です
This means "is", "am", or "are"
(depending on the situation), though the meaning in English is a lot broader
than in Japanese. Some other words (「いる」 and 「ある」) also mean "is", depending on the
situation.
§ Example: わたしはマイクです。 I am Mike.
§ Example: これはペンです。 This is a pen.
も
This means "too", "and", or
"also".
§ Example: かれはサッカーがすきです。わたしもサッカーがすきです。 He
likes soccer. I like soccer, too.
§ Example: けんはケーキもクッキーもたべました。 Ken ate both cake and
cookies.
で
This means "at" or "in", and is used when
specifying where something happens.
§ Example: エミは学校ですう学をべんきょうします。 Emi studies math at
school.
に/へ
This means "to", and is used when describing a
destination.
§ Example: リエ子はローマにいきました。 Rieko went to Rome.
に
This is a general use preposition. It can mean "in",
"at", "to", "for", and other general
prepositional phrases, depending on the context.
を
This denotes the object of an action.
～ませんか
This means "Won't you ~ ?" or "Shall we
~ ?". It's an invitation.
§ Example: ケーキをたべませんか？ Won't you have some
cake?
§ Example: えいがをみませんか？ Won't you (shall we)
watch a movie?
は
This denotes a topic.
～があります
This means "there is". It is used for non-living
things (use 「がいます」 for living
things).
§ Example: つくえの上にボールがあります。 There is a ball on the
desk.
§ Example: はこの中にプレゼントがありますか。 Is there a present in
the box?
～がいます
This means "there is" or "is" and is used
for living things.
§ Example: あそこの木の下に、子ども二人がいます。 There are two children
under the tree over there.
§ Example: きょうしつに田中先生がいますか。 Is Mr. Tanaka in the
classroom?"
と
This is a particle used to link nouns in a complete list.
～ましょう
This is a polite volitional phrase, meaning "I'll" or
"let's".
～ましょうか
This is a polite volitional phrase used for suggestions.
～てください
This is used to link verb copulas, ending in "て" or "で", to
"ください", making
it into a request.
～てもいいです
This is used to link verb copulas to "もいいです" meaning "it's enough" or "it's good".
It can be used as a request for permission.
～てはいけません
This is used to link copulas to "はいけません", meaning "it's not good". It is used to scold
or otherwise disapprove.
～から
Phrase meaning "from".
～ている
いる, when used
after the て form of a verb, indicates that
an action is ongoing (progressive tense, marked in English by "ing",)
or in a certain state.
§ Example: 私は 読んでいます。I am reading.
§ Example: ドアが開いています。 The door is open.
§ Example: 僕は結婚しています。 I am married.
§ Example: 子供は走っています。 The children are running.
～にいく
It means to go somewhere or to go do something.
§ Example: 私は泳ぎに行く。I go swimming.
§ Example: 彼は勉強に行った。He went to study.
§ Example: 彼女は東京に行く。She's going to Tokyo.
ないでください
This means "please don't do", used in place of a
"-te" form of a verb.
§ Example: このりんごを食べないでください。Please don't eat this apple.
§ Example: その本を読まないでください。Please don't read that book
～のがすきです
It means to like doing something.
§ Example: 私はアニメを見るのが好きです。I like watching anime.
§ Example: 彼女は歌うのがすきです。She likes singing.
～のがじょうずです
It means to be good at something.
§ Example: 彼女は歌うのがじょうずです。She's good at singing.
§ Example: あなたは泳ぐのが上手ですか? Are you good at
swimming?
～のがへたです
It means to be bad at something.
§ Example: 私は踊るのがへたです。I'm bad at dancing.
§ Example: 彼は勉強するのが下手です。He's bad at studying.
まだ～ていません
It means that someone hasn't done something yet.
§ Example: 私はまだ決めていません。I haven't decided yet.
§ Example: 彼はまだ帰っていません。He hasn't returned yet.
～のほうが～より
It means that something is more (interesting/expensive/etc.)
than something else.
§ Example: この本のほうがあの新聞より高い。This book is more expensive than
that newspaper.
§ Example: 図書館の方が学校より静か。Library is quieter than school.
～のなかで～がいちばん～
It means the best from something or the most
(new/old/expensive/likeable/etc.).
