) / (=annani) + noun + verb
2) modifying an adjective:
* (=konna)/ (=sonna)/ (=anna) + adjective + noun
* (=konnani) / (=sonnani) / (=annani) + adjective +
noun
3) modifying a verb:
* (=konnani) / (=sonnani) / (=annani) + verb

Which one to use: (=konna) / (=sonna) / (=anna)

1) Physical distance from a speaker.
* (= konna)
Referring to something close to you:
Ex.
= Konna kuruma ga hoshikatta.
= Ive always wanted to have a car like this.

Referring to something that happened recently. (It could be some news that
you are watching right now.)
Ex.
= Konna koto ga okiru nante shinjirarenai.
= I cant believe this kind of thing happened.
* ( = sonna)
Referring to something a little far from you:
Ex.
= Sonna kutsu, haite iku no?
= Are you going to wear shoes like those?
Referring to something/someone which someone has just mentioned.
Reacting to what someone has just said.
Ex.
= Sonna koto iwanai de.
= Dont tell me such a thing. (Dont tell me that.)
Ex. A:

= Kare, tonari no kurasu no se no takai moderu mitai na ko ga sukinandatte.

= I heard he likes a tall girl in the next class who looks like a model.
* (=anna)
Referring to something far away.

Ex.
= Anna ie ni sumitaku nai?
= Dont you want to live in a house like that?
Referring something that is happening in distance.
(Watching a cooking show on TV)
Ex. *
= Anna kantan ni pan ga yakerunda.
= Wow, you can bake bread just like that?
(Note: If you are watching the show and you are so involved as if it is
happening in front of you now, you can use (=konnna))

Referring to something that happened in the past.

Ex.
= Anna koto wa mou wasurenasai.
= Forget about such a thing. (Forget about that.)
(=konna)/ (=sonna)/ (=anna) + noun
1) (=konna)/ (=sonna)/ (=anna) involves a speakers
emotion. It could be negative or positive.
2) To use (=konna)/ (=sonna)/ (=anna) + noun in a
negative way. (=konnna) (=sonnna) (=anna) are
sometimes used to belittle something/someone and it could sound very
condescending. So be careful when you use them.
3) You use them referring yourself being more humble.
Ex.
= Konna watashi demo oyaku ni tatete yokattadesu.
= I am glad to hear I could help you.
(Implying Even though I am useless.)
4) To use (=konna)/ (=sonna)/ (=anna) + noun in a
positive way.

Ex.
= Konna seetaa wo sagashite itano.
= I have been looking for this kind of sweater.
5) To show your emotion or surprise.
Ex.
= Sonna koto ga attan da.
= I had no idea such a thing happened to you.
(Expressing your surprised feelings.)
You can modify verbs or adjective+noun in the following forms:
* (=konna) (=konnani)
* (=sonna) (=sonnani)

* (=anna) (=annani)
You use (=konnani)/ (=sonnani)/ (=annani) to
emphasize what comes after.
1) (=konnani) / (=sonnani) / (=annani) + verb/
noun+verb. Which one to use:
When you are talking about your own action or feelings use:
(=konnani),
When you are talking to a person about their actions, use:
(=sonnani)
And if you are talking about the third person or your past actions, use:
(=annani)
Note: There are cases you use (=konnani) for someone who is very
close to you.
2) (=konnani) / (=sonnani) / (=annani) + adjective +
noun
*Talking about something in front of you.:
Ex.
= Konnani oishii ryouri ga tsukureru nante sugoine.
= It is great that you get to cook this delicious food!
Ex.
=Konnani takusan no hito ni kite itadakete ureshii desu.
= I am so happy to have all these people. (I am very happy that so many
people came)
*Talking to the person who is close to you about their actions:
Ex.
= Sonnani ippai kukkii wo yaitano?
= You baked that many cookies? (Thats a lot of cookies you baked)
Ex.
= Sonnani hataranakanakute mo iinoni
= You shouldnt work that hard
Ex.

= Sonnani kare ni aitai no?

= You want to see him that much?
*Talking about the third person or past event.
Ex.
= Annani tsumetai hito dato wa omowanakatta.
=I had no idea he/she was such a cold hearted person.
Ex.
= Annani ame ga furu to wa omowanakatta.
= I didnt think it would rain that much.
Yes you sometimes drop the first letter, (especially )
Ex. (rough/male speech)
= There is no way.

= joshikai + Female Speech

While (= nomikai ) = drinking party and (= goukon )= group
dating gathering involve men, ( = joshikai ) is just for women. (Their
age is around 20s ~ 40s). What do we talk about in = joshikai? All sorts
of chitchat to serious (= koibana) = (slang) romantic stories.
Note: =chikan = pervert
Note: Most of my example sentences below are very casual yet very natural as
usual. Which means many of them dont follow the strict grammatical rules,
skipping particles, using casual suffixes, etc.

= kinsei is used when something is restricted or taboo.

If it is no women admitted, we say, = nyonin kinsei
Now, she say ( = ~ yo!) at the end of the sentence. This is a female
speech. As many of you know, women speech is different from that of men.
Generally speaking female speech is more polite and softer while male speech
is rough and blunt. It is true that some girls talk like boys using rough

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Japanese or calling themselves ( = boku) , and young men have become

more = soushoukei danshi and showed their feminine side and
Japanese has become a sort of neutral these days, still there is a specific
difference between female speech and male speech. If a man uses female
speech, he sounds very effeminate, and if a woman uses male speech, she
sounds very rough. I have met a man whose Japanese was fluent but he talked
like a woman because he learned Japanese from his Japanese girlfriend. So be
careful! Once youve acquired one speech pattern, it may be hard to get rid of it.
So lets learn some basic female speech suffixes and words today. And if youre
a man? Dont worry. Ill include some male speech too, so you will still learn
something.
First of all, some Japanese expressions are unisex which means it is possible
for either men or women to use them. Some of the expressions in female
speech are childish and youll hear children using the same patterns.
I will mark
=male speech with (*M)
=female speech with (*F)
And if the expression is neutral, Ill use:
(Both *M + *F) .
1) = ~ yo
There is the neutral (=~yo) suffix that can be used for both genders.
When you suggest something,
Ex. (Both *M + *F)
= Issho ni ranchi shiyouyo!
= Lets have lunch together.
Ex.(Both *M + *F)
= Nihongo no benkyou shiyouyo!
= Why dont you (we) study Japanese?
But the following examples are just for female speech.
Ex. (*F)
= Souyo! Maggie no iutoori, kare ga warui noyo!
= Maggie is right! It is his fault!
Ex.(*F)
= Koko yo! koko!
= Its here! Here!
Note: In some cases, if you add ( = da) in front of (= yo) , it could be used
for both genders.

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(Some rough expressions indicated with (*M) are only for male speech)
Ex.1) (*F)
=Maggie ureshisouyo!
=Maggie looks happy.

(Both *M + *F)

= Maggie ureshisoudayo

Ex.2) (*F)
= Haha kara moratta nowa kono osaifuyo.
= The wallet I got from my mother is this one.

(Both *M + *F)

=kono saifudayo

Ex.3) (*F)
= Kore zenbu jibun de tsukutta noyo!
= I made all of this by myself.

(Both *M + *F)

= Kore zenbu jibun de tsukuttan dayo!

or

Ex.4) ! (with anger) (*F)

= Koko wo chirakashita nowa dare yo!
= Who made a mess here?

(*M)

= daredayo!

Ex.5) ((*F)
= Dameyo! Sonna koto (wo) shicha!
= Dont do that!
! (Both *M + *F)
= Damedayo!
Ex.6) (*F)
= Iyayo!
= No way!
(Both *M + *F)
= Iyadayo
Ex. 7) (with anger) (*F)
= Kore wa darega yattanoyo!
= Who did this?
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(*M)

= Kore wa dare ga yattan dayo!

Ex. 8 ) (*F)
= Sounano yo. Maicchatta.
= Thats right/You are right. What a bummer.
(*M)
= sounandayo
Ex. 9) (*F)
=Tsugi Maggie no ban yo.
=Its your turn, Maggie!

(Both *M + *F)
= Tsugi Maggie no ban dayo.
Besides those in the above examples, male speech also has ~ suffix when
they want to strongly emphasize an order.
Ex. (rough) (*M)
= Omae ga yareyo!
= You do that!
Ex. (rough) (*M)
= Okane kashite kureyo!
= Lend me money!
2) = ~ wayo: assertive
Ex.(*F)
= Chigau wayo!
= Thats not true!
Ex.(*F)
= Sonna koto itte nai wayo!
= I didnt say that!
Ex.(*F)
= Watashi niwa wakannaiwayo!
= I dont know! (It is too difficult for me.)
3) = ~ ne: It makes your quotes softer
Ex.(Both *M + *F)
= Korekara yoroshikune.
= meaning (I hope this is beginning of a good relationship.)

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Ex.(Both *M + *F)
= Koko de mattetene.
= Please wait for me here.
Ex.(Both *M + *F)
= Kono hon ashita made ni kaeshitene.
= Please return this book by tomorrow.
4) = ~ yoneWhen you confirm your opinion with others. Tag question
Note: It is similar to the English, right? and used to emphasize a sentence
while asking for agreement from the listeners at the same time. Question marks
are not really needed here.
Ex.(Both *M + *F)
= Maggie tte kawaii yone.
= Maggie is cute, isnt she?
Ex. (Both *M + *F)
= Nihongo tte muzukashi yone.
= Japanese is difficult, isnt it?
Ex. (Both *M + *F)
= Depaato wa kyou sugoi hito dattayone.
= The department stores were full of people today, werent they?
Ex. (*F)
= Taihen nanowa korekara yone.
= It was tough, but it will be even harder from now on.
5) = ~ wa: to add female touch to the sentence.
Ex.(*F)
= Shiranakatta wa
= I didnt know that
Ex.(*F)
= Soudatta wa.
= Thats true. / You are right. (I forgot about that.)
Ex. ! (*F)
= Ah, Maggie sensei dawa!
= Oh, here is Maggie sensei!
Note: Kansai and other areas have a dialect in which they finish their sentences
with = wa that can be used by men.
Ex.

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= Kowaiwa!
= You are scaring me.
Ex.
= You iuwa.
= Stop kidding me!
(Note: = you is Kansai dialect of = yoku)
6) = ~ wane : When you state your opinion.
i-adjective +
verb + When you share your feeling with others./ tag question
Ex.(*F)
= Kyouwa samuiwane.
= Its cold today, isnt it?
Ex.(*F)
= Sono doresu kawaii wane.
= That dress is so cute.
Ex.(*F)
= Anatatte komakai wane.
= You are very picky, arent you?
Ex.(*F)
= Enkyori renai tte muzukashii wane.
= Long distance relationships are difficult, arent they?
Ex. (*F)
= Yoku iu wane
= Watch your mouth./You should talk/ Who asked you!
Ex. (*F)
= kurushii wane
= It is hard, isnt it?
Ex. (*F)
= Komattawane.
= We are in trouble, arent we? or This is troublesome isnt it.
na-adjective + = wane
7) = ~dawane: When you express your opinion./ Tag question
Ex.(*F)

15

= Ano joyuu san kirei dawane.

= I think that actress is beautiful? / Dont you think that actress is beautiful?
Ex.(*F)
= Kyou kodomotachi nanka shizuka dawane.
= The children are very quiet today, arent they?
8 ) = + wayone: When you try to confirm your opinion with others, tag
question
Ex.(*F)
= Sonna koto nai wayone.
= That is not true, is it?
Ex. (*F)
= Joushi wa watashitachi no koto nannimo wakatte inai wayone.
= The supervisors dont understand us at all, do they?
Ex.(*F)
= Maggie wa iiwayone. Itusmo tabete nete.
= I am jealous of Maggie. She just eats and sleeps
na-adjective + = wane
9 ) = ~ dawayone tag question
Ex.(*F)
= Obaachan, kyuujussai dakedo genki dawayone.
= Gradma is 90 years old now, but she is very healthy, isnt she?
Ex.(*F)
= Maggie tte mou rokusai dawayone.
= Maggie is already 6 years old, isnt she?
10) = ~ kashira When you wonder something. I wonder
Ex.(*F)
= Ashita wa ame kashira.
= I wonder if itll rain tomorrow.
Ex.(*F)
= Doukashira.
= I wonder
Ex.(*F)
= Kore oishii no kashira.
= I wonder if it is delicious.
11) = ~ no
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Ex.(*F)+ children
= Watashi osaihou ga dekinaino.
= I cant sew.
Ex.(*F) + children
= Watashi nattou ga nigate nano.
= I dont like natto (fermented soybeans.)
Ex.(*F)+ chlidren
= Kore tottemo takakatta no.
= It was very expensive.
Note: Men use ~( =~ no?) as a question.
Ex. (Both *M + *F)
= Nattou nigate nano?
= Dont you like natto?
Ex. (Both *M + *F)
= Saihou ga dekinai no?
= Cant you sew?
12) = ~none: When you confirm something / tag question
Ex. (*F)
= Maggie mo tsurakatta none.
= Now I see you (=Maggie) had a hard time, didnt you?
Ex. (*F)
= Koko de oshio wo irereba ii none.
= So now I can add some salt, right?
13) = ~ noyo: explanatory, assertive (When you emphasize something.)
Ex. (*F)
= Sounanoyo!
= You said it. / Thats right!
Ex. (*F)
= Kinou wa hontou ni isogashikattanoyo.
= You know I was so busy yesterday.
Ex. (*F)
= Suupaa ga oyasumi dattanoyo.
= You know the supermarket was closed.
14) = janai (colloquial

17

Ex. (*F) + some

men might use it.
= IIjanai, sukoshi gurai nara tabetatte.
= Come on! You should eat just a little.
Ex. (*F)+ some men
might use it.
= Maggie mo tetsudatte kuretara iijanai.
= You should help me, Maggie!
Ex.(*F)
= Sono oyoufuku iijanai!
= Those clothes look really nice!
Note: Male speech add = ka in the end. It sounds rough.
Ex.(*M)
= IIjanai ka!
= Why not?
Ex.(*M)
= Damejanai ka!
= You cant do that! / Dont do that!
15) = Ara = Oh, Hey: to show your surprise
Ex. (*F)
= Ara okashii
= Oh, thats funny!
Ex.(*F)
= Ara kawaii
= Oh, thats cute.
Ex.(*F)
= Ara doushitano?
= Oh, whats wrong?
Ex.(*F)
= Ara maggie janai!
= Oh, thats Maggie / Here comes Maggie!
16)

= watashi = I can be used both for men and women.

But (= atashi) is used only by women. It sounds too girly, childish or

shallow.
Ex. (*F)
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= Atashi ni nanika you?

= What do you want (from me)?
There is a version for = wataskushi = atakushi
Ex.(*F)
= Kore atakushi ga tsukutta noyo.
= I made this.
(We may hear this in real life but I think we hear it more often on TV dramas or
in comic books for a snobbish rich women role.)
17) Women (especially aged women) tend to add ( = o ) to words to make
them sound more polite more than men.
= koucha = black tea = okoucha
= satou = sugar = osatou
= mikan = tangerine = omikan
= tegami = letter = otegami
= ofuton = futon, Japanese bedding= ofuton
(Men also say (= ocha) (=oshouyu), etc but again women tend to
overuse ( = o) much more than men.)
Ex. (*F)
= Oringo ohitotsu ikaga kashira?
= Would you like an apple?
Ex. (*F)
= Kono oniku oishiiwane.
= This meat is delicious, isnt it?
Some reaction words/expressions are only used by women: Mangatic reaction
Japanese Lesson
= ufufu, = ufu When you laugh in a sexy way. (*F)
! = kyaa When you are surprised or excited. (*F)
! = Iyaan = No! in a sexy way. (*F)
Even if its a unisex word, if you change the intonation, it will sound very
effeminate. Now I have explained the basic female speech patterns. But just
because you are a woman, you dont have to use these. There are a lot of
suffixes that I dont use. (Ex. = ~ wayone, etc.) Many of them sound
19

extremely feminine and you may just hear/see in anime, manga, or drama. Both
men and women can use standard Japanese, however it would be useful to
learn female speech. If you are a man, you dont want to sound like a girl when
you talk.

Second Personal-pronouns and How to Address other People

You might say, I know that already! you is (= anata), right?
Well, well see!
First lets take a look above:

= Maggie Sensei no kao manmaru dane.

= Your face is really round, Miss Maggie!
Note: = = manmaru = round (an emphasizing form of =
maru = round)

= Anta ni iwaretaku nai wayo!

= Look whos talking!
Note: This is a kind of fun set phrase when you talk back to someone accusing
you even though they are the same way.
Look whos talking, You should talk, implying You are as bad as me.
(=wayo) ending is used by women.
Variation:
Ex.
= Anata ni iwaretakunai.
Ex. (male speech)
=Omae ni sonnakoto iwaretaku naiwa.
Ex. (female speech)
= Jibun datte soujanai!

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= You,too!
Ex.
= Jibun koso!
= You, too!
Now, back to (= anata), you must have learned that, you is
(= anata) as well as these kinds of sentences, right?
Ex.
= Anata wa nihonjin desu ka?
= Are you Japanese?
Ex.
= Anata wa eigo ga hanasemasu ka?
= Do you speak English?
Ex.
= Anata wa ryri ga jzu desu ne.
= You are a good cook!
Ex.
= Kono tokei wo anata ni agemasu.
= I will give you this watch.
Ex.
= Anataga Maggie sensei desu ka?
= Are you Maggie Sensei?
Ex.
= Anata no namae wa nan desu ka?
= What is your name?
Ex.
= Anata wa doko ni sunde imasu ka?
= Where do you live?
Note: The kanji for is or . If you want to distinguish the sex,
you write for women and = anata for men. Not just students of
Japanese but most Japanese people would translate you as
(=anata) in the above example sentences.
Thats right. You is (= anata). And you might have learned (=
anata) is more polite than (=kimi) or (=omae). If you dont know those
words yet, dont worry. Ill be explaining those in a minute.
There are situations where you may not want to use (=anata)
You have to be careful when you use (= anata) especially when you talk
to people in superior positions (at work or in another situation) or older people. It
could sound condescending or cold and it may offend someone. I can hear you

21

saying What!? It cant be. It is clearly said in my textbook that you is

(= anata) and I have been using (=anata) all the time and
NOBODY has corrected me! It is perfectly OK to use (= anata) when
you study the Japanese language. Writing sentences, translation, etc. I dont
think I have ever corrected anyone who uses (= anata) when they
translate sentences. And I rarely see any Japanese people telling non-natives
not to use (= anata) to address them. When Japanese people see you
are studying Japanese, it wont bother them at all. But as your Japanese gets
more fluent, you should start to learn about the nuances of this pronoun.
First I will show you in what situations people are most likely to use
(=anata) in the real world.
* General questions /statement (both verbally and written form)
When you are asking people general questions, it is perfectly OK to use
(=anata)
Ex. Q:
= Q. Anata no sukina iro wa nan desu ka?
= Q: What is your favorite color?
Ex.
= Ima anata ni hitsuy nano wa jibun tono jikan wo tsukuru koto desu.
=What you need right now is to make a time for yourself.
*Wives often use (=anata) when they call their husbands.:
It can even be considered sexy depending on how you deliver the lines.
Ex.
= Anata itterasshai!
= Have a nice day, honey.
(When they see their husband off to work at the front doors of their homes.)
Note: We dont have many endearments in Japanese. (=anata) is not
an equivalent word for honey or sweetheart but if you say with a sweet voice, it
is considered to be an endearment in our own way.
*When you want to make yourself sound more formal or serious. For example
when you tell someone how much you love them:
Ex.
= Anata ga suki desu.
= I like (love) you.
Ex.
= Anata wo aishite imasu.
= I love you.
Note: Men can also use (=anata) both verbally or in a written form.

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* When you talk to someone inferior or younger:

Older people to younger people
Supervisors to subordinates.
Teachers to students
Parents to children
That means, you should avoid using =anata) when you talk to older
people or your boss, clients or teachers. Even with someone the same age,
using (=anata), would feel a bit awkward. People around me almost
NEVER refer to me as (=anata) and vice versa. Maybe it is because it
sounds a little cold. Not all Japanese people get annoyed when they are called
(=anata) by people they dont know, and they certainly wont make a
big deal if its a foreigner, especially a beginner trying to speak Japanese. But
just for your information, please learn the following.
So, if we dont use (=anata) for the second-personal, what do we use?
Just skip the second-pronoun.
Ex. (Polite)
= Doko ni osumai desuka?
= Where do you live?
Ex. (casual)
=Doko ni sunderu no?
= Where do you live?
Ex. (polite)
= Onamae wa nanto ossharu no desuka?
= What is your name?
Ex. (casual)
= Namae wa nante iu no?
= What is your name?
In business situations: Use ones job title or ones family name with their job
title.
Ex.
= Buchou, kono shorui ni sain wo shite itadakemasu ka?
= (Talking to a manager) Could you sign this document, please?
Ex.
= Yamada Kachou, Kyou no kaigi wa yoji kara hajimarimasu.
= (Talking to a section chief) Mr. Yamada, the meeting will start at 4:00 today.
Ex.
= Maggie sensei kawaii!
= You are so cute, Maggie- sensei

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Between friends: We refer each other by name. If you are not still so close to
that person, you use family name + (=san)
Ex.
= Katou san saikin isogashis desune.
=You look busy lately, Miss/Mrs./Miss Kato.
When we get a little bit closer to that person especially men we often add
the suffix (=kun) to their names.
Ex.
= Suzuki-kun mo ashita ssho ni nomi ni ikanai?
= Do you want to go out for a drink tomorrow, too, Suzuki?
Call someone by their first name + (=san)
Ex.
= Maggie san isogashisoudesune.
= You look busy, Maggie.
Still distant but closer than using their family name. Call someone (children or
young people) by their first name + ( = chan) or (= kun)
Ex.
= Makoto kun shukudai yatta?
= Did you do your homework, Makoto?
Ex.
= Kore Maggie chan ni ageru!
= This is for you, Maggie!
Calling someone with just their family name: (between friends male talk but
sometimes girls call this way as well.)
Ex.
= Oi Kimura, kykasho kashite!
= Hey, Kimura, lend me a textbook!
(A male teacher is talking to his student.)
Ex. (male talk/ rough)
= Morimoto! Ky wa shikkari benky shitekita ka?
= Hey Morimoto! Did you study hard and prepared for class today?
Calling someone with just their first name or a part of their first name:

24

Ex.
= Masaki, issho ni gohan tabeyo!
= Lets eat together, Masaki!
Ex.
= Mika sono fuku niatterune.
= Mika, you look good in that outfit!
Usually calling each other by just their first name implies a close relationship or
friendship. So if you observe a couple and you can tell how close they are by
listening their conversation and how they call one other.
For example, if you they call each other by their family names and (=san),
then they are not that close to each other yet.
Call someone by their nickname. Also close friends call each other by their
nicknames.
(=nikkuneimu)(=adana)=aishou)
Nicknames can be created by using part of ones first name or last name. Here
are some examples including celebrities nicknames.
From ones first name;
Ex. / (= Akiko / Atsuko) (=Akko)
Ex. (=Masako) (= Machako)
Ex. (=Masami) (=Machami)
Ex. (=Miki) (=Mikitii)
Ex. (=Yuuko) (=Yuukorin)
Ex. (=Masahiro) (=Maakun)
From ones family name:
Ex. (=Ninomiya) (=Nino)
Ex. (=Aragaki) (=Gakki)
Ex. (=Yamashita) P (=Yama pii)
Ex. (=Yamashita) / (=Yamamoto) etc.(=Yamachan)
Ex. (=Ishibashi) (=Ishi chan)
Ex. (= Tsuchida) (= Tsucchii)

25

Combination from ones first name and family:

Ex. (=Endou Kumi) (=Enkumi)
Ex. (=Gotou Maki)(=Gomaki)
Note: Sometimes nicknames have nothing to do with your real names. Now I
told you (=anata) is politer than other second pronouns such as
(=annta), (=kimi) or (=omae)
(=kimi) is often used by men . (But there are girls who use it as well.) You
use it with someone who is the same age, younger or someone who is an
inferior.
For example a boss uses it when they talk to his subordinates or someone
equal to his position.
Ex.
= Kimi no busho ni haitte kita shinjin d?
= How is the freshman doing in your department?
You may hear a lot of J-pop songs using (=kimi)
Ex..
= Kimi no kimochi ga wakaranai.
= I dont know what you are thinking about.
Ex. .
= Kimi ga sukida.
= I love you.
Ex. .
= Kimini aitai.
= I want to see you.
It depends on the person but personally if my male friend started to call me
(= kimi), (unless he is my type, I would get annoyed. Although it sounds much
better than (=anta) or (=omae), you should avoid using it with
someone older than you or your boss, etc.
(=anta)
(=anta) is much more casual way to say you. I think it is used more
in the Kansai or Chubi area. Use it with someone who is REALLY close to you.

26

 (=omae)
(=omae) is male speech and it is considered to be very rude to use. And it
is often used in a derogatory way or when you fight.
Ex.
= Omae wa acchi e ittero!
= Go away! (Get lost!)
Ex.
= Omae no namae wa nan da?
= What is your name? (rude/ rough)
Ex.
= Omae ni omaette iwareru sujiai wa nai!
= I dont deserved to be called Omae from a person like you! / You have no
right to call me omae.
Yes, it is rude and it is used mainly by rough men. Sophisticated people should
definitely avoid using it. However, occasionally it is used in a friendly manner.
a father to their children:
Ex. (male speech)
= Omae mo ookiku nattana.
= You have grown up!
a husband to his wife:
Ex. (male speech)
= Omaenwa itsumo kurou wo sasetana.
= Ive always troubled you.
a man/ a woman/ children to their pets :
Ex.
= Omae wa kawaiinaa!
= You are so cute!
a teacher to his student:
Ex. (male speech)
= Omae no koto sensei wa itsumo en shite iru karana!
= I will always support you!

Finally I will show you the plural forms,

27

Plural forms:
* (=anata) (=anatatachi) more polite (=anata
gata)
*(=anta) (=anta tachi)more informal (=antara)
* (=kimi) (=kimitachi)more informal (=kimira)
* (=omae)(=omaetachi) more rough / rude (=omaera)

Vs. = Kinisuru Vs. Kininaru

As I explained, (= ki) means feeling, sentiment, mind, air, or something
more profound or spiritual, like active (life) energy , undefinable power,
or prana. Japanese people have respected this invisible energy since
ancient times. Of course there are tons of idioms with ( = ki) but I will just
focus on (= kininaru ) and ( = kininsuru) today.
First look above,

= Mata debu tte iwareta

= Somebody called me I am fat again
Note: (= iwareta) is actually a passive form. I was told/ I was
called

= Sensei, amari kinishinaide kudasai.

