Japanese Grammar - 文法

Grammar - 文法

Japanese grammar is quite simple and straight forward but very different from English grammar so most English speakers find it rather confusing. For instance, the verb always comes at the end. The best thing you can do when learning Japanese grammar is to learn it from the bottom up and not compare it to English grammar.

Japanese grammar uses what we will refer to as particles to mark the various parts of the sentence. The main particles are: (These particles will be described in more detail below)

は wa
(as mentioned in the Hiragana lesson, the Hiragana "ha" is pronounced "wa" when it immediately follows the topic) topic marker

が ga subject marker

を wo
(pronounced "o") direct object marker

に ni direction marker, time marker, indirect object marker

へ e
(as mentioned in the Hiragana lesson, the Hiragana "he" is pronounced "e" when it immediately follows a place or direction) direction marker

The particles "wa" (は) and "ga" (が): The particle "wa" marks the topic of the sentence and the particle "ga" marks the subject of the sentence. In the example, "I know where you live" (watashi wa anata ga doko ni sunde iru ka shitte iru), "I" would be the topic while "you" would be the subject.

Not all sentences have both a topic and subject and, in many cases, the topic is implied in Japanese (for example, the "I" (watashi wa) would be left out of this sentence because it is implied that since I am talking I am the one that knows where you live). Many Japanese books and teachers teach that "wa" and "ga" are the same thing and it doesn't matter which you use when. This is not the case but I wouldn't worry too much about keeping them straight at first.

The particle "wo" (を): The particle "wo" (or "o") marks the direct object of the sentence. In the example, "I'm going to take her home" (watashi wa kanojo wo ie ni okuru), "her" would be the direct object.

The particle "ni" (に): The particle "ni" can be used to mark the direction, time, or the indirect object of a sentence.

An example of a direction marker can be seen in the previous example "I'm going to take her home" (watashi wa kanojo wo ie ni okuru). In this case, the "ni" acts like a "to" - "I'm going to take her 'to' home". The particle "e" (へ) can be used in this way as well but usually implies more of a general direction as opposed to a specific places.

The particle "ni" is also used to mark time in a sentence. For example, "I'm leaving at 3 o'clock" (watashi wa sanji ni hanareru).

The final use for the particle "ni" is that of indirect object marker. In the example, "I was taken home by him" (watashi wa kare ni ie made okurareta), "him" is the indirect object.


Note: The "watashi wa" in all of the example sentenced used above would normally be left out as it is implied.
Godan Verbs - 五段動詞
Now, before you can start making up sentences of your own, you need to learn how to conjugate verbs. Verbs are the most important part of the Japanese sentence. Often times Japanese people will leave out everything but the verb.

They are very big on leaving out the obvious and sometimes not so obvious which can get confusing at times. There are only 3 types of verbs in the Japanese language and they each follow a pattern that is very simple and very rarely has any exceptions. Most Japanese verbs fall into the first group, the Godan (五段) verbs. These verbs always conjugate the same way with only one exception. These verbs have five changes that follow the order of the Japanese vowels, hence the name Godan (meaning 5 levels or steps), and then the "te" and "ta" forms that are common to all verbs.

Here's an example:

漢字 - Kanji ひらがな - Hiragana Romaji
(English Letters) Verb Base

話す はなす hanasu (to speak)

話さ はなさ hanasa Base 1

話し はなし hanashi Base 2

話す はなす hanasu Base 3

話せ はなせ hanase Base 4

話そう はなそう hanasou Base 5

話して はなして hanashite Base "te"

話した はなした hanashita Base "ta"

Base 1: Base 1 can not be used by itself but becomes the plain form negative simply by adding -nai. (ex. hanasanai - I won't say anything.) If the verb ends in う (u) then the end for Base 1 becomes わ (wa). (ex. au (Base 1) -> awa)
(Plain form is what people use when talking to a friend. It would not be proper to use in a business environment. We will go over the polite form in Using the Verb Bases - Part 1.)

Base 2: Base 2 is, in most cases, a noun when used by itself but is primarily used with the polite form of the verb.

Base 3: Base 3 is the main form (the one that would be found in the dictionary) and is also the plain form present/future tense.

Base 4: Base 4 is most often used as "if verb" by adding -ba. (ex. hanaseba - If he'd just say something.) It can also be used by itself as a command form but it is extremely rude and I recommend not using it at all.

Base 5: Base 5 is used by itself as the "let's" form. (ex. hanasou - Let's talk.) We will get into other ways it's used in later lessons.

