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nihongo-enthusiast · 9 days

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How To Read and Understand Japanese Sentences.

As you know, Japanese language is a SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) pattern while English is SVO pattern.

Some learners may know a good amount of vocabulary words but they still cannot understand the meaning of a sentence even if they know how to read every single word in that sentence. Why is that so?

This may be due to learners reading the wrong way. In order to understand Japanese sentences, follow the following steps:

1. Identify the subject with the noun followed by either a は or が. (Usually in the beginning of a sentence but there are some writers who purposely put the subject in the middle.)

2. Read the end of the sentence to locate the verb. Yes, you read this right. Just go straight to the end of the sentence to identify the verb.

Example:

私はその人を常に先生と呼んでいた。

In this sentence, the subject is 「私は」。Next, go straight to the end and identify the verb

Here, the verb is 「呼んでいた」 which means "called".

So now, you know what the subject is doing with 私は and 呼んでいた which means "I called."

Next, read the rest of the middle part 「その人を常に先生と…」 meaning "that person always teacher"

The whole sentence means "I always called that person as teacher."

Note: This sentence is the first opening line from the Japanese classic literature novel 「こころ」 by 夏目漱石。

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nihongo-enthusiast · 12 days

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The Difference Between ということだ and というものだ

~ということだ has two different meanings. Let's take a look at each one and their sentences.

1st meaning: I hear that... / It is said that...

Nuance: You want to convey the information you have obtained from a source; either from the TV, news, or a person.

• ニュースによると、明日は雨が降るということだ。

It is said that it will rain tomorrow according to the news.

2nd meaning: It means that... / In other words,...

• 田中さんに「明日から来なくてもいいからね」と言われた。つまり、首ということだ。

I was told by Mr. Tanaka "You don't have to come in from tomorrow." In other words, I was fired.

• 最近、運動するとすぐ疲れて…年と取ったということですね。

Lately, I'm getting tired easily when I exercise. It means that I'm getting old.

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Now, let's look at ~というものだ

Meaning: it is a general knowledge that... / it is common sense that...

Nuance: to describe something everybody knows as a general knowledge or a common sense fact.

• N5 を勉強している人が N2 に合格するのは無理というものだ。

It is impossible for someone who is studying N5 to pass N2.

• 責任をとるのがリーダーというものだ。

Taking responsibility is what a leader is all about.

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nihongo-enthusiast · 28 days

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The Difference Between に and へ

Most of the beginner textbooks will teach learners that に is used for destination and へ is used for direction but there are some explanation that are missing and that is what confusing to many learners.

• 公園に行きます。

• 公園へ行きます。

Both sentences are correct. Both means "I'm going to the park".

But... there is a slight nuance difference. When you use に, you put the destination (which is the park) as the main thing you want the listener to know that the place you want to go is the park. The final destination you will arrive at is the park.

On the other hand, if you use へ, you want the listener to feel that you are making a move, you are making a journey, a process, an effort to go to the park. In other words, へ somehow emphasize on your journey to a place.

Let's say you're flying from UK all the way to Australia, that will take at least 20-22 hours by flight. The journey is extremely long and you want the listener to feel that, so you could say by using the particle へ: 私はオーストラリアへ行きます。

Now, the following part is what most teachers or textbooks didn't tell you. A study shows that more and more Japanese people are using に, and へ has gone out of fashion. According to the survey, one of the reasons may be due to globalization and how easily people are connected around the world through the Internet that people don't feel the journey or the distance is long. Therefore, they don't see the need to use へ anymore.

WARNING!!!

There is a grammar point that you MUST use へ instead of に。The pattern is:

へ + の + Noun

Examples:

• 先生へのプレゼント。Gift for teacher.

• 帰宅への道。The way home.

Another situation which needs to use へ is when the news anchor announces this:

台風が北へ向かっています。

The typhoon is heading north.

If you use に and say 台風が北に向かっています, it means you are very sure that the typhoon will land in the north. No one can predict 100% where it will stop or land so it is incorrect to use に in this sentence.