= Dont worry about it so much, Teach.
So (=kinisuru) means to mind, to care, to worry about something
(usually something negative)
Look now:
...
= Saikin Nino no koto ga kininaru
= Recently I think about Nino often/ I kind of like Nino now.
And (= kininaru) means something/someone interests you/ makes
you think about it/them / catches your attention / makes you feel curious
Now lets compare the following sentences.
a)
= Ano uwasa ga ki ni naru

28

b)
= Ano uwasa wo ki ni suru
Vocabulary: = uwasa): rumors, gossip
There is a clear difference between a) and b)
While a) means you are just curious about the gossip b) means you have
something to do with the rumor (possibly people are talking about you) and you
are brooding over it.
But sometimes (= kinisuru and (= kininaru) are
interchangeable.
c)
= Maggie wa futotta to iwareta koto wo zutto kini shite imashita.
d)
= Maggie wa futotta to iwareta koto ga zutto kini natte imashita.
The direct translation of d) is Being told she has put on weight has been
bothering Maggie.
But we would translate the both sentences,
c) + d) Maggie has been brooding ever since someone told her she put some
weight.
Pay attention to the particles:
( = ~ wo ki ni suru)
( = wo) an object marker
You worry about something
( = ~ ga ki ni naru)
( = ga) a subject marker
Something/Someone bothers you / makes you curious / interests you
Other difference:
You can make a negative imperative sentences with (= ki ni suru)
Dont worry about it. / Dont let it bother you. / Never mind
(= Ki ni shinai de kudasai.) formal
( = Ki ni shinai de) casual
( = Ki ni suru na) blunt
(= o ki ni nasaranai de kudasai.) very polite

29

But you cant make a negative imperative sentences with (=

kininaru)
We dont say, X (= Kininaranai de kudasai) /
= ki ni naranai de) / (= ki ni naruna)
Now I will show you the difference with more example sentences.
(= kinisuru)
to worry about something, to be concerned about something, to brood over
something, to mind something
Ex.
= Shiken no kekka wo ki ni suru
= to worry about the result of the exam.
Note: This could be before or after you get the results.
Ex.
= Kare wa itsumo hito no iken wo ki ni shite iru.
= He always worries about what other people think.
Ex.
= Joushi ni iyana koto wo iwarete mo ki ni shinai dene.
= Dont worry even if your boss says something annoying.
to be sensitive about ~ , to pay attention
Ex.
= Komakai koto wa ki ni shinai de kudasai.
= Dont worry about the small things.
Ex.
= Maggie sensei wa sonna sasai na koto wa ki ni shinai.
= Maggie sensei doesnt worry about the small things.
Ex.
= Saikin gaiken wo ki ni shite bakari iru dansei ga fuete kita.
=There are more and more men who are concerned about their own
appearance
Ex.
= Sekkaku no hatsu deito nano ni kare wa jikan bakari ki ni shite ita.
= It was our first date, but he just kept looking at his watch.
To care about someone or something.
Ex.
= Haha wa itsumo watashi ga chanto tabete iru ka ki ni shite iru.
= My mother always worries if I am eating properly or not.

30

Ex.
= Itsumo watashi no koto ki ni shite kurete arigatou!
= Thank you for always caring about me.
There is a similar idiom, (= ki ni kakeru) but it shows deeper
concerns.

to be disturbing / to get ones nerve (negative)

Ex.
= Tonari ni suwatta hito no heddohon kara no otomore ga ki ni naru.
= The sound leakage from the headphone of the person who sits next to me
bothers me.
Ex.
= Aitsu no ano warai kata ga ki ni naru.
=The way he laughs gets on my nerve.
Ex.
= Naganen issho ni sunde iru to aite no yaru koto hitotsu hitotsu ga ki ni natte
kuru.
= Since weve lived together so long, every single thing he does gets on my
nerves.
to worry about / to be concerned about
Ex. 1)
= Kongetsu no denkidai ga ki ni naru.
= Im worried about the electric bill this month.
Ex. 2)
= Chichi no youtai ga ki ni naru.
= I am concerned about my fathers condition.

Note: Ex.1) and Ex.2) can be replaced with (= wo ki ni suru)

If you say

= Chichi no youtai ga shinpai da.

We can tell the (medical) condition of his father is very critical and the speaker
really worries about his condition.
Ex.
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= Ninoude no shibou ga ki ni natte kita.

=The fat of my upper arms has started to bother me.
Ex.
= Kono naka kara ki ni naru shoujou ga arimasu ka?
= Are there any symptoms which bother you?
Ex.
= Inaka ni sunde kara hayaoki ga ki ni naranaku natta.
= Since I moved to the country, I dont mind getting up early.
to be curious about, to catch ones attention
Ex.
= Ano dorama no ketsumatsu ga ki ni naru.
= I am curious about how the drama ends.
Ex.
= Saikin ki ni naru onna no ko ga iru.
= There is a girl that I like / am interested in lately.
Ex.
= Dare ka ki ni naru hito ga iru no?
= Is there anybody you like?
* It is often used for romantic interests.
Note: Japanese culture is very vague ( = aimai lesson) and often avoids
straight expressions. Now when you use a verb with (= kininaru) its
different from the above examples,
verb + (= kininaru) means to feel like doing something / to be
motivated to do something
~ = ~ suru ki ni naru

Ex.
= Yatto benkyou suru ki ni natte kita.
= I finally feel like studying.
Ex.
= Honnin ga yaru ki ni naru made machimashou.
= Lets wait until she/he feels like doing/ get more motivated.
There is a common set phrase that uses both (= kini suru) and
(= ki ni naru)
Ex.

32

= Ki ni suruna to iwarete mo ki ni naru.

= Even though people tell me not to worry, it bothers me. (I cant help thinking
about it.)
When we hear (= kininaru), many of us automatically link the word
with this long run TV commercial song called (= Hitachi no ki). The
lyrics goes,

= Kono ki nan no ki, ki ni naru ki

=What kind of tree is this? This tree makes me wonder

= Namae mo shiranai ki desu kara

=Since we dont know the name of the tree,

= Namae mo shiranai ki ni naru deshou.

= It will be a tree without a name.
It is a pun with (=ki), treeand (=ki)
Actually the tree has a name, Monkeypod, and it is found in Hawaii.
=teki

=Watashi chotto chiteki ni mieru desho!

=I look a bit intelligent, right?
Todays word is =teki=~tic, ~al, ~ine, ~able, ~ive, like~, ~ wise
We add this suffix to a noun to make an adjective that decribes a characteristic.
Noun + ( = teki)
+ ( = teki)+ auxiliary verb =da) or (= desu) : to be ~
Adjective : ( = teki na)
Adverb : (= teki ni)
Ex. = kaihou =openness
= kaihouteki =open, open-minded
= kaihouteki da or = kaihouteki desu = to be open, to be
open-minded
33

adjective = kaihouteki na = open-minded

adverb = kaihouteki ni = open-mindly, openly
= chiteki = intelligent
Ex.
= Kare wa chitekina hito da.
= He is intelligent.
You cant just add this suffix to any noun. It only works with certain nouns.
Here is a list for some of the words that will take =teki.
= sekkyokuteki = positive, vigorous, aggressive
Ex.
=Kanojo sekkyokuteki dane.
=She is aggressive, isnt she?
= shoukyokuteki = passive
Ex.
= Amari shoukyokuteki dato tomodachi ga dekinai yo!
= If you are too passive, you wont be able to make any friends.
= kougekiteki is used for more aggressive character.

= kanjouteki = emotional
Ex.
= Koko wa kanjouteki ni naranai de reisei ni hanashiaou.
= Lets not get too emotional and talk about it calmly.
= genjitsuteki = realistic
Ex.
= Kokowa genjitsuteki ni kangaete mimashou.
=Lets be realistic here.
=higenjitsuteki =unrealistic
= koudouteki = active
Ex.

34

= Koudoutekina hito hodo un ga kirihirakeru.

= Active people make their luck.
= gutaiteki = concrete, practical
Ex.
= Motto gutaitekina aidea wo dashite kudasai.
= Please give me more specific ideas.
= chuushouteki = abstract
Ex.
=Kare no iu koto wa itsumo chuushouteki da.
=What he says is always abstract.
= ippanteki = general
Ex.
= Kono kotoba wa amari ippanteki dewa nai.
= This word is not that common.
= jissenteki = practical
Ex.
=Kono shigoto niwa jissenteki na keiken ga hitsuyou da.
= You need practical experiences for this job.
=ronritkei =logical

Ex.
=Ronriteki ni iu to
=Logically speaking
= hiteiteki = negative
Ex.
= Kare wa watashi no iken ni itsumo hiteiteki da.
= He is always against my opinions.
= gijyutsuteki =technical
Ex.
= Gijutsuteki na koto wa wakaranai.
=I dont know anything about technical things.
= bitekiaesthetic
Ex.

35

= Kanojo niwa biteki kankaku ga mattaku nai.

= She has no sense of beauty.
= teikiteki = periodical
Ex.
=Teikiteki ni kaigi wo hiraku
= To have periodical meetings.
= kagakuteki = scientific
Ex.
=Kagakuteki na konkyo wa nani mo nai.
=There is no scientific proof.
= shinriteki = psychological
Ex.
= Kono jiken ga oyobosu kodomotachi heno shinriteki na eikyou ga shinpai da.
= I am worried this incident would have a psychological impact on children.
= keizaiteki =economical
Ex. (
= Keizaiteki(na) riyuu de ryokou ni iku no wo dannen shita.
=For economical reason, I gave up on my trip.

=kinsenteki = financial
Ex.
=Kinsenteki ni kurushii
=It is hard financially.
= risouteki = ideal
Ex.
=Risoutekina katei wo kizuku
=To make an ideal family.
shiteki = personal
= kyakkanteki = objectively
= shukanteki = subjectively
= bunkateki= cultural
=geijutsuteki = artful, artistic

36

 =yuukouteki = friendly
=seisanteki = productive
=kagakuteki = scientific
Ex.
= Shiteki kanjou wa majiezu kyakkanteki ni taisho shite kudasai.
= Please deal with it objectively without mixing your personal emotion.
*= nihonteki = Japanese, something typical or representative
Ex.
= Kaigai eno omiyage niwa nanika nihontekina mono wo motte itta hou ga ii
desu.
=You should take some typical Japanese souvenir to abroad.
*We also say =wateki for Japanese style)
(Conversational)

= Maggieteki niwa dou omou no?
= So what do you think as Maggie?

= Soune, watashiteki niwa betsu ni waruku nai to omou no.

=Let see... In my personal opinion, I dont think this is such bad idea
(Keigo) Honorific Expressions in Formal Japanese

Oki ni meshite itadakeru ka dou ka wakarimasen ga higoro no kansha no

kimochi desu.
I am not sure if you would like this or not but this is just a token of my
appreciation.
Today we will learn (= keigo).
Uh-oh.tough one! Yep! It is difficult and many Japanese people get confused
as well.
(= keigo) or (=sonkeigo) is honorific expression/language.
In order to speak Japanese properly, we have to learn this =keigo)
and (=kenjyougo) , humble or modest version of Japanese.
37

The Kanji of (kei/ uyamau ) means to respect or to admire. (

=sonkei means the same.)
You use (=keigo) towards people who are socially higher, customers, or
people you are not familiar with.
You, students have to use (= keigo) towards = sensei, (=teachers) as
myself!
You hear (=keigo) in daily conversation all the time in the stores, the
restaurants, on the street, on the phone, etc.
Lets take a look at the phrase first.
My student says:

oki ni mesuka douka wakariamsen ga..

(I am not sure if you would like it or not but..)
(Basic form) (Keigo)
* ki ni iru to like something/s.o. oki ni mesu
Hirogo no kansha no kimochi desu.
* higoro everyday, continuous
* kansha gratitude, appreciation
* kimochi feelings, a token of ~
This is a token of my (continuous) appreciation.
* : kunkun : sniffing sound
Now, before going to (=keigo)lets see the patterns of making
(=teineigo) polite form.
The simplest way to make some Japanese words more polite is to puto or
go on the beginning of the words.
* okuchi (o + kuchi) mouth
Ex. ..Okuchi ni au ka douka..
(I wonder if this tastes good enough for your mouth..)I am not sure if you
like this food but (I do hope you like it) .
* ogenki desuka? (o+genki desuka?) How are you?

38

* ojikan (o+jikan) time

Ex. Chotto ojikan arimasuka? Do you have
time?
* oisogashii (o+isogashii) in hurry
Ex. oisogashii desuka? Are you busy?
The Kanji for o is and its other way of reading is go . So some
words take o and some take go . (And some cant take either one.) It
depends on the word.
* (goshujin (sama) When you refer to someones husband or an
owner of the stores, restaurants, etc. The original meaning of shujin is a master.
(Note: The polite word for wife is okusama)
* gokigen mood
* gojyuusho address
* gosoudan to consult
* is read onamae not gonamae. So if you see the kanji,
you have to figure out whether it is go or o (or on onsha your company )
But dont overuse this. It would sound funny if you use it too much and
sometimes it sounds strange if men use it.
* (oyasai) vegetable: Fine and acceptable!
* (ojyuusu): juice This is possible but sounds a bit overdone.
* (obanana): banana Too much. This sounds really strange
* (okotsu): bone Never use it for the fish or meat bone!! Only for funeral
<How to Address other Peoples Family >
When you refer to someones family, you have to keep it in mind to use the
polite form. For example, (=haha) usually refers to your own mother.
(=okaasan) could be your mother or another persons mother.
okaasama or okaasama gata (=plural mothers) are very polite form to
address other peoples mothers.
Ex.
Watashi no haha wa 60 sai desu.
My mom is 60 years old.

39

Ex.
okaasama wa ogenki de irasshaimasuka?
How is your mother? (very polite)

= keigo no doushi <honorific verbs>

How to change regular verbs into =teineigo / polite form)
ex. desu, masu form. Usually you can use it both when you
refer to your actions and other peoples actions.) and (keigo) (ex.
~ninaru, ~ninararerusonota=and etc. You only
use them when you refer other peoples actions.
(Basic form)
(=teineigo) polite X (= keigo) very poliet
nomu = to drink
nomimasu
onomininaru
isogu = to be in hurry
isogimasu
oisogini naru
tamesu = to try

40

 tameshimasu
otameshini naru
kau= to buy
kaimasu
kawareru

* Also
(=irassharu ) or (=okoshi ni naru) can be keigo for
this.
tamesu
tameshimasu
otameshini naru to try
taberu
tabemasu
meshiagaru to eat
iru
imasu
irassharu to be there
iu
iimasu
ossharu to say
Note: The first three verbs are ~(ni)naru form. The next three verbs are
~(ra)reru form. The last three verbs are the one which take special forms.

41

Recently the peculiar form of (= keigo) among young people who work for
the family restaurants or convenience stores is getting controversial.
The examples of those konbinior famiresu keigo are
*
*
*A A
*
*
They even have manuals using these keigo)
So like all languages, the Japanese language has been changing,too.
O-V ni naru is more polite than reru/rareru form
And you dont get keigo reru-rareru and passive reru-rareru if you pay attention
to the context and particles.
A
= Kono hon wa A ni yotte kakareta.
= This book was written by A.
A
= A san ga kono hon wo kakareta.
= A -san wrote this book.
~ form is a shorter way to say so it is not a honorific form
but just a polite way to say not to forget something.
(Please do not forget)

Other example
(=Please do not make a
mistake/mistake something)

(Please do not make a mistake)

Yes, ( ) is used for polite expressions. (The form is the same as
=ukemi= passive form.)

42

Kansai dialect with = Yanyan Maggie Sensei

= Maggie booboo yan!

= Your hair is a mess!

= Mokomoko yan!
= You look soft and fluffy
(= Machiko) is a girl sheep who speaks (= Osakaben ) Osaka
dialect, lets say (= kansaiben), Kansai dialect because it is more
general. So in this lesson we will study some (= kansaiben), Kansai
dialect patterns and a few onomatopoeic words. Machiko uses this Kansai
dialect suffix (= yan) a lot so that she is called (= Yanyan
Machiko)
(=yan) is a suffix that is used to express your feelings or opinions or ask
the listeners for the agreement. It is equivalent to (=janai) a
colloquial way of saying (=dewanai desuka) or (=jan)
which is mainly used in some Kantou or Chubu areas, etc.
For example, cute = = kawaii
When you want to say,
Isnt it cute? (asking the listenerss agreement )
I think its cute. (When you state your feelings, opinions)
How cute!(Talking to yourself.)
In standard Japanse, we say,
= kawaiine =Its cute, isnt it?
43

= kawaiina = How cute!

= kawaiijanai = How cute! / I think its cute.
= kawaiijan = How cute! / Its cute!

In Kansai dialect:
They say,
= kawaiiyan
This (=yan) suffix makes your quote sound softer and cuter somehow
especially when Machiko uses. Both men and women can use (=yan)
Sometimes they add (=ka) to emphasize the quote. (= yanka)
= kawaiiyanka = Its cute, isnt it?
How to form:
1) Add after adjective,
= ii = good
Ex./ (=Sugoku iijanai / Iijan )
= Its great! ? / I think its great!

=Meccha eeyan
= I think its great!
Note: (= meccha) is Kansai-dialect which measn very much/ a lot
= dame = not good, bad
Ex. / (=damejanai/ damejan)
= You shouldnt do (that). / That is bad. / Thats not good.

=akanyan
Note: (= akan) is another typical Osaka-dialect.
= oishii = delicious
Ex. / (=oishiijanai/oishiijan)/
(=oishiine)
=Its delicious, isnt it? / Its delicious!
44


= Oishiiyan

2) after verbs
(=kuru) = to come
Ex.
= Mousugu Maggie sensei ga kuruyan
= Maggie Sensei will be here soon
(=itta) = said/told
Ex.
= Nankai mo ittayan
= I told you many times.
(=desu)
Ex.
=Soudesune.
= You are right. / Thats right!
Ex.
= soudesuyan
= Thats true/ Its true / You are right.
Ex.
= Soujanai janai.
= That is not true. / You are not right.
(= Souyanaiyan)
= gannbatta = tried hard
Ex.
=ganbattajanai
= (I think) You did a good job!

= ganbattayan
3) after nouns
= uso =lie
Ex. ! (= usoda)
45

= No way! / Really! / You gotta be kidding me!

= usoyan
= ame = rain
Ex.
= Sugoi amedanaa.
= What rain! / Its really coming down! / Look at this rain!

= Erai ame yan

Note: = erai = (Kansai dialect) a lot, very much
4) And with onomatopoeic words
= mokomoko = soft and fluffy
Ex.
= mokomoko janai
= It looks soft and fluffy, isnt it?
or

= Mokomoko dane (asking for the agreement)

= Doent it look soft and fluffy?
= (= mokomoko) is an onomatopoeic word to describe
something that is soft and fluffy
Note: You can use either katakana or hiragana. In modern Japanese, there are
no strict rules as to what words should be written in hiragana and what words
should be written in katakana. It used to be fashionable to write everything in
katakana, but there has been a recent trend to write katakana words in
hiragana. It makes the words look softer and cuter.
A fluffy sweater, sheep skin, poodles are all (=mooomomoko)
Ex.
= Sono seetaa mokomoko dane.
= The sweater looks soft and fluffy.
Ex. ()
= Kono fuyu wa mokomoko (no) sokkusu ga hayatte imasu.
= The soft and fluffy socks are very popular in this winter.

46

(= booboo) = also =(= boubou) onomatopoeia to

describe long messy hair that hasnt been taken care or been been cut in a
long time. Hair that is, well, hairy or furry

= Ah, uchi Machiko!

= Oh, (Hi!) I am Machiko
Note: = uchi = = = watashi = the first pronoun, I

= Hatachi no yumemiru otome yanen

= I am a 20 year old dreaming girl
Note: = = hatachi = 20 years old
You can also read this as (= nijussai)
When you count days or years, we have special ways of counting. (=
hatachi) 20 years old.
Also = the 20th is called (= hatsuka)
= = yume = dream
the verb = to dream = = yume wo miru
= yumemiru) is an adjective = dreaming
(=yumemiru otome) = dreaming young girl / young lady
(=yumemiru shoujo) = dreaming girls
= otome = (old fashioned) young lady, maiden, virgin
Now, (=nen) is another typical Kansai dialect suffix which is used to
predicate your statement.
While (=yan) simply used to express your feelings or ask for the listeners
agreement,
()(=(ya) nen) is used to state what you think/are going to do more clearly.
standard Japanese : ~(=no)(~nano)/((=(n)da)
Ex.
= Raigetsu Osaka ni ikunen.
= I will go to Osaka next month.

47

(standard Japanese)
*/
= Raigetsu Osaka ni ikuno/ ikunda.
Ex. = Maggie no koto sukiyanen = I love you,
Maggie.
(standard Japanese)
=Maggie no koto sukida!) (male speech)
= sukinano) female speech
Ex. = Nandeyanen! = You gotta be kidding me! / No way! / What
(Why) the heck!
(standard Japanese)

(= Nandedoushite sounaruno? )

= Nani itteruno?
= What are you talking about?

= Nani yatteruno!
= What are you doing!
(Note: If we change it to standard Japanese, it loses the power of the phrase.
This is a typical comedians technique called = = tsukkomi =
pointing out/picking on when a person around you did/said something strange in
a funny way.)

= Kyupiinna otoshigoro ya nen

= I am at a loving young age.
( = otoshigoro) refers to marriageable age, susceptible age (especially
for girls)/ sensitive age of puberty
= kyupiin
Its a sound effect to express shiny/sharp beams from the eyes that you might
hear/see in the animation
(= kyupiin na otoshigoro) is Machikos famous line. Since
it is a new word, I had to use my imagination to translate it as loving young
age but it implies she is going through puberty when a girls heart twigs
48

when they see someone they like. They are very sensitive at this time and can
easily get hurt.
(standard Japanese)
*
= Kyupiinna otoshigoro nano.

= Kedona, kou miete boubou ya nen

= But despite my appearance,(=I may not look hairy but) I am very hairy
= koumiete(mo) = Despite my appearance, Even though this
is how I look
You can use this when you tell who you are or what you have despite how you
look.
In this case it is a joke because she obviously looks (booboo) = hairy.
(=kedona) = but you know (casual)
(standard Japanese)
* (=dakedone)
(standard Japanese)
*
= Dakedone, koumiete booboo nano.

= Toshigoro no otome ga boubou nan kanawanyan

= It is not cool to be hairy for a lady at this (marriageable) age.
= toshigorono = (adj) of the young sensitive age
kanawanyan = not cool, to be in trouble
(standard Japanese)
*(=Kanawanai desho)
or
* (=Kanawanai janai) or = komarujanai
(standard Japanese)
*
= Toshigoro no otome ga booboo nante doushiyoumo nai / komarujanai.

49


= Datsumou shiteinen.
= I would like to epilate.
(standard Japanese)
*
= datsumou shitaino.

= Soriiinu
= Sorinu
Note: Actually this brand name is pretty funny. It is making a pun with =
soru = to shave
CM
= Ah! Este no ciiemu ya
= Oh, the commercial for the the aesthetic devices.
(standard Japanese)
* CM (
= Ah, esute no ciiemu da(wa)!

= Booboo de onayami no anata e

= For you who worry about being hairy
~ = ~ de nayamu = to worry about ~

= Soriinu no reizaa datsumou nara boubou no anatamo

= If you try our (Sorinus) laser epilators
()
= Gofungo
= In five minutes

= Tsuruttsurun
= Your skin will be very smooth

50

= Hyaa tsuruntsurun nimo hodo ga aruyan

= Oh my This is way too smooth!
= tsurunttsurun (variation) = turutusuru =
= tsuttsuru = smooth (and shiny)
(standard Japanese)
*~
= ~ nimo hodo ga arujanai
~ = ~ nimo hodo ga aru
There is a limit to ~ / How could anything/anyone ~ be so ~
Usually this sentence pattern is used for negative phrases that show frustration.
Ex.
= Dareshinai nimo hodo ga aru.
= How could anyone be so sloppy!
But in modern casual Japanese, we use it in positive sentences as a joke.
Ex.
= Kawaii nimo hodo ga aru.
= (Someone) is way too cute!

= Ima nara kono onedan de goteikyou sasete itadakimasu.

= We are now offering these at a very special price
This is a set phrase used in informercial
= imanara = If it is now Only now

= Iyaa Otouhan no kyuuryou to issho yan

= It costs as much as my dads monthly salary
= ~ han = = san = honorific
Ex.(=okaahan) == mother
Ex. (=Maggie han) = = Maggie san= Miss Maggie
= ~ to issho = the same as ~
(standard Japanese)
*
= Wa~ Otousan no kyuuryou to issho janai.

51


= Otome no datsumou to onajiya nante otouhan ukabarehen naa.
= Poor my dadhis salary is the same as the price for ladys hair removal.
(=ya)
(standard Japanese) (=da)
(=onaji ya)
(standard Japanese) (=onaji da)
= ukabareru
= to be worth for your effort, to feel peace in ones mind, to rest in peace, to feel
relieved
= ukagarenai
= not to be worth for your effort or what you have been suffering from, not to be
feel peace, not to be able to rest in peace
This expression is a bit dramatic. so you may not hear this very often in daily
conversation but, lets say youre going take a test in the near future
Ex.
= Isshoukenmei ni benkyou shitanoni shiken ni ochitara ukabarenai.
= I worked so hard for the exam so If I fail it, all my efforts will have been
wasted.
But if you took the test and passed, you might say
Ex.
= Kore de ukabareru.
= Now it this makes it worth it.
Machiko use this expression referring to her dad who is still alive but this
expression is often used to refer to someone who has died.
= ukabareru = to be able to rest in peace (because what the
person did was worth doing.)
= ukabarenai = to turn in ones grave
Ex.
= Koredewa shinda otousan ga ukabarenai.
= This will make my dad turn in the grave.
Ex.
= Korede shinda otousan mo ukabareru.
= Now my dad can rest in peace.

52

 (=hen) is a suffix to be used in negative sentence.

Ex. = yaranai = not to do / not going to do
= yarahen
Ex. = tabenai = not to eat/ not going to eat
= tabehen
Ex. = ikanai = not to go / not going
= ikahen
(standard Japanese)
* / (female speech)
= ~ ukabarenai naa. / Ukabarenaiwane

= Ah, Seya konaida otouhan (no) sheebaa wasuretettayan.

= Oh, I just remember that Dad left his shaver the other day
(standard Japanese)
*/female speech)
= Souda! Kono aida ~ wasurete ittajanai/ ittawa.
X?
= Joriiinu, joriinu ekkusu?
= JOLIENA JOLEN X

= Sugosouyan
= Looks great
= sugosou = looks (or soudns) great
~ = ~ sou = looks, sounds, seems ~
(standard Japanese)
*
= Sugosoujanai.
JOLIENA JOLEN X
= Otokono sheebaa JOLIENA JOLEN X
= Male shaver, JOLIENA JOLEN X

= Seramikkusu no juuroku maiba ga kaaaatsu

= Cut with 16 ceramic blades
(=kattsu) = to cut

53

= Shibafu mo kareru kono hakairyoku

= Very powerful being able to even cut the grass
~ = even

= Jorijori no ohada mo subesubeni

= Will make your rough (unshaven) skin smooth
= jorijori = onomatopoeic word for unshaven rough skin
= subesube = onomatopoeic word for smooth skin

= Sugoiyan sugoiyan
= Wow, wow! Its great!!

= Uchi mo tsurutsuru ni henshin yan

= Now my skin will be much smoother, too.
= henshin suru = to transform, to become
Note: The way Machiko holds the shaver is the typical pose of a Super Hero,
like (= Urutoraman)
(standard Japanese)
*(female speech)
= Watashi mo tsurutsuru ni henshin janai/ dawa!

= Ah, kowarete shimotayan

= Oh, it is broken
(standard Japanese)
*= kowarechattajanai! A casual form of
= kowarete shimatta = It is broken
~ (~ shimatta) / (=chatta) imply lamented feelings
!
= Ah, tsurutsuruyan! Sugoiyan! Honma tsuruntsurun yan!
= Myit is very smooth! Its great! Its really smooth, isnt it?
= honma
(standard Japanese)
* (= hontou ni) = really
54

standard Japanese)
*
= tsurutsuru janai! Sugoi janai! Hontou ni tsuruntsurun janai!
or
*()()
= Tsurutsuru da(wa)! Sugoi(wa)! Hontou ni tsuruntsurun dawa!

= Otomeyan! uchi shiawaseyan!

= I feel like a lady. I am so happy!!
(standard Japanese)
* (female speech)
= Otome janai! Watashi shiawase dawa!

= Ah, mou boubouyan

= Oh, I am already hairy again.
= mou = already
(standard Japanese)
*
= Mou booboo janai!

= Joriina han, otouhan to issho de kaishonashi yan

= Jolina, you are useless as my dad.
~ = ~ to issho de = the same as ~
= = kaishou = ability to achieve things well / ability to
provide for ones family
Ex. = kaishou ga aru = to be able to provide ones family
(more colloquial) = = Kaisho ga aru =
Ex. = kaishou ga nai = kaishou nashi = a worthless
person
(more colloquial) = = Kaisho ga arua
worthless person
Note: Note that she adds (=han), honorific, after (=Joliina)

55

(standard Japanese)
*~
= Kaishonashi janai!