§ Example: あの図書館のなかでこの本がいちばん。This book is the best book in
that library.
§ Example: このお菓子の中でクッキーがいちばん好きです。From these
sweets I like cookies the most.
つもりです
This means a plan or an intent of doing something.
§ Example: 私は映画を見に行くつもりです。I'm going to go see a movie.
§ Example: あなたは何を勉強するつもりですか? What are you going to
study?
～く/ ～になる
It means to become (smart/tall/etc.). If used with -na adjectives
it's adj+になる, for -iadjectives
it's adj+くなる.
§ Example: あの女性はきれいになった。That woman became beautiful.
§ Example: この自転車は古くなった。。This bicycle became old.
V stem + たいです
Creates the polite 'want to do' form of a verb
Example - I want to eat some cake - 僕は ケーキを 食べたい です。- Boku-wa kēki-o tabetai
desu.
～たり …～たりする
It makes a list of activities or attributes. It means something
like "this and that/sometimes this and sometimes that/in some parts this
in other parts that". With nouns or -na adjectives it becomes "～だったり …～だったりする".
§ Example: 昨日私は本を読んたりお菓子を食べたりした。Yesterday I was
reading a book and eating sweets.
§ Example: あの映画は面白かったりつまらなかったりする。That movie is
interesting in some parts and boring in other parts.
§ Example: 彼女は親切だったりきれいだったりする。She's nice and beautiful.
～たことがある
It indicates that something has (or hasn't ever) happened in the
past.
§ Example: 私は東京へ行ったことがある。I've been to Tokyo.
§ Example: 私はそれを聞いたことがない。I've never heard of this.
や
This is a particle used to link nouns in an incomplete list.
§ Example: 猫や犬や猿が動物園にいます。 There are cats and dogs
and monkeys (among other things) at the zoo.
～んです
It accents the sentence's content or softens a request or an
order. It may be also said as "~のです". With
-na adjectives and nouns it becomes "~なのです".
§ Example: 私は今忙しいんです。I'm busy right now.
§ Example: 私は今そうじ中なのです。I'm cleaning right now.
§ Example: テニスはするんですか？ Do you play tennis? (at
all, not right now)
～すぎる
It means "too much" or "too (big/small/expensive/etc.)".
§ Example: 山田さんは食べすぎる。Mr. Yamada eats too much.
§ Example: 私は食べ物を買いすぎた。I bought too much food.
§ Example: このシャツは大きすぎる。This shirt is too big.
～ほうがいい
It means "it's better" or "it would be
better", it may be also used to say that something should (or shouldn't)
be done.
§ Example: あなたはこの本を買うほうがいい。You should buy this book.
§ Example: 私はあのケーキを食べなかったほうがいい。I shouldn't eat
that cake.
ので
It means "because" or "so". The cause is
more impartial (like because a building is red or tall) than with "から" or "だから" where
it's more subjective (like because you think an apple tastes good). With nouns
and -na adjectives it becomes "なので".
§ Example: この本は高いので買わない。I'm not buying this book, because
it's expensive.
§ Example: あの映画を見たので他の映画を見よう。I've seen this movie so let's
watch a different one.
§ Example: 彼女は病気なので来ない。She isn't coming because she's
sick.
～なくちゃいけない
It means that something has to be done (lit: it's bad not to do
it).
§ Example: あなたは宿題を終わらなくちゃいけない。You have to finish your homework.
(It's not good for you to not finish your homework.)
でしょう
It means something like "isn't it/aren't you/aren't
I/etc." or "right?". It's used when the speaker isn't sure about
something or in rhetorical questions.
§ Example: あなたは七時まで帰るでしょ？ You'll come back before 7
o'clock, right?
§ Example: これは本でしょ? It's a book, isn't it?
§ Example: あのビルは普通じゃないでしょ? That building isn't normal, is it?
§ Example: 彼は泳げないでしょ? He can't swim, can he?
～まえに
It means "before doing (something)" or "ago"
(like 3 days ago).
§ Example: 食べる前に手を洗って下さい。Please wash your hands before
eating.
§ Example: 私は一時前に帰った。I came back an hour ago.
～てから
It means to do something after doing something else.
§ Example: 考えてから言ってください。Please speak after thinking.
§ Example: 私は手を洗ってから食事をした。I had a meal after washing my
hands.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
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