Base "te": Base "te" can be used by itself as a plain form command. It is not rude but should only be used with close friends and children. By adding kudasai it becomes the polite form command. Base "te" can also be used in other ways that we will get into in later lessons.

Base "ta": Base "ta" is merely Base "te" with an "a" sound on the end instead of an "e" sound. It is mainly used by itself as the plain form past tense. (ex. hanashita - I talked.) We will get into other ways it's used in later lessons.
Notice: There is one thing that you'll need to learn in order to conjugate the "te" and "ta" forms correctly. Basically, for all Godan verbs ending in う (u), つ (tsu), or る (ru); the う (u), つ (tsu), or る (ru) becomes って (tte) in the "te" form and った (tta) in the "ta" form. (ex. katsu (to win) -> katte (Win!), katta (We won!))

For all Godan verbs ending in ぶ (bu), む (mu), or ぬ (nu); the ぶ (bu), む (mu), or ぬ (nu) becomes んで (nde) in the "te" form and んだ (nda) in the "ta" form. (ex. yomu (to read -> yonde (Read it.), yonda (I read it.))

For all Godan verbs ending in く (ku), the く (ku) becomes いて (ite) in the "te" form and いた (ita) in the "ta" form. (ex. aruku (to walk) -> aruite (Walk!), aruita (I walked here.)) The only exception to this rule is for the verb iku (to go) which becomes いって, いった (itte/itta).

For all Godan verbs ending in ぐ (gu), the ぐ (gu) becomes いで (ide) in the "te" form and いだ (ida) in the "ta" form. (ex. oyogu (to swim) -> oyoide (Swim!), oyoida (I swam.))

For all Godan verbs ending in す (su), the す (su) becomes して (shite) in the "te" form and した (shita) in the "ta" form. (ex. hanasu (to talk) -> hanashite (Say something!), hanashita (I talked (to him).))
Here are some Godan verbs. Try conjugating them on a piece of paper using what you have just learned.


漢字 - Kanji ひらがな - Hiragana Romaji
(English Letters) English Meaning

会う あう au to meet

勝つ かつ katsu to win

売る うる uru to sell

遊ぶ あそぶ asobu to play

飲む のむ nomu to drink

死ぬ しぬ shinu to die

歩く あるく aruku to walk

泳ぐ およぐ oyogu to swim

消す けす kesu to erase, turn off

行く いく iku to go

(Remember the exception for Bases "te"and "ta")

Meeting Someone New
We are often asked by our students learning Japanese how to introduce oneself to someone new. The interaction is normally very formal and filled with a few bows. Below is a typical Japanese conversation between two people meeting for the first time:

Japanese
(In Kanji, Hiragana, and Romaji) English Meaning

Person 1: こんにちは。始めまして。
こんにちは。はじめまして。
Konnichi wa. Hajimemashite. Hello. Nice to meet you.

Person 2: 始めまして。お元気ですか。
はじめまして。おげんきですか。
Hajimemashite. O-genki desu ka? Nice to meet you.
How are you?

Person 1: はい、元気です。
はい、げんきです。
Hai, genki desu. I am fine.

Person 1: 私は______と申します。あなたのお名前は？
わたしは______ともうします。あなたのおなまえは？
Watashi wa ______ to moushimasu. Anata no o-namae wa? My name is ______.
What is your name?

Person 2: 私は______と言います。宜しくお願いします。
わたしは______といいます。よろしくおねがいします。
Watashi wa ______ to iimasu. Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu. My name is ______.
Pleased to make your
acquaintance.

Person 1: 宜しくお願いします。
よろしくおねがいします。
Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu. Pleased to make your
acquaintance.

Explanation: "Hajimemashite" literally means "it is a beginning" but would be the equivalent of "Nice to meet you" in English. It would only be used the first time meeting someone. As learned in "genki" means "in good spirits". "O-genki desu ka" is literally asking "Are you in good spirits?". This is the most common way of asking "How are you?" in Japanese. The other person responds "Yes, I am in good spirits". "Mousu" is the ultra polite form of the verb "iu" (to say). Both people are literally saying "I am said/called _____". "Namae" is the word for "name". An "o" is added in front of it (and other words throughout this exchange) to show respect. This is not done when talking about yourself. "Yoroshii" means "good/fine" and "negai" is a wish or request. "Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu" literally means "I request/wish kindly of you". It is basically like saying "Please treat me well". It can be used in other situations as well - such as when asking for a favor.
Other Common Phrases
We are often asked how to say "I love you" in Japanese. This would be "Anata o ai shite imasu" BUT be advised that the Japanese typically don't use the word for love(愛 - あい - ai) when talking about their feelings for someone else (not even a boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, child, parent, etc.). They would typically say "Anata no koto ga suki desu" or "Anata ga daisuki desu". "Suki" means "like" and "daisuki" means "favorite". This may seem strange but this is just what they say for "I love you".