= Bikkuriyan nikai kara okkota kedo heikiyan

= What a surprise. I am OK even though I fell from the second floor
(standard Japanese)
* = Bikkurishitawa (female speech)
= okkochiru : a casual expression of (= ochiru)
(standard Japanese)
* = Heikijanai / (=Heiki dawa) (female speech)
= heiki = no problem, OK

= Boubou mo warunai yan

= It is not so bad being hairy
(standard Japanese)
* ~
= ~ mo waruku naijanai
~= ~ mo warukunai = It does not seem so bad at all
Ex.
= Hitorigurashi mo warukunai.
= It is not so bad to live alone. (positive)

= Ah, uchi Machiko.

= OH, hi, I am Machiko.

= Hatachi no yumemiru fasshionisutayan.

= I am a dreaming 20-year old fashionista.
(standard Japanese)
*
= Fasshionista nano

56

= Kono baggu kawaiiyaro.

= Isnt this bag cute?
Note: (=yaro) is a suffix for asking question.
(standard Japanese)
*~= desho (female speech)
*~= daro (male speech)
(standard Japanese)
*(female speech)
= Kono baggu kawaii desho!

= Puretaporute yan
Its a pret-a-porter.
(standard Japanese)
*
= Pureta porute nano.
Note: pret-a-porter came from a French word which means Ready to wear in
English. I guess Machiko meant this bag is an custom made designers bag.

= Chochochochotto Machiko chan

= Whoa, whoa, whoa Machiko-chan
Note: He is upset so he keeps repeating the first sound of (= chotto )
hey or wait!

= Ah, ooyasan ya. Oyachin wa senshuu haratta yan.

= Oh, Mr. Landlord. I paid the rent last week, didnt I?
Ooya = a landlord
= yachin = rent
(standard Japanese)
*
= Ah, ooyasan da. Oyachin wa senshuu harattaja nai desuka.

= Tachiyomi surunara detette yoo.

57

= If you are just going to stand there reading and not buy anything, please
leave.
= tachiyomi = literally to stand in a book store and read a book
(Note: The landlord doesnt speak Kansai dialect. It is very clich scene
owners of book stores or convenience stores get annoyed by customers who
wont buy anything but just read their books / magazines and then leave. )

= Kono baggu kawaii to omowahen?

= Dont you think this bag is cute?
(standard Japanese)
*= to omowanai?

= Doudemo iiyo. Sonna baggu.

= I dont care about that bag.
= doudemo ii= I dont care/ It doesnt matter
= ~ sonnna = such ~

= Seyashi motte hennen

= But I dont have one.
= seyashi = but
Note: It was a little hard to actually catch what she said here. I think this is what
she said.
(= seyashi) means (=dakara) = thats why and /(=
demo/dakedo) = but
Y = seyakedo but, however
(standard Japanese)
*= dakedo motte naino

= Nandatteeei!?
= Whaaaaat!?

= Mou nanimo kawanai nara

= If you dont buy anything
.
=dedededede.detette! Dooooo
58

= Gegegegege.(Get out of here!)

Note: You see the big octopus store? It is a = takoyakiya = ballshaped octopus dumpling store and it tells us this is a typical street in Osaka.
..
= N? Ara
= Umm? What?

= Ooyasan erai ikezuyan.

= He (the landlord) is so mean.
= ikezu
(standard Japanese)
* = ijiwaru = mean
(standard Japanese)
*= sugoku ijiwaru janai

= Are? Ooyasan ga iihin yan

= What? The landlord is gone.
= iihin
(standard Japanese )
*= inai = not be there, is gone
(standard Japanese)
*
= ooyasan ga inaijanai

= Ah Seira san ya
= Oh, Seira-san
(standard Japanese) (= Seirasan dawa)

= Machiko chan mata omise ni irasshaiyo

= Machiko-chan, come to my store (or bar) again.
Note: (= Irasshaiyo) is a female speech. Seira-sans
character is so called (= Oneekyara) so he speaks like a woman.
59

What is (= onee kyara) ? : It is a slang word. ( = ones) is

from (= oneesan) = older sister, or young girl but we refer to an
effeminate men who dress like women or talk or behave like a woman
(= kyara) is from character
= omise= store / restaurant / bar. (I am not sure what kind of business he
is doing yet.)

= Fun
= Huh!

= Ikuyan. Uchi obakeyashiki sukiyanen
= I will! I love haunted mansions.
standard Japanese)
* = ikimasu or = ikuyo (more casual)
(standard Japanese)
*
= Watashi obakeyashiki sukinano.
Note: Machiko is teasing Seira that people who work for Seiras store/bar are all
the monsters. )

= Maa bakete dechau wayo.

= Well, I will haunt (will appear as a ghost in front of) you.
= bakete deru = to appear as a ghost in front of someone / to
haunt someone
Note: (=wayo) suffix is for female speech

= Hona
= Bye now
(standard Japanese)
*((= jaa(ne)) or (=sorenara)

= Ah sakki no bakkuya
= Oh, there is the bag (I was talking about)
60

 = sakki no = (in this case) (= sakkimita )= the one I saw

a little while ago
(standard Japanese)
*=Sakki nobakku da

= Kawaiiyan
= Its cute!
(standard Japanese)
* = kawaiijanai

= Mokomoko shiteruyan
= It looks soft and fluffy
(standard Japanese)
*
= mokomoko shite(i) rujanai

= Eenaa
= I love it
= ee = = ii = nice
(standard Japanese)
*= iinaa / = iiwanee (female speech)

= Ah! Iyaa takaiwaa

= Gosh! Its expensive
= iyaa = = yada = No way /ugh / oh my (with surprising
feelings.)
(standard Japanese)
*
= yada takaiwaa.

= Seya
= Oh, I know

61

You say this when you have a flash of inspiration

(standard Japanese)
* souda

= Sugoiyan
= Isnt it great?
(standard Japanese)
* = sugoijanai

= Sugoiyan
= Its great!

= Kawaii baggu ga dekitayan

= I made a lovely bag, didnt I?
(standard Japanese)
* = dekitajanai

= Sassoku shoppingu yan

= I will go shopping (with this) now then.
(standard Japanese)
()/
= shopping shiyo (tto) /shimasho!

= Irasshaimase
= Hello! (The literal meaning is Welcome to the store/restaurant/ bars, etc. )

= Ah! Mata!? Machikochan tachiyomi surunara detedetedetedededede

= Oh, you again? If youre just here to read and arent going to buy anything,
gegegegege (get out of here!)
Note: The shop owner (the landlord) didnt finish the last verb (=
dete itte) Get out of here

= Chotto anta nani shite kuretenno?

= Hey you, what did you do to me?
Note: (= chotto anta)

62

Typical expression for (= obachan ) older lady or (=

Oneekyara) * see above for the explanation
(= nani shite kuretenno)
(= nante koto wo shite kuretano)
Usually (= kureru) is used when someone has done something good for
you
-shite-agerukurerumorau/
But it is also used to accuse someone for doing something bad to you with
sarcasm.

(=Wakamono kotoba) Young peoples Japanese

Cookie:
www
(=Kono saito choo ukerun dake do..wwww)
I love this site. Its hilarious. LOL!

(=Teka, riaru ni sugoku ne?)

I mean isnt it awesome?
Todays topics is about so-called (=wakamono kotoba), Japanese
language used by young people. I have already taught you some of these types
of expressions:
* (=Tame guchi) + (=yabai) lesson
(=yabai) (=maji),(~ssu)
* lesson (=Chotto+Aimai Expression) (the last part)
(=~teki)(=~kanji)(=nanka)(=kamo)
(=teikuka) etc.
* (=bimyou)
*=hanpanai)
*(=Donbiki)
etc.

63

(=ganmi) to stare at something

(=Bucchake)To be frank, Frankly speaking, To be honest
(=iketeru) cool, good, nice, delicious
(=nemu) sleepy
Recently its trendy to finish words with (=tsu)
* ==nemui (sleepy) (nem)
* /==atsui (hot)=(Ats)
* =umai (delicious)=(Um) .continue..
..=gachi de)
=Gachi de (gachi) is an abbreviation form of (=Gachinko) It
means (=honki de) / (=shinken ni) / (=maji ni) : (to do
something) seriously / to get real/for real/ playing something for
keeps.continue Some of the slangy expressions especially the one with
different grammar patterns confuse you because you have been learning
proper Japanese. Unfortunately text books and human teachers at Japanese
school tend to avoid teaching slang. But actually you see or hear these all the
time in daily conversation or on TV. In my opinion, if you are comfortable, go
ahead and start adopting them but if you only use slang, people might think you
are (=karui) shallow.
Still it is fun to learn slangy expressions and you will understand young peoples
street talk much better. Many of this type of slang words will disappear
eventually. For example, we used to say KY for (=kuuki yomenai)
cant read between the lines, but we dont hear it so often now. So I would
like to teach you some of the slang patterns today. These are just a few part of
them and I will keep adding more in later lessons. Ready?
1) Young people tend to shrink words and phrases.
(=arigatou gozaimasu.) Thank you very much
(=azassu!)
Even in the old days we had these kind of abbreviations.
(=Ossu), Hey! , Hi! is originally from
(=Ohayou gozaimasu.) Good morning.
(=Chiwa!) Hello! (=Konnichiwa)

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2) Young people like to coin words combining two different words,

*(=eroi) sexy + (=kakkoii) =(=Erokakkoii) sexy
and cool
Combining two different qualities:
* (=kimoi) creepy, nerdy + (=Kawaii) cute =
(=Kimokawaii) creepy but cute in a way.
Note: A duo comedians, (=Angaaruzu), are called
(=Kimokawaii) or (=kimo kawa)
* / (=busaiku) ugly + (=kawaii) cute
(=Busakawaii) /(=Busakawa) ugly but cute in a way.
Many people called me this. Ehen! :mad:
* (=yasui) cheep + (=kawaii) cute (=yasu kawa) cheap
and cute fashion
3) Young people like to finish sentences with (=ssu) instead of
(=desu) or (=masu)
Ex. (=Soudesu ne.)=Soussune)
Ex. (=Chigai masu.)=Chigaussu)
Ex. (=Oishii desu.)=Oishiissu)
4) In standard Japanese you never finish sentences with the following
expressions, but young people do it all the time.
*~(=~kamo) I think, It seems like
*~(=~mitaina) Something like ~
*~(=kara) I said~
Ex. (=Murida kara!) I said it is impossible!
*(=nai shi) emphasize
Ex. (=Watashi yatte nai shi!) I said I didnt do it.
(Variation : (=Yatte neeshi!) rough expression / usually for
men
Ex. (=Sonna koto kiite neeshi!) I didnt hear
about that at all!

65

5) Young people like to start a sentence with (=tsu)

(=tteka) I mean, actually
(=tsuuka) I mean, actually
6) You may hear young people stretch the ending of a word with , or
vowels (,(a),,,(i),,(u),,(e),(o)) adds more emotion in a cute
way.
/ (=Atsuiyoo) /(=Atsuiiyoo) Its hoooot!
(Talking to you or others.)
/(=Atsuinaa) /(=Atsuinaa) Its hooot!
(Talking to yourself.)
//(=Kore hoshiiyoo) I want this badly!!
! =Sugooi) Woow! Thats great! (for girls)
/ (=Kitaaaaaaa!) Here we gooooo! /Here he
coooomes!, (When something you are expecting is coming.)etc.

Young people sometimes change the end of words or omit a part of a word.
(=Kimochi warui)
(=Kimoi)(=Kimee)* Creepy!
(=Kakkoii)
! /*(=Kakkee) Cool!
(=Shoujiki ni iuto)
(=shoujiki) To be honest,
(=sugoi)
!/*(=Sugee) Great!, Wow!, Awesome!
(=Hontou?)/(=Honto?) Really?
(=Fuzakeru nayo!) *(=Zakennayo) Stop kidding
me! Dont fool around! Cut it out!
Note : Women dont use the one with this * mark very much because it sounds
too rough.

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8) Adding small (=tsu) in the middle of a word emphasizes the meaning.

(=mehakucha) (=Mecchakucha) a great deal
Ex. (=Mecchakucha oishii) Its super delicious!
9) Adding (=chou) (=geki) before a word emphasizes its meaning.
Nobody says (=Choberigu), (=Super+very good)
anymore, but we still use //(=chou) to emphasize something.
(=Chou yabai) Something tremendously good, delicious, bad, or risky.
We also say (=geki) instead of =chou)
(or )(=geki uma!) Really delicious
some uses kanji =geki = from =gekiteki =dramatically delicious)

(=Meccha) is mainly used in Kansai area. It sounds kind of cute.

Ex.(=Meccha suki!) I love it!
From the picture above:
www
(=Kono saito choo ukerun dake do..wwww)
I love this site. Its hilarious. LOL!
(=Ukeru) hilarious, funny, to get a kick out of
something.
w means (=warai) which means Haha. or LOL! The more ws you
have, the more you are laughing.
(Just written form.)

(=Teka, riaru ni sugoku ne?)

I mean isnt it awesome?
really It is from real

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noun : authentic something/someone

(=riaruu) This is too realistic. It is authentic.
(=riajuu) blog word
(=Riaru ni seikatsu ga juujitu shiteiru) to have a
fulfilling real life.
~ (=~ne?) Ending the phrase with (=~ne?) Mainly for boys.
Ex.(=Sugoku nai?)
(=Sugoku ne?)
Ex. (=Tabetaku nai?)
(=Tabetaku ne?)
OK, thats enough. I will keep adding (=Wakamono kotoba)here or in
other lessons. But I think you actually need to hear how they talk. !HI!
***************
I found a good example of natural (=Wakamono kotoba) in a video
clip. When you go to a movie theater, you will see previews, commercial and
stuff. This is a short and fun movie clip made by the movie company TOHO.
This clip is often shown right before the main feature starts. There are different
versions and they are all very popular now. Since I am not sure how long they
will be up on Youtube, please watch the video clip ASAP and check the
following lesson. If they take down the video, I may delete this lesson! So study
it right now!! They wont make you burst into laughter, but will make you giggle
(=kusu) because it has (=yuruyuru kan) loose and relaxing
feeling.
Note: You may hear (=yurui) loose, relaxing, laid back. often somewhere.
It is one of trendy words as well.
(=yuru kyara) A local humorous mascot which represents each area
to promote the area.
(=yurui) loose, relaxing, laid back + (=kyara) character=
(=yuru kyara)
Ex. (=Sentokun) is (=yuru kyara) of (=Nara)
Now before we see the video clip, let me introduce the two main characters in
the clip. They are made out of paper so one of them is called
(=Kami Usagi Rope)Paper Rabbit Rope and the other one is called
(=Kami Risu Akira)Paper Squirrel Akira

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Since (=Akira) is older than (=Rope) he is called (=senpai)

senior. It is unclear whether they used to go to the same school or work in the
same company. Pay attention to their dialogue because Paper Rabbit always
uses politer Japanese. However, they use (=wakamono kotoba) young
peoples Japanese. As you just learned, young people tend to finish a
sentence (=~ssu) instead of saying desu). (=Rope) always
finish the sentence with (=ssu), and that is his way of showing respect
towards Akira. Also as I mentioned in my (=Warau) lesson, the typical
comedian pattern in Japan is (=Boke to tsukkomi). The funny
one and the straight man.
Akira is (=boke) and Kami usagi is (=tsukkomi). Can you tell?
The dialogue is very colloquial that is why it is so natural that you may hear in
real conversations among young people.
They dont talk clearly so I may not get the whole part right but here we go!
* (=Kami Usagi Rope)R
* (=Kami Risu Akira senpai)A
*****************************
(=Umi) at the beach
R:(=Arra rarararara)
Oh my
A:(=A yabainee.)
This is bad..
R:(=Yabaissune)
Yeah, this is bad
A:(1)(=Messa(1) iru ne)
There are lots
R:(=Messa imasu ne.)
Yeah, there are lots
A:(=Aa souiya nanka terebi de
itte ta wa)

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Now I just remembered, I heard on TV that

R: (=Hai) Yes,
A: (=Aa natsu no owarikake no toki nii)
In the end of summer,
R:(=Hai) Yes
A:(=Umi iku too)
When you go to the beach.
K:(=Hai) Yes
A:(2)
(=Nanka same ga tairyou hassei shiteru kara ki wo tsukero teki (2)na koto wo)
They said something like we have to be careful because there is a swarm of
sharks.
R:(=Sorette kurage ja nakatta ssu
ka?)
Wasnt it jelly fish?
A:!(=A sokka)
Oh I see
K:(=Hai) Yes,
A:(=Dousuru?)
So what are we going to do?
K: (=Eh!?) What?
R:(3)
(=Iyaiya, dousurtte zenzen(3) muri ja naissuka konna)
No, no, no what do you mean by what we are going to do? It is totally
impossible, you see this, right?
A: (=Cho cho cho mate!)
(=Same dayo!)

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Wait, wait it is a shark we are talking about!

R:(=Hai) Yes.
A:(4)(=Same wa nikushoku dabe(4)!)
Sharks are carnivorous, right?
R: (=Hai) Yes.
A:(=Orera wa?)
And you know what we are?
R:(=Eh?)
What?
K:(=Kamssu nee)
We are made out of paper, right
A (5)(=Ou!(5))
See?
R:(=A sokka)
Oh, I see!
A:(4) (=Dabe(4)?)
Right?
R: (=Aa souja nai ssu ka!)
Oh, now I get it.
R: (=Aa nan jaa zenzen
daijoubu ja nai ssu ka)
Then what? We are totally fine, arent we!
R: (=Demo moshi)
But what if
R: (=Hai) Yes,

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A: (=Aitsura ga nikudake ja nakutee

ne)
What if they dont just you knowgo for meat
R: (=Hai) Yes,
A: (6)

(=Ugoite iru mono nara toriaezu nandemo kuushi mitaina(6) kotodattaraa)

What if they eat anything that moves.

R:(7)(=Zenzen auto (7) ssu ne.)

We are totally eaten
A:(=Dabe?)
Right?
A:(=Yoshi! Shuuryou!)
OK, lets call it!
K: (=Soussune)
I agree!
A: (=Toriaezu)
Just for now
R: (=Hai) Yes,
A:
(=Jouzu siriizu wo zenbu karitee kenkyuu shiyouze, un!)
Why dont we rent out Jaws and the sequels and study up (about sharks) !
R:(8)
(=E? Eigakan dousurunnsuka?(8))
What? What about movie theater?
A:(=A sokka!)

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Oh, I see,
A:
(=Jouzujouzu yatteru eigakan tte..)
Jaws the movie theater that shows Jaws is
R:(=Naissu ne)
There isnt any!
R:(9)
(=Aruwake nai (9)ja nai ssuka!)
There is no way to find a theater like that!
A:(=Sokka!)
You are right!
Note:
(1) (=messa) is a slang meaning a lot
It is from (=mechamecha iru.) There are a lot of them. The
kanji of (=mecha) is (=mecha) and the kanji for (=cha) is also be
read as sa.(=mesa)/(=messa)
(2)(=tekina)
I explained (=tekiniwa) in my =Chotto & aimai
hyougen) lesson before.
(=tekina) is another vague expression and it means something like
(3) (=zennzen) totally
It means not at all and we usually use it with negative word.
(=Zenzen dame) It is not good at all.
(=Zenzen nete imasen.) I didnt sleep at all.
But young people combine this word with something positive.
(=Zenzen iine) Its really good!

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!=Zenzen oishii!) It is so delicious.

(4)(=dabe)
It is originally from a dialect. They say (=dabe) instead of (=desu) or
(=deshou?) (=soudesu) (=soudabe) Yes, it is.
soudeshou?) (=soudabe?) Isnt it right?
Since it sounds very humorous, some people use it in a daily conversation. I
hear SMAP member, (=Nakai-kun) sometimes uses this.
(5) (=ou) is usually for rough men.
It is rough so women should avoid using it.
(6) (=mitaina) something like Another vague expression.
Also check in my =Chotto & aimai hyougen) lesson.
(7)(=auto)to be in trouble, to be sucked
(8) He said that because this clip is for promoting a movie theater!
(9) (=wakenai) There is no way to ~
Ex. (=Maggie wa watashi no koto sukina
wake nai.)
There is no way that Maggie likes me.
If you have learned enough (=Wakamono kotoba) try to watch the
different version of Paper Rabbit! There are tons of them! like
(=Majissuka?), Really?,No kidding!
(=Maggie Sensei yori) From Maggie Sensei

(=Watashi mo mou yonsai dakara wakamono kotoba ni wa tsuite ikenaiwa.)

I am already 4 years old. I cant catch up with young peoples language..
CONJUNCTIVE WORDS & EXPRESSIONS
note 1: A conjunction in Japanese language is a word (=conjunction) or a
relational expression to connect two sentences, phrases, or words.
note 2: When you are not able to read a Kanji, please use the dictionaries on
the internet.

74

note 3 A particle (or particles) might be used after an adverb or a

conjunction.
note 4: The usage is not necessarily same in English and in Japanese
sentences. PLEASE LOOK at conjunctions based on JPN which has a different
categorization and more explanation for their usage.
note 5: Please let me (Ofuji) know a correct expression and its usage in
English.
There are some "chips" for the commonly used conjunctions at the end of this
page.
1. SERIES
at first
first
second; then
third
next
after that
again
last
primarily
secondarily
in the first place
in the second place
finally
at last, after all
additionally
first and foremost
the former
the latter
before ~
after ~
2. CHRONOLOGICAL transitions to signal relationship IN TIME
presently
nowadays; today
before
long time ago
immediately
soon
shortly
following this/that
there upon
thereafter
soon afterward
afterward; later
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from then on
since then; from that time; ever since
the next day; following day
meanwhile
at length
beforehand
at that moment
before; earlier than; ahead; beyond; away; previously; recently
at this time
till/ until (clause) ; as far as "a plac"
by that time
3. SPECIAL transitions to signal relationship IN SPACE
between those ~
among these ~
beyond this point
within ~
from one place to another
about a foot to the left
just to the right
step by step
through ~
via ~
this side + the other side
4. 1) ADDITION / SUPPLEMENTARY
and [vs. as "or"]
and yet
too
also
again
and then
moreover
further
furthermore
besides
in addition (to)
plus
and yet
nevertheless
not only X but also Y
or
together
jointly

2) an EXPANSION to what precedes

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and then/ immediately after

and then
and then
and then
then/ and so
. COMPARISON transitions to signal what follows is SIMILAR TO what
precedes
also ...
like...; likewise
similar to ...
in the same way; at the same time:
same
both andor
either X or Yor
neither X nor Yor
. CONTRAST transitions to signal A CONTRADICTION OR CONTRAST
1) S1 and S2 are opposite.
but; yet; however
although; though; but; however
but; however ( used in a written form)
but; however ( "intention" never be used in the Clause after this
word.)
unlike ...
different / another
2) S2 is NOT an expected or predicted result of S1.
however; unlike my expectation
to the contrary; by contraries
but; however
in spite of the fact that
3) S2 is an opinion or judgment against S1.
but; however, hence
but and yet; still; nevertheless
but then but still; though or

1) CAUSE-EFFECT transitions to signal what follows is A RESULT of what

precedes

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note: Emotive expressions --desire (), will (volutional forms),

request / command (), suggestion / advice (
), intention , supposition
), invitation (), etc.
so (,Not used with the emotive expressions)
therefore(written form; stress on the effect)
(written form)
consequently
as a result; as a consequence; consequently
for this / that reason (stress on the reason) hence
(stress on the reason) wherefore
because of ~
due to ~
2) To signal that what follows is a REASON of what precedes, use EFFECT
CAUSE transition
for
the reason why ~ is that
8. EMPHASIS
obviously
certainly
perhaps
surely
naturally
very likely
really
to be sure
in truth; in fact
indeed
undoubtedly
assuredly
without fail
surprisingly
9. AN EXAMPLE, AN ILLUSTRATION, A QUALIFICATION
"a general name / category" called "a specific name"
such as X, Y, Z
for example / for instance
to illustrate
generally / in general
usually
especially
specifically
particularly/ in particular
occasionally
; that is,
10. EXPECTED, NATURAL, OR OBVIOUSLY TRUE
to be sure

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of course
naturally
surely
for that matter
as a matter of fact
11. COUNTER ARGUMENT transitions for CONCESSION
of course
doubtless
to doubt that
certainly
to be sure
granted that
12. SUMMARY OR CONCLUSION transitions to illustrate that what follows is a
REPETITION OR INTENSIFICATION of that which precedes *note: Read the
section, "cause-effect" also.
in other words; in short ; in brief
to repeat
as we have seen
as noted earlier
to put it another way
indeed
in any case
in fact
besides
thus
for this reason
on the whole
in a word
to summarize
in summary
in sum
in conclusion
to conclude
finally
all in all
"chips" to avoid confusion
"The main sentence" means the sentence after the conjunction.
"Emotive expressions" means "will" "desire" "command" and so on.
(1) connect a word, phrase, sentence and another word, phrase,
sentence. (2) The main sentence should be a consequential matter. (3) used for
"one topic" (person, place, matter) (4) can be used for the relation to express a
reason or a result.
(1) connect a word, phrase, sentence and another word, phrase,
sentence. (2) chronological matter (3) means "other than that, the next ....." (4)
used to change a topic (5) can NOT use for a reason or a result

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 (1) connect a word, phrase, sentence and another word, phrase,

sentence. (2) addition (3) objective opinions (4) can NOT use for subjective
opinions and commands
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence. (2) the main sentence is
a reasonable effect or a strong reason of the previous sentence--a cause. (3)
The main sentence can be "emotive expressions."
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence. (2) the main sentence is
an effect, result (3) the previous sentence should be a cause or reason. (4)The
main sentence can NOT be "emotive expressions." (5) in a dialog, it is used to
urge, facilitate the speaker
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence. (2) as a result
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence. (2) for
extraordinary goal with often the present tense (3) reason ~ with often the "past
sense"
(1) connect a phrase or sentence and another phrase or sentence. (2)
the previous sentence is (often unexpected) situational next action or natural
result occurs.(3) The main sentence should be a verbal sentence, but not an
adjectival sentence.
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence. (2) the
2nd incident/matter [main sentence] follows to the 1st one. (3) often both
sentences are "past tense." (4) The main sentence is a natural consequence of
the previous sentence.
(1) connect a sentence and
another sentence. (2) The main sentence is the speaker's/writer's suggestion,
intention, judgement.
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence; used when the
subbodinate clause is a verbal sentence. (2) unexpected situation (3) The main
sentence should be a fact, but not an "emotive" expression.
(1) connect a phrase or sentence and another phrase or
sentence. (2) The content of the main sentence is diffrent from the previous
sentence. (3) contrast two opposite things. (4) The main sentence is the
speaker's opinion and reaction to the previous sentence. (5) in dialog, to
suggest a topic used by men ( by women)
//(1) connect a phrase or sentence and another phrase or
sentence. (2) The content of the main sentence is diffrent from the previous
sentence. (3) support the previous sentence more than (4) The main
sentence can be the speker's opinion, question, emotion, unexpected thought,
doubt, suspition, etc. (5) used just to connect two senences to get attention or
soften the speaker's talk.
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence. (2) The main
sentence is diffrent from the previous sentence. (3) contrast two opposite
things. (4)
(1) connect a phrase or sentence and another phrase or sentence. (2) The
main sentence can be the speaker's surprise, unexpected matter OR the
speaker's judgement, opinion, reaction. (3) used just to connect two senences
to get attention or soften the speaker's talk.
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence. (2) to change a topic
(1) connect a phrase or sentence and another phrase or sentence. (2)
also/besides

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(1) connect a phrase or sentence and another phrase or sentence. (2)

to bring up an example
(1) connect a sentence and another sentence. (2) The content of
the main sentence is unexpectedly opposite of the expected result of the
previous sentence. (3) The main sentence shows blaming, suprise,
unsatisfaction -- negative connotation.

~(=you)

= Minna ga wakaru you ni ganbatte oshiemasu!

