Japanese III Flashcards
(290 cards)
(jp) New york is smaller than Atlanta
アトランタはNYよりちいさい
Atlanta to NY yuri chisai
(jp)When I was a kid, I loved anime
こどものとき、アニメがだいすきでした
Kodomo no toki, anime ga daisukideshita
(jp) Why did you want to study Japanese?
どうして にほんごを べんきょう しようと おもったんですか?
Dōshite ni hon go o be n kyō shiyou to omotta ndesu ka?
(jp) N Desu
We often use the phrases n desu ga or n desu kedo as a prelude to a request or invitation. Sometimes therest of the sentence is left off if what the speaker is asking for is already clear from context.
When shopping for something, customers often end their sentences with n desu ga or n desu kedo whentelling the shop clerk what they want.
Sample Sentences
1. すみません。トイレに⾏きたいんですが。
Sumimasen. Toire ni ikitaindesu ga.
“Excuse me. I want to go to the bathroom, but… (could you tell me where it is?)”
- ⻩⾊いシャツを探しているんですけど。
Kiiroi shatsu o sagashiteirun desu kedo.
“I’m looking for a yellow shirt, but (where can I find them?)” - バラの花束が欲しいんですが。
Bara no hanataba ga hoshiin desu ga.
“I’d like a bouquet of roses, but (could you make one?)”
(jp) popular
⼈気
にんき
ninki
(jp) shop employee, clerk
店員
てんいん
ten’in
(jp) Noun +na + n da/n desu
1. わたしはまだ19歳なんです。
Watashi wa mada jūkyū-sai na n desu.
“I’m still nineteen years old. (So I can’t drink alcohol.)”
*Since we use n da or n desu when asking for an explanation, we often use them with “wh-“ words.
For Example:
1. どこに⾏くんですか。
Doko ni iku n desu ka.
“Where are you headed?”
- どうしたんですか。
Dōshita n desu ka.
“What happened?
Verb + n da/n desu
1. 明⽇、彼⼥の両親の家に⾏くんです。
Ashita, kanojo no ryōshin no uchi ni iku n desu.
“I’m going to visit my girlfriend’s parents. (So I’m nervous.)”
i-adjective +n da/n desu
1. このケーキはおいしいんですよ。
Kono kēki wa oishii n desu yo.
“This cake is delicious. (So please have some.)”
na-adjective + na + n da/n desu
1. 私はタバコが嫌いなんです。
Watashi wa tabako ga kirai na n desu.
“I hate smoking. (So please don’t smoke.)”
(jp) condition, health
具合
ぐあい
guai
(jp) department head, section chief
部⻑
ぶちょう
buchō
(jp) sickness, illness
病気
びょうき
byōki
(jp) I don’t feel well.
体調が悪いです。
Taichō ga warui desu.
(jp) I became sick.
わたしは病気になった。
Watashi wa byōki ni natta.
(jp) n da (んだ), n desu (んです)
We use n da and its formal form, -n desu, for giving and asking for explanations. In written language, wemore commonly use no da or no desu.
In the dialogue, Mr. Shimoyama said Atama ga itain da ( 頭が痛いんだ。) because Erika was worrying about him and he was trying to explain why he didn’t look well. If he had simply said Atama ga itai (頭が痛
い。), it would sound as if he was just stating the fact and it may have come off as a little abrupt.
By adding n da to the sentence, it makes it clearer that the speaker is trying to explain something or make a point.
Let’s compare the following sentences.
1. 僕は彼⼥がいます。
Boku wa kanojo ga imasu.
“I have a girlfriend.”
- 僕は彼⼥がいるんです。
Boku wa kanojo ga irundesu.
“I have a girlfriend.”
Both sentences mean “I have a girlfriend.” However, the first sentence is simply stating the fact that you
have a girlfriend. However, in the second sentence, you’re trying to explain or imply something by saying that you have a girlfriend. For example, “The fact is that I have a girlfriend, so I’m not interested in you” or something to that effect.
■ Formation
[informal sentence] +n da/n desu.
*When n da or n desu directly follows the affirmative form of a na-adjective or a noun, we insert nabetween them.
(jp) “It will probably rain.”
⾬が降るだろう。
Ame ga furu darō.
⾬が降るでしょう。
Ame ga furu deshō.
(jp) “It might rain.”
⾬が降るかもしれない。
Ame ga furu kamo shirenai.
⾬が降るかもしれません。
Ame ga furu kamo shiremasen.
(jp) “The test is probably difficult.”
テストは難しいかもしれない。
Tesuto wa muzukashii kamo shirenai.
(jp) “The test is probably easy.”
テストは簡単だろう。
Tesuto wa kantan darō.
テストは簡単でしょう。
Tesuto wa kantan deshō.
(jp) “Ken is probably Japanese.”
ケンは⽇本⼈だろう。
Ken wa Nihon-jin darō.
ケンは⽇本⼈でしょう。
Ken wa Nihon-jin deshō.
(jp) “Ken might be Japanese.”
ケンは⽇本⼈かもしれない。
Ken wa Nihon-jin kamo shirenai.
(jp) Darō (だろう) and Deshō (でしょう)
Darō and its formal form, deshō, come after nouns, and the informal form of a verb or adjective. Thesewords express the speaker’s guess or prediction and are similar to “probably” in English. The speaker’s guess is based on some information or knowledge he or she has.
Kamoshirenai ( かもしれない ) and Kamoshiremasen (かもしれません)
Kamoshirenai and its formal form, kamoshiremasen, express probability and come after the noun or, the
informal form of a verb or adjective. They indicate that something is possible, but that the speaker is
uncertain whether it is true. It’s similar to “might” or “maybe” in English. The probability you’ll hear a
phrase that uses kamoshirenai is not as high as one that uses darō.
(jp) yotei (予定)
Yotei is a noun and it means “schedule” or “plan.” When yotei comes after the dictionary form or nai-form of a verb, it means that something is scheduled to take place (or not, if the verb is negative). Whereas with tsumori you are talking about something you “intend” to do, with yotei are you simply stating something you are scheduled to do as a fact.
Formation
[Verb; dictionary form or nai-form ] + yotei da/yotei desu.
(私は)明⽇病院に⾏く予定です。
(Watashi wa) ashita byōin ni iku yotei desu.
“I’m scheduled to go to the hospital tomorrow.”
兄は来年結婚する予定です。
Ani wa rainen kekkon suru yotei desu.
“My brother is scheduled to get married next year.”
パーティーは5時から始まる予定です。
Pātī wa go-ji kara hajimaru yotei desu.
“The party is scheduled to start at five.”
私はパーティーに⾏かない予定だ。
Watashi wa pātī ni ikanai yotei da.
“I’m not scheduled to go to the party.”
(jp) someone, somebody,
誰か
だれか
dareka
(jp) Someday
Itsuka
いつか