漢字 - Kanji ひらがな - Hiragana Romaji
(English Letters) English Meaning

誕生日おめでとうございます たんじょうびおめでとうございます tanjoubi omedetou gozaimasu Happy Birthday!

明けましておめでとうございます あけましておめでとうございます akemashite omedetou gozaimasu Happy New Year!

おめでとうございます おめでとうございます omedetou gozaimasu Congratulations!
お休みなさい おやすみなさい oyasuminasai Good night.
(used when someone is going to bed)

御免なさい ごめんなさい gomennasai I'm sorry.

すみません すみません sumimasen Excuse me.

トイレは何処ですか トイレはどこですか toire wa doko desu ka Where is the bathroom?

お腹が空いています おなかがすいています onaka ga suite imasu I am hungry.
("My stomach is e



Kenny: Sayaka san, konnichiwa!
Sayaka: Kenī san, konnichiwa! O genki desu ka?
Kenny: Genki desu, arigatō, anata wa?
Sayaka: Watashi mo genki desu, arigatō.


Kenny: Hello, Sayaka!
Sayaka: Hello, Kenny! How are you?
Kenny: I’m good, thank you, and you?
Sayaka: I’m good too, thank you.

Japanese Vocabulary - 単語

Vocabulary - 単語

Now that you've got the Japanese alphabets down, let's learn some vocabulary words and simple phrases. I will list the Kanji, Hiragana, Romaji (the word sounded out using English letters), and the English meaning for each word or phrase. Most words have Kanji for them but I will only include the Kanji if the word is regularly written that way.

Keep in mind that the Japanese language has different levels of politeness that change based on who you are talking to. I will refer to these as "ultra-formal", "formal" (or "polite form"), "normal" (or "plain form"), "informal", and "rude" (we won't be covering too much of the rude form, however).

漢字 - Kanji ひらがな - Hiragana Romaji
(English Letters) English Meaning

私 わたし watashi I (formal for males, normal for females)

僕 ぼく boku I (normal for males)

彼 かれ kare he

彼女 かのじょ kanojo she

あなた あなた anata you (singular/normal)

これ kore this (the object itself)

ここ koko here

この kono this (ex. this pen)

それ sore that (the object itself)

そこ soko there

その sono that (ex. that pen)

人 ひと hito person

犬 いぬ inu dog

猫 ねこ neko cat

家 いえ ie house

ありがとう ありがとう arigatou Thank you. (normal)

ありがとう

ございます ありがとう

ございます arigatou gozaimasu Thank you. (formal)

どういたしまして どういたしまして douitashimashite You're welcome. (normal)

おはよう おはよう ohayou
(sounds like "Ohio") Good morning. (informal)

おはようございます おはようございます ohayou gozaimasu Good morning.
(normal and formal)

こんにちは こんにちは konnichiwa Hello. (normal)

こんばんは こんばんは konbanwa Good evening. (normal)

さよなら さよなら sayonara Goodbye. (normal)

Japanese Numbers, Time, and Days of the Week

Numbers, Time, and Days of the Week

Before we get too much further into grammar and verb conjugation, I thought it would be a good idea to teach numbers, time, days of the week, etc.
漢字 - Kanji ひらがな - Hiragana Romaji
(English Letters) English Meaning

一 いち ichi one

二 に ni two

三 さん san three

四 し、 よん shi (yon after 10) four

五 ご go five

六 ろく roku six

七 しち、 なな shichi (nana after 10) seven

八 はち hachi eight

九 きゅう kyuu nine

十 じゅう juu ten

百 ひゃく hyaku hundred

Numbers after 10 are a piece of cake once you know 1 through 10. 11 is simply ten with a one after it, 十一 (じゅういち, juuichi), 12 - juuni, 13 - juusan, 14 - juuyon, etc. 20 is simply 二十 (にじゅう, nijuu), 21 - nijuuichi, and so forth.

Put these numbers in front of the character for time 時 and you've got the time of the day.

漢字 - Kanji ひらがな - Hiragana Romaji
(English Letters) English Meaning

一時 いちじ ichiji one o'clock

二時 にじ niji two o'clock

二時半 にじはん nijihan two thirty (半 means half)

二時四十五分 にじよんじゅうごふん nijiyonjuugofun 2:45 (分 means minute)
...etc.

