So, you now know how to use the Aは(wa)Bです(desu) sentence structure but it might be a bit weird if you just go around shouting out random statements.
私はじゃが芋です!
watashi wa jagaimo desu!
I am a potato!
So this time I’m going to teach you how to turn a sentence into a question using the particle か(ka). All you have to do is add か(ka) onto the end of any statement and it becomes the equivalent of a question mark. Example!
じゃが芋ですか
jagaimo desu ka
Are you a potato?
As I explained in the last video, you can leave out Aは(wa) if the topic of the sentence is obvious or if it has already been stated. In this case, there’s no need to say ‘you’, since I was clearly looking at and talking directly to the potato. Another reason I left it out is because Japanese people don’t tend to say ‘you’. No matter what website, textbook or person told you that the Japanese word for ‘you’ is ‘あなた’(anata) – NEVER SAY IT! I’ll do another video later, on some of the Japanese words for ‘you’, explaining why you shouldn’t just say them to any old person. For now, just pretend that there is no word for ‘you’ and avoid saying it at all costs. If, for some reason, you find you have no other choice but to say it then just use the person’s name instead.
じゃが芋さんはじゃが芋ですか
jagaimo san wa jagaimo desu ka
Mr. Potato, are you a potato?
It’s that simple! And now you can have a conversation in Japanese!
If you don’t understand the vocabulary, then click here for extra information.
Aiko:
ハナさんですか hana san desu ka - Are you Hannah?
Hannah:
はい、そうです hai sou desu – Yes, that is right.
あの・・・どなたですか？ ano…donata desu ka – Uhm…Who are you?
Aiko:
ルームメイトです！ruumu meeto desu – I’m your roommate!
よろしくお願いします！yoroshiku onegaishimasu – Please treat me kindly!
Hannah:
こちらこそ kochira koso – Same here.
よろしくお願いします yoroshiku onegaishimasu – Please treat me kindly.
あの・・・お名前は何ですか ano…o namae wa nan desu ka – Uhm…What is your name?
Aiko:
あっ、ごめんなさい！aa, gomen nasai – Ah, I am sorry!
愛子です aiko desu – I am Aiko
はじめまして！ hajimemashite – Nice to meet you！
Hannah:
はじめまして hajimemashite – Nice to meet you.
学生ですか gakusei desu ka – Are you a student?
Aiko:
はい、大学生です hai, daigakusei desu – Yes, I am a university student.
Hannah:
そうですか sou desu ka – Is that so?
専攻は何ですか senkou wa nan desu ka – What is your major?
Aiko:
英語です eigo desu – English.
ハナさんは？hana san wa? – How about you (Hannah)?
Hannah:
日本語です nihongo desu – Japanese.
Aiko:
へぇ、そうですか hee, sou desu ka – Heeh, is that so?
ねぇ、「ハナ」はあだ名ですか nee, hana wa adana desu ka – Hey, is ‘Hannah’ your nickname?
Hannah:
いいえ、本名です iie, honmei desu – No, it is my real name.
Aiko:
あれ、日本人ですか？ are, nihon jin desu ka – Huh? Are you Japanese?
Hannah:
イギリス人です igirisu jin desu – I am British.
Aiko:
オーマイガー！oo mai gaa! – OH MY GOD!
Hannah:
o_O;
I hope you found this useful. If there’s anything you’re unsure of then feel free to comment. Or, if you’d like to go into more detail about this grammar aspect then check out the services page to see more about my one on one online tutoring.
Etiketler basic Japanese grammar, học tiếng nhật online, Japanese, Japanese Grammar, Japanese lesson, Japanese particles, Learn Basic Japanese, learning japanese for beginners