= I will do my best and teach you so that everybody can understand.
(=youna) + noun
A (noun/ person) + (=no) + (=no you na) + B (noun / person)
= B (noun/ person) like A (noun / person)
Ex. = Maggie no you na sensei = a teacher like Maggie
Ex. = yume no you na seikatsu = a dreamy life
Ex. = uso no you na hanashi = an almost unbelievable story
Ex.
= Soko wa marude otogibanashi no youna sekai datta.
= It was the world which looked something out of a fairy tale.
Note: (=marude) is often used with (=you) to add the meaning of
justas if
A (adjective / verb) + (=you na) + B (noun / person)
= B (noun/person) which looks /seems (like) A
Ex.
= tsukareta you na kao wo shiteiru.
= to have a tired face
Ex.
= Kiga tooku naru youna shigoto
= mind-boggling work/assignment
Ex.
= Maggie wa marude dareka ni koi wo shita you na me wo shiteita.
= Maggie had the look in her eyes of someone who had fallen love with
someone.
Ex.

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= Kare wa watashi ga souzou shiteita you na hito dewa nakatta.

= He was not who I had imagined he would be.
Ex.
= Kanojo mo issho ni kitai you na kao wo shiteita.
= She looked like she wanted to come with me.
Ex.
= Maggie wa kyou, nanka isogashii youna koto wo itte itayo.
= Maggie said something like she was busy today.
Ex.
= Kare ga itte ita youna koto wa kesshite okoranai darou.
= Nothing like the things he was talking about will never happen.
Ex.
= Otousan ga shinpai shiteiru youna koto ni wa narimasen.
= Dad, what youre worried about will never happen.
time related words + (=no) + (no you na)+ (noun / person)
Ex.
= Kyonen no youna shippai wa shitakunai.
= I dont want to make the mistakes that I made last year.
Ex.
= Tairyoku wa juunen mae no you na wake ni wa ikanai.
= My physical strength is not as good as it was 10 years ago.
(=no youni) verb
A (noun/ person) + (=no) + (=no you ni) + verb
= to do something / to be + like (someone/something)

Ex.
= Maggie no you ni oshieru
= to teach like Maggie
Ex.
= Renai wa eiga no you niwa umaku ikanai.
= Relationships dont work out like they do in the movies.
Ex.
= Kanojo wa maru de utau you ni hanasu.
= She talks as if singing.
+ (=mieru)/ (=omoeru)/=kikoeru)/
(=kanjiru)
= It looks/seems/sounds/feels+ like

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Ex.
= Kare wa watashi ga awatete iru no wo tanoshin de iru you ni mieta.
= He seemed to be enjoying my being upset.
Ex.
= Kare to hanasu to itsumo hihan sarete iru you ni omoeru.
= Whenever I talk to him, I feel like he is criticizing me.
Ex.
= Mushi sarete iru you ni kanjiru
= I feel like I have been ignored.
Ex.
= Bakani shiteiru you ni kikoeru.
= It sounds condescending., It sounds like youre making fun.
noun + (=no) + (youni) adjective = (adjective) like (noun)
Ex.
= Kanojo wa koori no you ni tsumetai
= She is cold like ice.
Ex.
= Kare wa garasu no you ni sensai na kokoro wo motte iru.
= His heart is as fragile as a glass.
Ex.
= Maggie no you ni kirei ni naritai.
= I want to be as beautiful as Maggie.
(From Maggie : = Ganbatte = Good luck! )
Clause (Subject A+ verb) + (=no you ni) + to do something
= to do something as A does/did
Ex.
=Maggie sensei ga itta you ni motto kanji no benkyou wo sureba yokatta.
= I should have listened to Maggie Sensei and studied more kanji.
Ex.
= Jibun ga omotta you ni yareba ii.
= Just do what as you believe/think.
Now lets learn other usages of (= you) besides
as/like today.

the meaning of

1) (= youni) = to do something ~ in order to do ~ / so that ~ / in such a

way ~ (to intend to make things work as you hope)

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verb (the result you hope, your goal)

do/what you did/ to hope, to wish)

(= youni) + verb (what to

Negative form:
verb negative form = ~(=~nai) (the result you want to avoid) + (=nai
youni)+ verb (what to do/what you did/ to hope, to wish)
Ex.
= Motto wakarru you ni hanashite kudasai.
= Please talk more clearly so that I can understand you.
Ex.
= Maggie sensei ni okorarenai you ni shukudai wo shinaito
= I have to do my homework so that Maggie Sensei wont get mad at me.
Ex. .
= Shiken ni goukaku suru you ni ganbatte kitanoni
= I was working so hard in order to pass the exam but
Ex.
= Ashita wa chikoku shinai you ni hayaku okiyou.
= I dont want to be late tomorrow so Im going to get up early.
Ex.
= Yoru anshin shite arukeru you ni gaitou wo fuyashite hoshii.
= I hope they increase the number of street lights so that we feel safe walking
on the street at night

Ex.
= Shourai komaranai you ni chokin wo shinakute wa ikenai.
= I have to save money for a rainy day.
When you wish for something :
You often omit the verb such as = inotte imasu = to pray or
(=negatte imasu.)= to hope/to wish and end it with (= you ni)
Ex.
= Chichi no byouki ga hayaku naorimasu you ni.
= I hope my father gets well soon.
Ex.
= Ashita ga ii otenki ni narimasu you ni.
= Hope the weather is nice tomorrow.
Ex.

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= Ii ichinen de arimasu you ni.

= I hope this new year will be a good one.
Ex.
= Kore ijou saigai ga hirogarimasen youni.
= I hope the disaster area wont spread.
When you warn someone to do something or give someone an order.
(Note: Sometimes you dont finish the sentence and leave the sentence with
(=youni).)
Ex. */
= Kaette kurumade ni shigoto wo oete oku you ni (shite kudasai/ shinasai)!
=(*Please) Finish the work by the time I come back.
Ex. ()
= Inu ga nigenai you ni mon wo shimete oite (ne).
= Please close the gate so that the dog wont escape.
Ex. ()
= Hittakuri ni awanai you ni kiwotukete (ne).
= Watch out for purse snatchers. (Be careful not your purse get snatched.)
Ex. )
= Kaze wo hikanai youni (ne)
= Dont catch a cold.
(Note: (=ne) ending adds friendliness and softness. It is mostly used by
women but some men do use this suffix.)
Ex.
= Maggie ni mitsukaranai you ni
= Be careful not to be seen/spotted by Maggie.
Ex.
= Kuruma wa abunai kara basu de kokomade kuru you ni iwaremashita.
= I was told to come here by bus because driving car is dangerous.
Ex. ()
= Shio to satou wo machigaenai you ni (shite kudasai).
= (Please) Do not mistake salt for sugar.
Ex. (()
= Nomisuginai you ni (ki wo tsukete (ne))
= Dont drink too much!
Ex. (()
= Kaze wo hikanai you ni (ki wo tsukete ne)
= Be careful not to catch a cold.

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Ex.
= Mada atsui kara sawaranai you ni (shite kudasai.)
= Its still hot so do not touch it.
Ex. *
= Ni san nichi ansei ni shiteiru you ni (shite kudasai.*)
= (Please*) Keep quiet in bed for a couple of days.
(= you ni naru) = to become~ , it has come to the point, to
grow, finally to be able to do something, to be available
(It implies gradual change. The result could be either positive or negative)
Ex.
= Toutou unten dekiru you ni narimashita.
= I am finally able to drive a car.
Ex.
= Sanjussai ni natte yatto oya no kimochi ga wakaru you ni natta.
= Now that I am 30 years old, I have finally come to understand my parents
feelings.
Ex.
= Saikin nattou ga oishii to omoeru you ni natta.
= I have come to like Natto recently.
Ex.
= Itsu ni nattara nihongo ga kichin to hanaseru you ni narun darou.
= I wonder when I will I be able to speak Japanese properly.
Ex.
= Nihongo no nyuusu ga rikai dekiru you ni naritai
= I would like to be able to understand the news in Japanese.
Ex.
= Kanojo ni sukareru you ninaritai.
= I want her to like me.
3) (=youda) / (= you desu)
= to be like, it looks like, to look as if, it seems like, it appears to be,
It is used to express likelihood of something / some events
Ex.
= Sono ken ni tsuite wa kare ga joushi ni chokusetsu hanashita you da.
= It seems like he told his boss about the matter directly.
Ex.
= Asoko de kaji ga atta youda.
= It seems like there was a fire over there.

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Ex.
= Gasorin ga raigetsu kara neagari suru you da.
= It looks like the price of gas will go up from next month.
Ex.
= Kare wa kanari kinchou shiteiru youda.
= He looks very nervous.
Ex.
= Haha wa watashi ga daigaku ni ukatta no ga hontou ni ureshii you datta.
= My mother looked really happy that I passed the university.
Note: You can also use
(=mitai) instead of (=you) above.
(=mitai) sounds more casual.
There are also similar words, ~(=~rashii) and (=sou)
I wont refer to the difference in this lesson but if you are interested in these, go
check my lessons :
(=rashii) Go check lesson
~(= ~ sou) Go check lesson
= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

= Doudesuka? Wakatta youna kiga shite kimashitaka?

= Hows that? Do you feel like you understand?

=Shikkari rikai dekiru you ni mouichido ressun wo yondene.

= Please read the lesson one more time so that you will be able to understand
fully.
How to use ( = yori): Comparative form

= Dare yori mo tomodachi ga taisetu dayo.

= I care about my friends more than anybody.

= Doukan!
=I agree!

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Hi, everyone! Todays guest teachers are Frisky Sensei and Chuzzle Sensei.
They are from Singapore. They will teach you how to use ( = yori), a
comparative form.
= Minasan, konnichiwa= Hello everyone!
Frisky Chuzzle
=Frisky to Chuzzle desu.
= We are Frisky and Chuzzle.

= Dochira ga kawaii to omou?

= Who do you think is cuter?
Today we will teach you one of the comparative form with ( = yori).
The basic pattern
A B + adjective
= A no hou ga B yori ~ + adjective
= A is more + adjective + than B.
You can switch the word order,
B A + adjective
= B yori A no hou ga + adjective
Ex. ()
= Eiga yori (mo) gensaku no hou ga omoshiroi desu.
= The original story is more interesting than the movie.
or switch the word order
()
= Gensaku no hou ga eiga yori (mo) omoshiroi desu.
Note: When you want to emphasize something, add ( = mo) after ( =
yori )
( = yori mo)
Ex.
= Tenpura yori mo osushi no hou ga suki desu.
= I prefer sushi to tempura.
Ex.
= Kinou yori kyou no hou ga samui.
= It is colder today than yesterday.
Ex.
= Maggie yori neko no hou ga tsuyokatta.
= A cat was stronger than Maggie.

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Ex.
= Kyouto no hou ga Osaka yori mo Nagoya kara chikai desu.
= Kyoto is closer than Osaka from Nagoya.
Question pattern:
When you want to ask,
Q: Which is more ~, A or B? / Which do you ~ more, A or B?
you say,
A B
= A to B dewa dochira ga/dochira no hou ga ~ desu ka?
or
A B
= A to B no dochiraga ~ desu ka?
Ex. Q:
= Raion to tora dewa dochira no hou ga tsuyoi desuka?
= Which is stronger, a lion or a tiger?
A: ()
= (Tora yori) raion no hou ga tsuyoi desu.
= A lion is stronger (than a tiger).
Note: When you answer, you can omit what the subject is being compared with.
If your answer is that both A and B are the same, you can say:
*
= Onaji gurai ~ desu.
or
* ()
= Dochira mo (onaji gurai) ~ desu.
= Both of them are ~. / They are both equally ~.
A:
= Dochira mo tsuyoi desu.
= They are both strong.
A:
= Onaji gurai tsuyoi desu.
= They are equally strong.
Ex.

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= Niku to sakana dewa dochira ga suki desuka?

= Which do you prefer, meat or fish?
A:
= Niku yori sakana no hou ga suki desu.
= I like fish more than meat.
Note: If you like both of them or neither one, you can say:
A:
= Dochira mo suki desu.
= I love them both.
A:
= Dochira mo suki dewa arimasen.
= I dont like either one.
Ex.
= Motokare to imakare to docchi ga yasashii?
= Who is sweeter? Your ex-boyfriend or your present boyfriend?

A: )
= (Motokare yori) Imakare no hou ga zutto yasashii yo.
= My present boyfriend is much sweeter (than my ex-boyfriend).
(Note: ( = moto kare) / ( = ima kare) are slang words.)
Ex.
= Hitori de tabisuru no to tomodachi to tabi suru no de wa dochira ga ii desuka?
= Which do you prefer? Traveling alone or traveling with your friends?
()
= (Tomodachi to ryokou suru yori) Hitori ryokou no hou ga zutto ki ga raku desu.
= I feel much more at ease when I travel alone ( than traveling with my friends).
A B + adjective
= A wa B yori ~ + adjective
= A is more + adjective+ than B.
or switch the word order:
B A + adjective
= B yori A wa + adjective
= A is more + adjective+ than B.

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Ex.
= Maggie wa hana yori utsukushii .
= Maggie is more beautiful than flowers.
Ex.
= Tonari no ie wa uchi yori ookii.
= The house next door is bigger than our house.
Ex.
= Garakei yori sumaho wa takai.
= Smartphones are more expensive than old fashioned cellphones.
(Note: (=garakei) / (=smaho) are slang words.)
Ex.
= Watashi no heya wa ani no heya yori mo semai.
= My room is smaller than my brothers room.

Ex.
= Hokuou wa nihon yori bukka ga takai.
= Things are more expensive in Northern Europe than in Japan.
Ex.
= Satou-san wa Tanaka-san yori mo kechi da.
= Mr (Ms.) Sato is cheaper than Mr. (Ms.) Tanaka.
Ex.
= Watashi ga sumoutori yori futotteru tte douiu koto?
= What do you mean I am fatter than a Sumo wrestler!
Note:
The difference between:
1) A B & 2) A B + adjective
= A wa B yori & A no hou ga B yori + adjective
When you are talking about (the quality or characteristics of) A you use
1) A B ( = A wa B yori).
You use B as a basis of comparison in order to talk about A. When you
comparing two things/people, you use
2) A B ( = A no hou ga B yori)

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Ex. 1)
= Nana wa Misaki yori mo kawaii.
= Nana is cuter than Misaki.
You are talking about Nanas cuteness by comparing her with Misaki.
Ex. 2)
=Misaki yori Nana no hou ga kawaii.
= Nana is cuter than Misaki.
You are comparing Misaki and Nana.
The difference between:
3) A B & 4) A B
= A wa B yori ~ & A wa B hodo
You use 4) A B ( = A wa, B hodo ~ ) in a negative form.
( = hodo~ nai ) = not as much ~ as ~
Ex. A B
= A wa B yori se ga takai.
= A is taller than B.
Focusing on A
You cant say:
X A B
= A wa B hodo se ga takai.
You have to say
B A
= B wa A hodo se ga takaku nai.
Focusing on B
Ex. A B
=A wa, B yori uta ga umai.
= A sings better than B does.
Focusing on A

B A
= B wa, A hodo uta ga umaku nai.

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= B doesnt sing as well as A does.

Focusing on B
A B (+ adverb) + verb
= A wa B yori + (+ adverb) + verb
= A does ~ more ~ than B.
or switch the word order,
A B
= A yori B no hou ga, ~.
= A is ~ more than B
Ex.
= Kare wa kimi yori yoku hataraku.
= He works more than you.

Ex.
= Kinou wa tsuma yori mo hayaku ie ni kaetta.
= I got home earlier than my wife last night.
A B (+ adverb) + verb
= A no hou ga B yori (+ adverb) + verb
= A does ~ more~ than B
or switch the word order,
B A ( + adverb) + verb
= B yori A no hou ga ( + adverb) + verb
= A does ~ more~ than B
Ex.
= Watashi no hou ga kanojo yori zutto kare no koto wo rikai shiteiru noni
= I understand him much more than she does
Ex.
= Shinkansen de iku yori hikouki de itta hou ga hayaku tsuku.
= We will get there faster by airplane than shinkansen (bullet train).
Now we will see how to use ( = yori) in more patterns.
A B = B over A / A is more ~
Ex. (Old saying)
= Hana yori dango
= Sweet dumplings are better than flowers.

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= It is more fun to eat and drink than enjoy the flowers.

Ex.
= Ima wa renai yori shigoto da.
= I am interested in work more than romantic relationship now.
Ex.
= Kotoshi no fuyu wa Toukyou yori mo Ousaka ni ikitai.
= I would like to go to Osaka more than Tokyo this winter.
Ex.
= Furansu ryouri yori mo izakaya de nan (or nani) ka karuku tabenai?
= Why dont we eat something light at an Izakaya (casual Japanese bar) rather
than French food?
Ex.
= Wan-Wan hoteru yori Nyan-Nyan hoteru ni tomaritai.
= Id rather stay at the Nyan-Nyan hotel more than the Wan-Wan hotel.
Ex.
= Otouto wa watashi yori mo motto okane wo motte iru.
= My younger brother has even more money than I do.
A B ~ = B over A / B is more ~ than A
Ex.
= Nihongo yori chuugokugo no hou ga, hatsuon ga muzukashii.
= Chinese pronunciation is more difficult than Japanese.
Ex.
= Denshibukku yori kami no hon no hou ga yomimasui.
= Paper books are easier to read than ebook.
(= hou ga)
When it is obvious what you are comparing something with, you can skip (
= yori) and just say ( = houga)
Ex.
= Michiga konde iru kara aruite iku hou ga hayain janai?
= There is a traffic so, it will be faster if you walk. Dont you think?
(skipping = kurumade iku yori = faster than going by a car)
Ex.
= Kocchi no hou ga ii ne.
= This one is better.
(skipping other option. Ex. ( = acchi yori) (better) than that one)

94

Ex.
= Ashita no hou ga tsugou ga ii desu.
= Tomorrow is better for me. ( It will be more convenient tomorrow.)
Ex.
= Ima no kamigata no hou ga iine.
= I like your present hairstyle better.
~ ( = yori) : When you describe something comparing with certain thing /
time period / person.
Ex.
= Kyonen yori nihongo ga jouzu ni narimashitane.
= Compared to last year your Japanese has been improving more.
= Your Japanese has improved since last year.
Ex.
= Kanojo wa, watashi yori mo ashi ga nagai.
= She has longer legs than I.
Ex.
= Kono omocha wa gosai yori shita no kodomo muke desu.
= This toy is for children under the age of five.
Ex.
= Mae yori hiroku natta ne.
= It is (looks) more spacious than before.
Ex.
= Musuko san, izen yori akaruku narimashita ne.
= Your son is getting more cheerful than before, isnt he?
Ex.
= Omotta yori taihen datta.
= It was harder than I thought.
Ex.
= Kare wa souzou shiteita yori motto ikemen datta.
= He was even cuter than I imagined.
Ex.
= Nai yori mashi.
= Better than nothing.
( = yori) + adjective / adverb + verb = (even) more ~
Ex.
= Yononaka wa yori benri ni narimashita.

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= The world has become even more convenient.

Ex.
= Yori hayaku jouhou wo te ni iretai.
= I would like to obtain the information even faster.
Ex.
= Yori ookina ie ni sumu tameni wa motto chokin wo shinakute wa ikenai.
= I have to save more money In order to live in a bigger house.
Ex.
= Saikin, yori hinpan ni kare kara denwa ga kakatte kuru.
= Ive been getting a call from him much more frequently than usual now.
Ex.
= Yori kirei ni toreru kamera ga hoshii.
= I would love to have a camera which I can take even more beautiful pictures.
Ex.
= Nihongo ga yori jouzu ni hanaseruyou ni naru niwa doushitara ii desuka?
= What should I do in order to be able to speak Japanese even better?
Note: In conversation, we use ( = motto) more.
( = yori)+ adjective + ( = yori)+ adjective (literal)
You may see this type of lines in advertisement.
Ex.
= Yori hayaku, yori anzen ni.
= Faster and safer.
Ex.
= Yori karuku, yori tsukaiyasuku.
= Lighter and easier to use.
Interrogative word + ( = yori ) : more than anything/ anybody
Ex.
= Dare yori mo anata no koto wo aishite imasu.
= I love you more than anybody.
Switch the word order:

= Anata no koto wo dare yori mo aishite imasu.

Ex.
= Kanojo no nihongo wa dare yori mo umai.
= Her Japanese is better than anybodys.

96

Ex.
= Nani yori mo taisetsuna mono wa kokoro no naka ni arimasu.
= The most important thing is in your heart.
Ex.
= Uchi no chiimu wa doko yori mo tsuyoi.
= Our team is stronger than any other team.
( = yori ) + adjective+ noun+ ( = wa ) ( verb ) ( = inai)
= Nothing is more ~ than ~
Ex.
= Kodomo yori taisetsu na mono wa naiyo.
= Nothing is more precious than my child, you know.
Ex. ( = kimi = male speech)
= Kimi yori sukina hito wa inai.
= You are the only one I love. (Nobody else.)
Ex. ( Old saying)
= Tada yori takai mono wa nai.
=Nothing is as costly as a free gift.
(There is always a catch for free gifts. /cheap things.)
= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
Chuzzle Frisky
= Arigatou, Chuzzle Sensei, Frisky Sensei!
= Thank you, Chuzzle Sensei and Frisky Sensei.

= Futari tomo kawaii to omou yo.

= I think you are both cute.

(& ( =rya(a) & ja(a) Casual contraction

97


= Nemuuui!
= Im soooo sleepy!
!
= Jaa mou nerya iijanai!
= Then why dont you go to bed already!

Hi everyone! Before I hit the sack, I want to give you a lesson.

Todays lesson is about casual suffixes. Heres one of them that you dont
usually learn at school but you do hear a lot in daily conversation.
I have made
*~ (=n)
*(=nakya/nakucha)
*(=chau+chatta)
lesson in the past.
I got requests a long time ago to make more lessons of this type of casual
contraction.
So today lets learn
((=ja(a)) and (=rya)/ () (=rya(a)
Lets start from (=ja) / =jaa)
Have you ever seen the following expressions?
Ex. ()
= Ja(a) matane!
= OK, see you! / Bye now!
Ex. ()
= Ja(a) ogenki de
= OK, take care of yourself!
Or simply.

98

()= ja(a)ne! (female speech )

or
()(=ja(a))
It means, See you!, I am off!
()(=ja(a) is from (=dewa)
Ex.
= Soredewa mata ashita!
= OK, then I will see you tomorrow!
()
= Soreja(a) mata ashita!
Ex.
= Soredewa ogenki de! (formal)
= OK, then, please take care of yourself!
()
= Sorejaa genki de(ne)!
= OK, then, take care! (This is more casual.)
Note: (=jaa) or (=ja) are almost the same. =jaa) is a bit lighter
than (=jaa)It means, OK/ Then/ In that case/ if you say so, or you say that
when you suggest something.
!kirakira! (=dewa) (=ja(a))
Ex.
= Dewa koko de shitsurei shimasu.
= Then, Ill excuse myself here.
()
= Ja(a) koko de shitsurei shimasu.
Ex.
= Dewa, doushitara iino?
= Then, what should I do?
()

99

= Ja(a) watashi wa doushitara iino?

Ex.
= Dewa sonnani iun dattara mou chotto dake tsukiauyo.
= Well, if you really insist, Ill hang out with you just a little longer.
()
= Jaa sonnani iundattara mou chotto dake tsukiauyo.
Ex.
= Maggie ikanai no? Dewa watashi mo yametoku.
= You are not going, Maggie? Well then (in that case), I wont go either.
()
= Maggie ikanai no? Ja(a) watashi mo yametoku.
Note : ~ (~toku) is another casual contraction of ~ (= ~ te oku)
Ex.
= Inu dewa nakute neko ga hoshii.
= I want a cat, not a dog.

= Inu janakute neko ga hoshii.

Ex.
= Raishuu dewa ososugiru
= If it is next week, it is going to be too late.
()
= Raishuu ja(a) ososugiru
*******************
( = rya(a)
In my opinion () (=ja(a)) is a casual yet cute contraction, (=
rya(a) is even more casual.
1) (= rewa ) (=rya) or (=ryaa)
We have learned (=kosoado kotoba), demonstrative adjective

100

When you use (=kore) = this (=sore) =it, this, that(=are) = that
and a subject marker, (= rewa ) with a surprised feeling or with more
emotion, it will be
(=sore wa) () (=sorya(a))
(=kore wa)() (=korya(a))
(= are wa)() (=arya(a))
Ex.
= Sorya(a) hyotto shite kaze janai?
= (Maybe you have a cold.) Dont you have a cold?
Ex. ()
= Sorya(a) okashiiyo.
= Its strange!
Ex. ()
= Sorya(a) souda.
= Youre right.
Ex.
= Sorya(a) taihen dane.
= Its tough, isnt it?
Ex.
= Sorya naiyo!
= You cant do that to me! / No way! / It cant be true! / You must be kidding me!
Ex. (a kind of old fashioned.)
= Korya(a) arigatai!
= Thank heavens!
Ex.
= Korya sugoi!
= This is great!
Ex.
= Korya takasugiru!
= This is way too expensive!
Ex.()
= Nanda korya(a)!
= What is this??
Ex.
= Arya hidoi.
= Thats horrible.

101

Ex.
= Dame da, korya!
= This is bad.
Note : (=rya) and =rya) means the same but (=ryaa)
stresses the feeling more.
verb + (=reba) (=rya)or (=ryaa)
(=reba) (=rya(a)) is used when you suggest something or
make a hypothetical situation.
You might think this is slang but this contraction is not new at all. Some of you
might have heard an old saying,

= Bouzu nikukerya kesa made nikui.

= to hate everything about that person
= bouzu = a Buddhist priest, bonze
= nikui = to hate
( = nikukereba = nikukerya = If you hate ~ )
= made = even
= kesa= a robe for Buddhist priests
This literally means if you hate a Buddhist priest, you even hate his robe.
Ex.
= Ii tensuu wo toritakereba benkyou sureba ii de wa nai desuka?
= If you want to get a good score, why dont you just study?
(casual)
= Iitensuu wo toritakerya benkyou surya(a) iijanai.
Ex. A :
= Ima isogashii?
= Are you busy now?
B ;
= Mireba wakaru desho!
= Cant you tell?/ Isnt it obvious? (If you see something/somebody you will
know what it is/who they are.)

102

((casual)
= Mirya(a) wakaru desho!
Ex.
= Dousureba iinodarou.
= I dont know what to do.
(casual)
= Dousurya(a) iindarou
Ex.
= Maggie no suppin nante minakereba yokatta
= I wish I hadnt seen Maggies face without make-up on.

= Maggie no suppin nante minakerya yokatta.

Ex.
= Donna ni muzukashii ka yatte mireba wakaruyo.
= If you try, you will see how hard it is.

= Donnani muzukashii ka yatte mirya wakaru yo.

2) (=riwa) ((=arya(a) + (=shinai) = There is
not~
Ex.
= iikoto bakari ari wa shinai.
= Youre not always lucky.

= iikoto bakari aryashinai.

Special expression :
(= ~ttara nai)There is nothing more than ~
adjective + (=~ ttara aryashinai)
= It is very ~/ It is so ~ (emphasize)
Ex.
= Omoshiroittara nai
= It is very interesting. It is so much fun. (There is nothing more fun than this.)

103


= Omoshiroittara aryashinai
Ex.
= Bakabakashii toittaranai.
= This is so ridiculous. / There is nothing more stupid than this.

= Bakabakashittara aryashinai.

= Maggie Snese yori = From Maggie Sensei

!ZZZ!
= Nemutaittara aryashinai! Jaa mou nemasune. Oyasumi nasai
= I am so sleepy! Well, then Ill will go to bed now. Good night!
Request Lesson : When and how to use =n (****
September 8, 2010 in Grammar

=Maggie Sensei korekara dokoni ikun desu ka?

=Where are you going now, Maggie Sensei?

=Ima kara kaimono ni ikunda.

=Im going shopping now.