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Vocabulary used in this lesson:

公園 (こうえん) park, playground

プレゼント present, gift

帰宅 (きたく) home

道 (みち) way

台風 (たいふう) typhoon

北 (きた) north

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nihongo-enthusiast · 29 days

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Japanese Passive Form

In English, we say "I was taught by Mrs. Smith."; or "This cake was baked by my best friend."

So, how do we write passive sentences in Japanese? Don't worry. As usual, I'm here to simplify things for you.

But first, let's learn how to conjugate verbs into its passive form.

Group 1 Verbs

Rule: Change the ending sound to the あ (a) sound and add れる。

• 飲む -- 飲ま + れる = 飲まれる

• 書く -- 書か + れる = 書かれる

If the verbs end with う, change the う to わ and add れる。

• 買う -- 買わ + れる = 買われる

• 言う -- 言わ + れる = 言われる

Group 2 Verbs

Rule: Throw away the last vowel (which is る) and add られる。

• 食べる -- 食べ + られる = 食べられる

• 見る -- 見 + られる = 見られる

Group 3 Verbs

• 来る -- 来られる (it is pronounced as こられる)

• する -- される

Okay! Now, let's start making sentences. Just remember the pattern I show you.

Pattern:

[Receiver] は [The person who did the action] に [Verb in passive form].

Example:

• 田中さんは部長に叱られた。

Mr. Tanaka was scolded by his manager.

Explanation: Tanaka is the receiver of the scolding. The manager is the person who did the action of scolding. The particle に here means "by".

Let's see another sentence.

• 私は先生に褒められました。

I was praised by the teacher.

You can also omit 私は because Japanese usually don't say it if it's about themselves. They will just say 先生に褒められました。

Alright, what if you need an object saying "My cake was eaten by my younger sister." How do you include the object (the cake) into the passive sentence? Very simple.

Pattern:

[Receiver] は [The person who did the action] に [Object] を [Verb in passive form].

Example:

• 私は妹にケーキを食べられた。My cake was eaten by my younger sister.

Now, try to make your own sentences. Learn more vocabulary and you'll be on your way to build more sentences using this pattern.

I will give you the receiver, the person who did the action but you must change the verb into its passive form.

1. I was slapped by my father.

Father: お父さん

Slap: 叩く (たたく)

2. The teacher was asked a question by Tanaka.

Teacher: 先生

Tanaka: 田中さん

Ask a question: 質問 (しつもん) をする

#study japanese #japanese #jlpt #jlpt n1 #jlpt n2 #jlpt n3 #jlpt n4 #jlpt n5 #language #learn japanese #nihongo

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nihongo-enthusiast · 1 month

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How To Form Sentence In Japanese

Have you ever felt like even though you have learned quite a number of nouns, adjectives, and verbs in Japanese but still couldn't form a proper sentence on your own? Or the order you arrange your words is wrong in Japanese grammar?

Don't worry! I'm here to give you a foolproof guide to start. Please note that this is NOT the only way Japanese people form their sentences but it is one of the correct ways that won't get you go off track.

Here is the template:

[Person A] は [Person B] と [Place] で [Object] を [Verb/Action]

Examples:

1. 私は友達と映画館で映画を見ます。

in English, you would say, "I am watching a movie with my friend at the cinema." But in Japanese, it is [I] は [my friend] と [cinema] で [movie] を [watch].

2. 父は母とスーパーで肉を買います。

[Father] は [Mother] と [supermarket] で [meat] を [buy].

You may change the order of the particles はand と, and the nuance will slightly change. Let's take a look at the two same sentences below with a change in the particles:

私は友達と映画館で映画を見ます。

I am watching a movie with my friend at the cinema.

私と友達は映画館で映画を見ます。

My friend and I are watching a movie at the cinema.

See the difference?

If you say 私は友達と, you put the emphasis on you as the main subject; whereas if you say 私と友達は, you put the emphasis on BOTH you and your friend as the subject.

Nevertheless, both are grammatically correct. The only difference is which one you want to emphasize depends on your choice.

Now you try. I will give you the sentences in English, write it in the Japanese pattern.

