Preface:
This chapter will cover some basic grammatical information. Memorizing every point isn’t necessary; however reading and understanding every point is vital. Observing examples in further chapters and referring back to these chapters (9-18) will explain all that is needed to know for basic grammatical structure. In this way, you will eventually find that you have a good grasp of the basic features of Japanese grammar without any deliberate memorization of rules.
Within the following chapter, including this one, we will cover the words that state “to be”:
• Is, Am, Are
• Was, Were
• Do, Does, Did
• Have, Has, Had
• Shall, Will
• Should, Would,
• Can, May, Might
• Could, & Must
Also included we’ll cover will be adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, as well as interjections, also the contractions of these will be included. There will be English lists, as well as the meaning and understanding of these words and how they are used in Japanese. These words are considered “copulas” also called a "passive verb" or "linking verb", is a word used to link the subject of a sentence with a predicate (a subject complement or an adverbial). *Note – Each bold type wording/phrase can be found in Audio Lesson 9.
Vocabulary List:
“Family and Relationships”
Family and relationships – kazoku to shinrui kankei
Mother – okaasan / okaasama (respect) / haha (one’s own)
Father – otoosan / Otoosama (respect) / Chichi (one’s own)
Son – musuko / Musukosan (polite)
Daughter – musume / musumesan (polite) / ojoosan (polite)
Older sister – oneesan / ane (one’s own)
Younger sister – imooto / imootosan (polite)
Baby – akanboo / akachan
Older brother – oniisan / ani (one’s own)
Younger brother – otooto / otootosan (polite)
Husband – dannasama, goshujin (someone else’s) / otto, shujin (one’s own)
Wife – okusan (someone else’s) / tsuma, kanai (one’s own)
Aunt – obasan / oba (one’s own)
Uncle – ojisan / oji (one’s own)
Grandmother – obaasan / sobo (one’s own)
Grandfather – ojiisan / sofu (one’s own)
Cousin – itoko
Mother-in-law – giri no okaasan / giri no haha (one’s own)
Father-in-law – giri no ottosan / giri no chichi (one’s own)
Stepmother – keebo / mamahaha
Stepfather – kefu / mamachichi
Stepson – keeshi
Stepdaughter – mamako
Boyfriend – kare / kareshi / booifurendo
Girlfriend – kanozyo / gaarufurendo
Fiancé – konyyakusha
Friend – tomodachi / yuuzin
Relative – shinrui / shiseki
To love – aisuru
To know (a person) – (o) shitteiru
To meet (a person) – (ni) au
To marry (someone) – (to) kekkonsuru
To divorce (someone) - (to) rikonsuru
To get a divorce – rikonsuru
To inherit – soozokusuru
*Note - Please make sure in your vocabulary studies you try to no only use the romanji form to practice sounding out the words, but to try to use the class's hiragana and katakana forms to write them out in Japanese.
A. Pronouns
Personal pronouns (words that take place of nouns – we, us, I, me, you, they, my, our, it) are used much less frequently in Japanese than in English. The contest clarifies what or who is being referred to or addressed. In addition, in Japanese there are more varieties of words that correspond to English pronouns. If the context is clear, the Japanese prefer not to use the personal pronouns. It is important to learn how to use them, but also important to understand how not to use them. Unlike English, there is no strict rule to have a grammatical subject in a sentence. Among these pronouns, "watashi" and "anata" are the most common. “Watakushi” is the official use of “I”, however it is less conversational.
However, as I mentioned above, they are often omitted in conversation. When addressing your superior, "anata" is not appropriate and should be avoided. Use the person's name instead. "Anata" is also used by wives when they address their husbands. "Omae" is sometimes used by husbands when addressing their wives, though it sounds a little bit old-fashioned. The pronouns for the third person are "kare (he)" or "kanojo (she)". Rather than using these words “anata” and “antagata”, it is preferred to use the person's name or describe them as "ano hito (that person)". It is not necessary to include gender.