This lesson is for you, Saki! ;-)

She said she had a trouble understanding how and when to use (=n).
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In order to understand how to use (=n), you have to know the form of **
(=** no desu. )or ** (=**nod.) because ** (=**n desu) and**
(=**n da) are spoken language of **(=** no desu.) or **(=**noda.).
Lets get started!
Can you tell the difference between 1) and 2)?
1)=samui desu.
2) =samui no desu.
While 1) is just a factual thing, Its cold. 2) sounds more explanatory indicating
a reason for something.

=Ippai kikonde doushita no?

=How come you are bundled up?

=Samui no desu.
=Because its cold.
OK, now lets change (=no) to (=n) here.

=Samuin desu.
=Because its cold.
(more casual)

=samuin da.
=Cause its cold.
It has the same meaning but using (=n) makes it sound more casual.
Basic form
adjective (na-adjective and i-adjective) and verb (dictionary form) +
=nodesu=n desu
or =noda=nda

=Atsui desu.
=Its hot. (Just a fact.)
(giving a reason.)

=Atsui no desu.
=Because its hot.
(conversational)

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=Atsuin desu.
=Because its hot.
(more casual)

=Atsuin da.
=Cause its hot.
*********************************

=kowai desu.
=I am scared
(giving a reason)
Because I am scared.

=Kowai no desu.

=Kowain desu.

When you want to explain something, giving reasons or stress the meaning:

=komarimasu.
I will be in trouble.
(explain the reason or stress the meaning)

=Komaru no desu.
=Because/ I said / You know I will be in trouble.
(conversational)

=Komarun desu.
=Because/ I said / You know I will be in trouble.
*********************************
(Just a fact)
=Okane ga nai desu.
=I dont have money.

=Okane ga nai no desu.

=Because/ I said / You know I dont have money.
(conversational)

=Okane ga nain desu.

=Because/ I said / You know I dont have money.
(conversational)
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=Okane ga nain da.
*********************************
Why will you be late?

=Doushite okureru no?
Because there was a traffic jam.

=Michi ga konde iru node (okuremasu.)
(conversational)

=Michi ga konderun de (okuremasu.)
*********************************
Doctor :
=Dou shimashitaka?
=What is wrong?
Patient : I have a stomachache.

=Onaka ga itai desu.

(more explanatory)

=Onaka ga itai no desu.

(conversational)

=Onaka ga itain desu.

Explain what is happening now as a reason for something

=Ima tabete imasu.

=I am eating
(emphasize, more explanatory)

=Ima tabete iru nodesu.

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=(Explaining what you are doing now.)I am eating now. (So, I cant go out now,
I cant talk to you now, etc.)
=Ima tabete iru no desu.
(conversational)

=Ima tabeterun desu.

Question forms :
Did you already finish your homework?

=Shukudai wa mou yarimashita ka?

(a bit stronger and sometimes it sounds accusing or challenging.)

=Shukudai wa mou yatta no desu ka?

=Shukudai wa mou yatttan desu ka?

*********************************
What are you doing now?

=Ima nani wo yatte imasu ka?
(emphasizing/stronger..It may sound more accusing)

=Ima nani wo yatte iru no desu ka?

(conversational)

=Ima nani wo yatterun desu ka?

*********************************
What is wrong? Whats the matter?

=Dou shimashita ka?

(stronger than the previous sentence, seeking explanation)

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=Doushita no desuka?

=Dou shitandesuka?
*********************************
What are you eating now?

=Nani wo tabete imasu ka?

(emphasizing/stronger/more curious)

=Nani wo tabete iru no desu ka?

(conversational)

=Nani wo tabeterun desuka?

*********************************
Where are you going?
(or
=Doko e(or ni) ikimasu ka?
(emphasizing/stronger/More curious/it sounds accusing)
(or
=Doko e (ni) ikuno desuka?
(conversational)
(or
=Doko e (ni) ikun desu ka?
*********************************
Why do you go to Japan?

=Naze niho ni ikimasu ka?

(stronger/more curious/to show more interests)

=Naze nihon ni ikuno desuka?

(conversational)

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=Naze nihon ni ikun desu ka?

*********************************
What should I do?

=Doushitara ii desu ka?

(stronger/seeking the answer)

=Doushitara ii no desu ka?

(conversational)

=Doushitara iin desu ka?

*********************************
Are you studying Japanese?/ Do you study Japanese?

=Nihongo wa benkyou shite imasuka?

(emphasizing/ showing more interest or surprised feeling)

=Nihongo wo benkyou shiteiru no desuka?

=So, you are studying Japanese?
(conversational)

=Nihongo wo benkyou shiterun desuka?

To complain:
()
=(Doushite watashi ga konna koto wo shimasuka?)
=(Why do I do this such a thing?)
(This sentence is grammatically correct but it doesnt sound natural. )

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 (stronger/ complain more)

Why should I do such a thing?

=Doushite konna koto wo watashi ga suru no desuka?

(conversational)

=Doushite konna koto wo watashi ga surun desu ka?

When you introduce some topics,
Something funny (interesting) happened yesterday.

=Kinou, omoshiroi koto ga arimashita.

(Sounds more intriguing)

=Kinou, omoshiroi koto ga attano desu.

(conversational)

=Kinou, omorshiroi koto ga attan desu.

Your listener will ask,

=Nani ga atta no?

=What happened?
*********************************
I got movie tickets. Do you want to go with me?

=Eiga no chiketto wo moraimashita ga issho ni ikimasen ka?

(emphasizing the fact you got a ticket more)

=Eiga no chiketto wo moratta no desu ga issho ni ikimasen ka?

(conversational)

=Eiga no chiketto wo morattan desu ga issho ni ikimasen ka?

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(more casual)

=Eiga no chiketto(wo) morattan dakedo, issho ni ikanai?

*********************************
I will go to Japan next week. What should I take?

=Raishuu nihon ni ikimasu ga nani wo motteittara ii desuka?
(showing more enthusiasm for the trip)

=Raishuu nihon ni iku no desu ga nani wo motteittara ii desuka?

(conversational)

=Raishuu nihon ni ikun desu ga nani wo motte ittara ii desu ka?

(conversational)

=Raishuu nihon ni ikun dakedo nani wo motte ittara ii?

*********************************
Dont you need / want this?

=Kore irimasen ka?

(emphasizing/showing surprise)

=Kore iranai no desuka?

(conversational)

=Kore iranain desu ka?

When you state your opinion clearly or bring up something important,

I dont need it anymore.

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=Mou iranai no desu.

(conversational)

=Mou iranain desu.

*********************************
I broke up with him!

=Kare to wakaretano desu.

(conversational)

=Kare to wakaretan desu.

*********************************
He is great!

=Kare wa sugoi desu.

(showing more emotion/emphasizing)

=Karette sugoi no desu ne.

(conversational)

=Karette sugoin da.

(more casual)

=Karette sugoin da.

*********************************
You dont need to know that.

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=Sonnna koto shiranakute mo ii no desu.

(emphasizing/stronger)

=Sonnna koto shiranakute mo ii no desu.

(conversational)

=Sonna koto shiranakute mo iin desu.

(more casual)

=Sonna koto shiranakute mo iin da.

*********************************
Thats why I dont want to do this.

=Dakara konna koto shitaku nai desu.

(emphasizing)

=Dakara konna koto shitaku nai nodesu.

(conversational)

=Dakara konna koto shitaku nain desu.

(more casual)

=Dakara konna koto shitaku nain da.

*********************************
You (or I) can do whatever things you like.

=Sukina koto wo yareba ii desu.

(more opinionated)

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=Sukina koto wo yareba ii nodesu.

(stronger opinion)

=Sukina koto wo yareba iin desu.

(more casual)

=Sukina koto wo yareba iinda.

Emphasize or to show more surprise,

=Kare ga yarimashita.
(emphasizing, showing more surprise, revealing a secret)

=Kare ga yatta no desu.

(conversational)

=Kare ga yattan desu.

*********************************
Oh I see/ Is that so? / Is that right?

=Soudesuka.
(showing more surprise)

=Sou nano desuka.

(conversational)

=Sou nan desu ka.

Negative form :
He didnt do it.

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/
=Kare ga sore wo yatta nodewa arimasen.nai
(conversational)
/
=Kare ga sore wo yattan dewa arimasen./nai
*********************************
This is not mine!
(Note : ja is a colloquial form of =dewa,
=boku=for boys)
=Kore wa boku no ja nai.
(conversational/very colloquial)

=Kore wa bokun ja nai!

*********************************
Thats not right.
/ (more casual)
=Sou dewa nai desu./ Souja nai desu.
(stronger)
/(more casual)
=Sou dewa nai no desu./Souja nai no desu.
(conversational)
/(more casual)
=Soudewa nain desu. / Souja nain desu.
Command form :
Go now!
!(stronger : =hayaku ike!)
=Hayaku ikinasai!
(more dramatic/more literal)

=Hayaku iku no desu!

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stronger)

=Hayaku iku no da!

(conversational)

=Hayaku ikun da!

*********************************
Eat!
(stronger : =tabero!)
=Tabenasai!
(more dramatic/more literal)

=Taberu no desu!
(conversational)

=Taberun desu!
(stronger)

=Taberun da!
Asking someone for a favor or requesting something:
Excuse me, I would like to go to Ueno(How can I get to Ueno?)
..
=Sumimasen, Ueno ni ikitai no desuga..
(conversational very common)
..
=Sumimasen Ueno ni ikitain desuga..
*********************************
I would like to study Japanese. What site do you recommend?

=Nihongo wa benkou shitaino desu ga dono saito ga iidesu ka?

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(conversational very common)

=Nihongo wa benkou shitain desu ga dono saito ga iidesu ka?

Note : go check my
lesson

From the picture above.

=Maggie Sensei korekara dokoni ikun desu ka?

=Where are you going now, Maggie Sensei?

=ikun desuka?
The original form is

=Dokoni iku no desuka?

* =ikuno changes to =ikun

=Ima kara kaimono ni ikunda.

=Im going shopping now.

=ikunda.
The original form is

=iku no desu.
=ikuno =ikun

=Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

Look at that! I simple one letter lesson turned into this epic monster lesson!
I am sure there are lots more examples, but thats enough for now. BUT I will
add more examples to this lesson in the future as I think of them.
Japanese verb tense Part 1 (Present + Future)

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May 12, 2015 in Grammar, Japanese tense

Tofu
= Tofu sensei, kyou wa nani wo suruno?
= Tofu sensei, what are you going to do today?

=Uun. kinou wa ie de zutto nete ita kara, kyou wa nihongo demo oshieru yo.
= Well, I slept the whole day yesterday so I guess Ill teach Japanese today.

Hello everyone!
Todays guest teacher is Tofu Sensei.
I love his fluffy hair.
! = Mofumofu shitai! = (Slang word) to feel something fluffy.
***********************************
! Tofu
= Minasan, hajimemashite! Tofu desu.
= Nice to meet you everyone! Im Tofu.
Today I would like to teach you Japanese verb tenses (present and future)
comparing them with English verb tenses.
When Japanese people start to study English verb tenses, they have trouble
figuring out which tense to use.
So you may have the same problem as well.
You can not simply apply the logic of English verb tenses. Ill show you what Im
talking about.
When Maggie introduces herself and tells people what she does, shell say:

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I teach Japanese on Maggie Senseis site. in English.

How would you say that in Japanese?

Some of you might think

to teach is ( =oshieru) / (polite) ( = oshiemasu)
so it should be.

/
= Watashi wa, Maggie Sensei no saito de nihongo wo oshieru/ oshiemasu.
But they are not natural.
You usually use ( = oshieru) / (polite) ( = oshiemasu) , when
you are talking about future and not what you do in general.

Ex. /
= Watashi wa raigetsu kara Maggie Sensei no saito de nihongo wo oshieru /
oshiemasu.
= I will start teaching Japanese on Maggie Senseis site next month.
Ex. Tofu /
= Kyou wa, Tofu ga Maggie Sensei no saito de nihongo wo oshieru/ oshiemasu.
= Today Tofu will teach Japanese on Maggie Senseis site.
As you see, when you use certain tense, it will be clearer with some time
related words.
If you talk about future, you would need words which represents future, such as
*(=korekara) from now
*(=ashita), tomorrow
*(=raigetsu), next month

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or
*(=kyou), today (if something is not happening yet.)
OK, going back to my question, how do you say,
I (usually) teach Japanese on Maggie Senseis site. in Japanese?

You should say

*/
= Watashi wa, Maggie sensei no saito de nihongo wo oshiete iru./ oshiete
imasu.

Now this sentence can be translated:

*I am teaching Japanese on Maggie Senseis site
or
*I have been teaching Japanese on Maggie Senseis site.
The verb tense changes depending on the context. We use the same verb form
for different tenses.
To help understand better, again, be sure to pay attention to the time related
words or frequency words that you use in a sentence.

*When you ask me what I have been doing.

Ex.
= Watsahi wa nananenkan, Maggie sensei no saito de nihongo wo oshiete
imasu.
= I have been teaching Japanese on Maggie Senseis site for seven years.
****
*When you ask me what I do in general.
Ex. Q : / (in general)

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= Ima, (shigoto wa) nani wo shite iru no / shiteimasu ka?

= What do you do (for living) now?
A : */
= Ima, Maggie sensei no saito de nihongo wo oshiete iru no./ oshiete imasu.
= I teach Japanese on Maggie Senseis site.
*When you ask me what I am doing in this moment.
Ex. Q : /
= Ima, nani wo shite iru no?/ shite imasu ka?
= What are you doing right now?
A : */
= Ima, Maggie sensei no saito de nihongo wo oshiete iru no / imasu.
= I am now teaching Japanese on Maggie Senseis site right this moment.
Note 1) : We often omit subjects in Japanese.
Note 2) Both men and women use suffix in a casual question but *(=no)
suffix in an affirmative sentence is a little feminine.
*********************
:s:When to use which one:
( = ru) (or ~ (u) ) / (=masu) *polite
1) Ex. /
= Asagohan wo taberu / tabemasu.
Talking about ones habitual action
Ex. /
= Maiasa, rokuji ni asagohan wo taberu./ tabemasu.
= I eat breakfast at 6:00 every morning.
Talking about the future, what you are going to do, your habitual actions, give
instructions.

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Ex. /
= Ahita wa, rokuji ni asagohan wo taberu./ tabemasu.
= I will/ I am going to eat breakfast at 6:00 tomorrow.
( = ~ te iru) / ( = teimasu)
2) Ex. /
= Asagohan wo tabete iru. / tabete imasu.
Talking about / describing what is happening now (present progressive)
Ex. /
= Ima, asagohan wo tabete iru. / tabeteimasu.
= I am eating breakfast now.
Talking about / describing present habitual actions or continuous actions
Ex. /
= Itsumo, rokuji ni asagohan wo tabete iru./ tabete imasu.
= I always eat breakfast at 6:00.
Talking about / describing present what has been doing/happening.
Ex. /
= Rokuji kara zutto asagohan wo tabete iru. / tabete imasu.
= I have been eating breakfast since 6:00.
*********************
Simple present (I / You / He / She / They / It do / does~ )
1. To describe what you do in general , to talk about your daily routine

Ex.1) () /
= Choushoku niwa itsumo nani wo taberu (no) / tabemasu ka?
=What do you usually eat for breakfast?

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or
Ex. 2) ()/
= Choushoku niwa itsumo nani wo tabete iru ( no) / tabete imasuka?
= What do you usually eat for breakfast?
Note 1) :
You use both ( = ru) / ( = masu) form and ( = ~ te iru) /
( = teimasu) form.
The difference between (=ru)/(=masu) and (=te iru)
(=te imasu)
( = ~ te iru) / ( = ~ te imasu) describe the continuous
actions. (You have been doing something for certain period of time.) so you can
describe the actions more vividly than (=ru)/(=masu) .
Note 2) :
When you talk about ones regular activities , you usually use some frequency
words such as
* ( = maishuu) every week
* ( = itsumo) always
* ( = maiasa), every morning
* ( = mainichi) everyday
* ( = tokidoki) sometimes, etc.

Ex. /
= Maishuu kinyoubi ni doggufuudo wo kaini ikimasu./ kai ni itte imasul.
= I go buy dog food every Friday.
Ex.
= Mainichi, gyuunyu wo ippon nomimasu / nonde imasu.
= I drink one bottle of milk everyday.
Ex.

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= Maiasa, jogingu wo shimasu / shiteimasu.

= I jog every morning.
Ex. /
= Ano suupaa de itsumo tabemono wo matomekai shimasu./ shite imasu.
= I always bulk buy food at that super market.
Ex. /
= Ano bangumi wa tokidoki, watashi mo mimasu./ mite imasu.
= I sometimes watch that TV program.
*When you are just talking about the present situation, ( = ima), now, ( =
genzai) present time, not the regular activity or routine, you dont use ( = ru)
/ ( = masu) form. Instead, you use ( = ~ teiru) / ( =
~ teimasu) form.
Ex. /
= Ima, imouto wa watashi to onaji gakkou ni kayotte iru/ kayotte imasu.
= My sister goes to the same school I do now.
You dont say
X /
=Ima, imouto wa watashi to onaji gakkou ni kayou/ kayoimasu
Ex./
= Ima, doko ni sunde iru/ sunde imasuka?
= Where do you live now?
You dont say
X / (sounds strange)
= Ima, doko ni sumu / sumimasu ka
Ex. /
= Ima Oosaka ni sunde iru/ sunde imasu.

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= I live in Osaka now.

You dont say
X / (sounds strange)
= Ima, Oosaka ni sumu / sumimasu
Ex. /
= Ima watashi wa, ginkou de hataraite iru/ hataraite imasu.
= I work for a bank now.
X / (sounds strange)
= Ima watashi wa, ginkou de hataraku/ hatarakimasu.
But if you are talking about near future, you can use ( = ru) / ( =
masu) form.
Ex. /
= Ima, iku / ikimasu.
= Im coming now. / I am leaving now.
Note : In this case the speaker is not leaving yet so ( = ima) now, refers to
future.

2. When you talk about something in general or about something that happens
all the time
Ex. /
= Nihonjin wa shushoku ni kome wo taberu. / tabemasu.
= Japanese eat rice as their staple.
Ex. /
= Uchi no neko wa ani ga yobu to shinda furi wo suru/ shimasu.
= My cat plays dead when my older brother calls him / her.
3. To give an instructions or talk about how things work you use ( = ru) /
( = masu) form

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Ex. /
= Kono botan wo osu/ oshimasu.
= Press this button.
Ex. /
= Soshite fairu wo hozon suru/ hozon shimasu.
= And then save the file.
Note : You can also say (=oshite kudasai) Please press /
(=hozon shite kudasai.) Please save
Ex. /
= Kono nuigurumi wa suicchi wo ireru to ugoku/ ugokimasu.
= This stuffed animal moves when you turn on the switch.
4. When something is supposed to happen / do something, you use ( =
ru) / ( = masu) form
Ex. /
= Kono densha wa Yokohama ni tomaru/ tomarimasu.
= This trains stops at Yokohama.
5. When you talk about what you can do:
Ex. /
= Kare wa nikagokugo wo hanasu / hanashimasu.
= He speaks two languages.
6. When you talk about something habitual, daily routine, etc. you usually use
( = okiru) to get up, ( = aku) to open, ( = deru) with ( =
ru) / ( = masu) form.
Ex. /
= Itsumo nanji ni okiru? / okimasu ka?
= What time do you usually get up?
Ex. /

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= Hachiji ni okiru / okimasu.

= I get up at eight.
Note: If you say ( = Okite imasuka) , it means you are in the
state of awake
Ex. /
= Dono deppato wa futsuu, juuji ni aku / akimasu.
= Any department store usually open at ten.
Note: If you say /( = aite iru / aite imasu), it means the
store is in the open state.
Ex. /
= Eiga wa kuji ni hajimaru / hajimarimasu.
= The movies starts at nine.
Note: If you say / ( =hajimatte iru / hajimatte
imasu), it means the movie has already started.
Present progressive (I / You / He / She / They / It is/are doing)
1. To describe what is happening / what you are doing right now
You use ( = ~ te iru) / ( = teimasu) form.
Ex. /
= Ame ga futte iru/ imasu.
= It is raining.
Ex. /
= Ima, nani wo yatte iru no? / yatte imasu ka?
= What are you doing now?
Ex. /
= Terebi wo mite iruyo. /mite imasu yo.
= I am watching TV.
Ex. /

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= Kodomotachi wa ima, geimu de asonde iru. / asonde imasu.

= The children are now playing a game.
Ex. /
= Haha wa ima, nete iru/ nete imasu.
= My mother is sleeping now.
(variation)( = teiru tokoro)
Ex. /
= Ima, kare to hanashiteiru tokoroda / tokoro desu.
= I am now talking to him right now.
You can also use ( = saichuu) right in the middle of doing something
Ex. /
= Ima, kare to hanashiteiru saichuu da./ saichuu desu.
= I am talking to him right now.
Future
(1) When you are talking about what you will do / what you are going to do
You use ( = ru) / ( = masu) form
Ex. /
= Ashita wa tomodachi to nihongo no benkyou wo suru/ shimasu.
= I am going to study Japanese with my friend tomorrow.
Ex. /
= Tsugi no nichiyoubi ni aini Toukyou ni iku/ ikimasu.
= I am going to see my boyfriend (him) next Sunday.
Ex. /
= Ima kara iku / ikimasu.
= I am going there now.

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Ex. /
= Ima, ie wo deru / demasu.
= I am leaving my house now.
Ex. /
= Ashita, denwa wo kakeru / kakemasu.
= I will call you tomorrow.
Ex. /
= Konya wa mina de nomini iku / ikimasu.
= I will go out for a drink with everyone tonight.
Ex.
= Kyou wa ie ni kaerimasen.
= I wont go home today.
Ex. /
= Rainen, nihon ni ryuugaku suru/ ryuugakushimasu.
= I will study abroad in Japan next year.
Ex. /
= Raiki wa motto ganbatte benkyou suru / benkyou shimasu.
= I am going to (or I will) study harder next year.
Ex./ (talking about future)
= Imouto wa rainen kara watashi to onaji gakkou ni kayou/ kayoimasu.
= My sister will study at the same school as I go to.
Ex. 5 ?/ (talking about future)
= Gogatsu kara doko ni sumuno? / sumi masu ka?
= Where are you going to live from May?
Ex. / (talking about future)

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= Raigetsu kara Osaka ni sumu / sumimasu.

= I will live in Osaka from next month.
Ex. /
= Watashi wa, daigaku wo sotsugyou shitara ginkou de hataraku/ hatarakimasu.
= I will work for a bank after graduating from university.
(2) To stress your intention more, you can use ( = tsumori).
Ex. /
= Rainen, indoneshia ni iku tsumori da/ tsumori desu.
= I am going to (planning to) go to Indonesia next year.
or use ( =~ u / ~ ou) form when you are talking to yourself.
Ex.
= Motto ganbarou!
= I should try harder!
Ex. Tofu
= Ashita wa Tofu ni ai ni ikou.
= I will (try to) go see Tofu.
(3) You use (=deshou) or (=darou) when you forecast
something or imagine what is going to happen in future.
Ex.
= Ashita wa, ii otenki ni naru deshou.
= It is going to be a nice weather tomorrow.
Note : You hear this sentence only in weather report.
Ex.
= Kotoshi wa keiki ga motto yoku naru darou.
= The economy will be better this year.

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Ex.
= Kono shigoto ga haittara motto seikatsu ga raku ninaru darou.
= If I get this job, my life will be easier.
You dont use ( = deshou) or ( = darou) when you talk about
what you are going to do in the near future.
X Ex. / (Sounds strange)
= Watashi wa ashita, benkou wo surudarou / deshou.
You mainly use them in a written form when you imagine what is going to
happen in future.
(They may sound a bit dramatic.)
Ex. /
= Ano futari wa mou wakareru darou./ deshou.
= Those two will probably break up soon.
Ex. /
= Korekara tanoshii jinsei wo okuru koto darou / deshou.
= You are going to have a fun life from now on.
Future progressive (I / You/ He/ She / They/ It will be doing something)
When you describe what you are going to do in future.
You use ( = ~ te iru) / ( = ~ teimasu)
Ex. /
= Konshuu wa ie de zutto benkyou shiteiru./ shiteimasu.
= I will be studying the whole day today.
Ex. /
= Rainen no imagoro wa daigaku ni kayotte iru to omou./ omoimasu.
= I think this time next year I will be going to the University.
OK, thats all for today. We will have another cute guest teacher and continue
teaching past tense next week.

132

**************
= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
Tofu
=Tofu sensei, arigatou!
= Thank you, Tofu-Sensei!

= Minnawa, kyou wa nani wo shite asobu no?

= What do you want to play today?
Verb Tense Part 2 (Past tense/ present perfect,etc.)
May 20, 2015 in Grammar, Japanese tense

Frisky
= Takusan tabeta kara nemuku natte kita.
= I ate a lot so I am getting sleepy.

Hi everyone!
We learned present tense and future tense last week with Tofu Sensei.
Today Frisky Sensei will teach you how to use the past tense and present
perfect tense in Japanese.
Frisky sensei looks so sleepy. I wonder if she is ready to teach.
Frisky
= Frisky sensei, okite!
= Wake up! Frisky sensei!

133

***********************
Whoooaaaaa who woke me up? = Dare ga okoshita no?
Ah, OK, its time to work.
Lets continue what Tofu-Sensei taught last week.
The basic verb tenses for past
( = ta) / (more polite) ( = mashita)
3) = Asagohan wo tabeta.
(polite form) = Asagohan wo tabemashita.
I ate breakfast. / I have eaten breakfast (Ive finished eating breakfast).
Talking about the past (simple past / present perfect)
( = ~ te ita) / (more polite) ( = teimashita)
4) = Asagohan wo tabete ita.
(polite form) = Asagohan wo tabete imashita.
I was eating breakfast. / I had been eating breakfast. / I used to eat breakfast.
Talking about what was / has been happening in past / what someone used to
do
***************************************
Simple past (I / You / He / She / They / It did)
1) Describe what you did/ what happened at a specific time.
You use ( = ta) / ( = mashita)
Ex. /
= Kinou, hyakupeiji mo yonda/ yomimashita.
= I read 100 pages yesterday.
Ex. /
= Amazon de chuumon shita hon ga kyou todoita/ todokimashita.
= The book I ordered online arrived today.

134

Ex. /
= Kyou no yoji ni hikouki de narita ni tsuita/ tsukimashita.
= We landed in Narita Airport at 4:00 today.
Ex. / (or more causal
= Itsu, nihon ni kita no?/ kita no desu ka? (kitan desu ka?)
= When did you come to Japan?
Ex.
= Kyonen no sangatsu ni Kyouto ni itta / ikimashita.
= I went to Kyoto last March.
Ex. Facebook /
= Maggie no shashin wo Feisubukku ni sakuya, appu shita/ shimashita.
= I posted Maggies picture on Facebook last night.
2) When you describe some action that has been completed already
When you focus on the state after the action, you use
(= ~ teita / ~ te imashita)
Ex. 8 /
= Hachiji niwa mou ie ni kaette ita/ imashita.
= I was already home at 8:00.
(describing the state of being home)
Ex.
= Mada kono kanji wa naratte inai/ imasen.
= I havent studied this kanji yet.
or
When you focus on the action, you use
( = ta) / ( = mashita)

135

Ex. /
= Kare wa mou kaetta yo / kaerimashita yo.
= He has already left. / He is gone already.
Ex. Frisky /
= Frisky wa atarashii ressun wo tsukutta/ tsukurimashita.
= Frisky made a new lesson. / Nemo have made a new lesson.
Past progressive (I were / You were / He/ She was / They were / It was+
doing)
*To describe what you were doing/ what was happening in past
( = ~ te ita)/ ( = teimashita)
Ex. /
= Kyonen no imagoro, furansugo wo benkyou shiteita/ shiteimashita.
= This time last year I was studying French.
Ex. /
= Kinou, denwa wo kaketa toki, nani wo yatte itano/ yatte imashita ka?
= What were you doing when I called you?
Ex.
= Shawaa ni haitte ita yo./ imashitayo.
= I was taking a shower.
Ex. /
= Senshuu wa sakura no hanaga kirei ni saite ita/ saite imashita.
= Last week cherry blossoms were blooming beautifully last week.
Note: If you say ( = saita) it means cherry blossoms bloomed
Ex.