Now just put the character for moon 月 after a number and you've got a month.

漢字 - Kanji ひらがな - Hiragana Romaji
(English Letters) English Meaning

一月 いちがつ ichigatsu January

二月 にがつ nigatsu February

三月 さんがつ sangatsu March

四月 しがつ shigatsu April
...etc.

Days of the week don't follow such an easy pattern but here they are anyway along with some other time-related words.

漢字 - Kanji ひらがな - Hiragana Romaji
(English Letters) English Meaning

日曜日 にちようび nichiyoubi Sunday (日 - sun/day)

月曜日 げつようび getsuyoubi Monday (月 - moon)

火曜日 かようび kayoubi Tuesday (火 - fire)

水曜日 すいようび suiyoubi Wednesday (水 - water)

木曜日 もくようび mokuyoubi Thursday (木 - tree/wood)

金曜日 きんようび kinyoubi Friday (金 - gold)

土曜日 どようび doyoubi Saturday (土 - dirt)

今日 きょう kyou Today

明日 あした ashita Tomorrow

昨日 きのう kinou Yesterday

一昨日 おととい ototoi the day before yesterday

明後日 あさって asatte the day after tomorrow (a small "tsu" (っ) makes a double
consonant)

今朝 けさ kesa this morning

今晩 こんばん konban this evening

今 いま ima now

Japanese-Learning KATAKANA

As mentioned in the Hiragana lesson, Katakana is mainly used for foreign words such as names and words that have been borrowed from other languages such as コンピューター (kompyu-ta- = computer). The Japanese language does not have as many sounds as the English language so, when creating a name in Katakana for instance, the name must be sound out to the closest Japanese equivalent. Katakana , Hiragana , and Furigana (when Hiragana is written small next to a Kanji character to show how that character is read) are collectively known as Kana.
アa イi ウu エe オo

カka キki クku ケke コko


ガga ギgi グgu ゲge ゴgo

サsa シshi スsu セse ソso

ザza ジji ズzu ゼze ゾzo

タta チchi ツtsu テte トto

ダda ヂji ヅzu デde ドdo

ナna ニni ヌnu ネne ノno

ハha ヒhi フfu ヘhe ホho

バba ビbi ブbu ベbe ボbo

パpa ピpi プpu ペpe ポpo

マma ミmi ムmu メme モmo

ヤya ユyu ヨyo

ラra リri ルru レre ロro

ワwa ヲwo ンn/m

Combinations

キャkya キュkyu キョkyo

ギャgya ギュgyu ギョgyo

シャsha シュshu ショsho

ジャja ジュju ジョjo

チャcha チュchu チョcho

ニャnya ニュnyu ニョnyo

ヒャhya ヒュhyu ヒョhyo

ビャbya ビュbyu ビョbyo

ピャpya ピュpyu ピョpyo

ミャmya ミュmyu ミョmyo

リャrya リュryu リョryo

Japanese Learning - Hiragana

Hiragana - ひらがな

There are 5 vowels in the Japanese language:

(a), pronounced "ahh", (i), pronounced like "e" in "eat", (u), pronounced like "oo" in "soon", (e), pronounced like "e" in "elk", and (o), pronounced "oh". All Hiragana characters end with one of these vowels, with the exception of (n). The only "consonant" that does not resemble that of English is the Japanese "r". It is slightly "rolled" as if it were a combination of a "d", "r", and "l".

あ a い i う u え e お o

か ka き ki く ku け ke こ ko


が ga ぎ gi ぐ gu げ ge ご go

さ sa し shi す su せ se そ so

ざ za じ ji ず zu ぜze ぞ zo

た ta ち chi つ tsu て te と to

だ da ぢ ji づ zu で de ど do

な na に ni ぬ nu ね ne の no

は ha ひ hi ふ fu へ he ほ ho

ば ba び bi ぶ bu べ be ぼ bo

ぱ pa ぴ pi ぷ pu ぺ pe ぽ po

ま ma み mi む mu め me も mo

や ya ゆ yu よ yo

ら ra り ri る ru れ re ろ ro

わ wa を wo ん n/m


Combinations
きゃ kya きゅ kyu きょ kyo

ぎゃ gya ぎゅ gyu ぎょ gyo

しゃ sha しゅ shu しょ sho

じゃ ja じゅ ju じょ jo

ちゃ cha ちゅ chu ちょ cho

にゃ nya にゅ nyu にょ nyo

ひゃ hya ひゅ hyu ひょ hyo

びゃ bya びゅ byu びょ byo

ぴゃ pya ぴゅ pyu ぴょ pyo

みゃ mya みゅ myu みょ myo

りゃ rya りゅ ryu りょ


Exceptions:
1. は (ha) is pronounced "wa" when it immediately follows the topic of the sentence. It is usually only pronounced "ha" when it is part of a word.
2. へ (he) is pronounced "e" when it immediately follows a place or direction. Both of these are very simple to detect.

