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.
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