136

= Kinou, sono mise wo tootta toki, takusan no hito ga gyouretsu ni narande

matte ita/ imashita.
= When I passed by the store yesterday, many people were standing in line.
Present perfect (I / You / He / She / They have done / It has done )
1) When you talk about what you have done, completion of some action
Use ( = ta) / ( = mashita)
Ex. /
= Mou shukudai owatta/ owarimashita ka?
= Have you finished your homework already? (Did you finish your homework
already?)
Ex. /
Un, mou owatta. / Hai, mou owarimashita.
= Yes, I have finished it. (I finished it)
Ex. /
= Dono gurai, matta / machimashita ka?
= How long have you been waiting?
Ex. 30
= Sanjuppun gurai, matta/ machimashita.
= I have been waiting about 30 minutes. or I waited about 30 minutes.
****
2) When you talk about someones experiences in the past.
Ex.
= Nihon ni sankai itta/ kimashita.
= I have been to Japan three times.
Ex. /
= Nattou wa nankai mo tabetayo/ tabemashita yo.

137

= I have eaten / ate Natto many times.

*When you stress your experiences more,
you use ( = takoto ga aru) / ( = takoto ga
arimasu.)
Ex.
= Nihon ni itta koto ga aru / arimasuka?
= Have you ever been to Japan?
Ex.
= Iie, itta koto ga nai/ arimasen
= No, I havent been there.
Ex. /
= Nattou wo tabeta koto ga aru/ arimasu ka?
= Have you ever tried natto?
Ex. /
= Ikkai dake sono mise ni itta koto ga aru yo./itta koto ga arimasu yo.
= I have been to the place just once.
used to do (I / You/ He/ She / They/ It use to do / There used to be)
When you talk about what you used to do, past habitual actions,
you use ( = ~ te ita) / ( = teimashita)
Ex.
= Kono sofuto wa yoku tsukatte ita/ tsukatteimashita.
= I used to use this software a lot.
Ex. /
= Mae wa jitensha de kaisha ni itte ita/ itte imashita.
= I used to go to the office by bike.

138

You use ~ ( = teita) + ( = monoda) / ( = monodesu)

when you recall your past experiences like you tell a story.
Ex.
= Mukashi wa kono kouen de yoku yakyuu wo shiteita monoda/monodesu.
= I used to play baseball in this park a long time ago.
Ex.
= Kodomo no koro wa tezukuri no omocha de asonde ita monoda/monodesu.
= When we were children, we used to play with handmade toys.
When you are talking about what you were going to do in past
You can also use ( = tsumori) + ( = datta)/ =deshita)
Ex. */

= Kyou, kanojo ni au tsumori datta ga dotakyan sareta./ au tsumori deshitaga

dotakyan saremashita.
= I was going to see her today, but she cancelled at the last minute.
(* = dotakyan = (slang) to cancel in the last minute)
Ex. /

= Sensei ni shukudai wo miseru tsumori dattaga yameta./ miseru tsumori

deshitaga yamemashita.
= I was going to show my homework to the teacher, but I didnt.

= Yatto ressun ga owariashita. Mou nete ii?

= I finally finished the lesson. Can I sleep now?
**********
= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei.
Frisky zzz
= Frisky sensei , arigatou!! Yukkuri nete kudasaine. Oyasumi nasai. zzz
139

= Thank you Frisky Sensei. Sleep tight. Good night. Zzz

How to use (=sae)
March 28, 2015 in Grammar

.
= Aah.. kono repooto sae owareba soto de asoberun dakedo
= Ahh, all I have to do is to finish this report and I can go out and play but.

Hello everyone!
Todays guest teacher is this super cute Vinnie Sensei.
He will teach you how to use (=sae)
Vinnie Sensei
= Vinnie sensei yoroshikune!
= Vinnie Sensei, please go ahead!
*********************************
Vinnie
= Hajimemashite, Vinnie desu.
= Nice to meet you. Im Vinnie.

= Kyou wa hajimete no ressun desu ga, ganbarimasu.

= Today is my first lesson, but I will do my best.

140

So as Maggie Sensei said, I will teach you how to use (=sae)

How to form
noun + (=sae) = even ~
Ex. = Maggie sae
to emphasize more
noun + (=desae)
Ex. =Maggie de sae
to emphasize even more
noun + (=de sae mo)
Ex. ( = Maggie de sae mo)
noun + other particle + (=sae)
Ex. (=Maggie ni sae)
Ex. (=Maggie to sae)
Ex. (=Maggie kara sae), etc.
verb
The form of the verb changes depending on the usage of (=sae)
(1) nominalize a verb
1) plain form + (= no)
Ex. (= iku) to go + (= no)
(= iku no sae)
2) plain form + (= koto)
Ex. (= iku) to go + (= koto)
(= Iku koto sae)
3) verb plain form (+(=koto) ) +other particle + (=sae)

141

Ex. (=iku to sae) , etc.

(2) verb (= te) form + (= sae)
Ex. (= iku) to go
(= itte) + (=sae)
(= itte sae)
Ex. (= suru) to do
(= shitesae)
Ex. (= kuru) to come
(= kisae)
(3)
1) make (= masu) form
Ex. (= ikimasu)
2) delete (= masu) and add (= sae)
Ex. (= iki) + (= sae)
(= iki sae)
Ex. (= suru) to do
(= shisae)
Ex. (= kuru) to come
(= kisae)
**************************************
How and when to use (=sae)
1) even so much as, not even
noun / nominalized verb ( (= no ) / ( = koto) ) + ( ( = de)) + ( =
sae)
(1) even, so much as,

142

Ex.
= Kono robotto wa hashiru koto sae dekimasu.
= This robot can even run.
Ex.
= Gendai wa, chiisana kodomo de sae sutoresu wo kakaete iru rashii.
= I heard even little children feel stressed.
Ex.
= Juunen tatta ima desae, ano koro no koto wo omoidasu to tsurai.
= Even now after ten years, it hurts when I remember those days.
Ex.
= Nihongo wo mada hajimeta bakari de hiragana wo yomu koto sae mada
muzukashii desu.
= I just started to study Japanese and even reading hiranaga is still difficult for
me.
Ex.
= Shokuhi sae kechitte ryokoudai wo tameta.
= I even skimped on food and saved up for the trip.
Ex. ((=^
^)y
= Maggie sensei wa, inugo dake dewa naku nekogo sae dekita. (Nya-!)
= Maggie Sensei could speak not just dog language but also cat language.
(Meow!)
*even + quote
quote + (= to) + ( = sae)
Ex.
= Kanojo wa boku no koto wo suki dato sae itta noni
= She even said she liked me.

143

(2) not even

Ex.
= Naganen, eigo wo benkyou shiteitemo jikoshoukai sae eigo de dekinai hito ga
ooi.
= There are many people who have been studying English for a long time, but
they cant even give a self-introduction.
Ex.
= Kantanna mondai de sae wakaranai.
= I dont understand even easy questions.
Ex.
= Nihongo nouryokushiken ikyuu wa nihonjin de sae muzukashii.
= JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) Level 1 is difficult even for
Japanese.
Ex.
= Nebou shita node gyuunyuu wo nomu jikan sae nakatta.
= I overslept so I didnt even have a time to drink milk.
Ex.
= Hazukashikute kare no me wo miru koto sae dekinakatta.
= I was so embarrassed that I couldnt even look in his eyes.
Ex.
= Sensei wa, watashi no namae sae oboete inakatta.
= The teacher didnt even remember my name.
Ex.
= Koneko wa keikai shite miruku wo nomisae shinai.
= The kitten is so cautious and it doesnt even drink milk.
Ex.
= Haga itakute okayu sae taberarenai.

144

= My tooth hurts so bad that I cant even have rice porridge.

Ex.
= Oya de sae mo kare ga nani wo kangaete iru ka wakaranakatta.
= Even his parents didnt know what he was thinking about.
Note: You can replace it with (= sura). (= sura) is slightly more formal
and literal.
not even + V + where/who/whether /how
V+ (=ka sae)
Ex.
= Kare ga doko ni sundeiru no ka sae wakaranai.
= I dont even know where he lives.
Ex.

= Yopparatte ita node jibun ga douyatte ie ni kaetta no ka sae oboete inakatta.

= I was so drunk that I didnt even remember how I got home.
Ex.

= Amari ni heya ga chirakatteite doko kara souji wo hajimetara ii no ka sae

wakaranai.
= My room is so messy that I dont even know where to begin cleaning.
Note :
You can combine (=sae) with some other particles. Basically it adds the
meaning of even
particle (=ni)
Ex.
= Kare wa kodomo ni tsumetai.
= He is cold towards children.

145

(=ni) + (=sae)

= Kare wa kodomo ni sae tsumetai.

= He is cold even towards children
particle (=to)
Ex. Vinnie
= Vinnie wa gesuto sensei ni natte mo iiyo to itta.
= Vinnie said he would be a guest teacher.

(=to) + (=sae)
Vinnie
= Vinnie wa gesuto sensei ni natte mo iiyo to sae itta.
= Vinnie even said he would be a guest teacher.
2) conditional (= sae ~ ba) / (= sae ~ tara)
if only, all you have to do is ~ / all I need is to ~ / as long as ~ / if you just ~
Ex. Vinnie
= Vinnie sae yokereba nihon no sensei ni natte kuremasen ka?
= If its OK with you, Vinnie, can you be my (our) Japanese teacher?
Ex.
= Anata sae soba ni ite kuretara watashi wa shiawase desu.
=As long as you are next to me, I will be happy.
(stressing (= anata) you)

Ex.

146

= Anataga soba ni ite kuresae shitara watashi wa shiawase desu.

=As long as you are next to me, I will be happy.
(stressing (= anata ga soba ni ite kureru) your being
next to me)
Ex.
= Paatii niwa kao sae dashite kurereba ii desu.
= All you have to do is to make an appearance (= show your face) at the party
Ex.
= Chiketto sae areba hairemasu.
= All you need is a ticket to get in.
Ex.
= Mikisaa sae areba dare demo kantan ni tsukuremasu.
= All you need is a blender. Anybody can make it easily.
Ex.
= Jugyou ni mainichi shusseki sae sureba tani ga toreru
= If you just attend the class everyday, you can get credits.
Ex.
= Okane sae areba shiawase toiu wake dewa nai.
= It is not true that we would be happy if we only had money.
With verbs :
Ex. (female speech)
= Ayamari sae sureba iinante omowanai dene.
= Dont think just apologizing is enough.
Ex.
= Musuko ga gakkou ni ikisae sureba sorede juubun desu.

147

= All I need it my son to go to school. Thats enough.

Ex.
= Watashi ga motto kaji wo tetsudai sae sureba tsuma mo manzoku darou.
= If I only help housework more, my wife will be happy.
Ex.
(=sae ~ ba ~ noni) / ~ (=sae ~ tara~ noni) /
(=sae ~ ba)
Bringing up what you dont (didnt) have/ what is impossible at the moment and
express your disappointments, regrets or desire.
Ex.
= Kono mondai sae toketara hyakuten datta noni.
= If only I could have solved this problem, I could have had a perfect score.
Ex. Vinnie
= Jikan sae areba issho ni Vinnie sensei to asobini ikeru noni.
= If only I had time, I would be able to go out with Vinnie.
Ex. iPad
= Ato ichimanen sae areba atarashii iPad ga kaeru noni.
= If only I had 10,000 yen more, I could buy a new iPad.
Ex.
= Pasuwaado sae omoidasereba kono deeta ga toridaseru noni.
= If only I could remember my password, I could get the data.
Ex.
= Jisho sae tsukaetara shiken ni ukatta noni.
= If only I could have used a dictionary, I could have passed the exam.
When you are talking about some status, you use
Verb (-form) /

148

= Verb (te-form) sae + ~ ba/ tara

= If only ~
When someone/something fulfill
result.

certain condition, you will get a preferable

When someone/something fulfill certain condition, that will be sufficient/good

enough
Ex.
= Anata wa soko de waratte sae ite kuretara iidesu.
= You just be there and smile. Thats all I need.
Ex.
= Shizukani shite sae ireba mata tsurete kite ageru.
= I will bring you here again if you only keep quiet.
Ex.
= Ichinichi ugokazu ni netesae itara naoru deshou.
= All you have to do is to stay still in bed for one day to feel better.
Note: Again, if you use this pattern with (=noni) you can express your
disappointment/regret feelings which didnt happen in the past.
Ex.
= Kanojo ga watashi ni souitte sae kuretara konna koto niwa naranakatat noni
= If she only had told me, it wouldnt have turned out like this.
Verb++
= Verb+te sae ~ kureru/ kurenai
=Even do something for me/ Not even do something for me.
Ex.
= Kare wa watashi no hou wo mite sae kurenai.
= He doesnt even look at me.
Note :

149

All you need to do is to do your homework

can be translated

1)
=Shukudai wo yari sae sureba ii
2)
= Shukudai wo yatte sae itara ii.
The difference:
1) You are talking about what you need to do from now. (focusing on the future
action)
2) You are talking about what you have done and future. (focusing on the
current status)
Now well go deeper.

*******************************
Lets compare the following sentences, a) ~ d)
a) & b) gives a condition c) & d) shows a regret for what you didnt do in past.
You stress the word before (=sae)

a)
= Maggie sensei wa shukudai sae yattara kamitsukimasen.
= As long as you do YOUR HOMEWORK, Maggie Sensei wont bite you.
(stressing (=shukudai) homework)
b)
= Maggie sensei wa shukudai wo yarisae sureba kamitsukimasen.
= As long as you DO YOUR HOMEWORK , Maggie Sensei wont bite you.

150

(stressing =shukudai wo yaru = to do ones homework)

********
c)
= Shukudai sae yattara Maggie Sensei ni kamitsukarenakatta noni.
= If I only I had done my HOMEWORK, Maggie Sensei wouldnt have bit me.
(Literally: I wouldnt have been bitten by Maggie.)
(stressing (=shukudai) homework)
d)
= Shukudai wo yarisae shitara Maggie Sensei ni kamitsukarenkatta noni.
= If I only I HAD DONE MY HOMEWORK, Maggie Sensei wouldnt have bit me.
(Literally: I wouldnt have been bitten by Maggie.)
(stressing =shukudai wo yaru = to do ones homework)
OK, thats about it.

= Inu no boku de sae nihongo ga oshierarerun dakara minna mo ganbattene.

= Even I, who is a dog, can teach Japanese, so you all should try harder.
I will be back here sometime. = Matane! = See you!
****************************************************
= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
Vinnie

= Watashi wa fureburu ni yowai no de mata Vinnie sensei ni chikai shourai,

gesuto sensei to shite kite moraou to omoimasu.
= I have a sweet spot for French bulldogs for some reason, I will have him again
as a guest teacher in near future.

= Watashi ga ikite sae itara kare wo deito ni sasoun dakedo

= If only I were alive, I would ask him out but
151

Japanese Colloquial Abbreviations

May 1995 (Note : 'neutral' form means 'dictionary' form, a.k.a. 'shshikei'; 'stem'
means '-masu' form, a.k.a. 'renykei'; corrections and additions most welcome.)
~no da > ~n da ex : zenzen shiranakatta n da (no da)
~nai > ~n ex : hito koto mo iwande, kaettetta (hito koto mo iwanaide, kaette itta)
~shinai de = ~sen de ex : nan ka sen de mo...
~shika/hoka nai > ~kkya nai ex : yaru kkya nai (yaru shika/hoka nai)
nani ka > nanka ex : nanka ki ni natteru koto aru no ? (nani ka ki ni natte iru
koto aru no ?)
doko ka/kara > dokka/dokkara ex : dokka ni shimattoku tsumori datta kedo
(doko ka ni shimatte oku tsumori datta kedo)
<stem of verb>oru = <final form> ex : Kare no okage de, inochi-biroi de shi-otta
(=shita)
<verb final form> > <stem of verb>yagaru (very colloquial) ex : nani shiyagaru?
(nani o suru?) ex : shiniyagare ! (shine !)
~te chdai > ~te cho ex : kashite cho !
~te shikata (ga) nai >~te sh nai
~te iru kara > ~te kkara ex : ima nihon-go naratte kkara, shigoto sagasu nante
tondemonai (nihon-go o naratte iru kara, shigoto o sagasu nante tondemonai)
~ta dar > ~tar ex : m detar (m deta dar)
~te ageru > ~tageru ex : kimi n dachi, nattageru yo (kimi no tomodachi ni natte
ageru yo)
~te iru/oru > ~teru/~toru ex : ima konpyta tsukatteru (tsukatte iru) ex : chittomo
wakattoran (wakatte oranai)
~te iku > ~teku ex : kore kara dandan fueteku dar (fuete iku dar)
~te iru no ja nai > ~te n ja nai (='~te wa ikenai/naranai') ex : baka itte n ja nai
(baka o itte iru no de wa nai)
~te iru no nara > ~te n nara ex : Tdai ni hairu koto neratte n nara, tokoton
benky shitara (d)?
~te oku > ~toku ex : eiga no kippu kattoita (katte oita) l ~te shimau > ~chimau >
~chau ex : marugoto tabechatta (tabete shimatta)
~de shimau > ~jimau > ~jau ex : bru zenbu nonjatta (nonde shimatta)
~te wa > ~cha ex : o-yatsu tabecha ikenai yo (tabete wa)
~de wa > ~ja ex : zenbu nonja abunai (zenbu nonde wa abunai)
~te mo > ~ta tte ex : isoide katazuketa tte, sh ga nai (isoide katazuketemo,
sh ga nai)
~de wa nai > ~ja nai > ~jan ex : kore kattara jan ( de wa nai)
~no ja nai > ~n ja. ex : kanningu su n ja (kanningu o suru no ja nai)

152

[verb]e-ba > ~ya (For a phonetic reason, 'tsukau' cannot be abbreviated.) ex :

mirya wakaru dar (mireba) ex : makasetokya (makasete okeba )
[stem of -i adjective/of 'tai' form of verb]-kereba > kuba ex : hont ni hoshikuba
sei-ippai hataraku kkya nai (hoshikereba) ex : raish, Tky ni ikitakuba,
shukudai chanto shinasai (ikitakereba)
~re/ra-nai > ~nnai ex : chgoku-go sappari wakannai (wakaranai) ex : kirei ni
taberannai yo (taberarenai yo)
~nakereba naranai >~nakucha naranai > ~nakya nannai > ~nakya > ~nya ex :
ima kara koso ganbannakya (ganbaranakereba naranai)
~ni wa > ~nya ex : sore, mono ni suru nya, ganbaru kkya nai (sore o mono ni
suru ni wa, ganbaru shika/hoka nai)
~ wake nai > ~ wakya nai ex : ore no horeru Yamada-san (o) suppokasu wakya
nai
[-i adjective ending in -ai or -oi/verb in the negative form]-ai/oi > ~ (Originally
Tky-ben) ex : attama, it (atama [ga] itai) ex : s ja n yo (s de wa nai yo)
~ka mo shirenai > ~ka mo shinn > ~ka mo ex : doitsu-go, muzukash kotoba
ka mo n
~de wa nai ka to... > ~de wa to... ex : todokete agetara no de wa to omotta
(de wa nai ka to omotta)
~ba/tara d/ ka to... > ~ba/tara to... ex : ashita hayame ni okitara to omotta
(okitara d/ ka to omotta)
~nai to ikenai/naranai/komaru > ~nai to ex : sugu kaesanai to (kaesanai to
ikenai)
~ no tokoro > ~ n toko ex : boku n toko, kite kurenai? (boku no tokoro)
~ no uchi > n chi ex : ore n chi, nasakenai (ore no uchi)
iya ni natte shimau > ya n nacchau (female word)
atatamaru na yo > attaman na yo ('chill out !') ex : rus, konyar ! attaman na
yo ! (urusui, kono yar ! atatamaru na yo !)
~to iu > ~tte iu > ~tte ex : Masako tte yatsu, ki ni itta (Masako to iu yatsu)
~nan to iu > nan tte ex : nan tte charinko ! (nan to iu charinko !)
~dakara to itte > ~dakara tte ex : dakara tte, sonna hidoi koto shiccha ikenai yo
naze ka to iu to > naze ka tte > naze tte ex : naze tte, sappari wakannai n da yo
(naze ka to iu to, sappari wakaranai no da yo)
~sore de > ~soide ex : soide, aoku natte nigechatta
~to iu > ~chy/ ~t ex : na wa nan t n da? (na wa nan to iu no da?) ex : chy
koto de, ... (to iu koto de, ...)
~tai > ~tare ex : oish supaget, tabetare !
~aseru > ~asu (Only for /strong' verbs not ending with -su; only used with ';
mostly used with the 'causative-passive' form to avoid a mouthfull; being a
colloquialism, usually not used in formal language, ie. avoid saying
'ikasaremashita').) ex : yoru osoku ikasareta (ikaserareta)
~rarenai > ~renai (Only for the potential form of /weak' verbs, NOT the
passive.) ex : sonna mazui yatsu, boku nya nanni mo taberenai (boku ni wa
nani mo taberarenai)
~desu > ~su ex : s su ka?
~suru ka > ~sukka ex : nani sukka? (nani o suru ka ?)
~suru na > ~su na ex : nani mo su na yo (nani mo suru na yo)
~nasai > ~na ex : chanto kikina (kikinasai)
yaru ka ? > yakka ? ex : ippai, yakka ?
itte kimasu ! > icchi kimasu !

153

bakari > bakkari > bakkashi > bakka (Dont confuse it with adjective 'baka-na')
ex : katappashi kara bini-bon bakka yonde ru
yahari > yappari > yappashi > yappa ex : yappa, dame ni nacchatta yo
amari > ammari > ammashi ex : ammashi ki ni iranai
pitari > pittari > pittashi ex : sono hygen ni pittashi ataru nihon-go wa shiranai
kore/sore/are > korya/sorya/arya ex : sorya, hinekuneta mondai jan
kochira/sochira/achira > kocchi/socchi/acchi ex : kocchi kun na yo (kochira kuru
na yo)
saki > sakki ex : sakki kara kocchi jirojiro mite ru
mama > mamma ex : kono mamma ja, ato ga kowai
atarimae > attarim > ataboyo
shij > shocch ex : aitsu ga siu no o, ore wa shocch kta yo
dekita > deketa ex : yatto deketa !
baka yar > bakkyar
kono yar > konyar
kissaten > saten ex : saten ni issho ni ik ?
urusai > rusai ex : rus ! damare !
omoshiroi > omoroi ex : Nihon-go, omoroi kotoba ? (Nihon-go wa omoshiroi
kotoba ?)
omoshiroku nai > omoronai
sugoku > sugoi (Recent and quite colloquial adverbial form used by younger
Japanese) ex : ano eiga sugoi omoroi ne ? (sugoku omoshiroi ne ?)
mechakucha > mechankko (='sugoku') ex : nihon-go, mechankko sug kotoba
jan ! (mechakucha sugoi kotoba de wa nai !)
mechakucha > mecha ('out of control') ex : sorya, mecha da ne ! (sore wa,
mechakucha da ne !)
dekai oppai > dekapai ex : jima Naoko tte, dekapai (jima Naoko to iu hito,
dekai oppai)
mattaku > ttaku > taku ex : taku, aitsu, m takusan !
mochiron > mochi
o-matase shimashita > o-mata ex : o-mata, gomen ne
gozaimasu > zamasu
go-kur sama > go-kur san > gossan
hajimemashite > majimemashite (Play on words with)
ohay gozaimasu > ohay > osu
konnichiwa > chiwa/konncha/ncha
saynara > sainara
<negative final form of verb> > <stem of verb> wa/ya shinai ex : zenzen
wakarya shinai (wakaranai)
anata > anta > an (Dont over-use this word; for more info, read observation
somewhere in my post on wa/ga) ex : anta, o-nimotsu
yakamash > jakamash
o-kage sama de > tokage sama de (A play on words with 'tokage', lizard)
shou > seou
dei > desu
sonna kottarou > sonna koto darou
mitsukarikkonai > mitsukaru hazu ga nai
[] (dokoroka)

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Meaning: far from A, in fact B; not just; even

Example: Far from being nice, she is in fact an ogre.
([] )(Sorekkiri)
Meaning: Since, since then
Example: Since then, I haven't seen Spike.
[] (kkonai)
Meaning: Vpm, impossible to
Example: I cant possibly get a Nobel prize
[] (doushitemo)
Meaning: absolutely, surely, by all means, no matter what, at any cost; after
all
Example: No matter what I did, Tom wouldn't do what I told him.
Dake no koto wa aru:
Meaning: no wonder; its not surprising that
Ni yoru to/ni yoreba
Meaning: according to
[] (haiumademonaku)
Meaning: goes without saying/not to mention
[] (kanogotoku)
Meaning: as if
[] (seiippai)
Meaning: as hard as possible
Example: I'll try my best

[] (sekkaku)
Meaning: with effort
Example: I took the trouble to go and see him, but he wasn't there
[] (hanmen)

155

Meaning: on the other hand

Example: the reverse
[] (nakushite)
Meaning: If it wasn't for...
Example: If it wasn't for love...

How to use ( = nara)

November 7, 2015 in Grammar
Tweet

= Nihongo wo benkyou suru nara Maggie Sensei no saito dayo.

= If you want to study Japanese, you should use Maggie Senseis site.

Hi everyone!
Today I will teach you how to use ( = nara)
It is going to be a long lesson so please get a cup of coffee before you start
reading this lesson.
OK, ready?
How to form:
* noun + (particle/conjunction) ( = nara)
* adjective + ( = nara)
* verb plain form (present tense / past tense) + ( = nara)
When you emphasize, you add ( = no)
*adjective + ( = no) + ( = nara)

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* verb plain form (present tense/ past tense) + ( = no) + ( = nara)

1) Emphasizing what comes before / Expressing ones ability or characteristic
showing your trust.
Ex.
= Maggie nara dekiru yo.
= I believe you can do it, Maggie. / You can definitely do it, Maggie.
(Showing the speakers strong belief or trust.)
Ex.
= Hitori de seikatsu suru nowa fuan danaa.
= I feel uneasy to live on my own.

= Hana chan nara daijoubu dayo.

= You will be just fine, Hana-chan. (I know you will be fine.)
Ex.
= Kare nara musume wo makasete mo shinpai nai.
= I believe he can take care of my daughter. (I trust him.)
Ex.
= Ano mise nara nani wo tabete mo oishii.
= I know everything is delicious in that restaurant. (I trust that place.)
Ex.
= Kono kuruma nara hachinin wa noreru.
= This car can hold 8 passengers. (It is big enough.)
Ex.
= Maggie Sensei nara nandemo kotaete kureru to omotta noni
= I thought you could answer any questions, Maggie(but you cant.) (I trusted
her but..)

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From Maggie Sensei: Not true. Sorry!

2) To emphasize or to give some condition.

(Note: You can replace it with ( = (n) dattara) )
Ex. 100
= Hyakkin shoppu nara nandemo kaeru noni.
= I would able to buy anything if it were a dollar shop. (But not in this store.)
Ex.
= Ima nara gojuppaasento biki desu.
= If you buy it now, it will be 50 pct off.
(Emphasizing that it is cheap just now.)
Ex.
= Kogataken nara katte mo iiyo.
= If it is a small dog, we can have one. (limiting the choice/giving a condition)
Ex.
= Ato, nisen en yasuku naru nara kaimasu.
= I would buy it if you give me 2,000 yen from this price.
Ex.
= Furenchi burudoggu nara hoshii.
= I only want a dog if its a French Bulldog.
Ex.
= Ashita nara tsukiatte mo iiyo.
= I can go out with you if it is tomorrow.
Ex.
= Keiki wo douzo.