Note: You probably noticed that there are 2 "zu" and 2 "ji". づ (zu) and ぢ (ji) are very rarely used. づ (zu) only occurs when there is a つ (tsu) in front of it like in つづく (tsuzuku - to continue) or when a Kanji (Chinese character) that starts with つ (tsu) is paired at the end with another character changing the つ (tsu) to a づ (zu). The same applies for ぢ (ji). Since they are used so rarely I wouldn't worry about them too much. I will let you know whenever we come upon a word in which they are used.

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
Because I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

இப்படிக்கு உன் தங்கை!

பொய்க்கும் இளமைக்கு

மொய்க்கும் இளசுகள்;

வண்ண வண்ண ஆசைகளால்

சின்னாபின்னாமாக்க

சிரிக்கும் சில்லறைகள்!

நிலையில்லா இவ்வுலகத்திற்கு

பலியாக மாட்டேன்;

படித்தாண்ட மாட்டேன்!

தடுமாறும் வயதில்

கொடி மாற மாட்டேன்;

மாற்றானுக்கு இடம்

கொடுக்க மாட்டேன்!

பயணம் போன உங்களின்

மானத்தை கப்பல் ஏற்ற மாற்றேன்;

கனம் சுமக்கும் உங்கள்

கடமைக்கு ரணம் சேர்க்கமாட்டேன்!

வழிக்காட்டும் உங்களுக்கு

வலிக்கொடுக்க மாட்டேன்;

பழித்தரமாட்டேன்;

பழித்துக்காட்ட விடமாட்டேன்!

மனனம் செய்த

மறை வரிகள்;

வைர வரியாய்;

செதிக்கிவைத்து;

செவிகளில் ஒலிக்கவைத்து

வளர்ந்தப்பெண் நான்!

நழுவாது என் பர்தா;

நழுவினால்

தழுவும் என் உயிர்;

கமழும் சுவனத்திற்கு!

இப்படிக்கு உன் தங்கை!

இப்படிக்கு உன் அண்ணன்!

பெண்ணாக பிறந்திருந்தால்
பெற்றிருப்பேன்
முதிர்க்கன்னிப் பட்டம்;
ஆணாக பிறந்ததினால்
உன்னை ஆளாக்க
அயல்நாட்டில் நான்!

என் வியர்வையை
உரமாக்கி அதில்
உன்னை உருவாக்க
கடன் கனத்ததால்
கடல் கடந்து
கடமை சுமந்து
எட்டாக்கனி கல்வியை
உனக்கு வளைத்துக் கொடுக்க
வளைகுடா வந்திருக்கேறேன்!

உன் கல்லூரிக் கனவை;
நினைவாக்கிய நெகிழ்ச்சியில்
கனமானது மகிழ்ச்சியில் என் மனம்!

வட்டமிடும் வண்டுகள்
வாலிபத்தை நோக்கி
படையெடுக்கும் உன்னைச்சுற்றி
பல்லாங்குழி விளையாட!

மயங்கிவிடும் இளமையில்
கிறங்கி விடாதே பர்தாவை
கழட்டிவிடாதே!

மரணமே வந்தாலும்
கர்ணம் போடாதே ;
மார்க்கத்தில் புது
வர்ணம் தீட்டாதே!

குழந்தையல்ல உனக்கு
கதைச் சொல்லி வளர்க்க;
ஓடிப்போகும் குமரிகளின்
கதைகேட்டு கண்ணீர் வடிக்கும்
அண்ணன்கள் உண்டு ஏராளம் இங்கே!

சந்தேகமா என்று
சாட்டிவிடாதே என் மீதுக்
குற்றத்தை;
தரையில்கிடக்கும் தேனை
தடவிப்பார்த்து ருசிச்சொல்லும்
விஷமுள்ள வயது!

இரத்த நாளங்களில்
ஓடிக்கொண்டிருக்கும் ஷைத்தானை
வெல்வதற்கு பிடித்துகொள் ஈமானை!

இப்படிக்கு உன் அண்ணன்!