1. My friend and I are talking in the classroom.

Talking: 話しています

Classroom: 教室 (きょうしつ)

2. He and his sister are having coffee at a cafe.

He: 彼 (かれ)

Sister: 妹 (いもうと)

Coffee: コーヒー

Having/drinking: 飲みます

Cafe: カフェ

3. Grandfather and my younger brother are playing at the park.

Grandfather: おじいさん

Younger brother: 弟 (おとうと)

Playing: 遊んでいます

Park: 公園 (こうえん)

*You might notice in Sentence 3, the object is not given. When there is no object, just omit the [Object] を part.

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nihongo-enthusiast · 1 month

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The 6 Differences Between は and が

DIFFERENCE 1

The important fact is AFTER は

• この犬は私のベットです。This dog is my pet.

You want to emphasize that this is not a stray dog. It is not someone else's pet dog. It is MY PET. So anything comes after は is the main part you want the listener to pay attention to.

The important fact is BEFORE が

• この犬が私のベットです。This dog is my pet.

You want to emphasize that THIS IS THE DOG that is my pet. Not other dogs. Imagine you're at a park and there are 3, 4 other dogs playing together with your dog and you want to tell your friend that THIS DOG is the one that is your pet dog, other dogs are not yours. So, what comes before が is the main part you want to tell the listener.

More examples:

• このケーキはおいしいです。This cake is DELICIOUS! (You want to tell your friend that this cake is indeed very good. Your emphasis falls on おいしい, so you use は, because the important fact is AFTER は.

• このケーキがおいしいです。THIS CAKE is delicious. (You want to tell your friend that among all the cakes on the buffet table, this particular cake you are pointing to is the most delicious one. Others are not good.) Your emphasis falls on このケーキ (THIS CAKE), so you use が, because the important fact is BEFORE が.

DIFFERENCE 2

New information and things that you mention for the first time, use が. Old information or topics that have been mentioned earlier but is now repeated again, use は.

• 学校にマイクという男がいます。There is boy named Mike in my school.

You started the conversation with your friend by saying there's a new student named Mike in the school. That is the first time you mentioned Mike. It is new information, therefore use が.

• マイクはアメリカ出身です。Mike is from America.

You mention Mike the 2nd time now and it is no longer a new information. It is considered old information, therefore use は.

DIFFERENCE 3

Stating facts without adding your personal opinion or judgment use が. By adding your own opinion or judgment, use は.

• 外に猫がいます。There is a cat outside.

You are just merely stating a fact that there is a cat outside. This sentence doesn't include your description about the cat. No personal opinion or judgment about the cat.

• あの猫は白いです。The cat is white in colour.

You are putting your description, your judgment into the sentence about the cat. When you are adding your own thoughts, opinion, description about something, use は.

• 日本の料理はおいしいです。Japanese food is tasty.

You are putting your opinion/judgment about Japanese food in your sentence, therefore, use は.

DIFFERENCE 4

When you make comparison, use は. When you eliminate other options, use が.

• お茶は好きですが、コーヒーは好きじゃありません。I like tea but I don't like coffee.

DIFFERENCE 5

If two actions are done by the same person, use は. If two actions are done by two different persons, use が first, then use は for the second action.

• 私はごはんを食べるとき、テレビを見ます。I have my meal and I am watching TV.

• 私がごはんを食べるとき、父はテレビを見ます。When I have my meal, my father watches TV.

DIFFERENCE 6

To modify a phrase into a noun, use が.

• これは彼女が作ってくれたケーキです。

What cake is this? This is the cake that is baked by my girlfriend. The phrase 「彼女が作ってくれた」 is to modify the cake, to describe about the cake.

Quiz Time

• 部屋は広いです。

• 部屋が広いです。

In English, both sentences mean "The room is spacious." But what is the difference?

In 部屋は広いです, it shows a comparison contrast nuance (read DIFFERENCE 4). If you say this, the listener will believe that you are making a comparison of this room with all the other rooms in the house. You want to say this room is spacious, whereas the other rooms are smaller in size.

In 部屋が広いです, you are merely stating a general fact about this room being spacious (read DIFFERENCE 3). You are not making any comparison. Your sentence has no added personal judgement or opinion. You are stating a fact about the room being spacious.

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