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= Please have some cake.

= Amai mono wa taberaremasen ga, sukoshi nara

= I dont eat sweets, but if it is just a little..
Ex.
= Kono kanji nara yomemasu.
= I can read this kanji. (If it is this kanji, I can read it.)
Ex. Maggie:
= Maggie: Gakkou no shukudai nara tetsudaimasen.
= (I will help you but) If its your school homework, I wont help you.
Ex.
= Kouiu toki, watashi nara okane wo dare ka kara karimasu.
= If it were me, I would borrow money from someone in that kind of situation.

3) To emphasize the topics. (If you are talking about ~ then..)

This usage is hard to translate
You can emphasize the topics by using ( = nara)
Ex.
= Doggie daigaku nara shitte imasu.
= If you are talking about Doggie University, I do know that university.
= I do know Doggie University.
Ex.
= Maggie sensei nara atta koto ga arimasu.
= (If you are talking about that Maggie Sensei, Yes!) I do have seen Maggie
sensei.
Ex.

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= Okaasan wa imasu ka?

= Is your mother there?

= Okaasan nara ima, ie ni inai desu.

= If you are looking for my mother, she is not home now.
= My mother is not home now.
Note: So we dont always use ( = nara) in a conditional sentence.
For example, when someone asks you about something/someone and when
you answer emphasizing what you are talking about, you use (= nara)
Ex.
= Sumimasen. Kono hen ni konbini wa arimasuka?
= Excuse me. Is there a convenience store around here?

= Konbini nara asoko ni arimasuyo.
= If you are looking for a convenience store, it is right over there.
= The convenience store is right over there.
Ex.
= Watashi nara daijoubu. Ki ni shinaide.
= (If you are concerned about me,) I AM good. Dont worry.
+ ( = nara) + noun: Giving a suggestion, recommending something
showing ones trust.
You will see this pattern in catch phrases.
Ex.
= Nihon ni iku nara Kyouto
= If you go to Japan, you should go visit Kyoto.
Ex.

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= Toukyou ni iku nara shinkansen

= If you go to Tokyo, use the shinkansen (bullet train).
Ex.
= Tomodachi to iku nara, hawai, kare to iku nara youroppa.
= If I go to Hawaii, I prefer to go there with my friends. If it is Europe, I prefer to
go there with my boyfriend.
Ex.
= Nagoya nara misokatsu!
= If you go to Nagoya, you have to try Misokatsu (pork cutlet topped with miso
sauce)
(To understand this pattern better, you can add ( = ga ii desu) = is
preferable, ~( = o osusume shimasu).)
From the picture above:
!niconico!
= Nihongo wo benkyou suru nara Maggie Sensei no saito dayo.
= If you want to study Japanese, you should use Maggie Senseis site.
( You should go visit Maggie Senseis site/ I highly recommend Maggie
Senseis site.)
3) Conditional sentence: If ~
verb + ( = no*) + ( = nara)
verb + particle + ( = nara)
adjective + ( = no*) + ( = nara)
noun + ( = nara)
Note:
*When you emphasize the meaning, you add ( = no)
*The following sentence of ~ (=nara) tends to be used for advice,
suggestions, requests, etc.

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*You can replace it with verb + ( = no dattara) / (casual) verb +

( = ndattara)
*Sometimes you add ( = ba) ( = ba) . It sounds a little more
formal.
*Giving advice:
Ex.
= Moshi fuyu ni nihon ni iku nara kooto wo motte itta hou ga iiyo.
= If you are going to Japan in winter, you should take a coat with you.
Note: You cant replace ( = ikunara) with ( = ittara) here.
But you can replace it with ( = iku no dattara) / (casual)
( = ikun dattara)
Ex.

= Kanojo to deeto ni iku naraba, dizunii rando yori dizunii shii no hou ga iikamo
shirenaiyo.
= If you are going to take her out for a date, I think Disney Sea might be better
than Disney Land.
Ex.
= Sonna ni atsui no nara uwagi wo nugeba iinoni.
= If you are that hot, why dont you take off your jacket?
Ex.
= Isogashii nara kotowatte iiyo.
= If you are busy, you can decline.
*You can use it with a particle.
Ex.
= Kanojo ni nara nandemo katte agetai.
= I would buy anything (if it is) for her.
Ex.

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= Anata no tame nara nandemo shimasu.

= I would do anything (if it is) for you.
Ex.
= Konsaato ga hachiji kara nara maniaun dakedo.
=If the concerts starts from eight, I would be able to make it./ I can make it.
Ex.
= Eki made nara nosete ageru yo.
= I will give you a ride if you are going to the station.
* Giving a request
Ex.
= Moshi dekakeru nara tamago wo katte kite.
= If you are going out, buy some eggs.
Ex.
= Kotae wo shitte iru no nara oshiete yo.
= If you know the answer, just tell me.
Ex.
= Komatte iru nara soudan shite kudasai.
= If you are in trouble, talk to me. (consult with me.)
Ex.
= Kore, tabenai nara moratte mo ii?
= If youre not going to eat this, can I have it?
* conclusion, decision
Ex.
= Ashita, ame nara ikimasen.
= If it rains tomorrow, I wont go.

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Ex.
= Kekkon shite kurenai nara wakaremasu.
= If you are not planning to marry me, I will break up with you.
Ex.

= Umarete kuru akachan ga otoko no ko nara, Magio, onnanoko nara Magiko

toiu namae wo tsukemasu.
= If my unborn baby is a boy, I will name him Maggio and if the baby is a girl, I
will name her Magiko.
The difference between ( = nara) and ( = tara)
Note 1)
a)
= Maggie ga dekakeru nara watashi mo ikimasu.
b)
= Maggie ga dekaketara watashi mo ikimasu.
a) can be replaced with ( = dekakeru no dattara) /
( casual) ( = dekakerun dattara)
a) means If you go out, I will go out with you, Maggie. / If Maggie goes out, I
will go with her.
b) means I will go out after Maggie leaves.
Note 2): verb + ( = no) + ( = nara)
When you emphasize the condition of the verb, you add ( = no) before (
= nara) .

= Maggie ga dekakeru nara watashi mo ikimasu.

= Maggie ga dekakeru no nara watashi mo ikimasu.

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*past tense ( = ta) + ( = nara): hypothetical usage: When you

assume something.
You can add (=ba) to emphasize the feeling.
(=naraba)
I will make a lesson on (=ba) sometime.)
Note: You can replace it with ~ ( = tara)
Ex.
= Moshi chichi ga koko ni ita nara nanto iu darou.
= If my father were here, I wonder what he would say.
Ex.
= Moshimo sofu ga ikite itanara watashi no kekkon wo kitto yorkon de kureru
darou.
= If my grandfather were alive, I am sure he would be very happy for my
marriage.
Ex.
= Kare no koto ga kirai nara sannen mo tsukiawanai desu.
= If I didnt like him, I wouldnt have gone out with him for three years.
( = sorenara): If so, if thats the case, then
Ex.
= Tenpura ga tabetain desuka? Sore nara tenki ga ii desu yo.
= So you want to eat tempura? Then I recommend tenki.
Ex.
= Sore nara, konya, itte mimasu.
= OK, then I will give it a try and go there tonight.
Ex.
= Hayaku, ikou yo! Jikan ga nain dakara.
= Hurry up! Lets go!! We are running out of time.

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= Sore nara tetsudatte yo.
= Then help me!
Ex. A:
= Hawai ni ikanai?
= Do you want to go to Hawaii?
B:
= Sonna okane naiyo.
= I cant afford it.
A:
= Boku ga zenbu haratte ageru.
= I will pay everything for you.
B:
= Sorenara hanashi wa betsu! Iku! Iku!!
= Then its a different story. I am definitely going!
Ex. :
= Otto: Imakara, kaisha no douryou wo ie ni tsurete kuru kara.
= Husband: I will take my coworkers home soon.
:
=Tsuma; Sorenara souto motto hayaku itte kurereba ii noni.
= Wife: You should have said so earlier.
*Colloquial usage:
We often start a sentence with ( = nara) in conversation.: If so, then,
Ex.
= Ocha ga mou naiyo.

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= We are running out the tea already.

= Nara, watashi ga katte kuruyo.

= Then I will go get some.
Ex. iPhone
= Eeh, ai hon ga ugokanai. Dakara sawaruna tte itta noni.
= What? My iPhone is not working. That is why I told you not to touch it!

= Nara, shuuridai wo haraeba iin desho.

= OK, then I will pay for repair cost. So thats that!
Ex. :
= Weitaa: Kochira no oryouri wa ato sanjuppun kakarimasu ga.
= Waiter: It will take another 30 minutes for this dish. (Is that OK?)
:
= Aa, nara betsu no mono wo tanomimasu.
= Oh, then I will order something else.

(~nakya & ~ nakucha) suffixes

November 20, 2010 in Colloquial, Grammar
Tweet

= Maggie motto yasenakya motenai yo!

= Maggie, you wont attract anybody if you dont lose weight.

= Daietto shinakucha!
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= You have to go on a diet.

We have a guest teacher, Anzu-Sensei today.
My dear Twitter Follower pupulino sent me this picture. Thank you!! !
ochame!
I made a lesson on =~chau + = ~ chatta before.
Todays lesson is on other casual suffixes.
(verb = mizenkai) + = ~ (verb) + naku cha
and
(verb = mizenkei ) + = (verb) +nakya
= mizenkei = imperfective form
People who just learned formal Japanese from text books and/or strict teachers
may find this difficult because they are not traditionally taught. Actually we use
these suffixes very often in casual conversation.
They mean to have to do something or must do something
OK, lets start!!
When you want to say,
I have to go now, many of you would translate that as,
A) (* or
= Mou (watashi wa* ) ikanakute wa ikenai or naranai
(more polite) or
= ikemasen. or narimasen.
or
B) *) or
= Mou (watashi wa*) ikanakereba ikenai or naranai
(more polite) or
=ikemasen or narimasen.

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Note : * We often omit subjects.

* (= naranai) and (= narimasen) are more formal than
(= ikenai) and (= ikemasen).
A lot of time we dont finish the sentences.

or
= Mou ikanakutewaor ikanakereba
Now, lets make them more casual. When we talk to our friends, family, or
ourselves , we dont say,
A) (*or
= Mou (watashi wa* ) ikanakute wa ikemasen. or narimasen.
instead, we say,

= Mou ikanakucha
and
B) *)or
= Mou (watashi wa*) ikanakereba ikemasen or narimasen.
will be

= Mou ikanakya
See the change of the suffix?
(verb ) + or
= (verb= mizenkei) + nakutewa ikenai or naranai
(verb mizenkei) +
= (verb) + nakucha
(verb )+ or
= (verb mizenkei)+ nakereba ikenai or naranai
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(verb ) +
= (verb mizenkei) + nakya
Telling yourself or other people what you have to do.
Ex. I have to eat.

= tabenakya (ikenai)

= tabenakucha (ikenai)
Ex. I have to study.

= benkyou shinakya (ikenai)

= benkyou shinakucha (ikenai)

Ex. I have to reply

= henji wo dasanakya (ikenai)

= henji wo dasanakucha (ikenai)

When we use them.
with possible consequences
Ex. If I dont study, I will fail the exam.
or
= Benkyou shinakucha or shinakya shiken ni ukaranai.
Showing your determination
Ex. I really have to win!
(or (
= Zettai ni katanakucha (ikenai) or (dameda)
(or (
= Zettai ni katanakya (ikenai) or (dameda)

170

When you tell other people what to do.

Ex. You have to study Japanese more!
or (
= Motto nihongo no benkyou shinakucha (ikenaiyo) or (damedayo)
or (
= Motto nihongo no benkyou shinakya (ikenaiyo) or (damedayo)
Ex. You have to go to bed now.
(or ()
= Mou nenakucha (ikemasen yo) or ( dame desu yo)
(or ()
= Mou nenakya (ikemasen yo) or ( dame desu yo)

When you tell other people what to do and the possible consequences.
or
= Motto nihongo no benkyou shinakucha or shinakya Maggie sensei ni
okorareru yo.
= If you dont study Japanese, Maggie Sensei will chew you out.

= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

= Anzu sensei ga iu you ni, motto undou shinakucha ikenai wane.

= I guess I should exercise more like Anzu sensei said.
Location particles : vs
February 16, 2012 in Beginners, Grammar

171

= Nihon ni ikitainaa
= I wanna go to Japan.

= Nihon de Maggie to asobitai

= Id love to play with Maggie in Japan

Hi, everyone!
We have a very cute guest teacher, Max Sensei from Prague, the Czech
Republic.
OMG, you are totally my type = Kawaiiiii!!! = Cuuuute!!
Max Sensei is having a great life with her mom, Nina who is studying Japanese,
enjoying running through the snowbanks, sunbathing, taking for a walk,etc.
You have quite a life, Max!
Today he will teach you the difference between the location markers, ( =ni )
and ( = de).
Some of my Twitter followers have been asking for this type of lesson, so here
you go!
You might think this is very basic stuff, but sometimes it is very confusing!
I know there are a lot of textbooks that cover this subject, but allow me to give
you my take on this grammatical topic.
Note : The usage of and varies. I will just focus on their function as
location markers in this lesson.
OK, are you ready? Here we go!
****
The basic rules of how to distinguish and :

indicates the location where something / someone exists or is. / When

an action is done in a certain direction.

172

 indicate the location where some action/events take place (Sometimes you
move around in certain locations.)
Lets study these one by one. :h:

1) When you indicate the

happen or take place.

location where you do some activities/ actions

in / at = + (location) + action verb

Ex.
= Depaato de kaimono wo suru
= to buy at a department store
Ex.
= Resutoran de shokuji wo suru
= to eat at a restaurant
Ex.
= beddo de neru
= to sleep in a bed
Note : (=neru) is not quite an active action and we usually use but
sometimes we use ( = ni).
= beddo ni neru = to sleep IN the bed
The difference :
When you focus on the action (sleeping) you use ( = de) and when you focus
on the place, where you sleep, you use ( = de)
So as (=yokotawaru)

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Ex. = beddo ni yokotawaru = to lie down in the bed.

(Focusing on the place, where you sleep)
Ex. = beddo de yokotawaru = to lie down in the bed.
(Focusing on the action, lying down)
Ex.
= Dokode sono jiken no koto wo shirimashita ka?
= Where did you hear (or find out) about the incident?
Ex.
= Tomodachi no ie de shirimashita.
= I heard about it at my friends house.
Ex.
= Ashita, doko de au?
= Where are we going to get together tomorrow?
Ex.
=Ekimae de machiawase shiyouka?
= Shall we meet in front of the station?
2) When you indicate the location where some activity/event is held:
Ex.
= Ashita, daigaku de gogo kara jugyou ga arimasu.
= I have a class at the university in the afternoon.
Ex.
= Kondo no gakkai wa doko de hirakaremasuka?
= Where will the next academic conference be held next time?
Ex.
= Tsugi no gakkai wa Nyuuyooku de arimasu.

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= The next academic conference will be held in New York.

Ex.
= Konshuu no nichiyouii, uchi de tanjoubi paatii wo hiraku kara kitene.
= I will have a birthday party at my house next Sunday so please come over.

1) When you indicate the direction/location that someone/something moves

towards:
Ex.
= Ashita Toukyou ni ikimasu.
= I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.
Ex.
= Doko ni iku no?
= Where are you going?
Ex.
= Korekara toshokan ni ikuno.
= I will go to the library now.
Ex.
= Kita ni susumu
= to go North
Ex.
= soto ni deru
= to go outside
Ex.
= Oosaka ni hikkosu
= to move to Osaka

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Ex.
= Pari ni tenkin suru
= to transfer to Paris
Ex.
= Ie ni kaeru
= to go home

2) When you indicate the place where something/someone exists:

(location)= ~ ni aru = There is/are (things/ buildings ) in ~
(location)= ~ ni nai = There isnt /arent (things/ buildings ) in ~
Ex.
= Uchi no chikaku ni yuubinkyoku ga arimasu.
= There is a post office near my house.
Ex.
= Sono resutoran wa doko ni arimasu ka?
= Where is the restaurant?
Ex.
= Kougai ni arimasu.
= It is in the suburbs.
Note : Exception : Although you see a verb ( = aru), some compound word
will be used with
Ex.
= Kore wa America de ninki ga aru geimu desu.
= This game is popular in the U.S. (The direct translation is This is the game
which has popularity in the U.S.)
(location) = ~ ni iru = Someone is/are in ~

176

Ex.
= Ima, doko ni imasu ka?
= Where are you now?
Ex.
= Ima, shibuya ni imasu.
= I am in Shibuya now.
Ex.
= Maggie wa ima gakkou ni imasen.
= Maggie is not at the school now.
(location) = ~ ni sumu = to live in ~
Ex.
= Doko ni sunde imasu ka?
= Where do you live?
Ex.
= Chiba ni sunde imasu.
= I live in Chiba.
Note : We usually use for ( = sumu) = to live .
Though there are some exceptions but we usually use with ( =
kurasu) to live, to spend ones life and ( = seikatsu suru) to live
Ex.
= Nagai aida, ano boro apaato ni sunde ita.
= I used to live in that shabby apartment for a long time.
Ex.
= Nagai aida, ano boro apaato de kurashite ita.
Ex.

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= Nagai aida, ano boro apaato de seikatsu wo shiteita.

3) When you indicate the location/ place/ objects where you place (put / install /
fix / attach) something
And when ones action or motion is directed to/onto some location or an object.
Ex.
= Toshokan ni hon wo kaesu
= to return a book to the library
Ex.
= Tana ni nimotsu wo ageru
= to put ones baggage in the overhead bin
Ex.
= Nimotsu wo shita ni orosu
= to put down the baggage
Ex.
= Kuuran ni namae to juusho wo kaite kudasai.
= Please fill in your name and address in the blank.

Ex.
= Anata no baggu wa doko ni oite arimasuka?
= Where do you keep your bag?
Ex.
= Jimu no rokkaa ni oite arimasu.
= I keep it in the locker in the gym.
Ex.
= Namagomi wa maishuu suiyoubi ni ie no mae ni dashite oite kudasai.
= Please put the garbage out in front of your house every Wednesday

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Ex.
= Kabe ni posutaa wo hatta.
= I put the poster on the wall.
Ex. ()
= Tenjou ni shoumei kigu wo (tori) tsukeru.
= to hang a lamp on the ceiling
Ex.
= Gakkou ni kyoukasho wo wasurete kimashita.
= I left my textbook(s) at school.
Ex.
= Kasa wo dokoka ni wasurete kimashita.
= I left my umbrella somewhere.
Ex.
= Kuruma wo gareiji ni ireru.
= to park (put) a car in the garage
Ex.
= Omocha wo hako (no naka ) ni shimasu.
= to put the toy(s) away in the box.
Ex.
= Kono teiburu ni osara wo narabete kudasai.
= Please place the plates on the table.
Note : If you drink/eat something at the table, it will be an action so you have to
use
Ex.
= Teiburu de ocha wo nomu

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= to have a cup of tea at the table

5) When you indicate a location / things something/someone can be fit or
contain.
(location) = ~ ni hairu / ~ ni haitte iru = to have
something in ~ / to contain something in ~
Ex.
= Kono erebeetaa ni nannin kurai hairimasu ka?
= How many people would fit in this elevator?
Ex.
= Reizouko ni keiki ga haitte imasu.
= There are cakes in the fridge.
***********
or

Confusing cases :
There are some verbs you can both use or
Here are some examples.
= tsutormeru = to work at ~
Ex.
= Dochira ni otsutome desuka?
= Where do you work?
Ex.
= Toyota ni tsutomete imasu.
= I work in Toyota Co.
Ex.

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= Toyota de tsutomete mou gonen ijou tattta.

= It has been over five years since I started working at Toyota.
Note : But if the verb is (=hataraku) to work, you use
Ex.
= Doko de hataraite imasuka?
= Where do you work?
Ex.
= Maggie sensei wa kono gakkou de rokunenkan hataraite imasu.
= Maggie Sensei has been working at this school for 6 years.
= utte iru = to be sold
Ex.
= Doko ni utte imasuka?
= Where do they sell it?
or
Ex.
= Doko de utte imasuka?

Ex.
= Eki no baiten de utte imasu.
= They sell it (them) at the store(or the kiosk) in the station.
or
Ex.
= Eki no baiten ni utte imasu.
tomaru = to stop

181

= Kono basu wa doko ni tomarimasuka?

= Where does this bus stop?
or
Ex.
= Kono basu wa doko de tomarimasuka?
Ex.
= Ekimae de tomarimasu.
= It will make a stop in front of the station.
Ex.
= Ekimae ni tomarimasu.
= It will make a stop in front of the station.
= kau = to buy
Ex.
= Doko de kaemasu ka?
= Where can I buy it?
X You cant say

= Doko ni kaemasu ka?

Ex.
= Mitsukoshi de kaemasu.
= You can buy it at Mitsukoshi.
X You cant say

= Mitsukoshi ni kaemasu.
Other confusing cases :
Ex.
182

= Shigatsu kara nihon ni ryuugaku shimasu.

= I will be on an overseas study program in Japan starting in April.
direction )

But when you say = benkyou suru = to study, you say,

Ex.
= Shigatsu kara nihon de benkyou shimasu.
= In April I will begin studying in Japan.
The action of studying )
Ex.
= Tori infuruenza wa sekaijuu de hayatte imasu.
= Avian flu has been prevalent in the world.
But when you say = hirogaru = to expand, spread, you can use both
Ex. /
= Tori infuruenza wa sekaijuu ni/de hirogarimashita.
= Avian flu has spread all the world.
Note : When something is aiming in some direction we use and when you
indicate the place where it happens, you use .

= ochite iru = something has fallen/dropped

Ex.
=Ah! Asoko ni iyaringu ga ochite iru.
= Oh, there is an earring over there. (someone dropped an earring over there.)
Note : = otosu = to drop can take both particles, and
Ex.

183

= Doko de iyaringu wo otoshita no?

= Where did you drop your earrings?
Ex.
= Doko ni iyaringu wo otoshita no?
= Where did you drop your earrings?
Ex.
= Keitai wo yuka ni otoshite shimatta.
= I dropped my cell phone on the floor.
Ex.
= Keitai wo toire ni otoshite shimatta.
= I dropped my cellphone in the bathroom
Ex.
= Keitai wo dennsha no naka de otoshite shimatta.
= I dropped my cellphone on the train.
Note : You dropped it somewhere on the train and you focus on where this
action of dropping happened more than the place where you actually dropped.
As we have seen, sometimes we can both use and
The translation might be the same but the nuance difference between them is
that while indicates one point or one specific place, indicates through
out the place/ area.
Also when we focus on the condition of actions or the results of the actions, we
use and when the action has been taking place for a certain amount of time,
we use .

= atsumaru = to gather
Ex.
= Mushi ga dentou ni atsumaru.
= Bugs gather around the light

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(the bugs are aiming towards the light)

Ex.
= Konya doko de atsumaru?
= Where should we get together tonight?
Ex.
= Maggie no uchi de atsumarou ka.
= Shall we get together at Maggies place?

Now it will be easier to understand the picture in the above.

Ex.
= Nihon ni ikitainaa
= I want to go to Japan
= nihon ni iku = to go to Japan
When you talk about the destination, you use
Ex.
= Nihon de Maggie to asobitai
= Id love to play with Maggie in Japan
= nihon de asobu= to play in Japan activity
you do some activity in a place, you use
Lets look at more pictures!

= Max nande baketsu no naka ni iruno?

=Why are you in the bucket, Max?

185

You always use for the verb

( = iru) = to be

= Koko de Nina ga ofuro ni irete kureruno wo matte iru no.

= I am waiting for Nina to give me a bath.
= matte iru = to be waiting
Some activity takes place in one location.
so you use .
= ~ ni ireru = to put something/someone in some place.

=Max, doko ni iruno?

= Where are you, Max?
(=iru) : existence

= Ofuro ni iruyo.
= I am in the bathroom ( or bathtub) .

= Ofuro de nani wo shiteiruno?

= What are you doing in the bathroom (or bath tub)?
=shiteiruno) the verb (=suru) to do : action

186

= Maggie doko de nani wo yatteru no?

= Maggie, where are you and what are you doing?

(=yatteiru) (casual contraction) (=yatteru) the verb

(=yaru) to do : action

= Ouchi de souji wo shiteiruyo.

= I am at home cleaning.
(=souji wo shiteiru) to be cleaning (=souji wo
suru) to clean : action

= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

Max
= Max sensei wa ima cheko ni sunde imasu.
= Max Sensei now lives in the Czech Republic.

= Tooku ni iru keredomo kitto itsuka issho ni nihon de asobitai desu.

= Although he lives far away, I would love to play with him in Japan someday.

= Arigatou =Thank you! Nina & Max!

How to use & () = ni shite wa & warini (wa) )
April 24, 2016 in Grammar

187


=Watashi ni shite wa nihongo no benkyou ganbatteru yo.
= I have been studying Japanese really hard well, really hard for me.

Hi everyone! I am Cece. Nice to meet you!

My mom is using this site to study Japanese.

= Inu ga yatte iru ni shite wa waruku nai desu ne.

= I would say it is not so bad considering this site is run by a dog.
So Ill volunteer to be your guest teacher today.
I will teach you how to use ( = ni shite wa) along with () ( =
wari ni (wa))
How to use (= ni shite wa)
How to form:
1) noun + ( = ni shite wa)
Ex. ( = kodomo), a child + ( = ni shite wa)
( = kodomo ni shite wa)
* noun + ( = no) + () ( = warini (wa)) ()
Ex. ( = kodomo), a child + + ( = wari ni (wa))
( = kodomo no wari ni (wa))
How to use:
A
= A ni shite wa
188

= For A
A ()
= A no wari ni (wa)
= For A
The difference between ( = ni shite wa) and () ( = wari ni
wa) (1)
This pattern is used when you want to describe something/someone that is
behaving in an unexpected way or different from the usual state or how you
think it is supposed to be.
It could be both negative and positive.
The word which comes before ( = ni shitewa) should give the speaker
and listener some specific or typical idea of the quality.
For this reason you cant use general nouns unless you give specifics about
that noun.
For example,
Ex.
= Kare wa toshi no wari ni genki da.
= He is in good shape for his age.
( = toshi) ( = nenrei ) means age but its not specific. It could
be: old, young,etc.so you cant use ( = ni shitewa) .
But if you use a concrete age, you can use ( = ni shitewa) .
Ex.
= Kare wa rokujussai ni shite wa genki da.
= He is in a good shape for 60 yeas old.
Ex.
= Kare wa rokujussai no wari ni genki da.
= He is in a good shape for 60 yeas old.
**
As long as the word which comes before gives some concrete idea of the
quality or degree, (=ni shitewa ) is replaceable with ( ) (=
warini (wa) )

189

(Ill indicate these with an *)

Note: (= warini) (=warini wa)
When you emphasize the word which comes before, add ( = wa)
Children are generally thought to be weaker than adults. So if you see a child
that is comparatively strong, you would say:
Ex. *
= Kodomo ni shite wa chikara ga arune.
= He/She is strong for a child.
Note: The meaning is similar to (= kodomo nanoni) Even though
he/she is a child
You dont want to use this expression for someone superior to you.
***
You think January in Japan is cold. / January is expected to be cold.
Ex.
= Ichigatsu wa samui
= January is cold / It is cold in January.
But if you found it warm for January, you would say:
Ex. *
= Ichigatsu ni shite wa atatakai.
= It is warm for January.
***
Ex. *
= Haru ni shite wa mushiatsui.
= It is muggy for spring.
***
Also the word which comes before ( = ni shite wa) often used with
numbers / amount / age / price

190

When you see a child who is bigger than the standard 10-year old child:
Ex. *
= Jussai ni shite wa ookii ne.
= He/She is big for ten years old.
**
Ex. *
= Kono hoteru, ippaku rokusen en ni shite wa iine.
= This hotel is good for 6,000 yen per night.
Ex.*
= Karera wa, puro no kashu ni shite wa uta ga heta da.
= They dont sing very well for professional singers.
Ex. *
= Nichiyoubi ni shitewa michi ga suite iru.
= There is not much traffic for Sunday.
Ex. *
= Yonkyuu ni shite wa mondai ga muzukashikatta.
= The questions were difficult for 4th level.
Ex. *
= Kodomo ni shite wa ji ga jouzu dane.
= He/She has good penmanship for a child.
Ex. *
= Animezuki ni shitewa anison nannimo shiranai ne.
= You dont know much anime songs for an anime lover.
From picture above

191

=Watashi ni shite wa saikin, nihongo ganbatteru yo.