English Pronoun (Japanese Counterpart)
I わたし (watashi)
You あなた (anata)
He / she あの人 (ano hito)
He かれ (kare)
She かのじょ (kanojo)
We 私達 (watashi tachi)
You (pl.) あなた達 (anata-tachi)
They かれら( karera)
Note the differences in "I” and “You” in the following (kanji provided):
English Pronoun Japanese Counterpart
I
わたくし "Watakushi" [very formal]
わたし "Watashi" [formal]
僕 "Boku" (male) [informal]
あたし "Atashi" (female) [informal]
俺 "Ore" (male) [very informal]
You
おたく"otaku" [very formal]
あなた "Anata" [formal]
君 "Kimi" (male) [informal]
お前 "Omae" (male) [very informal]
あんた "Anta" [very informal]
*NOTE - To make plurals, a suffix "~ tachi" (～達) is added like "watashi-tachi" (we) or "anata-tachi" (you). The suffix "~ tachi" can be added to not only pronouns but to some other nouns referring to people. For example, "kodomo-tachi" (子供達) means "children".
For the word "anata", the suffix "~ gata" (～方) is used sometimes to make it plural instead of using "~ tachi". "Anata-gata" (あなた方) is more formal than "anata-tachi". The suffix "~ ra" (～ら) is also used for "kare", such as "karera" (they).
B. “To Be / Not To Be”
1) There are about three ways in using the verb “to be” in Japanese. A different word is used for this: “desu”, “arimasu”, and “imasu”. “Desu” is called a copula, “arimasu” and “imasu” are ordinary verbs and are inflected like other verbs. *Note - The second sentence is ambiguous; it can also mean: “I have a pencil". Examples are as follows:
a. Enpitsu desu. (It is a pencil.)
b. Enpitsu ga arimasu. (There is a pencil.)
c. Nyuu Yooku ni imasu. (He is in New York.)
2) When you say that one thing is equal to another, you use “desu”. Its meaning roughly corresponds to “is, am, are”. When you are talking about something being located or situated in a place, “arimasu” is used. This state of “be” is used for inanimate object only. Use “imasu” when referring to animate objects, as in people and animals. Note the additional examples:
a. Sore wa enpitsu desu. (That is a pencil). [“A” = “B”.]
b. Soko ni enpitsu ga arimasu. (There is a pencil there.) [thing “A” is located at “B”.]
c. Soku ni kodoma ga imasu. (There is a child there.) [person “A” is located at “B”.]
a. Sore wa tabako desu ka? (Is that a cigarette?)
b. Tabako ga arimasu ka? (Is a cigarette there?)
c. Yamada-san wa soko ni imasu ka? (Is Mr. Yamada there?)
a. Shikago wa ookii machi desu. (Chicago is a big city.)
b. Shikago wa Irinoishuu ni arimasu. (Chicago is in the state of Illinois.)
c. Yamada-sa wa Shikago ni imasu. (Mr. Yamada is in Chicago.)
3) As you listen to the audio lesson, note the examples of “desu”, “arimasu”, and “imasu” in the phrases that follow. Notice that the word or phrase that equals the element “A” (as in the examples above), is marked with the particles “wa” (topic of sentence), or “ga” (subject of sentence). “Wa” is used when the emphasis in the sentence is not on “A”, but is the topic of the sentence. “Ga” used to emphasize “A” as being the subject. The word or phrase equaling the element “B”. (*Note – If no specific noun is used for “B”, use “soo” in its place, as “desu” can never be used alone.)
Japanese Expression English Translation [Literal Meaning]
Anata wa Amerija-jin desu ka? Are you an American?
Hai, soo desu. Yes, I am. [Yes, am so.]
Tatemono building
Taishikan embassy
Dono tatemono ga Amerika Taishikan desu ka? Which building is the American Embassy?
Ano tatemono wa Taishikan desu. That building is the American Embassy.
Ano tatemono ga soo desu. That building is. [That building is so.]
Ano tatemono ga Amerika Taishikan desu ka? Is that building the American Embassy?
Hai, soo desu. Yes, it is. [Yes, is so.]
Sumisu-san wa Amerika Tashikan ni imasu. Mr. Smith is in the American Embassy.
Tanaka-san wo Tookyoo ni imasu. Mr. Tanaka is in Tokyo.
Okinawa wa doko ni arimasu ka? Where is Okinawa?
Nippon to Taiwan no aida ni arimasu. It’s between Japan and Taiwan.
Dono kata ga Tanaka-san desu ka? Which person is Ms. Takana?
Watachi ga Tanaka desu. I am. [Am Tanaka.]
Watashi ga soo desu. I am [so].
Sore wa tabako desu. That is a cigarette .
Enpitsu ga arimasu ka? Do you have a pencil? Is there a pencil?]
Kodomo wa Tookyoo ni imasu. The child is in Tokyo.
Tabako ga arimasu. I have a cigarette. [There is a cigarette.]
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