= I have been studying Japanese really hard well, really hard for me.
Note:1) ( = ganbatteru) is a casual contraction of (
= ganbatte iru)
In this sentence, I used (= ni shite wa) because I see myself
objectively.
First pronoun + (= ni shite wa)
But you dont usually use ( ni shite wa) in the following form.
X
= Watashi wa ~ ni shite wa ~
= I am / I am not / I do/ dont do something ~ as ~
Ex. *
= Maggie sensei wa, nihongo no sensei ni shite wa kanji wo yoku wasureru ne.
= You tend to forget kanji a lot for a Japanese teacher, Maggie sensei.

X Not natural)
= Watashi wa nihongo no sensei ni shitewa kanji wo yoku wasureru
You say
Ex.
= Watashi wa nihongo no sensei nanoni kanji wo yoku wasureru.
= Though I am a Japanese teacher, I often tend to forget kanji.
Past tense: noun + = datta) + ( = ni shite wa)
Ex. *
= Kare wa moto puroresuraa datta ni shite wa okubyou da.
= He is coward for an ex-professional wrestler.
2) verb (present/present progressive/past/ past progressive) + ( = ni
shite wa) : Considering ~

192

(=suru) do, will do/ (= shiteiru) is/are doing, has been doing /
(= shita) did, has done/ (= shiteita) was doing/ did/ had been
doing + (= ni shite wa)
How to use: Considering ~
Expressing the contradicted fact from what you have expected.
Considering the fact you know, something/someone is not what the way you
have expected.
It could be both negative or positive.
Again you can replace ( = ni shitewa) with ( = wari niwa) *
Ex. *
= Souji shita ni shite wa heya ga kitanai ne.
= Considering you cleaned the room, it is dirty, isnt it?
Ex. *
= Mada nihongo wo hajimete ikkagetsu ni shite wa nihongo ga jouzu desune.
= Your Japanese is pretty good considering you have just started to learn a
month ago.
Ex. *
= Sanjikan shika nete inai ni shite wa genki dane.
= You look pretty energetic considering you have only slept for three hours.
Ex. *
= Daietto wo shiteiru ni shite wa yoku taberu ne.
= You eat a lot for someone on a diet.
***
The difference between (= ni shite wa) and () (= no wari
ni (wa)) (2)
You cant use ( = ni shitewa) with adjectives but you use
(= no wari ni (wa)) with adjectives.
adjective + () ( = warini (wa))
* i-adjective

193

Ex. ( = yasui) + () ( = warini (wa))

* na-adjective
Ex. (= genki na) + () ( = warini (wa) )
Ex.
= Kono sushi wa takai wari ni mazui.
= This sushi is bad for the price.
Ex.
Kanojo wa, kare ga kirai na wari ni itsumo kare no koto wo tanoshisou ni
hanashite iru.
= Even though she doesnt like him, she always talks about him.
Colloquial ways to say ( = ni shitewa) and ( = no warini
wa)
* ( = ni shitewa)
casual contraction) (= ni shicha)
* () ( = no warini (wa) )
( = no warinya) / ( = no warinyaa)
For you, thats a pretty good job, Maggie. / Maggie did a good job for someone
like her.

*
~ Maggie ni shitewa yoku ganbatta ne.
*
Maggie ni shicha yoku ganbatta ne.
*
= Maggie no wari niwa yoku ganbatta ne.

194

*
= Maggie no wari nya yoku ganbatta ne.
= Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
Cece
= Cece Sensei arigatou!
= Thank you Cece Sensei.

= Watashi mo tenshi no wari niwa ganbatteru yone.

= I am working hard for an angel, huh?
How to use ~ ( = mama)
March 9, 2014 in Grammar

= Kyou wa suwatta mama ressun wo shimasu.

= I will give you a lesson sitting down.
Hi, everyone!
Todays lesson is on how to use (=mama).
How to form :
noun + (=no) + (=mama)
Ex. (=mukashi no mama) = the way it used to be
Ex. (=genbun no mama) = sic (as found in the original source/as it
appeared in the original )
195

adjective + (=mama)
i-adjective + (=mama)
(~i) + (=mama)
Ex. (= wakai mama) to stay young
na-adjective + (=mama)
(=na)+ (=mama)
Ex. (=fuben na mama) = to remain inconvenient
demonstrative adjective
Ex. (=kono)(=sono)(=ano)+ (=mama)
Ex. = kono mama = just like this, the way it is, this way
Ex. = ano mama = just like that, that way
verb + (=mama)
Ex. ( = aketa mama) to leave it open
Note : We often use it with the past tense
(=~ta) + (=mama)
But we also use present tense
1) in certain passive form,
Ex. (=sareru mama) = just like somebody has done something to
you, to let someone do something
Ex. (=iwareru mama) = just like somebody has been telling you to,
to let someone say anything
2) in the negative form.
Ex. (=shinai mama) = not have done something and leave it
3) Or when you want to say as someone likes, wants (I will explain this later.)
Note : In casual Japanese, we say (=manma)
*(=kono mama) just the way it is

196

(=kono manma)
*(=aketa mama) to leave it open
(=aketa manma)

How to use :
(=mama) is a suffix that you add when you want to say,
just the way it is, you are, just like that
some condition/state/ situation hasnt changed
to keep doing something, to keep some condition the way it is,
to remain in certain condition/state
to stay in certain condition/state
as someone likes, wants
while doing something, etc.
As usual I will give you plenty of examples so that you can acquire the usage.

*just the way it is/was, you are/were, just like that

Ex.
= Kore nama no mama taberaremasu ka?
= Can I eat this raw? (fresh/without cooking)
Ex.
= Hai, sonomama tabete kudasai.
= Yes, please eat it just like that.
Ex.
= Ji no mama no jibun de ireba ii.
= You should be just the way you are.

197

Ex.
= Ari no mama no hanashi wo kikasete kudasai.
= Please tell me the whole truth.
Ex.
= Kono mama massugu susunde kudasai.
= Keep going straight.
to stay in a certain state or condition where some situation hasnt changed:
Ex.
= Kono mura wa mukashi no mamada.
= This village is just the way it was a long time ago.
Ex.
= Itsumade mo wakai mama de itai.
= I would like to stay young forever.
Ex.
= Zutto gakusei no mamadewa irarenai.
= You cant be as a student forever.
Ex.
= Watashitachi wa tomodachi no mama datta.
= We remained friends.
Ex.
= Ima no mama no Maggie sensei de ite kudasai.
= Please stay just the way you are, Maggie Sensei.
*when you leave something or someone intentionally or unintentionally the way
it is / they are
* to leave something untouched, to remain intact

198

Ex.
= Ima kara dekakeru kara kono mama ni shiteoite.
= I will go out now so please leave things the way it is. (Dont touch anything.)
Ex.
= Mondai ga wakaranakattara kuuran no mama ni shite oite kudasai.
= If you dont understand the question, please leave the column blank.
Ex.
= Pajama wo kita mama choushoku wo taberu.
= to eat breakfast in ones pajamas.
Ex.
= Kare wa kuchi wo aketa mama nete iru.
= He is sleeping with his mouth open
Ex.
= Mina damatta mama datta.
= Everybody remained silent.
Ex.
= Kare wa Hokkaidou ni itta mama kaette konakatta.
= He went to Hokkaido and never came back.
Ex. ()
= Denki wo tsuketa mama(de) nete wa ikemasen.
= Dont go to sleep with the light on.
Ex.
= Mado wa aketa mama ni shite oite kudasai.
= Please leave the windows open.
From the picture above :

199


= Kyou wa suwatta mama ressun wo shimasu.
= I will give you a lesson sitting down.
(=suwatta mama) means to remain seated
If you say

= Suwatte ressun wo shimasu.

It also means to give a lesson sitting down but (=suwatta
mama) implies to sit in a chair and wont move for a while.
Note : It is similar to (=panashi)
*(=tsuketa mama) to leave something (turn) on
(=tsukeppanashi)
*(=aketa mama) leave something open
(=akeppanashi)
However, you cant use (=mama) with a verb which expresses constant
actions
Ex.
= Maggie wa zutto hatarakippanashi da.
= Maggie has been working without stopping.
Not natural to say,

X
= Maggie wa zutto hanashita mamada.
to keep doing something, to maintain the same condition, to have continued
doing something
Ex.
= Kontorouru kii wo oshita mama shifuto kii wo oshiete kudasai.
= Hold down the Shift key while pressing the Control key
200

Ex.
= Mikkakan mo onaji fuku wo kita mama de shigoto wo shiteita.
= I had been working in the same clothes over three days.
as someone likes, wants, does something:
I said earlier that when it is used with a verb, we often use the past tense.
~(=ta) + (=mama)
But in this usage, it is often used with its present tense + (=mama)
Ex.
= Ki no muku mama dokoka touku ni ikitai.
= I would like to spontaneously take a trip somewhere far away.
Ex.
Aite no iu mama no nedan wo haratta.
= I paid the price they asked for.
Ex.
= Jibun no omou mama ikitara ii.
= You can live as you like.
You can also use the passive form.

= Aite ni iwareru mama no nedan wo haratta.

= I paid the price I was told to pay.
or

= Aite ni iwareru ga mama no nedan wo haratta.

Note : Sometimes you add
meaning.

(=ga) before (=mama) to emphasize the

201

Also ~(=~ ga mama) sounds more literal.

~(=ga mama)
*
= Hoshii ga mama
= as you want, as you desire
Ex.
= Kare wa meisei wo hoshii ga mama ni te ni ireta.
= He gained the fame that he had desired
*
= omou ga mama
= as you want
*
= iu ga mama
= as someone tells you
Ex.
= Oya no iu ga mama ikiru.
= to live just as your parents tell you
* = aru ga mama = as things should be
Ex.
= aruga mama no jibun wo ukeireru.
= to accept yourself as you are.
Note: The difference between (=mama) and (=nagara)
We have studied (=nagara) in this lesson
While (=nagara) is used when you do two active actions simultaneously,
(=mama) is used when you do something in a certain state or condition.

202

 verb (=nagara) main verb

to do something (main verb) while doing
verb (usually past tense) + (=mama) + main verb
to do something (main verb) in the state of ~ing (verb c)
Ex.
= Utai nagara taberu.
= to eat while singing
Not natural to say,

X
= Utatta mama taberu
Negative form :
You can use it in a negative form.
~(=nai mama)
Ex.
= Kanojo ni wakare wo iwanai mama nihon ni kite shimatta.
= I came to Japan without saying good-bye to my girlfriend.
Ex.
= Kono shisetsu wa nagai aida shiyou sarete inai mama ni natte iru.
= This facility hasnt been used for a long time.
Ex.
= Kare ni nanto ittara iika wakaranai mama miokutta.
= I saw him off without knowing what to say.
Ex.
= Yoyaku ga toreta ka douka kakunin dekinai mama hikoujou ni mukatta.

203

= I went to the airport without being able to confirm the reservation.

Ex.
= Hakkiri shita setsumei ga nai mama kouji ga hajimatta.
= The construction has started without clear explanation.
= Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

= Dare ka douyatte utsukushii mama toshi wo toru ka oshiete kureru?

= Can anybody tell me how to stay beautiful as we age?
Adjective + ( = me)
April 8, 2016 in Grammar

= Kyou wa sukoshi yasashime ni shitene.

= Please be a little nice to me today, OK?

Hi everyone! I am your guest teacher, Pate!

I just had an operation. Please be a little nice to me today.
Maggie sensei taught you the suffix, = ( = me ) after a counter to indicate
order before.
Today we will learn another way to use = ( = me ) with an adjective.
How to form:
i-adjecitve+ ( = me)
* = ( = ookii ) big

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 delete ( = i ) and add ( = me)

= ( = ookime) biggish, largish, a little bigger/larger
modify a noun
= ( = ookime) ( = no) + noun = a biggish sized ~/
a little bigger one
Ex.
= Ookime no saizu
= a largish size
use it as an adverb modifying a verb
* = ( = ookime) ( = ni) +verb
Ex.
= Ookime ni kiru.
= To cut in a biggish pieces.
Note: It wont work with all adjectives. You usually use this with adjectives that
express the degree, size, amount, etc.
Though you are not supposed to use this form with na-adjective, you will see it
used this way in conversation sometimes.
* = ( = shizukana) = quiet
delete ( = na ) and ( = me)
= ( = shizukame) on the quiet side
How / When to use this form:
( = me) : adjective ish / somewhat/a kind of ~ / slightly ~
a little less than what the adjective indicate.
* = ( = ookime) doesnt actually mean big / large .
It means size-wise something biggish/ largish.
Lets look at the difference:
Ex. 1)

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= Ookii onigiri wo kudasai.

= Please give me a big rice ball.
Ex. 2)
= Ookime no onigiri wo kudasai.
= Please give me a biggish rice ball. (a rather big sized rice ball)
So the size-wise,
(= ookii) > (= ookime)
( = ookime) is slightly smaller than ( = ookii).
( = ookime) sounds a little subtle than ( = ookii) so when you ask
for something, it sounds milder.
So you use this often when you ask for a favor.
Lets see them in example sentences.
**
* = ( = sukunai) a little, a few
( = sukuname) somewhat smaller amount
Ex.
= Wasabi wa sukuname ni onegai shimasu.
= Please go easy on the wasabi.
**
* = ( = ooi) a lot
= = oome)somewhat larger quantity/amount
Ex.
Kyou wa, deito dakara itsumo yori oome ni okane wo motte ikou.
= I have a date today so I should take a little bit more money than usual with
me.
Ex.
Gohan, oome ni motte kudasai.

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= Please serve me a larger portion of rice.

**
* = ( = chiisai) small
( = chiisame) smallish
Ex.
= Maggie, keiki tabenai?
= Hey, Maggie, do you want a piece of cake?

= Ima, onaka ga amari suite inai kara chiisame no wo choudai.

= I am not hungry now so give me a smaller one.
***
* = ( = tsuyoi ) strong
= ( = tsuyome) strongish
* = ( = yowai ) weak
= ( = yowame) weakish
At the massage parlor
Ex.
= Mou sukoshi tsuyome/ yowame de onegai shimasu.
= Could you push a little harder / more gently please?
***
* = = koi = strong, thick
It is supposed to be = (= kome) but = ( = koime)
strongish is more common
Ex.
= Koime no koohii ga sukida.
= I like strongish coffee.
Ex.

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= Koime ni shite kudasai.

= Please make it on the strong side.
***
* ( = usui) = weak, thin
= weakish
Ex.
= Kyou wa mensetsu dakara usume no keshou ni shiteokou.
= I have an interview today so I should wear less make up today.
***
* = = katai = hard
= = katame = hardish
* = = yawarakai = soft
= ( = yawarakame) softish
Ex.
= Tamago wa katame ni yudete kudasai.
= Please boil the egg on the hard side.
Ex.
= Yawarakame no abogado wo erande kudasai.
= Choose the softer avocados
***
* = ( = nagai ) long
= ( = nagame) longish
* = ( = mijikai) short
= ( = mijikame) shortish
*at a beauty salon
Ex.

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= Maegami wa mijikame ni kitte kudasai.

= Please make the bangs shortish.
****
* = = atsui = hot
= = atsume = somewhat hot
* = nurui = lukewarm
= nurume =the way not too hot
Ex.
= Ofuro wa atsume ga suki desuka? Nurume ga suki desuka?
= Do you prefer rather hot temperature bath or you prefer lukewarm side?
****
* = ( = hayai) early, fast
= ( = hayame) somewhat early/fast
* = ( = osoi) slow, late
= ( = osome) somewhat slow / latish
Ex.
= Kyou wa getsuyoubi dakara itsumo yori hayame ni ie wo deyou.
= Its Monday today so I guess I will leave a little early today.
Ex.
= Osome no ranchi wo toru
= To have a late lunch.
****
* = ( = futoi) fat
= ( = futome) fat side
* = ( = hosoi) thin, slim
= (= hosome) thin side

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Ex.
= Saikin pocchari shitekitane.
= You are getting chubby lately.

= Futome ga suki datte itta janai!

= You told me you liked girls a little on the chubby side, didnt you.
****
* = ( = amai) sweet, nice
= ( = amame) sweetish,
* = ( = karai) spicy, hot, strict
= ( = karame) hot side, strict side
* = ( = kibishii) strict
= ( = kibishime) somewhat strict
Ex.
= Gaikoku no keiki wa amame dane.
= I think the foreign cakes are a little sweet side.
Ex.
= Karame no hihyou
= a little critical review
Ex.
= Maggie sensei ni itsumo yori kibishime ni sakubun wo naosareta.
= Maggie sensei corrected my composition a little more strictly today than
usual.
***
= Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei
Pate

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= Pate Sensei, arigatou!

= Thank you, Pate-Sensei!

= Mou Erizabesu wa toreta yone.

= You got rid of that Elizabeth collar by now, right?

= Kyou wa itsumo yori oome no oniku wo moratte kudasai.

= I hope you get a bit bigger portion of meat than usual today.

Requested Lesson: ~ ~ ~( )
(~monka/=monda/~(da)nante)
April 8, 2010 in Grammar, Sentence pattern

(=Tatta hachikagetsu de kono burogu ga owarida nante dare ga shinjiru to

omou no?)
Who would believe that this blog would finish in just eight months.

(=Demo hitotte angai to shinnjiru mon dayo.)

But more than you imagine, people are supposed to believe it.

(=Souiu mon ka naa..)

I wonder if it is true
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(=Minasan konnichiwa!) Hello everyone!

We have received a request from C-san recently.

<

>
She has just learned (=monka), (=monda), and ()
(=(da)nante) at school but is not sure how to use them.
All right. I think I can make one lesson to cover all three things. Lets get started!
Ready?
(=monka)
(=monka) is a casual way of saying (=monoka) (If you end the
sentence with it, (=monodesuka) is more polite.)
(1) It shows your strong determination. Sometimes we use it when we talk to
ourselves.
(or !
(=Makeru mon/mono ka!)
I wont give in!
(more polite)
(=Makeru mono desu ka)
(or
(=Mou kesshite naku mon/mono ka!)
I will never cry again!
(more polite) (=Naku mono desu ka)
variation :

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(=Naku mon(or mono) ka to ha wo kuishibatta.)

He tried hard not to cry.
(=Ha wo kuishibaru) means to clench ones teeth. We use
this quote when we try doing something thats either very hard to do or hard to
endure.

(=Hao kuishibatte ganbaru)

to try really hard to do something.
Note : There is a movie titled (=naku mon/monoka) I wont cry.
(or !
(=Zettai ni watashi no keiki wo ageru mon/mono ka!)
There is no way Im giving him my cake!
(more polite)
(=ageru mono desu ka)
(or
(=Sonna koto wo itte damasareru mon/monoka!)
Even if you say that, you cant fool me!
( more polite)
(=damasareru mono desu ka)

(=darega yarumon ka)

Who would (want to) do such hard work. (Nobody! Thats who!)
(more polite)
(=yaru mono desu ka)
(2) If you use it when referring to other people, it sounds aggressive and
challenging.

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(=Maggie ni sonna koto dekiru mon/mono ka!)

=
(=dekiru hazu ga nai.)
It is impossible for Maggie to do such a thing.There is NO WAY that Maggie
can do such a thing.
or
(=Anata ni watashi no kimochi ga wakaru mon/mono desuka!)
Youre not going to know how I feel. / There is no way that you can
understand how I feel.
or
(=Omae ni ore no kimochi ga wakaru mon (mono) ka!)
The same meaning as above but with a much more brutal nuance.
(3) When used in the negative form, it expresses your wish, desire or hope.
(or (=Yarenai mon/mono ka)
I wonder if it is at all feasible/if I can do it.
or
=Nantoka ukaranai mon/mono ka..)
I wonder if I can manage to pass the exam..
or
=Nagoya ni dezunii rando ga dekinai mon/mono kanaa.)
I wish they would build a Disney Land in Nagoya.
(4) When you talk about something you are not sure about for example, if
youre unsure what to do about something.
or
(=Sore wa donna mon/mono kanaa..)
Humwhat to do/I wonder if it is OK/I am not sure if it is OK

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(=Maa konna mon/mono kanaa.)
Well, I guess this is all right. / Maybe this is the way it is..

(=Sate doushita monka)

Well, what should I do now

=Mou hatachi nimo natte sonna koto gurai wakaranai mon/mono kanaa..)
You are 20 years old so you should know that by now! (How can you not
know that at 20 years of age!?)
******************************************
(=monda)
(=~monda) is a casual way of saying (=~monoda)
(more polite)(=mono desu)
(1) Telling your opinion of how things should be /supposed to be or what people
are suppose to do /should do.
Ex.
(=Hito wa ~ suru mon/mono da.)
People are supposed to + verb.

(=Jinsei nante sonna mono da.)

Such is life. / Thats the way life is.
(=or )
(=Souiu mon/mono desu.)
Thats how it (life/things) goes.
(or
(=Fuyu wa samui mon/mono da.)
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Winter is supposed to be cold. (So dont complain!/So what is wrong with it?)
(or )
(=Otona ni naru to iu no wa iyana koto ga attemo gutto koraeru mon(mono) da.)
(more polite)
(=koraeru mono desu.)
You should be able to put up with everything while you are growing up.
or
(=Shigotoba wa itsumo kirei ni shite itai mon/mono dane.)
We should always keep our workplace clean.
I think the work place should always be clean.
(2) When you are surprised or impressed with a fact. (either being impressed or
disappointed)
or
(=Anna hidoi koto wo yoku ieta mon/mono da.)
How could he say such a horrible thing!/I cant believe he said that horrible
thing!
(or
(=Yatte mireba dekiru mon( or mono) dane.)
(more polite)(=dekiru mono desu ne.)
We supposed to be able to do it if we give it a try, huh?
(=or )
(=Hito wa atte minaito wakaranai mon/mono da.)
We wont know that person until we actually see him.
(more polite)
(=wakaranai mono desu ne.)

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(=Kare mo nakanaka yarumonda ne.)

He is not bad at all. (I am impressed!)
(more polite)
(=yaru mono desu ne.)
(3) When you are proud of something,
!=(Donna mon dai!)
Look what I just did! (Proudly) casual

(=Donna monda to iwanbakari no taido)

The attitude that implies the above.
(4) When you recall what you used to do.
(or
(=Izen kanojo to ano mise ni yoku ano mise ni nomi ni itteita mon/mono oda.)
I used to go drinking with her at the bar.
or
(=Mukashi wa kinjo de hito ni attara dareni demo aisatsu wo shiteita mon/mono
da.)
In the old days we would greet anybody we met while walking in the
neighborhood.
(5) When you wish something :
(=
(=Hayaku atatakaku natte hoshii mon(mono) da.)
I wish it would get warmer soon.
() When you explain the reason : +=mondakara) or +
(=mono dakara)
or

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(=Denwa de nagabanashi shiteita mon (mono) dakara okurechatte gomenne.)

I am sorry Im late. I had a long telephone call.
******************************************
((=(da)nante)
((=(da)nante) can be replaced with (=nanka) in many cases.
But if I try explaining all of the differences between nante and nanka
here, (=higa kureru) it will be tomorrow! so I wont do it here.
Basically just know that we use it for emphasis.
(1) When you are fed up with something or look down on something or
someone:
we also say (=annta nanka))
(=Anta nante daikirai!)
I hate YOU!
we also say(=kare nanka))
(=Kare nante dounattemo iiyo.)
I dont care what happens to HIM!
we also say (=gakkou nanka
(ni))
(=Gakkou nante ikitaku nai.)
I really dont want to go to SCHOOL.

(=Shigoto nante doudemo ii.)

we also say (=shigoto nanka)
I dont care about WORK!

(=Ahita ame danante tsuite nai naa..)

It is too bad /We have no luck that it is going to rain tomorrow.

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(=Anata nante aitakunai)

we also say ((=anata(ni)nanka)
I dont want to see (meet) someone like YOU!
Note : When you refer to yourself, it makes you sound more humble.

(=Watashi ni nante yasashiku shinaide)

we also say (=watashi ni nanka)
Dont be nice to a person like me.
(2) To bring up something unexpected or to re-quote what you have found out
with surprise.
Although there is a slight nuance difference, (=nante) and
(=danante) are exchangeable in many cases. Usually we use
(=danante) when we quote what someone has said and we use
(=nanate) to refer just the fact you have found out. )

(=Ashita kara furansu ni iku (da)nante urayamashii desu.)

Im so jealous that youre going to France tomorrow.
()
(=Kare ga watashi no koto suki (da) nante (odoroita)).
I am surprised to hear he likes me.
()
(=Kyuu ni tazunete kuru (da) nante bikkuri suru janai!)
You surprised me coming over suddenly.
(I am very surprised by the fact you visited me all of a sudden. )
()?
(=Asa kara tabete nai (da) nante daijoubu?)
You havent eaten anything this morning? Are you all right?

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()
(=Mou kono burogu ni konai da nante hidoi!)
It is horrible that you are no longer coming to this blog!
(
=Maggie ga annna koto wo iu (da)nante kangae mo shinakatta.)
I didnt expect Maggie would have said such a thing. (I am shocked)
()
(=Ano paatei ni hyakunin mono hito ga kita da nante.)
I cant believe 100 people went to that party!
(
(=Boku wa kimi wo isshou mamoru yo(da) nante iwanakereba yokatta.)
I shouldnt have said I would protect you for the rest of my life.
(3) To give some examples of ones idea.For example, things like..

(=Ryokou ni iku nara guamu nante dou?)

If you go traveling, how about a place like Guam?

(=Kaojo ni purezento nara hanataba nante dou?)

If you want to give your girlfriend a present, how about something like a flower
bouquet?
Please check more information in my (=nante) lesson here.

(How to use (=nante)

******************************************
From the picture above :

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(=Tatta hachikagetsu de kono burogu ga owarida nante dare ga shinjiru to

omou no?)
Who would believe that this blog would finish in just eight months.

(=Demo hitotte angai to shinnjiru mon dayo.)

(=angai) : more than you think / unexpectedly
But people believed it more than I imagined (they would).

(=Souiu mon ka naa..)

I wonder if it is true

<Test Yourself!>
Fill the blanks using:
(=monka)
(=monda)
(=(da) nante)
Good luck! !HI!

(=Ashita nichiyoubi nanoni shigoto ga aru (

) kawaisou!)

You poor thing. You have to work tomorrow even if its Sunday.

(=Nani ga atte mo kno burogu wo yameru (

)!)

I will never quit this blog no matter what.

(=Nihongo wa mainichi kotsukotsu to benkyou sureba joutatsu suru (

))

Your Japanese is supposed to improve if you study steadily everyday.

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(=Anata (
noyo!)

) megumarete iru kara watashi no kimochi wa wakaranai

You are too wealthy so you will never understand how I feel.

(=Mukashi wa yoku toshokan de kanojo to issho ni benkyou wo shita (

))

I used to study with her in the library in the old days.

(=Konna osoi jikan ni denwa wo shitekuru (

) nanika atta no?)

What are you doing calling me this late? Something happen?

(I will post the answers in the comment in a few days.)
(Maggie sensei yori) From Maggie-sensei

(=Watashi no ressun ga matamoya nagasugiru danante iwanai dene.)

(=Jibun no mono ni suru niwa bunshou wo ippai tsukutte miru no ga ichiban.

Komento ni irete kurereba naoshimasu.)
It is the best to make a lot of sentences yourself. If you leave it in the comment
section, I can correct them for you.

http://www.migalhas.com.br/Gramatigalhas/Verbetes/A

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